Authorities have no funds to deport German students JAKARTA (JP): Six German students, who were scheduled to be deported on Tuesday for visa violations, are still in the city as immigration authorities do not have the funds to send them home. "We don't have the funds to deport them," Mohammad Indra, director of the immigration enforcement section of the Directorate General of Immigration, said.

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 23, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,550 -25 56,000 Adindo Foresta 105 0 15,500 AGIS 135 -5 250,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 1,700 75 2,035,000 Alakasa 320 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 925 -25 54,500 Alter Abadi 80 -5 6,500 Alumindo Light 675 0 5,000 Andhi Chandra 2,025 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 210 0 75,000 Aneka Tambang 1,000 0 260,000 Apac Citra 350 0...

Constitutional team 'must be free from politicians' YOGYAKARTA (JP): Politicians should not be included on the proposed constitutional commission, otherwise the country would have an amended constitution laden with political interests, scholars warned on Thursday.

Providing more public services for the disabled By Inge Komardjaja and Peter Neumann MUENSTER, Germany (JP): Bandung in Indonesia and Muenster in Germany are geographically disconnected and culturally different. In dealing with the problems disabled people face with mobility, there is nothing comparable. Muenster is advanced, whereas Bandung is still at the beginning of addressing disability issues within society.

Fishing firms attacked by mobs JAKARTA (JP): Fishermen and fishing boats of PT Djarma Aru in Merauke, Irian Jaya, have of late been afraid of going out to sea after two recent brutal attacks by mobs, Arudya, chief of the company's fishing fleet said. Arudya said in a statement sent from Merauke on Thursday that one fishing boat, MS Jala Perkasa, was attacked and torched by 30 people on Monday and its eleven crew members were still missing as of Thursday.

Govt extends talks with IMF JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Thursday it was still in talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the final draft of the fund-sponsored economic program, citing unresolved issues over the state budget. The government had previously hoped to finalize the so-termed letter of intent (LoI) by Thursday. State Minister for State Enterprises, Laksamana Sukardi said progress during negotiations with the IMF was going well, but required some "fine-tuning".

From corruption to extortion From Koran Tempo A legislator of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) faction at the Jakarta legislative assembly was reported by the tabloid, Ambisi, to be involved in a case of corruption involving Rp 6 billion in a tire project at the supply bureau of the Jakarta administration. This report led to an extortion case and the chief editor of Ambisi, Joseph Hutabarat, was arrested by the police.

Lin Dan shows Taufik the door in first career encounter JAKARTA (JP): Newcomer Lin Dan of China put top seed Taufik Hidayat's attempt to defend his title at the US$150,000 JVC Asian Badminton Championships in Manila to an end on Thursday. World number five Taufik played as if he was a novice against the left-handed Chinese teenager who used speed and power to breeze past the Indonesian 15-3, 15-2 in just 29 minutes for a place in the quarterfinals.

TV channels battle for ratings and revenue JAKARTA (JP): The country's first commercial station RCTI, which was introduced 12 years ago on Aug 24, and SCTV, which was launched a year later, also on Aug. 24, find August the hottest month of the year.

Gus Dur may be quizzed over search for Tommy JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro implied on Thursday that former president Abdurrahman Wahid would be summoned for questioning in connection with the police's efforts to hunt down the fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

How to address Megawati's husband From Kompas In the article Tiga Hari Bersama RI-3 (Three Days with RI-3) in Kompas dated Aug. 14 on Taufik Kiemas, the husband of President Megawati Soekarnopurti, he was referred to as RI-3 by the staff members of the State Secretariat. As a former lecturer (unsalaried) in the School of Social and Political Studies of the University of Indonesia in Rawamangun, Jakarta.

MUENSTER, Germany (JP): Bandung in Indonesia and Muenster in Germany are geographically disconnected and culturally different. In dealing with the problems of the mobility of disabled people there is nothing comparable. 2. 5Buchori -- Moral education: Whose responsibility is it?

Megawati-Hamzah partnership leads to improvement From Rakyat Merdeka The partnership between President Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz has resulted in signs of improvement in the national economy as indicated by the rupiah strengthening against the U.S. dollar. In accordance with the mutual cooperation spirit of the present Cabinet I propose ten exemplary deeds that should be shown by Megawati and Hamzah.

Women reporting bribery case tried for defamation JAKARTA (JP): A housewife appeared in court on Thursday on charges of defamation and falsifying a report of bribery which implicated Supreme Court justices, notaries public and National Land Agency (BPN) officials. Maria Leonita Sri Chandra Harumi, 54, was tried at the South Jakarta District Court for her report on an alleged bribery case filed at the now-defunct Joint Anticorruption Team (TGPTPK).

Taiwan turning point For both political and security reasons, the Taiwanese government for years has kept strict official limits on trade and investment between it and the mainland. And for their own business reasons, Taiwanese companies consistently have found ways around the rules. Now it appears Taipei is about to recognize this reality and scrap the rules or at least rewrite them substantially. If it does, and mainland China reciprocates, important cross-strait changes will be on the way.

Asia shares mixed as Tokyo tumbles SINGAPORE (Agencies): Gloomy Tokyo stocks fell to 17-year lows on Thursday while the rest of Asia put in a mixed performance despite a firm Wall Street buoyed by hints that the worst may be over for the anaemic U.S. economy. Tokyo's Nikkei average tumbled 2.36 percent to 11,126.92 points, the lowest close since October 1984. Taiwan, Indonesia and South Korean markets closed lower, while in mid-afternoon dealings Hong Kong and Singapore were higher.

PT REKAYASA INDUSTRI celebrates 20th anniversary penetrates global market with local resources Celebrating its 20th anniversary on Aug. 12, PT REKAYASA INDUSTRI has managed to stand firm and continue expanding its operations, despite the economic crisis that has plagued Indonesia since 1997.

Jakartans still unaware of Hepatitis B spread JAKARTA (JP): Not many people here seem to be aware of the Hepatitis B virus, which statistics reveal still infects one in 20 Jakartans, the same proportion of the population infected ten years ago.

GAM support base waning: Minister JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Thursday that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels were becoming increasingly isolated. According to Yudhoyono, who led a team of Cabinet ministers to Aceh on Wednesday, the armed separatist movement was continuing to weaken due to lack of popular support.

Chandra Asri deal not fair: Committee JAKARTA (JP): The oversight committee of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said that the restructuring scheme of petrochemical firm PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Center was advantageous to the firm's Japanese lenders but disadvantageous to IBRA.

Mall Calendar Metro (Plaza Senayan and Pondok Indah Mall): Metro Big Sale (Aug. 24 - Sept. 30)* * The first day is dedicated to Metro Yours and Citibank cardholders Supermal Karawaci Belanja Plus by Rimo department store (Aug. 16 - Sept. 16) Sogo Shades of Autumn (fashions shows, harp performance, vouchers) Sept. 1 - Sept. 30 Plaza Senayan Fashion Extravaganza (Sept. 21 - Sept. 23) Megamal Pluit Advance (sports equipment) Fair (Aug. 15 - Aug. 26) Automotive (Aug. 17 - Aug.

Prosecutor urged to probe councillors' trips JAKARTA (JP): Activists urged prosecutors on Thursday to investigate corruption alleged to have been committed by councillors in relation to foreign travel they are currently undertaking. "There is a lot of preliminary evidence that could be used by prosecutors to question the councillors," Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) chairman Azas Tigor Nainggolan told The Jakarta Post.