Stone mining damages environment
BOGOR: The intensified stone mining at Munara Hill, Rumpin district, Bogor regency, has caused environmental damage in the 30-hectare mine site and surrounding area, and has threatened the existence of 200 white monkeys.
"The mining has made the land infertile, and the operators cut down our trees. Besides, with 500 trucks passing through our village, the air is heavily polluted," complained Komariah, 46, a resident of Sawah village.
Villagers also said that they had not seen any white monkeys in the forest since 1997, when the mining operation started.
Environmentalist Didi Furqon Firdaus, who is also the leader of the Center for Environmental Care (PFPL), said there were currently 15 stone mining operators in the district, each digging within a six-hectare area.
"We are really disappointed that the mining operation has taken over an area that is supposed to be a tourism resort, under Government Regulation No. 114/1997," he said.
Didi also regretted that most operators did not reclaim the land to maintain water sources in the area nor to develop a sustainable environment. -- JP
;JP;YAN;BERITAJAKARTA; ANPAj..r.. Greater-party-flags Party flags ordered to be removed JP/8/flag
Party flags ordered to be removed
JAKARTA: City Governor Sutiyoso set Saturday as the deadline for the city's five mayors and the Thousands Islands regent to ensure their areas were free of political party flags or banners.
"I have asked the mayors and regent to clean up their areas by Saturday at the latest; they've already had a week," he said on Wednesday, as quoted by official city website beritajakarta.com.
Sutiyoso emphasized that the flying of party flags and banners across the city had violated orders.
"The parties should have sought the governor's permission to display flags or banners on major thoroughfares. They should remember that this is not the campaigning season," he said.
Campaigning will start in early March, prior to the legislative election in April. The direct presidential election will take place in two phases, in July and September. -- JP
;JP;ANT; ANPAj..r.. Greater-Bogor 300 raps reelection of Bogor regent JP/8/g-rally
300 rap reelection of Bogor regent
BOGOR: At least 300 people staged a rally on Friday in front of the Bogor Regency Council, urging the council not to reelect Regent Agus Utara Effendi.
The protesters grouped under the Bogor People and Students Alliance expressed their demand through speeches delivered from a Kijang truck.
The same group visited the council on Monday and clashed with police officers who blocked them from entering the council building. Several protesters were injured.
The election will contested by several pairs of candidates for the positions of regent and deputy regent: incumbent regent Agus and running mate councillor Albert Pribadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan); council chairman Endang Kosasih and Depok mayoralty secretary M. Harris; chief of the regency's investment board Iyus Juher and PDIP faction chief Karyawan Faturrahman. -- Antara