Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 5 September 1995

46 articles found

Filipino dies in detention

Filipino dies in detention SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: One of 10 Filipino fishermen detained at the Tanjung Redep detention died over the weekend, a judge said yesterday. The fishermen are on trial on charges of territorial infringement and poaching in the Berau regency. Judge Subur Susetyo of the Tanjung Redep district court said that an autopsy was being be performed on Rolando Razon, 21, to determine the precise cause of death.

McDonald's at Pasaraya

McDonald's at Pasaraya JAKARTA (JP): McDonald Indonesia and PT Pasaraya Nusakarya have reached an agreement for the opening of Indonesia's 38th McDonald's outlet in the Pasaraya building in Blok M, South Jakarta. The agreement was signed on Saturday by Bambang N. Rachmadi, managing director of McDonald Indonesia, and Usman Djafar, president of PT Pasaraya Nusakarya. Under the agreement, McDonald's will start operating in the basement of the Pasaraya building next December.

Drop tariffs on imports of GSM hardware: Joop

Drop tariffs on imports of GSM hardware: Joop BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave confirmed yesterday that his office has asked the Ministry of Finance to exempt duties on imports of global system for mobile (GSM) telecommunications equipment. "My job is to make telecommunications equipment available to everybody at the lowest possible price.

New heads at foreign ministry

New heads at foreign ministry JAKARTA (JP): Two new directors were inducted at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Jl. Pejambon yesterday. Nazarudin Nasution was inaugurated as the new director of American affairs while Ibrahim Yusuf as director of Africa and Middle East Affairs. Nazarudin, formerly head of political affairs at the Indonesian Embassy in Canada, replaces Syamsul B. Siregar who has been promoted as ambassador to Bulgaria.

PPP, PDI should become opposition parties, scholar

PPP, PDI should become opposition parties, scholar JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) should act as opposition parties in order for a system of checks and balances to operate, a widely-respected Moslem scholar said yesterday. Nurcholis Madjid said if the two parties functioned as opposition parties, control over the executive branch of government would become truly effective.

Australian food groups expand into Indonesia

Australian food groups expand into Indonesia SYDNEY (Reuter): A recently announced investment by biscuit- maker Arnotts Ltd. marks growing Australian interest in investing in Indonesia's fast-growing processed food market, analysts said yesterday. The A$25 million to A$30 million (US$18.75 million to $22.5 million) investment announced on Aug. 24 is the largest by an Australian company in food processing in Indonesia and Arnotts' first move into Asia.

Krakatau Steel to raise its capacity to 3.5m tons

Krakatau Steel to raise its capacity to 3.5m tons JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned steel company PT Krakatau Steel plans to expand its production capacity to 3.5 million tons per annum, from the current level of 2.5 million tons, with a total investment of US$375 million. At a hearing with the technology and research commission of the House of Representatives yesterday, B.J.

Coke Cup soccer enters semifinals

Coke Cup soccer enters semifinals JAKARTA (JP): Upsetting favorite champion Central Java with a thin margin win of 2-1, South Sulawesi advances to the semifinal matches of this year's National Coke Cup Under-15 soccer championship in Surabaya today. With the surprise win and making it as runner-up of Group L, South Sulawesi will take on Jakarta, winner of Group K, while West Java, which tops Group L, will challenge host East Java, runner-up of Group K in today's semifinal cross over matches.

Respecting others' opinions

Respecting others' opinions Very often I am attacked by some readers of The Jakarta Post, but four "attacks", all at once (The Jakarta Post Sept. 2, 1995), represents an "assault". No problem for me. I'm a fighter and, overall, I'm sure to be in the right. Here are my responses to the four attackers, one by one. Mr. Peter R. Cross: Isn't worth spending too many words on; his questions are rambling and my answers to him would be self- evident truths.

Working towards a greater ASEAN in the 21st century

Working towards a greater ASEAN in the 21st century By Rita Patiyasevi BANGKOK: Despite international recognition as one of the most important regional organizations in the world, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has yet to become a household name among its own people.

N. Sulawesi Soeharto Cup

N. Sulawesi Soeharto Cup JAKARTA (JP): North Sulawesi won the President Soeharto Cup after accumulating the highest score, 69.5 points, in the second and final leg of the National Horse Racing Championship on the Pulomas track, East Jakarta, on Sunday. The favorite East Java team, whose total score was only 3.5 points behind North Sulawesi, found consolation in taking the prestigious Achmad Yani Cup for its commendable 2,000 meter open race.

