Archive: 29 May 1996
54 articles found
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
BBB-plus for Sampoerna
BBB-plus for Sampoerna SYDNEY (Reuter): Standard and Poor's Corp said it has assigned its BBB-plus long-term local currency rating to Indonesia-based P.T.Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna. S&P said the rating outlook is stable. "The rating reflects the very strong brand image of Sampoerna's core cigarette product, the successful development of a range of support brands, the profitability of tobacco operations, and the conservative financial profile," S&P said.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Medical group criticizes state-sponsored drugs bill
Medical group criticizes state-sponsored drugs bill JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) yesterday criticized the government-drafted bill on psychotropic drugs, intended to combat increasing incidents of drug abuse. Team chairman Kusumanto Setyonegoro, a medical professor at the University of Indonesia, said that the draft law does not adequately define psychotropic drugs. "Psychotropic drugs do not only produce negative impacts as the bill suggests.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Car smuggling details revealed at court
Car smuggling details revealed at court JAKARTA (JP): Customs officers yesterday revealed to a court here the detailed account of a motor vehicle smuggling attempt made a few months ago. Suharto, a customs officer working at a port storage facility, told the North Jakarta district court that he grew suspicious when he saw a seemingly hesitant driver near the port's checkpoint on Sept. 14 of last year.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Hotel Prapatan's profits decline
Hotel Prapatan's profits decline JAKARTA (JP): PT Hotel Prapatan, the owner of the five-star Aryaduta Hotel, reported a sharp decline in its after-tax profits to only Rp 2 billion (US$853.970) last year despite a slight increase in revenues. The company said in its 1995 annual report that it booked total revenues of Rp 53 billion last year, as compared to Rp 51 billion in 1994.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Brawling hits Bali
Brawling hits Bali DENPASAR, Bali: Dozens of students were injured, one seriously, in a brawl involving students from several schools on Monday, police said yesterday. The rumble, which local educators said was the first of its kind on the island, involved high school students from Denpasar and Singaraja. Police in Tabanan said the brawl broke out at a graduation celebration near Beratan Lake in Tabanan. Hundreds of students from both schools had gone to the lake to party.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Agency defends hotels, blames promiscuous guests
Agency defends hotels, blames promiscuous guests JAKARTA (JP): A city tourism agency yesterday defended hotels in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, the focus of three recent rape allegations, blaming hotel guests for abusing the hotels' simple regulations. The head of the agency's supervisory department, Suparlan, said yesterday that most of the hotels fail to ask guests for their ID cards because of financial reasons, as the hotels' occupancy rates are mostly very low.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Region to launch fund
Region to launch fund MANILA (AFP): The Philippines and southeast Asian neighbors Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia are to launch in July a US$500 million growth fund aimed at spurring economic activity in their contiguous areas, Filipino officials said. The East Asian Growth Area direct investment fund's core investors would be government financial institutions of the four countries which will account for $300 million.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Abdul Latief refutes World Bank report
Abdul Latief refutes World Bank report YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief said the Indonesian government will review its daily minimum wage standards annually to maintain workers' well-being and productivity. "The triple hike in the daily minimum wage level in the last decade has not hurt the flow of foreign investment into Indonesia," he said in an interview with The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Real action on parks needed
Real action on parks needed By Winarta Adisubrata JAKARTA (JP): For more than a decade Indonesia has had a National Conservation Plan and a National Conservation Strategy and many management proposals pertaining to the further maintenance of dozens of national parks. But what the country needs now, more than anything, is the implementation of a program to develop and professionally manage a system of national parks.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Romo Mangun
Romo Mangun Your -- otherwise excellent -- article about Romo Mangun (The Jakarta Post, May 15, 1996, page 7, column 9) contains an utterly embarrassing sentence (I quote): "He chose to leave the Church and live with the outcast community..." Let me emphatically declared: Romo Mangun has not left the Church.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Prisons for East Timor
Prisons for East Timor DILI, East Timor: Two prisons will be built in the youngest province during the 1996/1997 fiscal year, a local official said yesterday. Chief of the local justice office, Benny J. Mathaus, said the prisons will be built in the Kovalima and Ambeno regencies. The two regencies do not have district courts or detention centers. Cases in the two regencies are now tried in neighboring regency courts. Prisoners are held in the nearest regency.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Expatriates contribute to RI
