ANT - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia) articles from February 2004

ANT - LKBN ANTARA (Indonesia) archives from February 2004

SENSE OF BROTHERHOOD NEEDED IN THE RUN UP TO ELECTIONS.
February 1, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Participants of this year's general election should realize the importance of brotherhood as the election is drawing nearer, Atho Mudzhar, a Moslem professor said here on Sunday. "As the people of Indonesia get closer...

NEVER HAS ISLAM TAUGHT VIOLENCE, PREACHER SAYS.
February 1, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - As one of the world's largest religions, Islam has never taught violence to any of its followers, an Islamic preacher, Dr Muhammad Siddiq, said in his Idul Adha sermon at Cut Meutiah mosque here on Sunday morning. ...

SOME 122 INDONESIAN HAJJ PILGRIMS DIE IN HOLY LAND.
February 1, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Up to the final day of hajj pilgrimage in the holy land on Saturday, some 122 Indonesian pilgrims were reported to have died, an information from Indonesian religious affairs department said here on Sunday. The...

INDONESIAN POULTRY FARMERS TO GET RP50BILLION IN BIRD FLU COMPENSATION.
February 1, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has earmarked Rp50billion to compensate poultry farmers whose fowls were infected with bird flu disease, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla said here on Sunday. After...

AMIEN HINTS TO RESIGN FROM PAN LEADERSHIP IF ELECTED PRESIDENT.
February 1, 2004... Ponorogo, E Java, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - General Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais hinted that he would leave the party's chairmanship if elected president in the upcoming general elections. "Loyalty to the political...

JAPAN TO PROVIDE INDONESIA WITH PATROL BOATS TO FIGHT TERRORISM.
February 1, 2004... Tokyo, Feb. 1 (ANTARA/Kyodo) - Japan will provide Indonesia with X-ray baggage scanners and patrol boats in line with measures to help members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) fight terrorism, a major Japanese newspaper...

News Focus: MUSLIMS IN INDONESIA OBSERVE IDUL ADHA FOLLOWED BY SLAUGHTER OF CATTLE.
February 1, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Muslims across the country packed mosques and squarres early on Sunday to observe the Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) prayers, which was followed by the slaughter of sacrificial cows and goats. Rain in some cities...

VISA ON ARRIVAL SMOOTHLY IMPOSED AT NGURAH RAI AIRPORT ON 1ST DAY.
February 1, 2004... Denpasar, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The visa on arrival for foreign tourists was imposed smoothly at the Ngurah Rai airport on the first day of its implementation under Presidential Decree No.18, 2003, an official has said. "There are no long queues...

86 CIVILIANS HELD HOSTAGE BY GSA.
February 1, 2004... Banda Aceh, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Ishak Daud-led members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GSA) were still holding at least 86 civilians hostage, a former female hostage said. "GSA members are still holding some 86 people hostage and they...

ASITA HOPES VOA POLICY IMPLEMENTATION RUNS SMOOTHLY.
February 1, 2004... Denpasar, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Tour and travel agencies in Bali hoped the implementation of the visa on arrival (VoA) policy on foreign visitors at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport would be smooth without too long queues of foreign tourists waiting for...

NO INDON HAJJ PILGRIM DIE AT 'JUMROH' RITUAL IN MINA.
February 1, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry has yet to receive a report on the death of Indonesian hajj pilgrims during the 'jumroh' ritual of throwing pebbles at a monument-like pole symbolized as evil, the ministry's spokesman...

VIRGINIA-BASED CCF HAS YET TO PAY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.
February 1, 2004... Atambua, E Nusa Tenggara, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The Virginia-based Christian Children's Fund (CCF) has yet to pay for the medical treatment of children the non-governmental organization had helped, a spokesperson said. "From September 2001 to...

ASITA HOPES VOA POLICY IMPLEMENTATION RUNS SMOOTHLY.
February 2, 2004... Denpasar, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - Tour and travel agencies in Bali hoped the implementation of the visa on arrival (VoA) policy on foreign visitors at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport would be smooth without too long queues of foreign tourists waiting for...

