Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 11 November 1996

49 articles found

Englishman tried for smuggling heroin

Englishman tried for smuggling heroin JAKARTA (JP): A British citizen appeared in the Central Jakarta District Court on Friday on charges of smuggling more than a kilogram of heroin. AP, a 35-year-old photographer, from Consett, England, was arrested in July at the Pasar Baru Post Office, Central Jakarta, by a customs and excise officer when he collected a package containing 1.03 kilograms of heroin.

Boston Ballet puts on a flawless performance

Boston Ballet puts on a flawless performance By Mariam K. Sutalaksana JAKARTA (JP): The stars of the Boston Ballet who performed in Jakarta last week were enchanting and in command of the ballet steps they performed. One could only wonder if they were ever going to make a mistake. Their execution of leaps, jumps and turns was almost perfect.

Camdessus' advice

Camdessus' advice The two biggest challenges in the financial sector which IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus says are facing the ASEAN countries in today's global economy are precisely the problems Indonesia is coping with at present.

Environmental impact

Environmental impact Your editorial of Nov. 4, 1996, Sarwono's lead, which called for strengthening of the Office of the State Minister of Environment was right on target. We are currently working to clarify that the authority for the environment rests with the state minister and with the agency he heads, the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal). But unless this position is elevated to a full ministry, other sectors will ignore the laws, as they do today.

Transparency needed

Transparency needed In a plenary session which lasted almost until midnight on Tuesday, the case of the death of Yogyakarta journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, alias Udin, and the Situbondo (East Java) riots were the main points on the agenda discussed by the National Commission on Human Rights. Regarding the Situbondo riots, little that was new could be disclosed by the commission.

Tourist info on Internet

Tourist info on Internet JAKARTA (JP): People planning to holiday in Indonesia are now able to look for tourist information and make hotel reservations on the Internet at a new PT Bali Info Iklanindo web-site. Company director Esther Wijayanti said her company, nicknamed Bali Online, provided information on tourist attractions, 42 hotels and three Indonesian travel agents.

Religious violence concerns Soeharto

Religious violence concerns Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto is worried about the use of violence in resolving conflicts, especially religious ones. "The use of violence in resolving conflicts in the community, religious conflicts in particular, is a real cause for concern for all of us," he said in an address at the opening of the eight-day leadership meeting of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) here on Saturday.

Raids continue on alcohol, prostitutes

Raids continue on alcohol, prostitutes JAKARTA (JP): Five hundred bottles of alcohol were seized Saturday evening from sites without permits to sell alcohol. The city's public order agency also picked up six street prostitutes operating at the National Monument Park in Central Jakarta. They were taken to a temporary home run by the social services agency in Kedoya, West Jakarta.

Positive sentiment seen on JSX stocks this week

Positive sentiment seen on JSX stocks this week JAKARTA (JP): Several analysts predict a positive performance for the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) this week, but believe share prices would move up in a narrow range on an expected profit- taking and consolidation mood on selected big companies. "Market sentiment is definitely positive following Wall Street's gains.

Tommy operates simulator

Tommy operates simulator JAKARTA (JP): PT Grahadi Angkasa, a private firm owned by Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra, President Soeharto's youngest son, on Friday launched its first Boeing B-737-200 simulator to improve the skills of the country's pilots. The B-737-200 simulator, manufactured by Conduction Missouri and designed with ITS technology, offers two computerized canals and three windows which provide visual databases of airports in Jakarta, Bali and Surabaya.

After Zarima, Eddy Tansil?

After Zarima, Eddy Tansil? From Jayakarta What a great relief to hear the news of Ecstasy queen Zarima's arrest in the USA. The police in Tangerang, as well as the whole nation, are proud that the woman has been detained. This euphoria will be intensified if Zarima is brought to court in Indonesia. Let us hope that Zarima will no longer be wily and deceive the officials entrusted with guarding her. May the court render a verdict in accordance with her offense.

Eddy Tansil's turn

Eddy Tansil's turn From Merdeka After Ecstasy queen Zarima's arrest in the U.S., it should be Eddy Tansil's turn. Fugitive criminal Tansil, who absconded with Rp 1.3 trillion, may be abroad or still in Indonesia. Therefore, the media should continue to publish news on Eddy Tansil. Otherwise, he will be forgotten. He was the man who was able to make his escape while accompanied by prison wardens. Thus, the community and the government will be reminded of the escapee, who has not been captured.

Reactions on Bishop Belo 'too hasty': Legislator

Reactions on Bishop Belo 'too hasty': Legislator JAKARTA (JP): An East Timorese legislator has slammed leaders and officials in Jakarta for reacting too hastily to the alleged anti-Indonesian remarks made by Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo which were published in a German magazine. Armindo Soares Mariano of the Golkar faction at the East Timor provincial legislature told Antara that the government officials, youth leaders and legislators had judged Belo guilty prematurely.

