AGO quizzes BI governor nominee

AGO quizzes BI governor nominee

JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office questioned on Wednesday
one of the candidates for Bank Indonesia governor in connection
with the misuse of the central bank's liquidity assistance (BLBI)
funds from 1997 through 1999.

Spokesman for the Attorney General's Office Antasari Azhar
told reporters that Cyrillus Harinowo, one of three candidates to
become the next BI governor, was questioned as a witness against
former BI Governor Sudrajat Djiwandono.

The two other candidates are current BI deputy governor
Miranda Goeltom and former coordinating minister for the economy
Burhanuddin Abdullah.

Antasari said Cyrillus was BI's credit operations head
responsible for recommending private banks that were eligible to
obtain BLBI bailout money when it was being doled out from 1997
through 1999.

He, however, declined to speculate on whether Cyrillus would
be named a suspect. So far, the Attorney General's Office has
named four former BI officials as suspects in the case.

Another candidate, Miranda Goeltom, is expected to be
questioned by the Attorney General's Office in the same case.

According to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the government
has lost Rp 144.5 billion as some 95 percent of the BLBI funds
had been misused by various bank owners. -- JP

;Antara;Iwa;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-Aussie-RI-cooperation
RI police, AFP to cement ties
JP/4/scene

RI police, AFP to cement ties

CANBERRA: Indonesian police and the Australia Federal Police
(AFP) vowed on Wednesday to continue their cooperation to help
eradicate terrorism in Southeast Asia.

AFP Chief Mick Keelty said on Wednesday that the Indonesian
Police Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar was this week visiting Australia
to meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Minister
of Justice Christopher Ellison to discuss further cooperation.

"The visit (by Dai Bachtiar) is important to lay out the
cooperation framework between the two countries," he told
reporters.

Da'i is expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
that would include assistance on intelligence and forensic
matters.

Indonesia and Australia began strengthening mutual
antiterrorism cooperation after two powerful bombs ripped through
two nightclubs in Bali last Oct. 12, killing at least 202 people,
including some 90 Australians. --Antara

;JP;AAH
ANPAa..r..
Scene-Saudi-Kuwait-workers
Saudis, Kuwaitis assure RI workers
JP/4/4SCENE

Saudis, Kuwaitis assure RI workers

SURAKARTA, Central Java: The governments of Saudi Arabia and
Kuwait guaranteed the safety of more than 40,000 Indonesians
working in the two countries should the United States attack
Iraq, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea said
on Wednesday.

"Yesterday (Tuesday) the two countries' ambassadors promised
to protect the safety of Indonesian workers there," said Jacob in
Surakarta, Central Java on Wednesday.

Jacob said the safety assurance given by the two countries
would include the establishment of shelters if needed.

The government had appointed former TNI chief Admiral Widodo
AS and Jacob, assisted by representatives from the Iraqi embassy
to evacuate Indonesian workers from Middle Eastern countries
should a war break out.

The government has already started evacuating Indonesians who
live in Iraq. --JP

;JP;ANTARA;EVI;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-doctors-jobs
New doctors free to choose jobs
JP/4/scene

New doctors free to choose jobs

JAKARTA: New doctors and dentists are no longer obligated to
undergo residency programs that require them to work in community
health centers for three years. Now, they can open their own
clinics, work in private or state-owned hospitals or apply to
become civil servants as soon as they graduate.

Health Minister Achmad Sujudi, as quoted by Antara on
Wednesday, said in accordance with the health minister's Decree
No. 1540/2002 on the procedure of the assignment of doctors,
newly graduated doctors could choose whether they wanted to
undergo residency programs or not.

He expected his decree would be supported by a government
decree to make it more powerful.

Achmad said he would urge city and regency administrations to
immediately employ the thousands of new doctors at their
community health centers. --Antara