Blast victim fights on to make his wedding day K. Basrie, Contributor, Jakarta Febby Ferdiansyah had not planned to eat lunch at the JW Marriott Hotel that day. Feeling drowsy, he was ready to beg off from his colleague's invitation and take a nap at his company's nearby office in the Menara Rajawali building. The employee of PT Dharma Muda Pratama, a supplier of oil and gas equipment, went along anyway, believing it would be impolite to refuse.

Author Nukila Amal strikes her own balance Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As she turns 32 this year, writer Nukila Amal is proud to confirm that she has freed herself from "the blueprint of how women should live their lives". She does things her way, working for a certain period, and then spending the rest of her time doing what she wants. The latter may consist of traveling, taking a guitar course or making ceramics -- whatever takes her fancy.

RI maid jailed for killing newborn HONG KONG: An Indonesian maid has been sentenced to two years in prison for killing her baby daughter and then burying the body on a beach at an outlying Hong Kong island, a newspaper reported Saturday. Hong Kong High Court Justice Colin Jackson imposed the sentence Friday on Sugiati Giyono, 23, after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter, according to the South China Morning Post.

Denmark skips Indonesian Open JAKARTA: Denmark has withdrawn from the 2003 Sanyo Indonesia Badminton Open due to a travel warning issued by its government following the Aug. 5 bombing at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta. "In its e-mail to the tournament's committee, the (Danish) team's coach, Steen Schleicher Pedersen, conveyed his apologies because they have had to withdraw from the event," the chairman of the tournament's organizing committee, Cahya, said on Saturday.

Arroyo denies military reforms PHILIPPINES: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Saturday that military reforms had begun last year -- and were not prompted by rogue soldiers who held a mutiny weeks ago. "The government is prepared to address the grievances of the soldiers, but they should never put the law into their own hands," Arroyo said in a weekly radio message.

TV Program: Monday, August 18, 2003 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon 9:00 Music 10:00 Quiz: Dibisikin 11:00 News: Berita Daerah 11:30 Music: Konteswara 12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang 1:00 Talk Show: Konsultasi Keluarga 2:30 Music: Pop Daerah 3:00 Children's Program 4:00 Music 5:00 Comedy 6:00 English News Services 7:00 News 8:00 TV Drama 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Jaya Suprana Show 10:30 Music 11:00 Talk Show TPI 6:00 a.m.

Denmark skips Indonesian Open JAKARTA: Denmark has withdrawn from the 2003 Sanyo Indonesia Badminton Open due to a travel warning issued by its government following the Aug. 5 bombing at the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta. "In its e-mail to the tournament's committee, the (Danish) team's coach, Steen Schleicher Pedersen, conveyed his apologies because they have had to withdraw from the event," the chairman of the tournament's organizing committee, Cahya, said on Saturday.

RI establishes Constitutional Court Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri installed on Saturday nine judges to the bench of the newly created Constitutional Court. In a ceremony attended by high-level officials at the State Palace, the nine judges, all prominent figures in the field of law, were sworn in by the President. The nine judges were nominated by the government, the House of Representatives and the Supreme Court.

Aceh the home to RI's first voice of independence Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Bireuen, Aceh Swallowed up by an advancing army of shrubs and weeds, the monument in the mountainous territory around Takengon, Central Aceh, stands as neglected as the history it commemorates. The inscription on its base gives an inkling of its tale, telling how it was built in honor of a radio transmitter, now a pile of bricks about 100 meters away.

TV Program: Sunday, Aug. 17, 2003 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 English News Service 9:30 Children's Program: Bando 11:00 Variety Show: Maskum Show 12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang 12:30 Traditional Comedy: Mustika Campur Sari 2:00 English for Fun 3:30 Religious Teachings 4:00 Sports 5:00 Music 6:00 News: Berita Petang 7:30 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Traditional Performance Wayang Orang 10:30 Theater Teateronik TPI 6:00 a.m.

Businesses commemorate the big day in their own way A festive and colorful atmosphere has descended on most parts of the country in recent days as many people prepare for the celebration of the 58th Independence Day. Patriotic people in both the kampongs and cities decorate their homes with red and white banners and flags while others hang colorful light bulbs to commemorate the day.

Protest turns violent in Buol INDONESIA: The legislative council building in the Central Sulawesi regency, Buol, was badly damaged on Saturday when thousands of locals ran amok over their disappointment at the legislature's bad performance. Demonstrators threw stones at the building, damaged a door, windows and facilities inside and tore down part of the roof after they were unable to meet with councillors to discuss development policies in the regency.

'Paris Van Java' brings back to life a time gone by Lisa Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta It's often said that God smiled when creating the perfect beauty of the land of Pasundan, now known as West Java. Its natural wonders have always drawn people to the area, including those from a small country a world away. Like all of those who visit Bandung, the Dutch colonists faced the "curse" that those who have visited the city will be punished to continually yearn for their next visit.