New franchise has come

New franchise has come JAKARTA (JP): After a long absence, an all-you-can-eat restaurant was opened here yesterday. The Hartz Chicken Buffet franchise from the USA, run by the Sierad Group, has opened at Lippo Supermall, in Karawaci. In the 1970s the same restaurant, called Vic-Viking, was opened but it closed after several years. The Hartz Chicken Buffet offers 50 food items -- mainly chicken-based --, drinks, and desserts for Rp 10,000 (US$4.2) a person.

Low-cost housing developers still allowed to operate

Low-cost housing developers still allowed to operate JAKARTA (JP): Developers specializing in low cost housing are to be exempted from an instruction ending permits to developers in Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, chairman of the Association of Indonesian Developers (REI) Edwin Kawilarang said.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Travel: Wajah Negeriku: Ambon 2:35 TV Series: Buck Rogers 3:05 Children Program: Anak Anak Indonesia 3:30 TV Series: Fresh Prince of Bell Air 4:05 Science Film 4:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:00 Evening News 5:25 Travel: Ambon 5:30 Puppet Show: Wibisana Tundung 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Travel: South Java 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Religious Teachings 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama: Kuasa Tuhan 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Talk Show: Mozaik 9:00 World News...

Banks' dominance in financing dangerous

Banks' dominance in financing dangerous JAKARTA (JP): The continuing dominance of the banking system in the country's commercial finances poses great risks of credit crunches that may inhibit economic growth, an economist said over the weekend. John D. Montgomery, an economist from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said Indonesia's finance was dominated by banks, while the role of capital markets was still minimal.

'More science graduates needed'

'More science graduates needed' JAKARTA (JP): A planning expert has said Indonesia must increase the number of students graduating annually from natural sciences and engineering to 65,000 by 2019 -- a rate four times that recorded in 1994.

Soccer body promises to stop the rot

Soccer body promises to stop the rot JAKARTA (JP): When Indonesian League soccer's third season kicks off Nov. 17, spectators can look forward to better competition, sportsmanship and sports facilities, the Indonesian Soccer Association promises. "We realize that during the first and second seasons, the of competition was decreasing while problems occurred more often," the association's secretary-general Nugraha Besoes said on Saturday.

Hectares of forests re-greened

Hectares of forests re-greened MALANG, East Java: The local forestry office will launch next month the re-greening of 1,168 hectares of forest in southern Malang. Spokesman Abdurrahman Saleh Aziz at the local office of the state-owned Perhutani forestry enterprise was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday that the South Malang area is particularly prone to almost-annually flooding and landslides because of the denuded forests there. He said the types of trees to be planted include ebony and pine.

AIDS cases in Vietnam rise

AIDS cases in Vietnam rise HANOI (DPA): A total of 4,534 people have been diagnosed with the human immune-deficiency virus (HIV) since the disease was first discovered in Vietnam in 1991, the daily Lao Dong reported yesterday. There have been 337 recorded deaths from AIDS, the lethal disease that stems from the virus, up from just below 300 at the end of August, the newspaper reported, quoting an official report.

Mt. Merapi blows hot air

Mt. Merapi blows hot air SEMARANG (JP): Mt. Merapi belched hot air on Saturday, prompting the authorities to renew their alert to the people living on its slope. The cloud of hot air was seen by monitoring posts in Kaliurang and Babadan, the chief of the Mt. Merapi Watch Station, Mas Atje Purbawinata, said Sunday. The hot air disappeared with the heavy downpour yesterday morning, Atje said, adding that the danger was not over by any means.

Dharmala to issue Rp 100b in bonds

Dharmala to issue Rp 100b in bonds JAKARTA (JP): PT BBL Dharmala Finance, of the Dharmala group, plans to issue Rp 100 billion (US$42.4 million) in bonds to fund its expansion programs. The five year bonds will carry fixed and floating coupon rates, the company said over the weekend. PT Peregrine Sewu Securities will underwrite the issue while Bank Bali will be the trustee. This is the third bond issue by the publicly-listed BBL Dharmala.

Schiffer and Campbell open Fashion Cafe

Schiffer and Campbell open Fashion Cafe JAKARTA (JP): Supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell opened Asia's first Fashion Cafe here Saturday night before hundreds of glitterati from the worlds of politics, business and fashion. Undeterred by the thunder, lightning and driving rain that washed out much of the outdoor entertainment, the two models jointly pressed a button that launched a cascade of streamers onto watching guests to mark the opening of the restaurant-cum- fashion museum.

