Robbers use new ploy From Media Indonesia Through this column, we would like to warn housewives -- and servants in particular -- of "civilized" robbers who politely come and take your prized possessions away. A favorite ploy they use nowadays to gain entry into a house is the story that they have been sent by the absent homeowner to pick up some equipment in exchange for a new and better one.

Brown conquers Jakarta with noble values By Lela E. Madjiah JAKARTA (JP): It took Ron Brown less than a year to "conquer" Jakarta. Arriving in Denpasar in July 1995 as Ansett Australia's manager for Indonesia, Ron won an ASEAN Development Award for 1996 in April this year. This prestigious management award was also a present for his 45th birthday, which fell on April 14.

Envoy summoned over use of riot control equipment By Rikza Abdullah LONDON (JP): The British Foreign Office has summoned Indonesian ambassador to Britain J.E. Habibie, questioning him on the recent use of British-made military equipment for controlling riots in Jakarta. "I explained to the foreign office officials yesterday that the riot control equipment has been used properly by security personnel to overcome riots, in order to restore order," Habibie told Indonesian reporters here on Friday.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 6:25 Morning Focus 6:45 Healthy and Fit 7:00 Morning News 7:30 TV Series: Grandizer 8:00 Children's Program: Panggung Gembira Anak 9:00 English News Service 9:30 Focus: People and Event 10:00 Music: Album Minggu Ini 11:00 Children's Stories 11:30 Comedy: Ria Jenaka 11:45 Sports: Dari Gelanggang Ke Gelanggang 1:30 p.m.

New mission for former U.S. bases ______________________________________________________________________ Joaquin L Gonzalez III looks at the transformation of Subic Bay and Clark Air Base to hubs of economic activity _____________________________________________________________________ As growth among the countries in the Asia-Pacific cools down, an alternative phenomenon to watch in the region these days is the transformation of two former U.S. military installations in the Philippines.

Dry season's savage heat a blessing for Madurese Text and photos by Zoel Mistortoify MADURA, East Java (JP): There is always a time to worry and for the Madurese, it is the dry season, which reaches its peak between August and October. For Madurese living in arid areas, the dry season does not only cause water shortages but also depresses the region's economy since the islanders depend on agriculture.

Hate Hate crimes against Asians rise 80 percent in California. Page 2 Down's syndrome Shelter provides haven for people with Down's syndrome. Page 6 Madura Dry season brings joy to Madurese tobacco farmers. Page 8 Internet Would-be terrorists take their lessons on the Internet. Page 10 Olympics Indonesia continued its Olympic off-target showing Page 15

Window for Sea ________________________________________________________________ Having declared an Exclusive Economic Zone, China will now have to delimit its disputed sea boundaries with its maritime neighbors -- South Korea, Japan and Vietnam. _______________________________________________________________ Window for Subic _________________________________________________________________ Interestingly, many American companies are leading the investment foray into the former military bases.

Japan's Myanmar policy takes coutious approach By Jeff Kingston Japan has shed its customary reticence and played a significant diplomatic role in dealing with the Myanmar problem. A more activist Japan willing to selectively use its clout to affect outcomes in the region will both help lay the ghosts of the past to rest and demonstrate that a quieter brand of diplomacy can work. Is it ready for the prime time?

Characteristic features of the most common congenital syndromes JAKARTA (JP): Down's syndrome is one of the most common congenital syndromes. According to Dr. Mark Selikowitz from Australia, Down's syndrome is the most prevalent chromosomal disorder as well as the most frequent cause of intellectual disability. In his book Down Syndrome, the Facts, he writes that Down's syndrome occurs approximately once in every 700 births, in all ethnic groups.

Parents still feel stigma of Down's syndrome JAKARTA (JP): Dahlia, not her real name, almost fainted when a doctor told her that her new-born was intellectually disabled. "'Mentally disabled' sounded so hurting. My world crashed. I felt like I have let everyone down. My husband, my parents and my other children. I couldn't bear to face them," recalled Dahlia who gave birth to a disabled child in her late thirties.

Info technology affects human ties By Markus Krisetya JAKARTA (JP): Being online or connected to the Internet and the World Wide Web has become very fashionable in Indonesia. A new crop of Internet providers are now racing to provide affordable and reliable services to allow more and more of us to be part of the Information Superhighway. Some of us can now boast an e-mail address on our business cards and talk about discussion groups on the Internet.

Barong By Sunaryono Basuki Ks New Year's Day was a blessed day for Wayan Suardika, but not because he had received a bonus from his office, stashed in an envelope which he handed to his wife Nyoman as soon as he got home. His wife's face lit up. She fingered the red banknotes, but hurriedly put them back in the envelope. Perhaps Nyoman felt what he had done as a blessing for the family. It was not money that made them feel grateful to Hyang Widhi. "Where's Gede?" asked Wayan.

Book exhibit lacks promotion From Merdeka I was overcome with sadness when I saw the poor turn out at the ongoing IKAPI Book Exhibition, held at the east parking lot of Senayan. On the other hand, the Jakarta Auto Expo, which was held at the nearby Jakarta Convention Center, attracted people in droves. The irony of it is just unbelievable.

