The day the postmaster took us for a ride JAKARTA (JP): Since the monetary crisis started last year, Indonesia has become one of the cheapest countries in the world. Well for some people that is, such as expatriates and anyone else who has enough foreign currency to spend.

Young puppeters contest organized JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture is organizing a Young Puppet Masters contest to cultivate interest and talent among the young generation in traditional cultures and to promote Indonesian cultures aboard.

Soeharto sad over Prabowo's dismissal JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto could not hide his sadness when he heard recently that his son-in-law Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto was dismissed from the military for involvement in the abductions of political activists, sources said on Saturday.

Police to be soft on seat belt ruleBy Reiner Simanjuntak JAKARTA (JP): A regulation mandating the use of seat belts by drivers and front-seat passengers takes effect on Sept. 17. The ruling has been criticized, especially as its implementation comes amid the more than a year-old economic crisis...

'Lontar' leaf engravings stuck in creative rutBy Putu Wirata DENPASAR (JP): Tenganan, five kilometers north of the famed Candidasa beach, is well-known for its ritual called perang pandan, in which adult villagers beat each other with pandanus leaves until they bleed all over their bodies.

SpotlightPhoto A: CoveyJP/bsrNEW IDENTITY: David Covey (right), a son of author Stephen R. Covey, who wrote the much acclaimed book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, at a meeting to mark the new name launching of Covey Leadership Center for Indonesia, now known as Franklin Covey...

Guess What? Guruh Soekarnoputra Noted man of the arts Guruh Soekarnoputra is turning his attention to folk arts to help Indonesia shed its image as a poor country which pays little attention to its cultural riches.

'Krismon' dampens expectations of seat belt sales boomBy Primastuti Handayani and Sugianto Tandra JAKARTA (JP): An actual demand for seat belts? Yes, but sellers say they don't expect a boom.As usual these days, they blame it on krismon, the cliche acronym for the monetary crisis.

TV contribution Now that we are all in the spirit of reform, I call on the director general of radio, television and film and the minister of information to abolish the monthly contribution fees of state TV station TVRI.

Security forces guard Purwakarta factories PURWAKARTA, West Java (JP): About 100 police and troopers were ordered on Saturday to guard four factories in the Jatiluhur dam area, where an industrial dispute degenerated into full-blown violence on Friday, inflicting great material losses.

'The Miracle' gives birth to a new starBy Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): She is currently dubbed the rising star of Indonesian pop music, with her debut album Keajaiban (The Miracle) selling like hotcakes despite the economic crisis. But for her, the success is not a miracle.

Malaysian police look into new reports against Anwar KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia's top police chief said Saturday that ousted deputy prime minister tried to interfere with a criminal investigation against him.

Mysterious containers Bisnis Indonesia in its Aug. 21 edition reported that at least 40 containers of garbage had accumulated at Tanjung Priok Port over eight years. The port authority alleged having difficulty in finding the owner or importer because the address of the consignee was fictitious.

Daniel Lev helps to bring some imaginationBy Ati Nurbaiti JAKARTA (JP): In the three weeks that Daniel Lev was in Jakarta, he said he was in confusion. The city was so big, and while people asked to talk to him in the hope of gaining some clarity over the turmoil, "I myself was dragged into the...

Guess What? Amien Rais Amien Rais, a leading figure in the reform movement, did something different at Purna Budaya Building in Yogyakarta on Wednesday night. He did not make a speech or preach on the values of Islam as usual. Instead, he read out poems.

Belt up or shut up! What the motorists have to say JAKARTA (JP): Belt up! You'll be likely to hear that order a lot more from Sept. 17, when the government enforces a traffic rule requiring all front seat passengers to wear safety belts.

Life not easy after heart surgeryBy Tri Hafiningsih JAKARTA (JP): Six-year-old Aji Bangun seems no more physically different from any other boy his age. He is just as active as most of his friends.But a closer look shows a boy who is actually too small for his age.

Counterfeit goods business remains good amid crisisText and photos by P.J. Leo SIDOARJO, East Java (JP): Aby, 50, is no ordinary leather goods shop owner. One of his main tasks is to spy on upmarket shops that sell imported products in major cities, such as Surabaya.

S'pore defeats host Vietnam 1-0 in Tiger Cup final HANOI (Agencies): Singapore stunned a partisan crowd into silence on Saturday when they defeated hosts Vietnam 1-0 to lift the Tiger Cup.A solitary Sasi Kumar goal in the 71st minute gave Singapore their first Southeast Asian title in a game...

A quick glimpse at Indonesian women poets through their work Antologi Wanita Penyair Indonesia (An Anthology of Poems by Indonesian Women Poets); By Korrie Layun Rampan; Balai Pustaka, Jakarta, December 1997; xxiv + 539 pp BOGOR (JP): Indonesia is fertile soil for poetry.