Thai coalition collapses, elections expected BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's coalition government has collapsed, and Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai is expected to announce snap elections in the coming weeks. The New Aspiration Party (NAP), second-largest member of Chuan's five-party coalition, announced late Thursday it was leaving the government after abandoning the coalition in a crucial vote in parliament earlier in the day.

Share prices on JSX fall to new low JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) continued drifting lower yesterday with most issues loosing ground in heavy trading. The JSX composite Index closed 7.11 points lower to end at 454.08, as compared to 461.2 on Thursday. Yesterday's index was the lowest since August last year. The narrower-based GTDBS-50 Index also closed lower at 105.94 from 107.74.

Taiwan arrests RI sailors TAIPEI (Reuter): Taiwan authorities have arrested nine Indonesian sailors for alleged gun-running to Taiwan's underworld, the coastguard said yesterday. The nine are alleged to have tried to smuggle 16 handguns and 776 bullets on a cargo ship that docked at the southern port of Kaohsiung after sailing from Bangkok, a coastguard statement said.

WB grant for RI judiciary JAKARTA (JP): The Washington-based World Bank has approved a US$500,000 grant for Indonesia to help develop its economic legal system, including institutions and human resources, over the next five years. "The grant will be directly provided by one of the World Bank's institutional affiliates in January," assistant for the development of law to the State Minister for National Development Planning, Sutadi Djajakusuma, told reporters here yesterday.

More attention on indigenous people sought JAKARTA (JP): Activists view that in some areas the government-sponsored transmigration program has failed because of the lack of the indigenous people's involvement in development projects.

Garuda and privatization The editorial on the privatization of Garuda Airlines which appeared in The Jakarta Post on Thursday, Dec. 8, 1994, certainly points to a number of constraints that Garuda Indonesia faces in meeting international conditions, such as the layers of bureaucratic procedures. Another would relate to the problems of introducing new aircraft, particularly on the European Asian route.

Suggestions for UKSW From Media Indonesia I am very concerned about the row occurring in the Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java. What surprises me is how university people, who are basically academic, rational and well versed with scientific methods and familiar with various forums of problem solving, have difficulty sorting out problems within their own organization.

Japan urged to sell Indonesian plywood JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is currently negotiating intensively with 10 Japanese plywood manufacturers, who are going bankrupt due to a worldwide lack of raw materials, to get them to market Indonesia's plywood in Japan.

PLN to give repeat order to Ansaldo GARUT, West Java (JP): The state electricity company PT PLN will give a repeat order to Ansaldo GIE SPA of Italy for construction of another 55-megawatt geothermal power generation plant on Mount Salak, West Java next month. "The plant's construction, expected to be partly financed by an export credit from the Italian government, will cost US$48 million," PLN's head for the Mount Salak geothermal plant project, Willem D. Huwae, told reporters on Thursday.

TRIMs must be part of investment law: Expert JAKARTA (JP): An investment expert suggested yesterday that the government, which is drafting a new investment bill, accommodate all principles being negotiated in the Trade on Related Investment Measures (TRIMs).

WB (Mengisi kapling 27CM) -- 28pt NCSB 4 koloms 1 line RP, WB meet on $50b projects

Court mafia Talk about the existence of a court mafia is once again rife in the mass media. Prof. Zainal Asikin Kusumah Atmadja, a former Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court, in an interview with the daily newspaper Kompas disclosed the existence of such a mafia. He even went so far as to say that about 50 percent of all judges were believed to be "unclean". The issue, which is not exactly new, immediately started rolling. A number of experts have offered their opinions.

Indonesia needs strong TV stations JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and other developing countries need to build a strong television industry to counter the foreign broadcasts which are influencing national viewers, Minister of Information Harmoko said yesterday. Harmoko acknowledged that the development of satellite technology has made it impossible for Indonesia to prevent foreign stations from beaming their programs into Indonesia.

RP, WB to discuss $50b projects MANILA (AFP): The Philippines and the World Bank said yesterday they will convene a high-level meeting next week to boost private investment in the country's infrastructure, expected to cost US$50 billion over the next decade.

1. INVEST -- 48pts Metromedium 4 koloms 2 lines TRIMs must be part of investment law: Expert 2. GRANT -- 26pts HBC 1 kolom 3 lines WB grant for RI judiciary 3. BIS -- 36pts New Century Schoolbook Bold 6 koloms 1 line Derivatives aggravate crises: BIS 4. MARKET -- 28pts Helvetica Bold 3 koloms 2 lines Hong Kong leads plunge in Asian stock markets 5. DOLLAR -- 28pts Metromedium 3 koloms 2 lines Dollar closes higher on Asian and European marts 6.

Trimoelja, the David of Indonesian legal circles By Imanuddin JAKARTA (JP): Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, the winner of this year's Yap Thiam Hien human rights award, could be aptly described as the David of Indonesian legal circles. His diminutive figure -- he is only 160 centimeters tall -- and the big court cases he takes on create an unforgettable contrast. Especially given that many of the cases he is involved put him on the side opposing government bodies.

