Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 21 November 1994

38 articles found

Clean water problem in E. Timor

Clean water problem in E. Timor DILI, East Timor: The local government called on Jakarta to help solve the longstanding problem of drinking water on Saturday. "Clean water is getting scarce in East Timor," Samuel Munaiseche, head of the local office of the Ministry of Health, told Antara. Samuel said the lack of supply from the state water enterprise was due to leaks in the distribution pipes.

New road planned at former fire site

New road planned at former fire site JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta Mayoralty plans to build a road along the Kalimalang river on a former fire site in the Cipinang Melayu sub-district. Mayor Sudarsono said at the City Hall over the weekend that his mayoralty has allowed local residents to build temporary housing on the site while waiting for the commencement of construction of the project. "Yes, they can rebuild their houses in the area but it is only temporary," Sudarsono said.

Vietnam, China leaders hold landmark talks

Vietnam, China leaders hold landmark talks HANOI (Reuter): The leaders of China and Vietnam held landmark talks here yesterday, focusing more on solidarity than on the bitter disputes between the neighboring countries. Communist Party chiefs Jiang Zemin of China and Do Muoi of Vietnam led large delegations in the highest-level exchange between the world's two most populous communist states since they normalized relations three years ago. Party ties took precedence over inter-state relations.

Lack of papers delays land certification

Lack of papers delays land certification JAKARTA (JP): An executive of the National Land Agency said on Saturday that the main obstacle in the processing of land ownership certificates in Jakarta is the inadequacy of authentic documents.

By Noel Boston

By Noel Boston UN sea law has strong implications for RI The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS'82) comes into effect today (Nov. 21, 1994). As a signatory to UNCLOS'82, Indonesia inherits international responsibilities. Properly addressed, these can be used to improve navigational safety and preserve the integrity of the marine environment. JAKARTA (JP): Historically, the world oceans have been, to a large extent, lawless.

Ethics leads to good business

Ethics leads to good business By A.B. Susanto This is the first of two articles on good business practice. JAKARTA (JP): Questions about the ethics of business have been increasingly asked recently. They are heightened by blatant examples of irresponsible behaviors by "big business" and the exposure of environmental damages and the tragic loss of human lives.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * The Aryaduta Jakarta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Bonauli vocal group, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Lost Morenitos, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Ambassador Lounge: Amir (pianist), Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Jakarta String Fantasy Trio, Monday to Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Sunday from 12:30 p.m.

Cambodia gives aliens guarantees

Cambodia gives aliens guarantees PHNOM PENH (Reuter): Cambodia's top investment body, trying to ease concerns stirred up by a big British firm's frustrated exit from the country, has assured foreign investors of the government's full cooperation. The Cambodian Development Council (CDC) also said in a statement that foreign investment proposals would be dealt with promptly. In a statement dated Nov.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. TV Series: Rude Dog & The Dwubs 3:00 Children's Program: Riang Ria 3:30 TV Series: Unsolved Mysteries 4:30 School Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Culture Program 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Religious Teachings: Buddhism 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:05 TV Series: Santa Barbara 9:00 World News 9:30 Music 10:35 Late News 10:45 Film: Ruby And Oswald Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Generous robbers are arrested

Generous robbers are arrested BANDUNG, West Java: Four men who were popular in the neighborhood for their generosity were arrested last week on robbery charges. Priangan Police Chief Col. Sardja Suherman told reporters two of them were caught red-handed by a security guard together with local people, when they were trying to rob a local resident in his house. The robbery attempt involved a group of six men, but four of them managed to escape. Police finally arrested two of he robbers.

Political deregulation

Political deregulation A logical consequence of trade liberalization is the growing importance of political deregulation. This is important because so far many unhealthy business practices are being conducted under the cover of government policy. These were the views expressed by the economist Edy Suandi Hamid M. Ec. during a discussion at the Center for Strategic and Policy Studies of Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta on Thursday. Actually such a view is not new.

Alan beats Ardy in China Open final

Alan beats Ardy in China Open final BEIJING (Reuter): Indonesia's Alan Budi Kusuma defeated compatriot and world number one Ardy Wiranata yesterday to win the China Open badminton tournament in the northeastern city of Dalian. Alan won 15-10 15-12 victory over the top seed. The women's title went to South Korean Bang Soo-hyun, the Asian Games champion, who upset China's Ye Zhaoying 11-8 11-6. The men's result was the same as in the 1992 Olympic final in Barcelona, when Kusuma won 15-12 18-13.

Shares weaken on Jakarta exchange

Shares weaken on Jakarta exchange JAKARTA (JP): Lack of fresh factors, shorter trading week and rising pressure for domestic banks to increase interest rates weighted down the already weak market sentiment on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) last week. The JSX Composite Index mirrored last week's activity, drifting to 509.84, down 3.54 points from last Monday's opening of 513.38. Further down-side is limited and the index is likely to continue its course sideways.

