Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 3 August 1994

40 articles found

Clinton assistant here for Jakarta-Arkansas synergy

Clinton assistant here for Jakarta-Arkansas synergy JAKARTA (JP): An assistant to President Bill Clinton paid a courtesy call to President Soeharto yesterday evening during which he discussed the progress of the sister state relationship between the U.S. state of Arkansas and Jakarta. "I'm here in a personal capacity to discuss the sister state relationship between Jakarta and Arkansas," said Mark Grobmyer after meeting with President Soeharto at his residence on Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.

Planes carrying APEC leaders may use Halim airport

Planes carrying APEC leaders may use Halim airport JAKARTA (JP): The planes carrying the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders to the summit here in November will likely land at the Halim Perdanakusumah air base in East Jakarta. Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. A.M. Hendropriyono inspected the military air base yesterday to consider the possibility of it being used as the airport for the APEC leaders. "We are checking the base's readiness for the APEC summit," Hendro said.

No signs of missing chopper

No signs of missing chopper SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Search and rescue workers remain unable to trace the whereabouts of a helicopter which went missing on Tuesday last week, the Antara news agency reported. The helicopter was carrying 18 people, including two crew members, when it disappeared shortly after taking off from Tabang.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: 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 12:30 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.

Police to catch pimp's backers, if any

Police to catch pimp's backers, if any JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto said police are conducting an investigation to locate backers of Hartono, a pimp who was captured in a raid last week, and will send them to court if there is enough evidence to prove having backed the suspect's sex business.

AIDS epidemic seen threatening `Asian promise'

AIDS epidemic seen threatening `Asian promise' MANILA (Reuter): The AIDS epidemic is threatening growth and progress in booming Asia, where 30 percent of world HIV cases are projected to be found by 2000, speakers at an Asian Development Bank-sponsored meeting said yesterday. They said a large commercial sex industry and intravenous drug use were hastening the spread of the disease in the region, known as the world's engine of growth.

LAPAN ready `to sell' its services to public

LAPAN ready `to sell' its services to public JAKARTA (JP): The National Space and Aviation Agency (LAPAN) is now making its remote sensing services available to the public at large, from private companies to research institutions. The agency now operates three earth satellite stations in Jakarta, Pare-pare (South Sulawesi), and Biak (Irian Jaya), each one backed by data processing centers.

Public demand for medium-class property to increase

Public demand for medium-class property to increase JAKARTA (JP): Demand for medium-class commercial property in the capital will increase, a consultant believes. The managing director of PT Procon Indah, Craig Williams, said yesterday that property developers and operators will tend to increase sales of medium-class buildings, apartments and hotels in areas outside the central business district.

Children in ads

Children in ads From Bisnis Indonesia I am fond of watching advertisements on television. My impression is some of them are interesting, others are funny, and yet some ads are vague. But the ads which concern me most are the ones which involve children. For example, a child is considered exceptionally bright and advises its parents to use a certain product. How could it be possible for a child to persuade its parents to use a particular make of car or buy certain real estate. That is incredible.

Several big names to miss Indonesia Open championship

Several big names to miss Indonesia Open championship JAKARTA (JP): Malaysian and Chinese big names will miss the Indonesia Open badminton championships in Yogyakarta next week, but the organizers are not afraid of a major drop in the tournament's quality. Malaysian Thomas Cup squad composed of men's singles Rashid Sidek, Ong Ewe Hock and Foo Kok Keong and world-rated doubles players Cheah Soon Kit, Soo Beng Kiang, Yap Kim Hock and Tan Kim Her has definitely opted to skip the Aug.

JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX)

JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) rallied yesterday following widely published reports on the bright outlook of the local market. Most big stocks booked significant gains, pushing up the Composite Index to close 6.5 points higher at 459.23 from 452 on the previous day. The narrower-based GTDBS-50 Index also increased to 110.2 from 108.45.

Craftsmen to join U.S. fair

Craftsmen to join U.S. fair JAKARTA (JP): About 50 small-scale handicraft producers are scheduled to leave for San Francisco today to take part in an international gift fair starting on Saturday and running until Aug. 10. The participants, coming from the various provinces, will display assorted hand-made items including wood, ceramics, rattan, pottery, textiles and garments in an attempt to penetrate overseas markets.

14 held for selling aphrodisiac and pornography

14 held for selling aphrodisiac and pornography JAKARTA (JP): City police have declared war against sex businesses with the arrest of 10 aphrodisiac traders in the Kramat Tunggak redlight district and another four people for selling pornographic goods in Senen in a raid on the weekend. "This is part of our concerted effort to protect the younger generation from moral degradation," City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Mochammad Hindarto said yesterday.

Street demo banned in East Timor

Street demo banned in East Timor DILI, East Timor (JP): The military has slapped a ban on all street demonstrations in East Timor, saying that any complaints must be channeled through the local legislature. Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna, the chief of the Udayana Military Command which also oversees East Timor, said demonstrations have been banned because they have proven destructive.

