[Kabar-indonesia] RI urges Singapore extradition deal

[Joyo at aol.com]

The Jakarta Post 
Saturday, June 24, 2006

RI urges S'pore extradition deal

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian government said Friday it wanted to sign an extradition treaty 
with neighboring Singapore before signing any of the other treaties the 
countries are currently discussing.

"Although we are now discussing three treaties simultaneously we want to sign 
an extradition treaty first because we started discussing that treaty long 
before the others," said the Foreign Ministry's director for Asia and Pacific 
Affairs, Yuri Thamrin.

He added that Indonesia did not want the extradition treaty to be postponed 
just because the other two treaties had not yet been finalized.

Beside the extradition treaty, Indonesia and Singapore are now discussing a 
defense treaty and a treaty on fighting terrorism.

"The extradition treaty is now 60 percent finished while the other treaties 
have just begun. We are still having difficulties on several items in the 
extradition treaty, including the list of crimes and the system and procedures," 
Yuri said.

Indonesia is eager to complete the extradition treaty with its neighbor 
because many high-profile allegedly embezzlers fled to Singapore with billions of 
dollars in state money.

There have been some complaints from Indonesia about Singapore's failure to 
have already signed the treaty. Several House of Representative lawmakers 
proposed that Indonesia not send its ambassador to the country to pressure 
Singapore.

Yuri said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono might discuss the issue with 
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when they meet in Batam on Sunday.

The main order of business, however, will be the signing of an agreement on 
economic cooperation that will include preparations for the establishment of 
special economic zones in Indonesian territory.

The agreement will provide more opportunities for Singapore manufacturers to 
invest in Indonesia.

"The agreement will include the establishment of special economic zones on 
Batam and Bintan islands to facilitate investment in these areas by more 
companies from Singapore," Yuri said.

Earlier, Vice President Jusuf Kalla held several meetings with officials from 
Singapore to promote Batam and Bintan as Indonesia's main investment 
destinations for investors from the neighboring country.

Singapore is interested in Bintan and Batam because the islands are located 
less than an hour by ferry from Singapore, and have adequate business 
infrastructure, abundant water and labor supplies, and more relaxed customs management 
and supervision than other areas in Indonesia.

Due to a lack of land, Singapore is trying to expand its manufacturing into 
neighboring countries. Bintan and Batam are likely to be its main focuses in 
this regard.

Under a customs and excise bill now being deliberated in the House of 
Representatives, companies operating in special economic zones will be exempted from 
paying excise and import duties. 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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