Word: akbar
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...policy, the daughter of the man who founded Indonesia could badly use a bit of Dad's populist charm in dealing with Indonesia's myriad woes: economic stagnation, religious violence, allegations of terrorist networks, not to mention several secessionist movements. The high profile trials of Tommy Suharto, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, 18 military officers accused of human rights abuses during East Timor's transition to independence, as well as a handful of ordinary corruption cases have served as symbolic reminders that she stands for-or used to, anyway-reform and clean governance, long the rallying cry for populist Indonesian politicians...
...Politics as usual? Try justice as unusual politics. House Speaker Akbar, who also heads the former ruling Golkar party, for example makes for a particularly tempting political target. Currently in detention, he faces 20 years in prison for his alleged role in the misuse of $4 million in state money. Critics say Akbar's trial is not part of a crusade against graft but something much shabbier: a maneuver by the President to remove a strong political rival from the scene. With Akbar-Megawati's opponent in the 1999 presidential race-in prison and preoccupied with a lengthy trial...
...sadly symbolic of the state of Indonesian justice that even if he is convicted and sentenced, Akbar may never actually go to jail-not if the case of Central Bank Governor Syahril Sabirin is any precedent. Syahril was sentenced on March 13 to three years in prison for his role in a banking slush fund scandal, but remains a free man pending an appeal. Absurdly, convicted felon Syahril still goes to work every day at the central bank. Like Akbar, he has refused to step down from his post...
...Akbar is editor in chief of The Asian Age. His next book, The Shade of Swords: Jihad and the Conflict Between Islam and Christianity, will be published...
...lowdown on his layers: 1. Karakul cap: a nod to the people of northern Afghanistan. 2. Chapan: the silk robe is an aristocratic tradition. 3. Western jacket: a symbol of East-West unity. 4. Piran-tunban: a tunic-and-trousers combo worn by southern Afghans. 'With his dress,' says Akbar Ahmed, professor of Islamic studies at American University, Washington, D.C., 'he wants to revive the best of Afghan culture...