The alternative hangout: Street cafes JAKARTA (JP): Cafes have long been a second office to executives. They provide a delightfully different atmosphere in which to hold business meetings. One evening a marketing executive was awaiting his associates in an alternative venue to his office, but this place was not the standard yuppie cafe, it was a street food stall in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Women's shuttlers must work harder: Rudy JAKARTA (JP): Former champion Rudy Hartono called on the nation's female badminton players to work harder if they want to take over the mantle of Susi Susanti, who plans to retire after the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok in December. "Our female players must work harder to achieve better results in international tournaments. They must not be easily satisfied with their results. The sport isn't only based on skill.

Yogyakarta's sex workers start tightening their belt By Gin Kurniawan YOGYAKARTA (JP): In their golden era, that sparkled until the middle of last year, sex workers in this city and its environs could regularly buy new clothes, cosmetics and related accessories. The most successful ones could even treat friends at discos, pubs or cafes on weekends. But the country's serious economic and political problems have tarnished all their fun.

Eddie Hara translates social realities into art By R. Fadjri YOGYAKARTA (JP): Eddie Hara, 40, is an artist of the 1980s generation. The tremendous economic development under the previous government gave birth to businesspeople who wallowed in such material prosperity they discovered the pleasure of owning art. The generation of artists maturing at the time, such as Eddie, flourished.

Spotlight Photo A: Exhibition JP/oby IMAGES FROM MEXICO: Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono (center) observes a photograph while Mexican envoy Sergio Ley-Lopez (right) talks with the curator of Antara Photo Gallery, Yudhi Soerjoatmodjo. They were at the opening of an exhibition of the work of four Mexican photographers on Tuesday night. The exhibition at the gallery on Jl. Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta runs until Aug. 4.

Indonesian dancer making big impact overseas By Helly Minarti HAMBURG (JP): The stage was dimly lit -- with a line of ropes hanging down dramatically from dark ceilings. The audience was absorbed watching every step of a Caucasian dancer who explored the floor. All of sudden, from one rope a living object in black jumped on the dancer's back, tightly embracing his body. Retaining the audience's astonishment, the object moved -- at times abruptly, at times graciously.

Reform for the people From Merdeka I would like to give my opinion on Indonesia's economic and political development during these times of uncertainty, and on the people taking advantage of the reform movement. We the little people sympathize with the change of the country's leadership, provided it will settle quickly the economic problems which are a heavy burden on the people. The price of staple foodstuffs should return to normal soon.

No happy ending for local authors By Sunaryono Basuki Ks DENPASAR (JP): Carlos Baker, in his book Ernest Hemingway: A Life History (Penguin, 1972) writes about an old short story written by Hemingway, republished in a magazine and bought for US$5,000. Among the most expensive Indonesian short story writers are perhaps Kecuk Suharyanto and Ahmadun Y. Herfanda. They received Rp 2.5 million (then US$1,275) for each of their stories as the winners of a short story writing competition held in 1992.

Guess What? Marina Mahathir Marina Mahathir flew into town last Sunday with her husband, Indonesian professional photographer, Tara Sosrowardoyo. The couple tied the knot on June 7 at Sri Perdana, the official residence of her prime minister father Mahathir Mohamad and were to enjoy their holiday until Friday. The couple happily mingled with friends, including playwright Jajang C. Noer and photographer Firman Ichsan, at Tuesday's opening of a photo exhibition of Mexican women photographers.

Crisis prompts prostitution explosion Suffering from the closure of many factories and businesses, indications have shown the entrance of numerous newcomers into the sex industry. But competition is tight. Jumping on the reform bandwagon, more public pressure is being aimed at cleansing the country of prostitution -- while men are buying sex at lower rates. The Jakarta Post reporters Imanuddin, Ivy Susanti, K.

Streets now home for C. Java hookers By Haryoso SEMARANG (JP): The reform movement which has swept the country not only knocked the country's president from his perch of 32 years, it sparked a moral movement which is increasingly affecting the prostitution industry here. Since the reform movement hit the country earlier this year, the city has seen the closure of its two largest prostitution complexes: Sunan Kuning and Gambilangu.

Guess What? Christine Hakim There is a suspiciously strange sort of chicken porridge sold at a food stall on Jl. Raden Patah, South Jakarta. It is called Bubur Ayam (chicken porridge) KKN. What does the delicious dish have to do with the daily mentioned sins of corruption, cronyism and nepotism? Buyers at the stall owned by senior actor Christine Hakim, found it was an acronym for Kalo Kurang Nambah (If insufficient, take more).

Unprecendented frankness marks two-day ASEAN meeting MANILA (Reuters): The Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) yesterday ended a two-day meeting of foreign ministers marked by exchanges over whether to discuss previously taboo subjects like democracy and human rights. Ministers noted widespread criticism that the nine-member group had appeared helpless in the face of major challenges such as the region's financial crisis and calamitous forest fires last year in Indonesia.

Guess What? Ayu Utami What happens when a new writer exits a bookstore in a mall and finds boys and girls begging for money to buy books? She is touched, of course, especially when she has just had her first novel published. Ayu Utami, the young novelist whose book Saman was just published, however, said she was worried that the children were "professionally organized". "I had just told my audience how happy I was to be momentarily deceived by the illusion of malls.

What price for those 15 minutes of fame? JAKARTA (JP): Each of us must carry a finite lifetime quotient of close encounters with the high and mighty. These are the fleeting moments when we get to bask in the heady glow -- or cringe in numbed embarrassment -- at the experience of rubbing shoulders with the famous. But those of us who spend our days living in suspended hope of catching a glimpse of so-and-so sifting through the produce section at the local Hero may find it easier going these days.

