Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 April 1994

38 articles found

Investigation into genereal's murder ends

Investigation into genereal's murder ends JAKARTA (JP): Police announced yesterday that the investigation of the killing of Brig. Gen. TMF Tampubolon on Monday evening has been completed. "We've no more words to comment on the case because all three main elements in our investigation, namely suspects, witnesses and the evidence available, match," said City Police spokesman Lt. Col. A. Latief Rabar.

Focus on Jakarta

Focus on Jakarta Thug nailed at local pub EP, alias Edy, who has allegedly been involved in a series of robberies in Jakarta and Ambon, was arrested by police at a Central Jakarta nightspot on Wednesday, police said yesterday. "The man was arrested at the Green Pub, Jakarta Theater building, on Jl. Thamrin," said Lt. Col. A. Latief Rabar, the spokesman for the City Police Headquarters.

Police still questioning bus crash suspect

Police still questioning bus crash suspect JAKARTA (JP): North Sumatra police are still questioning a man they suspect of having been the driver of a minibus that crashed fatally in Jakarta last month Hornas Silitonga has been in detention at the Dairi police precinct in Dairi regency since his arrest on Monday.

Inco will not exploit SE Sulawesi's nickel

Inco will not exploit SE Sulawesi's nickel JAKARTA (JP): PT International Nickel Corporation Indonesia (Inco), a major Canadian nickel company operating in South Sulawesi, will only exploit nickel deposits in Soroako, one of the company's mines in Sulawesi, as the other mines were declared not to be commercially feasible. Thomas B.

Firm to produce telephone sets

Firm to produce telephone sets JAKARTA (JP): PT Gajah Tunggal National Electronics (GTNE), an export-oriented manufacturing company, will start producing one million telephones per year this year with a target of using up to 80 percent locally produced parts. A director of the company, James Danuwijaya, told reporters here yesterday that his company, has exported 80 percent of its output to the United States, North Africa and Southeast Asia.

Road contractors blame shoddy work on official corruption

Road contractors blame shoddy work on official corruption JAKARTA (JP): Private road contractors working for the city administration told The Jakarta Post yesterday they have to construct substandard roads because of three factors: Bribery, bad timing and theft. "After winning the tender, we have to pay 'administration fees' of about Rp 15,000 (US$6.9) to Rp 25,000 to every desk which processes the contract," said Hendro, who requested his real name be withheld.

New company founded to watch labor exporters

New company founded to watch labor exporters JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday launched a new company, called PT Bina Jasa Karya (Bijak), which has the tasks to bring to order the business of sending Indonesian workers overseas and to ensure greater protection for them abroad. The new company, which was incorporated with initial capital of Rp 5 billion ($2.4 million), is administered by the Ministry of Manpower and is a subsidiary of PT Astek, the government-owned labor insurance company.

Returning Timorese must pledge allegiance to Pancasila

Returning Timorese must pledge allegiance to Pancasila BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Some East Timorese living in Portugal may be allowed to regain their Indonesian citizenship, on the condition that they pledge allegiance to the national ideology Pancasila, East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osoriao Soares says. "By all means come here. They can become Indonesian citizens but they must be ready to adopt the country's ideology," Abilio told reporters on Wednesday.

IFC wants to underwrite PT Indosat share issues

IFC wants to underwrite PT Indosat share issues JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government isn't ready to line up the contestants for the underwriting of PT Indosat's international share issue, but at least one foreign interest is lobbying hard to wrap up first place . The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the World Bank, has embarked on a sales promotion campaign to get the underwriting deal.

Haj pilgrims gets easy, cheap calls

Haj pilgrims gets easy, cheap calls JAKARTA (JP): If you miss home, call. It's easy and cheap. That's the message from PT Indosat, the government-owned international telephone company, to the nearly 160,000 Indonesians who will begin leaving for the haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia next week. Indosat is introducing an "Indonesia Direct" service through which Indonesian pilgrims can dial 1-800-62 from any phone in Saudi Arabia, including pay phones, and hook up with Indosat operators.

Labor negotiation deadlocked

Labor negotiation deadlocked JAKARTA (JP): The six-month-old dispute between employees and management of the PT Duta Busana Danastri garment company was prolonged when the two sides failed to reach an agreement at yesterday's negotiating session. Dozens of laborers insisted on attending the meeting at Jl. Kemandoran, South Jakarta, while management tolerated only their representatives and lawyers.

Australia initiatives in peacekeeping timely for the region

Australia initiatives in peacekeeping timely for the region By A.K.P. Mochtan JAKARTA (JP): A regular contributor to United Nation peacekeeping and multinational forces, Australia is at a new height of activity in the field of peacekeeping.

