Robbers fleece home of Australian, judge JAKARTA: A judge and an Australian citizen became the victims of robbery when two different groups of armed men robbed their houses, located in separate areas in South Jakarta, on Tuesday morning. The first robbery occurred at 3 a.m. at a house on Gang Masjid, Jl. Benda, Cilandak, South Jakarta, belonging to an Australian, Shawn Whitehurst, who had left for a holiday with his family on Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

On education bill The Jakarta Post's June 9, 2003 issue carried a story titled PDI Perjuangan seeks delay of education bill endorsement". I was appalled to learn that the debate over the bill only revolves around the issue of religion and not education. The arguments basically come down to Muslims supporting the bill and Catholics and Protestants opposing it.

1. INSIGHT: RI needs social measures to annul education bill 2. DEMO: 1 x 33 Thousands rally for education bill 3. COLA: 2 x 26 Coca-Cola truck explodes, terrorism may be involved 4. MEDIA: 1 x 34 China leads world newspaper sales 5. PROCUREMENT: 1 x 50 Public procurement changes run into opposition 6. ODD: 1 x 33 Germans go highwire motorcross

Aceh govt to screen state employees for loyalty The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Aceh provincial administration's plan to screen 67,000 civil servants and "severely punish" those found to support the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has sparked criticism. Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) head Hendardi said the screening was absolutely unnecessary as it would disrupt government attempts to win the hearts and minds of the Acehnese.

RI illegal logs used to build new UK home ministry offices Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government said on Tuesday it would investigate two companies which, according to environmental group Greenpeace's recent investigative report, have been allegedly involved in the supplying of illegal logs from Indonesian rainforests to build the UK's new home ministry office building in London.

Cooperation needed to combat Asia's killer air pollution Agence France-Presse, Manila More cooperation between governments and the private sector is needed to combat Asia's killer air pollution, which leads to about half a million premature deaths annually, Asian Development Bank (ADB) experts said on Tuesday.

Alkatiri begins visit, calls for int'l tribunal Agencies, Jakarta East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri began his working visit to Jakarta by reiterating his call for an international tribunal to try Indonesian military officers for alleged human rights violations in the former Indonesian province.

* Headlines: Coca-Cola truck explodes, terrorism feared 2 * National: Alkatiri begins visit, calls for int'l tribunal 4 * Archipelago: Haze risks health, affects traffic in Riau 5 * Opinion: Worrying about rampant corruption in Indonesia 6 * City: Cijantung bombing suspect declared not guilty 8 * Sports: Lewis to fight Vitali Klitschko on June 21 10 * World: Israel tries to kill Hamas leader, U.S.

Gumarang train derails, one killed INDRAMAYU, West Java: One person died and three others suffered serious injury when the Gumarang train serving Jakarta- Surabaya jumped the tracks on Monday evening at 9:25 p.m. near the Terisi station in Cikedug district, Indramayu regency. Hendro Purwantoro, 23, a resident of Blimbing district in Malang, East Java, died after he was hit by a section of track that sliced through the car.

Naughty king of 'dangdut' From Business Indonesia It is ridiculous to see how the king of dangdut -- that genre of music that is a blend of Malay and Indian tunes and rhythms -- panicked because of his own transgression. When he was found in the house of a pretty young woman in the early morning hours, he gave a very insensible reason. Then he slandered those not involved in the incident. Inul Daratista, the gyrating queen, was one of his victims.

Meanwhile, 34 GAM supporters and GAM's chief of police for Sabang ~city on Weh Island, Mawardi, surrendered to the military on Monday. They are now in military detention in Banda Aceh, Antara reported on Tuesday.

Govt targets youths in fight against drug trafficking Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government launched on Tuesday a nationwide drug awareness program targeting youths ahead of the International Day Against Illegal Drug Use and Trafficking, which falls on June 26. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), the national drive will mostly reach out to high school students.

Indonesian 'Webster' feels gratified Tony Ryanto, Contributor, Jakarta In the story of the development of Bahasa Indonesia, Anton M. Moeliono plays a prominent role. The 74-year-old professor made a name for himself back in 1972, when he convinced policymakers to modify Indonesian spelling to conform with modern languages. Although the policy initially met resistance, especially from the older generation, time has proven its effectiveness.

France supports East Timor reconciliation Agence France-Presse, Paris French President Jacques Chirac on Monday expressed support for national reconciliation in East Timor in talks with the country's leader and independence hero Xanana Gusmao. President Gusmao is to be presented with UNESCO's "Felix Houphouet-Boigny" Peace Prize in Paris on Tuesday.

Perbasi upbeat about women's basketball prospects The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian basketball team is optimistic that its women's squad will be able to go one step better than their 2001 performance when they take part in the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam in December. The team finished in fourth place behind Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines at the 2001 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

ASEAN, East Asia warn on need for stronger energy security Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Top energy officials and experts from Southeast Asian nations and China, Japan and South Korea warned on Tuesday of the need to strengthen energy security in the face of growing demand.

Some principal creditors sign APP debt restructuring scheme M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A number of principal creditors of Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. (APP) of Singapore signed a nonbinding debt restructuring plan on Tuesday as an initial step toward reaching a final settlement for the US$6.9 billion debt owed by the company's Indonesian subsidiaries.

