Batam conducts raids on migrants

BATAM, Riau: The Batam administration has launched an operation in the island's airport and seaports following the Idul Fitri holiday, to prevent people from migrating to the densely- populated island.

"We have deployed government officers at the airport and seaports in anticipation of the entrance of job seekers who are not holders of identity cards indicating they live on the island," Said Hasyim, chief of the local population office, said here on Thursday.

He said that during the operation that would be conducted until early next month, all people who do not have the necessary documents would be barred from entering the island.

"The operation is conducted to enforce a bylaw that prohibits the migration of unskilled job seekers to the island," he said, adding that only job seekers who have been recommended by companies in Batam were allowed to migrate to the island. --Antara

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Silk Air tragedy remembered

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Dozens of Singaporean and Japanese families were in the city on Wednesday to commemorate the Silk Air plane crash that killed 104 people on Dec. 19, 1997.

They prayed and placed a floral wreath on the Musi river where the Silk Air plane's wreckage was found days after it exploded during its flight from Jakarta to Singapore.

Aron Ng, a relative of a stewardess who was killed in the tragedy, said he had visited the city annually to commemorate the tragedy.

Hirosi Hirakawa, representing the victims' families, conveyed their appreciation to South Sumatra Governor Rosihan Arsyad for the services rendered by the local administration and for taking care of the monument established near the river in remembrance of the tragedy's victims. --Antara

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Marijuana trafficker arrested in Bima

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Bima Police have arrested a man identified as Ricky for the possession of 250 grams of dried marijuana.

"The suspect was arrested when he was making a transaction with three consumers -- David, Ronald and Bendo -- in Rasane Timur in Bima regency," Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Susanto, chief of the Bima Police precinct, said here on Thursday.

He said the police had also confiscated 1.5 kilograms of dried marijuana from three suspects whose case was being handled by the local attorney's office.

"We still have to investigate where the marijuana is supplied from," he said, adding that the consumption of marijuana and illegal drugs has increased in the regency this year.

He said he had proposed that law enforcers, especially judges, impose stiffer penalties on drug traffickers and consumers in an attempt to fight the increasing number of drug cases in Bima regency. --Antara

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Two elite soldiers killed in Aceh

JAKARTA: Two soldiers of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) were killed in an exchange of gunfire with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels in Teunom, West Aceh, on Wednesday.

Kopasuss spokesman Capt. Rano Tilaar confirmed on Thursday that the two soldiers identified as First Private Arianto and First Private Syaiful Anwar were killed while conducting a patrol in a village in Teunom.

"The bodies of the two soldiers are scheduled to arrive in Jakarta for burial," he said.

He said that during the incident, another Kopassus soldier also suffered gunshot wounds and a rebel identified as Yunus was shot dead. --Antara

Log thieves arrested in Samarinda

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Samarinda Police arrested seven people suspected of stealing logs belonging to a timber company PT Kalhol Utama Samarinda on Wednesday.

Sr. Comr. Setyanto, chief of the Samarinda Police, said the seven identified as Ar, 31, Su, 28, He, 19, Ar, 26, So, 27, Im, 29, and a minor, were nabbed because they tried to resist police arrest.

"The police shot one of the suspects when they ignored three warning shots. The injured suspect is undergoing medical treatment at the police hospital," he said.

He said the police also seized four vessels which were used to steal the logs. --Antara