Sports success spurs self confidence JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto renewed the quest for better performance in international sporting events yesterday, saying that sports achievements will boost the nation's self confidence. Speaking at the medal presentation for the nation's best sports figures which marked the 12th National Sports Day at the State Palace yesterday, Soeharto said that self confidence plays a major role in a developing nation.

1,500 spectators overwhelmed by Independence Symphony BOGOR (JP): It looked like Vienna at night, only the venue was the Bogor Palace, where 1,500 people in formal attire were enjoying a historic concert called Simponi Kemerdekaan (Independence Symphony) presented by the Twilite Orchestra. The concert opened with the national anthem Indonesia Raya, which Twilite Orchestra director Addie M.S. said was being presented correctly for the first time.

North-South showdown looms at Beijing meet Women 's issues have begun to draw the attention of people all around the globe. Now, women from every corner of the world are discussing their fate in Beijing, China, at the ongoing fourth United Nations World Conference on Women. The following is a special report from that momentous meeting in Beijing. The Jakarta Post specifically addresses the issue of the situation faced by women in Indonesia on Pages 4 and 5.

Foreign land ownership The article on land leasing and ownership by foreign residents in Bali (Sunday, Sept. 3, 1995) was interesting because it mirrored similar issues elsewhere. What is needed is a legal provision for long leases: leases of 40, 50 or even 99 years. This then guarantees that the family of original owners retain the title of ownership.

Sympathy for Guruh Ekis From Kompas I would like to express my deepest sympathy regarding the death of 13-year-old Guruh Ekis, who drowned in a swimming pool, as reported by Kompas on Aug. 24, 1995. I don't know Guruh or his family, but I am sorry and hope this will never happen again. We tend to regard drownings as accidents. We are too lazy to question who is responsible and why it happens so often. I have long been concerned about the condition of swimming pools in Indonesia.

Doctorate for Tjokorda JAKARTA (JP): Tjokorda Raka Sukowati, who invented the pier- head system technique for building overpasses in Indonesia, received his doctoral degree with honors at the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta yesterday.

C'mon, you can't miss what you never had JAKARTA (JP): The company I work for used to provide its senior employees with a very entertaining R and R program. We were given the opportunity to spend two weekends a year at a bungalow on an island resort. Recently, when business turned bad, the management decided to terminate the lease of the bungalow. Unfortunately, they axed the perk just as my family's turn came up. We had been looking forward to a great vacation.

Indonesian time There are 1001 reasons for loving Indonesia. For example, on the evening of Sept. 3, 1995, at about 7 p.m. I wanted to know the exact time. I therefore switched on a local channel for the news. According to my wristwatch, the news started one minute late, but as there was no clock in the picture so I wasn't sure. So I dialed 103. Here I learned that my watch was exactly three minutes late. I didn't believe it so I dialed 103 two more times, always the same result.

No new students for UI's women's studies By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Anyone interested in learning about women's issues may want to study at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok, south of Jakarta, the only place in the country that offers courses in women's studies. Sadly, the five-year-old Women's Studies Program will not accept new students for the 1995-1996 academic year because there aren't enough qualified students interested in the post-graduate program.

'Images of Power' highlights Bali conference By Kunang Helmi Picard SYDNEY, Australia (JP): The special guided tour of the show Images of Power conducted by internationally respected authority on Bali, Professor Hildred Geertz, highlighted the Bali Conference in Sydney in July. Full of infectious and youthful enthusiasm, Geertz, who teaches anthropology at Princeton University, explained her analysis of the Bateson-Mead collection of paintings gathered in Batuan, Bali during the 1930s.

Istiqlal Festival opened JAKARTA (JP): Rector of the Bandung Institute of Technology Wiranto Arismunandar opened the second provincial Istiqlal Festival yesterday. Underlining the importance of the event, which features a series of seminars on Islamic subjects, Wiranto said that science and technology could not be effectively implemented without considering the cultural elements, Antara reported. Among the speakers were Prof.

Intellectuals want end to Magsaysay award row JAKARTA (JP): Intellectuals want research done to determine the truth about the People's Cultural Institute (Lekra) to end the controversy surrounding the granting of the Ramon Magsaysay Award to writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer.

