Woman caught keeping meth in underwear

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sat, 01/30/2010 11:08 PM

Customs officers in Dumai, Riau arrested on Saturday a woman who was caught carrying 175 grams of meth in her underpants.

Spokesman for the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Evi Suhartantyo, told Antara news agency the meth was wrapped in seven packages, each containing 25 grams. Evi added two of the packages were kept in her bra.

The suspect, identified by her initials as MBS, was caught at a ferry terminal in Dumai.

The arrest came just a week after customs officers in Bali caught a French national for carrying heroin at the Ngurah Rai airport. The Frenchman, identified as FB, was arriving from Bangkok.

Also on Jan. 23, customs officers in Binjai, North Sumatra, raided an illegal liquor plant and confiscated 251 boxes containing 6,210 bottles of liquor of various fake brands.

Police in Medan arrest 26 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan

Antara News, Saturday, January 30, 2010 22:53 WIB

Medan (ANTARA News) - Police in Medan, North Sumatra, on Saturday arrested 26 illegal immigrants from Afghanistan.

The immigrants were arrested in Pasar III area on Jalan Datuk Kabu, Percut Sei Tuan, Deli Serdang, according to a source.

The immigrants were undergoing questioning at the police station in Medan.

One of them, Zaki, said they arrived in Medan on Saturday in the waters he did not know its name.

He said they fled Afghanistan because they could no longer stand the situation there. They had chosen Indonesia because they considered it being actively involved in international peace processes.

"Indonesia is also considered a safe country," he said.

Bill Gates promises $10 billion for vaccines

Reuters, DAVOS, Switzerland, Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:55pm EST

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Bill and Melinda Gates said on Friday they would spend $10 billion over the next decade to develop and deliver vaccines, an increased commitment that reflects progress in the pipeline of products for immunizing children in the developing world.

Over the past 10 years, the Microsoft co-founder's charity has committed $4.5 billion to vaccines and has been instrumental in establishing the GAVI alliance, a public-private partnership that channels money for vaccines in poor countries.

By increasing immunization coverage in developing countries to 90 percent, it should be possible to prevent the deaths of 7.6 million children under five between 2010 and 2019, Gates told reporters at the World Economic Forum.

Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization described Gates' commitment to vaccines as "unprecedented" and called on governments around the world and the private sector to match it with "unprecedented action."

Vaccination rates have already climbed remarkably in recent years, with even a poor African country like Malawi now boasting coverage rates similar to those in many Western cities.

"Over the last 10 years, the success of both increased vaccine coverage and getting new vaccines out has been phenomenal," Gates said.

More cash is now needed to make the most of new vaccines becoming available, including ones against severe diarrhea and pneumococcal disease from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Pfizer.

"We can take immunization to the next level, with the expanded uptake of new vaccines against major killers such as pneumonia and rotavirus diarrhea," Chan said in a statement.

She said an extra two million deaths in children under five could be prevented by 2015 by widespread use of new vaccines and a 10 percent increase in global immunization coverage.

Further off, Glaxo is also in the final phase of testing a vaccine against malaria that Gates said could slash deaths from the mosquito-borne disease.

Gates warned against the risk of governments diverting foreign aid funding for health toward climate change, arguing that health should stay a top priority -- not least because better health leads to a lower birth rate.

Curbing the globe's population growth is critical for tackling global warming.

(Reporting by Ben Hirschler, additional reporting by Kate Kelland, editing by Jon Boyle)

Five-day limit for post-sex pill

BBC News

The contraceptive is available only on prescription

A recently licensed type of emergency contraception may offer women protection from pregnancy even when taken five days after sex.

Scottish researchers found that ulipristal acetate worked well after the three-day limit of the most commonly used drug, levonorgestrel.

At present ulipristal - unlike levonorgestrel - is only available with a prescription.

The British Pregnancy Advisory Service welcomed the study.

Emergency contraception uses hormones to either prevent the release of an egg by the ovary in the hours after sex, or stop it implanting into the the womb.

Levonorgestrel is available from pharmacies, either with a prescription, or sold directly to over-16s.

A study by specialists working for NHS Lothian tested the effectiveness of levonorgestrel and ulipristal (which was licensed for use last year) using a sample of more than 1,600 women from the UK, Ireland and the USA.

A total of 2.6% of the levonorgestrel group became pregnant despite taking the drug, compared with 1.8% in the ulipristal group.

In a much smaller group of women who received emergency contraception more than three days after sex, there were no pregnancies among women who had taken ulipristal compared with three pregnancies among those taking levonorgestrel.

