Ruslan Sangadji
The Jakarta Post /Palu
The population of a central Sulawesi icon,the striking black –and white maleo bird ( Macrocephalon maleo) is on the verge of extinction due to poaching, environmental workers say.
The head of Lore Lindu National Park conservation office, Amir Hamzah, estimated that the curent population of the maleo, wich is part of the distinctive and rare Ordo megapodidae species, now numbered less than 1,000. ‘‘ Whereas, based on our estimated data, the population of the bird in 1998 was about 10,000 in one single habitat,” amir said.
Villagers often hunted the big-footed birds anf their eggs, which they could sell to rare animal collectors. The money was such that people were willing to wait for the birds to lay their eggs in sandy soil for hours on end, he said.
When the females returned to their nests in the evening residents dug 7 to 10 meters into the soil to take the birds single egg.
The maleo used ti nest throughout the huge Lore Lindu National Park and was often sighted near settlement near forests and coasts, Amir said.
As weel as being a national symbol of Cetral Sulawesi, the Maleo was also use for then – minister of research and technology B.J Habibie as the name for a car in the soeharto-era national car program.
But now, people seldom saw the maleo. Because of this, the park outority was conducting a breeding program to try to protect the birds from total extinction, Amir said. It had successfully bred more than 200 birds in captivity and had already released 10 back into nature this month.
“ The breeding sit is located in Saluki village. We released 10 birds …and there are more hatchings to come at the village.”
The park has involved local residents in the breeding plan who have been told of the dangers the maleo faces and are being paid to preserve the bird.
Amir said that the effortas had been quite fruitful.Now more aware of conservation strategies, the villagers would also act as a control on poachers in the area, he said.
Before the national park fice had got involved, a villager from Parigi Moutong, the late Daeng Pabbeta, was a pioneer of efforts to preserve the bird and reseived the Kalpataru environmental award from former president Soeharto.
Amir hoped there were still residents in or around the park who would act like Daeng to voluntarily protect the birds from dying out.
Central Sulawesi Governor Aminudin Ponulele recently emphasized that his administration would componsate anyone who made effor to keep the maleo from extinction.
“ The maleo has always been a symbol of our pride.If the speies goes, our pride will go with it. I will reward anyone who acts to protect the bird,” Aminudin said.
Often ground – dwelling the maleo requeres a humid climate anf sandy suroundings and their habitats ar usully near coatal areas thick with sand and undergrowth and protsted from the wave.
From Jakarta Post news paper ; Saturday May 28,2005
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Donors pledge more aid for Aceh barracks
The Jakarta Post, January 17, 2005
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh
Germany, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Vision have pledged funds to build barracks to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people in Aceh displaced by the earthquake and tsunami on Dec. 26.
The government has also decided to do away with the bidding to build these semi-permanent facilities at a cost of about Rp 300 million each, and instead will appoint the contractors, most local Acehnese.
Chairani TA, deputy head of City Spatial Planning and Settlement in the Aceh provincial government, said the government had designated 24 locations for the barracks, which will be a temporary home for the victims of the disaster.
"These facilities should be good for two years. By then we expect that these displaced people will have found better places to stay," Chairani said.
He said the barracks would be spread throughout Banda Aceh and in the regencies of Aceh Timur, Aceh Utara, Aceh Barat, Aceh Jaya, Bireuen, Pidie and Nagan Raya.
"These displaced people must not spend too long in refugee camps," he told The Jakarta Post. "We will build these barracks as temporary homes."
World Vision, one of the international relief organizations active in Aceh, has pledged to finance the construction of four of the facilities. Germany will finance five of the barracks, the Council of Buddhist Communities three, the Association of National Contractors one, and state-owned enterprises Nindiya Karya and Hutama Karya one location each. The UNHCR has also pledged to assist in the construction of the barracks.
Chairani defended the decision to bypass the tender process and to appoint contractors. "We want to empower local contractors. Some of them were hurt by the disaster too."
Each facility should be able to accommodate between 1,000 and 2,000 people. They will be equipped with kitchen, toilets and clean water, he said.
A plot of land next to each barrack will be set aside for the construction of educational facilities.
"We will let the occupants decide for themselves what kind of educational facility they need," Chairani said.
Eddy Rachmad, who heads the team designing the barracks, said each building would be 13 meters by 30 meters in size, and each room three meters by four meters in size and able to accommodate up to five people.
Australia is assisting in the design to ensure the buildings are fit for habitation, he said.
Work is already underway in Keude Bieng, Aceh Besar regency, on a barracks, said Amsal Ginting of World Vision.
World Vision is surveying locations for three similar facilities. Rain, however, hampered work on Sunday. Amsal and his team will resume surveying possible locations on Monday.