Indonesia hoping for W. Cup clean sweep

Indonesia hoping for W. Cup clean sweep JAKARTA (JP): Host Indonesia sees its chances of completing a clean sweep in the US$180,000 World Cup badminton championships next week as good, as a number of major contenders opted out of the invitational meet. Olympic gold medalist and third seed Alan Budikusuma will be the only one to flex muscles on his way to the semifinals.

IPTN to establish joint venture to finance N-2130 jet

IPTN to establish joint venture to finance N-2130 jet JAKARTA (JP): State-owned aircraft manufacturer PT IPTN will form a joint-venture company to finance the development of its N- 2130 aircraft, a 130-seat passenger jet. State Minister for Research and Technology B.J. Habibie, who is also the president of IPTN, made the announcement yesterday. He added that the joint venture company will issue shares to the public to raise funds for the N-2130 project.

Collateral-free loans hailed

Collateral-free loans hailed JAKARTA (JP): The government's plan to allow banks to extend collateral-free loans to small businesses, proposed by Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad two weeks ago, was discussed yesterday at a monthly ministerial meeting on economics and finance. Coordinating Minister for Industry and Trade Hartarto said that all the ministers who attended the meeting had agreed to support the policy.

Thousand of workers at S'pore firm walk out

Thousand of workers at S'pore firm walk out JAKARTA (JP): Approximately 2,000 employees of PT Singamip Jaya Enterprise Electronic, a Singapore-based company which produces electronics spare parts, went on strike yesterday demanding better treatment. The workers, most of them women, held a four-hour-long demonstration in front the company offices in Cibinong, 47 kilometers east of Jakarta.

Developer gets syndicated loan of Rp 60 billion

Developer gets syndicated loan of Rp 60 billion JAKARTA (JP): PT Suryacipta Swadaya, a developer of an industrial estate in Karawang, West Java, yesterday gained a syndicated loan of Rp 60 billion (US$26.4 million) from eight domestic banks arranged by Bank Universal.

Indonesia to introduce own version of ISO-14000

Indonesia to introduce own version of ISO-14000 JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to introduce Indonesia's own version of ISO-14000, an international management standard award which incorporates the way companies observe their environmental obligations, starting next year. The Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) is currently working out the criteria necessary to meet the standard, State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said yesterday as reported by Antara.

Action on women's rights urged

Action on women's rights urged By Santi WE Soekanto BEIJING (JP): The Fourth World Conference on Women opened yesterday with leaders calling on all countries to move from words to actions in improving the position of women. With an agenda which ranges from poverty to under- representation of women in policy-making positions, the meeting was officially opened by United Nations Under-Secretary-General Ismat Kittani, representing Secretary-General Boutros Boutros- Ghali.

Water crises strike again

Water crises strike again PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Drought has hit many areas in Purwokerto, with many communities having trouble finding a clean water supply. "Three weeks with no rain has left many wells dry," 55-year- old Sumeri, a resident of Banyumas, told Antara. The villages worst hit by the drought include Gumelar, Tambak, Kemranjen and Sumpiuh. Lack of fresh water is also threatening some of the local crops, the news agency said.

Indonesians women activists lead rallies in Huairou

Indonesians women activists lead rallies in Huairou By Santi WE Soekanto and Carla Bianpoen BEIJING (JP): Indonesian women activists joining the Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) Forum in Huairou, 50 kilometers north of here, will lead a number of rallies and hold a presentation today on the plight of their sisters back home.

Protest at Satya Wacana

Protest at Satya Wacana SALATIGA, Central Java: Several hundred students and teachers of Satya Wacana Christian University staged a peaceful demonstration yesterday in protest of the management's inability to resolve the year-old conflict sparked by last year's dismissal of a popular lecturer.

Sports commentary on TV

Sports commentary on TV Mr. Piero Ronci's letter (The Jakarta Post, Aug. 31, 1995) says, "Indonesian soccer matches usually have very good commentary ..." I do not think so. Sports commentary here, not only on soccer, is generally too wordy, lacks substance, is often irrelevant and contains too many wishes for a certain side to win; aspects which do not go well with television, or any other medium of communication.

Condet to be turned into tourist area

Condet to be turned into tourist area JAKARTA (JP): The city administration wants to turn the Condet area of East Jakarta into an "agro-tourism" center in which visitors can enjoy local typical fruit, an official said yesterday. City Agriculture Office chief H.M. Maharanto said that his agency has trained farmers in the area to grow local fruits, ranging from salak to duku, with a view to speeding up the program.

