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Straits Times
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Indonesia thug groups hinder investment
Members of Indonesian mass organisation GRIB, widely alleged to be a protection racket, hung up a banner that says the rubber processing plant behind them has been shut down. PHOTO: JAKARTA - A grainy photo shows a three-metre-wide banner hanging at the entrance of a rubber processing factory in Central Kalimantan province in Indonesia. The banner reads: 'This plant's operations have been shut down by GRIB Jaya Kalteng.' GRIB, short for Gerakan Rakyat Indonesia Bersatu, is one of the country's many organisasi kemasyarakatan (ormas) or community groups said to be engaging in extortion and protection rackets, at the expense of business. On April 26, a video surfaced on social media showing its members putting up the banner. After the video went viral, police investigated and found that GRIB's intimidation tactics were aimed at collecting a supposed debt from the factory, on behalf of the group's client. This practice of ormas members forcing companies to pay up by threatening harassment, disruption, and even violence has been prevalent for decades. But politicians are now vowing to crack down on it, not least because it impedes commerce and the ambitious eight per cent annual growth target set by President Prabowo Subianto. West Java governor Dedi Mulyadi recently pledged to stamp out thugs masquerading as community groups in his province, which houses the highest number of industrial estates in the country. This came after police arrested GRIB members who had set fire to three police cars on April 18 in Cimanggis. The governor's promise itself was met with threats. 'Don't mess with us... We never mess with you. It is a warning to you to not create chaos,' GRIB spokesman Razman Nasution told reporters, referring to Mr Dedi. Meanwhile, GRIB chairman Rosario de Marshall, also known as Hercules, said he could mobilise 50,000 members to storm the governor's office in Bandung. The group's membership across Indonesia is believed to number in the hundreds of thousands. Neither Mr Razman nor Mr Rosario responded to The Straits Times' queries. Other incidents revealed via social media have highlighted how thuggery by errant community groups is hampering investment and raising the cost of doing business in Indonesia. In an Instagram post on April 21, Mr Eddy Soeparno , a member of the parliamentary committee on energy, environment and investment, disclosed that Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD came across thugs who tried to disrupt construction of its 11.7 trillion rupiah (S$924 million) plant in Subang, West Java. He did not reveal when the incident took place nor which ormas was involved. 'Regional governments have to be firm against thuggery. Don't let foreign investors here be without a guarantee of security,' said Mr Eddy. Local business leaders say these incidents have been on the rise, partly due to climbing unemployment. Ahead of this year's Muslim Eid celebrations at the end of March, groups of people calling themselves ormas visited factories in their respective districts seeking a 'Hari Raya bonus' payment, said Mr Abdul Sobur, chairman of Indonesia's furniture and handicraft producers' association. 'This disturbs businesses although it seems like a small thing,' said Mr Abdul. Association members reported more such cases recently, with ormas personnel getting paid as much as 500,000 rupiah (S$40) each. Former chairman of Indonesia's employers' association Hariyadi Sukamdani put this higher incidence down to the rising number of jobless people, who are drawn to joining these groups to earn some money. 'It's mutually beneficial. The larger the groups, the greater their influence. And the greater their chances at extracting payment,' he told ST . As at end February, Indonesia's unemployment rate stood at 7.28 per cent . Dr Esther Sri Astuti, executive director of Jakarta-based Institute for Development of Economics and Finance, said the government's budget cuts have led to reduced social spending, including on allocations to community groups for vocational training and other activities. 'Last time the government had kept them busy and useful, hence they didn't cause trouble. Now, the government has cut spending,' Dr Esther told ST. Data from the domestic affairs ministry as at March 2024 shows there were 553,692 community groups nationwide, with their stated activities covering diverse issues like smoking prevention, child protection, tourism and the environment. Tenggara Strategics, a Jakarta-based investment research and advisory institute, noted in its analysis that some of these community groups have close links with political parties or leaders, who rely on their support during election season . 'While some of the groups have proven to violate the law, it looks difficult for the law enforcers to act against them, simply because of their connection to, and hence support from, political elites, if not the military or the police top brass,' said the institute, in its report published in The Jakarta Post on May 9 . On April 30, investment minister Rosan Roeslani said the government is stepping up coordination with provincial governors, mayors, and regents to ensure protection rackets and similar practices are both prevented and eradicated. Details of the plan, however, have not been disclosed . Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja has been Indonesia correspondent at The Straits Times since 2008, and is based in Jakarta. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A burnt-out shell - BBC visits Sudan's capital after the army's victory
