Teachers protest snub by KPU

SEMARANG, Central Java: About 200 teachers claiming to represent some 250,000 teachers in the Indonesian Teachers Union (PGRI) protested in Central Java on Monday the General Elections Commission's (KPU) failure to include the group as a candidate for interest group representatives in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

"The KPU decision not to enroll teachers as part of the interest groups is an act of humiliation and harassment against the teachers," Sudharto, PGRI chairman in Central Java, said in a statement.

"We are also demanding the government realize their pledge to allocate 25 percent of the state budget to education and raise teachers' salaries by 20 percent."

Separately in Surabaya, East Java, about 500 PGRI teachers held a similar protest in front of the office of the Provincial Election Committee (PPD I).

PGRI chairman Mohammad Ali led the protest, saying that the KPU's lack of concern for teachers proved that educational interests have been neglected for some time. (har/nur/edt)