Bali Police launch hot line

DENPASAR, Bali: Residents of Bali are now able to contact the police by texting a message to 0361-7476574.

With this new service, residents of the island will be able to file a report with the police or request assistance.

In cooperation with phone company Telkom, the Bali Police introduced the service on Friday during the commemoration of the National Police's 59th anniversary.

Bali Police chief Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika said the service was intended to give residents a quick and easy way of contacting the police. -- JP

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Dead turtles in Derawan

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Some 114 out of 160 turtles snared in a drifting fishing were found dead in Derawan Island conservation area, Berau regency, recently.

"To date, officials are still trying to find out who owned the net, which was some 1,000 meters long," said Berau's Marine and Fisheries Office director, M. Hatta Arsyad, on Friday.

He said the report of dead turtles came from local people, who had found the bodies of turtles after being alerted by the putrid smell.

Derawan Island district head Iramsyah, along with activists from the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Nature Conservancy visited the place where the fishing net was found.

"The turtles that were still alive were freed and the fishing net was destroyed," Hatta said. -- JP