Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 February 1995

55 articles found

Producer price of sugar to rise

Producer price of sugar to rise JAKARTA (JP): The government is likely to raise the producer price of sugar in the near future, State Minister of Food Ibrahim Hasan said yesterday. "I expect the government will soon increase the producer price of the commodity because we haven't raised it since 1992," said Ibrahim, concurrently chairman of the National Logistic Agency, which has the monopoly right to trade the commodity.

Italy provides $15m for hospital

Italy provides $15m for hospital MANADO, North Sulawesi: Italy has provided US$15 million in medical equipment for the Malalayang Hospital, which was dedicated by President Soeharto yesterday. The modern equipment was supplied by Cofegar Impresit of the FIAT group. It includes a CT scanner, cobalt therapy equipment, a hyperbaric chamber, a radiological simulator, haemodyalisis equipment and 18 operating theaters.

City administration proposes 5.8% rise in 1995-96 budget

City administration proposes 5.8% rise in 1995-96 budget JAKARTA (JP): The city administration proposed to the City Council a 5.8 percent increase in the city's budget for the 1995/1996 fiscal year to Rp 2.21 trillion (about US$1 billion). Governor Surjadi Soedirdja said in a plenary session yesterday that the city budget in the current 1994/95 fiscal year, which will end next month, amounts to Rp 2.09 trillion.

Guilty teams banned from hosting match: PSSI official

Guilty teams banned from hosting match: PSSI official JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesia Football Association (PSSI) banned Persebaya Surabaya and PSIM Yogyakarta from hosting one match at home yesterday, following a riot which killed a supporter during their league match last month.

Roxette enthralls Jakarta enthusiasts in one-night show

Roxette enthralls Jakarta enthusiasts in one-night show By Alice Akerman JAKARTA (JP): The night Roxette played in Jakarta an enthusiastic crowd had gathered anxiously at the doors of the Jakarta Convention Center. It is an impressive auditorium with a capacity to hold over five thousand people. The floor at the front of the stage was packed with patient fans content to stand for the entire performance.

The Indonesian press dilemma

The Indonesian press dilemma The existence of a fair climate and a tolerant society does not necessarily assure that the press can grow strong. It is quite possible for a democratic country, whose constitution guarantees citizens their rights of opinion and expression, to have a press that is mute and frail. In any country which adopts the democratic system, access to information is every citizen's right.

Int'l basketball meet in Medan

Int'l basketball meet in Medan JAKARTA (JP): Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have confirmed their participation in the seventh "Angsapura Cup" International Basketball Tournament slated for March. 11-17 in Medan, North Sumatra. However, it seems that Asia's powerhouses China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, and the Philippines will not be participating in the annual meet, Arjan Leo, the organizer, was quoted by Antara on Wednesday.

Tax incentive for banks

Tax incentive for banks JAKARTA (JP): Funds accumulated by banks and leasing companies for the provision of bad debts or unpaid claims are now tax deductible, the Ministry of Finance announced yesterday. According to the Finance Minister's Decree No: 80/KMK.04/1995 issued yesterday, the deductible contingency reserve is three percent of the productive assets for banks, while that for leasing firms is 2.5 percent of the average value of contracts.

'Press must not abandon idealism'

'Press must not abandon idealism' By Santi WE Soekanto MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Indonesian journalists received a rap over their knuckles on National Press Day yesterday, when President Soeharto reprimanded them for letting commercial interests overrun idealism. In his address marking National Press Day, Soeharto deplored the members of the press who even sacrifice the nation's interests for the sake of business.

Daewoo plans UK listing

Daewoo plans UK listing SEOUL (AFP): South Korea's Daewoo Corp. plans to list its shares on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) at the end of March, a spokesman said yesterday. The spokesman said Daewoo already started consultations with LSE officials for the listing and received LSE's tentative go- ahead. "If the listing is officially approved, Daewoo will be the first Korean firm to offer shares in London," he said.

