'Halal' labels From Republika Moslem society has for years recognized halal products only by looking at the word "halal" written on the package. This halal mark is OK, because the Indonesian Council of Ulemas must have examined the products. However, lately, the issue of halal products has come to the fore again because of the plan to put halal stickers on the packages of products. This plan is analogous to a virus.

'Buang jong' ritual becomes annual tourism event TANJUNG PANDAN, Belitung (JP): Many islands in the Indonesian archipelago have their own legends and ceremonies. Some have similar rituals or tales, many of which are related to the sea. But the buang jong ritual on Belitung Island in South Sumatra is unique. Buang means to throw away, while a jong is a small ship crafted from cork wood.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 6:25 Morning News 6:45 Healthy and Fit 7:00 News 7:30 TV Series: Grandizeer 8:00 Science Film 8:30 Information 9:00 English News Service 9:30 People and Event 10:00 Music: Album Minggu Ini 11:00 Children's Story: Cerita Untuk Anak 11:30 Comedy: Ria Remaja 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 1:15 p.m News 1:30 Teenagers' Program: Temu Remaja 2:00 Music: Minggu Gembira 2:35 TV Series: Buck Rogers 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:05...

Parachuting: An opportunity to feel excitement in the sky By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): People dreamed about flying for centuries before technology made it possible. Although planes have long since demystified flying, people still yearn to drift freely high above earth. With parachutes, people can fill that human urge to soar without a machine. All it takes to become a skydiver, as parachutists are known, is good health and lots of nerve.

From tin mining to tourism, Belitung looks the future Text and photos by I. Christianto TANJUNG PANDAN, Belitung (JP): Belitung was once well known for its tin mines. But tin mining activities on this small island off South Sumatra have declined with the island's shrinking tin deposits. It has also been determined that the prospects for other natural resources on the island like clay, kaolin and granite quarries are not very good.

Jeffer and Susi cruise to World Cup finals JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian rookie Jeffer Rosobin and national badminton queen Susi Susanti cruised to the finals of the Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship winning their semifinals matches here yesterday. "Giantkiller" Jeffer overcame old hand Darren Hall of Great Britain 9-15, 17-14, 15-12 while Susi defeated Ye Zhaoying of China 11-2, 6-11, 11-2. The 20-year-old Jeffer made many unforced errors in the first set allowing the Briton to lead 12-4.

The joys of moving, or ode to Pak Toha JAKARTA (JP): "Ibu....," I implored quietly (even if you're seething with indignation, you don't shriek at the one from whom you've contracted a modest roof to put your head unde) "the pump isn't working again." The pump in question is the contraption responsible for your daily dose of one molecule of hydrogen and two of oxygen.

Malaysian government warns NGO forum KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian government Saturday asked a coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to cancel a forum on alleged abuse of police power, warning they would be arrested if they failed to comply. The organizers could be detained under the country's powerful Internal Security Act (ISA) as the forum would endanger public and national security, Deputy Home Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob warned.

Jet Skiing finds new enthusiasts in Carita By Imanuddin JAKARTA (JP): For jet ski promoters a useful tool might be the Baywatch TV series. Jet-skiing may have been popular with the lifeguards in red for a while, but enthusiasts here only took to the sport three years ago. Regular races draw the young and the rich from Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Solo, Malang and Ujungpandang.

Paragliding, a popular pastime and great stress reliever By Kosasih Derajat JAKARTA (JP): If you need to release stress and like open-air sports, you have to try paragliding. "Being airborne, I can discharge the stress which has been accumulating for a week," said Marni, a young executive working for a production house company in Jakarta.

Bungee jumping boosts tourist industry By Riyadi JAKARTA (JP): Bungee jumping, with its roots in the age-old manhood ritual in Vanuatu, entered Indonesia early 1995. Since then, bungee jumping has become a focal point in the country's tourism industry. Andy Bredow of Bali Bungee Co. said bungee jumping sites have helped the tourism industry here to attract both foreign and local tourists. "Indonesia is fantastic, as a developing nation.

