Matias Akankari By Gerson Poyk It was a parachutist who produced Matias Akankari from the jungles of Irian Jaya. In the dead of night he jumped and fell back to earth and had come to rest, dangling from the branches of a tall tree. With great effort on his part he managed to extricate himself. Then he rested. And, upon regaining his strength, he set out on foot to find his companions. Before finding them however, he met up with a young Irian male called Matias Akankari.

Bulog moves to foil rice price increase JAKARTA (JP): The National Logistic Agency (Bulog) yesterday launched a major market operation in rice to foil speculations that the price of the nation's staple diet will increase ahead of the Islamic Idul Fitri festivities. Newly appointed Bulog chief Beddu Amang personally supervised the operation at the Cipinang and Pasar Minggu markets, informing traders of his intention and expectations from them.

Guess What? Megawati Soekarnoputri The hottest chili, the most delicious sago and the spiciest fish are some of the things chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party, Megawati Soekarnoputri, has discovered during her inter-island tours. "I don't usually like ikan pepes (smoked fish), but you should try the stuff from Manado (North Sulawesi), yum!" she told her sister Sukmawati and other kin on Tuesday.

Pakistan penfriend I am much desirous to become a penfriend with a student of my age in Indonesia, therefore please publish my data: Name : Ejaz Ahmed Age : 14 years old Class : Matric (s.s.c./A level) Hobby : reading and gardening Address: Milli Mill Store, Mohammadi Road, Shershah, Karachi, Pakistan. I am very religious minded and seek loyal penfriends who are regular in sending letters. EJAZ AHMED Karachi, Pakistan

Turkish artist inspired by Indonesian culture By Margaret Agusta JAKARTA (JP): Mubeccel Siber of Turkey finds insight to be her best source of inspiration when painting Indonesian subjects. "Art is not only a reflection of the artist's inspiration, but it is the artist's desire to communicate his or her own experience and insight through works of art," Siber, originally from Istanbul, said in a recent interview.

Singapore navy gets homemade warships SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore's navy yesterday launched the first of 12 warships that have been designed and are being built locally. The new class of 55-metre (180-foot) patrol vessels will replace 12 smaller and less well-equipped coastal patrol craft the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has operated since the early 1980s, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said.

Balinese utopia lures more foreigners to stay By Benito Lopulalan DENPASAR (JP): "When I found this beautiful place, I was entranced by its magic," the Bavarian-American lady said. "I quickly made up my mind; I, too, would build my little house in Bali. It would be Balinese in spirit and Western in comfort. Here I would stay and enjoy life." She paused, looking around, then added, "That was three years ago, though. Now, after all this time spent in Ubud, I find myself lonely and homesick".

Instilling a love of reading in children By Surtiningsih W.T. BOGOR, West Java (JP): National Press Day, Feb.9, was marked with a number of slogans, the first of which was "with press day, instill a love for reading". This is an honorable aim, and many people believe that cultivating reading does grow along with the growth of press industry. However, a campaign for instilling a love for reading should start much earlier than the time when someone begins reading newspapers.

For a better workers' future Tomorrow is the 22nd anniversary of the All Indonesian Workers Union. The Jakarta Post prepared the following article, and two others on page 2, about the predicament of workers and what the union has done to improve their lot. JAKARTA (JP): Aji, 36, a high school graduate from Rangkas Bitung, West Java, has made up his mind to stop being a laborer. He is going to enter the informal sector and sell noodles on the street.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Monday Maghrib 06.18 p.m. Tuesday Imsak 04.31 a.m. Subuh 04.41 a.m.

Indofood will acquire Bogasari from Indocement JAKARTA (JP): The well-diversified Salim Group plans an internal acquisition through the transferal of PT Bogasari Flour Mill's assets from PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa to its food division, PT Indofood Sukses Makmur. Directors of Indocement and Indofood told a joint press conference here yesterday that the acquisition plan is still subject to the approval of the government and the minority shareholders.

Maluku's Kei Islanders fight to protect their environment By Dini Sari Djalal JAKARTA (JP): The meaning of development has at times eluded even the most earnest optimists. To J.P. Rahail, a tribal chief of the Kei Islands in Maluku, development has become synonymous with the threat of environmental and cultural desecration. "What is development?" asked Rahail during a stopover in Jakarta following an invitation to meet his Iban colleagues in Sarawak, Malaysia.

Briton drowns in Bali JAKARTA (JP): The body of a British tourist, who drowned while snorkeling at the diving resort of Buleleng in north Bali on Thursday, was found about three miles from where he was last seen. Buleleng Police Chief Lt. Col. Andi Chaerudin said local people, who joined the search effort, found the body of George Adrian Mark washed ashore in an area called Teluk Kelor on the same day, the Antara news agency reported yesterday.

Kei Islands on film JAKARTA (JP): In the modern age, the written word is no longer adequate to document the complexities of society. Moving color pictures are more likely to reach the masses. A song sells better with a good video, films are being transferred onto CD-ROMS, and sophisticated classrooms are equipped with televisions and video machines. Despite protests from literary traditionalists, video imagery remains an indispensable means of documentation and education.

Guess What? Mochtar Buchori Prominent Moslem scholar and writer Mochtar Buchori rallied from his month-long illness just in time to go to Manado, North Sulawesi, last week. He spoke at a seminar held by The Jakarta Post in conjunction with the celebration of the National Press Day. Thanks in part to the skillful leadership of moderator Sabam Siagian, and to his own skills, Mochtar was able to give a concise, rich and entertaining half hour presentation.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fresh 7:40 TV Series: Vicky The Viking 8:10 The Flora & Fauna Of Indonesia 8:40 TV Series: Voltron 9:00 People and Events 9:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 9:45 Music 10:45 Youth Program 11:15 Search For The World 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 12:45 p.m.

The role of labor unions in Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Garment workers in a crowded industrial estate in Kemandoran, South Jakarta, have put their collective foot down. They want nothing more to do with labor unions, they say, after the South Jakarta branch of the All Indonesian Workers' Union (SPSI) "abandoned" them when the factory's management undertook mass layoffs after a strike.

The development of Indonesian labor unions JAKARTA (JP): Decision makers have had enough of high profile unions. The basis for the first Indonesian unions early in the 20th century, explains Australia-based historian John Ingleson, was the communities the workers set up in the cities. These communities were established as the important port cities in the East Indies, like Batavia (Jakarta) and Surabaya, grew. Rural migrants came in search of work, especially in the transportation field.

The horn, Jakartans' language of choice JAKARTA (JP): Arriving at the hotel from the airport, my English friend shouted excitedly, "Only fifteen times, much better." I was in the middle of a hassle in the hotel parking lot but managed to demand an explanation. "What is fifteen times? And what is much better?" "Between Cengkareng and the hotel, you only blew your horn fifteen times. Usually, it's twenty-five or thirty." "So you were counting honks while I was struggling with traffic? Charming.