Spotlight Photo A: Toy Mal Puri Indah TOY STORY: School-age children attentively listen to Agus D.S., as he mimics the voice of Woody, a cowboy toy and protagonist in the Toy Story 2 sequel. The foster children, who live with Puri Indah housing complex residents, were invited last Sunday to watch the movie's premiere at Mal Puri Indah in West Jakarta.

Four men caught with pen guns JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police detectives seized this week a revolver, three pen guns and bullets following the arrest of four people in two separate incidents. City police chief of detectives Col. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo identified on Friday the first two suspects as businessman Turawan, 28, and laborer Saman, 28. Both come from the same neighborhood in Nagrak village in Gunung Putri, Bogor.

Making good furniture from bamboo By Bambang Tiong KLATEN, Central Java (JP): Alip Prawito, 60, believes that being retired should not mean that one's creative juices stop flowing. Armed with talent and a little money, he began to think about how to turn goods usually considered worthless into a money-making venture. On Oct.

Martha Tilaar spreads the message of peace By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): To cosmetic queen Martha Tilaar her country is as precious as an emerald necklace. "Once the string is broken the whole necklace falls apart. Countless beads scatter and some are often lost forever," says the 62-year-old woman, who has spent an entire lifetime trying to create beauty around her and to share it with as many people as possible.

Suryatin dreams of Bandung's Silicon Valley By I. Christianto JAKARTA (JP): Bandung's alternative names, the City of Flowers and Parijs van Java, might not be appropriate for much longer, according to Suryatin Setiawan, director of the Bandung-based research and information technology division (Risti) of the state-owned telecommunications provider PT Telkom. He thinks Bandung has the potential to become the world's new software center.

Worldwide photo contest projected to boost Bali's image JAKARTA (JP): The island of Bali offers a rich variety of art and culture, a most fascinating tropical environment and a well- preserved religious culture. These characteristics have been the great attraction for tourists, both domestic and foreign, for many years. However, many riots, mainly the one in May 1998 in Jakarta, as well as other disturbances in other regions, have led the flow of tourists to Bali to sharply decline.

Rawa Aopa is a heaven on earth for bird-watchers By Ariyanti Handayani RAWA AOPA, Southeast Sulawesi (JP): "Watch out. Crocodile! Crocodile!" shouted Sunardi, our 15-year-old guide. Without thought we rowed as fast as we could to get away. Crocodiles, locally called bokeo, are common in the area. It was our fourth day of traveling along the edge of Rawa Aopa, the largest swamp in Rawa Aopa Watumohai National Park, Southeast Sulawesi.

Indonesian art and politics on show in Australia By Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): Seeing the exhibition of Indonesian contemporary art in the Australian center for contemporary art building in Melbourne is like entering a microcosm of today's political situation in Indonesia, protected by the wide arm of Mother Nature, simultaneously personal and impersonal. The building, unpretentious and reassuringly friendly, is right in the midst of Melbourne's Botanical Gardens.

Falling for fish skin bags hook, line and sinker By R. Agus Bakti YOGYAKARTA (JP): The ray fish is one of Indonesia's many marine riches. Apart from its delicious meat, its skin is a special material that can be made into numerous useful items, like wallets, bags, belts and key and pager holders. Like leather, the skin must be tanned before it can be utilized. But not all parts of the fish, locally known as ikan pari, can be used.

Guess What? Ineke Koesherawati Known for her controversial pose in Matra magazine, movie and television star Inneke Koesherawati decided to change her image a little bit during this fasting month of Ramadhan. Instead of her favorite sexy dress, the actress was wearing Muslim attire while attending on Thursday a Ramadhan dialog at the Miftahul Khoir mosque in South Jakarta. Despite no prior notification of her presence at the dialog, many people were waiting for her and packed the mosque.

Celebrate in style at Sheraton Media The Sheraton Media Hotel & Towers in Jakarta is offering an abundance of special events and activities to help revelers ring in the holiday season. Throughout Ramadhan, break your fast at a sumptuous Buka Puasa Buffet at the Breeze Cafe for Rp 42,350 net/person. On Jan. 8 and Jan. 9, you can celebrate Idul Fitri in style with a traditional Ketupat Lebaran Buffet Dinner at the Breeze Cafe for Rp 70,000 net/person.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Health and Fresh 8:00 Children's Program 9:30 Cooking Program 10:00 Music 11:00 TV Drama 12:15 p.m. Comedy 1:00 TV Series 2:30 Chindren's Song 3:00 Sports 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Ramadhan Program 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Koran Recital 10:00 Documentary on Islam 10:30 Ramadhan Songs 11:35 TV Drama 12:30 a.m Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.

RI teams finish fifth and seventh JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's soft tennis team finished fifth in the World Soft Tennis Championships in Chinese Taipei from Dec. 8 to Dec. 16 while the men's team finished seventh. The championships were competed in by 18 countries. Antara reported Chinese Taipei, which had women's tennis player Wang Shi-ting on the team, finished first in the women's team followed by South Korea and Japan.

Shopping is a little shop of horrors By Michael Upton JAKARTA (JP): I'm just not geared up for shopping. It's something other people do: I don't. I know I'm missing out. When I fumble in the morning for a pair of navy blue socks and find only brown, black and that garish pair given to me by a dear old friend of my mother's two Christmases ago, I either wear a different pair of pants or go out into the world with non-matching attire. Who cares? Who notices?

Clinic for incontinence JAKARTA (JP): The Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital on Jl. Diponegoro in Central Jakarta opened a clinic on Friday for patients suffering urinary incontinence, or inkontinensia urine. The hospital director Hermansyur Kartowisastro said the clinic, which will be fully operational from Monday, was a necessity for the estimated 10 million people who are suffering from the condition. "This condition doesn't kill anyone, but it has a large social impact.

