RI condemns Israeli govt for E. Jerusalem settlements

Indonesia condemned Thursday the decision of the Israeli government to continue expanding settlements in East Jerusalem, calling on the international communities to launch a collective action to urge Israel to halt settlement building.

Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the settlement building had gone against international law and a UN resolution, risking peace process efforts in the region torn by decades of conflict.

"The Indonesian government strongly condemns the decision of the Israel government to develop settlement building in East Jerusalem," Marty told the press after opening an exhibition forum at the foreign ministry building.

The Israeli government Tuesday approved the development of 900 homes in East Jerusalem in a movement that has drawn criticism from Washington. The UN Security resolution in 1979 declared that Israel's settlement on land it occupied in 1967 war is illegal.

"The Israeli government is apparently not ready for talks as they keep coming up with decisions that hampers *peace efforts*" said Marty.

Israel defied request from Washington to block the additional settlement Monday when US special envoy George Mitchell met with an aide to Israel Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in London.

Washington said the move was counterproductive to efforts to relaunch the stalled peace talk between the two. Palestine said they would only resume the negotiations after Israel stopped building the settlements.

"Other countries, including the United States and other Western countries have voiced similar concern... International communities have to join up efforts to urge Israel government to halt the settlement," said Marty.

Indonesia is a staunch supporter of Palestinian cause, citing rights of independence for every nation as enshrined in the country's Constitution.

Jakarta has no diplomatic ties with Israel.

Palestine officials have recently stated Palestine might declare unilateral independence without Israel's consent, reflecting frustrations at deadlock in peace talks. Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told a local media that Palestine had decided to seek UN Security Council for support for establishing a state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.

Reuters reported that the State Department had declined direct comment on the Palestinian plan, but saying that they wanted the negotiation to resume. Experts said Palestinian efforts would be met with a veto from Washington in the Security Council.

The European Union called the recognition of a Palestinian state "premature", saying it should concentrate on resuming negotiations.

Muslim countries, which are supporters of Palestinian cause, including Indonesia, have not made available their position on the Palestinian idea of unilateral independence.

The Palestinians already once announced unilateral independence in 1988 but the declaration was not followed up by implementation on the ground.

Minister feels ashamed by Banyumas law enforcers

Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar expressed his anger over the recent trial of an old woman who was accused of stealing three cacao fruits worth Rp 30,000 from a plantation in the Central Java town of Banyumas.

Patrialis called the trial, which appeared on the front page of the country’s largest daily, Kompas, on Friday, “embarrassing”.

“I think it is very embarrassing. Law enforcers must also uphold humanitarian values,” Patrialis said after attending the inauguration of National Boyscout leaders outside the State Palace.

The Banyumas District Court sentenced Minah, 55, to a one-and-a-half-month suspended jail term. Minah, who stood trial without an attorney, said she took the fruits in September to grow the plant from its seeds.

Patrialis said the case had inspired him to promote reform within the country's judicial system.

“We will mend the system. Our prisons are already overcrowded,” he said as quoted by kompas.com.

Patrialis said his proposal, however, would not intervene with Minah's case.

“We do not have the power to intervene. But we can draft a new policy and seek a presidential pardon for her,” Patrialis said.

Indonesia, Australia eying expansion of business, trade

Investment Coordinating Board chairman Gita Wirjawan and deputy trade minister Mahendra Siregar will brief 150 Indonesian and Australian businesspeople at a two-day conference in Yogyakarta on new business opportunities within bilateral economic ties.

The annual conference of the Indonesia Australia Business Council (IABC), beginning Monday, will discuss new ways of further developing business ties between the two countries amid the green shoots sprouting in the industrialized economies and a robust recovery in Indonesia.

“The perception among Australian businesspeople towards Indonesia is quite positive, and they are looking forward to even better trade and investment opportunities during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s second administration,” IABC executive director Vic Halim told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

The meeting will discuss issues related to natural resource and infrastructure development, tourism, small and medium-enterprise partnership, taxation, financing and labor regulations.