City secretary sues construction company

City secretary sues construction company JAKARTA (JP): City Secretary Harun Al-Rasyid has filed a libel suit against developer PT Megaria Perkasa, who first laid charges with the North Jakarta District Court against Harun for allegedly failing to pay the construction costs of a project. As PT Megaria's charges could not be proved, Harun is fighting back by demanding the firm pays him Rp 100 million (US$45,454) in compensation for libel.

Registration for patent and trademarks costly

Registration for patent and trademarks costly JAKARTA (JP): Procedures for registering patents and trade marks in Indonesia are drawn-out and expensive, hampering the development of industry and the growth of exports, a former director general said yesterday. "The process of acquiring a patent can take two or three years in two steps, consisting of administrative and substantive examinations," a former director general of copyrights, patents and trade marks, Nico Kansil, told a seminar here.

Ruben wins rapid chess tourney

Ruben wins rapid chess tourney JAKARTA (JP): Ruben Gunawan, who has a Master title from the world chess body FIDE, beat Grand Master Ardiansyah 1.5-0.5 in the final of the Rp 20 million (US$8,826) Intisari Cerebrovit Cup open rapid chess tournament on Sunday. Third place went to Master International Cerdas Barus, who edged Sugeng Prayitno of Bali with the same score. A total of 966 chess wizards from all over Indonesia took part in the tournament, which was held from Aug. 26 to Sept. 3.

Batman's car displayed here

Batman's car displayed here JAKARTA (JP): Batman fans can now have a close look at the original Batmobile from the film Batman Forever, which is currently being screened in Indonesia. PT Matahari Putra Prima, the license holder for Batman products in Indonesia, shipped the Batmobile from Australia for display at the company's department stores. The license for Batman products was obtained by Matahari from Warner Bros Consumer Products company in Hong Kong.

Improve telecoms human resources: Soeharto

Improve telecoms human resources: Soeharto BANDUNG, West Java (JP): President Soeharto called yesterday for improvements in the quality of human resources in the telecommunications sector, saying that current low quality does not represent a permanent defect but only indicates the great potential for future development.

Mandala Pratama asked to fix barter proposal

Mandala Pratama asked to fix barter proposal JAKARTA (JP): City administration has asked PT Mandala Pratama Permai to correct its incomplete proposal for a change of the regional development planning of the City Police headquarters' site, an official said yesterday. Head of the City Planning Agency, Ahmadin Ahmad, said that his office had received the proposal but was unable to process it because the proposal was not furnished with the necessary documents.

Ministers to discuss tariff-free market

Ministers to discuss tariff-free market SINGAPORE (AFP): Economic ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gather in Brunei this week to discuss how to drive regional trade faster towards a tariff-free common market. Some analysts see the task as the most ambitious yet set out by ASEAN, which agreed last year to create an ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) by 2003, five years ahead of schedule.

Great River, workers settle wage dispute

Great River, workers settle wage dispute JAKARTA (JP): PT Great River Industries, one of Indonesia's largest garment producers, agreed yesterday to improve the welfare of its employees after a prolonged dispute between the company and its workers.

'Academic world must use freedom responsibly'

'Academic world must use freedom responsibly' JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto said yesterday that the academic world needs to exercise its freedom responsibly to churn out new ideas and proposals for the benefit of the nation. "The world of higher learning is the center of activities where new and fresh initiatives are produced for the advancement of the nation," Soeharto said at the inauguration of a new campus at the state-run University of Andalas in Padang, West Sumatra.

Moslem body allows kidney transplants

Moslem body allows kidney transplants JAKARTA (JP): The Ulemas Council (MUI), the umbrella for Indonesia's Moslem organizations, endorses kidney transplants from corpses, as long as the intentions are for saving lives. Council chairman Hasan Basri said yesterday that there is no verse in the Holy Koran which disallows kidneys being taken from corpses for transplants. He said that, so far, the influential council permits cornea transplants from dead bodies.

Assembly permits reversal: Meaning?

Assembly permits reversal: Meaning? This is the second article on the government's November plan to loosen its tight grip on the people's political activities, by replacing gathering permits with a set of rulings it says will be more accommodating to the people's aspirations. Noted human rights activist Mulyana W. Kusumah looks at the issue from the legal aspect.

I respect my 'bule' husband

I respect my 'bule' husband I am replying to Ms. Lusiana Hasan's letter What is 'Your Letters' for? (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 4, 1995). I was shocked to read her letter saying "those women (married to bule) usually come from not so-well educated families". I should say I come from a very respectable, educated family as both my parents are professionals (a medical doctor and a lawyer), my brothers, sister and I have university degrees.

