New bug attack clouds Games opening BANGKOK (Reuters): The Asian Games -- the unlucky 13th -- open in Bangkok on Sunday with Thailand's crippling economic recession on harsh display but organizers hoping the "Asian Way" of compromise gets them through the next two weeks. On the eve of the Games, the event was hit by a new insect plague and a transport strike that had threatened athlete training was narrowly averted.

Changes needed at Jakarta Biennale By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Many people come out of the 11th Jakarta Biennale feeling disappointed. The event is far from being a biannual event presenting the most current art forms created in Indonesia. Instead, it is noting more than a show of a kind of conservative "salon" with exclusive membership. It is clear that the Jakarta Biennale is trying to uphold a "status quo" in the art field.

Tips on how to be thrifty during the crisis JAKARTA (JP): Those among us who used to live by the words I am therefore I shop may now have to think twice before splashing out on new purchases. With no sign of an end to the monetary crisis in sight and prices climbing ever higher, the time for thriftiness is nigh.

Cuban boxing know-how on show at Asiad BANGKOK (Reuters): Their fighters are not here but the soul of Cuba's famed fighters will be present in a host of coaches when the boxing gets underway at the Asian Games on Monday. The Philippines, Pakistan, Laos, India, Indonesia and host Thailand all have Cuban head coaches for their boxing teams. There are also a sprinkling of other Cubans as trainers and cornermen in other teams.

Looking critically at RI's ventures into democracy Meretas Jalan Demokrasi (Trailblazing the road of democracy); Dadang Juliantara; Foreword by Mansour Fakih; Kanisius, Yogyakarta, 1998; 191 pp, Rp 18,500 YOGYAKARTA (JP): In this book, Dadang attempts to examine the process of democratization at the economic and political levels. Dadang turns a critical eye on the mechanisms of democracy, and on the roadblocks that stand in the way of a more profound democracy in Indonesia.

How to economize on cooking oil use By Mangku Sitepoe JAKARTA (JP): As virtually all aspects of life are affected by the agonies of the monetary crisis which has fast swept across the entire country, cooking oil is also necessarily very much affected. A host of problems have cropped up in relation to cooking oil, among others, price increases, disruption in distribution, and thinning supplies of the raw materials because of very competitive prices abroad.

Ambiguity over the work of Arifin C. Noer By Marselli Sumarno JAKARTA (JP): Arifin C. Noer is known as a director of serious films, which is not surprising considering his background. Before entering the film world in the 1970s, Arifin was active as a playwright. He established a theater company called Teater Ketjil which staged his best works, among which were Kapai-Kapai (Fluttering) and Sumur Tanpa Dasar (Bottomless Well).

Students stage rally in academic gowns JAKARTA (JP): Still wearing their academic gowns and carrying tubes containing their diplomas, a group of 128 new graduates from STMIK Indonesia computer college staged a rally at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta on Saturday. During the peaceful midday demonstration, the graduates of the college, which is located on Jl. Kyai Tapa in Grogol, West Jakarta, expressed hopes that all student demonstrations would end peacefully.

Next president 'to be installed on Nov. 10' JAKARTA (JP): If all goes according to plan, Indonesia will see its fourth president taking the oath of office on Nov. 10, according to a senior Ministry of Home Affairs official. "The plan is that on Nov. 10, coinciding with National Heroes' Day, we will see the new president and vice president installed," Secretary-General Faisal Tamin disclosed during a meeting with university students and rectors on Saturday.

78 political parties discuss general election YOGYAKARTA (JP): Representatives of 78 political parties sat down together here on Saturday to begin a two-day seminar aimed at producing recommendations for the House of Representatives (DPR) when it resumes deliberating the new political laws on Monday.

Local boutiques not sitting pretty in the crisis By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): Despite trying hard, international currency speculators praying on our helpless rupiah have been unable to kill off the international brand boutiques which sprung up in Jakarta's top shopping malls throughout the early 1990s. "When the rupiah dropped to Rp 17,000 against the U.S. dollar, it was good news for our boutiques.

