Statue of Virgin Mary from Fatima KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Over 10,000 Roman Catholic adherents from across the diocese flocked to El Tari Airport on Tuesday evening to welcome a statue of the Virgin Mary from Fatima, Portugal. The statue, which has been taken to over 20 countries, will be moved from church to church on Flores island for a week, starting from Labuanbajo in the west to Larantuka in the east. The statue was welcomed by Kupang Archbishop Mgr.

Logistics Agency to monitor prices of 10 staple foods JAKARTA (JP): The National Logistics Agency's (DOLOG) Jakarta office will inspect 20 markets to monitor the stocks of 10 staple foods to make sure prices do not increase too much in the lead up to Christmas, New Year and Idul Fitri. The office's head, Achmad Noer said Tuesday the inspection would serve as a "preventive measure" against traders increasing the price of staple foods unreasonably.

Merpati flies to more countries and promises better service By I. Christianto MELBOURNE, Australia (JP): Merpati Nusantara Airlines, a subsidiary of the national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, is flying to more overseas destinations and planning to be more punctual. "We are working hard to improve our service, particularly the punctuality of flights," Merpati president, Budiarto Subroto, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday aboard a Merpati Airbus A-310- 300 on the Jakarta-Melbourne route.

Sempati Air shakes up management to go public JAKARTA (JP): Sempati Air, the country's largest private airline, announced a major management reshuffle yesterday to mend its ailing financial performance. Sempati chief commissioner Hutomo Mandala Putra said the reshuffle, approved by shareholders early this week, would improve the company's performance. Hutomo, affectionately called Tommy, acknowledged the airline had financial problems, but he refused to explain them.

Bike parking fee angers residents TANGERANG, West Java (JP): About 100 Tangerang residents protested a new Rp 200 (8.5 U.S. cents) parking fee for bicycles and carts yesterday. Carrying placards the protesters asked Mayor Djakaria Mahmud to revoke the parking fee regulation. Residents' spokesman Lahmudin said the fee was unfair because it affected poor people.

Jakarta wants legal decision on dispute JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia asked Malaysia yesterday to seek a legal resolution to the military conflict on the Kalimantan border that killed four Indonesians last September. Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung told the House Commission I on political and security affairs that the incident would not affect diplomatic ties between the two countries.