Residents complain about sugar factories

CIREBON, West Java: Locals are protesting against three sugar factories and one methylated spirits manufacturer in Sindanglaut regency in Cirebon which they believe are dumping their chemical waste into local rivers.

Antara reported on Saturday that the four rivers that run through Pangenan regency: Rawa Urip, Kalibangka, Ender and Pengarengan, had turned black and gave off a foul smell. The polluted water had also permeated local's wells, causing a shortage of clean water.

The alleged violators are sugar factories Sindanglaut, Tersana Baru and Karangsembung, while the methylated spirit manufacturer is PT Nabati Sarana.

Abdul Hayi of Pangenan, chairman of Cirebon's Ansor Youth Movement, warned the authorities and the factory owners to resolve the matter, fearing that it may have a fatal impact on the environment and the health of local residents.

"Don't make the residents take action," he said.

Head of Cirebon's environmental office, Yadi Djunuryadi, said there was no official report or analysis to confirm the river pollution. --Antara

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Six badly injured in head-on collision

BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: A public minivan traveling at high speed between Sukarame and Tanjungkarang lost control and collided head-on with a parked truck in Jl. Cut Nyak Dien on Saturday morning, leaving the minivan driver and five passengers severely injured.

The victims are being treated at Bumi Waras Hospital.

Eye witnesses said that around 9 a.m., the minivan driver was trying to overtake a car when another car approached from opposite direction. The minivan driver turned the wheel sharply to the left and hit the parked truck.

Separately, another accident took place on Jl. Pangeran Emir M. Nur, when Ipul, who was riding a bicycle with his friend Usup, fell off while trying to avoid a pothole.

The victims were sent to Abdoel Moeloek Hospital. --Antara

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Freeport urged to move main office to Papua.

JAYAPURA, Papua: A provincial legislative councillor, Paskalis Kossay, said here on Saturday that the Papuan people wanted PT Freeport to move its main office from Jakarta to Irian Jaya's provincial capital of Jayapura to provide better services to the local people.

He revealed that the provincial legislature was lobbying the central government to help make known the Papuan people's wishes to Freeport's management.

As the second biggest mining company in the world, Freeport should have its main office in Papua to have better coordination with the provincial administration to serve the local people, he said.

He appealed to the company and the central government to pay more attention to the conditions, rights and needs of the locals.

Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy for Papua is expected to bring the winds of change for the Papuans who had been oppressed during the New Order era. --Antara

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Unicef to conduct education campaign

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Three regencies in South Sulawesi have been chosen for the launch of a nationwide educational campaign sponsored by Unicef in August.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to open the national campaign, by having dialogs with provincial educational officials and the regents of Bantaeng, Polmas and Takalar.

H. Adnan Siara of the provincial education office said last weekend that various exhibitions and competitions among students would also be held.

"The national campaign is aimed at boosting the spirit of youngsters to pursue knowledge and enhancing their awareness of the importance of education," he added. --Antara

Police deployed to oversee Kerinci Park

JAMBI, Jambi: The Jambi Provincial Police plan to deploy a mobile brigade unit to help the local military stop the rampant illegal logging at Kerinci Seblat National Park.

Provincial police chief Brig. Gen. Mudjianto said in Jambi on Saturday police intelligence officers and detectives would also arrest all those behind the illegal logging in the protected forest.

The national park which is rich in biodiversity, covers an area of 1.3 million hectares located in Jambi, Bengkulu, West Sumatra and South Sumatra.

To uphold the law and quash crime, "we must find not only evidence and perpetrators but also receivers, financiers and possibly officials backing the illegal logging for further prosecution and punishment," Mudjianto said. --Antara