Quite quiet on the club-going front Things will be kind of quiet in Jakarta's club-land this Friday and Saturday following last weekend's overflowing lineup of love- packed Valentine's Day events. If you didn't get your fill of good times or good loving, there's still a couple of special club happenings this weekend to make your night out a little more exciting.

Floods force 13,000 to flee The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Tangerang/Bekasi Nearly 13,000 Greater Jakartans were forced to flee their homes on Thursday as floods from heavy downpours overnight submerged many areas. The Jakarta Operation Coordinating Board (Satkorlak) for Disaster Mitigation reported that floods had greatly affected four of five municipalities in the capital, the lone exception being Central Jakarta. Some areas of Tangerang and Bekasi were also inundated.

Congress to select Child Ambassadors Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Participants in the Indonesian Children's Congress (KAI) are slated to choose 10 representatives to be child ambassadors for Indonesia. If they are appointed as ambassadors, they will promote the Law on Child Protection to the public, in order to advance children's rights.

Navy to use local steel for warships JAKARTA: The Indonesian Navy pledged on Thursday its commitment to prioritize the use of locally made steel to build new warships or maintain the existing ones. "The Navy has more than 100 warships which are constructed of steel," Navy chief of staff's assistant for logistic affairs, Rear Adm. Sudaryanto said when signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with steelmaker PT Krakatau Steel.

RI lacks integrated policy at WTO talks: Economist Sari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post Jakarta The government is being criticized for not having an integrated policy on global trade issues, making the country's negotiation team at World Trade Organization (WTO) talks less effective in promoting domestic interests.

Five tried for burning courthouse in Flores Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Trials began on Thursday for five suspects in last year's attack on a court building and prosecutor's office on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The defendants were tried separately at the Kupang District Court amid tight security as the first day of the trial attracted many observers.

JP/5/larantu Five tried for burning state buildings in Flores Yemris Fointuna The Jakarta Post Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Trials began on Thursday for five suspects in last year's attack on a court building and prosecutor's office on Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara. The defendants were tried separately at the Kupang District Court amid tight security as the first day of the trial attracted many observers.

Illegal processing of wood We support Indonesian Minister of Forestry M. Prakosa's call for a worldwide boycott of Malaysian wood (RI urges global boycott on M'sian timber, The Jakarta Post, Feb. 13). We question, however, the minister's comment that Malaysia is the largest buyer of Indonesia's illegal logs. That dubious distinction goes to the Indonesian wood processing industry which, as with Malaysia, launders vast amounts of illegal wood and exports "legal" wood to the world.

JP/3/BOX2 Outline of PPNUI's platform The party aims to build a nation that is just and prosperous, in line with the goals of the unitary state of the republic, based on Pancasila. The party also aims to strive for the implementation of Islamic teachings among its followers in the private and public domain. For this purpose, the party attempts the following: o To maintain the unitary state of the Indonesian republic. o To strive for the people's sovereignty.

West Sumatra fishermen fighting for livelihood Kasparman Piliang, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra The fate of thousands of fishermen in West Sumatra looks increasingly gloomy as their livelihood has been threatened, especially by the presence of Thai fishermen accused of poaching in the area. This situation has been aggravated by the illegal importation of fish at sea in transactions that are not taxed, a move that has inflicted losses on the local administration.

KPK must probe possible collusion in Akbar acquittal: Lawyer Kurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post Jakarta The newly-formed Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should investigate possible collusion in the acquittal of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung on corruption charges, a senior lawyer says.

Mutual relations with 'Polska' deserve maintenance ... Soeryo Winoto, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Warsaw, soeryo@thejakartapost.com Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski's recent statement to visiting journalists from Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand that Poland is not Euro-centric -- despite its imminent accession to the European Union on May 1 -- should not be dismissed as mere trade rhetoric. His official visit to the three ASEAN countries from Feb. 21 to Feb.

173 workers poisoned in Yogya YOGYAKARTA: At least 20 workers of PT Mataram Tunggal Garmen garment factory in Yogyakarta remain in the hospital with food poisoning after eating fish served for lunch at the factory. The patients were among 173 workers poisoned on Wednesday and taken to Panti Nugraha Hospital and Panti Rapih Hospital. Dr. Sumaryono said the 20 patients were still being treated while the others had been discharged from the hospitals.

1. TERROR: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 Govt completes draft revision of antiterror law The government has completed the draft revision to the much- criticized Antiterrorism Law No. 15/2003 that will grant more power to security authorities in deterring acts of terrorism. Abdul Gani, the director general of legislation at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, said the revision was aimed at giving security authorities more rooms to combat terrorism.

EKI back with 'Lovers and Liars' cabaret Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The dance company known for its raunchy productions -- Eksotika Karmawibhangga Indonesia (EKI) -- is back with its musical cabaret, Lovers and Liars, opening on Feb. 27. Set against a traditional Javanese wayang (leather puppet) performance, the intriguing tale of three beautiful sinden (Javanese female singers) unfolds.

Pakistan is ASEAN's ally in war on terror Siswo Pramono, Deputy Director for Global Organization, Indonesian Foreign Ministry, Jakarta The recent improvement in relations between Pakistan and India could pave the way for Pakistan's participation in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF). ASEAN should invite Pakistan to join regional efforts to suppress terrorism. The strategic interests of both sides are at stake. The security of both ASEAN nations and Pakistan is undermined by terrorism.

East Java bans logging MALANG, East Java: All government institutions, including state forestry company Perhutani, should observe a five-to-10- year moratorium on logging, while intensifying their reforestation activities, East Java Governor Imam Utomo said on Thursday. He said institutions should not pay mere "lip service" to the moratorium and urged the public to monitor the implementation of the reforestation program.