ASEAN vows to make region drug-free MANILA (Agencies): Drug trafficking in Southeast Asia, already linked to crimes such as arms smuggling, could worsen and cause political and security threats in the region, officials said in an anti-drug accord signed yesterday. The declaration, which sets the goal of a drug-free region by the year 2020, was signed by the foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the end of their two-day annual meeting in Manila.

Fragile By Sartono Kusumaningrat At 6:30 in the evening, Mbolo and Sayem were busy counting Rp 100 coins, money they both earned from their hard work as, respectively, a parking man and a traveling vendor of jamu. "How much did you get, Yem?" "I have Rp 3,000, Mas. And you?" "I've got Rp 3,200. I spent some on some rice and tofu and two cigarettes. I have Rp 1,700 left. Here you are, Yem!" Mbolo gave the money to Sayem, his wife. "How much do we earn on average every day, Yem?" "Well...

Utut suffers first defeat in Biel Masters c'ships JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's leading Grand Master Utut Adianto suffered a defeat in the fifth round of the Biel Masters chess championships in Switzerland Friday at the hands of GM Zurab Sturua of Georgia. Sturua, whose elo rating is 10 below Utut's 2,610, stopped the Indonesian chess wizard on the 31st move. The game lasted three hours and 55 seconds. For Sturua, the victory was revenge for his loss to Utut in the same tournament last year.

Ginandjar laughs off rumor on reshuffle JAKARTA (JP): "I will not give up this seat, this is very valuable," said Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita with a big smile when he was asked to move from his seat by a protocol officer during a press conference Friday. The minister was asked to exchange seats with Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto who wanted to speak after him, as all the microphones and tape recorders were in front of Ginandjar.

Sex business hits record low in Medan By Efendy Naibaho MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Gone are the days when 700 men to 1,000 men descended each night on Sicanang island, near the Belawan International Seaport. Now, figures barely pass 300, and panderers and sex workers here are quite sad. Zainuddin Sinaga, operator of a one-hectare prostitution complex on Sicanang, told The Jakarta Post that business turnover had entered its worst level in its 10-year existence.

Riots and reform hammer flesh trade in Ujungpandang By Hasanuddin Hamid UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Prostitution here has been on a downturn since September when the coastal town was hit by anti-Chinese rioting. Since then, the outlook of the city's prostitution industry has been gloomy, especially with the success of the reform movement in the country as many have jumped on the reform bandwagon with a campaign to crush illicit businesses. Moreover, prostitution has never been legalized.

Tomang flyover streetwalkers in serious financial dilemma By Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): For years, the Tomang flyover in West Jakarta was a lonely place at night. Only one or two homeless people dared to spend the night in the shadow of the giant concrete piles of the toll road. Occasionally a group of street children could be seen laughing and chatting beside Tomang junction beneath the flyover, killing time before retiring to sleep on sheets of dirty cardboard.

Street cafes, a lucrative business during the crisis By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Be warned about passing through Jl. Tirtayasa, South Jakarta, on weekends. You will find congestion mainly caused by people driving very slowly as they ogle the beautiful people and famous faces manning the sidewalk food stalls there. The place is not only packed on weekends; despite the crisis, the young and trendy, the rich and famous or regular urbanites cannot give up their nightlife.

NGO tries to get sex workers to help themselves By Ivy Susanti JAKARTA (JP): The oldest profession in the world will continue to exist as long as the demand prevails. however, low education has also added to the number of people offering their bodies for others' sexual pleasure to earn a living. The sex industry has long been associated with immorality and, rightly or wrongly, the source of plagues, including HIV/AIDS.

U.S. lawmakers ask for names of army suspects By Yenni Djahidin WASHINGTON (JP): A panel from the U.S. House of Representatives has asked to be given the names of members of the Indonesian armed forces involved in the kidnapping and torture of political activists. "It is very important to know whether or not they have received U.S. military training," said Rep. Christopher Smith, chairman of the House International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights.

Surabaya's flesh trade slashes fees By Ainur R. Sophiaan SURABAYA (JP): The country's second-largest metropolis is maintaining its own slice of a certain lucrative business even as the crisis pinches daily household spending. While there are now more "slow" days for sex workers, they are surviving by offering discounts. Surabaya now has at least 10,000 sex workers in middle- and upper-class red-light areas.

400 pedicab drivers run amok in West Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Three shophouses and a motorcycle were torched and 12 cars badly damaged when 400 becak (pedicab) drivers attacked a district administration office in the Artha Senter business complex in West Jakarta Friday night. Police said yesterday the violence on Jl.

Condom market shrinks BANGKOK (DPA): Southeast Asia's economic meltdown is cutting into condom sales a news report said yesterday. Thailand's sex industry is expected to shrink 50 percent this year, as the country enters into a deeper-than-expected recession and consumer spending dries up, said Jon Gray, commercial director of London Royal Consumer Products which has an estimated 70 percent market share for condoms in Thailand.

George fuels reform via the Net JAKARTA (JP): From his teaching post in Australia, George Junus Aditjondro, sociologist and former lecturer of Satya Wacana University, is closely following developments in his country. The university's dismissal of George in 1994 has been linked to his critical stance. He is known best for his database and analysis of the wealth of former president Soeharto and for his scholarly works on East Timor.

Top teams reach volleyball finals JAKARTA (JP): Angel Bertha Kaize and Risma of National Team 1 defeated the West Nusa Tenggara pairing of Tri Siwi and Henny 15- 7 in the semifinal of the women's national beach volleyball championships at Senayan sports complex yesterday. Angel and Risma will face Elizabeth and Betrix of National Team 2 in today's final, The latter pair defeated National Team 3 15-8.