Lapang Islanders in Indonesia

"A Summary" – Apr 2, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Religion, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Intelligent/Benevolent Design, EU, South America, 5 Currencies, Water Cycle (Heat up, Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), Middle East, Internet, Israel, Dictators, Palestine, US, Japan (Quake/Tsunami Disasters , People, Society ...), Nuclear Power Revealed, Hydro Power, Geothermal Power, Moon, Financial Institutes (Recession, Realign integrity values ..) , China, North Korea, Global Unity,..... etc.) -

“ … Here is another one. A change in what Human nature will allow for government. "Careful, Kryon, don't talk about politics. You'll get in trouble." I won't get in trouble. I'm going to tell you to watch for leadership that cares about you. "You mean politics is going to change?" It already has. It's beginning. Watch for it. You're going to see a total phase-out of old energy dictatorships eventually. The potential is that you're going to see that before 2013.

They're going to fall over, you know, because the energy of the population will not sustain an old energy leader ..."

(Live Kryon Channelings was given 7 times within the United Nations building.)


Question: Dear Kryon: I live in Spain. I am sorry if I will ask you a question you might have already answered, but the translations of your books are very slow and I might not have gathered all information you have already given. I am quite concerned about abandoned animals. It seems that many people buy animals for their children and as soon as they grow, they set them out somewhere. Recently I had the occasion to see a small kitten in the middle of the street. I did not immediately react, since I could have stopped and taken it, without getting out of the car. So, I went on and at the first occasion I could turn, I went back to see if I could take the kitten, but it was to late, somebody had already killed it. This happened some month ago, but I still feel very sorry for that kitten. I just would like to know, what kind of entity are these animals and how does this fit in our world. Are these entities which choose this kind of life, like we do choose our kind of Human life? I see so many abandoned animals and every time I see one, my heart aches... I would like to know more about them.

Answer: Dear one, indeed the answer has been given, but let us give it again so you all understand. Animals are here on earth for three (3) reasons.

(1) The balance of biological life. . . the circle of energy that is needed for you to exist in what you call "nature."

(2) To be harvested. Yes, it's true. Many exist for your sustenance, and this is appropriate. It is a harmony between Human and animal, and always has. Remember the buffalo that willingly came into the indigenous tribes to be sacrificed when called? These are stories that you should examine again. The inappropriateness of today's culture is how these precious creatures are treated. Did you know that if there was an honoring ceremony at their death, they would nourish you better? Did you know that there is ceremony that could benefit all of humanity in this way. Perhaps it's time you saw it.

(3) To be loved and to love. For many cultures, animals serve as surrogate children, loved and taken care of. It gives Humans a chance to show compassion when they need it, and to have unconditional love when they need it. This is extremely important to many, and provides balance and centering for many.

Do animals know all this? At a basic level, they do. Not in the way you "know," but in a cellular awareness they understand that they are here in service to planet earth. If you honor them in all three instances, then balance will be the result. Your feelings about their treatment is important. Temper your reactions with the spiritual logic of their appropriateness and their service to humanity. Honor them in all three cases.

Japan's Antarctic whaling hunt ruled 'not scientific'

Japan's Antarctic whaling hunt ruled 'not scientific'
Representatives of Japan and Australia shake hands at the court in The Hague. (NOS/ANP) - 31 March 2014
"Fast-Tracking" - Feb 8, 2014 (Kryon Channelling by Lee Carroll) - (Reference to Fukushima / H-bomb nuclear pollution and a warning about nuclear > 20 Min)

China calls for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes

China calls for peaceful settlement of maritime disputes
Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, speaks during a meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the enforcement of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, at the UN headquarters in New York, on June 9, 2014. The Chinese envoy on Monday called for a harmonious maritime order, saying that maritime disputes should be settled through negotiation between the parties directly involved. (Xinhua/Niu Xiaolei)

UNCLOS 200 nautical miles vs China claimed territorial waters

UNCLOS 200 nautical miles vs China claimed territorial waters

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Indonesia warship nabs Cambodian-flagged tanker

Biak, Papua (ANTARA News) - An Indonesian warship, the KRI Tjiptadi, commanded by Major Haris Bima Bayuseto nabbed a Cambodian-flagged motor tanker (MT), the Yon Shun, in the Arafuru Sea on Sunday (Jan. 27), an official said.

The motor tanker carrying 1,060 tons of diesel fuel was nabbed because it did not have the required documents to sail in Indonesian waters, Colonel Jaka Santosa, an intelligence officer at the Indonesian Navy`s Eastern Fleet Command, said here on Wednesday.

The tanker`s skipper, Zhang Zhen, and its 10 Chinese crew members are now being detained at the Indonesian naval base in Tual, Maluku, he said.

"The MT Yong Shun trespassed Indonesian waters as it lacked the required permit and there were indications it was carrying illegally-transferred diesel oil," Colonel Jaka said.

The foreign tanker tried to escape to Australian waters when it was chased by the Indonesian warship, he said.

He said the Chinese motor tanker was possibly part of a syndicate of Chinese fishing boats which often poach in the Arafuru Sea.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Industry minister commissions NaSDEC building in Surabaya

Surabaya (ANTARA News) - Industry Minister Fahmi Idris commissioned ae National Ship Design and Engineering Center (NaSDEC) Building at the Surabaya Sepuluh November Institute of Technology (ITS) campus here on Tuesday.

The center was built on a 2,200-square-meter plot of land and comprised hardware and software facilities that had cost a total of Rp7 billion.

Present at the commissioning ceremony were among others Industry Ministry, Transportation Ministry and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry officials, and national shipping and shipyard business people

NaSDEC is a new institute which was built from 2004 to 2005 under a cooperation scheme between the Industry Ministry and ITS following the issuance of Presidential Instruction No 5/2005 on empowerment of the national shipping industry.

On the occasion, the industry minister said the shipyard industry was a strategic one for the future of transportation, mining, fishing, tourism, and the military`s main armament system (alutsista).

Fahmi said the shipping industry was being developed in order to be able to meet the potential demand for ships in domestic and foreign markets.

Tanker leaves fishing boat to sink after crash

BATAM (The Jakarta Post) : A very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker with a foreign flag fled the scene after colliding with a fishing boat in the Malaka Strait, near Nipah Island in Riau Islands late last week.

The accident killed the fishing boat's skipper, Abdul Wahid, 44, and injured his eight crew members, who were hospitalized at Karimun hospital.