Transmigration program to put horse in front of cart

Transmigration program to put horse in front of cart JAKARTA (JP): The government's transmigration program will now concentrate on building facilities at resettlement sites in order to lure people to move.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m Cartoon: I'm Telling 3:05 Science Film 3:30 Langka dan Unik 4:05 Student Quiz 4:30 TV Series: Ibn Taimiyah 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Management 6:05 Nusantara the Beloved Country: Lampung 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Patching 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Dinamika 8:05 Music Program 9:00 World News 9:30 Quiz 10:35 Late News 10:45 Film: Jimmy and Andre Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Otter may be next in line for extinction

Otter may be next in line for extinction BOGOR, West Java (JP): Experts warn that otters, the fish eating mammals widely resented by fish breeders, may join the list of extinct animals soon unless steps are taken to protect them. Speakers at a seminar to discuss the fate of otters, the first of its kind in Indonesia, agree, despite the absence of proper research, that the population of otters in West Java has declined rapidly. "We don't know for sure how many otters there are living in the wild.

Safety in the urban jungle

Safety in the urban jungle No matter how modern and luminous a large urban center like Jakarta becomes, there is no guarantee the public can achieve a safe and secure environment. If years ago, the citizens of the capital felt obliged to secure their homes before they went out, now they must be mindful of their well being on the streets. Young unemployed men have now joined the ubiquitous beggars at intersections.

Big names missing from world's richest run

Big names missing from world's richest run JAKARTA (JP): China's great Ma's Army talents and Morocco Olympic gold medalist Khalid Skah have opted to miss the excitement of this Sunday's 10-kilometer road race, leaving defending champion Addis Abebe the lone star in the world's richest run. Executive chairman of the committee, B. Chaidir, said yesterday the Chinese women's trio of Wang Junxia, Qu Yunxia and Ma Ningning withdrew from the race for undisclosed reasons.

Share prices fall further on JSX

Share prices fall further on JSX JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) continued drifting lower yesterday in line with the downward trend on other Asian markets. The broad-based Composite Index closed 5.98 points lower from 473.96 on Wednesday. The narrower-based GTDBS-50 Index also weakened to 111.12 from 111.79. Losers included Modern Photo (down Rp 1,750), Schering Plough (down Rp 1,500), Sorini Corp.

Across the Archipelago

Across the Archipelago Protest at Bogor court BOGOR, West Java: Around twenty people from the Front for Indonesian Youth Action (FAPI) staged a demonstration yesterday outside the Bogor District Court which is trying activist Dedi Ekadibrata on charges of arson. Dedi, a lawyer by training, led many protests against the eviction of farmers in Bogor before he was arrested last year.

Where to go in Jakarta, April 8

Where to go in Jakarta, April 8 Music * The Aryaduta Jakarta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambassador Lounge: Amir (pianist) Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.; Boece (pianist) & Rima Monday to Thursday 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., Friday & Saturday 7 p.m. to 00:30 a.m.; Jakarta String Fantasy Trio (chamber music) Sunday 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday to Saturday 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Yusuf (pianist), Sunday 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

State firm to set up plants

State firm to set up plants JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned PT Pupuk Kalimantan Timur (Pupuk Kaltim) fertilizer company in Bontang, East Kalimantan is investing US$9.5 million in ammonia bicarbonate and hexamine- producing plants.

Companies told to think it through before going international

Companies told to think it through before going international JAKARTA (JP): International financial analysts foresee great interest among investors in New York in buying shares of high- quality companies from Indonesia. The analysts from New York who spoke as panelists at a conference here yesterday observed that since Indonesia is part of the robustly-growing East Asian economy, investors are excited about taking part in that growth.

Police post in Galur attack

Police post in Galur attack JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of local residents in Galur district, Central Jakarta, destroyed a police post and threw its contents into the Kali Sentiong river yesterday afternoon. No fatalities were reported as no officers were on duty at the non-permanent police post, but almost all the contents, such as files, traffic equipment and wooden shelves, were lost.

Textile exports expected to keep declining

Textile exports expected to keep declining JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's textile exports, which started falling in the forth quarter of last year, will likely continue declining in the coming months due to decreased competitiveness of its products and weaker demand in industrial countries.

Former central banking chief cleared in banking scandal

Former central banking chief cleared in banking scandal JAKARTA (JP): Adrianus Mooy, the former governor of the central bank, has been virtually cleared of involvement in the Rp 1.3 trillion ($620 million) scandal at Bank Pembangunan Indonesia (Bapindo), at least by President Soeharto.

Texan band sings of cowboy tradition

Texan band sings of cowboy tradition By Paul W. Blair JAKARTA (JP): "When I was going to high school in Sanford in the Texas Panhandle oil country," says Red Steagall, "one radio station you could hear in our town -- KDDD, broadcasting from Dumas -- broadcast a one-hour country music show called Tumbleweed Tempos every afternoon. "This announcer was a real Western Swing fan and all he ever played was records by Hank Thompson, Spade Cooley, Tex Williams, Cliffy Stone and Bob Wills.