The levels of side effects were roughly the same in both two drugs.

'Time window'

However, researchers said that the newer drug cannot be sold 'over-the-counter' at pharmacies because it did not yet have the established safety record of levonorgestrel.

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service described the new type of drug as "exciting news".

She said: "It offers a longer time window for use than the traditional, emergency contraception pill.

"Different hormones are involved to the ones traditionally used in contraception, so it may be that these will prove to have other contraceptive uses in future.

"However, accessibility is key to the uptake of any time-sensitive medication and since this pill is not currently available over-the-counter and is significantly more expensive to buy than the traditional 'morning after pill', it may be that many women who could benefit from it are not able to access it."

Pregnant Woman Found Dead at Jakarta's Dunia Fantasi

Jakarta Globe, January 29, 2010

The bodies of a woman and her newborn baby have been found in a gutter at parking area at Dunia Fantasi amusement park in Ancol, North Jakarta, police said on Friday.

Pademangan Police Chief Comsr. Wawan said the woman was 155 cm tall and wore a dark-colored top, pants and an Islamic head scarf. She had a white gold bracelet on her left wrist. She was found by a cleaning staff at 7 a.m.

“She was between 20 and 30 years old. She had been dead for two days,” said Wawan.

“We have checked; her wrist, head, face, arms and legs are all clean. There are no signs of abuse. We haven't been able to make a preliminary conclusion as to the cause of death,” he said.

Police believe the woman was seven months pregnant. "The fetus was fully formed, it had already become a baby,” Wawan said. The baby was a girl, he added, and the umbilical cord was still attached.

The police encourge anyone missing a pregnant friend or relative to report to the Pademangan police or Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

JG

Related Article:

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Rp. 100 million in Government Funds to Operate 300 Community Health Centers

Tempo Interactive, Friday, 29 January, 2010 | 20:33 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Yogyakarta:The Health Department will test the Health Operation Aid (BOK) program for 300 community health centers (puskesmas) in seven regencies throughout Indonesia this year. Every community health center will get a budget of Rp. 100 million/year out of a total budget of Rp. 30 billion.

“The test will be conducted in seven regions, which are Java-Bali, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku, Nusa Tenggara and Papua,” said Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih at the dialogue on Health Development Priorities for 2010-2014 in Kepatihan on Friday,.

Present at the event were State Minister for National Development Planning/Chairperson of the National Development Planning, Armida S. Alisjahbana, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X and Yogyakarta Mayor Herry Zudianto.

The BOK distribution, according to Endang, is aimed at improving the puskesmas’ performance, both in promoting and preventing health issues. The service includes family planning, nutrition and funding for village health posts, which has become community-based health initiatives.

“BOK is intended to support the Minimum Standard Services (SPM) in the process of speeding up the Millenium Development Goal’s target,” said Endang.

Un-tested puskesmas will still be allocated a Rp. 10 million budget per year. Today, there are 8200 puskesmas in all of Indonesia. She plans to allocate Rp. 10 million every month for 8500 puskesmas by 2011.

Besides the BOK distribution, the Heath Department will also increase the government-sponsored community health insurance (Jamkesmas) free membership to the poor.

The Health Department’s public communication chief, Lily Sulistyowati said that the Jamkesmas membership was one of the Health Department ‘s 100 days priority program and will be extended to three new groups, which are the poor victims of disasters, prison inmates and poor people living in public institutions.

‘In order provide health services to those three groups, an agreement has been signed between the Health Minister, the Justice and Rights Minister and the Social Welfare Minister,” said Lily.

BERNADA RURIT

North Jakarta Man Said to be Alive 2 Years After Burial

Jakarta Globe, January 29, 2010

Authorities are puzzling over the case of a mentally impaired boy in North Jakarta who is said to have reappeared after being buried two years ago.

Bunyamin, 70, said his son, Salim, died in September 2008 due to acute lung disease. Salim, 18, was buried at Budi Darma Cemetery in Cakung, North Jakarta. Friends and family were present at the funeral.

But Salim allegedly came to his cousin Atin's house, which is near their own, on Wednesday night. Atin took the boy to see his family.

“He came around 11 p.m. on Wednesday night with Atin. I was so shocked. Salim hugged me and called me “Bapak.” He cried in my arms,” Bunyamin told Kompas.com on Thursday.

Bunyamin was convinced that the boy was his son.

“His face hasn't changed. I remembered the scar on his arm but he looks shorter than he was two years ago,” said Bunyamin.

His wife, Kasinah, 60, also believed that their son had come back from death.

