Batam industrial forest blockaded

BATAM, Riau: The development of an industrial forest on the island was halted when hundreds of locals blockaded the location after PT Barelang Woods Industry (BWI), the developer, apparently failed to pay compensation for the land appropriated for the project.

"We do not know when the project will resume because a mob that claims the industrial area is theirs is blocking the road to the project," Antara quoted Edy, president of BWI, as saying here on Saturday.

He said the blockade started in November and all workers employed in the project had been forced to leave by the protesters.

The 100-hectare, Rp 800 billion project belonging to a Singaporean investor meets all conditions required by the Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA).

He called on BIDA and security authorities to help settle the land dispute, saying the company had obtained the land from BIDA.

"The Singaporean investor has asked law enforcers and BIDA for assurances of legal certainty so that the project can resume," he said, citing the investor had already invested Rp 20 billion in the project. --Antara

Raha remains tense

RAHA, Southeast Sulawesi: The situation in the Southeast Sulawesi town of Raha remains tense following bloody clashes between two rival groups in the city.

Traffic on main roads in the city was nonexistent on Saturday, stores remained closed and most residents stayed at home for fear of fresh clashes.

The clashes occurred when dozens of supporters of outgoing Regent Ridwan confronted Zainul, who claimed Ridwan's senior high school diploma was fake, and physically attacked him and his supporters. Dozens of people were injured and many remain hospitalized.

Law No. 25/1999 on regional autonomy requires both governors and regents to be holders of senior high school diplomas at the very least.

Adj. Sr. Comr. Alimuddin Tinulu, chief of the Muna Police, confirmed that the clashes occurred but said the cause was still being investigated.

He said he had deployed two platoons of security personnel to restore security and order in the town.

Illiteracy rate high in Bojonegoro

BOJONEGORO: The illiteracy rate in the East Java regency of Bojonegoro is as high as 25 percent, with 312,000 of the 1.2 million people in the regency not attending school.

"A long time is needed to fight illiteracy since local people's awareness of education is low," Sudjud, chief of the local education office, said here on Saturday.

He said illiteracy could be found both in rural and urban areas, adding that a majority of illiterate people lived in forested areas in Malo, Temayang, Dander and Kasiman subdistricts, far from Bojonegoro town.

He said his office had launched a special education program to teach people to read and instill a love of reading among them in an attempt to reduce the illiteracy rate. --Antara

Stepfather arrested for rape

BANDUNG: The police have arrested 40-year-old DH, a construction worker, on charges of raping his 16-year-old stepdaughter.

Adj. Comr. Jairusi, chief of the Astana Anyar Police, said over the weekend the suspect had been apprehended at a friend's house in Majalaya in Bandung regency.

"The suspect admitted his wrongdoing and he went into hiding because he was confused about his stepdaughter's pregnancy," said Jairusi.

According to the suspect's stepdaughter, she was raped at knifepoint six months ago.

"I reported the case to the police after he (the suspect) escaped and I was left alone at home," she said, saying her mother died in 2000. --Antara

Divorce rate in Cirebon soars

CIREBON: The divorce rate has escalated in Cirebon, with 3,178 divorces registered at the Cirebon religious court in 2001.

According to data at the religious court, 40 percent of the divorce cases were mostly due to economic reasons while the remaining 60 percent were caused by disharmony, polygamy and other noneconomical factors.

A majority of the wives filed for divorce after their husbands failed to financially support them and their children.

Sulaiman, a clerk of the religious court, said only a small number of marital problems were solved out of court.

He said another factor that contributed to the high divorce rate was the fact that many people married at a young age, as shown by the majority of the divorced couples being aged between 16 and 20.

He called on parents to educate their children on marriage and prevent them from marrying under 20. --Antara

Makassar Police pick up gun package suspect

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Makassar City Police have sent two detectives to Palu in Central Sulawesi to collect Jein Kaja, the main suspect in the recently foiled shipment of guns and explosive equipment to restive Poso.

Sr. Comr. Amin Saleh, chief of the city police, said the suspect, who is in custody at the Palu Police station, would be investigated in the city because his offense was committed here.

He said the suspect was a reporter at a print media in the city and the police wanted him to reveal the source of the guns and what they were to be used for in Poso.

The Palu Police are also investigating three suspects in connection to the recent bombing of four churches in the city.

Security authorities have asked all warring factions in Poso to surrender their guns and ammunition in an endeavor to end the prolonged conflict. Warring factions in Poso signed a peace agreement in Malino early in December to end the conflict. --Antara