Influential clerics lend support to Alwi's PKB ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya Several influential Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) clerics took the time to appear here on Saturday at a national forum held by the National Awakening Party (PKB) camp led by Alwi Shihab, which the group claimed as proof of its power and support.

Balinese paintings at TIM Balinese painter I Gede Ketut Grantika will exhibit his paintings at Galeri Cipta III in the complex of Taman Ismail Marzuki from June 2 through June 14. Many of his paintings portray the traditions and the life of the Balinese community. Ketut Grantika was born and raised in Bali, but he got his formal education at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in graphic design. He has organized painting exhibitions several times in Indonesian cities and abroad.

Astra Gallery exhibits sculptures Newly opened Astra Gallery is organizing an exhibition of sculptures that use roots of teak trees as their raw materials. The sculptures are the creation of sculptor Bambang from the Central Java town of Blora. Bambang receives much appreciation for transforming the teak roots, which are actually a waste product, into high-taste artistic works.

Australians still hold out hope for Bali drug smuggler Agencies, Sydney/Canberra An expert witness in the trial in Indonesia of Australian Schapelle Corby said on Saturday that a successful appeal against her 20-year sentence for attempting to smuggle 4.1 kilograms of marijuana into Bali was not out of the question. Queensland criminologist Professor Paul Wilson also condemned fellow Australians who blamed 27-year-old Corby's Indonesian lawyers for the guilty verdict announced on Friday.

`Mercy' fulfill a patient's wish Chisato Hara, The Jakarta Post, aboard the USNS Mercy, Nias Laia Temazatulo is 23 years old, but he looks as though he is middle-aged, with a thin frame and exhaustion apparent on his pale face. Laia suffered a minor injury during the March 28 earthquake on Nias, West Sumatra, when he was hit in the left flank by a falling beam.

Febi overpowers top seed Prima to keep the edge in rivalry Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Febi Widhianto clearly has Prima Simpatiaji's number in their continuing rivalry for the top spot in national men's tennis. The third seed from Jakarta overcame the top seeded Central Java player on Saturday in the most highly anticipated semifinal of the Hemaviton Challenge 2005.

GAM seeks cease-fire in security pact Agencies, Helsinki Separatists from the war-torn province of Aceh pushed for a cease-fire in their almost 30-year conflict with the Indonesian authorities, at peace talks on Saturday in Finland. Bakhtiar Abdullah, a spokesman for the exiled leadership of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) who are taking part in the talks in Helsinki, told AFP that a cease-fire should be part of a security agreement that was to be discussed with the government delegation.

IOM helps Nias people get home The March 28 earthquake on Nias, off the western coast of Sumatra, devastated the island and its residents' lives, killing about 2,000 people and injuring hundreds of others.

Indonesian history as an autonomous history Yosef Djakababa, Contributor, Jakarta Indonesia: Peoples and Histories Jean Gelman Taylor 448 pp Yale University Press Jean Gelman Taylor's book titled Indonesia: Peoples and Histories is an important addition to the study of Indonesian history. In this book, Taylor uses an original and unique approach in not having any citations in the book. Instead, she uses what she called capsules.

The 18th Residence Taman Rasuna: A house for young executives Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "Honey, wake up...wake up!" said Neta, trying to rouse her husband Andi from sleep one morning. Andi only opened his eyes and asked Neta, "What time is it?" Upon hearing that it was 8:00 a.m., Andi lazily woke up, drank a glass of water and put on sneakers. "There is still time for me to go jogging. Meanwhile, you can prepare breakfast.

Part 1: Pen Pals by Diar Adhihafsari It's 11 at night in Indonesia, yet Lia still cannot sleep. She re-reads the letter she received this morning. She gets up and moves toward a huge world map hung on her yellow bedroom wall. She traces the continent of Europe with her finger, then moves north to Denmark. She has put a pink pushpin at the country's map. It means a country to remember -- always.

Silk and steel: Modernity vs. tradition in China Bucky Knight, Grade 9, Jakarta International School The ceiling of the Beijing airport is supported by industrial steel beams that crisscross in a repeating geometry, yet the carpet is decorated with dragons and phoenixes. The mix of old and new is already apparent. Simon, the tour guide, leans his narrow frame nonchalantly on the cement wall with a wide grin propping up his high cheekbones.

Music concert at Erasmus The Erasmus Huis will organize a piano and violin recital by Helen Gumanti and Asep Hidayat at the Erasmus Huis building in South Jakarta on June 3, 2005. They will play the works of D. Shostakovich, Z. Kodaly, T. Takemitzu and G. Faure. Meanwhile, the cultural office will also host an evening of chamber music by the Jakarta Chamber Orchestra on June 7. The Jakarta Chamber Orchestra consists of Metta Ariono, Wenwen Bong, Jane Sutardjo, Ferdinand Suganda, Unun S.P.

Where to go in Jakarta: Sunday, May 29, 2005 Exhibitions * Japanese Food Promotions at Hotel Nikko Jakarta, The Olive Tree Restaurant, Jl. MH Thamrin 59, Central Jakarta (Tel. 2301122), until May 31. * Photo Images from the Heart by Arbain Rambey, Arun Taneja, Charlie Sianipar, Deniek G. Sukarya, Karin Sukarya, Keijo Fujii, etc., at Deniek G. Sukarya Gallery, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 15 South Jakarta, open daily Monday - Saturday 10 a.m.

