Diyanto: The body, the real and the absurd By Astri Wright PASSAU, Germany (JP): Modern Indonesian art is making inroads in new places. The Cafe Museum exhibition, in the Museum of Modern Art in the small southern German town of Passau, includes works by Indonesian painter Diyanto, who is also one of 14 artists taking part in the exhibition Not I. Am I? currently being held at the Nadi Gallery in Jakarta.

Foreign musicians come back to Indonesia By Hera Diani JAKARTA (JP): Music lovers rejoice -- the next three months will see a veritable rush of international artists coming to Indonesia to perform. Sure, the list of scheduled acts may not be spectacular by the standards of many countries, but it's not bad for Indonesia. Especially considering that over the past year the country has only seen the likes of Westlife (another playback act), Megadeath (so 10 years ago) and the Scorpions (relics).

Later on Saturday, a member of Aceh's provincial legislative assembly, Zaini Sulaiman Ishaq, 43, was shot dead by an unidentified assailant. The incident occurred at the residence of the United Development Party legislator, at BPD Meusara Agung housing complex in Darul Imara district, Aceh Besar, Antara reported. Aceh Police spokesman Comr. Sudarsono confirmed the incident and said that Aceh Besar Police were investigating the case.

'Indonesia Today' says good-bye JAKARTA (JP): After nearly five years of bringing the news to the country's English-speaking community, Indonesia Today signed off for the last time on Friday morning. The show first appeared on RCTI in October 1996, making it the first English-language news show in the country to be aired on a private television station. It started out as Indonesia This Week, a once-a-week roundup of news and events in the country.

Accelerating your downloads so you can save on time By Vishnu K. Mahmud JAKARTA (JP): Downloading files over the Internet is supposed to be easy. All you have to do is click a hyperlink and presto!, a digital copy of the file lands in your computer. But with the high cost of telephone charges, web "time-outs" (due to soaring net traffic) and poor or often broken net connections, downloading large files (be it MP3s, presentation documents or games) can be rather pricey.

Drive-by shooting leaves three people injured JAKARTA (JP): Three people were injured, including a suspended executive of Ansor, the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, in a dramatic drive-by shooting late on Friday on Jl. Buncit Raya in South Jakarta. South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang W. identified the victims as Wahyudin Ghozali, who was shot in the hand, M.

Foundation spreads the word about love of books Text and photo by Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): For four-year-old Yusuf, the library is a castle, the van full of books, a caravan of treasures. With a book in his hands he feels like a king. His mother, Nani, is delighted at her only child's love for books. And she thanks the Wandering Books Foundation for bringing so much joy into the life of the young widow.

Refugee Australia finds answer to asylum ship crisis. Page 2 'Becak' Yogyakarta 'becak' getting a modern makeover. Page 5 Cancer Tune up your lifestyle to prevent prostate cancer. Page 7 Wardrobe Tradition vs. modern in the presidential wardrobe. Page 8 Galleries Notes from around Jakarta's art galleries. Page 9 Page 10 Headings, Page 11, Entertainment Musicians Foreign musicians coming back to Indonesia. Page 11 Downloads Accelerate your downloads so you can save on time. Page 13

How low can advertisements go? There is little doubt that Indonesia's advertising industry has started to pick up after the mid-1997 economic crisis. But with more money up for grabs, combined with public calls for greater freedom of expression, companies, advertising agencies and the media are now more willing to stretch the levels of acceptability, often leading to obscene, misleading and unlawful ads. The Jakarta Post's K. Basrie has the following report.

Looking inward in 'Not I. Am I?' By Carla Bianpoen JAKARTA (JP): Once again, the Nadi Gallery in Jakarta has challenged artists to do some soul-searching. This time, the participating artists had to search for the truth of their very beings. A clearly grueling process at a time when conscience is more often spoken of than acted upon, and identity is mostly covered under various disguises.