“This is my son. He's still the same as I remember. He called me mother last night,” said Kasinah.

According to the family, Salim was mentally challenged from a young age. He could not speak very well and often used sign language.

News of the puzzling event spread fast, and crowds of curious people have come to Bunyamin's house.

On Thursday evening, Tanjung Priok Police came to Bunyamin's house and took Salim to the police station for identification.

It is not unknown for people to be declared dead prematurely. Earlier this month a Chinese man's family found him still alive in his coffin at a mortuary. Authorities theorized the man's heart had stopped beating at the scene of his motorcycle crash but started beating again after he was declared dead.

Related Article:

Mystery of ‘Back From the Grave’ Jakarta Man Solved

Bird flu kills over one thousand chickens in East Lampung

Antara News, Friday, January 29, 2010 13:12 WIB

Sukadana, Lampung Province (ANTARA News) - Bird flu (Avian Influenza or the H5N1) virus has stricken three sub districts in East Lampung District, killing at least 1,176 chickens.

"In the current rainy season, chickens are prone to various diseases, including bird flu," Dewanto, head of the East Lampung district animal health unit, said here on Friday.

Some 1,176 chickens had died in seven villages since early January 2010, while in 2009 there had been only 708 dead chickens in 11 villages.

The affected villages include Sukadana, Purbolinggo, and Marga Tiga, East Lampung.

Coordinating Department for People’s Welfare to Establish SMS Center

Tempo Interactive, Thursday, 28 January, 2010 | 15:08 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Coordinating Department for People’s Welfare will establish an SMS center.

The Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Agung Laksono said that the SMS Center will receive people’s complaints, starting from problems relating to the distribution of rice for the poor, plague, natural disaster up to human trading.

“In the future, foreign aid would no longer be the one coming earlier during disasters,” Agung said in Jakarta yesterday.

Therefore, he said, government performance in handling people’s problem will be more swift and responsive.

”The SMS center should operate this month,” he said.

FEBRIYAN

Audio slide show: Jakarta's dark side

The Jakarta Post, by Inga Ting and Moch N. Kurniawan, Tue, 01/26/2010 8:40 PM

View Audio slide show

Every year, 300,000 newcomers pour into Jakarta in search of new opportunities. Most will end up in one of the cities many slums. Although they are among the nation's poorest, these unwanted residents pay more than the rich for basic necessities like clean water, sanitation and solid waste removal.

This is the hidden reality of Asia's rapid industrialisation, which has condemned more than 28 million Indonesians - including around one third of Jakarta's 13 million residents - to life in the slums.

In East Jakarta, 70,000 makeshift shelters housing more than 200,000 people huddle on the banks of the Ciliwung River. Year after year these residents battle not only poverty, malnutrition and disease, but also the annual floods of one of the city's most polluted rivers.

Indonesian Sought for Allegedly Killing Fellow Indonesian in Malaysia

Jakarta Globe

An Indonesian worker was brutally murdered in Selangor, Malaysia on Tuesday in what police believe was a personal conflict with a fellow Indonesian.

Mohammad Said’s brother found him dead with his throat cut at a construction site in Bandar Sri Damansara, Selangor, according to Malaysia’s Berita Harian newspaper.

Both Said and his brother, Tamaji Ali, worked at the construction site. According to Ali, his brother did not come home after working on Monday. Upon arriving at work on Tuesday morning, Ali saw traces of blood he thought were from an animal. Instead, the blood led him to his brother’s body.

Police are looking for the victim’s friend, another Indonesian worker, who has been missing since Monday. Petaling Jaya Police Chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said the murder was believed to be motivated by a personal conflict. The suspect is thought to be hiding nearby. He cannot flee Malaysia because police have confiscated his passport from his room, the chief said.

Tainted milk scandal resurfaces in China

BBC News

Timeline: China milk scandal

Melamine-tainted milk products have been found on sale in China, more than a year after thousands of children became ill in a huge safety scandal.

Products made by three different firms were found to contain melamine and have now been removed from supermarkets in Guizhou province, officials say.

Melamine is an industrial chemical that can be added to watered-down milk to increase its protein content.

Six children died and some 300,000 became ill from tainted milk in 2008.

If ingested in sufficient quantities, melamine can cause kidney failure and kidney stones.

The companies involved in the latest recall blamed the contamination on milk powder they had bought as a raw material to add to their products, state media reported.

An official involved in the 2008 investigation told China Daily the powder may been part of that recalled batch which was still circulating on the market.

"There were still some leftovers in the dealers' hands that nobody cared about," said Wang Dingmian, former chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Dairy Association.

