Retno Maruti keeps in step with changing times By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Theodora Retno Maruti is a gem on the Indonesian dance stage. "She is a rare 'dance creature' and a dedicated artist. She is a virtuoso in Javanese classical dance," noted dance critic Sal Murgiyanto. There are no doubts about Maruti's achievement.

Photo show a glimpse into the Jakarta of yore By Myra Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): For most people living in Jakarta before World War II the name Gambir Market may evoke images of beautiful buildings and fun. For business people it means business promotion, such as happens in present day trade fairs. For others again it is a time to see local craftsmen working and artists performing their arts for the public.

Spotlight Photo A: Art Grand Melia Jakarta ART CHARITY NIGHT: Singapore Ambassador Edward Lee (left) chats with Mark Wong, charter president of the Rotary Club Jakarta Gambir (middle), on the opening night of the Art for Charity at the Gran Melia earlier this month. The charity event was opened by Mien Soedarpo (right) on behalf of Soedarpo Sastrosatomo, chairman of the Rotary Club Indonesia.

What is right and wrong in 'Mencari Pelangi' By Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): It is easy to point out where Mencari Pelangi (Looking for the Rainbow) goes wrong: confusing writing, uneven directing, awkward acting. And whether it is a musical -- like the filmmakers intended it to be -- or not is really debatable. Which makes one wonder what it is doing nabbing several awards at last December's Indonesian Television Film Festival, including the Vidia Utama Award for Best Television Film.

Making the best buy of a timeshare unit JAKARTA (JP): Tips on how to purchase and select the right timeshare unit: * Make sure that the parties you will be tied up with in any timeshare purchase agreement are legally registered as a local company or PT and located in Indonesia. Be careful with any agreement using foreign laws as you would have difficulty in claiming your rights at a later stage.

Indonesia's rich live in lap of luxury Para Superkaya Indonesia, Sebuah Dokumentasi Gaya Hidup (Indonesia's Super Rich, a Documentation of Lifestyle); Veven Sp. Wardana and Herry Barus; ISAI, 1998; ix + 119. JAKARTA (JP): This book is about a community of Indonesian super-wealthy "rare creatures" that very few know exactly the who, what and how of. A super-wealthy class has never arisen in Indonesian history before.

Free the general: Estrada MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Joseph Estrada on Saturday appealed to communist rebels to release an army general and his aide kidnapped on the southern island of Mindanao. "We will pursue the military operation. I am appealing to them to release (the military officers) so that no one will get hurt," Estrada said in his weekly talk show aired on television and radio. Brig. Gen.

UN to address problem of armed groups in E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations is attempting to address the problem of armed civilian groups heightening tension in troubled East Timor, a UN official said on Saturday. "There are problems to overcome, we are looking for ways to address the problems," Tamrat Samuel of the UN secretary- general's office was quoted as saying by AFP after meeting East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao.

Quantum Athletic Club Located on the seventh floor of Menara Imperium Kuningan, Quantum Athletic Club strives to achieve the extraordinary by offering a wide range of fitness equipment, as well as many extras, in surroundings tha are stylish and comfortable, rather than clinical. The club offers world-class amenities such as cardiovascular and strength training equipment, as well as a pool, a sauna and a squash court.

Petersen Quartett & Siegfried Matthus Currently in Jakarta to participate in the European Union Music Festival: Music of the 20th Century, which is being held through to April, 1999, is the Petersen Quartett and Siegfried Matthus. The Petersen Quartet was founded in 1979 by students from the conservatory of music Hans Eisler Musikhochschule,. Today, this group is one of the most important quartets in Germany. They will perform during the festival at venues in Bandung, Feb. 22; Surabaya, Feb.

Health insurance remains low priority JAKARTA (JP): With the skyrocketing prices of drugs and hospitalization costs that people have to shoulder during the economic crisis, health insurance is certainly basic. Unfortunately, only a lucky few are protected by health insurance. Most people, either because of economic reasons or mere ignorance, still do not prepare themselves with health insurance for stormy days as is evident in what people said when interviewed by The Jakarta Post this week.

SH Mintardja lives on in his martial arts novels By Tedy Novan YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has lost one of its most popular creators of historical martial art fiction, Singgih Hadi Mintardja, who died of kidney failure at Bethesda Hospital on Jan. 18. Born in Kalasan, east of Yogyakarta on Jan. 26, 1933, Mintardja achieved lasting popularity with his Api di Bukit Menoreh (Fire on Menoreh Hill), published in serial form in Yogyakarta's oldest daily Kedaulatan Rakyat from the 1970s until Dec.

Expatriates do their best to ward of crime By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): Only yesterday, upmarket residential areas like Pondok Indah were considered a paradise to live in. Today, more and more houses in this paradise are giving way to apartments. Residents reigned from sprawling homes equipped with modern amenities while lush tropical greenery engulfed them in complete privacy.

Shoot-on-sight order timely I feel sorry for Gen. Wiranto, our Armed Forces (ABRI) commander. Whatever he does seems to be wrong in the eyes of the public. What has actually gone wrong with this handsome general? At a time when rioting is spreading to every corner of the country, people are questioning Gen. Wiranto. They are disappointed by ABRI's lack of anticipation of such savage riots.

