Police methods -- a taxing experience JAKARTA (JP): In some places, renewing your vehicle registration is a straightforward process, achievable at a post office or by mailing a check. Not in Indonesia. Here, like sex, it can't be done by post or by proxy or by standing order. Unlike sex, the procedure takes half a day. It's a good opportunity to experience Indonesian police methods.

Honor among sophisticated thieves at play in 'Entrapment' By Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): Movies can make you root for anybody, even criminals. Thieves, bank robbers, gangsters, con men -- you have sympathy for them, especially if they come in the form of Paul Newman, Robert Redford or Robert De Niro. Entrapment is one such movie. How can any moviegoer, man or woman, resist Sean Connery as a dashing, charismatic art thief whose swift motion and sly dexterity display little sign of age?

Rini Soewandi riding high on Astra By Yudha Kartohadiprodjo JAKARTA (JP): Controversial as she is, Rini Soewandi took the helm of Astra International (AI) in mid-1998, when the company was weathering tough times. Indonesia was in the middle of an economic crisis, while the world's automobile industry was going through consolidation through megamergers. Rini's first challenge as CEO was to engineer AI's debt restructuring process. Not a mundane task, considering AI's debt of US$1.4 billion.

Modeling career requires personality, courage By I. Christianto JAKARTA (JP): Many teenage Indonesians wish they could be models, and particularly want to work abroad, but only a few get the chance to fulfill their dream. One of them is Tracy Trinita, who won the local Elite Model Look contest four years ago. In fact, she is presently the only Indonesian successfully pursuing a career overseas as a world- class model.

Samuel Wattimena puts his gay past behind him for God By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): Fashion designer Samuel Wattimena has long been a favorite of the country's top entertainers for his stylish, slinky gowns. In gay circles, he also earned a reputation for his up-front acknowledgement of his sexuality and as an enthusiastic regular on the party and nightclub circuit. But Wattimena is now making news outside of the style and social sections of local newspapers.

Thai film industry hits new highs despite crisis By Peter Janssen BANGKOK (DPA): This year is slated to go down in Thailand's cinema history as the year of the first Thai blockbuster and the making of the most expensive local film. Naang Nak, a remake of one of Thailand's most popular love- ghost stories, grossed 140 million baht (US$3.7 million) at the box offices during its first three weeks at Bangkok theaters, making it the highest earning Thai film in history.

West Kalimantan national park has ecotourism potential Betung Kerihun National Park in Kapuas Hulu district, West Kalimantan, holds strong prospects as an ecotourism destination. The Jakarta Post's photographer PJ Leo visited the site from July 26 to Aug. 4 at the invitation of the World Wild Fund for Nature (WWF).

Press, readers, deal with shock of free information By Ati Nurbaiti LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh (JP): National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi was in Lhokseumawe, the capital of North Aceh regency, last month. He was told there had just been contact between security personnel and armed groups, and that two police officers had been shot. He was escorted to a hospital to visit the wounded, and private TV station RCTI cameraman M. Ali Raban was among journalists who pounced on the moment.

10 dead in ship accident SORONG, Irian Jaya: Ten people died and another 10 remain missing after the motorized vessel Sembra sank on Friday night in a river estuary in Sorong regency, Irian Jaya. The vessel with more than 100 passengers on board sank two hours after it departed Klamono on its way to Teminabuan regency, Antara reported. "So far we have found 10 bodies and they had been claimed by their relatives," the leader of the local search and research team, Edy R. Kudubun, said on Saturday.

Juan blends idealism with reality By Emmy Fitri JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto has been the target of corruption allegations since shortly after he was forced to resign in May last year. Yet there are still many people who support him, including his lawyers. One of those lawyers, Juan Felix Tampubolon, said he combined idealism with reality in representing his client.

Spotlight Photo A: Awards JP/msa ART APPRECIATION: Former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin (left) shows off an award he received from a representative of Utan Kayu Community, Goenawan Mohamad (right), for his contributions to the city's artistic and cultural development. Awards were also given to several institutions, such as the Ford Foundation, the Japan Foundation and the French Cultural Center on Monday at the community's office on Jl. Utan Kayu, East Jakarta.

Marxism, banned during New Order era, must be studied carefully Pemikiran Karl Marx: Dari Sosialisme Utopis ke Perselisihan Revisionisme (Karl Marx's Thoughts -- From Utopian Socialism to Disputes Over Revisionism); By Prof. Dr. Franz Magnis-Suseno, SJ; PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Jakarta 1999; 284 pages JAKARTA (JP): During the New Order era the name Karl Marx and his teachings did not see the light of day here. Marxism was considered identical to communism, a forbidden ideology in Indonesia.