Mr Wang said the government's regulation of milk products was too weak and that companies should be required to test every batch they used.

China says 21 people have been convicted over the 2008 scandal, including milk producers, traders and executives of the Sanlu milk company.

In November 2009, two people were executed for making and selling hundreds of tonnes of melamine-tainted milk products.

US envoy praises Indonesia for sending aid to Haiti

Antara News, Monday, January 25, 2010 13:28 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron R. Hume has praised the Indonesian government for sending aid to earthquake-devastated Haiti.

"Yet this week Indonesia is making generous contributions to the people of Haiti in their greatest need. Indonesia`s extended hand is not a mere gesture. It is a significant act of leadership," Ambassador Cameron said in his statement published on the official website of the US embassy in Jakarta, Monday.

The aid for Haiti, in many ways, was similar to Indonesia`s pledge to fight climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, a pledge that triggered positive promises from other governments, he said.

"Indonesia is playing a key role in creating a world community ready to respond to the challenges of the 21st century," he said.

Fate and geography make Indonesia uniquely vulnerable to natural disasters. The Aceh tsunami of five years ago made an indelible impression on the entire world, but other events as recent as last year`s earthquakes in western Java and Padang reminded the people of Indonesia`s vulnerability, Hume said.

"First, why is Haiti important? Despite its favorable location in the Caribbean, Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world," Hume said.

Its people suffer from disease, malnutrition, wretched public services, and lack of economic opportunity. But they also have a proud history of being the second country to fight for and win their independence from colonialism, and they have a rich artistic culture. But for the past century development has passed Haiti by. There must be a way to turn around that decline, according to the US ambassador.

"Second, what does Indonesia have to offer? Quite a lot that is in greatest need, especially skill and experience: 30 doctors with a field hospital and medicine, 25 communication workers, 10 electricians, plus supplies and food. Indonesia knows how to respond to a natural disaster, and it knows that human solidarity counts. Anyone who has watched the extensive television reports from Haiti would know that Indonesia will be helping to meet Haiti`s most urgent needs," he stated.

"Third, why can`t others meet these needs? My own country, like others, has been quick to dispatch rescue workers, medical teams, and supplies - but we know that acting alone cannot be adequate. Isn`t it likely that the resourceful Indonesian who brought emergency cell phone service back to Padang might have just the skills most needed?," he said

The US ambassador said that Haiti lacked basic infrastructure even before the earthquake.

The roads, port, electricity grid, water and sanitation service, and communications are broken or destroyed by the earthquake.

"Little wonder that delivering assistance the last meter to a victim is so hard," he said.

The United Nations, including its Brazilian-led peace-keeping force, is at the center of international efforts to help Haiti. The organization has its own reasons to grieve the loss of so many able and dedicated staff.

Hedi Annabi, the Secretary-General`s special representative, died in the rubble of the UN headquarters last week.

"He was a remarkable man -- calm in crises, straightforward in discussions, dedicated to doing the good he could, able to appreciate irony, but never cynical. Others now need to step forward," Hume said.

According to the envoy, Indonesians should be proud of their government`s actions to help Haiti.

"Although Haiti is a small, poor country on the other side of the world, our future depends on leadership that brings together global responses to what might appear as local needs. Indonesia is playing its part to provide that kind of leadership, both on the ground in Haiti and at the conference tables of the climate change talks, the G-20, and elsewhere. Indonesia`s leadership makes it an important partner for the United States," he said.

`Men anpil, chay pa lou` is a Haitian proverb which means, with many hands, the burden is light. "Indonesia is lending an impressive hand to the Haitian relief effort," he added.

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South Sulawesi Girl With Maggots Needs Six Months to Recover

Jakarta Globe, January 24, 2010

Doctors said over the weekend that 12-year-old Ummi Darmiati who is suffering from an infestation of maggots under her skin would need six months of intensive treatment to recover from the strange disease.

“Our medical team is familiar with cases like Ummi’s, and the condition is curable. But the situation is very critical as scores of worms have infested many parts of her body, almost reaching her head, so she needs intensive treatment,” said Khalid Saleh, chief of the medical team at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

He said the sixth-grader’s strange disease developed two years ago, when wounds on her armpits, neck, and chest were treated with traditional medicine and subsequently became infected.

The wounds festered, attracting flies which laid eggs, resulting in maggots inside the girl’s body.

“The worms entered her body, causing the disease to become stranger and worse,” Khalid said.

He added Ummi had undergone surgery to remove the maggots and that her condition was improving after seven days of treatment.

