RI's Wynne falls at first hurdle in women's tennis By Primastuti Handayani BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia's second best woman tennis player Wynne Prakusya made an early exit in the individual singles competition at the 13th Asian Games on Saturday. Wynne fell to a 1-6, 5-7 defeat against China's Yi Jing-qian in the first round at the Muang Thong Thani sports complex. It was 17-year-old Wynne's second straight loss to Yi. The first came in the women's team semifinals on Thursday.

Hearing impaired student conquers all By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo JAKARTA (JP): Galuh Sukmara Soejanto could be just another ordinary student with a distinctive achievement. Although she was always a top 10 student throughout her secondary education, graduating with the highest student evaluation score in Banjarnegara regency, Central Java, she has dreams and hopes and knows she will find obstacles in her quest to reach them, just like any other teenager.

Spa from the madding crowd If you have ever despaired that there was nowhere close to Jakarta that you could escape to -- out of the heat, dust and pollution -- then no one has told you about Javana Spa. Just 54 km south of Jakarta, it offers an incredible choice of activities and some of the most advanced and specialized spa treatments available in the country. Facilities include tennis courts, two swimming pools, exercise studios, a multipurpose gym and a jogging track.

Spotlight Photo A: WIC Gran Melia Jakarta BAZAAR TOUR: First Lady Hasri Ainun Habibie (left) with the President of the Women International Club, Fauziah Abdullah (right), making an exit after visiting the booths at this year's WIC charity bazaar. The First Lady opened the bazaar, which was held in the Mutiara ballroom of the Gran Melia Jakarta, on Dec. 1.

'Jamu': Cheap alternative medicine during crisis By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Although Indonesia is acclaimed for its natural wealth, it still has to import 90 percent of raw materials for medicines, because the country is unable to afford the money for research, health experts say. The heavy dependence on imported materials has long been singled out as the prime cause for the very expensive medicines in Indonesia. Now that the rupiah has plummeted against the U.S.

A time for us? A tome for us? JAKARTA (JP): You'll never realize how important time is in our lives until you look up time-related expressions in a good dictionary and see how relevant they are to the desperate situation in this country. Apart from the widely understood (but also widely denied) "Time is money", many of them are worth pondering.

Press freedom -- Good or bad? The Indonesian press have enjoyed unprecedented freedom since the fall of the New Order administration in May. But after the initial euphoria wore off, press freedom has been constantly debated as to whether it causes more harm than good. The Jakarta Post's Edith Hartanto, Ahmad Junaedi, Kornelius Purba, Kosasih Daradjat, Silvia Gratia M. Nirang and Dwi Atmanta take a look at the issue.

China's Guo returns from disgrace but Japan the best BANGKOK (AFP): Xiong Guoming completed his return from drug disgrace on Saturday with victory in the men's 200 meter medley Saturday but Japan returned to the top of Asian Games swimming. Xiong lost four gold medals at the Asian Games four years ago in the Chinese doping scandal that rocked the Hiroshima Games. He was banned for two years.

Security tightened after three murders in Buleleng JAKARTA (JP): Two Bali villages remained under tight security on Saturday after three people were killed in a riot on Friday, Antara reported. Police said 18 supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) under Megawati Soekarnoputri were injured.

Upset boxer blasts judges after defeat BANGKOK (AFP): North Korea lashed out at the judges in the Asian Games boxing competition Saturday after Ri Kwang-sik was defeated in a 54-kilogram quarterfinal bout by Uzbek Timur Tulyakov. In tense scenes which revived memories of Beijing 1990, when the angry North Koreans fought with athletes and officials, Ri refused to leave the ring after the 12-7 points decision in Tulyakov's favor was announced.

Hookers, johns aware but not afraid of AIDS By Haryoso SEMARANG (JP): "Hi... come and have fun with me," streetwalker Sulastri called to a man approaching her on a motorbike on Jl. Pemuda. "Come on, we can do it without a condom if you like." The way the 17-year-old prostitute from Grobogan, Central Java, tried to attract her potential customer is typical among streetwalkers in the city: Going all the way without the safety latex.

Togean oceanic park 'under serious threat' By Rustam Hapusa PALU, Central Sulawesi (Antara): The ocean park in the Togean Islands of Central Sulawesi, which boasts Indonesia's largest coral reef, is teetering on the brink of oblivion. The park, which has become increasingly popular with western tourists, is facing a grave threat from uncontrolled fishing using explosives and poisons.

Kupang riot traumatizes children and parents alike By Jupriadi UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Baharuddin Mide, 45, was having lunch with his family in the village of Oesapa in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, when a crowd rose in anger and set fire to several mosques and houses. He rubbed his eyes, as if unable to believe what he could see. Oesapa, once a place of harmony, was now fraught with chaos and disorder.

