Where to go in Semarang: Saturday, May 31, 2003 Tour and Travel Services * Antara Travel Service, Puri Anjasmoro, Ruko E1/9 (Tel. 024- 7605341, fax: 024-7605779). * Electra Duta Wisata Tour and Travel, Jl. Gajah Mada 1 (Tel. 024-3518444, 3511112, fax: 3511114). * Fortuna Tours and Travel, Jl. Dr. Cipto 286-288 (Tel. 024- 8313382, 8445457). * Gema Mahardika Tours and Travel, Jl. Dr. Setiabudi 53A (Tel. 7473245). * Giantra Wisata, Jl. Letjen M.T. Haryono517B (Tel. 024- 8443333, fax: 8447374).

Pay tourist to come here Whilst there may be some merit in introducing a stricter visa policy, one cannot help feel that now is not the best time to do it. Especially with respect to Bali, it's a bit like the Americans introducing a visa fee to visit America one week after Sept. 11. I have a much better idea, which I would like to share with your readers. Instead of asking each tourist to "cough up" another 50 bucks, why not pay them US$50 to come here.

Green Pub-Amigos responds We refer to an article Green Pub: Not exactly a chip off the old block in the April 6, 2003 edition of The Jakarta Post, by Bill Blade. While we welcome your recognition regarding the relocation of our Green Pub-Amigos Restaurant from Djakarta Theater to Surya Building, we take strong offense and object to the statement made that the old Green Pub-Amigos "was a place where all sorts of hanky-panky seemed to be afoot.

Megawati fails to show mother's touch with Aceh Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, korpur@yahoo.com The President would hopefully have been greatly moved if she watched the film Some Mother's Son, broadcast by Indosiar TV station last Tuesday night.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates 29 May ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 5,694.94 5,042.35 5,397.18 5,339.87 Brunei dollar 1 5,058.48 4,479.70 4,794.01 4,744.03 Canadian dollar 1 6,327.66 5,602.85 5,996.83 5,933.45 Swiss franc 1 6,760.88 5,988.45 6,407.39 6,341.80 Danish krone 1 1,389.28 1,230.06...

Fira Basuki is on the way up Leo Wahyudi S Contributor Jakarta Back from five years in Singapore, novelist Fira Basuki is apprehensive about the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) which has hit the island state. "A fashion show that I covered more than a week ago was attended by only few people and many seats were not occupied," recalled Fira, who is also a journalist.

Saving trees and animals A really great editorial in The Jakarta Post on Tuesday, May 27, under the title Paradise lost?. It certainly beats all that hype we've been having recently about Inul. If even half as much attention was paid to saving the trees and animals we may make a difference. Though, judging from the next day's news item, Only 10 rhinos left in Sumatra, we had better sit up and pay attention rather promptly.

Choreographer brings ancient temple art to life Kartika Bagus C. Contributor Surakarta, Central Java An almost naked figure, only covered by a small piece of batik cloth, swirls in slow, rhythmical movements before transforming the movements into dynamic ones, in harmony with the image of Prambanan Temple presented on a wide screen.

A polling organized by "Republika On-Line" had an interesting result. Some 62.9 percent of 3,333 respondents supported the immediate endorsement of the bill on education. Some 38.6 percent rejected it, and the rest, 0.5 percent, entrusted the issue to the House of Representatives. The growing support for the bill indicates that most people continue to hope for an educational system that would accommodate religious teaching based on human rights principles.

Candirejo tourist village offers unique scenery Bambang M and Gigin W Utomo Contributors Magelang, Central Java It is six in the morning in Candirejo, Magelang, Central Java. The thick mist is lifting and the air is getting warmer. The beautiful surroundings are beginning to appear. In the distance, four volcanoes -- Mount Merapi, Mount Merbabu, Mount Sindoro and Mount Sumbing, are visible. In the foreground the majestic Borobudur Temple stands out above lush green ricefields.

Mega fails to show mother's touch or instincts in Aceh 2. Yale02 --Crimes Under Flags of Convenience Global shipping lacking strong rulings to curb criminal ventures

GAM urged to return to RI From Koran Tempo Relatively wide support for the military operation in Aceh reflects the public's loss of sympathy for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), an organization perpetrating torture, destruction and terror and masterminding all savage acts towards the Acehnese. Now that a military operation is under way in Aceh, casualties are unavoidable.

Corruption case at PT Jamsostek From Media Indonesia It was reported some time ago in the print and electronic media that the president director of PT Jamsostek, Ahmad Djunaidi, and the company's directors of investment and finance were suspects in an alleged corruption case worth over Rp 23 billion in this particular company. This case was concerned with the payment of compensation for land in Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jakarta, now the site of Menara Jamsostek building.

1. CANDI -- A line, 7 col, 42 pts Candirejo offers more than natural beauty 2. BUKU -- A line, 7 col, 49 pts RI's first book village set to open next year =============== 3. wtgsem

RI's first book village set to open next year Sri Wahyuni The Jakarta Post Magelang, Central Java If everything goes as planned, the first Indonesian book village in Magelang, Central Java will be ready for a grand opening and be fully operational early next year. "We are currently preparing some additional buildings, like the one to house the Book Information Center," Surasmono, head of Magelang mayoralty planning office.

TV Today: Saturday, May 31, 2003 TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 English News Service 8:30 Talk Show: Ibu, Bayi dan Balita 9:00 Music: Pesona Music Indonesia 11:00 News: Berita Daerah 11:30 Music: Konteswara 12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang 1:00 Talk Show: Konsultasi Keluarga 2:00 News: Metro Indonesia 2:30 Religious Teachings 4:30 Science and Technology 5:00 Talk Show 6:00 News: Berita Petang 8:00 Music 9:00 News: Berita Malam 9:30 Wayang Kulit TPI 6:00 a.m.

Power-supply disruptions Energy analysts and state-owned electricity company PLN itself warned as early as 2000 of a looming power-supply disruption in Java and Bali due to the absence of additional power infrastructure since the 1997 financial crisis and the significant increase in demand for power as the economy began to recover. However, no one expected that parts of East Java would suffer blackouts as early as last week.

Trigger-happy officers The National Police are again under fire after the most recent fatal shooting incident that claimed the lives of a 12-year-old girl and a toddler in West Jakarta early this week. Seven police officers have been questioned over the shootings that killed bystanders Ina Surtianah and Eli -- a three-and-a- half-year-old girl -- when officers were chasing alleged drug dealers in the area. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo has said that the shootings were accidental.