River dredging needed From Pelita This year's long dry season has reduced water levels in a number of Jakarta's rivers. These rivers, including Ciliwung and Malang, have become shallow and their waters brackish. I think that the authorities should carry out river dredging now because it will be easier remove mud and other sediments during the dry season, to make the rivers flow easier in the coming wet season.

Cafe spruces up Jakarta museum By Edith Hartanto JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta History Museum has made the bold leap of opening a cafe in the hope of drawing more visitors. Kafe Museum, which opened in the west wing of the museum building on Thursday, is a first for the country in a concept that has proven successful in many ancient European cities.

Dirty dealings in Kemang From Republika Rampant prostitution and other sordid practices in Kemang are a source of deep concern to all of us. During the day, the South Jakarta suburb is just like any respectable area. When night falls, however, prostitutes are outselling their bodies. Pounding music blares from the discotheques in the area and nobody seems brave enough to protest. Worst of all, drug trafficking is an open secret.

Cargo vessels collide off Malaysian coast KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (Agencies): Two cargo ships collided in the Strait of Malacca off the western coast of Malaysia, where thick smoke from forest fires has hindered visibility. Twenty- eight crew members were missing, officials said yesterday. The Madras, India-registered Vikraman, a bulker, and the Mount 1, a cargo vessel registered in St. Vincent in the Caribbean, collided at about 11 p.m.

European, Asian ministers meet on trade CHIBA, Japan (Reuter): Trade and economic ministers from Europe and Asia gathered near Tokyo yesterday for their first annual meeting, which host Japan said would set the basic standard for economic cooperation between the two regions.

Troubled Kalimantan revisited after 20 years By Jean Jacques Kusnie PARIS (JP): Though lacking sufficient supplies or information, I decided to leave for Indonesia, and headed to Kalimantan. The land of the Dayaks is where I was born and grew up. It is the first place where I was aware of my existence. Rice that I ate, water that I drank, air that I breathed, little playfriends, all were part of my memories of this land.

Precious diamonds sparkle with legendary meanings JAKARTA (JP): Diamonds have been linked to love and legend since they were first unearthed in India thousands of years ago. Due to their resistance to both fire and steel, diamonds, whose name is derived from the Greek word adamas meaning unconquerable, became a sign of conjugal durability and faithfulness.

Brass group ties early music to contemporary tunes By Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): The concert was about to start. Yet the only entrance at Erasmus Huis in South Jakarta was still open and all lights were on. The audience was still confused when the sound of trumpets was suddenly heard from outside the concert hall. This was followed by trumpets played backstage. Three members of Brass of the Moving Image, a brass ensemble from Germany, got up on stage.

Indonesia officially elected chair of Group-77 JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia was unanimously elected chair of the Group of 77 during the group's 21st annual meeting of foreign ministers in New York Friday. Indonesia will officially take over its first chairmanship of the 132-member group from Tanzania next year.

Kia Motors union to strike SEOUL (Reuter): The union at South Korea's Kia Motors Corp. said yesterday its 15,000 members would start an all-out strike tomorrow to press the government to step in to rescue the ailing Kia Group. Analysts called the move illogical, saying it would only drag Kia into deeper trouble. They said a strike could also hurt other companies in South Korea's car industry, which relies on a tightly woven web of parts suppliers.

House bids farewell to dedicated Nafsiah Mboi Legislators have been constant targets of criticism and jokes. A few do believe in their roles. One such outgoing member is a renowned advocate of HIV/AIDS, Nafsiah Mboi of the Golkar faction. Nafsiah, recipient of honors including the Satya Lencana Bhakti Sosial, 1989, and the Magsaysay Award, 1986, talked to Ati Nurbaiti of The Jakarta Post amid preparations for a paper on child workers, just one vulnerable group under her concern.

