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

;JP;MUN; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Pki-anti Susilo, Kalla power hungry: Agum JP/4/SCENE

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JAKARTA: Communications minister Agum Gumelar said on Wednesday that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla had withdrawn from the Cabinet just to pursue their political ambitions.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

;JP;TON; ANPAa..r.. Scene-illegal-logging Govt ready to jail illegal loggers JP/4/scene1

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

;JP;TON; ANPAa..r.. Scene-drugs-teens-ILO Four percent of drug users children JP/4/scene1

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