KABUPATEN BATAK

Kota Tarutung

Wilayah Tapanuli sejak kemerdekaan dipimpin seorang Residen Indonesia pertama yaitu Dr. Ferdinand Lumban Tobing yang berkedudukan dikotapraja Sibolga, tidak jauh dari sekolah SMEP.

Kabupaten Tapanuli  asalnya hanya terdiri dari 4 Daerah Tingkat dua yaitu:1 Kotapraja Sibolga dan 3 Kabupaten yaitu Tapanuli Utara (Kabupaten Batak), Kabupaten Tapanuli Tengah dan Selatan.
Jika penduduk Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara mayoritas adalah Batak Toba yang beragama Kristen, sedang penduduk Tapanuli Tengah hampir fifty fifty, sedangkan penduduk Tapanuli Selatan mayoritasnya adalah suku Batak Mandailing dan mayoritas beragama Islam.

Di zaman Belanda Kabupaten Tapanuli Utara disebut Kabupaten Batak, tetapi karena ada beberapa etnis Batak seperi Toba, Mandailing, Karo dan Simalungun, maka sebutan Kabupaten diganti dengan Tapanuli Utara.

Kini dengan  sejak Reformasi dengan konsep Otonomi Daerah bermunculan Daerah Tingkat II baru sehingga Tapanuli berubah menjadi  7 Kabupaten dan 2 Kotamadya. Tentu latar belakang pembentukan Dati II itu adalah karena potensi Daerah yang bisa menghidupi daerah tersebut. Hanya Kabupaten Tapanuli Tengah yang miskin sumer daya alam tidak terjadi pemekaran. Hanya Ibukota Kabupaten dipindahkan dari kota Sibolga ke kota yang baru, Pandan, 10 klometer disebelah Selatan Sibolga. Dulu terkenal pantai Pandan nan indah dengan Ikan bagar, dari ikan segar, tangkapan baru.

Kabupaten baru pemekaran Kabupaten Tapanuli Selatan ada  4 yaitu Kotamadya Padangidempuan, Kabupaten Mandailing Natal, Padang Lawas dan Padang Lawas Utara.
Sedang pemekaran Tapanuli Utara ada 3 Kabupaten baru yaitu Toba Samosir, Samosir dan Humbang Hasundutan.
Apakah dengan pemekaran daerah, rakyat tambah sejahtera ?. Tentu masih jauh dari harapan. Kotamadya dan Kabupaten baru beserta DPRD sibuk berpolitik untuk meraih kekuasaan dan kesejahteraan rakyat hanyalah sebagai obyek kampanye saja.

Walau Kotamadya Sibolga, beragam warna suku dan rasnya namun kota ini sangat tentram dan damai. Suku dan ras yang ada ialah suku Batak, Minang, Nias, Jawa, Sunda, Aceh, Tionghoa, Arab  dan lain lain. Jadi sudah kawin main antar suku dan Agama memperkuat kohesi  multi etnis.
Percakapan sehari hari di pasar kota Sibolga tidak menggunakan bahasa Indonesia tetapi menggunakan bahasa khas mirip bahasa Minang pesisir.  Misalnya : “Kamu mau kemana?”, disebut “Nak kamano muna”.  “Bara”, maksunya “Berapa ?”. Dan sebagainya.

Kotamadya  Sibolga menjadi contoh sebagai ”Indonesia mini” yang damai karena saling hormat menghormati. Tidak pernah terjadi keributan yang bernuansaSARA.

Memang kota Sibolga terletak diteluk yang indah dan aman dari ancaman Tsunami karena Teluk ini dilindungi oleh pulau Mursala dan pulau Poncan di mulut Teluk. Sehingga amukan tsunami  tahun 2000 yang meluluh lantakan pulau Nias disebelah Barat dan Aceh tidak ikut menghancurkan kota Sibolga dan Kabupaten Tapanuli Tengah.

WAR WORLD II END, NEW INDONESIA REPUBLIC BEGIN

                                                  Indonesia war of independence 1945

Indonesia flag

In August 14, 1945 Japan surrendered after US drop nuclear bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki more then 200.000 civilians died. Soon Indonesian youth leaders pushed political leaders to took advantage, to proclaim Independence nation either from the Japanese occupation nor Dutch colonist government.
Exactly, August 17, 1945 Soekarno proclaimed the independence of Indonesia republic on the radio across the archipelago country and abroad. The first leaders were Soekarno as President and Moh Hatta as Vice President. A new nation was born.


