Politician jailed for supporting GAM

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

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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
JP/4/scene

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