NO INDON HAJJ PILGRIM DIE AT 'JUMROH' RITUAL IN MINA.
February 2, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The Religious Affairs Ministry has yet to receive a report on the death of Indonesian hajj pilgrims during the 'jumroh' ritual of throwing pebbles at a monument-like pole symbolized as evil, the ministry's spokesman...

VIRGINIA-BASED CCF HAS YET TO PAY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.
February 2, 2004... Atambua, E Nusa Tenggara, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The Virginia-based Christian Children's Fund (CCF) has yet to pay for the medical treatment of children the non-governmental organization had helped, a spokesperson said. "From September 2001 to...

39 INDON HAJJ PILGRIMS CONFIRMED DIE IN RITUAL IN MINA.
February 2, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - At least 50 hajj pilgrims reportedly from Indonesia died when they were performing a ritual of throwing pebbles at a monument-like pole symbolized as evil in Mina, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, a source said in Mina on...

NO CONFIRMATION ON THE DEATH OF 39 INDON HAJJ PILGRIMS IN SAUDI, SAYS OFFICIAL.
February 2, 2004... Jakarta, 2 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry for Religious Affairs until Monday morning at 7.20 a.m. had not confirmed reports on the death of 39 Indonesian hajj pilgrims in a ritual in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday. "We cannot confirm the...

MONDAY'S HEADLINES OF MAJOR INDONESIAN DAILIES.
February 2, 2004... The Jakarta Post, Republika, Media Indonesia, Kompas MOST 250 DIED IN MINA STAMPEDE A total of 244 people were trampled to death and about the same number injured on Sunday in the valley near Mecca, as Muslims pilgrims scrambled to throw...

MEGAWATI MEETS WITH RUMANIAN PRESIDENT.
February 2, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri received here Monday Rumanian President Ion Iliescu which is visiting Indonesia until next Feb 5. Megawati who was accompanied by First Gentleman Taufik Kiemas met with...

PALOPU CAFE BOMBING MOTIVATED BY 'JIHAD' AGAISNT VICE, POLICE SAY.
February 2, 2004... Makassar, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - The motive behind the bombing last month of a cafe in Palopo, South Sulawesi, that killed four people was "jihad" (holy war) against vice, police said here Monday. "This is our preliminary conclusion based on...

C JAVA KPU TO INTENSIFY FAMILIARIZATION EFFFORTS.
February 2, 2004... Semarang, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Central Java's Regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) will intensify its efforts to familiarize the public about the polls as the event draws nearer, a spokesperson said here Monday. KPUD member Ari...

RUMANIA TO SUPPORT RI'S BID TO BECOME UNSC NON-PERMANENT MEMBER.
February 2, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Rumania will support Indonesia's bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2007-2008 term, visiting Rumanian President Ion Iliescu said here Monday. "Rumania supports Indonesia's wish to...

FORCES OF NATURE KILL EIGHT IN C JAVA.
February 2, 2004... Semarang, C Java, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - A total of eight people were killed on Monday in separate incidents caused by the forces of nature in Central Java, police said. The tragedies occurred in the districts of Wonogiri, Kebumen and Pemalang,...

MT EGON'S ACTIVITY ABATING.
February 2, 2004... Kupang, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - After spewing thick sulphuric smoke during the past four days, the activity of Mount Egon in Sikka on the eastern island of Flores on Mondaay abated. Domunikus Parera, secretary of the Sikka district administration,...

S'POREAN MOSLEMS DONATE SACRIFICIAL MEAT TO BAHOROK FLOOD VICTIMS.
February 2, 2004... Medan, N Sumatra, Feb 2 (ANTARA)- Singaporean Moslems grouped in an organization named "Mercy Relief" on Monday donated sacrificial cows' and goats' meat to victims of the Bahorok river flood in Langkat distict. Representatives of...

MORE INDONESIAN HAJJ PILGRIMS FOUND DEAD.
February 2, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - The number of Indonesian pilgrims who died in a stampede in Mina on Sunday increased by nine to 48, a senior minister said here on Monday. "Nine more pilgrims have been confirmed dead," Coordinating Minister for...

