Surabaya zoo

Surabaya zoo
out of place

SURABAYA: East Java Governor Basofi Soedirman said the huge
zoological park in Surabaya's town center seems out of place but
fell short of calling to have it removed.

Basofi said the huge park with its shady trees, some dating
more than 100 years back, is crucial to the city's environment,
the Antara news agency reported.

The Wonokromo zoo with its 14 hectare park area is the largest
in Southeast Asia. Its collection of 450 species is the most
complete that it has often been used as a place for scientific
research and also for captive breeding.

The Surabaya municipality is currently building a new zoo in
the west of the city but it is not immediately clear whether it
will be used to accommodate the animals in Wonokromo.

Basofi said if the zoo is moved, the park should be retained
and could perhaps be converted into a park for various birds,
which are already making their habitats there. (emb)

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Across-Ambon-allies
Britons honor war heroes
JP/2/ACROSS

Britons honor
war heroes

AMBON, Maluku: Some 50 Britons took part in a ceremony to
honor the heroes of World War II at the Commonwealth Cemetery in
Tantui on Thursday.

The brief and solemn ceremony was led by priest J.M. Van de
Made and was also attended by British Ambassador to Indonesia
Graham Burton, the Antara news agency reported.

The delegation from Britain comprised a number of war veterans
and relatives of those who died fighting against the Japanese.
Marshal Michael Armitage, the chief of the Royal Air Force, is
heading the delegation.

Around 800 Britons who died in the war are buried in the
cemetery. (emb)

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Across-Surakarta-mayor
Surakarta elects new mayor
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Surakarta votes
new mayor

SURAKARTA, Central Java: Surakarta has voted Col. Imam
Soetopo, who once served as chief of the city's military command,
as its new mayor for the period 1995-2000.

Imam won 38 votes at the election held at the city council on
Thursday, according to Antara. The other candidates, Ichwan
Dardiri and Soebadyo received three votes each.

The result of the election will be sent to the Minister of
Home Affairs in Jakarta for his approval.

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Across-Demak-crash
Three killed in road accident
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Three killed in
road accident

DEMAK, Central Java: Three people were killed and 13 others
injured when two passenger busses collided head-on Thursday.

The accident occurred at Demak highway, the Antara news agency
reported.

Witnesses said that Karya Jaya bus was trying to overtake a
truck at the time when it suddenly found itself face-to-face with
an Aladin bus coming from the opposite direction. A collision was
unavoidable.

The Aladin bus suffered the worst damage as it slammed into a
tree after the collision. The three dead victims were from
Aladin.

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Across-Aceh-rebels
Aceh separatists on trial
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Aceh separatists
on trial

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The district court in Lhokseumawe on
Thursday opened the trial of five members of the Aceh Merdeka, a
group which is seeking to establish a separate state in the
province.

The five were tried in two separate trials, according to
Antara.

The government prosecutors charged the defendants of taking
part in activities to establish a separate state.

These include planting and selling marijuana to raise funds
for the group as well as supplying logistics for the members. One
of the defendants is considered the group's food minister. (emb)

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Across-Batam-housing
Batam priority for housing
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Batam priority
for housing

PEKANBARU, Riau: The industrial designated island of Batam is
one of the areas in Indonesia that receives top priority for low
cost housing development.

State Minister for People's Housing Akbar Tandjung said
Batam's rapid economic growth must be accompanied by equally
rapid development of housing facilities.

Akbar said that at a recent meeting with the Batam Development
Authority, the autonomous administrative agency agreed to assist
in the housing development program, according to Antara.

Akbar made his remark at a meeting with cooperative leaders in
Pekanbaru.

One of the cooperative leaders raised the issue of the
deplorable housing conditions in Batam, pointing out that some
teachers and government workers have become squatters in state
properties. (emb)

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Across-Medan-eviction
Hundreds evicted in Medan
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Hundreds evicted
in Medan

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hundreds of people were forcefully
evicted from their homes on Jl. Irian Barat by a municipality
team on Thursday.

The eviction came four years after the first notice was sent,
telling them to clear out of the area.

Most of the residents were pensioners of the state railway
company PJKA. Ironically, the eviction order came from their
former employers who plan to sell the plot to a real estate
developer.

"We're only asking for justice and a sense of humanitarianism.
We gave our lives to Perumka and lived in these houses, and now
we're being treated like this," said Azwar Nasution, one of the
residents affected.

The authorities said the residents have already been paid by
Perumka to leave the area.

The residents, however, said that the amount of compensation
was set arbitrarily and that they were not consulted beforehand.
(emb)