Indonesia lacks home-grown managers By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): An ideal manager is home-grown. But such managers are rare. Many Indonesian companies import or hijack managers from other firms to skirt this shortage of professionals. An inept employee recruitment system is the root of the shortage, according to I Gusti Made Mantera, the chairman of the Association of Indonesian Managers. Employers fail to consider the potency of management skills when recruiting new employees.

Indonesia's disabled face on uncertain future By Theresia Ariswari YOGYAKARTA (JP): Being disabled in Indonesia is not an easy thing. I want to be treated with the same dignity as anyone else. I am a citizen with the same rights as any educated person in my country, but I'm not treated the same. I have been disabled since childhood. I have always lacked the strength for normal activities at home or at school. For example, getting on the bus and climbing up stairs is difficult.

Development and demolishing From Media Indonesia It seems not too long ago that several newspapers in the capital, as well as some television stations, were covering the demolition operations of squatter huts on the banks of the Ciliwung river. The operations were led by a team from the Jakarta Municipal Office. It is said that the municipality's strategy justifies cleaning operations of rivers, including squatter huts built on river banks, which opposes present city planning.

The Tokdo/Takeshima dispute aggravates Tokyo-Seoul ties By Mark J Valencia Japan and South Korea should jointly explore and develop any resources in their disputed maritime areas. The Tokdo/Takeshima controversy has again raised its ugly head, this time shaking fragile relations and leading to the cancellation of the planned South Korea and Japan summit talks last March.

Pujangga: An experiment in computer-generated poetry By Ruli Manurung JAKARTA (JP): Computer Generated Writing has become quite a hot item of discussion. Evidence is on the Internet, where quite a lot of World Wide Web home pages have been dedicated to research in this field. And how far has it progressed? Will you find the next John Grisham, Shakespeare or Rendra hidden inside your personal computer? Never, you say? Well, you just may ...

Sex before marriage? Some say yes, others no JAKARTA (JP): Sex is always a sensitive but interesting topic to talk about, especially when premarital sex is the topic. For the last couple of years, the number of abortions among unmarried women, specifically teenage girls, has increased, according to surveys by a number of magazines in Jakarta. This seems to shows that sex before marriage has become less of a taboo and more acceptable.

National book production in continuous decline By R. Masri Sareb Putra JAKARTA (JP): May 1996 has been proclaimed National Book Month. This is necessary considering that books are not on most Indonesians' shopping lists. One indicator is national book production. It declined continuously between 1991 and 1994. (see table). In the 1980s a title could sell 5,000 copies in two years. Now publishing houses don't risk runs above 3,000 copies.

How to apply for a visa and stay permit JAKARTA (JP): Any foreigner who wants to work in Indonesia should obtain a visa and a stay permit. The immigration authorities will issue the visa upon the request of the foreigner's sponsor and a recommendation from the Ministry of Manpower. The visa application should be submitted along with the following requirements: * passport or travel document which is valid for at least another 18 months.

Guest What? Is nationalistic chauvinism waning among the Japanese? That seems hard to believe, but why then is Japanese Ambassador Taizo Watanabe driving a Mercedes-Benz and not a Japanese make as expected of all senior Japanese officials? "It's my official car," Taizo admitted during a recent luncheon hosted by the Jakarta Foreign Correspondents Club.

Downsize your dream if you hit a wall By L.E. Nugroho BANDUNG (JP): About the only constant in today's workplace is change. Nothing is guaranteed, but resilient people can learn to weather career setbacks with optimism and a sense of humor. Tough people don't feel sorry for themselves for long. The person who wallows in self-pity spends too much time in introspection and not enough time plotting the future.

Tuyul By Dewi Anggraeni Trevor pushes the door open and walks in, leaving the key dangling. Usually he would call his wife's name at this stage. But this time he deflects. The house is quiet. Why is it different today? Isn't he used to that, knowing that it isn't Maryati's habit to listen to the radio? He flares his nostrils. He smells something strange, something foreign. It isn't the usual welcoming cooking smell.

