Maria By AA Navis Batang Antokan river flowed swiftly from Lake Maninjau to the Indian Ocean. I could clearly hear the clamor it made from the spot where I stood. During the colonels' rebellion, popularly known as PRRI, at the end of the 1950s, many dead bodies were thrown into this river by both sides of the warring factions. One of them was Maria, a friend of mine. The first time I saw her my heart whispered, "she is different from other women".

Taman Safari breeding program offers hope By Stevie Emilia CISARUA, West Java (JP): It is a perilous race against time for many endangered animal species in Indonesia. As the country's fauna slips into extinction at a faster rate than ever before, the captive breeding program at Taman Safari carries hope that future generations will get to see living examples, instead of illustrations in history books.

Guess What? Author HB Jassin is still being treated at Jakarta's Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital for a stroke, but this did not stop his friends from celebrating his 80th birthday in style. A Who's Who of literary figures, writers, artists and journalists organized a birthday celebration at the HB Jassin Literature Documentation Center at Taman Ismail Marzuki on Thursday.

Western fare knocks traditional RI dishes off the menu By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): They may be swimming in fat and laden with calories, but pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs and other Western dishes are threatening to supplant traditional Indonesian cuisine. Proof in the pudding? Just visit one of the sprawling malls in Jakarta and other major cities in the country.

ASEAN proves its crisis-management skill ASEAN has demonstrated its growing ability to deal with a crisis in an appropriate way. By Rizal Sukma SINGAPORE: The outbreak of the Cambodian crisis has been unfortunate for both Cambodia and ASEAN. For the country, the crisis has once again brought conflict which can close the opportunity for the Cambodian people to enter the 21st century in a new era of political stability and economic development.

Arifien tells whimsical tales in art By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): One of the Kurawa brothers attempts to undress Dewi Drupadi by pulling her translucent selendang cloth, causing the vase on a nearby table to almost tip over. In fact, the entire table is also about to tip over. On the edge of the painting's canvas, another figure stands frozen, hopelessly scared, biting his fingernails, watching it all happen. This is the painter Arifien's interpretation of an episode from the Mahabarata epic.

Seeing orangutans at their devilish best needs caution Text and photos by Mulkan Salmona LANGKAT, North Sumatra (JP): I was panting from exhaustion after trekking up the sequestered trail in the woods of the Bohorok rehabilitation center for orangutans. Peals of laughter punctured the silent domain, and I stepped up the pace in the hope of stumbling upon the find.

Garin hopes of lucky number four By Yenni Kwok JAKARTA (JP): Garin Nugroho is both worried and hopeful. "People say four is the death number," said the young filmmaker. "But, I believe that it also signifies births and revivals." He is suddenly obsessed with the number as he will soon work on the production of Daun di Atas Bantal (Leaf on a Pillow), his fourth film. Mere Oriental supersitition?

What they say about endangered species JAKARTA (JP): The problem of endangered animals has more to do with humans than the animals themselves. Is the government doing enough to protect the country's wildlife? Is it a question of economic demand? Or could it be that humans, as the dominant mammal, just enjoy prevailing over other less powerful species?

Minister fails to sign Games sponsorship BANGKOK, Thailand (AP): Thailand's education minister failed to show up to sign a major sponsorship contract for the 1998 Asian Games, but the company on Friday said it hoped to wrap up the deal next week. Sukhavich Rangsitpol's no-show for the meeting with Acer Group of Taiwan angered Santiparb Tejavanija, the games marketing director, so much that he resigned.

Indonesia's fauna is in dire straits Dead as a dodo has been the epitaph for many animal species after they have slipped into extinction. But for future generations, the name of the flightless bird could well be replaced with dozens of Indonesian species now perilously close to vanishing forever. Conservation of species brings with it complex issues, particularly the needs of human populations over animals.

