Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 21 October 1996

42 articles found

OIC businesses want more intra-Islamic trade

OIC businesses want more intra-Islamic trade JAKARTA (JP): The Islamic private sector meeting in Bandung, West Java, and Jakarta is expected to produce a declaration on Wednesday calling for concerted efforts to enhance trade and investment flows between Islamic countries. The draft declaration, named the Bandung Declaration, called on all Islamic countries in the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) to further liberalize their economy and promote intra- Islamic trade.

Girls caught for 'robbing' taxi driver

Girls caught for 'robbing' taxi driver BEKASI, West Java (JP): Two teenage girls were caught in a rice field near a remote West Java village yesterday shortly after they had allegedly robbed a taxi driver. Marg, 16, and Sar, 18, who confessed to being involved in the robbery, were hiding in a rice field when they were captured by villagers, said Capt. Djoko Poerwanto, the chief detective of Bekasi police precinct.

Focus on BNI's offering may weaken the JSX

Focus on BNI's offering may weaken the JSX JAKARTA (JP): Several analysts are predicting that the concentration on the forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) of the state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) 1946 will cause a weak sentiment on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) this week. They, however, viewed that Astra International should be able to outperform the market on the condition that PT Nusa Ampera Bakti (Nusamba) realizes its plan to buy Astra shares this week.

Humpuss to build refinery

Humpuss to build refinery JAKARTA (JP): The Humpuss Group plans to establish an oil refinery in Blora, Central Java, with an investment of Rp 163 billion (US$69.45 million), the Investment Coordinating Board says.

South Jakarta has 36 flood spots

South Jakarta has 36 flood spots JAKARTA (JP): About thirty-six spots in four districts of South Jakarta are vulnerable to flooding, a municipal official has said. The four districts are Kebayoran Lama, Pesanggrahan, Pancoran, and Tebet, South Jakarta Mayoralty Spokesman D.J. Siboro said on Friday. The mayoralty and southern parts of the capital are situated in the water catchment area and the rainfall there is high causing the flooding that regularly hits the area.

Truth and power

Truth and power The writing of history, and the news, depends on who has the power -- how they remember, what they forget, how they devise standards of truth -- threatening us all with the same patterns of remembering and forgetting. Dissident cultures have been silenced in brutal ways and histories have been edited, constructed and manufactured according to the memory of those in power.

PT LEN Industry expects profit to triple

PT LEN Industry expects profit to triple JAKARTA (JP): PT LEN Industry, the state-owned electronics manufacturing company, expects that its profit will triple to Rp 6 billion (US$2.55 million) this year from Rp 2 billion last year, Commercial Director Dody Hidayat Rivai said. He said that the expected surge in profit would be supported by a 27.5 percent rise in the company's sales revenue to Rp 40 billion this year from Rp 29 billion last year, Antara reported Saturday.

Magawati loyalists open secretariat

Magawati loyalists open secretariat YOGYAKARTA: Local loyalists of the deposed chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Megawati Soekarnoputri opened a secretariat in a modest ceremony near here yesterday. Grouped in the executive board of the PDI Perjuangan (PDI Struggle) organization they still recognize Megawati as the legitimate boss of the minority party.

Situbondo slowly returning to normal

Situbondo slowly returning to normal By Ainur R. Sophiaan SITUBONDO, East Java (JP): The town is breathing normally again. The marketplaces, schools and offices that were closed for days after the riots that killed five people here on Oct. 10 are now open again. "I trust the security personnel will maintain order," said Donny, a textile store owner, who had to close his shop for a week. "I can't keep the shop closed forever." The chief of the 0828 local military command, Lt. Col.

Pickpockets in public vehicles

Pickpockets in public vehicles From Kompas I am a daily commuter on public vehicles like PPD buses, Metromini, and Kopaja and feel that pickpocket operations have increased in buses and at bus stops. The condition on routes via Jl. Kuningan, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, is really quite appalling. Pickpockets operate in groups of six to ten men and they seem very daring, as if they don't care if they are seen.