The head of the Safety and Control Section of Tanjung Balai Karimun Port, Fahrin, said on Saturday the tanker crashed into the fishing boat on Thursday at around 7 p.m.

The boat had departed from Tanjung Balai and was headed to Nipah Island for fishing. But on its way, the tanker crashed into it. Some witnesses said the tanker had given a sign but the boat's crews seemed to not hear it.

After the crash, the tanker stopped briefly but did not aid the fishing boat before continuing on. Another ship came to the aid of the crew members.

Chief for Security Operations at the Navy's Western Fleet Commodore Sugeng Dharmawan said he had sent a naval vessel to investigate the cause of the accident. However, Sugeng said he did not yet know the origin of the tanker.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Indian naval ships to arrive in RI

The Jakarta Post

Ships from the first training squadron of the Indian navy are scheduled to arrive in Indonesia on a goodwill visit. Indian naval ship INS Tir Krishna Tarangini and Indian coast guard vessel Varuna will arrive today (Monday) in Bali before traveling to Jakarta on Feb. 4 to 8

The ships have been training officer cadets on completion of their Ab-Initio training at the naval academy. On board, the cadets are trained in the practical aspects of seamanship, ship-handling, engineering and weapon handling, and acquire experience on sailing and life aboard a ship.

"Goodwill visits by the ships of the Indian navy will strengthen the cordial relations between the two nations," the Indian Embassy in Jakarta said in a press release sent to The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Indonesia and India have long held good maritime relations; the issue of maritime terrorism and piracy in the Malacca Strait has risen to the forefront of bilateral relations between the two countries.

Since 1995, the key aspects of this relationship have involved visits of Indian navies to Indonesian ports and vice-versa, and conducting joint naval exercises. India has also been conducting bilateral search and rescue operations with Indonesia, named Indopura SAREX.

In the aftermath of the 2004 tsunami, India launched Operation Ghambir in January 2005 and sent food and medical supplies to Indonesia through its hospital ship INS Nirupak and the corvette INS Khukri.

During their stay in Indonesia, the ships' crews will be interacting closely with officers and sailors from the Indonesian Navy.

The senior officers and commanding officers will also be calling on government and naval dignitaries. While visiting Bali and Jakarta, the ships will be open to visitors. (JP/Ella Davison)

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Hydrogen Production

OCEES International, Inc. intends to leverage its extensive experience into the development of floating OTEC platforms within the tropical region of the planet, utilizing existing oil platform technology, to support an operational OTEC system incorporating its natural synergies for providing energy to a hydrogen electrolysis and liquefaction plant.


Liquefied hydrogen can then be shipped via existing technology to the industrial market centers of the world to supply a transportation fuel and fuel source to an impending hydrogen based economy.

OTEC’s greatest potential is to supply a significant fraction of the fuel the world needs by implementing large, floating platforms and or grazing plant ships to produce hydrogen or other suitable transportable energy carriers.

Proposed First Installation Locations



There are two possible reasonable candidates for commercial scale installations of OTEC hydrogen plants. One of these is on an offshore platform off the coast of a suitable tropical island installed in 3,000 feet of water. In an arrangement similar to that of the Iceland Hydrogen Project; a car company, an energy company, and OCEES International, Inc. with local government participation would form a consortium to build and operate a 100 MW OTEC hydrogen plant. The LH2 produced would be used to power fuel cell equipped cars and buses in a demonstration of environmentally friendly technology.

Another immediately possible OTEC hydrogen project is to use one or more existing oil platforms in water depths greater than 3,000 feet in the Gulf of Mexico. As these newer generations of deep platforms exhaust the oil reservoir at their particular location they can be transformed into OTEC hydrogen production platforms. This would be a more economical approach than removing these platforms. The cost of an OTEC hydrogen system under these conditions would be approximately 25% less than one which requires the construction and deployment of a new platform.

It should also be noted that the design of these deep off-shore oil platforms could in the first instance incorporate a small (3 to 4 MW) OTEC plant to power the oil drilling and pumping functions as well as provide fresh water and air conditioning. Such a design would significantly reduce the present supply requirements from shore for these offshore installations.






Indonesian Navy to receive third new warship

2008-01-25 20:50

JAKARTA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A new 1,600-ton warship manufactured in the Netherlands will soon enter service with the Indonesian Navy along with two such ships already in service, a Navy spokesman said Friday.

The KRI Hasanuddin 336 warship left the Schelde dockyard in the Netherlands on Dec. 18, 2007 and is expected to arrive at the Mentigi Tanjung Uban Port in Riau Islands Province on Sunday, saidMaj. Ainur Rafiq.

The Indonesian government has ordered four new warships for the Navy, he was quoted by the national Antara news agency as saying from Riau.

The making of the third warship began in 2005.

Ainur said the Hasanuddin was armed with surface-to-air missiles, anti-submarine missiles and electronic warfare equipment.

It carries 76-mm super rapid cannon, MM-40 exocet missiles, and torpedoes.

The ship measures 90 meters in length, 12.2 meters in depth and8.2 meters in height, with a maximum speed of 28 knots.

Personnel capacity is 80 for a running time of 20 days.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Canoe business promises endless fun along the shore of Sindu beach

Dicky Christanto, The Jakarta Post, Sanur

"Look. I'm going to that patch of water over there," Kadek told his playfriends that evening. The four-year old was sitting in a canoe.

He enthusiastically moved the paddle, pushing the water to the back of the canoe. The resulting momentum launched the canoe and moved it away from the shore of Sindu beach, Sanur.

His little hands gripped the paddle tightly, struggling to reach the spot he was aiming for. He smiled proudly as he reached it. It was obvious the canoe was the most exciting thing he could imagine that afternoon.

Unlike Kuta Beach that offers high waves to thrill those who like surfing, beaches in Sanur area offer much calmer swell, which suits children and others who long to get wet.

"The relatively quiet water here is the main reason we started the canoe rental business," Wayan Martika, owner of the canoe told The Jakarta Post.

Martika, who has a fleet of 20 canoes, was very busy that afternoon. As the beach grew more crowded Martika ran out of canoes. He had to convince potential customers to wait patiently for their turn to go out on the water.

When he started the canoe business around five years ago, Martika paid Rp 1.9 million (around US$211) per boat to canoe makers near his banjar (traditional neighborhood organization).

For a Rp 10,000 rental fee, visitors could take canoes without any fixed time limitation.

"I share their happiness today. I am very thankful for the profit I have made."

