RI galleries to take part in ArtSingapore 2000 JAKARTA (JP): Four Indonesian galleries, along with another 17 galleries from Asia, will take part in ArtSingapore 2000 next week. The Darga Gallery, Embun Gallery, and the Graha/Siont Gallery will present contemporary artworks by Indonesia's best-known artists in the art fair that will open on Sept. 28 and run until Oct. 3, 2000.

Notorious car thieves busted JAKARTA (JP): City Police detectives have arrested two groups of car thieves earlier this month at separate locations, including the notorious gang known for always killing their victims after robbing them, spokesman Supt. M. Nur H. Usman said on Wednesday. Nur said the vicious group, which consisted of three men aged between 22 and 27 years old, operated by drowning their victims after pretending to rent their cars.

American arrogance East Timor is once again becoming a thorn in Indonesia's side. Even though it has become an independent country, the old thorn still hurts and is causing Indonesia's image to bleed. This time it is even threatening a halt in all international economic aid to Indonesia. That threat was conveyed not by just any country, but by the U.S. Secretary of Defense, William Cohen, and it was conveyed directly to President Abdurrahman Wahid.

Violence in troubled Aceh claims more lives BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The latest violence, which broke out in different parts of the troubled province over the past two days, has claimed at least five lives and injured four others, a police officer said on Wednesday. North Aceh Police chief Supt. Abadan Bangko said four residents died when a patrol of security officers took a group of young men in Bang Nibong village, Samudra subdistrict, North Aceh regency, for armed rebels.

E. Java complains of numerous VIP visits SURABAYA (JP): The frequent visits of Jakarta VIPs have swallowed up the East Java annual protocol budget, an official said on Tuesday. East Java Provincial Secretary Soenarjo told reporters that this year his office allotted Rp 1 billion for special guests from Jakarta. "But the fund has been depleted in 10 months.

Two Indonesian pairs move into finals, Hendrawan survives By Primastuti Handayani SYDNEY (JP): Hendrawan kept Indonesia's hopes of winning the badminton men's singles title in the 2000 Olympic Games alive after he edged out world champion Sun Jun of China 15-13, 15-5 on Wednesday for a place in the semifinals. The win made up for the shock defeat of top seed Taufik Hidayat, who was sent packing by Chinese Ji Xinpeng 12-15, 5-15 in another quarterfinal.

New doors open to the mystery of Rawana By I Wayan Juniarta DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Two scholars shed new light on the character of Rawana (or Ravana) during a three-day International Conference on Ramayana and Mahabharata held here last week. Rawana is the embodiment of evil. It was Rawana who abducted the beautiful Sita -- the wife of Lord Wisnu's incarnation, Rama, and in doing so, this King of Alengka started a chain of tragic events that ended in the loss of his throne, and his life.

Two great epics offer social guidance in Asia By Rita A. Widiadana JIMBARAN, Bali (JP): For several centuries, Ramayana and Mahabharata epics have remained as part and parcel of social milieu of many countries in Asia. Over time, variations of Ramayana and Mahabharata have been adopted in the southern part of Asia according to local cultures, ethos and religious beliefs.

Councillors ask for land and cars JAKARTA (JP): City councillors took office less than a year ago, bringing with them high expectations from the public, but now stories are appearing in the media that these same councillors have picked up the bad habits of their predecessors. Over the past several days, the 85 members of the City Council have been the subject of numerous page-one stories in the local media because of their proposal that the city provide them with land and cars.

Cheap Indonesian cement seen as solid opportunity JAKARTA (Reuters): Most foreign investors may have dropped Indonesia from their list, but in the cement world the country is attracting global players by offering some solid and cheap opportunities. Three major world producers -- Mexico's Cemex, Germany's Heidelberger Zement AG and Switzerland's Holderbank -- are either raising their stakes or acquiring new ones in leading Indonesian cement makers.

East Timor human rights trial should go on: Muladi JAKARTA (JP): A member of the defense team representing military officers accused of violence in East Timor last year said on Wednesday they would not use the "non-retroactive principle" recently inserted into the 1945 Constitution to dodge a trial. "Although the article seems to benefit us, we will not use it.