'Krismon' forces change in habits The prolonged monetary crisis (krismon) has forced people from all walks of life both in big cities and quiet villages to change their lifestyles. Even those who are normally thrifty need to take extreme care. Others who are in the habit of throwing money around are finding the lengthy monetary crisis a priceless time for introspection. The Jakarta Post's K.

Jakarta Biennale awards face competition JAKARTA (JP): Vietnamese art is certainly becoming very popular these days. It has become the prima donna of the auctions of Southeast Asian art held by Christie's and Sotheby's nowadays. In Hanoi, the Hoan Kiem district of the capital of Vietnam is dotted with many elegant art galleries that foreign collectors flock to every day.

Spotlight Photo A: Donation IPM DONATION: Nicholas Wood (center), Standard Chartered Bank's country treasurer in Indonesia, symbolically hands over a donation to Indonesian Committee for Humanity chief Mar'ie Muhammad. The funds will be used to assist about 1,200 needy elementary and high school students and 62 teachers in Kapuk, North Jakarta, to keep them in school.

Hamzah: The accidental politician JAKARTA (JP): Hamzah Haz, the low-profile man newly entrusted to lead the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP), is a self-styled, accidental politician. Born in the West Kalimantan district of Ketapang on Feb. 15, 1940, Hamzah, known for his neat safari suit and slicked-back hair, usually hidden under his black peci cap, always dreamt of becoming an entrepreneur. Hamzah was born in a remote village where his late father was an elementary school teacher.

Soros under fire in KL KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Leaders of Malaysia's ruling coalition have rebuked international financier George Soros after he said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad should be removed from office, newspapers said on Saturday. Zulkifli Alwi, secretary of the National Front's youth wing, told the Star newspaper that Malaysians must "realize the machinations of greedy and inconsiderate capitalists like Soros".

Murti's Tale By Teguh Winarsho AS Murti was disoriented. The words of Ningsih, a friend of hers, kept ringing in her ears: "Don't you have any compassion for your mother who is old and sickly? Care for your younger siblings. They need food." Ningsih gave Murti a piece of her mind a few days ago. It was not that Murti refused Ningsih's offer to work for her in her food stall. No, not at all. She would consider the offer and ask her mother's opinion.

President Habibie losing publicity battle: ICMI YOGYAKARTA (JP): Ahmad Tirtosudiro, the acting chairman of the Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), said on Saturday that President Habibie appeared to be losing the publicity battle on the question of his legitimacy. Ahmad said ICMI, along with many other groups, felt that the transfer from Soeharto to Habibie in May was in accordance with the letters of the 1945 Constitution.

Saudis escape punishment for last minute pull-out BANGKOK (Agencies): Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan will escape punishment for their late withdrawal from the 13th Asian Games, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah, president of the Olympic Council of Asia, announced Saturday. But future culprits face the prospect of sanctions he warned.

Karangbanjar locals reap gains from area's beauty By Agus Maryono and Ngudi Utomo PURBALINGGA, Central Java (JP): Sanraji, a 54-year-old farmer, has tilled his paddy field with a traditional wooden plow drawn by a pair of buffaloes for as long as he cares to remember. But over the past few years the local government's tourism policy has changed his life a little bit.

Indonesia losing sight of rights, says Amnesty SYDNEY (Reuters): Amnesty International said on Saturday the Indonesian government was failing to live up to its pledges on human rights and democracy and was resorting to repressive measures used by former President Soeharto's regime.

RI eyes beach volleyball, yachting medals BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia is eying a bronze medal from its men's beach volleyball team and a silver plus a bronze from its windsurfers at the 13th Asian Games, which will start on Dec. 6. The national beach volleyball team manager, Ahmed Solihin, said on Saturday that the duo of Agus Salim and Irilkhun Shofanna could finish at least third if they manage to maintain the fine form that helped them win two warm-up tournaments in Australia in October.