Kontras aims to end climate of fear JAKARTA (JP): First there was the case of missing activists. Then came revelations of torture and executions in Aceh and Irian Jaya, some of them committed many years ago.

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The poor need food, politicians parties On Nov. 3, 1945, a few months after the chains of colonial rule were broken, vice president Mohammad Hatta issued a decree, Maklumat X/1945, that encouraged citizens to set up parties in the run-up to the country's first general election, which was held in ...

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Brave Scot on threshold of golf career victory TAWAU, Sabah (Agencies): Lightweight Scot Simon Yates overcame searing heat and the intimidating presence of big South African Des Terblanche yesterday to move into the third round lead at the Sabah Masters.

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TV todayTVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Sari Berita Sepekan 6:30 Morning Focus 6:45 Healthy and Fresh 7:00 Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 7:30 Children's Program: Arena Kami 8:00 Children's Program: Kumbang and Family 8:30 Children's Program: Nuansa Anak 9:30 Creative Program: Widya Wahana ...

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Guess What? Okky Asokawati Aside from running modeling school OQ and producing her own show, Okky, on RCTI, model Okky Asokawati, 37, recently took up another job.

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HungryBy Yusrizal K.W. "Mum, I'm hungry!"The mother -- Pini, hugged her seven-year-old son Kilur. Then her other child, five-year-old Riris, let out a similar whine."I'm hungry, too!"Pini felt a tear run down her cheek. She could do nothing to appease Riris and Kilur's acute hunger.

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Troop withdrawal from Timor concluded: ABRI JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces has claimed to have withdrawn all its combat troops stationed in the troubled province of East Timor with 600 soldiers pulled out yesterday in the third and final wave of a pullout totaling 1,300 soldiers.

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Sokaraja artists paid Rp 3,000 a paintingBy Agus Maryono & Ngudi Utomo BANYUMAS, Central Java (JP): Sokaraja, a district in Banyumas regency, is famous for fried gethuk (sweet loaves made of ground cassava) and, believe it or not, its paintings.

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Will old political parties slid into trash can of history?By Pandaya JAKARTA (JP): Emerging proreform parties are threatening to toss the three old political organizations -- United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- into the dust bin of history.

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Philosophize to ease suffering During these days of social unrest, mass dismissals and sky- rocketing prices, I believe that a bit of philosophy might tide us over the present difficulties.

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Buffaloes: Central figures in W. Sumatra cultureBy Izabel Deuff KOTA BARU, West Sumatra (JP): Buffaloes can do more than just pull a plow. Apart from this agrarian duty, they also play a role for entertainment freaks.

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The decades-long struggle of sex slaves Derita Paksa Perempuan (Suffering of Women); By A. Budi Hartono and Dadang Juliantoro; Pustaka Sinar Harapan, Jakarta in cooperation with Ford Foundation, September 1997; xx + 230 pp; Rp 14,400 YOGYAKARTA (JP): Every time we speak of war, pictures of ...

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In name only And thou shalt say before thy God, I have put away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the sojourner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandment.Deuteronomy, 26.

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New parties list JAKARTA (JP): The mass media has recorded the establishment of 56 new political parties since government restrictions were lifted in the aftermath of Soeharto's resignation. Some have been registered with the Ministry of Home Affairs and some have not.

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Utut survives marathon scare against Neverov JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Utut Adianto displayed a cool defense to force a draw with Valery Neverov of Ukraine in the fifth round of the MK Cafe Cup chess tournament Friday.

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Megawati asks govt to dissolve Soerjadi's PDI JAKARTA (JP): The Megawati Soekarnoputri camp of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) at the end of a three-day working meeting yesterday called on the government to dissolve rival Soerjadi's leadership of the party.

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Split-second decisions in the face of a cometBy Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): What would one do if the president announced a 500-billion-ton comet was about to hit Earth and destroy all its noble beings?Panic or pray, no doubt.

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Golkar, PPP, PDI face tough battle JAKARTA (JP): Next year's general election will be anything but plain sailing for the three existing political organizations: Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), according to political analysts.

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Film importing monopoly 'should be scapped'By Marselli Sumarno JAKARTA (JP): In the New Order era, Harmoko, who made quite an achievement by assuming the position of information minister three times, consistently denied the allegation that there were monopolistic practices in the purchase and ...

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Maybe Pfizer can rise to the occasion JAKARTA (JP): To be honest, I'm no longer concerned about when the IMF, the World Bank, CGI or all the rich countries in the world will have enough confidence in our government that they start disbursing their money to bail us out of our current mess.

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