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

;JP;ANTARA;EVI; ANPaa..r.. 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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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

;JP;ANTARA;EVI; ANPAa..r.. 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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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