Strikes in state firms and foreign investors Suhunan M. Situmorang Corporate Lawyer Jakarta A new phenomenon in the history of the workers' struggle in Indonesia has arisen. While their demands used to involve wage increases, better welfare, or rejection of lay-offs, today workers are turning their attention to corporate affairs.

Time to call a spade a spade Amando Doronila, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Asia News Network The Balikatan 02-1 joint RP-U.S. military exercises, launched last January, are nearly halfway through their six-month time frame, but the troops have not been involved in serious encounters with the Abu Sayyaf.

Foundation a sanctuary for street kids Des Price, Contributor, Jakarta The recent floods in Jakarta served as a reminder to Ibu Pandaya of the way the last severe flooding in February 1996 changed her life. At that time the city was immersed in rainwater for days but that was no match to the severe, unabated torrential rain and flooding this year.

Edane: That was then, this is now Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Face it: Music trends are changing, including in rock. Gone are the glorious days of '80s rock with big hair, the metalheads and Seattle grunge. Those who reign supreme today are the likes of Limp Bizkit, Slip Knot, Linkin Park and P.O.D.. Older rockers then can either insist on doing their kind of thing even though it does not sell, take a long hiatus until the wheel turns again, or else, compromise.

Akbar does not deserve support From Rakyat Merdeka The political elite has misused the reform message students have struggled for since 1998. The aspiration to build a new Indonesia, where people enjoy better welfare and social justice, remains an illusion. Justice and better welfare seem to be only utopian words as the people still live miserably. The price of daily necessities keeps rising.

Jamsostek funds From Kompas I worked at Dunkin' Donuts Jakarta as a store manager for about ten years, with employee number 1992062901. Owing to my own mistakes, I was forced to resign from my position without getting any severance pay or service pay. I only obtained a letter certifying that I worked well at Dunkin' Donuts Jakarta during that particular period.

Ford Ranger: The little truck that does it all Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta If you are young, or at least young-spirited, love adventure and always looking for challenges, you can enjoy a different ride with the newly launched Ford Ranger. This 4x4 pick-up is now available on local market with a wider appeal. Instead of pitching the Ranger only at off-road enthusiasts, Ford has redesigned the vehicle to be comfortable and classy enough for families going away for the weekend.

JP/Mulkan Salmona A computer exhibition is regularly held in Jakarta displaying the latest trend in the computer technology.

Nyonya Meneer: A not so happy family firm Lie Hua, Contributor, Jakarta Perjalanan Panjang Usaha Nyonya Meneer; (Long Journey of Nyonya Meneer Business); By Asih Sumardono, et al; Grasindo, Jakarta, 2002; xxi + 255 pp The movement back to nature in medicine means making more intensive use of medicinal herbs, a great number of which are found in this country. The use of medicinal herbs here is found in jamu (Indonesian traditional medicine), which many people still turn to when they fall sick.

JP/12/Merpati Overmanning drags Merpati down Debbie Lubis The Jakarta Post Jakarta Carrying excess baggage of 1,500 employees, PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines has trouble lifting off from its current low of unresolved debt problems, tight competition and soaring costs, but its chief executive said layoffs were not the answer. Merpati president director Wahyu Hidayat said Merpati had been suffering from overmanning since before he became chief there in 1999.

Small homes: Making the most of limited space Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Coming up with the interior design for small houses can be a challenge: It's inevitable that house owners have a smaller canvas to work on. But if you already have a particular design concept, you can realize your dream house that fully reflects your personal taste.

Megawati helping bridge the gap between Pyongyang and Seoul Susanto Pudjomartono, The Jakarta Post, Seoul President Megawati Soekarnoputri received praise from South Korean President Kim Dae-jung upon her arrival on Saturday as she brought with her an encouraging message from Pyongyang on the possible resumption of talks in the peninsula.