Clinton denies funds steer policy on Indonesia

Clinton denies funds steer policy on Indonesia WASHINGTON (Reuter): President Bill Clinton denies that any contributions to the Democratic Party from an Indonesian businessman influenced U.S. policy toward Indonesia. "The answer to that is absolutely not," Clinton told a news conference on Friday at which he was peppered with questions about questionable contributions to the Democratic Party.

Trading arm put under judicial management

Trading arm put under judicial management SINGAPORE (AFP): The Singapore-headquartered trading arm of troubled Indian conglomerate ITC Ltd. has been placed under interim judicial management, The Straits Times reported Saturday. Three officials from the international audit firm KPMG Peat Marwick were appointed as interim judicial managers by an order of the Singapore high court on Friday, the report said. The officials were not immediately available for comment.

Prosecutors cautious on journalist's murder

Prosecutors cautious on journalist's murder JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors in Yogyakarta say they will not try the man accused of murdering Yogyakarta journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin unless there is sufficient evidence. Yogyakarta's prosecution office chief Asrief Adam said on Saturday his office had not yet received a dossier from the police on murder suspect Dwi Sumaji, alias Iwik. "We'll see later whether there's enough evidence or not to go ahead with a trial.

Police told to curb poll violence

Police told to curb poll violence BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand's caretaker prime minister, Banharn Silpa-archa, has ordered police to step up efforts to halt poll violence after a spate of shootings ahead of the Nov. 17 election, police said yesterday. A political activist for the Democrat party was shot dead in Phichit province north of Bangkok on Saturday, while another party worker was injured in an attack in Samut Sakorn province.

Police deny statements made by Zarina's father

Police deny statements made by Zarina's father JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata denied yesterday statements made by Mirafsur, Ecstasy suspect Zarina's father, who said that his daughter had planned to surrender to police. Hamami also rebutted the accusation that police had broken their promise concerning an agreement on the arrangement of Zarina's surrender, as claimed by Mirafsur. "There is no reason for the police to deal with criminals. There's no consensus here.

PT Telekomindo upgrades networks

PT Telekomindo upgrades networks JAKARTA (JP): PT Telekomindo Prima Bhakti, an Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) analog cellular telephone operator, plans to improve its service by upgrading its networks into the Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology. "We will select by the end of this year a suppliers out of three companies participating in the CDMA tender," Telekomindo's vice president Peter Djatmiko said here over the weekend.

On the Internet

On the Internet I am referring to the letter from Osvaldo Coelho captioned "Internet" (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 7, 1996). It is true that "Big Brother is watching you on the Internet." I also found my cookie, in my case, called "cookies.txt" in the Netscape program. I am a little bit rattled by this fact, and would like to find out what I could do about it. Are there any solutions to this practice? Could we modify the info so that Netscape gets the message? I would propose that Mr.

Police halt student protest

Police halt student protest YOGYAKARTA: Police dispersed yesterday a student demonstration for press freedom five minutes after it started. The demonstration which had been planned since Nov. 2, involved about 30 students from Gadjah Mada University, Syariah Banking Institute, Sanata Dharma University, and the Indonesian Islamic University.

Griyawisata's new hotel

Griyawisata's new hotel JAKARTA (JP): PT Griyawisata Management and Consultancy, a domestic hotel operator, will open early next year the Bintang Griyawisata, a three-star hotel on Jl. Raden Saleh, Central Jakarta. The hotel's general manager, Ito R. Sukarmadji said over the weekend the 93-room hotel was owned by PT Bintang Wisata Mandiri, a company in which Griyawisata has a 30-percent stake.

Estates only for West Java's future factories

Estates only for West Java's future factories JAKARTA (JP): The government has ruled that all new industrial plants in Bogor, Tangerang, Bekasi and Krawang in West Java must be established in industrial estates. Minister of Agrarian Affairs/Chairman of the National Land Agency Soni Harsono has instructed the agrarian offices in the four regencies to stop issuing location permits to industrial projects planned outside industrial estates.

Some tips for using Winword 7.0 more efficiently

Some tips for using Winword 7.0 more efficiently By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): I remember, about six years ago, when we first started to work meaningfully with a new product called Windows. We were so excited about all the snazzy icons and buttons which ornamented most of the new software programs. Then Samna brought out Ami Pro, the first word processor designed to take full advantage of the new software environment. It had SmartIcons, a series of buttons lined up across the top of the screen.

Transparent labeling process

Transparent labeling process From Republika After reading the Info Halal article (Republika, Oct. 10), I am of the opinion that in many cases, the management of halal (approved by religion) labeling has done the right things. The increasing public demand for the establishment of a "labeling institute" reflects the people's awareness, in particular that of the Moslem community, for the consumption of products permitted by Islam.

