Guess What? Ali Alatas

As the final day of the Non-Aligned Movement's ministerial meetings in Bandung, West Java, came to a close on Thursday, delegates found themselves three hours behind schedule.

Organizers had scheduled the closing at 3 p.m. so delegates could be taken back to Jakarta on the 6 p.m. train to attend another event early the next morning with President Soeharto.

Long debates prolonged the meeting and it was almost 6 p.m. when Indonesian foreign minister Ali Alatas read his closing speech.

As he ended, Alatas told his fellow ministers that organizers had postponed the departure of the 6 p.m. train. Delegates responded warmly, applauding in relief.

But a few eyebrows were immediately raised in surprise as Alatas told everybody that the train would now depart at 7 p.m., giving delegates just over an hour to prepare their things.

"The train cannot be delayed any longer, there are other passengers waiting on the train," Alatas said. (mds)