INDONESIA TO USE ELECTRONIC ID CARDS by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 27, 2011 (ANTARA) - As of 2011, the Indonesian government will start issuing electronic identification (e-ID) cards or locally called E-KTP for around 67 million people living in 187 districts/cities, out of a total of 178 eligible million throughout the country.
      "The remaining 105 million in 300 districts/cities (will have e-ID cards) in 2012," Dr Hammam Riza, head of the communications and information technology center of the Technology Application and Study Agency (BPPT), said here recently.

RI VOICES NAM'S CONCERN ABOUT NUCLEAR WEAPONS THREAT By Fardah

      Jakarta, June 25, 2011 (ANTARA) - As the Coordinator of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)`s Working Group on Disarmament, Indonesia has been very active in voicing the grouping`s concern about the threat of nuclear weapon to humanity.
      At the General Debate of the 2008 United Nations Disarmament Commission New York, in April 2008, Dr. Marty M. Natalegawa, who was at that time Indonesia`s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on behalf of NAM, stressed that progress in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation in all its aspects is essential to the strengthening of international peace and security.

TKI DISPATCH MORATORIUM HAILED, GOVT TO FORM TASK FORCE by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 23, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government`s decision to halt the sending of Indonesian migrant workers to Saudi Arabia was hailed by various parties, and more than that a special task force is set up to help troubled TKIs overseas.
      Former vice president Jusuf Kalla, noted international law Hikmahanto Juwana, and House Speaker Marzuki Alie have supported and appreciated the government for the moratorium which comes into effect on August 1, 2011.

GOVT FINALLY STOPS MIGRANT WORKERS DISPATCH TO S ARABIA by Fardah

       Jakarta, June 22, 2011 (ANTARA) - The government has finally decided to impose a moratorium on the dispatch of migrant workers (TKI) to Saudi Arabia after being pressured by various parties following tragic ordeals suffered by several TKIs in the Middle Eastern kingdom.
      "After considering and studying the impact of total tightening for the past three months the Indonesian government decided to declare a moratorium on the dispatch of workers to Saudi Arabia," Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said here on Wednesday.

RI REACTS STRONGLY TO SAUDIS BEHEADING MIGRANT WORKER by Fardah

      Jakarta, June 20, 2011 (ANTARA) - The beheading of Ruyati binti Satubi, an Indonesian female migrant worker, in Saudi Arabia has prompted the government to protest the action by recalling its ambassador to the Middle Eastern kingdom.
       "We will recall Ambassador Gatot Abudullah Mansyur from Riyadh, and keep the ambassadorial post in Saudi Arabia vacant until the issue has been cleared up, and the conditions of TKIs placed there are improved. Ambassador Gatot is expected to return home today," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said at a hearing with the House of Representatives` Commission I at the Parliament Building here Monday.

BOROBUDUR TEMPLE TO WELCOME FAMOUS HOLLYWOOD ACTOR By Fardah

      Jakarta, June 19, 2011 (ANTARA) - Famous Hollywood actor Richard Gere will visit Borobudur and Prambanan temples on June 25-27, 2011, and expected to help promote Indonesian tourism internationally.
       "Gere has a lot of fans in Asia, the United States and Europe, so his visit hopefully will help promote Borobudur and Prambanan temples world-wide," Sapta Nirwandar, tourism and culture ministry`s director general of marketing, said at a press conference here last weekend.