U.S. to balance foreign policy objectives JAKARTA (JP): Policy makers in Washington increasingly seem willing to strike a balance between their push for human rights, democracy and environmental protection and their often conflicting economic goals. The Clinton administration is now searching for a good formula to continue its human rights campaign without affecting U.S. economic and trade ties with other countries, Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Arifin M.

'Adamant' Sudomo survives efforts to remove him JAKARTA (JP): Sudomo, the chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council who is enmeshed in a Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million) banking scandal, survived an attempt by his deputy to force him take a temporary leave. The agenda of a plenary meeting of the council on Thursday listed the question of whether or not Sudomo should take a leave of absence was in the agenda, but this was not discussed.

Undercurrents issue (INI YANG DIPAKAI) "Undercurrents" is an important new term in our political vocabulary. It all started when the central government -- known as the "uppercurrents" -- imposed policies to be implemented by the provincial and regional governments. The policies happened to be contrary to the people's aspirations -- the undercurrents.

A: 14pt MB, rest 8pt U55 4col, credit 6pt Italics Antara PROJECT DOCUMENTS: Minister of Defense and Security General Edi Sudrajat (left) presents documents listing development projects for East Timor to the province's governor, Jose Abilio Soares. The documents were handed over in a ceremony in Dili on Thursday.

SMA Three wins basketball title JAKARTA (JP): As expected, the highly favored men's and women's teams of SMA Three, both won the Coca-Cola Basket Mania Cup competitions concluded on Thursday at the Senayan Basketball Hall. The teams from the government-run high school won the Team Play event and the Three-on-Three competition. Its female squad defeated SMA Ragunan 32-26. Their male compatriots beat SMAN 81 11-9 to grab the Three-on-Three category in the final.

Government plans tax offices in districts nationwide JAKARTA (JP): The Directorate General of Taxes will substantially increase the number of tax service offices in the country to intensify the collection of taxes and to improve services to taxpayers, Director General of Taxes Fuad Bawazier says.

ASEAN At A Glance Palestinian officer in Bangkok for talks BANGKOK (AFP): Palestinian representative Farouk Khadoumi arrived in Bangkok yesterday for a five-day official visit to discuss bilateral trade and setting up a permanent office in Thailand, the Thai foreign ministry said. Khadoumi, heading a delegation of seven, was to meet with Foreign Minister Prasong Soonsiri to discuss trade, agricultural and intellectual aid to the Palestinian region, it said in a statement.

Chriatians told find strength in Easter JAKARTA (JP): As members of the Protestant and Roman Catholic communities celebrate Easter this weekend, their leaders in the government are appealing to them to find new strength in the significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The directors general of Protestant and Catholic affairs, respectively Jan Kawatu and Imam Kusen Mihardjo, sent separate messages to their flocks on the eve of Good Friday.

Malaysia's central bank admits huge forex losses KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysian central bank governor Jaffar Hussein said on Thursday the bank will give up forward foreign exchange trading after losing 15 billion ringgit (US$5.6 billion) over the last two years. He told a news conference releasing Bank Negara's annual report that the bank lost 5.7 billion ringgit ($2.13 billion) in foreign exchange trading in 1993, after losing 9.3 billion ringgit ($3.48 billion) in 1992.

Ancient `Gambuh' dance revives in modern Bali By Kunang Helmi-Picard PARIS, France (JP): "...there will come a moment, during a temple feast or a cremation, of which ...gamboeh is a recognized accessory, when one will become aware of a strange wailing of flutes and rebab, the clash of cymbals and clamor of strident voices rising above the gay contention of several gamelans and the tinkle of the pedanda's bell...

Londoners pedal their way to new home in New Zealand By Yoko N. Sari JAKARTA (JP): Robert and Philippa NcNaughtan left London on March 15, 1993, to emigrate to New Zealand where they hope to start a new life. But they are not in a hurry. More than a year later, after snow, rain and heat, they are still one country and one continent away from getting there. The London couple is pedaling their way to New Zealand and March, which they spent in Indonesia, was a special month for Robert and Philippa.

