Art awards programs still required By Endi Aras JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Film Festival was once the objective of Indonesian film makers. It bestowed hundreds of Citra Awards in a number of years. When the Indonesian film world experienced a decline in the 1980s, the achievements of Indonesian film makers dwindled and collapsed not to emerge again. The festival is now just a memory. Television in Indonesia gradually attracted the Indonesian public and became a need.

Viagra sponsors health seminar PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A distributor of the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra will sponsor a seminar on sexual health to be held by the Indonesian Doctors Association here on Friday. An organizing committee member, Mambodiyanto, said the seminar was part of the association's congress now under way through Saturday at Baturaden tourist resort at the foot of Mt. Slamet, north of here.

East Asia working toward common market MANILA (Reuters): East Asia is working on plans for a common market and later a regional currency to form what could become the most powerful economic grouping in the world, regional officials said on Thursday. The first steps will be taken at the weekend summit in Manila of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), where regional leaders will be joined by the heads of government of China, Japan and South Korea, they said.

Thailand aims for SE Asian market alignment MANILA (Reuters): Southeast Asian economies want to align their financial markets closely, laying the basis for possible merger in future, Thai Finance Minister Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda said on Thursday. Tarrin told reporters after a meeting of finance ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) that the aim was to get the region's financial markets on the same legal basis with similar standards and accounting principles.

Watching NU's steps Perhaps none of the watchers of the ongoing congress of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) at Lirboyo village, near the East Java town of Kediri, have expected any surprise moves or statements from the five-yearly meeting. Nor have they expected an emergence of a figure of Abdurrahman Wahid's caliber to take over the organization's leadership, which he left this week.

Shuttlers compete in national c'ships SEMARANG (JP): Some 300 shuttlers, including 22 national players, from 20 provinces will compete in the National Badminton Championships at the Jatidiri and Imam Bonjol badminton halls from Dec. 1 to Dec. 5. The chairman of the championships organizing committee, Soenjoto, said on Thursday the Badminton Association of Indonesia would also hold its annual national congress at the same time.

Persipura beats Petro Kimia JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Persipura Jayapura defeated on Thursday Petro Kimia Gresik of East Java 4-1 in the sixth Indonesian Soccer League (Ligina) at the Mandala stadium. Playing before the 3,000-strong home crowd, Persipura's Andi Kopouw scored two goals, while senior player Ronny Wabia and Chris Leo Yarangga produced one goal each. Petro's Hadi Surento scored his team's one and only goal.

Women protest against violence SEMARANG: About 100 women representing 10 non-governmental organizations here rallied in front of the provincial legislature on Thursday to call for an end to widespread violence against women. They carried posters and banners reading "Stop Militarism", "We Want Justice" and "Protect the Weak" as they staged a free- speech forum demanding laws against violence, domestic battery and protection for children and women laborers.