Ambon unrest claims four more victims AMBON, Maluku (JP): Four died in continuing unrest involving thousands of people in West Seram and in the provincial capital of Ambon on Saturday. In Piru, West Seram, Maluku Police chief Col. Bugis M. Saman said hundreds of homes in three hamlets here were set on fire in the latest unrest, which broke out last week. One person died in the violence, but he did not identify the victim.

Ministers to meet over haze SINGAPORE (Reuters): Southeast Asian environment ministers gather in Singapore on Thursday to discuss the return of regional haze from forest fires in Indonesia, the Singapore government said on Saturday. The eighth meeting of ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was previously scheduled for October, but was moved forward by two months after smoke began to shroud parts of Indonesia and Malaysia and briefly Singapore.

Young lawyers earn their stripes at legal aid institute By A'an Suryana JAKARTA (JP): The public's image of lawyers often centers on the glamorous life of luxury apartments, expensive cars and ultramodern cellular phones. What people overlook is that successful lawyers usually work their way up from the bottom, receiving low pay for long hours at the outset of their careers.

Immigration laws biased and sexist Thanks for the information from Mursanudin Ghani of the Directorate General of Immigration's public relations section (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 13, 1999). He explained that a foreign man who marries an Indonesian woman can stay with his wife for two months on a social/cultural visit visa sponsored by her, and he can then extend it five times for a month at each time. And then what? It is absurd because the husband has to leave the wife.

Indra Lesmana: A jazz player, composer and producer By Helly Minarti JAKARTA (JP): At 33, jazz musician Indra Lesmana is still considered young, but he is already too big to be ignored. Being the only son and youngest child of the late Jack Lesmana -- a legendary jazz guitarist of the 1970s and 1980s -- Indra has earned his own reputation in the world of jazz, both as a player and a composer, and now, increasingly, as a producer. Jazz has, indeed, surrounded Indra.

Contemporary trends in Indonesian art By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): Contemporary art is a plural phenomena. In Indonesia, contemporary art is also a continuation of the development of modern art. Modern as well as contemporary, their unique characteristics and notions can be analyzed, in so far as the observation is based on the pluralistic conviction that art anywhere in the world, besides showing international characteristics, also possesses local traits.

U.S. senator calls UN peacekeepers in E. Timor MALIANA, East Timor (AFP): A U.S. senator called here Saturday for armed UN peacekeepers to be sent to East Timor to cap violence in the run-up and during the Aug. 30 self-determination vote. "I can assure you that we will be asking our government and the United Nations to provide some peace keeping forces here," Democrat Tom Harkin told a crowd of refugees in a church here.

Another policeman killed in Aceh JAKARTA (JP): An unidentified group of men killed a police officer on Friday night in Dewantara district, Lhokseumawe, North Aceh Police chief Lt. Col. Syafei Aksal said on Saturday. Syafei said the killers slit Corp. Ali Rachman Siregar's throat while he was sleeping in his house. "Dewantara is very volatile. We still cannot identify the killers, but I will not let the killers remain free after killing my officer," Syafei told The Jakarta Post from Lhokseumawe.

Blue, hazel eyes are fine, but careful of the red By Jules Bell JAKARTA (JP): In a world where people regularly customize their appearance, from the shape of their nose to the color of their hair or clothes, it would be surprising if eyes were not a focus for individual expression and cosmetic alteration.

Lawyers cash in on era of reform With the spirit of reform in the air, more people are determined to speak up, demanding the upholding of the rule of law. Consequently, the efforts to uphold the rule of law must involve lawyers. But can lawyers meet the people's expectations? The Jakarta Post's A'an Suryana, Emmy Fitri and T. Sima Gunawan examine the issue. JAKARTA (JP): Two people were seen fighting over a cow. One was pulling the cow by the tail, the other was pulling on the horns.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Health and Fresh 8:00 Children's Program 9:30 Variety Show 10:00 Music 11:00 TV Drama 12:15 p.m. Comedy 12:30 Student's Quiz 1:00 Film: Empire 2:30 Children's Song 3:00 Sports 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Documentary 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 9:00 World News 9:30 Music and Mode 10:30 Film: An American Affair 12:00 a.m. Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.