Drilling firm to sell shares for local and overseas expansion

Drilling firm to sell shares for local and overseas expansion JAKARTA (JP): PT Medco Energi Corporation, a private domestic company specializing in drilling for oil exploration and production, will offer 22 million new shares to the public to raise Rp 100 billion (US$46.13 million) to finance its overseas expansion projects.

Legal protection for the ministers and the press

Legal protection for the ministers and the press By Charles Himawan JAKARTA (JP): More than 10 years has passed since the American Time magazine published a news item on Gen. Ariel Sharon, the then Israeli Minister of Defense. To this day, as a public figure a minister has always been a source of news. The public feel they have the right to know what their ministers are doing, because a minister's action can influence their lives.

Tourist arrivals down 3.55% in June

Tourist arrivals down 3.55% in June JAKARTA (JP): The number of tourists arriving in Indonesia decreased by 3.55 percent to 234,585 in June from 243,497 in the same month of last year. Data from the Directorate General of Tourism show that last month's decrease in tourist arrivals occurred in three of the country's four main gates, including Jakarta, Bali and Medan.

Indonesia will send seven fencers to Thailand Open

Indonesia will send seven fencers to Thailand Open JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, the undisputed fencing powerhouse in Southeast Asia, will send seven fencers to the Thailand Open from Aug. 16 to Aug. 20 as a testing ground to see whether the country will take part in the ultimate regional fencing contest during the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima in October.

Firms warned over nuisance permits

Firms warned over nuisance permits The West Jakarta mayoralty administration is threatening to revoke the operating permits of 20 companies in the area which do not have the necessary Nuisance Act permits. Karsidin, the mayoralty Law and Order Office chief, said he had asked the companies to apply for the documents or face sanctions from the mayoralty administration. "If they fail to do so, we will repeal their operating permits," Karsidin said over the weekend.

Air Force urged to spare Borobudur

Air Force urged to spare Borobudur MAGELANG, Central Java: The agency managing the ancient Borobudur temple near here is pleading with the Air Force not to conduct flight exercises in the area, following a fatal accident at a nearby restaurant. Heru Widodo said the area is not only drawing tourists, but is also densely populated. He fears that another accident is bound to cause more fatalities. A light trainer plane crashed into a restaurant near the temple grounds in the incident.

Vice squad nets 52 prostitutes

Vice squad nets 52 prostitutes SOLO, Central Java: The vice squad arrested 52 prostitutes in raids in five different brothels in the city. The police said the "high-class" prostitutes charge between Rp 100,000 and Rp 250,000 for their services. They were picked up in brothels located on Jl. Slamet Riyadi, Jl. Adisucipto and another in the Purwonegoro area. Central Java Police Chief Maj. Gen. A.A. Soegijo said the anti-vice operation will be expanded to cover hotels and motels.

Floods hit Thai provinces

Floods hit Thai provinces BANGKOK (AFP): Some 100,000 Thais were recovering yesterday from the havoc wreaked by Depression Amy -- a downgraded tropical storm which submerged 15,500 hectares of Thailand's northern and central provinces. At least three people were reported killed and several others missing after the heavy rains and flash floods swept through eight provinces and reached heights of two meters.

Mar'ie's country road show

Mar'ie's country road show There are, we think, several factors which contributed to the success of what Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad called his "two-week country road show" to the international financial and business centers in the United States, Britain and Hong Kong last month. First, of course, were the preparations for the target audience Mar'ie and his small team would address.

Establishment of `New NU' draws severe criticism

Establishment of `New NU' draws severe criticism JAKARTA (JP): The establishment of the Nahdlatul Ummah forum, dubbed by the press as the "New NU", by senior members of the United Development Party (PPP), has been torn to pieces by critics from within the party and the Nahdlatul Ulama, the original NU. The choice of name was deplorable, the idea behind it is controversial and the timing, coming just ahead of a party congress, is wrong, according to critics of the New NU.

Australia offers more military training

Australia offers more military training CANBERRA (Reuter): Australia has offered Indonesia extra help in training its armed forces following a U.S. cutback on defense ties with the Indonesian government, Australian Defense Minister Robert Ray said on Tuesday. "Indonesia is finding that its opportunities in the United States to train militarily are much more limited than they have been in the past... if not drying up," Ray told Australian Broadcasting Corp.

Swiss envoy inspects aid program

Swiss envoy inspects aid program JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Swiss Development Cooperation Agency is currently in Indonesia to inspect a number of development projects funded by the Swiss government. Walter Fust, the agency's director general, who is responsible for the entire Swiss development assistance and humanitarian aid program, is in Indonesia between Aug. 1 and Aug. 11, the Embassy of Switzerland in Jakarta announced yesterday.

Review on radio taxes law urged

Review on radio taxes law urged The City Revenue Office is underlining the need to review the existing radio tax law in a bid to exempt owners of cheap, monophonic radios from paying taxes. Fauzie Alvie Yasin, the head of the office, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that it would be absurd to impose a tax of Rp 3,000 (US$1.4) a year on a cheap radio which costs Rp 10,000.

