'Party symbols must go,' Liberal Election Watch

SURABAYA: Following a recent fatal clash between rival party supporters in Bali, an election watchdog here demanded on Thursday that the East Java provincial administration remove party propaganda materials from the streets.

Syafrudin Budiman, chairman of election watchdog Liberal Election Watch, said the call was made in order to avoid another bloodshed in the province ahead of the 2004 general elections.

"We just sent a letter today to the East Java Governor, requesting him to remove political parties' flags, command posts, pamphlets and other paraphernalia from the streets," he said.

He expressed concern that the current prevalence of such material on the streets could heighten feelings of loyalty among party members and eventually lead to a violent clash between rival party supporters, as had already happened in Bali.

Supporters from the Balinese chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party clashed a few weeks ago, leaving two Golkar supporters dead.

Syafrudin said the party paraphernalia must only be displayed during the 2004 campaign period. -- Antara

Kendari water firm to raise rates

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The Kendari tap water company, owned by Kendari municipality, is planning to propose a 57 percent rate hike to councillors.

The water rate hike is necessary to prevent the company from imminent bankruptcy, said the company's president director, Edi Sudiro.

Edi said the company had suffered financial losses since state electricity company PT PLN raised its rates last year.

Due to the increase, combined with the rising price of raw materials, including chemicals used to purify water, the tap water company had suffered monthly losses of Rp 100 million in the past year, he said.

He said the company had concluded that a 57 percent hike was needed, if it was to recover its finances.

"The company must be saved. The proposal for the tariff hike will be submitted to the councillors immediately," he said.

Currently, the company has 14,000 customers, and charges Rp 1,240 per cubic meter of water. -- Antara

Idul Fitri to up hotel occupancy

PADANG, West Sumatra: The West Sumatra office of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) estimated on Thursday that the hotel occupancy rate in Padang would increase to between 60 and 70 percent during the Muslim Idul Fitri holiday.

It will be a significant increase from the average rate of 46 percent, said Aminul Akbar, head of BPS West Sumatra.

"The expected increase in the hotel occupancy rate is attributed to the annual pulang basamo custom," he said.

Pulang basamo refers to the annual Idul Fitri homecoming, when Padang residents who have gone to seek their fortunes in other provinces -- or even abroad -- return to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families and relatives.

Idul Fitri will fall on Nov. 25 and 26 this year. -- Antara