Your Eyes Your eyes have been Beacons of joy Wherever we have met. In the market, Near the river, In the street. Never lifeless always shining. Lifting me higher In love for Indonesia Indonesian She walks in simplicity Hair long and straight Eyes black as coals Sparkling in the light. They look straight Through mine Into the Unknown Times of Her life. Bulai Bananas I ask how much? He says 5,000. I am 'bulai', The price is double. I say 1,500. He says 4,000. I say 1,500. He says no. I say 2,000.

RI will have no problem obtaining IMF money JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss said Saturday that it was highly unlikely that the next installment of the rescue package brokered for Indonesia by the fund would be further delayed. Neiss indicated that the economic reform program and the latest political developments were very positive and were being welcomed not only in Indonesia, but also in the rest of the world.

Slamet's 'Telegram' is set for editing By Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): Amid the crisis and uncertainty, Indonesia is presenting three feature-length films at international forums this year. The Christine Hakim and Garin Nugroho production, Daun Di Atas Bantal (A Leaf On A Pillow), was shown last week at the Cannes Film Festival. Marselli Sumarno's Sri, the scriptwriter's directorial debut, is now in the editing stage.

Texas woman fined for role in RI baby sale AUCKLAND (AP): A Texas woman desperate to be a mother was fined US$31,800 (NZ$60,000) Friday for her role in an international baby trafficking case. Charli Shirley Connelly, 35, of Austin, Texas, pleaded guilty to four fraud charges relating to the baby's birth certificate and travel documents to the United States.

Looted goods on offer for sale at cheaper prices JAKARTA (JP): Bloodied hands need to be washed. Particularly if they can give some relief to upset stomachs. These could be thoughts running through the minds of a handful of hard-eyed males, from teenage boys and to middle-aged men, on Jl. Kembang Sepatu, Kramat Raya, Central Jakarta, who spared no effort to sell off what apparently seemed to be looted goods.

Retired generals push for MPR special session JAKARTA (JP): A group of 18 retired generals are demanding that the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) hold an extraordinary session no later than July to revoke decrees installing Soeharto as president and B.J. Habibie as vice president. The deadline was stipulated in a statement made available to the press yesterday and signed by the group's coordinator, former Commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Lt. Gen. (ret.) Achmad Kemal Idris.

Indonesia still haven for smokers The cigarette industry is one of the most lucrative businesses in the country. It provides the government with huge revenue in taxes and absorb millions of workers. Yet, we all know there are negative sides to tobacco, especially its harmful effects on our health. In conjunction with No Tobacco Day today, The Jakarta Post's Rita A. Widiadana and Stevie Emilia prepare a series of articles on the issue.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Sari Berita Sepekan 6:30 Morning Focus 6:45 Healthy and Fresh 7:00 Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:30 Children's Program: Arena Kami 8:00 Children's Program: Kumbang and Family 8:30 Children's Program: Nuansa Anak 9:30 Creative Program: Widya Wahana 10:00 Cooking Program: Small Cake 10:15 Music: Album Minggu 11:30 Talk Show: Bincang-Bincang 12:15 p.m.

No reprieve for 19th SEA Games consortium over debt JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Agung Laksono has supported the decision made by the management of the Gelora Senayan sports complex to refuse to waive the 19th SEA Games underwriting consortium's Rp 1 billion (US$100,000) debt. "I can fully understand Gelora Senayan's decision. They are directly influenced by the debts as they are the ones who have to initially cover the expenses," Agung said yesterday.

Self-motivation the best way to stop smoking habit By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Want to quit smoking? Chewing gum and avoiding cafes might help a little in kicking the habit, but top model Enny Sukamto Hehuwat says that strong willpower and motivation must do the job in the end. A clich maybe, but she's proved it. "It's no use if you keep on thinking about the right time to quit smoking.

Guess What? Dwiki Dharmawan University students shaved their heads to show their gratitude to God for the fall of Soeharto. Keyboard player Dwiki Dharmawan followed their lead. "On the 21st, after he (Soeharto) withdrew from the presidency, I badly wanted to see the scene at the House of Representatives building," Dwiki said, referring to the euphoric time students had there following the announcement.

'Crossing over' lifts religious barriers Passing Over: Melintasi Batas Agama (Passing Over: Crossing Religious Borders); PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, in cooperation with Yayasan Wakaf Paramadina, Jakarta 1998; Edited by Komaruddin Hidayat & Ahmad Gaus AF; Foreword by Nurcholish Madjid; 464pp + xi YOGYAKARTA (JP): Redefining the meaning of a religion is needed to prevent understanding a religion from deteriorating into a religious cult and fundamentalism, expressed as fanaticism in the way a...

Ratna questions artists' sensitivity By T. Sima Gunawan JAKARTA (JP): Playwright Ratna Sarumpaet had promised she would never cry when police arrested her for organizing a public meeting without their permission. But she couldn't keep her promise. She burst into tears upon seeing TV reports of the fatal shooting of four Trisakti University students during a demonstration on May 12.

Ups and downs of aphrodisiacs Recently, scientists in Uncle Sam's country have been able to concoct a drug by the name of Viagra, which has become an instant best seller throughout the world. I do not know whether this wonder drug has reached Indonesia, but in other countries it is being sold at US$80 per tablet, although the official price in the U.S. is only $10 per tablet, quite expensive even there.

Indonesian NGOs wages war against cigarettes By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Despite years of health warnings, smoking is still socially acceptable in Indonesia. Activists have launched antismoking campaigns, yet many people ignore the warnings. Emma Surachman, a member of the National Forum for Antismoking Campaigns, said the fight against smoking has been very tough in the last few years.

Late delivery I am from the United States. I go to a school named Caltex American school and I love to read your paper but I have some suggestions to make. First, I was hoping you could put more comics in your newspaper and add the This Odd World section to the Sunday paper. Second, I live in a Caltex camp in Sumatra called Rumbai. We usually get your newspaper one day or sometimes two days late. Could you please send the paper on time?

Thousand celebrate reform at Depok campus DEPOK (JP): Under the sullen glow of moonlight and bamboo flares, some 10,000 people descended on the University of Indonesia campus in Depok Friday night, listening to music and casually exchanging views on the mood of reform gripping the country.

Workers' deportation fails to dull the attraction of Malaysia The Indonesian Navy ship KRI Tanjung Oisina repatriated 1,725 illegal workers and their children on May 5 from Johor, Malaysia. The operation was part of a mass deportation supported by the Indonesian government and aimed at reducing the number of illegal workers in Malaysia, estimated to be 200,000 of the one million Indonesian workers there.

Pitfalls of learning English from books JAKARTA (JP): There is no doubt that English is a very important language. Just look at all the materials out there in English. Text books used in universities are mainly in English; the movies in the cinemas are in English; The Jakarta Post is in English. Of course a lot of materials have been translated. No movie in the cinema goes without a subtitle. This also applies for English TV programs. Best sellers have also been translated.

Spotlight Photo A: Arts The Regent Jakarta OFF TO ITALY: Art critic Jim Supangkat (left) greets Susrinah Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo, the chairwoman of the Indonesian Fine Arts Foundation, at the opening of an exhibition titled Sixteen Women Artists. In the middle is Toeti Heraty who owns the Cemara 6 Gallery, which is co-organizing the event with the foundation. The exhibition, which opened at The Regent Jakarta May 13, will move to the Vatican later this year.