IMF clears payment of $469 million to Indonesia The International Monetary Fund said Friday in Washington it had cleared a payment of about US$469 million to Indonesia after a review of its economy. IMF disbursements to Indonesia now amount to $3.6 billion, paid out of a $5 billion program. "Indonesia has continued to make good progress in implementing economic reforms under the program," IMF first deputy managing director Anne Krueger said in a statement.

Nyoman sees batik as meditation Damaso Reyes Contributor Ubud, Bali There may be as many places to learn batik, the traditional Indonesian hand-dyed textile, as there are places to eat nasi goreng, Indonesian fried rice. However, it is hard to imagine a batik class that is more fun than the one at the compound of I Nyoman Suradnya in Ubud, Bali.

Buying second home in Singapore Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta The increase in the number of Indonesian students pursuing their studies in Singapore have partly contributed to a significant increase in apartment purchases by Indonesian families in the neighboring country.

1 million may take to Jakarta streets Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Close to one million people from all walks of life are expected to turn out on Sunday morning for a protest on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Better services before hike, say passengers M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Wawan (not his real name), has had to spend more money on his daily commute than he really needs to, because the bus along the route from his home does not follow its designated course, forcing him and fellow passengers to take other public transportation vehicles to reach their destinations.

War reporter Arnett makes comeback in Baghdad Steve Gorman Reuters Los Angeles Veteran war correspondent Peter Arnett is back in Baghdad reporting the U.S. bombing of Iraq's capital just as he did 12 years ago -- but this time he's not alone, not being censored and not with CNN. And his goal is not just the story -- he sees it as a chance at professional redemption.

Rolling Stones still rockin' like wild horses in their 60s Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Singapore Who? Mick Jagger, 60, Keith Richards, 60, Ron Wood, 56, and Charlie Watts, 62. What? The greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world. They're unstoppable, unbroken and unshaken. Like the title of one of the band's hits, they are the beasts of burden.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, March 30, 2003 Exhibitions * Painting, Kaum Urbanit Cap Go Meh 2003, by Hardi, at Galeri Milenium, Kompleks Pertokoan D'Best (Diamond Plaza) Blok B23, Jl.RS Fatmawati 15, South Jakarta, (Tel. 021-7507828), April 2 to April 30, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. * Photo, Kilas Daya Tuturan Hitam Putih Tepi Arus Kesehatan Sosial by Yayasan Ashoka Indonesia, at Galeri Oktagon, Jl. Gunung Sahari Raya 50A, Central Jakarta, (Tel. 021-4204545), until April 10, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Stones back in S'pore after 38 years The Singapore audience was luckier than that in Hong Kong, as rock legends Rolling Stones still managed to perform a two-day concert there last week, despite the Iraqi war and the current flu epidemic. The band canceled their concert in Hong Kong, slated for Friday and Saturday, due to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Government, NU: Boycotting U.S. products self-defeating Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), heavily criticized calls to boycott U.S. products, arguing that such a move would only hurt the nation. Sultonul Huda, chairperson of the Research and Development Institute of NU's Human Resources, said on Saturday that boycotting U.S.

RI issues moderate SARS alert to health centers, officers The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Amid rising global fears over the rapid spread of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), health officials at airports and seaports throughout the country still leave it to passengers' good conscience to report whether or not they have symptoms of the disease.

More Indonesians buying Malaysian apartments For many affluent Indonesians, buying a house in neighboring countries such as Australia, Singapore or Malaysia is not unusual. Although such purchases have significantly declined since the financial crisis hit Indonesia in 1997, the demand for foreign homes among Indonesian buyers remains high. In the past, many Indonesians chose Australia or Singapore for a second home.

Despite her position as a diva, Siti relies on simple methods to maintain her voice, as well as her beauty and physical fitness. "I avoid iced drinks, to keep my voice from becoming hoarse. I used to like cold drinks and have to live with the consequences. "On the other hand, I can eat anything, even hot and spicy food -- the hotter the better," she said with a smile.

Fascinating Siti willing to try new frontiers Novan Iman Santosa The Jakarta Post Jakarta The cute, lovely Malaysian singer Siti Nurhaliza has been around for about eight years and is now looking for new challenges, including song writing and even trying theater performances, especially musical ones. With five pop albums and another four traditional Malay albums already in her hands, no doubt Siti has extensive experience in the industry, including song writing.

Oriental Bar: Providing welcome relief from woes of world I must admit right away that I've always had ideas above my station, which is probably why I get such a kick out of visiting Jakarta's most salubrious, and exorbitant, watering holes -- all at the Post's expense of course.

The Politics of Power: RI's corrupt culture is Western-induced Harry Bhaskara, Berkeley, California The Politics of Power; By Denise Leith; 372 pages; US$19 It can't be true. Could a company be willing to dispense multi- million dollar loan guarantees to a dictator? Yes, it can. This is PT Freeport Indonesia in Soeharto's Indonesia. Indeed, the mining company is still providing US$40 million in interest payments for Nusamba, one of the dictator's crony companies.

Acehnese hold mass prayer for Iraqis Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh Ignoring their own problems, some 10,000 Acehnese held a peaceful gathering in the strife-torn province's capital of Banda Aceh on Saturday afternoon, condemning the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The rally, which was conducted at Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, was attended by Governor Abdullah Puteh, Aceh Council Chairman Muhammad Yus and local ulemas.

`Janus, Prajurit Terakhir': A pioneer feature-length 3D animation Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Dozens of Bina Nusantara students became the lucky few to have the opportunity to take a peek at the movie Janus, Prajurit Terakhir (Janus, The Last Warrior). Although the movie thriller lasted less than a minute, it drew a cheering welcome from the students who participated in a seminar on animation held at the university where the thriller was shown.

Sengkalan: Mystery of words and forms Waluyo Wijayatno, Contributor, Jakarta In past centuries, the Javanese -- particularly the scholarly or the upper-middle tier of society -- had a unique way of recording or remembering those calendar years in which important events took place in their lives, such as births, marriages, deaths, building constructions and the like. They used certain objects as symbols of the numbers zero to nine.

Intersection M. Andhy Nurmansyah My father was sitting in his easy chair in the porch, doing nothing. He did that every morning to drench himself in the first light of the sun for two hours. When the sun rose higher I could see the deep wrinkles on his face. They were too deep for the sun to reach inside those lines. And I could see his flame was beginning to flicker out. My father, who was once a hard-working person, had become a weak man who needed someone, if only to wipe his beads of sweat.

In June, this country will see the first locally made feature- length 3-D animation. Titled Janus, Prajurit Terakhir (Janus, the Last Warrior), the movie tells the story of a friendship between a cyborg-like warrior and a boy. Page 16 Wild Horses Lead guitarist Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones once said that the main difference between the Stones and The Beatles is that the Stones are still going strong and getting stronger.

Susan's handbags celebrate femininity Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta For bag designer Susan Santoso every fabric has a story to tell, and through her Biru label she translates each of these stories into functional, yet stylish beaded handbags that radiate a feminine flair. Biru, in the words of the designer, celebrates femininity and was created for modern and active women who enjoy being feminine. "This is why I use mostly soft colors like pink and cream for my handbags.