On busy days like that Wednesday afternoon, Martika said he could bring in anywhere from Rp 100,000 to Rp 150,000, which was money used to support his family.

But part of that day's profit would have to be tucked away, he said, "just in case there aren't any customers tomorrow".

Along with four other canoe owners in the area, Martika shares all the ups and downs the canoe business has to offer. Unlike business people who often try to undermine competitors, Martika acknowledged that he and his colleagues in the rental business had managed to create a healthy business environment.

"We fairly divide the area of the beach among the five of us and we have also set a standard rental tariff to ensure that everybody can benefit from the business together."

I Made Sedyadana, another canoe owner, shared similar feelings. He acknowledged that one of the important factors keeping him in the business was his friendship with other canoe proprietors at Sindu.

Sedyadana, who said he could save up to Rp 500,000 per month from the canoe business, also owns a passenger boat that takes tourists out to Nusa Penida Island.

"Over the last few years the number of visitors to this area has kept increasing. Based on this trend, I am very optimistic that the business will generate more profit in the future," he said.

However, Martika and Sedyadana admitted they hadn't been able to develop the canoe business to the extent they had dreamed. The reason: they didn't have the guts to take out a loan from the bank to expand the business.

"Somehow, I feel very reluctant to go to the bank to borrow money. I wonder if a villager like me can understand the sophisticated procedure involved. And I'm afraid I'll get trapped in debts that I can't handle," Martika said.

Bali suitable for Nila fish breeding

DENPASAR (The Jakarta Post) : Freshwater lakes in Bali offer an ideal habitat for breeding the economically valuable Nila fish (Tilapia nilotica), a researcher said Thursday.

"Based on our 2006 research on Bali's economical potential there are 19 main commodities in the fishing sector, including Nila fish," said I Wayan Windia, a lecturer of the Agriculture Faculty of Udayana University, as quoted by Antara.

Bangli, the only regency in Bali without any beach, is the best region for Nila's breeding, he said, adding that lakes such as Batur Lake were especially suitable.

Windia said breeding Nila fish would encourage the development of the fishing sector in the regency.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Pollution in Batam keeps fishermen on shore

Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam

Hundreds of traditional fishermen in Batam, Riau Islands, have stopped fishing over the past few weeks due to the heavy pollution dumped by oil tankers in Batam waters.

Jumangin, a 60-year-old fisherman in Teluk Mata Ikan, said most fishermen in his village had stayed home and a few had sought other work in construction projects since the sea and coastal areas around the village were heavily contaminated.

Fishermen say they have frequently filed complaints to relevant authorities but no positive response has been given so far.

"The polluted waters have forced fish to migrate to deeper waters and made nets and bodies black. It is impossible for us to use our small boats to fish in deeper water along the Malacca Strait," he told The Jakarta Post here on Tuesday.

Jumangin said he doubted the capacity of local security authorities to protect the area against sea pollution. He said it the main pollution was caused by oil sludge dumped by oil tankers passing through the Malacca Straits and it has happened right under security authorities' noses.

"Each time we file complaints to the authorities we are asked to identify oil tankers and vessels dumping oil sludge. It is their task, and not ours, to conduct surveillance and arrest the polluting tankers," Jumangin said, also an executive of the local chapter of the All-Indonesian Fishermen Association (HNSI).

Under normal conditions, fishermen could earn up to Rp 200,000 per day but following the pollution, Jumangin said it had been very difficult to get even Rp 40,000 a day.

Another fisherman, Abdurrahman, said he has moored his boat for three weeks and would be seeking other work if the pollution continues.

He said many vessels dump toxic wastewater in the Batam sea and local authorities did not take any measures to stop them.

"The poisonous wastewater is packed in plastic bins before being dumped far off the island but later they are carried back to shore by waves and strong winds," he said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Toxic Waste Transporters Association (Aspel B3) Kurniawan said the oil sludge and toxic waste were dumped by tankers undergoing cleaning service in the middle of the sea between Indonesia and Singapore.

He also regretted the government could not enforce the law to stop the sea pollution, saying Indonesia should uphold its sovereignty on its sea territories.

Secretary of the HNSI local office Awaluddin Nasution said almost all fishermen in the Riau archipelago could not set out to the sea after the waters were badly polluted.

"Foreign oil tankers have dumped their sludge when the wind was blowing toward Indonesia," he said, citing that the dumping occurred when the tankers were undergoing an illegal tank cleaning service which involved Indonesian workers.

He said he suspected the reason authorities had turned a blind eye to the oil dumping was because they were receiving bribes from oil tankers during their passage through Indonesian waters.

Chief of the local waste water and environmental impact management office Dendi N. Purnomo said his office has deployed devices to collect toxic waste to be sent to the toxic waste water processing plant in Cibinong in West Java.

He also said the sea pollution has also affected the tourist resort on the island. "Tourists can no longer swim or do other water activities like surfing or canoeing.

He said he had spoken with the naval base on the island to enhance supervision and urged them to bring harsh sanctions against oil tankers dumping waste in the area.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

MV Budi Jasa catches fire

Karimun, Riau Islands (ANTARA News) - MV Budi Jasa plying between Batam and Moro in the Indonesian province of Riau Islands caught fire while refueling at a floating bunker and filling station Monday, police said Tuesday.

Only its crew member, identified as Suardi (35), sustained a minor injury in the accident, chief of the Moro police precinct Adj Comsr Burhanuddin said.

The cause of the fire is still unknown.

The motor vessel with a capacity of carrying 40 passengers had dropped all its passengers before refueling at the floating bunker and filling station.

Police are still interrogating all the crew members of the ill-fated motor vessel.

Australia detains 28 Indonesian fishermen in Darwin

Brisbane (ANTARA News) - Australian authorities until Tuesday were still detaining 28 Indonesian fishermen at a detention center in Darwin, Northern Territory, Indonesian Consul in Darwin, Harbangan Napitupulu said.

"The number of Indonesian fishermen detained now is far smaller than those detained in the November-December 2007 period which reached 250 persons," he told ANTARA.

He said two Indonesian fishing vessels were intercepted on January 12 and January 20, 2008 because they were poaching in Australia`s northern waters.

RI agrees to install seven radars from US in Makassar Strait

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government has agreed to install seven radars to be provided by the United States in the Makassar Strait to support security maintenance efforts in the country`s second main sea-lane, a minister said.

"The purpose of installing the seven radars is to support maritme defense and security in the South East Asian region," Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono told ANTARA News on Tuesday.

