International schools for expatriates in RI JAKARTA (JP): The number of expatriates living in the capital and other areas of Indonesia has increased in recent years, regardless of the unfavorable conditions repeatedly hitting Indonesia. The country, to some extent, continues to play a particular role internationally. As the nation's capital, Jakarta plays a major role in the country's life, where commercial and diplomatic affairs are conducted.

Dining guide an appetizer, but not the main course Jakarta Dining -- The Jakarta Restaurant Guide 2000 PT Indo Multi Media MNC Group, Jakarta 120 pages Rp 22,500 JAKARTA (JP): Need an easy-as-pie directory of Jakarta restaurants but too lazy to flip through the hefty restaurant section of the Yellow Pages? Jakarta Dining, chockful of names, addresses and colorful advertisements helpfully arranged in various categories of cuisine (French, Indian, International, etc.) fits the bill.

Agenda Theater performance Alia, Luka Serambi Mekah (Alia, The Agony of the Mecca's Verandah), performed by Satu Merah Panggung at Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center, Jl. Cikini Raya, Central Jakarta, phone: 3154087, from May 12 through May 17. Alia, Luka Serambi Mekah, written and directed by Ratna Sarumpaet, tells of the agony of the Acehnese in suffering never- ending violence and human rights violations.

'Laskar Jihad' members sent to Ambon YOGYAKARTA (JP): As many as 3,000 members of the so-called Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah popularly known as Laskar Jihad will leave for Ambon on Sunday through the Surabaya seaport on Tanjung Perak, its commander said. Speaking to The Jakarta Post in his residence in Ngemplak, Sleman regency, some 15 kilometers north of here on Saturday, Ja'far Umar Thalib said that many people would go at their own expense via public transports.

Taste on menu at Menara Peninsula Hotel Menara Peninsula has welcomed aboard three new captains for its Food and Beverage services. They are Executive Chef Suparto Wignyosumarto, Executive Sous Chef Wintolo Satmoyo Siwi and Banquet Executive Chef Sayuzi Achmad. Each of the chefs has impressive experience in the hotel industry. Suparto, after four years at the Grand Hyatt, went on to the Shangri-La for six years before coming to Menara.

Smell something good? It's in the bag ... By Agus R. Bakti YOGYAKARTA (JP): What smells good and can carry something? Nyomo Setyo, a handicraft trader here, knows the answer well: It's a bag made from a plant called akar wangi (fragrant root). This plant, also known as larasetu (vetiveria zizaniodes), belongs to the species of grass gramineae. The term "fragrant root" fits because the root of this plant is indeed fragrant.

Uniprep: The best pathway to an international education Australia creates a lot of interest among Indonesian students wishing to continue with their higher education overseas. In the land of the kangaroo, the number of students from Indonesia is rapidly increasing year by year. And from the large number of higher-education institutions in Australia, The University of New South Wales (UNSW) is the first choice for most.

Int'l tribunal for E. Timor 'bloodbath' possible WASHINGTON (AFP): An international tribunal to bring perpetrators of last year's "bloodbath" in East Timor should be convened if Indonesia's efforts to conduct an inquiry are not deemed acceptable, United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said on Friday. "The bottom line is that those responsible for orchestrating this bloodbath must be brought to justice," Albright said.

Successful roof tile maker thanks God for good fortune By Ali Budiman KEBUMEN, Central Java (JP): Haj Moeflich, at 81, feels very grateful for his good health: he walks easily, his hearing and sight do not need aids, and he does not suffer from any chronic disease. There are other blessings too. He has nine sons and five daughters, who have succeeded in their studies and careers. And they have given him a total of 68 grandchildren and 20 great- grandchildren.

Singapore education system introduced in RI It has always been every parents' hope to send their children to the best school for their education. Now, Jakarta has an additional choice in the Singapore International School (SIS), which claims to offer Singapore's high education standard for expatriates in the capital. Any expatriate children can enroll as long as they fulfill the prevailing statutory requirements of Indonesian laws governing international schools.

