Taufik refuses to formally lead PDI-P

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
JP/4/Scene

'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
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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 next week
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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 slated to join PDI Perjuangan
JP/4/SCENE

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