Aceh victims gets aid

Aceh victims gets aid

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Some 9,000 Acehnese have received a total of Rp
21 billion (about US$2.3 million) in state aid as compensation
for the violence they endured during decades of fighting between
Aceh rebels and government forces, a local official said on
Tuesday.

Aceh's head of the People and Nation's Protection Body,
Syarifuddin Latief, said his office had registered about 11,000
victims and so far 9,000 of them had received aid, he said.

Each victim, or the family of deceased victims, is entitled to
Rp 3 million in diyat (compensation).

The money, being provided by the provincial and central
governments, is transferred directly to the bank accounts of the
recipients, Syarifuddin said.

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been fighting for
independence for the natural resource-rich province since 1976.
About 10,000 people have died in the conflict. A peace accord
signed by GAM and the Indonesian government last year has raised
hopes of a lasting peace. -- Antara

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ANPAa..r..
Greater-Lampung-council
Deputy speakers sentenced to jail
JP/5/Across

Deputy speakers sentenced to jail

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: A high court here sentenced on Tuesday
two deputy speakers of the Lampung legislative council to over a
year in prison each on corruption charges.

Deputy speaker M. Jimo of the Golkar Party and Dancik Ibrahim
of the National Mandate Party (PAN) were found guilty of drawing
monthly salaries from their previous civil servant posts while at
the same time collecting their salaries as councillors.

Presiding judge Darlan Nasution said this was not an example
of a bureaucratic mix-up but a plain case of corruption.

The court ordered the two men to pay a fine of Rp 50 million
(about US$5,600) each and compensation of Rp 2.21 million.

The sentencing overturned a lower court ruling that the two
men be given two years probation, which would have allowed them
to avoid jail unless they committed the same crime during their
probation period.

Government officials in many other regions have been brought
to court on corruption charges. House of Representatives Speaker
Akbar Tanjung was sentenced to three years in prison last year,
but remains free pending an appeal to the Supreme Court. --
Antara

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ANPAa..r..
Greater-Bandung-suspect-reporter
Police named suspect for beating reporter
JP/5/Across

Police named suspect for beating reporter

BANDUNG: Three members of the riot police were declared suspects
in the assault on a photo journalist from leading local daily
Pikiran Rakyat during a violent student demonstration last month.

Bandung Police chief Snr. Comr. Hendra Sumana said the three
officers would be charged with minor assault, which carries a
maximum jail sentence of five years. The names of the suspects
were not released.

"We declared them suspects based on statements from 27 of our
colleagues and reporters who witnessed the incident," said Hendra
on Monday.

Pikiran Rakyat photo journalist Dudi Sugandi sustained
injuries to his head and right shoulder when police scuffled with
some 5,000 students during a protest on Feb. 25.

The suspects allegedly ignored Dudi's press card when it was
shown to them. They also seized his camera, which has still not
been returned. -- JP