Persija wins at home JAKARTA (JP): Persija Jakarta took over the lead of the western division of the Bank Mandiri soccer league from PSMS Medan, North Sumatra, with a 3-1 victory over Persita Tangerang at Lebakbulus Stadium in South Jakarta on Thursday. Persija and PSMS both have 43 points, but Persija has the advantage in goal average, Antara reported. Brazilian playmaker Luciano Leandro opened the scoring for the home team in the 11th minute.

Corrupt practices rampant in state enterprises: Official JAKARTA (JP): An official admitted on Thursday what many have long suspected: the practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism is rampant in state enterprises. Secretary of the Directorate General of State-owned companies of the Ministry of Finance Mantaris Siagian admitted that the institutions were prone to corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Govt plans to merge Bank Mandiri with BII JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Thursday it planned to merge the country's largest bank, state-owned Bank Mandiri with publicly listed Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII), as part of efforts to consolidate the banking industry. Finance minister Rizal Ramli said the two banks would make a good match, with Bank Mandiri being the successor entity following the merger. "The government hasn't made a decision yet.

Quashing corruption should be free from interference Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa will never be successful in fighting corruption without political support from the House of Representatives (DPR), the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the President, says coordinator of Indonesian Corruption Watch Teten Masduki.

Scout jamboree I read your full page article about the scout movement in Indonesia with interest, (The Jakarta Post, June 23, 2001), being a scout myself over 50 years ago. At the bottom of the page there was a request for donations to support the forthcoming jamboree, however, there was no information on how to contribute: no address, phone, fax, e-mail or bank details. MAX GUARD Jakarta Note: Any donations can be sent to the KWARNAS PRAMUKA, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Cabang Khusus, Account No.