Aid to fire victims limited to three days Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As if losing their homes was not enough, fire victims in Jelambar Baru subdistrict, West Jakarta, will only be provided with shelter in temporary tents for three days. "The tents were set up by the West Jakarta Social Affairs Agency and will only be here for three days. We don't know what to do after that," said the community unit leader, Halimi, on Saturday.

What do teenage expatriates think about Indonesia? Many expatriates bring their teenage children to Indonesia, with some ending up falling in love with the country and spending years here. Living in Indonesia is usually an equally wonderful experience for the kids. So, what is it that expatriate teenagers like or don't like about living in "exotic" Indonesia? What do they think of the country's rich cultural diversity and its unique landscape?

Are you being served? Well, I'm not Ever get that sinking feeling that silly you has been seduced by the sweet nothings of an ad even though you should know better? I stand guilty as charged. As I cruised to work in my car one morning, listening to my favorite radio show, a commercial came on for a new sushi kitchen and bar. It was, they gushed, to die for, the in place to dine on great food and to be seen, in one of Jakarta's best locations.

RI maids dance to their own beat in Singapore Fabio Scarpello Contributor Singapore In any media report on Indonesian maids in Singapore, chances are it deals with death, abuse or violence. But it all sounds distant and alien to Mary, Ica, Etika and Enny, among about 30 others gathered outside City Plaza shopping center. No one has a single bad experience to mention and no one has ever met any of their 93 compatriots that have died in the city- state during the past five years.

Bomb hits cafe, two killed INDONESIA: Two people were killed and three others were seriously injured late on Saturday after a bomb went off inside a cafe in the municipality of Palopo in South Sulawesi. Deputy chief of Luwu Police Comr. Wisnu Widarto said that the bomb hit Sampoddo Cafe, some four kilometers from downtown Palopo toward Makassar. The bomb exploded at 10:30 p.m. local time.

Stocks The article, Jakarta stocks hit all-time high, published on Saturday erroneously reported that the Jakarta Composite Index skyrocketed on Monday to the highest level in the nation's history. The correct day of the surge was on Friday. We regret the error. -- Editor

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, January 11, 2004 Exhibitions * Puppet Wayang Menak, Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl. Palmerah Selatan no. 17, Central Jakarta (Tel. 5483008 ext. 7910/7911), until Jan. 15. * Installation, Painting, Drawing by Awan Simatupang and Okky Arfie Hutabarat, the Gallery of Komunitas Utan Kayu, Jl. Utan Kayu 68H, East Jakarta (Tel. 8573388), until Jan. 31. * Painting Dari Abas sampai Dumas, Galeri Milenium, D'Best Shopping Center, Blok B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No.

RI maids dance to their own beat in Singapore Fabio Scarpello, Contributor, Singapore In media reports on Indonesian maids in Singapore, chances are they deal with death, abuse or violence. But it all sounds distant and alien to Mary, Ica, Etika and Enny, among about 30 others gathered outside City Plaza shopping center. No one has a single bad experience to mention and no one has ever met any of their 93 compatriots that have died in the city- state during the past five years.

Adrie stays grounded dealing with the stars Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Music promoter Adrie Subono scratched his balding pate while browsing the list of riders -- or requests -- sent by Mariah Carey for her Feb. 15 concert here. So what becomes a diva most? The long list ranged from detailed requests on specific nibbles, beverages -- Diet Sprite, Diet Snapple and gallons of spring water -- to the types of sofa and pillows that must be provided.

Ex-Bulog chief Beddu put on wanted list Sandy Darmosumarto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta National Police Headquarters ordered on Saturday an all-out hunt for Beddu Amang, the former head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), and one of prime suspects in the alleged misuse of Rp 841 billion (US$99 million) in livestock feed subsidies provided by the state. Deputy director of the National Police's graft unit, Sr. Comr.

Movie breaks sexual taboos, but leaves some viewer uneasy Tomi Soetjipto, Reuters, Jakarta The candid home-grown tale Arisan! has become an unlikely box office hit, challenging and wowing audiences in equal measure. Playing to packed movie houses in Jakarta, it is a satirical comedy mocking the life of the rich in the nation's capital and tackling the taboo subject of homosexuality. To the surprise of many in the local film industry, state censors passed the movie with almost no cuts.

Weavers feted for modern spin on tradition Carla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta On Wednesday, Maria Yovita Meta and the Biboki weavers from West Nusa Tenggara will be presented the prestigious Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands at the opening of the Biboki textiles exhibition at Erasmus Huis, South Jakarta.

Biboki weavers honored for a modern spin on an old craft Carla Bianpoen Contributor Jakarta On Wednesday, Maria Yovita Meta and the Biboki weavers from West Timor will be presented the prestigious Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands at the opening of the Biboki Textiles exhibition at Erasmus Huis, South Jakarta.

'Indonesian Destinies': On the road to nowhere? Mohammad Sadli, Contributor, Jakarta For foreigners and Indonesians alike, Theodore Friend's book is a rich informative source to better understand the country's post- colonial history. This scholarly work has an engaging, often reflective narrative style that is always full of details from numerous interviews conducted since the writer first started visiting the country, sometime in 1967-1968.

Politicians may need to call up the spin doctors Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Amien Rais is no jazz-loving Bill Clinton. Nor is he current Democratic Party contender Wesley Clark, who appeared on MTV and seemed pretty in tune with the contemporary music scene, including mentioning hot pop group Outkast as his favorite.

TV Program: Sunday, January 11, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Cartoon 8:00 TV Drama 9:00 Children's Program: Bando 11:00 Variety Show: Maskum Show 12:30 p.m. Music 1:00 News: Berita Siang 1:30 Documentary 2:00 TV Drama: Paviliun 21 2:30 English News Service 3:00 Music 3:30 City News 4:00 Indonesian Film 5:30 Traditional Comedy: Mustika Campursari 7:00 News 7:30 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Traditional Drama Cempala 12:30 News TPI 6:00 a.m.

Potter's magic spell hits Jakarta's streets A magical mood filled the air on Saturday around midnight when publisher Gramedia Pustaka Utama geared up for the first midnight launch in the country of the Indonesian translation of Harry Potter dan Orde Phoenix (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) by British author J.K. Rowling.

A gem loses its luster Its famed beauty has long drawn tourists to Lake Toba and Samosir island, which is situated right in the center of the lake in North Sumatra. But in the last several years, the number of visiting tourists to the country's biggest lake in the town of Parapat, Simalungun regency, has dropped. It cannot be excused away due to the fall in tourists to the country during the crisis and widespread unrest.

Golf clubs catering to Asians gain popularity Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta New golf club models with Asian specifications are gaining popularity among Indonesian golfers because they can better accommodate Asian postures compared with those built to American specifications.

ASEAN Plus Three ink crime pact THAILAND: Government ministers from China, Japan, South Korea and the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed on Saturday to strengthen security ties to counter the growing threats of transnational crime and terrorism.

Drop-off points set for GAM hostages Nani Farida and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, East Aceh/Medan The martial law administrator in Aceh offered on Saturday drop- off points in five districts in East Aceh that could be used by members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to release hostages, including RCTI television cameraman Fery Santoro. Maj. Gen.