Govt may allow sand exports to M'sia

Govt may allow sand exports to M'sia

JAKARTA: The Indonesian government is considering allowing
sand exports to Malaysia from Riau under a government-to-
government agreement instead of business to business arrangement.

"We will decide whether or not to allow sand exports to
Malaysia next week," Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries
Rokhmin Dahuri said on Tuesday.

The government-to-government arrangement will require Malaysia
take action against any of its citizens who illegally import sand
from Indonesia, Rokhmin said.

According to Rokhmin, the new scheme will also require tight
zoning as part of the effort to minimize environmental
destruction.

"Based on tight environmental and legal requirements, sand
exports should be allowed to help increase the country's income,"
he added.

The sand to be exported to Malaysia is likely to come from
Bengkalis, Riau, the minister said. --JP

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More bomb suspects to face trial
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More bomb suspects to face trial

DENPASAR, Bali: The Denpasar District Court began its
preparations on Tuesday for the trial of the remaining four
suspects in the Bali bombings after receiving their case files
from the provincial prosecutor's office.

District Court President I Nengah Sarwa said the schedules for
the trials of Suranto Abdul Ghoni alias Umar alias Wayan, Sarjio
alias Syawad, Achmad Roichan alias Saad, and Hafidin alias Heri
would be arranged as soon as possible.

The court has appointed 16 senior judges to hear the cases,
Sarwa said.

Abdul Ghoni and Sarjio are charged with conspiracy to commit
terrorist acts, which carries the death sentence, while Roichan
and Hafidin are charged with harboring and/or providing succor to
wanted terrorist suspects, which is punishable by a maximum of 20
years in prison.

The court completed the first batch of trials involving 29
defendants on Monday, with three of them receiving the death
penalty and the rest receiving prison terms ranging from three
years to life. -- JP

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Pelni ready to transport revelers
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Pelni ready to transport vacationers

JAKARTA: The state-own shipping firm PT Pelni is readying its
fleet for the massive annual increase in passengers traveling to
their hometowns to celebrate the post-fasting month holiday of
Idul Fitri.

Company spokesman Abubakar Goyim said on Tuesday that 25
ships, consisting of 13 ships with capacities of 2,000 passengers
each, nine ships with capacities of 1,000 passengers each and
three with capacities of 500 passengers each, were now undergoing
maintenance in preparation for the holiday season.

Pelni will also deploy five Roll-on-Roll-off (Roro) ships,
which can transport both foot passengers and vehicles, he said.

Idul Fitri is expected to fall on Nov. 25. Millions of Muslims
across in the country normally travel home to celebrate the
holiday with their families.

Abubakar said that a large vessel, the KM Sinabung, which
usually serves ports in the western part of the country, would be
moved east on Oct. 20 in anticipation of an increase in the
number of passengers in that part of the archipelago .

He said tickets could be reserved 21 days before departure
during the holiday season. -- Antara

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Serbia and Montenegro FM to visit RI
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Serbia and Montenegro FM to visit RI

JAKARTA: Serbia and Montenegro Foreign Minister Goran
Svilanovic is scheduled to arrive here on Thursday for a three-
day official visit.

The Serbia and Montenegro Embassy said in a release on Tuesday
that Svilanovic will hold talks with his Indonesian counterpart
Hassan Wirayuda and other Cabinet ministers in charge of
industry, trade and research, as well as with top executives from
the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce.

Discussions with senior government officials will deal with
issues of mutual concern and reaffirm the readiness to promote
political dialog and develop cooperation in all areas of
interest, particularly the economy.

Svilanovic will bring with him a group of businesspeople. On
his first day here, the minister will officially launch the
Serbia and Montenegro-Indonesia Business Dialog, an association
of businesspeople to promote bilateral economic relations between
the two countries. -- JP