Guess What? Hidayat Jaelani After State Minister of Tourism and the Arts Hidayat Jaelani's opening blurb, the head of the organizing committee was left to explain the details: "Through this event we will highlight and showcase the breadth of traditional music in all 27 provinces of Indonesia." The hacks and committee members at the media conference smiled at her mistake. "Don't you mean 26 Mbak?" some of them called out. The minister stepped in to her rescue. "She is right everyone.

Asia needs to keep crisis lessons in mind: ADB CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Agencies): Asian countries need to keep the painful lessons of economic upheaval in mind to avoid a devastating new blow from the increasingly globalized economy, the president of the Asian Development Bank warned Saturday.

Sokaraja, famous home of fried sweet cassava loaf PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Fried sweet loaf of pounded cassava, locally called gethuk, is popular here, especially in the neighborhood of Sokaraja. It is the favorite of visitors who take home the traditional food as a gift. The gethuk business was started in 1918 by Sanpirngad and was later continued by his son-in-law H. Tohirin, followed by his grandchildren.

Designers tell men to let loose in fashion By Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): Wearing an Indiana Jones-type safari suit, model George Taka made his way down the catwalk with an unloaded hunting gun. Behind him marched 23 fellow male models, clad in similar outfits. The khakhi fabrics were matched with wild animal prints, snake leather belts and Dr. Jones rounded hats.

Local portals gear up for online battle Dotcom mania, established vehicle for business and entertainment in the developed world, is now on the move here, The Jakarta Post's contributor Rudy Madanir observes the trend. JAKARTA (JP): In this wired world where millions are hooked to the Internet, have you heard the story of a little boy who asks his mother if she knows a cow that likes to play with computers? Like the mother, most of us would shake our head.

Brunei and RI discuss business centers JAKARTA (JP): Establishing joint business centers was one of the solutions agreed on by visiting Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and President Abdurrahman Wahid to bridge the disparity between bullock cart owners and Mercedes-Benz car owners. During a meeting here on Saturday, the two leaders agreed to develop, together with Malaysia, business and industrial centers around the border areas of the three countries on Borneo island.

Spotlight Photo C: Kristal Hotel Kristal EASTER PARTY: Some happy children pose with their prizes during the Easter Kids Party, where guests enjoyed hunting for Easter eggs and egg decorating competitions. The party was hosted by Hotel Kristal in South Jakarta on April 23 and attended by around 70 children.

PSSI questions Kurniawan and Yuniarto on drug use MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Strikers Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto and Yuniarto Budi from PSM Makassar soccer club underwent doping tests conducted by a medical team from the Soccer Association of Indonesian (PSSI) here on Thursday. The medical team -- comprising PSSI official in charge of medical affairs Sonny Tobing and second in command of PSSI's disciplinary commission Togar M.

Diagnosing the roots of suffering that keep us 'full of life' By Rahayu Ratnaningsih JAKARTA (JP): The first Noble Truth: Life is suffering. This sounds pretty dismal, doesn't it? What's even more dismal is that the diagnosis into the causes of our suffering turns out to be the very thing that keeps us "full of life". Namely, desire, which is caused by attachment to our phony sense of identity which is caused by our ignorance and delusional thinking.

Malaysia wary of Korea in Thomas Cup opener JAKARTA (Agencies): Malaysia's Thomas Cup coach Kwan Yoke Meng warned his shuttlers about South Korea as they would meet in the opening round-robin match of blue group at the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup championships in Kuala Lumpur starting on May 11.

One student dies in machete attack JAKARTA (JP): A senior high school student died after being attacked by other students in front of the Saidah Tower building on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta on Saturday. Leo Andriana, a student at senior technical high school STM 3 Jakarta, died after sustaining severe injuries to his back.

C. Sulawesi quake toll reaches 26 MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): The death toll from a Central Sulawesi earthquake reached 26 on Saturday, with searches for victims continuing after the devastating tectonic earthquake struck on Thursday. Secretary to the emergency post in Banggai regency, Musdar M. Amin, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that more than 153 people were severely injured. "Forty-three of them are in critical condition.