NU activists on hunger strike for Gus Dur

SEMARANG: Nine Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) activists went on a hunger strike here on Tuesday to protest the General Elections Commission (KPU) for disqualifying former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid from the July 5 presidential election on medical grounds.

The strike, held outside the Central Java regional KPU office, was held to pressure the commission to annul its decision.

The protesters argued that the disqualification discriminated against citizens with disabilities, like the nearly blind Gus Dur. -- JP

;JP;DEWI; ANPAa..r.. National-scene-Wednesday Poland Ambassador visits Manado for economic reason JP/4/SCENE

Poland envoy makes trade trip to Manado

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Poland Ambassador to Indonesia Krzysztof Izumski began on Tuesday a two-day visit to the North Sulawesi capital of Manado to bolster trade with the province.

Izumski said North Sulawesi was chosen, as Poland spends US$300,000 on procuring copra and canned fish from the province.

He said Poland was interested in exporting food processing equipment to the province and in investing in the local transportation and communications sectors. -- JP

;JP;KHS; ANPAa..r.. Bill-Rush-House JP/4/scene19

House hurries to finish key bill

JAKARTA: Legislators here agreed on Tuesday to bring a bill on a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to a smaller committee for deliberation.

Committee chairman Sidharto Danusubroto said the committee would help legislators finish deliberating the bill before their five-year term ends in September.

The committee, consisting of 21 legislators, is to start working on June 1. -- JP

;JP;ABDUL; ANPAa..r.. Prudential-Dispute-Bankrupt

JP/4/report

Prudential receiver reported to police

JAKARTA: Around 50 agents and employees of PT Prudential reported on Tuesday a receiver of the bankrupt company, Yuhelson, to the National Police for closing the firm's operation on April 23.

Their lawyer, Petrus Bala P., said his clients accused Yuhelson of breaching Article 335 of the Criminal Code on contemptuous conduct and requested that a court replace Yuhelson.

Yuhelson had no authority to close the company's operation at that time because he had not received a court order, Petrus said, adding that the closure caused huge losses to the firm. -- JP