Kyongju Hilton closes SEOUL (Reuter): Hit by a strike, the Hilton Hotel in South Korea's tourist resort of Kyongju closed yesterday as industrial action spread across the country. All guests at the Kyongju Hilton had been moved to other hotels, general manager John Kidd said by telephone. He said 120 unionized workers were occupying the lobby in defiance of a lockout declared on Friday. Talks on pay and working conditions had broken off until after the weekend.

Indonesia Air Show '96 lures Eurofighter 2000 JAKARTA (JP): Four industrial giants have cooperated to build Eurofighter 2000, on show at Indonesia Air Show '96. The aircraft, a collaborative effort by Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Spain, is a replacement for the air-defense systems presently used. The current systems will be outdated, both technically and militarily, by the turn of the millennium.

Translation errors I deeply regret some errors in the translation of my letter to the editor which appeared on this newspaper on June 22, 1996. First, I heard about the plan to strip Goethe-Institute Bandung of its cultural role, leaving it merely as a German language institute. There was no mention of its complete closure like the institutes in Surabaya and Medan. Second, Gruenewald is a painter, not a writer, and I learn a lot from his paintings and writings on him.

Cenik, the last classic Balinese dancer By Intan Petersen DENPASAR, Bali (JP): As the music started, Ni Ketut Cenik moved lightly and fluently to the center of the stage. The eerie tones of the gamelan sounded and echoed. As if by magic, Cenik was transformed. It was as if her old self had vanished, replaced by a completely new, entranced one. Her hands took on a dance of their own as her body twisted and turned in the highly stylized movements that characterize Balinese dance.

Undisciplined bus crew From Neraca It seems that the government's national discipline drive has not produced the desired results. It is not surprising as Indonesians are only half-hearted in supporting the campaign. Even civil servants who are expected to be the backbone of the drive fail to act as they should. I am a witness to the undisciplined behavior of a PPD bus conductor serving on line 41 which plies the Kampung Rambutan- Kota route.

Yayuk can achieve Wimbledon glory By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Yayuk Basuki will be looking to continue her outstanding record at Wimbledon this year in what may be her swansong at the world's most famous tennis tournament. Yayuk, one of the most talented players ever from Asia, has announced that she will probably retire at the end of the season even though she will still be only 26 years old.

Japan, Thailand remain unbeaten FUKUOKA, Japan (AFP): Thailand outplayed Vietnam in four sets yesterday to remain unbeaten before a final clash against defending champions Japan, at the Asian Pacific Cup men's volleyball tournament. The Thai spikers, who had to be satisfied with runner-up spot behind Japan last year, coasted to a 15-7, 15-5, 12-15, 15-5 victory for a fourth straight win in the six-team round robin.

Government endorses new PDI board By M.M.I. Ahyani and Imanuddin MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): The government-sponsored congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) yesterday elected Soerjadi as party chairman to replace Megawati Soekarnoputri, who has stayed away from the meeting she has branded unconstitutional.

Western writers cast SE Asia's Chinese in wrong light Western writers should see ethnic Chinese economic activities from a Southeast Asian, rather than a China-centric, perspective. By Theresa C Carino The economic boom in China and the rise of Asia as the center of global economic prominence has once again cast the spotlight on the ethnic Chinese in this region.

Surjadi vows to improve Jakartans' lives JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has pledged to improve the economic and social conditions of Jakartans as well as the city's environment to face the 21st century . Low-cost apartment and minimarket projects in all subdistricts are evidence of the administration's seriousness in caring for the residents, Surjadi said when speaking at the city council's extraordinary plenary meeting to commemorate Jakarta's 469th anniversary yesterday.

Soeharto opens Indonesia Air Show '96 JAKARTA (JP): The aerobatics of Indonesian and British squadrons as well as skydivers carrying the flags of the 23 participating countries marked the opening yesterday of an ambitious air show at the Soekarno-Hatta international airport. Fighters flown by Indonesia's Elang Biru team and Britain's Royal Air Force Red Arrows graced the sky for 42 minutes after President Soeharto opened Indonesia Air Show '96.

