Politician jailed for supporting GAM
BANDA ACEH, Nangroe Aceh Darussalam: The Aceh Besar District Court sentenced on Saturday Golkar Party politician Marwan bin Muhammad, 43, to three years in jail for giving donations to the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Presiding judge Ismail Hidayat said the defendant was guilty of providing financial assistance to GAM members in their fight for independence.
Ismail said Marwan met with GAM members Tengku Tanzura, Tengku Akyar and Ayah Muni in 2000 and gave them Rp 300,000 (US$35.70). Marwan also gave a donation to the GAM military chief for the Montasik area.
The court also said that Marwan made 10 donations of between Rp 10,000 and Rp 20,000 to GAM members.
Marwan was also found guilty of attending a meeting with GAM rebels at their headquarters in Indrapuri district, Aceh Besar. It was reported that during the meeting, the GAM leaders expressed their intention to fight for independence from Indonesia.
The sentence was six months longer than the sentence being sought by prosecutors. The panel of judges said that as a member of the Aceh Besar regency legislature, Marwan should have known better than to support GAM. -- JP
;JP;KHS; ANPAa..r.. Scene-worker-migrant Minister annoyed by illegal workers JP/4/scene
Minister irked by illegal workers
DUBAI: Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea arrived here on Sunday, only to find 10 Indonesian women migrant workers who had been sent to the United Arab Emirates illegally by labor recruitment agencies.
"I am very disappointed to see this. I will revoke the licenses of the six companies for this serious violation," Nuwa Wea said during a meeting with the undocumented migrant workers on Sunday.
He said the illegal export of workers was unacceptable because it deprived the workers of their rights.
Nuwa Wea promised to help the migrant workers through the Indonesian Embassy here.
During his visit, the minister was accompanied by several government officials and legislators.
The workers said they were sent to the United Arab Emirates by PT Amanah Sejahtera, PT Almina Indah, PT Bina Citra Kreasi, PT Acindo, PT Mutiara Bahari Alam Ria and PT Jaya Mandiri Perkasa. -- Antara
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PBB to nominate Yusril-Susilo duo
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The Crescent Star Party (PBB) will ask Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to be the vice presidential running mate of PBB leader Yusril Ihza Mahendra in the presidential election in July.
PBB deputy secretary-general Abdul Kadir Lamanele said on Sunday the party's national congress had decided to nominate Yusril as its presidential candidate.
Following up on the decision, the party's executives met and agreed to ask Susilo to be the party's vice presidential candidate.
Asked about a possible coalition with other parties, Lamanele said it was premature to talk about coalitions, and the party would wait to see the results of the general election on April 5.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) has also tipped Susilo as a possible running mate for its presidential candidate Amien Rais, while the Democrat Party looks certain to nominate Susilo as its presidential candidate. -- Antara