http://www.asiaviews.org/?content=432fdftretrw3re&story=20070426005543
Extradition treaty won't harm Singapore banks, property: MM
AsiaViews, Edition: 13/IV/Apr/2007
THE agreement between Singapore and Indonesia to sign an extradition
treaty will not scare wealthy Indonesians away from Singapore, nor will the
pact harm the Republic's banking and property sectors.
Making these points yesterday, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said the
treaty - to be signed in Bali on Friday - would, rather, "act as an inhibitor".
"It's laughable. Do you believe that any Indonesian who was likely to be
extradited would be here at all? (The treaty) acts as an inhibitor, and does
give an extra barrier for any would-be escapee from their system," he said in
an interview with Reuters before gracing the opening of its new office at One
Raffles Quay.
It was late on Monday when both countries reached an agreement on the
treaty and the Defence Cooperation Agreement, after years of discussions.
At a dialogue yesterday with business and financial market leaders, Mr
Lee said: "The Indonesians are not babes in the woods, and neither are we. They
know that before an Indonesian can come to Singapore, they must go through
their customs and immigration. If he doesn't get through with a passport, how
can he come to Singapore?"
Meanwhile in Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said he
was hopeful the treaty would lead to the arrests of a number of officials and
business figures accused of corruption during former President Suharto's
regime, and who had fled and parked their money in Singapore.
Mr Lee stressed that Singapore's financial sector was "not built up on
Indonesian money". He added: "We have, today, handled about $720 billion in
funds. They come from not just the immediate region but now from India, the
Gulf, some from China, some from Europe. Indonesian money is no more than 2 to
3 per cent of it."
During the lively 50-minute dialogue, Mr Lee touched on a range of
issues, but a question on global warming drew a passionate response from him.
One participant had sought his views on how Singapore, despite its reputation
as a green city, had a significantly high per-capita amount of greenhouse gas
emissions.
Putting that view into the proper perspective of Singapore's position as
a manufacturing base for many multinational companies with large operations, Mr
Lee added: "Global warming is a threat to humanity. We are a small part of it,
but we must do our best ... As we move from big industries to smaller ones
(like) electronics, pharmaceuticals, services, I think the (emissions) ratio
will go down. I'm a big believer that we have to be part of the movement."
With sea levels rising due to global warming, the world had "left it too
late", said Mr Lee. "There are times, I feel the human mind ... has not caught
up with reality."
The Minister Mentor also touched on the rising number of Singaporeans
living, working and studying abroad, currently standing at 150,000. He
estimated this figure would double to 300,000 in 10 years.
"Singaporeans don't like to travel, they like the comforts and security
of home. But the attractions are now elsewhere. How can you turn away doubling
or trebling your net income?" he said.
As the Singapore economy continues to prosper, concerns remain about the
high cost of living and doing business here, noted one participant. In
response, Mr Lee said many recent reports had painted Singapore as "the place
to be", leading to a sudden spike in demand for office space and manpower,
among other things.
"This is a temporary phase ... Rents are cyclical. They will come down.
We are not Hong Kong, and we know that. We just cannot afford to let (rental
rates) become astronomical," he said.
By Lee U-Wen
Today
25 April 2007
++++
Singapore responsible for returning corruptors
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The extradition agreement between Singapore
and Indonesia that was recently signed will be put into effect retroactively to
indict criminals.
"The agreement will be applied retroactively to around five years back
since it was signed," said Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh at the
presidential office in Jakarta, yesterday (04/24).
According to Abdul Rahman, with the extradition agreement, Singapore has
the obligation to deport criminals that visit the country.
"It will be easier for us to indict the escaping corruptors," he said.
The Attorney General will prioritize several cases within the
retroactive-period that the agreement noted.
"It is 2007. If it were possible, the 1998 cases must be handled (the
BLBI-Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance-cases)," he said.
With regard to the discussion of asset recovery of the corruptors, Abdul
Rahman said he will apply the mechanism of the UN convention.
Indonesia and Singapore finally agreed on the extradition agreement two
days ago and a defense agreement was also agreed.
The agreement will be signed in Tampak Siring Palace, Bali, by this
coming Friday (04/27), with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and the Prime
Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong as witnesses.
Emerson Yuntho, the Legal Division Coordinator of Indonesia Corruption
Watch, has asked that the extradition agreement not just be left on paper.
He said he was concerned if Singapore were not be serious about the
agreement bearing in mind that the country had benefited by investments made by
corruptors on the run.
Up until now, Singapore has been notorious as a haven for several
suspects and convicts of corruption from Indonesia.
They include, among others, Samadikun Hartono (owner of Bank Modern),
Sudjiono Timan, Maria Pauline Lumowa and Atang Latief.
By Sutarto, Raden R, Pramono, Gunanto, Erwin, Poernomo Gr
Tempo Interactive
25 April 2007
By Lee U-Wen
Today, 25 April 2007
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