People becoming stronger during Ramadhan JAKARTA (JP): Fasting is more than just a religious obligation for every healthy, grown Moslem. Many see Ramadhan as a chance to build a better family relationship. Most see it as an opportunity to exercise self-control. The Jakarta Post asked several people what Ramadhan means to them and how they observe the holy month. The following are excerpts from the interviews.

When sweet memories are for sale JAKARTA (JP): Household items, to my wife, are just like shoes to Imelda Marcos. She has a collection of what my son refers to as "junks", consisting of dishes, electrical appliances, cutlery, eatery, and all kinds of china, that could fill a department store. I know my wife is not the only Indonesian who loves keeping used things. In a hospital, one day, I met a lady who had just become a grandmother. She showed me a baby blanket, neatly wrapped in a silk scarf.

Ramadhan -- month of self-restraint By Rita A. Widiadana Based on the hisab (calculation by arithmetical means) and sighting of the new moon (rukyat), experts and ulemas confirmed that this year's holy month of Ramadhan starts tomorrow. During Ramadhan, Moslems should refrain from eating, drinking and having sex from dawn to dusk for 29 consecutive days, and also from other behavior considered un-Islamic. The Jakarta Post interviewed Moslem scholars on the significance of fasting.

Guess What? For Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad, being a salesman is as attractive as being Indonesia's number one monetary thinker. During a recent ceremony to mark the reopening of the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel in Bali, Mar'ie introduced himself as a salesman in order to attract more foreign investments from Brunei Darussalam. "I would like to encourage both the government and the private firms of Brunei to invest in various fields in Indonesia.

Concert Security: Weighing the alternatives By Veronica Soediro JAKARTA (JP): All things considered, the Jakarta Pop Alternative Festival held last Sunday was a success. The event went smoothly, with thousands in the audience, mostly teenagers, banging their heads in the scorching heat. The organizers thought of everything, including security. The ensure maximum security, particularly around the stage, a high stage was erected to prevent anybody from bothering the musicians.

'Orchid and stick' policy on foreigners JAKARTA (JP): If you're an alien, you can expect an immigration official to hand you a corsage of orchid today. That is, provided that all your immigration papers are in order. If they're not, you're in deep trouble. The Directorate General of Immigration launched a two-day campaign, code-named Orchid Operation, yesterday for on the spot checks against foreigners in Jakarta and Bali to make sure their presence here is legitimate.

Guess What? Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Mochtar Kusuma-Atmadja, like most of us, enjoys games. However, he played on a slightly larger board with much higher stakes than most of us would imagine. As a speaker at a recent discussion, Mochtar revealed his theory about foreign policy. He said it was like playing either chess, poker or bridge. "The Russians play chess, the Americans play poker while we in ASEAN play bridge," he remarked about the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Tracing democracy, violence in India and Sri Lanka Democracy And Violence in India and Sri Lanka Dennis Austin The Royal Institute of International Affairs, Council on Foreign Relations Press, New York, 1995. 101 pages $14.95 JAKARTA (JP): With its free press, independent judiciary, secular constitution, nonpolitical army and more than 540 million voters, India is the world's largest democracy. Democracy is a remedy for violence.

Moroccoans arrested for holdup JAKARTA (JP): Five people believed to be Moroccans have been arrested for an alleged hold up on Jakarta's most famous tourist street, Jl. Jaksa. The five foreigners, some of whom speak Bahasa Indonesia, are currently undergoing intense questioning at the Jakarta Police Headquarters. Their six cohorts are still at large, Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna told The Jakarta Post yesterday. Iman said that reports of hold ups on Jl.

Ramadhan time Imsak 4:20 a.m.

Staying fit during Ramadhan fasting month By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): A hungry man is an angry man. Right? Well, in a way it is correct because when people are hungry, they are easily irritated. But, the Ramadhan fasting month teaches Moslems across the world otherwise: How to control their hunger. More than that, fasting also teaches people to put a hold on their desires and emotions.

Painter Otto Djaya: Alive and kicking By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The most astonishing aspect of the exhibition of Otto Djaya's paintings currently at the Taman Ismail Marzuki was that many of the exhibited works were dated 1995. Nothing is terribly peculiar about that, but I had learned from an article in Modern Indonesian Art: Three Generations of Tradition and Change 1945-1990, published for the 1990 Festival of Indonesia in the United States, that Otto Djaya died in 1989.