Dangerous viaduct

Dangerous viaduct From Neraca I would like to warn people of the danger they may encounter while crossing the bridge in front of DPR (House of Representatives) building. I had a horrible experience myself, when crossing the bridge on July 29 at about nine in the evening. I was walking alone when a man suddenly appeared, pointed a knife at my stomach and demanded I surrender all my valuables or face death. I had no choice but to do what he asked, handing over a ring and a bracelet.

S. Jakarta people seek adequate land payment

S. Jakarta people seek adequate land payment JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta residents whose land will be affected by the Jl. TB. Simatupang outer ring road extension are asking for reasonable compensation. "We support the project, but we also ask that compensation be paid based on the market price, not on government estimates as stated on property tax forms," said Tukimin, who is the head of a neighborhood in Bintaro Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta.

Ban eased on Chinese literature

Ban eased on Chinese literature JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday slightly eased the ban against the use of Chinese literature and teaching of the Chinese language, the legacy of the anti-Chinese sentiments of the 1960s. Coordinating Minister of Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman announced yesterday that hotels and recreation centers can publish brochures and programs in Chinese for the benefit of their Chinese patrons.

RI accused of dumping

RI accused of dumping BRUSSELS (Reuter): The European Commission has begun dumping inquiries into polyester yarn exports to the European Union from Thailand, Indonesia and India. Commission action, detailed in the EU's Official Journal, follows a complaint by the Comite International de la Rayonne et des Fibers Synthetiques (CIRFS) on behalf of certain European Union producers of polyester filament yarn.

No new buses for APEC

No new buses for APEC Director General of Land Transportation Soejono said yesterday that the government will not purchase any new buses to accommodate the influx of visitors for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in November. Unlike 1992's Non-Aligned Summit when several new buses were imported, the government this time intends to use the air conditioned buses from the state owned PPD and DAMRI armada, to transport the delegates attending the conference.

Ban on magazines

Ban on magazines From Pancasila Abadi The clampdown of publication licenses of the three magazines Tempo, Editor and DeTIK came as a great shock to society, particularly the press circle. The government's action is not commendable. To the press sector this is the most bitter lesson that has to be learned. The measures taken by the government is completely beyond my understanding. Why don't they bring the case to court?

U.S. is expected to extend GSP to RI: Diplomat

U.S. is expected to extend GSP to RI: Diplomat JAKARTA (JP): Washington is likely to continue granting trade privileges under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) to Indonesia after a six month long review ends this month, a former Indonesian ambassador to the United States says. Lt. Gen. (retired) A. Hasnan Habib said yesterday that he did not expect Washington to deny Indonesia the GSP because doing so would harm its expanding economic relations with Indonesia.

Agony of pedestrians

Agony of pedestrians From Bisnis Indonesia Day in day out I witness the same scene when I walk along Jl. S. Parman towards the Harapan Kita hospital: traffic congestion both on the fast and slow lanes. Very often the traffic jam occurs on the toll road while the slow lane is relatively clear. Hawkers usually take advantage of this.

Ten developing countries win support on population

Ten developing countries win support on population JAKARTA (JP): Ten developing countries yesterday formed a new forum to jointly address their population problems, with ringing endorsements from three international funding agencies. The international partnership on population and development was forged at the end of the two-day meeting in Jakarta yesterday.

PLN, Kadin sign accord on business in Vietnam

PLN, Kadin sign accord on business in Vietnam JAKARTA (JP): The State Electricity Company (PLN) has agreed to provide technical assistance for Kadin (Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) members which intend to expand operation in electricity-related businesses in Vietnam.

KL, Manila to ink defense pact

KL, Manila to ink defense pact KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Kuala Lumpur and Manila are to sign a bilateral defense pact in September to boost military cooperation and also address piracy in common waters, Malaysia's Defense Minister Najib Tun Razak said yesterday. Najib, who is to visit the Philippines next month to sign the defense memorandum of understanding, said that the agreement would cover joint army and navy exercises.

Governor to open fish exhibition

Governor to open fish exhibition An exhibition of ornamental fish, aimed at introducing aquarium fish as an export commodity, will be held from Aug. 8 to 14 at the Pondok Indah Mall, South Jakarta. The head of the City Fishery Office, Soemaryo Wijoyo, said yesterday that the exhibition was scheduled to be opened by Governor Surjadi Soedirdja. The 7-day exhibition will also be highlighted by a cooking competition which will be held on Aug. 10.

Three local banks agree to help Continental Bank

Three local banks agree to help Continental Bank JAKARTA (JP): Continental Bank will get technical assistance from a consortium of three domestic banks to enable it to compete in the tight banking market, says an executive. Continental Bank's president, Sugiantoro, said yesterday that the technical assistance agreement with the consortium comprising of Bank Utama, Bank Central Asia and Bank Danamon is "purely" related to banking know-how. "We want to grow faster...