Books take children into new world By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): When parents read their children a good story, they take their offsprings into a new world, said Murti Bunanta, an expert in children's literature. Murti is convinced that reading plays a significant role in boosting children's emotional and intellectual growth. Parents could either tell a story or read children a book, she said.

Truck mudguard paintings kill drivers' boredom Text and photos by K. Basrie JAKARTA (JP): Traveling around Indonesia it is common to see expressive illustrations and phrases adorning the tailgates and mudguards of trucks. Women probably hate many of the pictures as they are often vulgar depictions of female bodies. But it's after reading the accompanying captions that even a depressed driver could well burst into laughter.

Children's books industry struggling By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Do not be surprised if many Indonesian children are more familiar with Western superheroes Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Japanese space cat Doraemon, Cinderella or Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck than local characters like Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih. The reason is clear. Today's children are widely exposed to foreign characters from an early age through books, films and merchandise.

Guess What? Six leading directors turned down the offer to direct the TV drama Bukan Perempuan Biasa (No Ordinary Woman). Actress Jajang C. Noer knows why. "I asked them not to accept the offer because I really wanted to do it," Jajang said. At the same time, she asked the Multivision producer, Raam Punjabi, to give her the chance to direct the film. Raam agreed after six directors, including Putu Wijaya, Slamet Rahardjo, Garin Nugroho and Teguh Karya, refused to direct the film.

Consumer rights remain a dream The Indonesian Consumers Organization (YLKI) celebrates its 24th anniversary today with a fresh commitment to keep up its aggressive stance in the interest of the people. Such a mission puts the organization in the hot seat because to some extent, it relies on a government subsidy. The Jakarta Post's team of reporters, Rita A. Widiadana, I.

Advertising Expenditures by Type of Media (in billion Rp) 1996 1997* Media Amount % share Amount % share ----------------------------------------------------- Newspaper 1,202 29.0 1,344 27.1 Magazine 270 6.5 325 6.6 Radio 189 4.6 206 4.2 Cinema 10 0.2 9 0.2 Television 2,203 53.2 2770 55.8 Outdoor 266 6.4 307 6.4 ----------------------------------------------------- Total 4,140 100 4,961 100 Note: * Projected All figures are Gross Advertising Expenditures.

Bachelors It strikes me as odd that many young people from Indonesia, who finish their education in European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland), prefer to remain single after returning to Indonesia. Even those who get a job after finishing their studies prefer to remain bachelors. My friends, some mothers of those young people, are exasperated, because most of them are in their 70s. Naturally they are worried.

Apparel Convention opens HONG KONG (JP): The World Apparel Convention opens tomorrow at the Hong Kong International Convention and Exhibition Center. The two-day convention, scheduled to be opened by Sunyoto, president of the International Apparel Federation, will draw 600 participants from international textile and garment industries. Sunyoto is also president of the Great River International based in Jakarta.

APEC seeks ways for sectoral liberalization By Riyadi MONTREAL (JP): Trade ministers in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) have agreed to speed up sectoral trade liberalization and improve individual action plans. On the first day of their two-day meeting Friday, several trade ministers identified sectors for early liberalization, but others cautioned they should first set out basic principles for the liberalization before deciding on the sectors.

Siana Kristiani on her way to becoming world class doll maker Text and photos by Susi Andrini JAKARTA (JP): Siana Kristiani likes dressing her "children". They are beautiful, sweet and cute and have exotic faces. Regrettably they are dumb because they are porcelain. Siana has been making dolls for two years. "It all started as a hobby," she said. She had no inkling that her dolls would interest so many people, especially foreigners.

Paris music museum features the sound of ancient gamelan By Kunang Helmi Picard PARIS (JP): There is something unique about this museum: it has a permanent display of 17th century Venetian lutes which rub shoulders with a gamelan orchestra from Java and a synthesizer invented by Frank Zappa.

RI softball team leads Arafura Games By Primastuti Handayani DARWIN, Australia (JP): Steven Andre Pattiwael's home run marked a victory for Indonesia men's softball team over neighboring country Brunei Darussalam 14-3 in 6 innings at the Arafura Games opening day. Earlier yesterday, Indonesia defeated Australia Defense Forces 13-0 in 5 innings. Although performing very convincingly in the first match, the Indonesians played poorly in the second match's first inning.

Art bourse gauges art and political conditions By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Fine Arts Foundation holds its Third Indonesian Art Bourse at the Regent Jakarta on Tuesday. Scheduled during the campaign period for the general election, which is understandably considered by many to be a politically sensitive time, this auction will gauge the extent to which the Indonesian art boom persists.

What people say about the role of YLKI JAKARTA (JP): There is an art to shopping around for bargains in goods and services. The catch is that sometimes the spending spirals into a reckless buying binge. Buyers are often caught in the firm grip of the producer who uses savvy advertising to tempt them into buying goods, thereby creating a dependency which is difficult to break. The reliance is inevitable when producers monopolize goods or services people need everyday.

Ministers unhurt in emergency landing JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman and Minister of Social Services Endang Kusuma Inten Soeweno survived a scare yesterday when a Merpati Nusantara aircraft made an emergency landing in Palembang, South Sumatra. The two ministers, in their capacity as members of the board of patrons of the Golkar political grouping, were bound for Jambi for an election rally when one of the aircraft's engines caught fire.

Koi, king of fresh water fish, 'brings luck and happiness' Text and photos by K. Basrie JAKARTA (JP): It was Monday afternoon. A woman in her 40s stopped at the capital's famous fish market on Jl. Barito in South Jakarta. She looked at the 350 dazzling koi fish swimming lively in the blue pond inside the shop. "How much are the koi?" she asked.

