Painting stolen

Painting stolen
from exhibition

A painting has been stolen from an exhibit at the Stage
restaurant at the Ratu Plaza shopping center in South Jakarta.

Michael, the manager of the Stage, told YThe Jakarta Post late
last week that the stolen painting, entitled Grandma Moses Goes
to the Tambora, was one of many works by an American artist
nicknamed Tompel on display at the restaurant.

The exhibit continues through April 20.

Michael said the theft occurred last Friday afternoon, when
the electricity was out.

He said he had no idea who had stolen the artwork valued at Rp
300,000 (US$140), which had just been marked sold. (jsk)

Surjadi ends slum
upgrading program

In a weekend ceremony at the Ujung Menteng subdistrict office
in East Jakarta, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja announced the
completion of the slum upgrading program started last year.

The citywide urban renewal program was initiated as part of
nationwide activities for last year's National Social Solidarity
Day, which began on Dec. 20.

The program provided social services, public facilities and
repaired and upgraded housing for the people living in the least
developed areas of the capital.

The Solidarity Program was expected to promote a feeling of
togetherness and to motivate individuals to take part in
activities which involve the livelihood of many.

Of the more than Rp 4.5 billion spent on the rehabilitation
program, Rp 1.5 billion was contributed by the central
government, Surjadi said. The rest was obtained through community
participation and donations from businessmen.

There are 11 subdistricts in Jakarta which fall under the
category of least developed areas. One is in Central Jakarta, two
are in West Jakarta and eight in North Jakarta. (06)

Police capture
murder suspect

The Cakung police arrested a food shop owner late last week on
charges of killing a thug.

Maj. Tjokorde Suyasa, chief of the Cakung police, said Friday
that the murderer suspect, Wito Handoyo bin Samaun, 25, was
arrested at 2 a.m. at his home, which also functions as a shop.

Wito, a resident of Rawa Teratai subdistrict, Cakung district,
East Jakarta, has been charged with killing Ahmad Zaini, 24, who
lived in the same neighborhood on March 4.

Ahmad's body was discovered early in the morning amid
shrubbery on Jl. Raya Bekasi in front of the Pulau Gadung Steel
factory, close to a truck terminal.

Police initially suspected he had been stabbed to death by one
of the truck drivers working there. Ahmad, who claimed to
supervise and protect the area, was known to have extorted money
from the truckers frequently.

Police later discovered clues which led them to shift their
suspicion to Wito.

During interrogation, Wito said he had taken vengeance upon
Ahmad for all the terror and hassle the thug had imposed on him
for so long. (jsk)

One-way traffic
in Tn. Abang

It is nearly impossible to introduce a one-way traffic policy
in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, because there are too many
street traders on the roads, says a city official.

Making a bad situation worse, both drivers and passengers do
not have the discipline to adhere to a one-way traffic
regulation, said J.P. Sepang, the head of the City Land
Transportation and Traffic Control Office over the weekend.

Sepang said he plans to couple one-way traffic in Tanah Abang
with the reduction of the number of the city's traffic lights
because these have the potential to engender congestion, which
prompts drivers to violate a one-way traffic policy.(06)