UN Treaty on international trade

via AP  Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked adoption of a U.N. treaty that would regulate the multibillion-dollar international arms trade for the first time, saying it fails to ban sales to terrorists, but other countries refused to let the treaty die. The treaty's adoption required agreement by all 193 U.N. member states, but some countries said Thursday they would ask Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to bring the final draft before the General Assembly for adoption by vote as soon as possible. Observers said that could be as soon as Tuesday. "This is not failure," British Ambassador Jo Adamson said. "Today is success deferred, and deferred by not very long." For more than a decade, activists and some governments have been pushing for international rules to regulate the estimated $60 billion global arms trade and try to keep illicit weapons out of the hands of terrorists, insurgent fighters and organized crime. After two weeks of intensive negotiations, many delegates had been optimistic that consensus — which doesn't require a vote — by all states was within reach, but Iran, North Korea and Syria announced they could not support the treaty. Both Iran and North Korea are under U.N. arms embargoes over their nuclear programs, while Syria is in the third year of a conflict that has escalated to civil war. Amnesty International said all three countries "have abysmal human rights records — having even used arms against their own citizens." This was the second attempt in eight months to get countries with very different interests behind an Arms Trade Treaty. Hopes of reaching agreement were dashed in July when the U.S. said it needed more time to consider the proposed accord — a move quickly backed by Russia and China. In December, the U.N. General Assembly decided to hold a final conference and set Thursday as the deadline. U.S. deputy representative Dan Mahley said Thursday that the United States supported the proposed treaty as "fair and balanced" and looked forward to its quick adoption by the General Assembly. The United States, along with Britain, Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Finland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Nigeria and Norway, backed Kenya, which announced that because "the will of the overwhelming majority is clear" it was sending a letter to the secretary-general immediately asking him to bring the treaty before the General Assembly for adoption. The secretary-general did not immediately address the request but expressed deep disappointment at the failure to agree on a treaty text. "He is confident that the Arms Trade Treaty will come to pass and is encouraged by the shared determination to make this happen as soon as possible," U.N. spokesman Martin Nesirky said. The Control Arms Coalition, representing about 100 organizations which have campaigned for a strong treaty, said the earliest the General Assembly could vote is Tuesday, when the chair of the negotiations, Australian Ambassador Peter Woolcott, will present his report to the full world body. The United States used the consensus requirement — which gives any country a veto — to block adoption of the treaty in July, but Anna Macdonald, head of arms control at Oxfam, said "now it's come back to bite them, because the U.S. now wants this treaty agreed but have found themselves blocked by Iran, North Korea and Syria." She added, "There's no doubt that if the treaty was put to a vote there would have been a huge majority in favor of it — and I think there will be next week when the General Assembly votes." U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Tom Countryman said the United States would like to see many countries ratify the treaty, because that's what will make it effective. The draft treaty would not control the domestic use of weapons in any country, but it would require all countries to establish national regulations to control the transfer of conventional arms, parts and components and to regulate arms brokers. It would prohibit states that ratify the treaty from transferring conventional weapons if they violate arms embargoes or if they promote acts of genocide, crimes against humanity or war crimes. The final draft made the human rights provision even stronger, adding that the export of conventional arms should be prohibited if they could be used in attacks on civilians or civilian buildings such as schools and hospitals. In considering whether to authorize the export of arms, the draft says a country must evaluate whether the weapon would be used to violate international human rights or humanitarian laws or be used by terrorists or organized crime. The final draft would allow countries to determine whether the weapons transfer would contribute to or undermine peace and security. The draft would also require parties to the treaty to take measures to prevent the diversion of conventional weapons to the illicit market. Iran's U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said the draft treaty has "many legal flaws and loopholes," is "hugely susceptible to politicization and discrimination" and ignores the "legitimate demand" to prohibit the transfer of arms to those who commit aggression. "How can we reduce human suffering by turning a blind eye to aggression that costs the lives of hundreds of thousands of people?" he asked. North Korea's deputy U.N. ambassador Ri Tong-il called the text "a risky draft which can be politically abused by major arms exporters," citing arms embargoes and human rights as criteria to prohibit arms exports. "Under this, major exporters are entitled to privileges while imposing self-proclaimed restrictions on arms trade to importers, whereas many countries have the right to legitimate self-defense and right to legitimate arms trade." Syria's U.N. Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari said his country is perhaps the best example of the results of the illegal arms trade. He cited seven objections, including the treaty's failure to include an embargo on delivering weapons "to terrorist armed groups and to non-state actors." India's Ambassador Sujata Mehta said the text was skewed against countries like itself that import arms, and noted that it would strive ensure that the final treaty not threaten India's defense cooperation agreements and contracts with other countries. She said it also won't have any real impact on illicit arms trafficking and the use of arms by terrorists. Countryman, the U.S. delegation chief, said the treaty should make it harder for "serial human rights abusers" to obtain weapons, but he said "India is not one of these countries." __ Associated Press writer Maria Sanminiatelli contributed to this report.

