Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 26 September 1994

45 articles found

Arief threatens to sue rector

Arief threatens to sue rector SALATIGA, Central Java (JP): A lecturer at the Satyawacana Christian University has threatened to sue the chief of the college's foundation and its rector on charges of tarnishing his reputation. Arief Budiman, an outspoken intellectual, gave the foundation chief and its rector until Sept. 25 to revoke a letter of warning issued against him or face a law suit.

Fire razes food crops

Fire razes food crops SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A bush fire destroyed 10 hectares of food crops here on Saturday. The two-hour fire was about to hit the nearby residential area of Selili when 20 fire fighters rushing to the scene with three fire engines managed to bring it under control. The authorities still have to investigate the cause of the fire and to estimate the losses,Antara reported. The farmers who lost their crops hope the government will give them financial assistance.(pan)

Police confiscate porn laser discs

Police confiscate porn laser discs Kebun Jeruk police have confiscated around 200 pornographic laser discs from a number of disc rental shops in Kedoya, Kebun Jeruk, Joglo and Green Garden housing complex, all in West Jakarta, during a sweeping operation conducted from Sept. 16 to 22. Maj. Velino S., the chief of Kebun Jeruk police station, said over the weekend that most of the confiscated discs featured Western and Mandarin films.

Mother to sue police for shooting swindle suspect

Mother to sue police for shooting swindle suspect JAKARTA (JP): The mother of Humala Hutabarat, the country's most sought after bank swindler, will file a lawsuit against City Police for shooting dead her son during a recent raid. "He gave a policeman Rp 200 million as a bribe. I know the police deliberately shot my son to death because they were afraid that this secret would be exposed," Mrs. Pasaribu, 74, told reporters at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital on Friday.

Post Office launches `Shop by Mail' service

Post Office launches `Shop by Mail' service By Lenah Susianty BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Indonesia will officially partake of its mail order service for the first time tomorrow. Belanja lewat pos, or shopping by mail, will be one of the most recent programs of the state-owned postal service Perusahaan Umum Pos dan Giro (PPG). The new service will include the operation of leased aircraft to cater to hard-to-reach areas, particularly those in the eastern provinces.

ASEAN, Japan agree to help repair Indochinese economies

ASEAN, Japan agree to help repair Indochinese economies CHIANG MAI, Thailand (AFP): The ASEAN nations and Japan agreed here Saturday to form a joint committee that will seek ways to help repair the war-shattered economies of Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The two sides said in a statement that the working group on Economic Cooperation in Indochina would have two people from each member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan.

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.

144.8 hectares of Koja land appropriated

144.8 hectares of Koja land appropriated JAKARTA (JP): The district chief of Koja, North Jakarta, said on Saturday the land appropriation committee has appropriated one third of 144.8 hectares of land in North Koja subdistrict for a container terminal expansion project. "Up to now the committee has already appropriated 2,105 plots of land in North Koja subdistrict from the total of 6,500 plots," said Jurthoni.

Weekly Stock Exchange Review

Weekly Stock Exchange Review JAKARTA (JP): Share prices across the board fell last week amidst dull trading activities with sporadic selling orders. The market maintained its bearish course for the second week, with the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) Composite Index falling by another 13.1 points from the previous week, to close the week at 512.57. Trading during the week also recorded a lower volume compared to the preceding week, indicating the wait-and-see attitude of investors.

Indonesia avoids Swiss clean sweep in Davis Cup

Indonesia avoids Swiss clean sweep in Davis Cup JAKARTA (JP): Benny Wijaya denied a Swiss clean sweep at the Davis Cup World Group qualifier yesterday, as local tennis fans were disappointed by the absence of Swiss Olympic gold medalist Marc Rosset. Indonesia's number one Benny gave his side a consolation win by breezing past unheralded Swiss Patrick Mohr, a reserve for big serving Rosset, 6-1, 6-3.

