Minister asks parties on requirements

Minister asks parties on requirements

JAKARTA: Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra said on Wednesday that political parties would not be
eligible to contest the 2004 general election if they failed to
fulfill administrative requirements.

"All political parties must fulfill administrative
requirements, otherwise their existence will not be recognized
and they will not be eligible to join the coming general
election," the minister told reporters here.

He also warned that a political party that passed the
verification by the justice ministry may not necessarily be given
authorization by the General Elections Committee (KPU) to contend
the elections.

According to general election law, the KPU requires a
political party to fulfill more thorough requirements than those
required by the justice ministry.

Yusril said that, so far, 18 political parties had been
examined by the ministry. -- Antara

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German terrorist suspect released
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German terrorist suspect released

JAKARTA: A German citizen who was jailed for 10 months on visa
violations after suspicions of alleged links with the al-Qaeda
terrorist network could not be proven, was freed from prison, but
remained in custody pending deportation, immigration officials
said.

Seyam Reda, 43, a German citizen of Egyptian descent, was
released from Jakarta's Cipinang Penitentiary on Wednesday.

Indonesian and German Embassy officials in Jakarta took Reda
to the immigration quarantine facilities.

Reda was originally arrested in Jakarta last September for
alleged links to Osama bin Laden-led terror group, but police
found no evidence to lay charges against him.

Reda denied any wrongdoing, and claimed he was in Indonesia as
a journalist.

A district court in January sentenced Reda to 10 months
imprisonment for visa violations, with the time he had already
spent in detention deducted.

"Reda is scheduled to be sent to Germany soon," said an
immigration official named Dany. -- JP

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RI leaders must be squeaky clean

BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Former corrupt leaders who are
responsible for the moral degradation of the Indonesian people,
must not be allowed to lead the country, an influential Muslim
cleric says.

"Indonesia's future leaders must be free from any scandals,
whether in the economic or political field and must have high
moral standing", chairman of largest Muslim organization
Nadhlatul Ulama, Hasyim Muzadi told reporters here on Wednesday.

He was responding to Golkar Chairman Akbar Tandjung's bid to
contend the presidential election. Akbar is appealing to the
Supreme Court to review the verdict of the district court which
sentenced him to three years imprisonment for misusing National
Logistics Agency (Bulog) funds.

The newly endorsed bill on presidential elections allows
convicted politicians to be nominated as presidential candidates.
-- Antara

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Aid-US-Indonesia
U.S. govt grants over US$27m to RI
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U.S. govt grants over US$27m to RI

JAKARTA: The U.S. government handed over on Wednesday Rp 226
billion (US$27 million) in a grant to the Indonesian government,
to help finance the ongoing family planning program and improve
the health of mothers and infants in the country.

The grant was handed over in a ceremony where officials of
both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

Indonesia was represented by Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi
and acting head of the Family Planning National Coordinating Body
(BKKBN) Lalu Sudarmadi, while representing the U.S. government
was Director of USAID's International Cooperation Program William
Frej.

Achmad Sujudi said the financial assistance was part of a U.S.
grant of $130 million for health programs to Indonesia from 1999
to 2005.

Achmad Sujudi said he hoped that the grant would help
Indonesia to reduce maternal deaths that currently stand at 373
for every 1,000 births and the infant mortality rate that is
currently 46 for every 1,000 births. -- Antara

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Soldiers-RI-Aceh-Ryacudu
'Don't be cowardly in facing rebels'
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'Don't be cowardly in facing rebels'

SITUBONDO, East Java: Army Chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu
boosted on Wednesday soldiers' fighting spirit, saying they
should not imitate the way Iraqi soldiers defended their country
against the U.S.-led coalition forces.

"Iraq troops have big mouths, but after their country was
occupied by the coalition forces, they were not willing to strike
back and, instead, ran away. They failed to show responsibility
to defend their own country," Ryamizard said in a written speech
which was read by a senior Army official to participants of a
combat training in Situbondo, East Java, on Wednesday.

Ryamizard added that all soldiers must have the spirit to
fight and resilience in facing the country's enemies in any
situation and, therefore, the soldiers must win the ongoing war
against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Aceh. -- Antara