By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, March 9 (ANTARA) - Tens of below-five-year old children (Balitas) across the country had died of malnutrition in the past few months.
At least 16 deaths were reported in West Java, East Java, Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi. Reports on the children's death, particularly in Makassar, South Sulwesi, raised concern among legislators.
Members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) have expressed concern over the reported death from starvation of a pregnant woman, Daeng Basse (35), and her five-year old son, Bahir (5) in Makassar, South Sulawesi.
"This case is not merely the responsibility of the regional administration," a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) faction in the DPR, Alfridel Jinu, said.
It is ironical that malnutrition is still a big problem in Indonesia, a country which was once declared self-sufficient in rice and received a crowning award from the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations in 1985.
In Cianjur, for examaple, at least 2,670 under-five-year olds suffered from malnutrition in a district known to be a rice production hub in West Java.
In Sumatra, Pekanbaru in Riau province in particular, a total of 166,167 balitas, or about 33.3 percent of the 499,000 balitas in the province were suffering from malnutrition, according to 'Media Indonesia' daily on Sunday.
It also quoted a report by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) that at least 2.3 million balitas were suffering from malnutrition in 2006. This figure increased from 1.8 million in 2005.
Besides, about 5 million others were suffering problems as a result of lack of nutritional intakes. About 10 percent of balitas who suffered from malnutrition died.
Alfridel said the case must be given serious attention by the central government which was supposed to have a clear focus on poverty eradication. Similar concern was also expressed by DPD Vice Chairman Laode Ida.
Laode Ida referred to the Makassar case saying that the death of the pregnant woman and her son was an alarming happening because it occurred amid the disclosure of bribery in the Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI) issue.
The woman and her son reportedly died of starvation but a provincial health service official denied the report and said they had perished because of dehydration after suffering from diarrhea.
A more worrying case took place in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). Ten balitas, including last year's case, had died of malnutrition. Two infants died recently.
Two of the infants were residents of Kupang, and eight of Sikka District, Maxi Taopan of the NTT provincial health service said.
Data from the NTT provincial health service showed that of the province's 497,577 infants, 81,873 suffered from malnutrition during 2007.
The worst malnutrition cases were mostly found in Timor Tengah Utara (TTU), West Sumba, Rote Ndao, Timor Tengah Selatan (TTS), Sikka and Manggarai districts and Kupang city.
In East Java's Trenggalek, malnutrition also took the life of a six month baby, Tasya. She died at Dr Soedono hospital last week. But head of Trenggalek's Health Service, Ubaidillah denied if Tasya died of malnutrition. He said the baby died of a lung trouble
Three babies in Garut, West Java Province, had also been killed by malnutrition, a local official said. The malnourished infants suffered from diarrhea, respiratory problem and high fever, Ai Setiamah, head of the local health service's nutrition section, said.
The fatalities, identified as Sandi (seven months old), Siti Komariah (16 months old) and Fitri (9 months old), died last September.
Of the 242,589 babies in Garut District, 28,678 were malnourished, she said.
In Sumatra, apart from Riau province, Jambi recorded a low case of malnutrition. Infant malnutrition cases in the province are one of the lowest in Indonesia, occupying third position nationally with 1.9 percent, Jambi deputy governor Antony Zeidra Abidin said.
On the sidelines of delivering baby food to 50 poor families in Kelurahan of Legok, Jambi city, Antony said the government will continue monitoring the malnutrition cases.
Head of the Jambi provincial health agency Dr Oscar Karim said that while there were still some cases of malnutrition in the area, the number continued to drop each year.
In 2006, for instance, 319 people in the area were suffering from malnutrition, but in 2007 their number declined to 218.
In the meantime, UNICEF warned the Indonesian government last month over its move to relax mandatory fortification of wheat flour which it said could put the health of Indonesian women and children at risk.
Indonesia's ministry of industry abrogated a 2001 law on the mandatory fortification of flour traded in the country early this year in a bid to reduce the market price of flour.
The flour fortification program in Indonesia was launched in the early 1980s and is today practiced in more than 50 nations. Iron, zinc, thiamine, riboflavin and folic acid are typically added.
"Indonesia will miss an opportunity to protect high risk groups from micronutrient deficiencies which can lead to higher susceptability for morbidity and mortality, impaired mental and physical development as well as higher prevalence of neural tube defects at birth," UNICEF added. (A014/A/HNG/B003). (T.A014/A/A014/B003) 09-03-2008 22:11:10
Tampilkan postingan dengan label uncategorized. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label uncategorized. Tampilkan semua postingan
Jumat, 02 Mei 2008
FORMER PRESIDENT SOEHARTO PASSES AWAY
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Jan 27 (ANTARA) - After 24 days of intensive medical treatment and undergoing several phases of critical conditions, former president Soeharto passed away at the age of 86 at Partamina Hospital in South Jakarta here on Sunday.
Soeharto, Indonesia's second president, began his presidency in the wake of a bloody communist coup attempt in 1965, and ended it amid a popular reform movement in 1998.
His path in Indonesia's history was full of turmoil. Before the collapse of the Indonesian economy in 1997, Soeharto was well on his way to turning the country into a newly industrialized nation.
The 1997 economic crisis which swept across the Asian region was a nightmare to Indonesia, not only economically but also politically because it eventually led to termination of Soeharto's 32-year rule.
Following are his biography and the milestones in his journey.
Soeharto was born on June 8, 1921 in Kamusuk, a small hamlet or an offshoot of the village of Godean in Argomulyo district, 12 kilometers west of Yogyakarta, Central Java.
His father, Kertosudiro, was an "ulu-ulu", or minor village official with responsibility for the upkeep of irrigation works in the village rice field.
Before he was two months old, Soeharto's mother Sukirah apparently fell ill, abandoned him, unable to suckle her infant.
"As a result, he was given to his paternal great aunt, the local midwife who had helped in his birth, mBah Kromodiryo," Michael Votikiotis wrote in his book: "Indonesia Under Soeharto".
Later, when Soeharto was 8, his father took him away again. The young Soeharto entered school at the age of 8.
After leaving school, Soeharto tried his hand at various jobs, including that of assistant clerk at a village bank.
Military Career
In June 1940, at the age of 19, he joined the Dutch colonial army (KNIL) and thus began his military career. Within two years, he rose to the rank of sergeant, serving in a battalion quartered in Malang, East Java.
Unfortunately, the Pacific War broke out and the Japanese defeated the Dutch whose armed forces surrendered in March 1942. Dutch and Allied Forces personnel were made prisoners of war.
Sergeant Soeharto and many of his fellows in KNIL were able to escape.
Soeharto returned to his relatives in Central Java where, after several months of unemployment, he was attracted to the Japanese-run militia with its patriotic aim of helping Indonesians achieve their own independence.
Soeharto then joined PETA, the volunteer army of "The Defenders of the Fatherland." a Japanese trained but all-Indonesian military organization established to defend Indonesia against an expected Allied invasion. Here, the young village boy received rigorous military training.
When after the fall of Japan in August 1945, Indonesian nationalists declared independence the young Soeharto felt he was "called" to join the new People's Army.
Soeharto's official entry into "Tentara Republik Indonesia" or Army of the Republic of Indonesia is dated October 5, 1945 in Yogyakarta.
At the time, the nascent Indonesian army was little more than a collection of ragtag militia bands relying on weapons captured from the Japanese.
Soeharto's KNIL background and PETA training soon elevated him to the position of commander.
Military Operation
Under Soekarno's presidency in 1949, Soeharto, already a lieutenant-colonel, participated in a number of operations to mop up resistance to the new unitary state.
He led an historic military operation at dawn on March 1, 1949 pushing out occupying Dutch troop from Yogyakarta which was also known as the March 1 General Attack.
His troops, known as the "Mataram Brigade," were among those sent to South Sulawesi in April 1950 to put down a revolt. On his return to Central Java a year later, Soeharto was also involved in the suppression of a Muslim uprising.
Experiences like these impressed upon all the officer corps fresh from the struggle against the Dutch.
The period between Soeharto's expedition to Sulawesi and 1959 was spent in his native Central Java where in 1957 he became the region's military commander.
The post of divisional commander known as the "Diponegoro Division" lent him a certain amount of prestige.
In 1959, he was transferred from Central Java as regional commander to the Army's graduate officers' school in Bandung. His career subsequently took him to a staff position in the prestigious Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad)in Jakarta.
Returning from a command in Eastern Indonesia, where he was involved in the successful campaign to wrest West Irian (now Irian Jaya), from the Dutch in 1962, Soeharto, who was newly promoted to major-general, joined General A. H. Nasution's staff st the Indonesia Armed Forces Headquarters.
In the same year, at the age of 41, he was appointed commander of Kostrad.