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh
Germany, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and World Vision have pledged funds to build barracks to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of people in Aceh displaced by the earthquake and tsunami on Dec. 26.
The government has also decided to do away with the bidding to build these semi-permanent facilities at a cost of about Rp 300 million each, and instead will appoint the contractors, most local Acehnese.
Chairani TA, deputy head of City Spatial Planning and Settlement in the Aceh provincial government, said the government had designated 24 locations for the barracks, which will be a temporary home for the victims of the disaster.
"These facilities should be good for two years. By then we expect that these displaced people will have found better places to stay," Chairani said.
He said the barracks would be spread throughout Banda Aceh and in the regencies of Aceh Timur, Aceh Utara, Aceh Barat, Aceh Jaya, Bireuen, Pidie and Nagan Raya.
"These displaced people must not spend too long in refugee camps," he told The Jakarta Post. "We will build these barracks as temporary homes."
World Vision, one of the international relief organizations active in Aceh, has pledged to finance the construction of four of the facilities. Germany will finance five of the barracks, the Council of Buddhist Communities three, the Association of National Contractors one, and state-owned enterprises Nindiya Karya and Hutama Karya one location each. The UNHCR has also pledged to assist in the construction of the barracks.
Chairani defended the decision to bypass the tender process and to appoint contractors. "We want to empower local contractors. Some of them were hurt by the disaster too."
Each facility should be able to accommodate between 1,000 and 2,000 people. They will be equipped with kitchen, toilets and clean water, he said.
A plot of land next to each barrack will be set aside for the construction of educational facilities.
"We will let the occupants decide for themselves what kind of educational facility they need," Chairani said.
Eddy Rachmad, who heads the team designing the barracks, said each building would be 13 meters by 30 meters in size, and each room three meters by four meters in size and able to accommodate up to five people.
Australia is assisting in the design to ensure the buildings are fit for habitation, he said.
Work is already underway in Keude Bieng, Aceh Besar regency, on a barracks, said Amsal Ginting of World Vision.
World Vision is surveying locations for three similar facilities. Rain, however, hampered work on Sunday. Amsal and his team will resume surveying possible locations on Monday.
Palu politicians express support for ex-governor in graft case
National News - June 15, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
More than 40 politicians and public figures in Palu, Central Sulawesi, came forward Wednesday to give their assurances that former governor Aminuddin Ponulele would not attempt to flee. Aminuddin is a suspect in the alleged embezzlement of humanitarian funds.
The signatures of 44 people, including 35 Central Sulawesi council members, were given to the police along with a request for the suspension of the suspect's arrest.
The request was filed by law firm Idham Chalid on Wednesday. It included the signatures of Palu Mayor Rusdi Mastura, Donggala Regent Adam Ardjad L., Palu-based Tadulako University Rector Sahabuddin Mustapa and Central Sulawesi Council Speaker Murat U. Nasir.
In the letter, the signers said they were willing to pledge that the former governor, who served from 1999-2004, would not attempt to escape, destroy evidence or obstruct the investigation.
Aminuddin was arrested by the police on June 8 for his alleged involvement in thefts from the 2001 Poso humanitarian fund.
The suspect, who is the province's Golkar Party chairman, was put in police custody along with another suspect in the case, DL, who heads CV Ralianti Palu. They were believed to be involved in the embezzlement of transportation funds for people displaced following the Muslim-Christian conflict of 2000 and 2001, which killed more than 1,000 people.
According to Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno, Aminuddin and DL will be charged for violating the 2001 Anticorruption Law. If found guilty, they could be jailed up to 20 years and fined up to Rp 1 billion (US$105,263).
Oegroseno said based on the investigation, the former head of the province's Social Welfare Office, Andi Azikin Suyuti, had instructed the project's leader and treasurer to hand over the fund to Aminuddin, who was the head of the unit coordinating disaster mitigation and displaced people. Andi is currently in Salemba penitentiary in Central Jakarta awaiting trial.
The police chief said a fictitious company, with DL as president, was then set up to handle the fund. It allegedly never worked on the project.
"All the signatures of returning displaced people and the direct appointments (of the company) are fictitious, something that was prepared by a subdivision head of the social welfare office," Oegroseno said.
According to data gathered by The Jakarta Post, the Ministry of Social Services distributed Rp 52.8 billion for 2,000 families of displaced people in 2001. The ministry distributed Rp 74.7 billion for 11,913 families the next year; Rp 57.9 billion for 18,786 families in 2003; and Rp 15.9 billion in 2005 for 5,293 families.
