Guess What? James F. Sundah Celebrities have decided that the time has come to claim their rights. This spirit has also made popular songwriter James F. Sundah take part in the signing of a black banner during Wednesday's discussion organized by the Indonesian Society Against Piracy and Pornography. "I am signing this banner because all this time I have felt that the people behind pirating have taken my rights away.

APEC officials discuss ways to advance free trade plan BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP): Senior officials from economies bordering the Pacific rim kicked off a series of meetings Saturday with the daunting task of advancing free trade and investment following a setback in liberalization efforts on the global stage.

German finds going native second nature By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): Each time Claudia Lang visits her friends in the remote highlands of central Irian Jaya, she seldom fails to notice that they remain as curious about her as she is about them. A speaker in the Indonesian Heritage Society lecture series at Erasmus Huis recently, Lang said that many of the penis-sheathed and grass-skirted highlanders find it difficult to recognize the sex of those visiting them from outside their own territory.

Indonesian illegals in Malaysia cause fear KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Thousands of Indonesians, many working as construction workers, have set up illegal settlements near Malaysia's new federal capital, a report said Saturday. The New Straits Times newspaper said the presence of about 6,000 Acehnese, Madurese and Javanese on private and government land was causing safety and health fears to local residents.

Vinyl very much alive on Menteng's Jl. Surabaya By Chris Brummit JAKARTA (JP): On the lookout for a 1968 Japanese harmonica compilation? Or perhaps just up for complimenting your existing set of early Minangkabau guitar-pop records? If yes, then browse your way down Jl. Surabaya in Menteng, Central Jakarta, and bring home these and other equally exotic stuff besides.

Amien Rais wields his influence to get compromise By Asip Agus Hasani and Sri Wahyuni YOGYAKARTA (JP): National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais wielded his influence late on Saturday night to prevent a split in the party by piloting a crucial plenary meeting to accept a compromise which effectively shelved any decision to alter the party's platform.

U.S. to assist East Timor WASHINGTON (Reuters): The United States will send troops to serve as observers in a U.N. peacekeeping mission in East Timor and provide more than US$70 million in assistance to the island this year, the White House said on Friday. The White House said in a statement that the United States, which supported the efforts of the Australian-led international force known as INTERFET, would participate in the U.N. peacekeeping mission taking over from INTERFET.

How much is that doggie per kilo? By William Furney JAKARTA (JP): When recently I asked an Indonesian acquaintance for advice on the feeding habits of young puppies, the reply I got was not one I had expected. He said that he didn't like dogs as pets as he preferred to eat them instead. Unperturbed, I asked some more people, only to end up with similarly unhelpful replies. For some in this country, the meat of dogs is considered something of a speciality.

A rose for 'Mbok' Bodro JAKARTA (JP): Departing the house early has been one way for me to avoid traffic jams. The only trouble is, I always arrive at the office before the gate is opened. Therefore, I decided I needed to find somewhere to stop to wait. Hence my acquaintance with Mbok Bodro, a scavenger living in a cardboard shelter on a sidewalk one kilometer from my office.

Guess What? Dian Nitami Popular couple Dian Nitami and her husband Anjasmara died and turned into beautiful butterflies. Is it true? Yes. But it's only a scene from Javanese-comedy show Ketoprak Humor's Sampek Engtay. The couple's appearance in the legendary Chinese romantic comedy was a nice surprise. In the show, which will be aired by RCTI on Feb. 19, Anjasmara played as Sampek and Dian as Engtay. "It's thrilling to join this show. This is not my first time, so I'm not too nervous.

Agenda Painting Exhibition:Imagi dan Abstraksi, Images and Abstractions, a retrospective of Umi Dachlan at Andi Gallery, Jl. Tanah Abang 4/14, Jakarta 10160 from Feb. 9 through Feb.27, 2000. Phone: 021-3457130, 3843241; Fax: 021-3805195 A graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology, Umi Dachlan is one of the most prominent female painters in the Indonesian art world.

Pertina refuses to request wild cards for Olympics JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) Sang Nyoman Suwisma has refused to request wild cards for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. Suwisma said here on Friday he would prefer his boxers to show their own achievements rather than relying on wild cards to participate in the quadrennial event. National boxers have failed in two previous prequalifying bouts in Tashkent and Taejon City, South Korea.

An exotic journey along the shores of Tomini Bay By Wahyuni Kamah POSO, Central Sulawesi (JP): If you really like adventure, the second track of the Trans-Sulawesi highway from Gorontalo in North Sulawesi to Poso in Central Sulawesi may be a test case for you. Traveling on the 700-kilometer road in a bus without air- conditioning not only takes patience but also a great deal of tolerance of other passengers and the poor bus service, which is what we experienced on this trip.

Russia's rocket launched MOSCOW (AFP): Russia successfully launched an Indonesian satellite into space Saturday aboard its Proton rocket, the Itar- Tass new agency reported. The Proton rocket -- which suffered two failed launches in 1999 -- is due in July to transport the Zvezda service module, the habitable portion of a future International Space Station, into orbit. The launch took place in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, and carried the Indonesian communication satellite Garuda 1, Itar-Tass reported.

News is hot on television News really sells. Private televisions now enjoy the freedom to cover and broadcast it -- anytime -- which was forbidden by Soeharto regime. JAKARTA (JP): There is good news and bad news about the media industry. First the bad news: a number of publications, including those born during the initial euphoria of newfound press freedom, have folded after failing to survive the tough competition. Now the good news: the electronic press business is thriving.

