Over the New Year period Indonesia has been trying to piece together the mystery of why Air Asia QZ8501 crashed in the Java Sea en route from Surabaya to Singapore. This tragedy took the shine off a positive for Indonesia's otherwise troubled aviation industry, with Garuda Indonesia being awarded a five star rating from Skytrax amid calls for audits and regulatory reform across Indonesia's budget airline market. The transport ministry has directed airlines to raise the price of tickets and direct funds toward safety controls. It has also initiated reviews of the business and technical operations of all the airlines in the country.
Those of you who have traveled around Indonesia by plane will understand the chaos and anxiety of waiting several hours in the heat and haze of kretek smoke for a delayed flight. You will have been consoled with a little box, containing a water cup and a bread roll, before getting on a smallish plane with duct tape and broken seats to be propelled through extremely turbulent cumulonimbus clouds with 'Just for Laughs' playing in the background on shared television screens. After a tense flight pretending to be a seasoned flyer who totally understands convective clouds, you are lucky enough to make a bumpy landing at your destination having wondered the entire time how Indonesia's domestic operators manage to get planes in the air at all, you will forget, until next time, that what you narrowly escaped was life and death.
Travel safe,
Editor
Tolong menikmati post yang baru/ Please enjoy these new posts:
'Being appalled is not enough from regional Muslim leaders,' by Ross B Taylor, January 2015.
Book review: 'Is there a uniquely Indonesian approach to Human Rights?' by Warren Doull, December 2014.
'Indonesia's air safety record on the nose again after Air Asia crash,' by Lauren Gumbs, January 2015.
'Air Asia crash: tragedy so often defines political leadership,' by Ross B Taylor, January 2015.
Dalam kabar lain/ In other news:
WA Trade Office: After the Indonesia Institute, the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC),backbenchers and other groups lobbied against the decision to close the WA Trade Office in Jakarta, the State Premier decided to not only retain the WA Trade
Office in Indonesia but also expand its activities. Excellent news and a sure sign that opportunities with Indonesia are being recognised.
New Consul General to Perth: The new Indonesian
Consul-General to Perth, Pak Ade Padmo Sarwono, has recently arrived and
commenced duties. We welcome him to his new post and wish him much success in deepening Australia-Indonesia ties and encouraging trade relations.
Terrorism: Travel advice to Indonesia was updated by Australia after the US warned of possible threats to US affiliated banks and hotels. Indonesia however, including Jokowi himself, has downplayed the likelihood of such attacks saying they have received no intelligence to indicate the threat of attack. However on Saturday the Voice of America Office received a bomb threat. Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said if Australians cannot afford insurance they should rethink their travel plans. Australians have been told to avoid protests, demonstrations and rallies that could be terrorist targets.
Australians on death row: Myuran Sukarman lost his final clemency bid. A devastating blow to a man who has spent his time in prison rehabilitating. President Jokowi will likely decide against Andrew Chan's plea, as he seeks to come down hard on convicted drug smugglers. It was assumed Jokowi would facilitate human rights in a country struggling to resolve continuing abuses, but with widespread support for the death penalty, Jokowi is looking to be seen as tough and decisive. Australia opposes the death penalty and will make representations on behalf of its citizens Sukarman and Chan, however Tony Abbott has stated his commitment to maintaining close ties with Indonesia as a priority.
Membaca tambahan/ Extra reading:
Jokowi is getting the job done, and not without a good measure of nous. The Australia Indonesia Centre ticks off what the new Sheriff has accomplished.
Great review of the film, 'Bitter Honey', about three polygamous Balinese families.
Jokowi has three main foreign policy focuses: maintaining Indonesia’s sovereignty, enhancing the protection of Indonesian citizens, and intensifying economic diplomacy. Will the delivery of these platforms be too difficult and are they too insular?
Two wrongs don't make a right: taking out Myuran just adds insult to injury. Why judicial executions are out of line.
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