Moh Hatta and Soekarno

Today, August 17, 2015 is the 70th commemoration of the end of the World war II by the nations involved, Hirosima and Nagasaki mourning and Indonesian independence day.
Japan Prime minister and Akihito commemorate and pay respect to the victims of nuclear bombs not reoccur in the future and apology to Asian nations who suffer from Japan cruelty in the war, including the pain of life time of women sex slavery for the army. The nations occupied including Indonesia, People Republic of China, South Korea etc.

It was long time, 7 decade ago but the effect of the war unforgettable by World especially by the Asian countries including Indonesia. For youth generation the Japan occupation in quite short period of time not influence to their relationship with Japanese either in business, cultures and social relationship.
But for old the generation above 50 years of ages plus the history books unable to forget how Japan barbaric behave to their ancestors. They faced the war directly or the story of thei parents who forced to labor until died. The stories were the tale to tell in bed time.

In 1973 there were big students demonstration when Prime minister Tanaka visited Jakarta to expressed their refusal of Japan products who occupied Indonesian market. P.M Tanaka couldn't go through main roads to President palace, blocked by the students. Then went fly helicopter to met President Soeharto. At that time Senen shopping mal in Central Jakarta burned and known the action as MALARI, a lot of students arrested.

After new Governments came and went, the New generation either in Japan nor in Indonesia may hand in hand in many sector of life. But one thing never been forgotten that history will never been forgotten to build a new better World. 




 

SIMULTANEOUS LOCAL LEADERS ELECTION IN INDONESIA, A BREAKTHROUGH IN TRUE DEMOCRACY

                                              Bali and West Papua election process

In order to elect local leaders across Indonesia archipelago (Governor, Regent, Mayor), National Election Commission designed a simultaneous  election in 2015 for the first time. The goal this system is more efficient either in costs or in time. The local committee will do their task only in certain time table.
Previously, for more then 5 decades, election done independently one by one region in different time table.

The schedule begin in July 2015 start with application more then 1 couple (Governor and Deputy, Mayor and Deputy, Regent and Deputy) in every level, from administrative checking, logistic preparation, campaign until election day on December 2015. To guarantee the real democracy, the candidates must be more then 1 couple. If the candidate just one couple then the election will be cancel another two years later.

The good news among other things are the possibility of coalition among many parties in order to get minimum requirement of 20% of local parliament seats beside a couple of non partisan or independent. The coalition not only among the ruling parties but also between the ruling parties and the opposition parties.

In the last Presidential election in November 2014 ago, parties divided into 2 groups,  one the ruling parties and the opposition that never met in National parliament. While in the local level, the coalition more fluid made the political climate tend to calm and peaceful, hopefully local and National development will run smooth with minimum political conflicts.

             

                                            Election song
 
Up until evening July 29,2015 total couples who had been applied were 810 candidates (in 268 Provinces, regencies, cities). 156 or 13% of the couples were non partisan and the rest 87% were of party or coalition. From 34 provinces in Indonesia there are 9 provinces that joint the election this year, among other recorded 20 couples candidate of Governors applied.
Based on the law the candidates are welcome to apply, like former prisoners or real couple of husband and wife or an artist or a looser for several elections but applied again. A lot of recent local leaders in charge also run again for the next 5 years term make the competition more tight.
 
In the last few years a lot of local leaders behind the bars due to corruption cases. Hopefully the new era will learn not involve in such crime, be a true leader who sacrifices for the sake of the people in the region.






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SIMPLE WEDDING PARTY PRESIDENT'S SON OF INDONESIA NOT IN THE PALACES

                                           Formal wedding procession


It is quite normal if number man in the country, a President set the wedding party to his son celebrate in a high, luxury procession, even held in the palace. But not for Indonesia republic Jokowidodo. His son preferred to set a simple one, he was independent, a young businessman in Solo, Central Java where the party took place, Thursday, June 11, 2015.  



President Jokowidodo, son, daudhter in law


Selvi parent, the bride and President Jokowi and wife


Jokowi carry his son

JOKO WIDODO OR JOKOWI, THE 1ST CYCLING PRESIDENT IN THE WORLD

President Jokowi and Amanpour, CNN at Jakarta downtown

"You will be the 1st cycling President", said Amanpour, Senior CNN reporter one sunny Sunday morning while biking side by side with President of Indonesia, Jokowidodo, well known as Jokowi at down town Jakarta city before interview in Istana Merdeka palace.
This image saw up in few seconds in CNN with several World leaders every single day before Breaking New begin.




