VDSAT to continue project CIANJUR, West Java (JP): Property company PT Villa Del Sol Agro Tourism (VDSAT) is to continue the construction of an agro- tourism project in Cikanyere village, Pacet district, Cianjur regency, West Java, after heavy rain put work on hold last year. VDSAT president Robert Max Sinaulan said his firm has obtained all documents needed for the construction of the 143-hectare agro-tourism project. "We expect to meet West Java Governor R.

Medan Rally set to test the world's drivers skills By Robert Soelistyo MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Rain that turns the gravel roads into slippery, muddy dirt-tracks looked to be the first obstacle for rally drivers to overcome in the FIA World Rally Championship due to start here this morning. Twenty seven Special Stages (SS) are planned in three legs, covering 461km in a total of 1,289km, looping from this provincial capital to Lake Toba.

Students continue protests in a show of solidarity JAKARTA (JP): University students in three cities continued with their massive show of solidarity for fellow students who died in recent rioting in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi. Even as the 1,000 students held their simultaneous demonstrations, however, the Ujungpandang students have resumed school. "Everything's back to normal here," a resident said yesterday.

Sticky business It seems to be the National Logistics Agency's (Bulog) turn now to get its hands sticky helping the state-owned IPTN aerospace company. The agency has agreed to buy about 110,000 tons of glutinous rice while Thailand is in turn to procure two CN-235 airplanes from IPTN. That means Bulog will have to spend a large part of the subsidized loan it is getting annually from the central bank to pay for the counter-trade deal.

Indosat enhances its performance JAKARTA (JP): As the primary provider of international telecommunications services in Indonesia, PT Indonesian Satellite Corporation (Indosat) is working to strengthen its market leadership in the country while developing a global presence through increased international initiatives.

Jailbird pursued DILI, East Timor: The authorities are still searching for Jose da Costa, a Dili prison inmate who escaped during a riot in January, Antara reported. Benny J. Mathaus, chief of the Ministry of Justice's provincial office, said here last week that the manhunt would continue until Da Costa is recaptured. He also said that the escapee is believed to have returned to his home in the Baucau regency.

Province potential trouble spot MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Maj. Gen. H.A. Rivai, chief of the local security agency, says the province has the potential for social and political tension, Antara reported yesterday. The head of the Agency for Coordinating Support for the Development of National Stability said that even with the general elections a year away a number of social and political groups are already embroiled in conflicts.

Singatronics quits Batam SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singatronics said yesterday that its wholly owned subsidiary, PT Singatronics Batam, will cease its contract manufacturing business in Batam, Indonesia. It said in a statement the decision to close the loss-making operation resulted from rationalization of the group's contract manufacturing business. Singatronics will concentrate its contract manufacturing business in its two existing plants in Singapore and Malaysia.

ASEAN lobbies for India and Myanmar in ARF By Meidyatama Suryodiningrat YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, on behalf of the seven states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is lobbying for the admission of India and Myanmar to the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), while leaving other applications pending.

Razaleigh ends rivalry with PM Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian opposition strongman Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said yesterday he was ready to return to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's party, ending nine years of bitter political rivalry between the two.

Post writers win awards JAKARTA (JP): Two film reviews published by The Jakarta Post won prizes in a film critics contest held by Jakarta Media Communication. Dini S. Djalal's article The American President: Staring at the White House through Rose-tinted Glasses, which was published on March 12, won the Rp 1,000,000 (US$435) first prize.

Coordination sought to end school brawls JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman yesterday convened a special meeting to discuss ways to end brawling at schools, which has become a major headache for City administrators. "This has become a complex problem that requires everybody's involvement to solve," Soesilo told reporters after the meeting at his office, Antara said.

Lippo Karawaci going public after delay JAKARTA (JP): PT Lippo Karawaci, a township developer in Tangerang, West Java, is finally to sell 30.8 million new shares or around 8 percent of its enlarged stocks to the public early next month after a year of delay. Lippo Karawaci's president, Eddy Sindoro, said yesterday the company expected to raise around Rp 170 billion (US$76.5 million) in fresh funds from the public offering.