Restoring Order
With feelings in the army running high over the murder of six generals on the night of September 30, 1965, Soeharto's decisive moves to restore order the following day earned him kudos.
In the meantime, people's sentiments against the Communist movement was running high. Action fronts of students, youths, intellectuals, workers, peasants, businessmen and women mushroomed, demanding the dissolution of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
However, President Soekarno was reluctant to ban the PKI which was part of his NASAKOM (United People's Front of Nationalists, Religious Groups and Communists) doctrine.
The state of unrest continued to increase and reached its climax on March 11, 1966 when a plenary session of the Cabinet was in progress at the State Palace in Jakarta.
Soldiers of an unidentified unit were approaching the palace. President Soekarno left the room in a hurry and was flown by a helicopter to his palace in Bogor, West Java.
In order to overcome the situation resolutely in the interest of national unity, Soekarno at the Bogor Palace eventually signed a letter giving Soeharto whatever power was needed to protect or safeguard his (Soekarno's) position.
The "March 11 Order" (Supersmar) as the presidential letter came to be called was used by Soeharto, already a lieutenant general at the time, to consolidate his own position and this was actually the beginning of his New Order government.
The Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS) convened a special session to endorse the March 11 Order. On July 1, 1966, Soeharto's rank was raised to general of the army.
He was appointed Acting President of the Republic of Indonesia by the MPRS on March 12, 1967 and President on March 27 the following year.
Six times in a row he was elected to a five-year presidential term but was forced to step down on May 21, 1998, only two months after his reelection for a sixth term.
Legal case
A financial crisis hit Asia in 1997. Its domino effect severely affected Indonesia's economy. It cut the people's purchasing power by 80 percent. Nation-wide demonstrations began to rock the country, calling for economic and political reforms in 1998.
On May 18, 1998, at least 5000 students occupied the parliament, pressing then House Speaker Harmoko to call for Soeharto's resignation.
Five days later on May 21, he stepped down, and transferred his power to BJ Habibie, his then vice president.
His successor, Habibie, was under public pressure to take Soeharto to court for his alleged corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) practices where he was accused of accumulating ill-gotten wealth.
Two years after his ouster, prosecutors filed charges that he had embezzled US$600 million in public funds, but legal proceedings were suspended because of his poor health.
"Time" magazine in its reports in May 1999 accused Soeharto had amassed US$15 billion worth of fortune during his 32 years in power, of which US$9 billion he had transferred from Switzerland to an Austria bank. Habibie assigned Attorney General Andi Ghalib to investigate Soeharto's wealth.
Ghalib was, however, not able to finish his investigation of Soeharto as he was relieved of his post for an alleged link to a case of 'contribution fund' by two conglomerates for national wrestling sport development.
On August 3, 2000, the government formally charged Soeharto with graft. He was tried for the first time by the South Jakarta district Court on August 31. Soeharto was accused of having unlawfully collected Rp1.3 trillion and US$419 million through seven foundations he had led while he was president.
But he, as the defendant, remained absent with only his medical team which was set up by the Attorney General's Office telling the court the former strongman was too ill to stand trial.
In December 2001, the Supreme Court asked the attorney general office to halt investigation of Soeharto after the former president's health deteriorated.
In April 2006, Attorney General Abdul Rahman said his office would reopen Soeharto's case and re-check his health.
But the ex-president was rushed to Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta a week later for intestinal bleeding where after two days he had to undergo an intestinal surgery and had 40 cm of his colon cut off to stop bleeding.
Due to his ailing physical state and reasons of old age, the Attorney General's Office dropped all corruption charges against him in May 2006.
Prosecutors are now seeking a total of US$440 million of state funds in a civil lawsuit, and a further 10 trillion rupiah ($1.07 billion) in damages for alleged misuse of funds in one of Soeharto's foundations.
(T.A014/A/HAJM/a014) (T.SYS/A/A014/A/A014) 27-01-2008 13:33:55
Jakarta, Jan 27 (ANTARA) - After 24 days of intensive medical treatment and undergoing several phases of critical conditions, former president Soeharto passed away at the age of 86 at Partamina Hospital in South Jakarta here on Sunday.
Soeharto, Indonesia's second president, began his presidency in the wake of a bloody communist coup attempt in 1965, and ended it amid a popular reform movement in 1998.
His path in Indonesia's history was full of turmoil. Before the collapse of the Indonesian economy in 1997, Soeharto was well on his way to turning the country into a newly industrialized nation.
The 1997 economic crisis which swept across the Asian region was a nightmare to Indonesia, not only economically but also politically because it eventually led to termination of Soeharto's 32-year rule.
Following are his biography and the milestones in his journey.
Soeharto was born on June 8, 1921 in Kamusuk, a small hamlet or an offshoot of the village of Godean in Argomulyo district, 12 kilometers west of Yogyakarta, Central Java.
His father, Kertosudiro, was an "ulu-ulu", or minor village official with responsibility for the upkeep of irrigation works in the village rice field.
Before he was two months old, Soeharto's mother Sukirah apparently fell ill, abandoned him, unable to suckle her infant.
"As a result, he was given to his paternal great aunt, the local midwife who had helped in his birth, mBah Kromodiryo," Michael Votikiotis wrote in his book: "Indonesia Under Soeharto".
Later, when Soeharto was 8, his father took him away again. The young Soeharto entered school at the age of 8.
After leaving school, Soeharto tried his hand at various jobs, including that of assistant clerk at a village bank.
Military Career
In June 1940, at the age of 19, he joined the Dutch colonial army (KNIL) and thus began his military career. Within two years, he rose to the rank of sergeant, serving in a battalion quartered in Malang, East Java.
Unfortunately, the Pacific War broke out and the Japanese defeated the Dutch whose armed forces surrendered in March 1942. Dutch and Allied Forces personnel were made prisoners of war.
Sergeant Soeharto and many of his fellows in KNIL were able to escape.
Soeharto returned to his relatives in Central Java where, after several months of unemployment, he was attracted to the Japanese-run militia with its patriotic aim of helping Indonesians achieve their own independence.
Soeharto then joined PETA, the volunteer army of "The Defenders of the Fatherland." a Japanese trained but all-Indonesian military organization established to defend Indonesia against an expected Allied invasion. Here, the young village boy received rigorous military training.
When after the fall of Japan in August 1945, Indonesian nationalists declared independence the young Soeharto felt he was "called" to join the new People's Army.
Soeharto's official entry into "Tentara Republik Indonesia" or Army of the Republic of Indonesia is dated October 5, 1945 in Yogyakarta.
At the time, the nascent Indonesian army was little more than a collection of ragtag militia bands relying on weapons captured from the Japanese.
Soeharto's KNIL background and PETA training soon elevated him to the position of commander.
Military Operation
Under Soekarno's presidency in 1949, Soeharto, already a lieutenant-colonel, participated in a number of operations to mop up resistance to the new unitary state.
He led an historic military operation at dawn on March 1, 1949 pushing out occupying Dutch troop from Yogyakarta which was also known as the March 1 General Attack.
His troops, known as the "Mataram Brigade," were among those sent to South Sulawesi in April 1950 to put down a revolt. On his return to Central Java a year later, Soeharto was also involved in the suppression of a Muslim uprising.
Experiences like these impressed upon all the officer corps fresh from the struggle against the Dutch.
The period between Soeharto's expedition to Sulawesi and 1959 was spent in his native Central Java where in 1957 he became the region's military commander.
The post of divisional commander known as the "Diponegoro Division" lent him a certain amount of prestige.
In 1959, he was transferred from Central Java as regional commander to the Army's graduate officers' school in Bandung. His career subsequently took him to a staff position in the prestigious Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad)in Jakarta.
Returning from a command in Eastern Indonesia, where he was involved in the successful campaign to wrest West Irian (now Irian Jaya), from the Dutch in 1962, Soeharto, who was newly promoted to major-general, joined General A. H. Nasution's staff st the Indonesia Armed Forces Headquarters.
In the same year, at the age of 41, he was appointed commander of Kostrad.
Restoring Order
With feelings in the army running high over the murder of six generals on the night of September 30, 1965, Soeharto's decisive moves to restore order the following day earned him kudos.
In the meantime, people's sentiments against the Communist movement was running high. Action fronts of students, youths, intellectuals, workers, peasants, businessmen and women mushroomed, demanding the dissolution of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).
However, President Soekarno was reluctant to ban the PKI which was part of his NASAKOM (United People's Front of Nationalists, Religious Groups and Communists) doctrine.
The state of unrest continued to increase and reached its climax on March 11, 1966 when a plenary session of the Cabinet was in progress at the State Palace in Jakarta.
Soldiers of an unidentified unit were approaching the palace. President Soekarno left the room in a hurry and was flown by a helicopter to his palace in Bogor, West Java.
