Dengue fever outbreak in Medan, 3 dead

Dengue fever outbreak in Medan, 3 dead

MEDAN, North Sumatra: At least 145 cases of dengue fever and
three deaths have been reported in the North Sumatra capital
Medan, health officials said on Wednesday.

Medan health office head Herman Sadeck said the outbreak was
an annual occurrence during the months of July and August, and
had always claimed lives.

The varied climate -- sometimes wet and sometimes dry -- had
contributed to the spread of the mosquito-borne disease, he said.

The office recorded 212 cases of dengue fever and three deaths
last year, a decrease from 344 cases and two deaths recorded in
2001. --JP

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Across-PTDI-workers
PT DI workers told to stop protests
JP/5/worker

PT DI workers told to stop protests

BANDUNG: West Java Governor Danny Setiawan asked workers from
state-owned aircraft company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI) on
Wednesday to cease their daily protest rallies against their
suspension to curb potential security disturbances.

The demonstrations in Bandung had created a "big social cost",
Setiawan said after a meeting with local military and police
chiefs to discuss security in West Java.

"Instead of protests, I ask PT DI workers to send their
representatives to the local legislative council, police or court
to convey their grievances. It will be more effective and
efficient."

PT DI suspended all its 9,643 workers on full pay last month,
citing financial problems. They have since staged rallies outside
the company compound and in other areas in Bandung.

Around 2,000 of the workers have returned to work after
pressure for the company to annul the suspension. --JP

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Across-givt-drought
Government criticized for drought response
JP/5/drought

Government criticized for drought response

CIREBON, West Java: The government's delay in providing water
pumps to farmers has been blamed for the spread of the prolonged
and crippling drought in Cirebon regency, West Java.

Local officials said Wednesday that should assistance not
arrive in the few next days, the farmers would not be able to
harvest their crops.

The West Java agriculture office had promised eight pumps and
the central government had promised 143 pumps.

However, the aid has not arrived as water sources, including
rivers, continued to dry up, Cirebon agriculture office official
Asyikin Kusnandi said. --JP

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Across-refugee
East Timor refugees reregistered
JP/5/Timor

East Timor refugees reregistered

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Authorities have began the
reregistration of thousands of East Timorese refugees languishing
in camps across East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to determine their
citizenship, officials said.

The program is implemented on the basis of Presidential Decree
No. 25/2003 ordering registration of East Timorese refugees ahead
of the 2004 elections.

The registration will exclude former East Timorese civil
servants, including soldiers and police officers, as they are
automatically considered Indonesian citizens for their service to
the country, said spokesman for the NTT administration Johanis
Kosapilawan.

He said on Monday the registration also aims to determine the
exact number of East Timorese refugees living in the camps.

It is expected that the registration will assist the refugees'
to participate in the 2004 general elections.--JP