Obituary for Dicky and Nike The article Nation bids farewell to some of its best artists published in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 26, 1995 encouraged me to write a letter in order to inform the Post that it did not publish any news about Dicky Zulkarnaen, who died of a heart attack in March, and Nike Ardilla who died in a car accident in Bandung, also in March. I know this because I have read the Post since 1994.

Simple solutions to seminar slambers JAKARTA (JP): Meeting at a karaoke bar one afternoon, my friends and I broke into laughter. We were supposed to be at a seminar in a nearby hotel, listening to somebody drone on from a prepared text. With the exception of Marie Elka Pangestu, Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Emha Ainun Najib and a few others, seminar speakers usually read straight from their papers, only adding "ladies and gentlemen" now and then. Some manage to incorporate "so" and "well". Boring.

Iwan Tirta challenges fashion norms to fight alien competition By Dini S. Djalal JAKARTA (JP): Iwan Tirta was nervous. His yearly fashion show was being staged a week later than scheduled and followed Oscar de la Renta's groundbreaking show. "What if people say, 'But I already bought an Oscar de la Renta gown last week'?" asked Indonesia's most famous batik designer. Competition from European and American designers has taken its toll.

An Indonesian guide to gracious gift giving By Sneha JAKARTA (JP): Most of us will have experienced the pleasure of receiving and giving gifts. A gift is a token of goodwill, affection and friendship. A gift received when least expected evokes even greater joy because the element of surprise adds to the pleasure. A gift must be tied with heartstrings. Do not give just for the sake of it, and don't expect a return from it.

Obituary Monsignor Leo Soekoto, the former Archbishop of Jakarta, died in Semarang last night. He was 75 years old. He died while undergoing treatment for cancer at the Elizabeth Hospital in Semerang, the capital of Central Java. He was admitted to the hospital on Dec. 17, and his condition began deteriorating on Christmas Day, according to Pastor Petrus of the Jakarta Archdiocese. He has been suffering from bone cancer for the past five years.

Guess What? Artists performing at the New Year's party at Hotel Horison get special advice from the hotel general manager, Boediman Kusika. "Don't bug the audience," he said at a year-end media conference last week. "I notice that many artists like to grab the audience and bring them to the stage. Not all of them like that," he said. The New Year's party will feature a number of local artists including Koes Hendratmo, Dewi Yull, Rita Dinah Kandi and Eddy Likumahua.

Dewi Yull: An artist who adores teachers By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): You would expect an actress to admire another actor, but not actress and singer R.A. Dewi Yull Pujiati. It's not Madonna, Pavarotti or Pierce Brosnan she idolizes. Instead, she adores special education teachers. "I am really impressed with their great patience and persistence in teaching the students," she said.

'TNT & Cartoon Network' struggling in Indonesia By Johannes Simbolon HONG KONG (JP): Within one year, the TNT & Cartoon Network has invaded many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, but it has to work harder before capitalizing on the Indonesian market. The entertainment service, owned by American magnate Ted Turner, was launched in the region in October, 1994. Early this month, it celebrated its first anniversary in its townbase of Hong Kong.

Indovision cuts rates in hope of more sales JAKARTA (JP): Does pay TV have a future in Indonesia? The answer is vague, but one thing is certain: PT Malicak Lintas Cakrawala, the sole authorized pay TV agency in Indonesia and better known as Indovision, has struggled to survive over the past year. It changed marketing strategies several times before finally increasing the number of subscribers.

Ramos declares calamity MANILA (Reuter): Philippine President Fidel Ramos yesterday declared a state of calamity in the flood-ravaged provinces of Kalinga and Apayao in the northern Philippines, the presidential palace said in a statement. Ramos approved the release of one million pesos (US$38,500) in emergency aid for each of the two provinces, the statement said. Continuous rains had pounded the northern part of the Philippines, causing floods which also hit other provinces.

