JP/18/PASIR People turn unfriendly as sand quarrying rampant Sand quarrying endangers riverine villagers Indra Harsaputra The Jakarta Post/Surabaya Bambang, a resident of Mlirip hamlet in the East Java town of Mojokerto, can only sit still watching how sand quarrying machines are operated in Brantas River. "It's really appalling because despite frequent warnings from locals, sand quarrying machines continue to operate," Bambang told The Jakarta Post several weeks ago.

Sutiyoso threatens to banish athletic 'defectors' Eva C. Komandjaja The Jakarta Post/Palembang Despite Jakarta's formidable run at the underway National Games (PON), Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso could not hide his irritation over other teams' successes in particular sports that he believed had come at his administration's cost. Sutiyoso said there were many athletes who held Jakarta ID cards but refused to play for the capital's team.

RP plans new major airport MANILA: Philippine airport authorities said Saturday they will develop a former U.S. airbase north of Manila into a major international gateway at the cost of at least two billion pesos (US$35.6 million). The former Clark airbase will be made into an international airport to attract low-cost airlines who wish to serve the northern Philippines, the Manila International Airport Authority said in a statement.

Wismilak tennis organizers up security alert Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar, Bali The organizers of Bali's top WTA Wismilak Interntional women's tennis tournament are tightening security in the wake of the bomb attack outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta on Thursday, tournament director Kevin Livesey says. The tournament features stars like World No. 3 Anastasia Myskina of Russia, who won the French Open and finished in fourth at the Athens Olympics.

Medal Tally The medal table on the tenth day of the 16th National Games (PON) in Palembang on Saturday: 1. Jakarta 98 74 82 2. W. Java 59 58 64 3. E. Java 53 57 83 4. C. Java 39 45 49 5. S. Sumatra 26 31 33 6. Jambi 25 23 10 8. Papua 19 11 11 9. Lampung 16 11 11 9. Riau 13 12 18 10.E. Kalimantan 12 21 26 11. N. Sumatra 12 12 14 12. N. Sulawesi 12 8 13 13.S. Kalimantan 8 7 8 14.W. Kalimantan 8 6 10 15.S. Sulawesi 7 14 8 16.W. Sumatra 6 7 20 17.Banten 5 4 18 18. Yogyakarta 4 7 9 19.Bali 4 6 10 20.

Lackluster Lisa still unchallenged to win gold Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post/Palembang Indonesia's Olympic silver medalist Lisa Rumbewas put in a lackluster performance but was still able to earn Papua a gold on the opening day of the weightlifting competition at the National Games here on Saturday. Teams outside Java dominated the competition, leaving their Javanese rivals empty-handed on a day when there were six gold medals up for grabs.

WHO warns Thai bird flu monitoring lagging: report Agence France-Presse/Bangkok The World Health Organization (WHO) has criticized Thailand for not doing enough to monitor birds capable of carrying the deadly avian flu virus, media reported on Saturday, following the kingdom's ninth human death. Komsan Fukhom, 18, who reared fighting cocks in eastern Prachin Buri province, died on Wednesday, becoming the 28th Asian fatality from the lethal strain of bird flu that swept the region in 2004.

JP/19/VISUAL Art Summit showcases the theatricality of visual art Emmy Fitri The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Will the Indonesian Art Summit 2004 be the peak of the creative process for visual artists, since this year marks their first participation in the one-month long festival?