EU, ASEAN end meeting skirting rights issue

EU, ASEAN end meeting skirting rights issue JAKARTA (JP): Foreign Ministers from the European Union (EU) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) ended their two-day meetings in Karlsruhe, Germany, on Saturday by adopting a declaration which scarcely touched on the issue of human rights. In a 35-chapter declaration, the human rights issue was alluded to in general terms with reference to the United Nations charter and the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

City builds three-star hotel

City builds three-star hotel JAKARTA (JP): Buoyed by optimism over increased demands for three-star hotels in the city, PD Wisata Niaga Jaya, a city-owned company, will build a 16-story hotel in the Kabel area, Cempaka Putih district, Central Jakarta. Gito Bantas, the company's president, said in the ground- breaking ceremony late last week that the state-owned Bank DKI and a number of private banks had agreed to jointly finance the construction of the three-star Hotel Cempaka Mayor.

Compensation refused

Compensation refused BOYOLALI, Central Java: Over 300 families have refused compensation from the local government offered five years ago for the graves of their relatives in order to make way for a giant reservoir. The residents are demanding Rp 7,500 ($3.44) in compensation for each grave but the government refuses to increase the Rp 7,144 it has already set.

Regulation on pension funds questioned

Regulation on pension funds questioned JAKARTA (JP): The government should lessen the investment restriction on pension funds to give them more of a chance to generate high returns on investments, said Chairman of the Indonesian Association of Pension Funds Kadarisman. He said here over the weekend that the investment restriction on pension funds as stipulated by the Minister of Finance's decree No. 231/93 is no longer relevant today because it is considered too protectionist.

Schwarzenegger's `True Lies' insulting to Islam: Ulemas

Schwarzenegger's `True Lies' insulting to Islam: Ulemas JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) has been rocked by disagreements among its members over an action-comedy film featuring American muscle-bound film star Arnold Schwarzenegger. The controversy over the film True Lies, which is now still being screened at various movie houses across Indonesia, was started by one of its own members who said that the movie was insulting to Islam.

Exporters to get awards

Exporters to get awards JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is expected next month to present awards to 78 model exporters for their distinguished efforts in fostering the country's non-oil exports. The selection of the model exporters is carried out by the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) based on exporters performance as well as their commitments in fostering the welfare of their laborers and preserving the environment.

Merrill Lynch upbeat about Indonesia's economy

Merrill Lynch upbeat about Indonesia's economy JAKARTA (JP): The outlook for the Indonesian economy remains promising in the fourth quarter despite the fall in the country's exports during the first five months of this year, according to Merrill Lynch, a noted multinational securities company. In its latest Asian Economic Commentary, Merrill Lynch said that Indonesia's exports have shown signs of recovery after suffering a decline in the January-May period.

Four killed in bus crash

Four killed in bus crash SEMARANG, Central Java: Four people were killed and more than a dozen others injured, several critically, in a chain collision involving a crowded bus, a jeep and a truck near here Saturday. Doctors at the Ungaran and Ambarawa hospitals, where the victims were admitted, said two men and two women died before receiving treatment due to their serious injuries.

Cement prices still high at retail stores

Cement prices still high at retail stores JAKARTA (JP): Cement prices, spurred by a lack of supply, remained high at retail businesses in the greater Jakarta area on Saturday. Prices of cement, which peaked mid-last week at Rp 12,000, the highest level for the last three years, dropped slightly to between Rp 8,000 and Rp 11,000 per 40-kilogram sack at building material stores in Jakarta, Depok and Bogor over the weekend.

ASEAN still not satisfied with Japan market access

ASEAN still not satisfied with Japan market access CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuter): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is still not satisfied with Japan's efforts to allow greater access for its goods, ministers from the six member countries said on Saturday. "To say we are very happy, I don't think we can say so... We cannot rest satisfied with the state of affairs," Said Thai deputy prime minister Supachai Panitchpakdi at a joint news conference.

Merger of bus lines to improve service

Merger of bus lines to improve service JAKARTA (JP): Deputy Governor for Economy and Development Tubagus M. Rais said over the weekend that the city administration is conducting a study on the possibility of merging city bus companies in a bid to better serve the public.

Canada to hold seminar

Canada to hold seminar JAKARTA (JP): About 30 Canadian government officials and private sector representatives will participate in a seminar at the World Trade Center in Surabaya, East Java, on Wednesday to look for business opportunities with Indonesian partners.

