Kids pulling the purse strings, survey says By Maria Endah Hulupi JAKARTA (JP): The little ones may be noisy, demanding and easily bored, but advertisers and shopping center managements listen up.

Golkar councillors exchange words MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Harsh words between Golkar councillors marked the provincial legislature's plenary session to hear factions' overviews of Governor HZB Palaguna's progress report here on Thursday. The furious exchange interrupted the session for 30 minutes, but the council eventually unanimously approved the governor's annual report.

Local chiefs told to watch migrants JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi on Friday instructed chiefs of community and neighborhood units (RT/RW) to closely watch migrants who had not yet registered as Jakarta residents. Kahfi told the city's five mayors at a City Hall meeting that they should order RT/RW chiefs to closely monitor migrants.

Blood of donors vital to Indonesian Red Cross By Hera Diani JAKARTA (JP): Do not assume that demonstrations, brawls or even a recent Muslim mass prayer have nothing to do with blood supplies in the capital. They do. Any large event that people fear could lead to violence makes donors reluctant to go out and give away their blood. Hospitals then run low on blood and patients in need of transfusions face longer waits.

PBSI chairman continues war of words with Taufik JAKARTA (JP): While the clock is ticking prior to the Sudirman Cup and World Championships later this month, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) chairman Subagyo Hadisiswoyo and world number three men's singles Taufik Hidayat continued their verbal battle.

Destruction of books condemned JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Publishers Association (IKAPI) condemned on Friday a planned sweep and burning of "leftist" books and rejected any ban against them. "In principle, we oppose any ban on books, even if they contain pornographic or communist content. But if the ban is unavoidable, it should be made through a court ruling, not a a political decision," IKAPI chairman Arselan told a media conference at the association's office in Central Jakarta.

MAT introduces new concept JAKARTA (JP): The Marlboro Adventure Team (MAT) introduced on Thursday a new concept of adventure for Indonesian participants in a program called the Join the World Team 2001. The adventure program is being organized by cigarette producer PT Philip Morris Indonesia for the seventh time since 1995.

Cultural exchange program? In response to the advertisement AU-PAIR in Europe in The Jakarta Post, on May 11, 2001, page 16, I, as a housewife who has an experience as an au pair girl in Europe, would like to express my concern over this issue. As far as I am concerned, the au pair program is a form of inter-cultural exchange in which the person in question is given an opportunity to learn the language and culture of the country she is in.

Bank Danamon bankruptcy petition 'not valid' JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said on Friday that the bankruptcy petition filed by Bank IFI against the publicly-listed Bank Danamon at the Jakarta Commercial Court was not valid. Sjahril said that according to the existing law, only the central bank had the right to file bankruptcy petitions against banks.

Officials must choose city or military by August JAKARTA (JP): Members of the military or the police who hold posts in the city administration should choose by August at the latest whether to become civil servants or return to their units, city spokesman Muhayat said. "Governor Sutiyoso has asked them to decide soon whether to stay here or return to their respective units," Muhayat told reporters Friday.

House Speaker condemns murder of Aceh legislator JAKARTA (JP): Legislators on Friday condemned the murder of the People's Consultative Assembly legislator Teuku Abdul Djohan who was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Aceh. The House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said that he was shocked to hear of the incident and demanded police conduct a full investigation into the death of the Assembly member from the regional representative faction.