Cut down illegal levies In support of business efficiency, the government has promised to cut down levies which cause inflation. The program applies especially in outlying regencies. It appears, however, that the program is not being heeded. Hefty duties are being increasingly imposed on business people. Through this reader's column I would like to draw attention to the illegal tariffs imposed by the Belitung Fisheries Service in South Sumatra. The fishing potential of this region is enormous.

Nurtanio the pioneer of RI's aircraft industry By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Flying has always been man's wildest dream. Man's attempts to fly have been recorded from the Greek legend of Icarus to brothers Wilbur and Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio, the first to fly an airplane. The dream also haunted a kid named Nurtanio Pringgoadisurjo from a remote village in Kandangan, South Kalimantan. His early childhood interest was embodied in his bamboo aircraft models.

Inner beauty radiates happiness, not controversy By Djoewariah Poorwo Soedarmo JAKARTA (JP): The recent controversy over Indonesia's participation in the Miss Universe contest finally ended after President Soeharto firmly stated that such contests, in which winners are selected based on appearance and body measurements, are not for Indonesians. It seems that the requirement of wearing a bathing suit in front of a packed audience for assessment by a jury put an end to the whole matter.

Congress expands board, excludes Megawati JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party opposed to chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri named yesterday a new central executive board which has been expanded to accommodate as many of the factions of the party as possible. Megawati, who has denounced the congress as unconstitutional, was not named in the new line up despite earlier calls by some branches that she should not be excluded altogether.

S'pore's landscaping erases differences Is more of Singapore's heritage being lost by the Urban Redevelopment Authority's plans? By Robert Powell In October 1991, the revised Concept Plan provided a vision for Singapore's physical development into the 21st century. With the completion of the plan, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has proceeded to prepare detailed Development Guide Plans (DGPs) for gazetting as the new Master Plan.

The intangibles behind Singapore's success The spirit of idealism that sustained Singapore in its early years as an independent state should be rekindled amid its people's more vigorous pursuit of material things, says Kwok Kian Woon Politics and vision go together. Where there is an exhaustion of vision, there too is an impoverishment of politics. Where politics cannot rise above the play of power interests, political vision degenerates into ideological dogmatism.

French team takes all the the golds at parachuting meet By Primastuti Handayani LIDO, West Java (JP): Unchallenged from the outset, the French team finally swept all the gold medals in the three events of the Sixth World Championships in Canopy Formation here yesterday. The high-riding Frenchmen also produced two new world records in the process; in the four-way canopy rotation and in the eight- way speed formation events.

Safe sex Can someone please tell me what is appealing about a dress made of condoms or a cage-like one with a cat inside that swings against one's derriere at every step? The only thing I can think of is that these dresses (featured in The Jakarta Post, June 19th edition) are a modern equivalent of the chastity belt. No potential suitor would dare wrestle with a caged cat or a zipper buried underneath a mountain of balloons, assuming he has overcome the aphrodisiac aroma of the rubber.

City strives to build humane sidewalks, open spaces What strikes a visitor to a city the most? Some would say its people, others say its atmosphere, cleanliness and safety. Visitors to Jakarta may find the people friendly -- too friendly to be comfortable, sometimes -- and the physical appearance fitting its reputation as one of the world's largest kampongs. To Jakarta residents, much has changed, both for the better and for the worse.

Dutch artist captures unique beauty of harbors By Jane Freebury JAKARTA (JP): As a boy, Dutch maritime artist Peter J. Sterkenburg enjoyed watching ships pass through the old port of Harlingen where he lived in northern Holland. His enjoyment manifested itself in a talent for drawing ships. This preoccupation has become a life's work and brought about exhibitions such as Sterkenburg's latest to Asia-Pacific, Harbours of Asia and Australia, Now and in the Past.