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