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
;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. 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