Sex education for Ambonese refugees

Sex education for Ambonese refugees

AMBON, Maluku: The United Nations Fund Population Agency
(UNFPA) has provided Rp 2.2 billion (US$258,000) in assistance
toward the instigation of a reproduction program in Maluku
province, which was wracked by three years of sectarian fighting
since 1999.

The aid was also intended to provide emergency funds for
refugees, who fled their homes due to the conflict, Maluku family
planning agency's Gusti Ayu Sri Astuti said here on Wednesday.

She said the reproduction program, which is carried out with
the cooperation of her office, had already started in the
regencies of Southeast Maluku, Central Maluku and Ambon in
November 2002.

It will be fully operational in 2004, she added.

Astuti said the program hopes to prevent Ambonese refugees
from participating in unsafe sex. It will also educate them about
the prevention of sex-related diseases and provide them with
condoms.

She said the program will also commence in Buru regency in
October 2003 and that her office is already preparing plans, in
coordination with relevant local agencies.

Astuti said the government is still considering whether the
program will be implemented in the regency of Maluku Tenggara
Barat.--Antara

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Across-fisherman
Officials accused of protecting trawlers
JP/5/Deli

Officials accused of protecting trawlers

DELI SERDANG, North Sumatra: Hundreds of fishermen in Deli
Serdang regency and neighboring districts demanded on Wednesday
that security authorities deal sternly with trawlers operating
off the coast of North Sumatra.

The fishermen blamed the trawlers for their small catches.

"We cannot do anything, the number of trawlers continues to
increase and security personnel do not stop them," said one
protester.

The fishermen accused local security authorities of colluding
with the trawlers.

Trawlers operate at day and night in waters off North Sumatra.
They manage to make off with big catches, the protester added.

The fishermen said the presence of trawlers has drastically
reduced their daily earnings. --Antara

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Across-Police-Alzier
Police told to speed up Alzier's probe
JP/5/Alzier

Police told to speed up Alzier's probe

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The provincial prosecutor's office
urged police on Wednesday to immediately complete the dossier of
Lampung's elected governor, M. Alzier Dianis Thabrani, who is
charged with corruption.

"We have written to the police asking them to speed up the
investigation, so the dossier can be brought to court for the
trial," spokesman for the Lampung Prosecutor's Office Fietra Sani
said.

Alzier was elected the new Lampung governor on Dec. 30 last
year, but the central government decided to postpone the ceremony
to swear him in, pending the investigation into his graft case.

He was charged with embezzling state funds to procure 500 tons
of fertilizer for farmers in Lampung.

Sani said Alzier was also accused of using a fake diploma to
contest the gubernatorial election.

He defeated incumbent Lampung Governor Sumarsono who was
backed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri. --Antara