Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 7 September 1995

51 articles found

Golden Year: Not Javanese tradition

Golden Year: Not Javanese tradition From Kompas In a letter published in Kompas on Aug. 14, 1995 entitled 50 Tahun Sama Dengan Emas (50 years is identical to gold), it was said that the Javanese celebrate their 50th anniversary of their marriage as a golden marriage. To the best of my knowledge, and as a Javanese myself, observing the 50th anniversary of a marriage is not Javanese tradition.

Inadequate fund and skill impede envoys

Inadequate fund and skill impede envoys JAKARTA (JP): Legislators identified more funding and diplomatic skill as the keys to help the foreign ministry improve the country's image. Abu Hasan Sazili from the Golkar-faction said yesterday that a lack of funds often stops diplomats from informing people of the Indonesian perspective.

Delegation to leave for U.S. to promote trade, culture

Delegation to leave for U.S. to promote trade, culture JAKARTA (JP): A group of 78 business executives and 60 artists will leave tomorrow for a 10-day visit to the United States to enhance bilateral trade, investment and tourism, an executive said yesterday. The secretary of the U.S.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 6, 1995: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 2,450 0 0 AHAP Insurance 3,250 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 1,100 0 0 Andayani Megah 1,850 -25 16,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 6,700 0 0 Anwar Sierad 1,250 0 69,000 Aqua Golden Mississippi 2,400 0 0 Argha Karya Prima Industry 1,800 -75 427,500 Argo Pantes 2,500 0 0 Asiana IMI Indusrties 1,050 0 0 Aster Dharma...

New waste treatment center in West Jakarta

New waste treatment center in West Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has another waste treatment center in Duri Kosambi, West Jakarta, to treat waste from septic tanks in West and South Jakarta as well as several parts of North and Central Jakarta. Deputy Governor for Economic and Development Affairs Tb. M. Rais yesterday officially inaugurated the operation of the new facility, which has a capacity of treating 300 cubic meters of waste per day.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. TV Series: Horrible Honchos 3:05 Talk Show 3:30 TV Series: Harapan Nan Sirna 4:30 Boy Scout Program 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Arabic Lessons 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:25 Koran Recital 6:35 Religious Teachings: Islam 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:05 Culture Program 9:00 World News 9:30 Film 10:50 Late News 11:00 Sports: Snooker Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Singing a human tragedy

Singing a human tragedy Readers who have not encountered local cultures and traditions might wonder how comedian Benyamin Suaeb, who died here on Tuesday of a heart attack, became a legend. Fame followed Benyamin, who was a Betawi (indigenous Jakartan) by birth and a comedian by profession, from the grassroots to the middle class. The actor, singer and all-round entertainer was phenomenally sensitive to people's problems.

10,000 need cataract operation

10,000 need cataract operation JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: About 10,000 people with cataract throughout the province are badly in need of surgery, a local official said yesterday. Chief of the provincial health office Slamet S. Harjosuwarno said many people suffering cataract cannot have proper medication due to the lack of a specialist. He said he has been trying to cooperate with hospitals outside of the province to help deal with the disease that can cause blindness, Antara reported. (pan)

Should our intellectuals shun politics?

Should our intellectuals shun politics? By Mochtar Buchori JAKARTA (JP): On July 28 a new organization for intellectuals was set up in the Central Java town of Purwokerto. Persatuan Cendekiawan Pembangunan Pancasila (The Union of Development- oriented Pancasila Intellectuals), a rather complicated name.

Portugal broke with East Timor 20 years go

Portugal broke with East Timor 20 years go By Dino Patti Djalal LONDON (JP): Twenty years ago, on Aug. 27, 1975, the most significant historical event in East Timor occurred completely unnoticed. On that fateful night, the Portuguese governor in East Timor shipped his entourage, the whole governing and military elite of Portugal in East Timor, to Atauro island in the middle of the night. Centuries of Portuguese role ended without the East Timorese knowing it.

Bogus ages shadow youth soccer

Bogus ages shadow youth soccer SURABAYA (JP): Booters pretending to be younger than they actually are is a rampant problem at many under-so-and-so soccer tournaments, according to Max Boboy, the man in charge of the All-Indonesia Football Federation's competitions and matches. Even the Asian Football Confederation is at loss as to how to accurately assess booters' ages, Boboy said.

Private players in the economy

Private players in the economy Gradually deregulating the economy without taking measures in other fields has led to the emergence of strong players. There is no need to try to argue about where the fault lies. All of this may be an accumulative effect in a natural process prompted by openness and changing times. Within certain limits such a trend is not always negative. Nor is it typically Indonesian.

Govt to issue guidelines on confiscated wood

Govt to issue guidelines on confiscated wood JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Public Housing Akbar Tandjung said in a hearing yesterday with the House of Representatives' Commission V that the government will issue technical instructions on the use of wood confiscated from illegal logging. "The instructions are being prepared by a technical team under the coordination of the office of the State Minister of Public Housing," Tandjung said.

