ONE BY ONE, SUMATRAN TIGERS FALL INTO ILLEGAL TRAPS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 29, 2012 (ANTARA News) - Over the past two months, at least two Sumatran tigers (Pantera Tigris Sumatrae) have fallen into illegal traps in Bengkulu Province, Sumatra Island.

    One tiger died and another survived but lost five toes that  had to be amputated by veterinary  surgeons to save the animal's life.

The latest tragedy occurred in the Air Rami industrial forest, North Bengkulu District, last week.

Indonesian Goverment Provides Lawyers to Defend Migrant Workers Overseas by Fardah

   Jakarta, Feb 27, 2012 (ANTARA) - Taking care of around five million migrant workers overseas is not an easy task at all since the government has to spend so much energy, time and money on protecting them.

   But it is merely  the logical consequence of the government's inability to create  enough jobs for its people at home.

   Indonesia is one of the world's largest suppliers of migrant workers overseas. Among the largest recipients are  Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, and South Korea.

GOVT PLANNING HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ALL POOR PEOPLE By Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 23 (ANTARA) - Getting sick is a "luxury" that poor Indonesians cannot afford because medical services and medicines could cost them a fortune in this country.
      If a family member is ill, one`s admission to hospital, on average will cost over 100 percent of household income. And quite often the family is forced to sell a house to pay the medical bills. So, it`s no surprise if people are saying "If you are poor in this country, you cannot afford to fall sick."

NGOs PUSH MYANMAR TO REMAIN ON PATH TOWARDS DEMOCRACY by Fardah

      Jakarta, Feb 22, 2012 (ANTARA) - Myanmar has been entrusted by its fellow members in ASEAN to become the next ASEAN Chair in 2014 because the country had demonstrated some progress towards democracy.
       "Every ASEAN member state supports Myanmar`s chairmanship bid," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said prior to the 19th ASEAN Summit in Bali, November 2011.

HEART OF BORNEO DESIGNATED AS "WORLD'S LUNGS" by Fardah

     Jakarta, Feb 17, 2012 (ANTARA) - Kalimantan Island or also known as Borneo is host to a vast area of the country`s remaining tropical rainforests where various endemic flora and fauna can be found. 

      Rainforests in the Heart of Borneo also have a crucial function as the lungs of the world because they produce oxygen needed to help overcome the impact of climate change.

POOR TRANSPORTATION IN SPOTLIGHT FOLLOWING FATAL TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS by Fardah

      Jakarta, Feb 16 (ANTARA) - More than 1,500 fatal accidents have taken place in just a month and a half on Indonesia`s roads, raising serious concerns over road worthiness of vehicles and reckless driving.
      Police records show more than 1,547 fatal road accidents have occurred in the country between January and mid-February of this year.

INDONESIAN MUSLIMS DISCOURAGED FROM OBSERVING VALENTINE'S DAY by Fardah

     Jakarta, Feb 13 (ANTARA) - Saying that Valentine`s Day is not in accordance with Islamic teachings as embodied in shariah, ulema, Islamic scholars, in several Indonesian cities have warned Muslims not to celebrate the day.

    Ulema in Lebak, Banten Province, also expressed their opposition to Valentine`s Day celebrations, which fall every February 14.

RI CONCERNED OVER VIOLENCE IN SYRIA, CALLS FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTION by Fardah

    Jakarta, Feb 13, 2012 (ANTARA) - The anti-government protests in Syria  and the harsh responses by President Bashar Al-Assad's regime has reportedly killed over 6,000 people since March 2011.

    Last Saturday (Feb 11), AFP reported that Syrian armored vehicles moved against protest flashpoints and a general was gunned down in Damascus as the bloodshed showed no signs of abating and  even spilled over into Lebanon.