Indonesian doctor awarded by Japan

INDONESIA: Indonesian neurologist Satyanegara has been awarded with the Order of The Rising Sun (Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon) from the Japanese government for his efforts in promoting ties between Indonesia and Japan, especially in the medical field, the Japanese embassy in Jakarta has said.

"He's helped build friendships between Indonesia and Japan. He recommended Indonesian students and doctors to Japan to receive training in the school of medicine, and raised money from Japanese companies to finance their tuitions," the embassy said in a statement on Thursday.

"Those who got the help to study medicine in Japan have earned leading position in companies, universities or hospitals, in medical sciences as well as in pharmaceutical companies," it added.

He also has helped Japanese physicians practice in Indonesia by setting up an organization. Their presence has attracted Japanese families to stay in Indonesia, thus increasing Japanese investment in Indonesia.

Satyanegara earned a doctorate in neurology from Tokyo University in 1972. The 66-year-old former director of Pertamina General Hospital in South Jakarta served as a member of the presidential medical team for former presidents Soeharto and Abdurrahman Wahid. -- JP

;AFP;IVY;cd; ANPAu..r.. ASEAN-Philippines-Muslim Filipinos growing more favorable towards Islam: survey JP/11/ASEAN 'Filipinos more open to Islam' (2x15)

THE PHILIPPINES: People in the largely-Roman Catholic Philippines have grown more positive towards Islam with 63 percent saying they have a favorable opinion of the religion, according to a survey released here on Friday.

The survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) research group, taken from Aug. 26-Sept. 5, showed that 63 percent have a "favorable" opinion of Islam and Muslims compared to 52 percent in a survey taken in August, 2004.

The survey also found that about 67 percent of Filipinos believed that Islam is a "peaceful religion" that does not encourage violence. In contrast, a survey in November 2002 found that only 44 percent of Filipinos believed this.

Forty-four percent of respondents in the latest survey said Muslims are as trustworthy as any other Filipino while 26 percent disagreed. A similar survey in 2001 found that only 29 percent considered Muslims to be as trustworthy as other Filipinos.

The survey covered 1,200 people nationwide with a margin or error of three to six percent.

The Philippines is more than 80 percent Catholic but about seven percent of the population is Muslim, mostly concentrated in the southern region of Mindanao. -- AFP