Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 31 October 1994

42 articles found

Cease-fire declared in irrigation battle

Cease-fire declared in irrigation battle MANILA (Reuter): Government forces and Moslem guerrillas fighting over an irrigation project in the southern Philippines have declared a ceasefire after 51 people died in more than two weeks of fighting, officials said on yesterday. "We are glad to announce that hostilities in the area have ceased," Defense Secretary Renato de Villa said in a radio interview. Fighting erupted at the irrigation project in Carmen town in North Cotabato province on Oct.

Photo credit

Photo credit The picture of President Soeharto which appeared on this page on Saturday was not taken by our photographer. The photo credit should have read Kompas. We apologize for the error. -- Editor

N. Sumatra needs 17,000 teachers

N. Sumatra needs 17,000 teachers MEDAN, North Sumatra: The province is in need of more than 17,000 teachers to support their new nine-year compulsory school, a local official said Saturday. The lack of teachers is a pressing problem facing schools here, particularly in isolated regions and resettlement areas, said Baharudin Lubis, chief of provincial education and culture. According to Baharudin, there are 1,680 schools with 10,404 teachers across the province, Antara reported. (pan)

Governor marks soft opening of Haj Hospital

Governor marks soft opening of Haj Hospital JAKARTA (JP) Governor Surjadi Soedirdja marked the initiation of operations at the Jakarta Haj Hospital in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, on Saturday. The hospital, which is equipped with various modern facilities, is scheduled to be officially inaugurated by President Soeharto on Nov. 12, in conjunction with the commemoration of National Health Day.

Mining industry has bright future, businessmen say

Mining industry has bright future, businessmen say JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian mining industry is facing a bright future due to the country's economic stability and the consistency of its regulatory framework, visiting foreign business leaders say.

Govt to probe export document scandal fully

Govt to probe export document scandal fully JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Singgih promised Saturday that the scandalous falsification of export documents that caused the state to lose millions of dollars in unpaid taxes will be thoroughly investigated. "We mean to unravel the scandal and spare no one involved in it from legal actions," Singgih told reporters after opening a seminar on youth and law co-organized by his office and the University of Indonesia.

Construction of four low-cost apartments start

Construction of four low-cost apartments start JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has embarked on the construction of four low-cost apartment projects with a combined investment commitment of Rp 57 billion (US$26.13 million). The collective launching of the construction of the projects was centered in a ceremony at the Bendungan Hilir fire site, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.

MUI condemns Indonesian Moslems' visit to Israel

MUI condemns Indonesian Moslems' visit to Israel JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) condemned the recent visit of a group of Indonesian Moslems to Israel over the weekend, saying they offended the Arab countries fighting Israel. "The visit was illegal and the delegation represented neither the government nor Indonesian Moslems," MUI Chairman Hasan Basri told The Jakarta Post by telephone here on Saturday.

S'pore's complaint

S'pore's complaint Give us back our days, screamed an editorial in The Straits Times in reaction to the smoke coming from the forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. This is, indeed, an aggravating scream. The writer of this editorial should ask themselves, "Where was I when the Singaporean tug boats were caught dumping poisonous waste into Indonesian seas?

Foreign investment in hospitals welcome

Foreign investment in hospitals welcome JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is opening its door for foreign businesses seeking to invest in hospitals on the condition that the directors be locals, Minister of Health Sujudi said Saturday. "If they (the foreigners) want to become chiefs of the finance or administration section, there is no problem. But the director of the hospital must be an Indonesian," Sujudi said. Another condition is that the foreign investors must have local counterparts.

Tangerang gets first five-star

Tangerang gets first five-star JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang, one of the capital's buffer zone areas, now has its first five-star hotel with the operation of the Imperial Century Hotel & Resort. Malcolm McLauchlan, the hotel's general manager, announced on Saturday that the 200-room accommodations facility, located in the Lippo Village complex, marked its soft opening on Sept. 26.

Warp: The future of personal computing is here

Warp: The future of personal computing is here By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Have you ever cursed at the hourglass on the screen that never stops dancing while you were trying to print out a page full of combined bitmap and vector graphics? I bet you have. Quite frequently, I'm sure.

Husband, wife arrested for selling diluted fuel

Husband, wife arrested for selling diluted fuel JAKARTA (JP): The City Police Chief, Maj. Gen. Moch. Hindarto, said that the police has arrested a married couple for their alleged involvement in the distribution of fake diesel fuel. Hindarto said over the weekend that TM, 32, the owner of PT. WCR and his wife Yul, 28, are being detained for questioning since there is indication that their alleged activities were supported by a police officer.

New Japanese restaurant opened

New Japanese restaurant opened Yoshinoya, a Japanese beef bowl restaurant in Pondok Indah Mall, officially opened its doors to the public on Friday. The restaurant management plans to expand its business by opening 16 branches throughout the country within the next three years. Yoshinoya serves food which is 100 percent halal (sanctioned by Islamic law), with specialities of Japanese beef, chicken and combo bowls. Prices range from Rp 3,000 (US$1.37) to Rp 5,000 ($2.3) (yns)

Troops capture Fretelin rebel

Troops capture Fretelin rebel DILI, East Timor: In a skirmish last week with a group of separatist rebels in Baucau, about 200 kilometers east of here, troops are reported to have captured one member of the Fretelin organization. Col. Kiki Syahnakri, chief of the Wira Dharma military command overseeing security in East Timor, said Clementino, the man captured, was now in a Dili hospital being treated for bullet wounds received on his leg.

