Across the Archipelago

Six die in bus crash

PANDEGLANG, West Java: An inter-city bus carrying 32 people skidded and tumbled into an eight-meter deep ravine, killing six- passengers in Kadudampit, Saketi on Monday.

The "Wajar" bus, en route to Pandeglang from Labuan, was in pursuit of another bus heading the same direction. Coming to a tight turn at Kadudampit, the driver abruptly stepped on the breaks, causing the bus to turn over and fall into the ravine.

Four people were killed instantly while the other two died at the Pandeglang Public Hospital. Thirteen others were treated at the hospital, the Antara news agency reported.(mds)

Students free to invite Rendra

SEMARANG, Central Java: Rector Muladi of Diponegoro University says he has no intention of banning government critics like Emha Ainun Nadjib and W.S. Rendra.

Muladi said he will allow his students to invite intellectuals that the government has blacklisted because of their critical stance so long as the students have clear reasons to do so.

"For example, I will grant the request if Emha and Rendra are invited to speak about culture, on which they are experts, not about politics" he said.

Rendra and Emha have been barred from speaking to various academic forums. (wah/pan)

Medan students question fee

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Students of North Sumatra University demonstrated on Tuesday, demanding the abolition of the Rp 50,000 ($23) fee they have to pay for a field study program.

The protesters said the money had been largely unaccounted for, probably embezzled by supervisors.

"We are doing field studies on our own account and we don't know why we're required to pay this dubious fee," said Juppri Newa, a student senate member.

College officials were not available for comment. (rmn/pan)

Dengue cases in Bali

DENPASAR, Bali: Cases of dengue fever have increased significantly over the past five years on the tourist island, official statistics shows.

The incidence of dengue has increased from 2.4 per 100,000 people in 1989 to 9.2, the Antara news agency reported.

Last year, of the 409 people who contracted the disease, seven died. From January through March this year, the disease affected 57 people and one of those died.

Badung, Denpasar, Tabanan, Gianyar and Bululeng were the worst hit, health office chief Sudana said.(pan)

Helicopter still missing

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: PT Airfast Balikpapan's A Skorsky S58T helicopter with three people on board has been missing since May 5.

The helicopter, chartered by an employee from PT Sumber Daya Alam, was on its way from the Sepinggan airport in Balikpapan to Tabang when it went missing.

Air transport officials said the last radio contact was established when it was 70 miles north of Tabang, Kutai.

Three helicopters and two speedboats have been deployed to search for the helicopter, Antara reported. (pan)

Bali ban on cock fighting

DENPASAR, Bali: The authorities plan to ban traditional rooster fighting because it is against religious teachings.

Chairman of the Bali provincial Legislative Council, I Gusti Wayan Sudhiksa, told journalists Monday he supported the plan.

Cock fighting has become a hot issue in the predominantly Hindu island since a village chief proposed to the House of Representatives that the government formally legalize it.

Authorities say that gambling is rampant at the fights, which the government banned in early 1980s.

The village chief of Ulakan, Wayan Ramia, proposed that every event that features cock fighting should be supervised to make sure that no gambling was involved, Antara reported. (pan)

Drug ring busted in Batam

JAKARTA: The Riau provincial police working together with counterparts in Singapore and Australia have broken-up an international narcotics ring and confiscated hundreds of kilograms of heroin.

Maj. Gen. Koesparmono Irsan said on Tuesday that 10 people suspected to have connections with the ring have been arrested in Singapore and Australia.

In Batam, police on Friday stormed a house at the Nagoya estate on Batam island where they made one of the biggest drug busts in recent times.

Koesparmono said Batam was being used by the ring as a distribution center for exports to neighboring countries. (mds)