Unicef, Muslim Aid provide Aceh schools with clean water facilities

Banda Aceh  (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Children`s Fund (Unicef) and Muslim Aid Indonesia have provided seven schools in Aceh Besar district with clean water facilities, Unicef spokesperson Ivy Susanti said here Tuesday. 

"Seven schools in Aceh Besar have officially received clean water facilities such as drilled wells, pump houses, and water pipeline systems from Unicef and Muslim Aid Indonesia," Ivy Susanti said. 

She said the seven schools which had been provided with the clean water facilities were the state elementary schools of Siron, Ie Alang, Lamtamot, Reuleung Geuleumpang, Blang Kiree, Limo, and Kuta Kareung. 

Ivy said Unicef and Muslim Aid Indonesia had also provided Mesalee, Lampaseh, Montasik, and Lamjampok elementary schools with e similar facilities earlier. 

Earlier, on Saturday, Ivy said Unicef had completed the construction of 148 elementary school buildings in 11 districts and municipalities in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province. 

"Unicef has a commitment to construct a total of 346 school buildings -- 226 in Aceh province and 120 in Nias and South Nias districts in North Sumatra," Ivy Susanti said. 

She said the Unicef office in Banda Aceh had handed nine schools with their facilities to the Aceh Besar district administration. 

"The schools were handed by the chief of Unicef`s education section in Banda Aceh, Hoang Van Sit, to Aceh Besar district head Bukhari Daud last Thursday," Ivy Susanti said. 

Unicef had also built 43 schools in several sub districts in Aceh Besar which bore the brunt of the devastating tsunami on December 26, 2004. 

Meanwhile, Hoang Van Sit said Unicef would continue to set up elementary school buildings in Aceh, although it was facing many problems such as illegal levies, difficulties in reaching isolated or remote locations, and the impact of the global financial crisis on the prices of construction materials and services. 

"We will continue with the construction of schools in Aceh in accordance with our commitment to the provincial administration," Hoang said.

Japan pledges rp200-bln grant for 35 bridges in NTB

Mataram  (ANTARA News) - The Japanese government has pledged a Rp200 billion grant for the construction of 35 bridges in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province in 2009, a local official said. 

Speaking after opening a seminar on development in eastern Indonesian here on Tuesday, Supardi Sukandar, NTB public works office chief, said eight other bridges under a previous Japanese assistance program would be completed in mid-December 2008 at a cost of Rp60 billion. 

He said the 35 bridges to be built with the Japanse grant in 2009 would all be located on the southern sections of the province`s outer ringroad in the districts of Sumbawa and West Sumbawa to link isolated villages. 

Construction of all 35 bridges would start in January next year and be completed in December the same year. 

Sukandar said the bridges would be of great benefit to transmigrants in the Tongo and Lunyuk regions to market their agricultural commodities in urban areas. 

Transmigrants in the two remote regions were until now always grappling with great difficulties in marketing their products in the district`s towns because of transportation problems. 

"After the bridges have been completed, it will be much easier for the transmigrants to transport their produce to the cities," Sukandar said.

Public health centers get high-tech beds

The Jakarta Post, Thu, 11/13/2008 10:29 AM  

JAKARTA: Kemang Medical Care Hospital in South Jakarta donated 38 electronic beds to 21 public health centers and clinics around Greater Jakarta and Cikarang on Wednesday. 

The donation was part of one of the hospital's charity programs, which include education for the public on proper healthcare, especially for mothers and children. The hospital was opened last October. 

"We want to keep people healthy, not just cure them when they fall ill. That's why even after a patient is healed, we will maintain a relationship by following up and giving proper health information," the hospital's managing director Purnawan Junadi said. -- JP

Australia to contribute 6 million to Indonesia election

Canberra (ANTARA News) - The Australian government will contribute A$6 million (Rp43.2 billion) to Indonesia's 2009 general election fund as part of its support to democracy in Indonesia, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said here on Wednesday. 

Smith made the statement at a joint press conference with his Indonesian counterpart Hassan Wirayuda after they had led their respective delegation in the 9th Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum (AIMF). 

According to Smith, his government's financial contribution to Indonesia would be channeled through the Australian General Election Commission. 

The Australian foreign minister admitted that presidential and parliamentarian elections in Indonesia were more difficult than those in Australia. 

Smith also expressed his country's support to the Democratic Forum which is to be held in Bali from December 9-10, 2008, and confirmed Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's plan to attend the forum. 

Meanwhile, Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would highly appreciate Rudd's presence in the Democratic Forum, as well as the two countries' joint efforts to promote democracy, human rights, and clean governance in the region. 

Wirayuda said the forum was of great importance in promoting the agenda and discourses of democracy in the region. 

