JP/5/archi

Fire guts 30 shops in Manado

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Some 30 shops on Jl. Nusantara in downtown Manado were gutted by fire on Monday at about 10 p.m., resulting in billions of rupiah in material losses.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

Four teams of firefighters were deployed to the scene but were unable to contain the raging fire, which fed on the paint, paint thinner and woods stored in some of the shops.

The firefighters also encountered difficulty in extinguishing the conflagration because of a lack of access to the location. --Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Across-landslide-transport Landslides haunt transports JP/5/across

Buses on alert for landslides

JAMBI, Sumatra: Buses traveling on the Jambi-Kerinci route have been warned to be on the alert for landslides following heavy rains.

The head of the traffic unit at the Jambi transportation office, Joko Mulyono, said on Tuesday the route was prone to landslides, especially in the regencies of Merangin and Kerinci.

"The route follows the Bukit Barisan mountain range, with ravines on both sides. There is the potential for landslides," Joko said.

He said his office was cooperating with the local resettlement and infrastructure office to anticipate possible landslides along the route.

Some heavy equipment, included tractors and excavators, have been deployed along the route. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Across-navy-funds Navy needs more funds for operations JP/5/across

Councillor wants more support for Navy

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Local councilor Lt. Col. Endy Samsuheri has expressed concern about the lack of support for naval operations in the region.

Endy said on Tuesday the local administration had budgeted only Rp 7 million to support the naval base in the region.

He said the money was far less than spent by the Navy to safeguard the region.

"Gas costs money and the Navy's budget can't cover its operations," he said.

He emphasized that without the support of the regency and provincial administrations, naval operations in the region would be forced to halt. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Across-teacher-voluntary Voluntary teachers expect recognition JP/5/across

Volunteer teachers want recognition

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Volunteer teachers who have spent years working in remote areas of North Sumatra are asking for "consideration" from the administration.

"I have been teaching here for 13 years, but I still have not been promoted to be a civil servant," said Sri Wahyuni, 36, in the village of Lau Serden, Sei Bingai, Langkat regency.

Wahyuni is one of hundreds of volunteer teachers who work in elementary schools in the province. She graduated from now defunct School for Teachers Education in 1987.

She said that after teaching she helped her husband in the ricefields.

Wahyuni said she hoped Langkat Regent Syamsul Arifin and Governor Rizal Nurdin would consider the fate of the volunteer teachers. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Across-environment-students Students to learn environment conservation JP/5/across

Students to learn about conservation

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: Students in the city will soon be getting a new subject in school: environmental conservation and city sanitation.

It is hoped that introducing the new subject will help improve awareness of environment affairs.

Balikpapan Mayor Imdaad Hamid said the move was prompted by the continued degradation of the Sungai Wain protected forest.

Sungai Wain is an asset that should be sustained, and students should understand the importance of the forest, he said.

Although illegal logging in the forest has decreased, the practice is still continuing. Of 10,000 hectares of protected forest, only 30 percent is still virgin forest.

The implementation of the new subject will be discussed by members of the public, educators and non-governmental organizations. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Across-farmers-lesson Farmers get lesson on agriculture JP/5/across

Farmers get lesson in agriculture

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: Researchers from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences are teaching farmers here how to build rice terrace irrigation systems.

The irrigation systems will not affect the surrounding environment, said researcher Suparmo on Tuesday.

The construction of the irrigation systems is important for keeping fertile soil intact.

Farmers, schoolchildren and elderly people are taking part in the program.

Beside offering instruction in how to construct the irrigation systems, the researchers are also teaching the locals about how to select seeds, plant them and take care of them.

Local farmer Markus Mali said he had learned a lot about planting and growing vegetables. -- Antara