Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 1 February 1995

47 articles found

ASEAN's strength will not be lost in APEC: Study

ASEAN's strength will not be lost in APEC: Study JAKARTA (JP): The strength of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) will not be "diluted" by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, a study says. "Fears that ASEAN will be redundant once the APEC forum is institutionalized are not based on strong arguments.

Weeding out bad bankers

Weeding out bad bankers The four regulations announced by Bank Indonesia on Monday are obviously designed to further improve the disclosure practices of banks. That in turn should make all aspects of the banks' operations, management and supervisory boards more transparent to the central bank, which acts as the guardian of the banking industry.

Myanmar develops regions

Myanmar develops regions Regarding The Jakarta Post's Jan. 28, 1995 report on Yangon Army seizes rebel base I would like to give the following clarification. In a sincere spirit of National reconciliation and peace the Myanmar government announced a unilateral cessation of all offensive military operations against the various insurgent groups in April 1992. Thirteen groups, out of 15, are now peacefully working together with the government in developing their backward regions.

Pickpockets

Pickpockets Midday Saturday, Jan. 25, 1995, I crossed the footbridge between the BNI building and the Landmark Center. Upon alighting at the Landmark side I found that the footpath alongside the bridge was blocked by a group of young men. This warned immediately me that for the umpteenth time I was being set up by a bunch of pickpockets.

Pensioners' cooperative

Pensioners' cooperative From Media Indonesia I understand that today many pensioners (civil servants, armed forces members, widows) are obtaining loans from certain banks. Banks are the only source for them to get loans with an interest rate of 20 percent. To help alleviate the pensioners' burden, I hope the government establishes a cooperative for the pensioners from which they can borrow and save their money.

Koja land appropriation

Koja land appropriation JAKARTA (JP): The appropriation of land to make way for the construction of a shipping container terminal in Koja, North Jakarta, will be completed one year ahead of schedule. Sri Rahardjo, development head for the terminal project, told Antara yesterday that the land appropriation was originally scheduled for completion in March 1996.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Wednesday Maghrib 18.20 p.m. Thursday Imsak 04.25 a.m. Subuh 04.35 a.m.

Soldiers and conglomerates

Soldiers and conglomerates From Jayakarta Having plenty of money, the owners of conglomerates and other well-off people can enjoy themselves at the places of their choice on weekends. But imagine the civil servants and soldiers who have to toil all day long for a living. The economic elite can pile up wealth enough for generations, while the common people have to struggle hard and dedicate themselves to the country, just to make ends meet. It is in relation to this matter that Gen.

Wardiman denies protecting rector

Wardiman denies protecting rector SURABAYA, East Java: Minister of Education and Culture Wardiman Djojonegoro has denied claims that he tried to protect a local rector, allegedly involved in a Rp 2.6 billion corruption scandal, from legal action. "Take the rector to the police if you believe the rector is involved in the scandal," he told journalists here on Monday. So far the prosecutor's office has brought two suspects to court.

Golkar fires legislator for being to outspoken

Golkar fires legislator for being to outspoken JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar party withdrew one of its most outspoken legislators, Bambang Warih Koesoemo, yesterday for his habit of deviating from official lines. Moestahid Astari, the chairman of the Golkar faction at the House of Representatives (DPR), said Golkar's executive board had been monitoring Bambang's conduct for the last two years before deciding to fire him.

Disappointing Seminar

Disappointing Seminar From Gatra I was particularly interested in the two-day seminar as advertised in Kompas on Dec. 2, 1994, adopting the theme Welcoming Tax Reform 1995. The seminar was held by the Association of Students of Administrative Science, School of Social Science and Politics, University of Indonesia. Noted speakers were listed in the seminar's program.

Minister inspects rice arrival at Tanjung Priok

Minister inspects rice arrival at Tanjung Priok JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto made an impromptu inspection at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta yesterday to check on rice being unloaded from Thailand. During the inspection the minister visited pier 202 and 114, where a vessel named Yun Hua of Thailand was docked.

Chefs whip up Korean dishes at Aryaduta

Chefs whip up Korean dishes at Aryaduta By Ati Nurbaiti JAKARTA (JP): Korean dishes are not new to Indonesian restaurant-goers, who have found this a delicious alternative for their Asian palate along with Japanese and Thailand cuisine. To eat in classy surroundings, as well as really liking the food, has been easier with these neighborly choices.