Indonesian species on the brink of extintion *) Photo A: Rhino Alain Compost Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus). Estimated Population: 47 Photo B: Dicerorhinus JP/msa Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis). Estimated Population: 250-319 Photo C: Orangutan JP/msa Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus). Estimated Population: 5,000 (Kalimantan), 500-800 (Sumatra) Photo D: Starling JP/leo Rothschild's Starling (Leucopsar rothschildi).

SEA Games athletes eye overall title JAKARTA (JP): The country's athletes are determined to reclaim the overall medal honors at the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games this October, the title they lost to Thailand two years ago. They announced their respective targets yesterday during a gathering with the public at the Grand Hyatt, Central Jakarta.

Leadership and Asia's 'Economic Miracle' Tigers: Leaders of the new Asia-Pacific By Greg Sheridan, Allen and Unwin Pty Ltd., NSW, Australia, 1997 xviii and 324 pages, S$29.90 YOGYAKARTA (JP): Many books and articles explore Asia's "economic miracle". But Greg Sheridan is one of the few authors who have tried to connect the success story of the Asian economy with leaders and leadership.

Ciputat antiques going for a song By Edith Hartanto JAKARTA (JP): Antique dealers along Jl. Ciputat Raya in South Jakarta are offering discounts of up to 50 percent for the whole of August. Banners outside shops and galleries between Pasar Jumat and Rempoa will indicate which shops are participating in the Ciputat Fair. The organizing committee's head, Budi Santosa, said the fair was aimed at foreigners and locals alike.

Happy Idul Fitri *) Happy Idul Fitri, Mother Earth please forgive us for our cruelty in pillaging you everyday Happy Idul Fitri, oh Sky forgive us, we have been nasty in making you look gray Happy Idul Fitri, our Sun forgive our irresponsibility in making you look hazy Happy Idul Fitri, oh Sea forgive us for our outrage we did not hesitate to pollute you Happy Idul Fitri, oh Birds forgive us for our wrongdoing we have banned you from singing Happy Idul Fitri, oh Plants forgive us for our felony...

Hun Sen agrees to ASEAN suggestions By Santi WE Soekanto PHNOM PENH (JP): ASEAN took a step forward in its mission to help restore political stability in Cambodia yesterday when First Prime Minister Hun Sen agreed to some of its suggestions. Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, who is leading the ASEAN mission to Cambodia, flew here yesterday and met for three hours with Hun Sen, who agreed on the need for all armed hostility to end.

KL detains 17 Japanese KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian authorities arrested 17 Japanese expatriates, including three women at an electronics factory in the northern state of Penang, officials said yesterday. A state immigration department official said 17 of them, who were detained Friday, were working illegally as they were on social visit passes.

Anand mauls Illescas in Leon chess festival By Kristianus Liem JAKARTA (JP): Indian chess star Grandmaster Viswanathan Anand crushed Spain's top Grandmaster Miguel Illescas 4,5-1,5 in a six- game match which was part of the main attraction at this year's 10th City of Leon chess festival in Spain. The match was held from June 8 to June 13. The tournament's closing ceremony was June 14.

Indonesia is Asia's 46th most corrupt nation: Survey BERLIN (AFP): Pakistan is the most corrupt Asian nation for the second year running and Singapore the most honest, according to a survey released here. Indonesia is in the 46th place. But Pakistan made the most effort to improve its record, and actually jumped several places in the corruption league table of 52 countries, 13 of them Asian.

'Pacinko' riders burning up the streets in downtown Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): On lazy Saturday nights when many streets are deserted and quiet save for the motley sounds of street vendors, the city's downtown is galvanized by the roar of motorbike racing. Pacinko, short for Pasukan Cina Kota, roughly translated as the "Downtown Chinese Troops", rings intimately in the ears of motorsport fans and automotive enthusiasts.

Sumatran tiger tries to beat the extinction odds By Dini S. Djalal SUMBER JAYA, Lampung (JP): He lay there quietly, hiding his face behind a stray log. Through the handycam's viewfinder, I watched him watch me with piercing green eyes. Then, without warning, he growled. And jumped. As did I, who prayed never to hear a roar so frighteningly loud again. It's all on film, the terror this Sumatran tiger can trigger even behind steel bars.

