Misery, not gold on Jakarta's streets The bright lights of Jakarta are a magnet for migrants who continue to try their luck in the metropolis. Behind the glow, however, there are serious urban health problems that do not emerge in rural areas, observes The Jakarta Post's Rita A. Widiadana. More stories on Page 2 and Page 3.

Baan provides powerful solutions for all enterprises "Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) can mean different things to different people, but ultimately it should empower enterprises to harness their resources for maximum impact," said G. Hidayat Tjokrodjojo, President Director of PT Bisnis Sistem Indonesia. His company is an authorized reseller of Baan Series of integrated business applications for Indonesia.

RI maid on trial over murder SINGAPORE (AFP): An 18 year-old Indonesian maid has been charged with murder after an infant was found dead in a housing estate in Singapore, the Straits Times reported Saturday. Ikaeshi Dulkolid was alleged to have caused the death of the 14-month old girl who was found dead at the foot of a block of flats on Wednesday, the newspaper said.

Rector joins rally YOGYAKARTA (JP): Gadjah Mada University rector Prof. Ichlasul Amal joined university officials and staff members in a protest here on Saturday against the government's plan to increase the structural allowance of civil servants by more than 1,000 percent. More than 1,500 university officials, including lecturers and administrative staffers, gathered on the campus in front of the Central Building.

Gus Dur wants reduced dependence on U.S. arms BANDUNG (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said here on Saturday he wanted to reduce Indonesia's dependence on arms procurement from the United States or any single foreign country. The President said such a dependence not only created a great financial burden but also hurt the country's security interests. "They (the United States) also need us. Without us, security in this region is not guaranteed," he said.

Sutiyoso opens wrestling meet JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso officially opened the seventh National Wrestling Junior Championships at Ragunan Sport Complex, South Jakarta on Saturday. Sutiyoso said such championships were important to develop young athletes in the future. He also said wrestling was a good sport to foster youth's mental growth as it required discipline and stamina. Sutiyoso sponsors the championships in his capacity as the governor of Jakarta.

PDI congress 'must be democratic' SEMARANG (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) deputy chairman Dimyati Hartono said the party's first congress must be serious and democratic. "I hope there aren't any jokes in the congress. Democracy must be maintained and implemented during the congress, including in the decision-making process," he told reporters ahead of the congress, scheduled to open here on Sunday.

Bidara Cina slum now a healthy area JAKARTA (JP): Bidara Cina kampong in Jatinegara area, East Jakarta is difficult to find. "You have to go to Kampung Melayu bus station and take a Metromini bus to Otista (a popular acronym for Jl. Otto Iskandardinata), stop in front of an Economic Institute, then walk through a narrow alley next to the campus," directed Pak Noorsy, head of Bidara Cina subdistrict, by telephone.

'Unburiable poetry' digs up little on '65 coup attempt By Oren Murphy JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian director Garin Nugroho's latest endeavor in filmmaking Puisi Tak Terkuburkan (Unburiable Poetry) sounds great on paper but ultimately disappoints as a film. It tackles one of the most taboo subjects in modern Indonesian history; the 1965 coup attempt and the bloody political cleansing that took place following it.

3M not violating ministerial decree, GM Mutia proclaims JAKARTA (JP): PT Mutiara Mandala Mahardhika (3M) general manager, Mutia Farida, said on Saturday her company was not violating a ministerial decree issued by the former ministry of social services last year. Mutia was responding to an ultimatum given by the state minister of social affairs and chairman of the National Social Welfare Agency (BKSN), Anak Agung Gde Agung, to improve the People's Fund for Sports fund-raising program (Damura).

Arts Agenda Twilite Orchestra Campus Tour, at Balairung (auditorium) at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok, on Monday, March 27, at 4 p.m. The concert is part of the group's campus tour program of several universities in Indonesia. During the concert, conducted by Addie MS, the Twilite Orchestra will be supported by Aning Katamsi, Christopher Abimanyu and UI student choir Paragita. The program includes the national anthem (Indonesia Raya by W.R.

