Greater artistic freedom in new opera house sought By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): You don't have to go to Broadway to enjoy intriguing theater. Welcome to Teater Tanah Airku, Indonesia's opera house. The sophisticated building, located at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, was inaugurated by President Soeharto last month in celebration of the park's 23rd anniversary. The ceremony was highlighted by the performance of Anoman Opera.

Protests: What will happen next? Student protests have occurred almost daily for the past two months. The Jakarta Post reporters Ahmad Junaidi, Arief Suhardiman, Ati Nurbaiti, Benget Simbolon, Emmy Fitri, Kornelius Purba, Riyadi, Efendy Naibaho, Arifuddin Saeni, Ainur R. Sophiaan, Israr Ardiansyah, Haryoso and MMI Ahyani have talked to students, observers, former activists and ordinary people on the sidelines of student rallies to find out where things will go from here.

Fathers' battle diapers in unusual competition JAKARTA (JP): An unusual scene was witnessed here yesterday. Fathers struggling to put a diaper on their babies. "The diaper ripped," said Enro, the father of 4-month-old Rinco. He admitted that yesterday was his first time at diapering. "Normally my wife does these things. I have to work." Enro was a participant in a Huggies diaper-changing contest, part of the annual Baby Fair organized by Tomy, Gymboree and Toys 'R' Us.

Guess What? Miranda Goeltom Central bank director Miranda Goeltom confesses to not exactly being the role model she intended to be to her children. "I am not exactly proud of myself... sometimes I consider myself not a good parent for not spending the needed time with my children," she said. Miranda, 49, however claims that despite all of this, she is sure her two children are aware of what the crisis is doing to people. "I have not raised their allowances.

Social criticism in literary works By Sunaryono Basuki Ks JAKARTA (JP): In a culture where criticism is considered unhealthy, people on the receiving end frequently interpret judgements unproportionally and tend to find motives behind them. Unfortunately, criticism warning fellow Indonesians to return to a right path according to religious teachings or to the Constitution may be accused of containing motives to disrupt stability.

'Anoman Opera' on stage now JAKARTA (JP): For any fine opera house production, it usually takes months and even years for conductors, directors, the cast and technicians to adjust to the facilities in a hall and to utilize it to its full potential. Not so for Anoman Opera. "It took only a few months to prepare this opera," said Ratna Riantiarno, the producer. In such a short time they also had to acclimatize the cast to perform in such a modern theater -- something they have never experienced.

Teachers of next generation ponder the day's catch By Ida Indhawati Khouw May 2, yesterday, is National Education Day. With the republic almost 53 years old, development of national education still lags behind that of the economy. This has caused a decline in the quality of education, from elementary school to higher learning institutes, throughout the country. Following are three articles on education. JAKARTA (JP): Educating children today is about preparing them for the next millennium.

Students lack curiosity in classrooms JAKARTA (JP): As a university lecturer, one quality I absolutely want to see in my students is a healthy dose of curiosity. Unfortunately, this is real life we're talking about, where you don't always get what you want. As much as I want to see curiosity, it's not there sometimes. The students come to class like empty vessels waiting to be filled.

Complementary food We are highly appreciative of the coverage that you provide to issues regarding women and children, and wish to thank you for providing front page pictorial coverage of the launch of the Complementary Food Initiative which is being undertaken by the government of Indonesia with Unicef support. While we have always valued the high quality of your reporting, we found your pictorial coverage of the event to be inaccurate.

Who's who behind the demonstrations JAKARTA (JP): The past few months have witnessed the rise of a new crop of student leaders. Below are the views of just a few of them from universities and colleges in Medan, Ujungpandang, Surabaya, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung and Greater Jakarta. Ridaya La Ode Ngkowe, chairman of the student senate at Gadjah Mada University (UGM).

Students clash with security personnel JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of people were injured yesterday when security personnel clashed with thousands of students in several cities staging rallies critical of the government's warning to those demanding political reform. Most of the protests proceeded noisily and were marked with some jostling with riot police, who prevented the students from taking their protests to the streets. In at least two demonstrations, violence broke out.

Davadilla keeps lead after penultimate stage MANILA (AP): Filipino Warren Davadilla held his overall lead in the grueling Tour of the Philippines despite a 28th-place showing in yesterday's penultimate leg won by Hong Kong's Wong Kam Po. Wong, last year's champion, was in 18th place overall after the 165.1-kilometer (102.7-mile) 15th stage from Agoo town in La Union province to the former Clark Air Base in Pampanga province north of here.

