THE JAKARTA POST (26-03-2011)

PSSI ‘revolutionaries’ take over congress

In an coup d’etat, a group of aggrieved, reform-minded delegates have taken control the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) congress in Pekanbaru, Riau on Saturday.

Soccer congress turned upside down by disgruntled electors

Delegates who claim they were banned from the Indonesian Football Association’s (PSSI) congress have forced their way into the hotel ballroom hosting the congress.

Some 200,000 in Germany protest nuclear power

Some 200,000 people on Saturday turned out in Germany's largest cities to protest against the use of nuclear power in the wake of Japan's Fukushima reactor disaster, police and organizers said.

West Sumatra outlaws Ahmadiyah

The West Sumatra Governor issued a decree on Thursday effectively banning the sect in the province.

Roy Suryo was on wrong flight: Lion Air

Roy Suryo, the legislator who was kicked off a Lion Air flight for reportedly occupying another passenger's seat, was actually on the wrong flight, according to the airline.

Palestinian president meets Hamas to talk unity

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has met with the rival Palestinian group Hamas in the West Bank for the first time in about a year.

Syria pulls troops from restive city after unrest

Syrian President Bashar Assad pulled back police and soldiers from a restive southern city and released dozens of political prisoners on Saturday in an attempt to appease demonstrators furious about a violent government crackdown on dissent that has left dozens dead.

Thousands protest in Bulgaria, want PM to resign

Thousands of Bulgarians angry at the country's economic woes are gathering in the capital Sofia to demand the government step down.

PSSI restricts media access in congress

Media was prohibited from covering the registration process of participants at the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) congress held at the Premier Hotel in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Saturday.

PSSI electors allege exclusion from Riau congress

Tensions ran high at the Indonesian Soccer Association’s (PSSI) congress on Saturday after several electors alleged their names were omitted from a list of congress delegates.

KPK arrests 2 fugitives in Jakarta

Two convicts who fled South Sulawesi after their acquittals were overturned were arrested by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators in separate locations in Jakarta on Saturday.

PSSI gives cold shoulder to KPPN

Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) secretary-general Nugraha Besoes said that the association has never invited the National Soccer Rescue Committee (KPPN) to the PSSI congress, held on Saturday in Pekanbaru, Riau on Saturday.

Bird flu suspected in Bali

Almost one hundred chickens have died over the past two months in Bali. Bird flu, also known as H5N1, has reignited fears that the virus may have re-emerged on the island.

Education ministry incorporates sex-ed. in university curriculum

The Ministry of Education has incorporated sex education into the standard university curriculum. The ministry aims to provide knowledge on female issues, including sexual issues such as unwanted pregnancies and social issues involving leadership.

Back stage

Wheels of life

RI lacking 6,500 family doctors

Indonesia reportedly needs 6,500 additional family doctors, a 77% increase from the approximate 5,000 family doctors presently registered.

No war

PLN says simultaneous electricity switch-offs can damage power plants

As many Indonesians welcome Earth Hour on Saturday evening, state electricity utility PLN has asked its customers not to simultaneously switch off their electricity, saying it may suddenly shut down its power plants.

Full throttle

Naked truth

Lawmaker blames Lion Air for seating snafu

Democratic Party lawmaker Roy Suryo, who made news on Twitter Saturday for reportedly trying to take other passengers‘ seats on a flight to Yogyakarta, is blaming Lion Air for the incident.

ADB to provide $200m in loans to support RI trade, energy

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing US$200 million in loans to assist Indonesia to expand access to trade financing and to embark on major energy efficiency improvements in export industries.

US rushes fresh water to help Japan nuclear plant

U.S. naval barges loaded with fresh water sped toward Japan's overheated nuclear plant to help workers who scrambled Saturday to stem a worrying rise in radioactivity and remove dangerously contaminated water from the facility.

Bird flu to linger until April in Jambi: Official

The spread of bird flu is expected to reach its peak this month in Jambi province, and will linger until next month, an official says.

Lawmaker kicked off plane for trying to take other passengers' seats

Democratic Party lawmaker Roy Suryo was kicked off a Lion Air flight on Saturday morning for taking seats reserved for two other passengers for himself and his wife.

5 Jakarta monuments to go dark during Earth Hour; what about you?

Five icons of Jakarta will fall into complete darkness tonight as the world commemorates Earth Hour from 8.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. on Saturday.

Nurdin to get special security for today's PSSI meeting

Embattled Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chair Nurdin Halid will have a special security team for Saturday's PSSI Congress to be held at a hotel in Pekanbaru.

China: Japan crisis won't deter its nuclear growth

A top Chinese official says China has faith in the safety of its nuclear power technology and won't scrap plans to expand its domestic industry because of Japan's crisis.

Red Bull fastest ahead of Australian GP qualifying

World Champion Sebastian Vettel enters qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix with the fastest practice time after Red Bull dominated Saturday's third session.

NBA Roundup

Dwyane Wade scored 39 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, LeBron James finished with 32 points and 10 rebounds f his own, as the Miami Heat beat the Philadelphia 76ers 111-99 on Friday night.

Govt mulls removing 10% tax on Pertamax

The government is considering removing a 10 percent value-added tax (PPN) on the non-subsidized fuel Pertamax in an effort to boost sales after many consumers migrated to Premium following recent increases in the price of Pertamax.

FIFA rejects PSSI election methods

The world’s soccer body FIFA has rejected the Indonesian Soccer Association's (PSSI) methods for selecting PSSI election committee and appeal committee members. Those methods have been at the center of an ongoing dispute regarding the election of a new PSSI chair.

Indonesia to host epidemiology conference

Indonesia will host the 6th TEPHINET Southeast Asia and Western Pacific Bi-regional Scientific Conference from Nov. 8 to 11, 2011, at the Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, a Health Ministry official says.

Raja Ampat partners with Hasanuddin University to develop infrastructure

West Papua’s Raja Ampat, well-known among divers for its underwater beauty, joined hands on Friday with Makassar’s Hasanuddin University to develop basic infrastructure at the dive site.

Attempt to smuggle 40 pythons on plane foiled

Soekarno-Hatta International Airport officers have reportedly foiled an attempt at smuggling pythons on a flight heading to Dubai, airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II said Saturday.

Police raid crystal meth factory in lush N. Jakarta apartment

The National Police raided a crystal methamphetamine factory in a lush condominium in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Friday night.

Saudi prince is behind disputed LA mega-mansion

A Saudi prince is the previously anonymous owner of a property that is the proposed site of a mega-mansion that has brought gold-plated protest in the wealthy neighborhoods around Beverly Hills.

Muslims face growing attacks in Ivory Coast crisis

Souleymane Sissouma became the third imam slain this month in an attack so brutal his family members went into hiding, too afraid even to attend his funeral.