Porn books From Pelita Thumbs up indeed to the Jakarta regional administration as in welcoming the Ramadhan fasting month it has taken a number of praiseworthy measures such as reducing the opening hours of night entertainment centers and also closing down for one full month Kramat Tunggak red-light area in North Jakarta. In addition, it has also sealed a number of discotheques and massage parlors.

Beauty and harmony From Pelita A great people are a people that will always honor the merits of their heroes. Let's ask ourselves where the beauty of this saying lies. A people will not be great if they are devoid of harmony -- this is indeed the yardstick of a great people. Irrespective of greatness, all of us should again realize the significance and the beauty of harmony, which is the prerequisite for the creation of national unity and integrity.

Fasting expected to improve morality Last Sunday's rioting in Surakarta, Central Java, was merely one on a long list of episodes of vandalism and violence that have demonstrated the degradation of Indonesians' morality. The Jakarta Post looks for reasons for the moral decadence and the expectation that the obligatory fasting in this month of Ramadhan, which starts on Sunday, will help improve people's morality. Related articles on Page 5 and 7.

Designers offer Ramadhan fashions By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): The gown is a mini, with tiny spaghetti straps, colored in trendy metallic gray. This gown, designed by Anne Rufaidah, and many others were displayed at the Female Muslim Fashion Trend 1999 fashion show. Thirteen local designers displayed their latest muslimah (female Moslem) dress collections in the fashion show, annually held by the Indonesian Designer and Garment Association (APPMI).

RI among 1999's top hot spots WASHINGTON (AP): Iraq, Central Africa and Colombia are expected to be among the 10 most serious areas of conflict and political instability the world will face in 1999, a humanitarian organization said Friday. World Vision also cited Angola, Sudan, North Korea, Indonesia, the Balkans, Ethiopia/Eritrea and India/Pakistan in its listing of 10 "global hot spot." None of the nations or regions was ranked.

Dayak tribe 'in' according to Gotot Prakosa By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): There are artists who like changes and there are those who don't. Gotot Prakosa, one of Indonesia's multimedia artists, is one of those belonging to the first category. This means that style and identity are not things important to reach, even perhaps they may be ignored, for the sake of change itself, or for the sake of the context of the problem which the artist is facing in his environment.

Iran beats Kuwait 2-0 to win Asiad soccer gold BANGKOK (Reuters): Iran, even with a player sent off late in the game, won the Asian Games soccer gold on Saturday, beating Kuwait 2-0 in a game played under extra security because of U.S.- led bombing raids on Iraq. The outcome of the all-Middle East final, played on the first day of the holy Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan, was never in doubt as Iran, with most of its World Cup squad on display, took control from the start.

Revitalizing your health If you have ever despaired that there was nowhere close to Jakarta that you could escape to, to just relax, go for hikes in the mountains, eat well and benefit from clean, fresh air, then no one has told you about Javana Spa. This unique and exclusive health haven, just 54 km south of Jakarta, offers an incredible choice of activities and some of the most advanced and specialized spa treatments available in the country.

Deng's missing statue saddens Shenzhen natives By Andrew Browne SHENZHEN, China (Reuters): The most famous statue in this southern Chinese boomtown is nowhere to be seen. Its polished marble plinth stands forlornly on a Shenzhen hilltop while Beijing leaders agonize over the bronze figure that is supposed to perch on top -- Deng Xiaoping.

Bangkok Games get 'clean' tag BANGKOK (Reuters): The Bangkok Asiad on Saturday was declared the "Clean Games" by medical authorities looking for drug use. With only one event -- the men's marathon -- left on Sunday's closing day, medical chiefs reported only two doping cases since the Games started on Dec. 6.

