Translating themes into stamp designs in Indonesia By Lila Fitri Aly JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian word perangko (stamp) is derived from the Latin word franco, a receipt for payment of the mailing cost of a letter. Long before the use of stamps, people in the old kingdoms of Sriwijaya, Tarumanegara, Mataram, Purnawarman and Majapahit, exchanged letters by royal messengers. Letters were written on a variety of materials such as bark, bamboo and palm leaves.

Maria suffers first loss JAKARTA (JP): Breaking the time limit, Maria Lucia, Indonesia's 1991 Asian Junior Chess Champion, was declared the loser by international judge Mukmin Panggabean in a game against Georgian grandmaster Nana Alexandria in their first duel in Surabaya on Friday. Maria's time flag fell just as she was about to make her 40th move, shifting her king to h8 in response to Nana moving her queen to d4.

Indonesia -- a seafaring nation Arung Samudera 95: Sail Indonesia & International Fleet Review Indonesian Navy Headquarters PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, 1995 233 pp JAKARTA (JP): The history of Indonesia is rich in nautical events. Sea tales were spun in ancient verse, leaving little doubt of the country's sea-faring background. The sea is the major attraction for foreign tourists who visit this archipelagic country of over 17,000 islands.

'The Penny Black' in stamp history JAKARTA (JP): Stamps were first issued in Great Britain on May 6, 1840. The first two British stamps issued are known as "The Penny Black" and each had a value of 2 pence. The idea to use stamps came from an Englishman named Sir Rowland Hill, in response to the ineffectiveness of the postal service at the time. Before 1840 a number of countries had organized regular postal services but the mailing cost was still paid in cash.

Honggo puts Asmat motifs in his clay works By Imran Rusli JAKARTA (JP): "Crazy ceramics!" cried a group of female students, pointing to a ceramic displayed at the handicraft center of Pasaraya Big and Beautiful in Blok M, South Jakarta. "Really crazy," they raved. The object of all this craziness was the works of clay artist Honggo, whose Asmat-style pieces have won the hearts of many ceramic collectors.

Roosseno dies of diabetes at 88 R. Roosseno, the Indonesian doyen of engineering and minister during the Old Order administration of the late president Sukarno, died of diabetes here yesterday. He was 88. The recipient of several honors for his outstanding contributions in the fields of science of engineering at both the local and international levels, Roosseno is survived by six children and 20 grandchildren.

Local firms told to use fair for promotion JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Try Sutrisno officially opened yesterday the 29th Jakarta Fair in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, with a call to local companies to use the fair as arena to promote their products. "The fair can become a place for local companies to negotiate with both domestic and foreign buyers," Try said.

Stamp collecting as a popular hobby JAKARTA (JP): Stamp collecting could be the most popular hobby in the world. The young and old, and the rich and poor from all corners of the world enjoy collecting stamps. Stamp collectors are called philatelists. The word originated from two Greek words, philos, which means "loving", and atelos, meaning either "free of tax", or "has been paid". According to the World Book of Encyclopedia, King George V and Franklin D.

Night buses, please From Neraca Once again, I would like to put my plight about night buses before the transportation authorities. How nice it would be if night transportation was reestablished, since many private enterprises are running bus services today. How can we establish this night transportation under professional management for the benefit of people working night shifts? I remember that some two years ago, there were late evening buses.

World surfing champ ousted JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Jye Gofton from Australia failed to make it to the semifinal of the world surfing championship at Sorake in Nias, off northern Sumatra, on Friday. Gofton was thrown off one of Sorake's waves, which can be up to four-meters high. His board was thrown four meters away from him and he was left with only 12 minutes to repeat and finish the fifth-heat routine, an impossible task.

Labor unrest might hit investment in Vietnam By Hoang Ngoc Nguyen An increasing number of strikes in Vietnam is causing the government concern. Vietnam's socialist regime is founded on the working class in which the workers are supposed to be both employer and employees of their factories.

ASEAN must take a more proactive approach By Bilson Kurus If ASEAN does not take a more proactive approach to international affairs, it faces a difficult future. If there is to be a concise phrase which would arguably serve both as a critique of and a challenge for ASEAN as it heads towards the 21st century, it must be: "Lead, follow or get out of the way". Too strong a statement perhaps, but fitting nonetheless.

Dissenters will not be dismissed: PDI JAKARTA (JP): The challenged executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) softened its stance yesterday, saying it would not immediately dismiss a group of dissenters pushing for a fresh chairman election.

National jumpers told to become achievers JAKARTA (JP): Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman urged national skydivers to improve the country's achievements in international events. "We hope our skydivers can do the same as our shuttlers who achieved world ranking," Hayono told participants of the Six World Parachuting Championships on Canopy Formation at Lido Lake Resort, Bogor, West Java, on Friday.

Toll fees PT Citramarga Nusaphala Persada -- the company which is building the newly extended Tomang-Tanjung Priok-Ancol-Pluit toll road -- has proposed a toll fee hike, despite the fact that it was already raised by Rp 500 in October last year. According to the regulations on toll roads, toll fees may be increased once every two years. The fee for sedans, for example -- originally set at Rp 2,000 -- was raised to Rp 2,500 last October.

Parachuting: Adventure in the sky By Primastuti Handayani and Thalia Kamarga BOGOR, West Java (JP): Centuries ago, our predecessors dreamed of being able to fly like birds. Now, because of modern technology people can travel by airplane. Flying in an aircraft is not the same as flying without the help of any machine. Nor is it as challenging or exciting. Parachuting is an alternative to other air sports. You will feel alone up there, feeling free like a bird in the sky.

Lee says Suu Kyi must 'face realities' SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew urged the Myanmarese opposition in remarks published here yesterday to "face the realities of life" and accept the army's role in governing their country. Singapore's Straits Times quoted Lee, on a private European visit, as telling a group of journalists in Paris that even pro- democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would have to depend on the army if she suddenly came to power.

Lombok to host roller skate meet JAKARTA (JP): About 700 rollerskaters are expected to participate in the National Roller Skating Championships in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, on June 30. Chairman of the organizing committee Robby G Anthony SZ said that State Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman and Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunication Joop Ave will attend the opening ceremony of the championships. Robby told Antara that the 47km track is nearing completion.

Hashimoto keeps leed in JLPGA FUJIOKA, Japan (AFP): Overnight leader Aiko Hashimoto played steady golf to stretch her lead to three strokes after the third round in the US$460,000 Twin Lakes Open women's golf tournament yesterday. The Japanese shot three birdies and no bogies to card 69 for a three-round total of seven under par 209 on the 6,254-yard Twin Lakes Country Club course, ahead of her nearest rival Tseng Hsiu- feng of Taiwan at 212.

Three records shattered at regional athletics meet JAKARTA (JP): Three records were broken on the first day of the 20th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) schools track and field championship at the Senayan Madya stadium here yesterday. Two of the records were produced by middle-distance runner Tri Asih Handayani and pole-vaulter Nunung Jayadi, both of Indonesia.