U.S. seeking to restore military ties with Jakarta Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Visiting United States senators met with top officials on Saturday to study the possibility of restoring military cooperation between the two countries which was suspended after the East Timor mayhem in 1999. Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce, Senator Daniel K.

Tracing Hizbut Tahrir in Indonesia Solahudin Observer Islamic Movements Jakarta Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 in the U.S., all Islamic groups considered militant have been in the spotlight. Ahmed Rasyid, the author of Taliban, recently launched his latest book titled Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia.

On The Shelves Menulis Politik: Indonesia sebagai Utopia; (Writing on Politics: Indonesia as a Utopia); By Ignas Kleden; Kompas Book Publisher, Jakarta, 2001; xli + 291 pages This book is a collection of Kleden's articles published in Kompas daily from 1982 to 2000. They are interesting to read as a reflection of the responses that Kleden, as a non-partisan intellectual, gave to the political events that unfurled during the last two decades in this country.

RI troops shoot alleged thieves INDONESIA: Indonesian troops shot and killed two cattle thieves close to the country's UN-patrolled border with East Timor, an official said on Saturday. UN security forces are searching for two other members of the gang, who are believed to have fled to East Timor, said UN peacekeeping spokesman Lt. Col. Jan Fredrik Drangsholt.

How inter-faith dialog can promote a plural society Th. Sumartana, Institute for Inter-Faith, Dialog in Indonesia, Yogyakarta Since its establishment in 1999, the Institute for Inter-Faith Dialog in Indonesia (Interfidei) has been fully engaged in popularizing inter-faith dialog, particularly during the unstable late 1990s. Because of its nature, Interfidei has greater freedom to develop its vision and mission.

Bale Air just the place to relax and take it easy Bill Blade Contributor Jakarta It's no fun being a pub reviewer, I'll have you know, but it certainly is worth my while. And where better to set forth on such a voyage of discovery than the delightful and salubrious Bale Air Food Village, located conveniently at Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 18, South Jakarta, and reportedly a haven of good living and rectitude in this city of unmentionable sins.

JP/4/C04 COMPANY: Borobudur Hotel Klub Borobudur: The right place to keep you fit and healthy Most people have their own theories about what makes a gym or fitness center special, and most of the theories are correct; It's the pampering, the exercise, the facilities and the equipment. At Klub Borobudur, the staff establish good relationships with members.

Burn more calories in less time with circuit training Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It has been six weeks since Heidi started her three-month fitness program at the Jakarta Hilton International's LifeSpa & Fitness Center. During this time she has only lost two kilos, leaving her frustrated with her seeming lack of progress. "Why is it so hard to lose weight?" she asked Thomas Weber, the fitness center manager who assists her in the program.

Education during the Dutch rule It goes without saying that social conditions in a colony are far from perfect, but education was of a very high standard when Indonesia was still a Dutch colony. Before World War II I lived in Madiun, Central Java, the capital of a residentie (regency). At that time the highest available education in the city was the meer uitgebreid lager onderwijs (MULO) or more extensive lower education), i.e. three years after the primary school.

Seeing the light: Trying out highlights Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Are you tired of your drab look? Want something new to spruce up your appearance? Maybe what you need is to start at the top. Hair coloring and highlighting, practically unheard of for Indonesians until the last couple of years, has become trendy in Jakarta and other urban centers. It's not only the actors and singers who are turning to the bottle, but people who want to try something a bit different.

Pain in the neck? Poor posture a likely culprit Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Renita often experienced discomfort in her neck, a pain she often ignored as she thought that the stiffness would eventually go away by itself. She worked for nine hours at the office, most of her time was spent in front of her computer. On her way home, she had to spend some one-and-a-half-hours at the wheel.

Akbar's first day on trial From Pelita I would like to commend Indonesia's judicial institutions -- particularly the Central Jakarta District Court which is trying the case involving Akbar Tandjung, former state secretary minister, the incumbent House speaker, and the general chairman of Golkar party. Frankly, I watched the court session only from television, but this was enough for me to understand the trial.

