Govt to improve teachers' welfare
Govt to improve teachers' welfare
JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Monday that
the government would continue to make efforts to improve the
welfare of the country's teachers.
"If the financial situation can support it, the government
intends to increase teachers' salary," she said during a ceremony
to mark National Teachers' Day at the state palace.
Megawati said the government's ability to improve the lot of
teachers by increasing their salaries was still limited.
The government last month agreed to increase teachers' monthly
allowances by Rp 56,250 to Rp 87,500. It also agreed to pay an
additional Rp 75,000 per month in allowances to temporary
teachers and teachers in private schools.
"These increases in teachers' allowances were accomplished in
spite of limited financial resources," she said.
In her speech, the head of state expressed her gratitude for
the loyalty and devotion shown by Indonesian teachers.
"We deeply appreciate and give thanks for our teachers' noble
service and devotion in carrying out their roles by empowering
people through the imparting of knowledge," she said. --Antara
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Students warn Bush against meddling
JP/4/SCENE
Upset students warn Bush against 'meddling'
BANDUNG: Some disgruntled students of the Bandung Institute of
Technology (ITB) have written to U.S. President George W. Bush to
warn him against perceived meddling in Indonesia's internal
affairs.
In their letter, handed to US Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L.
Boyce while the latter was visiting the ITB campus on Monday, the
students urged the U.S. to stop pressuring other countries and
seeking to act as "the world's policeman".
They also asked Bush to stop what they described as the U.S.'s
desire for hegemony and domination in the fields of ideology,
politics, economics and culture.
During the visit to the ITB campus, Boyce was accompanied by
the U.S. Embassy's Public Affairs Counselor, Greta N. Morris, and
Political Officer John T Rath.
They met with the chairman of the institute's board of
trustees, the students' union chairman and lecturers who had
studied in the U.S.
Earlier in the day, the US ambassador paid a visit to West
Java Governor R. Nuriana at the latter's office.
A source in the West Java administration said the closed-door
meeting between Boyce and Nuriana focused on increasing U.S.
investment in the province. --Antara
Expert warns of big volcanic bang
BANDUNG: An expert said here on Monday that Mount Papandayan
could still stage a major eruption.
"Although only small eruptions and tremors have been recorded
over the past several days, a big eruption could still happen,"
vulcanologist Mas Atje Purbawinata warned.
Concurring, the chief of the Rapid Response Team urged people
to stay away from the mountain as "it is not impossible that a
major, life-threatening eruption could happen."
He made the statement after being informed that many people
were entering the danger zone surrounding the mountain.
He said that although notices had been put up banning people
from coming within four kilometers of the volcano, people
nevertheless persisted in doing so.
Rain was reported to have fallen on the mountain and caused
volcanic debris and mud to move in the direction of the Cibereum
Gede and Ciparupug rivers. --Antara