Following are some leading stories in the main Indonesian newspapers on Dec 24. 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). - - - - JAKARTA POST - FORESTRY MINISTRY BACKS END OF ILLEGAL LOGGING CASE The forestry ministry has backed a decision by the Riau police to end an investigation of 13 firms which allegedly illegally logged 2 million cubic metres of forest, but has asked the police to continue investigating the businessmen involved. - KADIN SAYS TO WORK WITH GOVT OVER ECONOMIC CRISIS Indonesia's chamber of commerce, known as Kadin, said it will work with the government to try to reduce the impact of the global downturn on Indonesia, but will be politically independent. - PRESIDENT URGES INDONESIANS NOT TO POLITICISE CRISIS The impact of the global economic crisis that hit Indonesia should not be politicised and used to attack the incumbent government in next year's general elections, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono warned. - - - - JAKARTA GLOBE - FLOODS, LANDSLIDES DISPLACE THOUSANDS IN KALIMANTAN Heavy rainfall in East Kalimantan province have resulted in floods and landslides, forcing thousands of residents to take refuge and isolating the area. - - - - BISNIS INDONESIA - TRADE MINISTER WARNS EXPORTS MAY PLUMMET NEXT YEAR Trade Minister Mari Pangestu said that Indonesia's export growth next year may only reach half of this year's estimated growth because of the drop in commodity prices and slower global demand. - MITRA RAJASA EYES SINGAPORE FOR SUBSIDIARY'S IPO Indonesian transportation firm PT Mitra Rajasa Tbk <MIRA.JK> said it plans an initial public offering for its subsidiary, Sabre Systems International Pte Ltd, in Singapore, using the proceeds to repay $525 million in debt to Goldman Sachs <GS.N>. - VALCO PLANS TO RIVAL NORTHSTAR BID Indonesian energy firm Valco Corp said it plans to offer $648 million to buy PT Bakrie & Brothers' <BNBR.JK> debt, rivalling a bid by Indonesian private equity firm Northstar Pacific. - - - - INVESTOR DAILY - QTEL MAY HOLD TENDER OFFER OF INDOSAT SHARES NEXT MONTH Fuad Rahmany, head of Indonesia's capital market regulator, said Qatar Telecom (Qtel) <QTEL.QA> may hold a tender offer for shares in telecoms firm PT Indosat Tbk. <ISAT.JK> in January at 7,388 rupiah a share in a bid to raise its stake to 65 percent. - INDONESIA TO RAISE FISCAL DUTY FOR PEOPLE GOING ABROAD Indonesia's tax department said it will raise the fiscal duty to 2.5 million rupiah ($230) in 2009, from 1 million rupiah currently, but said there would be certain exemptions. - - - - ($1 = 10,900 rupiah)
Dede, a man who has gnarled growths sprouting from his hands and feet, smokes a cigarette in Tanjung Jaya village, on the outskirts of Bandung, the capital of Indonesia's West Java ...