RI defends its call for KL timber ban Agencies, Kuala Lumpur Indonesia appealed on Thursday for Malaysia's help in combating the trade in illegal timber from its forests and defended its call for a ban on Malaysian lumber in Europe. Speaking on the sidelines of a major UN conference on biodiversity here, Indonesia's Environment Minister Nabiel Makarim said the boycott call was "a last resort".

This is the 19th article in a series on the 24 political parties contesting the 2004 elections. Renowned cleric leads another NU-oriented party to national polls Rais Hidayat, Research and Development Unit, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, which claims 40 million members, is far from homogeneous.

JP/2/2Media Parties barred from financing non-campaign TV programs Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post Jakarta The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the General Elections Commission (KPU) agreed on Wednesday to prohibit political parties and regional representative candidates from financing informational, educational or entertainment programs in the electronic media.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb.19 ___________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ___________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,100 -25 51,500 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 110 0 1,390,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 85 0 130,000 Alakasa Industrindo 190 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 1,150 0 0 Alter Abadi Tbk 35 0 0 Alumindo Light 350 0 0 Andhi...

Angie loses to Kirilenko at Indian Open Angelique "Angie" Widjaja failed to get past Maria Kirilenko in the third round of the Indian Open tennis tournament in Hyderabad, losing to the Russian 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday. Though Angie won only three games, her coach Deddy Tedjamukti said that she played well, only stumbling on critical points. "Angie played a good game. Every game was closely fought. But Angie repeatedly flopped on deuces," Deddy said in a press release.

Mutual ties with Poland deserve to be maintained ... Soeryo Winoto Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Warsaw soeryo@thejakartapost.com 2. Polska2 -- ... why don't we learn from it 1 X 30 ... and let's learn from the Polish about peace

Microsoft launches new MBS software P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Microsoft Indonesia launched a new Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) software on Thursday to help small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) organize their financial affairs. The integrated software, which costs about US$20,000, covers four solution categories, including enterprise resource management (ERM), which will help businesspeople with budgeting and controlling cash flow.

JP/3/INUL Inul to 'drill' Singapore fans Queen of dangdut, the erotic Inul Daratista, is scheduled to bump and grind with fans in Singapore on Sunday in a show co- starring child singer Tina Toon and Lela Anjani, another dangdut singer. Seventy percent of tickets priced S$25 (about Rp125,000) to $100 have been sold, The Straits Times reported Thursday. It featured a demure looking picture of the singer, who shot to fame and notoriety for her style dubbed as "drilling" (ngebor).

Privatization of water on the doorstep The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite widespread public criticism and opposition to the water resource bill, legislators went ahead with the endorsement of the controversial draft on Thursday. With the endorsement, water will effectively cease to be a social commodity as the bill transforms water into a commercial good, with the have-nots possibly in for a bleak future of having their rights to clean and affordable water denied, according to some critics. A.M.

Indonesia's stock rises, led by banking bluechips Bloomberg, Jakarta Indonesia's key stock index rose for a fourth day. PT Bank Mandiri led gains in banks on expectations lower interest rates will boost profits this year. PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper fell Rp 50, or 5.6 percent, to Rp 850 on concern a 17 percent surge in the past five days to yesterday was excessive. Earlier in the week, its parent company won a court case against bondholders in New York.

Pakistan is ASEAN's ally in war on terror Siswo Pramono Deputy Director for Global Organization Indonesian Foreign Ministry Jakarta 2. Iraq -- Iraqi women's resistance 2 x 30 Iraqi women's resistance against U.S.-appointed governing council Haifa Zangana Guardian News Service London

Inul to perform in S'pore Queen of dangdut, the erotic Inul Daratista, is scheduled to bump and grind with fans in Singapore on Sunday in a show co- starring child singer Tina Toon and Lela Anjani, another dangdut singer. Seventy percent of tickets priced S$25 (about Rp125,000) to $100 have been sold, The Straits Times reported Thursday. It featured a demure looking picture of the singer, who shot to fame and notoriety for her style dubbed as "drilling" (ngebor).

No funds left for dengue Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several days have passed since the dengue fever outbreak was declared an extraordinary occurrence, but the government still has failed to secure emergency funds to help local governments fight the disease, which has now claimed 188 lives.

TV Today: Friday, February 20, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI .tb .30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Entertainment News: Selebrita 8:00 Music: Sik Asik 10:00 TV Drama: Si Kabayan 11:00 Religious Teachings 12:30 p.m. Music 1:00 News: Berita Siang 2:30 English News Service 3:00 Comedy Drama: Komseko 4:00 News 4:30 Science and Technology 5:00 Music 5:30 Comedy 6:30 Music 7:00 News 8:00 Love Talk 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Music Cafe 10:30 Talk Show: Bincang Malam 11:30 Sports 12:30 a.m.

Students poorly informed, teen dengue victims rise Abdul Khalik and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor Students of State Senior High School (SMUN) 24 in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, were unsure as to the origins of dengue fever outbreaks. "The mosquitoes lay eggs in dirty water, such as in a gutter. That's why we must clean it immediately," Amir said confidently.

Dili welcomes extended UN mission EAST TIMOR: East Timorese officials welcomed on Thursday a proposal by United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan to extend the UN support mission in the new nation for one more year. "The president welcomes and fully supports the recommendations of the secretary-general," said Agio Periera, chief of staff to President Xanana Gusmao. He said preparing for the UN's eventual departure was "a challenge for the Timorese nation as a whole.

1. TAX: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 Tax office seeks independence from govt red tape 2. KL: 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 28 RI defends call for KL timber ban 3. WHO: 30 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 27 RI may have failed detecting human cases of bird flu: WHO 4. DEWAN: 28 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 36 Supreme Court urged to use Press Law 5. PARTY: 30 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 65 Renowned cleric leads another NU-oriented party to national polls