IDUL FITRI HOLIDAY TRAVEL ACCIDENTS CLAIM NEARLY 600 LIVES By Fardah

Jakarta, Sept. 28, 2009  (ANTARA) - For most Indonesian Muslims, Idul Fitri (`Lebaran`) is an annual moment of family gatherings and therefore this year, over 27 million people were willing to spend considerable amounts of energy, time and money to return to their home towns.

The exodus on such a large scale happening at almost the same time was far from easy to manage and, as always, claimed many lives and caused substantial material damages.

Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said in Solo, Central Java, recently that of the total number of around 27.25 million travelers, 11 million used their own means of transportation, mostly motorcycles and cars.

FIGHTING TERRORISM THROUGH DERADICALIZATION PROGRAM GOES ON by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept. 22, 2009 (ANTARA) - Despite the recent death of top terrorist Noordin M Top, President Yudhoyono has warned that it does not mean that the terrorist network in Southeast Asia, especially in Indonesia, has been paralyzed.

The head of state`s statement was supported by various officials and elements including Ansyaad Mbai, head of the political, legal and security coordinating ministry`s anti-terror desk.

The fight against terrorism was not finished with the death of Southeast Asian terrorist leader Noordin M Top and his three associates, Mbai said here recently following the police`s successful raid in Solo, Central Java, last September 17, 2009 in which Noordin M Top was killed.

POLICE PRAISED FOR PERMANENTLY NEUTRALIZING TOP TERRORIST by Fardah

Jakarta, Sept 18, 2009 (ANTARA) - Just three days before the Idul Fitri Islamic festivity, also called `the day of victory`, Indonesian police permanently terminated most wanted terrorist Noordin M Top in a raid in Solo, Central Java, on Thursday (Sept. 17).

At a press conference at the National Police Headquarters in Jakarta, Thursday evening, delighted and always showing his two thumbs, National Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri confirmed that one of four terror suspects shot dead during the raid was Malaysian fugitive terror mastermind Noordin Mohammad Top.

POLICE INTENSIFY SECURITY DURING IDUL FITRI HOLIDAYS BY Fardah

Jakarta, Sept. 15, 2009 (ANTARA) - Athough Idul Fitri, the post-fasting month festivity, happens every year in accordance with the lunar calendar, Muslims in Indonesia and other countries never celebrate it in exactly the same way.

"What we are going to do to prepare for Idul Fitri this year should not be a routine activity. We should regard it as a special operation that has to be successful," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said when speaking at a cabinet meeting at his office recently.

Yudhoyono To Visit KL Amidst "Cultural Dispute" by Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept. 12, 2009 (ANTARA) - As immediate neighbors, Indonesia and Malaysia  often have a love-hate relationship as demonstrated by their ongoing territorial and 'cultural' disputes.        Indonesia and Malaysia have so far been negotiating on their overlapping claims to the oil-rich  Ambalat Block in East Kalimantan waters.  
   Recently, tens of Balinese artists in Denpasar staged a demonstration protesting a Malaysian tourism advertisement featuring the Balinese 'pendet' dance.  

New Law Empower Ministry to Punish Environmental Offenders by Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept. 10, 2009 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is endowed  with vast forest, mangrove, peat soil and coral areas as well as biological diversity but at the same time facing huge environmental problems, such as forest destruction, water, soil and air pollution.

         However, most of the environmental violators have walked free due to the country's ineffective legal system, corruption and lax  bureaucracy despite the government's efforts to stop environmental destruction.

Warga Yaman Hamburkan Jutaan Dolar Untuk Mengunyah Qat oleh Fardah Assegaf

      September 2009 - Seorang lelaki duduk bermalas-malasan sambil mengunyah atau mengulum daun qat atau khat (Catha edulis) sehingga pipi mereka menggelembung seperti bengkak merupakan pemandangan sehari-hari khususnya di pasar-pasar Yaman Utara.

        Kegemaran sebagian orang Yaman mengunyah daun qat tersebut membuat mereka harus merogoh saku dalam-dalam hingga hampir 156 juta dolar AS (sekitar Rp1,56 trillion) per tahun secara keseluruhan.

        Padahal, sekitar tiga juta rakyat Yaman masih tergolong miskin dan tidak mampu memenuhi  kebutuhan pokok mereka, terutama makanan bagi keluarga mereka, demikian laporan The News Yemen yang mengutip Fathi Ahmed Al-Saqaf, seorang profesor dari Perguruan Tinggi Pendidikan Jasmani dan Olah Raga di Provinsi Hodeida, Yaman bagian barat.