Typhoon hits Taiwan after pummeling Philippines

Associated Press, Taipei | Mon, 08/29/2011 9:51 AM

Typhoon Nanmadol has slammed into Taiwan, closing schools, workplaces and government offices. It has dumped more than 19 inches (half a meter) of rain in the mountainous south, where vulnerability to catastrophic landslides prompted the evacuation of some 8,000 people.

Nanmadol made landfall just before daybreak Monday in Taidung county in the remote southeast and headed toward heavily populated coastal areas on the west coast. It is packing winds 68 mph (108 kph), down from earlier peaks almost twice that high.

It is expected to pass about 130 miles (200 kilometers) south of Taipei before heading for the Taiwan Strait and the eastern China coast.

Commuter line operates normally during holiday

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 08/29/2011 2:02 PM

Greater Jakarta Electric Trains (KRL), popularly known as the commuter line, will keep to its normal schedule over the Idul Fitri holiday period.

On Monday, the trains will operate from morning until 11 p.m., with no anticipated delays to the schedule, a ticket officer at Rawabuntu station in South Tangerang said Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

With one day left before most Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri, many Jakartans were seen using the commuter line, with some choosing to park their cars at stations and continue their journeys by train.

Nazaruddin prison transfer unnecessary, says judicial taskforce

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 08/29/2011 9:22 AM

Two members of the Judicial Corruption Taskforce have criticized Nazaruddin’s jail transfer request over safety concerns, which they say are unwarranted.

“We see that the police have installed a good and strict security system that can protect Nazaruddin against any threats. We fail to see what has made him feel unsafe,” taskforce member Mas Achmad Santosa said Sunday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Achmad added that Nazaruddin's cell was being monitored by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) with 17 CCTV cameras, and guarded with 24-hour security by mobile police brigade personnel.

Earlier, through his lawyer OC Kaligis, Nazaruddin, who is now jailed at the National Police's mobile brigade detention center in Depok, stated that he would only cooperate with KPK investigators if he was transferred to another detention facility, such as Cipinang Penitentiary or Salemba prison.

Nazaruddin said the sole reason behind the jail transfer request was because he felt his safety had been compromised.

Taiwan hospital transplants 5 HIV-infected organs

Associated Press, Taipei | Mon, 08/29/2011 1:17 PM

One of Taiwan's best regarded hospitals transplanted organs from an HIV carrier into five patients, a hospital official said Monday, in what appears to be one of the most egregious examples of medical negligence in the island's modern history.

The five are now being treated with anti-AIDS drugs, said the official at National Taiwan University Hospital in Taipei.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because she is not authorized to deal with the media.

In a posting on its website over the weekend, the hospital said the mistake occurred because a transplant staffer believed he heard the English word "non-reactive" on the donor's standard HIV test, which means negative, while the word "reactive" was actually given.

The hospital added that the information on the test result was given over the telephone and was not double-checked, as required by standard operating procedures.

"We deeply apologize for the mistake," the hospital said.

Shih Chung-liang, a Health Department official, said a department team will look into the mistaken transplants and decide on possible penalties for NTUH.

Indonesian Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri on different days: Expert

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 08/29/2011 1:08 PM

While Muslims across the archipelago started Ramadhan this year on the same date, different groups may end the fasting month on different days, an expert says.

Some may say that the end of Ramadhan is on Tuesday while others may say it ends Wednesday, National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) research professor Thomas Djamaluddin said Monday.

“The difference occurs because until now most Muslim mass organizations in this country have no agreement on which criteria to use to determine the beginning of hijrah [Islamic year] months,” Thomas said as quoted by kompas.com.

At least two criteria are used: hisab, which is based on mathematical calculations, and rukyat or direct observations of the lunar cycle. Both methods are used to determine the emergence of the first crescent moon at the beginning of hijriah months, known as hilal.

If hilal can be seen on Monday afternoon, Muslims will mark the next day as Idul Fitri. If, however, hilal can not be seen then the fasting month will be extended to 30 days and Idul Fitri will fall on Wednesday.

FPI pulls scalpel on Hanung Bramantyo's plurist film '?'

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 08/29/2011 3:02 PM

The Islam Defenders Front (FPI) is calling for a dialogue with filmmaker Hanung Bramantyo over the latter’s film ?, which promotes religious pluralism.

“We refuse [for the film to be screened], so let’s sit together in a discussion to decide which parts of the movie should be cut,” FPI chief Habib Salim Alatas said Monday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Habib added that the discussion was necessary to prevent further demonstrations over the film.

“Hanung should talk about the film’s mission, and after that we shall decide whether the movie should be screened at theaters.”

On Saturday last week, hundreds of FPI members demonstrated in front of SCTV television station in Central Jakarta over its plan to broadcast the film on the night of Idul Fitri.

After meeting with the protesters, SCTV management later decided not to screen the film.

In April, FPI also demonstrated against the film being screened at theaters. At that time, Hanung met with the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and decided to cut some parts out of the movie.

Muhammadiyah tells Muslims to strengthen solidarity during Idul Fitri

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 08/29/2011 1:24 PM

The chairman of Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, has urged Muslims to use Idul Fitri as a time to improve and strengthen social solidarity.

“Idul Fitri is a time to tighten brotherhood and to foster our affection toward others,” Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said Monday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Din also asked every member of Muhammadiyah to prepare their Idul Fitri prayers well and coordinate with others who would celebrate Idul Fitri on the same day, so that their prayers run smoothly, accordingly to Islamic teachings.

Muhammadiyah has declared that Idul Fitri falls on Tuesday.