ASEAN SEEKING FOOD SECURITY AMID SURGE IN GLOBAL PRICES by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 7, 2011 (ANTARA) - The current global food and energy price hikes have concerned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as this year`s ASEAN Chair, calling for clear and concrete cooperation among ASEAN member countries to secure food supplies for their peoples.
      "Food security will become a great challenge for ASEAN," the Indonesian head of state said in his opening speech at the 18th ASEAN Summit being held in Jakarta, May 7-8, 2011.

ASEAN TO SHARE EXPERIENCES IN DEALING WITH PIRACY by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 5, 2011 (ANTARA) - Three out of ASEAN`s member countries have become victims of Somali pirates so far, therefore it is considered important to discuss the piracy issue in the upcoming 18th ASEAN Summit.
     Moreover, the three states - Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore - also are knowledgeable about piracy because it used to be rampant in their own backyard - the Malacca Strait.

TRUST BUILDING NEEDED TO SOLVE THAI-CAMBODIAN BORDER DISPUTE by Fardah

      Jakarta, May 4, 2011 (ANTARA) - The border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia has escalated over the last couple of months and no concrete solution is in sight so far despite mediation efforts by Indonesia as the current ASEAN Chair.
       The last time Cambodia and Thailand sit together with Indonesia as the facilitator was in the Joint Border Committee(JBC) Meeting in Bogor, West Java, on April 7-8, 2011, but, the meeting did not yield any significant result.
      The matter was so complexed that it could not be solved in just one meeting, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in Bogor, following the meeting on April 8.

OSAMA'S KILLING PROMPTS SECURITY ALERT IN INDONESIA by Fardah

      Jakarta, May 3, 2011 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has decided to step up security measures following the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by US commandos as it feared retaliation by extremists.
       Upon hearing the news of Osama`s death, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed Indonesia`s commitment to fighting terrorism jointly with the rest of the world.

MEDIA, SECURITY PERSONNEL, HOSPITAL READY FOR ASEAN SUMMIT by Fardah

      Jakarta, May 2, 2011 (ANTARA) - The organizing committee of the upcoming 18th ASEAN Summit and its preliminary meetings which will take place in Jakarta May 4-8 has made sure that security personnel, hospital and other supporting facilities are ready for the ASEAN delegates.
      "All personnel, venues and locations for the Summit and meetings have reached the final preparations and are confirmed ready for the Summit of the Southeast Asian nations," Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, as the person in charge of the 18th ASEAN Summit organizing committee said at his office here Monday (May 2) after chairing a meeting on the preparations of the 18th ASEAN Summit.

WORKERS OBSERVE MAY DAY PEACEFULLY, CALL FOR WELFARE IMPROVEMENT by Fardah

       Jakarta, May 1, 2011 (ANTARA) - Thousands of workers celebrated Labor Day or May Day on May 1 in a number of cities peacefully, Sunday, and chanted calls for their welfare improvement, revocation of outsourcing contract system, and social insurance for laborers.
      May Day stems from ancient customs associated with the celebration of spring. It is also a national holiday for workers in many countries around the world.