Environmentalists lament ruin of the 'lungs of the world' Leuser Development Project invited journalists and environmental activists to Soraya, one of its research centers, in the Leuser National Park from Sept. 21 to Sept. 27. The following are The Jakarta Post's Wiratmadinata's reports. BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Sayed Mudhahar Achmad confronts the plight of the world's forests in the preface to his book on the ecosystem of Leuser National Park. "Our earth is approaching death.

Female film characters skirt with stereotypes By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Scrubbed of the canvas of makeup she uses in performances, the protagonist in Penari (Dancer) presses her face against the glass of an aquarium. Sila is both lusciously ingenuous and forlorn. Like the exotic fish trapped and swimming to nowhere, she is shackled by traditional gender roles and circumstances. Metaphors come fast and furious in Nan T.

Charity vital to beat the crisis In this time of crisis, more and more people are crying out for help. What is the country doing to cope with the problems? The Jakarta Post's team of Ahmad Junaidi, Arief Suhardiman, Edith Hartanto, Dwi Atmanta, Kornelius Purba, Kosasih Deradjat, Sylvia Gratia M. Nirang and Brigid O'Halloran look into the issue of charity. JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta slum was suddenly enveloped in smiles and hope as the good news spread among its inhabitants.

Crisis forces many to beg on the streets By Brigid O'Halloran and Ahmad Junaidi JAKARTA (JP): In the shadow of the Kebayoran Lama overpass in South Jakarta, six-year-old Kukur zigzags through the traffic, rattling bottletops nailed to a piece of wood and singing a hackneyed tune. His face is expressionless, his movements weary. After three months working on the streets, he is adept at recognizing those motorists more likely to toss him a coin or a morsel of food.

Supangkat wooden parody of society By Text and photo by Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): Five tigers were once licking water from a basin on the outskirts of a town. The water in the basin looked more like sewage but the five tigers seemed to enjoy it, while at the same time keeping a watchful eye on things. At the back we can see high-rise buildings, not jungles. Why? Because they are urban tigers, and not common tigers. Perhaps they are one of us, or even we are one of them.

Children express love in any language By Angela Romano BRISBANE, Australia (JP): Forty-five Indonesian schoolchildren came to Australia on a singing tour with a mission to promote international understanding. The strongest lessons on cultural diversity and the value of solidarity, however, have not come from the pleasures of travel or song but, rather, from the sharing of pain suffered in recent rioting.

Is Indonesia really suffering from 'krismon'? JAKARTA (JP): A friend of mine recently remarked that he didn't really believe that Indonesia is at present undergoing its worst-ever crisis in history. "Why do you think so?" I asked him. "Just look at the crowds in the supermarkets, malls, restaurants, recreation centers, karaoke halls, etc.", he said.

Kingship clashes determine male Leuser monkeys' fate BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): If you happen to be in Soraya in the Leuser jungle, don't think you are surrounded by vampires when you hear loud laughs sounding just like human laughter. It's probably the sound of the exotic Thomas Leaf monkeys (presbytis thomasi), legally protected primates which exist only in Sumatran jungles. Locally called kedih, the endangered monkeys have thicker fur and longer and larger tails than monkeys in general.

Dynamic Asmat auctions surpass Christie's and Sotheby's By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Christie's and Sotheby's, eat your hearts out. The New York and London auctions of these two houses may fetch astronomical prices, but they would certainly seem tame and boring compared to the auctions at Agats.

EMA offers quality services at competitive rates In an increasingly tough and competitive Greater Jakarta apartment market, people can still find the best choice, at Executive Menteng Apartments (EMA). Located on Jl. Pegangsaan Barat in the Central Jakarta suburb of Menteng, EMA has four towers: Palem, Tanjung, Rasamala and Cendana. The first two towers have a 99.2 percent occupancy rate, while Rasamala and Cendana are at 45 percent.

Spotlight Photo A: Exhibition Hotel Sari Pan Pacific JUST JOKING: Japanese ambassador Takao Kawakami (second right) and Hotel Sari Pan Pacific Hotel general manager Ken Ide are ceremonially crowned with Wayang Theater Bharata. Kawakami opened a two-week exhibition of paintings by the Hastara art community on the theme of wayang (Javanese shadow puppets) at the hotel on Oct. 9.

Expatriate charity groups help out in economic crisis By Brigid O'Halloran JAKARTA (JP): Expatriate living in Indonesia is not just about large dollar salaries, mansions with swimming pools and having dozens of servants to answer every beck and call. For many years the expatriate community has played a significant role in the establishment and support of social welfare programs in their adopted homeland.

The Photo By William Chen One morning in 1975, I went to see the Le Mayeur museum in Sanur, Bali. It was still early. The museum had just opened its doors to the public. I walked into a quiet empty courtyard. A lone gardener was piling up dead leaves and fallen Cempaka flowers into small heaps. Many tall Cempaka and some withering Bougainvillea trees were still growing on the site where a gazebo had once stood.