He said the US government was committed to helping Indonesia to build its capacity to secure its waters by among other things providing the surveillance radars.

"The proposal to install the surveillance radars in the Makassar Strait was filed in 2006 but it will only be implemented in stages starting in 2008," he added.

Juwono said the main function of the seven radars in the Makassar Strait would be that of preventing acts of terror at sea.

"This accords with ASEAN`s joint commitment on maritime defense and security in the ASEAN region," he said.

In the Asia and Pacific region, including ASEAN and Indonesia, the security of the Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC) was a matter of vital importance to users of these lines in the region, he added.

The US had previously also given five surveillance radars which were set up along the Malacca Strait to support security in the world`s busiest sea lane.

The five radars were now functioning as part of the Integrated Maritime Surveillance System (IMSS) in the Malacca Strait where security was being maintained jointly by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore through a coordinated patrol scheme launched in July, 2004.

The three nations` coordinated patrols had resulted in a 70-percent decrease in criminal activity in the Malacca Strait, Juwono said.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

China to send quarantine officials to Indonesia

Beijing (ANTARA News) - China will send a number of quarantine officials to Indonesia next week to see if its aquatic production process has met the prevailing standards, an official said.

The officials from China`s General Administration for Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIS) would leave for Indonesia on Monday (Jan 21), Deputy Chief of Indonesian Mission in Beijing Mohamad Oemar said on Friday.

The visit was very important and strategic to see if the Indonesian aquatic products had met the standards so that they could be exported to China, he said.

China is imposing an import ban on Indonesian aquatic products, arguing they fall short of standards.

"The team`s visit to Indonesia is the final process of a series of talks on the aquatic products," he said.

While in Indonesia, the officials would visit a number of fishery laboratories and production centers, he said.

"We hope the visit will lead to China lifting the import ban on the Indonesian aquatic products and Indonesia is ready to receive the visit," he said.

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Vessel with 27 passangers reported missing in Masalembu water

Sumenep, Madura (ANTARA News) - As many as 27 passengers of "Salju Emas" vessel which left Masalembu port at about 14:00 local time on Monday for Gresik port, Kalianget, Sumenep district, Madura, were reported missing in Masalembu waters.

The belief that the passengers had gone missing during their voyage was based on the fact that the vessel until Wednesday at 18:30 local time had not arrived at the destination port of Gresik Putih, Kalianget, Madura, the chairman of non-governmental organization for tracing information on Sumenep community (LSM-Puslimas), Maktub Syarif, said here on Wednesday.

The distance between Masalembu port and Gersik Putih port in Kalianget was only 112 miles and could be covered in only 12 to 14 hours by a motor vessel.

Maktub said the vessel should have anchored at Gresik`s Putih port, Kalianget, at around 04:00 and 05:00 local time on Tuesday (Jan 15). "But until now, the vessel has yet to show up at the distination port and hence is believed to be missing in the waters."

Some passengers had brought with them cell phones But since Tuesday none of them could be contacted. "I am afraid something has happened to them."

Some members of passengers` families had reportedly conducted a search and contacted some fishermen passing Masalembu waters. But no results were reported.

He believed that the ill-fated vessel carrying goods, coconuts and some empty drums was dragged by the sea currents and stranded in an area near Kangean islands.

Meanwhile, the Sukajeruk village head , Maliyanto, admitted that his residents who boarded the ill-fated vessel had yet to arrive at the destination port.

U.S. grants 15 patrol boats to National Police

The Jakarta Post

BATAM (Antara): The United States Ambassador to Jakarta, Caron Hume, handed over 15 patrol boats to National Police chief Gen. Sutanto in Batam, Riau Islands on Thursday.

The small patrol boats will be used to secure Indonesian waters prone to piracy, smuggling activities of drugs and firearms and other maritime crimes.

Batam and Bitung in North Sulawesi will each get four of the boats while Tarakan in East Kalimantan will receive five and another two will be stationed in Bangka Belitung Islands.

"The grant shows the U.S.'s concern for securing Indonesian waters because sea security is not only for Indonesia but also for our neighboring countries.

"Ships from other countries also pass through our waters so they have an interest in securing our waters."

The boats will be operated by the respective provincial police although they are owned by the National Police Water Police Directorate.

Meanwhile, Hume said the U.S. was committed to help the Indonesian Water Police secure Indonesian waters."

The grant is a reflection of cooperation and trust which have been fostered all this time," he said.

Container terminal set for expansion

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) will expand its 72-hectare container yard by 12.4 hectares to increase its storage capacity by 57 percent to 55,000 ton equivalent units (TEUs).

The leading container terminal at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta will also procure some capacity handling equipment, build a road access to the unfinished Jakarta outer ring road and add its existing four entrance gates by 24 and its four exit gates by four with a total investment of US$150 million.

President director Bambang Bhakti said here Wednesday that JICT was targeting to handle a total of two million TEUs this year from 1.8 million TEUs handled last year.

"This means we are targeting to handle around 170,000 TEUs every month," he said, adding that the construction, which would start in March, was expected to finish in 2011.

He said after the completion of the expansion, the company would be able to serve three million TEUs per year.

Despite prediction about the global economic slowdown this year, which is driven by crisis of the U.S subprime mortgages, he said he was optimistic with the growth of Indonesia's exports and imports.

The U.S. is one of Indonesia's main export-import destinations which means a slowdown in its economy could dampen trade demand to Indonesia.

However, Bambang said he believed the country's economy would continue to grow as it had over the past five years.

"We are preparing this terminal to keep up with the growing demands in the future because we aim to become a world class container terminal," he said.

Manager for corporate affairs Agus Barlianto said that in order to meet its annual targets, the company had been stretching its working days so that it would have just 24 hours of shut down per year, comprising 16 hours for Idul Fitri and eight hours for Idul Adha -- both are Islamic holidays.

He said the customs office had agreed to keep up with the company by limiting its holidays.

Bambang said that the company, in cooperation with the customs office, had implemented a port system as part of the National Single Window (NSW), a recently launched online permit issuance program for exports and imports through Tanjung Priok port.

"So far, we have problems in implementing the port system as we are well-connected with the customs office. We are waiting for other government institutions that will join this system," he said.

The government launched the port system in the middle of December, involving five government agencies including the customs office to serve imports activities limited for 100 companies of the priority lane service.

JICT is a joint venture company owned 51 percent by Hutchinson Port Holdings and 49 percent by state-owned company PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Pelindo) II and the maritime employees cooperative.

