RI could emulate South Africa

RI could emulate South Africa

JAKARTA: Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil said on
Thursday Indonesia could implement a South African-type of
reconciliation to solve the country's multidimensional crisis.

"Indonesia once assisted South Africa, especially the African
National Congress. Now Indonesia could learn from their
reconciliation experience," Matori said after receiving South
African Ambassador to Indonesia N.M. Mashabane at his office on
Thursday.

South Africa granted impunity to military generals and other
human rights violators in 1994 in the name of reconciliation, to
allow the country to focus on rebuilding its shattered economy.

During the meeting on Thursday, Matori and Mashabane discussed
bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as
regional and international cooperation. -- JP

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Aceh talks to resume end of April

JAKARTA: Indonesian officials and representatives from the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will gather for another round of peace
talks in Geneva, Switzerland at the end of the month, Aceh
governor Abdullah Puteh said on Thursday.

Thus far, no date has been confirmed as there is a possibility
that the talks could be held in early May. The Geneva-based Henry
Dunant Center will mediate the discussion.

Abdullah stressed, however, that the talks must remain within
the framework of the unitary state of Indonesia and the Aceh
special autonomy status.

Abdullah was briefing reporters on a visit by three Jakarta-
based officials of the United Nations' Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs -- humanitarian coordinator
Bo Asplund, his deputy Michael Elmquist and Aceh coordinator
Enayet Madani.

The government granted special autonomy to Aceh last year
which allows the staunch Muslim region to implement Islamic law
and to retain a much greater share of oil and gas revenues.

In the last talks in February, GAM, who has been fighting for
an independent state since 1976, agreed to discuss the special
autonomy status as a starting point but did not relinquish their
demand for independence.-- AFP

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Education officials to lose posts

JAKARTA: In a bid to improve efficiency, Minister of National
Education Abdul Malik Fadjar is restructuring the Ministry of
Education, causing 241 officials to lose positions.

Ministry personnel bureau head Muji Yusuf said it was
introducing the new structure before its expected implementation
next month.

In the new structure, there will be seven first echelon staff,
47 second echelon staff, 174 third echelon staff and 410 fourth
echelon officials, plus five staff experts of the minister.

Ministry secretary general Mahmuri Muklas said those who would
be excluded from the structure might take up other functional
jobs as librarians, human resources analysts, auditors or project
administrators.

He said the ministry was looking at the possibility of
maintaining structural allowances for the outgoing officials
until December. -- Antara