The battered heart of Khartoum lies eerily quiet now, after weeks of intense urban combat in the Sudanese capital. We entered the city just days after Sudan's army recaptured it from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the culmination of a six-month offensive through the central part of the country. Once the commercial heart and seat of Sudan's government, Khartoum is now a burnt-out shell. Taking back the capital was a turning point in the two-year civil war, which erupted out of a power struggle between the army and the RSF. But it is not clear what direction the conflict will take now. We drove first to the presidential palace, which the RSF occupied early in the war. It was an important base for the paramilitary fighters. The floors are covered with debris and broken glass. Cushioned chairs once used for official functions stand covered with dust, a few paintings still hang on the walls, ragged chandeliers dangle from the ceilings. But almost everything else had been looted - even the electrical cables were yanked out of the walls. The worst damage is at the front of the building, which was struck by RSF drones shortly after the army seized the palace. The main entrance is wrecked, dried blood still visible on the stairs, the windows now gaping holes looking out over the River Nile. "I was really very excited to be in the Republican palace," one soldier told me as we walked down the grimy red carpet. "It's my first time in this place and I waited for this place [like] the Sudanese in general. They wanted it to be free. It is symbol of our dignity." It is also an important symbol of power for the army. Soldiers sang and danced, their jubilation erupting as the Muslim Eid holiday began. A local restaurant delivered a feast for them, hailed as heroes by many in the capital. But their victory was won at enormous cost. The level of destruction in central Khartoum is stunning: government ministries, banks and towering office blocks stand blackened and burned. The tarmac at the international airport is a graveyard of smashed planes, its passport and check-in counters covered in ashes. We drove slowly, weaving around unexploded ordnance in the road. At one intersection body parts were in a heap, two skulls clearly visible. About 100m (328ft) down the road, a body lay in front of a damaged car. A stop at St Matthew's Cathedral, built by the British in 1908 and a place of worship for the country's minority Christian population, was a welcome reprieve. The beautifully painted ceiling is intact. A hole high in one wall showed where a shell had crashed through, a cross had fallen down. But it looked much better than many of the buildings we had seen. A soldier cleaning up rubble on the floor told us that most of the damage was caused by shrapnel from shelling around the church. No-one destroyed the "house of God", he said, but the RSF fighters desecrated the building by defecating in it. He said his son was born on the first day of the war, but because of the non-stop fighting he had still not had a chance to go home and see the child. The paramilitaries also occupied the areas where diplomatic missions are located. When the fighting began, countries and companies scrambled to evacuate staff. At the entrance of the British embassy, an RSF slogan is scrawled on the wall. The bullet-proof glass of the building largely held, but it is pockmarked with many signs of impact. In the car park at the back, a fleet of vehicles stands destroyed. Across the street, a UK flag hung over the staircase of a battered building, crumpled and dirty. This is Sudan's third civil war in 70 years, and in some ways, it is worse than any of the others - as previous conflicts were fought in other parts of the country. But this one has torn through the core of Sudan, hardening divisions and threatening to split the nation. Further away from the combat zone, scattered celebrations for Eid spilled into the street. For people here the war is over, even though it continues elsewhere. The army has been accused of atrocities, and reports say tens of thousands fled the fighting in recent days. But in Khartoum, people celebrated the end of the brutal RSF occupation. The mood was also buoyant at a communal kitchen in the neighbourhood of al-Jeraif West. "I feel like I've been re-created," said Osman al-Bashir, his eyes lighting up with the new reality after citing a list of the war's hardships. He told me he had learned his English from the BBC World Service. Duaa Tariq is a pro-democracy activist, part of the movement that in 2019 toppled military leader Omar al-Bashir, whose authoritarian rule had lasted nearly three decades. She has been focusing on helping her neighbourhood