RI leaders warn U.S. not to attack Iraq or 'U.S. must not fight Iraq as it will cause chaos in RI' Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post Jakarta Noted Muslim leaders, scholars and activists warned the United States on Saturday against attacking Iraq, saying that a war against Baghdad would only encourage radicalism and undermine efforts to promote democracy, particularly in Indonesia. In a meeting with U.S. under Secretary of State James A.

Rally turns riot near Mega's residence Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Protests against utility price hikes continued on Saturday with a new twist, despite a government decision to review the hikes and to postpone an increase in telephone rates. Hundreds of students clashed with police just a few hundred meters away from the residence of President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Saturday as the protesters moved their demonstrations from the Merdeka Palace to the president's residence.

Megawati, Soeharto call for thrifty lifestyle The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri is not alone in her campaign for thrifty lifestyle. Former president Soeharto, known for his corrupt regime, had also campaigned for such lifestyles since the very first year he became president. The official campaign for thrifty lifestyles, nevertheless, would not came into force until 1974 when Soeharto issued Presidential Decree No. 10/1974.

Ojek By Chairil Gibran Ramadhan No! My wife and two children must never know about this. I must keep it a secret from them, my family, my wife's family and my neighbors. What will they say about me if they know that I -- who for six years made millions of rupiah each month, worked in an air-conditioned room, ate good meals, bought nice shirts, shoes and expensive perfume and provided my wife and children with delicious food and expensive clothes -- am now only an ojek driver.

Occupancy rates remain high despite fall in new demand Sudibyo M. Wiradji, Contributor, Jakarta Although the Oct. Bali bombing severely hurt the country's hotel industry, the occupancy at expensive apartments remains relatively high. The bombing attacks last year that had scared foreigners, either investors or tourists, to come to Indonesia only affected new demand, apartment owners said.

Lovers want tattoos recognized as art Leo Wahyudi S, Contributor, Jakarta When I was in high school, I used to temporarily tattoo my girlfriend's initials on my left hand. My mother didn't like it at all. She would get in my face and scream: "Never get a tattoo! You are not a criminal!" Since then I have only been able to admire the art of painting on skin. Several months ago, I met Mamen. He was getting a small tattoo of a human skull surrounded by flames on his left arm. "I love tattoos.

High-tech gear turns Mercedes into road office IGGP Bayu Ismoyo, The Jakarta Post, Singapore Eager to meet the needs of its busy cosmopolitan consumers, DaimlerChrysler has equipped their latest product, the Mercedes Benz S-Class edition, with fully installed high-tech facilities, enabling motorists to work from their car seat whenever they get stuck in the city's notorious traffic jams.

The smiles of Papuan children Text and photos by P.J. Leo Childhood, under ideal circumstances, provides the happiest moments in the span of human growth. This is a universal concept as children are supposed live just for the sake of growing and learning. This should apply also to the children living on the remote Ambrosi island and in the Mount Arfak region in Manokwari, Papua. Children here also must work to help their parents and are then free to play afterwards.

Jewelry extravaganza comes to Jakarta Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It has been a while since Nicole Kidman danced and sang Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend in the exuberant 2001 flick Moulin Rouge. The song came to mind again, repeatedly and endlessly, while strolling around the Indonesia international exhibition of fine jewelry, timepieces, fine art and antiques, which began on Friday and ended today.

Polina Sirosh: Portrait of successful young photographer Damaso Reyes, Contributor, Sanur, Bali It is hard to find a twenty-six-year-old artist that splits her time between St. Petersburg and New York City these days, but there isn't much that is usual about Russian photographer Polina Sirosh, who is currently holding an exhibition at Pala Restaurantin Sanur, Bali.

Artist incorporates universality in Balinese roots Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Ubud, Bali In the world of Ubud painter I Wayan Karja, color is an important means to bridge the spiritual and material world. It is also a means of self-expression: Anger, happiness and sadness. Wayan Karja is now considered one of Bali's most prominent artists, bringing new blood and freshness to the Balinese art world.

RI saga: Rich man, poor man The Jakarta Post, Jakarta There is more to Harun Alrasyid than a man with expertise in constitutional law and his distinguished high-pitched voice. Unless the former member of the General Election Commission (KPU) is a schizophrenic who leads a double life, Harun deserves some respect for leading a thrifty lifestyle, for example, he takes public transportation everywhere he goes. He once even returned a car the Commission provided for him.

I'll obey Megawati's advice: Gus Dur Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java Although he has consistently refused to acknowledge Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidency, former president Abdurrahman Wahid said Saturday that he would heed Megawati's advice to delay unnecessary trips to the U.S. after it required Indonesian males aged 16 and older to register with immigration.

16 workers suffer food poisoning JAKARTA: At least 16 workers at the Carrefour hypermarket in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, suffered from food poisoning and were rushed to the nearby Islamic Hospital on Friday night. The workers vomited and felt itchy after eating fried fish during their dinner at about 7 p.m. at the hypermarket's employee canteen.