The 9th Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Forum from Nov 11-12, 2008 was held at the Australian Parliament building to discuss among others key bilateral political and strategic, economic and trade and development assistance issues. 

The Australian delegation in the forum was made up of Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, Minister for Trade Simon Crean, Immigration and Citizenship Minister Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Climate Change and Water Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Environment, Heritage and the Arts Peter Garrett, Attorney General Robert McClelland, and Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus. 

The Indonesian delegation, led by Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda, consisted of Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi, Environment Minister Rachmad Witoelar, and Law and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalalata.

Crisis 'won't affect' Dutch aid for RI

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 11/11/2008 10:55 AM  

Despite being hit by the global financial crisis, the Netherlands will maintain its development aid and investment in Indonesia at current levels, visiting Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Maria van der Hoeven said here Monday. 

Indonesia is the largest recipient of Dutch development aid globally. Some 108 million euros worth of Dutch aid have already been channeled to Indonesia this year. 

Speaking at a joint press conference with Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin, van der Hoeven gave assurances Dutch aid to Indonesia would not be affected by the present crisis. 

She visited the office of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia's second largest Islamic organization, for a dialogue with Muslim leaders to discuss economic cooperation. 

Din expressed hope that businesspeople from Muhammadiyah would cooperate with Dutch investors in several sectors, to allow them to grow and compete internationally. 

Van der Hoeven said although her government would have to revise the Netherlands' economic growth target to close to zero from the initial 1.25 percent, Dutch companies would continue putting their money in Indonesia. 

"(Dutch) investment in Indonesia is OK," she said. 

"I would like to see it grow because it is important that Dutch investors invest in Indonesia, and if possible, Indonesian businesspeople invest in the Netherlands." 

Van der Hoeven, in Indonesia on a business mission with an entourage of 20 Dutch businesspeople from various sectors, said Dutch investors would focus on forging cooperation in the energy, geothermal, biofuel and water management sectors. 

She opened a two-week Dutch cultural festival at the Shangri-La Hotel earlier in the day before addressing a seminar and business forum during the festival. The minister will leave for East Java on Wednesday to monitor projects financed by the Dutch government. 

The Netherlands is the fifth largest investor in Indonesia, with 838 million euros (US$1 billion) invested in several projects in 2005. Around 100 Dutch companies operate in Indonesia. 

In addition, some 2,700 Dutch companies have trade links to Indonesia, data from the Dutch Embassy in Jakarta shows. Most are importers of Indonesian-made goods. 

Bilateral trade in 2006 was valued at more than 2 billion euros, up from 1.84 billion euros in 2005, with Indonesia exporting three times as much to the Netherlands as it imported from there.

 Related Article:

HOLLAND WEEKS 2008

Prince's foundation to help Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Thu, 11/06/2008 10:27 AM   

JAKARTA: Heir to the British throne Prince Charles, through his Built Environment Foundation, will cooperate with the city administration to improve Jakarta's environment, Governor Fauzi Bowo said Wednesday. 

Fauzi said the foundation focused its activities on the improvement of city environments. 

"During our meeting Tuesday, we discussed how to handle air pollution in the city, preserve the city's heritage and control the number of vehicles," he said. 

"I will send staff members to the United Kingdom to learn more about the program. 

"We will also exchange information with foundation members on the criteria for constructing environmentally friendly buildings in Jakarta," Fauzi said. 

The city administration is planning to convert the city hall's Block G building into an energy-efficient building. 

"Prince Charles said the UK government would move its embassy office, which is now on Jl. Thamrin (in Central Jakarta), to Kuningan (in South Jakarta). I hope the new office will be a good example of a green building," Fauzi said.

Prince Charles to visit Jambi forest

Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Prince of Wales plans to visit Jambi forest in early November to oversee a project aimed at restoring the forest's ecosystem and saving endangered species, the Indonesian Forestry Ministry says.

"Minister MS Kaban is expected to join Prince Charles' trip," the ministry's director of forest management Listya Kusumawardhani told reporters in Jakarta on Monday.

The Prince of Wales arrives in Halim Perdanakusumah Airport, East Jakarta, by Royal Air Force plane, Saturday. The prince is on a six-day visit to Indonesia to promote understanding on interfaith matters and to give a presidential lecture on forestry issues. (JP/Ricky Yudhistira)

The British Embassy in Jakarta said earlier Prince Charles would visit Indonesia from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5. The last time the heir to the English throne visited the country was in 1989.

The Harapan Rainforest project, dubbed BirdLife -- developed by a consortium of Burung Indonesia, International Bird Life and the London-based Royal Society for the Protection of Birds -- operates on a 50,000-hectare forest plot. The project is part of the Prince's Rainforests Project.

