Hundreds of bank deals suspicious
BOGOR, West Java: The Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK) has reported 289 bank transactions deemed suspicious to law enforcers.
Of the cases, 20 have been heard in courts and sentences handed down on defendants.
PPATK chief Yunus Husein said the center identified transactions that were connected with crimes; mostly deceit and corruption.
In the wake of the nationwide antigraft drive, the center is analyzing 60 suspicious bank transactions upon the request of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Yunus said.
The center also detected five bank transactions related to terrorist activities. -- JP
;JP; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Aceh-meeting Kalla receives Aceh figures JP/4/SCENE
Kalla receives Acehnese leaders
JAKARTA: Vice President Jusuf Kalla received on Saturday around 20 Acehnese leaders for talks on the peace process in the province.
Among the figures that attended the meeting Kalla hosted were House of Representatives legislator Ahmad Farhan Hamid, People's Consultative Assembly legislator Gazali Abas Adnan and former Indonesian Military Police chief Maj. Gen. (ret) Sulaiman AB.
The substance of the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, remains unknown.
Kalla has initiated a series of peace talks with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebel group facilitated by the Crisis Management Initiative in Helsinki. The fifth round of negotiations recently resulted in a draft peace agreement, scheduled for signing on Aug. 15. -- Antara
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Children taught to save energy
JAKARTA: To mark National Children's Day, state electricity company PLN launched on Sunday an energy saving module for school children.
Under the module, PLN will screen two animated films on energy conservation for the students.
PLN president director Eddie Widiono said the module was aimed at elementary students from third year to sixth year. For the trial, it will be introduced to students in Greater Jakarta.
"We hope to share knowledge about electricity with the children and help build a generation who is aware of energy conservation," Eddie said.
The firm will also promote the energy saving program among students through school visits. It will feature its mascot named Billi, a short form of Bijak Listrik (Wise electricity use). -- Antara
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JP/4/Scene1 PKB celebrates 7th anniversary
SURABAYA: The National Awakening Party's (PKB) seventh anniversary celebrations here on Saturday were held in a muted fashion after a no-show by the party's founder amid an ongoing internal conflict.
Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid did not attend the gathering attended by some 3,000 party faithful because of illness, although he did deliver a recorded speech through video.
In the speech, Gus Dur urged the party members to support the current PKB leadership, led by Muhaimin Iskandar, whom he described as the legitimate chairman of the party.
Muhaimin was elected as the party chairman in April. But his leadership has been challenged by Alwi Shihab and Saifullah Yusuf, the former party chairman and secretary general respectively, who were suspended last year after the two joined President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet.
While the crowd stayed somber throughout Muhaimin's speech, the mood quickly changed when the country's top pop band Dewa came on stage and performed their first song Pangeran Cinta (Prince of Love). -- Antara