Up to 60 percent of import-export activities in the country are carried out through the Tanjung Priok port. (ind)

Long absences from home put fishermen at greater risk of HIV

Jane Raniati, Contributor The Jakarta Post, Gianyar, Bali

With over 17,000 islands and 755 ports, Indonesia's maritime and fishing industries are a major source of national income.

Indonesia has over 425,000 marine fishermen (estimated by Graham Hugo in 2001), and over five million "fisherfolk" involved in all aspects of Indonesia's fishing industry (estimated by Kissling et al. in 2005).

Balinese researcher Made Setiawan recently concluded a study among fishermen based at Benoa Port in Bali -- almost all of whom are Javanese -- to investigate the social factors and dynamics that put them at risk for HIV/AIDS.

True to the stereotype of the drunken sailor, he found that with a combination of lump sum per-trip cash payments, advances and bonuses, most are unable to save any money or aspire to a better life.

Risking injury or death on a daily basis at sea, living away from wives and families in a different culture, and treated as migrant workers in their own country, they turn to drink, pornography, and brothels for their entertainment during their short breaks on land in Bali.

Made, who received his doctorate in Public Health from the University of Illinois in Chicago, based his findings on extensive observation and conversations with a wide variety of fisherfolk at the port and dorms, in addition to in-depth interviews with 29 crew members from small fishing boats (which stay at sea for two weeks per trip, and have a crew size of about eight).

As he reports, the dynamics of risk are as hard to untangle as their fishing lines. On land, the fishermen regularly hold spontaneous or planned drinking parties. Those with cash in hand are "king for a day" and will treat any friends who happen to be around, based on a complex network of favors owed, promises of future credit, and enduring friendship bonds formed while facing peril at sea, or through risky collaboration in sales of stolen fish or illegal shark fins.

At the same time, charismatic fishermen or officers may influence their peers or underlings toward either safer or riskier practices. They may be a source of accurate health information and facilitate access to good services, or they may propagate harmful myths and promote dangerous self-treatment and ineffective preventive practices.

Use of prostitutes at Sanur brothels is popular. Condoms are not. Fishermen prefer preventive practices such as choosing clean and healthy-looking, or younger girls, taking antibiotics in advance, washing afterwards, or keeping themselves fit and strong, all of which make them feel relatively immune to sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Not infrequently, fishermen may pay for one girl to share among a small group of friends, often fellow crew members or roommates working for different boats.

As Made says, even if fishermen form an intention to use condoms, in the inebriated heat of the moment, caution is generally thrown to the wind.

Often the sex workers suggest using condoms and even provide them (the government and local NGOs promote 100 percent condom use), but they have no power to enforce usage; the men will just choose a different girl. It is not consistent with their masculine cultural identity to let women call the shots.

While on board, on their journey home from fishing areas, some fishermen make and insert crudely crafted, rounded plastic or glass implants under the skin of their own or their friends' penises, using any kind of available sharpened blade and whatever antiseptic they can find.

Painful infections often result, but even if all goes well, the fishermen generally will rush to try out the new accessories on arrival on land, before the healing is complete. Poorly healed penile wounds, and excessive vaginal abrasion caused by the implants, clearly increase the chances of STI transmission, including HIV.

While the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Indonesia's adult population is estimated 0.1 percent (www.unaids.org), in certain groups the rate is high, especially among injecting drug users (approximately 41 percent), their sexual partners (14 percent), and among transvestites/transsexuals (waria) (14 percent) (National AIDS Commission/KPA, 2006).

Among female sex workers in Bali, approximately one in 10 are estimated to have HIV (Bali AIDS Commission/KPAD, 2007). Many Indonesian fishermen also work on larger boats which dock at international ports where HIV infection rates among prostitutes are even higher, such as Thailand and South Africa.

Clearly the fishermen are at high risk of infection, and with their regular visits home to wives and girlfriends in Java and elsewhere, they form one potential bridge for STIs and HIV to Indonesia's general population, as do other clients of sex workers, such as truck drivers.

Yet despite serious high risk factors and the large number of fishermen in Indonesia, few efforts have so far been made to study and devise effective, accessible and acceptable intervention programs, which clearly need to take into account social, cultural, and economic contexts.

One thing that Made's research has shown clearly is that knowing about the dangers of HIV, and having access to condoms, is not enough to make someone safer, if their peer group, their social context or their cultural beliefs are not supportive.

Three fishing boats seized in conflict

PEKANBARU, Riau (Jakarta Post) : A long-running conflict between two groups of fishermen in Bengkalis regency, Riau, has led to the illegal seizure of three fishing boats and the detention of eight crew members.

The two groups of fishermen have for the last 10 years been involved in a quarrel over the use of trawling nets. During an incident two years ago three boats were set on fire.

This latest episode began Monday when the eight fishermen were seized by traditional fishermen in Teluk Tambang village.

The conflict centers on a policy issued by the Bengkalis Fishery Office, which allows the use of trawling nets four miles from the coastline.

Nets are not allowed within four miles of the coast because of the damage they can cause marine life.

Owners of the trawling nets, however, frequently ignore the ruling, and traditional fishermen blame them for destroying their fishing grounds near the coast.

A group of traditional fishermen captured seized the three fishing boats and detained the eight crew members on Monday. As of Tuesday, police were continuing to negotiate for the release of the detained fishermen.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Fishing for potential in Tomini Bay

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

The neighboring provinces of Central Sulawesi and Gorontalo have agreed to develop the fishery potential of Tomini Bay.

The agreement was signed by Central Sulawesi Governor Bandjela Paliudju and his Gorontalo counterpart Fadel Muhammad during the Sulawesi Summit, in Palu on Monday.

Also attending the summit, which has been held annually since 1998, under the Coordinating Board for Regional Sulawesi Development (BKPRS), were other governors, regents, mayors and chief councilors from Sulawesi island.

Bandjela said during the signing ceremony for the agreement that the 411,000 hectare bay, which has been declared a protected world heritage site by UNESCO, had the potential to produce 330,000 tons of fish annually, as well as other maritime products such as pearls and seaweed.

"Maritime resources, including fishery resources, have yet to be developed optimally because of a lack of capital, skilled human resources and modern technology, and if the great potential can be managed professionally, the two provinces will supply their maritime products to the local market in Java and export them to Singapore," he said.

Fadel said the two provinces would promote Tomini Bay to attract national and foreign fishery investors, and agribusinesses and plantations to generate jobs for locals.