Rooms with a view: Apartment living in Jakarta Toto finally made a break from his parents and moved into a serviced apartment building in August. The 31-year-old real estate broker and antique shop owner had lived with his family all his life in South Jakarta. Life at home was easy and inexpensive but, after the security threat of the May riots and with increasing pangs for independence, he decided to try the convenience of apartment living.

Guess What? Marzuki Usman Could Indonesia one day lose its famed cultural heritage of Javanese shadow puppetry (wayang) and learn the art from Westerners? Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture Marzuki Usman says he is afraid it could happen. His assumption is based on Indonesia's lack of means to innovate and promote its cultural riches.

Have Indonesians found their national identity? Mencari Makna Kebangsaan (In Search of the Meaning of Nationality); Franz Magnis Suseno; Kanisius, Yogyakarta (1st edition, 1998); 193 pp. As a nation, the Indonesian people are used to brandishing their strongly held nationalism to respond to all their challenges. This sense of nationalism, brilliantly nurtured by Sukarno, and clearly visible in his aspiration, has become the aspiration of the entire Indonesian people.

Chainsaws imperil the lovely Soraya BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): To meet the beautiful Soraya, we had to travel 1,000 kilometers, going along the northern coasts down to Medan where a four-wheeler took us to Brastagi, Bukit Barisan and Simpangkiri in southern Aceh. We continued by speedboat up the Alas River, before walking upstream and trekking up and down hills and valleys. Finally, we arrived for our date with Soraya.

Activist encourages the poor to be self-reliant By Dwi Atmanta JAKARTA (JP): Poor people are not so much the "have-nots" but the "have little" who need to join forces and stick together to overcome their hardships. That is what Bambang Ismawan has kept in mind ever since he decided to devote himself to the poor almost 40 years ago. For that reason, too, the non-governmental organization he founded does not offer charity but encouragement.

Guess What? J.E. Sahetapy A killing spree of more than 150 people in East Java, including many suspected practitioners of black magic, has drawn worldwide concern and is definitely not a laughing matter. But criminologist J.E. Sahetapy of the Hireling University of Surabaya found some black humor in it when addressing a recent seminar.

S'pore denies infringement SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore said on Saturday it was puzzled by Malaysia's latest allegations the island state's aircraft had intruded into its airspace. "MINDEF (Ministry of Defense) is puzzled by these latest allegations of intrusion and wishes to reiterate that there is no reason whatsoever for the RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) to intrude into Malaysian airspace," a MINDEF statement said.

Hindus threaten massive strike JAKARTA (JP): A Balinese activist who coordinated this week's series of protests against a cabinet minister on Bali said on Saturday that he planned to call a general strike among all Hindus in Indonesia unless their demands were met. I Nyoman Japa, field coordinator of the protests, said the government had one month to respond to their demands which include the resignation of the minister concerned and his prosecution.

Indonesia's unity in diversity: Fact or Fiction? JAKARTA (JP): Seventy years ago, on Oct. 28, 1928, a group of youths from various ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds assembled and pledged loyalty to One Country, One Nation and One Language: Indonesia. Now, after the economic and political crisis has spun out of control, spinning strongman Soeharto out of office in the process, signs of cracks are beginning to surface.

Jakarta offers more choices in apartments As the ravaged rupiah starts to gradually recoup its losses and nudge its way back to strength, the choice of apartments in the capital, and their affordability, are now probably greater than ever. According to a report by property consultant First Pacific Davies-Indonesia, apartment supply in the Central Business District (CBD) increased during the third quarter of 1998.

Japanese animated films eye the international market By Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): On Oct. 19 and Oct. 20, a workshop on animation featuring Yashuo Yamaguchi, 62, and Koichi Tsunoda, 59, was held at the Japanese Cultural Center. These two animation experts came to Indonesia under the sponsorship of Anima (the Association of Indonesian Animation Film Makers) and the Japanese Cultural Center.

Auctions preserve Asmat tribal traditions By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): The Asmat Art Festival and auctions have been held since 1981. They are organized jointly by the Diocese of Agats-Asmat and the regional administration. Since Agats is not only the cultural center of the region but also the center of the Catholic mission, the event received the full support of the bishop of the region, Alphonse A. Sowada.

Apartemen Golf Pondok Indah for good living There was a time when living in a high-rise apartment was something less than desirable for people in Jakarta and other big cities in Indonesia. But times have changed. The convenient lifestyle of apartment living has encouraged a trend that is gaining tremendous popularity among not only Jakarta's expatriates but also the more affluent of the local community. Demands for comfortable and secure apartments have been on the rise over the last few years.

Checking out apartment living before buying There are rich pickings to be scooped up at present as apartment prices plummet. Expatriates and locals are turning to the comfort and convenience of apartment living, which offers the added selling point of security following the May unrest. Yet, the old adage of "buyer beware" is still good to keep in mind. Most apartment owners run above-board operations and fulfill their promises to tenants.