Foul play 'behind delay of legislature list issuance' JAKARTA (JP): Election officials have revealed that foul play, including tampering with computer files in the National Elections Committee, was behind yet another delay in the announcement of the provincial list of some 13,000 provincial legislature candidates. Committee chairman Jacob Tobing cited on Saturday night a party which originally submitted on hard copies the names of its candidates for 16 provinces.

China books record third Sudirman Cup By Primastuti Handayani COPENHAGEN (JP): Defending champion China carved out a piece of badminton history on Sunday by becoming the first country to win the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships three straight times. China dashed home favorite Denmark's hopes of winning the trophy for the first time in six attempts with a 3-1 win in a thrilling final played before a sell-out crowd of 4,000.

Party banners flag passerby with humor in history Text and photos by Mulkan Salmona JAKARTA (JP): The general election is fast approaching and political parties are busy promoting themselves. Posters, banners, flags and other party attributes are found in strategic places in both urban and rural areas. The coming general election will be different from previous elections here, especially as there are now 48 parties -- not three as was the case during the New Order era.

Some garment traders hurt by multiparty system By Kafil Yamin BANDUNG (JP): About 30 kilometers southeast of the West Java capital of Bandung lies prosperous Cigondewah village, an enclave of garment and secondhand clothing business. Almost 90 percent of the some 3,400 population make a living from these businesses, a source of income which has turned the village into a contrasting scene of conspicuous prosperity amid a slum.

President without religion? I refer to the letter by Mr. Vleugels in The Jakarta Post of May 12. It's saddening to read Mr. Vleugels' letter. It's beyond my imagination to live in a country without religion, where human power dominates our life. I believe every religion teaches its believers to respect others. We should know when to be modest and think that everyone has the same rights. Only then we could live in harmony. NITA Jakarta

Poor preparation sends RI out of Sudirman Cup COPENHAGEN (JP): For the second straight year, Indonesia failed to reach the finals of the Sudirman Cup mixed team championships after losing 2-3 in the semifinals to home favorite Denmark. "I apologize to Indonesian badminton lovers for failing to bring home the Sudirman Cup.

Theo Baart captures old landscapes, new cities By Myra Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Photography has many uses, but one of the most exciting use is as a record of history. Sometimes a moment is captured that becomes history when the photographer hits the button, such as the birth of a baby, a car accident, or a bombing. Photography can also annoy people, like the paparazzi who stalk celebrities.

PDI Perjuangan posts in Jakarta to change from red to white JAKARTA (JP): All Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) communication posts in the capital will be painted white beginning on Monday to enable other parties to use the posts. Head of PDI Perjuangan's Jakarta chapter, Roy B.B. Janis, said on Saturday the posts would be painted white and serve as Posko Bersama (joint posts) for all political parties contesting the June 7 general election.

Jakartans do not anticipate riots JAKARTA (JP): Contrary to earlier expectations, many Jakartans now believe the current heated situation ahead of the campaign weeks and June 7 polls will be resolved peacefully. They do not predict disturbances, or even riots, during and after the polls. Only one person interviewed for this article believed that a return to the mayhem of last year was likely.

Traders fatten up on the feast of democracy By Ahmad Solikhan YOGYAKARTA (JP): Almost every Sunday there is traffic congestion in parts of the protocol roads in Yogyakarta, a condition that has been going on for the past three months now. On this day young people ride freely on their motorbikes in a convoy to take part in pre-campaign activities. Donned in the uniform of their political parties, they raise their hands and wave the flag of the party.

Painting forgery boom fills art collections By Pandaya and Tjahjono Ep. JAKARTA (JP): Jim Supangkat could not say no when a collector, dying to have a Sudjojono masterpiece, called him to examine a painting he had been offered for over Rp 80 million (about US$10,000). The unnamed collector told Jim, one of Indonesia's few independent curators, he was tightly squeezed by the deadline set by the man who would sell the admirable painting.

New order's black pages in history Tanjung Priok Berdarah, Tanggung Jawab Siapa? Kumpulan Fakta dan Data (Bloody Tanjung Priok, Whose Responsibility? Compilation of Facts and Data); By Pusat Studi dan Pengembangan Informasi, Partai Bulan Bintang (Center for Information Studies and Development of the Crescent Star Party); Gema Insani Press, Jakarta, September, 1998; 167 pages; Rp 11,750 YOGYAKARTA (JP): Black pages of history characterize the peak of the New Order regime.

Guess What? Moch. Hindarto Moch. Hindarto, a retired city police chief who now heads the athletic development department at the National Sports Council (KONI), learned how to build up national athletes after he was cheated. It happened four years ago, and the ones who cheated him were no less than sports officials. They apparently marked up the cost of the training preparation for the 18th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games Chiang Mai, Bangkok, in 1995. "They really cheated us.

PSSI to improve competition system for Indonesian league JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) held a one-day seminar at Hotel Indonesia on Saturday to discuss the implementation of a competition system for the Indonesian league. The seminar was attended by chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar, PSSI chairman Agum Gumelar, and secretary-general of the Southeast Asia Football Federation (AFF) Dato' Paul Mony.

Political ads push for fair elections By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): An old man drives a bajaj (three-wheel vehicle) in peace. Suddenly, participants of political parties surround him with noisy campaigning. As the campaign gets out of control, the crowd forces the man to yell their slogans. They wave their banners and shake the fragile vehicle. In fear, the man does whatever the crowd wants him to do. He tries to get out and yells for help but fails. In desperation, he strangles himself.

