JakArt@2003 .TB.30" 0.90" June 28 Contemporary Balinese music, dance and performance Earth Song by Komunitas Hitam Putih Gading Batavia, Jl. Raya Gading Batavia, Building 9-18, Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, 7:30 p.m. Exhibition, Creativity and Contents: the Indian from St Gall and Golden Letters Ak Sa Ra Bookstore, Jl. Kemang Raya 8b, South Jakarta Theater Perampok The National Education Ministry building, Jl. Jend. Sudirman, South Jakarta 4 p.m.

1. Tax- 4x10 Sutiyoso softens stance on tax evaders 2. School - 2x 22 Students obliged to buy books from school 3. Sawah - 2x 25 Urban farmers create green oases in Jakarta 4. Hansip - 2x 20 Low paid guards offset police incompetence 5. Speak - 2x 20 'Quality of commercial education questionable'

Promotion girls spice up Jakarta Fair Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Lina, as she prefers to be called, swivels her head from left to right, which causes her long black hair to swing in all directions. Slowly smoothing her hair back in place with her left hand, she smiles as she greets visitors, both male and female, as she hands out promotional brochures to people who seem mesmerized by her looks. "The secret," she said, "is to get people's attention with anything you have.

Iwan Tirta finds criticism vital to artist's work Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Art thrives with criticism, without it artists become lackadaisical and do not produce their best work. "Criticism from others is what drives artists," said batik connoisseur Iwan Tirta in a discussion at The Jakarta Post this week. He added that, unfortunately there is a glaring lack of professional critics in the country.

Politicians united to block audit of campaign funds Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Politicians have blocked public demands for transparency in the campaign funds channeled to and spent by presidential candidates, casting doubt over their commitment to a fair and honest election, observers say.

Borobudur festival takes on big ambition Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java Many think the Borobudur International Festival 2003 just like any another festival. But for the Central Java administration, it is a starting point of an ambition to turn the province into the country's main tourist destination.

UN special envoy due in Jakarta Agence France-Presse, Jakarta A UN special envoy will hold talks in Indonesia this weekend amid heightened international pressure for the release of Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Special envoy on Myanmar Razali Ismail will hold informal talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told AFP on Friday.

Police, FBI reopen Timika investigation Tiarma Siboro and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Papua Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have returned to Indonesia to investigate an attack on a convoy of buses in Timika, Papua, that killed one Indonesian and two American teachers in August 2002. Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L.

Councillors face questioning PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Three councillors from the South Sumatra Legislative Council will be questioned by the prosecutor's office about a Rp 7.5 billion (US$860,000) scandal that allegedly involves 11 councillors. "We are still processing the letter of permission to question the three councillors," Attorney General's Office spokesman Antasari Azhar said on Friday during a visit to Palembang.

Govt prepares Rp 5t for elections MANADO, North Sulawesi: General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin disclosed on Friday that the government had allocated Rp 5 trillion (US$609 million) for the 2004 presidential and legislative elections. According to Nazaruddin, the money would be spent on financing all activities involved in the election process, ranging from the preparations to ballot counting.

Firm Value Date (in million dollars) -------------------------------------------------- 1. Bank Mandiri 125 Dec. 2001 2. Medco 100 March 2002 3. Indofood 200 June 2002 4. Telkomsel 100 April 2002 Source: The Jakarta Post

Siswono Yudo Husodo Chairman Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) Jakarta Food, as an essential commodity, must be made available in sufficient quantities and good quality, as well as being safe for consumption and widely accessible at an affordable price. Apart from rice, Indonesia's annual consumption of other food products remains low on a per capita basis.

JAKARTA: City police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara said on Friday that he had just fired a policeman for drug abuse, and nine others for desertion. "It was based on a decision of the Police Ethics Council on Thursday," he said. The officer found guilty of using drugs was identified as Adj. Comr. Denny, a member of the Narcotics Unit of the Jakarta police. Makbul said that the discharge of the delinquent officers was a reflection of a commitment by the police to improve their image.

Govt to check interest level in planned global bond issue Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is making preparations to issue global bonds next year as it plans to send officials to major international financial centers later this year to measure investors' interest in the scheme. "We'll be sounding out the international market by the end of this year.

Better farmers' welfare improves food security Siswono Yudo Husodo, Chairman, Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI), Jakarta Food, as an essential commodity, must be made available in sufficient quantities and good quality, as well as being safe for consumption and widely accessible at an affordable price. Apart from rice, Indonesia's annual consumption of other food products remains low on a per capita basis.

Japanese investors eye IBRA assets JAKARTA: The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said a number of Japanese investors had shown interest in the agency's next asset sale program. The agency said in a statement that some 20 Japanese investors had shown a strong response to the asset sale plan during a roadshow in Tokyo on June 23 and June 24.

Low paid private guards offset police incompetence Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Sujana, 40, a community guard (hansip) in Cempaka Putih Timur, Central Jakarta, gets upset when passers-by often stop to ask a question about an address. "I'm paid here to monitor security in the neighborhood, not to be a public guide," said Sujana, while adding that he had to deal with up to 80 people a day asking him about addresses in the area.

Govt asks for transparent use of admission fees Andi Hajramurni and Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar/Yogyakarta The government said it would not prohibit state universities with autonomous status from selling some placements to students from well-off families, but reminded them to be transparent in using the money.

'Studio D' set to be big hit for Asian kids Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Singapore The name "Disney" guarantees fun, so when invited backstage to a Disney studio you would not expect anything less than a day of fun and games in a colorful, cartoony setting. That was exactly the fare for a group of journalists from Singapore, Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia -- including The Jakarta Post -- last week on a backstage preview of its upcoming show Studio D in Singapore.

Sociologist warns of dirty war in Aceh Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Strict restrictions against the presence of the media and foreign individuals and institutions in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam has raised speculation that the Indonesian Military (TNI) will employ "a dirty war" in crushing the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), a sociologist said on Friday.

Nationalism makes militias legal From Suara Pembaruan The Indonesian people have to thank God because our founding fathers succeeded in formulating the solid foundation of our state, based on our established ancient culture and tradition. And the philosophy of life of the Indonesian people has been so powerful that it has never failed to solve the problems and challenges faced by the nation.

GAM district chief and police chief arrested A'an Suryana The Jakarta Post Lhokseumawe, Aceh Soldiers captured on Friday two alleged Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists who acted as the rebels' district chief and police chief for the GAM district Tangse in the village of Pulo Kawah in Pidie regency. A joint unit of the 315th Infantry Battalion and the local Pidie military command arrested the two and an alleged GAM tax collector, said the Pidie military commander Lt. Col. Supartodi.