JP/11/ATW

JP/11/ATW

Group to host
vigil in U.S.

USA: The Washington-based Society for Indonesian-Americans
(SIA) will organize a nationwide candlelight vigil commemorating
the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia, South Asian
countries and Africa on Feb. 4.

The event, which took place 40 days after the tragedy (an
Indonesian traditional time of memorialization), will be held
simultaneously in Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Houston,
Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Francisco and Seattle
and Washington D.C. The Washington's event will take place at the
Indonesian Embassy from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. local time.

The event program consists of a moment of silence, discussion,
films and photograph exhibition. Indonesian Ambassador for the
United States Soemadi D.M. Brotodiningrat is scheduled to speak
from Washington D.C. in a nationwide conference call.

A representative from Mercy Corps will update participants on
their tsunami relief efforts in Aceh. Mercy Corps has been
designated by SIA as the primary recipient of their donations due
to their extensive on-site presence, their low administrative
costs and their innovative activities in Indonesia.

SIA also received donations of clothing and children's toys
during the event.

"This is a nationwide event in the U.S. to show respect and
solidarity toward the victims not only in the Indonesia region,
but all tsunami-affected countries. SIA plays a role in bringing
together Indonesians and Americans in the U.S., but on this
evening, we hope to bring together the world in unity for a
moment of silence," Avian Tumengkol, SIA protocol for Indonesia,
said. -- JP

;JP;APS;
ANPAa..r..
ATW-Saudi-Conference

JP/12/ATW

Saudi to host
counterterror forum

SAUDI ARABIA: The Saudi Arabian government will host the first
international counterterrorism conference from Feb. 5 to Feb. 8,
the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington said on Thursday.

Over 50 countries, including 15 from the Arab world, will
attend the conference, to be held in Riyadh. Saudi Crown Prince
Abdullah bin Abdulaziz will open the conference.

The expected outcome from this event will be specific
proposals for improving international cooperation on
counterterrorism and improving capabilities to combat financing,
money laundering and drug trafficking, the embassy said.

"The attendees hope to reach practical conclusions and
recommendations to support international efforts in fighting
terrorism," the embassy said in its website,
www.aboutsaudiarabia.net.

The conference will be divided into several workshops focusing
on four main themes: terrorist ideology and its roots; the
relationship between terrorism, money laundering, arms and
weapons trafficking; the experiences of certain countries in
combating terrorism as well as terrorist organizations and their
composition. --JP