In order to overcome the situation resolutely in the interest of national unity, Soekarno at the Bogor Palace eventually signed a letter giving Soeharto whatever power was needed to protect or safeguard his (Soekarno's) position.
The "March 11 Order" (Supersmar) as the presidential letter came to be called was used by Soeharto, already a lieutenant general at the time, to consolidate his own position and this was actually the beginning of his New Order government.
The Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS) convened a special session to endorse the March 11 Order. On July 1, 1966, Soeharto's rank was raised to general of the army.
He was appointed Acting President of the Republic of Indonesia by the MPRS on March 12, 1967 and President on March 27 the following year.
Six times in a row he was elected to a five-year presidential term but was forced to step down on May 21, 1998, only two months after his reelection for a sixth term.
Legal case
A financial crisis hit Asia in 1997. Its domino effect severely affected Indonesia's economy. It cut the people's purchasing power by 80 percent. Nation-wide demonstrations began to rock the country, calling for economic and political reforms in 1998.
On May 18, 1998, at least 5000 students occupied the parliament, pressing then House Speaker Harmoko to call for Soeharto's resignation.
Five days later on May 21, he stepped down, and transferred his power to BJ Habibie, his then vice president.
His successor, Habibie, was under public pressure to take Soeharto to court for his alleged corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) practices where he was accused of accumulating ill-gotten wealth.
Two years after his ouster, prosecutors filed charges that he had embezzled US$600 million in public funds, but legal proceedings were suspended because of his poor health.
"Time" magazine in its reports in May 1999 accused Soeharto had amassed US$15 billion worth of fortune during his 32 years in power, of which US$9 billion he had transferred from Switzerland to an Austria bank. Habibie assigned Attorney General Andi Ghalib to investigate Soeharto's wealth.
Ghalib was, however, not able to finish his investigation of Soeharto as he was relieved of his post for an alleged link to a case of 'contribution fund' by two conglomerates for national wrestling sport development.
On August 3, 2000, the government formally charged Soeharto with graft. He was tried for the first time by the South Jakarta district Court on August 31. Soeharto was accused of having unlawfully collected Rp1.3 trillion and US$419 million through seven foundations he had led while he was president.
But he, as the defendant, remained absent with only his medical team which was set up by the Attorney General's Office telling the court the former strongman was too ill to stand trial.
In December 2001, the Supreme Court asked the attorney general office to halt investigation of Soeharto after the former president's health deteriorated.
In April 2006, Attorney General Abdul Rahman said his office would reopen Soeharto's case and re-check his health.
But the ex-president was rushed to Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta a week later for intestinal bleeding where after two days he had to undergo an intestinal surgery and had 40 cm of his colon cut off to stop bleeding.
Due to his ailing physical state and reasons of old age, the Attorney General's Office dropped all corruption charges against him in May 2006.
Prosecutors are now seeking a total of US$440 million of state funds in a civil lawsuit, and a further 10 trillion rupiah ($1.07 billion) in damages for alleged misuse of funds in one of Soeharto's foundations.
(T.A014/A/HAJM/a014) (T.SYS/A/A014/A/A014) 27-01-2008 13:33:55
SOEHARTO'S HEALTH GETTING WORSE
By Andi Abdussalam
| Jakarta, Jan 8 (ANTARA) - The health of former president Soeharto who was rushed to Pertamina hospital in South Jakarta for anemia and severe edema last Friday, got worse on Tuesday. | |
TORTURE OF INDONESIAN REFEREE SPARKS STRONG PROTEST
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Aug 28 (ANTARA) - Reports on an incident which involved Indonesian karate referee Donald Pieter Luther Kolopita who was beaten up black and blue by Malaysian plainclothes police last week have sparked strong reactions in Indonesia.
"This is an arrogant act of the Malaysian police against an Indonesian citizen. The government should lodge a strong protest to the Malaysian government," House Speaker Agung Laksono said here on Monday.
In the meantime, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Adhyaksa Dault sent a letter of protest to the Malaysian government over the incident. "One may not treat even an animal like that," he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also called for punishment of the Indonesian referee attackers.
"The president expressed sadness because the incident happened while there was good cooperation between two countries. He also asked that the case be taken to court and resolved based on the law in force in Malaysia," Adhyaksa Dault said at the presidential office.
Kolopita returned to Indonesia on Monday. "I was helpless as I was hit and kicked in the pit of my stomach, chest and abdomen," Pieters Luther said when he arrived at Soekarno Hatta airport.
He said that the incident began when he returned from attending a technical meeting of the Asian karate referees at Alison Kelana Hotel in the Nilai district, Malaysia, in the wee hours on Friday last week.
Because there was no more taxi, he chose to return to his hotel on foot but on the way about 60 meters from Alison Kelana hotel, he was suddenly attacked by four Malaysian police with plainclothes.
He said he was panicked because he thought he was attacked by robbers so that he returned the kicking. But he was overpowered and when he was almost fell unconscious he was handcuffed and was taken to the car.
On the fate that befell him, House Speaker Agung Laksono said the Malaysian police action insulted the feeling and dignity of the Indonesian people, much more that the victim who was tortured by the four Malaysian police was already old.
"Ironically, Malaysia did not explain the chronology of the incident. This is excessive arrogance," Agung Laksono said.
The Malaysian attitude humiliated the Indonesian citizen as it has also done the same thing towards other Indonesian workers in that country, he said.
"Malaysia has repeatedly insulted and humiliated Indonesia. Unlike Australia which immediately gives a clarification and asks for an apology when it makes a mistake," Agung said.
He said that the House was disappointed by Malaysia which was increasingly belittling Indonesia. "We cannot tolerate the Malaysian attitude," he stressed.
On Indonesian workers in Malaysia, Agung also said that Malaysia had committed a lot of human rights violations. Besides, Malaysia also committed small things that violated Indonesian workers' rights such as holding their passports.
"We have to remind Malaysia of the importance of good relations between the two nations," he said.
Like Agung Laksono, President Yudhoyono also called on Malaysia to punish its police officers who attacked and beat up the Indonesian karate referee. According to Dault, the president also asked Indonesian athletes in Malaysia to refrain from emotional outbursts and remain patient over the incident.
Dault said he had received reports from the chairman of the Indonesian Karate Association (Forki), Luhut Pandjaitan, on the chronology of the incident that befell Kolopita.
He said Kolopita and his colleague Fahri attended a technical meeting on the Asian Karate Championship in Malaysia on Thursday night (Aug. 18). The meeting lasted into the wee hours of Friday. Because there was no taxi, Kolopita chose to return to his hotel on foot.
On the way, four men who thought he was an illegal visitor, approached him. The four men did not produce their IDs and Kolopita as an international referee possessing third- or fourth- level Karate skill resisted the men.
Realizing they were no match for Kolopita with fighting skill, the four men produced their IDs. Seeing that they were policemen, Kolopita stopped resisting but unluckily the police snapped handcuffs on his wrists and they beat him up, the minister said.
Minister Dault said Kolopita had been admitted to a hospital for the pain he suffered from being beaten up black and blue. "One may not treat even an animal like that," the minister said.
According to Luhut, the minister said, the injuries around the referee's eyes were hard to treat and the area around his crotch was swollen.
The minister also supported the step taken by Forki to withdraw directly from the Asian championship in protest against the abuse that had befallen the Indonesian referee.
Dault has sent a letter of strong protest to Malaysian Sports Minister Datok Seri Azalina Othman, calling on the Malaysian sports ministry to exert pressure on Malaysian police to fire the attackers. (A014/A/HNG/B003). (T.A014/A/A014/B003) 28-08-2007 01:02:43
Jakarta, Aug 28 (ANTARA) - Reports on an incident which involved Indonesian karate referee Donald Pieter Luther Kolopita who was beaten up black and blue by Malaysian plainclothes police last week have sparked strong reactions in Indonesia.
"This is an arrogant act of the Malaysian police against an Indonesian citizen. The government should lodge a strong protest to the Malaysian government," House Speaker Agung Laksono said here on Monday.
In the meantime, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Adhyaksa Dault sent a letter of protest to the Malaysian government over the incident. "One may not treat even an animal like that," he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also called for punishment of the Indonesian referee attackers.
"The president expressed sadness because the incident happened while there was good cooperation between two countries. He also asked that the case be taken to court and resolved based on the law in force in Malaysia," Adhyaksa Dault said at the presidential office.
Kolopita returned to Indonesia on Monday. "I was helpless as I was hit and kicked in the pit of my stomach, chest and abdomen," Pieters Luther said when he arrived at Soekarno Hatta airport.
He said that the incident began when he returned from attending a technical meeting of the Asian karate referees at Alison Kelana Hotel in the Nilai district, Malaysia, in the wee hours on Friday last week.
