TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. TVRI News 6:25 Morning News 6:45 Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:15 Healthy and Fit 7:30 Live Reports: Peringatan HUT ABRI Ke-53 11:15 Music: Album Minggu Ini 12:30 p.m.

Used cars can be big deals: Buyers JAKARTA (JP): Used cars can be big bargains, even among the status conscious who would balk at buying anything else secondhand. But it takes a bit of savvy and sometimes the help of experts to pick out the choice buys from lemons. Everyone knows of at least one horror story of a used car buyer being taken for a ride, and ending up with a dud vehicle.

Japan's middle-aged warble 'Bengawan Solo' By Maria D. Andriana TOKYO (Antara): Yamamoto's two daughters were stunned as they listened to their father singing. To the girls, the lyrics of the song was as strange as the tune. It was Bengawan Solo (River Solo), one of the most famous keroncong traditional Javanese tunes. "Bengawan Solo riwayatmu ini .. (The story of River Solo..)," Yamamoto warbled while his daughters stared open-mouthed.

Thailand's Prayad shines at Yokohama Singapore PGA By Bobby Allen Wilson SINGAPORE (JP): Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng caught compatriot Thammanoon Sriroj yesterday in the US$200,000 Yokohama Singapore PGA Championship at Raffles Country Club to share the lead going into today's final round. A brilliant course record seven-under-par 65 put Prayad on nine-under-par 207 for the Omega Tour event and allowed him to reel in Thammanoon who carded a disappointing one-over-par 73.

Can we say 'I am from Indonesia'? JAKARTA (JP): "Look at that," I said to the friendly swimming pool attendant, "is it mist or smoke?" We were standing on top of Singapore's lush Four Seasons Hotel in the middle of August. He turned around to look at the bluish white shrouds that were slightly obscuring our view of the skyline. "It must be the smoke from, well, I don't know.

Newly opened Hotel Mulia ready for Games activities JAKARTA (JP): The Hotel Mulia Senayan rejected accusations yesterday that it was not ready for the SEA Games after it turned away foreign athletes on Friday who thought they were staying there. The hotel's public relations manager, Ira Maya Sopha, said: "We are ready for the Games.

Giving Indonesian art the respect it deserves Masterpieces of Contemporary Indonesian Painters By Esmeralda and Marc Bollansee Times Editions, Singapore, 1997 173 pages Rp 223,000 UBUD, Bali (JP): Western observers and art connoisseurs are often reluctant to accept the validity of other types of modernism. Their approach to Indonesian art is no exception.

Pasar Mobil Kemayoran bids good prices for used cars JAKARTA (JP): One of the most popular used-car markets in the city is Pasar Mobil Kemayoran at the Jakarta Fairground complex, at the now defunct Kemayoran Airport, in Central Jakarta. Founded three years ago, the three-hectare market currently boasts 40 showrooms with a capacity to hold 100 cars each.

One killed, two others injured in car crash JAKARTA (JP): A motorist died while her friends -- a woman and a South Korean man -- suffered serious injuries in a crash on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta, in the early hours of yesterday morning. Police said the driver of the Mazda 323 was believed to have sped and lost control before smashing into a tree of the median in front of Sahid Jaya Hotel at around 1:30 a.m.

Armed Forces undergoes generation changes SINGAPORE: Now that the commotion surrounding the Indonesian general election on May 29, 1997, has more or less subsided, the preoccupation of ABRI - the Indonesian Armed Forces - is to clean up the mess and set the stage for another equally, if not more, important event: the March 1998 sessions of the MPR - People's Consultative Assembly - during which Indonesia's GBHN - State Major Policy Guidelines - are deliberated and adopted, and a new president...

Rain brings some relief but haze is still a threat JAKARTA (JP): In some drought-stricken areas of Indonesia, residents have started to breathe easier because of downpours over the past two days, but haze remains a threat for a greater part of the country.

