445 inmates

445 inmates
get remissions

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A total of 445 prison inmates in
West Nusa Tenggara province will have their jail sentences
reduced and 39 more will be released in conjunction with
Independence Day on Aug. 17.

"The reduction of the inmates' jail terms will be announced by
Governor HL Serinata during a ceremony at Mataram Penitentiary
before the Independence Day ceremony," the head of the provincial
Justice and Human Rights Office, Slamet Martawardaya, said on
Tuesday.

The government regularly awards remissions in conjunction with
Independence Day and major religious holidays such as Idul Fitri
and Christmas. -- Antara

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Focus-Banjarmasin-bicycles
JP/5/FOCUS

Mayor goes to
work by bicycle

BANJARMASIN: As part of a campaign to cut fuel consumption in
Banjarmasin city, the mayor, deputy mayor and numerous local
officials will begin riding bicycles to work.

The plan was agreed on during a meeting on Tuesday. However,
the officials will only be biking to work on Fridays, when
administration employees have an exercise period at work.

"It is no big deal. It is only on Fridays and we can do it as
exercise," said an official. -- Antara

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Focus-Kendari-birdflu
JP/5/FOCUS

More vaccines
to stop bird flu

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: An additional 200,000 doses of a
vaccine to fight avian influenza will be provided by the
Directorate General of Agriculture to the Southeast Sulawesi
provincial administration, an official said on Tuesday.

"The vaccines, along with necessary equipment, will arrive
soon," said the deputy head of the provincial Agriculture Office,
Imam Subagjio.

He said the additional vaccines would be distributed to
poultry farmers in the province whose chickens had been affected
by the virus.

His office earlier distributed 42,000 doses of the vaccine to
farmers. -- Antara

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Focus-Kupang-water
JP/5/FOCUS

Artesian wells
to solve crisis

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Facing a water crisis, the East
Nusa Tenggara provincial administration will turn to artesian
wells, an official said.

According to a land survey, there are 5,100 potential artesian
wells in the areas worst hit by the water crisis in the province.

"Many areas in East Nusa Tenggara are already suffering from a
lack of water and the rain is not expected to return until
sometime around December," the head of the provincial
Resettlement Office, Dibrael Klaping, said on Monday.

But limited funds means the administration will not be able to
exploit all of the potential well sites. In the 2005 provincial
budget, Rp 3.8 billion has been set aside to develop wells.

"Due to limited funds, we will only be able to drill 13
wells," Klaping said.-- JP