Because there was no more taxi, he chose to return to his hotel on foot but on the way about 60 meters from Alison Kelana hotel, he was suddenly attacked by four Malaysian police with plainclothes.
He said he was panicked because he thought he was attacked by robbers so that he returned the kicking. But he was overpowered and when he was almost fell unconscious he was handcuffed and was taken to the car.
On the fate that befell him, House Speaker Agung Laksono said the Malaysian police action insulted the feeling and dignity of the Indonesian people, much more that the victim who was tortured by the four Malaysian police was already old.
"Ironically, Malaysia did not explain the chronology of the incident. This is excessive arrogance," Agung Laksono said.
The Malaysian attitude humiliated the Indonesian citizen as it has also done the same thing towards other Indonesian workers in that country, he said.
"Malaysia has repeatedly insulted and humiliated Indonesia. Unlike Australia which immediately gives a clarification and asks for an apology when it makes a mistake," Agung said.
He said that the House was disappointed by Malaysia which was increasingly belittling Indonesia. "We cannot tolerate the Malaysian attitude," he stressed.
On Indonesian workers in Malaysia, Agung also said that Malaysia had committed a lot of human rights violations. Besides, Malaysia also committed small things that violated Indonesian workers' rights such as holding their passports.
"We have to remind Malaysia of the importance of good relations between the two nations," he said.
Like Agung Laksono, President Yudhoyono also called on Malaysia to punish its police officers who attacked and beat up the Indonesian karate referee. According to Dault, the president also asked Indonesian athletes in Malaysia to refrain from emotional outbursts and remain patient over the incident.
Dault said he had received reports from the chairman of the Indonesian Karate Association (Forki), Luhut Pandjaitan, on the chronology of the incident that befell Kolopita.
He said Kolopita and his colleague Fahri attended a technical meeting on the Asian Karate Championship in Malaysia on Thursday night (Aug. 18). The meeting lasted into the wee hours of Friday. Because there was no taxi, Kolopita chose to return to his hotel on foot.
On the way, four men who thought he was an illegal visitor, approached him. The four men did not produce their IDs and Kolopita as an international referee possessing third- or fourth- level Karate skill resisted the men.
Realizing they were no match for Kolopita with fighting skill, the four men produced their IDs. Seeing that they were policemen, Kolopita stopped resisting but unluckily the police snapped handcuffs on his wrists and they beat him up, the minister said.
Minister Dault said Kolopita had been admitted to a hospital for the pain he suffered from being beaten up black and blue. "One may not treat even an animal like that," the minister said.
According to Luhut, the minister said, the injuries around the referee's eyes were hard to treat and the area around his crotch was swollen.
The minister also supported the step taken by Forki to withdraw directly from the Asian championship in protest against the abuse that had befallen the Indonesian referee.
Dault has sent a letter of strong protest to Malaysian Sports Minister Datok Seri Azalina Othman, calling on the Malaysian sports ministry to exert pressure on Malaysian police to fire the attackers. (A014/A/HNG/B003). (T.A014/A/A014/B003) 28-08-2007 01:02:43
SOEHARTO'S HEALTH AND LEGAL CASE
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, May 20 (ANTARA) - While former president Soeharto is still going through a critical stage in his treatment at Pertamina hospital, a public controversy is raging outside the hospital about his fate as a leader accused of massive corruption.
The former Indonesian strongman who was facing critical political stage these weeks eight years ago is struggling for his life at the hospital. Outside the hospital, those discontented with the handling of his legal case are calling for his trial in absentia.
Calls for his trial in absentia were among others made by former president Abdurrahman Wahid and former chairman of the People?s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amin Rais. The same call was also made by the ranks of law enforcers and other quarters.
On the opposite side, there are also suggestions that Soeharto be given amnesty, pardon or clemency. Soeharto's case should well be closed. Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri, two most harmed parties when Soeharto was in power did nothing to settle Soeharto's legal status when they were president. This means that Soeharto's case can basically be closed," Jimly Asshidiqie, chairman of the Constitutional Court, said.
In the meantime, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh, who vowed to reopen Soeharto's case last month, earlier this week issued a stop-investigation letter, dropping his office's charges against the former Indonesian leader because he was seriously ill.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called his ministers on Friday to discuss the recent health development of Soeharto who underwent a second operation to remove a blood clot inside his abdomen. Two weeks earlier, doctors had to cut off 40 cm of his colon to stop intestinal bleeding.
The ailing former president, who turns 85 on June 8, 2006, is charged with graft and gross human rights violations during his 32 years in power. He was accused of unlawfully collecting Rp1.3 trillion and US$419 million through seven foundations he had led while he was president.
Efforts to take Soeharto to court were made a year after his downfall from power. He stepped down when a reform movement, socio-political chaos, mass demonstrations and students shooting engulfed Indonesia in May 1998.
But efforts to prosecute him always failed as the octogenarian's health was not good for trial. He has suffered several strokes. Now he also has heart and kidney problems.
Health And Legal Case
He made headlines when he had a mild stroke and was rushed to Pertamina hospital on July 20, 1999. He was hospitalized for ten days. He returned to the same hospital for six-days on August 14, 1999 because of digestive bleeding.
Soeharto underwent medical tests at the Gatot Subroto hospital in August 1994 where it was discovered he had kidney stones. He also underwent a three-day medical checkup at a cardiac hospital in the German spa town of Bad Oeyhausen in July 1996 and in December 1997 suffered from exhaustion and was forced to cancel his planned overseas trips.
On October 11, 1999, Attorney General Ismudjoko, due to lack of evidence, issued an order to stop his office's inquiry into alleged acts of corruption, particualry in Soeharto's past position as head of a number of charity foundations.
Ismudjoko's successor, Marzuki Darussman, revoked his predecessor's `stop-investigation'order and reopened Soeharto's alleged case.
On February 10, 2000, Darusman named Soeharto a suspect in a widening corruption and power abuse probe, and summoned him for questioning on February 14, 1999 but the former general failed to show up due to ill health.
Soeharto had several times defied attorney general's office summonses citing health reasons. His medical team said the former president was unfit for investigation. This prompted the attorney general's office to request a team of doctors from the Cipto Mangungkusumo hospital to examine his health.
The team said that Soeharto was fit for investigation but underlined that it could not guarantee that he was verbally able to speak.
Thus, on April 3, 2000, a team of investigators from the attorney general's office questioned Soeharto in his Cendana residence but the team had to stop its questioning as Soeharto's blood pressure was increasing.
The attorney general's office team of prosecutors also backed down on April 10, 2000 when it came to Soeharto's home to question him as the medical team said Soeharto's blood pressure had gone up to 180/90-95.
On April 13, 2000, President Abdurrahman Wahid who was on a visit in Cuba to attend a G-77 meeting asked Attorney General Marzuki Darusman to put Soeharto under house arrest if he refused to be examined.
The attorney general's office had earlier in the day put him under city arrest for a period of 20 days and on the previous day it imposed a travel ban, preventing him from leaving overseas for one year.
Darusman's office's efforts to questioned Soeharto had always faced difficulties for his health reason. In the second week of June, 2000, a team of investigators of the AGO posed 32 questions to Soeharto at his Cendana residence but the former president answered most of the questions with " I do not remember it."
He was then sent to the "Yayasan Harapan Kita" cardiac hospital to have his brain checked in case he was suffering from brain disorder or to assure that he was not pretending to be unable to answer a question.
Meanwhile, Soeharto's team of lawyers had requested the UN's High Commissioner on Human Rights to check whether Soeharto's investigation and house arrest by the attorney general's office had violated his human rights.
Three weeks later, Soehato's lawyer Juan Filix Tampubolon said the medical tests of his team of 24 personal doctors indicated he had suffered brain damage. His brain power was recorded at 15, lower than the normal figure of 36.
He could not associate one matter with another and could not answer complicated questions.
In the face of public pressure to bring the former ruler to court, the government on August 3, 2000 formally charged him with graft, having him sign a document acknowledging his case was now in the hands of prosecutors.
The decision was taken only four days before MPR opens its annual session to hear President Abdurrahman Wahid's progress report in August 2000.
His first trial was held by the South Jakarta district court at the auditorium of the Ministry of Agriculture on August 31, 2000. But he failed to show up at the court proceedings for health reason.
The court proceedings were held three times on August 31, Sept 14 and Sept 28. The Attorney General's Office team of doctors even told the Sept 28 court session that Soeharto was physically and mentally unfit to stand trial.
He was also declared to suffer permanent brain damage. Thus, the court decided to halt the trial and return the dossiers to the prosecutors office. It also freed the former strongman from city arrest.