Expatriates contribute to RI Last Sunday's survey of expatriates in Indonesia was great. We have lots of "expatriates" back home as well, but ours are free of charge. We call them immigrants. Last century when we freed the slaves we had to import labor. We opened up the country and foreigners flocked in. Our "white people" are an industrious lot. For instance, take a look around a Brazilian football stadium.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Pranata unsure of his chance in Motocross World C'ships
Pranata unsure of his chance in Motocross World C'ships JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian crosser Johnnie "The Cat" Pranata is still unsure about his chances in the Bentoel Motocross World Championships in Yogyakarta this weekend. "I can't talk about my chances now. Many world crossers, who will compete here, are much better than we are but I'll do my best," he said on Monday. The Surabaya-based crosser, who rides a Suzuki, is still waiting for his new bike.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Late paper
Late paper Due to technical problems during the printing process, The Jakarta Post reached some of our readers in Jakarta late yesterday. We regret the inconvenience caused. -- Publisher
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
House supports hotel firm for more govt equity
House supports hotel firm for more govt equity JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives will support PT Hotel Indonesia International Corporation and Natour's quest for more government equity investment to improve the financial structure of the state-owned hotel management firm. The decision was taken during a hearing between the company's executives and members of the tourism and transportation commission of the House of Representatives.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
NISP to establish venture with OCBC
NISP to establish venture with OCBC JAKARTA (JP): Publicly-listed Bank NISP announced yesterday that it will set up a joint venture bank with Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation (OCBC) of Singapore with a paid-up capital of Rp 150 billion (US$64 million). NISP has said it will take a 15 percent stake in the joint venture, to be called PT Bank OCBC-NISP, while OCBC will hold the other 85 percent.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Govt bans Miss Universe participation
Govt bans Miss Universe participation JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday banned Indonesian women from participating in Miss Universe pageants and all other beauty contests abroad, State Minister for Women's Affairs Mien Sugandhi announced yesterday. Although the President did not ban local pageants -- as long as they do not select winners based on appearance and body measurements -- Mien said the President called for their review by women's organizations and the House of Representatives.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Australian concerns
Australian concerns Australian public concern over the question of succession in the Indonesian national leadership prompted a number of Australian media representatives to pay a visit to President Soeharto last week. It is easy to conceive the relief which everyone felt on hearing Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono explain that President Soeharto never made any attempt to get himself reelected. "This comes like a refreshing breeze.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
RI needs more civilian leaders, says official
RI needs more civilian leaders, says official JAKARTA (JP): A senior government official said yesterday that, although the number of civilians is in proportion to military leaders, there should be more civilian governors and regents.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Japan may boost RI rubber imports
Japan may boost RI rubber imports TOKYO (Reuter): Japan is likely to boost natural rubber imports from Indonesia as a result of delayed shipments and higher prices from Thailand, traders said yesterday. "We are considering buying Technically Specified Rubber (TSR) from Indonesia, instead of Ribbed Smoked Sheet (RSS) from Thailand," an official of a major tire maker said.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Spotlight
Spotlight Photo A: Qantas Qantas QANTAS' NEW OFFICE: Australia's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Timothy Fischer (right), with Peter Collins, Qantas Manager for Indonesia (left) and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Allan Taylor (center) in what seemed to be a serious discussion after Fischer inaugurated the new Qantas Office on the 11th floor of Menara BDN, Jl. Thamrin 5, Central Jakarta on May 14.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
RI offers Burkina Faso plane-for-cotton deal
RI offers Burkina Faso plane-for-cotton deal JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto yesterday proposed to swap Indonesian-built planes for Burkina Faso's cotton during a meeting with Blaise Compaore, his counterpart from the West African state. The offer was made before they witnessed the signing of an economic and technical cooperation agreement by their foreign ministers, Ali Alatas of Indonesia and Ablasse Ouedraogo of Burkina Faso.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Scavenger jailed for five months
