RI offers condolences to Sweden
JAKARTA: The Indonesian government offered on Friday its condolences to Sweden over the death of foreign minister Anna Lindh.
Spokesman for the Indonesian foreign ministry Marty Natalegawa said Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, on behalf of the Indonesian government, had sent a letter of condolence to Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson.
In his letter, Hassan said the death of Lindh, 46, was a big loss to the Indonesian people as she had contributed to efforts to strengthen the relationship between Indonesia and Sweden, Marty explained.
Lindh had been in close contact with Indonesian officials, who were persuading the Swedish government to take legal action against Aceh rebel leader in exile Hasan Tiro.
Lindh, a leading campaigner for Sweden to adopt the European Union's single currency, was stabbed to death by an unidentified attacker on Thursday. -- JP
;JP;KHS; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Aceh-visit Governors, editors to visit Aceh JP/4/scen13
Governors, editors to visit Aceh
BANDA ACEH: A group of 30 governors from across the country will meet in the Aceh provincial capital of Banda Aceh from Sept. 23 through Sept. 25 to discuss a vast range of development issues.
The governors will be accompanied by heads of the provincial development planning board (Bappeda).
The meeting is being arranged by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso as chairman of the All Indonesia Administrations Association (APSI).
Spokesman for the Aceh administration Muhammad Natsir said the governors would look closely at the current situation in Aceh, where a major offensive against separatists is underway.
The governors will also offer donations and scholarships to Aceh people and visit a number of home industries there.
Natsir said 38 chief editors from the printed and electronic media would attend the meeting. They were invited by State Minister of Communication and Information Syamsul Mua'arif. -- Antara
;JP;LEM; ANPAa..r.. Scene-Inul-PDIP Inul named PDI Perjuangan mascot JP/2/Inul
Inul named PDI Perjuangan mascot
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will name popular dangdut star Inul Daratista its mascot to woo voters, the party's secretary-general said here on Friday.
"Choosing her will give us an advantage, which big Muslim- based parties cannot afford," Pramono said as quoted by Antara.
Inul has stirred controversy due to her erotic dance style, which some religious figures and other artists consider to be inappropriate for public viewing.
Pramono argued that next year's general election would be a war of images.
"The key is how to win the hearts of the people," he stressed, adding that internal party bickering was, therefore, not a big concern to him.
Inul performed during a talk-show featuring influential PDI Perjuangan figure Taufik Kiemas broadcast by a private television station a few months ago. -- Antara