Several years later
After several years, Soeharto began to appear in public and looked physically healthy. The most recent appearances included his attendance at the marriage of one of his grand-daughters and a meeting with his long-time friend, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad last month.In February, Soeharto also met with former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
While calls for his prosecution surfaced once again, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said last month he would reopen Soeharto?s case and recheck his health. The attorney general said he would think of other legal avenue to arraign the former president in court if the health check found him unfit for trial.
However, the attorney general had to wait once again because about two weeks after he made the statement, Soeharto was rushed again to the hospital for intestinal bleeding. This time, his digestive problem was serious. He was forced to undergo intestinal surgery and to have 40 cm of his colon cut off to stop the bleeding.
Soeharto is now lying in hospital while his legal case is still in limbo. Over a half decade has passed without a consensus on his definitive status. This is because the problem belongs to all. The problem clearly speaks volumes of his case having become a "political commodity". If all remain unwise and continue to "squabble", then this problem will continue to hang over as well.
"I have chosen to put this issue on hold until a truly appropriate time has come. I call on society to be calm again so that we can think together later on how to settle this matter correctly, justly and wisely," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last week. (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/E002) (T.C/A014/C/H-AJM/E002) 20-05-2006 20:32:03
Jakarta, May 20 (ANTARA) - While former president Soeharto is still going through a critical stage in his treatment at Pertamina hospital, a public controversy is raging outside the hospital about his fate as a leader accused of massive corruption.
The former Indonesian strongman who was facing critical political stage these weeks eight years ago is struggling for his life at the hospital. Outside the hospital, those discontented with the handling of his legal case are calling for his trial in absentia.
Calls for his trial in absentia were among others made by former president Abdurrahman Wahid and former chairman of the People?s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Amin Rais. The same call was also made by the ranks of law enforcers and other quarters.
On the opposite side, there are also suggestions that Soeharto be given amnesty, pardon or clemency. Soeharto's case should well be closed. Abdurrahman Wahid and Megawati Soekarnoputri, two most harmed parties when Soeharto was in power did nothing to settle Soeharto's legal status when they were president. This means that Soeharto's case can basically be closed," Jimly Asshidiqie, chairman of the Constitutional Court, said.
In the meantime, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh, who vowed to reopen Soeharto's case last month, earlier this week issued a stop-investigation letter, dropping his office's charges against the former Indonesian leader because he was seriously ill.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called his ministers on Friday to discuss the recent health development of Soeharto who underwent a second operation to remove a blood clot inside his abdomen. Two weeks earlier, doctors had to cut off 40 cm of his colon to stop intestinal bleeding.
The ailing former president, who turns 85 on June 8, 2006, is charged with graft and gross human rights violations during his 32 years in power. He was accused of unlawfully collecting Rp1.3 trillion and US$419 million through seven foundations he had led while he was president.
Efforts to take Soeharto to court were made a year after his downfall from power. He stepped down when a reform movement, socio-political chaos, mass demonstrations and students shooting engulfed Indonesia in May 1998.
But efforts to prosecute him always failed as the octogenarian's health was not good for trial. He has suffered several strokes. Now he also has heart and kidney problems.
Health And Legal Case
He made headlines when he had a mild stroke and was rushed to Pertamina hospital on July 20, 1999. He was hospitalized for ten days. He returned to the same hospital for six-days on August 14, 1999 because of digestive bleeding.
Soeharto underwent medical tests at the Gatot Subroto hospital in August 1994 where it was discovered he had kidney stones. He also underwent a three-day medical checkup at a cardiac hospital in the German spa town of Bad Oeyhausen in July 1996 and in December 1997 suffered from exhaustion and was forced to cancel his planned overseas trips.
On October 11, 1999, Attorney General Ismudjoko, due to lack of evidence, issued an order to stop his office's inquiry into alleged acts of corruption, particualry in Soeharto's past position as head of a number of charity foundations.
Ismudjoko's successor, Marzuki Darussman, revoked his predecessor's `stop-investigation'order and reopened Soeharto's alleged case.
On February 10, 2000, Darusman named Soeharto a suspect in a widening corruption and power abuse probe, and summoned him for questioning on February 14, 1999 but the former general failed to show up due to ill health.
Soeharto had several times defied attorney general's office summonses citing health reasons. His medical team said the former president was unfit for investigation. This prompted the attorney general's office to request a team of doctors from the Cipto Mangungkusumo hospital to examine his health.
The team said that Soeharto was fit for investigation but underlined that it could not guarantee that he was verbally able to speak.
Thus, on April 3, 2000, a team of investigators from the attorney general's office questioned Soeharto in his Cendana residence but the team had to stop its questioning as Soeharto's blood pressure was increasing.
The attorney general's office team of prosecutors also backed down on April 10, 2000 when it came to Soeharto's home to question him as the medical team said Soeharto's blood pressure had gone up to 180/90-95.
On April 13, 2000, President Abdurrahman Wahid who was on a visit in Cuba to attend a G-77 meeting asked Attorney General Marzuki Darusman to put Soeharto under house arrest if he refused to be examined.
The attorney general's office had earlier in the day put him under city arrest for a period of 20 days and on the previous day it imposed a travel ban, preventing him from leaving overseas for one year.
Darusman's office's efforts to questioned Soeharto had always faced difficulties for his health reason. In the second week of June, 2000, a team of investigators of the AGO posed 32 questions to Soeharto at his Cendana residence but the former president answered most of the questions with " I do not remember it."
He was then sent to the "Yayasan Harapan Kita" cardiac hospital to have his brain checked in case he was suffering from brain disorder or to assure that he was not pretending to be unable to answer a question.
Meanwhile, Soeharto's team of lawyers had requested the UN's High Commissioner on Human Rights to check whether Soeharto's investigation and house arrest by the attorney general's office had violated his human rights.
Three weeks later, Soehato's lawyer Juan Filix Tampubolon said the medical tests of his team of 24 personal doctors indicated he had suffered brain damage. His brain power was recorded at 15, lower than the normal figure of 36.
He could not associate one matter with another and could not answer complicated questions.
In the face of public pressure to bring the former ruler to court, the government on August 3, 2000 formally charged him with graft, having him sign a document acknowledging his case was now in the hands of prosecutors.
The decision was taken only four days before MPR opens its annual session to hear President Abdurrahman Wahid's progress report in August 2000.
His first trial was held by the South Jakarta district court at the auditorium of the Ministry of Agriculture on August 31, 2000. But he failed to show up at the court proceedings for health reason.
The court proceedings were held three times on August 31, Sept 14 and Sept 28. The Attorney General's Office team of doctors even told the Sept 28 court session that Soeharto was physically and mentally unfit to stand trial.
He was also declared to suffer permanent brain damage. Thus, the court decided to halt the trial and return the dossiers to the prosecutors office. It also freed the former strongman from city arrest.
Several years later
After several years, Soeharto began to appear in public and looked physically healthy. The most recent appearances included his attendance at the marriage of one of his grand-daughters and a meeting with his long-time friend, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad last month.In February, Soeharto also met with former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew.
While calls for his prosecution surfaced once again, Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh said last month he would reopen Soeharto?s case and recheck his health. The attorney general said he would think of other legal avenue to arraign the former president in court if the health check found him unfit for trial.
However, the attorney general had to wait once again because about two weeks after he made the statement, Soeharto was rushed again to the hospital for intestinal bleeding. This time, his digestive problem was serious. He was forced to undergo intestinal surgery and to have 40 cm of his colon cut off to stop the bleeding.
Soeharto is now lying in hospital while his legal case is still in limbo. Over a half decade has passed without a consensus on his definitive status. This is because the problem belongs to all. The problem clearly speaks volumes of his case having become a "political commodity". If all remain unwise and continue to "squabble", then this problem will continue to hang over as well.
"I have chosen to put this issue on hold until a truly appropriate time has come. I call on society to be calm again so that we can think together later on how to settle this matter correctly, justly and wisely," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said last week. (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/E002) (T.C/A014/C/H-AJM/E002) 20-05-2006 20:32:03
INDONESIAN MOUNT MERAPI ERUPTING
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, May 15 (ANTARA) - Efforts to evacuate villagers from risky areas in the slopes of Mount Merapi have been intensified after the dangerous volcano in Indonesia began to erupt at around 5.40 a.m., early Monday.
The fall of a clod of lava dome from its peak as well as the emergence of 'Wedhus Gembel' (hot clouds) since Sunday are believed by locals as a sign of imminent eruption.
Sunday's increased volcanic activities followed the steps to upgrade the status of Merapi from 'alert' to 'red alert' on Saturday.
"We continue to monitor the volcano which is now erupting," Head of the Yogyakarta-based Vulcanology Research and Development Center, Dr A Ratdomopurbo.
Until 12.00 on Sunday, Merapi had spewed hot clouds 51 times and the biggest flow of hot cloud was seen at 7.30 a.m streaming to the northwest down to the upstream of Kraska river and Boyong river.
