Gus Dur rests in hospital

Gus Dur rests in hospital

JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid is
taking a rest at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central
Jakarta following an annual general checkup on Tuesday evening.

The chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest
Muslim organization, Hasyim Muzadi, told reporters after visiting
his predecessor that Gus Dur was in good health and expected to
be discharged on Saturday at the latest.

"He laughed a lot. The doctors said they found something
suspicious in a cerebral blood vessel. They were so afraid that
he could have another stroke that they suggested Gus Dur stay at
the hospital to get some rest," Hasyim said.

One of Gus Dur's daughters, Zannuba Arifah "Yenni" Chafsof,
said it was better for her father to stay at the hospital because
visitors, phone calls and work filled her father's daily schedule
when he was at home.

Gus Dur suffered several strokes before he assumed power in
October 1999. -- JP

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Scene-Journalist-rights
A radio reporter resists dismissal
JP/4/SCENE

Radio reporter resists dismissal

JAKARTA: The observance of May Day has led to the dismissal of
Hendrik Dikson Sirait, a reporter and chairman of the workers
union at private radio station Jakarta News FM.

The advocacy team for the radio station's workers told a media
briefing on Wednesday that Hendrik had not received prior notice
of his dismissal and nor had approval been given by the Workers
Dispute Resolution Committee (P4D) as required by Law No. 12/1964
on manpower.

"His dismissal is invalid. Moreover, the notice was signed by
the chief director of PT Milenia Komunika Pradana, not the human
resources manager," said Romy Fibri from the Jakarta branch of
the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

The team demanded that PT Milenia's board of directors agree
to negotiate and restore Hendrik's rights. It also deemed the
directors' refusal to heed the requests to be against workers'
rights.

Hendrik had protested a two-day suspension of the host of a
special broadcast dedicated to International Labor Day on May 1.

Asfinawati from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta)
said that of the similar cases it had handled, half had failed to
reach settlement because of the weak bargaining position of
workers. -- JP

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TVRI-status
JP/4/SCENE

'TVRI' still dependent on state funds

JAKARTA: The government's policy to transform state television
station TVRI into an independent private broadcasting company,
which took effect on April 17, is yet to be a reality as it still
requires financial assistance from the government during its
ongoing transitional period into a fully private company.

TVRI finance director Badaruddin said on Wednesday that as
long as the station was unable to earn a profit, government funds
were still needed.

He admitted that for its operational expenditures in 2002, the
station had received Rp 157 billion in state funds.

The changing of TVRI's status last month was made because the
state company was on the brink of collapse, said TVRI chief
executive officer Sumita Tobing.

The company, which has 400 transmitters throughout the
country, has an estimated 7,000 employees. - JP