SARS could hurt Asia growth more than Iraq war Alan Yonan Jr., Dow Jones, Singapore The fallout from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) could do more damage to Asian economic growth this year than the war in Iraq, an international brokerage warned on Wednesday as the number of infections continued to grow in the region.

SARS declared a national epidemic threat The Jakarta Post, Jakarta At least five alleged cases of the potentially fatal disease known as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have been reported in Indonesia, prompting the government to declare SARS a national epidemic threat. In a bid to prevent SARS from spreading further around the country, Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi is expected to issue a ministerial decree on Thursday to implement Law No. 4/1984 on epidemic diseases.

Defending the global commons: Notes from Kyoto Forum Yanuar Nugroho Director The Business Watch Indonesia Surakarta, Central Java yanuar-n@unisosdem.org While 1.1 billion people do not have access to safe drinking water and almost 2.4 billion do not have adequate sanitation, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), only 1.6 percent of development assistance is spent on providing water and sanitation services.

Consumer confidence tumbles to historic low, Danareksa says The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's consumer confidence tumbled to a "historic" low in February on discontentment at the government's inability to boost strong economic growth, which would generate adequate employment opportunities, Danareksa Research Institute said.

Play dominoes, go to jail BEKASI: Bekasi subprecinct police confirmed on Tuesday the arrest of a group of reporters from a local tabloid who were allegedly gambling in the Bulak Kapal area late on Monday. The police declined to reveal their identities, saying that the intelligence unit caught "O.S. and his gang" playing dominoes with money as bet. The police seized the domino cards and the money for evidence. The police chief Sr. Comr.

Crisis tests Sumita Tobing and 'TVRI' 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.

'Tempo' journalists questioned JAKARTA: Three journalists from the Tempo weekly newsmagazine were questioned by police on Tuesday as witnesses in the alleged libel case reported by tycoon Tomy Winata. Police interrogated Achmad Taufiq, Bernada Rurid and Cahyo as part of the investigation of chief editor Bambang Harymurti. The weekly wrote on March 3 that Tomy was interested in renovating the Tanah Abang market in Central Jakarta, which was razed by fire recently.

People worried over SARS doubt hospital capabilites Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta People in Jakarta are now starting to worry about the possible spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in the city, with most people doubting whether Indonesian hospitals would be capable of dealing with a major outbreak. Enny, a housewife, said that she was very worried about the disease. "What should I do if suddenly my husband or my children get SARS?

Ex-BI director sentenced to three years for graft Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After a trial lasting around one year, the Central Jakarta District Court sentenced on Tuesday former Bank Indonesia (BI) director Hendrobudiyanto to three years behind bars for abuse of power in disbursing liquidity support funds totaling Rp 9.8 trillion (US$1.1 billion).

Old and new water charges Customers Old charges ! New charges ---------------------------- Group I 375 ! 375 Group II 375 ! 375 Group IIIA 1,035 - 1,560 ! 1,449 - 2,184 Group IIIB 1,335 - 2,100 ! 1,869 - 2,940 Group IVA 2,500 - 3,500 ! 3,500 - 3,900 Group VIB 5,200 - 6,800 ! 7,280 - 9,580 Special group 7,000 !

Jailing tax evaders The Directorate General of Taxation will soon be able to put its money where its mouth is under a joint decree of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Justice and Human Rights that allows for the jailing of uncooperative taxpayers for a maximum one year without prior trial.

Woolcott's 'Hot Seat' The veteran Australian senior diplomat, my good friend Ambassador Richard "Dick" Woolcott, has published a most interesting memoir. His book: Hot Seat -- Reflections in Diplomacy from Stalin's Death to the Bali Bombing, published by HarperCollins Publishing, was launched in a festive manner in early March, in Sydney. Unfortunately, the book contains an erroneous reference of a serious nature about The Jakarta Post daily.

Children's state of health static, says Minister Sujudi Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta No improvement has been made in the overall health condition of children in the country as the economic crisis has plunged most of the population into poverty, Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi said.

List of Securities Quotation: Day/Date:Tuesday, April 1, 2003 Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 1, 2003: -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 550 0 0 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 45 -5 2,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 125 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 105 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 700 0 0 Alter...

VP defends paramilitary groups JAKARTA: Vice President Hamzah Haz said that the paramilitary groups affiliated to the various political parties were necessary, but they needed to change their military-style approach to a moral one. Hamzah, chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), said on Tuesday that such groups had to avoid violence in achieving their objectives.

A day of silence Amid the turmoil that is currently pervading this country and the world, the Balinese and other Indonesians who adhere to the Hindu Dharma faith across the archipelago, will tomorrow, on April 2, once again be observing Nyepi -- that special day that most international tourists to the island know as the Hindu (Balinese) "day of silence".

Muslim hard-liner abducted, son says JAKARTA: Abu Jihad alias Tengku Fauzi Hazdi Geudong, dubbed the Southeast Asian leader of the terrorist network al Qaeda, has been abducted, his son said on Tuesday. "We have identified those who took my father away. We have early indications that some police personnel were involved (in the abduction)," Abu Jihad's son Tengku Lamkaruna Putra told reporters on Tuesday at National Police Headquarters.

Indonesians' discipline Can Indonesians hold orderly street demonstrations? The answer is yes. That is what happened on Sunday when about one million people marched to protest against U.S. aggression against Iraq. It was labeled as the biggest street demonstration ever in the history of the Republic. What was amazing was that women felt safe enough to bring their babies and children along to participate. Demonstrations, part of democracy, is a legal form of expressing opinions.

February exports decline by 0.85 percent: BPS A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia's exports in February declined by 0.85 percent to US$4.88 billion from $4.92 billion in January, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported. BPS warned that exports in the coming months would continue to decline due to the war in Iraq.

LIPI against limitation on candidates Researchers from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) are calling on the House of Representatives (DPR) to allow all political parties contesting the 2004 elections to nominate their own presidential candidates. They also suggested that legislative and presidential elections be organized all at the same time. 2.

ADB grants RI $1m for clean water JAKARTA: The Asian Development Bank said on Wednesday it had approved a US$1 million technical assistance grant to develop community water services and health projects in Indonesia. In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, the Bank said the projects would help the government develop schemes to improve the health and the quality of life of people in poor rural and semi-urban communities.

1. DISCOURSE: 1 x 50 Return of peace to Iraq must be under UN auspices 2. ELECTION: 1 x 40 Voter registration begins at Mega's house 3. HENDRO: 2 x 30 Ex-BI director sentenced to three years for graft 4. SLIDE: 1 x 40 39 dead following heavy rain in Kupang 5. TOUR: 1 x 44 War, SARS adversely affecting tourism: BPS 6. ODD: 1 x 30 Italians get 'Love Car Park'

Policeman mobbed in Cikokol TANGERANG: A Balaraja Police officer was rushed to the Tangerang General Hospital after a number of traders and motorcycle taxi (ojek) drivers mobbed him in the Cikokol main market on Jl. Sudirman on Wednesday morning. Sahidin, an eyewitness, said that the passengers of an Asli bus, which serves the Kalideres-Balaraja route and was passing through the market, shouted when they saw the officer, identified as Second Brig.