City draft budget yet to be discussed Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The City Council and the city administration have yet to begin discussion of the 2003 draft budget, which is expected to increase by about 13 percent from Rp 9.7 trillion in 2002 to nearly Rp 11 trillion. The administration delivered the draft to the council last week, but as of Thursday deliberation of the draft had yet to begin despite there being only two weeks before the new year.

Home minister warns of more islands being lost The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Smarting over the loss of the islands of Sipadan and Ligitan, home minister Hari Sabarno suggested the country exercise its sovereignty over remote islands by increasing its presence on these islands. Hari said Indonesian sovereignty could be represented by monuments, security officers and communities of Indonesian citizens.

Southeast Sulawesi still without a governor Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said on Thursday the government would name an acting governor for Southeast Sulawesi next week, following the conclusion of a bribery investigation into the governor-elect and vice governor-elect. There has been speculation that the government has appointed incumbent governor La Ode Kaimoeddin as the caretaker, speculation fueled by Kaimeoddin himself.

Singapore, Malaysia practice chemical attack response Associated Press, Singapore/Sydney, Australia Singaporean and Malaysian rescue workers lumbering in red and yellow protective suits practiced responding to chemical attacks and spills on Thursday on a bridge linking the two countries. Fear of terrorist attacks has brought together the neighboring countries, prone to disagree over many other issues.

Council discusses bills to save Sundanese culture Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java The West Java legislative council and provincial administration are deliberating three bills to prevent Sundanese culture and literature from becoming extinct in the future amid the rapid drive of modern development. If endorsed, the bills will include the Sundanese language as a mandatory subject in the curricula of elementary, junior and senior high schools in West Java.

;AFP;KOD; ANPAu..r.. Aglance-Malaysia-attacks Malaysian police arrest seven over Internet terror rumors JP/11/ASEAN Police nab seven over Internet terror MALAYSIA: Malaysian police on Thursday said they had arrested six women and a man for allegedly sending e-mails to the Australian High Commission and other Internet addresses warning of bomb attacks on major shopping centers in Kuala Lumpur.

Money laundering and terrorist financing Anwar Nasution, Senior Deputy Governor, Bank Indonesia Combating money laundering in Indonesia is more difficult with the introduction of a wide range of international and domestic deregulation and the rapid changes in technology. Long before Indonesia deregulated the banking system in 1988 and reformed the trade and industrial policies in the 1990s, the country adopted a liberal capital account transactions and free exchange rate system in early 1970.

Money laundering and terrorist financing Anwar Nasution Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia 2. Sidney2 -- The anatomy of conflicts in post-Soeharto Indonesia 1 X 50 Anatomy of conflicts in post-Soeharto Indonesia Part 2 of 2 The anatomy of conflicts in post-Soeharto Indonesia Sidney Jones Indonesia Project Director International Crisis Group Jakarta 3. Strait -- Neighbor's hand-up 1 x 30 PM Goh's visit to Indonesia The Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore

Motorists annoyed by road closure Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Many motorists driving in the vicinity of the Merdeka presidential palace in Central Jakarta became upset on Thursday due to heavy traffic congestion arising from the closure of main roads in the area without any prior warning to the public. "This is really annoying.

Sutiyoso put on Rp 9.5b allowance Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The draft 2003 city budget and its details were delivered to all 85 members of the City Council on Thursday, containing a number of interesting points, including the budget for Governor Sutiyoso's regular perks during the year. In the draft budget, which is expected to be passed into law on Jan.

German silhouette film meets Indonesian 'wayang' Zora Rahman, Contributor, Jakarta The first feature-length animation ever created was not Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, nor was it done by Walt Disney, which are probably two of the most common misconceptions in film history. It was The Adventures of Prince Achmed, an artistic silhouette film done by a 26-year-old German woman, but it is unlikely the truth will ever become as accepted as the error.

Farewell to Severino Outgoing Secretary-General of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Rodolfo C. Severino Jr. has done his utmost, not only in strengthening relations between the 10 member countries of the regional grouping but also in promoting the significance and role of ASEAN in international politics.

Govt urged to optimize UNIDO aid for SMEs The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The aid agreement signed by the government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) here late last month should be excellent momentum for the empowerment of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), businessman Tony Agus Ardie says.

Prosecutors seek one-year term for militant Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A state prosecutor demanded on Thursday former leader of Laskar Jihad Ja'far Umar Thalib be sentenced to one year in jail for his incitement of public hatred and provocation of people to fight against the government.

1. Syafiq -- Towards a new understanding between Islam and the West after the 2 X 23 Indonesian Islam facing serious image problems Syafiq Hasyim Director Rahima Foundation Jakarta syafiqhasyim@hotmail.com. 2. New -- Boundary poser with win 2 X 30 Boundary poser with Malaysian win in Sipadan and Ligitan Carolyn Hong New Straits Times Kuala Lumpur

PM Goh's visit to Indonesia The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong put in solid business in his short visit to Jakarta and Bogor this week. Showing solidarity with the Indonesian people and government after the dreadful blow inflicted on Bali was not a matter of symbolism. There is self-interest riding on both sides.

1. LOTTE: 1 LINE, 38 COUNTS German silhouette film meets Indonesian 'wayang'

Effectiveness of ID card sweeps questioned Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta City councillors questioned on Thursday the effectiveness of the administration's plan to conduct a sweep on ID cards to curb the flow of migrants, commenting that it might promote corruption among city officials. Muchayar, vice chairman of the Justice Party (PK) faction, said that such raids would not solve the problem as it also paved the way for officials to charge illegal levies.

Experts expect much of the same after 2004 election The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The 2004 general election is unlikely to improve the quality of political life under the next government and legislature, with stronger public apathy toward the upcoming election also apparent, analysts said on Thursday.