'Baywatch', 'Prime Bodies' dropped during Ramadhan

'Baywatch', 'Prime Bodies' dropped during Ramadhan JAKARTA (JP): The programs Baywatch, Prime Bodies and Another World are among those being dropped by local commercial television stations as the nation's predominantly Moslem population begins a month of fasting today. In their place, the networks are airing programs with religious themes during the month of Ramadhan.

Big chess meet set for anniversary

Big chess meet set for anniversary JAKARTA (JP): World number one Garry Kasparov and Poland's ace Yudith Polgar are expected to pit their wits here in an international chess tournament held in conjunction with Indonesia's 50th anniversary, official says.

Lube recycling plant operational this month

Lube recycling plant operational this month CIBITUNG, West Java (JP): PT Wiraswasta Gemilang Indonesia will start operating its lubricating oil recycling plant with a processing capacity of 67,200 tons per annum by the end of this month. "The plant, the first of its kind in the country, is designed to refine used lubricating oil collected from throughout Java," the company's vice president, A.P. Batubara, told reporters yesterday.

RI's Yayuk earns 2nd round berth at Toray tennis

RI's Yayuk earns 2nd round berth at Toray tennis TOKYO (Agencies): Indonesian top player Yayuk Basuki found no real challenge in clearing her first hurdle at the US$806,000 Toray Pan Pacific women's tennis championships yesterday. Yayuk, ranked 27th in the world, coasted to a convincing 6-1 6-1 victory over Shaun Stafford as the American struggled with her shots, hitting a double fault to lose her opening service game and another on a match point.

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.

Diplomacy as important as military struggle, book says

Diplomacy as important as military struggle, book says JAKARTA (JP): Diplomatic efforts played as important role as the military struggle for Indonesia's independence, says prominent scholar Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung in his newest book. Amid praise and criticism, Anak Agung launched his latest history book Persetujuan Linggajati, Prolog & Epilog (Linggajati Agreement, Prologue and Epilogue) at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences yesterday.

New telecommunications network forum established

New telecommunications network forum established JAKARTA (JP): In conjunction with its push to develop more sophisticated technology in the telecommunications industry, Indonesia established a forum yesterday for users of the Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) and Intelligent Network (IN) facilities. The organization, called Indonesia ISDN and IN User Forum (I3UF), was officially introduced here by Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Jonathan L.

New bank regulations welcomed

New bank regulations welcomed JAKARTA (JP): Analysts and a legislator yesterday hailed Bank Indonesia's new regulations but warned it not to be over-zealous in screening the shareholders and management of banks. Laksamana Sukardi, a noted banking analyst, said that the central bank's regulations, requiring banks to provide the central bank with annual operational programs, was an appropriate step towards increasing professionalism in the banking sector.

Market deserted in Bekasi

Market deserted in Bekasi BEKASI (JP): While most markets are thronging with buyers during the days leading up to the Moslem fasting month of Ramadhan, Cibitung market in Bekasi has been deserted by both traders and customers alike. According to Bekasi Market Authority chief Donnie Setiawan, this is because most of the traders there, who are from various towns in West Java such as Purwakarta, Subang and Karawang, have already left the market to fast in their hometowns.

Boven Digul and tourism

Boven Digul and tourism From Merdeka On Jan. 27, 1995 TVRI was airing a program which looked very similar to the Nazi's Concentration Camp in Poland during World War II, full of traces of atrocities and cruelties unknown to humanity before. On this date, the Dutch concentration camp in Boven Digul or Tanah Merah in Irian Jaya was 68 years old. It was in this camp the Dutch colonial government detained the Indonesian freedom fighters.

Ex-army officer executed 9 years after conviction

Ex-army officer executed 9 years after conviction JAKARTA (JP): A retired Army sergeant major was executed in the early hours in Central Sulawesi yesterday, nine years after he was convicted by a court for killing four people, the Antara news agency reported. Kacong Laranu, 63, was executed at around 2. a.m.

ADB loan for Indonesia

ADB loan for Indonesia MANILA (Reuter): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$30.4 million loan to help upland farmers in four provinces of eastern Indonesia raise production, the bank said yesterday. "The project will address the needs of rainfed farmers and introduce better ways for them to manage (their) resources," the ADB said in a statement, adding that the loan would benefit 50,000 households in Sulawesi.