New moon not seen JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher announced last night that Ramadhan, the Moslems' fasting month, will begin on Monday after the authorities and independent Moslem organizations confirmed that they failed to sight the new moon. The pronouncement had full support from all the main Moslem organizations when it was presented to their representatives in a meeting at TVRI headquarters.

Helping to nurture the fledgling democracy in Cambodia Sorpong Peou examines the political situation in Cambodia and suggests some ways to foster democracy in that country. Several months ago, I wrote two articles contending that Cambodia was still not on the right path to stability and democracy. Since then, news about Cambodia has been negative and merely confirmed my analysis. In early October, the Thai newspaper The Nation viewed Cambodian democracy as being "threatened by intolerance".

Lee Kuan Yew recovering SINGAPORE (AFP): Former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew underwent successful treatment for a heart problem here yesterday and was recovering in intensive care, a government statement said. The 72-year-old elder statesman had checked into the Singapore General Hospital on Friday after complaining of chest pains.

Ferry sinks, 50 dead and over 100 missing JAKARTA (JP): Fifty four people were killed and more than 100 went missing when a ferry with 210 people on board sank in the waters off Aceh on Friday night, officials said yesterday. The Navy's Search and Rescue team as well as local fishermen were scouring the area for survivors or bodies around the Balohan-Sabang Bay, off the tiny Weh Island, where KPM Gurita sank.

Exquisite poetry on a new piano at Erasmus Huis By Gus Kairupan JAKARTA (JP): You only have to press one key to know that the Yamaha S-6 piano at Erasmus Huis, officially inaugurated recently, is something special. Its sonority and tone quality are ravishing, and of a type that may well be unequaled in Jakarta. Yamaha probably has the lion's share of the piano market in this country but none, I dare say, come anywhere near the quality of Erasmus Huis' new piano. Or pianos.

Basketball league fails to boost local talent JAKARTA (JP): An NBA-look-alike basketball league has fueled the fast-growing basketball fever among youngsters in the past two years, but it has yet to prove its nationalist credentials. A fully packed Senayan Basketball Hall witnessed the league final drama which was decided by a last-gasp three-pointer from Mohammad Rifky last October. He sank the winning throw for Aspac over Hadtex as the final second ticked.

'Kewang' and 'sasi' -- how long will they last? HARUKU, Ambon (JP): Haruku, a small island in the eastern part of Ambon island, in Maluku, is inhabited by around 500 families. It is one of the few places in Maluku that still practices sasi, along with Lolot and Iamahu villages in Saparua Island and Kei Besar in Southeast Maluku. Oral history in Maluku indicates that sasi used to be widely practiced in Maluku province. Today, however, it is being challenged by changing traditions.

Many children need help JAKARTA (JP): Six million elementary school graduates in Indonesia do not continue on to high school, mainly for financial reasons, Minister of Education Wardiman Djojonegoro said. Wardiman asked people to help the children financially to continue their education, Antara reported. He underlined the importance of education and technology as the keys to the success of national development. (sim)

Nuarta builds monument despite opposition By Jean Couteau NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The first impression of Balinese sculptor Nyoman Nuarta is one of a man of strong will and self-confidence. Tall, handsome, and still young at 44, he is not a man of little ambition. He has completed his project on Indonesia's biggest statue in Surabaya's harbor, the 30.6-meter high Jalesveva Jayamahe, which is 60 meters tall with the pedestal.

TV stations to air Ramadhan specials By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): The fasting month brings religion into all aspects of Moslems' lives. During Ramadhan, all Moslems should become more aware of their religious duties and make every effort to stay within the religious boundaries. Television stations are aware of this and cater to the needs of their Moslem viewers. The state and private television stations compete to present the best Ramadhan programs.

'Sasi', Haruku's style of conservation management By Binny Buchori HARUKU, Ambon (JP): Three arumbai, the traditional boats of Maluku, decorated in coconut leaves, suddenly appear from afar and, as if on command, swivel and start circling three approaching yellow speedboats. Aboard the arumbai are men and boys, all in white T-shirts, rowing the boats vigorously, some singing a traditional song "....

Susi, Ye to clash in Japan Open badminton final TOKYO (Agencies): Indonesia's Olympic champion sweethearts had differing fortunes at the Japan Open badminton tournament yesterday with Susi Susanti winning but her fiance Alan Budikusuma on the losing side. Susi, who plans to marry Budikusuma after the Atlanta Olympics, fought off a spirited challenge from Camilla Martin of Denmark 6-11, 11-5, 11-9, setting up a final showdown against Chinese world champion Ye Zhaoying.