Fri, 10 Dec 2004

World War II bomb found in Lombok

MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: A rocket-shaped bomb, probably left behind after World War II, was discovered on Thursday in Marde subdistrict, Central Lombok.

Bahar, 30, a Marde resident, found the bomb while he was fishing in Tiwu Bara river.

The police have identified the bomb as Russian-made, weighing 10 kilograms, with a diameter of 30.8 centimeters and a length of 57 cms.

The discovery brings to three the number of bombs found in West Nusa Tenggara in the past few months. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Graft-Makassar Eddy proposes his suspension JP/5/FOCUS

Eddy proposes his suspension

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: High-profile councillor Eddy Baramuli has officially filed a request with the South Sulawesi council head, asking to be suspended.

Eddy, who was accused of involvement in a Rp 18.2 billion graft case, said his suspension would allow him to focus on the graft case against him.

Eddy was named a suspect in November this year, along with 16 other councillors of the South Sulawesi provincial council. He has been questioned by police three times since then. Eddy was the chairman of South Sulawesi provincial council between 1999- 2004 and was reelected for this term. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Indramayu-child 'Child traffickers most active in Batam' JP/5/FOCUS

'Child traffickers most active in Batam'

INDRAMAYU, West Java: A woman activist disclosed on Thursday that child traffickers are operating in at least 10 regions of Indonesia. Some areas are located near the Malaysian and Indonesian border, with Batam city tipped as the area with the highest incidence of child trafficking.

Siti Soendjati, an activist with the Jurnal Perempuan Foundation, said that the children -- mostly female and from poor families -- were smuggled to neighboring countries, including Malaysia and Singapore, and sold as prostitutes.

The 10 regencies/municipalities include Batam city, Indramayu regency, Bandarlampung city, Pontianak and Sambas regencies, Medan city, Wonogiri regency and Banyuwangi. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Canada-Sulawesi Canada to channel US$17m in aid JP/5/FOCUS

Canada to channel US$17m in aid

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The Canadian government is planning to channel some 20 million Canadian dollars (US$17 million) in aid to the North Sulawesi administration.

The aid will be disbursed to finance projects that help improve public services, according to Jeffrey Ong, a staff member of the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Focus-Haruku-weapon Police conduct door-to-door search JP/5/FOCUS

Police conduct door-to-door search

AMBON, Maluku: Maluku Police conducted a door-to-door search on Wednesday in three subdistricts in Central Maluku, following mysterious armed attacks in the area.

Police officers seized various types of rifles, ammunition and homemade bombs from local residents, including 41 bullets, eight homemade rifles and three homemade bombs, during the search.

Maluku Police deputy chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Suaidi said two people were attacked and wounded last week in Namaea.

Such attacks have been common in Maluku following sectarian clashes between 1999 and 2002 in the province, which left some 6,000 people dead and forced thousands of others to take refuge in safer places. -- JP