Enter Istana Merdeka palace

Cycling is regular people's sport in the country that President done regularly basis, long before he win President election at the end of 2014 ago when he was a Governor of Jakarta city. He preferred this sport instead of golf in order to close to regular people, talk and shake hand with them. So he knew what really matters not depend on formal reports, usually told a nice story.

More then decade ago, every early Sunday morning until noon wide road Jakarta city down town were car free day, the main road used for people sport, walking, running, biking. Two sides of the road used by Buses and private cars.

Some other time he visited another cities and took advantage of Sunday biking in crowded down town to greet local people and talk with them. The guards and security working hard to protect the President, but so far no treat wherever he was going. People love his simple performance, just wear a white long sleeve shirt, made in local tailor not import brand.

He was visited the field often to recheck the most basic need of the people like rice production. He tried a new tractor provided by the Government to the farmers in production center in East Java by pushed the tractor over the field, photo below.


President Jokowi (center) and a Agriculture Minister (right)

PAPUA ISLAND IS FREE FOR INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE

 
Papua island is one among the big islands in Indonesia Republic beside Kalimantan/Borneo and Sumatera island. This island is in the East region, bordered with Papua New Guinea country, far from Jakarta capital city and less develop compare to the West region like Java, Bali and Sumatera island. Due to the size of the island, recently Papua extended became 2 provinces, West Papua and Papua.


The origin population

This big island abundant of unexploited minerals but less and uneducated population. They felt abandoned by the central Government in Jakarta, then sometime a small group of separatism warring the army and erected their own flag "Bintang Kejora" in certain locations including in Jayapura city, the capital. Before going strong, Government army chased them into the mountain. The former Government then restricted the island from international media publication for security reason.

One of the biggest gold mining in the World located in Papua,  PT. Freeport Indonesia, a company whose share holder mostly belong to Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.(US). Freeport Indonesia  had been run the mining in two locations in Papua,  Erstberg (1967) and Grasberg (1988), at Tembaga Pura, Mimika. Imagine how rich this island was but inhibited by poor and less educated population


Freeport mining

Since the new Government under President Joko Widodo, central Government paid special attention and special programs to push development in this big island. In 7 months in power, President visited this island twice, once in last Christmas 2014 and then in May 2015.  Since then the new Government decided to welcome International media to cover this island.

By international media coverage, let the World and Corporates see the opportunities wide open to Invest in this jungle to explore abundant mining raw materials, logging and other business. Not mentioned the Government and Parliament of Indonesia wake up and ready to read comments from International media for the sake of Papua especially and Indonesia welfare in general.
   

UNFINISHED HIGH SCHOOL BECAME A MINISTER

 
 Susi Pujiastuti

It was the breaking news in the medias, soon after Indonesia's new Cabinet installed by President Joko Widodo, one of the Minister, a lady, to be a star since she never graduated from Senior high school. What the hell her extra ordinary achievement to be blessed, appointed as a Fishery and sea affair Minister among a lots of educated figures in society ? 



Shrimp

Later we know that she left the school behind and start her own business in local fishery market in remote Pangandaran, South sea of West Java to buy and sell shrimp. The shrimp business grew big and sent to the capital before exported. To keep the shrimp fresh, initially she rent a small plane to carry the shrimp directly to capital Jakarta city and to foreign markets. The times goes by, she became a well known business women in the country. So she knew all aspects of fishery in the country and who were the players.


Susi and Susi air

She then preferred to buy and manage the planes  for shrimp export purposes and set up a new air company named "SUSI AIR", a rental and schedule planes. So, before appointed as a Minister her business were in two sectors, Air plane and Fishery.

Sinking illegal fishing ship

The breaking news continue after she executed to blow up and sinking the illegal fishing ships who stolen million of dollar each year from Indonesia water and send the crew back to their origin countries for the sake of human right, not jailed in Indonesia.

In her Twitter account last Wednesday, May 13, 2015 she offered Rp 5 trilyun about US$ 400 million from illegal fishing business man to be withdrawn as a Minister or let the illegal fishing doing their old business. She didn't report this to the President yet, just singing in her Twit.

In the first 6 months seated in Cabinet, she was the one brightest performances, shine star among the few Ministers not based on her education background but on her business experiences and passion to manage her Ministry, carried break trough policies for the sake of  Indonesian people welfare.

