For Singapore and HK, it's time to entice visitors The arrival of the Chinese New Year, which this year will be celebrated on Jan. 22, is the most important festival in the Chinese calender. For the Chinese community around the world, the New Year, better known in Indonesia as Imlek, is a time for reaffirming family and kinship ties. Many people also believe that the New Year is also a time for cleaning house, repaying debts, enjoying feasts, exchanging gifts and remembering ancestors.

Haj pilgrims airplane skids Airplane carrying haj pilgrims skids at Juanda Airport INDONESIA: A Saudi Arabian airplane carrying Indonesian haj pilgrims from Bangkalan district, Madura island, and from elsewhere in East Java province, skidded on the runway at Juanda Airport at 4 a.m. on Saturday. A Juanda Airport official said the incident occurred as the plane was about to take off from the airport.

TV Program: Sunday, January 18, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Children's Program: Dongeng Anak 9:00 Children's Program: Kompetisi Anak 10:00 TV Drama: Saroja 11:00 Variety Show: Maskum Show 12:30 p.m.

Imlek: Another big day for family reunions T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor , Jakarta Ling Ling, 26, was quick when asked what she liked best about the Chinese New Year. "Ang pau," she answered cheerfully without hesitation. She was referring to the red envelopes containing money given to children by elder relatives. On New Year's Eve, she will have a big dinner with other members of her extended family.

Talented fashion students strut their stuff Elaine, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It takes more than a little bravery to go public with dreams of becoming a young fashion designer, putting your name on the line and having to accept the criticism of others. That was the case last Saturday when a group of young, promising fashion design students gathered at the International Garment Training Center (IGTC) campus in Sentul, West Java.

Mataram residents flee after clash Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara Some 250 people from Peresak hamlet took refuge to safer locations after a brawl in the hamlet between Peresak residents and rivals from neighboring Karang Genteng hamlet, early on Friday morning. Peresak residents fled their homes after they felt insecure following the bloody brawl that killed two people and injured 10 others.

Wiranto shrugs off U.S. visa ban, calls it baseless The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bandung The United States State Department has reportedly put former Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto and five other generals on its visa watch list, but the presidential candidate branded the report as an "old baseless issue". Wiranto told reporters in Bandung the issue was related to rivalry in the upcoming presidential election here.

Family perishes in train accident INDONESIA: Four members of one family were killed after a train crashed into their car in the Central Java regency of Batang on Saturday. The four victims were Warsimin, 40, who was driving the Suzuki Escudo sedan when the accident occurred, his wife Gimaya, 34 and their two daughters Ela, 9, and Farah, 3. They were the residents of Semarang, some 60 kilometers from Batang.

The envelope please: Of 'angpao' and other identity markers Some 20 years ago, we began to take our children to see the Lunar New Year celebration in Melbourne's Chinatown. They watched, awed and fascinated by the proximity of the Chinese dragon dancing to the almost mythical rhythm of the drum.

JP;ABDUL; ANPAj..r.. Highlight-Indonesia-Russian Foreigner beaten up in discotheque JP/2/A03 Foreigner beaten up at Blok M disco INDONESIA: A Russian citizen, identified as Alex Salnikso, was severely beaten up and hospitalized early on Saturday by five unidentified Indonesian men at a discotheque on Jl. Melawai in the Blok M area of South Jakarta. Salnikso, who lives in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, suffered injuries to his head and eyes.

JP/9/BOOK --------------------------------- Minorities, Modernity and the emerging nation Christians in Indonesia, A Biographical Approach Gerry Van Klinken KITLV Press 2003 285 pp ------------------- One of the unfortunate realities of history is that, as an infamous 1940s German leader said, "History is written by the victors". In many situations where one group is the majority, they often overlook the important contributions of other members of society.

A refuge for rare creatures The continung illegal trade in protected species and the proliferation of people keeping endangered animals as status symbol "pets" are decimating wild populations of many species. The presence of temporary wildlife shelters, like one in Sentolo district in Kulonprogo regency, some 15 kilometers to the west of Yogyakarta, offer fresh hope for their survival.

