BERLIN SIMARMATA Depok, West Java

Police grill top Bulog official JAMBI, Jambi: The Jambi Police are investigating a top official at Jambi's State Logistics Agency (Bulog) over alleged financial irregularities. Imanual Wiandoko is being investigated after reporting that a business colleague, Taslim Moe, failed to repay Rp 1 billion (US$111,111) he borrowed from Bulog. Imanual provided the Rp 1 billion loan last year to businessman Taslim Moe. All of the money for the loan came from Bulog's coffers.

W. Jakarta has highest E-coli JAKARTA: The E-coli bacteria, which contributes to diarrhea, is present in high levels in Jakarta's ground water, with West Jakarta the worst-affected area, the City Health Agency said on Friday. The agency routinely monitored city water sources to find possible bacteria or chemical contamination, agency spokesman Evi Zelvino said.

A reflection on the 50th anniversary of AAC OR A reflection on the Fiftieth Anniversary of Asian-African conference and the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement Hafid Abbas Jakarta With the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Asian- African Conference (AAC) on April 19 to April 24 in Jakarta and Bandung, it is relevant for us to look back at the ideas and background of the AAC, which inspired the birth of the Non- Aligned Movement.

RI sends 23 trainee nurses to Australia JAKARTA: The labor consignment agency, the Binawan Group, has sent another 23 nurses to work in Australian hospitals. The nurses, who finished their course of study at the Binawan Institute of Health Sciences (Stikes Binawan) in Jakarta, left for Sydney on Tuesday to complete their study and work in Australian hospitals for two years.

Asia-Africa partnership to build principled world Yayan GH Mulyana, Bogor, West Java President George W. Bush's continued War On Terror means that for many states there seem to be only two foreign policy options: "Either with us (the U.S. and by his inference, the West) or against us." This polarized situation is beginning to resemble that of the Cold War era, when the Western capitalist bloc opposed the communist East.

Prosecutors quiz top Mandiri official over alleged graft Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A top Bank Mandiri official was grilled by prosecutors for more than six hours on Thursday over a massive corruption scandal involving up to Rp 12 trillion (US$1.3 billion) worth of bank loans and 33 companies. I Wayan Pugeg, vice president of the state-owned bank, arrived at 9.30 a.m. at the Attorney General's Office (AGO), accompanied by four lawyers. At 7 p.m.

Exclusive zone, territorial claims From Kompas An article in Kompas daily (March 7) written by I Basis Susilo noted that Indonesia's loss of Sipadan and Ligitan islands was due to the lack of a continuous presence, effective settlement and guarantee for nature conservation on border islands. In his book, Indonesia's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, First Adm.

Objectivity in Mulyana's case From Bisnis Indonesia The press has apparently reached a verdict on the case of Mulyana W. Kusumah's alleged bribery and corruption in the General Elections Commission, while in fact before any court decision, Mulyana should be presumed innocent. With the opinion formed by the press, there are fears that the panel of judges may no longer be objective in the trial of the case now in the public spotlight.

Chikungunya spreads in West Lombok Chikungunya epidemic has struck at least two subdistricts in West Lombok regency in the past week, infecting and paralyzing dozens of residents in the area. Thamrin Hijaz, a senior official at the West Lombok Health Office, said on Wednesday that 48 people in Gunung Sari subdistrict and 55 others in the neighboring subdistrict of Belencong had been infected with the virus. "The disease is not lethal.

* RI to pursue deeper economic ties with Africa Page 3 * Prosecutors seek life in jail for Aussie drug suspect Page 4 * Poor Mother Earth, your children treat you like dirt Page 6 * Bandung, a haven for snack-lovers and shoppers Page 7 * Chris John out to prove himself in Gainer bout Page 10 * Iraqi govt seen delayed; fresh violence hits Baghdad Page 11

Part 1 of 2 Strategies for civil service reform in Indonesia Jakarta Many in Indonesia seem to agree to the need for civil service reform. But a consensus on what a civil service reform would imply does not exist. Partly, this is because there has not been an extensive public debate in which various options have been discussed and examined. These two articles will elaborate on what successful civil service reform in Indonesia would require, hopefully to initiate such a debate.

