House members shocked on provincial tours

House members shocked on provincial tours

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the House of Representatives'
Commission IV were taken aback Monday to see Central Kalimantan
residents without protection in braving the haze choking the
province.

"On arrival at the provincial capital of Palangkaraya, we were
surprised to see that people at the airport did not use masks to
protect their mouth and nose from inhaling the thick smoke
covering the city," said Ali Hardi Kiai Demak, who led the eight-
member group on their tour to the province.

The commission handles public works, transportation,
communications and public housing matters.

Legislative commissions, entering a recess in their second
session, are visiting provinces to get a closer look at problems
to be brought before their hearings when the next session begins
in May.

Commission IV members broached the subject of the locals'
ignorance of health hazards about the haze during a meeting with
deputy governor Eliser Gerson, Antara reported yesterday.

Smog is again shrouding the provincial capital following a
second wave of devastating forest fires in Kalimantan.

In another tour, House Commission I on security and defense,
law, politics and information visited North Sulawesi. Members
discovered the local press on the brink of collapse due to the
crisis.

The group, led by Aisyah Amini, held a meeting with officials
of the local branch of the Association of Newspapers Publishers,
chaired by Boy L.F. Warouw.

Monetary turmoil has battered the newspaper industry in the
country in tandem with skyrocketing prices of newsprint, which is
priced in U.S. dollars. Several publications have embarked on
austerity measures, including reducing the number of their pages.

Warouw was quoted by Antara as confirming that five local
newspapers were in dire financial straits due to the cost of
newsprint.

Saying the problem would be her commission's main concern,
Aisyah promised to bring it before a hearing with the government
to seek a solution.

The group also discussed financial problems facing owners of
movie theaters and private radio stations in the province.

Commission members also visited the penitentiary in the
provincial capital Manado, and later called on the government to
improve conditions in prisons in North Sulawesi and Maluku
province.

"Considering the rising prices following the monetary crisis,
the meal allowance for prisoners in the two provinces should be
raised a little higher than the current Rp 1,600 per day,"
Soegiarto, the commission's deputy chairperson, said.

Commission V on industry, mining, trade manpower, cooperatives
and the environment visiting Ternate and Halmahera in North
Maluku. They heard of the alleged embezzlement of funds collected
by the Halmahera Jaya cooperative from clove growers in Ternate.

Supartha Nida, who led the commission tour, said in Ternate
Monday that growers reported the allegations to them. Although he
did not elaborate, he said his commission would discuss the case
with Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Subiakto
Tjakrawerdaya.

In Dili, East Timor, Commission III on agriculture, forestry,
transmigration and food affairs, was welcomed by deputy governor
J. Haribowo.

They subsequently met with local officials to discuss
development progress in the country's youngest province.

Haribowo said in the meeting there was a likelihood of food
shortages in September and October due to crop failures last year
in almost all districts in the province.

"Many are really afraid of food shortages because of the
failed harvest," Antara quoted him as saying. (rms)