Asian Currencies Mixed Late; Market Awaits Word On Bin Laden SINGAPORE (agencies): Asian currencies were mixed against the dollar Wednesday as investors digested the latest developments in the U.S. effort to force the extradition of suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden. The dollar, which has suffered in recent weeks due mainly to the deteriorating U.S.

Not business as usual The Indonesian government and the House of Representatives would only be deluding themselves if they thought the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the heart of the United States' financial industry would not affect the U.S. economic fundamentals, expecting it to be back to business as usual within a few weeks.

Tragedy of all nations It has been said that a picture paints a thousand words. The Jakarta Post is to be congratulated for publishing one such picture on the front page of its Sept. 15 edition, showing a group of Indonesian Muslim women mourning the tragic events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania of Sept. 11, with the American flag prominent in the foreground.

Govt pledges to go for debt-for-nature scheme JAKARTA (JP): The government has vowed to pursue a debt-for- nature-and-development swap with foreign creditors to ease pressure on the state budget from debt-servicing and to benefit the environment.

Search gets underway for bin Laden in RI PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): The Banyumas Police have formed a special team to search for Osama bin Laden, the suspected mastermind behind the terror strikes on the United States, who is reportedly in Indonesia. A similar search is also being conducted by South Sulawesi Police. Sr. Comr.

Disarm police: Army chief JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has called on President Megawati Soekarnoputri and the House of Representatives to disarm the National Police in enforcing the law and maintaining security. "The National Police is not an armed force but a moral force.

Thai princess gets honorary degree TOKYO (DPA): Tokyo's Gakushuin University conferred an honorary doctorate on Thailand's royal Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn on Wednesday, school officials said. The princess, a graduate of Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University, which has an agreement with Gakushuin University, received the degree at a ceremony attended by Japanese Prince Akishino and his wife, Princess Kiko, both of whom are graduates of the private university.

Jakarta graves left left for dead By Annastashya Emmanuelle JAKARTA (JP): For many Jakartans "dead and buried" literally means being forgotten, as nearly half the graves in the city are reportedly neglected. Data from the city's Public Cemetery Agency shows that about 50 percent of graves in the 96 public cemeteries across the capital are neglected by families of the deceased.

Passports of crime suspects withdrawn JAKARTA (JP): The directorate general of immigration has withdrawn the passports of two prominent businessmen who have been declared suspects in a graft case and banned from overseas travel. Head of the sub-directorate of immigration control of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, M. Zaelani, said on Tuesday that Robby Tjahjadi and Johannes Kotjo were both suspects in a graft case.

Asian countries nervous over China's WTO entry SINGAPORE (AFP): As the global community welcomes China's entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO), regional policymakers are nervously assessing how to cope with the Asian giant's irreversible economic ascendency. China's WTO membership, now just a formality, is expected to escalate pressure on Asian countries to strengthen their competitiveness against the might of the Chinese industrial engine, regional officials and analysts said.

Army chief says Madiun victims shot by police JAKARTA (JP): Four days after a fierce clash between members of the police and the military took the lives of three civilians in the East Java town of Madiun, a lead as to who pulled the trigger has yet to emerge. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said in a hearing with members of the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday that the three teenagers killed in the clash were shot by the police.

'Lack of vision leads to RI decline' JAKARTA (JP): Failure to keep focused on the vision has resulted in Indonesia's declining performance in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which saw its contingent finish third for the second straight time at the just concluded event in Kuala Lumpur, a sports observer says. "We have deviated from the very principles we held the first time we participated in the SEA Games," Joe Rumeser, a sports observer, told The Jakarta Post.

Amien meets PM Howard CANBERRA (ANTARA): People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Amien Rais, who is on a two-day visit to Australia beginning Wednesday, met with Australian Prime Minister John Howard here Wednesday. The MPR chief and Prime Minister Howard discussed matters related to the Indonesian and Australia bilateral relations, next to the recent terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center (WTC) building and the Pentagon respectively in New York and Washington DC, the United States.

Syahril denies responsibility JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Syahril Sabirin told the court here on Wednesday that he was not responsible for the disbursement of Rp 904 billion (US$100 million) in Bank Indonesia's liquidity support funds (BLBI) to Bank Bali in 1999.

