Saturday, March 17, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Laboratory tests have confirmed that a man who was being treated at a Jakarta hospital died Thursday of the H5N1 virus, an official confirmed Friday.
"He died on March 15 at Persahabatan Hospital," said I Nyoman Kandun, the Health Ministry's director general for disease control and environmental health.
The man's death brings the human bird flu death toll in the country to 65 out of 86 cases confirmed in the past two years.
The 32-year-old was a resident of Pondok Kelapa in East Jakarta. He fell sick on March 11, Kandun added.
He was admitted to Harum Hospital in East Jakarta on March 13, before being referred to Persahabatan Hospital the day after.
He is the 19th person to have died of avian flu in the city.
The ministry has yet to conclude how the man contracted the deadly virus.
In urban areas, people tend to be more mobile, making it difficult to look at all the circumstances surrounding bird flu cases.
"According to our records, the man had a pet parrot. But it has yet to be checked," Achmad Prihatna of the ministry's avian flu information center said.
A gubernatorial regulation issued in January requires residents to obtain a health certificate for their birds from the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Agency.
The center could not say whether a certificate had been issued for the man's parrot.
Inspections of backyard poultry and pet birds started again Friday after stopping due to the floods in the city last month.
"We are giving residents two weeks to get their birds out of residential areas or apply for a health certificate," Governor Sutiyoso said Friday.
However, the regulation does not carry sanctions, he said.
"We are urging the City Council to ratify the bylaw on bird flu, because it would make it easier to take legal action," he said.
Agency head Edy Setyarto said the fact that people tried to hide their poultry and pet birds made it difficult to ensure that birds in the city were free from disease.
As of Friday, the agency had issued 3,595 health certificates, 50 percent higher than the Jakarta administration's estimation of the pet bird population in the city.
Currently, Jakarta is the only province that has moved to keep poultry away from residential areas, a process many have said will take time.
Backyard farming and keeping birds as pets is part of Indonesian culture, even in urban areas.
Although until today it has not been concluded how humans contract H5N1 from poultry, keeping them out of the home is currently the most effective way to minimize the risk.
Aside from that, people are encouraged to wash their hands with soap and water for 10 seconds after contact with birds, eat only eggs and poultry that have been cooked through and see a doctor if they have symptoms of the disease.(02)
One afternoon, on a visit to his family, he had summoned up the courage to tell his father that he didn't want to become a priest. That he wanted to travel.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Jakarta monorail on again with govt guarantee
Saturday, March 17, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After almost six months of delay, the longest such delay since Jakarta's on-again, off-again monorail project began in 2004, construction is scheduled to restart in April, this time with apparently strong financial backing.
Governor Sutiyoso said Friday that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati had issued a letter of guarantee that will enable the rapid disbursement of a foreign loan for the project.
The minister only agreed to issue the letter after the city administration guaranteed it would make up half of any financial shortfalls in the operation of the monorail.
Jakarta plans to build two monorail routes, a green line and the blue line, at an estimated total cost of US$650 million. The monorail is envisioned as part of a future integrated mass rapid transportation system.
Officials initially said the green line was due to be completed by the end of 2007, but this has been delayed by funding problems.
"The project will start again next month but it will be difficult to complete the green line by the end of this year due to the long delay," Sutiyoso told reporters at City Hall.
The 14.3-kilometer green line will run through Central Jakarta and South Jakarta, from Jl. Rasuna Said to Jl. Gatot Subroto and the Sudirman Business District, on to Senayan, Jl. Pejompongan and back to Jl. Rasuna Said.
Sukmawati Syukur, the director of developer PT Jakarta Monorail (JM), told The Jakarta Post on Friday she had heard the letter of guarantee had been issued by the ministry.
"I believe the ministry took its time in issuing the letter to ensure it complied with a new regulation on railways, which requires any investor to work together with state railway company PT KA, as the sole train operator in the country."
JM had previously named Hong Kong train operator Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) as its partner, Sukmawati said, but after the new regulation was issued it teamed up with PT KA as well.
"It's a win-win solution ... the partnership will start when the monorail is up and running in 2009," she said.
Dubai Islamic Bank has agreed to invest US$500 million in the project, as long as the central government and the city administration guarantee to cover the losses if the number of monorail passengers falls below 160,000 a day.
The City Council in December approved the administration's plan to make up half of any financial shortfalls in the operation of the monorail.
The central government agreed to cover the other half of any shortfalls, as stated in a presidential decree providing a financial guarantee for the project. This guarantee will last for the first five years of the monorail's operation. (02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
After almost six months of delay, the longest such delay since Jakarta's on-again, off-again monorail project began in 2004, construction is scheduled to restart in April, this time with apparently strong financial backing.
Governor Sutiyoso said Friday that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati had issued a letter of guarantee that will enable the rapid disbursement of a foreign loan for the project.
The minister only agreed to issue the letter after the city administration guaranteed it would make up half of any financial shortfalls in the operation of the monorail.
Jakarta plans to build two monorail routes, a green line and the blue line, at an estimated total cost of US$650 million. The monorail is envisioned as part of a future integrated mass rapid transportation system.
Officials initially said the green line was due to be completed by the end of 2007, but this has been delayed by funding problems.
"The project will start again next month but it will be difficult to complete the green line by the end of this year due to the long delay," Sutiyoso told reporters at City Hall.
The 14.3-kilometer green line will run through Central Jakarta and South Jakarta, from Jl. Rasuna Said to Jl. Gatot Subroto and the Sudirman Business District, on to Senayan, Jl. Pejompongan and back to Jl. Rasuna Said.
Sukmawati Syukur, the director of developer PT Jakarta Monorail (JM), told The Jakarta Post on Friday she had heard the letter of guarantee had been issued by the ministry.
"I believe the ministry took its time in issuing the letter to ensure it complied with a new regulation on railways, which requires any investor to work together with state railway company PT KA, as the sole train operator in the country."
JM had previously named Hong Kong train operator Mass Transit Railway Corporation (MTRC) as its partner, Sukmawati said, but after the new regulation was issued it teamed up with PT KA as well.
"It's a win-win solution ... the partnership will start when the monorail is up and running in 2009," she said.
Dubai Islamic Bank has agreed to invest US$500 million in the project, as long as the central government and the city administration guarantee to cover the losses if the number of monorail passengers falls below 160,000 a day.
The City Council in December approved the administration's plan to make up half of any financial shortfalls in the operation of the monorail.
The central government agreed to cover the other half of any shortfalls, as stated in a presidential decree providing a financial guarantee for the project. This guarantee will last for the first five years of the monorail's operation. (02)
Three-in-one policy soon to be history
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso on Monday said Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) would replace the three-in-one policy, which has been deemed an ineffective means of controlling the traffic.
"So far, with the three-in-one policy, we have raised more problems than money. What's more, motorists flaunt the law," he told reporters at City Hall.
The policy requires motorists passing major streets during peak hours to have two passengers. However, they can always find a shortcut and hire "jockeys" or people they pick up on the roadside for a small fee.
"If the three-in-one policy is ineffective, why shouldn't we replace it with something else?" Sutiyoso said.
He said the government was in the process of studying the ERP system.
"If it were up to me, I'd bring it in immediately," said the governor, implying he would take heed of public opinion and the results of the research.
Sutiyoso said the revenue generated from the ERP would be used to subsidize public transportation so the fares would be lower.
The governor has been defending the three-in-one policy, which was brought in 1992, since he took up his post in 1997.
City transportation agency head Nurahman said the agency was working on the engineering design for the ERP.
"We are also studying the technical aspects to identify the most suitable system for Jakarta. But we are likely to go with the Singaporean system, which uses a pre-paid smart card, because it is much cheaper to operate compared to the systems in London or Hong Kong, and fits with conditions here.
"The study will be finished in a year, so hopefully by the end of the year we'll be able to start building the ERP infrastructure and the trial of the system will start in 2008," Nurahman said.
