Does Mr. Mochamad confuse you? JAKARTA (JP): A businessman from the Middle East eying Indonesian investment opportunities recently found himself in a tortuous situation as he tried to locate his friend's name in a local telephone book. The trouble started not with his naivete -- this being the first time he had set foot in this country -- but because his Indonesian friend's name is Muhammad Mahmud.

Floods spread to W. Java BANDUNG (JP): Spreading floods in West Java have destroyed crops and forced nearly 10,000 people to flee their homes, Antara reported yesterday. The news agency said that floods in West Java, Indonesia's main rice producer, had over the past several days destroyed 2,871 hectares of paddy fields and inundated more than 4,000 houses and schools in 13 villages.

Balinese transmigrants make good in Tolai By Iriandi Ibrahim TOLAI, Central Sulawesi (JP): When I Nyoman Suweto came to Tolai in 1969, there was no road in the area. Tolai was a jungle inhabited by a few native people. Things have changed. Tolai has grown into a prosperous farming area with a wealthy transmigration settlement unit and is now the pride of the Donggala regency and Central Sulawesi.

Black magic -- real or fancied? By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Many people are familiar with the term witchcraft, even though not everybody believes it exists. Well, you won't see an old woman flying with her magic broom as found in many children's story books. But, witchcraft or black magic, defined as the use of supernatural means for harmful purposes, is still practiced in different parts of the world, including Indonesia.

Suwandi, Andrian receive wild card JAKARTA (JP): Suwandi and Andrian Raturandang of Indonesia were named yesterday wild card recipients for the US$328,000 Indosiar Men's Tennis Championships which start tomorrow. Secretary-General of the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti), Zaenal Abidin, told reporters here yesterday that the two teenage players were picked as part of the association's program to lift the country's young hopefuls to a new high.

Aftershocks felt in Tolitoli PALU, Central Sulawesi (JP): Residents of Tolitoli rushed out of their homes after a four second aftershock jolted the Central Sulawesi town on Friday night, Antara reported yesterday. There were no reports of damage or casualties. At least eight people were killed by tidal waves spawned by an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale which rocked remote parts of Central Sulawesi on Monday.

The mystery of sorcery puzzles scientists By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Seeing is believing, but there are things which are hard to believe even after you have seen them. Some things are also hard to explain. How can you explain voodoo, witchcraft, occultism or black magic? Victims of black magic may suffer great pain in certain parts of their bodies.

Gendeng Pamungkas, the doctor of death By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): The man hands me his business card. One side reads "Ki Gendeng Pamungkas, Damned Hell Ltd., Death Street No. 810, Afterlife Green Complex, Phone: ...". At the top, there is the picture of a red monster sticking out its tongue.

Ricky and Rexy drop to world number two JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian world doubles champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky have to start the new badminton season as world number two, after suffering a string of losses in the last few months of last year. The number one spot, however, remains safe in Indonesia's grip as the International Badminton Federation put 1994 All-England winners Bambang Suprianto and Rudy Gunawan at the top of the list with a total score of 324.80.

Indonesia, U.S. engage in week of meetings JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the United States are preparing for a flurry of activities this week as Congressional aides, businesspeople and senior officials arrive to take part in talks here and in Bali. A delegation of six Congressional staffers arrived here yesterday for a week-long "educational trip" which will include visits to development projects in Yogyakarta and Bali.

Brief profile of successful Tolai farmers TOLAI, Central Sulawesi (JP): Hard work has transformed Tolai from a wild jungle into a successful agricultural area. From morning until dusk Tolai villagers work in the rice fields. Some have become rich and own cars, and fine houses with satellite dishes. According to I Wayan Sukarya, the head the Tolai branch of the Bank Rakyat Indonesia, the money circulating in Tolai during harvest time is between Rp 60 million and Rp 100 million a day.

Hocus-pocus and all that jazz Believe it or not, black magic, which has its roots in animism, is still very much alive in these modern times. It is practiced in many parts of Indonesia under different names. The Jakarta Post is presenting the following story on black magic and what people think of it, as well as several related articles on Pages 2 and 7.

World rally champion team braces for 1996 season JAKARTA (JP): There is no real enemy but interest, a classic doctrine in politics says. It proves to be true for a new pair of world rally champion team, Subaru's Colin McRae and Kenneth Eriksson, who last season locked horns bitterly but who have now joined forces under the same racing suit. By all standards, one would not expect a peaceful compromise between world champion McRae and Asia Pacific champion Eriksson.

TV today TVRI 7:00 a.m. Morning News 7:30 Healthy and Fit 7:40 TV Series: Speed Keteers 8:05 Around 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 Music: Minggu Gembira 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang ke Gelanggang 1:15 p.m.

Colonarang has special place in Balinese daily life By Putu Suasta and Intan Petersen DENPASAR (JP): "The witch hobbles forward, clutching her stick in both hands, doing a cramped, old woman's dance, taking one step with one foot drawn up, bending forward with stiff neck and back, moving in half-circles with curious jerky steps.

Balian penengen: Black magic medicine man DENPASAR (JP): The clock strikes twelve. It is midnight, but nobody wants to go home yet. Some small children are sleeping soundly in their mothers' laps, still clad in their prayer attire complete with an Udeng (a head band used when praying and in ceremonies). The midnight breeze wafts the smell of incense into every corner of the room. The atmosphere in the room is relaxed, yet solemn. The assembly of people has just finished praying.

What religious leaders say about black magic By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Religions recognize good and evil things, the visible and the invisible world. The Jakarta Post interviewed a number of religious leaders for their comments on black magic and how to avoid it. Here are some excerpts from the interviews. Sumargono, chairman of the Jakarta Corps of Mubaligh (Moslem Propagators), said that Islam teaches its followers to believe in the world of ghaib, things that are invisible.

Cashier robbed of Rp 30m SOLO, Central Java (JP): Thieves ran away with Rp 30 million (US$13,043) when they snatched a bag containing the salaries of a cigarette company carried by its cashier on Friday. The PT Djitoe Solo's cashier, Ridwan, 60, was leaving by car from the Bank Central Asia office and found that he had a flat tire. "I stopped and unsuspectingly got out.

Try cancels Soreang trip SOREANG, West Java (JP): Minister of Health Sujudi had to abruptly open the Village Information Week here yesterday after Vice-President Try Sutrisno's departure from Jakarta was delayed for over three hours due to bad weather. Try, accompanied by Minister of Information Harmoko, was originally scheduled to open the festivities at 9 a.m., but by 12:15 p.m. the Vice-President's plane had not taken off from the Halim Perdana Kusuma Airport.