7 buses damaged but Jakartans still enjoy the free ride Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Three days after Thursday's big kick-off, seven buses of the TransJakarta Busway have already been damaged and are temporarily out of service, hampering full operational service to the public. "Today we're only operating 49 of the total 56 buses due to problems to seven buses," said Payaman Manik Raja, the operational director of the busway firm PT Jakarta Express Trans (JET), on Saturday.

Batik: Spearheading a strategy to go international Sean Yoong Associated Press Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Decked in batik blouses and sarongs, four teenage girls stride down a fashion show catwalk, seemingly straight out of a village in this Southeast Asian country. Statuesque models follow in a batik-loaded swirl of silk scarves and colorful chiffon. It's official: Malaysian batik is coming out of the closet.

Correction Biboki weavers: The Biboki weavers are from East Nusa Tenggara, not West Nusa Tenggara, as stated in the profile on this page in the Jan. 11 edition. We regret the error.

Problem solved in creating a home comfort zone Maria Endah Hulupi The Jakarta Post Jakarta Call it the day-after blues: The initial excitement of securing a piece of land of their own can quickly be overshdowed by a feeling of disheartenment for some prospective home owners. It was the situation faced by a couple who bought a plot in Ragunan, South Jakarta, who feared that various unforeseen problems might thwart their dream of creating a comfortable, healthy house.

The rat in the year of the monkey Dewi Anggraeni Our next-door neighbors Quentin and Ania, are having a dinner party for six at their home, to celebrate the Chinese New Year. Chinese New Year's Eve, to be precise. Neither Quentin nor Ania are remotely Chinese; Quentin's ancestors were English and Ania's Irish. The other couple, who live across the road, are of Scottish and Macedonian descent. Christian and I are the only ones who can be called Chinese in one way or another.

Respecting people with HIV is good for society David and Joyce Djaelani Gordon, Contributors, Jakarta Agitated fear, prejudice and misunderstandings fuel a wildfire of stigma and discrimination toward many who are living with HIV and AIDS today. Many are dismissed as "throwaway people", pointed to and labeled sex workers or prostitutes, drug abusers or junkies, criminals, gay, unfaithful, immoral, the untouchables.

AP; ANPAi..r.. Highlight-Australia-pedophilia Aussie held on child sex charges JP/2/A01 Aussie held on child sex charges AUSTRALIA: A former Australian diplomat currently in Indonesian custody on child sex charges is being investigated for possible links to a suspected pedophile ring on Bali island, news reports said Saturday. William Stuart Brown, 51, was arrested on Jan. 5 and is being questioned over allegations he had sex with children aged 14 and 16, Australian Broadcasting Corp.

PBI ponders hiring foreign coach The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to increase the competitiveness of Indonesian players, the national bowling association (PBI) is pondering a plan to recruit a foreign consultant and a coach, according to a release here on Saturday.

Problem solved to create a comfort zone Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Call it the day-after blues: The initial excitement of securing a piece of land of their own can quickly be overshadowed by a feeling of disheartenment for some prospective home owners. It was the situation faced by a couple who bought a plot in Ragunan, South Jakarta, who feared that various unforeseen problems might thwart their dream of creating a comfortable, healthy house.

Special hotel rates, dining packages available for party lovers Agustina Wayansari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A festive atmosphere loaded with decorations dominated by red and gold color can now be experienced in almost all major hotels, malls and restaurants in Jakarta as people are gearing up to celebrate the Chinese New Year on Thursday.

Temples gear up to welcome 'Imlek' Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several vihara (Buddhist temples) around Glodok, West Jakarta, have been gearing up to welcome Imlek or the Chinese New Year that will fall on Jan. 22 this year. Several ethnic Chinese families were seen performing religious services in the temples. The oldest and biggest temple Dharma Bhakti on Jl.

Persikota wins 2-1 over rival Persita Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang Losing a point to Semen Padang earlier this week apparently did not break Persikota Tangerang's spirit as the "Benteng Lions" beat their "older brothers" Persita 2-1 in Saturday's cross-town rivalry in Tangerang. Persikota led early in the game thanks to Liberian striker Antoni Balla, who fired a 20-meter free kick past Persita's goalkeeper Wawan Darmawan after just three minutes.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, January 18, 2004 Exhibitions * Installation, Painting, Drawing by Awan Simatupang and Okky Arfie Hutabarat, Lontar Gallery, 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. 15, South Jakarta (Tel. 7507828), until Jan. 31.