Grand Champa promises resort-like living amid hustle and bustle Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Amid the tighter competition in Jakarta's apartment and condominium sector, PT Dharmala Gandaria Permai is offering a new product: condominiums with private swimming pools. The firm will also plant plenty of tropical trees on the grounds of Grand Champa condominiums, allowing tenants to enjoy the serenity of their surroundings while having a dip and sipping champagne in their private pools.

;JP;JEAN COUTEAU;CD; ANPAc..r.. Arts-Bali-NiTanjung JP/13/Jean Ni Tanjung's 'Art Brut' in a Bali corner A mentally ill person has created one of the most interesting -- and contemporary -- pieces of art in Bali, writes contributor Jean Couteau with the help of Swiss anthropologist-cum- museologist, Georges Breguet, who also provides the photographs.

RP, Iraq most deadly for journalists SOUTH KOREA: The Philippines and Iraq were the most deadly countries for journalists over the past six months, a report said Saturday. Nine journalists were killed in the Philippines and another ten in Iraq between last November and May, according to the report by the World Association of Newspapers. In total, 38 journalists were killed around the world in the six-month period, the report said. It didn't give details of individual cases.

Now Showing May 29, 2005 The Lazarus Child -- Senator International Je Reste! -- Pathe! Distribution The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Touchstone Pictures -- Joko Anwar

Tentena blasts kills 22 Ruslan Sangadji and Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Palu/Makassar Fears over renewed sectarian clashes are abound after two bombs ripped through a crowded market in Tentena town, Poso regency, on Saturday, killing at least 22 people and wounding some 30 others. National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar visited the bombing site only hours after the morning explosion in order to boost confidence among the people that the security forces were on top of the situation.

TV Program: Sunday, May 29, 2005 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon: Tabaluga 7:30 Hero Classics 8:00 The Adventures of Red Ant 9:00 Children Drama 10:00 Sports: Antar Gelanggang 11:30 English for Fun 12:30 p.m.

Day of Enlightenment Religious services not only bring peace and serenity, but also are displays of harmony and elegance. This was true of the services held to mark the Buddhist Day of Enlightenment on May 24. Buddhists from around the country took part in services at the Borobudur and Mendut temples in Yogyakarta to commemorate the three most important days in the life of Sidharta Gautama: his birth, the day of his enlightenment and his death.

Kashmir blasts injure at least 31 people INDIA: At least 31 people, mostly civilians, were injured in Indian-administered Kashmir Saturday in two separate blasts aimed at the restive region's security forces, police and witnesses said. Police said seven Central Reserve Police Force personnel and 12 civilians were hurt when suspected Islamic militants detonated a car bomb on the Anantnag-Pahalgam road as a paramilitary patrol was passing.

A guidebook on Papua's butterflies Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta We have seen butterflies since our childhood, but most of us would be unable to identify those exquisite insects. Dutchman Henk van Mastrigt is an exception. From 1974 until today, he has been observing, collecting and identifying butterflies (lepidoptera). Mastrigt conducted the observation in the hard terrain of northeast Papua -- from the Mamberamo area to the Cyclops mountains.

1. Simon: 1 x 32 Sniffing out new clubs in Big Durian

Sniffing out new clubs in Big Durian Ah, The Big Durian, a metropolitan enigma wrapped in a riddle of rat-runs and glitz, of plywood shanties and concrete erections. By day it is, alas, too often chaos incarnate; a choking haze of emerging office blocks and street-level smoke from which sanctuary can only be found in cool but-otherwise- unmemorable shopping malls. However by night the old place does scrub up pretty well.

After 7 years, it gets increasingly clear who are the losers Half an hour after I shouted a joyous scream with my housemates having watched the live broadcast of president Soeharto announcing his resignation seven years ago, a fellow student called, asking us to meet at our campus. Fifteen minutes later, still wearing my triumphant grin, I arrived to find about a dozen friends sitting under a mango tree. To my puzzlement, they all looked grim.

Bartending with a smile and flair Chisato Hara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The warm lighting, moon orchids and lounge atmosphere of the Oriental Bar at the Hotel Mandarin Oriental Jakarta provides a cozy place to unwind after a day's work, accompanied by a live band crooning the tunes of Norah Jones. The Oriental may not be the neon-lit, rowdy establishment of Cocktail, the 1988 film starring Tom Cruise, but it has bottle- juggling bartenders.

Danger by the pen in the Philippines Adeline M.T, Contributor, Manila "If you are concerned with your safety, I can arrange a guard for you. Just tell me at least two days before you go," said Tonette Orejas on the phone. I called her asking information on how to go to Dingalan, a small town in Aurora Province, in the main Luzon Island of Philippines. The coastal town 100 kilometers northeast of Manila suffered terrible flash floods and landslide last year.

Ni Tanjung or Art Brut in a Bali corner Jean Couteau, Contributor, Bali A mentally ill person has created one of the most interesting -- and contemporary -- pieces of art in Bali, writes contributor Jean Couteau with the help of Swiss anthropologist-cum-museologist, Georges Breguet, who also provides the photographs.

Homecoming: Injured reunited with Nias family Upon the invitation of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), The Jakarta Post's Chisato Hara observed the organization's assisted voluntary return program in Medan, in Gunung Sitoli, Nias, and onboard the USNS Mercy off the coast of Nias.