Picking sides on E. Timor battlefield By Ati Nurbaiti DILI, East Timor (JP): The red-and-white flag of the Republic of Indonesia symbolizes the blood of the brave and the truth that they fought for. But to many East Timorese it has become a sign of force. The flags lining the way to Liquica, the regency where what the Catholic church calls a "massacre" took place in early April, are a sign to outsiders that the local prointegration militia is in charge.

S'pore lifts ban on pig imports SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore said Saturday it will lift a ban on live pig imports after an outbreak of a fatal pig-borne virus struck neighboring Malaysia and here. The first shipment of 818 pigs from Indonesia would arrive here on Monday for slaughter under stringent conditions, a statement from the Primary Production Department said.

Art, music expected to help end street bawls among students By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Several huge banners carrying messages of peace which were made by high school students in Jakarta were seen at the city's National Museum and the United Nations building in Central Jakarta. The messages, some in Indonesian slang and some in broken English, reflected the genuine feelings of the writers.

Student brawls, a warning against education system By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): The last school bell rings at 1 p.m. and the crimes will start soon. The end of school could become a nightmare for thousands of junior and high school students in Jakarta. As soon as students step out of their school gates, they may enter a "war" zone where enemies range from zealous students from rival schools to drug dealers eagerly looking for new customers. It is between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.

A top Japanese restaurant at The Westin Surabaya Dining at Imari, located in The Westin Surabaya, will ensure an evening filled with elegance and superb Japanese cuisine. Located on the second floor of The Westin Surabaya, the finest Japanese restaurant is adorned with authentic Japanese ornaments and artwork specific to the city of Imari, Japan. Imari seats 112, which comprises the main dining room, the Sushi Bar, Robatayaki and Teppanyaki tables and the Private Tatami rooms.

Dewi has Habibie's ear on foreign issues By Kornelius Purba JAKARTA (JP): When President B.J. Habibie stunned the world on Jan. 27 with his sensational announcement that he was ready to let East Timor become an independent state, journalists, politicians and foreign diplomats were busy analyzing Habibie's real motives and trying to discovering who had influenced the decision-making process.

Morocco hails Indonesian film RABAT, Morocco (ANTARA): Indonesia's Tjoet Nya' Dhien, a film dwelling on the heroic struggle an Acehnese heroine against colonial rule, won kudos at the Fifth Asian Film Festival recently, held in Khemisset, about 90 kilometers from here.

Bandung artist finds inspiration for his work in the human body JAKARTA (JP): Jeihan Sukmantoro, 55, has not changed much, despite his age and reportedly poor health. He retains his youthful spirit. He retains his fiery talking style. He talks fast and spontaneously. You have to listen attentively or you will miss a lot of the points he makes. As, often, the statements he makes contain something worth pondering -- something that many people frequently miss.

Army chopper crashes in Ciamis JAKARTA (JP): A military helicopter carrying five members of the presidential security guard and five Air Force Squadron 17 personnel crashed into a paddy field on Saturday morning in the Kertasari subdistrict in Ciamis, West Java. There were no fatalities in the crash.

Seven people injured in lates SE Maluku unrest By Budiman Moerdijat AMBON, Maluku (JP): Clashes between Muslims and Christians in the Southeast Maluku capital of Tual, about 500 kilometers southeast of here, continued on Saturday, when at least seven people were injured. The incident followed Friday's violence which killed at least three people, witnesses and hospital staff said.

Festival of Indonesian Cinema in Den Haag, continuing tradition By Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): The Hague, the capital of the Netherlands, is hosting the Festival of Indonesian Cinema from April 23 to April 30. Held at the city's Babylon Theater, the festival, which will be accompanied by a photo exhibition of Indonesian architecture, will screen a number of feature films as well as shorts.

Flights to S'pore, U.S. fully booked JAKARTA (JP): Airline flights from May 15 to May 31 from Jakarta to certain destinations, particularly Singapore, Australia and the United States, are fully booked out, travel agents and airlines said on Saturday.

Indicting history lessons in schools By M. Habiburrohman JAKARTA (Antara): How would a history teacher feel if his own students accused him of teaching them a lie? Sumantri from junior high school SMP 18 in Jakarta knows from experience. "What you said about Supersemar (the March 11 Indonesian presidential executive order) is not the same as what the newspapers say," he quoted his students as asserting critically.

My father abused me mentally, physically: Mia JAKARTA (JP): Badminton star Mia Audina revealed on Saturday that she was abused by her estranged father, who also coached her to fame at the age of 15. "This is the first time that I have told reporters that I wanted to commit suicide years ago. My father abused me mentally and physically," Mia said at her residence in Taman Anggrek Apartments, where she was accompanied by her husband Tylio Lobman.

