Thaksin vows crackdown on weapons in southern Thailand Associated Press/Bangkok Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed on Saturday to purge southern Thailand of illegal war weapons being used daily in deadly attacks. Four Buddhists -- one a young student -- were killed in the latest outburst of violence, police said. Thaksin said he would travel on Sunday to the southern province of Narathiwat, scene of some of the most intense rebel activity, to personally supervise the operation.

Day job Santo Dharma When Yon came through the door, there was only Lingga in the front room, curled up on the floor studiously watching a cartoon on the TV. "What's up?" Yon said, putting his bags down and ruffling his nephew's hair. The boy looked up slowly, smiling shyly and glancing toward the kitchen, before turning back to the hazy, flickering image on the screen.

Kang Giman By Ngatini Rasdi Kang Giman - Kang is the Javanese way of addressing an elder brother - returned from his rice field with a frightened face and immediately threw his hoe and his bamboo-made broad conical- shaped head covering to one corner of the kitchen. Then he hurried into his bedroom and lay himself on his small bed. It was still early in the morning and Marti, his wife, was yet to leave for the market. Their children had just left for school.

Thaksin vows crackdown on weapons in southern Thailand Associated Press/Bangkok Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra vowed on Saturday to purge southern Thailand of illegal war weapons being used daily in deadly attacks. Four Buddhists -- one a young student -- were killed in the latest outburst of violence, police said. Thaksin said he would travel on Sunday to the southern province of Narathiwat, scene of some of the most intense rebel activity, to personally supervise the operation.

East Java home to world class goldsmiths Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya Why was the 2004 Indonesian Jewelry Exhibition held in the capital city of East Java? Why was it not held in the national capital of Jakarta, still the center of everything (commerce, media, fashion trends), with Surabaya running a distant second? Or, why not in Makassar, long renowned for its cheap, beautiful gold jewelry, or in Yogyakarta or Bali, also centers of jewelry production?

Food poisoning hits E. Java INDONESIA: Fifty-two people were taken to a community health center in Mojokerto regency, East Java, on Saturday in a suspected outbreak of food poisoning. The Dinoyo subdistrict residents complained that they felt dizzy and some vomited after they ate an iced dessert, served by a resident during a gathering at their house. Police were still investigating the incident, said Susi, a nurse at Jatirejo Community Health Center in Mojokerto. -- Antara ;AP; ANPA ..u..

Herlina's mother appeals to SBY Iman Dwianto Nugroho, The Jakarta Post/Krian The death sentence handed down by the Kula Lumpur High Court on Thursday to Herlina Trisnawati, a 22-year-old migrant worker, has caused a stir in her hometown in East Java. Villagers, who had regarded Herlina as a shy girl, were stunned by the court's decision.

Utami campaigns for breast is best for baby Ratih Sayidun & Santi W.E. Soekanto, Contributors/Jakarta Many readers of parenting magazines here know of pediatrician Dr. Utami Roesli. And thanks to her tireless campaign for exclusive breast-feeding, more people have realized the superiority of breast-milk over infant formulas. When she started out a decade ago, however, quite a number of people wondered out loud, "Why the fuss?

Getting ready for the big day It's that time of the year again. The call from home prompts Jakartans from all walks of life to head for their hometowns to celebrate the post-fasting month Idul Fitri holiday. It's a tradition with its own carefully prescribed rituals, from buying new clothes and parcels of food, to jostling to obtain a ticket for whatever transportation means is available to get home.

The multilayered odyssey of Indonesian 'kue lapis' Suryatini N. Ganie Contributor/Jakarta With only a week before the holy month of Ramadhan ends, households are busy preparing food and sweets for the Idul Fitri celebration, the special time when families feast after a month of diligent fasting. Relatives and friends drop by to celebrate the happy occasion together and to ask each other's forgiveness for any past wrongdoing.

Taking the cake for the Idul Fitri celebration Kue Lapis Legit One of the most popular cakes during the Idul Fitri celebration. This recipe is a "homemade" one from the northern coastal area of Central Java. Ingredients: 170 g butter; 170 g ground sugar; 5 egg yolks; 85 g wheat flour; 1 tsp ground nutmeg; 1 tsp ground cinnamon; 1 tsp ground cloves; 1/2 tsp ground cardamom; 5 egg whites, 50 g; 1 tbs butter for greasing Method: 1. Beat butter until creamy. Add ground sugar and egg yolks.