“She still requires further examination at our lab, because our hospital ’s medical team has diagnosed her with glandular tuberculosis,” Khalid said.

At Mamuju Hospital, where Ummi was initially admitted, she underwent an intensive medical exam, including blood tests.

Another series of similar tests will be conducted at Wahidin Sudirohusodo Hospital. If Ummi is confirmed to have glandular tuberculosis the team will return her to Mamuju Hospital.

“If [we] confirm Ummi is suffering from glandular tuberculosis we will administer additional medical treatment to hasten her recovery,” Khalid said.

Meanwhile, help for Ummi continues to flow in from sympathizers. Several state officials and politicians from Mamuju district paid visits to comfort and encourage the girl on Sunday.

On Friday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the Health Ministry and the local health agency in Mamuju to do their best to help her.

Antara

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Aceh Hopes Modern Hospital Will Prevent Medical Tourism Among Indonesians

Jakarta Globe, Nurdin Hasan, January 24, 2010

German Ambassador to Indonesia Norbert Baas visiting a ward for premature babies at Zainoel Abidin Hospital in Banda Aceh. The German-aided hospital cost Rp 418 billion and is meant to provide top-of-the-line care for Acehnese. It was officially inaugurated on Saturday. (JG Photo/Suparta)

Banda Aceh. Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf and German Ambassador to Indonesia Norbert Baas officially inaugurated on Saturday what they said was the “most advanced hospital in the country.”

Zainoel Abidin State Hospital (RSUZA), which is equipped with several state-of-the-art medical instruments, including a CT Scan, MRI machine and radio-diagnostic devices, was rebuilt with aid from the German government. The facility has been receiving patients since last August.

“We say that RSUZA is the most advanced hospital in Indonesia, and its facilities can match prominent hospitals in Penang and Singapore,” Irwandi Yusuf said during the inauguration ceremony

He added that he hoped the new hospital would put an end to the practice of thousands of Acehnese going to Penang, Malaysia, or Singapore each month for medical treatment.

“Including myself, who has to opt for Singapore as a place to have medical treatment because the facilities at the neighboring country’s hospitals are far more advanced than what we have had in Banda Aceh,” the governor said. “But, considering the development, I am certain that the equipment we have now can rival hospitals abroad.”

He also encouraged the staff to prove to the public that the hospital personnel could master the hospital’s advanced machines. “A strong building and advanced equipment are not enough to make RSUZA the best hospital in terms of services for the people of Aceh,” he said.

Baas said that RSUZA was equipped with advanced infrastructure and utilized eco-friendly integrated waste management technology.

“The employees of RSUZA have been intensively trained to ensure the patients and staff can reap maximum benefits from its new facilities and equipment,” he said, adding that the hospital was also designed to weather flooding and earthquakes.

The hospital’s reconstruction was part of German aid for Indonesia, which was augmented after the 2004 tsunami in Aceh that killed 170,000 people, Baas said. During five years of reconstruction in the region, the German government has disbursed a total of 178 million euros ($251.6 million).

The development of the two-story hospital, which sits on 42,946 square meters of land, started in March 2006, funded by a 31 million euro grant from the German government through state-owned bank KfW. The German Agency for Technical Cooperation provided an additional 10.2 million euros worth of technical assistance.

Uwe Ohls, KfW’s first senior vice president of for Asia and Europe, said that the bank would continue to guide the hospital management for the next two years and would facilitate collaborations between the hospital and several universities in Germany for paramedic training courses.

The director of the hospital, Taufik Mahdi, said the facility had 350 beds, and would add 150 more this year. Since the hospital opened, an average of 600 people a day have come to receive medical treatment.

Police arrest 6 following death of RI maid in Malaysia

The Jakarta Post | Sun, 01/24/2010 6:22 PM

The Malaysian police have arrested six people for allegedly torturing an Indonesian housemaid to death on Thursday night.

Antara state news agency reported that housemaid Nurul Aida had died on her way to the Indonesian Embassy to Malaysia.

The officers had detained Nurul's employers, Krishnan and Lechumi. They had also implicated Krishnan’s child and another three Malaysian residents in the case.

“The police suspect torture was the major cause of the maid’s death …. They will charge them with murder,” embassy official Widyarka Ryananta said in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

Widyarka said the embassy had informed Nurul’s family (in North Sumatra) of the death.

