Promote our own products The President's instruction calling on government agencies to pursue austerity seems most timely. In addition, the President also reminded cabinet ministers, heads of nonministerial government agencies, provincial governors, regents and city mayors not to issue any regulations that run against the deregulation and debureaucratization measures that have so far been taken. All such regulations that may have already been erroneously issued should be revoked.

Bali raises clove output DENPASAR (Antara): Bali, Maluku and North Sulawesi will continue to grow cloves because their produce have met international quality standards. "Bali's cloves have a specific aroma and are thus suitable for cigarettes," Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka said Tuesday before thousands of clove growers in Tista village, some 120 kilometers northwest of here.

Mar'ie inaugurates public works projects UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (Antara): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad opened public works projects here yesterday worth Rp 27.7 billion (US$9.6 million). They include a dam on Jeneberang River and clean water installations. The 330-meter-long Jeneberang dam, to stop flooding and seawater intrusion, is the first of its type in Indonesia. It was completed seven months ahead of schedule.

Ramos resumes work at palace MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Fidel Ramos returned to work at the presidential palace yesterday, shortly after being discharged from a hospital where he underwent surgery for a blocked artery. Ramos, accompanied by wife Amelita, appeared lively as he waved to crowds of reporters, hospital employees and well-wishers seeing him off from the Makati Medical Center three days after the operation.

Rice production predicted to rise JAKARTA (Antara): Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah estimated yesterday that 51 million tons of unhusked rice would be produced domestically this year, up from 49.74 million tons last year. He said although this figure was higher than the revised target of 50.03 million, it was lower than the initial target of 51.6 million tons. He said 50.03 million tons of unhusked rice was equivalent to 32 tons of rice.

Magazine suspect moved JAKARTA (JP): A man arrested for his alleged involvement in printing an unlicensed publication was moved yesterday to the Cipinang prison in East Jakarta from the South Jakarta Police Precinct. Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) lawyer Irianto Subiakto said the police's right to detain Andi Syahputra expired yesterday so he was now detained by the South Jakarta Prosecutor's office. Police can only detain a suspect for two months. Andi was arrested on Oct.

GE Capital buys 7% stake in Bank Bira from the public JAKARTA (JP): General Electric Capital Services of the United States has bought a 7 percent stake in publicly listed Bank Bira for Rp 48 billion (US$20.4 million). Mark Norbom, the manager of General Electric in Indonesia, said yesterday his company bought the 7 percent share from the public, who had owned 43 percent of Bank Bira's total shares. He said the purchase would let GE Capital form a strategic alliance with the bank.

A rich year for exhibitions, sales and auctions JAKARTA (JP): The following is a list of art activities and a brief commentary. Unless otherwise noted, most of the events were held in Jakarta. In January, a handful of artists, including Teguh Ostenrik, showed their works at Cemeti Gallery in Yogyakarta. On Jan. 10, artist Kaboel Suadi presented his Sketches from West Berlin 1968- 1969 at Galeri Kafe Cemara 6.