Sick Iraqi kids to be treated in KL KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A number of sick Iraqi children will be brought to Malaysia soon for medical treatment, Iraqi ambassador Adnan Malik al-Ghazali said on Monday. Ghazali said the Iraqi health system could not meet medical needs because of United Nations sanctions. He said non-governmental groups and charities would raise funds to meet travel expenses and Malaysian public and private hospitals had offered to treat the children.

NTT can only accept 6,000 Timorese families KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The province of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is able to accommodate only one eighth of the East Timorese families who have opted to stay in Indonesia, Governor Piet Tallo said on Monday.

Miners' deaths to be probed PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: Fawzy Bachsin, speaker of the legislative council, called for an investigation into Thursday's death of two miners, believed to have been shot by security officers working for PT Indo Moro Kencana, Antara said. Fawzy said it would be lamentable if the allegation, that they were shot by officers, was true, and demanded that the police ensure that it would not happen again.

Thousands of workers go on strike again over decrees JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of workers took to the streets again on Monday, demanding that the government revoke two ministerial decrees accused of undermining workers' rights.

'Halal' labels From Republika I have come across a lot of food and drinks which bear no halal (rightful according to Islam) labels on their packages, despite the fact that those merchandise are marketed in Indonesia. Since Indonesia's population is predominantly Muslim, the producers should put the halal labels on their products if they are truly halal. On the other hand, haram (not halal) labels must be present on food items which are not rightful for Muslims to consume.

Council gives only limited support for bus fare increase JAKARTA (JP): City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo rejected on Monday a possible bus fare increase following the central government's decision to raise fuel prices by 30 percent later this week. Should bus operators insist on increasing fares, the increase should be limited to air-conditioned buses only, which generally target higher-income commuters.

PPD's restructuring funds calculated JAKARTA (JP): The government has appointed an independent consultant, Bahana, to calculate the funds needed for the restructuring of the ailing state-owned bus company, PPD, Minister of Finance Prijadi Praptosuharjo said.

RI-African shipping route JAKARTA (JP): Taiwanese carrier Kien Hung Shipping launched on Saturday a new fortnightly direct shipping service between Indonesia and the African continent, which was marked by the docking of a 1.354 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) capacity vessel, at the Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT). JICT said on Monday that the service was the first direct shipping link between the two areas.

Government asked to limit forestry minister's powers YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Marzuki Usman, reiterating his commitment to protecting the country's forests, said here on Monday that he would ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to issue a presidential decree limiting his ministry's authority in managing the country's forests.

BI's forex reserve falls JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia said on Monday that the country's foreign exchange reserves declined slightly to US$28.49 billion during the first week this month from $28.59 billion in the previous week, largely due to its foreign loan repayment. Bank Indonesia said the base money on June 7 reached Rp 108.66 trillion, an increase of Rp 924 billion from the level on May 31.

AG Office detains Sudjiono Timan JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office detained on Monday former president director of state investment company PT Bahana Pembinaan Usaha Indonesia (BPUI), Sudjiono Timan, in connection with a Rp 1.1 trillion corruption case in the company. Sudjiono reportedly entered detention at the Attorney General's Office at about 6:10 p.m. on Monday. Both Sudjiono and former minister of finance Ali Wardhana have been named suspects in the case.

SE Asian oil firms urged to unite KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Southeast Asia's national oil companies should explore alliances to counter the threat from the four global giants, the president of Malaysia's state energy firm Petronas said on Monday. The biggest threat facing the world oil industry "is the domination of the super-majors," Mohamad Hassan Marican told an Asia Oil and Gas Conference.

Council ponders 'syariah' BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The provincial legislative council is currently preparing a bylaw to apply syariah (Islamic law) in South Kalimantan, but only in phases, speaker Munsyah Add said on Monday. Munsyah met with members of the local chapter of the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) who pointed out that one of the recommendations of the Banjarmasin People's Congress was to introduce Islamic law in the province.

RP eyes sugar tender, RI crop seen higher BANGKOK (Reuters): The Philippines is likely to tender again to buy sugar in a week or so because a state-owned supplier is facing difficulties finding a bank guarantee, trade sources said on Monday. "The state-owned Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) has asked the Philippine National Food Authority (NFA) for an extension to June 13 to find a bank guarantee from a previously scheduled June 7," one said.

A nation crying From Rakyat Merdeka In the June 5 issue of Rakyat Merdeka, there was a very interesting article and photo depicting Bung Karno crying. But I think, not only is Bung Karno crying but the entire Indonesian nation and state. Why? Because the 1999 general election which was touted as the most successful and democratic one to date has resulted in a mess of a government which faces a formidable future. We have an incompetent President and enigmatic Vice President.

PAN chief faces axe for crime PALU, Central Kalimantan: Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) in the Central Sulawesi regency of Tolitoli, Mohammad Arief Muluk, is facing the possibility of dismissal after the local district court found him guilty of issuing a fake diploma to one of his students. Deputy chairman of PAN's provincial chapter Basir Nursin told reporters on Monday that Arief's firing was almost certain for bringing disrepute to the party and the local legislature.

Hendrawan: I deserved to win JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia should be thankful to Hendrawan for winning the world champion crown in the men's singles by defeating top favorite Peter Gade Christensen of Denmark 15-6, 17-16 in a tough 61-minute battle at San Pablo Stadium in Seville, Spain, on Sunday. His victory ended the country's six-year title drought. Hariyanto Arbi was the last Indonesian to bring home the title at the 1995 championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership Philippine-Indonesian relations are characterized by a genuine sense of brotherhood borne out of centuries of close and vibrant interaction as neighbors. In precolonial times, trade, commerce and transmigration flourished between our peoples. Intermarriages and alliances solidified these cross-cultural and economic links. Over the centuries, the movement of peoples, goods and ideas between the two archipelagos intensified.

Donations to Bogor flood victims BOGOR (JP): Forty-six families in the flood-hit village of Panaragan, South Bogor, received two tons of rice on Monday from the Bogor municipal administration as relief aid. The flood, which occurred on Thursday evening, also injured three locals now under hospital care at Ciawi, Bogor, who received a total of Rp 1.5 million in medical assistance.