Medal tally G S B T 1. Vietnam 23 9 6 38 2. Malaysia 7 8 5 20 3. Singapore 7 7 8 22 4. Thailand 5 13 15 33 5. Indonesia 5 4 6 15 6. Philippines 4 6 14 24 7. Myanmar 2 6 8 16 8. Cambodia 0 0 1 1 9. Brunei 0 0 0 0 10. Laos 0 0 0 0 11. East Timor 0 0 0 0

Freelancers step out of the office comfort zone Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta When most of the city is just beginning to stir, Arya Arland is dressed and starting off on a 90-minute morning commute from his North Jakarta home to his office in Kemang, South Jakarta. The grind is taking its toll. "It really wears me out because I often have to work late to meet deadlines or have client meetings, even though I get up early every morning," said the 28-year-old public relations employee.

Indonesian rowers bag two golds Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi Pere Karoba and the pairing of Agus Aji and Iswandi left their competitors in their wakes to secure two rowing gold medals for Indonesia at the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam on Saturday. Competing in the women's single sculls, Pere covered the 2,000-meter distance at West Lake in Hanoi in 08:28.26, leaving Phuttaraksa Nikree of Thailand in second place with a time of 08:43.10.

'Sanjai', spicy sensations Delightfully crunchy and delectably spicy hot are the two best way to describe West Sumatra's favorite snack, sanjai crackers. A trip to the province will not be complete without bringing back home a few packets of these red hot sensations that, according to locals, originated in the Sanjai subdistrict in East Bukittinggi.

More parties qualify for 2004 elections Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Six more parties have been declared as eligible to contest the upcoming elections, bringing to 18 the total number of parties qualified for the legislative elections in 2004.

On the shelves -------------------------------------------------------------- Surviving In Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia pocket book R.A.

Flood spreads in districts in Medan municipality Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra Flooding hit three districts in the North Sumatra capital of Medan on Saturday, forcing thousands of families to temporarily abandon their homes. No fatalities were reported. The flooding hit at 1 a.m on Saturday after the Deli River burst its banks. Floodwaters were up to three meters deep. The districts were Medan Maimoon, Medan Labuhan and Medan Sunggal.

The 2004 elections, is Indonesia ready? Daniel Lindgren Associate Director TNS Indonesia Jakarta Still recovering from the aftermath of the Bali bombings, 2003 saw Indonesia faced with SARS and new terrorist attacks. Considering the circumstances 2003 has not been such a bad year after all. The outlook for 2004 is moderately positive but the world will continue to watch Indonesia as it faces up to yet another big challenge, the upcoming General Election.

Vietnam wins slew of golds to take charge of SEA Games Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi Host athletes put in a high-flying performance and romped home with a barrage of gold medals on Saturday as the Vietnamese began to be optimistic about the prospects of taking the championships in their inaugural hosting of the Southeast Asian Games.

TV Program: Sunday, December 7, 2003 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Utama 7:00 Cartoon 8:00 TV Drama: Mat Angin 9:00 Children's Program: Bando 11:00 Variety Show: Maskum Show 12:00 p.m. English For Fun 1:00 News: Berita Siang 1:30 Traditional Comedy: Mustika Campur Sari 3:00 City News 4:30 Talk Show 6:00 English News Service 7:00 News 7:30 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 10:00 Puppet Theater Wayang Orang 11:30 Music TPI 6:00 a.m.

Militant Islam: A fumbling attempt to explain its presence Solahudin, Contributor, Jakarta ------------------------------------ Militant Islam in Southeast Asia: Crucible of Terror Zachary Abuza Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. Boulder, USA & London, UK 2003 281 pp ------------------------------ Tracing militant Islamic groups is comparable to searching for ants on black stones in the dark; it's a tough task, as the groups are careful, stay underground and keep their activities clandestine.

Kiss and tell: Change going on at the movies Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Whatever the merits of the storyline of Arisan (Gathering), it's the same-sex kiss, rather chaste though it is, that has been grabbing tons of attention from the press. It elicits a similar "can't believe my eyes" reaction that also came along with the kissing scene of Dian Sastrowardoyo and Nicolas Saputra in Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? (What's Up With Cinta?) last year.

Boardinghouse fire kills two INDONESIA: Two women were killed and another six suffered serious burns when fire swept through their boardinghouse in Medan, North Sumatra overnight Friday. Erna, who lives nearby, said the fire spread quickly through the two-storey house, which had interior plywood walls. She said the fire appeared to have started in the kitchen. The house on Jl. Jambu is owned by retired police officer R.M. Sinuraya. Police are investigating the tragedy.

Tennis Men's team semifinals: Thailand bt Vietnam 3-0 Indonesia bt Malaysia 3-0 Women's team semifinals: Thailand bt Vietnam 3-0 Indonesia bt Philippines 2-1 Women's soccer Group matches: Indonesia 2 Malaysia 2 Vietnam bt Philippines 3-0

Constitutional sustainability It should be a remorseful record for the article, titled Rebirth of Constitution without legitimacy (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 28) to disclose the alleged failures in attempts to redraft the Constitution throughout the periods of 1945, 1949, 1950, 1956 to 1959 and 1999-2002 till today.

Today's program Athletics Final: men's triple jump, women's 10,000m Badminton Group matches: men's team, women's team Basketball Group matches: men's team, women's team Billiard & Snooker Final: English billiard double, 8-ball pool single Boxing Semifinal: 45kg, 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg Chess Semifinal and final: men's and women's rapid chess team Cycling Final: women's 30km ITT, men's 40km ITT Diving Semifinal and final women's 3m springboard men's 10m platform Indoor Volleyball Group matches:...

