Students invent new breed of corn

Students invent new breed of corn

MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: Students of Vocational High
School 2, Muara Teweh in Central Kalimantan have successfully
invented a special breed of sweet corn that can grow on dry land.

Spokesman for Barito Utara Regency Muhammad Wa'il said that
the newly invented sweet corn had good prospects to enter the
market.

"The demand for sweet corn in Muara Teweh is high, so we have
to import from other regions. But, the amount still cannot meet
the demand," Muhammad said on Saturday.

Muhammad, however, gave little other information on the sweet
corn the students invented. -- Antara

Conflict victims get compensation

AMBON, Maluku: The Maluku administration handed out
compensation to the heirs (relatives) of at least 969 victims of
the Maluku conflict, an official said on Saturday.

Ambon Social Affairs Agency staff Bram Matahelumual said that
the regency submitted the 969 names to the Maluku provincial
administration to get the compensation. As many as 41 other names
were rejected because they failed to produce reliable documents
to support their claims.

The heirs of 958 dead victims received Rp 2 million
respectively, while 11 others who suffered physical defects got
Rp 1 million each.

Matahelumual said that the administration was now proposing
1,700 more names for the second phase of the program. -- Antara

Taiwan energizes fishing industry

PADANG, West Sumatra: Fishermen's welfare in Padang may soon
improve as the Padang Mayoralty has cooperated with the Taiwan
government in using maritime technology to optimize the marine
resources in the area.

Padang Mayor Zuiyen Rais said on Saturday that the Padang
administration and Taiwan government had conducted a study on
marine resources and facilities as well as efforts to boost the
efficiency of the Bungus Teluk Kabung fish auction.

Padang is counting on kerapu fish (the grouper) as its export
commodity which is very much in demand in Hong Kong. -- Antara

Gambling dens proliferate in Batam

BATAM, Riau: Many Singaporeans and locals have been flocking
to gambling dens in Tanjungpinggir, Batam every weekend despite
the occasional token raids by the police.

According to local people, the "Mahjong card" gambling takes
place in an old isolated restaurant and is protected by certain
local officials.

Meanwhile, people in Jodoh and Nagoya areas were worried about
the rapid growth of the "Sie Jie" lottery coupon and casino which
has triggered ugly fights among gamblers and local people who
claim it disrupts their neighborhood.

"Sie Jie" coupons are also found in high class residential
areas.

Business people from Medan and Jakarta are believed to be
owners of the gambling dens where many luxurious cars crowd
parking lots from afternoon until late at night. --Antara

Antidrug campaign on in East Java

SURABAYA: East Java Governor Imam Utomo has embarked on an
anti-HIV/AIDS and drug campaign, declaring the month of June as
"The Month of No-HIV or Drugs".

Data issued by the East Java Health Office showed that people
with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the province had
increased five-fold in the past three years, with an average of
14 new cases emerging every month.

It also said that as of May 23 this year, there were 247
people with HIV, and 177 people suffered from the Acquired Immune
Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Meanwhile, data from East Java Police showed that 584 people
were arrested on drug charges in 2001, mostly aged between 17 and
25 years old.

Imam said that he was concerned with this new trend and hoped
the government, assisted by non-governmental organizations and
the public at large, could overcome the problems. --JP

Papuan schools lack of teachers

JAYAPURA, Papua: Many schools in remote areas of Irian Jaya
have had to halt classes due to the lack of teachers as well as
poor transportation for students to get to school, an activist
said on Saturday.

Alfon Ongge, a youth activist, blamed the administration for
ignoring the people's right to education and neglecting the
construction of transportation infrastructure, so badly needed
for the development of remote areas.

"The administration is not paying serious attention to these
difficulties," he said as quoted by Antara.

The majority of Papuans reside in the hinterland of the
province and rely on rudimentary transportation facilities to
reach schools located in different regions.

"We cannot blame the teachers (for refusing assignments in
remote areas), because it is the government, especially the
agencies directly involved, that should be held responsible for
this situation," Ongge said.

He suggested that the provincial administration allocate more
funds to support the development of remote areas.--Antara