Bali to host world festival JAKARTA (JP): Bali will host a world music festival from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, 2000, to mark the turn of the century. The "Sacred Rhythm" World Percussion Music Festival, supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco), is expected to lure thousands of foreign tourists to Bali, according to Serano Sianturi, of the Titian Budaya Foundation, the organizing committee of the festival.

Flute summons listeners, cures the ill By Suparman PALU, Central Sulawesi (Antara): Every ethnic community has a distinctive culture. So do the Kaili, who comprise 45 percent of the province's two million population. The Kaili have lalove, a flute-like musical instrument which is believed to have healing power. In the local dialect, love means a fading sound from a far away place.

The cruel world The motto Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) seems to have a hollow sound if we read in newspapers or see on TV what has been going on in various regions, such as Sambas (West Kalimantan), Ambon, East Timor, etc. Each time I read about such atrocities it sends a shudder through my innermost thoughts and I cannot help muttering to myself: "How can a man be so cruel to his fellow countrymen?

Jeihan's work still centers on human figures By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): Famous painter Jeihan Sukmantoro is presenting his works in a solo exhibition curiously titled Toward the New Millennium at Cikini Galeria, Central Jakarta. The explicit meaning of the theme of the exhibition -- which opened March 13 and runs through April 30 -- is unclear.

Redefining Pos Indonesia's business Many people think there is no need for Andy Grove and Intel Corporation to worry about the future of Intel, which, as a standard-setter in the computer industry, has had high brand equity and controlled a large share of the market for a long time. You are wrong because Grove does worry. In his book Only the Paranoid Succeed, Grove says he cannot feel secure despite Intel's amazing achievements. Why?

Expressive Rhyme of Rukmini Affandi Dutika Gallery is holding a one-woman show by Rukmini Affandi, Expressive Rhyme of Rukmini Affandi, at the Gran Melia Jakarta until May 2, 1999. It was opened for the public on April 23, 1999, by H.E. Mr. Ismael Sergio Ley-Lopez, the Ambassador of Mexico. Rukmini Affandi is the daughter of Indonesian art maestro Affandi. She has been painting since childhood, although she never received formal art training.

Guess What? What's the connection between riots and a cesarean section? Only Indonesia's former best shuttler Susi Susanti knows the answer. She is planning to have a cesarean on Monday to deliver her first baby in a private hospital. So why a cesarean? "Because I'm afraid that a repeat of the 1998 May riots will happen this year. A friend told me how difficult it was to find a doctor during a riot," she said while visiting the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Portugal accepts East Timor plan JAKARTA (JP): Portugal accepted on Friday Indonesia's autonomy package for East Timor, paving the way for a historic ballot in the troubled province before the end of August, Antara reported from United Nations headquarters in New York. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the two countries would sign the deal on May 5, because the Indonesian government needed more time to approve two new documents which will be part of the agreement.

Dark days for slain taxi driver's family By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): First he lost his job to the cruel krismon (monetary crisis), and then his life, too. Until recently Mansyur, 51, was an administrative officer in a mining company in Palu, South Sulawesi. Laid off in the economic crisis like millions of others, he was forced to abandon a middle-class lifestyle and move back to Jakarta almost half a year ago.

Nurcholish' new book focuses on formation of civil society Cita-cita Politik Islam Era Reformasi (Islam's Political Ideals in the Reform Era) Nurcholish Madjid Paramadina Jakarta, March 1999 xiv + 278pp Rp 31,700 YOGYAKARTA (JP): Since the fall of the New Order regime last May, the political and constitutional institutions it created, including the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives and political parties, have been demoralized.

SE Sulawesi handicrafts saved By La Ode Aminuddin KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi (Antara): When nentu handicraft workers in Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi, were disinclined to make handicrafts characteristic of the area due to a lack of customers and low prices -- a village woman took up the business.

Will my mom's last election turn out to be just and fair? JAKARTA (JP): I was just leaving my house when I saw my mother's car pull up. Now, you may have the most important appointment, but when your mother arrives unannounced, you must pretend that the appointment is not important after all, because what can be more important than a 98-year-old mother?

New landscapes for RI business media The reform era has been an extraordinary machine of change. Its beginning jolted many people, including those in the mass media. Many jostled to set up newspapers, tabloids, magazines and their ilk. In the past, the Ministry of Information issued about 10 publishing licenses (SIUPP) annually. Today, the number has increased 20 times, with new print media springing up both in Jakarta and in the provinces.