Winning 10th Coke Cup will be a question of luck

Winning 10th Coke Cup will be a question of luck SURABAYA (JP): Neither West Java nor Jakarta are burdened with a target to win the final match of the 10th National Coke Cup Under-15 soccer tournament, held at the Gelora November 10 stadium today. "Let's see which of us will win," Sofyan Noer, Jakarta's team manager, said yesterday. "Our abilities do not differ much. Which of us will win is just a matter of who has the best luck," West Java's team manager, Akhmad, said.

Court review on rejected clemency bid allowed

Court review on rejected clemency bid allowed JAKARTA (JP): Chief Justice Soerjono is supporting a bid to allow a court to review the case of three prisoners convicted to death in East Java, whose clemency plea has been rejected by the government. Soerjono said there is no law forbidding a convict who has exhausted all clemency efforts from requesting a court review. "Every convict on death row has the right to apply for presidential clemency.

Probo rejects Bali Declaration

Probo rejects Bali Declaration JAKARTA (JP): The coordinating board of 12 associations of medium and small businesspeople rejected yesterday any direct assistance from big businesses, urging the government to impose a wealth tax of 2.5 percent instead. "We hereby state our rejection of any direct assistance from conglomerates," Probosutedjo, chairman of the board announced in a statement issued as a reaction to the Bali Declaration of big businesses late last month.

Buaran II water treatment plant to operate soon

Buaran II water treatment plant to operate soon JAKARTA (JP): The city-owned water company PAM Jaya will soon operate a new water processing plant -- Buaran II -- with a production capacity of 3,000 liters per second in Kalimalang, East Jakarta. Bambang Suranto, a director of the company, said yesterday that the operation of Buaran II, to begin later this month, is expected to raise the company's total water production capacity to 15,235 liters per second.

ASEAN shelves idea of freeing trade faster

ASEAN shelves idea of freeing trade faster BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided yesterday to put in cold storage a proposal to speed up the creation of a regional free trade area by 2000, officials said. Economic Ministers of the seven-nation grouping made the decision at a meeting of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council, the body charged with steering the region towards tariff-free trade.

Five boxers to go to Tashkent

Five boxers to go to Tashkent JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to win Olympic berths, the Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association will send five President's Cup medal winning boxers to the Asian Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekhistan, from Sept. 28 to Oct. 10. The Tashkent tournament is the first qualifying round for the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. The second qualifier will be held early next year, but the world amateur boxing body has yet to confirm the date and place.

Ulujami, South Jakarta

Ulujami, South Jakarta This is just to advise that there is an error in the article entitled Indonesian Craft by Sheila Natesan which appeared in The Jakarta Post on Sept. 1, 1995, page 7. The photo caption should read Ulujami, South Jakarta, and not East Java. Thank you for your attention. SHEILA NATESAN Jakarta

Siswono encourages creativity among bureaucrats

Siswono encourages creativity among bureaucrats JAKARTA (JP): It was an unusual party. Instead of the expected festivity, the evening was filled with speeches, poems and songs about democracy, conscience, grassroots sympathy, and condemnation of the mushrooming avarice, greed and injustice found in Indonesia today. Had the party taken place at Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center, where government critics usually protest socio-political ills, it wouldn't have been news.

Businessman jailed for major tax fraud

Businessman jailed for major tax fraud JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced Thariq Salim Abdul Azis, 47, to nine years in jail and fined him Rp 30 million (US$13,636) for embezzling Rp 15 billion in tax payments. Judge Asmar Ismail, who presided over the trial, said that Thariq was guilty of violating Article 1 of the Anti-Corruption Law Number 3, issued in 1971, as well as Article 231 of the Criminal Code.

Chandra Asri wins ethylene contract

Chandra Asri wins ethylene contract JAKARTA (JP): PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Center, the country's first olefin manufacturer, has secured a five-year contract for the sale of ethylene to PT Yasa Ganesha. Peter F. Gontha of Chandra Asri and Freddy Gozali of Yasa Ganesha, an ethylene glycol manufacturer, signed a long-term ethylene off-take agreement here on Tuesday. The signing ceremony was witnessed by Minister of Industry Tunky Ariwibowo.

Photographer nabbed with drug

Photographer nabbed with drug NUSA DUA, Bali: A photographer at the ongoing world medical assembly has been arrested on charges of possessing marijuana, a press report said yesterday. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old JKM, was arrested on Monday, the opening of the five-day conference. Police said the suspect was caught red-handed smoking the illicit drug. The suspect was identified as a photographer from a local photo studio called JPP.