He said the trial charge zone would be the roads between Blok M, South Jakarta, and Kota, North Jakarta, on which the busway operates.
The ERP system, which is used in a number of countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, England, Germany, Austria and Belgium, requires car owners to purchase an electronic ticket to drive on main thoroughfares in the city during peak hours.
The transportation agency will work together with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and other related stakeholders to develop the system.
Data from ITDP shows that the number of vehicles in Jakarta grows by 11 percent per year. There are more than five million private cars in the city.(02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso on Monday said Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) would replace the three-in-one policy, which has been deemed an ineffective means of controlling the traffic.
"So far, with the three-in-one policy, we have raised more problems than money. What's more, motorists flaunt the law," he told reporters at City Hall.
The policy requires motorists passing major streets during peak hours to have two passengers. However, they can always find a shortcut and hire "jockeys" or people they pick up on the roadside for a small fee.
"If the three-in-one policy is ineffective, why shouldn't we replace it with something else?" Sutiyoso said.
He said the government was in the process of studying the ERP system.
"If it were up to me, I'd bring it in immediately," said the governor, implying he would take heed of public opinion and the results of the research.
Sutiyoso said the revenue generated from the ERP would be used to subsidize public transportation so the fares would be lower.
The governor has been defending the three-in-one policy, which was brought in 1992, since he took up his post in 1997.
City transportation agency head Nurahman said the agency was working on the engineering design for the ERP.
"We are also studying the technical aspects to identify the most suitable system for Jakarta. But we are likely to go with the Singaporean system, which uses a pre-paid smart card, because it is much cheaper to operate compared to the systems in London or Hong Kong, and fits with conditions here.
"The study will be finished in a year, so hopefully by the end of the year we'll be able to start building the ERP infrastructure and the trial of the system will start in 2008," Nurahman said.
He said the trial charge zone would be the roads between Blok M, South Jakarta, and Kota, North Jakarta, on which the busway operates.
The ERP system, which is used in a number of countries including Singapore, Hong Kong, England, Germany, Austria and Belgium, requires car owners to purchase an electronic ticket to drive on main thoroughfares in the city during peak hours.
The transportation agency will work together with the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) and other related stakeholders to develop the system.
Data from ITDP shows that the number of vehicles in Jakarta grows by 11 percent per year. There are more than five million private cars in the city.(02)
Analysts 'not buying' poll results
Thursday, March 15, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Analysts have questioned the results of a survey of 6,000 Jakartans who are registered to vote in the gubernatorial election in August, saying many of the questions were leading and designed to elicit the desired response.
The results of the survey -- which was conducted by the recently established Center for Policy Analysis and Strategic Development (Puskaptis) -- were released Tuesday at a press conference also attended by political analysts and celebrities.
They showed security and public order were at the top of voters' priority list.
"Considering their number one concern is security, Jakartans would like to see a military man leading the city, supported by a civilian who understands administrative issues," Husin Yazid, the center's director, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Sixty percent of respondents said they would vote for Agum Gumelar -- the only candidate from a military background -- 25 percent for Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo and 15 percent for retired police general Adang Darajatun.
The overall opinion of legislator and former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmaja was negative, while economist Faisal Basri was seen by respondents as being "more suited to the position of deputy governor".
But Ikrar Nusa Bakti from the National Institute of Science (LIPI), who attended the press conference, said the public needed to be aware of who commissioned the survey, as "push polls", which are designed to alter public opinion, were not uncommon in election season.
When asked by the Post, Husin said he established the center in late 2004, mentioning Prijono Tjiptoherjanto, a former secretary to both former vice president Hamzah Haz and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, as influential in the center's activities.
Ikrar said changing the wording of key questions could also yield different results.
"A poll's reliability depends on how the data is collected, how the questions are worded and whether the sample is skewed," he said in a telephone interview.
Ahmad, who was also at the conference, asked whether the questions were designed to elicit extended or fixed responses.
"Were they (respondents) put in the position where they could only choose from a select list of candidates?"
Some of the questions may have been designed to prompt a positive response to the idea of having a military figure as governor, Purba Hutapea from the National Institute of Administration (LAN) suggested.
He said while media attention improved a candidate's prospects, popularity was not a good way of measuring a candidate's capability or potential.
"It should be about whether the candidates can create jobs, not whether they are celebrities," he said, referring to actor Rano Karno, who is among the possible candidates for vice governor.
According to the poll, second on voters' priority list was population control, followed by flood protection -- inclusive of water and land use -- in third place.
Transportation issues were a fourth priority, followed by waste disposal. In sixth place was health, education and public service issues.
The survey, which used multistage random sampling, was carried out from March 2-8 in 266 subdistricts. (02).
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Analysts have questioned the results of a survey of 6,000 Jakartans who are registered to vote in the gubernatorial election in August, saying many of the questions were leading and designed to elicit the desired response.
The results of the survey -- which was conducted by the recently established Center for Policy Analysis and Strategic Development (Puskaptis) -- were released Tuesday at a press conference also attended by political analysts and celebrities.
They showed security and public order were at the top of voters' priority list.
"Considering their number one concern is security, Jakartans would like to see a military man leading the city, supported by a civilian who understands administrative issues," Husin Yazid, the center's director, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Sixty percent of respondents said they would vote for Agum Gumelar -- the only candidate from a military background -- 25 percent for Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo and 15 percent for retired police general Adang Darajatun.
The overall opinion of legislator and former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmaja was negative, while economist Faisal Basri was seen by respondents as being "more suited to the position of deputy governor".
But Ikrar Nusa Bakti from the National Institute of Science (LIPI), who attended the press conference, said the public needed to be aware of who commissioned the survey, as "push polls", which are designed to alter public opinion, were not uncommon in election season.
When asked by the Post, Husin said he established the center in late 2004, mentioning Prijono Tjiptoherjanto, a former secretary to both former vice president Hamzah Haz and Vice President Jusuf Kalla, as influential in the center's activities.
Ikrar said changing the wording of key questions could also yield different results.
"A poll's reliability depends on how the data is collected, how the questions are worded and whether the sample is skewed," he said in a telephone interview.
Ahmad, who was also at the conference, asked whether the questions were designed to elicit extended or fixed responses.
"Were they (respondents) put in the position where they could only choose from a select list of candidates?"
Some of the questions may have been designed to prompt a positive response to the idea of having a military figure as governor, Purba Hutapea from the National Institute of Administration (LAN) suggested.
He said while media attention improved a candidate's prospects, popularity was not a good way of measuring a candidate's capability or potential.
"It should be about whether the candidates can create jobs, not whether they are celebrities," he said, referring to actor Rano Karno, who is among the possible candidates for vice governor.
According to the poll, second on voters' priority list was population control, followed by flood protection -- inclusive of water and land use -- in third place.
Transportation issues were a fourth priority, followed by waste disposal. In sixth place was health, education and public service issues.
The survey, which used multistage random sampling, was carried out from March 2-8 in 266 subdistricts. (02).
Two women found murdered in separate incidents
Monday, March 12, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In the week when women commemorated World Women's Day on March 8, two were found murdered in Jakarta.
A vegetable seller, Lestari, 41, was found dead in her mother's house in Gandaria, South Jakarta, at around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Her brother, Joko, found her in their mother's bedroom with a stab wound to her abdomen and a blood-stained knife a few meters from her body.
Less than three hours later, Lestari's ex-husband, Pramono, 35, turned himself in at a police station in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, confessing to the murder of his former wife.
He was then handed on to Kebayoran Baru Police, who were handling the case.
The couple divorced after 10 years of marriage because Pramono accused her of having an affair. Lestari and their two children moved to her 60-year-old mother's house, which was only a few meters away from the couple's contracted house.
The head of South Jakarta Police's general crime unit, Comr. Helmy Santika, said that from witnesses' testimonies police could conclude that the motive of the murder was jealousy.
