Victim of hypnotism From Rakyat Merdeka Crimes in Jakarta are on the rise and they are increasingly adopting a variety of different modus operandi. At 11.30 a.m. on Aug. 31, 2001, my elder sister had just finished shopping at Hero Supermarket in Menteng when a young man approached her to ask about someone's address. He then offered to sell my sister a Rolex watch. My sister initially rejected the offer but he was persistent.

East Timor eyes economic ties with Indonesia By Yemris Fointuna DILI, EAST TIMOR (JP): The United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) is planning to forge economic cooperation between the former Portuguese colony and Indonesia's province of West Timor, the other half of the island of Timor. This is one of the programs to be tackled by a development commission to be set up here this month.

'Elang' team to battle bombs, terror JAKARTA (JP): The city police's anti-terror and bomb squad completed a six-day training program on Monday aimed at sharpening their skills in dealing with bomb and terrorist related crimes. Squad instructor Adj. Sr. Comr. Amri Kamil of the National Police Headquarters said the team, code named Elang (eagle), was tasked with responding to bomb incidents and launching investigations into suspects and motives behind such crimes.

RI veteran swimmer steals 100m SEAG race By Novan Iman Santosa KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Veteran Richard Sam Bera of Indonesia lived up to his reputation as the fastest swimmer in the region when he defied younger opposition to retain the prestigious 100-meter freestyle gold medal at the 21st Southeast Asian Games here on Monday.

Sutiyoso to set new decree on Pulo Gebang bus terminal JAKARTA (JP): The city administration announced on Monday that it planned to issue a new gubernatorial decree which would allot 10-hectares of land owned by state-owned developer Perumnas, in Pulo Gebang, as a plot of land for a bus terminal to replace Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta. "That's the best option. It can be easily reached from anywhere," Governor Sutiyoso told reporters after attending a plenary session of the City Council.

Being a market leader is a result of hard work By Jonminofri JAKARTA (JP): The Honda Astrea Legenda motorcycle is really like a legend. Some 6,000 units of this model were immediately sold following the TV commercial aired last June, even though this new product had yet to be officially launched. Then in July the sales figures stood at 30,000 motorcycles, surpassing the target set at only 20,000.

In some regencies, education prioritized after roads The education system in Indonesia, which has often been labeled one of the worst in the world, faces complicated financial, human resource and managerial problems. New Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fadjar shared his views and plans with The Jakarta Post. Following is an excerpt. Question: What are the basic problems in our education system?

EATOF vows to boost tourism YOGYAKARTA (JP): Eight provinces out of nine East Asia Inter- Regional Tourism Forum (EATOF) founding members issued a joint declaration here on Monday stating their intention to empower East Asian tourism by strengthening multilateral relations among EATOF members.

Europe upbeat on new WTO round, Asians cautious HANOI (Reuters): Europe talked up the likelihood of a new world trade round this year as it began economic meetings with Asia on Monday, but Asian officials warned of hard bargaining to address developing countries' concerns.

Oil prices slightly lower due to profit-taking SINGAPORE (Reuters): Oil prices were slightly lower on Monday as the market stepped back from last week's gains and cashed in some profits. Benchmark October delivery U.S. light crude futures last traded at 0656 GMT (01.56 at Jakarta time) at US$27.95 barrel, down eight cents from Friday when the market had jumped 45 cents to close at $28.03 in New York. Monday's slight decline in prices, attributed to profit taking, was in thin trading.

Agus Santoso devotes his time to turtles By Bambang M. BANTUL, Central Java (JP): Care for one's environment starts at home. This is also true for Bantul resident Agus Santoso and his family in Yogyakarta. On certain afternoons, Agus, his wife and their daughter travel from their home in the hamlet of Sambeng in Srandakan to Pandansimo beach by motorcycle, taking three containers and another one filled with five tukik (young turtles).

Tito questioned over Tommy's impounded cars JAKARTA (JP): Police have questioned Pratikto "Tito" Prayitno Singgih, a son-in-law of former president Soeharto, in connection with a recent raid on an automotive workshop, during which police seized cars believed to belong to his fugitive brother-in-law Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra. City police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Practical solutions to help protect precious forests By Nigel Sizer JAKARTA (JP): East Asian ministers, together with officials from Europe, Japan and the United States, are gathering in Bali this week to explore how they can combat illegal logging. Indonesian leadership in this issue is sorely needed and we must applaud their offer to host the conference. Studies estimate that over half of the commercial timber cut in this country is illegal.

GAM releases Aceh community leaders BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): After being held hostage by Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members for 22 hours, four community leaders and one driver were released unharmed on Sunday. GAM confirmed the release on Monday, but strongly denied having kidnapped the people, Antara reported on Monday. "It was just a silaturahmi (friendly meeting), as one of the five was the former teacher of a local GAM leader," GAM's Meurahom Daya spokesman Abu Tausi said.

Four missing students found JAKARTA (JP): Rescue workers and fishermen have found four of the seven junior and senior high school students who went missing after being dragged by waves off Kiaralawang beach in the Cinangka district of Serang regency, Banten on Sunday, a report said. A police officer of Cinangka Police Subprecinct Office, identified as Sofian, said on Monday that the seven students were swimming at the beach, famous for its coral reefs, when the waves hit them.

