RI offers condolences to Sweden

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

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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

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Inul named PDI Perjuangan mascot
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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