A stranger arrives on horseback at a homesteading community in a Wyoming valley in 1889. His appearance is unusual. He had a 'haunting' look, a child who was watching him says, "chilling in his dark solitude."

ADRIANUS Meliala-a member of the National Police Commission (Kompolnas)-nervously stroked his hair, scratched his face, stared at his hands and stammered when he spoke. "I never knew it would turn out so bad. What will Kompolnas do to me?" he asked.

In a walled-off alcove within the Salihara Gallery in South Jakarta, visitors entered the darkened space and were riveted by disturbing images of animated cats performing various activities with blood pouring from their empty eye sockets.

Indonesia and Singapore finalized a treaty on the delimitation of territorial seas in the eastern part of the Singapore Strait. The agreement was signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and his Singaporean counterpart K. Shanmugam on August 2 in Singapore. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on an official three-day visit to the city-state, oversaw the signing of the agreement together with Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore's prime minister.

The deadline for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) is looming. In just a few months, there will be a freer flow of labor, services, investment and goods between the ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. But so far, there have been few serious discussions on how this policy of regional economic integration will impact on the people.

MINING
Newmont Can Begin Exporting This Week

Something was different about writer and translator Ali Audah's new home at the Bogor Baru Housing Complex in Bogor, West Java. The white walls were clearly visible. "You couldn't see the walls in my old place because they were covered by books," Ali told Tempo on a recent Monday in August. Ali lives here with his wife, Maryam Audah, 78, whom he married in 1952. "We have only been here for two months," he said.

AFTER more than a year of dating, Ratna and Bimo (not their real names) decided to tie the knot. They were of different religions, but they did not see that as an obstacle. Their families had agreed to the union. "In the beginning they were opposed to it, but later they gave their blessing," Ratna told Tempo. It was also decided that neither Ratna nor Bimo would would convert to the other's faith for the marriage.

On a Wednesday morning, there are no students along the wide, leafy walkways of the East Jakarta vocational high school SMKN 26 in Rawamangun. But grinders whir in the machine room, and lined up in front of the computer room are rows of knock-off Converse shoes.

ON JULY 23, corruption convict Siti Hartati Murdaya was granted a conditional release. The businesswoman who had bribed Buol Regent Amran Batalipu had served two thirds of her prison term of two years and eight months.

RIAU'S integrity will be damaged if the police do not immediately start investigating Governor Anas Maamun. Riau will become an object of ridicule because it is led by someone who may have committed sexual assaults. Banners hung in several places in the city proclaiming that Riau is facing a crisis of morality-although they were removed by the authorities-show that the public is beginning to feel uncomfortable with Anas.

ON paper, president-elect Joko Widodo's support in parliament appears weak. The five parties supporting him and vice president-elect Jusuf Kalla-the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), National Awakening Party (PKB), People's Conscience Party (Hanura), National Democrat Party (NasDem) and Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI)-only hold 207 seats. On the other hand, the parties supporting Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa, who lost the July 9 election to Joko and Kalla-the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra), Golkar Party, National Mandate Party (PAN), Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), United Development Party (PPP) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB)-hold 292 seats.

Don't Charge Divers on Airplanes with Overweight

Reforms over the past 16 years has made Indonesia more democratic. But there are some who feel Indonesians have been practicing democratic values long before reforms began. "People in the coastal areas are regarded as more egalitarian than those in the hinterlands," said 58-year-old Ani Soetjipto, a political and social scientist from the University of Indonesia, who specializes in issues of democracy.

ARIEF Wibowo was not usually so lethargic when asked about the marathon meeting for the Regional Head Bill, held at the Bogor Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) building in Cikopo. In fact, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician was known to pepper his explanation about the articles, which were still being formulated, with details. "The condition is not healthy. There is an imposition of will," Arief told Tempo on Wednesday last week.

Officials elaborated last week on the toll seaway policy, part of president-elect Joko Widodo's vision and mission. The chairman of the Indonesian Engineers Association of South Sulawesi, Saleh Pallu, described it as an effort to speed up the flow of goods to all the islands in Indonesia. At present, the prices of basic goods vary wildly across the archipelago-in the remote region of West Papua, for example, rice is much more expensive than in Java-but the new policy is expected to normalize prices. "Prices of goods in towns and villages should be the same," Saleh told Tempo.

This year, Indonesia and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. However, the ties between the two nations have existed much longer, predating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of India. These connections span social, cultural, religious, economic, and trade aspects. But do those close ties of the past have any bearing on the present relationship? Why is there no direct flight between the capitals of the two countries?

Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Sandeep Chakravorty, shares his views on this matter at TEMPO TALKS.