WAITING FOR AUSTRALIA'S GOOD WILL ON MONTARA OIL SPILL By Fardah

       Jakarta, Jan. 25, 2010 (ANTARA) - Australia must have felt great relief when a leak at an oil rig in its Montara field was permanently plugged but neighboring countries like Indonesia and Timor Leste may continue to bear the consequences of the sea pollution the leak caused.
       In mid-January 2010, the leak following a blowout at the West Atlas rig operated by PTT Exploration & Production (PTTEP) Australasia, a unit of top Thai energy company PTTEP, was finally plugged and secured permanently. But the leak had allowed hydrocarbons to spill into the Timor Sea between August and November last year.

Sri Lankan Immigrants Finally Off to Third Countries by Fardah

    Jakarta, Jan. 21, 2010 (ANTARA) - After staying in Riau's immigration detention center for almost three months, all 78 Sri Lankan immigrants, who had earlier been 'rescued' by Australia's customs vessel Oceanic Viking, have finally left Riau, for third countries, either Australia, Canada or New Zealand.
        Escorted by Indonesian foreign ministry and Australian embassy officials, the last batch of the immigrants left Riau on Wednesday (Jan. 20). The 16 immigrants were flown to Jakarta before proceeding to Australia and the Philippines.
        "They are the last batch of a total of 78 Sri Lankan immigrants who were accommodated at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center after they had to get off the Australian vessel Oceanic Viking," Samsu Rizal, an Indonesian foreign ministry official, said in Tanjungpinang, Riau Province, Wednesday (Jan. 20).

BPOM Finally Acts Against Hazardous Snacks At Schools by Fardah

      Jakarta, Jan. 14, 2010 (ANTARA) - It is surely a great relief for parents when they read news on steps being taken by the Drug and Food Supervision Agency (BPOM) to stop the sale of snacks containing hazardous chemical substances at or near schools.
        Even parents who are aware of the risk of consuming food or drinks sold by hawkers, are helpless when their children, tempted by the colorful snacks and beverages on offer at or near their eschools, do so.
        The best they can do is tell their children not to buy colorful snacks and beverages, but children's other favorite snacks like 'mie bakso' (meatball and noodle soup), crackers and fried tofu might also contain hazardous substances.

TREE PLANTING GOOD BUT PROTECTING REMAINING FORESTS BETTER by Fardah

     Jakarta, Jan. 11 , 2010 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has been busy launching tree planting programs over the past few years, while environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and WALHI have been actively promoting a logging moratorium in Indonesia's remaining forests.

        Indonesia has the third largest tropical rain forest area in the world after Brazil and Congo. The country's forests are habitats to various flora and fauna species including rare ones such as orangutans, komodo dragons and Sumatran tigers.