During the day-long summit, participants agreed on the importance of building the so-called Equatorial Canal, which would be centered in western Sulawesi. Once connected, the canal would connect important trade regions on the island with Singapore, the Philippines and Brunei.

Fadel, also a businessman and an influential figure in the Golkar Party, said he has lobbied Singapore and Korea's Hyundai Holding Group to take part in the canal project.

"I am optimistic the cooperation program will go in a smooth manner and will benefit Sulawesi," he said.

Chairman of the BKPRS' board of patrons, Ali Mazi, said the body has enhanced cooperation with the local administrations in Jakarta and West Java in the agribusiness and trade sectors, and with the Indonesian Export Bank to help finance the development of export commodities in Sulawesi.

Ali, also governor of Southeast Sulawesi province, said the BKPRS also was cooperating with several local non-governmental organizations to help local administrations organize exhibitions to promote the fishery, agribusiness and tourism industries on Sulawesi.

The BKPRS was initially set up by local administrations in Sulawesi in 1998 to help end the sectarian conflict in Poso that claimed at least 2,000 lives between 1998 and 2000.

Trada Maritime, Asahi Tanker form joint venture shipping company

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

PT Trada Maritime, a subsidiary of Trada International trading and shipping company, signed an agreement to form a joint venture with the Japanese-owned Asahi Tanker on Tuesday in Jakarta.

Trada Maritime president director Darmansyah Tanamas said the joint venture, PT Trada Asahi Maritime (TAM), would provide shipping services and logistics to oil and gas companies.

Under the new venture, Trada Maritime and Asahi Tanker own respectively 51 percent and 49 percent of shares in the company. TAM will be controlled by Trada Maritime, with strategic guidance from Asahi Tanker.

"Our aim is to explore opportunities in the domestic clean oil product market in both Indonesia and other regions," he said as quoted in a press release.

President director of the 57-year-old Asahi Tanker, Makoto Iwata, said he saw a good strategic alliance and business opportunity between both companies.

"Our experience in transporting clean and other petroleum products will complement Trada's network and experience in the Indonesia region," Iwata said, adding that the joint venture with the local company was the first of its kind for Asahi.

Darmansyah said, on Jan. 1, 2010, the government would introduce a presidential decree on the protection of the domestic shipping industry, forbidding non-Indonesian flag vessels to operate in the country.

He said his company saw the upcoming decree as an opportunity to expand its business by striking an alliance with an experienced foreign shipping company.

Currently, he said, four of Indonesia's 13 biggest import and export commodities -- oil, coal, crude palm oil and gas -- were still controlled by international operators.

"These four are still controlled by international operators. TAM was created to answer the call to transport crude oil and its derivative products," he said.

Iwata said the venture would benefit both parties, in knowledge transfer and human and capital resources.

Trada Maritime, formerly known as PAS Maritime, offers services including marine terminals, ship management and logistics to oil and petrochemical industries in Indonesia.

Asahi Tanker is a shipping company with a 15-ship fleet, including small to large tankers and various types of specialized vessels, with affiliations in Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and London.(nkn)


Monday, January 14, 2008

Wild weather damages levees

SINGARAJA (Jakarta Post) : Powerful waves and high tides in December and January caused extensive damage to levees in North Bali's Buleleng regency, an official said.

"We are currently conducting a survey to determine how many areas were damaged," the head of the Buleleng Public Works Agency, Nyoman Gede Suryawan, said Friday.

He did not disclose the estimated total of financial losses caused, saying levees were the responsibility of the provincial administration.

"The levees were a provincial project and were built with provincial budget funding. Our responsibilities only include documenting damage and reporting it to the relevant agencies at the provincial level," he said.

The levees were constructed to minimize erosion caused by seawater in the area.

During the high tides, the worst damage was recorded in the Buleleng harbor area, where parts of the levee were completely destroyed.

"Heavy rain, large waves and high tides that reached their peak in the middle of December caused the damage. Now seawater can freely hit the land," a local resident said.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Govt to combat illegal fishing

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

To help combat illegal fishing, the Maritime Affairs and Fishery Ministry will issue a revision of a 2006 ministry regulation on fisheries later this month, an official said.

Aji Soelarso, director general of the maritime resources surveillance and control division at the ministry, said Friday the revision was needed as the illegal practices had reached an alarming level and caused huge losses to the country.

"The revised ruling will prohibit foreign fishing vessels to operate in our waters if they do not have an industrial processing base in Indonesia," Aji told The Jakarta Post in an interview.

He said they could either establish their own industrial bases or cooperate with local companies in the form of a joint venture.

The 2006 regulation was initially aimed at revitalizing the country's fishery processing industry, but it did not require foreign vessels to have an industrial base here, he said.

The forthcoming revision will call for the revocation of the existing licenses of foreign fishing vessels if they fail to comply.

"With the revision, I expect it will not only create new jobs for local people, but also generate foreign exchange," Aji said.

No exact figure is available for the damage caused by illegal fishing, but previous ministry's reports estimated the country suffered over US$3 billion in losses per year.

In addition to the material loss, the practices have also caused damage to coral reefs as a result of the use of explosives.

"Indonesia is among the top eight countries in the world when it comes to fish stocks, higher than such neighbors as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand," he said.

Lack of a surveillance fleet was another factor contributing to the high incidence of illegal fishing, he said.

Aji said there are currently more than 20,000 foreign vessels operating in Indonesian waters, both with and without licenses, "and we only have 20 vessels to patrol them all, and not all of (the patrol boats) are in good condition".

Last year, Indonesia and Australia joined forces to patrol the Arafura Sea, Aji said.

According to the ministry, the maritime and fishery sectors have great potential to contribute to the country's economy.

Gross domestic product from the fishery sector increased by 18 percent in 2006, and generated US$2.08 billion in foreign exchange revenue, with exports reaching 1.02 million tons in 2006. (ndr)

Friday, January 11, 2008

Lampung sea erosion affects settlements

Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung

Excessive mangrove logging in the last five years has caused extreme coastal erosion on a number of beaches in Lampung province.

A strip along West Lampung coast is growing narrower, especially at Biha Beach and Selaki Cape, where seawater intrudes into human settlements during high tides.

Head of Lampung University's Environmental Research Center (PPLH), Buchori Asyik, recently said an analysis has indicated severe coastal erosion stretching from Labuhan Maringgai in East Lampung and Bakauheni to South Lampung.

The analysis was conducted by the university, the East Lampung environmental agency and the Ministry of Environmental Affairs,.

