Indonesia

June 13, 2008 -- MONTGOMERY - Improving bilateral economic relations and higher education exchanges and cooperation will be the focus of an Indonesian dignitary’s visit to Alabama on June 25th.

The State of Alabama will host Indonesian Ambassador Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat during his visit to Birmingham. The objective of this visit is to promote Indonesia and its relations with the U.S.

“Alabama understands that in today’s global economy, relationships count,” said Governor Riley. “By hosting distinguished visitors such as Ambassador Parnohadiningrat, we nurture and strengthen these relationships, resulting in new educational and economic opportunities for our state.”    » read more »

19 March 2008 -- The Indonesian government has suspended low-cost air carrier Adam Air, citing safety concerns. The budget carrier has been plagued accidents and mishaps in the last several years.

Indonesia Transport Ministry spokesman Bambang Erfan gave the news.

"The Adam Air has been grounded since last night at zero o'clock," he said. "The director general of civil aviation, the ministry of transportation, has sent a letter to the management of Adam Air that stated operations has already been suspended."    » read more »

13 February 2008 -- A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 rocked eastern Indonesia early Thursday, prompting a tsunami alert.

The country's meteorological agency said the tremor was centered 275 kilometers southwest of Maluku province at a depth of 10 kilometers.

The agency said the quake had the potential to cause a tsunami, but later retracted it after no waves were reported.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries as a result of the quake.    » read more »

04 February 2008 -- Indonesia's health ministry says a 29-year-old woman has died of bird flu, raising the death toll in the southeast Asian nation to 102.

Officials say the woman died on Saturday in a Jakarta hospital. She is at least the eighth person to die this year from the disease.

The woman visited her parents recently and officials say their neighbors kept chicks. It was unclear, however, whether the chickens were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Most bird flu cases in Indonesia involve contact with infected poultry.    » read more »

Government Should Investigate Crimes of Former Dictator’s Regime

(New York, January 27, 2008) – The death of former president Suharto at age 86 provides an opportunity to commemorate the many victims of his oppressive regime, Human Rights Watch said today. Human Rights Watch said the Indonesian government should make a serious commitment to hold accountable the perpetrators of human rights abuses during his rule.    » read more »

27 January 2008 -- Former Indonesian President Suharto died in a Jakarta hospital Sunday after more than three weeks in critical condition.

Indonesia's current president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, told reporters at a somber news conference Sunday that Mr. Suharto had died.

He says on behalf of the country, the people, the government and himself as an individual, he extends condolences on the death of the former leader.

Mr. Suharto's daughter, Siti Hardiyanti, was emotional as she spoke to the news media.    » read more »

15 January 2008 -- Officials in Indonesia say another person has died from bird flu, bringing the country's death toll from the disease to 96 since the outbreak started in 2003.

The latest victim was a 16-year-old girl from the town of Bekasi, on the eastern outskirts of Jakarta. Officials say she died Tuesday.

Monday, officials reported that a 32-year-old woman from an area just west of Jakarta died of bird flu last week, at her home in the city of Tangerang. A statement from the health ministry said the woman's family kept chickens in their backyard.    » read more »