POLICE READY FOR SECURING IDUL FITRI EXODUS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 27 Antara) - Indonesian security forces are gearing up to face the annual Idul Fitri exodus of about 15 million revelers going home (mudik) for family reunions during next  month's  post-fasting festivities (Lebaran).          President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has emphasized the importance of public security, smooth transportation and good traffic arrangement to ensure smooth flow of travelers seven days before and after the D-Day of Lebaran which is expected to fall on August 8-9, 2013.          Like in 2011 and 2012, around 15 million revelers across the country journeyed home via air, land and sea routes. They used buses, trains, ships, planes and motorbikes to make the journey.          Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said about two-thirds of the police forces would be deployed to secure the flow of Lebaran travelers this year.          "We will field two-thirds of our forces to safeguard Idul Fitri holidaymakers," General Pradopo said after a limited cabinet meeting on Wednesday.          Police personnel will stand guards on the routes of travelers from big cities to various regions. They will start the pacification from Jakarta and big cities to various regions. "We will give priorities to revelers who are going home to towns in Sumatra or Java," the police chief said.          Pradopo said earlier that he would field more than 88,000 personnel in the operation to assure security of holidaymakers during their travels home for the Islamic post-fasting holiday of Idul Fitri.

FREE RIDE OFFERED TO IDUL FITRI MOTORIST TRAVELERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 27 (Antara) - The government in cooperation with various parties will offer a free ride to motorists going home to celebrate post-fasting holiday of Lebaran (Idul Fitri) in 12 destination cities in Java and Sumatra.          The government's step to offer a free ride to motorists is part of its efforts to reduce road accidents during the Idul Fitri exodus.          Based on experience, the largest number of accidents during the Idul Fitri home-bound trips (Mudik) befall motorist travelers.          Like in past years, millions of people return home for a family reunion during the Idul Fitri festivities, which this year is expected to fall on August 8-9.  To reduce the number of traffic accidents involving Idul Fitri travelers, the government, in this case the Ministry of Transportation will offer a free ride to motorists through land and sea transportation.          The Ministry of Transportation said in a press statement this week that it would cooperate with different sides to prepare land and sea transportation modes for motorists. The ministry will mobilize trucks, train and ships.

RUPIAH DEPRECIATION EXPECTED TO BOOST EXPORTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 19 (Antara) - The depreciation of the rupiah of late which has exceeded Rp10,000 against the Greenback is expected to reduce imports and boost exports amid pressures on Indonesia's capital balance that affects current account transactions.          Finance Minister Chatib Basri said pressures on capital balance would still be taking place and it would overall affect the current transaction deficit, yet the government was making its efforts to reduce pressures on balance of current transactions.          One of the efforts made by the government in reducing the deficit of the current transaction is to reduce its fuel imports and encourage exports.          "What needs to be watched out is the capital balance. But we have settled the problem of fuels and oil and gas imports have been declining. The next step that should be made  is to boost exports," the minister said.          The rupiah exchange value on Friday morning reached Rp10,140, weakening from Rp10,060 at the closing on Thursday.          The finance minister said that the rupiah depreciation had been taking place in  the past several months due to pressures on  the capital balance.  "This happens after the Fed governor, Ben Bernanke, says he is going to scaleback its quantitative easing policy. So the main issue is more on capital balance," Chatib said.

GOVT TO INCREASE MEAT IMPORT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 17 (Antara) - The government will import slaughter cows in addition to its previous planned importation of 3,000 tons of frozen beef  to stabilize rising prices and to cover shortage of supplies of beef at home.          However, the government has not yet decided the volume or the number of slaughter cattle planned in the import addition.          "I still cannot give details on the volume of the additional import plan but this is an intervention step to push down the increasing trend of beef prices today," Deputy Trade Minister  Bayu Krisnamurthi said on Wednesday.          The government step is an attempt to cover the shortage of supplies in the market and scale down the rising price of beef which has reached a range of Rp95,000 per kg from the normal price of about Rp75,000 per kg.         "We will raise imports, no matter how much we need, including the importation of slaughter cows," Bayu said.          The government has previously assigned state logistics board Bulog to import 3,000 tons of frozen beef to help overcome the beef problem.