Lestari's body had been sent to Fatmawati General Hospital for autopsy and would be brought to her home village in Klaten, Central Java, for burial.
Meanwhile, another woman was found dead with several stab wounds to her body in the house of Husein Abdul Azis, a House of Representatives member, on Wednesday.
Nurjanah, 33, who had been working as a maid for the family for some 20 years, was found dead in the Sunrise Garden housing complex home on Jl. Surya Mandala, Kedoya Utara, West Jakarta.
Reza, the son of the Democratic Party member, returned home at around 6 p.m. and found the house's gate locked from the outside. He asked the housing complex's security guards to help him open the gate and found Nurjanah's body on the floor inside the house.
An autopsy revealed dozens of stab wounds to her neck and body.
"The number of wounds indicates that the murderer was very angry," the head of West Jakarta Police's criminal unit, Comr. Andry Wibowo, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Police also found that some items in the room, such as the TV set and radio, had been removed. Besides a cell phone, no other valuables in the house were missing.
"The victim had Rp 1.3 million in her cupboard drawer, but the money was still there," said Andry.
Police were yet to determine whether Nurjanah was murdered in cold blood, or while foiling a robbery.
"Some facts lead us to conclude that this was purely murder, but we still have to conduct further investigations," he said, adding that the killer took the murder weapon from the kitchen, while robbers usually used their own weapons.
Police said the killer was most likely familiar to the victim, because she allowed the perpetrator to enter the house. Another fact, he added, was that the killer knew where she kept the key of the gate.
Police also discovered a piece of paper in her room inscribed with the words: "I want to be your wife, but don't hurt me. Give me happiness".
Eight people were now being questioned by police, but none have been named as suspects. (02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In the week when women commemorated World Women's Day on March 8, two were found murdered in Jakarta.
A vegetable seller, Lestari, 41, was found dead in her mother's house in Gandaria, South Jakarta, at around 9 a.m. Saturday.
Her brother, Joko, found her in their mother's bedroom with a stab wound to her abdomen and a blood-stained knife a few meters from her body.
Less than three hours later, Lestari's ex-husband, Pramono, 35, turned himself in at a police station in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, confessing to the murder of his former wife.
He was then handed on to Kebayoran Baru Police, who were handling the case.
The couple divorced after 10 years of marriage because Pramono accused her of having an affair. Lestari and their two children moved to her 60-year-old mother's house, which was only a few meters away from the couple's contracted house.
The head of South Jakarta Police's general crime unit, Comr. Helmy Santika, said that from witnesses' testimonies police could conclude that the motive of the murder was jealousy.
Lestari's body had been sent to Fatmawati General Hospital for autopsy and would be brought to her home village in Klaten, Central Java, for burial.
Meanwhile, another woman was found dead with several stab wounds to her body in the house of Husein Abdul Azis, a House of Representatives member, on Wednesday.
Nurjanah, 33, who had been working as a maid for the family for some 20 years, was found dead in the Sunrise Garden housing complex home on Jl. Surya Mandala, Kedoya Utara, West Jakarta.
Reza, the son of the Democratic Party member, returned home at around 6 p.m. and found the house's gate locked from the outside. He asked the housing complex's security guards to help him open the gate and found Nurjanah's body on the floor inside the house.
An autopsy revealed dozens of stab wounds to her neck and body.
"The number of wounds indicates that the murderer was very angry," the head of West Jakarta Police's criminal unit, Comr. Andry Wibowo, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Police also found that some items in the room, such as the TV set and radio, had been removed. Besides a cell phone, no other valuables in the house were missing.
"The victim had Rp 1.3 million in her cupboard drawer, but the money was still there," said Andry.
Police were yet to determine whether Nurjanah was murdered in cold blood, or while foiling a robbery.
"Some facts lead us to conclude that this was purely murder, but we still have to conduct further investigations," he said, adding that the killer took the murder weapon from the kitchen, while robbers usually used their own weapons.
Police said the killer was most likely familiar to the victim, because she allowed the perpetrator to enter the house. Another fact, he added, was that the killer knew where she kept the key of the gate.
Police also discovered a piece of paper in her room inscribed with the words: "I want to be your wife, but don't hurt me. Give me happiness".
Eight people were now being questioned by police, but none have been named as suspects. (02)
Boy nabbed for bomb hoax case
Saturday, March 10, 2007
A 10-year-old boy has been arrested for sending bomb threats from his mother's cellular phone, police said Friday.
"Though he is only a child, what he did is an act of terror and we must discipline him in accordance with the law in order to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future," Sr. Comr. Carlo Brix Tewu, the chief of general crimes at the Jakarta Police, told reporters.
Police have also arrested three men on similar charges.
They said 16 bomb threats had been received this year, including from a man claiming to be a member of international terror network al-Qaeda.
The threats include the one against the Bank Indonesia building on Feb. 19, Kelapa Gading Shopping mall in North Jakarta on Feb.26, the National Monument in Central Jakarta and the U.S. Embassy on March 1.
On March 5, a bomb threat was directed at the British Embassy.
All of the threats, communicated via the police's Traffic Management Center (TMC) hot line, turned out to be hoaxes.
A farmer in Ponorogo, East Java, was arrested last week in relation to the threat against the Bank Indonesia building, while the boy was arrested for the National Monument bomb hoax. On Sunday, a university student from Brebes, Central Java, was arrested in connection with the threat against Kelapa Gading shopping mall.
On Friday, police arrested a vendor in his house in Cikarang, West Java, for sending the bomb threat against the British Embassy.
"We are investigating whether these suspects are related to each other or have a link to an international terrorist group," Carlo said.
He said the suspects could be charged under either the Criminal Code or the Antiterror Law. (02)
A 10-year-old boy has been arrested for sending bomb threats from his mother's cellular phone, police said Friday.
"Though he is only a child, what he did is an act of terror and we must discipline him in accordance with the law in order to prevent similar cases from occurring in the future," Sr. Comr. Carlo Brix Tewu, the chief of general crimes at the Jakarta Police, told reporters.
Police have also arrested three men on similar charges.
They said 16 bomb threats had been received this year, including from a man claiming to be a member of international terror network al-Qaeda.
The threats include the one against the Bank Indonesia building on Feb. 19, Kelapa Gading Shopping mall in North Jakarta on Feb.26, the National Monument in Central Jakarta and the U.S. Embassy on March 1.
On March 5, a bomb threat was directed at the British Embassy.
All of the threats, communicated via the police's Traffic Management Center (TMC) hot line, turned out to be hoaxes.
A farmer in Ponorogo, East Java, was arrested last week in relation to the threat against the Bank Indonesia building, while the boy was arrested for the National Monument bomb hoax. On Sunday, a university student from Brebes, Central Java, was arrested in connection with the threat against Kelapa Gading shopping mall.
On Friday, police arrested a vendor in his house in Cikarang, West Java, for sending the bomb threat against the British Embassy.
"We are investigating whether these suspects are related to each other or have a link to an international terrorist group," Carlo said.
He said the suspects could be charged under either the Criminal Code or the Antiterror Law. (02)
Family fights back after fatal shooting
Saturday, March 03, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The family of a man who died after a police officer shot him during a drug raid Tuesday have reported the incident to the city police.
Arben Panjaitan, 41, was shot on Feb. 14, when officers raided his house in Kebon Bawang, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.
He died a few hours later in the Kramatjati police hospital, the family's lawyer, Kamaruddin Simanjuntak, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Police had earlier arrested Aki, who rented a room in Arben's house, for his alleged role in drug trafficking. On Feb. 14, two plainclothes officers let themselves in to the house at 7:35 p.m. to search for evidence.
Arben had just arrived home from work and was using the second-story bathroom when they arrived, Simanjuntak said.
When he had finished, he exited the bathroom only to come across two strangers in the house.
They said they were police, but Arben did not believe them. When he asked for their ID cards, the policemen ignored the request. Their failure to present a search warrant also made Arben uneasy and he asked them to leave.