Helicopter crash kills three in C. Sulawesi

Helicopter crash kills three in C. Sulawesi JAKARTA (JP): A helicopter belonging to PT Gatari with five crew members aboard crashed into the sea in Donggala, Central Sulawesi, killing three people on Saturday, a press report said yesterday. A spokesman for that Central Sulawesi office of transportation, Lusty Soegito, said that one person was still unaccounted for and identified the only survivor as co-pilot John Marjono. He said pilot Abdul Rahman, 45, was still missing and presumed dead.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. TV Series: Peter Pan & the Pirates 3:00 Riang Ria 3:30 TV Series: Unsolved Mysteries 4:30 Students' Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Family Program 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Army Program 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:05 TV Series: Van Der Valk 9:00 World News 9:30 Music 10:35 Late News 10:45 Film: Terror Out Of Sky Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Mass dismissals regretted

Mass dismissals regretted From Kompas A close friend of mine has complained about his bad luck. On Feb. 17, he was dismissed along with 12 of his colleagues without any clear reason or severance pay. These people had worked, on average, more than ten years for the company.

Haze problems in Singapore worsen

Haze problems in Singapore worsen SINGAPORE (AFP): A haze enveloping Singapore worsened yesterday with the Singapore Environment Ministry issuing its second consecutive health warning in 48 hours. The ministry said in a statement that the Pollution Standards Index (PSI) reached 122, the highest reading to date. The reading on Saturday was 112.

An elephant sale of a different color

An elephant sale of a different color JAKARTA (JP): Psst. Wanna buy an elephant? It's available for Rp 7.5 million ($3,600) a piece and it comes complete with its trainer. As part of the government's drive to contain the elephant problem, the Ministry of Forestry is now offering 184 elephants, tamed ones rather than wild, to forestry concessionaires and plantation companies in the hope that they will be employed to help transport or move bulky material.

West Nusa Tenggara to woo investors despite obstacles

West Nusa Tenggara to woo investors despite obstacles DILI, East Timor (JP): West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), one of the poorest provinces in Indonesia, is determined to woo investors despite prevalent obstacles in developing the region. "This province actually has potential to attract investments because it is located near major tourist areas like Bali, Komodo Island and Toraja in South Sulawesi," said NTB Governor Warsito here recently.

Four projects for export-oriented oil refineries approved

Four projects for export-oriented oil refineries approved JAKARTA (JP): The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has approved commitments for the construction of four export-oriented oil refineries in South Sulawesi, North Sumatra and East Java with a combined investment of US$7.2 billion.

Teacher kills colleague

Teacher kills colleague MEDAN, North Sumatra: Police have arrested a man suspected of stabbing a fellow elementary school teacher to death in Labuhan Batu district last week. Police said the man stabbed Mabiah Rambe repeatedly with a knife during a bitter argument in their office just as pupils were arriving at school in the morning. Rambe, who sustained seven stab wounds to her body, died on the way to the hospital, Antara reported.

Pontianak's fog or smoke?

Pontianak's fog or smoke? It is unfortunate that the "Literacy Day Commemoration" (Jakarta Post Sept. 22, 1994) was canceled due to "fog" at the airport in Pontianak. The attendees missed an opportunity to see a weather phenomena unknown to the rest of the world. Fog is a common condition resulting from the ambient temperature decreasing until the moisture in the air condenses into tiny droplets. It is in fact, a cloud of visible water vapor in contact with the surface of the earth.

Developing countries warned about food shortage in 2000

Developing countries warned about food shortage in 2000 JAKARTA (JP): Developing countries should prepare themselves for food shortages predicted to hit various parts of the world in 2010 as predicted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), says an Indian scientist. Dr. Vandana Shiva, director of India's Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resources Policy, said every country in the world would be faced with food problems in the next five to 15 years.

General Harseno publishes biography

General Harseno publishes biography Former Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. (ret.) K. Harseno, who is currently inspector general of development, celebrated the publishing of his biography at a ceremony at his mansion in Ceger, East Jakarta late last week.

Malacca Straits may turn into dead sea: Paper

Malacca Straits may turn into dead sea: Paper KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): The Straits of Malacca, one of the world's most congested waterways, will soon be devoid of marine life unless action is taken to fight oil pollution, the New Straits Times newspaper reported yesterday.

