Egypt's Army dissolved Parliament, Old Cabinet became caretaker for 6-months

Egypt's military has dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution, two days after Hosni Mubarak, the long-serving president, stepped down in the wake of a popular uprising.

The country's Supreme Council of Armed Forces announced on Sunday that it would remain in charge of the country for six months until a new government is formed.

The military council announced the move in a statement on state television, adding that it would form a panel to amend the constitution before submitting the changes to a popular referendum.

The announcement came shortly after Egypt's prime minister announced that the cabinet appointed by Mubarak shortly before he stepped down, would stay in place.

Ahmed Shafiq, speaking after his first cabinet meeting since Mubarak left on Friday, said Egypt's caretaker government will remain for the country's transition towards democracy.

He said that security would remain a priority and pledged to fight corruption and restore peace in the country, following 18 days of pro-democracy protests.

"The first priority for this government is to restore security and to facilitate daily life for its citizens," he said. "I guarantee that this [cabinet] will return rights to the people and fight corruption."

Military in charge

Al Jazeera's James Bays, reporting from Cairo, said the two announcements do not indicate that the prime minister and military council are talking against each other.

But it is "quite clear that the power now rests entirely" with the military council, he said.

"They've taken on the role of the presidency and the prime minister and the other ministers carry out their orders.

"The key point is the military is saying they are only in power for a temporary basis, for six months or they'll go earlier if elections are called before six months.

But our correspondent noted that "one thing that wasn't in that communique that protesters have asked for, was the repeal of emergency laws".

Protest organisers had called for both the dissolution of parliament and the lifting of a 30-year-old state of emergency.

Some protesters have vowed to remain in Cairo's Tahrir Square - the epicentre of the uprising - until all of their demands are met

Scuffles broke out early on Sunday as soldiers tried to remove activists from the square.

Soldiers shoved pro-democracy protesters aside to force a path for traffic to start flowing through Tahrir Square for the first time in more than two weeks.

Our correspondent in Cairo said the confrontations between troops and protesters was something of a "flashpoint".

"I think it reflects a bigger problem, that the military believes that now Mubarak is out, it's time for stability," he said.

"But some of the protesters think not enough has been done yet. They don't want to clear that square until the army has handed over to a civilian government."

Police protest

At one point a group of several dozen police officers marched into the square bearing flowers, proclaiming their solidarity with the uprising and chanting: "The police and the people! With one hand!"

But they were soon chased away by protesters, who accuse the police of decades of arbitrary arrests, torture and extortion, as well as a heavy-handed attempt to crush the revolt that left hundreds dead.

Elsewhere, even as the demonstrations against Mubarak wound down, new challenges emerged as workers went on strike.

In the latest such moves, employees at two public sector banks in Cairo went on strike demanding better pay. In addition, about 2,000 policemen demonstrated in front of the Interior Ministry, complaining about the gap in salaries between officers and enlisted.

Egypt's state news agency said that in light of the strikes, the Central Bank decided it will suspend work in banks on Monday. Banks will reopen on Wednesday, because Tuesday is also a public holiday.

Meanwhile, normality began to return to other parts of Egypt. The tents, where protesters camped out during the 18 days of protests, were removed from Tahrir Square.

In the northern city of Alexandria, Al Jazeera's Jamal ElShayyal said people had also begun to get back to work, adding that Sunday's military announcement was likely to reassure activists in the city.

"Alexandria didn't have the same amount of sit-in protesters that we've seen in Tahrir. However those that have said they will continue their demonstrations have been assured a lot more by this time frame given by the military."

But Ashraf Ahmed, a protester in Cairo, vowed that he was not going to leave "because so much still needs to be done. They haven't implemented anything yet".

Protest organisers have threatened more rallies if the governing military council fails to accept their agenda for reform.

"If the army does not fulfil our demands, our uprising and its measures will return stronger," Safwat Hegazi, a protest leader, said.

Leadership, Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Programs

With Election Polling Day of April 9, 2009 is nearing, many people are still wondering whos Party or Legislative Candidate or Presidential Candidate will be his or her best choice. In order to assist the undecided voters, we would like to give a short advise about their best choice:

1. Leadership: Who can be called a Leader? A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.

2. Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Programs:

A leader must have a good future view or a dream or a vision of the country that he/she is leading: A just, prosperous and democratic country of Indonesia, which would provide good employment for all of the people, sufficient salary to pay for monthly living needs, peace and welfare for all of the people of Indonesia.

In order to realize his/her vision, he/she must be able to express clearly and logically how he/she would like to do when he/she is elected as a Leader through a short term statements of Mission, Objectives, Strategy and programs. These statements are very important for all of the people to understand and follow up during his/her term as a Leader of the country. People can also see if these statements are realizable or not, or just empty slogans to please the voters.

Strategy statement is an explanation of how he/she would achieve the mission and objectives which he/she has made, through a clear, logical, clever, creative and strategic way that can be realized in practice.

Programs are the details of his/her main programs which he/she will execute for the duration of his/her term as a Leader of the country.