RP's largest privatization plan ready by next month by anoname MANILA (AFP): A US$5 billion plan to privatize the Philippines' debt-ridden state power producer should be ready for signing by President Gloria Arroyo next month, Energy Secretary Vince Perez said Wednesday. "This is the largest privatization in the entire country to date," he told reporters. The privatization of National Power Corp.

Counter intelligence bolstered following U.S. fears Further signs of a new breed of terrorism have been linked to last Tuesday's attack on America. The Jakarta Post's reporter Tiarma Siboro talked to former defense attache at the Indonesian Embassy in the United States (1997-1998) Maj.Gen. Sudradjat, now director general of defense strategy at the Ministry of Defense.

Students' trial turns chaotic JAKARTA (JP): The trial of two student activists in South Jakarta District Court turned chaotic as the defendants and their lawyers walked out after the presiding judge banned the students' supporters from entering the tightly guarded courtroom.

Watch out for the neighbors SINGAPORE: From the thicket of recent writings on transnational terrorism, one paper is prominent for its postulation about the involvement of a strand of radical Islam in the world's ethno-religious hot spots. The contention breaks no new ground but, as a departure point from the author's theme, the linear progression of this movement into disputes with religious overtones should ring alarms in Southeast Asian countries with unresolved problems.

Tasikmalaya still tense after riot TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): The situation in the village of Cipatujah, Tasikmalaya regency in West Java was still tense after communal rioting in which 23 houses and two churches were destroyed and set ablaze on Monday. No fatalities were reported. At least 118 people have yet to return to their homes for fear of further attack. Some are believed to have hidden in the forest, while others may be staying at nearby homes of relatives.

Discovery of check only the tip of the iceberg: Analysts JAKARTA (JP): The cheque found in the legislature's office building, which is suspected of having been intended as a bribe for a legislator, is only one small sample that has come to light of a much bigger web of corruption involving government officials and politicians, analysts say.

Mega's visit to U.S. timely There was indeed, at first, some hesitation among senior Indonesian government officials whether or not to accept the American presidential invitation. The economic value of the visit seems to have more significance than the political aspect, so the go-ahead signal was given. Yet an influential figure like People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais advised President Megawati to wait a little longer until conditions in the USA stabilized.

Tasikmalaya still tense following communal riot TASIKMALAYA, West Java (JP): The situation in the village of Cipatujah, Tasikmalaya regency in West Java was still tense after communal rioting in which 23 houses and two churches were destroyed and set ablaze on Monday. No fatalities were reported. At least 118 people have yet to return to their homes for fear of further attack. Some are believed to have hidden in the forest, while others may be staying at nearby homes of relatives.

Catastrophe or curse? From Koran Tempo Terrorists attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Center and the United States (U.S.) defense ministry building, the Pentagon, have really stunned the world. These might be the worst terrorist attacks that have ever been dealt the U.S. The twin towers, billions of U.S. dollars in value, were reduced to rubble. The Pentagon, an icon of U.S. supremacy and might, also partially fell apart.

Police capture burglars BOGOR (JP): Three out of seven burglars who robbed four Arabs, after tying them up at a house in the village of Teladan, Cisaru district last Thursday, have been captured by police. The suspects were arrested on Monday. The other suspects are still at large. They made off with Rp 10 million (US$945), $4,000, Rial 41,000 worth of cash, two mobile phones and one Toyota Kijang car.

Clerics warn U.S. against retaliation MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Leaders of five religions called on the U.S. on Wednesday to refrain from taking excessive retaliatory measures against states it suspected of backing last week's terrorist attacks on America.

Transgenic cotton project to be reviewed MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): South Sulawesi governor HZB Palaguna said cessation of the genetically modified cotton project on a total of 4,462 hectares of land in seven regencies in the province was likely should the project hurt local farmers.

NPLs of recap banks improve to 15% by Berni K. Mustafa JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Wednesday the average nonperforming loans (NPLs) rate of recapitalized banks has improved to 15 percent as against over 20 percent last year, though still far off from Bank Indonesia's 5 percent year-end target. Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Deputy Chairwoman Felia Salim called the 15 percent average NPLs rate reasonable. "The rate reflects our present condition.

2002 customs earnings target hard to meet: Official by Tantri Yuliandini JAKARTA (JP): The higher target for the 2002 customs receipts will be difficult to achieve as more and more import tariffs will be cut to comply with the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA), a senior official says.

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