Mind the hole

Mind the hole From Neraca In the middle of the road in front of the underpass that connects Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Sultan Agung there is a gaping hole which is dangerous to motorists. It would be better if the Jakarta public works service repairs the road now, rather than putting it off much longer till greater repair costs are required. BUDY SUSANTYO Jakarta

Queasy about television quiz shows

Queasy about television quiz shows By Prapti Widinugraheni JAKARTA (JP): Test your general knowledge, do better than your opponents and win Rp 1 million: that's a quiz. Pick a number -- just for fun -- and win a car: that's a guessing game, or a sweepstake in some cases. But spend your money on a lottery ticket, see how far your luck can go and get frustrated because you missed: now that's gambling.

Worker arrested for killing

Worker arrested for killing JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta police have arrested a former employee of a small printing company for allegedly killing a female worker at the company. "Based on our tentative investigation, the suspect, identified as Armin, 26, was arrested on Tuesday evening and he has already admitted killing the woman," Central Jakarta police chief, Lt. Col. Murawi Effendi, told reporters on Wednesday.

More witnesses give their accounts of bus tragedy

More witnesses give their accounts of bus tragedy JAKARTA (JP): Three more witnesses came forward yesterday and gave their testimonies at the North Jakarta District Court in the trial of Ramses Silitonga. The Metro Mini driver was at the wheel when his bus plunged into the Sunter river last March, killing 33 passengers. The first witness, 28-year-old Elin Sari Handayani, was one of the 13 survivors. Elin told judge Soemaryono that at 10:00 a.m.

Underground media is acceptable, expert says

Underground media is acceptable, expert says JAKARTA (JP): The growing number of underground publications, dubbed "alternative media", is constitutional and acceptable as long as they use their freedom responsibly, a media observer said yesterday. Loebby Loqman, a lecturer of criminal law at the University of Indonesia, said that alternative media is in line with the spirit of Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.

Traffic policeman questioned

Traffic policeman questioned JAKARTA (JP): City Military Police are investigating claims that a traffic police officer fatally shot a boy, Arianto Aritonang, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. Bambang Haryoko said. Bambang told reporters on Wednesday that if the City Military Police could prove that the officer, identified only as Sergeant W., had killed the boy (age withheld), police would not hesitate to punish him, Antara reported. The shooting occurred on Sunday night, Feb.

Minimum wage and religious bonus

Minimum wage and religious bonus From Media Indonesia The decision of the Ministry of Manpower concerning the increase of the minimum wage level, to be put into force as of April 1, 1995 throughout Indonesia, surely delights the workers. And President Soeharto has instructed the Minister to monitor the implementation of the decision.

Kanindotex is still battling

Kanindotex is still battling JAKARTA (JP): The debt repayment of the Central Java-based PT Kanindotex needs further rescheduling despite an improvement in its business performance over the past four months. Noorbasha Djunaid, who heads the debt-ridden company's new management team, said Kanindotex remains financially weak, even though the last four months had seen a substantial increase in sales.

Labor exporters denounce tough new Saudi laws

Labor exporters denounce tough new Saudi laws JAKARTA (JP): Companies which have been sending Indonesian workers to Saudi Arabia denounced yesterday Riyadh's decisions to hike working visa fee by 2,000 percent and to require AIDS-free certificates from incoming workers.

New science and cultural center

New science and cultural center JAKARTA (JP): The municipal administration is considering an offer from Mitsui Corp. of Japan to build a new science and cultural center in the city. Head of city public relations office Soesila Darmoadji told reporters on Wednesday that at first the company had offered a donation to modernize the city's planetarium facilities at Ismail Marzuki cultural center but that the governor had refused it.

Quake worries RI importers

Quake worries RI importers JAKARTA (JP): A number of Indonesian importers are anxious because the recent earthquake in Kobe of Japan have caused delays in the processing of inspection reports which are required for port clearance. "Yes, there has been some anxiety but it is nobody's fault and I expect everything will be resolved soon," Amiruddin Saud, chairman of the Indonesian Importers Association, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

20,000 radio transmitters illegal

20,000 radio transmitters illegal SURABAYA, East Java: About 20,000 radio transmitters operate without an official permit, and there are fears that the equipment may be used for subversive purposes if it goes unchecked. The East Java chapter of the Association of Indonesian Amateur Radio Stations (Orari) urged the authorities yesterday to crack down on the illegal radio transmitters.