Patients recount their addictions TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): The lack of love, care and a good home environment often forces children on to the streets where they are introduced to drugs. In many cases they enjoy the drugs because they temporarily ease their pain. Pondok Inabah, an Islamic drug rehabilitation center, understands the problem well. They smother the patients with love and teach them about religion. That is the main treatment and it works.

Thrilling sports lure the brave The holidays are coming and leisure time is at hand. For those executives who like to work hard and play hard, and those students with a little extra money, high-adrenalin sports are gaining in popularity. The growing number of local and expatriate executives, as well as tourists, has led a number of entrepreneurs to start up their own businesses. Imanuddin, I.

Enjoy seashore scenery while parasailing in W. Java JAKARTA (JP): Would you like to take a glance at the seashore from a birds-eye view? Then why not try parasailing? The offer was made to visitors by Duncan D. Warner, marina manager of Lippo Carita Resort, a water sports complex at the western tip of West Java. Parasailing, a relatively new sport in Indonesia, is capturing the interest of young Indonesians.

The fun of white-water rafting on challenging Citarik River By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): White-water rafting is becoming popular among Indonesians, particularly those who want to escape the routine of daily life while exercising muscles and mind. Rafting was popularized by U.S. scientist John Wisley in the 1860s. He introduced the use of wooden rafts while leading a scientific expedition along the Colorado River, well-known for its rapids.

Dancer Ni Cawan recalls her golden days of the 1930s By Intan Petersen DENPASAR (JP): The eerie tones of the gamelan and the echo from a nearby temple ceremony filled the air. Tonight was a full moon and the old dancer, Ni Cawan, sat quietly at home. She imagined the dancers moving and twisting their bodies to the sounds of the gamelan. "I am jealous," she hissed, with tears in her eyes. "I always feel sad whenever I hear the gamelan.

Plane skids off runway JAKARTA (JP): A light Cassa-212 plane, chartered by the Swedish embassy to carry the bodies of two Swedish tourists, skidded off the runway of El Tari airport in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, after an emergency landing. All the people onboard -- three passengers, a pilot and co- pilot -- survived Friday's accident, Antara reported from Kupang yesterday.

APEC and the economy From Merdeka Knowing that industries and trade are marking good progress in the Southeast Asian region, it seems to me that countries such as Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Singapore are not particularly enthusiastic about the results of the APEC summits. With or without APEC summits, these countries' economies are fairly stable. They have no financial problems like bad loans, price fluctuations etc.

Kang Guru radio program wins laurels By Greg Clough JAKARTA (JP): Stepping on toes is a good way to improve your English. That is the opinion of Kang Guru from the land of the kangaroo, here in Jakarta to help Indonesians leap the international language barrier. Kang Guru is the popular English language teaching program on Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI).

Guess What? People don't usually like bigmouths, except for a few exceptions like former boxing great Mohammad Ali or former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin. People adored them because their deeds matched their words. But, Parni Hadi, editor in chief of the Republika daily, believes that Indonesians need to be bigmouthed.

Rafting body chief gives priority to safety By Primastuti Handayani and Riyadi JAKARTA (JP): After having an accident in 1988 she quit whitewater rafting for three years. But now she heads the newly- established Indonesian Whitewater Rafting Federation. "I got into an accident the first time I rafted; my marine raft broke into two after hitting a large rock," said 29-year-old Amalia Yunita. But that was eight years ago, when rafting was new here.

RI shuttlers shine in men's and mixed doubles By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): The Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championship will see two all-Indonesian finals in the men's and mixed doubles finals today at Senayan Indoor Stadium. The newly formed partnerships of Rexy Mainaky/Sigit Budiarto in men's doubles and Minarti Timur/Sandiarto in mixed doubles beat their opponents in yesterday's semifinals.