PMI extends relief fund to Iraq

PMI extends relief fund to Iraq

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) handed over on
Wednesday Rp 129 million (about US$14,500) in post-war relief aid
to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the
Iraqi people, who badly need fresh water supplies, medicines and
food.

The money was given by the PMI's chairman Mar'ie Muhammad to
the ICRC's representative in Jakarta, Marco Altherr.

The money was donated by the public through Bank Central Asia
(BCA) bank account No. 450 308 5600, which was opened by the PMI
early this month. The account will remain open for other donors.

Mar'ie said the aid would be used mainly to help the Iraqi
people obtain fresh water. Reportedly, Iraq's Red Crescent and
the ICRC are repairing fresh water supply networks, installations
and pumps, as well as distributing fresh water.

Besides tackling the water problem, the ICRC is also providing
medicines and helping repair electricity installations. -- JP

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Scene-Army-deputy
New Army deputy chief installed
JP/4/s-kasad

New Army deputy chief installed

JAKARTA: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu swore in
on Wednesday Lt. Gen. Darsono as his new deputy, replacing Lt.
Gen. Sumarsono.

During the inauguration ceremony at Army headquarter in
Central Jakarta, Ryamizard said in his speech the deputy chief
would serve as his top assistant and advisor in coordinating
staff.

Darsono graduated from the Military Academy in 1972 and
previously held various positions in the force, including chief
of the Siliwangi Military Command overseeing West Java. -Antara

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Scene-Mataram-penitentiary
Minister to open new prisons
JP/4/s-lp

Minister to open new prisons

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra is slated to open 24 new
penitentiaries and 19 new rehabilitation centers across the
country on Sunday.

The ministry's director general for correctional institutions,
Adi Soedjatru, said during the ceremony that the minister would
also change the status of 44 detention centers to penitentiaries.

The consequences of the change in status would include the
need for nearly 1,000 additional officers.

"We see these addition as a managerial challenge for the
ministry's regional offices throughout the country," he said.

Adi was in Mataram on Wednesday to inaugurate R.M. Sindhu
Kresno as the new head of the provincial office of the justice
ministry. -- Antara

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Scene-Denpasar-migrant-workers
Migrant workers postpone departure
JP/4/scene24

Migrant workers postpone departure

DENPASAR, Bali: A number of migrant workers in Bali have had
their departure overseas delayed in the wake of the Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak.

"The migrant workers were ready to depart, but we didn't want
anything bad to happen to them, so we temporarily postponed their
placement overseas," said the head of Bali's manpower agency, IGP
Wijaya, on Wednesday.

Bali's migrant workers mostly work in the tourism sector, such
as on cruise ships.

Due to fears of SARS, a number of workers had changed their
destinations to SARS-free countries, according to Wijaya. There
are a total of 2,000 migrant workers hailing from Bali. -Antara

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Scene-Minister-Jamsostek
Minister names Jamsostek director
JP/4/scene24

Minister names Jamsostek director

JAKARTA: Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa
Wea has named his ministry's inspector general the new president
director of PT Jamsostek, a state-owned social insurance company.

Jacob said he had sent a letter to State Minister for State
Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi asking for his approval of the
appointment.

"I know that Amrinal is suitable for that post," Jacob said on
Wednesday. He added that he had also talked directly to Laksamana
about Amrinal's nomination.

Other candidates for the company's top job include PT
Jamsostek commissioner and secretary-general of the All-
Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) Syukur Sarto; another
commissioner of PT Jamsostek, Suparwanto; House member Tjarda
Mohtar, the operational director of PT Jamsostek, Joko Sungkono;
and the current Jamsostek president director, Achmad Djunaidi.

The selection of the Jamsostek top executive will take place
on May 20 this year. -- Antara