PUSRI TO MARKET 764,000 TONS OF FERTILIZER IN C JAVA.
February 2, 2004... Semarang, C Java, Febr 2 (ANTARA)- Fertilizer company PT Pusri plans to market 764,000 tons of fertilizer in Central Java during 2004 although the province's need for the commodity will only be about 672,031 tons, a provincial administration...

SAFARI PARK WANTS TO CONSERVE WHITE PANDAS.
February 2, 2004... Bogor, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Taman Safari (Safari Park) is hoping to be able to conserve rare white pandas from China at its conservation site, the park's conservation director, Tomy Sumampau, said here on Monday. "We already have...

M'SIAN CONSUL CELEBRATES IDUL ADHA WITH ORPHANS.
February 3, 2004... Pekanbaru, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - The Malaysian consul in Pekanbaru celebrated Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) on Monday with tens of orphans from a number of institutions. He hosted a get-together where the children were treated to lunch. "The...

INVESTORS SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Investors need to be involved in urban development by area expansion, to improve the economy of the people in these areas. Investors with their areas being developed and expanded, will create business...

IBRA SELLS ASSETS DURING ITS REMAINING 16 DAYS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) are still trying to sell its assets of debts, shares and property, in the remaining 16 days of its service. The remaining assets with IBRA will be sold under three...

BODY OF LAST LANDSLIDE VICTIM IN PURWOREJO FOUND.
February 3, 2004... Purworejo, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - The search and rescue team discovered the body of the 13th victim of a landslide in Plipir, Purworejo, Central Java, on Monday. Plipir village head Abdul Muthalib said the body of Sarinah (60) was the last one...

MAN KILLS WIFE FOR REFUSING TO "VARY" LOVE-MAKING STYLE.
February 3, 2004... Semarang, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - A bizarre tragedy happened in Jomblang village, Semarang, Central Java province, when Edi Susanto (34) killed his wife, Eko Supriyantun (24), for refusing to "vary" the style in which they were making love. During...

NAT'L LEADERSHIP SHOULD NOT DEPEND ON INDIVIDUAL, SAYS PPP EXECUTIVE.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - The 2004-2009 national leadership should not be dependent on an induvidual but on a system, a United Development Party (PPP) executive said. Legal provisions should underlie each of the leader's policies and not...

FOUR PAPUAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS RELEASED.
February 3, 2004... Semarang, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Four university students of Papuan origin, detained by Central Java police for having raised the separatist "morning star" flag on December 3, 2003, have been set free. Their release had to do with the expiry...

TUESDAY'S HEADLINES OF INDONESIAN MAJOR DAILIES.
February 3, 2004... Kompas/Media Indonesia/Republika AT LEAST 52 INDONESIAN HAJJ PILGRIMS DIE IN MINA TRAGEDY Some 52 hajj pilgrims from Indonesia were confirmed to have died among 251 victims of Sunday's stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, during a...

TUESDAY'S EDITORIALS FROM INDONESIAN DAILIES: 2 FEB 2004.
February 3, 2004... The Jakarta Post's editorial summary: THE JAMARAT TRAGEDY The death of 244 haj pilgrims near Mina, Saudi Arabia, over the weekend, once again underscores the vital importance of the exercise of discipline and self restraint by all who are...

MORE THAN 10,000 INDON WORKERS IN SINGAPORE COULD FAIL TO VOTE - ELECTION OFFICIAL.
February 3, 2004... Batam, Riau, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - An Indonesian election official has feared that more than 10,000 Indonesian workers in Singapore could fail to vote in this year's general elections, which will fall on working days. "Since the elections...

TWO MORE INDON HAJ PILGRIMS FOUND DEAD IN MINA INCIDENT.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The number of Indonesian pilgrims who died in a stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia on Sunday increased by two to total 54, a source in Mina has said. The two however have yet to be identified. At least 244...

BALINESE PROF CHOSEN AS "FLYING" LECTURER FOR 4 JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES.
February 3, 2004... Denpasar, Bali, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Head of the bio-pepticyde laboratory of the Udayana University in Indonesia's Bali province, Dr Dewa Ngurah Suprapta, has been chosen to serve as a "flying" lecturer for four universities in Japan. "I will...

ROMANIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT BALI.
February 3, 2004... Denpasar, Bali, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Romanian President Ion Illiescu and his entourage are expected to arrive here on Wednesday night as part of his five-day visit to Indonesia. "They will arrive on board a special aircraft," provincial...

IBRA UNABLE TO SETTLE SELLING OF PERMATA BANK, DEPUTY CHIEF SAYS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Deputy chief of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), I Nyoman Sender, said on Tuesday the process of selling Permata Bank might not be completed before the agency is dissolved on Feb 27. "I am sure that...

H5NI BIRD FLU VIRUS FOUND IN INDONESIA, MINISTRY OFFICIAL SAYS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The deadly bird flu virus strain that is plaguing part of Indonesia has been confirmed to be the H5NI type, the Agriculture Ministry's director for animal health, Tri Satya Putri Naipospos, said here on Tuesday. ...

INDON AGRICULTURE MINISTRY HAS YET TO ASK FOR FUNDS TO FIGHT BIRD FLU - OFFICIAL.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Finance Ministry has not received any request from the Agriculture Ministry for Rp212 billion to be used to check the spread of bird flu, its director general for budget, Achmad Rochyadi, has said. ...

SOME 12,500 CHICKENS DIE IN BEKASI, OFF JAKARTA.
February 3, 2004... Bekasi, W Java, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Some 12,500 chickens in Bekasi municipality, about 30 km east of Jakarta, have suddenly died in the last few days, local municipal government official, Edi Kadarusman, said here Tuesday. Kadarusman said...

SAUDI ARABIA SHOULD EVALUATE HAJ MANAGEMENT, INDON VEEP SAYS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Saudi Arabian government has to evaluate its management of the haj, following the death of 251 pilgrims, among them 54 Indonesians, during Sunday's stampede in a valley near Mecca, Indonesian Vice President Hamzah...

INDON HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS HE IS READY TO ACCEPT SUPREME COURT VERDICT.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has expressed his readiness to accept the Supreme Court's decision on his appeal to throw out his graft conviction and would reconsider his presidential...

S ARABIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PILGRIM DEATHS, SAYS OBSERVER.
February 3, 2004... Medan, N Sumatra, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Saudi government should be held responsible for the death of about 54 Indonesian hajj pilgrims in a stampede in Mina, about five km from the holy land of Mecca, an observer said here. "Materially,...

BIRD FLU IN INDONESIA CAPABLE OF INFECTING HUMANS, SAYS OFFICIAL.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The bird flu virus that has caused an epidemic in Indonesia is the H5NI subtype of avian influenza which can infect poultry as well as humans, an animal health official said. "The H5N1 subtype of the virus is mainly a...

VICTIMS OF 37 JULY INCIDENT STAGE RALLY.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Tens of people grouped in the Communication Forum of Victims of the July 27, 1996 Incident on Tuesday staged a rally outside a building where ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati...

RPP-PE MERELY TO SERVE AS NEGOTIATION MEANS OF GOVT AND BUSINESSES.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The draft government regulation on export charges (RPP-PE) has been predicted to serve only as a means of negotiation for the government and businesspeople who felt the benefit in setting tariffs. But the tariffs...

SAUDI GOVT SHOULD IMPROVE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE MANAGEMENT, SAYS HOUSE SPEAKER.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tanjung said here Tuesday the Saudi Arabian government should improve the management of the hajj pilgrimage following the death of around 244 hajj pilgrims in a stampede in...

MAN JUMPS TO DEATH FROM PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IN JAKARTA.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - A young man identified as Fauzi (28) fell to his death from a pedestrian bridge near the Bank Indonesia (BI) building on Jl. MH Thamrin here on Tuesday. A pedestrian, who was waiting for a bus at the...

FARMERS' WELFARE DOWN BY 0.85 PCT.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The welfare of farmers in November 2003 dropped by 0.85 pct compared to their condition in October 2003 as the farmers' exchange index (NTP) dropped from 119.29 to 118.28. This condition was caused by the fact that the...

