PLANNED DISTRIBUTION OF FREE CONDOMS DRAWS CRITICISM by Fardah

Jakarta, June 29, 2012 (ANTARA) - A plan to distribute free condoms to fight HIV/AIDS by the health ministry has been criticized by a number of parties, including Muslim scholars and some legislators.

Recently, hundreds of members of Muslim mass organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) staged a rally protesting the new condom policy, which is alleged to encourage adultery.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS BEING CONSIDERED FOR POST-2015 MDGs by Fardah

         Jakarta, June 25, 2012 (ANTARA) - As the 2015 deadline for the current Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, the United Nations (UN) is gearing up for higher targets for the next 20 years by appointing a small high-level team to handle the task.

        UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has asked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, British Prime Minister David Cameron, and Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to co-chair a team called "High Level Panel of Eminent Persons" to work on the post-2015 MDG framework.

Sail Morotai To Revive WW II General Mac Arthur Memories by Fardah

   Jakarta, June 23, 2012 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is expected to attend the main ceremony at the international maritime event Sail Morotai on Morotai Island, North Maluku Province, on September 15, 2012.

        The date was picked not by accident, as it has historical significance.  On 15 September, 1944, Allied Forces from the USA and Australia, under the leadership of US Supreme Commander for the West Pacific, General Douglas MacArthur, landed on Morotai's southwest corner, where the Japanese had constructed an airstrip, but later abandoned it in favor of the island of Halmahera to the south.

GOVT URGED TO TIGHTEN GUN CONTROL TO CURB ARMED-RELATED VIOLENCE by Fardah

 Jakarta, June 21 (ANTARA) - Armed robberies and shooting incidents have been reported in Jakarta and other provinces, particularly in Papua and Aceh, over the past few months and this has prompted the security authorities to intensify investigations and street patrols. 

From January to June 2012, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, known as Metro Jaya, reported 32 armed robberies of mini-markets operating 24 hours in the capital city alone.

RHINO INTERNATIONAL YEAR EXPECTED TO BOOST GLOBAL COOPERATION by Fardah

Jakarta, June 20, 2012 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the leader of one of the world`s most diverse countries, is scheduled to attend the Rio+20 (United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development), in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will be held from June 20-22.

The Rio+20 conference will mark the 20th anniversary of the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), which was held in Rio de Janeiro, and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

GOVT TRYING TO "BRING PAPUA IN HARMONY WITH UNITARY STATE OF INDONESIA" by Fardah

Jakarta, June 19, 2012 (ANTARA) - The situation in Jayapura city, in particular, and Papua Province, in general, seems to be peaceful, after being hit by random shooting incidents committed by unknown people.
Police personnel and military troops, however, are still stationed at several spots in Jayapura.

The security situation was quite worrying last weekend following the death of Mako Tabuni, one of the coordinators of the National Committee for West Papua. Some mourners went on a crime spree, burning shops, cars and other motor vehicles, as well as torturing people in Waena, Jayapura.