Portugal's TV plan in E. Timor to be checked

Portugal's TV plan in E. Timor to be checked JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas said yesterday that the government will look into press reports that Portugal will broadcast television programs into East Timor. Alatas said the broadcast plan is part of Lisbon's psychological war to disseminate false information to the people it colonized for about 450 years.

Taman Mini has new bus terminal

Taman Mini has new bus terminal JAKARTA (JP): The new bus terminal at the Indonesia in Miniature Park (Taman Mini) in East Jakarta is scheduled to start operating on Sept. 12. The new terminal is located five kilometers from Kampung Rambutan bus terminal, which is used by both city buses and inter-city buses to drop and pick up passengers. Head of the City Land Traffic Control Agency JP Sepang said that his agency will not allow big buses to operate at the Taman Mini bus terminal.

Two civilians killed in E. Timor

Two civilians killed in E. Timor DILI, East Timor: Local military chief Col. Mahidin Simbolon said yesterday that he has ordered an investigation into news that troops killed two civilians in Viqueque, 200 kilometers east of here, on Aug. 24. Initial reports said that the two victims, identified as Inacio da Silva and Manuel da Silva, were shot and killed when they were hunting deer with other villagers, Simbolon said.

Telecoms summit ends with declaration

Telecoms summit ends with declaration BANDUNG, West Java (JP): A three-day international conference on telecommunications ended here yesterday with a pledge to remove inequalities in telecommunication and information access and to support the creation of a global information infrastructure in the 21st century.

Letters subject to editing

Letters subject to editing I know that letters sent to The Jakarta Post are subject to editing, but I never knew that they may change your idea. This is regarding to my letter which was printed in "Your Letters" dated Aug. 4, 1995. My original words were: "But of course, these comments usually come from no-so-well educated people", somehow the word "comment" was changed to "women", hence turning the idea of my letter. To Mrs. Brakstad, my sincerest apology. I was educated abroad, too.

Coal development faces many problems in Indonesia

Coal development faces many problems in Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Expanding the use of coal in Indonesia still faces several problems related to regional spatial plans and environmental issues and lack of inter-ministerial coordination, a senior official said yesterday. Director General of Electricity and Energy Development Zuhal said that the government is encountering growing environmental concerns in its efforts to expand the use of coal.

Students protest against immunity

Students protest against immunity SEMARANG, Central Java: A group of students staged a demonstration at the legislative council's premises yesterday, demanding that all regulations that give government officials legal immunity be scrapped. Under the watchful eyes of dozens of security officers, the protesters also demanded that the government stop intervening in religious institutions' internal affairs.

Thailand invites Gen. Khin Nyunt

Thailand invites Gen. Khin Nyunt BANGKOK (AFP): Defense Minister Chaowalit Yongchaiyudh has invited Myanmar's intelligence chief, Lt. Gen. Khin Nyunt, to visit during a Sept. 14-16 military hardware show, a Thai official said yesterday. A spokesman for Chaowalit, who paid a visit to Myanmar last week, said Khin Nyunt had agreed to visit Thailand but had not yet set a date.

Thousands brave rain to hear Hillary's speech

Thousands brave rain to hear Hillary's speech By Santi WE Soekanto and Carla Bianpoen HUAIROU, China (JP): An estimated 40,000 activists, coming from non-governmental organizations all over the world, braved the rain yesterday, spending hours waiting in line for the chance to hear the United States' First Lady Hillary Clinton's address to the NGO Forum in Huairou.

Operation on social insurance

Operation on social insurance JAKARTA (JP): State-owned manpower insurance company PT Astek is launching a large-scale operation on workers' social insurance at companies throughout the city. Freddy P. Taumelly, head of the Jakarta office of the Ministry of Manpower, told reporters that the operation is intended to check as to what extent the companies abide by existing regulations on social insurance.

Mulialand receives triple B plus rating

Mulialand receives triple B plus rating JAKARTA (JP): PT Mulialand, a publicly listed property developer, has received a triple B plus grade from the credit rating agency Pefindo for its five-year bonds. Mulialand announced here yesterday that the bonds worth around Rp 100 billion (US$45.45 million) would soon be offered to domestic investors.

Singamip workers take their complaint to DPR

Singamip workers take their complaint to DPR JAKARTA (JP): Some 200 workers of the PT Singamip Jaya Enterprise Electronic company on the third day of their strike yesterday expressed their grievances to the House of Representatives. Meeting with no less than eight legislators from the Indonesian Democratic faction (PDI), the workers listed their demands, which included a daily food allowance of Rp 1,500 (57 U.S. cents), and transportation annuity of Rp 1,000.

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.

Jakarta court agrees to try Bintang's suit

Jakarta court agrees to try Bintang's suit JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta State Administrative Court agreed yesterday to try a lawsuit filed by controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas against President Soeharto for dismissing him from the House of Representatives. "The court has agreed to proceed with the lawsuit," Bintang told reporters after the first hearing.

