EU to send 68 poll observers JAKARTA: The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will deploy 68 observers to monitor the country's first direct presidential election. EU EOM spokesman Gillian McCormack said on Saturday the 68 observers would be assigned to various locations throughout the country's provinces to oversee election preparations, such as campaign activities, administrative works and the media. Two observers will come from Norway, two from Switzerland and 64 from the EU.

The other face of the city It's a contrasting, almost schizophrenic existence: Literally a stone's throw from the glitzy skyscrapers and posh shopping centers -- the polished side of Jakarta that our leaders want to show to the world -- the real face of the capital for most of its residents can be found.

Police say evidence stacked against Ba'asyir P.C. Naommy, Jakarta Police said on Saturday terrorist suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir had planned a series of bombings that hit the country between 1999 and 2002. "As the amir of a secretive group called Al Jamaah Al Islamiyah, Ba'asyir was responsible for planning the bomb attacks in the country between 1999 and 2002," said National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen.

Workers may miss chance to vote GORONTALO, Gorontalo: Most workers of Rajawali sugar plant here may not be able to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election as they do not hold identity cards, nor transmigration letters. Gorontalo Elections Commission chairman Yasin Tuloli said on Saturday that only 10 percent of 1,300 workers employed by the firm possessed the documents. "We can't do anything as they do not meet the requirements to vote.

Students reject campaigns, Susilo sings A. Junaidi, Jakarta More students joined those rejecting on-campus presidential campaigns when Amien Rais was denied entry on Saturday to the 10 November Institute of Technology, Surabaya (ITS). Amien, the National Mandate Party (PAN) candidate, arrived at the institute around 9:45 a.m.

More Indonesians buying Australian property Sudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Australia has become one of the favorite destinations for many affluent Indonesians seeking a house or an apartment either for living in or as an investment. Although many wealthy Indonesians still prefer to buy property in neighboring Singapore or Malaysia, the demand for Australian property from Indonesian buyers has been persistently increasing over the past five years.

Bookstore moving on up to boost sales Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In the past two years, an increasing number of bookstores, both locally owned and franchises of foreign names, have opened their door. In the 1990s, there were the slim pickings of Times and Rubino's in Plaza Indonesia, Central Jakarta, along with a few secondhand bookstores offering some gems among their old dog- eared copies, while today there are names like Books Kinokuniya, QB, Aksara or Periplus.

Bali: Sinking a slug on Seminyak's 'sunset' strip Jim Read, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Well, that headline is a misnomer for a start! As few in Seminyak's expat community seem to get up before midday, and people rarely go out for a night's entertainment before about 11:30 p.m., perhaps "sunrise strip" would be more appropriate: Dawn is almost breaking by the time the bars are ready to close. True to form, Jl. Dhyana Pura (renamed Jl.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, June 20, 2004 Exhibitions * Japanese Calligraphy, Shoudou, Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang - The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61-62 South Jakarta (Tel. 5201266), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until June 30. * Painting, Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl. Palmerah Selatan no. 17, Central Jakarta (Tel. 5483008), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until June 26.

Tia the people's choice in singing contest Bruce Emond The Jakarta Post Jakarta Heavily favored Theodora "Tia" Meilani Setyawati overcame some final-night jitters and uncharacteristic pitch control problems to triumph at the second Akademi Fantasi Indosiar (AFI) talent contest on Saturday night. Amid the cheers and tears of 4,000 fans, the 22-year-old native of Surakarta, Central Java, received the key to a new Chevrolet Aceo at Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta.

Life's not just a beach at Pangandaran Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Pangandaran, West Java Pangandaran has been a favorite destination of mine since I discovered six years ago that the beach offers more than just sand -- there are rivers, caves and a wildlife conservation area -- and for its fresh yet inexpensive seafood.

Tia the people's choice in 'AFI' singing contest Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Heavily favored Theodora "Tia" Meilani Setyawati overcame some final-night jitters and uncharacteristic pitch control problems to triumph at the second Akademi Fantasi Indosiar (AFI) talent contest on Saturday night. Amid the cheers and tears of 4,000 fans, the 22-year-old native of Surakarta, Central Java, received the key to a new Chevrolet Aveo at Jakarta Convention Center in Central Jakarta.

Taking matters into our own hands in an uncivilized society Krabbe K. Piting, Contributor, Jakarta The Mysterious Gunman sounds like a cheap Hollywood summer offering, doesn't it? Unfortunately, that moniker carried a much more sinister history. Remember the early 1980s when PETRUS, short for penembak misterius or "mysterious gunman", made the news everywhere?

Busway operating later on Sunday INDONESIA: TransJakarta Busway vehicles will start running at 9 a.m. on Sunday instead of the usual 5 a.m. due to the running of the Jakarta International 10K in the busway lane. An announcement to this effect has been posted at every busway stop from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta. The route of the 10K runs from City Hall to the Semanggi Cloverleaf.