Freed hostage details last days in captivity JAKARTA (JP): Five Indonesian and six European scientists held hostage by separatist rebels walked through the Irian Jaya jungle for five consecutive days with their abductors to avoid military pursuit, before nine of them regained their freedom on May 15, one of the freed Indonesian hostages said.

Club says research in Irian must continue JAKARTA (JP): The Biological Science Club of Indonesia said yesterday research programs must continue in Irian Jaya in spite of a hostage-taking tragedy in which the club lost this month two of its members. In a statement, however, the club stated it has temporarily ceased all research programs in Irian Jaya in compliance with a government ban announced after the end, on May 16, of the four- month hostage drama.

Foreign workers: Job predators or catalysts? By Djisman Simandjuntak JAKARTA (JP): The cross-border movement of workers, blue collar and white collar alike, is becoming a heated issue in international economic relations. When the iron curtain disappeared in Europe, governments were afraid of a massive movement of workers into western Europe at a time when that part of the world was faced with rising structural unemployment.

Foreigners working in Indonesia Government institution which issue working permits for foreigners: Position Manpower BKPMD KBN Ditjen Manpower BIDA Total Parpostel Represen- Office in tative Bintan --------------------------------------------------------------------- Executives 1,954 11,051 82 189 42 306 13,624 Profesionals 7,021 3,851 166 332 70 434 11,874 Supervisors 5,166 2,692 245 - 31 120 8,354 Technicians/ 2,503 20,612 153 - 5 134 23,407 Operators...

Indonesia retains Uber Cup crown By Arif Suryobuwono HONG KONG (JP): The chant "Who owns badminton if not Indonesia?" echoed around the packed Queen Elizabeth stadium as the Indonesian second-string duo of Lili Tampi and Finarsih sealed their side's victory over China in the Uber Cup final yesterday. Finarsih and Lili's 15-9, 15-10 win over Qin Yiyuan and Tang Yongshu, who are ranked nine places above them, means that the Cup remains safe in Indonesian hands, at least for another two years.

Bird trainer on the way up JAKARTA (JP): There are many ways to make a living. Being a bird trainer is one of them and that is what Misstimah has been doing for the past five months. "I love birds. I'm glad I've had the chance to do this job," she said. Misstimah has been working at the Safari Park in Cisarua, West Java, since she graduated from the senior high school in 1993. She applied for a job at the park upon the suggestion of her relative, who works at the park's front office.

Getting away from the office at B.A.T.S. factory By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): New factories have long been relegated to the outskirts of Jakarta, except for the "factory" built below the Shangri-La hotel. The bar and restaurant in the basement of the hotel has a factory feel and is named B.A.T.S., to draw in the curious. "It can stand for either 'Bar at the Shangri-La', 'Be at the Shangri-La', 'Beautiful And Talented Staff' or whatsoever appropriate," said Riza A.

Some girls just want to have fun with language By Bret Galloway JAKARTA (JP): Maybe Cindy Lauper was right. It seems natural enough. But writing a language book is not many people would do for fun. Retno Krisnawati did.

Tanri Abeng works without stress JAKARTA (JP): Everyone who works under pressure is prone to stress, but not Tanri Abeng, the president of Bakrie & Brothers. "What is stress? If you ask me if I work under pressure, the answer is yes. But not stress," he said. Playing tennis at least twice a week helps him avoid stress, but what's more important for Tanri is to be realistic, natural and positive. "We have to get back to nature...

Unofficial warders exercise power politics in prisons By Tri Agus S. Siswowihardjo Unofficial wardens exercise great influence on the internal condition of Indonesian prisons. These wardens are actually prison inmates who can dominate the situation because of their money and influence. JAKARTA (JP): Remember the riot in Medan's Tanjung Gusta prison at the end of March, in which six inmates were killed?

RI economic boom draws expatriates An Indonesian woman on her first trip to London whispered to a colleague, "Gee, isn't it something to have these bule carrying our luggage?" This woman was expressing a feeling shared by some Indonesians about foreigners, westerners in particular. Certain people here view foreigners, including foreign experts working in various fields, as arrogant people, who think only of taking from the country.