The central government funds were intended to supply critical needs for the displaced people, such as building materials, living costs and transportation. But most of the funds allegedly did not reach them. At least 31 people have been named suspects in the case.***
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
More than 40 politicians and public figures in Palu, Central Sulawesi, came forward Wednesday to give their assurances that former governor Aminuddin Ponulele would not attempt to flee. Aminuddin is a suspect in the alleged embezzlement of humanitarian funds.
The signatures of 44 people, including 35 Central Sulawesi council members, were given to the police along with a request for the suspension of the suspect's arrest.
The request was filed by law firm Idham Chalid on Wednesday. It included the signatures of Palu Mayor Rusdi Mastura, Donggala Regent Adam Ardjad L., Palu-based Tadulako University Rector Sahabuddin Mustapa and Central Sulawesi Council Speaker Murat U. Nasir.
In the letter, the signers said they were willing to pledge that the former governor, who served from 1999-2004, would not attempt to escape, destroy evidence or obstruct the investigation.
Aminuddin was arrested by the police on June 8 for his alleged involvement in thefts from the 2001 Poso humanitarian fund.
The suspect, who is the province's Golkar Party chairman, was put in police custody along with another suspect in the case, DL, who heads CV Ralianti Palu. They were believed to be involved in the embezzlement of transportation funds for people displaced following the Muslim-Christian conflict of 2000 and 2001, which killed more than 1,000 people.
According to Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Oegroseno, Aminuddin and DL will be charged for violating the 2001 Anticorruption Law. If found guilty, they could be jailed up to 20 years and fined up to Rp 1 billion (US$105,263).
Oegroseno said based on the investigation, the former head of the province's Social Welfare Office, Andi Azikin Suyuti, had instructed the project's leader and treasurer to hand over the fund to Aminuddin, who was the head of the unit coordinating disaster mitigation and displaced people. Andi is currently in Salemba penitentiary in Central Jakarta awaiting trial.
The police chief said a fictitious company, with DL as president, was then set up to handle the fund. It allegedly never worked on the project.
"All the signatures of returning displaced people and the direct appointments (of the company) are fictitious, something that was prepared by a subdivision head of the social welfare office," Oegroseno said.
According to data gathered by The Jakarta Post, the Ministry of Social Services distributed Rp 52.8 billion for 2,000 families of displaced people in 2001. The ministry distributed Rp 74.7 billion for 11,913 families the next year; Rp 57.9 billion for 18,786 families in 2003; and Rp 15.9 billion in 2005 for 5,293 families.
The central government funds were intended to supply critical needs for the displaced people, such as building materials, living costs and transportation. But most of the funds allegedly did not reach them. At least 31 people have been named suspects in the case.***
Poso task force to destroy confiscated firearms, ammo
National News - June 17, 2006
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
The Central Sulawesi Security Operation Command (Koopskam) plans to end its work in the conflict-torn province next month by destroying firearms and explosives confiscated during raids or voluntarily surrendered by residents.
The chief of Koopskam, Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko, told The Jakarta Post that the organization has 33 handmade firearms, 199 pieces of ammunition and 40 homemade bombs and grenades in its possession.
"All of them will be destroyed at the same time when the task force's operation ends on July 3 in Poso," he said.
The task force, set up on Jan. 5 of this year, answers to the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
The task force was formed to investigate who is responsible for a series of violent attacks in Poso and Palu following the 2001 Malino peace agreement. The peace accord largely brought to an end clashes between Christians and Muslims that killed more than 1,000 people in 2000 and 2001.
Paulus blamed the conflict for the high number of illegal firearms found in the province. He said several hard-liners had entered Poso and trained the city's residents not only to use firearms, but to make them.
Arianto Sangadji of the Tanah Merdeka Palu Foundation said during the conflict's early period, residents mostly used traditional weapons such as machetes and spears.
He said in its middle period, however, various kinds of firearms were widely found across Poso. It is suspected they were smuggled in from locations outside the country, such as Mindanau in the Philippines.
Following the conflict, Central Sulawesi was notorious for its illegal firearms. Armed conflicts erupted from time to time. From 2000-2004, the police recorded 174 cases of violence involving firearms in the province.
"These cases do not include bombings," said Arianto.
Following the peace brought about by the Malino agreement, he said many residents hung onto their weapons since they did not want to become victims of armed conflicts.
"The reason for possessing firearms is simple: they still don't believe security personnel's assurances of their safety," he said.
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
The Central Sulawesi Security Operation Command (Koopskam) plans to end its work in the conflict-torn province next month by destroying firearms and explosives confiscated during raids or voluntarily surrendered by residents.
The chief of Koopskam, Insp. Gen. Paulus Purwoko, told The Jakarta Post that the organization has 33 handmade firearms, 199 pieces of ammunition and 40 homemade bombs and grenades in its possession.