Erna Witoelar fights to protect consumers By Prapti Widinugraheni JAKARTA (JP): The level of consumer protection is not the same worldwide. While some consumers are very aware of their rights -- and are thus protected from defective products -- others are helpless to a point where they remain unaware of their right to complain about inferior products.

Arafura Games open in spectraculer style By Primastuti Handayani DARWIN, Australia (JP): As Nova Peris-Kneebone brought the torch to the cauldron, nearly 15,000 people in the Marrara Sporting Complex's football stadium rose and applauded last night's spectacular opening ceremony of the Arafura Games. About 5,000 athletes and officials from 29 countries, the highest number of participants in the biennial event's history, marched in the parade of contingents.

An insider's tales of the New Order government Sudharmono SH, Pengalaman Dalam Masa Pengabdian: Sebuah Otobiografi (Experiences within the Office: An Autobiography) Grasindo, Jakarta, 1997 Annex, glossary/abbreviations, bibliography, chronology, index, list of prize and award, 583 pp. (Book 1) Kesan dan Kenangan dari Teman: 70 Tahun H. Sudharmono SH, (Friends's Notes and Memories: 70 years of H. Sudharmono SH) Sarwono Kusumaatmadja et al. (ed.), Jakarta: Grasindo, 1997, 711 pp.

Guess What? If your boss gets to the office early and leaves well after the working day has ended, what should you do? Follow or ignore your boss' example. Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro often goes to work early and leaves late. "We have no choice but to follow him," his close aide told The Jakarta Post. But he said he enjoyed the long hours like the other staff at the ministry.

Golkar says East Timor is not up for debate JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko fired up a campaign rally in the East Timor town of Baucau by blasting people who tried to bring the province's integration to the fore during local election debates. Any discourse on the issue of integration is irrelevant as the people of the former Portuguese colony opted to integrate into Indonesia 21 years ago, Harmoko told hundreds of supporters packing the Baucau sports hall.

The secret of shopping odysseys JAKARTA (JP): Hans used to tease me about my shopping because I go distances to save money. I go to a shop downtown because the milk in that shop is Rp 500 less expensive than in the shop near my house. I'd rather travel from one end of Jakarta to the other than to give away Rp 500 for free. However, Hans travels in all directions in Jakarta when it comes to shopping for his dinner parties.

Campaign schedule for Indonesia for May 11, 1997: Party: Campaign areas: Important campaigners -------------------------------------------------------------- PPP Java, Maluku, Irian Jaya Hamzah Haz, Zain Badjeber, Alawy Muhammad, Yudo Paripurno, Yusuf Rizal Tjokroaminoto Golkar Kalimantan, Sulawesi Harmoko, Abdul Gafur, Ismael Hassan, Pontjo Sutowo, Burhan Magenda, Fahmi Idris, Fadel Muhammad, Din Syamsudin PDI Sumatra, Bali, East and Soerjadi, Ismunandar, Dimmy Haryanto, West Nusa Tenggara,...

Consumer Complaints Indonesian Consumer Foundation (January-March 1997) No. Type of commodity Total # of cases % ------------------------------------------------- 1 Electricity 6 3.7 2 Hotel/Tourism 8 5 3 Medicines/Cosmetics 5 3.1 4 Housing 21 13.2 5 Electronics 16 10.1 6 Food 15 9.4 7 Contest prizes 3 1.8 8 Household appliances 4 2.5 9 Pesticides 1 0.6 10 Telephone 18 11.3 11 Transportation 8 5 12 Banks/Financial services 22 13.9 13 Mail/Giro 3 1.8 14 Insurance 1 0.6 15 Automotives 5 3.1 16...

Jujur (Big Person) By Jujur Prananto Five knocks at the door of the living room were heard. The rhythm and the stress was so familiar to Wasito and Sukini that the wife and husband knew who the guest was without opening the door. "What should I say this time, Pak?" With a quick reply, Wasito answered, "Let me face him." Sukini was surprised. For a long time her husband tried to avoid the village secretary, Pak Carik Dirgono, when he came to see them.

Let the buyer beware of products and services By Wirasti Wiryono JAKARTA (JP): What can a customer do in an age of "The public be damned", as quoted by mass communications expert M. Budyatna, especially when he or she has been misled into buying a product or service which does not live up to its advertisement?

Campaign '97 Photo A/B/C: Hairs JP/Arief Suhardiman JP/Arief Suhardiman JP/Arief Suhardiman HAIR RAISING: Zany hairstyles take center stage at rallies by Golkar (left) and the United Development Party (PPP) (above). One of the PPP supporters further expresses his party allegiance by wearing glasses and an earing bearing stars, the party's symbol.

YLKI sees class action as tool to protect consumers By I. Christianto and Wirasti Wiryono JAKARTA (JP): Win or lose, the Rp 500 billion (US$210 million) lawsuit filed last month against the state-owned electricity monopoly PLN has set a precedent in Indonesian consumer advocacy. Other lawsuits will likely follow as more and more consumers fight for their rights against the mighty producers.

Consumer protection law gets the runaround JAKARTA (JP): The adage that the customer is king or queen still does not apply in Indonesia. One day, your flight may be delayed or rerouted and you arrive hours later than scheduled. The next day, your bank arbitrarily imposes additional service charges. Then your electricity and telephone lines are cut but there is no notice from the service providers. Angry and set to make a claim? Go ahead, but do not hope for the complaint to be handled seriously.