A-300 Correction: The Garuda Indonesia airplane photo which appeared on this page yesterday was an Airbus A-330, not an A-300 which crashed near Medan on Friday. The photo came from Reuters, which identified it as an A-300. We apologize for the error. -- Editor

Three momentous days in the lives of House members By Ahmad Junaidi JAKARTA (JP): As you read this, many new legislators are probably sitting down to breakfast in four Jakarta hotels. Others from outside the city may be sight-seeing and getting to know their home for the next five years. All 1,000 members of the House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly were expected here for registration at their hotels by noon yesterday. Accommodation arrangements between Sept. 27. to Oct.

Unlikely heroes are fighting the fires By Yenni Kwok BALIKPAPAN (JP): Armed with a long knife, an old man fought the fire by his home alone. Enduring the choking smoke and heat of the flickering fires, he chopped down plants to make fire breaks. He was determined to prevent them from spreading and reaching his house. He did not know how the fire started. "It came from there," he said, pointing east. He only knew that he had to save his home, around 50 km from Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.

East Javanese rule Jimbaran's waves JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): Javanese is widely spoken here. The dialect can be heard everywhere and Javanese faces are seen all along Kedonganan beach. According to American anthropologist Fred Eisemann, who has spent decades in Jimbaran, the fishing activities around Kedonganan beach is dominated by East Javanese migrants. East Javanese fishermen came to Kedonganan more than 30 years ago and now dominate the fishing industry here.

How Dayaks manage their resources By John Bamba PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): There are shrimps on the leaves sunk on riverbeds. There are fish in the waters. There are animals in the forests. This saying of Dayak Jelai living in Ketapang district, West Kalimantan, describes succinctly their vision and dreams about living in happiness and prosperity. Simple as it is, it is their foundation for living.

Legislators' monthly pay and allowances A. Basic salary 1. Speaker Rp 2.5 million 2. Deputy speaker Rp 2.29 million 3. Member Rp 2.1 million B.

Doohan betters own lap record in Indonesian GP practice JAKARTA (JP): World 500cc champion Michael Doohan of Australia demonstrated his supremacy by bettering his own speed record during the second practice session yesterday prior to today's Indonesian motorcycle Grand Prix at Sentul, near Bogor. Doohan, riding a Honda, clocked 1 minute 25.474 seconds on the 26th of the scheduled 30 laps yesterday. He bettered his time of 1:26.214 in the first session which he recorded on the 25th lap.

Choking haze shows nature can still teach us lessons By S. Djuweng and Edi Petebang The country is under fire. The government declared Thursday that the smoldering forest fires and the resulting haze blanketing Sumatra and Kalimantan was a natural calamity. More than 700,000 hectares of forest in Kalimantan and 11,500 more in Sumatra have been scorched.

Belo stands as voice for peace, justice Voice of the Voiceless Editors: Frans Sihol Siagian and Peter Tukan Penerbit Obor, Jakarta, 1997 279 pages Demi Keadilan dan Perdamaian (For Peace and Justice) By Peter Tukan and Domingos de Sousa Committee of Peace and Justice Dili, Dili, 1997 474 pages JAKARTA (JP): "You are on the ground. You know the problems and the history. You are the man to be mediator," former UN secretary-general Boutros-Boutros Ghali told Bishop Belo.

Van Roost, Nemeckova to fight for Wismilak title SURABAYA (JP): Top seeded Dominique van Roost reached her appointed place in the final of the 1997 Wismilak International women's tennis tournament by beating Australia's Rachel McQuillan in straight sets here yesterday. The Belgian defeated McQuillan 6-2, 7-5, to set up a final showdown today with Lenka Nemeckova of the Czech Republic. She beat Maria Alejandra Vento of Venezuela 6-4, 6-3 at the Embong Sawo tennis complex.

Legislators settle in at plush new building By Emmy Fitri JAKARTA (JP): When inaugurating the new building for the House of Representatives (DPR) here earlier this year, outgoing speaker Wahono made a point of stating that the Rp 116,07 billion (US$48.4 million) facility was "not an ivory tower". Instead, he said, "it has been built to help legislators concentrate and be more productive in channeling public aspirations".

