JP\/5\/acros05<\/p>\n
Minister to stop mining in protected forests<\/p>\n
TERNATE, North Maluku: Minister of Forestry Mohammad Prakosa says
\nhe will not stand by and allow mining to take place in protected
\nforests.<\/p>\n
He said he would discuss the problems stemming from the
\noverlap in interests between forest protection and the mining
\nsector with the House of Representatives in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
"I am not in a position to accept or reject something that has
\nalready been stipulated in Law No. 41\/1999 that bans people from
\nopen mining in protected forests," Prakosa said here on Sunday.<\/p>\n
"Unfortunately, at least 22 work contracts on mining in
\nprotected forests had already been signed before the law was
\nenacted," he said.<\/p>\n
A protected forest in Gosowong subdistrict on Halmahera island
\nin North Maluku province is under threat by the extension of a
\nnearby gold mine.<\/p>\n
Data from the forestry ministry reveals that Indonesia has 120
\nmillion hectares of forests.<\/p>\n
Prakosa was in North Maluku to accompany President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's husband, Taufik Kiemas, who visited the province
\nto meet with supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan). --Antara<\/p>\n
2,203 civil servants in NTB to lose jobs<\/p>\n
MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: The West Nusa Tenggara (NTB)
\nadministration is urging 2,203 civil servants to accept early
\nretirement or functional jobs as part of its efforts to
\nstreamline the bureaucracy and boost efficiency.<\/p>\n
"This is a solution to overcome problems over plans to cut
\njobs within the administration," its spokesman, Lalu Gita Aryadi,
\nsaid on Monday.<\/p>\n
Last month, the local government issued Regulation No. 8\/2003
\non the reorganization and "rationalization" of the bureaucracy in
\nthe province. The ruling will see at least 2,203 civil servants
\nlose their jobs.<\/p>\n
Lalu said there were at least 5,267 government posts in the
\nprovincial administration and, under the new regulation, 3,064 of
\nthem would be scrapped, affecting 2,203 civil servants.<\/p>\n
The ruling came into effect on Feb. 27 and will last until
\n2005, he added. --Antara<\/p>\n
Cleric adopts Inul as 'foster daughter'<\/p>\n
BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Head of the South Kalimantan
\nreligious affairs office Artani Hasbi has supported the ban by
\nthe province's Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) on dangdut singer
\nInul Daratista for her "erotic" dance style.<\/p>\n
But in an apparent move to counter the ban and condemnation
\nfrom other religious leaders in several cities across the
\ncountry, a charismatic Muslim cleric, Zaini Abdul Ghoni, in
\nBanjarmasin has offered to become Inul's foster father.<\/p>\n
Inul accepted the offer and attended Zaini's Islamic class on
\nSaturday at his house in Banjarmasin, where she was staying after
\na dangdut concert in the town. Dangdut is a popular local music
\nwith strong Arab\/Indian influences.<\/p>\n
Before other Muslim women at the gathering, the cleric prayed
\nfor Inul to have the strength to remain strong and patient in
\nfacing condemnation.<\/p>\n
The ban by the local MUI branch will hamper her plans to
\nperform in four other towns in South Kalimantan in the near
\nfuture.<\/p>\n
A similar ban was also imposed on Inul by the Yogyakarta
\nadministration, a move that has sparked criticism from many
\nMuslim leaders.<\/p>\n
The ban has otherwise brought her further attention and has
\nseen her popularity skyrocket, thus making her a new national
\ncelebrity with hundreds of million of rupiah in monthly income.
\n--Antara<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp5acros05-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}