Teachers protest at religion office

CILACAP, Central Java: One hundred and fifty high school religious studies teachers here staged a rally yesterday against the local religious affairs office to protest the imposition of illegal fees.

They demanded the office chief, Suhardi, immediately cease the docking of their salary for unclear reasons.

"The Ministry of Religious Affairs should free itself from corruption, collusion and nepotism... An institution that knows about sin, should be shameful of committing them," a protester said.

The protesters also demanded the office provide them with a financial statement explaining where the money they've already paid has gone.

Suhardi met the protesting teachers and promised to look into the problem. (45)