Teachers demand budget hike SEMARANG: About 50 teachers who claimed to represent 250,000 members of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) rallied at the provincial legislature on Friday to demand a rise in the state budget allocated for education. "We want the government to allocate at least 25 percent of the state budget for national education and to implement regional autonomy on educational matters," Sudharto, who chairs PGRI's Central Java chapter, said.

Latief summoned over Jamsostek scam JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office is scheduled to question former manpower minister Abdul Latief on Monday as a suspect in alleged corruption concerning state-owned social insurance company PT Jamsostek. The prosecutor's office issued a summons for Latief on Friday. Spokesman for the Attorney General's Office Soehandojo said prosecutors planned to question Latief on Friday, but his lawyers said their client could not attend due to health reasons.

Women renew no violence call SEMARANG: About 100 women grouped under the Joint Forum for Women's Rights distributed flowers to motorists and pedestrians on the city's main streets on Friday in the latest campaign against violence. The women also gave out leaflets containing their demand for equal rights in politics, economy and education. During the rally, they called for an end to the outbreak of violence which has rocked the country in the past few years.

ASEAN leaders prepare to add emphasis to East Asia ties MANILA (Reuters): Southeast Asian leaders will take the unusual step of revising the draft agreement for a weekend summit in Manila to sharpen plans for greater trade and financial cooperation with Japan, China and South Korea.

IBRA asked to be responsible for Bank Bali decision JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia has demanded the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) be responsible over the decision to nationalize Bank Bali following a lawsuit against the central bank governor by the former owner of Bank Bali. Bank Indonesia deputy governor Dono Iskandar said in a Nov. 24 memo to IBRA Chairman Glenn S.

Asia First The summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Manila this weekend is of great importance for the region and for Indonesia. It will be the last summit before we move into a new millennium, with all the exciting and unpredictable challenges facing the world and the region. It will be the first summit for the region as it recovers from a devastating economic crisis, a setback which has in retrospect put the region on a stronger economic if not political footing.

Gus Dur's tours From Media Indonesia I am encouraged to criticize President Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, after he said at the opening of the 30th congress of Nahdlatul Ulama at the Lirboyo pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Kediri, East Java, that he would be happy to receive criticism from the community.

Port police seize $1m shipment goods JAKARTA (JP): Tanjung Priok Port Police have arrested three men and confiscated millions of rupiah from them for their alleged roles in a recent robbery of 10 empty wooden shipment containers and diesel engines worth Rp 7 billion (US$1 million) from a warehouse at the port, an officer said on Friday. Tanjung Priok Port Police chief Lt. Col.

Hasyim elected NU chairman, VP closes congress KEDIRI, East Java (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri closed on Friday the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) congress, which elected Hasyim Muzadi the new chairman in place of Abdurrahman Wahid. Hasyim, the former chairman of NU's chapter in the province, took the helm of the 35 million-strong Muslim organization for the next five years with a convincing victory over his major rival Said Aqiel Siradj in a vote which moved beyond its overnight schedule.