Japan, Thailand remain unbeaten FUKUOKA, Japan (AFP): Defending champion Japan and close challenger Thailand coasted to their fourth straight wins yesterday to remain unbeaten at the Asia Pacific Cup men's volleyball tournament. The Japanese, members for the Student Games in August here, outgunned Indonesia 3-0 (15-13, 15-4, 15-6), while Thailand breezed past Vietnam 3-0 (15-2, 15-7, 15-6).

'Keroncong' breaks Tugu people's isolation By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): Arthur Michiels, 26, displayed an old phonograph record released in 1972 in the Netherlands. Its worn-out cover features a group of musicians posing behind a cloth banner reading "Tugu Village, the Birthplace of Kroncong Music". The group called Moresco, was a legendary keroncong band in its time. It was dissolved late in the 1970s at the passing away of its leader Jakobus Quiko.

Betawi programs become favorite JAKARTA (JP): Rano Karno, producer and actor of the popular television series Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel, the Graduate), was upset to discover that the series had been pirated abroad. He said he was surprised to hear people calling him Doel when he was on the pilgrimage to Mecca at the end of last year.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fresh with Berty Tilarso 7:40 Cartoon: Vicky The Viking 8:05 Culture Program 8:35 Children's Stories 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 1:15 p.m.

Homestay Craze: Worth the Money? I am writing concerning the June 4 article titled The Homestay Craze: Worth the Money? in The Jakarta Post. On behalf of the Educational Advising Service of the American-Indonesian Exchange Foundation, I would like to set the record straight by stating the following: * Homestay programs offer unique English language study and improvement possibilities, new cultural and travel experiences and the opportunity to develop new and lasting friendships.

Battered body of Kuta waiting for 'Ngaben' to lure tourists By Rob Goodfellow DENPASAR (JP): Some time between the early 1970s and the mid 1980s, the area around the Balinese seaside village of Kuta Beach, from Bemo Corner to the coconut groves of Legian, reached its zenith as a bottom of the market tourist destination. For hippies, surfies, travelers and tourists, Kuta and Bali were either "The Morning of the Earth", the perfect wave, or the ultimate escape.

Benyamin Sueb helps preserve Betawi culture By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Benyamin Sueb, popularly known as Benyamin S., a rather ordinary seeming Betawi (indigenous Jakartan) man was catapulted into stardom with the humorous lyrics of a song titled Ondel-Ondel. The song tells about a joyous Ondel-Ondel parade led by people dancing inside the huge Ondel-Ondel body puppets of the Betawi people. This art activity is held by Betawi Udik (villagers) on special occasions.

Dam project As a person from Jatirogo, I was very pleased and proud upon learning that a dam would be built in Dingil village, Jatirogo subdistrict, Tuban regency, East Java. But, why isn't there any sign that the project will start? Local people are waiting for the realization of the project, which is very important for irrigation. This will enable the people to achieve "food self-sufficiency" and improve their welfare.

Diverse cultures, musical styles meet at Bamboo Music Festival Text by Dini S. Djalal Photos by Mulkan Salmona UBUD, Bali (JP): Musicians often say that music is something that is felt and difficult to quantify. Others would continue to say that music is a unifying force, able to bring together people of all cultures.

Indonesian gold exhibition now on in Paris By Kunang Helmi-Picard PARIS (JP): A total of 71 artifacts belonging to the National Museum in Jakarta, mainly made of gold, are on display in Paris until the end of July. As the existence of Indonesian jewelry and other objects in precious metals has been almost completely ignored by the European public up to the present day, Indonesia's 50th anniversary is a fitting occasion to introduce the French to a representative selection.

Wimbledon court memories By Russell Barlow JAKARTA (JP): I count myself lucky to be one of the few to fulfill every tennis player's dream to play on the Center Court at Wimbledon, the world's oldest and most revered tennis tournament. As a young tennis player growing up in Australia, I would beg my parents to allow me to stay up until the late hours to watch the tape-delayed telecasts of matches from Wimbledon.

