SBI rate down to 8.91 percent The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The central bank benchmark interest rate fell again to 8.91 percent during a regular weekly auction of the Bank Indonesia SBI promissory notes. The interest rate of the one-month SBI notes was at 8.99 percent previously. Bank Indonesia since the beginning of this year has been aggressively cutting the benchmark rate in a bid to help trigger banks to also reduce their lending rates to make loans more affordable to the corporate sector.

Bali troupe entertain Japanese Kadek Suartaya, Contributor, Tokyo A large tent was beautifully decorated with Balinese gold painted textile prada while two big Bali style umbrellas stood tall, in front of the gate. In the background, dancers moved to music from the gamelan traditional orchestra. The Balinese atmosphere was everywhere.

Mega OK's swearing in Beratha JAKARTA: Despite growing calls for President Megawati Soekarnoputri to delay the swearing-in of Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha for a second five-year term, she has instead issued a decree to inaugurate him on Thursday. Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno confirmed on Wednesday that the decree had been signed by Megawati, who had thrown her weight behind Beratha's reelection bid.

Matori hospitalized JAKARTA: Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil was hospitalized due to "serious illness" on Wednesday morning at the Army's Gatot Subroto General Hospital (RSPAD). According to Suwadi -- the deputy secretary general of Matori's Glorious Democratic Party (PKD) -- Matori collapsed mid-Wednesday-morning. He did not confirm whether the Minister had suffered from a stroke. "His condition has returned to normal. He can sign important documents and the like...

Singapore, Thailand to strengthen bilateral ties Agence France-Presse, Singapore Singapore and Thailand on Wednesday pledged to step up efforts to strengthen bilateral economic ties and boost Southeast Asia's attractiveness to foreign investors. They concluded an inaugural three-day meeting on the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Economic Relationship (STEER) project and signed agreements to improve trade ties in areas such as tourism and automotive industries.

City reshuffles top police officers JAKARTA: City Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara appointed on Tuesday several police officers to head up some key posts in the city. Sr. Comr. Mathius Salempang, who was previously the chief at the North Sulawesi Police Operation and Control Division, replaced Sr. Comr. Andi Chaeruddin as the National Police detectives chief. Sr. Comr. Herry Prastowo, who was Tangerang Police chief, was selected for the West Jakarta Police chief post, replacing Sr.

Taufik, Sony keep RI's title hope alive Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro became the only home favorites remaining in the men's singles of the US$170,000 Indonesian Open badminton tournament on Wednesday. After laboring to gain his 7-15, 15-3, 15-9 first round win over qualifier Beng Hong Kuan of Malaysia, defending champion Taufik upped his game to dispatch Canadian Bobby Milroy 15-2, 15- 4 in the second round later in the day.

Evicted residents seek new homes Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Leaning on the door of a cupboard placed in the shade beneath a tree, Haryati, 37, sits on a low stool and holds her 12-day-old son, Riko. Her oldest son, Riki, 4, sleeps beside the cupboard. "Since last night, we have lived out here in the open. I'm looking for a place to rent. I was offered a four-square-meter room but I couldn't afford the rent.

Urgent, a long-term political end-goal for NAD Kirsten E. Schulze, Senior Lecturer, International History, London School of Economics The military operation against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has entered the fourth month of what increasingly looks like an indeterminate period. Politicians have ruled out returning to negotiations in the near future. Indonesian Military (TNI) commanders on the ground and in Jakarta have stated that a year or more may be required to achieve their aims.

U.S. grants RI access to question Hambali Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post Jakarta The United States has granted Indonesia access to interrogate Indonesian-born terrorist suspect Hambali more than two weeks after his arrest in Thailand and his transfer to a U.S. custody. Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Wednesday that he received confirmation about the permission to question Hambali from U.S. ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce. "There was confirmation from the U.S.

Assessing the govt's ISA adoption proposal Imanuddin Razak, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It was only three days after a powerful bomb exploded at the JW Marriott Hotel, South Jakarta, on Aug. 5 that the country's security authorities, through Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil, came up with the idea of adopting Singapore's or Malaysia's Internal Security Act (ISA) in an attempt to combat the intensifying terror attacks at home.

Blue Bird's gratitude We, the Blue Bird Group, would like to express our gratitude to all people and parties who have provided us with both moral and material assistance for the victims of the JW Marriott bomb blast that took place on Aug. 5, 2003. The incident claimed the lives of five Silver Bird drivers of the Blue Bird Group. The tragedy is a tough blow for us, as in one single incident we lost five of our best drivers.

Leakages found in rice-for-poor projects: Minister Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta An independent monitoring team revealed on Wednesday a clear violation in the implementation of the fuel subsidy compensation program which was supposedly aimed at reducing the impact of higher fuel prices on the poor. "We are not ruling out possible violations by some of our brothers," said James Hellywarang, coordinator of the monitoring team from 35 universities across the country.

International poetic feast on display in Bali I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali He recited the first line and everybody in the audience fell silent, instantly aware that before them stood a man who had survived the bitterest of days, the coldest of nights. The half darkened stage or the dim yellow light could not conceal the energy that shone with his soaring words.

Golkar accused of misusing aid program Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java The regent of Indramayu, West Java, has been accused of misusing the government-sponsored program to provide free rice and clean water to poor people affected by the current drought for Golkar Party campaign purposes.