Soeharto welcomes thoughts on political reforms JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that he was not opposed to any political reform, and called on the nation to give their thoughts on the subject now. He emphasized, however, that any concept on political reform could only be implemented after 2003, given that the head of state was bound by the 1998-2003 State Policy Guidelines enacted by the People's Consultative Assembly in March.

Student protesters not embracing redicalism, say observers JAKARTA (JP): Reports of violence, the large numbers attending almost daily demonstrations and demands like "total reform" have raised questions about whether students have really become radical. In a society brought up to appreciate stability, the word is not at all comforting although everyone is clamoring for prices to come down.

Malaysia considering action against British newspapers KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's prime minister said yesterday that the government is considering action against two British newspapers that accused police of drugging Indonesian migrants to deport them. "There is no truth in the allegation," Mahathir Mohamad was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency. He added that the reports were aimed at tarnishing Malaysia's image.

IKJ students stage artistic demonstration JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian students want to be heard. They want to voice their opinions on the economic crisis. Demonstrations all over the country confirm this, but some academies are dealing with these activities in a different way. Art Concern, an event organized by the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ) at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, showed on Wednesday that it is possible to express your feelings differently.

Crisis a blow to Lampung students BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung (JP): A lot of elementary and high school students in this southern Sumatra province will soon have to drop out of school because of critical economic situations faced by their parents.

Violence mars demos in Jakarta, Medan JAKARTA (JP): Violence marred student demonstrations here and in the North Sumatra capital of Medan yesterday, leaving dozens of students injured and public property and some vehicles damaged. Jakarta witnessed a wave of student protests held simultaneously in East, South and Central Jakarta. It took traffic police hours to unravel the resulting heavy congestion in many parts of the city. The worst student demonstrations here yesterday occurred on Jl.

Deer slaughter continues in Aceh By Syahruddin Hamzah BANDA ACEH (Antara): Poachers are setting fires to hunt and kill the Timor deer (Cervus timorensis), a protected species, in Cut Nyak Dhien forest park in Mount Seulawah and the Jantho nature reserve in West Aceh. Much of the quarry ends up in the kitchens of local eateries. The head of Aceh's natural resources conservation center, Bambang Suprayogi, said recently that these practices may have been going on for a long time.

Redefining teacher, parent roles in childhood schooling Sekolah: Mengajar atau Mendidik? (Schools: Instruction or Education?); By J. Drost, SJ; Kanisius in cooperation with Sanata Dharma University, Yogyakarta, 1998; 258 pp + xiii JAKARTA (JP): Instruction rather than education is what parents expect when they enroll their children in school, according to a new book on the issue. The author, J. Drost, who has decades of experience in the field, maintains that a school's role is only to instruct.

Exploring the history of Indonesian student movements JAKARTA (JP): When students began to rally in increasing numbers this year, people wondered if they were seeing a repetition of protests in the 1960s. The anger directed at the government has been similar, but although the protests have been much more widespread compared to demonstrations in the 1970s and '80s, the throngs of young people who headed for Semanggi, Central Jakarta, in 1968 far outnumbered recent demonstrators.

People extend their support for students' demands for reform JAKARTA (JP): Students have constantly claimed their protests speak for the people. But what do the people think? Here are the views of some employees, small traders, executives and others: * Margiyanti (pseudonym), civil staffer at Jakarta Military Command: I appreciate what students have done so far. For a long time these youngsters have only been asking for money from their parents for books, clothes and playing around.

RI media greet press freedom day with concern JAKARTA (JP): Repression and minimal respect for the journalism profession are among the causes of concern for the Indonesian media as it greets World Press Freedom Day today, according to an observer. Senior journalist Atmakusumah acknowledged in an interview with Antara yesterday that efforts to facilitate the freedom of the press have been made by both the government and society but several incidents have shown much was still wanting.

Street singers make up song along the road JAKARTA (JP): There are scores of undocumented songs sang by street minstrels. Some of the tunes may be familiar, verses of daily urban scenes may hark to the likes of popular singers Franky Sihalatua and Iwan Fals. But ask for the lyrics or who the composer was, and the musicians voice ignorance.