“We will bring the body to her family after we receive an official permit from the police,” Widyarka said. (ewd)

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Down Syndrome Can’t Stop Jakarta Golfer From Winning on the Green

Jakarta Globe, Dessy Sagita, January 24, 2010

Golfer Michael Rosihan Yacub, left, receiving an award from Museum
of Records chairman Jaya Suprana. (JG Photo/Dessy Sagita)

The Indonesian Museum of Records said on Sunday that the award given to a young Jakarta resident as the only registered golfer in Asia living with Down syndrome was an effort to erase discrimination against people living with the condition.

“Michael has inspired many people. He’s living with Down syndrome but managed to score many achievements,” said museum founder Jaya Suprana, refering to 20-year-old Michael Rosihan Yacub, who received the award on Sunday.

Aryanti Yacub, Michael’s mother and the chairwoman of the Indonesian Down Syndrome Association (ISDI), said there were many misconceptions about Down syndrome due to poor public awareness of the condition.

“People need to know that children living with Down syndrome are not idiots or imbeciles. They have potential, and can learn,” she said.

Aryanti said a doctor diagnosed Michael with Down syndrome early in his life and declared that his IQ was only 35. However, at the age of 2, Michael started to show his interest in sport activities especially golf.

“His father and his siblings are all golf lovers, so he was excited to try it,” she said. At a charity golf event in Singapore in 2006, he finished fifth among 140 entrants.

Aryanti said she hoped the award would help spread awareness that people with the condition could lead full lives. In 2001, the Health Ministry reported that there were more than 300,000 Indonesians living with Down syndrome, about 15 percent of all patients worldwide.

Television presenter and Down syndrome advocate Soraya Haque said many Indonesians still believed children were born with the condition because their parents did something wrong.

“They think having children with Down syndrome has to do with the parent’s past,” she said, adding that the cause remained a mystery to doctors.

Explosion not affects refinery plant: Pertamina

Alfian, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Sun, 01/24/2010 2:55 PM

State oil and gas company PT Pertamina confirmed an explosion at its facility in Cilacap refinery plant in Central Java on Sunday, but said it did not affect its production.

Pertamina spokesman Basuki Trikora Putra said the explosion resulting from a flash occurred at a furnish cylinder of a lubricant oil cooler unit, which is located far from the oil refinery facility.

“The main refinery facility is safe and production is unaffected by the accident,” Basuki said.

Public relations head of Pertamina’s Cilacap plant Kurdi Susanto told Antara two employees were admitted to the hospital following the explosion. “They are conscious but still in a state of shock,” Kurdi said.

Earlier in the day, Cilacap residents were shocked by the explosion which they said caused a tremor.

The Cilacap refinery plant supplies 60 percent of fuel consumption in Java.

Indonesian Workers Deliver Relief Aid but Unable to Enter Haiti

Jakarta Globe, Nurfika Osman, January 22, 2010

A team of Indonesian medical workers, search-and-rescue experts and engineers sent to help the relief effort in quake-devastated Haiti has been turned away by the United Nations.

Syamsul Ma’arif, head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), told the Jakarta Globe on Friday that the team, which had been waiting in neighboring Dominican Republic for approval to enter Haiti, had been forced to return to Indonesia after permission was denied to land its chartered airplane in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince.

“The humanitarian personnel could not enter Port-au-Prince because they already had enough medical staff and paramedics,” he said. “The United Nations, which is organizing the distribution of the relief aid, said they had enough personnel to help the earthquake victims.”

Syamsul said a field hospital that the team had brought from Indonesia was also rejected by the UN on the grounds that there was an oversupply.

The humanitarian team, which arrived in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, handed over its 50 tons of aid — including three tons of medicine, five tons of dry rations, five tons of baby food, tents, blankets, an ambulance, truck and water purifiers — to the World Food Program instead of delivering it personally.

The Indonesian volunteers included 30 medical workers, a 10-member search-and-rescue team, 10 electrical engineers and journalists.

However, Teuku Faizasyah, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, denied that the team had been “rejected.”

“The team decided not to proceed to Haiti in view of the unavailability of transportation from the Dominican Republic to Haiti,” he said. “But the team has ensured, with the help of the WFP, that the relief aid will be safely transferred to Haiti.”

Although he did not know when the aid would arrive, Teuku said Indonesian representatives would monitor its distribution.

Of the five Indonesian nationals stranded in Haiti after the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake, Teuku said the ministry was still coordinating with local authorities to arrange their repatriation.

Yogi Satriyani and Endang Anggoro, both UN workers, will stay on to help the relief effort, he said. Ni Luh Made Juini, Ni Ketut Yasri Astiti and I Gusti Ayu Putu Sukerti, who were all working at a hotel in Port-au-Prince before the quake, are scheduled to be evacuated to Hawaii.

