Recapitulation of new publishing licenses in 1998 *) Provinces Newspapers Tabloids Magazines Total -------------------------------------------------- Aceh 1 4 - 5 NSumatra 11 22 1 34 WSumatra 2 3 - 5 Riau 3 2 2 7 Jambi 1 2 - 3 Bengkulu - 4 - 4 SSumatra 1 3 - 4 Lampung 3 5 - 8 Jakarta 30 102 110 242 West Java 5 31 7 43 Central Java 4 8 1 13 East Java 3 14 4 21 Yogyakarta 2 6 1 9 Bali 1 - 2 3 East Timor 1 1 - 2 W.Kalimantan 4 - - 4 C.Kalimantan 1 - - 1 S.Kalimantan - 1 - 1 E.Kalimantan - 2 - 2...

Mobile shops: Another option for people to get daily needs By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): The city's notorious traffic compels many to leave home very early in the morning to get to work on time. People don't always have enough time to eat breakfast or buy their daily needs, while shopping during office hours is often also made difficult by heavy traffic. Some people with a shrewd business sense see this situation as an opportunity to make money.

People cash in on crickets while pitching them to birds By Antariksawan Jusuf BONDOWOSO, East Java (JP): What is small, odorless and almost insignificant in human life, but can provide you Rp 1 million a day? A shy, soft-spoken man, Jamhari, will tell you the answer is crickets. "In this time of economic crisis, the demand for crickets is even stronger because there are more people turning to singing birds to relieve their stress. More birds means a higher demand for crickets," Jamhari said.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. News 7:00 Morning Focus 7:15 Healthy and Fresh 7:00 Religious Teachings 7:30 Children's Program 8:00 Children's Program 8:30 Children's Program 9:30 Creative Program 10:00 Ethic Program 11:30 Talk Show 12:15 p.m.

Considering turning RI into federal state Menuju Republik Indonesia Serikat (Toward Federal Republic of Indonesia); Y.B. Mangunwijaya; Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta, 1998; xiii + 265 pp JAKARTA (JP): For 32 years, Soeharto with his New Order regime successfully sanctified the unity of Indonesia, the third tenet in the state ideology Pancasila. To question it was taboo.

RI, Portuguese negotiators end talks on East Timor UNITED NATIONS (Reuters): Indonesian and Portuguese negotiators wrapped up talks on an autonomy package for troubled East Timor on Friday but their foreign ministers this weekend will have to discuss how, when or whether the plan would be implemented, the United Nations said. "We have reached agreement on the document in all the elements where it was reasonably possible to arrive at an agreement," said U.N.

Muhammad Yunus, advocate of freedom advocate By Johannes Simbolon and Reiner Simanjuntak JAKARTA (JP): Lots of people are crediting the current press boom to Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus who issued last year's policies which would better protect press freedom. He revoked the 14-year regulation introduced by his predecessor Harmoko which gave the minister the right to withdraw the licenses of press publications.

Sacred 'Seblang' dance, a ritual of contrasts BANYUWANGI, East Java (JP): In the culturally rich regency of Banyuwangi, Seblang, a sacred dance ritual performed by an entranced dancer, stands out as a unique weave of contrasts. It consists of Hindu rituals but opens with an Islamic prayer. It is a ritual dance, but none of its movements describe the relationship between humans and god. The dancers are either virgin teenagers or women over 80 years old.

Six films to screend in Memory of Akira Kurosawa JAKARTA (JP): In September last year, Japan's best-known director Akira Kurosawa died at the age of 88 after devoting his life to putting Japanese cinema on the international stage. His 30 films have influenced a generation of directors both in Japan and other parts of the world.

'Bahasa' Using: A Language of its own BANYUWANGI (JP): Despite early opposition from several linguists and proponents of the Javanese language, Banyuwangi's local language, with the name Using, finally won the battle, with an agreement to slowly remove Javanese from classrooms in the regency. "It is my 20-year obsession to see the Using language taught in classrooms in Banyuwangi," Hasan Ali, linguist and writer of "Guidelines to the Using Language Spelling System", published in 1995.

Estrada to meet rebel chief MANILA (Reuters): President Joseph Estrada said on Saturday he will meet the head of a Moslem rebel group this month to try to bring peace to the southern Philippines. "We have agreed to meet to once and for all end the conflict for the sake of the welfare of Mindanao," Estrada said in his weekly radio program, referring to the chairman of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Hashim Salamat. He said the meeting would probably take place this month.

Senior painters continue working despite crisis By Pavan Kapoor JAKARTA (JP): Although the crisis may have swallowed the culturally convivial atmosphere of Indonesia in one swift gulp, some senior artists are keeping the aesthetic atmosphere alive by continuing to display their work. The art exhibition Warna Silaturahmi (Colors of Friendship) was opened by Governor Sutiyoso at Gran Mahakam Hotel on Jan. 28. The show will last until Feb. 10.

Hello, is there a Pied Piper out there? JAKARTA (JP): He's a bit of a hyperbolist this Dutch friend of mine, so when he started telling me this tale I thought 'Well, here we go, another shaggy dog story from Johan'. I wasn't far wrong but it was a 'shaggy rat' story or rather a story about a rat he thought was almost the size of a dog. I let him talk...it's best that way, especially when he's in his cups...and soon realized that he might have a point.