"All of them will be destroyed at the same time when the task force's operation ends on July 3 in Poso," he said.
The task force, set up on Jan. 5 of this year, answers to the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs.
The task force was formed to investigate who is responsible for a series of violent attacks in Poso and Palu following the 2001 Malino peace agreement. The peace accord largely brought to an end clashes between Christians and Muslims that killed more than 1,000 people in 2000 and 2001.
Paulus blamed the conflict for the high number of illegal firearms found in the province. He said several hard-liners had entered Poso and trained the city's residents not only to use firearms, but to make them.
Arianto Sangadji of the Tanah Merdeka Palu Foundation said during the conflict's early period, residents mostly used traditional weapons such as machetes and spears.
He said in its middle period, however, various kinds of firearms were widely found across Poso. It is suspected they were smuggled in from locations outside the country, such as Mindanau in the Philippines.
Following the conflict, Central Sulawesi was notorious for its illegal firearms. Armed conflicts erupted from time to time. From 2000-2004, the police recorded 174 cases of violence involving firearms in the province.
"These cases do not include bombings," said Arianto.
Following the peace brought about by the Malino agreement, he said many residents hung onto their weapons since they did not want to become victims of armed conflicts.
"The reason for possessing firearms is simple: they still don't believe security personnel's assurances of their safety," he said.
Friday, June 09, 2006
C. Sulawesi vice governor told to resign over 'stupid' remark
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu
The Palu chapter of the Indonesian National Youth Committee on Thursday demanded Central Sulawesi Deputy Governor Achmad Yahya resign over "insensitive" remarks he made in the media.
"Achmad Yahya has not shown himself to be a good leader. He has insulted nearly two million Central Sulawesi residents," said Hardy Yambas, the chairman of the youth committee's Palu chapter.
The controversial remarks appeared in a story run May 21 by Fajar newspaper, which is based in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The story ran under the headline, "Concerned about poverty, choose the practical political way."
"Achmad Yahya said he was inspired to run for the deputy governor's post because the people of Central Sulawesi had been left far behind by other regions in terms of both welfare and literacy," according to the story.
Hardy demanded Achmad Yahya clarify his remarks and resign. "Achmad Yahya's statement is very dangerous as it has the potential to spark ethnic conflict. The Poso conflict is already enough. Don't create new conflicts."
Hardy said he had met with representatives of youth groups and community leaders to formulate a response to the deputy governor's statement.
He said critics would seek the deputy governor's resignation through the local legislative council and with mass rallies. He added that Achmad Yahya would be invited to a public debate to try and defend his position.
"We will test the extent of his knowledge that allows him to say the people of Central Sulawesi are stupid. He's the one who must be unintelligent, to make such a statement as the deputy governor," Hardy said.
Bustamin Nongtji, an academic at Tadulako University, was also critical of Achmad Yahya. He said the deputy governor was only in office because of the clout of the governor, Bandjela Paliudju.
"If he were not Paliudju's running mate, it would have been impossible for him to become deputy governor," said Bustamin, who is a lecturer at the university's law school.
The Palu chapter of the Indonesian National Youth Committee on Thursday demanded Central Sulawesi Deputy Governor Achmad Yahya resign over "insensitive" remarks he made in the media.
"Achmad Yahya has not shown himself to be a good leader. He has insulted nearly two million Central Sulawesi residents," said Hardy Yambas, the chairman of the youth committee's Palu chapter.
The controversial remarks appeared in a story run May 21 by Fajar newspaper, which is based in Makassar, South Sulawesi. The story ran under the headline, "Concerned about poverty, choose the practical political way."
"Achmad Yahya said he was inspired to run for the deputy governor's post because the people of Central Sulawesi had been left far behind by other regions in terms of both welfare and literacy," according to the story.
Hardy demanded Achmad Yahya clarify his remarks and resign. "Achmad Yahya's statement is very dangerous as it has the potential to spark ethnic conflict. The Poso conflict is already enough. Don't create new conflicts."
Hardy said he had met with representatives of youth groups and community leaders to formulate a response to the deputy governor's statement.
He said critics would seek the deputy governor's resignation through the local legislative council and with mass rallies. He added that Achmad Yahya would be invited to a public debate to try and defend his position.
"We will test the extent of his knowledge that allows him to say the people of Central Sulawesi are stupid. He's the one who must be unintelligent, to make such a statement as the deputy governor," Hardy said.
Bustamin Nongtji, an academic at Tadulako University, was also critical of Achmad Yahya. He said the deputy governor was only in office because of the clout of the governor, Bandjela Paliudju.
"If he were not Paliudju's running mate, it would have been impossible for him to become deputy governor," said Bustamin, who is a lecturer at the university's law school.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)