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Tourism services need improvement
A city councilor from Commission A on tourism is urging the City Tourism Office to make Jakarta more appealing as a vacation spot for travelers the world over.
"Jakarta should improve its tourism infrastructure and double its efforts in selling its attractions to win an image as a comfortable and attractive vacation spot," said Sutarno, the chairman of the commission.
Last year around 1.1 million foreign tourists visited the city, falling short of the government's target of 1.5 million.
The number of Indonesian tourists who came to Jakarta last year also fell short of government targets. The government projected that there would be 8.75 million domestic tourists visiting Jakarta last year. The actual number of tourists was 8.25 million.
Sutarno said that, because of these disappointing statistics, it was necessary for the City Tourism Office to make a more concerted effort to promote Jakarta abroad.(06)
;JP;11; ANPAj..r.. Child-operation-army
Rasyim gains normal life
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Rasyim gains normal life
Yesterday, a young boy who was almost crippled by hormone overproduction that deformed his left foot, finished up his treatments at an army hospital.
Doctors report that the boy made a full recovery.
Rasyim, a seven year old boy, is the youngest of six children of a poor farmer at Kutruk village in Tigaraksa, Tangerang, West Java. His left foot grew abnormally large due to a condition which doctors say was due to abnormal production of his natural growth hormones.
"I want to go to school ... and become an ABRI (armed forces) member," said Rasyim who was dressed in an army-dotted T-shirt and trousers before leaving the Mochammad Ridwan Meuraksa hospital, Central Jakarta, yesterday.
Flanked by his parents, Rasyim looked a little bewildered in front of photographers who wanted to take his picture before his departure.
Dr. Abidin, who operated Rasyim, said the hormone had caused Rasyim's left foot to grow as large as his head. "It's almost one kilogram," Abidin noted, saying that it was not tumor.
The operation was performed at the end of April, involving only three physicians: an anesthesiologist, Abidin as the surgeon and head of the hospital Dr. Edy Harharun.
Lt. Col. Razni C.Z., vice chairman of the hospital, told The Jakarta Post that all medical expenses were picked up by Persit Kartika Chandra Kirana, the organization of Army members' wives.
The organization is chaired by the wife of the Army chief of staff.
"It was Mrs. Wismoyo Arismunandar who discovered the child while inspecting the organization's social activity in Tigaraksa," Razni said. (11)
;JP;JSK; ANPAj..u.. Jakarta--Focus--6
Jakarta Fair to open in June
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Jakarta Fair to open in June
The yearly Jakarta Fair of 1994 will open from June 18 to July 16 at the Kemayoran Jakarta Fair Arena.
Achmad Tossin, president of the PT Jakarta International Trade Fair Corporation, announced the opening of the fair on Wednesday. He said that it was scheduled to be opened by President Soeharto or Vice President Try Sutrisno at 9 a.m. on June 18.
Cabinet members, ambassadors, governors, city councilors and the city top officials are expected to attend the ceremony, he said.
The ceremony will feature dances from the province of South Sumatra and the Gita Bagasari drum band from Bekasi.
The fair will be open between 3 p.m and 10 p.m. from Monday through Friday and between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. (jsk)