'I want to be remembered as a regular person' Dide Petet, the famous name of Didi Widiatmoko, is a chameleon in terms of his acting ability. The 45-year-old actor has successfully played a series of roles, from the sissy "Emon" to Sundanese figure "Kabayan" to an evil merchant in his latest film Pasir Berbisik. The Jakarta Post's Hera Diani interviewed him recently after the launching of the film. If you had the choice, what would you be doing now? A choice? (long pause) I don't know...

JP/16/SOCCER Unlucky Thais held by Iran BANGKOK (Agencies): Iran hung on for dear life to remain unbeaten in Asia's World Cup qualifying tournament with a 0-0 draw against Thailand here on Saturday. The France 98 qualifier was second best against a Thai side that showed it had put its 4-0 loss at the hands of Iraq two weeks ago behind it with an impressive display in both attack and defense, as reported by AFC official website.

Where to go in Jakarta: Art Summit III * Balinese Traditional Music: Gugatan Bambu Bali by I Nyoman Windha, Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Gedung Kesenian No. 1, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3808283), 8 p.m., Sept. 2. * Music: Swara Genta by A.L. Suwardi (Indonesian), Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, 8 p.m., Sept. 5 - 6. * Theater by Rachman Sabur, Teater Payung Hitam (Indonesian), Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, 8 p.m., Sept. 7 - 8.

Tradition vs. modern in the presidential wardrobe By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): She came, she saw, she wore her presidential best. President Megawati Soekarnoputri's whirlwind trip to nine ASEAN countries in eight days was not just about how she would stand up to testing the diplomatic waters as Indonesia's first woman president. It was also, to a point, about the fashion statement she made along the way.

Director Nan communicates without words By Hera Diani JAKARTA (JP): Film director Nan Triveni Achnas believes a film should provide the audience with a lot of space. "We mustn't give them all of the story. Let the audience interpret it for themselves," she said recently. She was speaking at a media conference to introduce her latest film, Pasir Berbisik, which is due out in theaters on Sept. 7.

Designers to the stars come to Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Do you want to look classy but not vulgar for an evening cocktail party? Then, if you also have the requisite pocketful of cash, you could try the latest creations from the New York-based design team of Mark Badgley and James Mischka. The glamorous Hollywood style of the late 1940s and 1950s filled the atmosphere of Badgley Mischka's trunk show for fall 2001-2002 at Hotel Mulia Senayan in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Richard Sam Bera keeps eye on his competitors JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian swimming ace Richard Sam Bera says he will keep his eyes on Leslie Kwok and Allen Ong in his attempt to maintain his domination at the SEA Games. Richard is the only Indonesian swim team member who has a chance of winning gold medals in the competition where Thailand and Singapore are beginning to look stronger.

How the Indonesian Military made a role in politics Militer Indonesia dan Politik -- Dulu, Kini dan Kelak (Indonesian Military and Politics -- Past, Present and Future); Salim Said; Pustaka Sinar Harapan, 2001; xxi + 378; Rp 45,000 JAKARTA (JP): Salim Said is one of the few Indonesian experts well versed in Indonesian Military affairs; understandably, the publication of this book, a collection of 44 articles he wrote over a span of close to 20 years, is a must-read of sorts for those interested...

Will 'British English' survive? JAKARTA (JP): The purpose of a language, according to an English author, "is to get an idea as exactly as possible out of one mind into another". English is owned by all the English-speaking people on this planet. English is no longer a British language, nor can it become "American English" either. However, puritans may be shocked at the way English is spoken around the world. For instance, Australians pronounce the word "day" as "die".

Death toll in Luwu violence reaches 13 LUWU, South Sulawesi (JP): The death toll from an intervillage clash in the district of Ponrang, Luwu regency, reached 13 on Saturday, while regency legislators decried the local regent's sluggishness in dealing with the violence. "Regent Kamrul Kasim failed to anticipate the deadly clash, which had been predicted by others. He also did not approach residents to appeal to them not to be easily provoked.

Yogyakarta 'becak' getting a modern makeover By Tarko Sudiarno YOGYAKARTA (JP): Becak (three-wheeled pedicabs) may be pushed off the streets of Jakarta and other cities, but in Yogyakarta they get a lot of respect. They even have their own traffic lane. During Jogja Heritage Week 2001, held at Yogyakarta Palace in early August, this traditional transport was included among the local heirlooms.