"The policemen, however, became angry and one of them shot Arben in both thighs," Simanjuntak said.
Arben's father, Lantang Panjaitan, and brother, Binsar Panjaitan, rushed to his side, but police told them to stay away.
"They told us to shut up and not to get involved. They even shot twice at the floor and threatened to shoot us," Binsar said.
He said police kicked and punched Arben a number of times, even though he was bleeding and could not rise to his feet.
Binsar said they ransacked Arben's room, which was still locked, but found nothing. When police searched Aki's room, they found a packet of marijuana.
At 8:30 p.m more police officers came to the house.
They ordered Arben to get into a police car. His brother tried to help him, but was restrained by police. So Arben had to crawl from the second floor while the police shouted at him and kicked him.
The officers took Arben away at about 9 p.m.
At 12:30 p.m. the family were told by police that Arben had been taken to Sukanto police hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.
The next day, Binsar and Arben's other brother, Jonggir Panjaitan, met the head of the Tanjung Priok Police's drug squad, Adj. Sec. Insp. Asep Heriawan, to ask about the case. The officer said Arben was not the target of the raid.
"Heriawan told us they had been looking for Aki not Arben, but Arben was shot because he stood in the way of the police officers," Binsar told the Post.
The family was later told by the Kramat Jati hospital that Arben, who had arrived at the hospital at 12:15 p.m., died at 5:30 a.m.
They wanted to bring the body home straightaway but Heriawan prevented them.
Binsar said that in the evening, when two relatives of the victim, Karis and Julu Panjaitan, tried to bring the body home, police offered them Rp 2 million, telling them not to ask questions about the shooting. Karis and Julu rejected the offer.
They were able to bring the body home just after midnight.
Tanjung Priok Police chief Comr. Suparmo said separately that Arben had been caught red-handed with a joint in his hand and had resisted arrest.
Suparmo also said police never tried to bribe the family but gave them money for the funeral.
The family's lawyer said they would also report the case to the National Commission on Human Rights. (02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The family of a man who died after a police officer shot him during a drug raid Tuesday have reported the incident to the city police.
Arben Panjaitan, 41, was shot on Feb. 14, when officers raided his house in Kebon Bawang, Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta.
He died a few hours later in the Kramatjati police hospital, the family's lawyer, Kamaruddin Simanjuntak, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Police had earlier arrested Aki, who rented a room in Arben's house, for his alleged role in drug trafficking. On Feb. 14, two plainclothes officers let themselves in to the house at 7:35 p.m. to search for evidence.
Arben had just arrived home from work and was using the second-story bathroom when they arrived, Simanjuntak said.
When he had finished, he exited the bathroom only to come across two strangers in the house.
They said they were police, but Arben did not believe them. When he asked for their ID cards, the policemen ignored the request. Their failure to present a search warrant also made Arben uneasy and he asked them to leave.
"The policemen, however, became angry and one of them shot Arben in both thighs," Simanjuntak said.
Arben's father, Lantang Panjaitan, and brother, Binsar Panjaitan, rushed to his side, but police told them to stay away.
"They told us to shut up and not to get involved. They even shot twice at the floor and threatened to shoot us," Binsar said.
He said police kicked and punched Arben a number of times, even though he was bleeding and could not rise to his feet.
Binsar said they ransacked Arben's room, which was still locked, but found nothing. When police searched Aki's room, they found a packet of marijuana.
At 8:30 p.m more police officers came to the house.
They ordered Arben to get into a police car. His brother tried to help him, but was restrained by police. So Arben had to crawl from the second floor while the police shouted at him and kicked him.
The officers took Arben away at about 9 p.m.
At 12:30 p.m. the family were told by police that Arben had been taken to Sukanto police hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta.
The next day, Binsar and Arben's other brother, Jonggir Panjaitan, met the head of the Tanjung Priok Police's drug squad, Adj. Sec. Insp. Asep Heriawan, to ask about the case. The officer said Arben was not the target of the raid.
"Heriawan told us they had been looking for Aki not Arben, but Arben was shot because he stood in the way of the police officers," Binsar told the Post.
The family was later told by the Kramat Jati hospital that Arben, who had arrived at the hospital at 12:15 p.m., died at 5:30 a.m.
They wanted to bring the body home straightaway but Heriawan prevented them.
Binsar said that in the evening, when two relatives of the victim, Karis and Julu Panjaitan, tried to bring the body home, police offered them Rp 2 million, telling them not to ask questions about the shooting. Karis and Julu rejected the offer.
They were able to bring the body home just after midnight.
Tanjung Priok Police chief Comr. Suparmo said separately that Arben had been caught red-handed with a joint in his hand and had resisted arrest.
Suparmo also said police never tried to bribe the family but gave them money for the funeral.
The family's lawyer said they would also report the case to the National Commission on Human Rights. (02)
U.S. Embassy receives 'al-Qaeda' threat
Friday, March 02, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city police's Traffic Management Center (TMC) has again received a bomb threat against the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta from a person claiming to be a member of international terrorist network al-Qaeda.
Police said they received the same text messages from number 085229992xxx at 11:22 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Monday.
The message said: "We will blow up the U.S. Embassy in 30 minutes time. Al-Qaeda."
Police sent two anti-terror squads to search both inside and outside the building (see photo), but found nothing.
The embassy received a similar bomb threat Saturday sent from a different cell phone number to TMC hot line 1717.
Two other bomb threats have been reported in the news this year: The first was against the Bank Indonesia building on Feb. 19 and the second against Kelapa Gading Shopping mall in North Jakarta on Tuesday.
Jakarta Police arrested last week a man in Ponorogo, East Java, who had phoned TMC to warn a bomb was going to go off in the Bank Indonesia building.
According to police, the man made the threat to express his deep disappointment in the country's banking system.
"The TMC number is there to expedite police response times, but some people are misusing the number to make threats," said Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Heru Winarto on Thursday.(02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The city police's Traffic Management Center (TMC) has again received a bomb threat against the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta from a person claiming to be a member of international terrorist network al-Qaeda.
Police said they received the same text messages from number 085229992xxx at 11:22 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Monday.
The message said: "We will blow up the U.S. Embassy in 30 minutes time. Al-Qaeda."
Police sent two anti-terror squads to search both inside and outside the building (see photo), but found nothing.
The embassy received a similar bomb threat Saturday sent from a different cell phone number to TMC hot line 1717.
Two other bomb threats have been reported in the news this year: The first was against the Bank Indonesia building on Feb. 19 and the second against Kelapa Gading Shopping mall in North Jakarta on Tuesday.
Jakarta Police arrested last week a man in Ponorogo, East Java, who had phoned TMC to warn a bomb was going to go off in the Bank Indonesia building.
According to police, the man made the threat to express his deep disappointment in the country's banking system.
"The TMC number is there to expedite police response times, but some people are misusing the number to make threats," said Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Heru Winarto on Thursday.(02)
Police continue investigation into Levina I fire
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Battling heavy rain and high seas, search and rescue teams on Tuesday recovered the bodies of three more victims of the Levina I ferry fire and subsequent sinking, bringing the official death toll from the disaster to 53.
Officials were able to identify two bodies found Tuesday morning from ID cards found in their pockets. They are Adj. Sr. Comr. Langgeng Widodo and Comr. Widiantoro of the National Police's forensic laboratory.
A third body recovered later in the day was identified as that of SCTV cameraman Muhammad Guntur.
The three died when the charred ferry sank Sunday off Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta with police investigators and journalists aboard.
Widodo's body was recovered at around 7:30 a.m., about 1.5 kilometers to the north-west of where the ferry went down. Widiantoro's body was recovered nearby. The bodies of the two were transported to the National Police hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for autopsies.
The Levina I caught fire last Thursday on its way from Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta to Bangka Island, off Sumatra.
