Power outages cause increase in fires

Power outages cause increase in fires

PALU, Central Sulawesi: Fires in Palu, Central Sulawesi, have
jumped 30 percent in the first six months of the year compared to
the same period last year because of frequent power outages, the
fire service says.

City fire and parks department head Abdullah Tandjegau said on
Tuesday that most of the 19 fires happened at night during the
outages.

"Most of the fires were sparked by candles or kerosene lamps
that were left unattended or located in fire-prone places,"
Tandjegau said.

Financial losses resulting from the fires were estimated at
more than Rp 1 billion (US$122,000).

Tandjegau complained about the lack of personnel and
equipment. He said the department only had five fire engines and
36 personnel, far from the minimum requirement of eight fire
engines and 60 on-call staff.

"Despite the shortcomings, we still have to be ready to
operate in the neighboring regencies of Donggala and Parigi-
Moutong," he said. -- Antara

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Across-Jambi-logging
Illegal logging unchallenged: NGO
JP/5/ACROSS

Illegal logging unchallenged: NGO

JAMBI, Jambi: Despite strong evidence, few if any people have
stood trial for log smuggling, casting further doubt over
anyone's seriousness to address the destructive process.

"The names of the smugglers have been disclosed by loggers
arrested by law enforcers, but they remain untouchable," Forest
Savior Forum (FPH) coordinator Donny Pasaribu said on Tuesday.

FPH date showed the bulk of the smuggling cases were
unresolved or unclear, he said.

"There have been no statements from the law enforcers about
whether the cases are being processed .... The public has no
access to information showing whether the suspects were sent to
jail, fined or acquitted."

Cases included the disappearance of hundreds of cubic meters
of logs delivered to PT PSUT Sarang Burung Jambi and the
discovery of 800 illegal logs belonging to businessman Sihong.

Donny said investigators used a range of excuses, including
that they could not find the owners or smugglers of the logs
disclosed by the arrested loggers. -- Antara

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Across-Ambon-refugees
Refugees to be moved from shelter
JP/5/ACROSS

Refugees to be moved from shelter

AMBON, Maluku: About 5,000 refugees will be moved from Halong
Navy compound where they have been sheltering following the
cessation of vicious sectarian violence in the province last
year.

Naval base commander Lt. Col. Ibrahim Sadong said on Tuesday
the resettlement was in accordance with local government policy
and the restoration of security and order in the province.

Ibrahim said the civilian emergency administrator in Maluku
had taken the Navy request into account and was looking for
resettlement areas for the refugees.

Many of the refugees have been making money from selling goods
and basic commodities inside the compound. Some of them have been
working as port workers serving ships belonging to the Navy or
state shipping company PT Pelni.

They mostly come from districts in Ambon. -- Antara