Asiad sips 1.6m cans of drink JAKARTA (JP): More than 1.6 million cans of drink have been consumed by athletes, officials and journalists during the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok. Organizers said Saturday that of the figure, 600,000 were mineral water, 590,000 were soft drinks provided by official sponsor Pepsi and the rest comprised a vast range of brands. The organizers said athletes had the lion's share of the drink consumption. Athletes have also used 1.2 tons of ice to cool the drinks. (amd)

Special recipes for the fasting month JAKARTA (JP): As the fasting Muslim is to abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset, the choice of menu is important for the pre-dawn meal and the breaking of the fast meal. Usually, after sipping a sweet drink, one will start with a sweet snack before moving on to the main meal. The following are recipes provided by Hotel Ciputra in Grogol, West Jakarta.

Islamic spiritual clinic helps give meaning to life JAKARTA (JP): If you are dying to become a devout Moslem but are too caught up in the rat race to learn more about the religion, try going to a new "clinic" which has been established to help people like you. Opened on Saturday, Dec. 19, Klinik Spiritual Islam (Islamic Spiritual Clinic), was cofounded by Paramadina Mulya University and the Indonesian Islamic Media Internet (IIMaN).

Most Thais want to host Olympics JAKARTA (JP): Most Thais want their country to host the Olympic Games following their success in hosting the Asian Games which conclude on Sunday, a survey said. Nearly 82 percent of 400 Bangkok residents surveyed on Dec. 12 believed that they deserve the chance to stage the world's largest sporting event after Tokyo and Seoul.

Jakartans visist graves, shop on eve of Ramadhan JAKARTA (JP): Muslim Jakartans marked the last day before the start of the Ramadhan fasting month on Saturday by visiting the graves of late relatives, seeking apologies from them and going shopping for the first sahur (dawn meals). Crowds of people were seen in all Muslim public cemeteries and major markets in the capital, causing heavy traffic congestion in the respective areas.

Purbalingga wig business unfazed by crisis By Agus Maryono and Ngudi Utomo PURBALINGGA, Central Java (JP): Carefully Kasini, 50, sorted the strands of hair in front of her. She picked the good strands out of the tangled bunch to make accessories ranging from hair- knot nets to modern wigs. Some other women busied themselves combing sorted hair with a small wooden board studded with nails. The whole day they were busy working out hair collected by scavengers from practically all across Indonesia.

Indonesia is no longer SE Asia's sports power BANGKOK (JP): Although six gold medals from the Asian Games here are already in hand as expected, Indonesia finds no reason to celebrate after seeing Thailand emerge as a new Asian sporting powerhouse. While refusing to play down his team's achievements, Indonesia's chef de mission Mochammad Hindarto said on Friday night that national athletes should learn from their Thai hosts who had performed outstandingly during the Games.

Demo greets Marker's arrival in Dili DILI, East Timor (JP): About 1,000 youths took to the streets on Saturday to greet the arrival of Jamsheed Marker, the special envoy of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who came here for talks with both pro-integration and pro- independence groups. Marker flew in on a military helicopter from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Under tight security, he was rushed to the official residence of East Timor's Military Commander Col.

Malinda presents work of Li Shuji Where can you find a display of the finest artwork by Li Shuji? At a Li Shuji painting exhibition at the Malinda Art Gallery, of course. Li Shuji has lived in Indonesia for the past 10 years, and has taken many exhibitions abroad, including to France, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore. As well as Li Shuji's exhibition, the gallery, open daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. is also holding a Christmas Sale, on the third floor, until Dec.

BAGOC provides predawn meals JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the Bangkok Asian Games have provided pre-dawn meals for Muslim athletes and officials who will start their month-long fast on Sunday. An official in charge of catering service in the Thammasat athletes village, Pismai Chandrubeksa, said on Saturday that the meals would be ready at 4 a.m. on Sunday. "We will start working two hours earlier than usual for the Muslim participants," he said as quoted by Antara.

Gus Dur meets Soeharto, Benny JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid pushed ahead on Saturday with his campaign for national reconciliation and met with former president Soeharto and former Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. (ret) L.B. "Benny" Moerdani. In the meeting at Soeharto's Cendana residence in Central Jakarta, the former president expressed his readiness to hold a dialog with his successor B.J. Habibie, Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto and Abdurrahman himself.

