Padang universities protest new raises

PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): Administrators of state Andalas University and Padang Negri University were joined by thousands of their students on Wednesday to protest changes in the government's pay policy for civil servants.

They objected to plans to award up to 900 percent hikes in structural allowances for top civil servants, a move which they said would cause jealousy.

The protests were on the respective campuses.

The chairman of the local branch of the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI), Mizwar, separately expressed concern that a call for similar action now being issued to school teachers would disrupt classes.

"Can anyone come up with a solution?" he asked.

Mizwar said the branch had not decided whether to honor a call from PGRI's head office to boycott the national school examinations in May to press their case.

"The students will be the victims if we take up the proposal," he added.(28/dja)