Habibie upbeat of restoring economic crisis JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie expressed confidence yesterday that his government would be able to sufficiently restore the economy and create a clean government within one-year if there were no further disruptions to the nation.

Spotlight Photo A: Semen Cibonong JP/alx ACCOUNTABILITY: Hashim S. Djojohadikusumo (second from right), president director of publicly listed PT Semen Cibinong, speaks at the company's annual shareholders meeting at the World Trade Center, Central Jakarta. At Wednesday's meeting he was flanked by (from left), deputy president Honggo Wendratno, president commissioner Suyono Sosrodarsono and director Achmad Slamet.

Exlusive Jl. Braga looks to change its image By Kafil Yamin BANDUNG (JP): Ask your Bandung friends of average means to take a stroll down Jl. Braga, and their likely response will be a polite rejection. "That is not my kind of place," could well be their reason. The street's famed exclusiveness is revealed in the lyrics of Hetty Koes Endang's song, which translate as "Braga street has its class/the horse-pulled cart is barred from passing through".

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 Family's Program: Tata Griya 10:30 Music: Albung Minggu 11:30 Talk Show: Bincang-Bincang 12:05 p.m.

Custom has its place in Sikka from cradle to grave By Yakob J. Herin MAUMERE, Nusa Tenggara (JP): For centuries the inhabitants of Sikka, a village 45 kilometers south of Maumere, have strongly adhered to custom. Violators are fined either in gold, money or cattle like a buffalo, horse, swine or goat. Rituals are organized on a grand scale at the time of a birth, a marriage or a funeral.

Long-haired students live a plain life By Agus M. Yon PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): The squeeze of the protracting monetary crisis has forced cutbacks in daily spending, especially if your income is just enough to make both ends meet. Many people readily eat less, cutting down from three meals to two, and when the price of frying oil is no longer affordable, they will be happy with only boiled dishes.

Reform commotion: Where do we go from here? JAKARTA (JP): "Bingo!", shouted my wife defiantly, raising both of her fists the way a political campaigner would in front of an audience. "What's that, Mom?" joked Sulung, my eldest son. "Has your kitchen cabinet decided to slash fuel prices further?" "I have eventually come to a conclusion," she said, glancing at Sulung dismissively. "There is another answer to the fall of Pak Harto.

Boardinghouse business, humanism or profit? JAKARTA (JP): The economic crisis, which has gripped the country for almost a year, has brought uncertainty to almost all businesses, including the rented accommodation sector. Operating boarding houses, one of several alternative ways to seek an immediate revenue from one's investment, is not as rosy as before the Indonesian economy began collapsing last July.

Juwono tries to lower drop outs By Emmy Fitri and Riyadi JAKARTA (JP): A month ago he was the state minister of environment in Soeharto's Cabinet. Today he is the minister of education and culture in President B.J. Habibie's reform Cabinet. A political lecturer at the University of Indonesia, Juwono Sudarsono, 56, has only 18 months to work on the education sector amid the economical and political downturn in the country.

Plakotham By Bakdi Soemanto "Mas, yesterday evening, Rina, Sita, Tutty, Bu Binny, Bu Alex Bu Eddy and I visited Bu Bazar, not for our monthly chat but to see her son, Plakotham, who the day before had cut off his finger with a kitchen knife usually used by his mother for peeling red onions, slicing meat or chopping spinach," wrote my wife in the letter I received yesterday in my office.

No need for another riot From Republika Having observed the country's present economic and political turmoil, we, in the spirit of reform, would like to call on the transitional government under B.J. Habibie to reform the laws on politics and organize a general election as soon as possible and immediately undertake a national economic rescue program, particularly with respect to food supplies at prices affordable by the majority of the people.

Second mutilated female body found JAKARTA (JP): While the identity of a dismembered female body found last Sunday in Tangerang remains a mystery, the city was rocked again yesterday by the finding of another mutilated female body in East Jakarta. The first victim was cut into 12 parts with her torso still missing; this second victim was found with no head, neck, right arm, left hand, right lower leg and left foot.

One dead in E. Timor clash JAKARTA (JP): One man died and two others were seriously wounded when pro and anti-integrationists clashed yesterday in Manatuto, about 60 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Dili. East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said the incident began Friday evening when a prointegration demonstration from nearby Lautem marched past Manatuto and was confronted by a mob. The ensuing clash resulted in the destruction of eight cars.

Emha's baby dies at birth JAKARTA (JP): The first child of poet Emha Ainun Najib and singer Novia Kolopaking died at birth Friday evening. Novia, recuperating at Hermina Hospital, East Jakarta, said the baby, which weighed 3.2 kilograms, had its umbilical chord wrapped around its neck. She said the baby, named Ainayyah Alfatihah, was buried yesterday morning in Bandung, West Java, reported Antara.

Jakarta's misunderstood monuments By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): When Karlina Leksono and her Suara Ibu Peduli (The Voice of Concerned Mothers) group protested rising prices of milk and other foodstuffs at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, it was clear that it was only like-minded women and students who would be able to bring about change here. The middle class in general had become too complacent.

Students come face to face with crisis The countdown to the new school year is underway with high school graduates busy preparing to get into their favorite universities. But unlike in previous years, in this time of crisis the university students to-be have to be talented enough to tackle not just the enrollment tests but also the burgeoning financial problems. The Jakarta Post reporters Emmy Fitri, Imanuddin, K. Basrie and Riyadi report on their efforts.

Garuda pilots ignore bomb threats, continues flights JAKARTA (JP): Three Garuda Indonesia Airways flights ignored a bomb threat allegedly from an East Timorese rebel group in Australia on Friday and safely landed at Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar, Bali, later that afternoon. The Garuda representative office in Sydney received the bomb threat by telephone from a person claiming to be from the "East Timor Liberation Front".

Love is what you make it at the movies By Sunaryono Basuki Ks DENPASAR (JP): Love has become a dominant theme not only in novels but also in films. People are interested in love stories however it comes wrapped. The success of famous novels and films, such as Gone with the Wind, The English Patient and Titanic lies not only in the setting of the stories, but basically in the stories themselves, which are love stories.

Stress can be a downer to a man's love life JAKARTA (JP): Stress is a natural part of our life, but too much of it can take the spark out of a man's sexual performance. That warning came from Dr. Akmal Taher, founder of the impotency clinic at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Central Jakarta. He said Thursday there were a couple of major reasons at play when men could not function sexually, known technically as erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotency.

From Indonesia with love Children everywhere. Cute, little girls here, good-looking boys there All crammed on a bus, stretching out their necks as far as they could, looking out for those they love so much who might be somewhere there or be gone for good. That blank look in their weary eyes, as if deprived of any feeling, betrays somehow the fear in disguise that keeps deep inside stealthily creeping. Small wonder, they've witnessed yonder horrifying things never happened before.

Books for university students, buy them now or not at all JAKARTA (JP): If you are starting university this year you have to consider whether to buy the required books and other reading material right now. "If you don't, the books you need will become rare and the prices could well go up further," said Verawati, 18.

An insight into Putu Wijaya, writer of weird stories NGEH, Kumpulan Esai Putu Wijaya (NGEH, Putu Wijaya's Collection of Essays); Pustaka Firdaus, Jakarta, December l997.; Foreword by Jacob Sumardjo; 504 pp + xvi; Rp 32,500 JAKARTA (JP): Putu Wijaya is prolific not only in creating short stories and novels, plays and TV dramas, but also in writing essays. In the past three decades his essays have appeared in various magazines and newspapers in Indonesia, the earliest of the 88 pieces dated l974.