PDIP NOT TO RECOGNIZE 'SAVIORS' COUNCIL'.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) will not recognize the so-called "PDIP Saviors' Council" recently formed by a number of senior party members, a spokesman has said. "In the PDIP's internal...

RI'S EXPORTS INCREASED BY 6.76 PCT IN 2003.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The value of Indonesia's exports in 2003 (January-December) increased by 6.76 percent to US$61.02 billion from US$57.16 billion in 2002, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has said. "National exports during...

INDON BIZMAN ONCE BOUGHT OIL FROM PRE-WAR IRAQ.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Indonesian businessman Arifin Panigoro admitted here Tuesday his company once bought oil from pre-war Iraq but it was "pure business" and with United Nations permission. "The oil purchase from Iraq was pure business...

RUMANIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT PRAMBANAN, BOROBUDUR TEMPLES.
February 3, 2004... Yogyakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Rumanian President Ion Iliescu was scheduled to visit Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta province and the Borobudur temple in Central Java province on Wednesday (February 4). Banter, a spokesman for PT Taman Wisata, a...

POLICE SEND TWO BNI GRAFT SUSPECTS TO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The National Police Headquarters has sent two suspects in the Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) graft case to the Jakarta public prosecutor's office, a spokesman has said. Director for special economic affairs of the...

GRANULATED SUGAR IMPORTS IN 2004 REACH 480,000 TONS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The government, in this case the industry and trade ministry will in 2004 issue licenses for the import of 480,000 tons of granulated sugar for the national stock after the national output is subtracted from it. ...

GOVT NEVER DISCUSSED LEGAL IMMUNITY FOR IBRA OFFICIALS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Vice President Hamzah Haz said the government had never discussed the granting of legal immunity to former officials of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) which will be dissolved on February 27, 2004. ...

GOVT TO GIVE COMPENSATION FOR DESTROYED CHICKENS.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has decided to pay a compensation in accordance with its financial capacity for destroyed bird flu infected chickens, Animal Health Director at the Ministry of Agriculture Tri Satya Putri...

NGO WARNS AGAINT BIASED PRESS REPORTS DURING CAMPAIGN.
February 3, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Non-governmental organization Media Watch has issued a warning that the business opportunities the mass media will have during the general election campaign period could have and adverse effect on the public's...

SAUDI ARABIA SHOULD EVALUATE HAJ MANAGEMENT, INDON VEEP SAYS.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Saudi Arabian government has to evaluate its management of the haj, following the death of 251 pilgrims, among them 54 Indonesians, during Sunday's stampede in a valley near Mecca, Indonesian Vice President Hamzah...

INDON HOUSE SPEAKER SAYS HE IS READY TO ACCEPT SUPREME COURT VERDICT.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Indonesian House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has expressed his readiness to accept the Supreme Court's decision on his appeal to throw out his graft conviction and would reconsider his presidential...

S ARABIA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR PILGRIM DEATHS, SAYS OBSERVER.
February 4, 2004... Medan, N Sumatra, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Saudi government should be held responsible for the death of about 54 Indonesian hajj pilgrims in a stampede in Mina, about five km from the holy land of Mecca, an observer said here. "Materially,...

BIRD FLU IN INDONESIA CAPABLE OF INFECTING HUMANS, SAYS OFFICIAL.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The bird flu virus that has caused an epidemic in Indonesia is the H5NI subtype of avian influenza which can infect poultry as well as humans, an animal health official said. "The H5N1 subtype of the virus is mainly a...

VICTIMS OF 37 JULY INCIDENT STAGE RALLY.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Tens of people grouped in the Communication Forum of Victims of the July 27, 1996 Incident on Tuesday staged a rally outside a building where ruling Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Chairwoman Megawati...

RPP-PE MERELY TO SERVE AS NEGOTIATION MEANS OF GOVT AND BUSINESSES.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The draft government regulation on export charges (RPP-PE) has been predicted to serve only as a means of negotiation for the government and businesspeople who felt the benefit in setting tariffs. But the tariffs...

