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

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 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

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