State firms will take over forest concessionaires

State firms will take over forest concessionaires JAKARTA (JP): The government has confirmed that 60 of the 90 private forest concessions which end later this year will not be renewed because of poor management. Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said on Friday the management of the 60 concessions would be handed over to state-owned forestry firms PT Inhutani I through to V.

'Economic gap could set off instability'

'Economic gap could set off instability' JAKARTA (JP): A prominent South Sulawesi businessman has urged the government to solve the problem of socio-economic disparity because the situation could "explode" and cause mayhem. M. Jusuf Kalla, a Bukaka Group executive, was quoted by the Kompas daily as saying over the weekend the government must anticipate such developments and create solutions to stop the widening gap between rich and poor.

Rule needed to verify states firms' reports

Rule needed to verify states firms' reports JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Finance needs to issue a ruling allowing the Development and Finance Control Board to verify the audit reports made by public accountants on the financial statements of state-owned companies listed on stock exchanges, says an analyst at the government's auditing agency.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Dai-ichi, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central Jakarta. - Morgan's 1072 Classic Disco, Asian Force Band, Tuesday and Thursday, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., Saturday: 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Acid Speed Band, Firday, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.; Platinum Band, Wednesday, 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. * Hotel Aryaduta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Los Morenitos Vocal Group, Monday, Thursday, Sunday, 7:15 p.m.

Comics can teach history: Educators

Comics can teach history: Educators JAKARTA (JP): Educators on Saturday discussed ways to make history lessons pleasant for children, suggesting that comic books may be the breakthrough needed. Frans M. Parera, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of Letters, said comic books could be an important and interesting media for teachers to transfer historical values and facts. "They can deliver serious messages without making the readers bored," he said.

LNG plant secures $1.12b loan

LNG plant secures $1.12b loan TAIPEI (DPA): The Bank of Taiwan on Saturday announced a 1.12- billion-dollar loan Saturday for the construction of the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant in Indonesia. The bank will underwrite the syndicated loan, which also involves the Banque Indosuez, Chase Manhattan Bank and four Japanese lending institutions.

Tommy, Ciputra given project

Tommy, Ciputra given project JAKARTA (JP): PT Citra Mandala Umbulan, a company jointly owned by the Humpuss Group and the Ciputra Group, has been appointed as the developer of the Rp 500 billion (US$215 million) water project in Umbulan, East Java, the province's governor, Basofi Soedirman, said over the weekend. Basofi told Antara in Surabaya that the company would begin development of the water project in March, next year.

Seven secessionists arrested

Seven secessionists arrested KEDIRI, East Java: Seven people suspected of attempting to establish an Indonesian Islamic state have been arrested. Antara quoted the head of the provincial Agency for the Coordination of Support for the Development of National Stability, Maj. Gen. Imam Utomo, as saying here yesterday that four of the suspected secessionists were found in Madiun, two in Malang and one in Surabaya.

Samsung's new product

Samsung's new product JAKARTA (JP): South Korean Samsung has released a new laser disc and video-CD multiplayer 2.0 version which is compatible to NTSC and PAL systems, Samsung's chief executive sales and marketing Nugroho Sugiarto told journalists Saturday.

Flowers

Flowers I refer to your article about Hero Supermarket (The Jakarta Post, Nov. 2, 1996). I was impressed by Hero's new approach in providing customers with the commodities of daily needs. However, I noticed there is one item which is still missing in the display. Apart from goods such as fruits, vegetables, etc., there should be floral products, such as cut flowers and potted plants. Flowers are mostly available at flower shops, or sold by vendors at a special flower center.

Malaysia begins deporting E. Timor meeting activists

Malaysia begins deporting E. Timor meeting activists KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Malaysia began deporting foreign activists yesterday after they participated in a controversial conference on East Timor The government, meanwhile, has denied backing youths who broke up the meeting. The Kuala Lumpur conference was held ahead of tomorrow's anniversary of the 1991 bloody incident in East Timor's capital of Dili.

Kenari kiosks torn down

Kenari kiosks torn down JAKARTA (JP): Officers of the Central Jakarta public order office torn down hundreds of kiosks at the Kenari market despite a court decision to postpone the removal. The kiosks removed Saturday were those which survived a fire on July 12. At least 100 of 452 kiosks were destroyed on the site on Jl. Salemba Raya. The market in which 377 traders last operated has been a popular electronics market since the 1970s.

KL asks S'pore to join supercorridor

KL asks S'pore to join supercorridor SINGAPORE (AFP): Malaysia has urged Singapore to participate in its ambitious multi-media super corridor project by contributing to its software requirements, The Sunday Times said. Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, parliamentary secretary for Malaysia's ministry of international trade and industry, was quoted as saying that the project to build an information- technology hub was not aimed at undermining Singapore.