Sultan, Pakualam to hold open house

Sultan, Pakualam to hold open house

YOGYAKARTA: As part of the annual post-Idul-Fitri halal-bihalal
tradition, Yogyakarta Governor Hamengkubuwono -- who is also the
Sultan of Yogyakarta -- and his deputy Pakualam will open the
Yogyakarta Palace here to the public.

Halal Bihalal is the tradition whereby Muslims shake hands and
ask for forgiveness for their sins.

The open house, which is aimed at strengthening relationships
between the two leaders and their people, will be held on Nov.
29, or three days after the Idul Fitri holiday.

The Idul Fitri holiday will fall on Nov. 25 and Nov. 26.

Yogyakartans, from all walks of life, are encouraged to visit
the place from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

Hamengkubuwono and Pakualam are top members of the royal
family in the Yogyakarta Sultanate.

"Yogyakartans who wish to greet and shake hands with the
governor should feel free to attend the function," said Bambang
Priyohadi, the secretary to the Yogyakarta provincial
administration. -- Antara

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Across-Riau-posts
Riau govt to build 440 security posts
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Riau govt to build 440 security posts

PEKANBARU, Riau: Riau provincial administration will build and
renovate 440 neighborhood security posts in its 16
regencies/mayoralties to help strengthen security in the
province.

The construction and renovation of the posts will cost the
provincial administration Rp 7 billion (US$823,529).

Agus Ramadhan, the head of the Community's Empowerment and
Protection Office at the administration, said that the project
would be immediately put to tender.

"The Rp 7 billion fund will be used to build the posts and to
procure patrol equipment, including walky-talkies and kentungans
(drum made from bamboo or wood, which is struck to sound an
alarm).

Agus said that the new security posts would be built in
several areas prone to crime, including Pekanbaru and Batam
mayoralty. -- Antara

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Across-Ical-Medan
Ical gets his jail sentence reduced
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Ical gets his jail sentence reduced

MEDAN, North Sumatra: M. Fahrial alias Ical, a former student
of GB Yosua Senior High School in Medan, who was convicted of
killing his father, mother, brother and sisters, will have his
prison sentence reduced by two months due to remissions connected
with the Idul Fitri holiday.

"The prison term reduction will be officiated during the Idul
Fitri celebration on Nov. 25," said Lukas Tarigan, an official at
the provincial Justice and Human Rights Office.

Ical was handed down a 10-year prison sentence after
separately murdering his mother, D. Siregar, his father, Arsyaad
Batu Bara, his brother, Gen Haled and his sisters, Vini Tinti and
Vini Quita, in October 1997. Ical, who is now 23 years old, used
a hammer to carry out the murders.

He said that he had murdered his family as they had prevented
him from marrying his girlfriend Poppy.

Ical had begun serving his prison term in 1999.

Convicts who have served prison sentences for more than six
months and who are not sentenced to life imprisonment or death
are eligible for remission.

Remissions are usually given in relation to religious
festivities or the Indonesian Independence Day, for convicts who
have shown good conduct. -- Antara