The project, located about 100 kilometers from the city of Jambi, is home to about 260 species of forest-dwelling birds.

Listya said the project would be an experiment in protecting a forest ecosystem and combating climate change.

The government granted the consortium permission in April to manage the wildlife-rich lowland rainforest area in Sumatra for 100 years.

Under the license, she said, the project workers must prevent the land from being developed.

The consortium of BirdLife is currently undertaking a forest restoration project on a 52,000-hectare plot of forest in South Sumatra.

"We haven't received information on whether Prince Charles will also visit the BirdLife forest project in South Sumatra," Listya said.

The consortium aims to restore the forest's ecological balance and to protect hornbills and other forest-dwelling birds by preventing the destruction of their natural habitat and to provide a foundation for the depleted population of Sumatran tigers to stabilize, BirdLife's web site says.

It says the consortium has set up camps on the ground and hired about 60 staff to patrol the area.

Indonesia has the third-largest rainforest area in the world, with 120 million hectares.

Listya said her office had received dozens of proposals to host forest restoration projects in Indonesia.

"Demand has been booming because of global intensive talks on combating climate change through forest projects," she said.

Related Article:

Forest of Hope graced by Royal visit

Prince Charles to visit Yogyakarta palace

Harapan Rainforest is an innovative, pioneering project

(Marco Lambertini, BirdLife's)

Malaysian multimedia university donates computers to Aceh orphanage

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - The Malaysian Multimedia University (MMU) has donated a number of computers to Ar-Raudah orphanage in Lhokseumawe, Aceh Province.

"With the nine computers from MMU, Ar-Raudah orphanage will set up a computer course for the orphans as well as people living around the orphanage," Hamdani, Ar-Raudah director, said in Lhokseumawe on Friday.

The computers were officially presented by the head of the MMU Education and Sports Department, Haji Zamzuri Abd Madid. MMU is Malaysia`s first private university and currently has 21,000 students, including 500 Indonesians.

Ar-Raudah orphanage located in Blang Weu Panjo, Blang Mangat, Lhokseumawe city, has so far received regular financial assistance from the Malaysian Muslim Association (ISMA)

Malls organize Christmas charities for children

Agnes Winarti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Christmas is the time when kids receive presents from Santa, but at several malls in Jakarta this year anyone can give children reasons to smile.

At Senayan City Mall in South Jakarta, the Lego Charity Toy Box is accepting toy donations for less fortunate children across the country.

The program is the joint effort of ALJ (Lego's sole distributor in Asia) and the charity organization Wahana Visi Indonesia (WVI), and will be accepting donations until Jan 2, 2008.

Event coordinator Sandy Syahril said public response had been positive.

"I'm especially proud of the fact that most of the donators know about this charity from dropping by and asking us what they can do. It really shows how people are willing to give," he said.

Priscilla Christin, Donor Acquisition and Marketing Manager for WVI, said toys could also be donated at its charity booths in Plaza Indonesia, Kelapa Gading Mall, Plaza Senayan and Grand Indonesia.

On Sunday's opening at Senayan City, the program took in around 40 toys, including dolls, toy cars and play cooksets.

Priscilla said Christmas was just one opportunity among many for people to share their good fortune.

"It's important that you give not just because it's Christmas," she said. "Ultimately we want people to learn the value of giving.

"When you're getting new toys, give the old ones away, because these children are simply going to love whatever you give them."

WVI runs a sponsorship program for needy children in Indonesia, with 75,000 children currently under its care according to partner World Vision Indonesia.

The Lego Charity Toy Box is located next to the largest Lego toy city diorama in Asia, which was unveiled earlier this month at the mall.

Sandy said both the booth and the Lego toy city diorama were set up in the spirit of Christmas, and that all parts of the lego city were either donated or lent by the creators.

Other shopping malls in the city are celebrating the Christmas season in various ways.

Mal Taman Anggrek in West Jakarta is holding a robotics show featuring Christmas characters like Mr. Snowman and Santa's reindeer singing Christmas carols.

The animatronics robots were created by students of the Electro Engineering Department at the University of Satyawacana in Salatiga, Central Java.

The 15-minute play is held five times a day, and will run until Dec. 25.

Plaza Senayan, in South Jakarta, is holding a joint Christmas charity drive from Dec. 3 to 25 with environmental and children's education NGOs Habitat for Humanity, WWF, GNOTA, Save the Children and Sampoerna Foundation. Also offered are children's choir performances and opportunities to meet Santa.

Mal Artha Gading in North Jakarta is holding a Christmas decoration exhibition until Jan. 6 and offering a photo-op with Santa in a becak (pedicab). (anw)