Pilot defies police summons

Pilot defies police summons

JAKARTA: Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto failed to
answer a summons for questioning on Thursday at National
Police Headquarters over his alleged involvement in the murder of
prominent human rights campaigner Munir last year.

Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Aryanto Boedihardjo told reporters
that Pollycarpus' lawyer, Suhardi Somomoeljono, sent a fax to the
police, saying that his client was ill and could not appear for
questioning.

A doctor's certificate was also faxed, in which Pollycarpus
was given three days to rest from March 9. However, the
certificate did not state what illness the pilot was suffering
from.

Aryanto said the police would soon send a team of physicians
to Pollycarpus' home to verify whether he was really ill or not.

The police would also summon Pollycarpus again for questioning
on Monday, he added. -- JP

;JP;NFK;
ANPAa..r..
Bali-Jailcut-Hindu

JP/4/scene

213 Hindu inmates
get remission

DENPASAR, Bali: A total of 213 inmates of nine prisons across
the island received remission in observance of this year's Nyepi
(Hindu Day of Silence), which fell on Friday, officials said.

Four of the prisoners, all Hindus, were able to immediately
walk free as a result of having their terms cut, the correctional
affairs director at the Bali office of the justice and human
rights ministry, AAG Mayun Mataram, said on Thursday.

He said the 213 prisoners had their jail terms cut by between
15 days and two months, with 75 of the recipients being from the
Denpasar penitentiary.

The government grants remission for Independence Day on Aug.
17, and on the main holy days of the country's principal
religions.

Mayun said Bali had nine prisons and detention centers, which
currently housed 655 inmates and 348 detainees. --Antara

;JP;EVA;CD;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-Haze-Riau

JP/4/scene2

Haze returns
to Pekanbaru

PEKANBARU, Riau: Smoke haze has again blanketed Pekanbaru and
other parts of Riau province over the past three days, but
everyday activities have been largely unaffected.

Head of the Riau Environmental Impact Management Agency
(Bapedalda) Januardi said that no firespots were found in Riau
forest areas, meaning that haze might have come from neighboring
provinces. Januardi's conclusion was backed up with satellite
data showing 17 firespots in neighboring Jambi province, seven in
Central Kalimantan, four in Bangka Belitung and three spots in
Riau Islands province. "If the haze comes from neighboring areas
then there's nothing we can do but wait for it to clear,"
Januardi said. -- JP

;JP;EVA;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-German-Aceh

JP/4/scene

German troops wind
up Aceh operations

BANDA ACEH: German soldiers have completed their humanitarian
mission in the tsunami-stricken province of Nanggroe Aceh
Darussalam, and started leaving the area on Thursday.

The 150 soldiers, who arrived in Banda Aceh on Jan. 3, have
undertaken various tasks in Aceh, including the building of a
health clinic equipped with a complete set of surgical equipment
at the Zainoel Abidin Hospital in Banda Aceh.

Apart from building the clinic, the Germans also provided
medical treatment to around 3,000 Acehnese suffering a variety of
serious ailments, including tumors, broken bones and eye
injuries.

A medical staffer, Rieffel, said that although German soldiers
have left Aceh, personnel from several non-governmental
organizations will replace them in giving medical attention to
the Acehnese.

He added that the German government will be donating 1.5
million euros worth of medical equipment to Zainoel Abidin
Hospital. -- JP

;JP;MUN;CD;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-AA-announce
RI to host Asia-Africa conference
JP/4/SCENE

RI to host
Asia-Africa Conference

JAKARTA: Indonesia is scheduled to host a series of events
related to the Asia-Africa Conference next month, which would be
attended by delegations from 105 countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said on Friday
that the events will include a ministerial meeting on April 20,
the Asia Africa Summit on April 22 to April 23 in Jakarta, and
the celebration of the golden jubilee of the 1955 Asia Africa
Summit on April 24 in Bandung.

As many as 45 heads of state and heads of government from 105
nations have been invited, including members of the Non-Aligned
Movement from outside of Asia and Africa, have confirmed their
attendance at the golden jubilee celebration, he said.

Asia Africa Summit was first held in 1955 in Bandung. -- JP