Sugar smuggling continues in N. Sumatra

Sugar smuggling continues in N. Sumatra

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Despite continuing raids, sugar
continues to be smuggled into North Sumatra from neighboring
countries.

Smugglers and buyers are believed to be making their deals
several miles out from the Tanjung Nibung Port in Tanjung Balai,
Asahan regency, to avoid raids by security authorities and
customs officers.

Local brokers and fishermen say they have reported the
smuggling to security authorities but no action has been taken.

"The smuggled sugar is brought in aboard canoes at night to
avoid officers," said a local broker who declined to be
identified.

The price of local sugar has dropped slightly because of the
inflow of sugar brought in illegally from Malaysia and Thailand.
--Antara

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ANPAa..r..
Across-Maluku-refugee
Maluku refugees to get aid
JP/5/refugee

Maluku refugees to get aid

AMBON, Maluku: Acting Maluku Governor Sinyo Sarundajang has
ordered the distribution of construction materials to allow
victims of the ethnic conflict there to rebuild their homes.

Syarif Hadler, deputy mayor of Ambon municipality, said in the
Maluku capital on Wednesday the order followed a report that some
former refugees were anxious lest they be denied their Rp 10
million in construction material because of a lack of land
ownership documents.

Two former warring communities in Nania village, Baguala
district, Ambon municipality, for instance, have reconciled and
wish to live peacefully, but most of the community members do not
have ownership certificates for the land where they want to build
houses.

"The deputy governor has ordered the social affairs office in
Ambon to announce this policy to avoid any unrest among refugees
who are going back to their home villages," he said

Quoting Sarundajang, Hadler said that despite a lack of land
certificates, the refugees would be given the opportunity to find
plots of land, and the local administration would arrange their
settlement in an effort to resolve the refuge problem by the end
of this year. --Antara

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ANPAa..r..
Across-Dutch-Bontang
Dutch firm to help in regreening
JP/5/Dutch

Dutch firm to help in regreening

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A chemical and drug company from
the Netherlands will assist the Bontang city administration in
regreening 27 hectares of critical land in the province.

Dutch Staro Mine Kaltim Milamine president Mike Kwiatkoeski
said after a meeting with the deputy governor here on Wednesday
that his company would assist in the regreening program in two
separate abandoned areas in Bontang.

Twenty hectares is located on land belonging to state
fertilizer company PT Pupuk Kaltim, and the remaining seven
hectares is in Sekambing village, Bontang.

The Sekambing land will be turned into a city forest as part
of Bontang's plan to turn the area into an urban development
zone.

The regreening program will be launched in Bontang on Aug. 11
in the presence of Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia R.J. Trefferf
and East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna AF. --Antara