Ambon refugees suffer lack of food, medicine By Upik Jupriadi BUTON, Southeast Sulawesi (JP): At least 50,878 Ambon refugees sheltered on Buton Island, about 220 kilometers west of Kendari, are in poor condition due to limited availability of food and medical supplies. Many of them have fallen ill due to the unsuitable surroundings. Sixteen of them have died mainly due to diarrhea since their first arrival to the island early this year.

Kupang pearl thieves caught KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Police detectives here have arrested a group of 13 local divers for allegedly stealing at least 27,000 cultivated pearls from a farm near Semau Island of Kupang regency. Kupang Police chief Lt. Col. Agus Kusnadi said on Friday the group committed the crime in stages beginning early last month by pretending to be traditional fisherman operating near the pearl farm of PT Timor Otzuki Mutiara, which is a foreign firm.

PAL backs spin-offs, seeks open skies limit MANILA (Reuters): With its equity problems out of the way, Philippine Airlines (PAL) is getting down to business -- pushing for a revision of the country's open skies policy and the sell- off of non-core businesses, officials said on Friday. PAL officials said the government has promised to consider restricting the number of foreign airline flights servicing the Philippines, which have posed stiff competition for the financially ailing flag carrier.

Councilors shun city anniversary BOGOR (JP): An official from the Bogor mayoralty expressed concern over the failure of 16 members of the Bogor Legislative Council to attend a plenary session to commemorate Bogor's 517th anniversary on Thursday. The official, who asked not to be named, said the 16 councilors, part of the 45-strong legislative council, should not have missed the historic session because the event did not last for more than two hours.

ASEAN wants better early child care SINGAPORE (DPA): Child care and development policy planners from member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) wrapped up a three-day meeting on Friday by resolving to draft guidelines setting member nations "on a clear path toward better care" for the young.

Soeharto's maneuver As if to challenge his critics, Soeharto (this week) visited the National Police Headquarters to press charges against Time magazine, which he considered to have defamed him. As is commonly known, this reputable international news magazine in its late May edition presented its readers with a report on the alleged business empire of Soeharto, his family and his cronies.

Ford talks to Malaysia's Proton on possible tie-up DEARBORN, Michigan (Reuters): Ford Motor Co. has talked to Malaysia's largest car maker, Perusahaan Otomobil Nasional Bhd (Proton)., about a possible affiliation as part of its long-term plans to build market share in Asia, a top company official said on Thursday.

Golkar big shot has drunken guest KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: An uninvited guest caused a flurry of commotion at the residence of Hino Biohanis, chief of the Golkar provincial chapter, at about 7 p.m. on Monday. Hino was away campaigning when the incident happened. At his home were his daughter, Vita, and son-in-law, Maci. The stranger forced his way into the house, telling the hosts he was an army member who was tired and hungry after securing a Golkar campaign in town.

Clashes mar campaigns in several areas JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party's (PPP) last round of campaigning in West Nusa Tenggara, where chairman Hamzah Haz campaigned on Friday, was marred by a clash in which at least four were injured and two vehicles were damaged. It was the only recorded violent incident in the province during the campaign season since May 19.

PDI more genuine than others JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: "PDI? Which PDI do you mean?" is a common question fired back at you here when you are not specific about this political party. PDI, the Indonesian Democratic Party, split when a government- backed rebel faction broke away in 1996. There were two PDIs until recently when those loyal to the 1993 democratically elected Megawati Soekarnoputri renamed their party "PDI Perjuangan".

Bomb threat hits Immanuel Church JAKARTA (JP): An anonymous caller phoned in a bomb threat to Immanuel Church in the Gambir area of Central Jakarta on Friday afternoon. The message was received by Heri, a church warden, at about 12:05 p.m., city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. "The caller told Heri that a bomb would explode at 2 p.m., similar to the recent blast at Istiqlal Grand Mosque," Lubis said, referring to the April 20 explosion at the Central Jakarta mosque.

No show at PNI, PDI rallies MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: The Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI) and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) under Budi Hardjono canceled their final round of campaigning here Wednesday because no one showed up. The disappointed four-member PNI organizing committee dismantled the stage and lowered the flags. Chief of the local PNI local chapter Tadeus Tera then led the other three activists into spending the rest of the day parading around town on a van.

Political parties' violations in campaigning 'get short shrift' JAKARTA (JP): Security personnel and the official supervisory election committees are not serious in addressing violations of political parties, at least eight institutions in Yogyakarta stated on Friday. Violations continued through to late Friday across the country ahead of the first polls since Soeharto quit the presidency in May 1998.

Training center for SEA Games inaugurated JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar on Friday officially inaugurated the centralized training center for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The ceremony was attended by only 100 of the 454 athletes from 20 sports bodies competing in the biennial event, which is to be held in Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15.

Businessman robbed of his valuables JAKARTA (JP): Armed robbers broke into a house in Depok and made away with two cars, mobile phones, jewelry and a television set early Friday, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. Robbed was Yoseph Ole, a 45-year-old businessman of Tipar subdistrict in Mekarsari, Depok, Lubis said. His total losses are estimated at about Rp 200 million (US$25,000).

Shares surge amid campaign calm JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) reentered the 600 psychological barrier on Friday, riding on the wrap up of the country's smooth campaigning period. On the last day of the campaign period, the JSX Composite Index rose 4.2 percent to close at 612.37 points, with a transaction value of Rp 843.7 billion (US$104 million). The Indonesian rupiah was also stable, closing a bit stronger at Rp 8,105 against the U.S.

JDI launches new service JAKARTA (JP): PT Jaring Data Interaktif (JDI), in association with the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX), a newswire and two cable television providers, has launched a financial information television channel. "The new service is marketed on a subscription basis through satellite and cable providers Indovision and Kablevision," a JDI official said on Friday at the launching ceremony.

World Environment Day forgotten by many JAKARTA (JP): Every year, June 5 is celebrated worldwide in more than 100 countries as the most important event on the environmental calendar. This date has been declared World Environment Day. Environmental activists and nature lovers use this day to educate the public about environmental issues.

A brief respite We can all breathe a sigh of relief that the official election campaign has finally come to an end. Relief not only because the past 17 days have been relatively free from the widespread violence, but also because we can all get back to our normal routines. The campaign period may have brought a festive mood for some, but to most people it was very disruptive. The campaign period has had its share of casualties too.

PPP prays for Hamzah SEMARANG: Over 10,000 supporters of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) prayed in Ungaran near here on Friday for the party chairman, Hamzah Haz, to win his presidential bid. In a frenzied street rally in the small town, the drum beating and flag waving party supporters chanted holy verses while carrying a huge picture of Hamzah, who was not present in the campaign. Earlier in the day, party campaigners M.

Live sports shows JAKARTA (JP): The following will be aired live on TV this weekend: Saturday French Open women's singles final, SCTV, 7.30 p.m. Euro 2000 soccer qualification England vs Sweden, RCTI, 9.30 p.m. Sunday Boxing match Roy Jones Jr. vs Reggie Johnson, Indosiar, 7.30 a.m. French Open men's singles final, SCTV, 8 p.m.