SBY Orders Safety Probe of Merpati Planes After Crash in West Papua

Camelia Pasandaran, Arientha Primanita & Markus Junianto Sihaloho | May 13, 2011 Jakarta Globe

In the wake of a deadly aircraft wreck in Papua, the government on Thursday ordered an examination of Merpati Nusantara Airlines’s remaining turboprop planes.

“We have issued letters ordering an inspection and safety audit on the 12 MA-60 airplanes,” Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said at a news conference at the Presidential Office.

The announcement came after a cabinet meeting where President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono ordered the inspections after the fatal crash of an MA-60 into waters off Kaimana, West Papua, on Saturday, which is believed to have killed all 25 on board.

Australia allocates $602m for development in Indonesia

Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 05/12/2011 10:04 AM | World

Australia has announced it will provide an estimated Rp 5.15 trillion (US$602.55 million) in development assistance to Indonesia this year, an increase of more than $100 million compared to last year.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty said Australia’s aid program would focus on alleviating poverty through social protection programs, supporting governance reforms and improving the poor’s access to health, education, transportation, clean water and sanitation.

Oz funds health, education in Papua

The Jakarta Post | Thu, 05/05/2011 8:00 AM | National

JAKARTA: Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Greg Moriarty witnessed a signing between Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and West Papua Governor Abraham O. Atururi for a new Australian government-funded program to improve health, education and infrastructure in the two provinces.