Where to go in Bandung: Bandung Art Event 2001 Painting Exhibition, Galeri 16, Jl. Raya Cibeureum 16, until Sept. 22. Painting Exhibition: Mawas Diri, by Rosid, Buddy Siswanto and Azis Suryanegara, Galeri Hidayat, Jl. Sulanjana 36 (Phone: 022 4208257), until Sept. 16. Painting Exhibition, Museum Barli, JL. Prof. Sutami 91, until Sept. 18. Sport Fine Arts by Niagara Jaya, Studio Opname, Jl. Aksanjaya, 1/05, until Sept. 19.

Indonesia in need of strong Navy: President JAKARTA (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Monday that Indonesia needed to develop a strong navy to guard the country's territorial waters. "A strong naval force reflects a nation's dignity, thus (by having one), we can gain the respect of other countries in the world," the President said, while addressing the 50th anniversary of the Navy Academy in Bumi Moro Krembangan, Surabaya, East Java, as quoted by Antara.

Rp 3.8t in irregularities found in state finances JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) reported on Monday that it had found some 1,643 cases of financial irregularities involving a total sum of Rp 3.8 trillion (US$418 million) in the management of the 2000 state budget and accounts relating to the first five months of the 2001 budget. BPK Head Satrio B. Judono submitted the findings to the House of Representatives in a plenary session.

Hino plans Thai truck plant TOKYO (Dow Jones): Hino Motors Ltd., hoping to boost its sales in Southeast Asia, may start making its own small trucks in Thailand, instead of simply assembling those of Toyota Motor Corp., Hino said Monday. Last month, Toyota lifted its equity stake in Hino to 50.1 percent from 36.6 percent, providing the struggling truckmaker with Y66.39 billion to beef up its two-ton truck business and offshore operations. Hino is now Toyota's fully fledged truck- making arm.

Water shortages hit Mataram MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Parts of Mataram, including Senggigi Beach resort, have been hit by water shortages during peak hours because of heavy use, the town's water authority said on Monday. Partu, president of city-owned PDAM Menang Mataram, told Antara that during the current dry season, most big users like hotels relied solely on water supplied by his agency.

Business and regional autonomy Even before regional autonomy became a fact, fears had been expressed by the business community that regional governments would try to increase their revenues by issuing all kinds of tax rulings and regulations. These fears have now become the reality and consequently, last Wednesday, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) presented their complaints to President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Firearms seized during operations JAKARTA (JP): City police confiscated 95 firearms and arrested 104 people during routine operations held in the past two weeks from Aug. 25 to Sept. 7, police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton Bachrul Alam announced on Monday. Anton said the routine night operations, code-named Sapu Jagat and Brantas Jaya 2001 were carried out in Greater Jakarta.

Ade released, but remains a witness JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta Police have released veteran singer Ade Manuhutu after he was held for questioning over his alleged involvement in counterfeiting money, an officer said on Monday. South Jakarta Police chief of detectives Comr. Napoleon Bonaparte said that 54-year-old Ade was released over the weekend because preliminary questioning revealed that he was not involved in counterfeiting U.S. dollars.

Local coffee exporters ask govt to impose quota scheme JAKARTA (JP): Local coffee exporters called on the government to introduce a quota scheme to limit the market share of foreign exporters operating in the country. Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters (AEKI) Hassan Widjaja said a quota for coffee exports was crucial to enable local exporters to compete with foreign coffee traders.

PAS leader says govt full of thieves KOTA BARU, Malaysia (AFP): Malaysia's government is full of thieves who fear an Islamic state because their hands would have to be chopped off, a leader of the main opposition party said on Monday. Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the revered spiritual chief of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) and chief minister of Kelantan state, said this was why the government was whipping up anti-PAS feeling in the Chinese community.

S'pore launches film on AIDS SINGAPORE (DPA): Open-air films have been launched in Singapore to educate Indian workers on AIDS and the dangers of unprotected sex, it was reported on Monday. The films are part of an educational campaign in the Bengali and Tamil languages targeting mainly foreign construction workers. Civil engineer Ravi Rai, who is organizing the showings, said many of the workers came from small villages where there was little awareness about the deadly virus.

China signals it can wait on Taiwan reunification BEIJING (AFP): China's key policy maker on Taiwan, Vice Premier Qian Qichen, said on Monday that Beijing can be patient in waiting for Taiwan to be reunited with the mainland as he spelled out the "favorable" conditions the island could enjoy if reunion took place.

UN accepts E. Timor election results DILI, East Timor (Agencies): The United Nations certified the results of East Timor's first democratic elections Monday, ahead of the inauguration of the country's new 88-member assembly. The UN-run electoral commission pronounced the Aug. 30 ballot as free and fair at a ceremony attended by transitional administrator Sergio Vieira de Mello. Sixteen political parties participated in the vote for the council that will draw up East Timor's first constitution.

School stresses train engineers must stay alert Text and photos by Tarko Sudiarno YOGYAKARTA (JP): To the public, it may seem easy to operate a locomotive. You could drive it back and forth while sitting in the locomotive operator's room, perhaps having something to eat or drink at the same time. Few realize, however, the great responsibility that an engineer assumes or that to become one, you must go through a long period of training.

2. Market ( 1 x 35 ) Tokyo share slide shakes Asian confidence 3. Oil ( 1 x 35 ) Oil prices slightly lower due to profit-taking 4. Gold ( 2 x 22) Europe gold prices firmer, but cautious of BoE sale 5. Palm ( 2 x 20 ) RI palm oil sales to China seen up sharply