The games children play could have lasting effects By E. Effendi JAKARTA (JP): The children's toy that my parents gave me when I was a child was the 'Lego'. Remember those hundreds of tiny blocks that you were supposed to attach to each other to make figures like houses, or cars, or dogs? Of course you don't remember. You threw them away three minutes after you failed to transform them into any recognizable shape. Your parents, trying to be supportive, would try to guess what you made.

TV today TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Health and Fresh 8:00 Children's Program 9:30 Cooking Program 10:00 Music 11:00 TV Drama 12:15 p.m. Comedy 1:00 TV Series 2:00 News 2:30 Teen Program 3:00 Sports 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Film 5:30 Sports 6:00 News (in English) 6:30 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 Variety Show 9:00 World News 9:30 TV Drama 10:30 Music 11:30 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.

ASEAN states to expand money swap arrangement BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters): Southeast Asian finance ministers on Saturday watered down their plans to create a regional support fund and instead focussed on expanding an existing facility to tackle future balance of payments crisis. Plans to create an Asian Monetary Fund failed to take off in absence of adequate support from major economic powers, said officials meeting in the oil-rich sultanate.

Message from the Ambassador Message from H.E. Mr. M. Afsarul Qader, Ambassador of the People's Republic of Bangladesh on the occasion of the 29th Anniversary of Independence and National Day of Bangladesh on March 26, 2000. Assalamu Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barkatuhu On this august occasion of the 29th Anniversary of Independence and National Day, I extend warm greetings from the government of Bangladesh to the government and friendly people of Indonesia.

Risking life and limb to gather prized bird's nests Text and photos by Ali Budiman KEBUMEN, Central Java (JP): With acrobatic movements in the open air, a man cautiously climbed the bamboo ladder leaning against the steep cave wall. Guarding his distance from the fellow climbers ahead in order not to exceed the load, his bare feet deftly went up and down.

RI-Malaysia extradition deal KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Malaysia and Indonesia on Saturday agreed to consider widening their extradition agreement to allow for frequent prisoner exchanges. Malaysia's minister in the prime minister's department Rais Yatim was quoted as saying by the national news agency Bernama that officials would review the agreement signed in 1976 to pave way for more exchanges, especially on humanitarian grounds.

Charles Suryadi moved by unhealthy urban poor JAKARTA (JP): Twenty four years ago, a young doctor by the name of Charles Suryadi was posted at a puskesmas (community health center) in Penjaringan, one of North Jakarta's most impoverished subdistricts. He found hundreds of sick people, malnourished children, dilapidated houses, dirty and smelly public toilets, heaps of garbage and thousands of flies and mosquitoes.

Far from the madding crowds in a guest house Text and photos by Mulkan Salmona BOGOR, West Java (JP): Entering the HB Garden Guest House area in Cihedeung Udik village, Ciampea, Bogor, you will be stunned by its beautiful, quiet and pleasing ambience. Harmonious landscaping, lustrous grass fields, a swimming pool with a mineral water source and three houses in Sundanese style, occupy the 4,000-square-meter plot of land.

Intu's dream comes true at prestigious French art school By Kunang Helmi PARIS (JP): Everybody wants their dream to come true. Recent art graduate Agni Klintuni Boedhihartono, known as Intu, realized her's by using them in her art. Her works are among those on display at the prestigious L'Ecole Nationale Supirieure des Beaux Arts (Ensba) on the banks of the River Seine. The 1999 art graduate's exhibition, curated by Jean-Louis Froment, was officially opened on March 6 and runs until April 23.

Thomas Cup a checkpoint for Olympics, Agus says JAKARTA (JP): Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) vice chairman Agus Wirahadikusumah said on Saturday that the Thomas Cup could be a leverage point for Indonesian male shuttlers to reach victory in the Olympics. "If our shuttlers can retain the Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur in May, I believe their way to reach victory in the Olympics in Sydney in September is wide open," he said at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta.

Fewer shooters on Central Java team SEMARANG (JP): The Central Java chapter of the Indonesian Target Shooting and Hunting Association (Perbakin) will reduce the number of women shooters it will send to the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya, in June. Coach Sylvia Gani said on Saturday PON organizers had decided each chapter could send a maximum of three shooters to compete in each discipline at the quadrennial event, which will take place from June 19 to June 30.