Shall we dance? Where to get put through your paces Susanna Tjokro, Contributor, Jakarta Ballroom dancing is divided into two categories. Standard Ballroom a.k.a. Modern Ballroom (waltz, tango, slow foxtrot, quickstep and Viennese waltz) and Latin American (cha-cha, rumba, samba, jive and paso doble). The waltz and the cha-cha are probably the most popular. You can learn these styles at four dance schools listed below.

Ballroom dancing -- a blend of art and sport Susanna Tjokro, Contributor, Jakarta Romance filled the air when two bodies waltzed as one silhouette to the rhythm of the music. The woman dazzled in an ocean blue feathered ball gown and the man wore an elegant black suit. The magical effect of the ballroom dance has amazed me ever since I was a little girl. Dancing was the coolest profession, I thought. Twenty years later, my opinion remains the same.

Latest trend: Only real change in PCs is speed Zatni Arbi, Contributor, Jakarta In the last few years, there have not been too many fundamental changes in the ways PCs are built. The processors may be running much faster -- the latest speed record from Intel is 2.2 GHz, but the architecture remains basically the same.

Choose the right printer for home use Vishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta Remember the old days when buying a printer was a major investment? You'd be lucky to find an affordable machine, or one that can print in "Near Letter Quality". Don't even think about printing pictures or photos on them. Fast forward to the present. You can now choose a printer from a wide variety of types, models and prices.

'Dirty' tabloids clean up at newsstand Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta They vie for space with women's magazines and gossip rags at sidewalk newsstands, but who reads those smutty tabloids? It's perhaps no surprise that vendors said most buyers were young men, such as students or employees. Their price, ranging from Rp 2,000 to Rp 4,000, is affordable for most people. "The sales are better than general magazines or gossip tabloids.

Edited I. Christianto Contributor Jakarta Locally assembled products are much more popular Many parties prefer to purchase locally assembled personal computers (PC), which are popularly known as jangkrik (cricket). People have their own reasons for buying locally assembled PCs, normally for their down-to-earth prices compared to top, famous brands. Behind the fact of fast-selling locally produced PCs, there are anecdotes about these PCs are called crickets.

Locally brands dominate domestic market I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta Many parties prefer to purchase locally assembled personal computers (PC), which are popularly known as jangkrik (cricket). People have their own reasons for buying locally assembled PCs, normally for their down-to-earth prices compared to top, famous brands. Behind the fact of fast-selling locally produced PCs, there are anecdotes about these PCs are called crickets.

JP/15/N04 .rm75 Bangladesh: The potential investment destination of South Asia Mahmudur Rahman Executive Chairman, BOI Bangladesh is a moderate, democratic and homogeneous country. But being an eighth largest populated nation in the world, Bangladesh needs immediate attention from the strategic planners. It is her people who can shape our desired destiny by utilizing their energy and creativity in productive sector.

TV Program: Sunday, March 31, 2002 TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 7:30 Sports 8:30 Children's Program 9:00 Music 10:00 Children's Program 12:30 p.m. Religious Teachings 1:00 Volleyball Tournament 4:30 Traditional Performance 6:00 News 7:00 Comedy 7:30 Songs and Dances 9:00 News 9:30 TV Drama 10:00 Music 12:00 a.m. News TPI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 7:00 Cartoon 7:30 Sports 8:00 Home Sweet Home 8:30 Chinese Food 9:00 Entertainment News 10:00 Boxing 12:30 p.m.

Very low voltage From Media Indonesia On behalf of the executive board of neighborhood unit No. 7 and community unit No. 12 in Pekayon Jaya subdistrict, South Bekasi district, we would like to call on the president director of PLN state electricity company and those within his ranks, particularly PLN head of the Bekasi branch, to pay attention to the very low voltage in our housing complex. Due to the low voltage, some of the stabilizers we use have broken.