At 10.30 a.m, the hot cloud was emitted and streamed down to the Gendol river.
The lava dome which emerged as a result of magma pressures from inside has come to the highest point of Merapi's peak.
Shaped like coconut shell, the dome has covered the whole surface of the Gendol plateau which so far held the lava fallouts.
"That is why lava fallouts now were sliding down the slopes and the glowing volcanic materials are seen falling constantly," Ratdomopurbo said.
He said that the temperature of the clouds on the surface was predicted to reach 950 degrees Celsius but it could drop to 300 decrees Celsius when they reached the slopes because of weather and wind effect.
Up to now, the volcanic materials that had been emitted were estimated at 200,000 cubic meters. It means that there were about 2.3 million cubic meters of lava were still being kept in crater, he said.
The status of Mount Merapi was upgraded from 'alert' to 'red-alert', the highest level on Saturday as the volcano's eruption was seen as imminent.
Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, speaking at the Mount Merapi disaster mitigation center, said here on Saturday that all people living in danger zones had to be evacuated.
As of Saturday 08.30 a.m., the volcano's status was raised to `"caution" after being on "alert" status since April 12, 2006.
The 2,965-meter high Merapi, about 450-kilometers of southeast of Jakarta, is one of the 65 volcanoes listed as the most dangerous in Indonesia.
On Sunday, a clump of Merapi's new dome was seen falling down from its peak together with clods of hot clouds at 10.45 a.m.
Before it fell down, a part of the dome was seen hanging on the east side of the mount's peak and it could clearly be observed by villagers as far as 10 km from the mount's peak.
At the time when a clump of the dome fell, the weather was clear so that villagers could clearly observe the event but a moment later, the peak of Merapi was covered by thick fogs that obstructed the eyesight.
In order to anticipate undesired things, the locals have been intensely evacuated on Sunday.
A total of 2,877 villagers of the targeted 7,000 had been evacuated until Sunday. Some others still refused to be relocated, however.
"We cannot force them because they said they could not leave their animals and other properties. But we would eventually force them if the situation has become very critical," Suwandi, Klaten regional government official for social affairs, said.
There are about 20,000 people living within the radius of 12 km from the slopes. Already relocated to temporary shelters were locals from three villages of Sioderjo, Balerante and Tegalmulyo. Evacuation Command Posts were set up in the villages of Dompol, Ngemplak Seneng and in the Kemalang district head office.
Previously, Vice President Jusuf Kalla asked all people living at the slopes of Mount Merapi to move away as the volcano's status had been raised to the highest level.
The caution status meant the mountain located between Central Java and Yogyakarta was showing signs it will erupt soon, he said here on Saturday evening after attending the commemoration of the Buddhist holy day of Waisak at the Borobudur temple.
Jusuf Kalla said the central government through the Natural Disaster Management Coordinating Board would spend Rp20 billion in funds on efforts to evacuate people.
"We have just transferred Rp15 billion to Central Java and Rp5 billion to Yogyakarta based on the proportion of the number of refugees," Jusuf Kalla said here on Thursday after chairing a meeting discussing efforts to anticipate a Mount Merapi eruption.
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has also prepared emergency assistance for about 20,000 local people in anticipation of the volcano's eruption, PMI chairman Mar'ie Muhammad said recently.
"We have prepared assistance for about 20,000 refugees and about 400 PMI volunteers have been sent to the disaster prone area in Sleman, Magelang, Boyolali and Klaten districts," he said.
He said PMI had also prepared 10 thousands of food packages ready to be consumed by refugees before public kitchens were set up.
PMI has sent one unit of open truck, one unit of Ford Ranger jeep, eight units of platoon tents, more than 20 thousand masks, nine quintals of rice, 50 cartoons of instant noodles, 5000 packages of family kits and medicines.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said it was possible Merapi's eruption this year would be bigger than those in 1994 and 2001.
Merapi, about 450-kilometers of southeast of Jakarta, is one of the 65 volcanoes listed as dangerous in Indonesia.
It has erupted several times, of which the most deadly took place in 1930 killing 1,370 people. It also erupted in 1994, claiming the lives of at least 66 people.
(T.A014/A/f001/a/f001)
(F.A014/A/A014/A/F001) 15-05-2006 09:39:20
Jakarta, May 15 (ANTARA) - Efforts to evacuate villagers from risky areas in the slopes of Mount Merapi have been intensified after the dangerous volcano in Indonesia began to erupt at around 5.40 a.m., early Monday.
The fall of a clod of lava dome from its peak as well as the emergence of 'Wedhus Gembel' (hot clouds) since Sunday are believed by locals as a sign of imminent eruption.
Sunday's increased volcanic activities followed the steps to upgrade the status of Merapi from 'alert' to 'red alert' on Saturday.
"We continue to monitor the volcano which is now erupting," Head of the Yogyakarta-based Vulcanology Research and Development Center, Dr A Ratdomopurbo.
Until 12.00 on Sunday, Merapi had spewed hot clouds 51 times and the biggest flow of hot cloud was seen at 7.30 a.m streaming to the northwest down to the upstream of Kraska river and Boyong river.
At 10.30 a.m, the hot cloud was emitted and streamed down to the Gendol river.
The lava dome which emerged as a result of magma pressures from inside has come to the highest point of Merapi's peak.
Shaped like coconut shell, the dome has covered the whole surface of the Gendol plateau which so far held the lava fallouts.
"That is why lava fallouts now were sliding down the slopes and the glowing volcanic materials are seen falling constantly," Ratdomopurbo said.
He said that the temperature of the clouds on the surface was predicted to reach 950 degrees Celsius but it could drop to 300 decrees Celsius when they reached the slopes because of weather and wind effect.
Up to now, the volcanic materials that had been emitted were estimated at 200,000 cubic meters. It means that there were about 2.3 million cubic meters of lava were still being kept in crater, he said.
The status of Mount Merapi was upgraded from 'alert' to 'red-alert', the highest level on Saturday as the volcano's eruption was seen as imminent.
Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, speaking at the Mount Merapi disaster mitigation center, said here on Saturday that all people living in danger zones had to be evacuated.
As of Saturday 08.30 a.m., the volcano's status was raised to `"caution" after being on "alert" status since April 12, 2006.
The 2,965-meter high Merapi, about 450-kilometers of southeast of Jakarta, is one of the 65 volcanoes listed as the most dangerous in Indonesia.
On Sunday, a clump of Merapi's new dome was seen falling down from its peak together with clods of hot clouds at 10.45 a.m.
Before it fell down, a part of the dome was seen hanging on the east side of the mount's peak and it could clearly be observed by villagers as far as 10 km from the mount's peak.
At the time when a clump of the dome fell, the weather was clear so that villagers could clearly observe the event but a moment later, the peak of Merapi was covered by thick fogs that obstructed the eyesight.
In order to anticipate undesired things, the locals have been intensely evacuated on Sunday.
A total of 2,877 villagers of the targeted 7,000 had been evacuated until Sunday. Some others still refused to be relocated, however.
"We cannot force them because they said they could not leave their animals and other properties. But we would eventually force them if the situation has become very critical," Suwandi, Klaten regional government official for social affairs, said.
There are about 20,000 people living within the radius of 12 km from the slopes. Already relocated to temporary shelters were locals from three villages of Sioderjo, Balerante and Tegalmulyo. Evacuation Command Posts were set up in the villages of Dompol, Ngemplak Seneng and in the Kemalang district head office.
Previously, Vice President Jusuf Kalla asked all people living at the slopes of Mount Merapi to move away as the volcano's status had been raised to the highest level.
The caution status meant the mountain located between Central Java and Yogyakarta was showing signs it will erupt soon, he said here on Saturday evening after attending the commemoration of the Buddhist holy day of Waisak at the Borobudur temple.
Jusuf Kalla said the central government through the Natural Disaster Management Coordinating Board would spend Rp20 billion in funds on efforts to evacuate people.
"We have just transferred Rp15 billion to Central Java and Rp5 billion to Yogyakarta based on the proportion of the number of refugees," Jusuf Kalla said here on Thursday after chairing a meeting discussing efforts to anticipate a Mount Merapi eruption.
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has also prepared emergency assistance for about 20,000 local people in anticipation of the volcano's eruption, PMI chairman Mar'ie Muhammad said recently.
"We have prepared assistance for about 20,000 refugees and about 400 PMI volunteers have been sent to the disaster prone area in Sleman, Magelang, Boyolali and Klaten districts," he said.
He said PMI had also prepared 10 thousands of food packages ready to be consumed by refugees before public kitchens were set up.
PMI has sent one unit of open truck, one unit of Ford Ranger jeep, eight units of platoon tents, more than 20 thousand masks, nine quintals of rice, 50 cartoons of instant noodles, 5000 packages of family kits and medicines.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said it was possible Merapi's eruption this year would be bigger than those in 1994 and 2001.