VJ Paula calls it like she sees it Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta ================================================================ STANDFIRST: Of Bruneian-British parentage, VJ Paula begs to differ when it comes to those who say her good looks have paved her way to success, including a recent appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Hunt on for killer of Poso village chief Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post/Poso A top police officer claimed on Saturday that police investigators had identified the person who allegedly killed a Christian village head in Poso regency. After questioning witnesses, police investigators said that the alleged killer of Carminalis Ndele was a resident of the neighboring subdistrict of Torokondo. Poso Police chief Adj.Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma Sitepu said the police were still looking for the person.

Tension eases within the House: Speaker The Jakarta Post, Jakarta House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono claimed on Saturday the two opposing coalitions in the legislature had agreed to put an end to their current deadlock, with the People's Coalition promising to attend plenary and commission meetings. Agung said the agreement was reached during an informal meeting between House leaders and the leaders of the 10 House factions on Friday evening.

Taufik, Sony get first-round byes in China Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Indonesia's singles hopefuls Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat and Sony Dwi Kuncoro will receive a bye in the first round of the US$250,000 China Open badminton tournament in Guangzhou on Tuesday. From the draw, which was released on www.worldbadminton.net, on Tuesday, Sony is likely to face his tough test in the third round against Malaysia's top shuttler Wong Choong Hann.

Setting a stylish table for Idul Fitri Maria Endah Hulupi, Contributor/Jakarta ========================================================== STANDFIRST: Although the Idul Fitri holiday is only a week away, there is still time to try something a bit different at your table this year -- and leave a lasting impression for your guests.

TV Program: Sunday, November 7, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 3:30 a.m. Variety Show: Sahur 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:30 Koran Reading: Iqra 6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Documentary 7:30 Children Show 9:00 Music: Delta 10:30 Sports: Antar Gelanggang 11:00 TV Drama 12:30 p.m.

In building a better, brighter Indonesia, Utami Roesli chooses to start with the country's youngest citizens, by ensuring they get the nutrients they need in breast-milk.

When he 'mothers', she 'fathers' Santi W.E. Soekanto, Contributor, Depok Like everybody else, my husband and I do not appreciate the current jostling for position in the House of Representatives. We think that it reflects the new legislators' ineptitude in apportioning rights, obligations and individual skills. We, on the other hand, are great believers in the concept of division of labor.

Dragged home for the holidays by the force of tradition If only the campaign by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) -- which bans state officials from receiving valuable gifts in connection with their positions -- could also be applied to families, my shopping list would be much shorter right now. A week before the Idul Fitri holidays, the list is becoming longer each day. My top priority -- to buy new clothes for my two children -- has extended to my nieces and nephews.

Jewelry's beauty still lies in the eye of beholders Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya Like fashion, jewelry takes the same fickle path, going from one trend to another, sometimes in retrospective mood or looking to the brave new world of the future. Fashion design trends tend not to stand out for their individuality, as they borrow from previous trends and styles.

The odyssey of 'kue lapis' Suryatini N. Ganie, Contributor/Jakarta With only a week before the holy month of Ramadhan ends, households are busy preparing food and sweets for the Idul Fitri celebration, the special time when families feast after a month of diligent fasting. Relatives and friends drop by to celebrate the happy occasion together and to ask each other's forgiveness for any past wrongdoing. Of course, a big part of the celebration is eating to one's heart's content.

Food poisoning hits E. Java INDONESIA: Fifty-two people were taken to a community health center in Mojokerto regency, East Java, on Saturday in a suspected outbreak of food poisoning. The Dinoyo subdistrict residents complained that they felt dizzy and some vomited after they ate an iced dessert, served by a resident during a gathering at their house. Police were still investigating the incident, said Susi, a nurse at Jatirejo Community Health Center in Mojokerto. -- Antara

Women artists set out to make their mark Bambang Asrini Widjanarko, Contributor/Jakarta Beyond the glamorous openings of art exhibitions, female artists rarely get the credit they deserve for taking a stand and doing what they want in life. While exhibitions come and go, few focus on women artists, who remain a rarity in the arts community. Some women, however, are glad that they went against convention to express themselves through their art.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, November 7, 2004 Exhibitions * Caricature by Gun Gun, Gallery Lontar, Jl. Utan Kayu 68H, East Jakarta (Tel. 8573388), until Nov. 7. * Photo Images De Cirque, CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Salemba Raya 25, Central Jakarta (Tel. 3907716), until Nov. 12. * Fine Arts Agoes Jolly Sendiri, Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, Nov. 24 to Dec. 4.