Stop forest exploitation: Papuans

JAKARTA: Papuan tribal leaders and students from Greater Jakarta urged the government on Tuesday to revoke forest concessions given to dozens of companies that have failed to preserve the environment.

They argued that a lack of government control has caused illegal logging and forest fires to increase in the country's easternmost province.

They voiced their demands during a peaceful rally at the lobby of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday.

The protesters specifically demanded that Forestry Minister M. Prakosa investigate logging activities by 12 subsidiaries of Djajanti Group and PT Artika Optima Inti in Nabire.

They also demanded that the provincial and regent administrations be given more authority to manage forestry activities in the province to ensure that local people benefited from their forests.

Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have alleged, however, that illegal logging has increased in the province since the province was granted the status of special autonomy in 2001, as local administrations have hurried to raise revenue. --JP

;JP;KHS; ANPAa..r.. Scene-traders-clothes Traders against ruling on used clothes JP/4/scen27

Traders against ruling on used clothes

JAKARTA: Dozens of activists from the Medan-based Association of Used Clothes Traders (APPB) held a peaceful protest at the lobby of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday, demanding that the government revoke the ban on the importing of used clothes.

They said the ban issued by Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi on Sept. 23, 2002 was a violation of people's right to access employment and a proper income.

The association's chairman Agus Ngawanto Manik accused Minister Soewandi of favoring business conglomerates over small- time traders.

The ban, he said, would affect millions of used clothes traders.

Ngawanto demanded that the House force Minister Soewandi to revoke the ban or resign from her post.

Opposition to the ban also had come from legislators and North Sumatra Governor Rizal Nurdin. - JP

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Scene-OIC-wirayuda Minister to attend OIC meeting JP/4/scene

Minister to attend OIC meeting

JAKARTA: Minister of Foreign Affairs Hasan Wirayuda is scheduled to attend a ministerial meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Tehran, Iran, from May 28 to May 30.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Marty Natalegawa said here on Tuesday that the ministerial meeting will discuss issues related to post-war Iraq, Palestine, and Muslim movements in the southern Philippines, Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the reconstruction of Afghanistan.

The meeting is convened in preparation for the 10th OIC Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from Oct. 16 to Oct. 18.

Minister Wirayuda, according to Marty, is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts from the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Iran.

Marty emphasized that the OIC's establishment at its first summit in Rabat, Morocco on Sept. 25, 1969 had been the starting point for the promotion of political, economic, social, cultural and scientific cooperation, and the protection of the interests of Muslim countries all over the world.

Indonesia is the world's biggest Muslim country. --Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Scene-piracy Sea piracy worrisome: Officer JP/4/Scene

Piracy increases in Indonesia

JAKARTA: The number of piracy incidents in Indonesian waters went up to 66 in 2002 compared to 61 cases in the previous year, a military officer says.

Rear Admiral Ardius Zainuddin, the operational assistant to the Navy Chief, said on Tuesday that piracy remained a worrisome problem in the country.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), armed piracies take place in several regions of the world, with the highest number of incidence in the South China Sea.

Of 166 reported incidence in the Asian water territory, as reported by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in Kuala Lumpur, 124 cases happened in Indonesia's seas.

"The official report shows only 66 cases of sea piracies in 2002, with the highest number of incidences in Belawan, Riau, Aceh and Tanjung Priok, as well as the Malaka Strait and several other places," said Ardius.

Ardius said the Navy would cooperate with neighboring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and India to crack down on the pirates.

Both sea and air maritime patrol would also be increased at border ares and other strategic zones, like the Malacca straits, the Singapore straits, the Natuna sea and the Karimata straits. --JP