Multibreeder signs loan JAKARTA (JP): PT Multibreeder Adirama Indonesia, a poultry company listed on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX), signed an agreement in Singapore yesterday on a syndicated credit facility worth US$15 million. Suryo Yusuf, a director of Multibreeder, told reporters here that the credit facility, arranged by the Singapore branch of Sanwa Bank Ltd., would be used to finance the expansion of the company's day old chick production.

Over 3,000 firms break labor laws JAKARTA (JP): Over 3,800 companies in Indonesia were found to be in violation of various labor laws, the Ministry of Manpower said. Ministry chief spokesman Fachri Taharuddin said a team investigated more than 9,000 companies in the last three months and found that 3,810 were breaking labor laws. Most have been let off with a stern warning but 32 will be prosecuted, Fachri said.

Massage parlor From Neraca We are the residents who live in the Lenteng Agung sub- district, South Jakarta. We would like to question the establishment of some massage parlors which actually function as brothels. These establishments are very close to the Institute of Social and Political Sciences (IISIP). We feel that they harm the morals of the students and the surrounding communities. Yet the chief of the sub-district has taken no action. What is really behind this silence?

Hancock to start retail JAKARTA (JP): PT Asuransi Jiwa Bumiputera John Hancock, a provider of employee benefits, announced yesterday that it will enter the retail life insurance market.

Using condom is `economically' worthwhile JAKARTA (JP): Use a condom when having sex. It's worthwhile not only from a health point of view but also from an economic point of view. During a seminar at the University of Indonesia's School of Economics yesterday, Gerard Russo from the East-West Center in Hawaii pointed out, however, that the economic benefit measured by the expected value of life gained, will be more of an incentive for the female than for the male.

Go global, phone firms told JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave yesterday urged Indonesian telecommunications firms to seek jobs in other countries in cooperation with foreign partners. "It's time for us to get involved in the development of overseas telecommunications projects," Joop said in a ceremony for the signing of an agreement on the equity participation of the state-owned PT Telkom in PT Aplikanusa Lintasartha.

Floods From Neraca As the rainy season is upon us (in December) we can be sure that floods will hit the usual areas of Jakarta city, particularly Jl. Subang, Jl. Taman Kebon Sirih. In this relation the flood controlling agents should be prepared for the crisis. Unfortunately, during the dry season the street cleaners in the employ of the Jakarta Administration sweep the rubbish into the ditches, instead of raking it into piles to be collected and taken to rubbish dumps.

Indonesia to help map Africa strategy JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will host a five-day Asia-Africa Forum aimed at establishing programs to facilitate African development by way of the Asian experience. The activities of the forum will be part of the South-South development cooperation undertaken by the 111-nation Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), over which Indonesia currently presides.

Road in Bekasi From Media Indonesia For over a month trucks carrying earth are passing Jl. Teluk Buyung, Bekasi, starting from the railway crossing to Taman Wisma Asri. The trucks carry the earth to the Prima Harapan Regency housing complex in Bekasi. The road becomes unsafe and slippery because bits of earth off the back of the trucks onto the road surface. The rains have worsened the condition of the road. I wonder why the police do not take any action against these trucks.

More attention on indigenous people sought JAKARTA (JP): Activists view that in some areas the government-sponsored transmigration program has failed because of the lack of the indigenous people's involvement in development projects.

Intimidation From Kompas The decision to buy or not to buy something from a shop or street vendor entirely depends on the consumer. In the case of street vendors, one can even look, prod and hold the goods closely and put them back if he or she does not like them. It is public knowledge and usual practice. But some street vendors along Pasar Tanah Abang in Central Jakarta have used intimidation and force to make people buy their goods.

Singapore denies air discrimination SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore Air Traffic Control (ATC) does not discriminate against any aircraft or airport, the Civil Aviation Authority said yesterday. Its statement followed a report by Indonesia's Antara news agency on Thursday that Indonesia was taking over air traffic control around its Batam island from nearby Singapore after complaints about delays caused by Singapore control.

Plane skids off runway YOGYAKARTA: A DC-9 plane belonging to the Merpati Nusantara Airlines skidded off the runway when it landed at the Adisucipto Airport here yesterday. There were no injuries. The plane, which was carrying 80 passengers and six crew members from Denpasar, stopped some 35 meters away from the runway. The aircraft suffered minor damage to the underside of the cockpit and its front wheel, Antara news agency reported. Col.

Filling a need As the millions of Jakartans who cannot afford the luxury of owning a car or motorbike well know, much is left to be desired about this city's public transportation system. Except for the few RMB air conditioned buses which are operated by the PPD city transit company, city buses and minibuses are overcrowded to the point that they endanger their passengers and other road users alike. In addition, they ply only the main roads and offer irregular and singularly bad service.