Sat, 13 Sep 2003

Russian Embassy to hold bazaar

JAKARTA: The Russian Embassy is to hold a charity bazaar on Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Russian ambassador's official residence at Jl. Karet Pedurenan No. 1, Kuningan, South Jakarta.

According to a media release received by Antara, the one-day bazaar will be open to the public at a cover charge of Rp 20,000 (approximately US$2.35) per person.

Visitors will have a chance to taste Russian delicacies, which will be displayed alongside various handicrafts from the country.

The event is an annual program organized by the women's organization at the embassy.--JP

;JP;ZPH; ANPAj..r.. Focus-fraud-PapaTBob Songwriter's business partner in hot water JP/8/G-PAPA

Songwriter's business partner in hot water

JAKARTA: Renowned children's songwriter Papa T Bob is being questioned by South Jakarta Police as a witness in relation to a fraudulent business deal allegedly committed by his business partner.

Head of the police's criminal investigation division, Comr. Merdisyam, said Bob and Sebastian Als Fritz had rented a Toyota Soluna for Rp 5.2 million since June as part of a business project.

When the business faltered, the car was allegedly used as collateral for a Rp 35 million loan, he said.

The rental company discovered the deal and reported the case to police.-JP

;JP;BBY; ANPAj..r.. Focus-festival-Ciliwung Ciliwung to become ecotourism site JP/8/G-RIVER

Ciliwung to become ecotourism site

JAKARTA: As part of the Clean River national movement, the City Environmental Agency is due to launch a high-profile program, Ciliwung Ecotourism 2003, on Saturday, aiming at restoring the water quality and the environment of the river basin.

Head of the agency Kosasih Wirahadikusumah said on Friday that although most parts of the river -- the longest of 13 rivers that flow through the city -- were severely polluted with house waste, some sections were still suitable for ecotourism.

"The program will increase people's awareness of river conservation as well as create another use for the river that might benefit them financially," he told The Jakarta Post.

The program is being held in cooperation with private companies, universities, non-governmental organizations and residents.-JP

;JP;BBY; ANPAj..r.. Greater-expats-crackdown Crackdown on expats continues JP/8/

Crackdown on expats continues

JAKARTA: The City Population and Civil Registration Agency has checked, as of Friday, the documents of as many as 1,175 foreigners working in four municipalities, discovering many violations of entry permits.

Agency head Silviana Murni said that the Operation for Foreigner Supervision and Order (OPPOA) was being carried out from May to October in cooperation with the immigration office.

"We have a map showing the location of their workplaces. We have warned companies to renew their foreign workers' out-of-date documents and also met with companies recruiting foreign workers prior to the start of the operation," Silviana told The Jakarta Post.

Without stating the number of foreigners involved, she said that those with the greatest number of problem documents were Chinese nationals who had entered the city on tourist visas but were working as teachers or traders.

The agency's data shows that its staff checked 439 foreigners in Central Jakarta, 219 in North Jakarta, 210 in West Jakarta and 307 in East Jakarta. The data for South Jakarta was not yet available because the crackdown was still under way.- JP