Thailand, RI sign taxation treaty BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand and Indonesia signed a double taxation pact on Friday and agreed to pursue measures to boost economic cooperation between the two Southeast Asian nations.

Old car museum goes for record SEMARANG: The Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) will add another item to the list of local achievements by registering the museum of antique cars and motorcycles opening in Yogyakarta next month, Antara reported. MURI manager Paulus Pangka said the founder of the antique car museum, David Sunar Handoko, deserved recognition for his efforts in bringing together some 40 antique cars and 300 antique motorcycles, some of them dating back to the 1910s and 1920s.

Generating 'chemistry' in an interview By Pri Notowidigdo JAKARTA (JP): "Am I ready for the interview?" You have undoubtedly asked yourself this question in the past, prior to a job interview, or maybe you are asking this question now as you prepare for an interview in the not too distant future. No doubt, you have discovered that preparation is the key to success. The better prepared you are, the better your chances of being hired. So how do you prepare for an interview?

HMI wants action against brothels PALU, Central Sulawesi: The local branch of the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) called on the municipality to clamp down on massage parlors, hotels and inns which had been turned into brothels, Antara reported on Friday. The chairman of the local HMI branch, Salehuddin Awal, said that unless these places were closed down the residents would become impatient, which could lead to violence.

Fuel price hike effective today JAKARTA (JP): The government finally raised fuel prices by a hefty 30 percent late on Friday, just one day after it had decided to delay the plan due to concerns over its social and security implications. Newly appointed Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah said the new fuel prices would take affect as of Saturday.

Former president Soeharto leaves hospital for home JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto left the privately-run Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta on Friday morning after three days of treatment for a heart ailment. Pertamina cardiologist Juniarti Hatta said Soeharto was in a stable condition. There were no complications from the minor surgery he had undergone to install a permanent pacemaker to normalize his uneven heartbeat, she said. "His condition has returned to normal.

JP/2/DAYAK Follow-up actions to Dayak-Madura reconciliation urged PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan (JP): Several local tribal leaders have called on all levels of the government to promptly follow up results of the newly concluded Dayak people's congress, which recommended the settlement of interethnic conflicts that occurred months earlier.

Shuttler Markis dreams of becoming the best SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Combining the speed of former world champion Sun Jun of China with the persistence of newly crowned world champion Hendrawan of Indonesia is a dream in the making for junior shuttler Markis Kido. "Combining both styles is my dream for becoming one of Indonesia's best shuttlers in the future," Markis told The Jakarta Post at the sidelines of the 2001 Milo Junior Indonesia Open here.

VP opens Jakarta Fair 2001 JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri, accompanied by Governor Sutiyoso, enter the showground of Jakarta Fair 2001, while a group of traditional Betawi dancers and Betawi dolls Ondel Ondel welcome the entourage. Megawati inaugurated the month-long event on Friday in celebration of the city's 474th anniversary that falls on June 22.

Sutiyoso still wants buses from Texmaco JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso announced on Friday the city administration's plan to import buses from China or Korea following the central government's decision to exempt the vehicles from import tax. Sutiyoso, however, suggested that the city import only 50 percent of the buses needed for its rejuvenation plan and purchase the rest from PT Texmaco. The decision to wave import tax was revealed by Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B.

Kontras objects to military courts JAKARTA (JP): Military personnel allegedly involved in the bloody Trisakti and Semanggi incidents should be tried by ad hoc judges rather than a military tribunal, activists said on Friday. The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Humanitarian Volunteer Team said a military tribunal could not be expected to be objective, as military tribunals tended to protect defendants.

Bomb put in train to trigger chaos: Police JAKARTA (JP): A homemade bomb placed in a loudspeaker found on an electric train on Thursday contained only low-grade explosives, but it was aimed at causing havoc in the capital, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob said on Friday. "The bomb was placed on the train to trigger chaos in the capital just ahead of the special session of the People's Legislative Assembly (MPR). What else?" Sofjan told reporters.

Honor our national flag From Kompas On June 15, 2001 Indosiar, a local TV station, in its focus program, showed student demonstrators in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) criticizing DPR's Trisakti and Semanggi special committees. What attracted my attention was that some of the demonstrators began to deface our national flag by writing something in black in its center. If I am not mistaken, there is a government regulation that forbids the defacement of the national flag.

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Selaksa Daya Rupa, by 90 painters, Sahid Ballroom, Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jl. Jend. Sudirman No. 86, Central Jakarta (Phone: 5704444), until June 19. * Art in Italian and Indonesian Ceramics in the framework of the Indonesian-Italian Workshop on Advanced and Conventional Ceramics, Italian Cultural Institute, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto 117, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3927531), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., until June 30.

Royal cemeteries declared closed MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Cemeteries containing the graves of royalty and respected Muslim ulemas, which have been registered as historical sites, should no longer be used, a noted local archeologist said. Muhammad Muttalib, a former head of the South and Southeast Sulawesi office of historical relics, said descendants of the royalties continued to use these cemeteries in violation of a bylaw declaring them protected.

Kontras objects to military court's trying Trisakti case JAKARTA (JP): Military personnel allegedly involved in the bloody Trisakti and Semanggi incidents should be tried by ad hoc judges rather than a military tribunal, activists said on Friday. The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Humanitarian Volunteer Team said a military tribunal could not be expected to be objective, as military tribunals tended to protect defendants.

Birdwatching in Gelora Bung Karno sports center JAKARTA (JP): Watching birds at Gelora Bung Karno sports complex in Central Jakarta? No way, you must be kidding, said a friend. Similar remarks come from many others when asked to come to the sports center, which used to be called Senayan sports center until last week, for the bird-watching this Sunday morning. "This is the first time I am hearing of a bird-watching event in Senayan," said a sports reporter.

Woman nearly loses fingers in robbery JAKARTA (JP): A woman nearly had three of her fingers severed when a robber attacked her with a sickle at the Buncit Mas office complex in Pancoran, South Jakarta, on Friday afternoon. Pancoran Police chief Adj. Comr. Wiyarso said the victim, Nurul Aini, 25, who works in the financial division of a subcontracting firm located in the office complex, was robbed in front of her office.

Plan to push Bimantoro to retire 'controversial' JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's reported plan to issue a presidential decree ordering National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro's early retirement would prove to be a controversial decision, the National Police spokesman said on Friday. "That decision will prove to be controversial, because our police chief will retire on Nov. 3 anyway.

Megawati's jewelry up for auction JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has given her jewelry for auction to raise funds to finance national weightlifting development. During the fund raising ceremony organized by the Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Bodybuilding Association (PABBSI) at the South Merdeka Palace here on Friday night, Megawati also placed the first stroke on a canvas to be finished by Balinese painter Nyoman Sukari. The painting will also be auctioned.

Rupiah rate June 15 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.