Irian Jaya lacks qualified teachers JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Puncak Jaya regency's dream of quality education will not come true in the foreseeable future because the local teacher training institute has failed to produce qualified teachers, an official said on Tuesday. The regency established the institute in 1999 after migrant teachers fled the regency in the early 1990s when they were threatened by secessionist activists and rebels.

Telkom reviews Singtel's offer JAKARTA (JP): The board of commissioners of state-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom is considering Singapore Telecommunications' (Singtel) offer to buy out KPN NV's shares in cellular company PT Telkomsel which it controls, according to the former's top executive.

Megawati's mission Had it not been for the horrible disaster that struck New York and Washington on September 11 last week, President Megawati Soekarnoputri's current overseas trip, particularly to the United States, would not have caused that much controversy.

Pulogadung problem-ridden bus terminal to be moved By Muninggar Sri Saraswati JAKARTA (JP): When you arrive in Pulogadung bus terminal, East Jakarta, your first impression will be: Terrible! That is certain, no doubt about it. The largest bus station in the city is notorious for its disorganized state and crime. Head of Pulogadung bus station, Nadias Sjam, said that at least 1,200 city and inter-city public buses use the 3.5-hectare terminal every day.

SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Indonesia has awarded the Tanjung Aru block, located offshore Kalimantan in the Makassar Straits, to Malaysia's state oil and gas company Petroliam Nasional Bhd., or Petronas, the company said in a statement released Tuesday. Petronas said its exploration unit Petronas Carigali Sdn. Bhd. will hold a 50 percent stake in the block. The remaining 50 percent will be held by Amerada Hess Corp., which will act as the block operator.

Important elements of autonomy From Media Indonesia In response to an editorial titled, "Menyelamatkan manisnya madu" (savoring the sweet taste of honey) in Media Indonesia daily published on Sept. 6, 2001, I would like to put forward my view. I am of the view that there must be three important elements to the implementation of regional autonomy: first, coordination and correlation; second, vision and mission; and third, selectiveness and fair implementation.

Mining firm faces lawsuit MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: Dozens of residents in Luit Raya in the Permata Intan subdistrict filed a lawsuit against gold-mining company PT Indo Muro Kencana (IMK) over a land dispute. In the lawsuit, residents are demanding the company pay compensation amounting to Rp 2.6 billion (US$286,501), said Herly S. Penyang, a representative of the 35 neighbors, after a meeting with North Barito Regent Badaruddin.

Man too old to get married BANDUNG, West Java: A 70-year-old man who went missing for four days after his children prohibited him from taking another wife was found dead in the well in his backyard on Monday, his relatives said on Tuesday. Somareja, a resident of Cicalengka, just east of Bandung, was believed to have committed suicide after he was forced to relinquish his dream of marrying the woman he loved, Antara reported.

Lengthy procedures stall investigation of maid abuse case JAKARTA (JP): Ten days have passed since a housemaid set herself ablaze in despair while her coworker is still hospitalized due to severe injuries. But their employers, whom the survivor said were the source of the tragedy, have yet to be detained. "The case is being handled and in the meantime we are still waiting for the results of the medical tests (of the survivor)," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Wealth audit commission to be trained how to investigate JAKARTA (JP): The Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) will soon collaborate with the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the National Police for the provision of training on conducting investigations.

Reform necessary within PT KAI From Koran Tempo The recent, terrifying accident between a passenger train and a locomotive that was shunting in Cirebon station caused a huge number of victims, loss of passengers' property and heavy damage to the nation's assets. Subsequently, the minister of transportation and his "assistant" (nb. meaning the chief, or top management) in the state railway company (PT KAI) said they would immediately resign, to which I expressed my "salute".

RP jobless dips to 10.1% MANILA (AFP): About 10.1 percent of the Philippines' labor force were unemployed in July, down from 13.3 percent in April, the National Statistics Office said Tuesday. The figure was also lower than the unemployment rate of 11.2 percent in the same month last year. The government issues the figures every three months. The labor force rose 6.7 percent from a year earlier to 32.6 million people, the National Statistics Office said in a statement.

RP to keep growth targets MANILA (AFP): The Philippines is maintaining its growth targets this year despite the likely global economic fallout from the terrorist attacks against New York and the Pentagon last week, an official said Tuesday. President Gloria Arroyo's government has put in place a "set of options for dealing with any unexpected impact" of last week's attacks, including the U.S. government's response to the attack, Economic Planning Secretary Dante Canlas said.

PDI-P to look into alleged bribery case JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is to investigate an alleged bribery case involving the party's outspoken legislator, Aberson Marle Sihaloho, an executive of the party said on Tuesday. Karl Lukas Degey, the deputy chairman of PDI Perjuangan, said the party decided in a meeting on Tuesday to thoroughly investigate the case, which could tarnish the party's image.

Soft drink makers want tax axed JAKARTA (JP): Soft drink manufacturers called on the government to revoke the 10 percent luxury tax imposed on their products arguing that they could in no way be categorized as luxury goods. Chairman of the Association of Soft Drink Industries (ASRIM) Mugijanto said in a press statement on Tuesday that soft drinks, including packaged mineral water and carbonated beverages, were consumed by all classes in society.

Government, House complete debate on new oil, gas bill JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives and the government have completed the deliberation process on the new oil and gas bill which is aimed at liberalizing the industry and ending the monopoly of state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Tuesday that the House was expected to give its final approval in the middle of next month at a plenary session.

RI continues to suffer lack of FDI: Survey JAKARTA (JP): Foreign investors have continued to stay away from Indonesia despite an increase in the global flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2000, according to the United Nation's World Investment Report 2001.

Dosage vital in herbal medicine By Ridlo Aryanto YOGYAKARTA (JP): One afternoon, a patient is taken to experienced herbalist R. Broto Sudibyo in Mergangsan village in Yogyakarta. The 40-year-old Martono was in a very bad condition, too weak to walk by himself. He vomited in the herbalist's consulting room. When he urinated, his urine had blood in it.

PALEMBANG, South Sumatera: Indonesian Midwife Association chairperson, Mrs. Wastibar Moesbir, asks for security protection for midwives in handling their duties due to mounting threatens upon them recently. While Irianjaya branch had warned to pull out all midwives from remote villages. "I ask for security protection for midwives especially for those who are placed in remote villages.

JP/Sapi TRADITIONAL TRANSPORT: The resident of the regency of Bantul, Yogyakarta, rents his cow-driven cart to transport goods. He said that that a customer paid for Rp 25,000 for transporting woods for cooking from the customer's residence to the market, while rentiung a truck could reach more than Rp 150,000 for the same distant.

'Antara' to hold photo exhibition JAKARTA (JP): The National Antara News Agency will hold a black and white photo exhibition under the theme Glory of the Past. A total of 30 photos will be displayed from Sept. 19 to Sept. 23 at the Antara photo journalism gallery at Jl. Antara No. 59, Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta. The photos are of unfinished artwork and documentary photographs.

Medan teachers demand salary back-pay MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP):Hundreds of teachers based in the capital of North Sumatra, Medan, thronged the mayoralty on Tuesday demanding unpaid back pay dating back to January this year. Hundreds of students from more than 60 junior and senior high schools joined the teachers grouped under the Communication Forum for Teachers' Struggle (FKPG). They insisted on meeting with Mayor Abdillah to discuss their problem.

110,000 city employees to receive back pay late JAKARTA (JP): The city administration announced on Tuesday that it could not disburse six-months back pay totaling Rp 300 billion (US$3.3 million) for its 110,000 civil servants on schedule in the middle of this month due to some technical problems.