Three killed in Narogong accident BOGOR (JP): Three people riding a vespa motor scooter were killed instantly when it collided head-on with a public minivan on Jl. Raya Narogong, Cileungsi, Bogor regency on Monday night. The three victims were identified as Victor Damanik, 17, Sutikno, 20, and Zainuddin, alias Sihombing, 21 -- all workers at a local motorcycle service station.

B'ball all-star game in Surabaya JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Basketball Association (Perbasi) will hold the 2001 Nuvo Kobatama All-Star Game at the Kertajaya basketball hall in Surabaya on Sunday. The Perbasi official in charge of the national basketball league, Doeddie Gambiro, said on Tuesday the game would feature 20 players from 10 teams. All of the players were selected by fans during the last two league rounds in Malang, East Java, and Surakarta, Central Java.

Fourteen youngsters banned from league JAKARTA (JP): At least 14 players were banned from participating in the Bogasari Under-15 soccer league after falsifying their ages. Another player from Lampung is still trying to confirm his age, with his original birth certificate being brought here by his parents.

Aurora committed to Indonesian mine CANBERRA (Dow Jones): Australian-based gold miner Aurora Gold Ltd. is committed to its Mount Muro project in central Kalimantan, Indonesia, but still wants to sell its suspended Toka Tindung operation in northern Sulawesi, Chief Executive Alan Scott said Tuesday. Indeed, Aurora, which is 35 percent-owned by global mining giant Rio Tinto PLC, is evaluating and clarifying details of offers for Toka Tindung, he said.

Former top forestry official arrested JAKARTA (JP): City Police arrested former secretary-general of the forestry ministry Soeripto on Tuesday for allegedly leaking state secrets. Soeripto, dismissed by President Abdurrahman Wahid last month for reportedly holding a meeting to plot his downfall, was picked up by police mobile detectives (Resmob) at his residence in Cipete Selatan, South Jakarta, at 4 p.m.

Man dies under uprooted tree JAKARTA (JP): A becak (pedicab) driver who took shelter under a big tree during Monday's heavy rain was tragically killed as it suddenly collapsed and hit him. Another man broke his arm. The victims were taking shelter under the 20-meter high kapok tree with a diameter of 80 centimeters on Jl. Tanah Tinggi IV, Johar Baru district in Central Jakarta.

Timber companies upset over local fee payment JAKARTA (JP): Timber companies have to pay a number of fees to local government following the implementation of regional autonomy in January this year, an executive of a forestry-based company said here on Tuesday. Sumardi, the president of PT International Timber Corporation Indonesia Kartika Utama (ITCI), said the additional levies imposed by the local government had caused financial difficulties to timber companies.

Muddling through uncertainty The big question arising, now that the political uncertainty has escalated to the probability of a change in government, is how the economy will muddle through the transition period. How the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid, further demoralized by the second memorandum of censure from the House of Representatives, will be able to manage the economy amid the sharply eroded market confidence.

Know your enemy From Pikiran Rakyat Resolving problems of the state and nation by way of jihad( holy war) is far from being a satisfactory solution as it is highly likely that it would trigger unrest. The most important point is that we, Indonesians, must clearly proclaim the mission and vision of our struggle and determine who our real enemies are. I am of the opinion that our enemies are not our fellow countrymen, whether Muslims, Christians, the Golkar Party or any of our ethnic groups.