Aceh violence leaves four dead

Aceh violence leaves four dead

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: At least two civilians and two suspected
guerrillas were killed in the latest violence to hit the
Indonesian province of Aceh, residents and the military said
Sunday.

Residents in Kandang, North Aceh district, told AFP that two
unidentified men on a motorcycle shot dead two youths at a
roadside coffee stall late on Friday.

Troops killed two suspected GAM members in a clash in Kampung
Paya Biek in East Aceh district, also on Friday, Aceh Military
spokesman Major Zaenal Muttaqin said.

Two AK automatic rifles and ammunition was recovered, he
added.

Jakarta has branded the GAM as terrorists.

The government and GAM agreed on truces during successive
meetings in Switzerland since 2000 but the ceasefires have rarely
held. -- AFP

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Across-fire-dust
11 Hot spots detected in W. Kalimantan
JP/5/Across

11 Hot spots detected in W. Kalimantan

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Idrin M Su'ud, West Kalimantan's
Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) chief, said late
on Friday that 11 hot spots had been identified in Ketapang,
Landak and Sambas regencies.

He said that based on the Pongi Satellite images from the
Ministry of Forestry, the hot spots had appeared in community
forests.

"I have checked the forests and found that the fires were
caused by nature, not by people who wanted to clear new land," he
said, adding that the two spots in Sambas were in Paloh and
Tebang (Setebang).

Idrin had yet to check out the nine hot spots in Ketapang and
Landak due to the distances involved.

Elsewhere, he said that Pontianak was covered by thick haze
because of lack of air circulation caused by "too many new
residential and industrial areas".

Governor Aspar Aswin asked local people not to set fire to the
forest when clearing new fields, and not to go out at night. He
suggested that they use four-wheeled vehicles and masks if they
wanted to leave their homes.

"The smoke is so thick and dangerous to people's health,
especially after 12 midnight. The air pollution index can reach
up to 2,400," he said. --JP

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Across-Koran-lab
Koran Lab in Mataram inaugurated
JP/5/Across

Koran lab in Mataram inaugurated

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Minister of Religious Affairs
Said Agil Husin Almunawar inaugurated a Koran laboratory on
Monday at the campus of the Islamic Higher Learning Institute
(STAIN) in Matraman.

During the inauguration the minister disclosed the importance
of the lab for the community and promised to completely furnish
it with various facilities.

"Despite the fact the Koran has only 6,236 verses, it can be
referred to as a guidance to solve all complex human problems,"
Minister Said Agil was quoted as saying.

STAIN chairman Lukman Al Hakim revealed that the lab was the
first of its kind in Indonesia and was expected to play a
significant role in helping the Department of Religious Affairs
check errors in printing prior to publication.

He explained some 1000 Korans published by the department
contained many printing errors and had to be withdrawn from
circulation.

The inauguration of the lab was related to the holding of the
Koran Recital contest scheduled to be held from July 6 through
July 12. --Antara

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Across-warship-Kendari
Aussie warship calls at Kendari
JP/5/ACROSS

Aussie warship calls at Kendari

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: In a bid to maintain good
relations between Indonesia and Australia, particularly with the
local administration and its residents, an Australian warship,
HMAS, called at the city's port on Friday and stayed here until
Monday.

During their brief stay in the city, Captain John Maskey,
along with his 67 crew members, not only made courtesy calls to
the mayor and chief of the province's naval base and visited
tourist resorts in the area but also held friendly matches with
local naval officers.

Australia's naval assistant to the defense attache Toni Maher
said the call was meant to popularize Australia and her flag with
the residents and to foster relations with the local
administration.

The warship was a special attraction to local residents,
including Subadi, a local who was once detained in Australia for
trespassing its territorial waters.

"I was detained in Australia in 1992, perhaps, the one who
caught me is on board now," he commented. --Antara

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Across-Papua-teachers
Hundreds of temporary teachers hired
JP/5/ACROSS

Hundreds of temporary teachers hired

MANOKWARI, Papua: To overcome the shortage of teaching staff,
the Manokwari administration has hired at least 142 temporary
teachers to teach in remote areas of Indonesia's easternmost
province.

Head of the Regional Education Office Nico Baru revealed here
on Saturday that the teachers worked on a contract basis with a
salary of Rp 400,000 a month. He added most of them were
recruited after they completed their second year of education at
Cendrawasih University.

According to Nico, the teachers could be appointed as
permanent staff if they performed well.

The teacher shortage posed a big problem for the backward
province, resulting in the disruption of schooling in the area.

Governor J.P. Solossa revealed that some 14,347 teachers
would be needed for various levels of education from kindergarten
up to senior high school.

Solossa further said many schools were not able to overcome
the shortfall owing to their lack of funds to hire new teachers.
--Antara