On Sunday, a team of police forensic investigators and officials from the National Transportation Safety Board, accompanied by 12 television journalists, boarded the gutted ferry off Tanjung Priok Port. The ferry sank while the group was aboard, leaving four people missing. In addition to the two police investigators and Muhammad Guntur, Lativi cameraman Suherman also died in the accident.
Searchers on Tuesday also recovered an explosives detector taken aboard the ferry by investigators, said Col. Didin Zainal Abidin of the Navy's Western Fleet.
Search operations, which involve 16 ships, two helicopters and 100 divers from the national search and rescue team, were suspended at around 3 p.m. due to bad weather.
He said search operations would resume Wednesday, focusing on the wreckage of the ferry.
Didin said the search for bodies might be called off sometime this week, but the final decision would be made by the national search and rescue team.
However, he said the Navy would continue patrolling the waters in the area around the wreckage.
Meanwhile, police have named three people as suspects in the Levina I fire. The ferry's captain, Andi Kurniawan, deck officer Maryono and ferry operator Aliong are accused of negligence resulting in death.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman told reporters Tuesday that even though the ferry sank along with crucial evidence, police would continue their investigation into the fire. He said officers would question witnesses and examine relevant documents.
The ship carried more than 300 passengers, but many of the victims were not listed on the passenger manifest.
Immediately after the accident it was reported that 16 people were killed and 300 survived.
The Indonesian Red Cross, which received reports from families of missing passengers, was the first to say there were more missing passengers than originally believed.
Four bodies were recovered Saturday, while another 22 were found Sunday.
As part of the official response to the accident, the Tanjung Priok Port harbormaster, Johny Karel Lantang, has been placed on administrative leave.
Transportation Minister Hatta Rajasa said Monday he would replace Director General for Sea Transportation Harijogi and Director General for Air Transportation M. Iksan Tatang.
The decision comes after a string of serious transportation accidents over recent months, including the Levina I fire.(02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Battling heavy rain and high seas, search and rescue teams on Tuesday recovered the bodies of three more victims of the Levina I ferry fire and subsequent sinking, bringing the official death toll from the disaster to 53.
Officials were able to identify two bodies found Tuesday morning from ID cards found in their pockets. They are Adj. Sr. Comr. Langgeng Widodo and Comr. Widiantoro of the National Police's forensic laboratory.
A third body recovered later in the day was identified as that of SCTV cameraman Muhammad Guntur.
The three died when the charred ferry sank Sunday off Tanjung Priok Port in Jakarta with police investigators and journalists aboard.
Widodo's body was recovered at around 7:30 a.m., about 1.5 kilometers to the north-west of where the ferry went down. Widiantoro's body was recovered nearby. The bodies of the two were transported to the National Police hospital in Kramat Jati, East Jakarta, for autopsies.
The Levina I caught fire last Thursday on its way from Tanjung Priok in North Jakarta to Bangka Island, off Sumatra.
On Sunday, a team of police forensic investigators and officials from the National Transportation Safety Board, accompanied by 12 television journalists, boarded the gutted ferry off Tanjung Priok Port. The ferry sank while the group was aboard, leaving four people missing. In addition to the two police investigators and Muhammad Guntur, Lativi cameraman Suherman also died in the accident.
Searchers on Tuesday also recovered an explosives detector taken aboard the ferry by investigators, said Col. Didin Zainal Abidin of the Navy's Western Fleet.
Search operations, which involve 16 ships, two helicopters and 100 divers from the national search and rescue team, were suspended at around 3 p.m. due to bad weather.
He said search operations would resume Wednesday, focusing on the wreckage of the ferry.
Didin said the search for bodies might be called off sometime this week, but the final decision would be made by the national search and rescue team.
However, he said the Navy would continue patrolling the waters in the area around the wreckage.
Meanwhile, police have named three people as suspects in the Levina I fire. The ferry's captain, Andi Kurniawan, deck officer Maryono and ferry operator Aliong are accused of negligence resulting in death.
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Adang Firman told reporters Tuesday that even though the ferry sank along with crucial evidence, police would continue their investigation into the fire. He said officers would question witnesses and examine relevant documents.
The ship carried more than 300 passengers, but many of the victims were not listed on the passenger manifest.
Immediately after the accident it was reported that 16 people were killed and 300 survived.
The Indonesian Red Cross, which received reports from families of missing passengers, was the first to say there were more missing passengers than originally believed.
Four bodies were recovered Saturday, while another 22 were found Sunday.
As part of the official response to the accident, the Tanjung Priok Port harbormaster, Johny Karel Lantang, has been placed on administrative leave.
Transportation Minister Hatta Rajasa said Monday he would replace Director General for Sea Transportation Harijogi and Director General for Air Transportation M. Iksan Tatang.
The decision comes after a string of serious transportation accidents over recent months, including the Levina I fire.(02)
Investigators to carry on query despite sinking evidence
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
National Transportation Safety Board (KNKT) investigators are still searching for the cause of the fire that broke out on the Levina I ferry last week, although the ship sunk Sunday.
"Even though evidence has sunk into the water with the ship, it will not stop our team of investigators looking for the cause of the accident," board head Setio Raharjo said Monday.
The charred remains of the Levina I sank while investigators and journalists were on board. A Lativi television station cameraman, 33-year-old Suherman, died in the incident, while as of Monday night SCTV reporter Muhammad Guntur and forensic officers Adj. Sr. Comr. Widodo and Comr. Widiantoro remained missing.
"We can obtain other sources of evidence, such as the boat's manifest and documents and statements from the crew members and passengers," Setio said.
Investigators' digital cameras were also rescued during the sinking of the boat.
The fire, which broke out as the boat was heading to Bangka Island, is believed to have been started by chemicals carried by trucks loaded on the ship.
Crew members told investigators that the fire from the tarpaulin-covered truck grew bigger when they tried to extinguish it with water.
The boat had more than 300 passengers on it.
A source from the ticketing agency close to the truck drivers from Bangka said Monday that one of the drivers had loaded a truck with cases of premix gasoline.
"The price of premix is very expensive in Bangka and it's very rare, while there are a lot of luxury cars there that need premix for fuel," the source told The Jakarta Post.
Commenting on the deaths caused by the ship's sinking, Setio said that the KNKT had never invited reporters to board the charred vessel. "They came of their own will, by themselves."
A survivor of the sinking, Elshinta radio reporter Mardiyanto, said the search and rescue team had told them not to board the wreckage, but when they arrived at the site where the wreckage was anchored and sailed around it, they saw a reporter already on board.
The group of journalists, most of whom were from TV stations, followed suit. Only a few wore life jackets.
On Monday, the search and rescue team found eight more bodies from the fire, bringing the death toll to 51.
One of the bodies, brought ashore by Navy ship KRI Kobra, was thought to be that of forensic laboratory officer Col. Widiantoro, but this was quickly ruled out due to the corpse's state of decomposition and the body was listed as a John Doe.
The other seven bodies brought ashore at around 7:35 p.m. were found six to 10 miles from where the Levina I caught fire.
The search team also found camera belonging to Lativi and RCTI, as well as a microphone belonging to Lativi.
The commander of the joint team for the Levina I search mission, Col. Didin Zainal Abidin, said that they would continue the search on Tuesday.
Hundreds of people attended the burial of Lativi cameramen Suherman at Budi Darma graveyard in Cilincing, North Jakarta, including his fiancee, Novianti.
His colleague Ricky Firmansyah remembered him as a diligent worker, who showed up early and left work late.
"He had asked me to be the cameramen for his wedding later this year," he said. (02)
Prodita Sabarini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
National Transportation Safety Board (KNKT) investigators are still searching for the cause of the fire that broke out on the Levina I ferry last week, although the ship sunk Sunday.
"Even though evidence has sunk into the water with the ship, it will not stop our team of investigators looking for the cause of the accident," board head Setio Raharjo said Monday.