Scavenger jailed for five months JAKARTA (JP): A court sentenced a scavenger to five months imprisonment yesterday after he was found guilty of stealing an air conditioner from an empty house in North Jakarta on March 20. Slamet Radari was caught by local residents as he was preparing to flee the scene, prosecutor Djoko Widodo said. Junaedi Halim, the victim, told the North Jakarta district court that his house on Jl. Pademangan I had been empty for two months prior to the break in.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
'Yanomamo' show at Pattimura
'Yanomamo' show at Pattimura JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta International School's Pattimura Elementary School is presenting the musical Yanomamo today at the Pattimura Courtyard in conjunction with the Pattimura's annual Arts Festival. The Yanomamo is the largest Amerindian tribe living in the Amazon rain forest. Yanomamo was written in 1988 by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature to promote awareness among children and their families about the Amazon rain forest and the Amerindians.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Ancient Hue rises from Vietnam war ruins
Ancient Hue rises from Vietnam war ruins By Adrian Edwards HUE, Vietnam (Reuter): Two decades after the Vietnam War reduced vast areas of Hue's imperial city to a rubble-strewn mess on the country's central coast, conservationists are eying grand plans for the city's future. "We can do it," says Thai Cong Nguyen, director of the Hue Monuments Conservation center. "Already we have results.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
4,000 families not listed as voters
4,000 families not listed as voters SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Voter registration officials failed to reach about 4,000 families living in isolated areas throughout the province. Chief of the provincial social service office, Wiyono, said the families are scattered deep in the hinterland and cannot be reached by land vehicles. According to Wiyono, of the 7,000 isolated families living in the province, only 3,000 have access to government services.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Foster-parents drive to prioritize girls
Foster-parents drive to prioritize girls JAKARTA (JP): The national foster-parents drive, to be launched today by President Soeharto to generate more funds for poor children's education, will prioritize girls under 15 years of age, according to a government minister. "Nowadays, there must not be any girls who don't go to school. Girls should be educated so they do not become the victims of men," said State Minister for Population Haryono Suyono.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Mercedes-Benz aims to raise Asian sales
Mercedes-Benz aims to raise Asian sales SINGAPORE (Reuter): Mercedes-Benz aims to substantially boost sales of both commercial and passenger vehicles in Asia, Albrecht Branding, managing director, commercial vehicles for Mercedes- Benz Asia Pte Ltd, said yesterday. "Turnover from Asia (for both commercial and passenger vehicles) in 1995 was 9.2 percent of our worldwide revenue of 72 billion marks. And this is by far not enough," Branding told Reuters.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Maid steals Rp 150 million
Maid steals Rp 150 million JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said yesterday that the maid who was reported to have stolen a sum of money and jewelry worth a total of Rp 150 million (US$64,516) from her employer is still at large. Abubakar said that the officers are still tracing Suminah after her employer, Minah, of Jl. Gunung Sahari, reported to the police that she had left on Sunday evening with money and jewelry.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Seminar on air pollution
Seminar on air pollution JAKARTA (JP): An educational seminar on air pollution is slated to be held at the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel on June 11-12. State Minister for Population and Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja is scheduled to open the seminar, organized by the Air Pollution Control Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Irianese youths air grievances at House
Irianese youths air grievances at House JAKARTA (JP): Irianese youths have called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) to abandon its "security approach" when dealing with social and political problems in Indonesia's easternmost province of Irian Jaya.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Sabah state gets new leader
Sabah state gets new leader KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's politically stormy Sabah state yesterday appointed an ethnic-Chinese leader as part of a controversial scheme to rotate the position among the state's three major races. Former deputy leader Yong Teck Lee was sworn in as the eastern state's 10th chief minister, followed by his 10-member state cabinet.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. Travel: My Country 2:35 Game Show: Fun House 3:00 News: Lintasan Berita 3:05 TV Drama: Lutung Kasarung 3:30 TV Series: Roseanne 4:05 TV Drama 4:30 Documentary Film 5:00 Evening News 5:30 Indonesian Lessons 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, the Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:45 TV Series: Jump Over The Moon Folktales 7:00 Evening News 7:25 Garuda Pancasila/Filler/Trailer 7:30 Talks: Mitra Kita 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Music: Seriosa 9:00 World News...