Housewife sentenced for bitting off finger

Housewife sentenced for bitting off finger JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta District Court has sentenced Mrs. Wartini, 29, to three-and-a-half months imprisonment for biting off the finger of Mrs. Rusmiati, 34. Prosecutor HPW Soekewi told Antara on Wednesday that Mrs. Wartini and Mrs. Rusmiati are, respectively, the second and first wife of Herman Susilo. The prosecutor explained that Mrs. Rusmiati's finger was bitten off by Mrs.

Merpati closing jet deal

Merpati closing jet deal JAKARTA (JP): Merpati Nusantara, a subsidiary of the national airline Garuda Indonesia, is finalizing negotiations for a contract to lease eight Fokker F-28 aircraft from a consortium which bought the jets from Garuda at US$2.7 million each. Merpati's spokesman, A.

Elephants kill 17 people a year

Elephants kill 17 people a year BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Wild elephants on the rampage trample to death up to 17 people a year in this Sumatran province, says chief of the provincial forestry office A.S.M. Panjaitan. He said that each year in Lampung an estimated 1,000 wild elephants, which are protected by law, encroach on human settlements, destroying crops and killing people.

Traffic jams spreading unabated

Traffic jams spreading unabated JAKARTA (JP): The number of traffic jams in Jakarta has reached an alarming level and could eventually pose a tremendous threat to national development, City Council chairman M.H. Ritonga said yesterday. "If the ever-increasing number of vehicles in the city is not controlled, traffic congestion will become Jakarta's most serious problem," Ritonga was quoted by Antara as saying.

Alleged Chinese presence on reef a thorn in Sino-ASEAN ties

Alleged Chinese presence on reef a thorn in Sino-ASEAN ties By Martin Abbugao MANILA (AFP): The alleged presence of Chinese troops on a reef claimed by Manila in the disputed Spratlys islands could have "very serious implications" for relations between Beijing and ASEAN nations, an analyst said Wednesday.

Time for press to be criticized: Senior Journalists

Time for press to be criticized: Senior Journalists By Santi WE Soekanto MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Senior journalists greeted with grace President Soeharto's criticism of the press in Indonesia and its occasional tendency to overstep its boundaries. The president said that such infractions could place the nation at risk and suggested that it was now the press' turn to be open to criticism.

Death of student regiment member still under investigation

Death of student regiment member still under investigation JAKARTA (JP): West Jakarta police are still looking for suspects in the case of a 19-year-old student regiment recruit, who died as a result of cruel treatment. The victim was a student of the privately-owned Tarumanegara University.

House passes new law on companies, mergers

House passes new law on companies, mergers JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives yesterday passed a bill on limited liability companies which will provide a new legal basis for business entities in Indonesia. Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said during the House's plenary session that the new legislation was expected to provide a better legal framework and greater certainty for business activities, thereby making the country a better place for investors.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. TV Series: Kubuto 3:05 Science Program 3:30 TV Series: Dibawah Kilatan Pedang 4:30 School Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Kiat Manajemen 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:45 Karya Nyata 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Dinamika 8:05 Music 9:00 World News 9:25 Koran Recital 9:40 Quiz: Siapa Dia 10:45 Late News 10:55 Film: My Kidnapper My Love Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Plutonium shipment rebuked

Plutonium shipment rebuked JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Environmental Forum (WALHI) demanded yesterday the government close Indonesian territorial waters to this month's shipment of plutonium from France to Japan. WALHI said in a statement that the 14 tons of highly radioactive plutonium waste contained in 28 canisters will be carried to Japan by a British container.

RI archers aim for Olympics

RI archers aim for Olympics JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian archers are seeking a return to the Olympic Games when they enter the 38th world archery championships here in August, the qualifying round for the 1996 Olympics. The Indonesian women's trio of Lilis Handayani, Nurfitriyana and Purnama Pandiangan, winners of a memorable silver medal in the 1986 Olympics in Seoul, have joined the national team made up of 20 male and female athletes for the Aug.

