Idris Sardi to make a comeback JAKARTA: Idris Sardi, Indonesia's best-known violinist, will take center stage in Jakarta in June, almost 10 years after his retirement, his publicist said on Tuesday. Sardi's last concert was on Aug. 9, 1994 when he performed for the 29th anniversary of Kompas daily. He called it his "farewell concert". His planned concert on June 18, 2003 at Sahid Jaya Hotel, Jakarta, will mark his 65th birthday and 50 years in the profession.

BPK finds Rp 20b inefficiency in railway firm Yuli Tri Suwarni The Jakarta Post Bandung, West Java The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has found corruption totaling Rp 20 billion (about US$2.2 million) during a special audit of PT Kereta Api Indonesia's (PT KAI) controversial spare parts purchasing in Bandung and Yogyakarta during 2001 and 2002. BPK has called on State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi to act.

AJI rebukes summoning of Kendari journalists over defamation case The Jakarta Post Jakarta The Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) on Tuesday expressed its full support for journalists in Kendari, North Sulawesi, who have refused to comply with a police summons to testify in a defamation case involving the police and noted businessman Tomy Winata.

Balinese exploits artistic spirit to greet Nyepi I Wayan Juniartha and Wahyoe Boediwardhana The Jakarta Post Denpasar, Bali For years, the making and the noisy parade of ogoh-ogoh, or giant papier-mache dolls, has been the main activity of Balinese youths during the weeks before the celebration of the Hindu Saka New Year known as Nyepi.

Tobing stands test of TVRI crisis Tony Ryanto Contributor Jakarta The financial crisis hitting TVRI is putting Sumita Tobing's leadership to the test. Tobing, the 56-year-old TVRI president director, is known as a woman of substance who never says no to a challenge, no matter how tough it may be. She is doing everything to keep her cool.

Thousands of Acehnese students may loose national exams Nani Farida The Jakarta Post Banda Aceh Despite the peace accord, thousands of Acehnese students in Bireuen may not be able to sit national examinations in May because they have been forced to abandon their villages due to the worsening security situation in the regency.

40 NGOs fight for peace in Aceh BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Some 40 non-governmental organizations launched a coalition at the office of the Joint Security Committee (JSC) in the city to fight for peace in the province. Before the declaration, a number of activists gave speeches opposing violence and calling for rebels and security personnel to comply with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed last December.

Manokwari quake victims remain homeless Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post Jayapura, Papua Despite its massive natural gas wealth, hundreds of residents of Manokwari, Papua are living in temporary homes made of palm leaves and children, when they are not sick, attend outdoor schools after a earthquake struck last October. The quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale and killed 15 people and injured dozens of others, left 300 families in Sabri village homeless.