Wind-powered energy project introduced in Central Java

Wind-powered energy project introduced in Central Java BOGOR (JP): The government has launched a modest, pilot wind power project in Jepara, a town in Central Java. The town is located in the same peninsula where Indonesia will build its first nuclear project. People in two small villages in the Jepara regency, in Bulak Baru and Kalianyar, are already enjoying electricity supplied by wind-powered turbines.

South Jakarta roads

South Jakarta roads From Pelita Not very long ago, I wrote a report on the condition of several roads in Cinere, Lebak Bulus and Karang Tengah in South Jakarta. In Cinere, many of the roads are in good condition because they have just been repaired. But the repairs along many streets in Karang Tengah and Lebak Bulus have not been done well enough. The workers have not repaired the damage entirely. They simply ignored minor damage.

Excessively high taxes

Excessively high taxes From Sinar Pagi Without any warning the land and household tax rate for 1993 has apparently been drastically raised. A buddy of mine still has not paid his tax. Beside the fact that the deadline is not until Dec. 31, many residents in his area are confused. I appeal to the tax authorities to pay attention to this problem because lower-income Indonesians cannot afford to pay the present rates. Some people even see them as a form of extortion.

KL, Italy to sign air accord

KL, Italy to sign air accord KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia and Italy will ratify an air services agreement in November allowing the Malaysian Airline System (MAS) to land in Rome, the New Straits Times newspaper reported on Saturday. The national carrier was given provisional approval to begin twice weekly flights to Rome in March, it quoted Transport Minister Ling Liong Sik as saying on Friday.

Steve King talks of software components and mergers (2)

Steve King talks of software components and mergers (2) By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Last Monday I presented the first part of my recent interview with Steve King, Lotus Development's VP for the Asia Pacific region. Here's the second part of it in which Steve shared his views on worldwide networks, mergers and component software. ZA: Could you tell us a little bit about Lotus and AT&T joint- venture? SK: Sure.

Union to help workers get 13th-month's salary

Union to help workers get 13th-month's salary JAKARTA (JP): Executives of the state-sponsored All Indonesian Workers Union (SPSI) said that they were prepared to help enforce a ministerial decree which makes it compulsory for all companies to pay their workers an extra "13th month" salary every year. "We're prepared to help. And we'll launch a campaign to inform workers of this latest development," said Salam Sumangat, the chairman of SPSI's Jakarta chapter.

Chinese official cancels visit to Asian games

Chinese official cancels visit to Asian games TOKYO (Agencies): Chinese State Councillor Li Tieying has canceled a visit to Japan for the Asian Games in protest at plans for the Taiwanese deputy prime minister to attend, Japanese news media reported yesterday. Li was scheduled to arrive in Japan on Monday and pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama.

Venture capital firm set up in Medan to help local economy

Venture capital firm set up in Medan to help local economy MEDAN, N. Sumatra (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad sees venture capital financing as one of the most effective ways of enhancing the development of small and medium-scale enterprises as investors usually bring in equity funds as well as managerial and marketing skills.

Rebel captured in Dili

Rebel captured in Dili DILI, East Timor (JP): The police captured a member of a clandestine group that assaulted a guest at a wedding party in Bemori, one kilometer north of here Saturday. Sgt. Sidik of the Dili Police Precinct identified the suspect as Francisco, 25, one of 10 members of a clandestine group who beat up Miguel, a 45 year-old hospital employee.

Sunda puppet show at Play House

Sunda puppet show at Play House The Mask and Sunda Puppet Show from Cirebon and Indramayu, West Java, will entertain visitors on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1 at the Jakarta Play House as part of the programs of the Jakarta International Festival of the Performing Arts (JIFPA). The show will be presented by the Sunda arts group named Lingkung Seni Jawa Barat under the coordination of Dr. End Suanda.

RMB buses with collectors

RMB buses with collectors From Bisnis Indonesia I recently read in the newspapers about the plans of the Jakarta passenger transportation company (PPD) to introduce the RMB (rute metode baru or new-method routes) involving six different pools on a trial basis. Up to now only a few buses use this RMB system. According to PPD's public relations chief Hamim Busro, this measure is designed to improve the company's service to the public while raising revenues.