Crisis deepens in Israel-PLO summit

Crisis deepens in Israel-PLO summit EREZ, Gaza Strip (Reuter): Middle East peace talks slid deeper into crisis yesterday when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat failed to break a deadlock over Israelis' security and the closure of Palestinian land. They agreed to meet again in a week. Rabin sought to play down the notion of a crisis in the talks on expanding a long-stalled Palestinian self-rule deal.

Stolen kiss leads to hospitalization

Stolen kiss leads to hospitalization ORMOC CITY, Philippines (AFP): Stolen kisses may be dangerous to your health a 33-year-old Filipino man found out when he was nearly beaten to death, police said yesterday.

Auditing bank auditors

Auditing bank auditors Bank Indonesia's recent regulations on procedures for financial reporting by commercial banks put both external and internal auditors under tougher supervision. The rulings require banks to hire only from among the independent public accountants (external auditors) who have been registered at the central bank. The regulations also empower the central bank to reject the external auditors hired by a bank.

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.

Art show to embrace non-alignment concept

Art show to embrace non-alignment concept JAKARTA (JP): Can the concept of 'non-alignment', or neutrality in superpower conflicts, be applied to contemporary art? Yes, it can, according to the organizers of an upcoming exhibition of contemporary art of countries of the Southern hemisphere. About 200 works from 30 countries of the southern hemisphere will be exhibited at the two-month long "Unity in Diversity" exhibition which begins in April.

Unocal discovers oil, gas

Unocal discovers oil, gas JAKARTA (JP): Unocal Indonesia Ltd., an affiliate of the Los- Angeles-based Unocal Corp., has discovered hydrocarbon reserves offshore East Kalimantan with a daily production capacity of 1,263 barrels of oil and 7.4 million cubic feet of natural gas. S.

Wonorejo dam to cost more than $50 million

Wonorejo dam to cost more than $50 million JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar yesterday broke the ground for the construction of the second phase of a Rp 114 billion (US$51.63 million) multi-purpose dam in Wonorejo of East Java, which will have a capacity of 122 million cubic meters.

Only 10 percent of judges accept bribes: Chief justice

Only 10 percent of judges accept bribes: Chief justice JAKARTA (JP): Chief Justice Soerjono denies the suggestion that most judges in the country are dishonest and is convinced that the majority of judges responsibly carry out their duties. Soerjono estimated that at most, 10 percent of some 3,000 judges indulged in such corrupt practices as accepting bribes. "I don't think the number exceeds 50 percent," he told reporters on Wednesday after installing two justices at the Tax Advisory Council.

BPS's business center

BPS's business center JAKARTA (JP): The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) will set up a Business Information Center later this year to support the activities of Indonesian companies, said the bureau's chief, Sugito. He said yesterday that the planned center will provide essential information and data on export opportunities, Indonesian imports, investment opportunities and demographic data about export-target countries.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb. 9, 1995 Trading Shares Close Change Volume --------------------------------------------------------- ADES ALFINDO 2,400 0 AHAP INSURANCE 3,350 2,500 ALUMINDO PERKASA 1,100 0 ANDAYANI MEGAH 2,350 0 ANEKA KIMIA RAYA 5,500 49,000 ANWAR SIERAD 1,725 -75 784,500 AQUA GOLDEN MISSISSIPI 2,800 0 ARGHA KARYA PRIMA INDUSTRY 2,025 -100 324,000 ARGO PANTES 2,800 0 ASIANA IMI INDUSTRIES 1,925 0 ASTER DHARMA INDUSTRY 1,325 0 ASTRA...

Panama offers shipping registration privileges

Panama offers shipping registration privileges JAKARTA (JP): Panama, whose flag is flown on 100 Indonesian ships, is inviting more ship owners to take full advantage of the services provided by its "flag of convenience". "The Panamanian registry offers many facilities which might be of considerable interest to ship owners," Panama's Consulate- General Raul A. Eskildsen told The Jakarta Post at his office here yesterday.

