Taufik refuses to formally lead PDI-P

BENGKULU: Taufik Kiemas, the husband of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, rejected a suggestion from several members of the Indonesia Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to become the party's deputy chairman.

"Some senior party members and party branches have agreed to my nomination as PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman. But, it would be seen as nepotism," he said during a visit to Bengkulu on Tuesday.

His refusal has caused certain party members to panic, Taufik added without elaborating.

"Megawati in her capacity as PDI Perjuangan chairwoman can use her authority to appoint me to be a deputy chairman. But I don't want to," he said.

He said that such personal requests were unconstitutional.

Six positions in the party's executive board have been left vacant since three of 18 members died, one is unhealthy and two others are not active. -- Antara

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'Foreign mafia' eyes Papua trees

MANOKWARI, Papua: A nongovernmental organization Forest Watch Indonesia (FWI) has warned against the presence of a "foreign mafia" said to be aiming to cut down Papuan forests as many of the forested areas in western parts of Indonesia have been largely denuded.

FWI Executive Director Togu Manurung said on Tuesday the group has been lobbying Papuan authorities to give them the green light for illegal logging in the province's rainforests.

The country's forests are in critical condition in many areas mainly as a result of illegal logging with the deforestation rate reaching about 2.4 million hectares per year. -- Antara

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No mandate to swear in Syahrial: Minister

JAKARTA: Home Minister Hari Sabarno said on Tuesday he could not swear in South Sumatra's governor-elect Syahrial Oesman because President Megawati Soekarnoputri had not yet given the go ahead to do so.

Hari said it all depended on the President.

Syahrial, who won by just a single vote over the candidate that Megawati publicly endorsed, in the gubernatorial election on Aug. 4 was supposed to have been sworn in last Friday, the day outgoing governor Rosihan Arsyad's term of office expired.

Hari sent a telegram to Palembang, capital of South Sumatra, ordering Rosihan to continue governing the province for an indefinite period.

He added that the decision to extend the governor's tenure was in order to avoid a power vacuum in the province.

There have been no specified reason why Oesman's inauguration is being delayed. The delay of Oesman's inauguration has affected social and political stability in the province. -- JP

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LAN to propose new cabinet structure

JAKARTA: In a bid to assist with smooth cabinet formation, the Institute of State Administration (LAN) is preparing a new method of structuring the various ministries, says LAN chief Anwar Suprijadi.

"The new cabinet composition will be presented to President Megawati Soekarnoputri before the 2004 elections," said Suprijadi.

According to Suprijadi, LAN took the initiative in line with its findings that there had been several changes that have created controversy and confusion among the public and civil servants.

If the proposed cabinet structure was accepted permanently, there would be no mergers among government departments and agencies in the future. -- Antara ;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Scene-college-STPDN-IIP STPDN, IIP to merge this year JP/4/4SCENE

STPDN, IIP to merge this year

JAKARTA: The Home Ministry is expected to complete the merger of the Public Administration Institute (STPDN) in Bandung, West Java, and the Institute for State Administration Science (IIP) later this year, according to a ministry spokesperson.

I Nyoman Sumaryadi said that the merger had been planned for two years, and it had nothing to do with the recent problems at STPDN that claimed one life.

STPDN was thrust into the limelight after several students were kicked and arrested by the police for their alleged involvement in the death of younger student last month.

"The merger is aimed at creating synergy between the two institutes," said Nyoman.

Previously, Home Minister Hari Sabarno said that the merger was to be conducted for greater efficiency and better supervision. -- Antara

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Komnas to submit May riot report

JAKARTA: The ad hoc team of the National Commission of Human Rights given a mandate to investigate the May 1998 riots was scheduled to submit its findings to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) next week, according to the team's chairman.

Solahuddin Wahid said that his team would submit the results of the inquiry to Attorney General M.A. Rachman for further investigation.

"We hope the Attorney General will set up his own team to interrogate all those allegedly involved in the bloody rioting that claimed at least 66 lives," he said.

The team has classified the bloody incident into crimes against humanity.

Solahuddin said that the team concluded that some 20 civilian and military officials should be held responsible for their failure to prevent the crimes.

"They are named because it appears they neglected their duty to keep peace," he said. -- JP

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Sophia Latjuba to join in PDI Perjuangan

JAKARTA: Artist and singer Sophia Latjuba was to join in the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

"We will welcome if they want to join the party because it is their political rights to do so," the party's deputy secretary general Pramono Anung Wibowo said on Tuesday.

A reliable source at the party told The Jakarta Post that Sophia was scheduled to come to the party's headquarters on Tuesday, but failed to show up for health reasons.

A few days ago, Sophia along with PDI Perjuangan legislator Dwi Ria Latifa visited Haryanto, a 12-year-old elementary school student in Garut, West Java, who was hospitalized for attempting suicide last month for his family's inability to pay Rp 2,500 extracurriculum fee.

Last month, other artist Nurul Arifin and prodemocracy activist Nursyahbani Katjasungkana were reportedly to join the Golkar Party in their attempt to gain seat in the parliament.

PDI Perjuangan was lobbying dangdut singer Inul Darastita to be one of its vote getters during the incoming election campaign.

"But the deal with Inul is purely business, we want to hire her professionally to perform in the party's campaign days," Pramono remarked.--JP