Betawi people vow to help General Session succeed JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of members of the Betawi (native Jakartans) community have pledged to help next month's People's Consultative Assembly General Session succeed.

In thick or thin, Van Zorge is here for the long runBy Edith Hartanto and Budiman Moerdijat JAKARTA (JP): For American James Van Zorge, home is where he makes it. After 11 years' residence in Indonesia and marriage to an Indonesian, it is now here.

What expatriates say about the crisis JAKARTA (JP): Not all expatriates enjoy the envied good fortune of a salary denominated in all-powerful American dollars.In fact, those who do take home the greenbacks may well be fretting over their futures and the very real possibility of employers shedding...

Bank depositsFrom KompasThe government has decided to guarantee bank deposits. What about the deposits in the 16 banks liquidated on Nov. 1, 1997? What mistakes did the depositors in those banks make for Bank Indonesia not to extend its guarantee to them?What is the difference between the banks now...

Guess What? Hanny Saputra Director Hanny Saputra, 31, has a penchant for what he calls "informative controversies". Particularly when he gets to make telecinematic productions on them.Last year critics hailed his award-winning debut production, Sepanjang Jalan Kenangan (Down Memory Lane) -- about a...

Love suffers in the 'IMF era' BANGKOK (AFP): The current economic slump has hit Thai lovers where it hurts, forcing them to tighten their belts and spend less on loved ones, a survey on the eve of Valentine's Day said.

Lombard's death a loss to Indonesian studiesBy Myra Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Most disturbing among all the bad news I received in January was an e-mail from Paris announcing the death of Denys Lombard on Jan. 8.

Every cloud has a silver lining JAKARTA (JP): "Dear Zatni, I am following all the news out of Indonesia and was wondering how you are doing. Is everything okay with you and your family?"That was a recent e-mail from an American friend in Oregon.

ABRI may be leaning to Habibie for VP JAKARTA (JP): The powerful Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) has hinted it may support B.J. Habibie for the vice presidency, boosting the research and technology minister's chances considerably after ruling Golkar, the United Development Party and the Indonesian...

Expat exodus a blessing for locals: Manpower officialBy Ridwan M. Sijabat JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is rapidly losing its status as a promised land for expatriate workers.They are leaving in droves. In December of last year, the Ministry of Manpower recorded 48,417 expatriates employed in various...

Jakarta's Memories restaurant now a place to rememberBy Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Memories restaurant lived up to its name in the saddest way last night.Manager Klaas Kemp ushered out the last of the Valentine's Day diners, said goodbye to some of his 54 staff and locked the door of the restaurant...

Wealth of W. Sumatra's history open to publicBy Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): West Sumatra and the fascinating Minangkabau ethnic group have always been attractive to scholars interested in history.The beautiful and plentiful natural resources, the people's outstanding mastery of the arts, and...

Five die in fresh outbreaks of riots in several cities JAKARTA (JP): Two more people died yesterday as troops tried to end rioting sparked by steep price hikes, bringing to five the number of fatalities from unrest in several cities in the past two days.

ASEAN ministers meet on Cambodian elections MANILA (AFP): Thai and Indonesian foreign ministers arrived here Saturday for a meeting with their Philippine counterpart to discuss upcoming elections in strife-torn Cambodia with the Thai minister calling for flexibility among rival factions.

Financial crisis takes the shine off cosmetic productsBy Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): Fueled with the gift of the gab, Desi, a confident teenager, tries to negotiate a "tiny cut" in price for a bottle of Calvin Klein perfume with a soft-spoken saleswoman.

Expatriates set sail as economy sinks Indonesia may be no comparison to the immigrants' dreamland of United States, but it had a high growth in foreign workers during the economic boom. Now that the wheels are reversing and the economy is ailing, expatriates are losing their jobs or being forced to...

We need a leader of vision We all know that Indonesia today is in the midst of a monetary crisis. Naturally many aspects have to be overcome, not just remedying the value of the rupiah against the dollar.