ASEAN: A key partner of EU in emergimg Asian region Yeo Lay Hwee sketches out the future direction of the relationship between ASEAN and the European Community Asia-Europe relations have been receiving a lot of attention lately. ASEAN, with its long-standing links to the European Community, has been at the forefront of pushing for greater European engagement in Asia.

Finding a proper use for that diary JAKARTA (JP): A dairy is a place of useful production. There used to be some nuns up in Puncak who kept cows and you could visit them to buy their delicious fresh cheese. But, whatever is the use of a diary? At this time of year, my employers in Sydney, Port Moresby and Bogor come round with New Year presents. When opened, a package reveals a book with nothing in it except dates -- and I don't mean the edible variety. Am I supposed to say "thank you"?

ABRI announces major reshuffle in its ranks JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) has announced a big reshuffle in its mid-level command structure, affecting 92 officers in the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Police. The changes, which were announced on Friday, were induced in part because 31 of the officers are approaching the mandatory age to prepare for their retirement. Among the most significant changes include the following: * Brig. Gen.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fit 7:40 TV Series: Speed Keteers 8:05 Among Us 8:35 Children Stories 9:00 People and Events 9:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 9:45 Music: Album Kita 10:45 Youth Program: Temu Remaja 11:15 Cooking: Masakan Indonesia 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang ke Gelanggang 12:45 p.m.

Guess What? Question: What is the longest word in English? Answer: Smiles. (There is a mile between the first character and the last one.) Megawati Soekarnoputri, chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), may not know the riddle, but that isn't important. The point is that she is very generous with her smile. If Margaret Thatcher was the Iron Lady and Imelda Marcos the Butterfly Lady, Megawati must be the Smiling Lady.

12 elephants found dead JAKARTA (JP): Twelve wild elephants were found dead in a coconut palm plantation in the province of Riau, an conservation officer said yesterday. The head of the local natural conservation office, Soesilo Legowo, told Antara that the elephants were found dead earlier this month on a plantation near Komang village in the Indragiri Hulu regency. He did not say how the animals' died, stating that his office was still investigating the case.

Ricky and Rexy save the day for Indonesia SEOUL (Agencies): World men's doubles champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky claimed Indonesia's share of the final day's honors at the Korea Open badminton championships yesterday. The Indonesian number one pair survived a second-set thriller to beat Malaysian arch rivals Cheah Soo Kit and Yap Kim Hock 15- 5, 17-14 to win the title, their second in a row.

Wimar opts for show business not politics This is the second and last part of The Jakarta Post's interview with Wilmar Witoelar, a former student activist who became a management consultant and then host of the Perspektif TV talk show. The critical show was canceled by SCTV last year under pressure from the government. The first part appeared in yesterday's issue. JAKARTA (JP): Q: Aren't you interested in plunging into the political arena? A: No. We don't have any manual of Indonesian politics.

'Mbok' Nah turns 60 By Lea Pamungkas For the past two weeks Mbok Nah had been feeling perplexed. It wasn't that she was no longer strong enough to carry the basket of jamu, even though she had just turned 60. Her jamu still sold well. After all she was still the buxom Mbok Nah, who was adept at cajoling the becak drivers and the laboring bricklayers. "Oh, go on, Mas. This is so your body remains strong, so that your wife at home continues to feel satisfied. Just give it a try first.

Gus Dur, the sleepy but alert scholar JAKARTA (JP): One needs only to attend a seminar featuring Abdurrahman Wahid, the controversial scholar and leader of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization, to realize that the man can fall asleep anywhere. Sitting squeezed between the other speakers on a dais, or cross-legged at a small gathering of Moslem students, it only takes Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, a few minutes to start to nod off. Some people say he sometimes even snores softly.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Sunday Maghrib 6.20 p.m. Monday Imsak 4:23 a.m. Subuh 4.33 a.m.

Special recipes for Ramadhan month JAKARTA (JP): Certain kinds of food go with certain holidays. At Thanksgiving, for example, Americans serve turkey and pumpkin pie. In Indonesia certain foods are served during the Ramadhan fasting month and on Idul Fitri. The Shangri-La Jakarta hotel has prepared three traditional recipes especially for The Jakarta Post's readers: the deserts Kolak Pisang and Bubur Ketan Hitam, and opor ayam, a main dish. The deserts are served at the breaking of the fast.

