PRESS DIGEST-Indonesian newspapers - Aug 6

Following are some leading stories in the main Indonesian newspapers on Aug 6.

Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. Telephone: Editorial: +62-21-384-6364. Fax: +62-21-344-8404 or Help Desk: +803-061-2124 (toll free).

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KOMPAS

- GOVT TO MAKE BIOFUEL USE MANDATORY

Indonesia's government plans to issue a regulation which will make biofuel usage compulsory for manufacturing, transportation, and electricity sectors in a bid to boost the biofuel industry, director general of oil and gas Evita Legowo said.

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JAKARTA POST

- GOVT IMPOSES TRAVEL BANS ON DEBTORS

The government put a travel ban on fourteen senior executives and commissioners of mining companies which have not completed the payment of coal royalty debts, a senior official at the justice and human rights ministry said.

- FOREST FIRES RAGE IN RIAU AND CENTRAL JAVA

Fires have broken out in nine out of 11 regencies in Riau province and in approximately 200 hectares of forest in Central Java, the country's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency and state forest company said.

- PARLIAMENT PERMITS GRAFT BUSTERS TO ATTEND BUDGET MEETINGS

The House of Representatives said it has agreed to allow staff from the anti-graft agency (KPK) to attend parliamentary sessions deliberating the state budget bill, following a request from KPK which wants to prevent corruption in budget allocations.

- INDONESIA, NEW ZEALAND HOLD DISASTER MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and visiting New Zealand Minister of Public Defence Rick Barker opened a joint workshop on disaster management to increase cooperation on mitigating the effects of natural disasters.