The wRap Indonesia: Jan. 27, 2015

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The latest developments in the growing conflict between Indonesia’s police and antigraft agency and Indonesia’s ban on US apples linked to a disease outbreak lead our wrap of stories from Indonesia today.

1. Human rights commission creates team to look into ‘criminalization’ of antigraft officials

In the latest development in the growing conflict between Indonesia’s police and antigraft agency, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has created a 22-member team to look into the alleged “criminalization” of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officials. Police reports have now been filed against all 4 sitting antigraft leaders in what is widely seen as retaliation for the KPK’s naming of police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a corruption suspect. To kick things off, Komnas HAM on Tuesday, January 27, met with KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto, whose controversial arrest on Friday sparked protests in various parts of the country.    

2. Jokowi: ‘We have to use the presumption of innocence principle’

“Our commitment still is to eradicate corruption,” Jokowi told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in an interview aired to mark his 100th day in office on Tuesday. “And we have to also use the presumption of innocence principle,” he added. Jokowi was answering questions related to his nomination of Budi Gunawan, and why he hasn’t withdrawn it despite Budi being named a suspect by the KPK. “Everybody has to be mature in looking at it as a legal process, and the President is not allowed to intervene. This is a legal process,” Jokowi said. Read the full story from CNN. 

3. Indonesia bans US apples linked to disease outbreak

Following other countries, Indonesia has also announced a ban on importing Granny Smith and Gala apples packed by Bidart Brothers in California. The apple packer’s products were linked to an outbreak associated with listeriosis in the United States. Listeriosis is caused by infection with listeria, a bacteria that can be found in contaminated food, causing flu-like symptoms, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, miscarriage, brain abscess, among other sickness. The ministry has also asked importers, distributors, and retailers to stop the distribution and sale of these products in Indonesia. The ministry’s statement on the trade ban can be found here. You can also read the FAQs on the recalled apples on Rappler for more information.

4. Bandung mayor ‘nervous’ for possible visit of North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un

It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil is already nervous about North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un possibly making his international debut in his city, according to Kompas.com. Indonesia is one of the few countries that have diplomatic relations with North Korea, and the communist leader has been invited to attend the 60th Asian-African Conference scheduled to take place on April 24 in Bandung, about two hours outside Jakarta. Ridwan is apparently nervous as Kim’s visit, if it does happen, would make history. “He has never been abroad for diplomatic matters,” the mayor said, adding that the world’s attention will be on his city if that happened. 

5. Indonesia lowers growth target for 2015

With the current global economic conditions and weak commodity prices, Indonesia has lowered its 2015 economic growth target by one percentage point to 5.7%. “I see that the government set the economic growth target at lower than 5.8%, reflecting its understanding of the fact that the world economic growth is undergoing corrections, which affect Indonesia’s economy,” Bank Indonesia Goveronor Agus Martowardojo said on Monday after a meeting with lawmakers, who are going through the government’s proposed revised state budget, according to state news agency Antara. – Rappler.com