Keating proposes free trade links with ASEAN countries

Keating proposes free trade links with ASEAN countries BANGKOK (AFP): Australia and Thailand will create a bilateral trade commission and explore ways to link ASEAN and the Australia-New Zealand free trade zones, Prime Minister Paul Keating said here yesterday. Keating said he and Thai counterpart Chuan Leekpai had agreed immediately during their meeting to establish a ministerial commission to "discuss ways to expand trade" and other links between their two countries.

Malaysia's SEAL Inc in a reverse takeover deal with Indonesian

Malaysia's SEAL Inc in a reverse takeover deal with Indonesian firm KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): SEAL Inc, a listed Malaysian timber firm, will be 58.4 percent held by Indonesian and foreign entities in a reverse takeover, officials said yesterday. But the 345.6 million ringgit (US$138.24 million deal will allow the Malaysian timber firm to diversify into the oil and gas business and derive profits from the development of Indonesian oil fields, SEAL told the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.

Low cost apartments planned at industrial estates

Low cost apartments planned at industrial estates JAKARTA (JP): The government announced yesterday that it is requiring industrial states in the Jakarta area to provide land at discounted rates and also providing financing for the construction of 2,000 low-cost apartments. The plan seeks to address the acute housing shortage and simultaneously reduce the long commutes to work that are a factor in Jakarta's traffic problems.

Indonesian observers to monitor S. African elections

Indonesian observers to monitor S. African elections JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is currently in the final stages of preparing a team of observers to oversee the first non-racial elections in South Africa. "I still have to check on the team's preparations but it is certain that we will be sending observers there," Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas confirmed yesterday.

Kooijmans explores RI's human rights condition

Kooijmans explores RI's human rights condition JAKARTA (JP): Dutch Foreign Minister Kooijmans met with leading activists in Indonesia, including a number of vocal critics of the government yesterday, to explore the human rights condition here. "The situation is promising," Kooijmans told reporters after a series of meetings at the Dutch embassy.

British loan extension accord signed

British loan extension accord signed JAKARTA (JP): Great Britain signed an agreement here yesterday for the extension of a soft loan of 80 million pounds (US$117.6 million) for Indonesian development projects, including modern transportation systems, educational equipment and environmental facilities.

Common factors lead to East Asia's economic growth

Common factors lead to East Asia's economic growth JAKARTA (JP): A set of common fundamentals has powered East Asia's tremendous economic growth over the past three decades despite the wide range of specific institutions and policies in each country.

Philippine officials, rebel leader see peace deal

Philippine officials, rebel leader see peace deal ZAMBOANGA, Philippines (Reuter): Philippine government and Moslem rebel negotiators ended two days of talks yesterday optimistic a permanent solution to the 22-year separatist war on Mindanao island was close. "We have scored another point for peace," chief government negotiator Manuel Yan said at the closing ceremony of talks with representatives of the separatist Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

Singapore imposes new tax policy for foreign tourists

Singapore imposes new tax policy for foreign tourists JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian tourism executives are urging Singapore to revise its newly-implemented three-percent general sales tax, which they claim has burdened Indonesian tourists. The president of PT Setia Tours and Travel, Nurdin Purnomo, said here yesterday that the tax, imposed by the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board (STPB) as of April 1, is discouraging Indonesians from making shopping trips to Singapore.

RI against inclusion of social clause in world trade agreement

RI against inclusion of social clause in world trade agreement JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is opposing industrial countries' efforts to link trade with labor conditions in the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) that will be signed in Morocco next week. "Indonesia, like other developing countries, is concerned over efforts to link trade and labor, which will be counter- productive," Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters here yesterday.

JAKARTA (JP): A Rp 50 million (US$23,500) bonus awaits each

JAKARTA (JP): A Rp 50 million (US$23,500) bonus awaits each Ujungpandang player if the South Sulawesi squad manages to retain its title at the intercity amateur soccer championship which swings into full action today. "Bonuses will serve as morale booster for our players to perform aggressively," team manager Tondo Widodo said during a press conference yesterday. The players have also been guaranteed Rp 20 million ($9,400) each if they advance to the final.

Dutch company helps PLN reduce electricity losses

Dutch company helps PLN reduce electricity losses JAKARTA (JP): The State Electricity Company (PLN) has assigned a consortium of three Dutch electricity companies to resume assistance in order to reduce electricity losses in Indonesia. "The cooperation is expected to be expanded in the future to include the technology of Kema International, one of the three Netherlands companies, in PLN's power projects," PLN's president Zuhal said here yesterday.