TV Today, Saturday, April 2, 1994 TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Sports Program 3:30 TV Series: Unsolved Mystery 4:00 TVRI reports 4:30 TV Drama 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Comedy 6:00 Nusantara the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Lecture by Open University 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Dian Rana 8:00 TV Series: The Sword of Tipu Sultan 9:00 World News 9:30 Music Program 10:30 Late News 10:45 Film: Remaja 76 Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Foreign authors want banning of books stopped JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of PEN, an international association of writers concerned about literary freedom, urged the government yesterday to stop banning books. "Censorship is an inefficient way for fulfilling any method of controlling," said Bharati Mukherjee, an Indian-born United States novelist in the delegation told a press conference. "My plea is to urge a kind of general amnesty for writers," she said.

1. Wage -- 48 Metro Medium, 3 lines, 3 cols, l/c Businessmen seek abolishment of 'invisible' costs 2. Negara -- 36 pts Helv. Bold Cond. l/c 2 cols 3 lines KL central bank admits huge forex losses 3. Gatt --- 36 Century Bold, 2 lines, 4 cols, l/c Poor countries see menace in U.S. trade-labor link 4. Nafed --- 24 Helvetica Bold Condensed, 2 lines, 2 cols, l/c RI to send business mission to Europe 5. KLSE --- 28 Metro Medium, 2 lines, 3 cols. l/c Sagging Malaysian bourse still among world's best 6.

Seoul welcomes Security Council soft line on Pyongyang nuclear standoff SEOUL (AFP): South Korea yesterday welcomed a UN Security Council statement reflecting the soft Chinese line on the North Korean nuclear standoff, as Washington said it was beefing up its defense posture in the South. "We support the actions and decision of the Security Council 100 percent," South Korean Foreign Minister Han Sung-joo at the UN in New York.

Businessmen seek abolishment of invisible costs JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian businessmen are saying they are committed to paying their workers the minimum wage, but if the government doesn't take steps to improve business conditions, they could loose their viability internationally.

New RI envoy to China presents credentials JAKARTA (JP): The new Indonesian ambassador to China, Juwana, presented his letters of credential to Chinese President Jiang Zemin in a ceremony at the Great Hall of People in Beijing this week. The ceremony, held on Tuesday, was attended by a number of high-ranking Chinese officials and staff members of the Indonesian embassy in Beijing, the Antara news agency reported on Thursday.

Lecturers are not doing enough research: Experts JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian lecturers are spending too much of their time lecturing and too little on research at the expense of their own academic quality. Speakers at a seminar on the situation of Indonesian lecturers said universities and colleges should take some of the blame because they are burdening their staff with too many teaching assignments and are not encouraging them to do more research.

Across the Archipelago PDI chief turns to Army MAGELANG, Central Java: Chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Sukarnoputri has expressed hope that several generals will join her party. "I hope not only retired generals who would like to become PDI members but also those who are still active," Megawati said before thousands of PDI cadres during an Idul Fitri get-together on Tuesday. Megawati said the PDI now has become stronger than ever.

Soeharto warns on power abuse JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is warning provincial authorities not to abuse the stronger power and greater autonomy given to them. In a written message presented at the meetings for the transfer of lists of development projects to provincial administrations, the President said that the stronger power should not be used to create bureaucratic problems that may hamper the country's development efforts.

Indonesia defends labor record at ILO meeting in Geneva JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia came under strong attack at the March 17-March 31 meeting of the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva as international trade unions charged Jakarta with denying workers freedom of association.

Jakarta vulnerable to earthquakes, expert says JAKARTA (JP): A leading geologist warns that Jakarta, home to almost 10 million people, is vulnerable to the effects of major earthquakes although it is located a safe distance from the spots most prone to tectonic quakes. Suparka S. warned that even small tremors in these vulnerable spots could be very destructive because of the high density of Jakarta's population and its multitude of high-rise buildings.

New times, old law It seems that the Jakarta city administration is in dire need of cash again. How can one tell? By the fact it intends to start levying taxes on radios, again. Like such taxes as duties on television sets, bicycles or dogs, radio taxes have always been a convenient means for government administrators to get some additional cash when needed. We do not know how many radio owners the Jakarta city tax officials have been able to register.