The charred remains of the Levina I sank while investigators and journalists were on board. A Lativi television station cameraman, 33-year-old Suherman, died in the incident, while as of Monday night SCTV reporter Muhammad Guntur and forensic officers Adj. Sr. Comr. Widodo and Comr. Widiantoro remained missing.
"We can obtain other sources of evidence, such as the boat's manifest and documents and statements from the crew members and passengers," Setio said.
Investigators' digital cameras were also rescued during the sinking of the boat.
The fire, which broke out as the boat was heading to Bangka Island, is believed to have been started by chemicals carried by trucks loaded on the ship.
Crew members told investigators that the fire from the tarpaulin-covered truck grew bigger when they tried to extinguish it with water.
The boat had more than 300 passengers on it.
A source from the ticketing agency close to the truck drivers from Bangka said Monday that one of the drivers had loaded a truck with cases of premix gasoline.
"The price of premix is very expensive in Bangka and it's very rare, while there are a lot of luxury cars there that need premix for fuel," the source told The Jakarta Post.
Commenting on the deaths caused by the ship's sinking, Setio said that the KNKT had never invited reporters to board the charred vessel. "They came of their own will, by themselves."
A survivor of the sinking, Elshinta radio reporter Mardiyanto, said the search and rescue team had told them not to board the wreckage, but when they arrived at the site where the wreckage was anchored and sailed around it, they saw a reporter already on board.
The group of journalists, most of whom were from TV stations, followed suit. Only a few wore life jackets.
On Monday, the search and rescue team found eight more bodies from the fire, bringing the death toll to 51.
One of the bodies, brought ashore by Navy ship KRI Kobra, was thought to be that of forensic laboratory officer Col. Widiantoro, but this was quickly ruled out due to the corpse's state of decomposition and the body was listed as a John Doe.
The other seven bodies brought ashore at around 7:35 p.m. were found six to 10 miles from where the Levina I caught fire.
The search team also found camera belonging to Lativi and RCTI, as well as a microphone belonging to Lativi.
The commander of the joint team for the Levina I search mission, Col. Didin Zainal Abidin, said that they would continue the search on Tuesday.
Hundreds of people attended the burial of Lativi cameramen Suherman at Budi Darma graveyard in Cilincing, North Jakarta, including his fiancee, Novianti.
His colleague Ricky Firmansyah remembered him as a diligent worker, who showed up early and left work late.
"He had asked me to be the cameramen for his wedding later this year," he said. (02)
Death toll rises as charred ferry sinks
Monday, February 26, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A television cameraman died and three other people remain missing after the charred ferryboat Levina I sank Sunday while investigators and journalists were on board.
The incident occurred around noon when investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Police's forensic laboratory and the Water Police were going over the vessel, which caught fire Thursday.
Twelve TV reporters and cameramen from Indosiar, Metro TV, ANTV, Lativi, RCTI and SCTV were accompanying the investigators.
Lativi cameraman Suherman, 33, died when the ferry sank. As of Sunday night, SCTV's Muhammad Guntur and forensic officers Adj. Sr. Comr. Widodo and Comr. Widiantoro remain missing.
Officials originally planed to tow the vessel to Tanjung Priok Port before boarding it for the investigation. However, for reasons that remain unclear they decided to enter the wreckage before it was towed, some seven mile from port.
An Elshinta radio reporter, Mardianto, who was on the wreckage, said the accident happened so fast the people on board barely had time to save themselves.
The ship was already listing when journalists were allowed to board the ferry by investigators.
"Driven by curiosity, we entered the ship though some officers warned us that it was not safe," Mardianto told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
The officers offered the journalists life jackets but few accepted.
"I am not in a position to blame anyone because I myself was guilty of not taking proper precautions," Mardianto said.
He said after boarding, the journalists went to deck three where they interviewed the head of the city's Water Police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Frederik Kalembang.
An officer from the forensic laboratory suddenly said it felt like the ship was listing.
Seconds later, police officers on a nearby boat used a loudspeaker to order everyone on board the ferry to evacuate.
"People on the ferry panicked and raced down to deck two where they crowded into a window at the end of the deck to get out to the side of the ship," Mardianto said
Mardianto was able to get out of the ferry and swim to the nearest lifeboat. He said the boat was meant for only six people and nearly capsized because it was overloaded.
Setyo Raharjo, the head of the transportation safety body, said all of his officers on the ferry were wearing life jackets as instructed. "They were told by the police to wear the jackets so all of my officers were wearing them," he told the Post.
A search and rescue official in Jakarta, Dadang Arkum, said it was unlikely the three missing people would be found alive. "We are hoping for the best, but in reality if people go under the water and do not come back up within five minutes, they are most likely dead."
Meanwhile, the search and rescue team said earlier Sunday that 22 bodies from the original ferry fire had been recovered by two naval vessels, the KRI Cobra and KAL Legian. The bodies were spotted near Kelapa island, bringing the death toll from Thursday's fire to 42. (02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A television cameraman died and three other people remain missing after the charred ferryboat Levina I sank Sunday while investigators and journalists were on board.
The incident occurred around noon when investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board, the National Police's forensic laboratory and the Water Police were going over the vessel, which caught fire Thursday.
Twelve TV reporters and cameramen from Indosiar, Metro TV, ANTV, Lativi, RCTI and SCTV were accompanying the investigators.
Lativi cameraman Suherman, 33, died when the ferry sank. As of Sunday night, SCTV's Muhammad Guntur and forensic officers Adj. Sr. Comr. Widodo and Comr. Widiantoro remain missing.
Officials originally planed to tow the vessel to Tanjung Priok Port before boarding it for the investigation. However, for reasons that remain unclear they decided to enter the wreckage before it was towed, some seven mile from port.
An Elshinta radio reporter, Mardianto, who was on the wreckage, said the accident happened so fast the people on board barely had time to save themselves.
The ship was already listing when journalists were allowed to board the ferry by investigators.
"Driven by curiosity, we entered the ship though some officers warned us that it was not safe," Mardianto told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
The officers offered the journalists life jackets but few accepted.
"I am not in a position to blame anyone because I myself was guilty of not taking proper precautions," Mardianto said.
He said after boarding, the journalists went to deck three where they interviewed the head of the city's Water Police, Adj. Sr. Comr. Frederik Kalembang.
An officer from the forensic laboratory suddenly said it felt like the ship was listing.
Seconds later, police officers on a nearby boat used a loudspeaker to order everyone on board the ferry to evacuate.
"People on the ferry panicked and raced down to deck two where they crowded into a window at the end of the deck to get out to the side of the ship," Mardianto said
Mardianto was able to get out of the ferry and swim to the nearest lifeboat. He said the boat was meant for only six people and nearly capsized because it was overloaded.
Setyo Raharjo, the head of the transportation safety body, said all of his officers on the ferry were wearing life jackets as instructed. "They were told by the police to wear the jackets so all of my officers were wearing them," he told the Post.
A search and rescue official in Jakarta, Dadang Arkum, said it was unlikely the three missing people would be found alive. "We are hoping for the best, but in reality if people go under the water and do not come back up within five minutes, they are most likely dead."
Meanwhile, the search and rescue team said earlier Sunday that 22 bodies from the original ferry fire had been recovered by two naval vessels, the KRI Cobra and KAL Legian. The bodies were spotted near Kelapa island, bringing the death toll from Thursday's fire to 42. (02)
Death toll reaches 20 in ferry inferno
Sunday, February 25, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A search-and-rescue team recovered Saturday the bodies of four more passengers from the ferry Levina 1, which caught fire Thursday, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 20.
Navy ship KRI Paulau Raibu brought ashore the bodies of Agus, bin Padja, 40, a resident of Sukabumi, West Java, and Ahmad Fauzi, 43, a resident of Banyumas, Central Java, while the other two deceased have yet to be identified.
Their bodies were found some 35 miles out to sea from Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta.