Ten killed in Aceh in past 48 hours BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Ten people, including two members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), one Indonesian Marine and six civilians have been killed in separate incidents over the past two days in the troubled province of Aceh.

Bamboo Symphony soothes audience By Riyadi Suparno JAKARTA (JP): Flutes do not often take center stage in traditional Balinese music, with the percussion usually dominating. However, Saturday night's performance of Balinese gamelan at the Jakarta Playhouse (GKJ) might help to alter that common arrangement. Bamboo Symphony, as the name indicates, tries to better the position of the "marginalized" instruments, according to composer I Nyoman Windha.

Fiji calm as vote nears close SUVA, Fiji (Reuters): Fiji's capital was calm on Saturday on the final day of a racially charged general election to replace a military-backed government dominated by indigenous islanders, police said. The military, which seized control after nationalist rebels deposed Fiji's first ethnic Indian prime minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, 15 months ago, has agreed to turn over security during the election to the unarmed national police force.

Guess What? Sherina Entertainer Sherina, 11, may be of tender years, but she knows that violating intellectual copyrights is wrong. Especially when it comes to her VCD. "My comment is the same as what my father just said but I just want to say, whoever wants to buy my VCDs, please do not buy any pirated VCDs," she said when she launched her new karaoke VCD on Tuesday in Jakarta. Her reason? "Because mmm...pirating is not good," she said.

Anton wins 2nd term amid election irregularities JAKARTA (JP): Anton Sihombing was elected president of the Indonesian Pro-boxing Commission (KTI) for a second successive tenure in an election marred by allegations of ballot manipulation, Antara reported. Anton will serve for another four-year term until 2005 after winning 72 of 102 eligible votes over his closest rival Tinton Suprapto at the KTI congress in Semarang, Central Java, on Friday.

Thinking of taking a test of English? By Simon Marcus Gower TANGERANG, Banten (JP): From school children as young as kindergarten age to mature businessmen and women, literally millions of Indonesians are learning English. For the children this may be seen as the natural consequence of the national schooling system that deliberately targets English as a second language.

RI cigarette ads blow smoke at regulations By K. Basrie JAKARTA (JP): Every smoker has a story about why they took up the habit. Some point to peer pressure, others to teenage rebellion and their surroundings. And some say cigarette advertisements got them hooked. But whether the ads are responsible or not, many smokers say they have no regrets. Ilham says cigarettes have poisoned his health but still he sees no reason to stop after smoking since the age of 10.

Italian Consulate opens in Yogya YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Italian government officially opened its consulate in Yogyakarta on Friday, with the hope of boosting cultural and commercial exchanges between Italy and the historic city.

TV today TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Cartoon 8:30 Children's Performances 9:00 Sports 10:30 Religious Teachings 11:00 News 11:30 Children's Songs 12:00 p.m. Traditional Comedy 1:30 Children's Program 2:00 News 2:15 Traditional Performance 3:15 Music 4:15 Children's Program 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Forestry 5:30 Children's Film 6:00 News 7:00 Comedy 7:30 Song and Dance 9:00 Music 10:00 News 10:30 Sports Program 2 5:30 p.m.

Dogs going high-tech KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A dog with a chip on its shoulder will no longer be an object of fear in Malaysia, simply the latest example of technology taking over from tradition. Old-fashioned dog tags will be replaced by microchips implanted in all canine pets by next year, newspapers reported last week. The grain-sized chips will help trace errant dogs and their owners, said veterinary department chief Mohamad Nordin Mohd.

Public can take a stand against offensive ads By Maria Endah Hulupi JAKARTA (JP): In advertising, the impossible can come true. A brawny young man can, for example, perform a series of superhuman feats, including beating off a crocodile and saving a helpless young woman, after guzzling a bottle of an energy drink. And forget about concern over good taste when the ads focus on women as the objects of attention.