Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 18 March 1996

46 articles found

Traffic in Ciputat

Traffic in Ciputat From Kompas I am complaining about the lack of sensitivity the Tangerang administration has shown to the problem of horrible roads around the Ciputat market. Since the market burned down over a year ago, the roads in the area have deteriorated and, as a result, the traffic has become horrendous. The market kiosks occupy most of the road leaving very little space for vehicles. Congestion is particularly bad on the Jl. Ariaputra, which leads to Serua village. Jl.

Taiwan teenager abducted in RP

Taiwan teenager abducted in RP MANILA (Reuter): Kidnappers have seized a teenage son of an official of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines and demanded a ransom of 15 million pesos (US$580,000), a Manila newspaper said yesterday.

RP spending deficit falls

RP spending deficit falls MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' consolidated public-sector deficit dropped 70.6 percent over the previous year to 2.7 billion pesos (US$103.8 million) in calendar 1995, Finance Secretary Roberto de Ocampo said. The drop was attributed to a 10.2 billion-peso ($392.3 million) fiscal surplus, profits of 5.1 billion pesos by government financial institutions and a 3.2 billion-peso profit by the Central Bank of the Philippines, he said.

Abdurrahman says dissenters can present defense

Abdurrahman says dissenters can present defense SEMARANG (JP): Members of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) who were expelled from their positions in the organization's central and regional boards for opposing the legitimate leadership will be given a chance to defend themselves, chairman Abdurrahman Wahid has said. "They have an opportunity to defend themselves, but they will have to wait until the next congress (in 1999)," Abdurrahman told reporters in Kudus on Saturday.

ABRI and Golkar

ABRI and Golkar In an address at the Sabilil Mutaqien Islamic boarding school in Takeran, Magetan, East Java, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. R. Hartono, repeated the statement he made earlier in Karanganyar, Surakarta, that all members of the Armed Forces (ABRI) are Golkar cadres and that there needed to be no debate about this fact.

Robbery suspects still at large

Robbery suspects still at large JAKARTA (JP): Two armed robbers who made off with Rp 15.3 million belonging to the Ministry of Industry and Trade have yet to be captured, the police said. City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said on Saturday that no progress has been reported in the investigation of Friday's robbery in Warung Buncit, South Jakarta.

SMA I alumni to hold reunion

SMA I alumni to hold reunion JAKARTA (JP): In commemoration of the golden anniversary of SMA 1 Budi Utomo high school, which fell on March 13, the alumni plan to hold a grand reunion. Kurie Alim, vice chairman of the reunion organizing committee, announced on Saturday that the event will take place in the Bali Room at Hotel Indonesia on March 31. The festivities will start at 10 a.m. Among the alumni who have confirmed they will attend the grand reunion is former foreign minister Dr.

Da Costa replaces Belo at AETD II

Da Costa replaces Belo at AETD II DILI, East Timor: The United Nations has agreed to the participation of Jose Antonio da Costa, Vicar General of the Dili diocese, to replace Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo at tomorrow's All-Inclusive Inter-East Timor Dialog in Austria. Antara reported that Da Costa had left to join the other Indonesian participants in Jakarta. The Vicar General is the second highest position after the Bishop.

Govt undecided on utilizing nuclear power

Govt undecided on utilizing nuclear power JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita said that the government is still undecided about developing a nuclear power plant and that it is waiting for the results of a feasibility study. "We'll base our decision on the results of the study," the minister, who is also chairman of the Development Planning Board (Bappenas), announced in Yogyakarta after addressing a seminar over the weekend.

Why uranium?

Why uranium? Australian Minister for Mining Warwick Parer's announcement of Friday, March 15, 1996 to sell uranium to Indonesia is outrageous and appalling. Advanced Australia, an active and renowned antinuclear country, offering uranium for nuclear purposes to a developing nation is hypocritical and irresponsible.

PageScan Color: Sheet-fed scanner comes of age

PageScan Color: Sheet-fed scanner comes of age By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): The competition among small footprint scanners is obviously heating up. You must remember PaperPort from Visioneers, the first generation of this type of computer paraphernalia. Then HP came along and released HP ScanJet 4s, which was its own version of PaperPort. And just recently, Logitech came out with its PageScan. For Logitech to manufacture a page scanner is no surprise to us at all.