Wiranto denies TNI role in East Timor mayhem JAKARTA (JP): Gen. Wiranto, chief of the Indonesian Military (TNI) until October, denied on Saturday accusations that the military played a role in September in the campaign of terror and mass destruction in East Timor. "There was never any policy to conduct genocide, a massacre or mass rapes in East Timor," the new coordinating minister for political affairs and security said at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Doulos Foundation pledges to continue its work JAKARTA (JP): Despite the city administration's order to cease its operations, the management of the Christian-run Doulos Foundation in Cipayung, East Jakarta, pledged on Saturday to continue their activities in the area in the future. "We haven't yet thought about the city administration's decision to stop our activities. For what reasons? We've been processing our permit for two years," foundation executive Andrew Latuhimin said.

Rocking to Jesus at SOF Cafe By Devi M. Asmarani JAKARTA (JP): Imagine a smoke-free bar that doesn't serve any alcohol and stages live music performances that rock to Lord Jesus. No, it is neither a health bar nor a church. It's SOF (Souls of Fire) Recording Cafe, located in the heart of Central Jakarta's Jl. Thamrin. Here, instead of a mug of beer, you get a glass of Shakes the Soul, a mix of banana, vanilla, strawberry and mocha shakes.

Four dead in latest Maluku violence JAKARTA (JP): Communal violence in the riot-torn province of Maluku claimed more lives on Friday when a group of gunmen fired on a boat loaded with people in waters near the provincial capital of Ambon. Antara reported at least four people were killed and seven others injured in the latest outbreak of brutality, adding to the death toll of more than 700 since the cycle of revenge first started in mid-January.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Sunday Maghrib 6:07 p.m. Monday Subuh 4:03 a.m. Imsak 4:13 a.m.

Guess What? Bianca Adinegoro At the age of 26, Bianca Adinegoro is not a person who is easily satisfied with her achievements. In fact she is willing to do everything in her power to make her wishes come true. Starting her career as a model and then presenter, Bianca is now making a name as a video clip director, including for pop group Sheila On 7.

A millennium bash to remember at Hotel Mulia Hotel Mulia Senayan will be the place to greet the new millennium for those who want to enjoy themselves and let the worry-warts take care of Y2K problems. At center stage for its celebration is its Millennium Gala Dinner, featuring renowned composer and choreographer Guruh Soekarnoputra. He will be more than adequately complemented by the Twilite Orchestra, conducted by Addie MS.

Worshiping in the mall? Why not? Sunday services are mostly solemn and held inside a church. But alternative venues are becoming popular among worshipers, and their services are thought to be unique. Some services are held in shopping malls and other people-friendly places. The Jakarta Post observes the phenomenon. Related story on Page 2. JAKARTA (JP): Shopping malls can be more than a place to shop. For many people, malls are favorite spots to meet people, to relax and to seek entertainment.

Crocodile myths kept alive in SE Sulawesi RAWA AOPA, Southeast Sulawesi (JP): For the people who live in the Aopa and Mokaleleo villages around the swamp area, mentioning Rawa Aopa automatically brings to mind bokeo (the Bugis word for crocodile). Before Rawa Aopa became a national park area it was a common place for swamp crocodiles. These wild animals lived and bred in this area. And when they were flushed out by the fishermen who burnt the swamp grass they went to other places.

A festive season at the Jakarta Hilton The holiday season has arrived. Christmas, the New Millennium and Idul Fitri are lined up and ripe for celebration. If you're after a quiet time or the party of a lifetime, the Jakarta Hilton International and its staff are ready to help. Why not give yourself a real break and take yourself to the Hilton? Eating, drinking and being merry couldn't be easier. Washing up and all of life's other little chores are now someone else's.

Getting the low down on underwear By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): To look beautiful you can go to any beauty parlor, but to look sexy, you must wear the right lingerie. At least, this credo is held by famous actress Sarah Azhari, whose sex appeal has led to her being dubbed an Indonesian Marilyn Monroe. "You are what you wear," said Sarah, who always wears sexy dresses in her public performances. To maintain her sexy image, Sarah needs perfect underwear.

Tips to staying at hotels over the New Year By E. Effendi Unless you are someone whose calendar is based on the migration of birds flying South, I think you may have already noticed by now that we will be celebrating three big events coming at us. They are Moe, Larry, and Curly. No, sorry. Wrong trio. I mean Christmas (Dec. 25), New Year's Day (Jan. 1), and Idul Fitri (Jan. 8 and Jan. 9).

New lamps light up holidays JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will install decorative streetlamps at 72 points along the city's main thoroughfare Jl. Thamrin to greet Christmas, the post-fasting Idul Fitri celebration and the new millennium, an official said on Thursday. "The lamps will be installed on the street on Dec. 24, the day before Christmas, until Jan. 16, or seven days after Idul Fitri," Suena, head of the City Public Lighting Agency, said at City Hall.

Fighting graft may be long and painful JAKARTA (JP): Minister for Investment and State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi said on Saturday fighting the country's systemic and deep rooted corruption could result in a long and painful process for society. "We must also look forward because we do not want to destroy our entire economy dealing with the crimes of the past.

West Java has its own Hindu monument By Michael Upton JAKARTA (JP): If you're in the Bandung area and you've had enough of hot springs, volcano craters and jeans shops, there's a worthwhile sightseeing spot only an hour or so away that will provide a complete contrast -- in fact it's unique in West Java. On the road to Tasikmalaya, there's a village called Leles, where the province's only remaining Hindu shrine (candi) stands.