The uniformity of media reports on Soeharto’s hospitalization and his health condition has raised suspicions that the coverage is aimed at motivating sympathy for the former president.According to Heru Hendratmoko of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), there are indications that the former strongman’s 32-year legacy of rampant corruption and human rights violations are being glossed over by the constant and comprehensive reports of his deteriorating health, which allegedly have been framed to stir up sympathy.

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JAKARTA The Indonesian government has removed the ten percent import tax on soybean effective from today and is studying more measures to deal with the rising price of the commodity in global markets, an official said Monday. The tax could be re-imposed if the price of soybean falls, said Bayu Krisnamurti, Deputy Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs.

Soybean is a key substitute for crude palm oil. Their prices have jumped over the past few years as record oil prices fuelled demand of alternative energy such as biofuel. Record soybean prices have threatened the existence of small and medium-sized enterprises, which use soybean as a raw material for the production of soybean curd and fermented soybean cake, a staple Indonesian diet especially among poor families.

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