Course for Bogor councilors BOGOR (JP): All 44 members of the Bogor Municipality Council are taking part in a four-day training course at Cipayung Asri 88 hotel in the mountain resort of Cipayung. Council speaker M. Sahid said on Monday that the course, which began on Sunday, would allow each member of the team to obtain in-depth knowledge about their respective tasks and was held as part of an effort to build effective and powerful councilors.

Soeharto syndrome Could it be that the medical world now has to solve a mystery called the Soeharto syndrome: loss of speech when charges of corruption, collusion and nepotism are made against him? Former president Soeharto last week was once again being investigated by a House commission into his complicity in the allocation of state funds to a number of private institutions under his command, notably to sons, daughters and cronies.

Government to push ahead with fuel price hike JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Monday the government would push ahead with plans to increase electricity tariffs and fuel prices despite the public's protests, citing that it was part of the agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The President, also known as Gus Dur, said Indonesia would not cancel the plan as the measure could hamper the country's efforts to obtain loans from the IMF.

Eros vows to challenge Megawati again KARANGANYAR, Central Java (JP): Outspoken politician Eros Djarot has continued his fight against the renomination of incumbent Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) chief Megawati Soekarnoputri. Eros, the former chief editor of DeTik magazine, renewed his challenge on Sunday by calling for party members not to vote for Megawati in order to pave her way for the presidency.