Women pledge to fight for political rights By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women, like most of their counterparts in Asia, still face numerous obstacles when entering politics. Despite the difficulty, they continue fighting for their right to access political power, says a woman politician.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fit with Berty Tilarso 7:40 Film 8:05 Children's 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 Cooking's Program 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 1:15 p.m.

At the Post Office By Muhammad Ali At least 10 to 15 people, men and women, stood in a long queue, which began at a counter where a piece of wooden board hung with a notice written on it in white small letters: To cash Type C Orders. Normally, Type C money orders are under Rp 1,000. The person standing at the front of the queue, or more aptly hanging on the wire bars, was a thin, bony man, who looked like an empty bag on a clothes line.

The principle of RI's defense policy Bob Lowry analyses the fundamentals of Indonesia's defense and security policy and the prospects of change to the structure of its armed forces. In 1993, Indonesia commenced its second 25-year long-term development plan, the first five-year period of which will take the country to the dawn of the new millennium. What do the defense and security elements of these plans tell of Indonesia's regional security vision and its threat perceptions?

Military appeals for calm in E. Timor DILI, East Timor (JP): The military authority appealed for calm yesterday after the city was rocked by a series of violent demonstrations. Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna Puradiredja flew in from his headquarters in Denpasar on Friday night to oversee the operation to restore calm and order.

Women's struggle against gender injustice continues JAKARTA (JP): A few weeks ago I got a cartoon postcard from London depicting a woman in bed asking a man to read her a fairy tale. "Read me the one where women and men work the same hours, do the same jobs and get equal pay... I LOVE fairy tales!" The cartoon is a reflection of the inequality between men and women. Despite women's long struggle for emancipation, many of them are still discriminated against and treated as the second sex.

Who really created the first kite? JAKARTA (JP): Many of us grew up with kites, either flying them or simply watching others fly them. But, how many of us ever wondered who created the first kite? Some kite lovers and historians believe that kites originated in China more than two thousand years ago. But American Tal Streeter, a leading authority on Asian kites, feels that the first kites were made by Indonesians, not the Chinese.

Hard selling hawkers disturb tourists By Rob Goodfellow DENPASAR (JP): Made is 26 years old. Like a thousand or so other young men from Bali, Java and Madura, he works for the Kapten, an Indonesian Army Officer from East Java who holds one of the official licenses to vend souvenirs on the streets of Kuta and Legion. Each member of the Kapten's club pays Rp 15,000 to sign up and Rp 3,000 to renew their membership each month.

'Kanjeng' Rara Kidul from the South: A queen for all kings By Wahyuni Rizkiana Kamah and Iwan Satyanegara SUKABUMI, West Java (JP): Queen Rara Kidul walked towards Prince Senopati, bent over his feet and joined her hands in a sembah (greeting signing of respect) and said "Your prayer to God has been granted. You and your descendants after you will rule Java. You will also rule the spirits, the jinn and the fairies, and they will help you against your enemies. You will be like the father of Java.

What they say about the problems of RI's women JAKARTA (JP): When asked what problems Indonesian women face, a journalist pointed out that there are no problems exclusive to women here. "Their problems are the problems of most Indonesians, and those are poverty-related," he said. "Under the law, they enjoy treatment similar to that experienced by men." But many don't share his opinion. Women are still treated as subordinate to men as dictated by tradition.

Pringgasela, a village in waiting By Bret Galloway MATARAM, Lombok (JP): One has to be awed by the sheer complexity of weaving when watching a piece of cloth being made. So many strands, so many colors, so many motions and counter- motions. The warp and woof of it all. There, before one's eyes, a work of beauty emerges from the chaos. And what about the future of Pringgasela, a sleepy village of farmers and weavers in the highlands of eastern Lombok?

RP volcanic flood death toll up T'BOLI, Philippines (Reuter): Raging floods which roared out from a volcanic landslip in the southern Philippines have killed 46 people and scores more are feared buried under an avalanche of mud, officials said yesterday. Dad Tuan, mayor of T'boli village near Mount Parker, told reporters the number of dead had risen overnight to 46 from 41 after rescue teams scouring the village recovered the remains of five others swamped by the floods.