Indonesia to face Denmark in Thomas Cup final HONG KONG (AFP): Indonesia will defend its Thomas Cup men's team badminton championship title against Denmark amidst tight security here today. Security at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium has been stepped up for both Thomas and Uber Cup finals at the weekend, after a bomb scare delayed semi-final matches on Friday. Indonesia earned a place in the final with an unflattering 3-2 win over South Korea, while Denmark upset China with the same scoreline.

Made Wijaya still a stranger after 22 years A Stranger In Paradise By Made Wijaya 260 pp, Rp 90,000 (hrdcover), Rp 65,000 (paperback) DENPASAR (JP): Made Wijaya's A Stranger in Paradise, the Diary of an Expatriate in Bali 1979-1980 hit Bali's bookshops late last year. Actually, Made Wijaya is the pen name of Michael White, a landscape engineering consultant for major hotels in Bali. The writer, born in Australia, first set foot on Bali at the age of 20.

Surdiyanto wins bank golf tourney JAKARTA (JP): Jakartan banker Surdiyanto, a 13-handicap golfer, won the Indonesian Bankers Association best gross overall title after scoring a 77 at Imperial Golf Course, Karawaci, Tangerang, West Java yesterday. Ricardo, from Jakarta, who has an 11 handicap, won the best nett overall title after carding a 68.

MBA certificate no longer ticket to instant success By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Ten years ago, an MBA degree was a ticket to instant success. An MBA graduate, especially from a foreign business school, enjoyed many privileges as the prima donna of the business community. Immediately upon graduation, they would be appointed to top positions in multinational companies. They received high salaries, drove luxurious cars and lived in comfortable houses. The sweet days are over.

Italian soccer team Lazio receives warm welcome JAKARTA (JP): The Italian soccer team Lazio arrived yesterday amid tumultuous cheers by a throng of Indonesian fans who flocked to the Sukarno-Hatta airport just to see their idols. The crowds, mostly girls, put aside thoughts of their Indonesian Uber Cup badminton team, which was fighting against China, and ran after Italian top-scorer for 1993 and 1994 Giuseppe Signori for some rare photos.

A national symblol on the brink of extinction By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the United States have at least two things in common: both have adopted eagles as national symbols, and both of these symbolic eagles are endangered. The bald eagle adorns the coat of arms of the United States and is its national bird. Indonesia has the mythical burung garuda on its shield, and honors the Javan hawk eagle as the national bird.

Secondhand tires hot despite blowout dangers By Imran Rusli JAKARTA (JP): Despite the risk, the future of re-patterned tires, called ban batik in Indonesian, is secure. There is never any shortage of buyers for the cheap secondhand tires, with prices ranging from Rp10,000 to Rp75,000 (US$4.24 to $29.78), depending on the size, brand and car type. Ban batik are sold in Tanah Abang, Simprug, Pasar Minggu, Lebak Bulus, Kebayoran Lama, Gandaria, Pool Tangan, Pulo Gadung and Rawamangun.

Most expatriates happy to work in RI JAKARTA (JP): How do Indonesians perceive foreign workers? How do expatriate workers find working with Indonesians? The Jakarta Post interviewed both Indonesians and foreigners on the matter. The following is excerpted from those interviews: Parveen Gandhi, Corporate Finance Advisor, Bank Bira, an Indian citizen, is happy with the work environment in Indonesia and its friendly people. "I love working with the local people.

Work permits for foreigners issued by several agencies By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): Work permits for foreigners are issued by a number of government offices.

Bali Boys sought for their virility By Putu Wirata KUTA, Bali (JP): Ketut Mendra, born in Kuta, Bali in 1963, was a prominent surfer in the 1980s. A junior high school graduate, he earned money by selling postcards and newspapers to tourists. In 1974 he met Paul, a surfer from Australia. They became friends and Mendra learnt to surf. But it did not end with surfing lessons. Surfing introduced Mendra to a new life, and he became a gigolo for foreign tourists.

'Pelita' warned over inflammatory report JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Information has issued a stern warning to Pelita daily newspaper over articles suggesting that most high school girls in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, have lost their virginity, Antara reported yesterday.