13 go missing, during unrest, activists say JAKARTA (JP): Security forces have "arbitrarily" arrested more than 900 people in a recent spate of unrest, during which 13 people went missing, rights activists said here yesterday. At least five people have been killed and another 10 sustained bullet wounds in rioting over soaring prices and shortages of basic commodities in more than 20 towns and cities across the country in the last two weeks, they alleged.

Packaged bomb explodes SEMARANG (JP): A hand-delivered gift-wrapped package containing a home-made bomb exploded here Friday, seriously injuring an elderly woman and her son. Try Mulyono, a resident of Jl. Batik Sari, who owns an electronic goods repair shop, received the small package from a pedicab driver at about 7 p.m. It exploded when he opened it half an hour later.

Press feels the pinch as papers downsize The monetary crisis of the past seven months has threatened to kill off all economic sectors, including the press industry. The Jakarta Post's team of reporters -- Imanudin, Christiani S.A. Tumelap, Ivy Susanti, Aloysius Unditu, Reiner Simanjuntak and PJ Leo --- explores the impacts of the crisis on the press industry and measures taken to cope with the crisis. JAKARTA (JP): Soemarto, a newspaper and magazine seller at a bus shelter on Jl.

Clinton urges Soeharto to stand behind reforms WASHINGTON (Reuters): U.S. President Bill Clinton told Indonesian President Soeharto on Friday that it was important Soeharto take steps to demonstrate Indonesia's political commitment to economic reform, a White House spokesman said yesterday.

Haj fee expected to double if rupiah fails to stabilize JAKARTA (JP): The price of the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia will double to more than Rp 16 million per person next year, and may exceed Rp 20 million if the rupiah fails to stabilize, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said. Tarmizi was quoted by Antara as saying that since 97 percent of haj costs were denominated in dollars, the increase next year was unavoidable.

Train travel to the lull of karaoke By P.J. Leo JAKARTA (JP): For passengers traveling from Jakarta to Semarang who cannot sleep, the night trip by train is far from boring. A short stroll can take you to the karaoke room where train attendants are ready to sing along on request. "We have a collection of songs for karaoke singing. They are often requested by passengers," says Anna, a train crew member.

Quiz shows have all the right answers in tight ratings war By Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): There are TV shows that make you think hard. There are others whipped up as pure, unadulterated entertainment to keep couch potatoes in their comfy chairs. And there are the ever-popular quiz shows offering a bit of both. Debonair quizmasters spout facts and brainy participants go mushy on each other on national television.

All is Dark Around Surip By Bunga Pujangga The judge's house is about a kilometer from a bus stop. Those who have been there say you have to pass through a Chinese temple compound to reach it. Two blocks away is a house with a dark- tiled roof, red palm tree in the compound and a jeep in the garage. Surip, a humble villager, must meet the judge to find a solution to his problem. The judge is his last hope. But it left him uneasy.

As heroes go, Gatotkaca has a lot to learn By Laila Faisal JAKARTA (JP): Advertisements have dwindled in all mass media. The empty spaces are now filled with public service announcements, many of which contain solemn moral messages.

The brains behind baffling questions JAKARTA (JP): Ani Sumadi's sobriquet is the question editor of quiz shows. However executive producers Helmy Yahya and Reinhard. R. Tawas are on a higher plane; they are dubbed the question thinkers.

Talking about the publishing crunch JAKARTA (JP): Breakfast and the ride to the office is just not the same now with thinner newspapers to read. The publishing crisis is spilling over to affect readers and the printing business.

A hectic day in the life of scholar Amien Rais By Sri Wahyuni, Teddy Novan and Israr Ardiansyah YOGYAKARTA (JP): It was 5 a.m, and the street in Pandean Sari district was quiet and sleepy after a night of heavy rain. The exception was the bustling home of Muhammadiyah chairman Muhammad Amien Rais. Inside, a guest from the U.S. Embassy chatted with Amien's brother while waiting for the house owner to appear.

Saleh cuts short RI visit JAKARTA (JP): Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh cut short his official visit in Indonesia to attend an emergency meeting on the Iraqi crisis in Abu Dhabi, a Yemeni Embassy official said yesterday. Saleh and his 21-strong entourage flew to Abu Dhabi on a special flight yesterday afternoon to attend the meeting of several Middle East heads of state, the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Jakarta Post.