Police bust gangs suspected of stealing export products

Police bust gangs suspected of stealing export products JAKARTA (JP): Police over the past two weeks have arrested members from two gangs suspected of having stolen over US$1.5 million in local company products bound for export. The head of Jakarta Police Criminal Investigation Department, Col. Nurfaizi, said yesterday that the police arrested seven members belonging to the Rasihan gang and four from the Khadim gang. The gangs, named after their leaders, were caught in Jakarta and Bekasi.

Firms briefed on Natuna

Firms briefed on Natuna JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil company Pertamina opened a three day meeting yesterday on the giant Natuna gas project for potential Japanese participants, the company said in a statement here. Pertamina signed a confidential agreement last month with 13 Japanese gas and power companies to join in the development of the Natuna gas project in the South China Sea.

Pre-qualification proposals

Pre-qualification proposals JAKARTA (JP): Contractors of city administration projects are required to submit six additional documents to be eligible to take part in the pre-qualification of tender processing.

Best athletes warm up at Asian meet

Best athletes warm up at Asian meet JAKARTA (JP): Asian Games gold medalists will test their mettle at the 11th Asian Track and Field Championships to be held at the Madya Senayan stadium from Sept. 20 to 24. Secretary-General of the Indonesian Track and Field Association, Pramono Kartohadiprodjo, confirmed that world women's 1,500m record holder Qu Yunxia and her 10,000m teammate, Wang Junxia, will lead China's 50-strong team in defending its title at the newly renovated stadium.

Yogie rejects call to set up opposition parties

Yogie rejects call to set up opposition parties JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. yesterday firmly rejected the proposal to turn the two minority political parties in Indonesia into opposition forces from their current role as "partners" of the government. "I think we have reaped the benefits (from the current system)," Yogie told reporters before attending a cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

National Logistics Agency confirms losses Rp 1.66b

National Logistics Agency confirms losses Rp 1.66b JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog) Beddu Amang confirmed auditors' findings yesterday that the agency lost more than Rp 1.66 billion (US$748,000) between 1993 and 1994 from the sales of rice and soymeal. The Supreme Audit Agency (Bepeka) is the government agency that disclosed Bulog's marketing operation losses.

Police probe funny leaflets

Police probe funny leaflets SEMARANG, Central Java: Police are investigating the Proklamasi III leaflets, which contain mockeries of the government and have been widely circulated. The leaflets, many of which have been seized by the authorities, twist the wording of the historic 1928 pledge by youths from various islands to unite and found an independent Indonesia as well as the 1945 proclamation of independence. A paragraph in the leaflet reads: "We are Indonesian youths.

RI-Korean financial firm

RI-Korean financial firm JAKARTA (JP): The publicly listed Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia (BDNI) and Saehan Merchant Banking Corporation (SMBC) of South Korea commenced the operation of their joint venture firm here yesterday. The joint venture, named PT SMBC Indonesia Finance, will provide leasing, factoring and consumer financing services.

RI suffers trade deficit

RI suffers trade deficit JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's trade in June ran a deficit for the first time in several years due to increasing imports of machinery and auxiliary materials for industrial production, Minister of Information Harmoko announced yesterday. "Our exports reached US$3.76 billion in June, while imports were recorded at $3.97 billion, so we had a deficit of US$204.9 million that month," he told reporters after a monthly cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office.

Four telecom consortia sign joint venture deals

Four telecom consortia sign joint venture deals BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Executives from the four consortia which won contracts to build some two million telephone lines in various parts of Indonesia signed joint venture agreements yesterday which will enable them to start construction early next year. The signing, witnessed by Minister of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications Joop Ave and president of the state-owned domestic telecommunications company PT Telkom Setyanto P.

Study of nuclear reactor project nearly complete

Study of nuclear reactor project nearly complete JAKARTA (JP): The government has commissioned two foreign consultancy companies to give a one-last overview of the various feasibility studies conducted for Indonesia's first commercial nuclear power plant.

Firms agree to drop the names of heroes

Firms agree to drop the names of heroes JAKARTA (JP): Ten companies who use the names of national heroes have agreed to omit the names of the heroes from their companies' titles. Priyono, an official of the City Security and Order Office, said that the agreement was reached in a meeting with 10 businessmen who own a number of buildings or companies named after several heroes.

Maestro & Cirrus member

Maestro & Cirrus member JAKARTA (JP): MasterCard International announced yesterday that Bank Universal has joined the Maestro on-line, point-of-sale debit program and the MasterCard/Cirrus ATM Network. MasterCard said in a statement that Bank Universal plans to issue 75,000 of FLEXI-SAVE debit cards branded with Maestro and Cirrus until the end of the year. The first 25,000 will be issued this month.