RBI relaxes credit stance for the next six months

RBI relaxes credit stance for the next six months BOMBAY (Reuter): The Reserve Bank of India announced on Saturday a series of measures aimed at relaxing credit conditions in the second half of 1996/97 (April-March). The RBI's six-month policy statement document said banks' cash reserve ratio (CRR) requirement will be cut to 10 percent from 12 percent in four stages over the coming months.

HK, S'pore sign repo deal

HK, S'pore sign repo deal HONG KONG (Reuter): The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), the territory's de facto central bank, and its Singaporean counterpart, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, signed a bilateral repurchase agreement on Saturday, the HKMA said in a statement. It is the seventh such accord secured by the HKMA, which has already signed bilateral repurchase agreements with central banks of Australia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

Rice shortage hits regency staff

Rice shortage hits regency staff BEKASI, West Java (JP): Dozens of Bekasi regency staff have complained that they did not get their monthly rice allowance over the weekend. The regency employees cooperative, which distributes the monthly rice allowance, began issuing the rice on Thursday. The rice is normally distributed on the 11th or 12th of every month.

Student senates make plea for greater tolerance

Student senates make plea for greater tolerance JAKARTA (JP): Concerned over the recent religious violence in Situbondo, East Java, several prestigious Christian Protestant universities called Saturday for greater tolerance. In a joint statement, they said it was ironic that such an incident should have occurred in Indonesia, where freedom of religion is guaranteed by law and is even enshrined in the state ideology Pancasila.

Eight countries eye N-250 aircraft

Eight countries eye N-250 aircraft JAKARTA (JP): Eight countries, including Turkey, Argentina, the United States, Pakistan, Columbia, Saudi Arabia, Burkina Faso, and Sweden, have expressed interest in buying N-250 commuter aircraft produced domestically by Indonesia.

RI's industrialization faces serious obstacles

RI's industrialization faces serious obstacles JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's industrialization process is facing serious obstacles due to uncertainties in cost fluctuations, machine quality variations, delayed delivery time, poor after- sales services and lack of trained operators, an analyst said. "The obstacles are rooted in the fact that more than 90 percent of machines and precision dies and molds are still being imported," Miranda S.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:35 p.m. TV Series: Buck Rogers 3:05 Children Program: Anak Anak Indonesia 3:30 TV Series: Major Dad 4:05 Science Film 4:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:00 Evening News 5:25 Travel 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Travel 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Religious Teachings 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Series: Sketsa Asa Kanvas 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Talk Show: Mozaik 9:00 World News 9:30 Music: Musik Pilihan 10:30 Late News 10:40 TV Series: Santa Barbara Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Psychiatrist says law ignores rape victims

Psychiatrist says law ignores rape victims JAKARTA (JP): A noted psychiatrist charged over the weekend that law enforcers often fail to consider the psychological trauma suffered by rape victims and allow rapists to get away with light punishment. Dr. Dadang Hawari pointed out in a seminar on Saturday the importance of realizing that psychological trauma is often more severe than psychical injury, and that it can take years to heal.

Father, two sons die in accident

Father, two sons die in accident SEMARANG: A man and two of his sons were killed and his wife was seriously injured when their car collided with a bus in a southern suburb on Saturday. Chief of the Smmarang police precinct Lt. Col. Nicodemus Alle said investigation showed that the accident happened because the man, 35-year-old Rinaldi, was drowsy. "He lost control and his car hit an oncoming bus," he told The Jakarta Post.

RI police skip Holland on European trip

RI police skip Holland on European trip JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian police delegation, led by National Police Chief Lt. Gen. Dibyo Widodo, leaves today on a trip to Europe to improve cooperation but has abruptly dropped The Hague from the itinerary.

Rights commission to help settle riot insurance claims

Rights commission to help settle riot insurance claims JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights says it is ready to support insurance claims from traders whose property and goods were damaged or lost during the July riots. Asmara Nababan, a member of the commission, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that the commission will issue letters to support the claims, if that is what is needed to secure compensation.