survive the war. "We're celebrating Eid for the first time in two years," she said. "Everybody's dressing up, including myself! I'm overwhelmed with a lot of emotions, just like trying to learn how to live again. We feel free, we feel light, even the air smells different." Ms Tariq struggled to keep the kitchens running during the war as food ran out, the city looted by the RSF, under siege by the army and US aid cut. Food is still scarce, but there is hope now. What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide Five key moments in the battle for Khartoum 'Tortured and terrified' - BBC witnesses the battle for Khartoum "I'm feeling wonderful. I feel safe. I feel great, even though I'm hungry," said an elderly man, Kasim Agra. "You know, it doesn't matter. Freedom is what's important. "As you see, I carry a mobile," he said, pointing to a phone in his pocket. "You couldn't carry a mobile about two weeks ago." That is something many people in different parts of Khartoum have said to me - mobile telephones were a lifeline to the outside world, and a prime target for theft by RSF fighters. Mr Agra was optimistic that Khartoum, and the country, could recover. "I think the government is going to bring investors: Americans, Saudis, Canadians, Chinese, they're going to rebuild this country, I believe." Even if such massive reconstruction takes place, it is hard to imagine Khartoum retaining its distinct cultural and architectural features. Several of the women also echoed something I have repeatedly heard elsewhere - they can finally sleep again, after lying awake nights afraid that RSF looters would break in. The weight of fear and loss is heavy: so many stories of abuse, of life endangered and disrupted. "Our children are traumatised," says Najwa Ibrahim. "They need psychiatrists to help them. My sister's a teacher and tried to work with the children, but it's not enough." Ms Tariq also has questions about the impact of the war: "When will the city be accessible again, open again? "And another personal question as an activist, what will happen to all the freedoms and rights that we gained over the past five years of revolution?" she asked, referring to the years that followed the ousting of Bashir when a joint civilian-military government had been working towards a return to civilian rule. "How will it be again for civil society, actors, for activists, for freedom fighters? I'm not sure of our future now." No-one is sure of Sudan's future. "We pray for the people of Darfur," 16-year-old Hawaa Abdulshafiea said, referring to the western stronghold of the RSF, where the humanitarian crisis has been worst, and where the focus of the war is expected to shift. "May God protect them." Will recapture of presidential palace change course of Sudan war? The gravedigger 'too busy to sleep' as Khartoum fighting rages 'People will starve' because of US aid cut to Sudan One-year-olds among those raped during Sudan civil war, UN says The two generals at the heart of the conflict Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Khartoum in ruins: The BBC visits the burnt-out shell of Sudan's capital
The battered heart of Khartoum lies eerily quiet now, after weeks of intense urban combat in the Sudanese entered the city just days after Sudan's army recaptured it from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the culmination of a six-month offensive through the central part of the the commercial heart and seat of Sudan's government, Khartoum is now a burnt-out shell. Taking back the capital was a turning point in the two-year civil war, which erupted out of a power struggle between the army and the it is not clear what direction the conflict will take drove first to the presidential palace, which the RSF occupied early in the was an important base for the paramilitary floors are covered with debris and broken chairs once used for official functions stand covered with dust, a few paintings still hang on the walls, ragged chandeliers dangle from the almost everything else had been looted - even the electrical cables were yanked out of the walls. The worst damage is at the front of the building, which was struck by RSF drones shortly after the army seized the main entrance is wrecked, dried blood still visible on the stairs, the windows now gaping holes looking out over the River Nile."I was really very excited to be in the Republican palace," one soldier told me as we walked down the grimy red carpet."It's my first time in this place and I waited for this place [like] the Sudanese in general. They wanted it to be free. It is symbol of our dignity."It is also an important symbol of power for the army. Soldiers sang and danced, their jubilation erupting as the Muslim Eid holiday began.A local restaurant delivered a feast for them, hailed as heroes by many in the their victory was won at enormous level of destruction in central Khartoum is stunning: government ministries, banks and towering office blocks stand blackened and tarmac at the international airport is a graveyard of smashed planes, its passport and check-in counters covered in ashes. We drove slowly, weaving around unexploded ordnance in the one intersection body parts were in a heap, two