The four were among more than 300 people on board the 27-year-old ferry that burst into flames shortly after setting out from Tanjung Priok Port for Pangkal Balam Port on Bangka Island, near South Sumatra, early Thursday.
An official from the rescue team, Panji Nirwana, said both men had sustained severe burns.
The Transportation Ministry said that as of Saturday 15 people were still missing, although a source at the Indonesian Red Cross who asked for anonymity said that at least 89 people were still missing.
Ocean Safety Board head investigator Comr. Ramses Kamsudin said that an investigation into the accident had been launched.
A preliminary probe has indicated that negligence on the part of the boat's operator caused the fire.
Investigators are still questioning the captain of the Levina 1, Andi Kurniawan, although the owner of the vessel, PT Praga Jaya Sentosa, has yet to be summoned.
Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa has ordered the Directorate of Sea Transportation to revoke the license of the company due to the difference between the total on the ship's official passenger manifest, 275, and the number of people who were on the ship when it sank, believed to be more than 300.
The directorate also suspended Tanjung Priok harbormaster J. Karelantang on Friday over his inability to account for the ambiguous passenger numbers.
The preliminary investigation has also found that the boat's documents were not inspected before it set sail.
The remains of the ferry were towed into Tanjung Priok on Saturday evening, after being salvaged by the TB Jayakarta III from about 40 miles to the northeast of the port.
Anxious families and friends waited at the port, saying they were "confused" by the promises made by the ship's operator to take care of their daily needs while the search-and-rescue operation was under way.
Saidi, a toy seller from Cirebon, West Java, said he had spent two nights at the port without knowing who was responsible for the fate of his missing son, Junaedy, and nephew, Makrus.
"Since I arrived there has been no explanation at all from the authorities on what is best to do. I don't know how long we are going to have to wait like this," said Saidi, who also regularly travels to Bangka Island.
Saidi said that he had heard from other families that the boat's owner was giving money to survivors but that he didn't know how much was being provided or how to claim it.
"They gave the money quietly to some people, but what about us?" he said.
A group of 14 people from Bulakamba, Brebes, in Central Java, said they were looking for people from their village who had been passengers on the ship.
"We are confused about who is responsible for us. We came here because our relatives are missing in the accident and we heard that the ferry company would take care of lodging and other needs. Don't treat us like country bumpkins," said Sobirin, a member of the Bulakamba group.(02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A search-and-rescue team recovered Saturday the bodies of four more passengers from the ferry Levina 1, which caught fire Thursday, bringing the death toll in the disaster to 20.
Navy ship KRI Paulau Raibu brought ashore the bodies of Agus, bin Padja, 40, a resident of Sukabumi, West Java, and Ahmad Fauzi, 43, a resident of Banyumas, Central Java, while the other two deceased have yet to be identified.
Their bodies were found some 35 miles out to sea from Tanjung Priok Port, North Jakarta.
The four were among more than 300 people on board the 27-year-old ferry that burst into flames shortly after setting out from Tanjung Priok Port for Pangkal Balam Port on Bangka Island, near South Sumatra, early Thursday.
An official from the rescue team, Panji Nirwana, said both men had sustained severe burns.
The Transportation Ministry said that as of Saturday 15 people were still missing, although a source at the Indonesian Red Cross who asked for anonymity said that at least 89 people were still missing.
Ocean Safety Board head investigator Comr. Ramses Kamsudin said that an investigation into the accident had been launched.
A preliminary probe has indicated that negligence on the part of the boat's operator caused the fire.
Investigators are still questioning the captain of the Levina 1, Andi Kurniawan, although the owner of the vessel, PT Praga Jaya Sentosa, has yet to be summoned.
Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa has ordered the Directorate of Sea Transportation to revoke the license of the company due to the difference between the total on the ship's official passenger manifest, 275, and the number of people who were on the ship when it sank, believed to be more than 300.
The directorate also suspended Tanjung Priok harbormaster J. Karelantang on Friday over his inability to account for the ambiguous passenger numbers.
The preliminary investigation has also found that the boat's documents were not inspected before it set sail.
The remains of the ferry were towed into Tanjung Priok on Saturday evening, after being salvaged by the TB Jayakarta III from about 40 miles to the northeast of the port.
Anxious families and friends waited at the port, saying they were "confused" by the promises made by the ship's operator to take care of their daily needs while the search-and-rescue operation was under way.
Saidi, a toy seller from Cirebon, West Java, said he had spent two nights at the port without knowing who was responsible for the fate of his missing son, Junaedy, and nephew, Makrus.
"Since I arrived there has been no explanation at all from the authorities on what is best to do. I don't know how long we are going to have to wait like this," said Saidi, who also regularly travels to Bangka Island.
Saidi said that he had heard from other families that the boat's owner was giving money to survivors but that he didn't know how much was being provided or how to claim it.
"They gave the money quietly to some people, but what about us?" he said.
A group of 14 people from Bulakamba, Brebes, in Central Java, said they were looking for people from their village who had been passengers on the ship.
"We are confused about who is responsible for us. We came here because our relatives are missing in the accident and we heard that the ferry company would take care of lodging and other needs. Don't treat us like country bumpkins," said Sobirin, a member of the Bulakamba group.(02)
Board says blaze was result of negligence
Saturday, February 24, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Investigators suspect negligence on the part of the Levina I ferryboat's operator caused the fire which killed at least 16 people and injured 18 others at sea earlier this week.
At least 17 people are believed missing, although the Indonesian Red Cross said families had reported some 100 possible missing passengers.
Ocean Safety Board head investigator Comr. Ramses Kamsudin said Friday that authorities found, after questioning ship captain Andi Kurniawan, that the boat had not had its sailing documents inspected.
The board is jointly managed by police, the Indonesian Navy, and immigration authorities.
Before setting out for Pangkal Balam port on Bangka Island, the boat, owned by PT Praga Jaya Sentosa, only underwent a mechanical check and a weight check.
Those possibly responsible for the negligence include the ship's crew, the port administrator and the harbormaster, said Ramses.
The 27-year-old roll-on/roll-off ship was carrying 42 trucks, eight cars and five motorcycles.
The fire allegedly started in a truck believed to be loaded with chemical substances. Worse, Ramses said, the captain did not check the truck's contents before sailing.
"He only checked the vehicles' register numbers and types," he said.
The boat's manifest shows there were 275 people on board, but the real number was more than 300.
The ship was not designed for channel crossings and lengthy journeys, Ramses said.
"I am bewildered that this ship was given permission to sail by the port's administration bureau," he added.
On Friday, Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa ordered his subordinate to temporarily suspend Praga Jaya Sentosa's operating license, pending the completion of the search for the 17 missing passengers and the result of the investigation. (02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Investigators suspect negligence on the part of the Levina I ferryboat's operator caused the fire which killed at least 16 people and injured 18 others at sea earlier this week.
At least 17 people are believed missing, although the Indonesian Red Cross said families had reported some 100 possible missing passengers.
Ocean Safety Board head investigator Comr. Ramses Kamsudin said Friday that authorities found, after questioning ship captain Andi Kurniawan, that the boat had not had its sailing documents inspected.
The board is jointly managed by police, the Indonesian Navy, and immigration authorities.
Before setting out for Pangkal Balam port on Bangka Island, the boat, owned by PT Praga Jaya Sentosa, only underwent a mechanical check and a weight check.
Those possibly responsible for the negligence include the ship's crew, the port administrator and the harbormaster, said Ramses.
The 27-year-old roll-on/roll-off ship was carrying 42 trucks, eight cars and five motorcycles.
The fire allegedly started in a truck believed to be loaded with chemical substances. Worse, Ramses said, the captain did not check the truck's contents before sailing.
"He only checked the vehicles' register numbers and types," he said.
The boat's manifest shows there were 275 people on board, but the real number was more than 300.
The ship was not designed for channel crossings and lengthy journeys, Ramses said.