RI targets five shooting golds JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has targeted winning only five of 42 gold medals for shooting at the 19th SEA Games next month. "Two golds are expected to come from the double trap and three for running target events. We believe it is the maximum Indonesia could make," Anthony Sunarya, secretary-general of the Indonesian Shooting Association said over the weekend. Anthony said the other events will probably go to the Thailand shooters.

The freshest seafood satay at Bali's Kedonganan beach Think Bali, and its famed sandy beaches and hallowed temples spring to mind. But the island's little-known cuisine includes a mean satay cooked fresh on Kedonganan beach. The Ritz-Carlton invited The Jakarta Post reporter Christiani S. Tumelap to take a bite of the tasty kebabs and photograph the local scene recently. JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): Like satay? Lots of us do. But have you tried the Balinese variety?

Victims' identification painfully slow MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Relatives of the 234 victims of the Garuda Indonesia plane which crashed near here Friday began the painful task of identifying their loved ones yesterday. This proved to be difficult, agonizingly slow and for many, stranded in Jakarta by the haze, impossible. The remains, put in sealed plastic bags, began arriving on military trucks at Adam Malik Hospital in the morning.

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 Children's Program: Arena Kami 8:00 Brudy and Family 8:30 Cartoon Film 9:00 People and Event 9:30 TV Drama: Di sekitar Kita 10:00 TVRI News 10:30 Music: Album Minggu Ini 11:30 Teenagers' Program: Temu Remaja 12:15 p.m.

What they people say about House members JAKARTA (JP): The general election we all celebrated, feared and avoided will run its full course with installment of new legislators on Wednesday. Most of us know House members merely by the list of names printed in the media, but many of us feel we know what to expect from them in their conduct. The following are comments from people from all walks of life about the citizens chosen to represent them.

Victoria's serves up fish and fowl dishes JAKARTA (JP): Some food masters place quality and taste as the main course, with thoughts of preparation as a mere side dish. But Victoria's Char-grill Steakhouse and Cafe knows that sophistication comes with the right attitude toward food and its preparation. Fish and poultry dishes are likely to be bland without suitable enlivening accompaniments.

The choices facing our legislators New legislators will be sworn in Wednesday and begin the job of realizing the political aspirations of the country's 200 million citizens. They will have to toe the fine line between serving the people and serving vested interests. The Jakarta Post reporters Ahmad Junaidi, Arief Suhardiman, Ati Nurbaiti, Benget Simbolon, Kornelius Purba, Emmy Fitri and Riyadi looked into the delicate issue, and preparations to greet the 500 members.

Ferdi Hendarman wins designer award JAKARTA (JP): Ferdi Hendarman, of Bandung, West Java, won the best new designer award here Friday evening, beating nine other finalists in the 19th Fashion Designer Competition. The 26-year-old's designs won him Rp 7.5 million (US$2,500) and a return ticket to Paris. They clearly represented his theme, Handcuffed, with the models wearing cuff-like metal accessories on their thighs and arms.

Distraught relatives mourn tragic deaths of loved ones JAKARTA (JP): Emotions ran high yesterday as families of the passengers and crew aboard the fateful GA-152 airplane were left to ponder their loss. Typical was a man who mused over the last phone call from his sister who complained of a foreboding headache before boarding the fateful flight. Purwono said he had asked his sister, Andananingsih, to cancel her trip after she complained of a headache.

Making a success of 'wrong' profession JAKARTA (JP): A university student's entry in the letter's column of Kompas daily earlier this month is a lament about thwarted career ambitions. Intent on going in to advertising, she joined a special course at a private university. After two years there, she was disappointed to find the program had been discontinued. She deserves sympathy, of course, as she just wanted to fulfill her ambitions.

Iwa-K is local answer to rap music By Damon Adeoquine JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian rap music does not come from the mean streets of Jakarta, Bandung or Yogyakarta. The closest Indonesia has to a rap ghetto is the small, one-story home of Guest Music Production in the quiet Blok K of Cinere, South Jakarta. It is here that Indonesia's premier rapper Iwa-K and his posse of Pesta Rap fame get together to live the life and create their rhythmic beats.