1 x 37 Golkar accused of 'misusing' aid program JP/5/robber 1 x 47 Captured bank-robber linked with terrorists JP/5/telkom 2 x 27 Lack of telephone lines to hamper poll result delivery JP/5/tiwul 1 x 39 Drought forces villagers to eat cassava

Fire Department to report residents for attack The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The City Fire Department will report the residents of Karet Tengsin subdistrict, Central Jakarta, to the police for attacking firemen and vandalizing their equipment when they tried to extinguish a fire in the area. Head of the City Fire Department Johnny Pangaribuan said on Wednesday that a fireman suffered serious wounds on his face and head in the attack.

Drought forces villagers to eat cassava Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Lampung province Many thousands of people from Lampung have been forced to start eating cassava as the drought continues its stranglehold over the impoverished province. Hambali, a 46-year-old farmer from Sendangrejo village in Central Lampung regency, says his family had run out of rice due to crop failures. "We are forced to eat tiwul (cassava-based food) that is cooked with little rice.

Govt expects successful sales of PGN, BRI The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government hopes to raise about Rp 3 trillion (US$361.44 million) from the sale of two state-owned companies later this year. The two companies are gas distribution firm Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), Minister of Finance Boediono said on Thursday.

Six students caught in drug case YOGYAKARTA: Police arrested on Wednesday at least six students for drug dealing in tourist-friendly Yogyakarta. During a raid on their boarding houses, led by Yogyakarta Police Narcotics head First Insp. Ferro Adi Mahendrahe, police also seized 500 grams of marijuana from the suspects. Ferro said his office was developing their investigation into the six students to uncover the drug-dealing network for marijuana and other drugs in Yogyakarta.

More trees felled, Bandung heats up BANDUNG: The West Java capital of Bandung is getting hotter and hotter, as at least two trees are cut down every day to clear the way for development projects. Djaja Sunarya, head of infrastructure maintenance division at the Bandung parks agency, said on Wednesday that shopping center, hotel and street expansion projects had caused the loss of many large trees.

No more 'divide and rule' At least three people have been killed and 45 injured in clashes between supporters and opponents of the setting up of Central Irian Jaya province in Timika since Saturday, when the province was formally established. And the government -- fully aware that these clashes should never have erupted in the first place -- for some unfathomable reason has yet to step in with a clear-cut policy.

Thousands fight for close encounter with Mars Yuli Tri Suwarni and R. Berto Wedhatama, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Jakarta The usually silent observatory in the Ismail Marzuki art center compound was packed with thousands of people on Wednesday. Outside still more waited to get in.

Road work reroutes motorists JAKARTA: Motorists traveling on Jl. Gunung Sahari toward Jl. R.E. Martadinata in North Jakarta must take a detour due to ongoing road work to raise a 270-meter section of the road. Initiated on Aug. 26 and expected to finish on Sept. 1, road work lasts from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. daily, and is expected to finish on Sept. 1. The City Transportation Agency announced on Wednesday that the road work began at the intersection of Jl. Gunung Sahari and Jl.

* Headlines:Only 35 percent of GAM forces destroyed so far 2 * National:U.S. allows RI to question Hambali 4 * Archipelago:Golkar accused of misusing aid program 5 * Opinion:Hopes are dim for the Beijing nuclear talks 7 * City:Sutiyoso to pursue US$400m monorail project 8 * Sports:Adopted sons revel in foreign colors in athletics 9 * World:Indians march in protest over Mumbai bombs 11 * Business:WTO allows options on generic drugs 16 * Features:Harley-Davidson cruises into second century 17

Bomb threat at Soekarno-Hatta TANGERANG: Soekarno-Hatta International Airport received a bomb threat on Tuesday night. "I have put a bomb in Terminal II," the man, who identified himself as Abdullah, told an airport telephone operator at about 11:30 p.m. The caller said he was ordered by three men from Aceh to place the bomb in the terminal. Members of the police bomb squad were called in to search the area.

TAMAN SUROPATI GEMBIRA 2003: With the underlying theme of independence, peace and brotherhood, the Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso (center), accompanied by Ambassador of the United States of America Ralph L. Boyce (second from left) with his wife (far left), Head of Society Concerned about Antiterrorism Datuk Hakim Thantawi (second from right) and Ambassador of Pakistan Syed Mustafa (far right) celebrated Indonesia's 58th Independence Day at Suropati Park in Central Jakarta on August 24, 2003.

TKIs able to vote in 2004 polls JAKARTA: The government has said that Indonesian citizens working illegally overseas (TKIs), will not lose their voting rights in the 2004 general election and need not fear possible arrest. Iswayudha, a senior official at the Directorate of the Protection of Indonesians Overseas at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said here on Wednesday that the data on TKIs would be kept secret and only used for electoral purposes.

Housing demand to surge on lower interest rate The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Housing demand this year is expected to increase by 25 percent driven by lower interest rate environment, a senior executive of a property developer said. Managing director of PT Ciputra Development Harun Hajadi said on Wednesday that the lower interest rate would make housing loan cheaper which should in turn help boost demand.

Press reporting not impartial in Aceh: Watchdog Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro The Jakarta Post Jakarta Most national newspapers and television stations have failed to uphold the basic principle of covering both sides in reporting the Aceh conflict, a media watchdog says. Head of Aceh News Watch Agus Sudibyo said on Wednesday that monitoring of reports by 13 Jakarta-based print media and all Jakarta-based television stations from July 28 through Aug.

152 lady golfers take part in ILAOGC The Jakarta Post, Jakarta More than 15O lady golfers have confirmed their participation in the 25th Indonesia Ladies Amateur Open Golf Championships 2003 (ILAOGC) to be contested at Kenten golf club in Palembang, South Sumatra from Thursday to Saturday. "We had to limit the event to 152 golfers to ease in running the event.