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.