"Indonesian court rejects election loser’s appeal" Associated Press August 22, 2014
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s top court on Thursday rejected an appeal by the losing candidate in last month’s presidential election about alleged voting irregularities, removing any uncertainty around the victory of Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo.
Related: Widodo the Winner in Indonesia
Prabowo Subianto, a former general with ties to the regime of former dictator Suharto, had alleged massive fraud in July 9 polls and filed a complaint in the Constitutional Court. He presented evidence and witness testimony for his claim, but all nine judges at the court ruled it was groundless.
‘‘The ruling is final and binding, but does not necessarily reflect truth or justice,’’ Tantowi Yahya, a spokesman for a coalition of political parties supporting Subianto, told a news conference.
The verdict means that Widodo, a former furniture exporter who stands out among Indonesia’s political elite for his humble upbringing and lifestyle, can press ahead with preparing to take over the government of the world’s fourth most populous nation, a regional economic powerhouse.
Widodo will be sworn in Oct. 20.
‘‘We very much appreciate the Constitutional Court which has done its duties openly, transparency and professionally,’’ he told a news conference.
The court’s decision had been widely expected given the flimsy evidence presented at the court by the Subianto camp and the number of election votes needed to be overturned to ensure victory. The verdict cannot be appealed.
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"Rape trial starts for Indonesia school janitor" Associated Press August 27, 2014
JAKARTA, Indonesia — A closed-door trial began Tuesday for the first of five janitors accused of raping a kindergartner in a bathroom at a prestigious international school in Indonesia that is facing a storm of controversy following more abuse allegations.
Oh, no, not again!
An American who taught at the Jakarta International School for 10 years killed himself earlier this year as the FBI was investigating evidence that he sexually abused scores of teen boys while working at 10 schools across four continents.
The custodians contracted to work at the school were arrested in April: five men accused of attacking the boy and a woman accused as an accomplice. Police said one man committed suicide while in custody after drinking bathroom cleanser.
This thing has got cover-up all over it!
Related: Globe Toasts Utah
A media horde surrounded Agun Iskandar, 25, as he entered the courtroom. The remaining four suspects were expected to appear in court Wednesday, and the men could face up to 15 years in jail if found guilty. The 6-year-old boy’s parents have sued the school, seeking $125 million in compensation.
All of the male defendants signed confessions, but one defense attorney, Mada Mardanus, argued they did so only because they were being tortured by police. He said the suspects deny the accusations.
It's the same the world over no matter what they call your government.
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"Indonesia, Australia sign new security agreement" Associated Press August 29, 2014
BALI, Indonesia — Often-testy neighbors Indonesia and Australia signed a new security agreement on Thursday to mend a relationship badly damaged by allegations last year that Australia was listening to the telephone conversations of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his wife.
In service to the US global surveillance grid.
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa of Indonesia said the deal would lead to enhanced intelligence operations and the restoration of full military cooperation.
The disagreement hurt the countries’ ability to work together on the movement of asylum seekers through Indonesia to Australia and efforts to tackle Islamist militancy, a concern that has grown sharper in recent months amid the passage of Australian and Indonesian jihadists to Iraq and Syria.
They had to work that into the whole conversation. Sigh.
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The problem there is PEACE BREAKING OUT ALL OVER ASIA right now!
I just got an idea for a new theory on the downing of Flight 370 though! The terrorists!
"Attempt to call missing Malaysian jet may alter search area" Associated Press August 29, 2014
CANBERRA, Australia — Shortly after Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar, airline officials on the ground tried repeatedly to call the crew using a satellite phone that might have left clues to the jet’s flight path.
Now an analysis of those failed attempts to reach the missing airliner could alter the search for the plane.
Australia’s deputy prime minister, Warren Truss, said Thursday that the sprawling search area in the southern Indian Ocean may be extended farther south based on the new analysis, which suggests that the aircraft turned in that direction earlier than previously believed.
OMG, the bullish** is being put on with a ladle now. Looking like this baby was a TWA 800 case.
Investigators have long been aware of the calls but only recently developed methods to analyze the phone data for hints about the plane’s final hours. It was through a similar analysis of satellite data from the plane’s jet engine transmitters that investigators were able to define the current search area.
The jetliner, a Boeing 777, disappeared March 8 after veering off its course from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing and has become one of aviation’s biggest mysteries. It is thought to have crashed 1,100 miles off Australia’s west coast, but no trace of the aircraft or the 239 people aboard has been found.
Martin Dolan, Australia’s Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner, said he would meet with international specialists next week to decide whether the 23,000-square- mile search area should be extended or shifted south.
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Also see: Malaysia Airlines to cut 6,000 staff in overhaul
MH-17 never comes up anymore, either because the hoax has been exposed or it's been found to be a false flag shoot down by Ukraine forces.