RI seamen face prosecution TAIPEI (DPA): Kaohsiung Harbor police on Taiwan's have turned six Indonesian seamen over for prosecution for smuggling in 24 rare birds, a spokesman for the authorities said yesterday. Kaohsiung Harbor police found the birds -- three Red Lory Parrots, ten Red-Sided Parrots and 11 Crowned Cranes -- on board Indonesian bulk carrier Sun Kong 6 Monday. The birds are native to Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Thailand to help RI quash forest fires BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand will send six experts to Indonesia next week to evaluate what help can be given to fight the raging forest fires that have left much of Southeast Asia engulfed in smog, reports said yesterday. Thinnakorn Kannasutra, deputy foreign ministry spokesman said the experts from the Thai ministry of agriculture and forestry would fly to Indonesia on Tuesday and visit Sumatra and Kalimantan, the Bangkok Post reported.

Guess What? In Irian Jaya, the words "yesterday", "today" and "tomorrow" do not exactly stay true to their meaning. Not when talking about newspapers published outside the province. Subscribers get their copies a day late, particularly since not all of the newspapers are available on the Internet. With a little extra effort, there is one way to get copies of national newspapers on the same day that they are published.

French couple and son travel globe on tandem bike By Emilie Soeur JAKARTA (JP): The Soulats -- Alain, 38, Sylvie, 40, and Aymeric-Ulysse, 2 -- are anything but a usual family. They seem to suffer from a strange illness we could call: the tandem-bike addiction. The symptoms of this affliction amount to an irrepressible need to sit on dual saddles and cycle around the world.

Old dancers never fade away By Mariam K. Sutalaksana JAKARTA (JP): Dancers who have survived for more than 20 years in Indonesia and are dedicated in their field to produce the best of works deserve an individual commentary. The performances held at Gedung Kesenian Jakarta on Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 at the "Old Dancers Never Fade Away" event were substantial in their theme. The maturity of the so-called "old performers" was a quality that many young dancers, with a few exceptions, seemed to lack.

Mobil'88 fine tunes formula in selling used cars By Sugianto Tandra JAKARTA (JP): In the 1970s, purchasing a used car from a doctor was judged a safe buy. Their caring hands were assumed to have kept the vehicle in tip-top condition. This notion has slowly faded away. It is not because people don't trust in doctors' integrity anymore. Instead, enterprising used car dealers have learned lessons from the doctors, and know the importance of establishing trust with clients from the first meeting.

Yogyakarta's new students get 'lessons' in politics By Tedy Novan YOGYAKARTA (JP): This decade has ushered in a hotbed of political activism among Yogyakarta university students. Political themes have found their way into orientation programs, which were originally aimed at preparing new students for the mental stress of academic life. But ones in several Yogyakarta universities have become arenas for political exercises in the past seven years.

900 SEA Games referees scheduled to arrive today JAKARTA (JP): More than 900 foreign and local referees are due to arrive today for the 19th SEA Games. The organizing committee's competition deputy, Mohammad Hindarto, announced yesterday that about 500 local referees and 400 foreign referees were expected to gather here by tomorrow at the latest. Hindarto said that apart from paying for invited referee's tickets, the organizers would also provide them with board and lodging and an allowance.

Home may be best venue to have guests By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): As one of the top interior designers in town, Yuna Nasution's daily agenda is packed with meetings. Entertaining clients, business colleagues or friends is a big chunk of her heavy schedule. "During the first years of my business, I usually entertained them at hotels, restaurants or cafes," said the University of Massachusetts graduate. "It saved time and energy.

Guess What? In the bundle of often inaccurate Teutonic stereotypes, Germans are known for stoic natures. Yet German Ambassador to Indonesia Dr. Heinrich Seemann brims with enthusiasm when talk turns to Raden Saleh, the famed 19th century Indonesian painter. "Raden Saleh spent many years in Germany and could speak German fluently," Seemann said Thursday during an interview in conjunction with German Reunification Day on Oct. 3.