M-Klub disco closed down

M-Klub disco closed down JAKARTA (JP): Police have sealed the M Klub discotheque, a favorite hangout for young people in the Blok M Plaza shopping mall, South Jakarta, after seizing 46 Ecstasy pills and 12 pornographic films from the manager's office and its operations room. The discotheque manager and three staff members, including the club's security chief, were detained after Friday night's raid, South Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto said.

Casting light on Balibo incident

Casting light on Balibo incident New pieces of evidence about the killing of five journalists in East Timor in 1975 keep filtering through. H. W. Arndt ties together some to the threads. MELBOURNE: On Nov.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Dai-ichi, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central Jakarta. - Mezzanine Lounge: The Praise Vocal Group, nightly except Sunday, 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. * Hotel Aryaduta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Los Morenitos Vocal Group, Monday, Thursday, Sunday, 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Los Paraguas Vocal Group, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m. - Ambassador Lounge: Pianist Sudarmadi, Monday through Saturday, 7:30 a.m to 9:30 a.

Class action needed for environmental cases

Class action needed for environmental cases JAKARTA (JP): Experts are calling for the introduction of class action by individual victims of environmental degradation. "That mechanism would effectively reduce the amount of work and costs involved in court proceeding, compared to the current system which allows only single plaintiffs," said Harkristuti Harkrisnowo of the University of Indonesia's Law School in a seminar here last week.

Jakarta fans welcome Muhammad Ali

Jakarta fans welcome Muhammad Ali JAKARTA (JP): Expressionless, the tall man shuffled to the door of the Soekarno-Hatta international airport amid astonished shouts of "Ali! Ali" and waving hands. The former world heavyweight champion then halted in the midst of the crowd, his hands trembling as he passed out leaflets titled Introducing Islam and The Concept of God in Islam.

Detained activist protests investigators' approach

Detained activist protests investigators' approach JAKARTA (JP): A detained activist of the Democratic People's Party (PRD), Petrus Hariyanto, is protesting over what he calls the "unprofessional" investigation into his actions. Petrus, together with eight other PRD activists has been detained at the Attorney General's Office on charges of inciting the July 27 riot in Jakarta.

American colleges target Indonesian students

American colleges target Indonesian students JAKARTA (JP): Representatives from 100 American state and private universities took part in a one-day fair on Saturday to enroll Indonesians searching for academic excellence. Thousands of people visited the fair at Kartika Chandra Hotel for a glimpse of the facilities being offered by big names like State University of New York, Michigan State University, Oregon State University and Indiana State University, as well as the lesser colleges.

Bakrie Investindo permitted to produce vans next year

Bakrie Investindo permitted to produce vans next year JAKARTA (JP): PT Bakrie Investindo has received a permit from the Ministry of Industry and Trade to produce vans next year with an investment of about US$100 million, the company's president said.

Lessons in economics

Lessons in economics Teachers are more often than not the unsung heroes responsible for molding and guiding the morals and ethics that make up the social fabric of a community. I was dumbfounded to read Mr. Azwar Siri's comment in the Oct. 9 edition relating to teachers in West Sumatra: "The pay is unquestionably low, but remember that being a teacher is not only about making money, it is also a social service." Is Mr.

Worker killed by lightning

Worker killed by lightning BEKASI, West Java (JP): A construction worker died here on Friday after being hit by lightning as he sheltered under a makeshift shanty during a downpour. Nurdin, 26, a resident of Kedawung village, Tambun, was working on a Puri Asri housing construction project. He was badly injured by the lightning and was taken to Bekasi general hospital for treatment. A doctor in charge at the hospital said Nurdin had died before he could receive any medical treatment.

The environment's impact on our future

The environment's impact on our future The signals are becoming increasingly clear that Jakarta and its surrounding areas are no longer capable of supporting the growing populace. An imbalance has developed between the area's population size and the available infrastructure and the unfortunate fact is that no comprehensive solution has ever been found that can fundamentally alter the situation.