Didi Petet, an actor with the heart of a mime Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "Shabby, huh?" said actor Didi Petet, catching my surprised look at glancing around the faded building and surroundings of the School of Performing Arts at the Jakarta Arts Institute (IKJ), where he teaches and is an alumnus. Forget Fame or Juilliard, the IKJ is filled with dusty and gloomy narrow halls and classrooms.

Diarrhea needs to be tackled quickly in the young Maria Endah Hulupi, Contributor, Jakarta Wiwied was overwhelmed by fear when her babysitter told her on her return from work that her eight-month-old son had passed watery stools at least seven times during the day. "I was panicking, upset and really worried. I rushed him to a nearby hospital. My instinct told me it was diarrhea and the doctor confirmed it. I just did not know where he got it from," she said.

Park bars tourists from volcano INDONESIA: Volcanic rumblings have prompted authorities to bar visitors from one of East Java's most popular tourist spots after a nearby volcano erupted and killed two people, an official said on Saturday. "Mount Ijen since Thursday has shown increasing activity so we decided to close the area for tourist visits," said MZ Hudiono, chief of the Alas Purwo national park that is home to the volcano and popular with Western tourists.

Japan, Indonesia remain unbeaten FUKUOKA, Japan: Defending champion Japan brushed aside Thailand for a fourth straight win to remain unbeaten along with Indonesia in the Asia Pacific Cup men's volleyball tournament on Saturday. Japan's second-string national squad powered their way through to a straightforward 25-22, 25-13, 25-21 win and now will take on Indonesia in the final day Sunday.

Photographer sniffs out story of the 'Big Durian' Chris Holm, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta William Durman is passionate about Jakarta. While many expatriates work in comfortable air-conditioned offices high above the dust and the jams, Durman sweats it out in the seamier parts of town, dodging potholes, traffic and the occasional train, to take pictures of the city he loves.

Gambling not a risky pastime MEDAN: Chess gambling enthusiasts seemed unperturbed by the arrival of presidential election candidates Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla at a campaign rally at Merdeka Square, here on Saturday. The police ignored the presence of the gamblers, who continued to place bets. A challenger had to pay the host Rp 20,000 (US$2.12) to play white and would win 10 times their bet for a checkmate in three moves. -- Antara

Lolita Lempicka: An Alice in Wonderland fantasy -- at a price Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta First Miu Miu, and now Lolita Lempicka: The recent opening of the two boutiques here shows that upper-end members of the fashionista have managed to deftly sidestep the pinch of the crisis.

TV Program: Sunday, June 20, 2004 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. Morning News 7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria 9:00 Music: Delta 10:00 Sports: Otoscreen 11:00 TV Drama 12:30 p.m. English for Fun 1:00 News: Berita Siang 2:00 Music 3:00 English News Service 4:30 Music 5:00 Cartoon: Robocon 6:30 Talk Show: Obrolan Wong Cilik 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 8:00 Music 8:30 TV Drama 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Music: Dansa Yo Dansa TPI 6:00 a.m.

Tips for a smooth trip * Secondhand books are available at the Magic Mushroom bookshop on Jl. Pasanggrahan. * Bring enough cash for the length of your stay unless you have a BNI card, the only ATM I saw there. * The best, yet cheapest, seafood, from three restaurants I sampled, is at the Lonely Planet restaurant, at the far end of the west beach. * Alternately, buy raw seafood at the fish market and grill it yourself on the beach. Ask your hotel attendants for help.

Life's not just a beach at West Java's Pangandaran Leony Aurora The Jakarta Post Pangandaran, West Java Pangandaran has been a favorite destination of mine since I discovered six years ago that the beach offers more than just sand -- there are rivers, caves and a wildlife conservation area -- and its fresh yet inexpensive seafood.

Amien, a man who remembers his roots Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta This is the third in a series of articles on the five presidential candidates in the eyes of their neighbors Although he spent much of his time lecturing at state-run Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, presidential candidate Amien Rais is still seen as a "hometown boy" by villagers in Kepatihan Kulon, Surakarta, Central Java.

Mega-Muzadi Betawi center opens JAKARTA: Hundreds of Betawi people from across Jakarta attended on Saturday the opening of the Mega-Muzadi Betawi Center (MMBC) at the M.H. Thamrin Museum in Central Jakarta. Chairman of the MMBC Audi Iskandar Zulkarnaen, said the center would organize Betawi cultural events to support Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi in the July 5 election. "Megawati's victory would empower the Betawi people as she grew up in the city," said Audi. Betawi people account for 2.

Home to fly for takes root in Yogyakarta Asip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta "Like standing in an open space among shady trees" is the perfect description for the feeling one gets inside this house in Tembi village in Bantul, Yogyakarta. The house, whose main building mostly serves as a living room, is for the most part surrounded by walls.