Mixed marriages made easy

Mixed marriages made easy JAKARTA (JP): Procedures for mixed marriages involving Moslems from Indonesia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia will be less tortuous in the future. The four neighboring countries have agreed to simplify legal and administrative procedures for such marriages, and to set up hot lines linking their religious affairs offices to facilitate processing of marriage license applications, Antara reported.

Bank fraud hits Vietnam

Bank fraud hits Vietnam HANOI (AFP): The governor of the State Bank of Vietnam told National Assembly members that the banking industry was plagued with problems of fraud and bad debts, according to a press report here.

Moslem leaders lobby to ban Russell's film

Moslem leaders lobby to ban Russell's film JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leaders here have begun discussing preparations to oppose the local screening of a newly-released Hollywood production Executive Decision which their counterparts in Malaysia and the United States say insult their religion.

Indonesia Open gives Fryatt first golf tour title

Indonesia Open gives Fryatt first golf tour title JAKARTA (JP): Briton Edward Fryatt finally secured his first victory as a pro golfer when he fired an impressive appregate score of 13-under par-271 (67 65 68 71) in the Indonesia Open golf championship and took away the US$41,650 first prize. Opening yesterday's round with a bogey, the 24-year-old fired three birdies at the 5th, 7th and 8th holes to go out in 34 at the par-71 Jagorawi Golf Country Club near Bogor.

ABRI aims to sustain Golkar's big majority

ABRI aims to sustain Golkar's big majority JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday defended its decision to choose Golkar as its partner in politics, saying that the country needs a political force dominant enough to maintain the momentum of national development. ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen.

Telkom's profit up 14%

Telkom's profit up 14% JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned domestic telecommunication provider PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) reported over the weekend a net profit of Rp 907 billion (US$389 million) in 1995, up 14 percent from Rp 795 billion in 1994. Telkom's president, Setyanto P. Santosa, said in Bandung, West Java, that total operating revenues rose 26 percent to Rp 5.1 trillion ($2.2 billion) over the previous year.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Dai-ichi, Jl. Senen Raya 135, Central Jakarta. - Mezzanine Lounge: Solo Pianist, daily from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., opening hours Monday to Sunday 11 a.m to 1 a.m. * Hotel Aryaduta, Jl. Prapatan 44-48, Central Jakarta: - Ambiente Italian Restaurant: Los Morenitos Vocal Group, Monday, Thursday, Sunday from 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Los Paraguas Vocal Group, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday from 7:15 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Nissan to enter Vietnam

Nissan to enter Vietnam TOKYO (AFP): Japan's Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. said it planned to launch motor vehicle production in Vietnam with Danang Automobile Mechanical Factory. Nissan said it will apply to the Vietnamese government with Danang Automobile for approval to form a joint venture to produce vehicles. Nissan TCM Pty. Ltd. will hold a 75 percent stake in the venture, with Danang Automobile holding the remaining 25 percent.

'Lebaran' traffic claims 23 lives

'Lebaran' traffic claims 23 lives SEMARANG, Central Java: Twenty-three people died in Central Java in the holiday traffic in the weeks surrounding the Idul Fitri celebrations last month. The head of Central Java's traffic office, Rasiswo, said that last year's figure was 38. "The number of deaths has declined, even though the number of incidents is higher this year at 17 compared to last year's 14," Antara quoted him as saying.

Asian rivalry sparks investment in ports

Asian rivalry sparks investment in ports SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian economies are pumping massive investments into port development in competition for rapidly- growing cargo traffic in the region, a transport expert said. Intra-Asian container traffic will have the highest growth rates in the world, in excess of 10 percent a year up to 2010, said Graham Hooper, director of port and planning with Australian consultancy Mausell Pte. Ltd.

Administration asked to renovate damaged schools

Administration asked to renovate damaged schools JAKARTA (JP): The City Council's Commission E for public welfare and education is prompting the administration to repair state-owned elementary schools damaged by the recent floods. "We want the authorities to prioritize the renovation of the six schools worst affected by the recent floods," said Atje Muljadi, the commission chairman.

Bogus traffic police

Bogus traffic police From Republika I am referring to an article in Republika, Feb. 13, 1996, titled 'Nikmatnya jadi polantas gadungan' (It's enjoyable to be a bogus traffic police officer). I wonder just how deft AS, a resident of Sukamakmur village in Bekasi, West Java, is in playing the role of a traffic policeman. He was eventually arrested, after he succeeded in collecting millions of rupiah from the public. What is obvious is that he also tarnished the police department's reputation.