APEC forum to push for WTO accord on services

APEC forum to push for WTO accord on services MANILA (Agencies): Asia Pacific nations will back World Trade Organization efforts to liberalize the services sector, a senior APEC official said on Saturday. The 18 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum members would fully support the liberalization of financial and maritime services at the December WTO ministerial meeting in Singapore, Antonio Basilio, deputy chairman of an APEC senior officials meeting, told a news conference.

Land agency order paves way for stricter flood control

Land agency order paves way for stricter flood control JAKARTA (JP): Weeks before the recent downpours, flood watchers questioned the commitment to preserve natural and man- made catchments near housing complexes. The government estimates that Rp 129.5 billion is needed to rehabilitate most of the 193 lakes in Jakarta and its surrounding areas partially lost to construction activities.

Bre-X in meetings to resolve Busang dispute

Bre-X in meetings to resolve Busang dispute TORONTO (Reuter): Bre-X Minerals Ltd executives have been meeting in Toronto in an attempt to clear up questions over the ownership of its spectacular Busang gold discovery in Indonesia, a Bre-X spokesman said. Company president David Walsh and chief financial officer Rolando Francisco were "in Toronto resolving the problem," the spokesman said over the weekend. Company officials would not say whether they were making progress.

Utut scores first win at Gunadarma tournament

Utut scores first win at Gunadarma tournament JAKARTA (JP): After three draws and one loss, Indonesia's number one chess player Utut Adianto notched up his first win at the Gunadarma International Grandmaster Chess Tournament on Saturday. The 31-year-old grandmaster easily outwitted his opponent and friend, international master Ruben Gunawan, on the 28th move, after Ruben blundered on the 12th move.

Traffic jams and the rains

Traffic jams and the rains From Pelita Every time it rains in Jakarta there are tremendous traffic jams. The afternoon of Tuesday Oct. 15 was a case in point. If nothing is done, nothing will change. Do we have to put up with traffic jams every time it rains? What a pointless waste of time and energy! Nobody seems to understand why these past few years the situation has worsened. A few years ago the rain did not trigger traffic jams.

'Info infrastructure vital for competition'

'Info infrastructure vital for competition' JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia needs to build a national information infrastructure (NII) to help maintain high economic growth and to improve competitiveness on the global market, an expert said. Building NIIs has become a worldwide trend that Indonesia should follow, said Setyanto P. Santosa, former president of state-owned telecommunication firm PT Telkom at a seminar in Jakarta on Friday.

Competition is normal in politics: Soeharto

Competition is normal in politics: Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): Competition in politics is normal so long as ethics and rules are observed, President Soeharto said yesterday. "It is normal for every organization contesting the general election to want to grab as many seats as possible," Soeharto said, speaking in his capacity as patron chief of the ruling political group Golkar.

Fire razes storehouse

Fire razes storehouse TANGERANG, West Java (JP): A chemical storehouse belonging to a South Korean glue factory was destroyed by fire on Friday. There were no fatalities but the fire is believed to have inflicted extensive financial losses on PT Dong Sung Indonesia. Smoke was still rising from the debris of the building located in Kampung Dumpit in Jatiuwung district yesterday as police investigated the cause of the blaze. The area was cordoned off.

Jakarta airport to expand passenger capacity

Jakarta airport to expand passenger capacity JAKARTA (JP): The government is planning to expand the passenger capacity of Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport by 150 percent to reach 55 million passengers a year by 2018, Minister of Transportation Haryanto Dhanutirto said. Haryanto said the expansion is in anticipation of the increasing number of travelers in the near future.

French IDD code changed

French IDD code changed JAKARTA (JP): The international direct dialing code for France has been changed from 13 digits to 14 digits. The state-owned international telecommunications carrier PT Indosat said in a statement Saturday that the change was announced by France Telecom and took effect as of Oct. 19.