Bali resorts, still a tropical paradise DENPASAR (JP): Despite the social and political upheavals plaguing many parts of the country, the holiday island of Bali's tourist industry is still going strong. Renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, white sands and myriad cultural and traditional attractions, Bali has become one of the world's most popular destinations.

Signature campaign in KL KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Supporters of jailed ex-Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim will launch a signature campaign to demand the release of eight people held under a draconian security law, an opposition party official said Saturday. Hamdan Taha, vice-youth chief of the National Justice Party (Keadilan) said the signatures would be handed to the government to protest the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Please, Call Me Pheng Hwa By Veven Sp Wardhana Time has slowly turned me into a chameleon. Sometimes I call myself Pheng Hwa, while at other times I go by Effendy Wardhana, the name printed on my ID card. My folks said every citizen should respect the name printed on their ID card, because it is the only name acknowledged by the state. My family lives in a small town and there are only a few other Indonesians of Chinese origin there. At home I was called Pheng Hwa or Ping An.

Kartini Day one of joy at makeshift school JAKARTA (JP): There's no flag raising, no heroic speech on nationalism. There's no parade of mothers swathed in French perfume, fine clothes and sparkling jewelry. But, like many other students across the country, dozens of students from poor families living in shabby huts under the busy flyover in the Jembatan Tiga area in North Jakarta still enthusiastically followed the modest ceremony to observe Kartini Day on Saturday.

Cambodia promises stiff test for Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Cambodia's coach Joachim Fickert has encouraged his players to put forward a strong challenge to Indonesia in the 2002 World Cup qualifying round at Bung Karno Stadium in Senayan on Sunday despite the host's optimism of reaping a second victory. "We know Indonesia will play offensive soccer, but we won't play defensively.

Guess What? Erica Artists, be prepared with simple explanation about your nude paintings -- just in case a curious kid comes to you. That was what painter Erica experienced last week in a gathering with her kid fans at Galeri Nasional in Jakarta. As she was busy telling the 50 or so children sitting on mats under a large tent erected in the yard, a six-year old boy ran to her asking why she loved painting nude women as displayed in the gallery.

Secret of making sour and spicy fish soup JAKARTA (JP): This week, Chinese cookbook writer Mary Winata shares her secret of making sour and spicy fish soup. She combines fish fillet with the fresh taste of lemon juice and tamarind, the flavor of two kinds of chilies and the fragrances of kaffir lime leaves and lemon grass. As for the dessert, this sweet and slightly tart almond pudding will nicely complete your meal.

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Sunny Earth, Krijono, Galeri Linggar, Jl. Kemang Timur No. 36, South Jakarta (Phone: 71790008), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until April 29. * Painting by Rusli, Galeri Lontar, Jl. Utan Kayu 68H, East Jakarta (Phone: 8573388), until May 19. * Painting, by Cak Kandar, Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3140554), 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., until April 28. * Painting Ilalang-Ilalang Wangi, Bizete Gallery, Jl.

By Ida Indawati Khouw Teacher puts gender equality into practice JAKARTA (JP): Lucky are the children who have a teacher like Henny Supolo Sitepu. They have the rare opportunity at school to learn about gender equality in their early years. Henny is a teacher at al-Izhar Islamic School in South Jakarta, which proudly claims to have been promoting gender equality since it was founded in 1987.

Antibiotic resistance frightens medical community By Maria Kegel JAKARTA (JP): We use them for everything from earaches to tuberculosis. Ever since the 1940s, when they were first introduced, antibiotics have been hailed as the simple answer to any kind of infection which plagues us, and they are in easy reach in Indonesia. Some doctors are quick to hand out prescriptions, while many pharmacies here do not require one to dispense the 150-plus types of antibiotics on the market.

Gadis lets women speak for themselves By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): There is much more to Kartini than her kebaya or her neat hairdo, feels Gadis Arivia, editor of Jurnal Perempuan, the country's first feminist journal. Also director of the Media Foundation for Women, 36-year-old Arivia hopes that Kartini Day observed on Saturday will eventually be known as Women's Day, in celebration of all those other women who are also pioneers in their own right in trying to rid society of injustices.

Welcome to Sumatra, Indonesia's buffalo country By Carola Frentzen MEDAN, Indonesia (DPA): The waiter dashes back and forth to the kitchen loaded with a fresh armload of plates, pots and bowls every time. There's buffalo meat bubbling away, chicken in curry sauce and from other meals fish heads peek out. Not to mention the vegetables, tapioca and spinach, duck eggs and an impossibly hot pepperoni paste. It's all accompanied by pots full of steaming basmati rice.

'I don't need to feel superior to others' Marzuki Darusman, who was appointed as Attorney General in October 1999, is one of the busiest men in the country, especially as the government has declared a war on corruption. He served as a legislator in the House of Representatives from 1977 to 1992, representing the Golkar Party, before serving as vice chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) for the next five years.

Gus Dur again warns House against second censure JAKARTA (JP): Seemingly untroubled by the sharp decline of the rupiah, President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed on Saturday his warning that hundreds of thousands of his supporters would descend on Jakarta if the House of Representatives (DPR) tried to push him out of office.

Gender role stereotypes and education The following article is an excerpt from a paper titled Gender Role Stereotypes and Education written by Evelyn Suleeman, a researcher and lecturer based in Jakarta. JAKARTA (JP): Women and men are assumed to have different traits. For example, women are said to be weak, incompetent, dependent, irrational, emotional, and sneaky, whereas men are considered strong, independent, rational, logical, and direct.