Heroic song to greet delegates The English version of an Indonesian heroic song Halo-halo Bandung, composed by the late Ismail Marzuki, will be played during the golden jubilee celebration of the Asian-African Conference in Bandung on Sunday. The song was composed in remembrance of Indonesian independence fighters who fought Dutch troops in southern Bandung in 1946. The song is often heard to boost fighting spirit. -- JP

Arson suspected in Bojong fire BOGOR: The Wednesday fires in two houses near the controversial Bojong waste dump site in Klapa Nunggal were probably the work of local thugs hired to terrorize villagers opposed to the dump, residents say. "We suspect that thugs set the fires to intimidate residents so that they would no longer oppose the project," Ajo Setiawan, a resident and witness to the fires, said.

Myanmar says it won't be pressured on ASEAN Achmad Sukarsono, Reuters/Jakarta Myanmar, under renewed pressure over its human rights record, said on Thursday it would not discuss democratic reforms at a meeting of Asian and African leaders in Indonesia that the junta's top general is attending. Foreign Minister Nyan Win said the military-ruled Southeast Asian nation would also not be pressured on whether it would take the leadership of the region's main political grouping next year.

Andung needs to prove himself quickly Zakki P. Hakim Jakarta First impressions are usually lasting, and are certainly telling. In his first public appearance, Minister of Industry Andung A. Nitimihardja disappointed his audience by telling the story of his long career with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), instead of sharing his view on the country's manufacturing sector.

The Jakarta Post staff writer Sudibyo M. Wiradji recently joined the Educational Familiarization Program on Singapore's Meeting Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) industry. This two- page special report is the first of two editions on the industry.

New visa rules half Filipino artists MANILA: The deployment of Filipino entertainers to Japan has fallen by almost 50 percent after Tokyo implemented tighter immigration rules, Philippine labor officials said on Thursday. According to the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, only 2,771 Filipino entertainers left for Japan in March, or 48 percent lower from 5,372 in February. The March deployment figure was also 59 percent lower than 6,787 in the same month last year.

Breakfast planned for WTO's G-33 Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu is to host a breakfast meeting on Saturday at the Hilton Hotel for representatives of 33 developing nations to discuss the fight for special and differential treatment for farm products liberalization in the World Trade Organization.

Classes resume at Pattimura University AMBON, Maluku: Classes resumed on Thursday at Pattimura University, one of eastern Indonesia's leading campuses, a day after an attack by police officers sent three students to the hospital. A day after the police action shut down the campus, students returned to their classes, though in smaller numbers than usual. Officers from the internal affairs division at Maluku Police Headquarters visited the campus to investigate the incident.

Informant law a must The fate of Khairiansyah Salman (a Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) auditor who recently blew the whistle on the General Elections Commission (KPU) for alleged corruption, which led to KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah's arrest by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), has stunned all who want to see Indonesia free of corruption.

Paper parks no more: Is sustainable park management possible? M. Indrawan Jakarta Protected parks continue to be a source of controversy in Indonesia as much as many other country of the South. Establishments of the parks are frequently based on biophysical considerations, but often overlook the socio-economic interests of the local communities. This often triggers resistance by those local communities, and the reason why certain protected areas have become "paper parks".

Altria sees close of Sampoerna bid on May 18 Christina Cheddar Berk, Dow Jones/New York Altria Group Inc. Chief Financial Dinyar Devitre said on Wednesday Philip Morris International expects to close its tender offer for PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna on May 18. Philip Morris International, which makes Marlboro cigarettes, announced its plans to acquire the Indonesian cigarette maker in March, and began the tender offer on April 18.

Bali and the 'Post' I know there is a long way from the printing machine to my home in Krobokan, Bali. But I never will understand, why it is not possible for The Jakarta Post to arrive at my home before noon. Usually the Post comes between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tourists, however, can buy the Post on the streets of Kuta, Legian or Seminyak at around 10 a.m. I often complain at the agency that distributes it, Agency Astha in Denpasar, but without any success.

Tobacco tax increase sought The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Calls increased on Wednesday for the government to boost its anti-smoking campaign by raising taxes on cigarettes and ratifying the global tobacco control pact. "Increasing tobacco taxes will reduce consumption of the products among youngsters and those on a low incomes," National Committee on Smoking Control (NCSC) head F. A. Moeloek said in Jakarta on Wednesday.