No paper In accordance with the government-stipulated observance of Independence Day on Monday, The Jakarta Post will not be published on Monday. The Post will resume publishing on Tuesday. -- Management

Local skinheads take a walk on the milder side Jan Johannsson, Contributor, Jakarta On Jl. Barkah, an otherwise nondescript side street in the South Jakarta suburb of Tebet, several long-established Jakarta skinheads have gathered in a small store known as the Warriors Shop. Among them is an easygoing young man by the name of Uti, who is acknowledged by many as having been the first skinhead in the country.

Are we really independent? Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta "Are we really independent?" This sarcastic question is often heard these days, not only from the people in the street but also from almost all segments of society.

What's your sense of patriotism on Independence Day? The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a country run ragged by assorted problems, from corruption to crime, terrorism and lack of leadership, does a sense of patriotism still have a place? As Indonesia celebrates its 58th Independence Day anniversary today, we talked to its citizens, ranging from much-criticized Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso to a Papua high school student visiting the capital for the first time, about this special day.

Expatriates hanging in despite fears after Marriott bombing Megan James, Contributor, Jakarta Ambulances were still rushing away from the JW Marriott Hotel in Central Jakarta when the first wave of e-mails and phone calls arrived. "Surely, after this one in Jakarta, you're coming home." "It's just too dangerous there.

Skin deep The Indonesian skinhead may seem like a cultural anomaly, but it's a subculture that can encompass not only religion but also feminism in the struggle to find meaning and respect in life. Page 10 Nature crossing Surrounded by natural beauty, Tasmania is rightly dubbed Australia's natural state.With over 30 percent of the island covered by national parks, it's a living Eden boasting mountains, forests, rivers and glorious beaches. Page 13

Patriotism should be about coming together in a crisis At the closing of the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly two weeks ago, speaker Amien Rais told all Assembly members not to leave their seats before singing a couple of patriotic songs. A day later, I sneered when I saw a sarcastic comment on the front page of one local paper, saying the legislators brought to mind kindergarten students singing eagerly before getting to go home.

Skinheads find followers around the world In order to "get" Indonesian skinheads, you need to know a little about the history of the style in England, the country where it began. The look emerged in the late 1960s out of a weird collision between the white mod subculture and the "ska" music of black Jamaican immigrants.

Minahasa: A subdued warior rise again Froly Lelengboto Horn, Contributor, Manado, North Sulawesi That frightening clunking of wheels released for touchdown jerked me out of a stupor. Through the window of the tilting airplane, the poetic appellation Tanah Nyiur Melambai (the land of waving coconut trees) definitely seemed like an understatement.

Tips on recycling In Jakarta there is no system of recycling household waste, in a formal sense. An informal approach exists in the form of scavengers who walk the streets pushing wooden carts searching for reusable goods in people's household garbage, at garbage dumps and at busy public places where people often throw empty water bottles and cans onto the street.

Skin deep The Indonesian skinhead may seem like a cultural anomaly, but it's a subculture that can encompass not only religion but also feminism in the struggle to find meaning and respect in life. Page 10 Nature crossing Surrounded by natural beauty, Tasmania is rightly dubbed Australia's natural state.With over 30 percent of the island covered by national parks, it's a living Eden boasting mountains, forests, rivers and glorious beaches. Page 13

Tariq Ramadhan: Being a good Westerner by being a good Muslim Santi W.E. Soekanto, Contributor, Jakarta TIME named him one of the world's "innovators in spiritualism," praising him to the hilt for being "an academic who is creating a new European Islam". Many other publications have described him the epitome of moderate Muslim scholars, as certainly opposed to the "fundamentalists".

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, August 17, 2003 Exhibitions * Contemporary Art Childhood Objects, Cemara 6 Galeri (kafe), Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto 9 - 11 Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Aug. 18. * Photo The Transfixed Spectator, by Kassian Cephas, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069), until Aug. 30. * Caricature Menafsir Kemerdekaan by Augustin Sibarani, Galeri Milenium, Diamond Plaza, Blok B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No. 15, South Jakarta (Tel.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, August 17, 2003 Exhibitions * Contemporary Art Childhood Objects, Cemara 6 Galeri (kafe), Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto 9 - 11 Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Aug. 18. * Photo The Transfixed Spectator, by Kassian Cephas, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069), until Aug. 30. * Caricature Menafsir Kemerdekaan by Augustin Sibarani, Galeri Milenium, Diamond Plaza, Blok B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No. 15, South Jakarta (Tel.

RI interested in interrogating Hambali Febiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian government wants access to terror suspect Hambali, currently in U.S. custody, to question him about a string of attacks in the country, including the Aug. 5 JW Marriott Hotel bombing that killed 12 people and injured more than 140 others.