Merapi, about 450-kilometers of southeast of Jakarta, is one of the 65 volcanoes listed as dangerous in Indonesia.
It has erupted several times, of which the most deadly took place in 1930 killing 1,370 people. It also erupted in 1994, claiming the lives of at least 66 people.
(T.A014/A/f001/a/f001)
(F.A014/A/A014/A/F001) 15-05-2006 09:39:20
JAKARTA BRACING FOR MASS WORKERS RALLIES
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - If trade unions do not cancel their plans, Jakarta will see masses of workers taking to the streets on Monday to celebrate World Labour Day which falls on May 1.
At least 10,000 workers have plans to hold rallies in the capital city to demand the cancellation of the government's plan to revise the labour law - a plan the workers think will harm their interests.
Though intelligence officials have given the assurance that there will be no rioting, authorities seem to have high concern that the massive labour rallies could turn violent or be marked by anarchic acts.
In order to secure the capital city, security officials will be deployed in three locations in Jakarta before and during the planned rallies on Monday.
The Jakarta city administration will deploy about 21,000 security troops consisting of 12,000 policemen; 5,000 military soldiers and 4,000 municipal policemen as well as officials of the Health and Transportation offices.
Jakarta military command chief Maj. Gen. Agustadi said the military would concentrate security personnel in three locations, namely at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, the House of Representatives (PR) building and the presidential palace.
Agustadi said the 5,000 military men who will secure the mass labour demonstration will include personnel of the Army's air defense units, military policemen, marines and the Air Force's special troops.
"All of the security personnel (of the Indonesian military) will be put on standby in their respective posts until the Jakarta Police and the Jakarta city Administration need them. We will concentrate them in three locations," he said.
It is reasonable for the Jakarta administration to prepare security measures considering the large number of workers planning to take to the streets, although intelligence officials have guaranteed that there will be no violence.
National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar said here on Friday there was no indication riots will take place in the country during the observance of World Labour Day on May 1.
"No, there is no indication that the celebration will trigger riots. Who says so?," he said after attending a cabinet meeting chaired by Vice President Yusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential Office.
He said there was no intelligence information that a riot would take place so that workers who were willing to celebrate the labour day were pleased to do it in an orderly and peaceful manner.
"Hopefully, it will proceed well and securely," he added. He called on those planning to demonstrate on May 1 to conduct the rally well and not to turn anarchic.
He also denied reports that the authorities had issued a shoot-on-the-spot order for demonstrators found taking anarchic actions.
"There is no need for a shoot-on-the-spot order," he added.
Despite the BIN?s assurance, Vice President Yusuf Kalla called on the people not to celebrate World Labour Day out of proportion.
So, the world labor day should be celebrated with joy, not with uncertain rallies or demonstrations because they could be abused by outside elements.
The Vice President said laborers should not plan rallies on Monday if what they were demanding was the cancellation of the government's plan to revise the manpower law because they had held similar demonstrations some time ago and the government was responding to their demand.
According to House Speaker Agung Laksono, the labourers should not be worried because the House would not deliberate the bill in the current session?s period.
The House Speaker said the House had completed its recess and would commence its sessions to deliberate 29 of the 58 bills in the coming 2.5 months.
The revision of the manpower law ould not be deliberated yet in the next session period because its revised draft had not yet been submitted by the government.
Agung Laksono called on all sides to restrain themselves in the face of the planned massive demonstrations by workers during the World Labour Day celebration in the country on May 1, 2006.
"Don't react in an exaggerated way to the rallies. There should be no shoot-on-the spot order," the House Speaker said at a meeting with media editors here Saturday night.
He said people needed to give opportunities to labourers to express their aspirations but as House Speaker he also called on the labourers to restrain themselves and not to allow their rallies be marred by anarchc acts.
"Make sure no violence will take place," he requested.
He said the workers and their leaders should be able to organize themselves so that violence and anarchic acts would not occur.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is on an overseas trip, appeared to be not too worried about the planned nation-wide rally by workers on Monday.
The impression that Yudhoyono was unperturbed was gained by Vice President Jusuf Kalla when seeing off the President on the latter's departure for a tour of a number of Middle Eastern countries at Halim Perdanakusumah airport.
"Labor Day on May 1 is also observed in socialist countries but there is nothing special about it. If you want to commemorate it, go ahead," Kalla said when asked what President Yudhoyono's directives were in relation with Labour Day.
The President is to make state visits to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Jordan from April 25 to May 4.
Workers organizations were reported to be planning to mobilize 10,000 of their members in a massive protest in Jakarta on Labour Day, May 1.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Gen. Sutanto said at Halim Perdanakusumh airport that the police would ensure freedom of the workers to express their aspirations.
However, he warned that the protestors should not violate legal regulations and existing norms by forcing their own will on those who do not want to join them in the demonstration. (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/E002) (T.C/A014/C/H-AJM/E002) 30-04-2006 00:33:27
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - If trade unions do not cancel their plans, Jakarta will see masses of workers taking to the streets on Monday to celebrate World Labour Day which falls on May 1.
At least 10,000 workers have plans to hold rallies in the capital city to demand the cancellation of the government's plan to revise the labour law - a plan the workers think will harm their interests.
Though intelligence officials have given the assurance that there will be no rioting, authorities seem to have high concern that the massive labour rallies could turn violent or be marked by anarchic acts.
In order to secure the capital city, security officials will be deployed in three locations in Jakarta before and during the planned rallies on Monday.
The Jakarta city administration will deploy about 21,000 security troops consisting of 12,000 policemen; 5,000 military soldiers and 4,000 municipal policemen as well as officials of the Health and Transportation offices.
Jakarta military command chief Maj. Gen. Agustadi said the military would concentrate security personnel in three locations, namely at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, the House of Representatives (PR) building and the presidential palace.
Agustadi said the 5,000 military men who will secure the mass labour demonstration will include personnel of the Army's air defense units, military policemen, marines and the Air Force's special troops.
"All of the security personnel (of the Indonesian military) will be put on standby in their respective posts until the Jakarta Police and the Jakarta city Administration need them. We will concentrate them in three locations," he said.
It is reasonable for the Jakarta administration to prepare security measures considering the large number of workers planning to take to the streets, although intelligence officials have guaranteed that there will be no violence.
National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Syamsir Siregar said here on Friday there was no indication riots will take place in the country during the observance of World Labour Day on May 1.
"No, there is no indication that the celebration will trigger riots. Who says so?," he said after attending a cabinet meeting chaired by Vice President Yusuf Kalla at the Vice Presidential Office.
He said there was no intelligence information that a riot would take place so that workers who were willing to celebrate the labour day were pleased to do it in an orderly and peaceful manner.
"Hopefully, it will proceed well and securely," he added. He called on those planning to demonstrate on May 1 to conduct the rally well and not to turn anarchic.
He also denied reports that the authorities had issued a shoot-on-the-spot order for demonstrators found taking anarchic actions.
"There is no need for a shoot-on-the-spot order," he added.
Despite the BIN?s assurance, Vice President Yusuf Kalla called on the people not to celebrate World Labour Day out of proportion.
So, the world labor day should be celebrated with joy, not with uncertain rallies or demonstrations because they could be abused by outside elements.
The Vice President said laborers should not plan rallies on Monday if what they were demanding was the cancellation of the government's plan to revise the manpower law because they had held similar demonstrations some time ago and the government was responding to their demand.
According to House Speaker Agung Laksono, the labourers should not be worried because the House would not deliberate the bill in the current session?s period.
The House Speaker said the House had completed its recess and would commence its sessions to deliberate 29 of the 58 bills in the coming 2.5 months.
The revision of the manpower law ould not be deliberated yet in the next session period because its revised draft had not yet been submitted by the government.
Agung Laksono called on all sides to restrain themselves in the face of the planned massive demonstrations by workers during the World Labour Day celebration in the country on May 1, 2006.
"Don't react in an exaggerated way to the rallies. There should be no shoot-on-the spot order," the House Speaker said at a meeting with media editors here Saturday night.
He said people needed to give opportunities to labourers to express their aspirations but as House Speaker he also called on the labourers to restrain themselves and not to allow their rallies be marred by anarchc acts.
"Make sure no violence will take place," he requested.
He said the workers and their leaders should be able to organize themselves so that violence and anarchic acts would not occur.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who is on an overseas trip, appeared to be not too worried about the planned nation-wide rally by workers on Monday.
The impression that Yudhoyono was unperturbed was gained by Vice President Jusuf Kalla when seeing off the President on the latter's departure for a tour of a number of Middle Eastern countries at Halim Perdanakusumah airport.
