Semeru spews hot lava

LUMAJANG, East Java: Mount Semeru in East Java spewed hot lava on Sunday, but local residents living at the vicinity have decided to stay.

Suparno, a staff at the local volcano monitoring office, said Sunday that the lava was expelled as far as 250 meters from the mountain peak.

The seismograph at the Candipuro monitoring post recorded 87 volcanic eruptions with a maximum amplitude of 42 meters.

Some minor eruptions were followed by a rise in water level in the Curah Kebokan and Curah Lenkong rivers.

Amid the signs of volcanic eruption, local residents continued their daily activities. They said that the lava was still far from their homes.

Suparno said that local residents would take refugee only if animals from the forest descended the mountain. -- Antara

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PNG urged to help combat separatism

JAYAPURA, Papua: The Trikora military command has asked the government of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to help Indonesia in combating separatist groups in the province.

Secretary of the Trikora military command Brig. Gen. Wurdin Zainal said on Sunday that separatist groups were using border areas as hideouts.

According to Zainal, separatist groups often crossed the border to escape the Indonesian military (TNI).

"Our members often find difficulties in chasing the separatist groups because they flee into PNG," Zainal said.

He added that the request for help had been submitted to the Border Administration Officers in Vanimo so that they could take any necessary actions.

Zainal said PNG should prevent the separatist groups from hiding along the border. - Antara

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Universities told to boost quality

BANDUNG, West Java: Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar expressed concerns on Saturday over the poor quality of the country's universities and urged them to stop designing programs aimed at generating income.

Malik Fajar noted that universities had been functioning like stores, offering various programs and grades without improving their quality.

The minister suggested that universities develop a positive image for the people, "Because a positive image can create hope for the future," he said after inaugurating the rector of Padjadjaran University here on Saturday.

Himendra Wargadibrata was reelected rector for the next four years after serving in the same post for the 1998-2002 period.

During the same occasion, the minister called for an increase in the educational budget for elementary schools.

He said that so far, the government had allocated 90 percent of the educational budget towards universities, while elementary schools received only 10 percent. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA; ANPAa..r.. Mega attends gathering held by Acehnese JP/3/SCENE

Mega attends Acehnese gathering

JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri attended a halal bihalal (a post-Idul Fitri gathering) on Sunday, held by Acehnese living in greater Jakarta.

The event, which took place at Hall B of the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, aimed not only to forgive each other but also to commemorate the signing of the cessation of hostilities agreement on Dec. 9, 2002, between the Indonesian government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Geneva.

Tens of thousands of Acehnese hailing from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi and Banten began to arrive en masse at the building on Sunday morning.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Suwandi, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil and Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh also attended the event.

A number of Acehnese figures, such as former deputy chairman of the House of Representatives (DPR) Ismail Hasan Metareum, former State Minister for Human Rights Hasbalah Saad, and Lt. Gen. (ret.) Tamlicha Ali also took part in the event.

Noted Islamic preacher Abdullah Gymnastiar in his sermon expressed hope that hostilities between the government and GAM would soon cease after the signing of the peace agreement and that they could later forge a cooperation for the benefit of the Acehnese people. --Antara