Watershed for Indonesia's New Order By Leonard C. Sebastian With the economic crisis, prospects of social unrest and the impending Presidential election, Indonesia enters a crucial period. AFTER a period of vacillation in November and December, and much to the relief of the region, President Soeharto and his government seem to have grasped the nettle by endorsing a reform package which hopefully will bring respite to Indonesia's embattled economy.

Print media urged to write their own happy ending to crisis By Reiner Simanjuntak JAKARTA (JP): Just a couple of years ago, the print media industry was riding high, with new publications hitting newsstands seemingly every month. The economic crisis has said a hasty goodbye to that success and created a nightmare scenario in which many publications are wondering whether they can survive. Last week, The Jakarta Post interviewed Leo S.

Guess What? Brigitta Maria Try telling Brigitta Maria, the director of national modeling agency pioneer, PT Putri Pertiwi, that there is nothing to the profession but looking beautiful. "If you knew what you were talking about, you would not make such a statement," would be her likely retort. Last year Brigitta bought the franchise to establish the first John Casablancas Modeling and Career Center in the Asia-Pacific region here.

G-7 presses Japan to do more for crisis-hit Asia LONDON (Reuters): The United States led a Group of Seven offensive on the Asian economic crisis on Saturday by piling pressure on Japan to do more to pull its neighbors out of turmoil. As finance ministers from the seven leading industrial nations began two days of talks, the U.S. urged Japan to help revive Asia by boosting its economy and avoiding excessive weakness of the yen.

TV today TVRI 6:45 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:15 Healthy and Fit 7:30 Children's Program: Arena Kami 9:00 People and Event 9:30 Documentary: Pemungutan Lebah Hutan 10:00 TVRI News 10:30 Music: Album Minggu 11:30 Teenager's Program: Temu Remaja 12:15 p.m.

Come what may, local artists go on with the show By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): Painter Irawan Karseno, who prefers to call himself a "picture seller", is grappling with the ugly effects of the monetary crisis. He has the same headaches as other employers now scrutinizing their bottom lines. There are several staff in his studio, who help in fixing canvases and packing finished paintings to be supplied to offices or the young professionals who make up his buyers. Or, rather, were his purchasers.

All-English battle By Kristianus Liem This is the seventh of eight articles on the World Chess Championships held in Groningen, the Netherlands in December last year. JAKARTA (JP): British chess players have always been in a category of their own, but that both Nigel Short and Michael Adams should survive to round six of the World Chess Championship in Groningen, the Netherlands, Dec. 8 to Dec. 30, 1997, must be regarded as a real surprise!

Kusnasriyati, a leader in her own right By Sri Wahyuni YOGYAKARTA (JP): Being the mother of five and wife of Moslem leader Amien Rais is no easy challenge. But it does not stop Kusnasriyati Sri Rahayu from building a world of her own in which she is the leader. Education is the field in which she excels. In March 1987, together with four friends, she established an Islamic kindergarten under the umbrella of the local Salahudin Education Foundation chaired by Amien.

The show goes on for quiz, game programs amid crisis JAKARTA (JP): Despite a cutback in television airtime, quiz and game show managers have confirmed that as long as contracts are valid, the show goes on. But after contracts expire, they is no way of knowing whether sponsors will stay the life of the party. Increasingly, for TV stations, "grabbing the public's time" is the name of the game. Cut-throat competition has given way to better packaging of shows which must stay within tight budgets.

Australian fellowships named JAKARTA (JP): A telecommunications expert and a biologist are the Indonesian winners of this year's Australia-Indonesia Merdeka Fellowships. Australian Ambassador John McCarthy announced the winners of the awards, set up as Australia's gift to celebrate Indonesia's 50th anniversary of independence, on Friday night.

Media gets by on fewer pages, lights off, no chili sauce By Christiani S. A. Tumelap JAKARTA (JP): Journalists on many occasions rank as "untouchables" because of the privileges attached to their profession. Sadly, this is not true for the media they work for. Newspapers, magazines and TV stations have proven to be acutely vulnerable in the onslaught of the economic crisis. Publishers warn the industry is only just beginning to feel the effects of the shocking surge of the U.S. dollar.

Ani Sumadi's quiz shows keep viewers guessing JAKARTA (JP): TV quiz show queen Ani Sumadi captured in one remark what made the current crop of programs so popular among audiences. "We are in the business of filling up people's time." She is indeed: Ani Sumadi Productions eats up 30 percent of the lucrative quiz show pie on TV. Ani has produced 28 quiz shows during her 25 years in TV, and almost all were successes.