skulls clearly visible. About 100m (328ft) down the road, a body lay in front of a damaged car.A stop at St Matthew's Cathedral, built by the British in 1908 and a place of worship for the country's minority Christian population, was a welcome beautifully painted ceiling is intact. A hole high in one wall showed where a shell had crashed through, a cross had fallen it looked much better than many of the buildings we had seen. A soldier cleaning up rubble on the floor told us that most of the damage was caused by shrapnel from shelling around the destroyed the "house of God", he said, but the RSF fighters desecrated the building by defecating in said his son was born on the first day of the war, but because of the non-stop fighting he had still not had a chance to go home and see the paramilitaries also occupied the areas where diplomatic missions are the fighting began, countries and companies scrambled to evacuate the entrance of the British embassy, an RSF slogan is scrawled on the bullet-proof glass of the building largely held, but it is pockmarked with many signs of impact. In the car park at the back, a fleet of vehicles stands the street, a UK flag hung over the staircase of a battered building, crumpled and is Sudan's third civil war in 70 years, and in some ways, it is worse than any of the others - as previous conflicts were fought in other parts of the this one has torn through the core of Sudan, hardening divisions and threatening to split the away from the combat zone, scattered celebrations for Eid spilled into the people here the war is over, even though it continues elsewhere. The army has been accused of atrocities, and reports say tens of thousands fled the fighting in recent days. But in Khartoum, people celebrated the end of the brutal RSF mood was also buoyant at a communal kitchen in the neighbourhood of al-Jeraif West."I feel like I've been re-created," said Osman al-Bashir, his eyes lighting up with the new reality after citing a list of the war's hardships. He told me he had learned his English from the BBC World Tariq is a pro-democracy activist, part of the movement that in 2019 toppled military leader Omar al-Bashir, whose authoritarian rule had lasted nearly three decades. She has been focusing on helping her neighbourhood survive the war."We're celebrating Eid for the first time in two years," she said."Everybody's dressing up, including myself! I'm overwhelmed with a lot of emotions, just like trying to learn how to live again. We feel free, we feel light, even the air smells different."Ms Tariq struggled to keep the kitchens running during the war as food ran out, the city looted by the RSF, under siege by the army and US aid is still scarce, but there is hope now. "I'm feeling wonderful. I feel safe. I feel great, even though I'm hungry," said an elderly man, Kasim Agra. "You know, it doesn't matter. Freedom is what's important."As you see, I carry a mobile," he said, pointing to a phone in his pocket."You couldn't carry a mobile about two weeks ago."That is something many people in different parts of Khartoum have said to me - mobile telephones were a lifeline to the outside world, and a prime target for theft by RSF fighters. Mr Agra was optimistic that Khartoum, and the country, could recover."I think the government is going to bring investors: Americans, Saudis, Canadians, Chinese, they're going to rebuild this country, I believe."Even if such massive reconstruction takes place, it is hard to imagine Khartoum retaining its distinct cultural and architectural of the women also echoed something I have repeatedly heard elsewhere - they can finally sleep again, after lying awake nights afraid that RSF looters would break weight of fear and loss is heavy: so many stories of abuse, of life endangered and disrupted. "Our children are traumatised," says Najwa Ibrahim."They need psychiatrists to help them. My sister's a teacher and tried to work with the children, but it's not enough."Ms Tariq also has questions about the impact of the war: "When will the city be accessible again, open again?"And another personal question as an activist, what will happen to all the freedoms and rights that we gained over the past five years of revolution?" she asked, referring to the years that followed the ousting of Bashir when a joint civilian-military government had been working towards a return to civilian rule."How will it be again for civil society, actors, for activists, for freedom fighters? I'm not sure of our future now."No-one is sure of Sudan's future."We pray for the people of Darfur," 16-year-old Hawaa Abdulshafiea said, referring to the western stronghold of the RSF, where the humanitarian crisis has been worst, and where the focus of the war is expected to shift."May God protect them." You may also be interested in: Will recapture of presidential palace change course of Sudan war?The gravedigger 'too busy to sleep' as Khartoum fighting rages'People will starve' because of US aid cut to SudanOne-year-olds among those raped during Sudan civil war, UN saysThe two generals at the heart of the conflict Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Al Jazeera
01-04-2025
- General
- Al Jazeera
Gas pipeline leak sparks Malaysian inferno