Modern painting galleries mushrooming in Bali DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Galleries exhibiting modern paintings have mushroomed on the holiday island over the past three years. Until three years ago, "traditional" galleries, like those found in Ubud, Sanur and Kuta which specialized in local paintings and crafts, dominated the Balinese art scene. These galleries offer traditional paintings by the so-called young artists, who hail mostly from Ubud.

Oka Sulaksana expected to snatch Olympics medal JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Yachting Association (Porlasi) is setting a medal-winning target for the country's best windsurfer, Oka Sulaksana, at the Sydney Olympics next year. Porlasi deputy chief of athlete development affairs Raymond Kotambunan said he believed Oka's ample experience gave him a realistic chance of taking a medal. "He is far improved now and more mature.

Reactions go on over phone tap JAKARTA (JP): While the authenticity of a purported tapped conversation between President B.J. Habibie and Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib is yet to be proved, presidential aides have charged that individuals aiming to discredit the President masterminded the bugging. Dewi Fortuna Anwar, the President's spokeswoman, said Saturday that if the bugging proved to be authentic, political rivals of Habibie were responsible. "People who like him wouldn't do such a thing.

Prabowo's explanation of troop deployment refuted JAKARTA (JP): A senior advisor of President B.J. Habibie refuted Saturday a claim by former Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto that he intended to defend Habibie's security the day after he assumed the presidency on May 21.

Poor people need proper Medicare By Stevie Emilia and Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): You have just lost your job and have a health problem which deprives you of the opportunity to look another job that will ensure financial security. In the meantime your expenses continue to add up. This is probably the worst case scenario that many Indonesians hope they will never have to face.

Excellence always on the menu at Tony Roma's Jakarta outlets No unpleasant surprises are in store when regular diners step into one of Tony Roma's two spacious Jakarta outlets in the Panin building on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Wahid Hasyim. Delicious food worth every cent, attentive but never overbearing service and a pleasant dining atmosphere are always the order of the day at the restaurant deservedly famed for its superb ribs.

Soldiers face career choice JAKARTA (JP): Some 4,000 members of the Armed Forces, currently employed in government jobs, must soon choose between continuing their jobs as pensioned officers or returning to the barracks. Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto made the statement late Saturday in an address to the national congress of the Islamic Propagation Council.

Prambanan temple now glows in the dark By Tjahjono Ep. YOGYAKARTA (JP): With the temple reflecting the golden light of the full moon, all eyes were fixed on a wild flame on stage. The audience held their breath in awe when the fire died, exposing a beautiful woman, Shinta, who emerged from the flame without a mark on her fair skin. Shinta successfully underwent purification in the burning flame.

Guess What? Nadya Hutagalung For Nadya Hutagalung, it seems that love knows no boundary. The Indonesian celebrity who lives in Singapore often spends her days without her Korean stuntman husband, Jung Doo Hong. "He is busy shooting his films in Korea. Four sinetron (TV films)," she told The Jakarta Post recently at the opening of a Louis Vuitton store in Hong Kong. When Jung is away, Nadya is alone with her son from her first marriage to an Australian.

TV stations compete for live-to-air rights By Brillianto K. Jaya JAKARTA (JP): On Jan. 16 Indosiar aired a live broadcast of the bout between Mike Tyson and South African challenger, Francois Botha, held at MGM Hotel, Las Vegas, the United States. Indosiar, a private television broadcasting station owned by business tycoon Sudono Salim nee Liem Sioe Liong, has broadcast world-class professional boxing matches live a number of times.

Obituary The former head of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board (Bakin), Sutopo Yuwono, died of heart failure in a Singapore hospital on Saturday. He was 71. One of his nephews, Yanto, told The Jakarta Post by phone that Sutopo died at 6:50 p.m. and that the body was flown to Jakarta in the evening. Sutopo will be given a military burial on Sunday at the Kalibata National Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta at 12 p.m.

Many Indonesians are not covered by health insurance By Rita Widiadana and Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Money may not buy health, but it goes a long way toward ensuring lifelong medical care. Some people only pray that nothing too serious will affect their health, at least until they reach 65, the average life expectancy of Indonesians. Leading a healthy life and adopting good habits does not guarantee a life free of ailments or protection against health problems.

Gus Dur: Soccer fanatic and lover classical music By Agus Maryono PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, many agree, is unique and eccentric at the same time. The leader of the 30-million strong Nahdlatul Ulama who covets the presidency in the upcoming election is a soccer and music fanatic. He has a large collection of cassettes and CDs of classical music at his home in Ciganjur in the south Jakarta suburbs.

A string of sectarian conflicts leave Ambon in ruin A string of sectarian conflicts has turned much of Ambon into rubble and wrought untold misery on thousands of those who have lost their loved ones and property. The Jakarta Post photographer P.J. Leo visited the island from Feb. 3 through Feb. 10 to observe the latest situation. Following is his report and photos about the aftermath. AMBON, Maluku (JP): The deadly sectarian conflict that broke out on Jan.