"I am bewildered that this ship was given permission to sail by the port's administration bureau," he added.
On Friday, Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa ordered his subordinate to temporarily suspend Praga Jaya Sentosa's operating license, pending the completion of the search for the 17 missing passengers and the result of the investigation. (02)
Police arrest rice speculators
Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police arrested three rice wholesalers Monday for allegedly selling subsidized state rice under major brand names in order to jack up the price.
The suspects could be charged under the 1999 State Security Law, particularly Article 107 on the distribution of staple foods. If convicted, the three could receive life in prison, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said.
The three men are alleged to have purchased subsidized rice from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and then relabeled it in order to pass it off as higher quality rice.
One of the suspects, identified by the initials BH, was arrested by the North Jakarta Police's special crimes unit at his wholesale shop in Tanah Merah. The other two suspects, identified as KH, 31, and SY, 33, were apprehended at their homes in Cilincing, North Jakarta.
Police confiscated 175 sacks, or 8.5 tons, of Bulog rice from BH's store. A total of 1.2 tons of rice was confiscated from the houses of KH and SY, who both reportedly told officers they purchased the rice for Rp 4,200 (about 46 US cents) per kilogram and sold it for Rp 4,640 per kg.
The suspects said they had sold about seven tons of rice in the past week.
Officer Yoga said the men were illegally profiting from subsidized rice stocks released by Bulog to keep rice affordable for the poor.
"They might have bought the rice from poor people who got it from the Bulog operation, or they hired people to pose as the poor to buy the Bulog rice. They then relabeled the rice to make it appear like it was better quality rice, in order to sell it at higher prices," Yoga said.
In addition to facing charges under the State Security Law, Yoga said the suspects could also be charged with selling falsely labeled goods.
Recent floods in Greater Jakarta and in many of the country's rice-producing areas have caused prices of the commodity to rise over the past several weeks.
Despite 80,000 tons of subsidized rice being released in the city from Bulog's stockpiles and the city's primary rice market in Cipinang, East Jakarta, prices have continued climbing, reaching more than Rp 6,000 ($0.66) per kilogram. Before the floods, the price was about Rp 4,000.
Authorities believe much of the subsidized rice has failed to make its way to the intended target, the poor, instead being bought up by speculators, who turn around and resell the rice for a profit. (02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Police arrested three rice wholesalers Monday for allegedly selling subsidized state rice under major brand names in order to jack up the price.
The suspects could be charged under the 1999 State Security Law, particularly Article 107 on the distribution of staple foods. If convicted, the three could receive life in prison, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Ketut Untung Yoga Ana said.
The three men are alleged to have purchased subsidized rice from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) and then relabeled it in order to pass it off as higher quality rice.
One of the suspects, identified by the initials BH, was arrested by the North Jakarta Police's special crimes unit at his wholesale shop in Tanah Merah. The other two suspects, identified as KH, 31, and SY, 33, were apprehended at their homes in Cilincing, North Jakarta.
Police confiscated 175 sacks, or 8.5 tons, of Bulog rice from BH's store. A total of 1.2 tons of rice was confiscated from the houses of KH and SY, who both reportedly told officers they purchased the rice for Rp 4,200 (about 46 US cents) per kilogram and sold it for Rp 4,640 per kg.
The suspects said they had sold about seven tons of rice in the past week.
Officer Yoga said the men were illegally profiting from subsidized rice stocks released by Bulog to keep rice affordable for the poor.
"They might have bought the rice from poor people who got it from the Bulog operation, or they hired people to pose as the poor to buy the Bulog rice. They then relabeled the rice to make it appear like it was better quality rice, in order to sell it at higher prices," Yoga said.
In addition to facing charges under the State Security Law, Yoga said the suspects could also be charged with selling falsely labeled goods.
Recent floods in Greater Jakarta and in many of the country's rice-producing areas have caused prices of the commodity to rise over the past several weeks.
Despite 80,000 tons of subsidized rice being released in the city from Bulog's stockpiles and the city's primary rice market in Cipinang, East Jakarta, prices have continued climbing, reaching more than Rp 6,000 ($0.66) per kilogram. Before the floods, the price was about Rp 4,000.
Authorities believe much of the subsidized rice has failed to make its way to the intended target, the poor, instead being bought up by speculators, who turn around and resell the rice for a profit. (02)
For some, no respite as floods surge back
Monday, February 19, 2007
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While most flood victims have returned home, hundreds other have had to leave theirs again.
As of Sunday, 1,900 people from South Jakarta and 800 from West Jakarta were living in shelters, having fled flooding that submerged their houses Friday night.
Muhamad Salim, the secretary of a neighborhood unit in Petogogan, South Jakarta, said most residents had not had enough sleep since Jakarta's massive floods earlier this month.
"We've constantly been worried about the next flood ... every time we heard news of rain in Bogor or Depok, we packed our belongings because it usually takes five to six hours for the floodwater to reach us," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
There are about 280 houses in Muhamad's neighborhood, which is located on the side of the Krukut River.
A lack of sleep and tiredness from cleaning up the damage from the last flood meant residents were caught off guard at dawn Saturday, when they woke up to find out that up to a meter of water had inundated their homes overnight.
One resident, Yasin, said people had voluntarily erected seven makeshift kitchens in the neighborhood last week, but had already stopped using them because they had not expected another flood.
Aid was also hard to come by in the flood-prone area. "We heard that lots of people got money from the Saudi Arabian Embassy but we don't know why we didn't get our share," said Salim.
While residents still had some of the free medicine handed out by health workers last week, they were in need of rice and clean water.
"Many people still have some instant noodles from last week but we really need rice to cook since the price soared this week," Salim added.
The flooded areas were also in need of children's and babies' supplies.
Meanwhile, heavy rain in the city on Saturday evening caused water levels at the Manggarai, Karet and Pulogadung sluice gates to rise, triggering a level III alert.
Water gushed onto the street, causing traffic jams in 83 places along roads in East Jakarta, the city police Traffic Management Center reported.
The city administration reported a death toll of 48 from the recent floods, which affected 70 percent of the city as well as neighboring areas.
Some 300,000 people were also forced to flee their homes.(02)
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While most flood victims have returned home, hundreds other have had to leave theirs again.
As of Sunday, 1,900 people from South Jakarta and 800 from West Jakarta were living in shelters, having fled flooding that submerged their houses Friday night.
Muhamad Salim, the secretary of a neighborhood unit in Petogogan, South Jakarta, said most residents had not had enough sleep since Jakarta's massive floods earlier this month.
"We've constantly been worried about the next flood ... every time we heard news of rain in Bogor or Depok, we packed our belongings because it usually takes five to six hours for the floodwater to reach us," he told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
There are about 280 houses in Muhamad's neighborhood, which is located on the side of the Krukut River.
A lack of sleep and tiredness from cleaning up the damage from the last flood meant residents were caught off guard at dawn Saturday, when they woke up to find out that up to a meter of water had inundated their homes overnight.
One resident, Yasin, said people had voluntarily erected seven makeshift kitchens in the neighborhood last week, but had already stopped using them because they had not expected another flood.
Aid was also hard to come by in the flood-prone area. "We heard that lots of people got money from the Saudi Arabian Embassy but we don't know why we didn't get our share," said Salim.
While residents still had some of the free medicine handed out by health workers last week, they were in need of rice and clean water.
"Many people still have some instant noodles from last week but we really need rice to cook since the price soared this week," Salim added.
The flooded areas were also in need of children's and babies' supplies.
Meanwhile, heavy rain in the city on Saturday evening caused water levels at the Manggarai, Karet and Pulogadung sluice gates to rise, triggering a level III alert.
Water gushed onto the street, causing traffic jams in 83 places along roads in East Jakarta, the city police Traffic Management Center reported.
The city administration reported a death toll of 48 from the recent floods, which affected 70 percent of the city as well as neighboring areas.
Some 300,000 people were also forced to flee their homes.(02)
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