A better way for a good Leader is if he/she could express clearly his/her first 100-days Programs as a clear indication of his/her best and correct choice of the most important actions to be done to significantly impact the improvement to the condition of the country he/she is leading. A good example of the Fiist 100-days Program of a Leader is shown by President Barrack Obama of the USA, whom he had shown to follow it as accurately as possible, and did give an impact to the improvement of the country's condition.

If any Legislative Candidate has not made the above mentioned statements, then he/she only have a few days left to make it or amend it. However, for a Presidential Candidate, he/she still have exactly three months to make the required statements or to improve or to amend them.

It is interesting to see how the current positioning of Presidentail Candidates as given in the following two Election Pollings:

http://www.presidenku.com

http://indonesianelection2009.blogspot.com

Whether having the suggested statments of Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategy and Programs could alter the above Election Polling result remain to be seen in three moths time.

We hope the above information will be useful for making your correct decision of our future leaders.

May God bless us all.

Economic Challenges for the Indonesian Presidential candidates 2009

The Legislative Election is only a few days to come, yet many people still do not know the reason why they should choose one or another party or candidate, because they can only see a few parties' banners, slogans or promises along the Indonesian road sides. During the past four-and-a-half year of the current government of President SBY and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, people were experiencing rising oil, food, and basic needs prices, growing unemployment, and growing number of poor people. The current Global Financial Crises only added up to the economic problems of Indonesia, causing reduction in export, business trade, rising US Dollar exchange rate and the fall of domestic shares prices.

People are wandering if the results of the current Legislative Election and Presidential Election could improve the Indonesian economic condition and improve the people's welfare in general, because only a few candidates could express logically and clearly if they are elected, they will execute economic improvement programs for the country during their five-year rule. Most candidates could only make good promises without any further explanations.

However, we were lucky to watch a discussion program on "Economic Challenges" a few days ago at Metro-TV, presenting Dr. Pande Raja Silalahi from CSIS and Dr. Hendri Saparini from ECONID. The two speakers were basically expressing the positioning of "established" presidential candidates: SBY, JK and Megawati; and the "alternate" presidential candidates: Wiranto, Probowo and Rizal Ramli.

The economic policy of the "established" presidential candidates in principle is to start with existing economic conditions, and gradually improving without much significant changes to the existing system. They also welcome the foreign investors and foreign role in the development of Indonesia.

On the other hand the economic policy of the "alternate" presidential candidates in principle is to reject foreign domination in the development of Indonesia, and try to use as much as possible local expertise and resources in the development of Indonesia, and to establish self-sufficency.

The detailed variation of each presidential candidate economic policy is presented as follows:

1. The incumbent President SBY: continue the current economic policy of the current Government, because it was considered to be fairly successful.
2. The incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla: (a). Self-sufficiency in rice production; (b). Increase investment; (c). Develop infrastructures.
3. The former President Megawati: (a). Create cheap supply of basic needs of the people; (b). Create more employments; (c). Improve the welfare of the people.
4. The alternate Presidential candidate Wiranto: (a). Change economic direction so as to be free from foreign influence; (b). Indonesian natural resources is mainly for the benefit of the Indonesian people.
5. The alternate Presidential candidate Prabowo: (a). Create a just and right economic policy to ensure the improvement in economic condition of poor people; (b). Peasants and fishermen to become the economic backbone of Indonesia; (c). Developing Indonesia as one of Asian economic "tigers"; (d). Reject the sale of State-owned Enterprises.
   
6. The alternate Presidential candidate Rizal Ramli: (a). Nationalization of foreign-owned Indonesian companies; (b). Reject foreign influence in the development of Indonesia; (c). Reject IMF influence.

It is to be noted that the alternate Presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto is the most communicative candidate, judging from his almost daily appearance in Indonesian television ads, and his most outspoken views of the future Indonesian economic policy. He is the son of the Indonesian economic "Guru" the late Prof. Dr. Sumitro Djoyohadikusumo.

By knowing the summary of each Presidential candidates, we can now decide whos policy is our best choice to realize the long awaited ideals of the people of Indonesia: A just and prosperous country for all people of Indonesia!

Who is your choice? Please have your comments and suggestions.

On Day-6 Election Campaigning becoming warmer

Today, Saturday March 21, 2009 the situation on all campaigning locations throughout Indonesia were becoming warmer. Presiden SBY with his wife Any Yudhoyono and son Edi Baskoro ware present at Partai Demokrat (PD) campaign at Captain Japa football field, Padanggalak, Denpasar, Bali. The three sang together campaign song of PD "Sempurna" (Perfect) with a few modification of its lyric:

You are my Protector, You are my Leader, You are my Life, Please complete my Life, Oh my Democrate You are ,,, so Perfect..

The Presiden spoke about the successes of his Government that had been achieved up till today. The Padanggalak area was fully filled with PD supporters. Singer Andra and "The Backbone" musical band were present to support the President's campaign team. The Team arrived in Bali using a Garuda Indonesia Airlines executive class flight and a chartered aircraft.