Beijing: Unforgettable encounters in winter David Chang, Contributor, Beijing Last December, our family visited Beijing on our own instead of joining a tour group. Although a group can cover more tourist highlights, we wanted more time and travel flexibility. It was snowing lightly when we arrived at Beijing's Capital International airport in mid-December.

Taiwan says RI water dangerous TAIPEI: Taiwan has declared Indonesian waters a "highly dangerous zone" after an attack on a Taiwanese boat by pirates, or possibly the boat's Indonesian crew, a Taipei newspaper reported Saturday. "Since last year, Indonesian pirates have been targeting Taiwanese fishing boats, so Taiwanese fishing boats should keep away from Indonesian waters," the Fisheries Administration said in a report by the United Daily News.

Sutiyoso bans Sunday jogging on Thamrin, Sudirman The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Joggers will be banned from Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, Jakarta's main streets following Governor Sutiyoso's decree that he would effectively close the roads to all sports activities beginning this week. Sutiyoso said that joggers had been ruining the city's parks.

Farewell, Hilda: pioneer of modern art dies Carla Bianpoen Contributor Jakarta On Friday, January 17, at 9.20 p.m. Jakarta time, Hildawati Soemantri passed away at Darmais Hospital from cancer. Her brother was at her side along with other family members, as well as sculptor Lydia Poetri, who has tended to her throughout her illness.

Tattoos and the image they project Tattoos have become a controversial issue here although when traced back to its roots it is as old as the Nias or Dayak ethnic tribes in Sumatra and Kalimantan islands respectively. To many people, tattoos are still regarded as a symbol of lawless gangs. Sociologist Ida Ruwaida of the University of Indonesia says that people who sport tattoos have been stigmatized and are regarded as having deviated from the social norms of cleanliness and good grooming.

Rikza Abdullah Contributor Jakarta The demand for leased apartments in the greater Jakarta area is likely to decline this year due to worries about terrorist attacks but the sales of strata-titled condominiums may continue increasing at a slow rate, according to property analysts.

Continued tales of the Grotavia mob, offers we can't refuse The recent news that Tommy "The Driver" Soehartito and Bob "The Chainsaw" Hassano have been enjoying virtually unheard of privileges in jail -- on the rare occasions they are actually there -- has come as no surprise to long-time observers of the Grotavia underworld, dominated as it was for over 30 years by Tommy's father, Don Soehartito, the former capo di capo of the local mob.

Cast call for second RI Film Festifal Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta Expect to bump into people shooting movies using basic equipment when you are out during the next three months. The second Indonesia Independent Film Festival (FFII) is now calling for entries as filmmaker wannabes line up for a shot at realizing their dreams. The annual event sponsored by SCTV drew 747 entries last year, each trying to win Rp 135 millions in cash and the opportunity to have their movie shown on TV.

Demand for leased apartments may further decline Rikza Abdullah, Contributor, Jakarta The demand for leased apartments in the greater Jakarta area is likely to decline this year due to worries about terrorist attacks but the sales of strata-titled condominiums may continue increasing at a slow rate, according to property analysts.

Students clash with police near Mega's residence Zakki Hakim The Jakarta Post Jakarta Protests against utility price hikes continued on Saturday with a new twist, despite a government decision to review the hikes and to postpone an increase in telephone rates. Hundreds of students clashed with police just a few hundred meters away from the residence of President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Saturday as the protesters moved their demonstrations from the Merdeka Palace to the president's residence.

A good night's sleep can be more than just a dream Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Have any of the members of your family complained about your loud snoring? Have you ever woken up feeling exhausted, with pain in your neck and back? If your answer is "yes", you may need to review your sleeping habits, which might be the source of your lack of a good night's sleep.

Cow dung tarnishes university ceremony The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Refusing the presence of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, students from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) blocked the entrance gate in their Dermaga campus barring other high ranking government officials and dignitaries as well. On Saturday, IPB was to host a ceremony to appoint Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Rokhmin Dahuri as a professor in Coastal and Marine Resources Management.

Sapirin on poverty, Sutiyoso on vanity Hera Diani and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta This is a story of South African diamond and Saripin the taxi driver. The South African diamond is the highlight of the Indonesian International Exhibition on Jewelry, Timepieces, Fine Arts and Antiques, an event which ended today (Saturday).

What you need to know when purchasing an apartment Lynnette Johnson, and Ipung Rachmaningtyas, Contributor, Jakarta When considering the purchase of an apartment unit in Jakarta, whether as your home or as an investment rental property there is no doubt that you will have to examine more than one egg before putting it in your basket. Prior to committing to purchasing an apartment, here are the answers to some questions you should consider. - Can a foreigner own an apartment in Indonesia?