FOREST FIRES RETURN IN RIAU PROVINCE by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 31, 2013 (Antara) - Following a prolonged rainy season, Indonesia is currently experiencing a very dry period that has again triggered forest and plantation fires in Riau Province.  
   The fires, set to clear land for farming and plantation areas, have produced haze that enveloped several cities in the province, particularly in Pekanbaru and Palawawan District.

         The Terra and Aqua satellite detected 297 hotspots from forest fires throughout the Riau Province, according to the Pekanbaru meteorological, climatology, and geophysics station (BMKG).

MANADO TO HOST WORLD CORAL REEF CONFERENCE IN 2014 by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 29, 2013 (Antara) - After successfully hosting the First World Ocean Conference (WOC) and Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) Summit on May 11-15, 2009, Manado plans to hold the first World Coral Reef Conference (WCRC) in May 2014.

        The Coral Triangle Initiative was established under the initiative of Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on the sidelines of the December 2007 Bali United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks.

AUSTRALIA SPARES NO MERCY FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS, CHARGES CRITICS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 24, 2013 (Antara) - In Indonesia, there is an old saying expressing one's love of country, regardless of problems.

     As the saying goes, "It is better to live in our own country, although there is rain of rocks, than in another country, even though it has rain of gold". 
   But, in countries which are in turmoil or embroiled in war, many people have no choice but to leave their countries  to live elsewhere, as they seek normal lives.

GOOD TRANSPORT SERVICES ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSFERS DURING IDUL FITRI by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 21, 2013 (Antara) - The Indonesian people's tradition of celebrating Idul Fitri in their hometowns with their extended families often creates chaotic traffic jams and claims numerous lives.  
    In 2012, the number of Idul Fitri travelers stood at 15,012,954. Data showed that 908 people were killed in traffic accidents, an increase of 17 percent from figures in 2011.  
    During this year's exodus, police recorded a total of 719 fatalities resulting from traffic accidents, a drop from 908 deaths in the previous year.

INDONESIANS SHOW SOLIDARITY WITH EGYPTIAN PEOPLE by Fardah

     Jakarta, Aug 18, 2013 (Antara) - Following the escalation of the political tension and the increase in the number of fatalities in Egypt, a number of Indonesian NGOs organized rallies to show their
solidarity with civilians who have become victims of mass killings.

         Since the bloody crackdown by the Egyptian military on civilian supporters of ousted President Muhammad Morsi on August 14, 2013, a number of rallies have been held in many parts of Indonesia such as in Jakarta, Palu (Central Sulawesi), Surabaya (East Java), Solo, Purwokerto (Central Java), Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan), Pekanbaru  (Riau), Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara), Batam and Tanjungpinang (Riau
Islands), Bogor (West Java), Palembang (South Sumatra), Medan (North Sumatra), and Banda Aceh (Aceh Darussalam).

Idul Fitri (News Focus) - IDUL FITRI EXODUS SEES FEWER TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS by Fardah

   Jakarta, Aug 12, 2013 (Antara) - The number of traffic accidents across Indonesia has decreased compared with the same time last year, despite the exodus of home-bound travelers for this year's Idul Fitri festivities.

        Some 15 million Indonesians headed for their hometowns by land, air, and sea to celebrate Idul Fitri (Eid Fitr) on August 8 with their extended families.

        To assist with managing traffic during the exodus, Indonesian Police launched Operation "Ketupat" on August 2, seven days ahead of Idul Fitri (D-7), and will run it until August 16, 2013 (D+7).

INDONESIA CONCERNED OVER SECURITY SITUATION IN EGYPT by Fardah

    Jakarta, Aug 3, 2013 (Antara) - Various parties in Indonesia - from the president to the ordinary people - have expressed their concern over "dangerous" situation in Egypt, which has so far been considered a very good friend of Indonesia.

         Most of them have prayed for the Egyptian people to be able to go through the transitional period toward democracy peacefully by reaching reconciliations and compromises to avoid further bloodshed.

         "As a good friend of Egypt, we should help the Egyptian people through prayers and our experiences," Muhammad Najib, a legislator, said in Jakarta on August 2, 2013.