Jakarta's poor view Soeharto's resignation with apathy By Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): The world witnessed students jumping into the fountain at the House of Representatives compound Thursday amid outcries that "the president is now former president Soeharto". What the students did not notice that day was that outside of the barb-wired city was the poor man's indifference to it all. The reason?

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Sea gods lose out in traditional Buginese ritual JAKARTA (ANTARA): Scores of decorated boats teeming with people clad in traditional Buginese attire recently sailed along the coast of Kotabaru regency, South Kalimantan. They were to conduct a traditional procession of mappanre tasi', giving food to the sea. "The ceremony... is a token of gratitude toward the Creator for His gift of the riches of the sea," said Sabir, a prominent citizen on the Pagatan coast.

Victoria's peaks inspire pioneer Hilda By Astri Wright VICTORIA, Canada (JP): Hilda Soemantri holds a long list of "firsts". One is that she is the first Asian scholar to be Orion Program Artist-in-Residence, an exchange program at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Victoria. It is the second time in two years that Hilda has spent the spring semester in the province dubbed "Beautiful British Columbia".

KL transvestites fined KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Nine Malaysian Moslems who were arrested in a raid on a transvestite beauty contest have been charged in an Islamic court, a news report said yesterday. They were accused in the northern town of Alor Setar, Kedah State, of wearing women's clothes and acting like women in a public place, both transgressions of the Islamic code. Eight pleaded guilty and were fined 800 ringgit (US$ 200).

Colleague takes over Justika's unfinished business By Sylvia Gratia M. Nirang Analysts have said that rebuilding the economy should include much more attention to agriculture. Newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin is now faced with this challenge. The woman appointed for the job in the seventh development cabinet, Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah, now the Minister of Social Affairs, earlier set the priorities which she considered crucial.

Break the mirror when your face is ugly By R. Masri Sareb Putra JAKARTA (JP): The government recently slapped a ban on a book by Soebadio Sastrosatomo, Politik Dosomuko Rezim Order Baru: Rapuh dan Sengsarakan Rakyat (The New Order Regime's Dosomuko Politics: Fragile and Making People Suffer). Soebadio said that the culprit of these crises is the New Order's political system itself, one that he names "Dosomuko politics" (10-faced politics).

Composer worried about new children's songs By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Millions of Indonesian children are familiar with the modest yet touching song Pelangi (Rainbow). Even now, this composition still echoes in homes, in schools and other places. This song is about a beautiful rainbow in a blue sky and teaches children to praise its creator, God. However, many people do not recognize the man who composed this evergreen children's song.

TV pooling reflects authoritarian government: Expert By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): She said she did not really like watching television, but lately she had become addicted to it. She had even become aware of the exact scheduling of news programs on each of the six local television stations. Like millions of Indonesians and many foreigners around the world, Cynthia Wirantini is curious about the latest political development in the country.

Guess What? Jay Subiakto When are artists no longer content with creating and performing? When the country needs everyone to take part, said Jay Subiakto, video clip artist and music producer now working with the Guruh Soekarnoputra dancing company. Jay and his colleagues, mostly dressed in black, were found in the lobby of the House of Representatives Tuesday, then overflowing with thousands of students.

Child singers set their hearts on popular game called fame By Amorita JAKARTA (JP): Pint-sized Innez may look like she should be at home arranging her doll collection, but she knows what she wants. "I wanna be famous, and appear on TV," she belts out in her tune Ingin Ngetop. "I wanna be famous and join a recording studio." She is not alone -- hundreds of Indonesian child singers, and their parents, want their names in lights.

High school students demand total reform JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of fresh senior high school graduates celebrated yesterday with a peaceful demonstration for total reform, held at the Central Jakarta campus of the University of Indonesia. Students from 17 high schools in Jakarta arrived at the campus at midday with their uniforms, hair and faces painted various colors, the customary way of students here to mark the end of the school year.

Noted writer Sudjati dies JAKARTA (JP): Noted writer and publisher Sudjati S.A. died of a stroke yesterday morning at his residence on Jl. Prof. Moch. Yamin, Menteng, Central Jakarta. He was 76 years old. Sudjati was buried later yesterday in a family plot in Sumedang, West Java. He is survived by a wife, four children and several grandchildren. Born in Salatiga, Central Java, on July 1, 1992, Sudjati started off as a reporter for Siasat weekly.

Soeharto's children are in Indonesia: Probosutedjo JAKARTA (JP): All of Soeharto's six children are in Jakarta and intend to continue with their business activities without the special privileges they once enjoyed, a close relative of the former president said yesterday. Businessman Probosutedjo, Soeharto's half-brother, said in an interview with Antara that the whole family still routinely got together at Soeharto's residence on Jl. Cendana in Central Jakarta. "I saw them dining together in Jl.

