Honorarium already disbursed: KPU

Honorarium already disbursed: KPU

JAKARTA: Deputy head of the General Elections Commission (KPU)
financial division M. Dentjik claimed on Wednesday that the
commission had distributed the stipend for members of the working
committees for polling stations (KPPS) to regental and municipal
KPUDs.

"So if there are complaints from working committee members
that they have not received their stipends, they must follow it
up with the regental or municipal KPUDs not the KPU," he said.

He also said that a working committee chairmen should receive
a total of Rp 100,000 for two months, while a member should get
Rp 80,000.

Working committees, which consists of a chairman and eight
members, were hired to assist in the legislative election for two
months.

However, Dentjik said that each regental and municipal KPUD
had the authority to decide whether to give the stipend to KPPS
officials twice in monthly installments or after the two month
period.

KPU deputy secretary-general Sussongko Suhardjo said the KPU
did not have a clear plan for goods procurement for the
presidential election.

"In Wednesday's plenary meeting, the goods procurement
timetable was not yet clear. It might be prepared in the next few
days," he said. --JP

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Scene-Pki-anti
Susilo, Kalla power hungry: Agum
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Susilo, Kalla power hungry: Agum

JAKARTA: Communications minister Agum Gumelar said on
Wednesday that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla had
withdrawn from the Cabinet just to pursue their political
ambitions.

Susilo, who was formerly coordinating minister for political
and security affairs, resigned from the Cabinet on March 9, while
Jusuf, former coordinating minister for people's welfare,
tendered his resignation on Monday.

They have teamed up to run for president and vice president in
the July 5 election.

"Yes, we regret the resignation of our colleagues Susilo and
Jusuf from the Cabinet to seek power," Agum was quoted by Antara
as saying on Wednesday.

Agum claimed that he would not leave his Cabinet post even if
a political party offered him the chance to run for the vice
presidential seat because being a minister was "part of my
biggest commitment to the nation and the state".

"As a soldier, I will never abandon my duty. A soldier must be
loyal and dedicate himself to the state," said Agum, who has been
tipped as the running mate of Amien Rais, chairman of the
National Mandate Party (PAN).

Susilo and Jusuf are considered by many as the strongest pair
contesting the July 5 election. -- Antara

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Scene-illegal-logging
Govt ready to jail illegal loggers
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Govt ready to jail illegal loggers

JAKARTA: The Minister for Forestry M. Prakosa confirmed on
Wednesday that the government would immediately arrest 12 people
believed to be the masterminds of illegal logging as soon as the
president signs the regulation in lieu of law on illegal logging.

"I expect the regulation to come out next week at the latest,
and we'll take direct action on those people because we already
know who they are," he said after opening a woodworking and
forestry exhibition on Wednesday.

He refused to reveal the identity of the suspects, but quickly
added that if convicted they could face the death penalty, the
maximum punishment under the new regulation.

Prakosa said that the draft had been approved during a Cabinet
meeting on April 11, and it was currently in the office of the
state secretary for a finalization.

The regulation orders the formation of an independent body
with the authority to investigate and indict illegal loggers.

The body will also involve the prosecutor's office, the
police, and the Indonesian Military.

The regulation also stipulates the establishment of an ad hoc
court consisting of five judges. The judges will be picked by the
Supreme Court as soon as the regulation materializes. --JP

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Scene-drugs-teens-ILO
Four percent of drug users children
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Four percent of drug users children

JAKARTA: About 4 percent of drug users in the country are
under 17 years old, a study conducted by the International Labor
Organization (ILO) revealed.

The study also found that two of 10 drug users are involved in
selling and distributing illegal drugs from the age of 13 to 15.

"They mostly use and sell marijuana due to exposure by peers
and relationships with drug dealers," ILO's spokesperson for
Jakarta Gita Lingga said on Wednesday.

The number of drug users, however, was unknown.

The study had been conducted since November 2002 covering five
priority areas. ILO worked with several state universities and
non-governmental organization the Foundation for Welfare of
Indonesia's Children (YKAI), and a number of consultants in the
study.

The results of the study will be used to create a national
action plan for eliminating the worst forms of employment for
children. --Antara