Men need to do more for family planning

Men need to do more for family planning SEMARANG (JP): Indonesia's family planning campaign should be targeted at men by making more alternative forms of contraception available to them, apart from condoms and vasectomies, a leading demographer suggests. Saparinah Sadli said at a seminar yesterday that the national family planning program has been unfair to women because they have been forced to shoulder most of the responsibility of bringing population growth under control.

Sudarsono lends prestige to military think-tank

Sudarsono lends prestige to military think-tank JAKARTA (JP): The National Resilience Institute received a major boost yesterday with the appointment to the institute's deputy governorship of one of Indonesia's most respected political scientists, Juwono Sudarsono. Minister of Defense and Security Gen.

Four airplanes abort landing

Four airplanes abort landing SEMARANG, Central Java: Four airplanes aborted landing at the A. Yani Airport during the past week because of bad weather, a local senior official said on Monday. Chief of the provincial office of transportation, Gatot Soedjantoko, said that heavy rain had greatly reduced the pilots' visibility and had made the runway slippery. "The four aircraft prohibited from landing in order to avoid accidents," Gatot told Antara.

Clear-cut policy to combat AIDS in RI sought

Clear-cut policy to combat AIDS in RI sought JAKARTA (JP): An activist urged the government yesterday to draw up a clear-cut policy in efforts to prevent the spread of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in Indonesia. Adi Sasongko, director for health care of the Kusuma Buana Foundation, said the government is slow in drawing up a clear policy to combat the deadly disease. "This has sped up the spread of the disease in Indonesia.

TNT, Schenker strike new Asia-Pacific deal

TNT, Schenker strike new Asia-Pacific deal JAKARTA (JP): TNT Express Worldwide, the Amsterdam-based courier service firm, announced yesterday a new deal with the freight forwarding company Schenker International AG of Germany allowing the latter to tap the former's facilities for its services in the Asia-Pacific region. The cooperation agreement was forged by TNT's Indonesian affiliate PT Skypak International and Schenker's forwarding partner PT Petrolog Transkontinen Utama.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 31, 1995: Trading Shares Close Change Volume --------------------------------------------------------- ADES ALFINDO 2,400 0 AHAP INSURANCE 3,350 0 ALUMINDO PERKASA 1,100 0 ANDAYANI MEGAH 2,300 0 ANEKA KIMIA RAYA 5,000 0 ANWAR SIERAD 1,800 23,000 AQUA GOLDEN MISSISSIPI 2,800 0 ARGHA KARYA PRIMA INDUSTRY 1,975 132,000 ARGO PANTES 2,600 0 ASIANA IMI INDUSTRIES 1,925 0 ASTER DHARMA INDUSTRY 1,325 0 ASTRA GRAPHIA 3,800 0...

Religion losing its true essence: Abdurrahman

Religion losing its true essence: Abdurrahman JAKARTA (JP): A prominent religious leader criticized yesterday the degradation of religious values which makes the practice of religion a mere formality. Abdurrahman Wahid, the leader of one of the country's largest Moslem organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said that more and more people "lacking the authority" are talking about religion, which made such discussion lose its true spiritual essence.

Inten rejects parking plan

Inten rejects parking plan JAKARTA (JP): Minister for Social Services Inten Soeweno has flatly rejected the idea of offering prizes to motorists who pay official parking tickets issued by the city parking authority, BP Parkir. Inten said, "Even without parking their cars people can easily buy parking tickets," the daily Post Kota reported yesterday. She acknowledged that without the state SDSB lottery, banned in November 1993, her ministry is suffering from a lack of funds.

Two rebels get 24 years

Two rebels get 24 years BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Two activists of an obscure Moslem sect have been sentenced to imprisonment for 15 years and nine years, respectively, for supporting a rebel movement which aims to turn Aceh into an Islamic state. On Monday a team of judges in the Lhokseumawe district court found M. Amin Samidan, alias Amin Panga, 52, and Syamsul Bahri bin Mahammad, 19, guilty of supporting the Free Aceh Movement last year.

Bogor mayor ready to face lawsuit

Bogor mayor ready to face lawsuit JAKARTA (JP): Bogor Mayor Eddi Gunardi has said that he is ready to face a lawsuit should the owner of bulldozed house choose to file one. The house, built without permission, was demolished by mayoralty law and order agency officers earlier this month. "Let her file a lawsuit at the West Java Administrative Court. I'm ready to face it," Eddi was quoted by Antara as saying in Bogor on Monday.

