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
;JP;DEB; ANPAa..r.. 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
;JP: ANPAa..r.. 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
;AFP; ANPAa..r.. 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
;AFP; ANPAa..r.. 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