Days of unrest inflicts deep wounds on Maluku By Budiman Moerdijat AMBON, Maluku (JP): Days of communal clashes here and in other parts of Maluku have claimed at least 95 lives and left thousands traumatized, with many vowing never to return to this riot-torn city again. Terrified residents sheltering in military complexes, mosques, churches and other government buildings, recounted the horror of losing loved ones in such senseless circumstances and with so little warning.

Foreign interference? As an Australian visiting your country, I am hesitant to comment upon matters which may not be my business. However, I cannot in all conscience allow the remarks of historian, Pak Ahmad Mansur Suryanegara interviewed by The Jakarta Post and published under the title "Unrest linked to foreign interference" (Jan. 30, 1999).

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 that 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.

Govt to set up special task force to handle riots JAKARTA (JP): In the face of increasing lawlessness, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto said the government would soon set up a special task force to prevent violence and to handle any future outbreaks that do occur.

Internet cafes grow despite economic crisis By Juliane Gunardono JAKARTA (JP): With the world heading for the 21st century, science fiction is fast becoming a reality and Indonesia is no exception. The dreams of five years ago are now everyday phenomena and it is possible to obtain information on almost anything from almost anywhere in a matter of seconds, in theory.

Parents call the shots in Indramayu marriages INDRAMAYU, West Java (Antara): The harvest season and times of scarcity send the hearts pounding of local teenagers, especially the girls. During the harvest when foodstuffs are abundant, many teenagers are married off by their parents. But several months later, when times of scarcity come, many of the married girls shed tears of anguish because they suddenly find themselves divorced.

Small businesses not croaking at all By Martin Moentadhim S.M. JAKARTA (Antara): People's trading practices are growing rapidly, and nothing can stop them. A booming export business in frogs harvested from their natural habitats provides good proof. You may wonder how this is possible currently when a devastating economic crisis is butchering Indonesia as well as many other parts of the world. The crisis, it seems, is a temptation for the common people.

Spotlight Photo A: Exhibit JP/msa ADMIRABLE PICTURES: Albert Hasibuan (left), the general manager of Suara Pembaruan evening daily, and the newspaper's chief editor Sutarno inspect the work of their photographers on display at an exhibition in the Sinar Kasih building in Cawang, East Jakarta. The exhibition entitled Flashback 1998 opened on Thursday and features 150 photographs taken by the newspaper's seven photographers.

Has press freedom matched expectations? JAKARTA (JP): The greatly simplified procedure for obtaining a press publishing licensing that was put in place following the downfall of former president Soeharto has resulted in the birth of hundreds of new press publications across the country. New quality publications and sensationalist tabloids hit news stands every other week.

Lack of reading habit might hamper growth of press industry By Reiner S. JAKARTA (JP): The price of newsprint has soared following the sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, and spending on advertising has plunged along with the purchasing power of many Indonesians. But all this has failed to deter aspirants to the press industry.

Banyumas residents eat clay for medicine and food By Agus Maryono and Ngudi Utomo BANYUMAS, Central Java (JP): It may sound strange to hear that in desperate, some people eat snacks and take medicine made of clay. This is a fact in many villages in Banyumas. Some people living in the villages of Binangun, Kalisube, Sumpiuh, Pasinggangan, Kaliori and Suro went through an experience recently of their predecessors when they began eating roasted clay, which they consume as snacks.

Press industry thrives amid crisis The country has been witnessing a press boom in the wake of the downfall of President Soeharto last year. Hundreds of new publications have appeared over the past nine months to compete for readers as the country's economy collapses.

Banyuwangi's 'santet' can charm, not hurt Text and photos by Antariksawan Jusuf The killing of several alleged practitioners of black magic in Java's easternmost regency of Banyuwangi last year has many people identifying the regency with black magic and little else. Upon the return to his birth place during the Idul Fitri celebration last month, The Jakarta Post contributor Antariksawan Jusuf found there is more to tell about this culturally rich land besides black magic.

European musicians share a little happiness with Indonesians By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Forget the never-ending crisis for a while and listen to the quality music performed by internationally acclaimed artists at the ongoing European Union Music Festival. The festival, taking place from February through April in several cities here, is the second of its kind to be staged in Indonesia. The first European Union Music Festival was held in l996.

No pain, regrets with temporary tattoos By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Tired of the same old thing? Then why don't you try something different, like having a tattoo. The good news is that you can have a non-permanent one. It will fade after only a few weeks. Moreover, there is no need to fear that the needles will hurt you, or that you have to wait for hours for the process to be completed.

Retarded daughter killed by her troubled mother JAKARTA (JP): A troubled mother slashed the throat of her own retarded daughter in her house on Jl. Mandala Barat in Tomang, West Jakarta, on Saturday to "end" the 20-year-old girl's sorrow. Tanjung Duren Police chief Capt. Eko Budi S. said on Saturday that the mother, identified as Nancy Gunawan, 52, cut her daughter Vivin's throat with a knife at about 1 p.m.

Art and industry unified in Shan Fan's exhibition By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): Two latest model Mercedes cars gleam on the shiny marble floor of a stately building. Nearby, about 30 paintings are displayed on white panels in the foyer. The cars and the paintings are arranged so thoughtfully that they form a harmonious entity, each emitting its own spirit and values. The cars exude the spirit of industry and from the paintings the spirit of culture glows.