I played like a beginner: Taufik COPENHAGEN (JP): Indonesia's men's singles Taufik Hidayat shrugged his head in disbelief after his poor performance against world number one Peter Gade Christensen in the semifinals of the Sudirman Cup between Indonesia and Denmark at the Brondby Hall on Friday evening. The 17-year-old Sundanese said: "I don't know why I played that way. I played like a beginner.

Many Jakartans haunted by fears of insecurity By A'an Suryana JAKARTA (JP): Tension has been intensifying in the capital ahead of official party campaign activities scheduled to start on May 19 and the June 7 general election. Fears over the possibility of widespread riots lingers on, as sporadic clashes between party supporters in Central Java in which scores of people have been killed, continue.

Gold Coast unscathed by Asian crisis By Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): Being a tourist haven, Queensland's Gold Coast often does not immediately appear as a sought after residential area as well. Yet the population grows by 13,000 per year, and each week, 100 new homes are needed by new arrivals from other areas in Australia, as well as from overseas. Among those who have found a home on the Gold Coast are Veriani and Barry Gozahli, Indonesians from Jakarta.

Iran buys Thai rice BANGKOK (DPA): Iran has agreed to buy 300,000 tons of Thai rice after winning a soft loan from Thailand's Export-Import Bank (EXIM) for the purchase, a news report said Saturday. Under the agreement, signed Friday by Thai Commerce Minister Supachai Panitchpakdi and Iran Trade Organization President M. Ansari, EXIM will extend a two-year soft loan for the 3 billion baht (US$81 million) to Teheran for the rice purchase, said the Bangkok Post.

Quality Resort Waterfront City, Batam Looking for a safe and peaceful place to stay during the campaign and general election days? Quality Resort Waterfront City, Batam is the place you have been looking for. Managed by Choice Hotels Indonesia, it has large rooms and great facilities, including water sports and a snow-ski center. Bring along your family and enjoy the "Long Stay Package" for a stay of two weeks for only Rp 3 million -- net (valid for Indonesians and KIMS holders).

Spotlight Photo A: Paper JP/msa NEW CITY JOURNAL: Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso (right) signs the first edition of Warta Kota newspaper during its launching ceremony at the Santika Hotel, watched by Kompas-Gramedia Group President Jakob Oetama (center), and the journal's chief editor, Banu Astono (left). The new newspaper, the first launched by Kompas daily, has been targeted at the middle and upper-classes in the Greater Jakarta area. Photo B: Book JP/afs EXPERIENCES IN JAIL: A.M.

Cartoons take in-depth look at democracy JAKARTA (JP): A wife looks outside her window in disbelief: her house's wall is now covered with political parties' leaflets. "Pak... our house now looks like the KPU's office," she tells her husband, who stands next to her. KPU stands for the General Elections Commission. The above story is depicted in a cartoon by Budi Setyo Widodo of Jakarta. Although the work is simple in nature, it clearly reflects a real situation among people.

UK rights activist to head UN mission in East Timor JAKARTA (Agencies): United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan named British human rights figure Ian Martin to head the UN mission to East Timor which will prepare for the August direct ballot on the future of the territory. Martin, a former secretary-general of Amnesty International, established the first UN human rights operation in Rwanda in 1995.

It's like no place else on Earth Have you ever imagined getting away from the heat, dust and pollution of the city? Just go to Javana Spa, a unique and exclusive health haven, where you can eat well and breathe clean fresh air, 54 kms south of Jakarta. Situated over 23 hectares of pristine ancient Java rain forest slopes of Mt. Salak, Javana Spa is built in an area renowned for centuries for its therapeutic and healing powers.

Indonesian Philharmonic Orchestra embraces ethnic nuances JAKARTA (JP): An orchestra performing classical music is typical. But one presenting a blend of classical and ethnic music is unique. That is just what the Indonesian Philharmonic Orchestra is doing. It is the commitment of this newly established orchestra -- led by noted conductor Yazeed Djamin -- to provide more space for classical composition with ethnic nuances.

Join the crowd, sit back and suck on your cigar! By Sadie Mah JAKARTA (JP): Lately, it seems more people are smoking cigars in various nightspots around Jakarta. Take B.A.T.S. at the Shangri-La hotel, for instance. The old crowd of Marlboro-smoking men, high on gin and tonics, may be starting to give way to a new group of cigar-smoking patrons.

'Wearable' show promotes Asia Pacific artists By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): In a country where law and justice are not upheld, people feel unsafe and uncomfortable. As they can no longer count on the security apparatus, they make every effort to protect themselves in a variety of ways. Those who have money buy pistols or other guns. More women take self-defense classes or even wear the controversial anti-rape corset created by a Bandung engineer.

Who's afraid of election? Expats just taking a holiday By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): Now who is afraid of the first free and fair general election in the country after nearly four decades? "It's certainly not us," chorus a group of expat housewives furiously buying up local handicrafts at the very posh Pasaraya shopping mall in South Jakarta.

Monas offers visitors cheap and festive distractions By Risbiani Fardaniah JAKARTA (Antara): "On a Sunday I went downtown with my pa. We took a special two-wheeled buggy and I sat up front. I sat beside the coachman who was pretty busy, steering the horse in the right direction, hey! "Tuck, tick, tack, tick, tuck, tick, tack, tick, tuck, tick, tack, tick, tuck ... tuck, tick, tack, ...

Seven killed, dozen hurt in new Ambon violence JAKARTA (JP): At least seven people were killed and many more injured in the Maluku capital of Ambon on Saturday after troops opened fire to disperse battling mobs of Christians and Muslims.