The one-car race

The one-car race The Indonesian government, as anxiously predicted by car assemblers, has decided to close the national automobile program to new entrants, thereby allowing Hutomo (Tommy) Mandala Putra's PT Timor Putra Nasional to become the sole car company to enjoy the import tariff and luxury sales tax reliefs at least for the next three years.

Polish PM in Bali

Polish PM in Bali JAKARTA: Polish Prime Minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz arrived in Denpasar, Bali, yesterday at the start of a three-day visit. He was met at the airport by Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka, Chief of the Udayana Military Command Maj. Gen. A. Rivai, and other senior local officials. Today, Cimoszewicz, who became prime minister on Feb. 1, will fly to Jakarta to officially begin the state visit.

Jakarta to see ample property demand this year

Jakarta to see ample property demand this year JAKARTA (JP): The city, along with other Asian cities, will remain one of the Asia-Pacific region's most dynamic property markets this year, according to the latest edition of Asia Pacific Property Trends. "Demand for floor spaces remain particularly strong in Jakarta, Bangkok, Taipei, Manila and Kuala Lumpur," David Jackson, an editor of the quarterly publication, said in a statement over the weekend.

Technip wins contracts

Technip wins contracts PARIS (Reuter): French engineering group Technip said it had won contracts in Indonesia and India. In Indonesia, it has been awarded a contract for the engineering and equipment supply for the construction of a polyethylene production line at Merak, 80 kms west of Jakarta. The contract was given by Petrokimia Nusant Interendo (PT Peni) and the investment is worth US$150 million.

Newcomers get jobs easily despite municipal policy

Newcomers get jobs easily despite municipal policy JAKARTA (JP): Rumadi, 25, had only been in Jakarta for two days when he got a job as a construction worker. He receives Rp 7,000 (US$3.04) per day, excluding food and transportation allowances, which is not bad for someone with no more than an elementary school education. Sutriyono, also 25, arrived a week before he started earning Rp 60,000 a month for helping his relative, Sutini, at her food stall in the Pondok Indah area.

Asia alternative to flat U.S. auto sales

Asia alternative to flat U.S. auto sales WASHINGTON (AFP): U.S. automakers are now looking to vibrant Asian markets to offset expected stagnant sales in North America and western Europe, the head of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association said. "Why Asia?" asked Andrew Card in a speech prepared for delivery at the New Zealand embassy later in the day. "It's a simple matter of economics.

Unjustified levies

Unjustified levies During World War II, when the Dutch anticipated an attack by Japan on the Netherlands East Indies, they asked for help from the Americans and other allies. The Dutch were disappointed, however, because what arrived did not live up to their expectations. The Dutch said that the help was too little and too late. When I look at the situation now in fighting corruption or illegal levies, I see the same thing; we are doing too little and too late.

RI's foreign investment and technological development

RI's foreign investment and technological development By David Ray MELBOURNE (JP): In my articles last year in this paper I argued that producing and using "ideas" (technology) was crucial to Indonesia's continued development. "Producing ideas" essentially means product and process innovation as well as research and development, while "using ideas" means exploiting technology that is already available in advanced countries. The focus of this article is on the latter.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Travel: My Country 2:35 TV Series: Saber Rider and The Star Sheriff 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:05 Children Program: Riang Ria 3:30 TV Series: Crystal Maze 4:00 News: Lintasan Berita 4:05 TV Series: Crystal Maze (continued) 4:30 Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:00 Evening News 5:25 Travel: My Country 5:30 Library World 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country: South Kalimantan 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Religious Teachings: Buddhism 7:00 Evening News 7:25 Garuda...

RP to remanufacture Bell choppers

RP to remanufacture Bell choppers MANILA (AFP): A plant will be set up in the Philippines to first "remanufacture" Bell helicopters and then assemble helicopters for export, President Fidel Ramos said in a speech here Saturday. Ramos made the speech in a visit to an industrial park in his home province of Pangasinan.

JSX expects further rallies this week

JSX expects further rallies this week JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) will remain firm this week, boosted by an expected stronger performance on Wall Street and regional markets, dealers said.

RI behind China, Malaysia in foreign investment

RI behind China, Malaysia in foreign investment JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia ranks third among countries in the East Asian region after China and Malaysia in netting foreign direct investment last year. The World Bank Tables 1996: External Finance for Developing Countries, released in Washington last week, states that Indonesia got almost US$5 billion in foreign direct investment last year, slightly below Malaysia, which received $6 billion, but far below China with $38 billion.