In Makassar on the same day, Vice President Jusuf Kalla and his family joined the Golkar campaign for the first time, after his absence from campaign activities of Golkar Party for the first few days. The Vice President said that in order to form a strong government, there should be supports from large political parties. The Golkar Party in Makassar support the candidacy of Jusuf Kalla for the coming Presidential Election on July 9, 2009.

In Central Java Chairwoman of the PDIP Megawati Sukarnoputri attended PGIP campaign at the village of Patalan, Jetis, Bantul near Yogyakarta. She was accompanied by Mr. Theo Syafei, the Regent of Bentul Mr. Idham Samawi and Chirman of PDIP Bantul Mr. Joko Purnomo.She warned again about the manipulation of the Fixed Electors List that could cause the failure of the election. She urged all people to exercise their voting rights and asked them not to join the Non-Voters group, because it would distort the democratic process.

Meanwhile Mr. Muhaimin Iskandar at the Partai Kebangkitan Bangsa (PKB) campaign in Subang, West Java was proposed by his supporters to become Presidential Candidate for July 9, 2009 election. He was considered as the most eligible candidate since he is young, smart and popular, and was expected to be able to unwind the complex problems of Indonesia.

In Sunter, Jakarta Partai Gerindra held a campaign attended by Permadi, Rachel Maryam, Halida Hatta and Budi Satrio Djiwandono. Several children were present at the campaign to watch clowns acting at the campaign stage, eventhough the Election rule prevent them from attending campaign.

Prabowo Subianto, the popular Presidential Candidate of Geridra, after discussing the serious errors in Electors List with Megawati Sukarnoputri indicated to propose to delay the 2009 Election to correct errors. However Mr. Fadly Zon, the Deputy Chiaman of Gerindrea said that the election should go ahead as scheduled.

Megawati: BLT degrades people's and nation's Dignity

Former President of Indonesia and Chairwoman of the Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan (PDIP) in her open campaign speech in Jember, East Java yesterday, Friday, April 20, 2009 said that the Government Program "Direct Cash Assistance" (BLT) to the people only resulted in lowering the dignity of Indonesian people and the nation, because it forced people to be beggars by lining up on a long and overcrowded rows for just to receive a mere Rp300,000 per perperson for three months.

She accused that this program is only for spending government money, which should be better if it is used to build roads, public water supply or toilet, instead of BLT.

On her 30-minute speech, Megawati reminded about the manipulation in the last East Java Governor/Deputy Governor election that resulted in the defeat of PDI supported candidates. She was afraid of the same case happen during the current Legislative and Presidential election. She advised her supported not to participate in money politics that would affect the outcome of the election.

President SBY started his first campaign at Gelora Bung Karno Hall

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) patron of the Ruling Party Partai Demokrat (PD) started his political campaign to support his party's cause for the Legislative Election on April 9, 2009 at Gelora Bung Karno Hall (GBK Hall) today, Friday March 20, 2009 attended by about 50,000 supporters, or about a half of the GBK Hall capacity of 120,000 people.

The President was scheduled to make three 7-minute speeches during today campaign and sang his new campaign song "Sempurna" (Perfect), composed by Andra and sang by "The Backbone" musical band. His previous successful campaign song was "Pelangi di matamu" (Rainbow on your etes). However, the President only gave one 7-minute speech and then left the audience. There was an impression that the President was not happy because the campaign hall was half-fiiled. The President said in his previous Press Conference at his Cikeas residence that he would do campaigning for his PD Party every Friday, Saturday and Sunday till April 5, 2009, the end of open campaigning allowed by the Election Regulator (KPU) for the Legislative Election.

On the same day the Partai Keadilan Bangsa (PKS) held a campaign rally at Blok-S Jakarta on a smaller stadium. The stadium was fully attended by PKS supprters and after the campaign, streets surrounding the area were jammed by the PKS supportes. Chairman of PKS Tifatul Sembiring made his party's campaign speech.

Press Conference: President SBY answered all questions

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday afternoon, March 15, 2009 invited Indonesian Reporters to a Press Conference at his Cikeas residence. He answered all questions related to his candidacy as the President for the period 2009-2014. The following is the summary:

1. Relationship with Megawati: The President extended his offer for a dialog with Megawati Sukarnoputri.
2. About his health: He confirmed that he is healthy and fit.
3. Relationship with Vice President Jusuf Kalla: He will maintained a good working relatioship untill the end of their term as President-Vice President in October 2004.
4. Relationship with the Ministers from Golkar and other parties: They all have given him assurances that their Election campaign activities will not stop them from performing their duties and responsibilities as Ministers. The President confirmed that he will hold command and full control of the Cabinet till October 2009.
5. Choice for his running mate as Vice President 2009-2014: Until the result of the Legislative Election is known, he cannot decide the candidate. However, he set a criteria for his running mate: a capable person, has a high personal integration and correct chemistry.
6. The President SBY assured that no single Party will get a 51% vote, so there must be a Coalition to form a strong Government.
   
7. He assured and hope that the Election Process is conducted in a fair, honest, peaceful and democratic way.
8. The President will announce the beginning of Election Campaign on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 10.00 a.m. He will make a short speech, and declare a peaceful Election.