'Education quality must improve' YOGYAKARTA: Minister of National Education A. Malik Fajar said on Tuesday that the quality of national education must be improved substantially to help the country catch up with the latest scientific and technological developments. The minister's statement was read out by Director General for Basic and Secondary Education Indra Jati Sidi at the National Conference of the National Vocational Training Council (MPKN).

Disgusted by BNI We are a foreign-owned company (PMA) with an account at Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI). I have been totally disgusted by the actions of a senior manager (second-in-charge) at the BNI Mataram branch. He reported to us that for international incoming transfers, we were now going to be charged provisi, or a provision, of one rupiah for every Rp 1,000 sent, instead of the standard Rp 100,000 that we were previously charged -- no matter what the amount.

Tomy Winata to invest in disputed Batek island Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Kupang military commander Col. Inf. Moeswarno Moesanip said on Tuesday that businessman Tomy Winata had plans to invest in the creation of tourism enterprises on Batek island, which is currently the object of a dispute between Indonesia and East Timor.

Marathon training kicks off JAKARTA: Training for the Chicago Marathon in the Far East started at 5 a.m. on Tuesday. The first day of training, in which nine people participated, was a three-mile run in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. Training is held every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday leading up to the Oct. 12 marathon. Saturday training is a cross-country run.

Students injured in bus accident BOGOR: Dozens of students from Ibnu Khaldun University were unable to join the demonstration to support the controversial education bill in Jakarta on Tuesday as their bus turned upside down on the Jagorawi toll road in Cibubur, East Jakarta. Ten students were treated at the emergency unit of the Indonesian Christian University hospital, according to Leo, a member of staff at the emergency unit.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 10, 2003 ____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume _____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 925 0 7,500 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 95 -5 720,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 130 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 100 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 700 0 13,500 Alter Abadi Tbk 15 0 1,747,500 Alumindo Light 195 -5...

House to probe Sukhoi purchase JAKARTA: The House of Representatives Commission I said on Tuesday it would establish a working committee to see if there were any irregularities in the recent procurement of four Sukhoi jet fighters from Russia. "The Russian jet fighter procurement should be in the hands of the Ministry of Defense, not the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the National Logistics Agency," Vice Chairman of the Commission I Effendi Choirie said.

Waiting for House's decision The House of Representatives is scheduled to pass the controversial bill on education into a law on Tuesday (June 10). People, notably those from Moslem groups who support the bill, said religion should be taught in school by teachers of the same faith and other people, notably those from Christian groups who reject it, said the state should not meddle too much in religion.

1. APP: 2 x 32 Some principal creditors sign APP debt restructuring scheme 2. Pepper 1 x 40 Pepper farmers want joint marketing body 4. Tariff 2 x 22 RI cuts import tariffs for three ASEAN countries 4. ICTU 3 x 20 ICFTU criticizes Asia for repressing workers' rights 5. Flexi 1 x 44 ATSI asks govt to regulate new Telkom service

Thailand, China to ink agreement BANGKOK: Thailand is to sign an agreement with China to reduce tariffs on fruit and vegetables traded between the two countries to zero from October, the Thai government said on Tuesday. The agreement was part of ongoing negotiations under the historic framework agreement between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to create a free trade area, a government statement said.

RI cuts import tariffs for three ASEAN countries The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia has cut import tariffs on goods from Myanmar, Vietnam and Cambodia as part of its efforts to promote economic development in the three countries. The policy was in compliance with the ASEAN Integration System of Preference which is aimed at narrowing the wealth gap between the original members and the newer members of the Association of South East Nations, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Tuesday.

1. Pro11 -- Big lies about central banking 3 x 15 Big lies and myths about central banking by Joseph Stiglitz 2. Sincu -- Impact Of The Aceh Conflict 1 X 30 Regional impact of the war in Aceh 3. Arroyo -- Human parasites pressuring Macapagal to run in 2004 1 X 30 Human parasites pressuring Arroyo Neal H. Cruz Asia News Network Manila

Myanmar, UN envoy say Suu Kyi will soon be freed Aung Hla Tun, Reuters, Yangon Myanmar's ruling military said on Tuesday that pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi would soon be freed and a UN envoy who saw her in custody said the Noble laureate was in good health. "The safe custody measures instituted are temporary and they will be lifted as soon as the situation returns to normal," Deputy Foreign Minister Khin Maung Win said in a statement, referring to Suu Kyi's detention.

Dear Dr. Donya, It was quite a while ago that I wrote to you with regards to my son Darren. We are now quite adjusted here in Bali but I am still afraid of the local diagnosis of Darren's symptoms. Darren just turned one in April and ever since we moved here from Singapore he has been in and out of the local clinic. Approximately every two weeks he goes to the clinic for a runny nose and a cough with phlegm (we can hear it in his breathing). He has no fever and otherwise appears perfectly well.

OPEC split over potential production cut OPEC countries were split on Tuesday over a potential cut in production to allow for Iraq coming back on stream, while non- OPEC Mexico said there was no need to tighten the tap. Abdullah al-Attiyah, president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), said the cartel would consider a cut at its meeting on Wednesday in Qatar's capital, Doha.