Made Sukadana, fresh talent in Indonesian fine arts By Ipong Purnama Sidhi JAKARTA (JP): Large format canvasses filled with spontaneous brush strokes and energetic ensembles of lines currently occupy the National Museum's exhibition room in Central Jakarta. I Made Sukadana, a promising young painter, is exhibiting more than 20 works in a solo exhibition entitled Titi Ugal Agil that has enthralled local art experts and art lovers alike, ensuring a critical and commercial success.

Sinta criticizes traditional Kartini Day celebrations JAKARTA (JP): As part of the commemoration of Kartini Day, which fell on Saturday (April 21), First Lady Sinta Nuriyah Wahid held a press conference on Wednesday and several TV talk shows. The first lady said the Kartini Day celebration should be focused on more substantive activities like gender equality campaigns.

RI maid jailed for killing SINGAPORE (DPA): An Indonesian maid who dropped a two-year-old Singapore boy while playing with him was jailed for three months for causing the boy's death, it was reported on Saturday. The toddler fell backwards when Jumiarsih Wardi lost her grip while bouncing him on her shoulders, the district court was told. The toddler hit the back of his head and died two weeks later, The Straits Times said.

Aid for kids with thalassemia major JAKARTA (JP): Lack of public support for children with thalassemia major hampers efforts to help them live a normal life, an activist has said. Ruswandi of the Indonesian Thalassemia Foundation (YTI) said in a discussion organized by pharmaceutical firm PT Pfizer Indonesia Tbk that children with thalassemia major, also called Cooley's anemia, are in constant need of blood transfusions and medication.

Rigorous research on WWII brought together War and Memory in Malaya and Singapore; Edited by P. Lim Pui Huen and Diana Wong; Published by The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies JAKARTA (JP): The Singapore-based Institute of South-east Asian Studies is an excellent source of material of all sorts on this complex and varied region, and in this volume they have brought together some very rigorous research on World War II and the memory of it in Malaya and Singapore.

Police same as hoodlums? From Bisnis Indonesia I am really concerned over a recent traffic accident and the ensuing incident involving a police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer, a Brimob truck, a car and another member of the police, who was the car owner. It was an accident because the truck was sideswiped by a sedan accidentally (meaning unintentionally, and uncontrollably). It really was an accident because nobody desired it, neither the car driver, nor the truck driver.

Tunas Patriot wins first futsal tourney JAKARTA (JP): Bekasi's Tunas Patriot soccer school overcame Camp 82 of Jakarta 7-5 in the first McDonald's Futsal Tournament at Bung Karno Indoor Stadium in Senayan complex on Saturday. Adi Bahtiar created a hat trick in the 17th, 27th and 28th minutes before being sent out for disobeying the referee.

Still Playing JAKARTA (JP): There are a number of good to fair movies playing at local theaters. The Jakarta Post contributor Joko E.H. Anwar guides you through what's available. Billy Elliot (Drama, 110 minutes). Starring Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Jamie Draven. Directed by Stephen Daldry. An inspiring, touching, funny film about an 11-year-old son of a miner who wants to be a ballet dancer. A masterpiece.**** (Out of ****) Thirteen Days (Drama, 145 minutes).

When beauty counts By Grace Emilia Indonesia has both hell and paradise. There are places in wreck and ruins due to violence, while there also places regarded as the most beautiful on earth. JAKARTA (JP): Over the years, many of Indonesia's resort properties -- mostly in Bali -- have received prestigious awards from international travel magazines and tourism boards in the best of the best categories.

Luhut and Tando strong candidates for FORKI head JAKARTA (JP): Luhut Panjaitan and Efdjuno Tando are neck-to- neck in the race for the top post in the Indonesian Karate Federation (Forki) to replace Wiranto for the 2001 to 2005 tenure. "Pak Luhut's presence in the opening ceremony shows that he is willing to lead Forki for the next term," Inkai karate school's deputy master Albert Lumban Tobing said on the sidelines of Forki's national congress on Saturday.

Medan strives to save historical buildings By Apriadi Gunawan MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): For the townsfolk, the Kesawan area is more than simply a bustling commercial district. Located in the heart of the provincial capital city on Jl. A. Yani, it is a historic old city best-known for its history-steeped buildings. Kesawan has played a key role in the development of Medan.

Closing the book on gender bias in school While there have been efforts in the country to promote gender equality, these efforts are being undercut in the classroom, where millions of young people read school textbooks that contain gender-biased materials which deprecate the role of women. The Jakarta Post's Rita A.Widiadana, Maria Endah Hulupi, Ida Indawati Khouw, Cornelius Purba and contributor Evelyn Suleeman examine this issue.

Bali Fashion Week eyes international attention DENPASAR (JP): With the country facing a serious downfall socially, politically and economically, Bali is still eager to hold the second Bali Fashion Week at Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur from May 9 through May 13.

Minister regrets GAM's rejection of dialog JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed regret on Saturday for the intractable stance of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). He was referring to a statement by GAM rejecting the government's proposals to resolve the problems in Aceh, including returning to the negotiating table.

Blessed are the earth and sustainable cities By Marco Kusumawijaya JAKARTA (JP): Destruction of the relationship between cities and the earth has been prophesied in many apocalyptic science- fiction movies: cities are isolated from the earth (or some other planet in the galaxy) because the planet has become too dangerous for habitation due to acid rain, energy storms, toxic waste, disorienting deserts, and so on.