Pleas not to extradite Oki to U.S. bombard authorities

Pleas not to extradite Oki to U.S. bombard authorities JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers, relatives and police officers have asked the authorities not to extradite Harnoko Dewantono, alias Oki, to Los Angeles, as requested by the United States government. "We have no extradition treaty with the United States and our existing law clearly stipulates that he has to be tried here," Oki's lawyer Amir Syamsuddin told The Jakarta Post yesterday.

Japan urges caution on trade liberalization

Japan urges caution on trade liberalization TOKYO (AFP): Japan's largest business group opposes rapid liberalization of trade and investment in the Asia-Pacific region and is also cautious towards Malaysia's idea for an East Asian Economic Caucus (EAEC). In a report to be adopted Friday, the Japan Federation of Economic Organizations (Keidanren) said the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum should "deeply consider" the particular situation of each member country.

Piruz away to defend title

Piruz away to defend title JAKARTA (JP): East Kalimantan boxer Piruz Boy will defend his IBF Intercontinental junior bantamweight title against Thai challenger, Ratanachai Voraphin, in a bout slated for Feb. 24 in Bangkok, Thailand. A win in the scheduled 12-round bout will pave the way for Piruz to the long-awaited title fight in the IBF world boxing version. IBF Intercontinental is IBF's subordinate division which groups boxers outside the top ten.

NCO featuring a top-notch pianist

NCO featuring a top-notch pianist By Gus Kairupan JAKARTA (JP): Keep an eye on Stephen K. Tamadji. If his performance last Tuesday with the Nusantara Chamber Orchestra is any indication, this young pianist will reach considerable heights. Prokofiev's piano concertos, though a standard by now, belong to the most difficult in piano literature, the more so because of the precision work required between piano and orchestra, precision work in which split seconds make all the difference.

Investigate Arbamass company

Investigate Arbamass company From Bisnis Indonesia I read a report in a newspaper saying that PT Arbamass, owned by Arie Sigit Soeharto and Emir Baramuli, has obtained permission from Warsito Rasman, director general for Development of Regional Autonomy, to monopolize the sale of alcoholic drinks in Indonesia as of Feb. 19, 1994. According to Emir Baramuli, the sale of alcoholic drinks is controlled by attaching a sticker on the bottle. The sticker costs Rp 600 to Rp 700 and PT.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali: Music and entertainment * Nusa Dua Beach Hotel: Budaya Stage - Legong Buffet Dinner, Friday; Ramayana Buffet Dinner, Monday. Coffee Shop - Indonesian Night with Joged Dance, Saturday. Village Night with Frog Dance, Tuesday. Notte Italiana with Capo Dastro Quartet, Thursday. Poolside - BBQ Night with Hawaiian Band, Wednesday. * Sheraton Lagoon Nusa Dua Beach: Poolside Terrace - Janger Cultural Performance, Friday. Pasar Ikan Seafood Market, Saturday.

Lunch with a mobile phone

Lunch with a mobile phone Have you ever had lunch with a mobile phone? Let me explain. My son and I recently stopped at a coffee shop on Jl. Wijaya I on our way home from school for something to eat. Seated a few tables from us were four very well dressed young people. During the course of our snack, one lady received at least 10 phone calls.

Bishop Belo reports rights violations to President

Bishop Belo reports rights violations to President DILI, East Timor (JP): Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo has reported to President Soeharto on what he sees as widespread violations of human rights in the territory. Belo said a spate of violence that led to human right abuses in the former Portuguese colony has been particularly worrying over the past three months.

'Press Council not consulted over 'Tempo' ban'

'Press Council not consulted over 'Tempo' ban' JAKARTA (JP): Senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad, who is mounting a court challenge to the government's 1994 decision to close his Tempo news magazine, says the Press Council was not consulted prior to the move. Goenawan told a hearing in the Jakarta State Administrative Court yesterday that at least three members of the council he had spoken to had said they had had no prior knowledge when the government revoked Tempo's publishing license.

ASEAN plans tourism body to boost links

ASEAN plans tourism body to boost links KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): The six member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) plan to set up a new tourism body to link public and private efforts to boost growth, a senior official said yesterday.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for Jakarta Friday Maghrib 06.20 p.m. Saturday Imsak 04.28 a.m. Subuh 04.38 a.m.