RI says no to UN force in Timor JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia rejected on Friday mounting calls for some kind of United Nations presence in East Timor, even as critics charged it with failing to arrest the rising violence in the territory. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth met with Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas to discuss the latest situation in East Timor.

Nature and culture should coexist JAKARTA (JP): Some people believe everything in the world is created in pairs. Naturally, the pairs are the opposite of each other, just like day and night, good and bad, sweet and bitter. That positive-negative difference is believed to create balance in life. Like a yo-yo, life goes up and down. There is a time when one is in power and rich. There is time when one is poor and weak. But no one can be in power and rich, or poor and weak all the time.

Manchester serves as new gateway to UK for MAS Malaysia Airlines invited The Jakarta Post's reporter Hyginus Hardoyo to join an entourage for the inauguration of its maiden flight from Kuala Lumpur to Manchester on March 29. His reports on the airline and his stay in Manchester are written in four articles on this page.

Proper diet, exercise keys to longevity By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Disprove the common notion that being elderly is "useless" and burdensome. Live longer and stay vital, but how? A lively seminar on active aging last week focused on the search for vitality during old age. It featured 95-year-old nutritionist Poerwo Soedarmo, 82-year-old veteran journalist Herawati Diah and Dr. Sadoso Sumosardjuno.

Poll rigging practices haunt KIPP, Unfrel, Rectors Forum JAKARTA (JP): The following unlawful practices were identified in past elections. Data has been provided by the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), the University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel) and the Rector Forum. During voter registration: * Encouraging supporters of the ruling contestant to register at two or more different places, using different identification cards.

When conscience says enough is enough Malu (Aku) Jadi Orang Indonesia (I am) Ashamed of Being Indonesian), Seratus Puisi Taufiq Ismail (One hundred poems of Taufiq Ismail); Taufik Ismail; Yayasan Ananda, Jakarta, 1998, xvi + 206pp. JAKARTA (JP): Taufiq Ismail is an inexhaustible source of poems. Compared to his contemporaries, his is undeniably the richest source of poetry. He traverses and explores a wide variety of life's aspects.

Children will have their say in court SINGAPORE (DPA): Children caught in bitter divorce and custody battles in Singapore will have a legal say over which parent they want to live with in a landmark program starting in July, a published report said Saturday. Court appointed lawyers will interview the youngsters and write a report reflecting the child's wishes if other efforts to settle the custody question out of court fail.

Drug 'ice' abuse queried SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore expressed concern Saturday over growing abuse of the designer drug "ice" among the young in Southeast Asia. "The abuse of ice, especially, is spreading quickly among younger persons in Southeast Asia, overtaking traditional plant- based narcotic drugs to become the main drug of abuse in some of the countries," Home Minister Wong Kan Seng told the opening a national seminar on drug abuse.

Malaysia's Anwar -- from threshold of power to prison KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Once Malaysia's prime-minister-in- waiting, Anwar Ibrahim was cast into the political wilderness only months after he stood at the doorstep of power. High Court Judge Augustine Paul found the former deputy prime minister and finance minister guilty of corruption and sentenced him to six years in jail on Wednesday.

Spotlight Photo A: Regent The Regent Jakarta FAREWELL PARTY: The World Bank office in Jakarta bids farewell to the outgoing World Bank country director Dennis de Tray (right) and his wife, Mary de Tray (second right) in a reception at The Regent Jakarta's ballroom.

Smugglers blamed on virus KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A pig-borne virus that has killed 97 people in Malaysia could spread to still unaffected regions of the country because pigs are being smuggled across state lines, health authorities have said. Officials said on Saturday one more person had died in a pig- breeding region in Negeri Sembilan state, the focus of a viral encephalitis outbreak that has ravaged the country's US$400 million pork trade and hit tourism.

Satanic worship create real potential for conflict By Herdie Togas MANADO, North Sulawesi (Antara): Recent reports of Satanic worship among local youth, published in serial form in the Manado Post daily, have shocked the provincial capital and other areas of the North Sulawesi province.

Kalimantan's proboscis monkeys close to extinction By Hasan Zainuddin BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (Antara): The proboscis monkey in Kalimantan is on the brink of extinction due to the rapid loss of its habitat. Kaget island in Barito Kuala regency, South Kalimantan, was once expected to serve as the last sanctuary for the big, reddish golden skinned, long-nosed primate. But the island's forest is dying.

June 7 polls to be closely watched JAKARTA (JP): Among dozens of local election watchdogs ready to monitor the June 7 general election, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), the University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel) and the Rectors Forum have emerged as the biggest and most respected. The following are their brief profiles. KIPP KIPP was the first independent election monitoring body to be established in the country.