Unique art of entertaining is a stylish tradition JAKARTA (JP): Entertaining and honoring guests in style is a centuries-old tradition in this country. Rich hospitality is usually at the heart of traditional festivities involving hundreds of people in a community. At the events, especially rites of passage ceremonies such as the birth of a baby and weddings, the host lays on a sumptuous spread of food for guests.

RI reports progress on UN role in Cambodia UNITED NATIONS (Reuter): Southeast Asian countries secured an agreement from rival Cambodian leaders for the United Nations (UN) to monitor the return of exiled politicians before crucial elections next year, Indonesia said on Friday. But neither side was willing to talk yet about a permanent cease-fire, although they might agree to a temporary one, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters.

Cats, Cockroaches 'raid' Teater Utan Kayu By Leon Agusta JAKARTA (JP): Actors Rita Matu Mona and Iman Soleh unleashed the virus of innovation and renewal into Indonesia's increasingly commercialized world of contemporary theater at Teater Utan Kayu in the Lontar Gallery complex in East Jakarta last weekend. Rita imbued the audience of almost 70 people packed into the small theater at Jl. Utan Kayu 68H with the terror that what we dread most may lurk within us.

ABRI committed to upholding democracy JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung declared last night the military's commitment to democratization, saying it never meant to fetter people's initiatives even as it strove to protect stability.

Short ribs, cheesecake from Victoria JAKARTA (JP): Harmonizing original recipes with today's "food- processing" culture, Victoria's Char-grill Steak-house and Cafe has achieved the ideal blend of Western and Eastern concepts, said Mulyadi, the restaurant's operations manager. Situated at Jl. Sultan Hasanuddin No 47-52, South Jakarta, (7255539, 7255540), the restaurant has been able to garner the attention of the upper anybody-who-is-somebody crust of society, including government officials.

ABRI marches toward 21st century The challenges ahead As Indonesia marks its Armed Forces Day in October, John B. Haseman and Rukmantoro Hadi Sumukti look at recent developments and the challenges ahead. SINGAPORE: Indonesia is frequently looked at as a powerful trend-setter for the Southeast Asia region.

Two five-star generals to attend ABRI jubilee JAKARTA (JP): Two five-star "Great Generals" will attend this morning's celebrations of the Armed Forces (ABRI) 52nd anniversary: President Soeharto and government critic Abdul Haris Nasution. Both separately received the five-star honor from ABRI Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung on Wednesday. The other recipient of the honor was the late Gen. Soedirman.

Porters spend their nights at Kramatjati market Text and photos by Agus Y. Ranu JAKARTA (JP): In the dead of night, 12:50 a.m., most Jakartans are fast asleep. In the encompassing darkness, bare light bulbs shine on stacks of fresh fruit and vegetables. Deflected light radiates from the fruit and vegetable skins. A truck with East Java license plates, loaded to the brim with mangoes, drives slowly looking for Pak Yunus' kiosk.

UN information center The day was Monday, Sept. 29, 1997 at about 1:30 p.m. As I passed by a Central Jakarta street called Jl. Kebon Sirih, my eyes suddenly spotted one of the high-rise buildings on the left in front of which there was a colorful United Nations flag. Near it, there was a white sign board indicating that this was UN Information Center. One of the security guards at the entrance smiled at me as he noticed my apparent interest so I stooped.

AFC official warns of haze and bribery JAKARTA (JP): Bribery and the haze threat were the two main concerns at the 19th SEA Games soccer technical meeting. Secretary-general of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Dato Peter Velappen said that the haze, which has shrouded some of Indonesian islands for the last three months, should be watched.

How to avoid buying a jalopy JAKARTA (JP): More can go wrong when buying a used car than when purchasing a new one. There are many things that have to be checked out to make sure you are not saddled with a jalopy. The following are tips on how to pick up a decent secondhand car. The guidelines are collected from various sources, including dealers, repairmen and automobile publications. 1. Reading classified ads in certain dailies, like Pos Kota and Kompas, is a must.