SEA Games Results Cycling Men's 51-km criterium 1. Ferinanto (Ina) 31 points, 2. Youthaporn Hinthao (Tha) 16, 3. Alfie Catalan (Phi) 15. 4. M.S.M. Zahit (Mas) 13. 5. Paterino Curtan Jr. 6. 6. Ryan Ariehaan (Ina) 5. 7. Prajak Mahawong (Tha) 5. 8. Panupong Maneepong (Tha) 5. Women's 30.6-km criterium 1. Santia Trikusuma (Ina) 15 points. 2. Uyun Muzizah (Ina) 12. 3. Monrudee Chapookam (Tha) 11. 4. Vo Thi Phuong Phi (Vie) 10. 5. Vu Hong Thuy (Vie) 10. 6. Nor Azian Alias (Mas) 6. Judo Men's 55 kg 1.

Juana Wangsa advances to Athens JAKARTA: Indonesia's Juana Wangsa qualified for the Athens Olympic Games in tae kwon do after winning a gold medal in the Olympic pre-qualification tournament at the Stade Piere De Coubertin in Paris. Juana defeated D. Contreras of Venezuela in the women's finals in the 49-kilogram division 3-1 on Thursday. The 25-year-old advanced to the finals after Y. Boorapolchai of Thailand withdrew with injury during the pair's semifinal fight.

Picks for antigraft body down to final ten Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The names of the final 10 candidates for the high-powered Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) were submitted to President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Saturday, more than one month after the selection process started in early October.

Life no cocktail for Jakarta's bartenders Endang Roh Suciati, Contributor, Jakarta The clock shows 10 p.m: Amid a haze of smoke and pulsating music at a busy bar in Jakarta, the bartenders are busy doing what they do best. Like jugglers, they nimbly twist, swing and catch the bottles, their two hands working in unison. "It is part of our job. Not only the serving, but also smiling and talking to the people come here asking for a drink," Agung Prabowo, a bartender at a five-star hotel, said.

-------------------------------------------------------------- Surviving In Indonesia, Bahasa Indonesia pocket book R.A.

On The Record Artist : Viky Sianipar Album : Didia Ho (MS Productions) Musician Viky Sianipar swept onto the scene in October when the video of his song Piso Surit, an Enigma-esque remake of a classic Batak song, was chosen as the MTV (Indonesia) Alert for the whole month. Hailing from North Sumatra, the 27-year-old multi- instrumentalist plans to make his name in the world beat genre by amalgamating traditional songs and instruments from his Batak heritage with modern ones.

Lederer works to polish RI image abroad T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta tabita@cbn.net.id If you happen to travel in Europe and tell the people there you are Indonesian, it is likely they will take pity on you, be cautious or be indifferent. The first group of people might take pity on you because they think Indonesia is an underdeveloped country, while the second group of people believes Indonesia is a place with many terrorists.

After featuring its debut as an international sports host in glittering ceremonies on Friday night, Vietnam won 22 of Saturday's 46 gold medals up for grabs - six in karate, five in shooting, three each in bodybuilding and judo, two in sepak takraw, a cross between soccer and volleyball played with a rattan ball, and one each in chess, billiards and rowing.

Lost Philippine ferry found in RI seas PHILIPPINES: A Philippine passenger ferry, missing since earlier this week, was found in Indonesian waters with all 57 people aboard safe, a military spokesman said on Saturday. Col. Fredesvindo Covarrubias said the motor launch named Rubian has been recovered off Kabakan island in Indonesia's east Kalimantan region. "We are closely coordinating with the Indonesian government for the safe return of the Filipinos and the ferry," he said.

Kampong cool where it's at for one family Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Architect Denny G. and his wife Joke sought the peace and quiet of the kampong in designing their family home. "We always wanted to own a kampong-style but cleanly designed tropical house. I think it better fits our taste and lifestyle as well," Joke, also an architect, said.

Riders chalks up double win in cycling The Jakarta Post, Hanoi Indonesia's cyclists raced to double victory in the Criterium competition at Hoan Kim Lake in the center of Hanoi on Saturday. Santia Tri Kusuma and Uyun Muzizah made it a one-two victory in the women's 30.6 kilometers, leaving Monrudee Chapookam of Thailand in third for bronze. Later, Ferinanto completed the celebration with a convincing performance in which he beat Thai Youthaporn Hinthao and Filipino Alfie Catatan.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, Dec. 7, 2003 Exhibitions * Exhibition of over 100 terracottas from the Majapahit Kingdom period, 13th-15th century, East Java and other parts of the archipelago. The Royal Treasures Room, Dharma Mulia Galleries, Jl. Ciputat Raya No. 50 (Tel. 7492850), 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Dec. 15. * Architecture Asia Architecture and Dutch Cultural Teaching and Planning Methodes, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069), Dec. 17 - 31.

Hotels gear up for year-end festivities T.Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta Idul Fitri festivities are now over and people are already back to their usual routine. Life in the city is back to normal, as some two million residents who celebrated the holiday in their hometowns have returned. Many hotels in the city enjoyed good business during the holiday, with an increase in their occupancy rates.

'Arisan!' an achingly funny slice of life --------------------------------------------- Arisan!