Govt wants less political parties

Govt wants less political parties

JAKARTA: Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno said the government
would like to see only a small number of political parties to
contest the 2004 general election.

"We hope there will be a small number of political parties (to
contest elections), otherwise it will confuse the people," he
said on Saturday.

Asked if the minister had an idea on the ideal number of
elections contestants, Hari simply said he would let the people
decide.

Those not eligible for election, Hari said, should become mass
organizations.

A total of 225 political parties have registered with the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Those parties have to meet
tough requirements before contesting the elections. -- Antara

Bali hospital gets A$8,100

DENPASAR, Bali: The Australia Indonesia Association (AIA) donated
A$8,100 to Denpasar's Sanglah general hospital (RSUP) to help
with the treatment of numerous victims of the Bali bombings.

The donation was handed over by education attache of the
Indonesian embassy in Canberra Wahdi Yudhi to RSUP director
Lanang Rudiartha here on Sunday.

The money was collected in a fundraising ceremony on Nov. 27
in Canberra. "May it benefit the hospital in improving public
services," Wahdi said.

He added that the association would also cooperate with the
Indonesian embassy in Canberra to boost tourism promotions in
Sidney in March next year.

The promotions would be aimed at reviving the image of Bali
which was shattered by the terrorist attacks which killed more
than 190 people, and targeted young, Western holidaymakers.

The hospital earlier this month also received an award from
the United Nations for its readiness to deal with victims of the
Bali blasts. -- Antara

Expatriates must understand Bahasa

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: All foreigners working in Indonesia
would soon have to understand and be able to communicate in
Bahasa Indonesia, a Cabinet minister said.

Manpower and Transmigration Minister Jacob Nuwa Wea claimed on
Sunday that the ability of foreigners to understand Bahasa
Indonesia was important for communication with others here.

"I'll try my best to require foreign workers learn Bahasa
Indonesia to communicate with their domestic servants," Jacob
said.

The regulation will be discussed soon at the Cabinet level.

According to the minister, other countries like Saudi Arabia
also impose an obligation on Indonesian workers to understand
local languages.

The minister, who hails from the province urged local youths
to develop their ability in foreign languages. He promised to
provide donations for that. -- Antara

Luwu allocates funds for conservation

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The North Luwu administration in South
Sulawesi has allocated Rp 1.5 billion (US$166,000) for
rehabilitation of beaches in the areas of Malangke, Malili and
Bonebone.

North Luwu Regent Luthfy A. Mutty said on Sunday that the
beaches in those districts were in an alarming condition as
mangrove forests were cut down due to uncontrolled development of
coastal ponds.

Luthfy said the rehabilitation program would be the best
solution to save the critical mangrove forests stretching more
than 100 kilometers up the coast.

North Luwu regency was known for its fishery industry. Apart
from shrimp and fish, the regency also produces seaweed. --
Antara

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NGOs reject Lampung safari park

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Several non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) dealing with environmental conservation have opposed the
East Lampung regency administration's plan to convert part of the
Way Kambas National Park (TNWK) into a tourist attraction.

Mukri Priyatna, executive director of Lampung branch of the
Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), said here on
Saturday that his organization had joined other NGOs affiliated
with the local Monitoring Network in opposing the plan.

He said the Network was deeply concerned over possible
environmental destruction in the 300-hectare national park,
should the protected forest be turned into a tourist resort like
the safari park in Bogor, West Java.

"The project might also be opposed by local people as they
have conserved the forest, while investors will not automatically
be able to protect the area," Mukri added. --Antara

E. Java could lose Rp 300b from Taiwan

SURABAYA, East Java: East Java may lose at least Rp 300
billion in foreign exchange should Taiwan sever its economic ties
with Indonesia following Jakarta's rejection of President Chen
Sui-bian's visit to Yogyakarta.

Head of the provincial manpower office, M. Djaelani, said in
Surabaya over the weekend that Taiwan was the fourth biggest
destination for Indonesian workers hailing from East Java after
Hong Kong, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

The number of Indonesian workers from East Java employed in
Taiwan was almost 6,000, he said.

"If about 70 percent of the Indonesian workers in Taiwan remit
their salaries to their hometowns, East Java will earn about Rp
300 billion in foreign exchange," Djaelani added.

He also said that in the first quarter of this year, around
12,000 people from East Java were recruited to work in Hong Kong,
9,000 in Malaysia and 7,000 others in Brunei Darussalam. --Antara

Roeslan warns of old forces' comeback

SURABAYA, East Java: Former foreign minister Roeslan Abdulgani
says that the nation was now in peril with status quo forces
trying to restore the New Order regime as the strength of the
pro-reform forces faltered.

Speaking at a national seminar titled Prospects for Indonesia
2003-2004 in the East Java capital of Surabaya, the prominent
nationalist figure during the era of first president Sukarno
pointed out that the tug of war between the two forces was
reflected in the various conflicts and acts of violence taking
place around the country.

"Meanwhile, some 80 million people are living under the
poverty line, and as the economic crisis is not yet over, the
figure could rise to 101.7 million people," Roeslan said.

The situation would be exacerbated by the fact that the number
of unemployed this year had reached between 20 million and 25
million," he added.

As conditions deteriorated, he said, the country's foreign
debt had reached US$140 billion, while the debt service ratio had
risen to 49.3 percent. This meant that almost half of the
country's export earnings would be used for debt repayments.

"The fall of the international communist system and the wave
of globalization have strengthened global capitalism, which
inevitable affects the Indonesian economy," he said. --Antara

Food get Muslim blessing

BENGKULU, Sumatra: A number of 45 small and medium-sized food and
beverage businesses received the halal (acceptable by Islamic
law) certification from the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI).

The certification was given after an assessment of the raw
materials, the production process and packaging of the products.

Chairman of Bengkulu's chapter of MUI Adismar Amnur said on
Sunday that his office would assess several other businesses.

The certificates ensure that the products do not break any
Muslim laws and therefore can be eaten. With the issuance of the
certificates, MUI and police officers have the right to randomly
inspect the products anytime.

"Those who receive certificates say that more people buy their
products," Adismar added.

Examinations and certification of each product costs between
Rp 200,000 and Rp 500,000, he said. - Antara

Kiemas acts as marriage witness

SURABAYA, East Java: President Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas
appeared on Sunday at the Al Akbar mosque in Surabaya to witness
the marriage of Nurman Setiawan Fajar, the third son of education
minister Abdul Malik Fajar.

The wedding of Nurman and Amalia Ratnavitriani was also
witnessed by Religious Affairs Minister Said Agil Husein Al
Munawar.

Taufik arrived at Juanda Airport at 7 a.m. and was greeted by
Governor Imam Utomo, East Java military chief Maj. Gen. A.D.
Sikki, Police chief Insp. Gen. Heru Susanto, and City mayor
Bambang D.H. -- Antara