"Labor Day on May 1 is also observed in socialist countries but there is nothing special about it. If you want to commemorate it, go ahead," Kalla said when asked what President Yudhoyono's directives were in relation with Labour Day.
The President is to make state visits to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Jordan from April 25 to May 4.
Workers organizations were reported to be planning to mobilize 10,000 of their members in a massive protest in Jakarta on Labour Day, May 1.
Meanwhile, Police Chief Gen. Sutanto said at Halim Perdanakusumh airport that the police would ensure freedom of the workers to express their aspirations.
However, he warned that the protestors should not violate legal regulations and existing norms by forcing their own will on those who do not want to join them in the demonstration. (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/E002) (T.C/A014/C/H-AJM/E002) 30-04-2006 00:33:27
JAKARTA KICKS OFF BIRD SWEEPING PROGRAM
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 24 (ANTARA)- Jakarta launched on Friday a two-month bird sweeping program to contain the spread of the avian influenza virus (H51N) that has infected some 170 people in at least 19 countries all over the world.
The drive was launched after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned last week the governors of six most affected provinces, namely Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Central Java, Lampung and South Sulwesi.
The Jakarta administration fielded 50 teams of 600 strong task forces to undertake door-to-door checks on commercial and backyard fowls in 44 urban districts and 267 villages.
There are about 200 poultry farms, each with about 1,000 fowls in Jakarta. Besides the commercial farming, thousands of neighborhoods also raise a range of between 300 and 400 backyard birds each, Head of Jakarta Animal Husbandry Office Edi Setiarto said.
Indonesia, the fourth most populous county with 220 million, has been ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the second largest nation, after Vietnam, affected the by the fast spreading H5N1 bird flu virus.
Most cases in Indonesia, where WHO has confirmed 26 human cases with 19 deaths of H5N1 infection, are found in Jakarta. This has prompted Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso to take stern measures to fight the virus.
I will see to it whether it is possible to ban poultry farming in Jakarta, the governor said. He appealed to the people to stop raising backyard flocks. They usually only have two or three chickens but this is even more dangerous as the chickens always wander around, the governor added.
In view of the spread of the virus, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari has expressed concern over the possibility of the disease to be transmitted from human-to-human victims. Human-to-human transmission of the disease is more obvious as the number of cluster cases or cases of infection affecting close areas have risen, the minister said.
Therefore, Sutiyoso appealed to the people to kill their birds or chickens if they are suspected to have contracted the bird flu virus. He called on the Jakarta resident to give priority to human life then fowls.
I hope that Jakarta residents would be aware of the importance of and choose human life than their fowls, the Jakarta Governor said when he launched the bird sweeping program at the City Hall on Friday.
In the mean time, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono observed the execution of the bird flu operations in the Pramuka Bird Market in East Jakarta. We are launching the war against bird flu today, the minister said.
Sutiyoso who also conducted an impromptu visit to the Pramuka Bird Market called on bird traders to surrender their birds if found tested positive to be culled.
In conducting door-to-door checks on birds, the task force teams would make an inventory on residents fowls and would check them to find out whether they were tested positive or negative.
Fowls tested negative would be vaccinated and their coops and the surroundings would be sprayed with disinfectant. Birds tested positive would be culled. Those in the area of one kilometer radius from the affected poultry would also be culled, while those found in the area of some three kilometers radius from the outbreak would get vaccination and disinfectant.
According to Edi Setiarto, chief of Jakarta Animal Husbandry Office, owners would receive Rp10,000 or about US$0.9 in compensation for each of birds killed. The amount is set by the central government, he said. We hope that owners would not look at the value of the compensation but the dangerous threat of pandemic of bird flu virus, he added.
There is a fast spreading trend of the virus in the world. WHO recorded that the bird flu virus had spread to 13 countries since the beginning of February 2006, apart from the previous six countries where human deaths as a result of H5N1 virus were found.
The WHO has recorded at least 170 cases in 19 countries. Of the 170 people infected with the H5N1 virus, 92 were dead. WHO reported only laboratory-confirmed cases.
The Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital in Jakarta, on of the 45 reference hospitals tasked with handling bird flu patients, has up to Friday recorded 27 deaths of bird flu suspects. But not all of the figures had been confirmed by the WHO.
WHO indicated that Indonesia, with 26 cases (19 deaths) was ranked second after Vietnam which had 93 cases (42 deaths).
Thailand came third in the list with 22 cases (14 deaths), followed by China with 12 cases (8 deaths), Turkey with 12 cases (4 deaths) and Cambodia with 4 cases (4 deaths).
According to WHO, the 13 countries where new cases of bird flu were found since early this month are Iraq, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Iran, Austria, Germany, Egypt, India and France. (T.A014/A/A018/a/a018) (U.C/A014/C/A018) 24-02-2006 11:58:37
Jakarta, Feb 24 (ANTARA)- Jakarta launched on Friday a two-month bird sweeping program to contain the spread of the avian influenza virus (H51N) that has infected some 170 people in at least 19 countries all over the world.
The drive was launched after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned last week the governors of six most affected provinces, namely Jakarta, West Java, Banten, Central Java, Lampung and South Sulwesi.
The Jakarta administration fielded 50 teams of 600 strong task forces to undertake door-to-door checks on commercial and backyard fowls in 44 urban districts and 267 villages.
There are about 200 poultry farms, each with about 1,000 fowls in Jakarta. Besides the commercial farming, thousands of neighborhoods also raise a range of between 300 and 400 backyard birds each, Head of Jakarta Animal Husbandry Office Edi Setiarto said.
Indonesia, the fourth most populous county with 220 million, has been ranked by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the second largest nation, after Vietnam, affected the by the fast spreading H5N1 bird flu virus.
Most cases in Indonesia, where WHO has confirmed 26 human cases with 19 deaths of H5N1 infection, are found in Jakarta. This has prompted Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso to take stern measures to fight the virus.
I will see to it whether it is possible to ban poultry farming in Jakarta, the governor said. He appealed to the people to stop raising backyard flocks. They usually only have two or three chickens but this is even more dangerous as the chickens always wander around, the governor added.
In view of the spread of the virus, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari has expressed concern over the possibility of the disease to be transmitted from human-to-human victims. Human-to-human transmission of the disease is more obvious as the number of cluster cases or cases of infection affecting close areas have risen, the minister said.
Therefore, Sutiyoso appealed to the people to kill their birds or chickens if they are suspected to have contracted the bird flu virus. He called on the Jakarta resident to give priority to human life then fowls.
I hope that Jakarta residents would be aware of the importance of and choose human life than their fowls, the Jakarta Governor said when he launched the bird sweeping program at the City Hall on Friday.
In the mean time, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriantono observed the execution of the bird flu operations in the Pramuka Bird Market in East Jakarta. We are launching the war against bird flu today, the minister said.
Sutiyoso who also conducted an impromptu visit to the Pramuka Bird Market called on bird traders to surrender their birds if found tested positive to be culled.
In conducting door-to-door checks on birds, the task force teams would make an inventory on residents fowls and would check them to find out whether they were tested positive or negative.
Fowls tested negative would be vaccinated and their coops and the surroundings would be sprayed with disinfectant. Birds tested positive would be culled. Those in the area of one kilometer radius from the affected poultry would also be culled, while those found in the area of some three kilometers radius from the outbreak would get vaccination and disinfectant.
According to Edi Setiarto, chief of Jakarta Animal Husbandry Office, owners would receive Rp10,000 or about US$0.9 in compensation for each of birds killed. The amount is set by the central government, he said. We hope that owners would not look at the value of the compensation but the dangerous threat of pandemic of bird flu virus, he added.
There is a fast spreading trend of the virus in the world. WHO recorded that the bird flu virus had spread to 13 countries since the beginning of February 2006, apart from the previous six countries where human deaths as a result of H5N1 virus were found.
The WHO has recorded at least 170 cases in 19 countries. Of the 170 people infected with the H5N1 virus, 92 were dead. WHO reported only laboratory-confirmed cases.
The Sulianti Saroso Infection Hospital in Jakarta, on of the 45 reference hospitals tasked with handling bird flu patients, has up to Friday recorded 27 deaths of bird flu suspects. But not all of the figures had been confirmed by the WHO.
WHO indicated that Indonesia, with 26 cases (19 deaths) was ranked second after Vietnam which had 93 cases (42 deaths).
Thailand came third in the list with 22 cases (14 deaths), followed by China with 12 cases (8 deaths), Turkey with 12 cases (4 deaths) and Cambodia with 4 cases (4 deaths).
According to WHO, the 13 countries where new cases of bird flu were found since early this month are Iraq, Nigeria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Iran, Austria, Germany, Egypt, India and France. (T.A014/A/A018/a/a018) (U.C/A014/C/A018) 24-02-2006 11:58:37
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