Missing paraglider found dead in Puncak JAKARTA (JP): After four days of an intensive search, rescuers found on Saturday the corpse of paraglider Dadang Suharya, who went missing last Tuesday in the mountainous resort area of Puncak, Bogor regency, West Java. "Dadang was found dead at 1 p.m. below the Pasir Sumbul Telecommunication Tower in dense woodland some one kilometer east of the paragliding launch pad," head of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Team, Col. Wardjoko, said on Saturday.

Spotlight Photo H: Citibank Citibank FRIENDLY CHAT: Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri meets with the chairman and co-CEO of Citigroup Inc., John Reed (center), and Citibank country manager N.A. Piyush Gupta. Reed was in Jakarta for a two-day visit on Feb. 2 to Feb. 3, during which he also met with Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo and Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin.

Senior men's and women's double win Niaga Open JAKARTA (JP): Seasoned men's and women's double tennis players proved their quality on Saturday by trouncing their juniors in the finals of the Rp 35 million (US$4,800) Niaga Cigna Open 2000 at Senayan tennis stadium. Veteran partners Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo took the Rp 1.395 million prize money in the men's doubles after they outclassed the experienced Andrian Raturandang and Suwandi 7-6, 6-3.

Telephone By Mukti Sutarman Espe "Morning, four-four-two-five-four-eight?" "Yes, it is." "Could I speak to Bu Ratni?" "Speaking. Who's calling, please?" "Am I really speaking to Bu Ratni?" "Yes." "Happy birthday, Rat. May you live a long life." The telephone conversation stopped briefly. Bu Ratni knitted her brow. Who is on the other end? The voice seems very familiar. "Who is calling, please?" Bu Ratni asked again, very curious. "Happy birthday, Rat. May you ..." "Yes. Thank you.

Wiranto's Cabinet fate to be decided on Monday BANGKOK (JP): The showdown between President Abdurrahman Wahid and Gen. Wiranto is set to climax on Monday with Cabinet changes likely to occur whether or not coordinating minister for political affairs and security resigns. Speaking to journalists minutes before he left for the airport here to return to Jakarta, Abdurrahman revealed that he and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri would meet the former Military chief on Monday.

Exhibition traces German-Indonesian friendship JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians owe much to the famous German ethnologist and medical doctor Adolf Bastian (1826-1905), who introduced the name Indonesia to the rest of the world through his extensive research on the archipelago in the 19th century. Bastian's five-volume work titled Indonesia or the Islands of the Malay Archipelago spread the name Indonesia to the outside world.

Call your Valentine and have a party By E. Effendi JAKARTA (JP): Recently, I contacted all my friends from college. As a social being, I feel obligated to maintain all of my relationships. Plus, I wanted them to invite me to their Valentine's Day parties. Because I am a 27-year-old guy who is still single, the only thing that excites me about this whole celebration of love is the parties. In fact, I still remember the first time I was invited to a Valentine's Day party.

Bring a doggie bag when visiting Sidonganti village By Gin Kurniawan TUBAN, East Java (JP): Those afraid of dogs should beware. They should not enter Sidonganti village because there are many dogs in this village, located in Kerek district, Tuban regency, East Java. An enormous number of dogs are found roaming the streets. Nearly all residents raise dogs as people may breed other animals like goats, cows or chicken.

Quake rocks Malang JAKARTA (AFP): An earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale rocked the Indonesian city of Malang in East Java province on Saturday morning but there were no reports of casualties, the state Antara news agency said. Residents in Malang ran out of their houses, offices and schools in panic when the quake struck, Antara said. "I immediately told the children to leave their classrooms when we felt the quake," an elementary school teacher said.

U.S. troops in Manila MANILA (AP): More than 300 U.S. troops arrived in Manila on Saturday to take part in the first large-scale joint military exercises under a new agreement that gave legal protection to American soldiers in the Philippines. Maj. Ann Freed, a spokeswoman for the U.S.

Indonesia advances to volleyball semis MANILA (AP): Indonesia beat New Zealand on Saturday in a 15-13 upset victory on the second day of the Asian Beach Volleyball Circuit 2000. Indonesia's Timy Yudhani and Elizabeth Yohana, cheered by Filipino spectators at a seaside tourism complex, demonstrated impeccable offense against the fifth seed New Zealand Team of Angela Stojanovic and Lucy Todd during the 80-minute match.

Portuguese leader visits E. Timor DILI, East Timor (AP): Portuguese President Jorge Sampaio was cheered and clapped by hundreds of people when he arrived in East Timor Saturday, 26 years after his country hastily ended almost 400 years of colonial rule. The visit is the first by a head of state of Portugal since it pulled out in 1974, opening the way for Indonesia's invasion followed by decades of human rights abuse and guerrilla war.

Talk show king Wimar not all talked out yet By Gedsiri Suhartono JAKARTA (JP): Well-rounded and always seeking to devour new information is perhaps the quality that makes and distinguishes Wimar Witoelar, 55, as one of the country's leading talk show hosts. His wit and humor exudes an air of lightheartedness and comfort to most guests appearing on his shows, both on television or radio. Assuming a role of a communicator, he takes pride in looking at matters from a different point of view.

New 'wayang' translations reveal the past JAKARTA (JP): It is admired around the world, yet few are able to fully comprehend the extravagantly beautiful but complicated ways of the Javanese shadow puppet theater, or wayang.