Who really killed bin Laden? - CNN.com

http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/26/world/bergen-who-killed-bin-laden/index.html

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Rekening Dana Investor and AkSes

via okezone Sejak awal tahun lalu, dana milik investor tidak lagi bercampur dengan dana di rekening perusahaan efek. Kebijakan pemisahan dana ini tertuang dalam peraturan Bapepam-LK Nomor V.D.III tentang Pengendalian Internal Perusahaan Efek. Apa tujuan pemisahan rekening dana ini?   Mungkin ada yang ingat kasus Sarijaya Sekuritas beberapa tahun yang  lalu di pasar modal Indonesia. Perusahaan sekuritas yang sebelumnya sangat aktif melakukan sosialiasi pasar modal ini dibubarkan setelah terbukti menyalahgunakan dana nasabahnya senilai lebih dari Rp300 miliar.   Perusahaan sekuritas itu menggunakan dana milik nasabah tanpa seizin nasabah untuk bertransaksi atas kepentingan mereka. Ketika dana investasi yang mereka "mainkan" jatuh nilainya, Sarijaya Sekuritas tidak bisa mengembalikan dana nasabah. Uang investor raib bersamaan dengan ditutupnya perusahaan ini, dan ditahannya para tersangka.   Penyalahgunaan dana investor yang menjadi nasabah perusahaan sekuritas sebelum ini rentan terjadi karena tidak ada pemisahan antara rekening dana milik perusahaan sekuritas dan rekening dana nasabah. Investor hanya menerima laporan tentang nilai aset mereka dan saham atau efek yang dititipkan di perusahaan sekuritas.   Tidak ada jaminan, dana dan efek  milik nasabah tidak disalahgunakan oknum pialang di perusahaan efek. Lantaran, investor tidak bisa memantau langsung perpindahan (mutasi) dana dan efek mereka.   Dengan keluarnya peraturan mengenai pemisahan Rekening Dana Nasabah (RDN) yang berlaku sejak setahun lalu, nasabah lebih terlindungi dari moral hazard oknum perusahaan efek. Kebijakan RDN ini menjadi bagian dari pengembangan infrastruktur pasar modal yang dikembangkan oleh Strategic Management Office-Project Management Office (SMO-PMO) Bapepam-LK dan SRO, yang diluncurkan akhir tahun lalu.   RDN diterapkan bersamaan dengan pemberlakuan Single Investor Identification (SID). Setiap investor memiliki satu SID sebagai identitas investor. SID yang dimiliki investor ini juga digunakan untukpassword masuk ke fasilitas AKSes yang difasilitasi PT Kustodian Sentral Efek Indonesia (KSEI). Melalui AKSes, investor bisa memonitor saldo efek miliknya dan mutasi efek yang ada di sejumlah perusahaan efek.   Sejak 1 Februari 2012, hanya investor yang sudah memiliki SID dan RDN yang bisa bertransaksi saham di Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI). Ketentuan ini diterapkan untuk memberikan keamanan bagi investor, dalam rangka perlindungan terhadap investor di pasar modal Indonesia.   Setiap perusahaan sekuritas diwajibkan membuatkan SID dan membukakan RDN untuk setiap investornya. Saat ini ada lima bank pembayaran yang menjadi tempat menampung RDN, yakni BCA, BNI, Bank Mandiri, Bank Permata, dan CIMB Niaga. Dalam waktu dekat akan ditambah satu bank syariah untuk melayani transaksi pasar modal syariah.   Sampai saat ini, masih ada nasabah yang tidak aktif di pasar modal yang belum memiliki RDN. Meskipun tanggung jawab untuk membukakan RDN menjadi tugas perusahaan efek, investor pun harus peduli pada ketentuan ini, untuk segera meminta kepada perusahaan efek tempatnya menjadi nasabah untuk  segera  memiliki RDN.   Untuk membuka RDN dibutuhkan pengisian aplikasi data nasabah dan tanda tangan. Ini yang menurut sejumlah perusahaan efek kadang sulit diminta, terutama para nasabah lama. Investor-investor lama  yang selama ini merasa dananya aman-aman saja di perusahaan sekuritas kadang enggan  untuk mengisi ulang data mereka untuk kepentingan pembukaan RDN. Namun, untuk keamanan dan kenyamanan bersama, diharapkan investor menyadari, kebijakan RDN ini semata-mata untuk melindungi kepentingan investor. (TIM BEI) (//mrt)

