Certificates for street kids

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Some 200 street children and poor people will receive certificates from the local education office after participating in educational classes.

Yoseph Ahryanto Ludoni, director of Purnama Kasih Foundation, which organized the classes, said the certificates would state that their education was on a par with that obtained at formal schools.

"We pioneered these classes with the education office after learning that people drop out of school due to financial restraints," he said.

Yoseph added that the foundation also gave people the opportunity to learn computer skills at offices participating in an apprenticeship program.

He added that he hoped the government and local businesspeople would be ready to provide capital for them to develop their skills and start businesses.

The street kids and poor people will be presented with their certificates by Governor Piet Tallo on Dec. 22 on the commemoration of the foundation's third anniversary. - Antara

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Storm damages dozens of houses

INDRAMAYU, West Java: At least four houses collapsed and dozens of others were damaged in a storm in Karanganyar and Muntur villages in West Java on Sunday.

The storm also felled hundreds of trees.

One woman, Karminih, 22, was severely injured in the storm. Dozens of others were slightly injured and are being treated at Indramayu General Hospital.

An eyewitness, Wandi, said that the storm struck the villages at 7 p.m. Saturday and continued until Sunday afternoon. The storm blew off roofs, causing panic among local residents. --Antara

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Police nab two drug suspects

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Two suspected dealers of putauw (low-grade heroin), Asma Wulandari, 24, and Farid, 21, were arrested in separate locations here on Sunday, an official said.

City police intelligence chief Insp. Ferry Harahap said the arrests were made after the police received a tip-off.

Police also seized some small packets of putauw, electric scales and a stove at Wulandari's home.

Wulandari apparently confessed that she was a dealer and had been using the drug for six months.

Both suspects are expected to be brought to trial.

Local police arrested Sakri, 30, at his house on Jl. Tarakan and confiscated 261 ecstasy pills on Friday night. - Antara

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Security upped for Xmas, New Year

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: The Tanjungpura Military Command is preparing to help local police maintain public order over Christmas and New Year.

Military spokesman Brig. Gen. Hery Tjahjono said on Monday that the local military had held coordination meetings with police officers on security issues during the two holidays.

"We discussed the security situation in the province on Friday to anticipate the Christmas celebration," he said on Monday.

Hery added that the situation in the province was fairly secure, but increasing terror threats had prompted security personnel to take precautions.

He said that upholding security was not the responsibility of the military, but they were ready to back police personnel.

The military chief said that his office planned to beef up security along the border with Malaysia to anticipate terrorist threats from foreign countries. -- Antara

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Governor wary about road construction

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin has asked the home minister to order the Muna regent not to construct a road though a protected forest in North Buton.

Kaimoeddin suspected the road would facilitate logging in protected forests.

"If the plan is materialized, it will create environmental damage," Kaimoeddin said here on Monday.

An environmentalist, Harlin Barisala, urged the administration of the Muna regency to cancel the plan to build the road through the protected forest.

Muna Regent Ridwan has defended his plan, saying that the road was designed to give access to that area.

The road construction, which will cost about Rp 1.8 billion, will connect the remote village of Lakansai, in Maligano district, to Wa Ode Buri in Kulisusu district. - Antara

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Police urged to curb gun possession

BATAM, Riau: Residents of Batam, Riau, are urging the police to limit gun and firearm possession in order to reduce crime in the territory.

The residents believe that police raids against firearms would effectively reduce crime on the island.

William Tan, one resident, was concerned after reading a report that Batam was the marketplace of arms and ammunitions for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

An intelligence operative with the Batam military unit, Capt. Bambang, said his office did not have an exact figure on gun possession, but he believed it was high. --Antara