More aid for dead student's families

YOGYAKARTA: Vice President Hamzah Haz joined on Monday the movement to financially assist the families who lost their children in the horrific bus crash in Situbondo, East Java last week.

Hamzah, accompanied by his wife Nani, donated Rp 4 million (US$476) to the families of the 54 students and teachers of the Yapemda I vocational senior high school in Sleman and their tour guide, who were killed in the accident.

The Vice President also talked to the families during the brief visit, offering his condolences.

"I can feel what the families experienced," he said.

Hamzah, who chairs the United Development Party (PPP), was just one of the state officials who donated money to the families of the victims.

Other donators include President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais. They are also presidential candidates of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Golkar Party and National Mandate Party respectively.

Noted Muslim preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar is scheduled to visit the school on Tuesday for a mass prayer.

The school remained unable to resume activities on Monday as it was still busy receiving people who came to offer their sympathy. -- JP