cum date dan ex date

via okezone.com Salah satu hal yang penting untuk diperhatikan dalam kegiatan investasi di saham adalah aksi korporasi (corporate action). Maklum, aksi korporasi seringkali berdampak signifikan terhadap perubahan harga saham di pasar. Jika beredar kabar tentang aksi korporasi suatu emiten, harga saham emiten tersebut di pasar bisa terimbas naik atau turun. Beberapa jenis aksi korporasi yang seringkali mempengaruhi harga saham di pasar, misalnya merger dan akuisisi, take over, penawaran umum terbatas (right issue), pembagian saham bonus, stock split, reverse stock, pembagian dividen, dan sebagainya. Jika aksi korporasi mendatangkan manfaat atau benefit bagi peningkatan kinerja emiten, maka investor tidak akan segan-segan untuk  membeli sahamnya di pasar. Nah, meningkatnya minat beli inilah yang menyebabkan harga saham naik. Sebaliknya, jika aksi korporasi dinilai negatif atau tidak memberikan manfaat terhadap kinerja emiten, maka aksi korporasi semacam itu biasanya tidak akan mendapat dukungan dari pemegang saham publik. Harga saham cenderung turun karena investor cenderung melepasnya ke pasar. Namun begitu, dalam pelaksanaan aksi korporasi, investor sebaiknya memperhatikan dengan seksama jadwal dari pelaksanaan aksi korporasi tersebut. Kapan aksi tersebut dilaksanakan dan siapa saja investor yang berhak dilibatkan. Hal ini penting untuk diperhatikan, jangan sampai aksi korporasi itu malah merugikan investor. Untuk lebih jelasnya, misalkan emiten A akan melakukan aksi korporasi berupa pembagian dividen kepada pemegang saham sebesar Rp100 per saham. Untuk itu, emiten A sudah menyusun jadwal atau agenda tentang aksi korporasi tersebut. Misalnya, dividen akan diberikan kepada pemegang saham yang namanya terdaftar sebagai pemegang saham pada tanggal sekian jam sekian. Di sini tampak ada batasan waktu bagi pemegang saham yang berhak menerima dividen, karena itulah ada istilah cum date dan ex date. Cum date adalah waktu atau tanggal yang menunjukkan bahwa sampai dengan tanggal tersebut perdagangan atas suatu saham masih mengandung atau memiliki hak dividen. Sedangkan ex datemerupakan tanggal yang menunjukkan bahwa perdagangan saham yang dilakukan pada hari itu tidak lagi mengandung hak bagi pemegang saham. Misalnya disebutkan bahwa cum date adalah 16 Oktober 2011 dan ex date adalah 17 Oktober 2011. Artinya, investor yang membeli saham emiten A pada 16 Oktober 2011 memiliki hak atas dividen yang akan dibagi oleh emiten A tadi. Sedangkan investor yang membeli saham pada 17 Oktober 2011 tidak lagi berhak atas dividen yang akan dibagikan. Dari sisi investor jual, investor yang menjual saham A pada 16 Oktober 2011 tidak lagi berhak atas dividen yang akan dibagikan emiten A. Investor yang menjual saham A pada 17 Oktober 2011 masih memiliki hak untuk mendapatkan dividen karena pada 16 Oktober 2011 ia masih tercatat sebagai pemegang saham emiten A. Ilustrasi di atas menunjukkan betapa pentingnya mengetahui dan memahami jadwal aksi korporasi, terutama cum date dan ex date. Mengabaikan atau lalai terhadap jadwal cum date dan ex date bisa berakibat fatal bagi investor, terutama untuk jenis aksi korporasi seperti penawaran umum terbatas (right issue). Jika investor tidak ingin menggunakan haknya, maka ia bisa menjual saat cum date. Begitu juga bagi investor yang ingin membeli saham right issue, ia harus membeli saham lama paling lambat saat cum date. Hal lain yang perlu diperhatikan dalam setiap aksi korporasi adalah bahwa ada efek dari aksi korporasi tersebut. Misalnya aksi korporasi pembagian dividen, di mana ada yang disebut sebagai dividend effect. Artinya, harga saham di bursa cenderung turun setelah dilakukan pembagian dividen. Besaran nilai penurunan ini biasanya setara dengan nilai dividen yang dibagikan. Contoh pemahaman seperti inilah yang tidak boleh disepelekan oleh setiap investor di bursa. (Tim BEI) (//ade)

ogooglebar means ungoogleable

via yahoo news Google recently got into a row with the Swedish Language Council over a new word in its official language: "ogooglebar" which means "ungoogleable." Google complained about the word, which the council then begrudgingly deleted from the Swedish language. The Swedes did vow to continue using the word in conversation, those rebels. RELATED: How to Say 'Google' in Every Language (Almost) The Swedish Language Council had included ogooglebar on its annual list of new words that have entered common parlance. It's a fun list that includes words like "brony" and "mossgraffiti" — which is awesome, by the way. Google's objections were actually two-fold. Not only did it remind the council that Google was a registered trademark, the company also ask that the council to revise word's definition to specify that it referred to Google searches. It had been defined as something "that cannot be found on the Web with a search engine." But the Swedes simply deleted the word from the list and included a note at the bottom that expressed their "displeasure with Google's attempts to control the language." Later, Ann Cederberg, head of the council, declared, "If we want to have ogooglebar in the language, then we'll use the word and it's our use that gives it meaning — not a multinational company exerting pressure. Speech must be free!"