Villages affected by erosion include Margasari, Sriminosari, Muara Gading Mas, Bandar Negeri, Karya Makmur, Karya Tani, Mulyosari and Kuala Sekampung, where 300 meters of coastline have been eaten away.

The erosion process occurs when huge waves slam into the beaches, especially when carried by easterly to Lampung's east coast.

Coastal erosion intensifies as mangrove swamps -- which should act as a coastal barrier -- disappear.

Mangroves have been excessively logged by residents for firewood, or converted into shrimp farms.

Former rice farmers are now growing shrimp ponds due to sea water intrusion.

A number of residents in Bandaragung village, Sragi district, South Lampung, acknowledged that ten years ago mangrove forests there reached three kilometers inland.

Over the past five years, they said, "newcomers" had cut back the mangroves, leaving the coast exposed to erosion.

The newcomers were from Tangerang (Banten), Indramayu, Cirebon (West Java) and Brebes (Central Java), they said. They often supported themselves through small-scale shrimp farming.

Director Mukri Friatna Lampung of the local chapter of the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said reforestation efforts on the east coast had been only somewhat successful.

"Damage is also caused by the lack of initiative from the government in restoring mangroves in coastal areas. The central government has disbursed tens of billions of rupiah but restoration is carried out only through projects and doesn't involve local communities," said Mukri.

Many trees died because they weren't properly cared for or were removed, she said.

Mangrove areas which once extended up to 300 meters inland in Ketapang and Sragi, in South Lampung, and Pasir Sakti and Kuala Penet, in East Lampung, have almost disappeared.

Stumps are still visible in areas turned to shrimp farming.

Lampung Maritime and Fisheries Office data showed Lampung is home to 1.9 million hectares of mangrove, 60 percent of which may have been severely damaged.

Ship sinks with tons of rice

KUPANG (Jakarta Post), East Nusa Tenggara: A ship from the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar sank off Alor, East Nusa Tenggara on Wednesday.

Forty tons of rice were on board when the ship was capsized by massive waves up to three meters high.

All eight people aboard survived and had been taken to Kabir village on Pantar Island.

This is reported to be the fourth such disaster in the past two weeks.

The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has issued rough seas danger warnings for various parts of the country.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Indonesia, Vietnam, Palau to begin new round of maritime borders talk

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will begin a new round of maritime borders talks with Vietnam and Palau this year, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said on Monday.

"Periodic maritime borders talks with countries bordering Indonesia are still going on," he said in an annual press conference here.

The minister was referring to maritime borders talks with Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines which had made progress with the relevant governments discussing a number of options for negotiations later this year.

"From the territorial standpoint, clear land and maritime borders are a crucial element to keep the Unitary Republic of Indonesia intact," he said.

He further said Indonesia was also in the process of negotiating its borders with East Timor, which seceded from Jakarta in October 1999 as a consequence of the victory of the pro-independence camp in the UN-organized plebiscite in August 1999.

The negotiations with East Timor had been 97 percent completed, he said.

Monday, January 7, 2008

Tidal wave hits Manokwari, thousands evacuate to higher gound

Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Thousands of people living in coastal areas and in floating houses in Manokwari, West Papua province, fled to hills or other elevated places as a tidal wave hit the area at 12 am local time on Monday.

The tidal wave which reached heights of up to five meters swept through the coastal villages of Borasi, Pasar Borobudur, Wirsi, Sanggeng, Wosi, Rendani, Kampung Ambon, Pasir Putih and also reached the city center.

Earlier in the day, an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the Manokwari and Sorong areas but the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said the temblor did not have the potential of triggering a tsunami.

The earthquake caused cracks in the walls of a number of urban buildings, including Hadi Mall, Bank Mandiri, Bank Papua and Sanggeng Department Store.

But there were no immediate reports of casualties.

The epicenter of the earthquake was located at 1.17 degrees southern latitude and 131.94 degrees eastern longitude at a depth of 50 km below sea level, 78 km southeast of Sorong, 199 km southwest of Manokwari and 144 km northwest of Kaimana, West Papua province, the BMG said.

Water from the tidal wave also reached streets at the Manokwari city center causing thousands of people to rush out of buildings to find safer places.

They took refuge in the hills of Reremi, Wosi, Rendani, Gunung Meja, Manggopai and at the University of Papua (Unipa) campus which is located in an area about 500 meters above sea level.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Big waves slam coasts from Riau to Java

Oyos Saroso H.N. and Rizal Harahap, The Jakarta Post, Lampung, Pekanbaru

High waves swept through the eastern coastal regions of Lampung and Riau and also parts of Java the last few days, wrecking one commercial ship and four fishing boats and leaving two passengers dead.

Dozens of Sulung Putra boat passengers were reported injured, and two others were killed, when the boat was slammed by high waves east of Lampung on Wednesday evening.

The body of one of the two victims, Riza Andriyanto, 11, was found about 200 meters from the wrecked boat on Thursday evening. The body of Irman Siswantoro, 16, has not been found yet.

"The Search and Rescue (SAR) team ... is still searching for Irman," said the Head of Labuhan Maringgai Pos Kuala Penet harbor in East Lampung, Feri Sakhtiawan.

He said the SAR team, helped by police officers, the military and hundreds of fishermen, ran an intensive search throughout the coastal area, but the high waves had finally put a halt to their efforts.

The Sulung Putra was slammed by waves as high as four meters after sailing about three kilometers from Labuhan Ratu village. The passengers were on their way to Kuala Penet village to celebrate the new year.

Strictly speaking the Putra Sulung was a fishing boat, but residents around the Lampung coastal areas use such boats for cheap transportation.

Before the accident, the Lampung Meteorology and Geophysics Agency issued warnings about the possibility of high waves around Lampung, but some residents insisted on sailing.

The agency predicts that in the coming days high waves will occur along the western coastal area of Lampung up to West Sumatra and along the southern coast of Banten in West Java.

High waves also forced the administrators of Bakauheni harbor to stop speed boats from operating. Usually 12 speed boats serve passengers on the route from Bahauheni harbor in Lampung, South Sumatra, to Merak harbor in Banten, West Java.

Head of administration at Bahauheni harbor, Rochadi, said passengers must now use ferries.

In Pekanbaru, four fishing boats were wrecked after being swept by high waves and heavy storms near Teluk Pambang village in Bengkalis regency. One of them was hit Wednesday evening and the three others on Thursday evening.