'Gus Dur' sells for Rp 11m JAKARTA (JP): A caricature depicting the chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Islamic organization Abdurrahman Wahid praying sold for Rp 11 million at an auction here on Friday, while his cap went for Rp 10 million. The caricature of Gus Dur, as Abdurrahman is commonly known, went to a young businessman identified as Andre. His cap was bought by the director of Matari advertising company, Ken Sidharta.

ASEAN plans 'bold steps' to woo foreign investment By Meidyatama Suryadiningrat HANOI (JP): Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed here on Saturday to take "bold measures", such as offering tax holidays, to woo foreign investment to the crisis-hit region by the end of next year.

Dutch, RI poets show that the little issues mean a lot By Kafil Yamin BANDUNG (JP): Descending from the "gargantuan" issues -- democracy, structural reform, human rights, regeneration -- to nagging "pebbles in the shoe" in the long trek to change seemed to be the main message to Indonesian reformists from a joint performance of Dutch and Indonesian poets.

Fans overwhelm stadium; Japan wins battle in pool BANGKOK (AP): Host Thailand captured three gold medals to cheer about Saturday, but thousands of fans suffered a double blow -- they couldn't get in to see their soccer team, and then it lost. Both setbacks led to a bit of bottle throwing, and some of those without tickets tried to climb the fences. Police told them to go home and watch on television, and a giant TV screen was set up outside the stadium too.

Jackpot fever takes hold among students By Israr Ardiansyah YOGYAKARTA (JP): Anto, a student at a well-known private university in Yogyakarta, has been feeling uncomfortable and worried lately. His financial condition is chaotic as a result of his hobby of playing the jackpot with Rp 100 coins. Since he began to indulge in his hobby six months ago he has spent Rp 6 to 8 million. Anto himself greatly regrets all this, but he finds it difficult to stop this pastime activity.

Rice -- The measure of all things in Indonesia By Andreas Baenziger JAKARTA: Do they sometimes have chicken with the rice? All Rita can do is smile. Yes, she says, the children ask every day what has happened to the chicken or tofu. It is hard to make them understand that things are not like they used to be. Only the baby gets milk, and then only once a day. All they have money for is rice, rice and yet more rice. Rita teaches English at a technical college.

Tracing the wealth of the Soehartos and their cronies Harta Jarahan Harto (Soeharto's Plunder); George Junus Aditjondro; Pustaka Demokrasi, 1998; 97 pp; Rp 6,000 JAKARTA (JP): Soon after president Soeharto resigned on May 21, 1998, small changes started to take place in Indonesia. People openly began questioning the origins of Soeharto's wealth during his 32-year reign.

Tanah Tinggi brawl claims two lives JAKARTA (JP): Two men were killed in a clash between two groups of residents in Tanah Tinggi subdistrict in Johar Baru, Central Jakarta, that began on Friday night. The first victim, identified as Bodong alias Mistab, 20, was stabbed to death in the clash between residents of RW 03 and RW O4 neighborhoods, according to one witness. The second victim was identified as Tuju alias Sahrir.

Designers glitter at Pasaraya show amid hardship By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): "A crisis may have hit us but our appearance must remain stylish," fashion designer Ghea S Panggabean once said. Her statement was made the motto of The Look of Fashion 1999, the annual fashion show held in early December at Pasaraya Department Store in Blok M, South Jakarta.

Indonesia eyes more golds from induvidual badminton BANGKOK (JP): Indonesian badminton players, fresh from their triumph in the men's team, are gunning for at least one gold medal as the sport's competition resumes with individual events at the 13th Asian Games on Sunday. Christian Hadinata, national training center director, predicted that golds could come from the men's singles and men's doubles. "Our men's doubles teams have the greatest chance of winning the gold.

'Wayang orang' fighting losing battle against modern arts By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): A six-hour wayang orang played by the Bharata Group at a modest and decaying theater in Senen, Central Jakarta, finally reached its climax and the curtain came down.

Habibie to leave for Vietnam for ASEAN three-day summit JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie will leave for Vietnam on Monday to attend the three day-summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Hanoi, Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung announced on Saturday. Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto is to accompany the President.

Free press a must in a democratic society JAKARTA (JP): The reform movement has brought unprecedented freedom to the nation's press. In a demonstration of its commitment to the spirit of reform, the government revoked a 1984 ruling which gave it the right to revoke press publication licenses shortly after it came to power. Despite this, few believe that the present government will move swiftly to introduce further reforms in the information sector.

Mangu casts off shackles of traditional Balinese By Putu Wirata DENPASAR (JP): Agung Mangu Putra, 35, a painter who graduated from the Yogyakarta-based Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI), has surprisingly succeeded in exploring themes and objects which are quite different from those usually worked upon by Bali-born painters in general.

Goenawan: A pessimist with a ray of hope By Gedsiri Suhartono JAKARTA (JP): He prefers to consider himself a pessimist. His wealth of knowledge as a senior journalist who has presided over several magazines, including Tempo weekly, is perhaps a justifiable reason for his pessimism. Especially since he has witnessed the fast and unpredictable progress made by his beloved country toward an as yet unknown fate.