Judge heckled for 'inconsistent judgment'

Judge heckled for 'inconsistent judgment' JAKARTA (JP): Students observing the trial of 12 National University (Unas) students heckled Judge Moegihardjo of South Jakarta District Court, targeting what the defendants and their lawyers called his inconsistent judgment.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. TV Series: Prince Valliant 3:05 Gita Wicara 3:30 Science Program 4:05 Comedy 4:30 Documentary Film 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Indonesian Lessons 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:45 Langka Tapi Nyata 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music Contest: Asia Bagus 8:05 TV Drama 9:00 World News 9:25 Koran Recital 9:40 Music 10:35 Late News 10:45 Film: Anything to Survive Program 2 4:30 p.m.

One died, 106 treated for food poisoning

One died, 106 treated for food poisoning JAKARTA (JP): An 11-year-old girl died and 106 people suffered from serious stomach aches after consuming a meal served at an orphan house in a special program held by a private foundation on Sunday in Cibubur, East Jakarta. Yulianti, the only fatality, and most of the other victims were orphans. Although the food was consumed on Sunday, the effect was not detected until the next day, according to a police officer who asked not to be identified.

Probe of land title case goes on

Probe of land title case goes on JAKARTA (JP): Police have pledged to continue their investigations to complete a dossier of the counterfeiting and illegal use of documents for the ownership of 6.5 hectares of land at Kapuk Muara in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. "We don't mean to be slow in the dossier's completion, but due to technical problems we currently face, it's taking longer than expected," spokesman to the National Police Brig. Gen. IK Ratta told reporters yesterday.

Former champ to coach boxing team

Former champ to coach boxing team JAKARTA (JP): Former flyweight champion Herry Maitimu has been called upon to coach the national boxing team for the 17th Southeast Asia Games in Chiang Mai in December. The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association picked Herry for his success in handling the Jambi boxing team in national and international events.

Govt announces the start of fasting month

Govt announces the start of fasting month JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher announced last night that the first day of Ramadhan, the Moslem fasting month, begins today. The start of Ramadhan was confirmed both by arithmetical means (hisab) and by the sighting of the new moon (rukyat), Tarmizi said after a joint meeting with experts and ulemas at the TVRI studio.

Spotlight

Spotlight Photo A: JBC JP/arh ANNIVERSARY CHAT: The President Director of The Jakarta Private Japanese Business Center, Iwan Kuroda (right), chats with Shiro Nakamura of the Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. at the third anniversary of the Japanese Business Center. The party was held on Saturday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Central Jakarta.

Squash to become commonplace

Squash to become commonplace JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Squash Association (PSI) installed its new leadership board members on Monday night, setting out its major program to eliminate the luxurious stereotype the sport has acquired. "Average people are restricted from playing squash since the sport is available only in international hotels," PSI chairman Ida Bagus Sudjana said upon swearing in his assistants.

Portugal takes Timor campaign to world court

Portugal takes Timor campaign to world court THE HAGUE (Agencies): Portugal took its campaign on East Timor to the International Court of Justice, again resorting to antique rhetoric to conceal its own past atrocities in its former colony. The only difference is that this time the target is Australia, not Indonesia.

Govt offers talks on birth control

Govt offers talks on birth control MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' new health secretary said yesterday he would go "full-blast" to support the government's family planning program but would also seek an "open channel" with the Catholic church on the issue of birth control. "I hope there would be more openness and less antagonism between the church and government," said Jaime Galvez Tan, who replaced former health secretary Juan Flavier following Flavier's resignation to run for senate in May.

Amnesty invited to East Timor

Amnesty invited to East Timor DILI, East Timor: The Commission for Peace and Justice under the local diocese has asked members of the National Commission on Human Rights and Amnesty International to visit the province to observe human rights conditions. In a meeting on Monday night, activists of the Commission for Peace and Justice resolved that the Jakarta and London-based human rights watchdog organizations should see what the activists claim are violations of human rights in East Timor.

Merrill Lynch says RI outlook exciting

Merrill Lynch says RI outlook exciting JAKARTA (JP): Merrill Lynch of the United States sees Indonesia's privatization program as the most exciting development occurring in Asia today. David H. Komansky, the company's president, described Indonesia, with its promising economic outlook and massive privatization program, as full of opportunities.