On January 20th, 2012, Hanns Seidel Foundation Indonesia came together with its alumni organization PAHSI to conduct a national seminar on the issue of “Eradicating Cartel Practices In Indonesia: The Challenges of Indirect Evidence” as well as the Annual PAHSI Congress.

PAHSI (Persatuan Alumni Hanns Seidel Indonesia) is the in 2003 established Alumni Association of HSF Indonesia. The members of PAHSI, who have all been carrying out their studies in Germany with the help of a scholarship of Hanns Seidel Foundation, come together annually to contribute their experiences, ideas and knowledge to Indonesia in the form of seminars, conferences or roundtable discussions on current issues. This years national seminar on the issue of “Eradicating Cartel Practices in Indonesia: The Challenges of Indirect Evidence” was conducted at “Universitas Pelita Harapan” (UPH) in Tangerang.

The seminar evisaged to discuss problems and find solutions regarding the admission of indirect evidence in eradicating cartel practices in Indonesia was attended by many distinguished guests and speakers. Opening remarks were given by Dr. Ulrich Klingshirn, Resident Represantative of HSF Indonesia, Mr. Bascharul Asana, Chairman of PAHSI, Jessica Los Banos, Chef Person of PSHB, Dr. Jonathan Parapak, Rector of UPH, and Dr. Roland Schissau, Political and Protocol Affairs of the German Embassy.

Dr. Schissau emphasized Germany’s interest in helping Indonesia to further progress and praised the contribution of German-Indonesian collaboration to the development of Indonesia. The opening remarks were then followed by a keynote speech of Mr. Muhammad Nawir Messi, Chairman of the Indonesian Antithrust Authority (KPPU), who spoke about the importance of adjusted reforms. He mentioned the staggering developments of the Indonesian economy and thus a surge in cartel practices and stressed out that reforms often are too slow. In the following two sessions, held by antithrust law experts, lawyers and members of KPPU, such reforms, especially concerning the accreditation of indirect evindence were discussed.

The final conclusion of the seminar was that indirect evidence is an important nonetheless subordinated tool in eradicating cartel practices. It is however more important to strengthen the role, responsibilities and especially the power of the KPPU. Thus, through a judicial decision the KPPU should have the power to raid and seize businesses in order to get in the posession of direct evidences underlining the suspicions. Also the issue of whistleblowers has to be taken closer into consideration, as witnesses of cartel practices Indonesia rather tend to be silent in order to keep their jobs and salary.

Following the national seminar the annual PAHSI Congress was held. At the congress, the new Board of PAHSI for the period of 2011 until 2013 was elected: Mr. Bascharul Asana was confirmed in his office as Chairman of PAHSI, Ms. W. Wulandari is new Deputy Chairwoman, Dr. Abdul Manan Aruli was elected as Secretary, Ms. H. Wulandari as Deputy Secretary, Ms. Hetty Fatonah as Treasurer, Mr. Dian Parluhutan as Head of Political and Government Relation Division, Mr. Nur Khakim as Head of Environmental Division, Mr. Saleh Nugrahadi as Head of Cooperation, Development & Training Division as well as Ms. Christina Susilawati as Head of social and Cultural Division.