Rioters riding on public discontent __________________________________________________________________ Darkness engulfed the long stretch of Jl. Kramat Raya, Jl. Salemba Raya and Jl. Matraman Raya in Central Jakarta on the evening of July 27. The nearby Jl. Diponegoro, Jl. Proklamasi, Jl. Cikini Raya. Jl. Surabaya and Jl. Pegangsaan were equally quiet and dark, save for explosions from burning structures and cheering and hand clapping from the crowd.

Rioters riding on public discontent Darkness engulfed the long stretch of Jl. Kramat Raya, Jl. Salemba Raya and Jl. Matraman Raya in Central Jakarta on the evening of July 27. The nearby Jl. Diponegoro, Jl. Proklamasi, Jl. Cikini Raya. Jl. Surabaya and Jl. Pegangsaan were equally quiet and dark, save for similar explosions from burning structures and the cheering and hand clapping from the crowd.

Hate Hate crimes against Asians rise 80 percent in California. Page 2 Down's syndrome Shelter provides haven for people with Down's syndrome. Madura Dry season brings joy to Madurese tobacco farmers. Page 8 Internet Would-be terrorists take their lessons on the Internet. Page 10 Olympics Indonesia continued its Olympic off-target showing Page 15

Megawati to comply with summons JAKARTA (JP): The ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri and two of her loyalists will comply with police summonses for questioning tomorrow in connection with last week's riots. "Megawati has indicated that she will respond to the police summons to the City Police Headquarters for questioning as a witness at 10 a.m. on Monday," R.O. Tambunan, one of Megawati's lawyers, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Violence is a part of complex urban life JAKARTA (JP): The conflagration, when it came, did not really come unexpected. After all, as U.S. President Nixon said in the wake of the 1970 shooting at Ohio's Kent State University, "when dissent turns into violence it invites tragedy". The build-up had openly been going on for weeks before it finally erupted into violence.

Tengger's hospitality a big boost to tourism By Marina Kaneti MT. BROMO, East Java (JP): Freezing cold, a moon-like landscape, and clouds of lava ash: This is the impressive and unforgettable sight of remote Mt. Bromo. Despite its height, 2,392 m, Mt. Bromo and the entire Tengger caldera are easily accessible by jeep or horse. Apart from the impressive view from the top of Bromo, the surrounding mountain slopes impeccably planted with vegetables also attract one's attention.

Indian poet impressed by Javanese dance By Jai Singh Yadav JAKARTA (JP): Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the great Indian poet and winner of the Nobel Prize in literature in 1913, was the first intellectual freedom fighter from India to visit the islands of Indonesia.

Cultivating incremental reforms in Myanmar is the best way forward By Jeff Kingston Japan has shed its customary reticence and played a significant diplomatic role in dealing with the Myanmar problem. A more activist Japan willing to selectively use its clout to affect outcomes in the region will both help lay the ghosts of the past to rest and demonstrate that a quieter brand of diplomacy can work. Is it ready for the prime time?

Archery flop adds to RI's Olympic agony ATLANTA, Georgia (Agencies): Indonesia continued its Olympic off-target showing with the first-round, 208-246 defeat of its women's archery team to Ukraine here on Friday. Indonesia had good reason to place high hopes in the team which earned a bronze medal at the 38th world archery championships in Jakarta last year. Moreover, a member of the team was in the 1988 squad which won the silver medal at the Seoul Olympics.

Shelter provides haven for people with Down's syndrome JAKARTA (JP): Donny is happy to be with his friends at this South Jakarta home for the mentally retarded. Donny celebrated his 35th birthday last month. Despite his age, he still needs his family to take care of him and provide for his needs. He was quite happy living with his parents at home until his parents realized that they had become too old and too weak to take care of him properly.

Parents still feel stigma of Down's syndrome JAKARTA (JP): Dahlia, not her real name, almost fainted when a doctor told her that her new-born was mentally retarded. "'Mentally retarded' sounded so hurting. My world crashed. I felt like I have let everyone down. My husband, my parents and my other children. I couldn't bear to face them," recalled Dahlia who gave birth to the retarded child at the late 30s.

Info technology affects human ties By Markus Krisetya JAKARTA (JP): Being online or connected to the Internet and the World Wide Web has become very fashionable in Indonesia. A new crop of Internet providers are now racing to provide affordable and reliable services to allow more and more of us to be part of the Information Superhighway. Some of us can now boast an e-mail address on our business cards and talk about discussion groups on the Internet.

In rural Madura, marriage is a God-given joy Text and photos by Zoel Mistortoify MADURA, East Java (JP): In rural Madura a wedding celebration is generally held in a period of prosperity, that is, during harvest time, preferably coinciding with a bulan baik (propitious month) -- which are the months of Are Raja, Molod, Rejeb, Rebba. A joyful celebration, it is customarily an occasion where people flaunt their wealth.

Parents still feel stigma of Down's syndrome JAKARTA (JP): Dahlia, not her real name, almost fainted when a doctor told her that her new-born was mentally retarded. "'Mentally retarded' sounded so hurting. My world crashed. I felt like I have let everyone down. My husband, my parents and my other children. I couldn't bear to face them," recalled Dahlia who gave birth to the retarded child at the late 30s.