Utut Adianto and Seirawan ready for today's duel

Utut Adianto and Seirawan ready for today's duel JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian chess experts have billed today's duel between local number one Utut Adianto and American grand master Yasser Seirawan as a struggle for both of them. "I am optimistic that I will win, though I know it won't be easy," Utut said, adding that he thought they were equally matched. The world chess body FIDE rated 29 year-old Utut at 2,520 in July, while Seirawan is rated at 2,585.

Basyuni wants teachers to remain loyal

Basyuni wants teachers to remain loyal JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Indonesian Teachers Association (PGRI) told the organization's 1.4 million members that they must stay loyal to the ruling political group Golkar. Basyuni Suriamihardja added that PGRI members should remember that they pledged allegiance to Golkar at this year's congress. "All PGRI's members must obey the decisions of the association's congress, including their commitment to support Golkar," Basyuni told reporters.

Jazz goes campus

Jazz goes campus The School of Economics of the University of Indonesia is scheduled to host the 17th Jazz Goes To Campus gala, an annual campus jazz concert, on Saturday. The student-organized jazz fiesta will be held at an open air stage inside the compound of the University of Indonesia in Depok, to the south of Jakarta. Several top Indonesian jazz stars, such as Ireng Maulana, Indra Lesmana and members of Jakarta All Stars, will perform at the concert.

Australia deports 71 fishermen

Australia deports 71 fishermen KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Australia deported 71 Indonesian fishermen last week for unlawfully entering its territory. Seventy of them were returned by their boats, while another was deported by airplane, Lambertus Labi Dorok, an official of the Provincial Office of Social Affairs said. He said another 87 Indonesian fishermen were still stranded in Australia. Thirty of them will be deported soon, Antara reported.

Officers warned against bribes and extortion

Officers warned against bribes and extortion JAKARTA (JP): The National Police Force reiterated their intention to take stern actions against officers involved in extortion, taking bribes from the public, or other misconduct. "There will be no excuse for those who are found guilty," National Police chief spokesman Brig. Gen. I.K. Ratta said on Saturday.

Police have no link to AJI: Ratta

Police have no link to AJI: Ratta National Police Force spokesman Brig. Gen. I.K. Ratta says that the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) has no connection whatsoever with his office or its latest traffic campaign. "Write down for your papers that I did not know what AJI was about, or what its mission was until I checked after seeing their banners listing the name of my office," Ratta told The Jakarta Post and Republika here on Saturday.

Labor brokers blamed for boat accident

Labor brokers blamed for boat accident JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief blamed labor brokers Saturday for the boat accident that killed at least 53 Indonesian job seekers attempting to illegally enter Malaysia last week. Latief urged the police to track the brokers down and hold them responsible for the accident which occurred off Johor, Malaysia on Nov. 12.

East ASEAN nations forge pact on common market

East ASEAN nations forge pact on common market DAVAO, Philippines (Reuter): Four southeast Asian nations on Saturday forged a pact to turn areas that used to be backwaters into a bustling regional market for free trade, officials said.

Tapping Natuna gas

Tapping Natuna gas Fourteen years after Esso Natuna Inc., the Indonesian subsidiary of Exxon Corp., obtained a production-sharing contract from Pertamina for the development of the Natuna D-Alpha block, the American contractor is about to develop what will be its biggest natural gas bonanza in the world. Some loose ends have yet to be tied up, despite the conclusion of a memorandum of understanding with the state oil company on Wednesday, before a final agreement is concluded in January.

Satellite television

Satellite television In Jayapura we are fortunate enough to receive several satellite TV channels in our own languages (English and Indonesian). We watch the Australian news, but most of their better programs come on after we go to bed since they play to Jakarta time. The British BBC does not reach here, and we think the American channels are abominable. Particularly because we understand what they are saying, and how they are saying it. So we started knob twiddling. And we found treasure!

Vandalized phones hurt Tangerang economy

Vandalized phones hurt Tangerang economy TANGERANG (JP): Residents of the Tangerang district are complaining over the many public telephones in the city being vandalized. The residents said over the weekend that the state-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom's neglect in fixing the broken telephones is affecting their business activities. "I am often forced to waste a lot of my time searching for a public telephone that works," said Yanto, a resident in the Pabuaran sub-district.

Gunmen seize five engineers

Gunmen seize five engineers ISABELA, Philippines (Reuter): Forty gunmen seized five geodetic engineers in the southern Philippines after freeing unharmed three suspected military informants they had abducted earlier, the military said yesterday. The victims were taken by 40 armed men on Friday from a house in Sumisip town on Basilan island, where they had been conducting a survey for the Department of Agrarian Reform. The motive for the kidnapping was not immediately known.