Mild quake jolts Tarutung

Mild quake jolts Tarutung TARUTUNG, North Sumatra: A tectonic quake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale rocked the township, about 300 kilometers south of Medan, at 11:36 a.m. yesterday. There was no immediate report on casualties or damage caused by the mild earthquake that lasted about 15 seconds and sent residents out of their houses in panic, the Antara news agency reported.

Six drown in flood accidents

Six drown in flood accidents BANGKOK (Reuter): Six people were feared dead in weekend accidents as severe flooding continued to wreak havoc across large parts of northern and northeastern Thailand, Interior Ministry officials said yesterday. A Buddhist monk drowned after he was swept away by flood waters in northeastern Sakon Nakhon province while five people were missing and feared dead after their boat capsized and sank in northern Uttaradit province on Sunday, the officials said.

S'pore's Islamic insurance

S'pore's Islamic insurance SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore's first Islamic insurance scheme has been launched with the aim of giving Moslem Singaporeans an investment vehicle that will not compromise their religious beliefs, its promoters said yesterday. The Takaful Fund was announced by Ampro Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd., the economic arm of the Association of Moslem Professionals, and the NTUC Income insurance cooperative which hope to widen Singapore's role as a financial center.

Ten dead in ship fire

Ten dead in ship fire HANOI (AFP): At least ten people were killed and 15 are still missing after a passenger ship caught fire off the southwestern province of Kien Giang, a news report said yesterday. Another 20 people suffered burn injuries after the Ngoc Thanh 2, carrying 150 passengers, exploded on Aug. 31 while on its way from Nam Du island to Rach Gia town, the Lao Dong newspaper said. At least ten passengers, including a pregnant woman and two children, died in the fire, the paper said.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:35 p.m. TV Series: Hassai Sensei 3:05 Children's Program 3:30 TV Series: Singen 4:30 Science Program 5:00 Regional News 5:30 English Lessons 6:05 Nusantara the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Religious Teachings: Believe in God the Almighty 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Talk Show: Wawasan 8:05 TV Drama: Tamu Malam Hari 9:00 World News 9:25 Film 10:55 Late News 11:05 Indonesian Film Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Local TV stations copy foreign shows

Local TV stations copy foreign shows JAKARTA (JP): Many locally produced television shows are simply adaptations of or variations on foreign television programs, an expert said yesterday. M. Hidayat, who is organizing a seminar on the development of local TV programs, said local shows are still produced haphazardly. "Just look at the quiz shows on TV, most are copies of foreign quiz shows. Even the series Pak John's House is an adaptation of a show on a Hong Kong TV station," Hidayat explained.

Govt asked to pay more attention to Aceh security

Govt asked to pay more attention to Aceh security JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces Faction in the House of Representatives has asked the administration to pay more attention to security problems in the province of Aceh. In a written report on a recent visit to Sumatra of a team of the House's Commission I, responsible for security and foreign affairs, the faction says that separatist rebels in the province are still trying to gain international support for their cause.

Public works official rebuked

Public works official rebuked DILI, East Timor: Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares has summoned chief of the provincial public works office Sumaryono in relation to alleged collusion with businessmen from other provinces. Abilio read Sumaryono the riot act following a complaint from a contractor, CV Ambeno Indah, which claimed that local public works officials had awarded a road repair project to another company through some sort of collusion.

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, Tuesday and Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Lost Morenitos, Monday Thursday and Sunday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Los Paraguas, Friday and Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Ambassador Lounge: Boece & Ayu (pianist and singer), Tuesday to Saturday, from 8 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Jakarta String Fantasy Trio, Monday to Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Unocal Corp. set for first Asian listing

Unocal Corp. set for first Asian listing SINGAPORE (AFP): U.S.-based energy giant Unocal Corp., ahead of its maiden listing in Asia, said yesterday it will pour billions of dollars into new oil, natural gas and geothermal exploration projects in the region. "The projects on the pipeline will cost billions of dollars. To use stock market terminology, we are very bullish on Asia," Unocal chief executive officer Roger Beach told reporters.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 4, 1995: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 2,450 50 2,000 AHAP Insurance 3,250 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 1,100 0 0 Andayani Megah 1,900 75 350,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 6,600 0 0 Anwar Sierad 1,250 -25 32,000 Aqua Golden Mississippi 2,400 0 0 Argha Karya Prima Industry 1,875 0 108,000 Argo Pantes 2,500 0 0 Asiana IMI Indusrties 1,000 -50 1,500...