Israel-Jordan peace treaty acclaimed

Israel-Jordan peace treaty acclaimed JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, as a newly elected member of the United Nations Security Council, gave its resounding support to the recently signed peace treaty between Jordan and Israel. "Indonesia hopes that the treaty will be part of an overall solution to the Arab-Israeli issue," the foreign ministry announced on Saturday.

Malaysia asked to free RP detainees

Malaysia asked to free RP detainees MANILA (AFP): The Philippines has filed a formal protest with Malaysia for the continued detention of dozens of Filipinos who were arrested in Kuala Lumpur, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday. The department said in a statement that the Philippine embassy in Malaysia had protested "the continued detention of the Filipino nationals," rounded up in a mass arrest with other Asians and Africans on Oct. 23.

Lee gives up on summit

Lee gives up on summit TOKYO (AFP): Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui has given up plans to attend the summit of APEC leaders next month in Indonesia to spare the host country from facing strong opposition from China, the Jiji Press said Saturday. The Taiwanese government plans instead to send Economic Affairs Minister Chiang Ping-kun and another high-ranking official to the Nov.

Governor seeking special status for East Timor

Governor seeking special status for East Timor JAKARTA (JP): Military presence in East Timor is still needed to strengthen its integration with the rest of Indonesia, ensure legal certainty and to deal with remnants of separatist rebels, a local top brass member said Saturday. Col.

Naval exercise to start soon

Naval exercise to start soon SURABAYA : The Navy will hold a major war game exercise involving 40 warships and several vessels purchased from the ex- East Germany arsenal. The exercise will take place from November until December in the waters off South Kalimantan and East Java. "The combat exercise, conducted under the Armada Jaya XVII banner, will involve over 8,000 Armed Forces members and some from the Marine Corps," exercise director Commodore Ripa Gamhadi said to Antara on Saturday.

Airlines offering excessive discounts to face sanctions

Airlines offering excessive discounts to face sanctions JAKARTA (JP): Six domestic airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding here to confirm their May commitment of putting an end to excessive discounting. "No more excessive discounting will be allowed as of Nov. 1 and violators of the agreement will face severe sanctions," Director General of Air Transportation Zainudin Sikado told reporters after witnessing the signing of the agreement on Friday.

Bold new face for UN?

Bold new face for UN? One formula to reform the UN, though not the ideal one, is to expand the Permanent Five to a Permanent Seven, with Germany and Japan taking places alongside the U.S., China, Russia, Britain and France. The problem with this is that it gives Europe four seats, which is hard to justify, and locks out the developing world, whose clamor for a seat at the main table will be difficult to ignore with the growth revolution going on in Asia and Latin America.

Indosat leads the way

Indosat leads the way Many people might have laughed at State Minister for Research and Development B.J. Habibie's remarks in early May, 1993, that 50 Indonesian state companies would be offered to the investing public through the domestic and international stock exchanges. After all, it is sometimes difficult to follow the way of thinking of Habibie, who is perhaps the country's most notable futurologist and visionary.

KL-RI palm oil project

KL-RI palm oil project JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Malaysia are cooperating in the development of a 200-hectare palm oil plantation in Natal, South Tapanuli, North Sumatra. The cooperation was marked by the establishment of a new venture, PT Kretam Iramindo, the firm's president, Yopie S. Batubara, announced in Medan, the provincial capital, on Saturday. "The agreement on the establishment of the new venture was signed in Medan recently," he was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying.

Soeharto inspects final APEC preparations in Bogor

Soeharto inspects final APEC preparations in Bogor JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto on Saturday led a thorough inspection of the Bogor Presidential Palace to ensure that preparations were adequate and that "all systems were go" for the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM) on Nov. 15.

Realtors cannot use fertile land: Soeharto

Realtors cannot use fertile land: Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to maintain self-sufficiency in food, President Soeharto said on Saturday that the government will not allow industrial estate owners and realtors to build on fertile land. "Certainly they [the developers] need land, but now they will no longer be allowed to use land located close to urban centers.

RI Ambassador gets Vatican medal

RI Ambassador gets Vatican medal JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's Ambassador to the Holy See, A.S. Achjadi, was recently awarded the "Knight of Grand Cross of the Order of Pius IX" for his efforts to forge closer ties between Jakarta and the Vatican. The presentation ceremony was conducted on Wednesday in Rome by Msgr. Tomasso Caputo, the Vatican's head of protocol, on behalf of the Deputy Chief of government from the Holy See.

Customs office to recover unpaid import tariffs

Customs office to recover unpaid import tariffs JAKARTA (JP): The Directorate General of Customs and Excise is trying to recover funds from importers who are reluctant to pay their due arrears on "unpaid" import duties.

