Residents complain about sugar factories

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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Across-traffic-accident
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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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Across-Freeport-Papua
PT Free Port urged to open head office in Papua
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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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Across-Educational campaign in S.Sulawesi

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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