Tracing Old Jakarta through photographs a thrilling experience By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The voyage of Lawrence Blair and his brother the late Lorne Blair around the Indonesian archipelago in the 1970s traced Alfred Russell Wallace's 19th Century journey, as recorded in the latter's Malay Archipelago. The Blairs' trip was eventually made into the television series "Ring of Fire" and a book with the same title. There is a great charm in tracing the footsteps of other people.

Female paranormal I am interested in the story printed in your daily on June 11, page 8, about Retno Widati, a female paranormal specializing in sexual problems. But I don't know her address in Jakarta. I hope you could give her address to me. FAUZI NASUTION Jakarta Note: Her address in Jakarta was Villa Pejaten Mas, Gang Sosial 9, Pasar Minggu, Jakarta Selatan. Her telephone number was 780- 1276. As mentioned in the article, she moved to Surabaya on the second week of the month. -- Editor

Soeharto opens Bali art festival JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto opened yesterday the 17th Balinese art festival in Denpasar, calling Indonesians to be careful in facing the negative impact of foreign culture. The opening ceremony, which took place at Jayasabha Building in the Bali capital, was followed by a long and colorful Balinese procession displaying art creations from various districts of the tourist island. The procession was led by a large gong and students from Jembrana regency.

Never underestimate the address books By Myra Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): A friend once asked me which book I would bring if I was exiled to a remote island and was allowed only one book. I couldn't decide which one to bring because I have so many favorite books, but my daughter was very quick with her answer. "My address book, of course," she said.

Yayuk Basuki sets sights on Wimbledon quarterfinals By Bruce Emond Jakarta (JP): Indonesia's Yayuk Basuki wants to take her career one step further at Wimbledon this year by becoming the first Asian woman to reach the quarterfinals of the world's most prestigious tournament. Yayuk and Japan's Naoko Sawamatsu are the only two Asian women to have reached the fourth round, or final 16 players, in Wimbledon's 111 years.

Drawings cast new light on painter's career By Sarah Murray JAKARTA (JP): "The struggle of the Indonesian people to drive out the Dutch colonial government cannot be freed from the struggle and development of painting." So wrote noted artist and critic F.X. Harsono in his 1991 thesis on the theme of "the people" in Indonesian painting. His remark might be dismissed as partisan hyperbole by those who know Harsono's commitment to politically and socially critical art.

For the hottest gossip, press one! JAKARTA (JP): Answering machines, though a decade late, are taking Indonesia by storm! Now you have to get used to talking to the machines. Don't be surprised if you call a friend you haven't seen for ages and have to listen to this awkward voice: Hi, gorgeous, I'm not available at the moment. Leave your name and phone number, your job, and how much you are willing to spend after the tone... Beep!.

Humorous insight Your By the Way column in the Sunday Post is one of the most entertaining I have read anywhere. I encourage you to collect the best of those pieces and to publish them in a book (if you can find the paper to print it on). They give a frank, honest and humorous insight into the new Indonesian - who has faults as all people do, but is literate, sophisticated and international. GERY GENTRY Jakarta

Tumen River project running into problems Mark J. Valencia examines the potential of the only existing multilateral inter-governmental institution for economic cooperation in Northeast Asia. The United Nation's Development Program's much-touted Tumen River Area Development Project (TRADP) has run into problems and skeptics are pronouncing it dead in the water, if not dead all together.

Where are the Betawi headed? Jakarta, which celebrated its 468th anniversary last week, is a melting pot of various ethnic groups from almost all parts of the country. Can the Betawi, its indigenous people, compete with the migrants who keep flowing in? Is it true that the Betawi natives have fallen victim to the development drive? In an effort to answer these questions, The Jakarta Post talks to several native people of Jakarta and experts on the issue.

Development pushes Betawi to the outskirts JAKARTA (JP): If anyone has fallen victim to the current development drive, the Betawi people have. The more development projects go on in the nation's capital, the further they are pushed from the homes of their ancestors. Outsiders, drawn to Jakarta by the power and potential for profit it represents, are better educated, far more competitive, and often much better off.