Gadjah Tunggal's profits JAKARTA (JP): Gadjah Tunggal, a publicly listed tire manufacturer, booked a net profit of Rp 22.54 billion (US$9.8 million) in the first quarter of this year, indicating a 2 percent increase from Rp 21.94 billion in the same period of 1995. The company announced yesterday that its before-tax profit increased by 35 percent to Rp 45 billion in the first quarter from Rp 33 billion in the same period of 1995.

RI juniors beat Taiwan JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia cruised to the semifinals of the World Youth Cup Asia zone tennis qualifier in Bandar Seribegawan yesterday after beating Taiwan 2-1. Indonesia was 0-1 down when first-string singles Mario Ronaldo lost 6-7, 6-0, 4-6 to Cheng Dang Chen. Then Feby Widyanto put Indonesia back on track with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Chien Min Wang in the second-string singles match.

No need to form a new political party: Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday dismissed recent attempts to form a new political party when he said that the existing three parties are adequate. "Let's not have any more aspirations for a new party," Soeharto was quoted by Abdul Gafur, a deputy chief of the ruling Golkar, as saying.

Senen market bans 60 traders JAKARTA (JP): The Senen market authorities have temporarily banned 60 traders from selling merchandise at the market following a brawl on Wednesday. Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said that the police have questioned witnesses about the brawl between the traders and a larger group of hoodlums on Wednesday. "We are still investigating the case," Abubakar said yesterday.

Indonesia favored for investment JAKARTA (JP): Executives in Australia consider Indonesia the best investment destination in Southeast Asia, revealed Asia Business News (ABN) and the Far Eastern Economic Review's Asian Executives Poll. The poll was based on 300 top executives from 10 different countries and territories in Asia. Of the executives polled in Australia, 38.5 percent favor Indonesia, followed by the Philippines (19.2 percent) and Thailand (15.4 percent).

Torajan extend protest over virginity remarks UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Thousands of people from the scenic Tana Toraja regency continued with their protest yesterday against a religious affairs official's allegation that "96 percent" of their high school students have lost their virginity to foreign tourists.

Total to double gas output SINGAPORE (Reuter): Total Indonesie, a unit of Total SA of France, plans to more than double gas production in Indonesia to 2.2 billion standard cubic feet per day (scfpd) by year 2000, its president and general manager said. Total currently produces 1.0 billion scfpd which includes 800 million scfpd from the Tunu field, which is part of the Mahakam block on Kalimantan.

Three die of dengue JAMBI, Jambi: Three people have died following a recent outbreak of dengue in 55 neighborhoods of Jambi municipality, a health official said yesterday. Antara quoted head of the local Health Ministry office Dr. Abd. Hamid Syam as saying that dengue killed four of the 75 people affected in January. Most of the victims were between the ages of five and 14, he said. A total of 12 people have died here during the January to May period, he added. (swe)

'Sex education needed after school' JAKARTA (JP): Noted psychologist Sarlito Wirawan Sarwono suggested yesterday that sex education be incorporated into extra-curricular activities, if not in the curriculum itself. The professor at University of Indonesia's School of Psychology told a seminar on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) yesterday that there are great opportunities for both the government and the community to provide teenagers with information on sex.

Murder suspect makes final plea JAKARTA (JP): Defense teams made their last attempts yesterday to convince the East Jakarta District court that suspects charged with the murder of a family last year are innocent. The teams of lawyers defending Philipus, his wife Suparmi and their son and nephews told the court that their clients did not murder the wife and children of Rohadi.

Captors planned to kill Indonesian hostages JAKARTA (Agencies): A Dutch couple who were rescued from captivity in Irian Jaya jungles said yesterday that their captors had planned to kill all the five Indonesian hostages they held.

The Constitution and the presidency The head of state has once again emphasized that in accordance with the Constitution, the election of a president is entirely in the hands of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and not the incumbent president's responsibility. The President's renewed statement on the matter is of great significance at a time when speculations are being made with regard to the presidency, pending the 1997 general elections.

Moody's Investors Service may cut Polysindo Eka notes NEW YORK (Reuter): Moody's Investors Service assigned a Ba3 rating to the 13 percent Guaranteed Secured Notes due 2001 of Polysindo International Finance Company B.V. (Finance) and placed under review for possible downgrade the B1 rating on the 13 percent Senior Notes due 2001 of PT Polysindo Eka Perkasa (Polysindo).