One more named as graft suspect
PALU, Central Sulawesi: Another person has been declared a suspect in a high profile graft case in Poso regency, bringing the total number of suspects in the case to five.
The person in question was Abdul Kadir, an official with the Social Welfare Office of the Central Sulawesi provincial administration, who was assigned to distribute aid to people displaced by the sectarian conflict in the regency in 2003.
Abdul Kadir was also being probed for involvement in the bombing of the Tentena Market in May of this year, which killed over 20 people.
Abdul Kadir was named a suspect after police investigations into four other suspects, including Azikin Suyuti, the then chief of the Social Welfare Office, who was also the project's chief officer, as well as Ivan Sidjaya, Arif Mubin Rajadewa and Agus, who were project contractors.
The graft case centers on the construction of almost 1,300 houses in Poso regency after the sectarian conflict here in 2000. The local government was given funds of Rp 6.4 billion (US$640,000) for house construction, but it was later discovered that a portion of the funds had been diverted by government officials and private contractors for their own gain. -- JP
;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Focus-hotel-Jember Christmas decorations brighten Jember JP/5/FOCUS
Christmas decorations brighten Jember
JEMBER, East Java: As Christmas draws hear, decorations have begun to brighten hotels and malls in Jember regency, including ubiquitous Christmas trees.
Getting Christmas trees is not difficult as many stores and malls stock decorated trees for sale to the public. Christmas trees are sold for between Rp 600,000 and Rp 1 million each.
Christians will celebrate Christmas this year amid bomb threats across the nation. Master bombmaker Azahari was killed in a police raid recently in Malang, but there are still fears that his accomplices will take revenge this coming Christmas. -- Antara
;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Yogya-expo-RRC Guandong Expo kicked off JP/5/FOCUS
Guandong Expo kicked off
YOGYAKARTA: Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono X on Thursday kicked off Guandong Expo 2005, an exhibition of industrial products from Guandong province, China.
The exhibition was aimed at introducing Guandong products to Yogyakartans. It was also aimed at strengthening ties between Yogyakarta and Guandong provinces, said Hamengkubuwono.
At least 52 Chinese companies, which joined the expo this year, exhibited various products, ranging from motorcycles, electronic devices and children toys. The expo closes on Dec. 5. -- JP
;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Aceh-archaelogy Aceh archaelogical sites to be renovated JP/5/FOCUS
Aceh archaelogical sites to be renovated
BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Aceh archaelogical office is planning to renovate archaeological sites that were damaged by the tsunami last year, an official said on Thursday.
Toto Haryanto said the office was proposing a budget to the central government and the renovation would start immediately the budget was approved.
Dozens of archeological sites were damaged by the tsunami last year, said Toto, a section chief of the Aceh Archaelogical Sites Preservation Body. Among archeological sites in question were a collection of tombs, such as the tomb of Syiah Kuala, a prominent Acehnese hero. -- Antara
;JP;ASA ANPAa..r.. Focus-Makassar-anthrax Slaughter house to reopen on Dec. 5 JP/5/FOCUS
Slaughter house to reopen on Dec. 5
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: After being hit by anthrax, Tamangapa slaughterhouse here will reopen on Dec. 5, an official said on Thursday. The slaughterhouse had been closed for two weeks after the discovery that several water buffalo and cows slaughtered here had contracted the disease.
The slaughterhouse has since been cleaned and disinfected, said Ridwan Gaffar, the coordinator of the anthrax eradication task force in Makassar. Since anthrax hit Tamangapa subdistrict near Makassar, 28 cows and water buffalo have either died of the disease, or been euthanized to prevent the spread of the deadly Bacillus anthracis bacteria. -- Antara