There were no casualties reported.

One resident of Teluk Pambang village, Rusli, said local authorities had warned residents not to sail, but some fishermen went out anyway.

"They keep on going out because they have to fulfill their daily needs. I hope these incidents will make them be more careful and want to postpone their trips," Rusli added.

The Kupang Meteorology and Geophysics Agency also warned residents to stay away from the beach due to high waves and heavy storms that could occur throughout the region.

The agency predicts the high waves and heavy storms will last until the middle of January.

Yemris Fointuna contributed to this article from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara.

Friday, January 4, 2008

High waves slam ferries, houses in Makassar, Kupang

Andi Hajramurni and Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, Kupang

High waves and heavy storms swept through the Makassar gulf Wednesday evening, wrecking a tanker and ferry.

Flooding caused by the high waves and heavy storms had reportedly also inundated more than 250 houses in Biboki Anleu district of Timor Tengah Utara regency in East Nusa Tenggara on Thursday morning.

The ferry used as a laboratory and cafe, which was anchored 200 meters offshore, was hurled onto an embankment at Losari beach.

One of the ferry's crew, Irfan, said the high waves and heavy storms started on Wednesday evening, becoming more intense early Thursday evening when the vessel broke free from its anchor.

"We panicked and thought the ferry might sink. We couldn't do anything at the time."

He said on Thursday afternoon the ferry was hurled onto the beach-- where it attracted the attention of curious passersby. He added he was relieved to find all five crew members survived the disaster.

It was also reported that a PT Semen Bosowa tanker had run aground, about 30 meters from a residential area, in Galangan village, Kaluku Bodoa sub-district, Tallo district, Makassar. Residents panicked as the ship approached.

One resident, Agussalim, said the tanker had been anchored about 500 meters offshore for the past few days. The storm and huge waves had damaged the anchor on Wednesday evening, he said, forcing the tanker inland.

To guard against similar incidents, the residents were evacuated away from beaches.

Residents said they hoped the vessel's owner would remove it soon to prevent further harm.

From East Nusa Tenggara it was reported that high waves and heavy storms, hitting more than 250 houses on Thursday morning, had forced about 1,000 people to evacuate.

The high waves and heavy storms that hit the region also caused flooding of up to one meter.

Head of Biboki Anleu district Amandus Afeanpah said he couldn't yet calculate the financial loss from the disaster.

Deputy regent of Timor Tengah Utara, Raymundus Fernandez, said he had encouraged people, who lived in the affected areas, to evacuate to safer places.

"I asked everyone to stay away from the beach in order to avoid unwanted incidents."

There were no casualties reported from that disaster.

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Three Filipino fishermen stranded in Gorontalo

Gorontalo (ANTARA News) - Three fishermen from the Philippines were found stranded at a beach in Sumalata subdistrict, North Gorontalo district, on Tuesday, police said here on Thursday.

Local police spokesman Adjunct commissioner Syafii Bagus said the three Filipino fishermen were identified as Lary Roxas (21), Toto Sayson (31), and Robinson Gunita (32) of Malapatan Saraganu in the Philippines.

Syafii Bagus said the boat of the three Filipino fishermen was stranded on a Sumalata beach after it had an engine failure and was swept away by strong current.

He said they had been taken to Gorontalo Immigration office for further investigation before being repatriated to their country through Manado in North Sulawesi.

High tides interrupt sea transportation

JAKARTA (Jakarta Post) : Six ships that regularly carry passengers from Jakarta to the Thousand Islands regency have been unable to operate for the past three weeks due to high tides.

An official from the Transportation Agency, Mohammad Zakky, said Wednesday the ships would recommence operations when the tides had subsided.

"We hope the tides will subside this week," he said, as quoted by Antara.

He said each ship had the capacity to carry up to 36 passengers per trip.

The head of information at the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Tuwamin Mulyono, said tides in the Java Sea may reach up to seven meters before subsiding next week.

Maritime Museum set to officially reopen

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakartans and tourists alike will once again be able to enjoy the city's Maritime Museum when it officially reopens Friday.

Located next to Sunda Kelapa port, the museum was forced to close its doors when a series of high tides hit the area in November.

Floodwaters reached as high as 60 centimeters, forcing the museum's management team to move relics to the second floor of the building.

Museum head Dewi Rudiati said a series of renovations were undertaken at the museum while it was temporarily closed.

"We made minor changes, such as repainting the walls. Now we are rearranging our displays," she said.

Built in the 17th century, the museum originally served as a Dutch spice warehouse. The museum is now home to about 1,800 relics.

Several Japanese cargo ship replicas are also due to arrive at the museum in a few months.

"Previously we had on average between 1,000 and 1,500 visitors per month. We hope we can continue to attract visitors despite our limited budget," said Dewi.

She said museum staff were currently creating information labels in Indonesian and English to attract more foreign visitors.

She said in June, the museum will hold an exhibition titled "Jakarta, a city that started as a port", which will feature replicas of various ships that have docked in the Sunda Kelapa port over the years.

Lili, a visitor to the museum Wednesday, said she wanted to learn more about the museum after she heard about a wedding ceremony held there.

"This is the first time I've visited the museum," she said.

The resident of Kampung Baru in North Jakarta said she was very satisfied with her visit, despite the fact renovations were still continuing. (tif)


Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Five dead, five others missing amid rough seas in Flores

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

A cargo ship sank in rough seas in Bonerate waters near Flores Island killing three people and leaving five missing, while the turbulent waters also killed two swimmers, officials and witnesses said Monday.

The KM Surya Jaya sank after leaving Flores island bound for Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Sunday with 15 crew on board, East Flores Deputy Regent Joseph Lagadoni Herin said.

"Three people were found dead and seven survivors have been evacuated to shore," Herin said, adding that a search was still underway for the five missing crew.

Meanwhile, waves swept holiday-makers off one of the island's beaches late on Sunday, policeman Syamsul told AFP.

"A huge wave came in suddenly while people were swimming at the beach. I heard people screaming for help but another policeman and I were dragged into the sea as well," he said.

He said he and his friend were saved but that the incident killed two high-school students, as strong seas lashed islands right across Indonesia's east.

The local meteorology office warned of waves as high as six metres and winds of up to 50 kilometers per hour.

Torrential rains have inundated Indonesia's main island of Java over the past week, killing scores of people in landslides and displacing thousands following floods.

High seas and wild weather are not unusual from December to February in Indonesia, when the rainy season hits a peak across the world's fourth most populous nation.