Police arrest 13 ATM scam suspects

Antara News, Saturday, January 23, 2010 20:36 WIB

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Special Team of the national and regional police has arrested 13 suspects in money theft through hacked banks` automatic teller machines (ATM), a police spokesman said.

National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang said here on Saturday that the suspects were arrested in Bali, Kalimantan and Medan (North Sumatra).

"They are arrested in Bali, Kalimantan and Medan. There were 13 suspects," he said.

Police also confiscated evidence such as duplicators, ATM cards, stickers, personal identification numbers (PIN), bank account numbers, computers and a certain amount of money.

Based on questioning it was known that the suspects had used four modus operandis in stealing bank customers` money at large banks` ATMs.

In their modus operandi, the suspects installed a skimming device into the ATM slots to copy information stored on the magnetic strip of customers` cards and a spy camera to detect their PINs.

Besides, they also designed something in the ATM slot so that it would cause customers` cards to be stuck when they were inserted. In this case, they put a fake hot-line sticker for customers` complaints that enable them to act as they were from banks` customer services and asked the customers identity and PINs.

The third modus operandi was that the suspects installed tweezers to squeeze customers` cards and placed bogus operators to help remove the squeezed cards stole the customers cards` information.

The fourth modus operandi was that the suspects copied information on the cards, including their PINs and then sold them Rp1 million for each data to ATM hackers.

Edward said that police had up to Saturday received reports money theft from 36 bank customers which were scattered in Bali, Kalimantan and Jakarta.

They were customers of national banks such as Bank Mandiri, Bank Central Asia (BCA), Bank BNI, Bank BII and BRI.

Previously, some bank customers in Bali have reported that their money has been stolen by ATM hackers. They installed ATM skimming devices and spy cameras to steal information stored on the magnetic strip of customers` ATM cards and duplicated them to rob customers accounts.

Bank Indonesia said that the potential losses in the ATM scams of at least four national banks could reach Rp5 billion.

Bali customs stops French tourist carrying heroin

Antara News, Saturday, January 23, 2010 20:32 WIB

Denpasar (ANTARA News) - Bali customs officers on Saturday detained a French tourist who had tried to bring in a quantity of heroin via Ngurah Rai airport.

The customs office investigation division`s chief, Bagus Endro Wibowo, confirms the arrest but could not yet give further details on the case.

Other sources said the suspect, identified as AS, was caught carrying 0.78 kilograms of heroin and two injection tools inside his pocket after he disembarked from a flight from Bangkok, Thailand.

Police Arrest 3 Over ATM Crimes

Jakarta Globe, Ardian Wibisono, Made Arya Kencana & Zaky Pawas, January 22, 2010

Authorities believe ATM card scammers are responsible for thefts from more than a dozen bank accounts in Bali. (SP Photo)

Denpasar. As the number of people reporting bank account thefts through ATMs in Bali rose to 30, Police said on Friday that they had arrested three people elsewhere on suspicion of ATM-related crimes.

Insp. Gen. Sutisna of the Bali Police said the bulk of victims who had reported their bank accounts had been broken into filed criminal complaints in Denpasar.

Fifteen of the victims were clients of BCA, the country’s largest private bank, nine were with Bank Permata, four were with BNI and one with Bank Mandiri, while a visiting Dutch national said Rp 13.5 million ($1,458) had been stolen from her account with ING Netherlands. ATMs from 14 banks are believed to have been tapped.

Dutch national Scheemaker Van Leem, who was vacationing in Bali with her husband, told Bali police in her report that she noticed the missing money after she used her ING Netherlands card at a Citibank ATM in Denpasar. ING Netherlands informed her later that funds had been withdrawn in Jakarta.

“I’ve only been in Bali, never to Jakarta,” Van Leen said in her report. She said that she now would probably have to postpone her return to the Netherlands on Feb. 4.

Gusti Ayu Ratih, another victim, said she had received a Rp 5 million transfer from an unfamiliar source on Jan. 16, 2010. But shortly afterward, Rp 6 million was withdrawn from her account in four separate installments.

The Bali Police are currently working on a thin clue: Closed circuit television images of a man withdrawing money from a BCA ATM in Denpasar, Sutisna said.

“On the CCTV recording we saw a suspicious person. It was hard to identify the person as he was wearing a helmet. We had to keep replaying [the video],” Sutisna said.

National Police Chief of Detectives Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi said that three men had been arrested for breaking into bank accounts using the ATMs of several banks. Two were caught in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, and one in Jakarta.

