East Java councillors plan visit to Europe

East Java councillors plan visit to Europe

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As most students return to school after a month-long holiday, a
group of East Java provincial councillors are eagerly packing
their bags for a 10-day overseas trip.

The councillors, from Commission E for social welfare, will
visit Singapore, Malaysia, the Netherlands and France between
Aug. 3 and Aug. 13 to visit, among other places, museums,
hospitals and art centers. They will also hold meetings with
labor supply companies during their stops in Singapore and
Malaysia.

The plan comes after reports that the South Kalimantan
governor and provincial councillors are gearing up for a visit to
the Netherlands at the invitation of a Dutch company, although a
definite date has not yet been set.

An itinerary obtained by Antara says that the East Java
councillors' overseas trip, referred to as a "comparative study",
is aimed at seeking written material and data on the development
of healthcare, manpower, education, the arts and museums in the
four countries having regard to the global information
revolution.

The entourage will include 19 commission E members, the
commission chairman and deputy chairmen, two legislative council
leaders and nine officials from the provincial administration in
charge of education, manpower, health and people's welfare.

Each councillor will reportedly receive Rp 20 million in
expenses.

The planned trip was approved as part of the provincial budget
for fiscal 2002 between the councillors and the provincial
administration earlier this year. It was further discussed during
coordinating meetings involving faction chairmen, commission
chairmen and the council's leadership on May 2 and May 8.

Both Commission E chairman Budi Harjono and his deputy
Soenaryono, who is also a naval officer, confirmed the plan.

"But we will see how the situation develops," a cautious
Soenaryono, from the Indonesian Military/National Police faction,
said.