Dead fish

Dead fish
no crime: police

JAKARTA: A police laboratory test has revealed that the cause
of death of thousands of fish in Jakarta Bay last month was a
natural phenomenon.

"It was caused by the extensive proliferation of
phytoplankton, which is natural," Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen.
Makbul Padmanagara said on Friday.

The police findings support the conclusion of the Jakarta
Environmental Impact Management Agency.

"As there is no criminal factor in the case, we won't start a
criminal investigation," Makbul added.

The test was conducted at the forensic laboratory of the
National Police Headquarters.

People had initially accused factories near Jakarta Bay of
discharging untreated waste into the sea. --JP

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ANPAj..r..
Greater-erosion
Coastline erosion still a problem
JP/8/G-EROSI

Coastline erosion a
problem, says regent

TANGERANG: Regent Ismet Iskandar acknowledged on Friday his
office had yet to take any measures to stop continued erosion
along the north coast of Tangerang.

"We cannot stop the offshore sand mining; we have tried but to
no avail. We need the central government to step in on this
matter," he said.

He said his office had been able to stop companies based in
Jakarta from mining sand on and near the shore. "But since they
moved offshore we have been unable to stop their activities
because our jurisdiction only extends 200 meters from the
coastline."

Ismet added that a huge amount of money would be needed to
curb the erosion, but most of the regency's annual budget had
been allotted for roadwork. -- JP

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ANPAj..r..
Greater-village-mismanaged
Two controls one village
JP/8/

Village has 2 chiefs,
lots of confusion

TANGERANG: Residents of Bakti Jaya village in Cisauk district
may be excused for their confusion, for they find themselves led
by two village heads.

"When we want our documents legalized, we aren't sure which of
the two to go to," Nurdin, a resident, told The Jakarta Post on
Friday.

Residents elected Ali Warta as village head on June 14 last
year. But due to allegations that he used a fake diploma, the
regency administration postponed his inauguration and appointed
Soleh Marzuki as the interim village chief.

Ali Warta is standing trial at the Tangerang District Court
for his alleged use of the fake diploma, but in the meantime has
set up a large tent near the Pamulang Permai housing complex to
serve as his office.

Rukmana, an official at the regency administration office and
in charge of supervising the village, said the administration
would only replace Ali Warta if the district court found him
guilty. --JP

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ANPAj..r..
Greater-Garuda-delays
Computer down delays flight
JP/8/

Computer problems
delay six flights

TANGERANG: Problems with the online reservation system of flag
carrier Garuda Indonesia at Soekarno-Hatta airport in Tangerang
forced the delay of six flights as of Friday afternoon.

A spokesman for airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II, Syahrial,
told The Jakarta Post that technicians were still working on the
problem.

"No flights were canceled ... Garuda has to check the
reservations manually and that means more time," he said. --JP