Idul Fitri's exodus brings problems for many women By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Ramadhan is always the busiest month for Sita, a woman with three sons. Her maid as well as her son's nanny will soon leave for their hometown in Central Java to celebrate Idul Fitri with their families. Sita works for a private company and her husband is a civil servant. Their eldest child is seven, while the youngest is only one.

Jakarta mosques reflect various cultures of city Text by Rita A. Widiadana photos by Mulkan Salmona JAKARTA (JP): For Moslems, a mosque, be it big or small, symbolizes eternal tranquility. A mosque is a very important place for religious activities, and as a cultural and a information center. The development of mosques in Indonesia reflects the historical, social and even political conditions of the period in which the building was constructed.

Stressed ministers flock to Asshiddiqiyah 'pesantren' By Wisnu Pramudya JAKARTA (JP): It's 2 a.m., a time when most Jakartans are fast asleep. In the huge white building that is the Asshiddiqiyah Pesantren (traditional Islamic boarding school) in Kedoya, West Jakarta, however, hundreds of students are up and about to perform their tahajud (night) prayers. "It's during this time that several ministers or generals often visit to join the prayers," said K.H.

WB recommendations seen as conditionalities Is the World Bank interfering with the domestic political environment of client countries? By Joaquin L Gonzalez III Is the World Bank drifting away from its mandate? This is a serious question one asks after examining Bureaucrats in Business (1995), the fourth and latest World Bank findings and policy recommendations on reforming state-owned enterprises or government-linked companies in developing countries.

Truth about balance of power dimension From its very inception, ASEAN's approach to security issues has contained a balance of power dimension. By Michael Leifer In academic and political debate on regional security within Southeast Asia, a dismissive attitude has arisen towards the concept and practice of balance of power.

Frans Seda hospitalized JAKARTA (JP): Ex-minister Frans Seda is being treated at the Carolus hospital for fatigue. His wife, Johanna Maria Pattinaya, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Seda had been admitted to the hospital last Saturday, and was scheduled to return home next week. "He is only suffering from light fatigue. Doctors say he has worked too hard," she said, refusing to discuss his illness further.

NU, 70 years in the whirlpool of politics By Santi W.E. Soekanto and Wisnu Pramudya JAKARTA (JP): An elderly kyai (Moslem teacher) from a remote office of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) wept openly when he realized he had inadvertently been caught in a conflict between the elite layer of Indonesia's largest Moslem organization. "Had I known the invitation was from Abu Hasan and the meeting was actually a congress to set up a rival board, I wouldn't have come. I'm loyal to Gus Dur," he said.

Change looms for Nahdlatul Ulama Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Moslem organization with 30 million members and supporters, will celebrate its 70th anniversary on Jan. 31. Under the leadership of Abdurrahman Wahid and Ilyas Ruhiyat, it is undergoing reform geared to accommodate the growing number of young intellectuals in its fold. The Jakarta Post looks at how the traditional and conservative organization is coping with the changes. More stories on Pages 2, 6 and 9.

Rebels reportedly moving with hostages JAKARTA (JP): The military said yesterday that Irian Jaya separatist rebels holding 13 hostages were planning to move out of their jungle hideout in Mapunduma, Antara reported. Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, who is supervising the hostage rescue operation, told a media briefing in the Irian Jaya town of Wamena that the military was tightening its layers of blockade around Mapunduma to close the rebels' escape routes.

Keeping to ASEAN's 'rules of the game' Vietnam's membership and the likely entry of Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar bring certain challenges to ASEAN. By Hoang Anh Tuan After decades of competing with ASEAN in establishing a regional order, Vietnam finally joined the regional organization in July 1995. As ASEAN is an established grouping, Vietnam's entry into it means that Hanoi has agreed to accept the norms and rules of the game set by the association.

Six killed in car explosion JAKARTA (JP): Six people riding in a minibus were killed, and two others seriously injured after the vehicle exploded in Semarang, Central Java on Friday night. The vehicle's body was cut in two and the roof thrown 10 meters away by an explosion heard two kilometers away. Semarang police chief Col.