Isolated protests ahead of fuel price hike JAKARTA (JP): Protests against the government's plan to hike fuel prices were held in several towns on Friday amid growing signs of more widespread demonstrations and possible strikes when the increase comes into effect on Sunday. With just two days to go before the average 12 percent increase, gas stations in Jakarta and most towns in the country reported there was none of the panic buying which accompanied past fuel price hikes.

Port security foils smuggling of arms, munitions AMBON, Maluku (JP): Buli port security in East Halmahera, North Maluku, confiscated on Friday hundreds of M-16 rounds, rifles and explosives while the items were being unloaded from passenger ship KM Albatim. Aside from the ammunition and firearms, the officers also found 12 grams of shabu shabu (crystal methamphetamine) in one of the ship's compartments.

Ruling on Soeharto irks Gus Dur JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has expressed dissatisfaction with the court ruling to drop corruption charges against former president Soeharto, and hinted that he would seek to replace the judges presiding over the case. Implying that the judges were not upright, Abdurrahman said that the government would look for replacements who were "clean, firm and cannot be bought".

Bintuni to sell ships to pay bond interest JAKARTA (JP): The annual shareholders' meeting of fishery concern PT Bintuni Minaraya agreed on Friday to sell part of the company's shipping fleet to meet bond interest payments. "The meeting has decided to authorize management to sell ships if the company's cash flow cannot meet payments on bond interest," Bintuni investor relations officer Dixi Satianagara told a press conference. According to Dixi, Bintuni owned a fleet of some 700 ships.