Traffic jams, construction projects destroy Puncak Text by Lela E. Madjiah photos by Arief Hidayat PUNCAK, West Java (JP): The sun is nestling among the rows of houses down in the valley. Once in a while clusters of white clouds float with the gentle breeze across the growing fireball. The sun quickly disappears, it is uncertain which house it is hiding behind. The valley turns gray, the silhouettes eventually enveloped by darkness. The mist thickens as the night air becomes colder.

Personal problems cause Susi to fail in Brimingham JAKARTA (JP): Susi Susanti may, like the delicate shuttle she plays, stop in midair and drop to the Olympic ground of Atlanta if she fails to solve her personal problems. "It is very obvious that she had difficulties in concentrating well on the match. She must have been thinking of something else," noted sports observer Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar said yesterday.

Saving Puncak's damaged environment By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Efforts by the National Spatial Planning Coordinating Board to curb development projects in the Bogor- Puncak-Cianjur area may hardly bear fruit, a noted environmentalist has warned. Bianpoen, an expert at the Environment Study Center of the University of Indonesia, said the board's planned programs are just a repetition of old ones. "There is nothing new in their plans.

Quick fixes make for lingering problems in Puncak By Johannes Simbolon PUNCAK, West Java (JP): Oer is one of few Puncak natives who has not been tricked by the land-selling spree that has seduced his community. "I'll wait until the price goes up to Rp 1 million (US$444.44) per square meter," he said, smiling. In Cibodas village, where he lives, current land prices are between Rp 100,000 and 150,000 a square meter. Oer's land is therefore not for sale for the time being.

Ricky, Rexy ease RI's agony at All England BIRMINGHAM, England (Agencies): World men's doubles champions Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky salvaged Indonesia's pride by retaining their All England badminton title yesterday. Playing a superb attacking game, Ricky and Rexy were too much for their Malaysian arch-rivals Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock who gave up 6-15, 5-15 in just half an hour.

Huge procession marks Eka Buana rite BESAKIH, Bali (JP): Thousands of Hindu devotees take part in a spectacular procession. The march, which started at Pura Besakih, the biggest sanctuary in Bali, and ended at Klotok beach yesterday, is part of the great Eka Buana rite, which happens once in a century. Accompanied by gamelan music, they carried sacred weapons, statues and inscriptions, and various kind of offerings along the 40-kilometer route under the scorching sun.

Miura scores in J-League opener TOKYO (AFP): Japan's top striker Kazuyoshi Miura scored the first goal of the new J-League season which opened yesterday, to give two-time champions Verdy Kawasaki a 1-0 win over new comers Kyoto Purple Sanga. Brazilian-born Ruy Ramos sent a brilliant long straight pass from the middle field to Miura, who defeated keeper Shinichi Morishita and a defender just inside the area for a left-footer into an empty goal in the 34th minute.

Activists behind the establishment of New Order By Hartoyo Pratiknyo JAKARTA (JP): Like heroes in old Western movies they came when they were needed and quietly disappeared after the job was done. They are the young men and women activists of a generation now known as the Generation of '66. Some of them have risen to positions of prominence in either business or government. Others have remained quietly in the background.

Unbridled change threatening Bali By Putu Wirata DENPASAR (JP): Nyoman Gelebet's name frequently makes front page news in Bali. He is critical of the deterioration the island's culture. He stands on the frontline of protesters with Gedong Bagoes Oka, a prominent religious leader who promotes modernizing Hinduism, and with a number of Hindu students who object to the planned Garuda Wisnu Kencana sculpture by Nyoman Nuarta.

Puncak resort has a fatal beauty By Johannes Simbolon and Yoko N. Sari Isn't it too late? This is the question springing from President Soeharto's order to halt construction in Puncak, West Java in an effort to stem the flooding which hit the capital in January and February. The devastating floods claimed 30 lives and caused tens of billions of rupiah in material losses.

Solving traffic jams Everyday we complain and wonder why the government and experts have not yet found a way to reduce traffic jams in Jakarta. Why don't we -- the readers of The Jakarta Post -- all offer suggestions? Here are some ideas: 1.

Buffalo driven out by hand tillers By Hartono Hadikusumo YOGYAKARTA (JP): As a primary school student during the early 1960s, my attention was always drawn to the back covers of my textbooks. On the back of these school books was always a picture of a farmer behind a plow pulled by a buffalo team. Below this picture was written: Siapa Menanam Mengetam (He who sows reaps). In third grade I already knew the moral behind these words: If you want something, you must work for it.

Score Roundup Golf Bay Hill Invitational (USA unless stated): 137 - Patrick Burke 71-66, Jeff Maggert 72-65 138 - Mike Hulbert 69-69, Glen Day 67-71 139 - Steve Jones 69-70, Jeff Sluman 70-69, Mark O'Meara 67-72, Corey Pavin 69-70, Tom Purtzer 69-70 140 - Guy Boros 73-67, Bob Lohr 68-72, Nick Faldo (Gbr) 72-68 142 - Steve Elkington (Aus) 71-71, Bernhard Langer (Ger) 73-69, Yoshinori Mizumaki (Jpn) 73-69 143 - Ernie Els (Rsa) 73-70, Fulton Allem (Rsa) 74-69 Indonesia Open: 200 - Edward Fryatt...

Fryatt on course to Indonesia Open title JAKARTA (JP): Edward Fryatt of England lost some of his dazzle in the third round of the US$250,000 Indonesia Open golf championship yesterday, but his lackluster 3-under par-68 was enough to earn him a commanding seven-stroke lead going to the final. Fryatt, who set a new course record at the par-71 course on Friday, fired magnificent birdies in the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 8th holes to come out with 32 in the first nine.

Irian Jaya rebels free one hostage JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya separatist rebels released yesterday one of their 12 hostages, who have been held captive since Jan. 8, a military official said. "The rebels released Abraham Wainggai at 10 a.m. local time today," chief spokesman of the Trikora Military Command, Lt. Col. Maulud Hidayat, told The Jakarta Post by phone from the Irian Jaya capital of Jayapura. The Trikora military command oversees security in Maluku and Irian Jaya.

Artist Dadang speaks about the oppressed By R. Fadjri YOGYAKARTA (JP): Not many artists use esthetic elements as a means to express their concern about the surrounding realities. Esthetic elements are only a style to convey their views toward social phenomena in their environment. In modern fine arts this kind of art finds its expression in sculpture, graphic arts, and painting which treat populist themes, making use of any medium.