Govt to impose stern measures against separatists JAKARTA (JP): The government will take stern measures against separatist movement activities nationwide starting next month, Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said on Tuesday. "It is clear that within the next two weeks the government will impose a new policy, that is to take firm action against any separatist movement activities. "Of course we'll still hold dialogs, but not with the separatist groups.

A framework for East Timor's economic planning The following is the first of two articles on East Timor's economic planning by C.G. Moghe, who has worked in financial services in various countries for the last 30 years. JAKARTA (JP): East Timor, this latest addition to the "League of Nations", as yet not well versed in the ways of the world, is forming its administration of which rigorous economic planning should be an integral part.

Manila returns to rice market MANILA (Reuters): The Philippines plans to buy an initial 100,000 tons of rice next month in a tender to be held by state- trading firm National Food Authority (NFA), its deputy administrator Gregorio Tan said on Tuesday. Government officials said the results of the NFA tender on March 8 would be used by Manila as a yardstick for its plan to negotiate with the governments of Asian rice exporters to supply an additional 350,000 tons.

KL replaces old palmoil trees KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Malaysian minister called Tuesday for a mass replanting scheme on older palmoil estates to cut over- production and increase sagging prices. Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik said he would propose to cabinet on Wednesday that at least 200,000 hectares (494,000 acres), with trees more than 25 years old, be replanted to improve the yield.

Drug traffickers start to use Internet: Report JAKARTA (JP): There is a strong indication that a new drug trafficking operation using the Internet has hit Jakarta and other big cities in the country, it was reported on Tuesday. The new mechanism was revealed by Sri Daryanti, director of the non-governmental organization, Anti Drug Society, and the National Coordinating Board for Narcotics investigation chief Sr. Comr.

Employees of BII on strike JAKARTA (JP): Employees picket the Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) headquarters on Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Central Jakarta for a second straight day on Tuesday to demand better pay from the management. After negotiations between the union representatives and the bank's management, it was eventually agreed that a pay rise would be awarded in March but would be backdated to February.

Viewing Australia's Papua policy By Siswo Pramono JAKARTA (JP): After East Timor, Papua, officially Irian Jaya, is another potential obstacle for Indonesia-Australia relations. Many Indonesians are suspicious of Australia's motives relating to Papua. What, if any, is Australian policy on Papua? The early Australian policy on the island of New Guinea was formulated at the end of the 19th century, in response to rivalry between the big powers to the north of Australia.

5 naked women held in M'sia mountain rite KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Islamic officials have arrested 40 people -- including five women who were bathing in the nude -- for performing a midnight spiritual ritual on a mountain in southern Malaysia, a report said on Tuesday. The group was led by a self-proclaimed bomoh (traditional healer) who performed prayers to the spirits of Ledang mountain in Johor state before going into a trance early Monday, the Star newspaper reported.