A leaking gas pipeline has sparked a huge fire on the outskirts of Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur. The inferno, which was visible for kilometres around, erupted following an explosion and fireball at 8:10am (00:10GMT) on Tuesday in the suburb of Putra Heights, central Selangor state. Caused by a leak on a gas pipeline belonging to state-run energy firm Petronas, the blaze quickly threatened nearby villages during a public holiday for the Muslim Eid celebration, injuring at least 12 people, according to Selangor's chief minister, state news agency Bernama reported. Earlier, Selangor fire department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail had told broadcaster Astro Awani that 33 had been injured. No deaths have been reported. The state's disaster management unit said in a statement that efforts to rescue trapped residents were ongoing, with several people suffering burns being treated. Selangor's chief minister said 82 people had been rescued so far, adding that residents would be temporarily placed in a nearby mosque until the situation is under control. 'All of a sudden, we heard a loud bang and then total chaos,' said a resident living 200 metres (650ft) from the site of the fire, according to Malaysia's Star newspaper. 'We immediately left the house and soon saw other residents leaving too.' Petronas said in a brief statement that the pipeline had been isolated. Three gas stations near the site were not affected but have been temporarily closed as a precautionary measure, the firm said, adding that investigations were under way.
Al Jazeera
31-03-2025
- Health
- Al Jazeera
Israeli air attacks kill dozens in Gaza as Palestinians mark Eid al-Fitr
Israel's bombardment of the Gaza Strip has continued on the first day of the Muslim Eid holidays, killing dozens of people as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shows no sign of letting up pressure on Hamas amid a new round of ceasefire talks. Several air raids in the early hours of Sunday struck tents and homes as Palestinians celebrated the Eid al-Fitr holiday marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. At least 35 people were killed in the southern cities of Rafah and Khan Younis, medical sources told Al Jazeera. Sunday's killings come as the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) recovered the bodies of 15 medical workers in Rafah who came under heavy Israeli fire last week. Al Jazeera's fact-checking agency Sanad obtained exclusive satellite images showing that at least five rescue vehicles were destroyed by the Israeli military in that deadly attack. '[This] is a tragedy not only for us … but also for humanitarian work and humanity,' PRCS said in a statement, adding that the Israeli military targeting the health workers 'can only be considered a war crime'. Amid the violence, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate as Israel has halted the delivery of aid into Gaza since early March. 'Palestinians are supposed to break their fast with a very nice meal [for Eid], but today they are unable to secure one meal – it's devastating, the situation in Gaza,' said Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah. Food in the Strip is scarce and highly expensive, with parents saying that feeding their families is a 'mission impossible', Khoudary said. Meanwhile, prospects for a breakthrough in ceasefire talks seem remote. On Sunday, Netanyahu repeated a demand for Hamas to disarm and for its leaders to leave Gaza, while promising to step up pressure on the group to release the 59 remaining captives it is holding, 35 of whom are believed dead. These are part of a new set of demands put forward by Israel, with the backing of US President Donald Trump, set to revise the terms of a three-phase ceasefire agreement signed in January. According to the original deal, following the release of a first batch of captives each week, the two parties agreed to enter a second phase of negotiations to discuss a permanent end to the war, the release of remaining captives and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza. But Israel insists Hamas should release all captives without Israel committing to end the war. With Hamas refusing the new demands, Israel resumed bombing the Strip and relocated troops inside the enclave. On Sunday, Netanyahu also said Israel would work to implement Trump's 'voluntary emigration plan' for Gaza and said his cabinet had agreed to keep pressuring Hamas, which says it has agreed to a new ceasefire proposal from mediators Egypt and Qatar. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said that Netanyahu's comments were a recipe for 'endless escalation' in the region. Netanyahu rejected assertions that Israel was not negotiating, saying 'We are conducting it under fire, and therefore it is also effective'. 'We see that there are suddenly cracks,' he said in a video statement issued on Sunday. Khalil al-Hayya, the Hamas leader in Gaza, said the group had agreed to a proposal that security sources said included the release of five Israeli captives each week. But he said laying down its arms as Israel has demanded was a 'red line' the group would not cross.
