"In the next five years, trembesi trees will absorb huge emissions in Indonesia to tackle the climate change," Gusti told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Your comments:
I don't think that Mother Nature is happy with just one sort of tree on mother earth. Neither are all the native animals of Indonesia.

It's time to rethink all the sins we have done in the past and try not to be greedy by just grabbing at CO2 absorption solutions, but try to remember what the native jungle used to look like and then try to replant it that way.

Dirk van de Werken
Kuta, Bali

Human rights, the ASEAN-China FTA -- Jan. 12, p. 7

Entering 2010 has been marked by the entry into a free trade area agreement between ASEAN and China, also known as the ASEAN-China FTA.

However, little attention was paid to the possible impacts of this FTA on human rights in Indonesia.

Some of these include the right to health and a healthy environment, work and a decent livelihood, access to natural resources, and other social, economic, and cultural rights.

The ASEAN-China FTA was first formulated in 2001 at the ASEAN-China Summit, which created the Framework on Economic Cooperation and established an ASEAN-China Free Trade Area.

Based on this framework, an agreement was made for the establish-ment of a free trade area within 10 years time. (By Iman Prihandono, Sydney)

Your comments:
The AANZFTA negotiations have already concluded - and are no longer in the negotiation process as the article mentioned. The ASEAN-EU FTA negotiation was halted precisely because of the human rights issue ... the EU refused to continue the negotiations unless Myanmar stepped out of the negotiations.

Natasha T
Spain

One of many ultimate basic rights set forth in the 1945 Constitution that cannot be enforced by state. Are there any other forthcoming basic rights we fail to maintain? Welcome state of porter!

Rizki Sridadi
Surabaya

Good words Iman. I agree with your views on how the government should protect the citizens. I am confident that if the government can truly impose the laws consistently then global trade will not be something we should afraid of.

Mulia
Marsfield, Australia

Pertamina to enter Australian markets -- Jan. 13, p. 14

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina plans to establish its first overseas gas station in Sydney, Australia, in the first half of this year, the company said Tuesday. "We expect to build at least one gas station in Sidney before mid-year. We have allocated about Rp 60 billion *US$6.54 million* for this purpose."

Your comments:
It would be ideal if Pertamina went into this market, selling fuel at discounted prices well below that of the Australian oil companies.

The Australian companies have been ripping off the Australian public for too long, with the government complicit in their actions.

Pertamina should try, but be wary of the government and the other oil companies making marketing of imported fuels difficult.

Daryl Roe
Jakarta

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