Indonesian women played prominent role in history Prominent Women in the Glimpse of History Ibrahim Alfian, Editor Published by Bank Exim Jakarta, 1994 155 pages JAKARTA (JP): The woman's role has always been a hot topic in developing countries and will apparently continue to be so into the next century. Like the condition in many other countries, the woman's role in Indonesia has somewhat improved although it is still far way from matching those of men.

Executive shot dead in broad daylight JAKARTA (JP): A Jakarta business executive was shot point blank in the head yesterday while driving his car along busy Jl. Suprapto in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta. Police apprehended the suspect within hours. The victim was identified as 58-year-old Lukman Ilyas, a finance manager at PT Intermitra in the Cempaka Putih area. Jakarta Police Spokesman Lt. Col.

Tirta Taruna dominates swimming c'ships JAKARTA (JP): Felix C. Sutanto and Catherine Surya were named the best swimmers as Jakarta swim club Tirta Taruna retained the overall title at the 17th Interclub Swimming Championships yesterday. Felix, who won three golds and broke two meet records, led Tirta Taruna in racking up 823 points to remain the country's strongest swim club. Hiu from Surabaya came second with 501 points, followed by Aquarius from Bandung with 481 points.

Cremation: Sending souls to the abode of God By I Wayan Sadia SINGARAJA, Bali (JP): Ngaben (cremation) is an age-old tradition in Hindu Balinese society. It is regarded as the most significant religious ritual, and is known as pitra yadnya (sacred sacrifice for the dead). It is the desire of every Balinese to one day be able to perform this noble yadnya.. Because of its magnitude and the huge funds involved, a family may not be able to afford to immediately cremate their dead relative.

1996 worse than 1995, seers say By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): Three psychics predict 1996 will be worse than 1995. The seers also say the political temperature will soar while corruption, manipulation and collusion will run even more rampant. But don't worry, a ratu adil (just king) will appear in 1996, one predicts. The three top psychics -- Ki Ageng Selo, Anton Rudolf Nico and Ki Gendeng Pamungkas -- also say 1996 will be a milestone for the country's democracy movement.

Hotel business booming due to free market JAKARTA (JP): Isadore Sharp, the chairperson and chief executive officer of the Four Seasons and Regent Hotels and Resorts, was in the city recently for the gala opening of the Regent Jakarta. Sharp opened the first of what has now become a chain of 38 hotels in 16 countries under the Four Seasons and Regent, in Toronto, Canada, in 1960.

Guess What? Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman is certainly looking forward to this coming New Year's celebration. Any reason? Well, for one thing he will be in a town he loves so much: Yogyakarta. Secondly, he will be busy doing something he is passionate about, organizing a wayang (shadow puppet) show. Soesilo is scheduled to close 1995 at the two-day international gamelan festival in Yogyakarta. The festival started on Friday.

Wismoyo accepts SEA Games report JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar has formally accepted the report on Indonesia's performance at the just concluded 18th Southeast Asian Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand, from chef de mission Arie Sudewo.

S. Maluku's leader dies ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AFP): Johan Manusama, former president of the Free Republic of South Maluku, has died in a Rotterdam hospital, his family said Friday. He was 85. Manusama, whose self-declared government claimed independence for the southern part of Indonesia's Maluku islands, was admitted to hospital on Wednesday after falling seriously ill, the relatives said.

New Year's resolutions that should be kept By T. Sima Gunawan and Prapti Widinugraheni JAKARTA (JP): Different people have different ideas and plans for the coming year. Yet, all have something in common. They want to do their best to make tomorrow better than yesterday. A few people recently revealed to The Jakarta Post their new year's resolutions. Lies, office girl: In 1996 I want to be more successful in all aspects of life.

The stench of Senen station From Neraca It's been three years since I visited the Senen railway station. I was very shocked to find how horrible it has become when I went there early this week to send a package to Yogyakarta. The station was filthy. Some homeless people were lying naked on the platform, while bands of youngsters were hanging around with menacing looks on their faces. The platform stank of urine and the railway officials didn't seem to care at all.