RI wants Myanmar

RI wants Myanmar
to quit 'bugging'

JAKARTA: The government urged Yangon on Wednesday to respond
actively in regards the suspected tapping of the Indonesian
Embassy to Myanmar.

"We expect Myanmar to take corrective action, as we have
strong indications that our embassy has been bugged. We have
lodged a clear objection to Yangon," Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hassan Wirayuda said.

Myanmar had claimed to have a very old telecommunications
system that may have appeared as a tapping system, he said.

"But we all know that it is very easy to unplug a bugging
system. I believe Myanmar will simply deny the allegation,"
Hassan remarked. -- JP

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ANPAa..r..
Mega-gender
Mega urges gender equality
JP/4/MEGA

Megawati urges
gender equality

SERANG, Banten: President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on
Wednesday for equal opportunities for women, as they made up the
majority of the population.

Speaking at an event commemorating World Population Day, which
fell on July 11, she underlined that empowering women meant
improving the nation's welfare.

Women should have a greater role in development programs, she
said. "We have to improve women's education, health and skills.
But we also have to improve protection for them."

Megawati, the first woman president of Indonesia, is highly
likely to be up for reelection in the presidential run-off on
Sept. 20.

She began speaking out on gender and women's rights issues
after being criticized heavily for ignoring women's problems in
the country. -- JP

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ANPAa..r..
Polls-Alzaytun-protest

Al-Zaytun 'residents'
protest vote-rigging

JAKARTA: Dozens of protesters claiming to be residents in the
vicinity of Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding school in Indramayu, West
Java, staged a rally on Wednesday at the central General
Elections Commission (KPU) over an alleged voter mobilization
during the presidential election.

They said voters from outside Al-Zaytun were called in to cast
ballots in favor of Golkar candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto.

"The vote-rigging had been planned long before election day
and was carried out with the consent of the Indramayu regent and
20 district heads," a protester argued.

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ANPAa..r..
Poll-Delay-Sumatra

JP/5/scene15

Villages hold
delayed polls

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Seven remote villages in South Nias
regency have held a delayed presidential election after they were
hindered by bad weather on July 5, North Sumatra General
Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Irham Buana Nasution said on
Wednesday.

"Poll officials are now counting the votes manually and the
outcome will be sent to the KPU South Nias office," he said.

The seven villages are: Labuhan Lima, Lama, Gobo, Mafua,
Silima, Gandria and Baluta.

Villagers were unable to cast their votes on July 5 because a
boat carrying ballot papers could not complete the distribution
due to strong waves at sea. -- Antara