SAUDI GOVT SHOULD IMPROVE HAJJ PILGRIMAGE MANAGEMENT, SAYS HOUSE SPEAKER.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tanjung said here Tuesday the Saudi Arabian government should improve the management of the hajj pilgrimage following the death of around 244 hajj pilgrims in a stampede in...

MAN JUMPS TO DEATH FROM PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IN JAKARTA.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - A young man identified as Fauzi (28) fell to his death from a pedestrian bridge near the Bank Indonesia (BI) building on Jl. MH Thamrin here on Tuesday. A pedestrian, who was waiting for a bus at the...

FARMERS' WELFARE DOWN BY 0.85 PCT.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The welfare of farmers in November 2003 dropped by 0.85 pct compared to their condition in October 2003 as the farmers' exchange index (NTP) dropped from 119.29 to 118.28. This condition was caused by the fact that the...

PDIP NOT TO RECOGNIZE 'SAVIORS' COUNCIL'.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) will not recognize the so-called "PDIP Saviors' Council" recently formed by a number of senior party members, a spokesman has said. "In the PDIP's internal...

RI'S EXPORTS INCREASED BY 6.76 PCT IN 2003.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The value of Indonesia's exports in 2003 (January-December) increased by 6.76 percent to US$61.02 billion from US$57.16 billion in 2002, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) has said. "National exports during...

INDON BIZMAN ONCE BOUGHT OIL FROM PRE-WAR IRAQ.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Indonesian businessman Arifin Panigoro admitted here Tuesday his company once bought oil from pre-war Iraq but it was "pure business" and with United Nations permission. "The oil purchase from Iraq was pure business...

RUMANIAN PRESIDENT TO VISIT PRAMBANAN, BOROBUDUR TEMPLES.
February 4, 2004... Yogyakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Rumanian President Ion Iliescu was scheduled to visit Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta province and the Borobudur temple in Central Java province on Wednesday (February 4). Banter, a spokesman for PT Taman Wisata, a...

POLICE SEND TWO BNI GRAFT SUSPECTS TO PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The National Police Headquarters has sent two suspects in the Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) graft case to the Jakarta public prosecutor's office, a spokesman has said. Director for special economic affairs of the...

GRANULATED SUGAR IMPORTS IN 2004 REACH 480,000 TONS.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The government, in this case the industry and trade ministry will in 2004 issue licenses for the import of 480,000 tons of granulated sugar for the national stock after the national output is subtracted from it. ...

GOVT NEVER DISCUSSED LEGAL IMMUNITY FOR IBRA OFFICIALS.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Vice President Hamzah Haz said the government had never discussed the granting of legal immunity to former officials of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) which will be dissolved on February 27, 2004. ...

GOVT TO GIVE COMPENSATION FOR DESTROYED CHICKENS.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has decided to pay a compensation in accordance with its financial capacity for destroyed bird flu infected chickens, Animal Health Director at the Ministry of Agriculture Tri Satya Putri...

NGO WARNS AGAINT BIASED PRESS REPORTS DURING CAMPAIGN.
February 4, 2004... Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Non-governmental organization Media Watch has issued a warning that the business opportunities the mass media will have during the general election campaign period could have and adverse effect on the public's...

WEDNESDAY'S HEADLINES IN INDONESIAN MAJOR DAILIES.
February 4, 2004... The Jakarta Post GOVT FINALLY ADMITS TO BIRD FLU DANGERS The government confirmed on Tuesday that avian influenza, which has been killing millions of chickens here, was the dangerous H5N1 strain that could also kill humans. Republika...

WEDNESDAY'S EDITORIALS IN INDONESIAN MAJOR DAILIES.
February 4, 2004... The Republika's editorial summary: ONE DISASTER AND THE OTHERS Why has this nation been facing many disasters these past years? What is wrong with it? It seems that God has been punishing us, without us knowing it until a calamity comes....

INDON PRESIDENT TO INAUGURATE SURABAYA-SIDOARJO COMMUTER TRAIN.
February 4, 2004... Surabaya, E Java, Feb 4 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to inaugurate the commuter train that will link East Java's provincial capital of Surabaya and Sidoarjo district, in Sidoarjo on Monday. "The...