Sharks are nature's misunderstood monsters By Gayatri R. Lilley JAKARTA (JP): Sharks have always been known as the fiercest creatures in the sea. The idea of being eaten by a shark horrifies everyone, even people who have little or no contact with the sea. The film Jaws fueled the notion in our minds that all sharks are dangerous for swimmers, snorkelers and fishermen. And as one of the sea's main predators this creature has had nothing to fear for hundreds of millions of years.

'Insecurity dilemma' haunts Cambodia In the politics of survival, morality is used by the contending parties only for political advantage. By Sorpong Peou SINGAPORE: In recent weeks, the concepts of justice and legality have often been invoked by Cambodian leaders and people. But justice for whom and in whose interest? In a political world where state structures are extremely fragile, the politics of survival prevail upon moral considerations.

Of greed and other family values JAKARTA (JP): Sita came from a typical upper middle-class family. Her brothers and sisters went to university overseas, their privileged education paid for by the wealth their parents acquired during Indonesia's development years in the 1970s. When then underdeveloped but resource-rich Indonesia was ripe for exploitation, Sita's father was center stage. Sita's fortune, or at least her family's, has since dwindled.

Moslem women find unity in their faith as Sisters By Natasha Sky JAKARTA (JP): Amid myriad faces and accents, a group of women has learned to put superficial differences aside. Intelligent, faithful and devoted, they are united in one belief -- Islam. Welcome to Sisters, a melting pot of color, language, culture and understanding formed under the unifying element of religion.

New subscription rate To meet with increasing production costs, The Jakarta Post will apply a new monthly subscription rate of Rp 22,000 as of Sept. 1, 1997. The new unregistered mailing rate will be Rp 66,000 for a three-month subscription. -- The Publisher

Smoke disrupts Yogya flights YOGYAKARTA, C. Java (JP): Flights to and from Yogyakarta's Adisucipto airport were disrupted Friday and yesterday morning due to poor visibility caused by thick smoke, Antara said. Some planes were delayed and others diverted, to Adisumarno airport in nearby Surakarta (Solo) and Juanda airport in Surabaya, said Sulaeman Supriatna, the head of Angkasa Pura II, the state company that manages the airport.

ETimor talks reconvene at UN UNITED NATIONS (AFP): Portuguese and Indonesian diplomats meet here from tomorrow to discuss East Timor after President Nelson Mandela joined the search for a political settlement. "When a statesman of President Mandela's international rank throws his weight into an issue, you expect there to be some impact, and of course we hope that it will be positive," UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said Friday.

Exhibition turns JCC into jewelry center By Yenni Kwok JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's booming economy has lured the world's precious jewelry and watch businesses to try to tempt the country's well-heeled into buying their status symbols. Gold watches, pearl necklaces, diamond rings and the like, all items claimed to be women's and men's best friends, are on exhibition at the Indonesia Jewelry and Watch Fair 1997 at the Jakarta Convention Center from Aug. 1 to Aug. 4.

Bemusing business of business cards By Myra Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The man made a deep bow while presenting his name card to me with both hands. An unconventional way of introducing oneself, but for a person who has difficulty hearing and remembering foreign names, it is a good solution. A glance at the card enables you to see who the person is, where he comes from and what his job is. In short, it is the person's identity all on one little card.

Assessment of ASEAN's achievements at 30 Lee Poh Ping examines ASEAN's achievements after 30 years. SINGAPORE: One would not think that the circumstances behind the formation of ASEAN in 1967 were particularly auspicious. Indonesia had just ended a period of confrontation with Malaysia and Singapore. The Republic had just separated from the Federation in an acrimonious atmosphere while there was still simmering a territorial dispute between Kuala Lumpur and Manila over the Sabah claim.