PROFITABLE TEA BUSINESS IN WEST JAVA ISLAND

Tea plantation in Puncak, West Java

Talking about tea business, we imagine that 5 top countries who well known as exporter were Sri Lanka, People Republic of China, India, Kenya, United Kingdom.  No one  thinking of Indonesia as a producer and consumers as well.
If you get out of capital Jakarta city to the East, you will surprise to see green tea plantation in both sides of the road in the mountain area of West Java island.


Factory building

Tea was daily consumption for 250 millions population of Indonesia, tree time a day in breakfast, lunch , dinner plus tea time late afternoon or tea for guests with various of qualities.
Beside, many other tea products in the market compete to get costumers share like tea bottle, tea bag, tea in the box.
Demand for tea more then coffee in Indonesia even no tea shops available but coffee shops who serve tea as well. So huge tea consumption in Indonesia make tea business promising but this business were Capital intensive, either the area of plantation and factories investment. That was why only selected experiences corporate can afford to finance tea business.

 
Tea time Indonesian


Tea machinery

Big capital investment require for Fix Assets such buildings, machines, land for plantation and Working capital who requires long turn over, from cutting, processing, storage until payment.
For Investors from USA, Europe, Russia or around the World could take the opportunity to deal with tea business in Indonesia by Direct Investment or by sharing with local corporates who looking for foreign capital or Investors.

Investment opportunities in Indonesia recently under the new Government  wide open through single body, Coordinating Board Investment. To get the permits/licence, only through single door. If any trouble to get the permit, we may call Joko Widodo, the President of Indonesia

So welcome to Indonesia. Need assistance, don't hesitate contact me
Name    : Pinondang Situmeang
Email     : c2_pinrocketmail.com
Phone     : 087.876768165

MEGA INFRA STRUCTURE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, REMARKABLE INDONESIA

 Ground breaking Trans Sumatera toll road by President Jokowi, April 30, 2015

Under the new Government under Joko Widodo, President and Jusuf Kalla, vice President open wide opportunities to foreign corporates to Invest in Infrastructures in Idonesia like Toll roads, Rail ways/Trains, Sea ports, Airports, Dams etc either in Java island or out of Java. Only Multinational corporates who capable to finance these mega projects.

Recently toll roads concentrated only in Java island but still not yet connected along all regions. Long part of toll roads were in West Java not yet connected to Central Java and small part in Central Java needed huge Investment to be connected with East Java toll roads. Out of Java never before build the toll roads. The same happened to the rail ways. Rail ways also concentrated in Java island and some regions in Sumatera island in the North, West and South but not yet connected inter regions.


Trans Sumatera Master plan

In Sumatera, Kalimantan/Borneo or Sulawesi/Celebes island planned to build a brand new toll roads. Trans Sumatera toll roads ground breaking taken place April 30, 2015 in the tip of South Sumatera at Bakauhuni by President Joko Widodo. This mega project will connected the length of Sumatera from Lampung in the South until Banda Aceh in the North, 2.818 km long.

Recently, the contractors are State own companies who just injected sufficient additional capital from Government to carry out these mega projects. The source of funds for infrastructures more then Rp. 200 trillions this year alone as a result of deleted oil and gas subsidized for the 1st time in Indonesia history. Along the toll roads, side by side planned to build gas pipes and rail ways as well.

Soekarno Hatta airport, Jakarta

Airports and airline business one of the priority to inter connected between thousand archipelago and international routes with Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and other South East Asian countries nearby. Jakarta, Surabaya and Bali airport too crowded to provide convenience service to the costumers. The same happened in the port, Jakarta port were too congested, needed to build another international ports outside the crowded capital and out of Java island as well.


Tanjungpriok, Jakarta port

The red tapes of getting permits from various bodies had been cut, now concentrated in one special body, BKPM, Coordination Board of Investment. If corporate faced difficulties, feel free to call the President directly.

Indonesian dream to build Infrastructures in the East part of the country like Papua (Irian) island, Kalimantan, Sulawesi needed to balance the development between the West and the East regions. The Government unable to finance the whole giant projects. So welcome you to invest in Indonesia.

If you need more information feel free to ask, I will inform as much as I can or I will redirect you to the body related. Just write me :
Name   : Mr. Pinondang Situmeang,
Email :c2_pin@rocketmail.com
Phone 087.876768.165

INDONESIA : MODERATE MOSLEM COUNTRY

Mosque and church side by side

Indonesia is a biggest Moslem country in the World. About 90% of the citizen are Moslem and the rest are Cristian, Hinduism, Budhaism who lived along peacefully and free to do their own ritualism. Government dedicated special holidays for all religions.