U.S. lawmaker to visit RI WASHINGTON (Reuters): The head of a U.S. House of Representatives human rights panel, Representative Chris Smith, said on Friday he would visit Indonesia next week to discuss human rights with government officials and pro-democracy leaders. The New Jersey Republican said the purpose of his trip was to help persuade the Indonesian government to make a speedy transition to democracy, with free and fair elections, and to stress the importance of human rights.

Habibie swears in reform cabinet JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie swore in his cabinet yesterday, with some of the 36 cabinet members pledging to fight for political reform from within. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who retained his old job as coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry, stated his belief that a new general election should be carried out as soon as possible to form a new government.

Child singers come of age on TV screens Cute moppets of both sexes slink across TV screens warbling inane ditties about their fingernails or their nagging aunt. The records sell but is it healthy to have kids grow up before their time? The Jakarta Post's Rita Widiadana and Yogita Tahil Ramani, along with Amorita of Jakarta Jakarta monthly shines a light on child entertainers. JAKARTA (JP): She wears a black leather jacket teamed with tight pants and a pair of high-heeled boots.

Child stars: Entertainment or exploitation? By Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): Clad in a colorful outfit, the boy swayed his little body and burst into song. His voice was far from beautiful, but it did not matter. Several other children joined him and danced vigorously to the music. Everybody looked happy. The children were joyful and their parents were proud. So, what's the problem with child entertainers?

Political prisoners may get amnesty JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Soedjono C. Atmonegoro said yesterday he has written to President B.J. Habibie requesting amnesty for noncommunist political prisoners and expected a response by tomorrow. Soedjono did not say when he made the suggestion that political prisoners, other than those involved in the communist coup attempt in 1960s, be freed, but said Habibie might decide on the matter after leading the first cabinet meeting tomorrow.

Why Do I Have to be Sick? By Sartono Kusumaningrat Sungeb's son, a junior high school student, was also hit by the breakout of dengue fever in the country. Sungeb felt that he was really the unluckiest among the poor. At a time when the monetary and economic crisis battered all the people with skyrocketing prices, the fearsome disease also attacked Sungeb's family. Bencok's sickness was in an advanced stage and he had to be hospitalized for blood transfusions.

Employees count their losses from rampaging mobs By Ati Nurbaiti TANGERANG (JP): A lone bust of a mannequin guarded the entrance to what remains of gutted Borobudur Plaza on Jl. Dewi Sartika, Ciputat. Barely a week ago, the male figure may have sported a chic shirt and jeans. Now, it was draped in an old jeans jacket and similarly jaded red-and-white flag.

Beg, steal or borrow? Looting is all relative JAKARTA (JP): At the risk of sounding archly melodramatic, a common affliction in the media these days, I count myself among those Jakarta residents who will never forget the past May 14. But then who possibly could? The day (it was sunny when I walked out the door) started out fine enough. I was at the office by 8:30 a.m. and was preparing to go out briefly a couple of hours later for lunch when rumblings of something amiss started.

China clinches a record sixth Uber Cup title HONG KONG (Agencies): China won the Uber Cup team badminton championship for a record six times after downing holder Indonesia 4-1 here yesterday. It was sweet revenge for the Chinese who lost to the same opponents in the two previous final encounters between them in 1994 and 1996.

End to student sit-in was as fast and frenzied JAKARTA (JP): About 200 security personnel stood guard at the House of Representatives (DPR) compound yesterday following the frantic eviction of antigovernment students a few hours earlier. Armed and with barricades of barbed wire fences, the troop of police, army and marine personnel declared the 60-hectare complex a restricted area. According to the Jakarta Military Command's chief of staff, Brig. Gen.

Night rounds bring neighbors together By Dwi Atmanta JAKARTA (JP): The riots which jolted Jakarta recently may have served as a blessing in disguise for people living in housing complexes, though for many, the experience may be too bitter to warrant remembering. It is hard to believe that anxiety has swept this land of relative peace and that violent hatred has overwhelmed a community long touted as polite and religious.

Prabowo's replacement 'routine tour of duty' JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Wiranto denied yesterday that the removal of Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto as chief of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) was untimely, stressing that it was part of an officer's "tour of duty". The transfer from Prabowo to Maj. Gen. Johnny Lumintang (not lieutenant general as reported yesterday), was effected on Friday without any prior announcement.

TV reporter Ira Koesno escapes political fire JAKARTA (JP): Several days before former president Soeharto stepped down, he still tried to hold onto power by announcing he would reshuffle the cabinet -- an effort which proved futile. And just two days before he announced he would reshuffle the cabinet, TV reporter Ira Koesno asked one of this year's most controversial questions live on a local news program watched nationwide.