Ito declined to comment on the pair detained in Pontianak, but said the person caught in Jakarta, identified by his initial F, was arrested along with evidence in the form of Rp 23 million in cash, a computer, a skimming device and various ATM cards.

He said all chief detectives in the regions had been ordered to report any bank account theft case in their region.

BCA Vice President Director Jahja Setiaatmadja said the bank had temporarily blocked transactions with Australia and Canada following suspicions money was illegally withdrawn there.

“In 90 percent of the scams, it [the money] was withdrawn in Australia,” he said, adding that the other 10 percent was withdrawn in Canada.

The bank has said 200 customers had been robbed of some Rp 5 billion.

A police source revealed that in October, Jakarta Police had arrested eight people for skimming at BCA ATMs.

One, identified by his initials AR, used to study information technology in Australia. Currently on trial, AR is believed to be part of an international network headquartered in Canada.

The chief of Jakarta Police’s Violent Crimes Unit, and the Jakarta Police spokesman declined to comment, saying police had made a commitment to the bank, which did not wish to alarm its clients.

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ATM Skimming Device Identified, Say Bali Police

Australia Hit by Debit, Credit Card Skimming

‘Worm’ Girl, 12, Gets SBY’s Assistance

Jakarta Globe, Kinanti Pinta Karana & Camelia Pasandaran, January 22, 2010

The sad and strange plight of 12-year-old Ummi Darmiati, from Mamuju, West Sulawesi, who is suffering from an infestation of worms nesting and growing under her skin, has led the president himself to intervene.

On Friday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the Health Ministry and the local health agency in Mamuju to do their best to help her.

“I have spoken to the Health Minister to intervene and take immediate action so she can be properly treated and her disease can be identified. Therefore, our curiosity will be satisfied,” he said.

Ummi’s mother, Suryani, said the disease afflicted her daughter two years ago. She could not afford to take Ummi to the hospital and sought alternative treatment instead. At home, she would pick the worms off Ummi’s body but it did little to ease her pain or reduce the number of worms.

Five days ago her family took her to Mamuju General Hospital because her condition began to deteriorate. Doctors were baffled. They referred Ummi to a hospital in Makassar but her family declined. Doctors persuaded the family to keep her in the hospital because her condition was critical. The worms kept multiplying and emerging from her body.

The president said the girl’s condition has improved at the hospital. “But medication must be continued,” he said.

Concerning the family’s finances, Yudhoyono said that while they were covered by public health insurance, he had instructed the Health Ministry “that we’re going to cover the medical expenses.”

He also reminded the public to not rely solely on alternative treatments to cure disease.

“This is an important lesson. A lot of cases get worse because people keep the disease to themselves,” Yudhoyono said. “I am asking the Health Ministry and the municipal government to keep educating the public. If you’re sick, go to a government health institution or hospital. Alternative medication should be used only when conventional medical care fails.”

Related Article:

Young girl has worms inside her body

Indonesian Domestic Worker Dies In Kuala Lumpur

Jakarta Globe,

An Indonesian domestic worker has reportedly died in Kuala Lumpur after being found unconscious at her employer's house. Nurul Aida was discovered by friends, Indonesian embassy staffer Satya told Kompas.com on Friday.

“Nurul Aida was taken to the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur by three Malaysian women to be rescued because she was allegedly tortured by her employers,” said Satya.

Aida was taken to the embassy by her three friends with a car, he said. One of them, Too, told the embassy she came to the house to visit Aida and was shocked to find her unconscious on the floor. The maid's employers were allegedly eating at the dining table only a few meters away. Too asked the employers' permission to take Aida to the hospital. She says they agreed on condition that Too did not alert police.

Instead of going to the hospital, however, Too said she and her two friends took Aida to the embassy, which was a two-hour drive away. Aida allegedly died on the way.

“After they arrived at the embassy and met with the officers in charge, we asked Too to take Aida's body to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for autopsy. There's a police station at the hospital so they could file a police report,” he added.

Police said the maid was taken to the embassy rather than the hospital or a police station. Too and her friends were arrested by on allegations of murder.

Too is allegedly the person who helped Aida get the job as a domestic worker.

“Aida came to Malaysia as a tourist and she didn't have the working permit so Too often visited and checked up on her,” said Satya.

Aida's passport showed that she entered Malaysia on February 1, 2009 as a tourist. The passport was issued by Tanjung Balai Asahan, North Sumatera in January 2009.

“Nurul's tourist visa expired on March 28, 2009 so her status was illegal alien for overstaying,” said Satya.

The Indonesian embassy is still trying to contact Aida's family in North Sumatra.