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