Weekly Stock Exchange Review

Weekly Stock Exchange Review JAKARTA (JP): Share prices across the board were mixed at the close of last week amidst moderate trading. The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) Composite Index closed up 1.44 points to 516.41. The state-owned international telecommunications provider, Indosat, continued to dominate last week's trading. The counter, however, closed lower in active trading amidst profit-taking by local investors.

Asian cities vie to take Hong Kong's place as financial center

Asian cities vie to take Hong Kong's place as financial center Asian cities vie to take the place of Hong Kong as the region's financial center. Yojana Sharma of Inter Press Service reports. HONG KONG (IPS): Singapore and Taipei are gearing up to take over from Hong Kong as a regional financial center and international gateway to China after Hong Kong reverts to China in 1997, but it is Shanghai that may finally steal the limelight.

New appointment hopes to improve judicial system

New appointment hopes to improve judicial system JAKARTA (JP): Legal experts and practitioners welcome President Soeharto's appointment of Soerjono as the new chief justice, hoping that he will be able to improve the image of the legal system. Soerjono, a career judge, was appointed the new chief justice on Friday to replace Purwoto Suhadi Gandasubrata, who will retire tomorrow.

S. Jakarta holds development expo

S. Jakarta holds development expo South Jakarta mayoralty is holding a five-day development exhibition, featuring achievements in development programs throughout the mayoralty. The exhibition was opened by Maskup Ustianto, an assistant to the city secretary. There are seventy stands representing district offices, governmental institutions and private companies in South Jakarta.

Boutros-Ghali urges Armenia to pull out troops

Boutros-Ghali urges Armenia to pull out troops BAKU (AFP): UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali called on Armenia yesterday to withdraw its troops from Azerbaijani territory while hinting at possible United Nations involvement in a peacekeeping plan to separate the warring republics.

Freed sect leader dissolves group

Freed sect leader dissolves group KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): The freed leader of the outlawed Islamic sect Al Arqam declared on Saturday that the sect no longer existed and urged his followers to renounce their deviationist religious beliefs. Ashaari Muhammad said this meant he was no longer leader of the movement and its leadership hierarchy had been dissolved.

Rights: Asia's shortcomings dramatized

Rights: Asia's shortcomings dramatized Chandra Muzaffar, director of the human rights organization Just World Trust, in this exclusive Inter Press Service column uses Malaysia as an example of an Asian nation that has had its human rights shortcomings dramatized in the international arena, instead of its exemplary record in accommodating the many religious differences within its population.

Susi falls victim to her play style at Asian Games

Susi falls victim to her play style at Asian Games JAKARTA (JP): Nerves and a slow start are cited as the main reasons why the world badminton queen, Indonesia's Susi Susanti, crashed to Japan's unheralded Hisako Mizui in the Asian Games semifinals, according to national coach Indra Gunawan.

Stricter control urged on foreign-funded projects

Stricter control urged on foreign-funded projects JAKARTA (JP): The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) will impose stricter control on foreign-funded projects in next fiscal year. Rahardi Ramelan, a deputy chairman of the board, said that the stricter control is essential to avoid deviation from development priorities as set out in the government's blue book. "The development plans are often ignored.

Telkom deflect charges

Telkom deflect charges JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta chapter of the state-owned telecommunication company, PT Telkom, has denied allegations that the office sells one telephone line unit to a number of customers. "The company gives one line unit only to each customer. It is quite impossible for the company to sell one number to many customers," I Nyoman Punia, head of the chapter, said over the weekend.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Borobudur Inter-Continental, Jl. Lapangan Banteng Selatan, Central Jakarta: - Kintamani Pavilion: Traditional Dances & Songs Friday, Italian Night Wednesday, all from 7 p.m.. - Pendopo Tea Lounge: Monika Rosca, pianist from Poland, daily 4 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.; Sylvia Howard, jazz/blues singer from the U.S., Monday to Saturday from 9 p.m. to 12:45 a.m.

More autonomy urged for state companies

More autonomy urged for state companies JAKARTA (JP): State-owned companies need more freedom in management and more qualified managers to make themselves competitive and efficient, experts said here over the weekend. Frans Seda, chairman of the PPM Foundation, told journalists after attending the graduation ceremony of the PPM Graduate School of Management on Saturday that many state companies are inefficient because they are burdened with missions set out for them by the government.

Indian naval chief in town

Indian naval chief in town JAKARTA: Chief of the Indian Naval Staff Adm. Vijay Singh Shekhawat is due here today for a four-day visit at the invitation of Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Tanto Kuswanto. Shekhawat will meet with Defense and Security Minister Gen. (ret) Edi Sudrajat, Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung and commander of the Western Fleet R. Adm. Arief Kushariadi. Shekhawat joined the Indian Navy in 1956.

New commander of mobile brigade

New commander of mobile brigade Head of the city police Maj. Gen. Hindarto installed Lt. Col Sukirno as commander of the city police Mobile Brigade over the weekend. Sukirno replaces Lt. Col. Wenas, who has been made head of the South Jakarta police precinct. Sukirno, who hails from Banjarnegara, Central Java, graduated from the police academy in 1974, the police college PTIK in 1983, and the Army Staff and Command School (Seskoad) in 1984.