Kontras aims to end climate of fear JAKARTA (JP): First there was the case of missing activists. Then came revelations of torture and executions in Aceh and Irian Jaya, some of them committed many years ago. The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) has been kept on its toes. More and more people managed to conquer their fears and speak out about atrocities and about missing their loved ones.

The poor need food, politicians parties On Nov. 3, 1945, a few months after the chains of colonial rule were broken, vice president Mohammad Hatta issued a decree, Maklumat X/1945, that encouraged citizens to set up parties in the run-up to the country's first general election, which was held in 1955. The fervor that followed resulted in 36 parties contesting that election. History has come round full circle as we now have 56 parties.

Brave Scot on threshold of golf career victory TAWAU, Sabah (Agencies): Lightweight Scot Simon Yates overcame searing heat and the intimidating presence of big South African Des Terblanche yesterday to move into the third round lead at the Sabah Masters. Yates fired a five-under-par 67 to pass overnight leader Terblanche and finish the day on 11-under-par 205 at Shan-Shui Golf and Country Club.

Activists blast attacks against athnic Chinese LOS ANGELES (AP): Hundreds of activists protesting attacks on ethnic Chinese in Indonesia this year packed sidewalks and streets Friday outside the Indonesian consulate in Los Angeles. Police blocked Wilshire Boulevard outside the consulate and monitored the estimated 500-person crowd, but reported no arrests or problems, said Officer Mike Partain.

Guess What? Okky Asokawati Aside from running modeling school OQ and producing her own show, Okky, on RCTI, model Okky Asokawati, 37, recently took up another job. "I am public relations officer for The Center for Chinese Traditional Services (Pusaka Timur) which offers alternative medication for several kinds of diseases," the 170-cm tall model said. "They have brought down two sinshe (Chinese traditional physicians) from China.

Spotlight Photo A: SCB Standard Chartered Bank BRITAIN BECKONS: Arisudono Soerono of Andersen Consulting (center), one of two recipients of scholarships to Britain, is flanked by managers of Standard Chartered Bank, Suvo Sarkar (left) and Komarati Sofia. The presentation was held on July 30 at Planet Hollywood, South Jakarta. Scholarships from the bank are arranged in cooperation with the British government and 40 British institutions.

Troop withdrawal from Timor concluded: ABRI JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces has claimed to have withdrawn all its combat troops stationed in the troubled province of East Timor with 600 soldiers pulled out yesterday in the third and final wave of a pullout totaling 1,300 soldiers. Speaking to reporters after a simple farewell ceremony for the 600 soldiers at Dili port, East Timor Military Chief Col.

Sokaraja artists paid Rp 3,000 a painting By Agus Maryono & Ngudi Utomo BANYUMAS, Central Java (JP): Sokaraja, a district in Banyumas regency, is famous for fried gethuk (sweet loaves made of ground cassava) and, believe it or not, its paintings. The latter, however, despite being rich in elements of traditional culture, has begun to show signs of decline. The paintings, priced at around Rp 15,000 each, come in at the lower end of the art market.

Will old political parties slid into trash can of history? By Pandaya JAKARTA (JP): Emerging proreform parties are threatening to toss the three old political organizations -- United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- into the dust bin of history. Since president Soeharto's downfall in May, the three have borne the stigma of being useless products of the New Order authoritarian government.

Buffaloes: Central figures in W. Sumatra culture By Izabel Deuff KOTA BARU, West Sumatra (JP): Buffaloes can do more than just pull a plow. Apart from this agrarian duty, they also play a role for entertainment freaks. They are the leading stars of the buffalo fight, locally called adu kerbau, which is a deep-rooted custom in this area.

The decades-long struggle of sex slaves Derita Paksa Perempuan (Suffering of Women); By A. Budi Hartono and Dadang Juliantoro; Pustaka Sinar Harapan, Jakarta in cooperation with Ford Foundation, September 1997; xx + 230 pp; Rp 14,400 YOGYAKARTA (JP): Every time we speak of war, pictures of arms, violence, blood and victims come to mind. Likewise the mentioning of the historical fact of jugun ianfu (comfort women) during World War II.

New parties list JAKARTA (JP): The mass media has recorded the establishment of 56 new political parties since government restrictions were lifted in the aftermath of Soeharto's resignation. Some have been registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs and some have not. The English version of party names in the following list are The Jakarta Post's translations. Party leaders' names have been printed where two or more parties have chosen the same name. 1.

Mom with HIV turns dealer BANGKOK (AP): Police have arrested a woman who turned to amphetamine-trafficking to feed her three children. Police said yesterday that Ratchada Chenchom had lost her factory job in Lamphun, in northern Thailand, after her employers and co-workers discovered she was HIV-positive. Ratchada, who said she had contracted the disease from her husband, who died three years ago, said she had no choice but to turn to selling amphetamines to support their children.

Utut survives marathon scare against Neverov JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Utut Adianto displayed a cool defense to force a draw with Valery Neverov of Ukraine in the fifth round of the MK Cafe Cup chess tournament Friday. The game was stretched over 80 moves lasting a tournament record of six hours and 15 minutes, and it was Utut who sighed with relief when the draw was agreed. Playing black, Utut, who picked an Indian Bogo defense, fell behind the clock after the first 40 moves.

Message from Ambassador Edward Lee Singapore celebrates its 33rd National Day today. Indonesia and Singapore have a long history of friendship and cooperation. We are close neighbors. Over the years, we have built useful institutional and people-to-people links. Our broad- based bilateral cooperation built on mutual respect and benefit has laid strong foundations for closer ties for the future, a result of sustained effort from both sides.

Jakartans must not worry about rumors JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman urged Jakartans yesterday not to believe or worry about widely circulated rumors of renewed riots in the capital on Aug. 17. Speaking with reporters after leading a joint parade of 1,500 police and military personnel, the two-star general said police had found that all the swirling rumors were totally groundless and spread by people attempting to take advantage of the situation.

Megawati asks govt to dissolve Soerjadi's PDI JAKARTA (JP): The Megawati Soekarnoputri camp of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) at the end of a three-day working meeting yesterday called on the government to dissolve rival Soerjadi's leadership of the party.

Split-second decisions in the face of a comet By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): What would one do if the president announced a 500-billion-ton comet was about to hit Earth and destroy all its noble beings? Panic or pray, no doubt. But in Deep Impact, the populace tensely keep their eyes on their televisions for each new development. Panic is not portrayed as much as local viewers would expect until the later part of the movie, perhaps given the usual dose of drama here.

Golkar, PPP, PDI face tough battle JAKARTA (JP): Next year's general election will be anything but plain sailing for the three existing political organizations: Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), according to political analysts.

Film importing monopoly 'should be scapped' By Marselli Sumarno JAKARTA (JP): In the New Order era, Harmoko, who made quite an achievement by assuming the position of information minister three times, consistently denied the allegation that there were monopolistic practices in the purchase and distribution of imported films in Indonesia.

Maybe Pfizer can rise to the occasion JAKARTA (JP): To be honest, I'm no longer concerned about when the IMF, the World Bank, CGI or all the rich countries in the world will have enough confidence in our government that they start disbursing their money to bail us out of our current mess. I think those institutions and donor countries can just keep on delaying the delivery of their promises for the time being.