Residents skeptical about planned brothel closure

Residents skeptical about planned brothel closure JAKARTA (JP): Residents near the Pejompongan Indah prostitution complex in Central Jakarta are skeptical about the government's plan to shut down activities at the compound once and for all. "It's happened too often, the complex has grown resistant to closure," Ahmad, a resident of Bendungan Hilir subdistrict told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Message from Indian Ambassador S.T. Devare

Message from Indian Ambassador S.T. Devare I am grateful to The Jakarta Post for the opportunity to inform, through this special feature, about the important events taking place in Indian-Indonesian bilateral economic relations, which are planned for Jakarta. An exclusive Indian Trade Exhibition will be held at the Jakarta Fair Grounds, Kemoyaran, from March 19 to March 23, 1996.

Garuda leases six Airbus A-33Os after 7-year delay

Garuda leases six Airbus A-33Os after 7-year delay JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned airline company Garuda Indonesia has finally signed a deal for the leasing of six Airbus A-330-300 aircraft, which were initially ordered from the European consortium Airbus Industrie about seven years ago. The aircraft are the first six of a batch of nine A-330-300s ordered by Garuda, which has chosen Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, a German leasing company, as the arranger of the lease.

Leadership dispute causes crisis at legal aid body

Leadership dispute causes crisis at legal aid body By Ariel Heryanto SALATIGA, Central Java (JP): The dispute over the recent election of a new leader for the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute seems to have reached a serious stage. This is the impression media reports give. It is obvious, however, that no one wants the respected foundation to break apart. The dispute should be seen in a wider context, rather than limiting attention to the prominent figures involved in the crisis.

Rural taboos hinder family planning

Rural taboos hinder family planning JAKARTA (JP): Despite the overall success of the national family planning program, most workers in rural areas have to contend with prevalent social taboos and traditions. Anthropologist Subyakto Atmosiswoyo, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of Psychology, on Saturday identified the widespread reluctance among villagers to discuss human reproduction as one of the main problems facing workers. "Male workers encounter even bigger problems ...

PDI, PPP hail poll watchdog

PDI, PPP hail poll watchdog JAKARTA (JP): The independent body established last week to monitor the 1997 general election has found strong support from the minority parties but has been fiercely rejected by the ruling Golkar organization. Politicians Soerjadi from the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and Aisyah Amini from the United Development Party (PPP) said on Saturday that they hope the Independent Election Monitoring Committee will help improve the election.

Indonesia lags in science, technology

Indonesia lags in science, technology YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesia lags far behind other Asian countries in science and technology, according to State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita. Speaking at a seminar commemorating the golden anniversary of Gadjah Mada University's School of Engineering on Saturday, Ginandjar expressed concern at the huge disparity between Indonesia and, for example, South Korea in the field of research and development.

Governor reveals graft at office

Governor reveals graft at office SEMARANG, Central Java: Governor Soewardi has uncovered a scam involving his officials who extorted money from candidates registering to enter the civil service. Soewardi told The Jakarta Post of a deception in his office, in which only 550 of the 1,107 civil servant job openings were officially declared while the remaining 557 were secretly tendered off to candidates for millions of rupiah.

PPD set to gain profit this year

PPD set to gain profit this year JAKARTA (JP): The state-run city bus company Perum PPD which has been operating in the red so far, is expected to make a profit this year, according to the company's spokesman. "We will continue to do our best to reduce our amount of losses. In 1993 we suffered Rp 16.7 billion in losses, in 1994 Rp 15.9 billion and in 1995 Rp 3.9 billion.

Gencor to mine in RI

Gencor to mine in RI JOHANNESBURG (Reuter): South African mining house Gencor Ltd said it hoped to reach an agreement within weeks with Indonesia's state mining company PT Aneka Tambang on exploring and developing nickel deposits on Halmahera island. "We are in discussions and we are optimistic that an agreement of principle, a letter of intent, will be reached within the next few weeks," a Gencor spokesman told Reuters.

Deadline for toll road funding nearing

Deadline for toll road funding nearing JAKARTA (JP): Japan's Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) has until the end of this month to decide on funding the Suramadu toll road in East Java, otherwise the project will be handed over to private investors.