Indonesia was Australia’s 13th largest trading partner last year, with two-way trade of merchandise (commodities) and services totaling about US$10 billion.

Indonesia is Australia’s 18th largest investment destination with a cumulative stock of capital investment amounting to nearly $4 billion.

Spring Fountain : Tegal Regency

What could possibly make 10,000 people jump into the same 40-square-meter pool in one day? A desire to be lucky.

The hot springs — transformed into a pool — in the village of Guci, Tegal regency, Central Java, have become a major tourist destination, attracting people from as far as Bandung, who believe the water has magical energy that will bring them many benefits.

“It is said the pool came to life thanks to Sunan Gunung Jati of Cirebon,” said 25-year-old Yuwanto, a souvenir seller near the hot spring, when referring to one of nine Muslim saints or Wali Sanga who introduced Islam to Java.

“When Sunan Gunung Jati wanted to spread Islam here, a drought struck the area. He prayed for water and suddenly the fountains appeared. That’s all I know,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Most days, dozens of people can be seen at any one time, not frolicking in the pool, but taking turns washing their bodies in the jet of hot water coming out of one of the 13 fountains located on one side of the pool.

The water, waist high, is so clear that you can see people’s feet in the water. Fountains are located half a meter from each other. Because the pool has 13 holes, people call it Telaga Pancuran 13, or the lake with 13 fountains.

“On Thursday and Friday, especially on the eve of Jumat Kliwon [the Friday coinciding with Kliwon, one of the five market days in the Javanese calendar], many people are bathing here until late at night or even in the morning,” added Yuwanto.

The nine saints are highly respected, especially by Sunni Muslims, who are members of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country’s largest Muslim organization.

Therefore during certain months, like before and after the holy month of Ramadan, many people flock to the graves of the nine saints.

Places related to the saints such as the Guci hot spring are also considered sacred.

According to the managers of the hot spring complex, most visitors come from West Java, especially Cirebon and also Bandung, as well as Central Java.

Imam Sutanto, head of tourism management for Guci, told the Post recently that Sunan Gunung Jati was very popular in Cirebon as he was also buried there.

“The [Guci hot spring] visitors believe the water will bring them luck. Some say it will heal any skin disease, boost business prospects, bring good fortune, help get the right spouse, and many other things,” said Imam.

“As for the evidence… I don’t know. But we can’t control or restrict them [from believing this],
either,” he said.

The number of visitors peaks on certain days believed to be “good” in the Islamic faith, between Sa’ban or the month before the holy month of Ramadan, and the Idul Fitri holidays.

“During that period, up to 10,000 people visit the hot springs each day. While during other holidays, about 4,000 to 5,000 visitors daily,” he said.

Although there are two other springs nearby, one with seven fountains and another one with three, most visitors prefer the lake with 13 fountains, Imam said.

“The hot water is natural, it is really good and I feel fresh after having a bath here. I do it just for fun. I am not so sure about the magical effect,” said Rumiati, 34, who is from the bordering regency of Brebes.

Taking a bath in the hot pool is like having a massage, she added, so in the past three years, she visited the hot spring more than 10 times.

Suyatman, 32, a resident from Bandung, West Java, said he often visited the place because of its fresh weather and the beautiful nature surrounding the hot springs. “But what impresses me most is the hot water, which is just natural and clear,” said Suyatman, who brings his family to Guci Tegal at least once a year for a few nights.

How to get there:

The trip from Jakarta to Guci takes six-and-a-half hours by car. From Jakarta, drive to city of Cirebon and Tegal, then from Tegal, it takes another 30 minutes to get to Guci. There are many modes of public transportation serving the Tegal-Guci route, with bus fares costing Rp 5,000.

From Yogyakarta, you can drive through the city of Purwokerto and make it to Tegal in five hours.

Bring warm clothes as temperatures can get chilly. There are many hotels and villas in the surrounding area, priced between Rp 100,000 and Rp 500,000 a night.

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