Aussie businessman safe CANBERRA (AP): An Australian businessman was detained by Indonesian authorities on the strife-torn island of Ambon after they discovered two guns on his boat, officials said Saturday. Sydney adventurer Hans Tholstrup, 54, was safe in a hotel on Ambon after being released without charges being laid, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Tony Melville said.

Project monitoring I am responding to Ms. Nila Ardhianie's article titled "WB Project monitoring needs revision" published on April 8. I am responding in an official capacity as regional director of advocacy for the U.S. based Project Management Institute (PMI). PMI is a nonprofit global organization representing the profession of project managers. A chapter of PMI was established in Jakarta in 1996. Responding to Ms.

Modernization continues to permeate Dayak lives Is it true that Dayak tribes living deep in the hinterland of Kalimantan still live primitive lives? Early this month, The Jakarta Post photographer P.J. Leo visited a number of villages in Kapuas Hulu, Putussibau district, West Kalimantan, about 700 kilometers from the provincial capital of Pontianak. Here he observed the daily lives of members of one tribe, Dayak Taman, who live on both sides of the Kapuas river.

Election monitoring has become a commodity By Edith Hartanto JAKARTA (JP): Mulyana Wira Kusumah used to be one of the New Order government's "enemies" for his critical stand on the regime's policies. But now, he is entrusted by the government to help prepare the upcoming elections.

Police crackdown fails to stop pro-Anwar march KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian police detained dozens of youths here Saturday in a surprise crackdown but failed to quell a march by hundreds of supporters of ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim. At least 50 young men were seen being herded into two police trucks after being separated from worshipers emerging from a downtown mosque on the first day of the Moslem New Year.

Poll watchdogs vow to go all out As the general election draws near, things are not running smoothly, particularly preparations for poll monitoring. There are also other hurdles, such as coordinating poll watchdogs, and legal constraints. The Jakarta Post team of Benget Simbolon, Dwi Atmanta, Edith Hartanto, Ridwan Sijabat, Riyadi, Yogita Tahil Rahmani and Moh. Yazid digs over the issue.

East Java coffee farmers prosper amid crisis By Lewa Pardomuan SIDOMULYO, East Java (Reuters): Not all Indonesians have suffered so badly in their country's economic collapse. In fact, coffee growers are doing rather nicely. At the start of 1980, farmers living in this hilly and quiet Indonesian village were too poor to buy the staple rice. Instead, they ate dried cassava, which they cultivated on their farms. Then coffee started to change their lives.

At least 20 killed in E. Timor after pro-independence rally DILI, East Timor (JP): At least 20 people, including the nephew of former governor Mario Viegas Carrascalao, were confirmed dead when armed pro-Indonesian militia rampaged unchecked through Dili on Saturday. Dili police chief Col. Timbul Silaen told The Jakarta Post that 12 bodies were found in the house of pro-independence figure Manuel Carrascalao.

'Kamasan' painters preserve Bali's art By Putu Wirata DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Traces of the Klungkung kingdom heyday 300 years ago can be found in Kamasan village in Klungkung regency, about 45 kilometers east of here. The village inherits the kingdom's tradition of painting wayang (puppets). The art is known as Wayang Kamasan painting. While in the past, the artists' patrons were kings and aristocrats, now the patrons are mainly foreign tourists.

Provocateur By Maria Magdalena Bhoernomo A petty quarrel suddenly broke out at Terminal A. According to witnesses, it started from a squabble between a driver of a public vehicle and a mysterious passenger who was wearing sunglasses and a cap and smoking a cigar. The passenger reportedly refused to pay his fare. The driver called him names. He did the same in return. Then the mysterious passenger landed a rapid series of punches on the driver. He fell headlong.

Official sound out haze alarm BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP): ASEAN environment ministers sounded the alarm once more against forest fires raging in the large Indonesian island of Sumatra that have brought back air pollution to Singapore and Malaysia. With the onset of the dry season in the region, the ministers "reiterated the importance to remain vigilant and to take immediate and firm actions" in stepping up implementation of a regional action plan to combat the haze, a Friday statement said.

'Wall of a Thousand Messages' After 25 years of being Jakarta's best meeting place, PEACOCK CAFE, located in Jakarta Hilton International's Main Tower, is having a massive facelift. This 24-hour coffee shop is scheduled to be reopened by the end of June 1999 with a thoroughly rejuvenated, creatively designed setting, presenting a unique ambience that promises to whet one's appetite and transport the taste buds to Oriental heavens.

Nonpartisan media vital for free and fair elections JAKARTA (JP): As a pillar of democracy, freedom of the press most certainly becomes a vital element for free and fair elections, however, only ethical, fair and balanced reporting would safeguard the elections and contribute to democracy. According to journalists and election observers, unbalanced reporting during the election process will be an obstacle to democracy and will devalue the elections. Political observer Andi A.