Lippo Village offers shares

Lippo Village offers shares JAKARTA (JP): PT Lippo Village, the developer of a major real estate complex in Tangerang west of here, will offer 50.9 million new shares to the public in the near future, a company executive said. Each share will have a nominal value of Rp 500 (23 U.S. cents). The company's president, James T.

Sabah minister to step down soon

Sabah minister to step down soon KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia's Sabah state chief minister Sakaran Dandai says he will relinquish his post soon, the national news agency Bernama reported yesterday. "Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has agreed... it has been planned and not something which was raised today," the agency quoted Sakaran as saying in Malaysia's capital Kuala Lumpur.

More friendly service, please!

More friendly service, please! I am so thankful for the "Your Letters" column in The Jakarta Post. It gives consumers and citizens a voice in this crowded and tough city of Jakarta. I have a question for the management of the MAKRO wholesale warehouses. Is it the European way for your store or is it the Asian way that makes the Jakarta MAKRO so military run, non- customer friendly and non-family friendly as well? When customers try to return an item they are treated like criminals.

Kasada festivity on Mount Bromo

Kasada festivity on Mount Bromo PROBOLINGGO, East Java: Thousands of holidaymakers flocked to Mount Bromo yesterday to see this year's Kasada, the traditional Tengger festival. The attractions included a bull race, a horse race, the Tengger wedding ceremony and traditional dances. The ritual procession was started with a narration of the history of human origin by the village's elders that was followed by a sacred dance. (imn)

Reporters help stage demonstrations: Military

Reporters help stage demonstrations: Military JAKARTA (JP): Military authorities said Saturday that the recent spate of demonstrations in the East Timor capital of Dili was fanned by visiting foreign journalists. "There were indications that some foreign journalists intentionally linked up with the demonstrators," said Wiradharma military command spokesman L. Simbolon. The command oversees security in the former Portuguese colony.

OPEC expected to roll-over its daily production ceiling

OPEC expected to roll-over its daily production ceiling By Frits H. Pangemanan NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): The 97th conference of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will be opened today by President Soeharto following a preliminary commitment to roll- over its production ceiling of 24.5 million barrels per day. About 150 delegates from the 12-member organization are attending the three-day conference being held at the Pertamina Cottage in Kuta.

Song competition extended

Song competition extended The city administration has extended the song writing competition from which an anthem for the capital will be picked, until Jan. 15, an official said. The competition was originally planned to end on Nov. 15. Azhari Baedlawie, the head of Jakarta's cultural affairs office, said the extension of the competition was intended to give the public a greater chance to participate.

Satya Wacana case

Satya Wacana case From Kompas During the past few years Indonesia and Australia have been trying hard to intensify cooperation in several sectors between the two countries. One of the most successful programs is the cooperation between universities. Almost every month a new memorandum or a cooperation agreement for research or joint study program is signed by the two countries. This development is really heartening for our university staffs.

No queue for taxi at Terminal One

No queue for taxi at Terminal One I dread arriving at Soekarno-Hatta's domestic Terminal One after dark. On Nov. 1, 1994, arriving at 7 p.m., nearly four hours late on a Merpati flight from Padang, was no exception. There was no queue for taxis and nobody was trying to organize the taxis that were there. Most of these were parked outside the normal taxi rank area with their drivers busy haggling with a crowd of passengers about destinations and fares.

Indoprom service

Indoprom service During 1993 I ordered my weekly magazine The Economist and the Saturday edition of the Dutch Telegraaf from a Malang (East Java) book store. I enjoyed their punctual delivery. Unfortunately the book store ceased business and I took a subscription on the Economist with Indoprom. Since then, not one Economist has been delivered within the period mentioned in the cover. Copies mostly arrive in the middle of the week, or even later.

Viaduct needed

Viaduct needed From Pos Kota A lot of pedestrians cross Jl. Lt. Gen. Soeprapto in front of the Cempaka Putih market, Central Jakarta. The only facility available is the zebra crossing at the traffic lights. Traffic accidents often occur on this road section, and pedestrians are often injured. We suggest to the authorities to erect a viaduct there like the one in front of the Islamic Hospital at Cempaka Putih. AGUS SUBAGIO Jakarta

End of Cold War links politics with economics

End of Cold War links politics with economics JAKARTA (JP): The end of the Cold War in 1991 has changed the basic thinking, calculations, international relationships and diplomacy, a political scientist stated. Dr. Jowono Sudarsono, former dean of the School of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Indonesia, said in Bandung over the weekend that the Cold War had been dominated by the rivalry between Moscow and Washington -- with their respective allies.

Three named as candidates for OPEC top post

Three named as candidates for OPEC top post JAKARTA (JP): Iran, Venezuela and Nigeria are likely to be in tough competition to win the post of the secretary general of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) during its three-day ministerial meeting in Denpasar, Bali, which begins today.