Two biggest Moslem organizations in the country teach their members to lived in harmony with other religions. They are Muhammadiyah and Nahdatul Ulama. So many Moslem boarding schools in the country who teach the student Al Quran fluently and other Moslem belief since they are young and five National principles included in the cricula.  This National principles stated as Indonesia State policy named PANCASILA, kept the country in peace and harmony.

Emblem of Pancasila.


Five principles in Pancasila are :

1. Belief in the one and only God
   
2. Just and civilized humanity
   
3. The unity of Indonesia
   
4. Democracy guided by the inner wisdom in the unanimity arising out of deliberations amongst representatives
   
5. Social justice for all of the people of Indonesia 

Ten parties in the country allowed established by the law only if agree to adopt Pancasila as the principles and as foundation of the party, including four Moslem parties. And the biggest parties in the country not the four Moslem parties but six National parties, one of them where President belong. So from politic point of view National parties guided by the Nation principles above not by Moslem belief.

Long time ago before independence in 1945, before Pancasila accepted as a foundation of all organizations in the country, a  small group of Moslem revolted try to established Indonesia as Moslem country but fail due to mayority of citizen were moderate Moslem rejected. One province in the North Sumatera, Aceh province warred for decades try to set up a new Moslem country separated from Indonesia. Finally in August 2005 Government and Aceh leader signed peaceful agreement in Helsinki, Finland and accepted Pancasila as the foundation and principles not Moslem belief.

We acknowledge also that there are small groups of radicalism who jointed training in Afganistan, joined ISIS in Syria. But the amount or percentage relatively very small. Previously, any bomb blow up in Denpasar, Bali and Hotel Mariot Jakarta. Finally the group involved in the bombing prisoned and executed to death.

Hopefully Arab countries and other Moslem countries may come to Indonesia for study to dig down Indonesia principles if any lessons to be copy as well


   

DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG DEALERS IN INDONESIA

Death penalty for drug dealers got so many criticisms from foreign countries but Indonesian Government kept their verdicts to executed 8 among 10 that had been sentenced at 00 hour, Tuesday, April 28, 2015. The sentences  carried over from previous Government under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and then executed by new Government under Presiden Joko Widodo.
Nine are foreigners and one is Indonesian. While French victims were canceled waiting for a new law suit to the High court.

A Philippino canceled a minute before executed at 00 hour, due to last minute request came from Philippines Government related to a human trafficking in the process recently in the Philipines. But court death penalty not deleted, just canceled for some time.

The sharpest critics  came from West countries like Australia P.M Tony Abbott and Foreign minister Julie Bishop, French President Francois Hollande and Brazil President, Dilma Rousseff. It was made sense and understandable if they defended their citizen rely on their own law and conveyed the protests from the public for political reason who voted for them to be President or Prime Minister. Australian withdrawn their Ambassador for consultation while Argentine cancelled the credential letter of Indonesia new Ambassador to Argentine. French stated would review the cooperation with Indonesian in G20 agreement.

Indonesian President refused to give the clemency and executed as courts decision according to Indonesian law and the massiveness of narcotic transactions in the last few years. Indonesian politician as well as public supported what President's decision not to forgive for death sentences victims due to toll death of narcotic users in the country. Not less the 1.800 productive citizen died a year cause by narcotic used. Not mentioned in rehabilitation centers.

A lots of drug dealers never  stop run their business from behind the bar, bribed the jail's personnel to smuggled in the drug and communication gadgets to manage their International networks around the World

If protesters intend to know what look like to be a drug abuse victims, try to visit rehabilitation centers and see how many victims lived as living corpses.We can't imagine how sad to see patients of rehabilitation crying, dying hopelessly. How parents and families burden to see the love ones lying helpless and waiting the end of life. Now Indonesia declare in "Drug crisis" stage.


In rehab center

Our close neighbor countries  in the North, Malaysia and Singapore also executed to death for drug trafficking as well made those countries relatively clean. So drug dealers avoid to enter that countries and preferred Indonesia with 250 million citizen, prospective market in the World. So by the death penalty, drug dealers think twice to enter Indonesia or  at least to decrease the huge amount of drugs sale the years to come.

Firing taken place at a prison island, Nusakambangan, half an hour to reach the island, South of Cilacap town, Central Java. A lots of prison building available there including a special building for drug related.