Muslim youths go high-tech with Islamic propagation By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo JAKARTA (JP): Once seen as estranged, technology and religion are drawing closer together. In many cases, the credit goes to innovative young people. Religion courting technology has been seen since the birth of radio and television stations in Indonesia decades ago. Today, all stations air a great variety of religious programming.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Sunday Maghrib 6:07 p.m. Monday Imsak 4:02 a.m.

Spotlight Photo A: AirForce Dispenau HONORED: Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshall Hanafie Asnan (right) pins honorary Class I aviator wings to Brunei Darussalam's Defense Attache Lieutenant Col. Radin Bin Mohd Dms Dian in the Air Force headquarters, Cilangkap, East Jakarta. The Air Force also presented on Dec. 12 the wings to defense attaches from Australia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States for their military cooperation with Indonesia.

Fasting 'makes Muslims healthier, happier' JAKARTA (JP): More than one billion Muslims around the globe start their month-long Ramadhan fasting today as prescribed by the holy Koran. From now until mid-January, Muslims will refrain from food, drink and sex between dawn and sunset. They are also obliged to control their emotions and conquer their inner-storms.

Sleepless nights for probe chief of SilkAir plane crash SINGAPORE (AFP): The chief investigator into the crash of a Singapore plane that killed all 104 on board a year ago Saturday says he has suffered sleepless nights as he searches for the cause of the tragedy. Oetarjo Diran of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Commission in Indonesia, where the crash occurred, was quoted by a Singapore newspaper Saturday as saying he was sad for the relatives that the inquiry had still not borne fruit.

Spirit of Ramadhan, Christmas ideal to bolster harmony By Andy Jauhari JAKARTA (Antara): This year Muslims in Indonesia will start fasting on Dec. 20. It is also in this fasting month (Ramadhan) that Christians will celebrate Christmas on Dec. 25. The two different religious events have surely an important and strategic value at this time that the nation is being strangled by various crises.

'Les Miserables' 1998 goes back to roots of Hugo novel By Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): Do not expect the characters in Les Misrables, the 1998 film from Columbia Pictures and Mandalay Entertainment, to break into song any time during its 135-minute duration. You probably associate the title with the Tony-winning musical extravaganza that has rocked Broadway and the rest of the world for over a decade.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Sari Berita Sepekan 7:00 Morning Focus 7:15 Healthy and Fresh 7:00 Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:30 Children's Program: Arena 123 8:00 Children's Program: Kumbang and Family 8:30 Children's Program: Nuansa Anak 9:30 Creative Program: Widya Wahana 10:00 Cooking Program 10:30 Music 11:30 Talk Show: Bincang-Bincang 12:15 p.m.

Ayu's Decision By Ariani Kartika This afternoon my sister Sekar came home again by a taxi. She walked in without removing her shoes, forbidden in our family. I knew she had not forgotten our customs but it was just her way of saying, "Look, I live as a Westerner". She tossed her bags on the table, and walked straight to kitchen without taking off her sunglasses. The kitchen was dimly lit, so she casually slipped off the glasses.

If only Dewi Ratih could descend to this earth... JAKARTA (JP): Tanto's face suddenly turned pale as his secretary said that Ratih wanted to see him. "Are they already at large?" he gasped in dismay. "Tell them I am not here." Now, it was his secretary's turn to get puzzled. "Who's them?" "Those Ratihs (acronym of Rakyat Terlatih or civilian militias)." "My god! You misunderstood me.

S. Korean city of Pusan gears up for 2002 Games BANGKOK (JP): With the 13th Asian Games drawing to a close, the South Korean city of Pusan is reportedly gearing up well for the next event in 2002. The Pusan Asian Games Organizing Committee (PAGOC) was quick to promise on Saturday "the greatest Asiad ever in history," shrugging off worries that it will be overshadowed by the World Cup, which the country is hosting in the same year.