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
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 Sundays, from 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 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.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Four killed in bus accident
Four killed in bus accident TEGAL, Central Java: Four people were killed and two critically injured when the bus carrying them from Jakarta to Yogyakarta plunged into a river in Margasari on Monday night. Police said the accident happened when the driver, Heryanto, 35, lost control of the bus while overtaking a truck. Chief of the local police precinct Col. Bani Siswono said the accident happened on a dangerous section of road where fatal accidents had occurred before.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Bintang to form party
Bintang to form party JAKARTA (JP): Controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who has was recently convicted of insulting President Soeharto, will announce the formation of his new political party today. Bintang is braving President Soeharto's recent objection to the formation of new political parties. Soeharto said the existing three groups are adequate to channel the people's will. In a press statement, Bintang said he will call his party the Indonesian Democratic Union Party.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 28, 1996: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 925 0 46,500 AHAP Insurance 2,800 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 600 -25 27,500 Andayani Megah 1,325 0 136,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 4,400 0 0 Anwar Sierad 2,325 25 172,500 Aqua Golden Mississippi 2,300 0 3,000 Argha Karya Prima Industry 3,250 0 102,000 Argo Pantes 2,100 0 0 Asahimas Flat 2,775 0 86,500 Asiana IMI...
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Magic people
Magic people On May 15, The Jakarta Post published a letter, Barefaced chicanery, about people who were able to deceive and influence a person to willingly give them her money and personal belongings. The victim (who was in fact a university lecturer) went home accompanied by the deceivers, giving them more money and jewelry, and also to her bank and withdrew the money in her account.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Drivers protest levies
Drivers protest levies TANGERANG, West Java (JP): Thousands of passengers were stranded as hundreds of drivers of local angkot Roda Niaga transportation vehicles plying Kotabumi-Kalideres went on strike yesterday to protest various daily levies. The drivers parked their vehicles along Jl. Achmad Yani and went to the legislative council to complain about the at least Rp 1,000 in daily levies.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
AIDS marriages to be discussed
AIDS marriages to be discussed JAKARTA (JP): Leading ulemas will discuss next month whether the marriage of people with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) could be considered "defective" and can, therefore, be nullified. Members of the East Java chapter of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Moslem organization will gather in Situbondo regency on June 8 and June 9 to discuss 18 contemporary problems from a religious point of view.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
National car project to start next March
National car project to start next March JAKARTA (JP): PT Udatin is gearing up construction of an assembly plant for the national car, to be called Timor, despite growing criticism against the controversial car project, a company executive said here yesterday. Udatin's president, Fritz H. Eman, said that the assembly plant's construction, which is now underway, is scheduled for completion early next year.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Forests reduced by 809,000 ha every year
Forests reduced by 809,000 ha every year JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's forests are declining at a rate of 809,000 hectares each year with the land being used for other purposes, including transmigration, agriculture and plantation projects. An expert assistant for forest protection and security at the Minister of Forestry, Sukardjo, said yesterday that shifting cultivators and regional development also contribute to the decline in forest areas.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Clove prices projected to increase by 2000
Clove prices projected to increase by 2000 SINGAPORE (Reuter): Depressed clove prices may force farmers in Indonesia, Zanzibar and Madagascar to switch crops, which could drive up prices by the turn of the century, a commodity analyst said yesterday. Hanif Nomanbhoy, a Singapore-based analyst who follows the clove trade, told an Asia Spice Markets conference farmers in the three countries were discouraged by the current price of US$600- $1,200 a ton CIF Singapore.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Prasidha Aneka Niaga expects 9.36% profit rise
Prasidha Aneka Niaga expects 9.36% profit rise JAKARTA (JP): PT Prasidha Aneka Niaga, a publicly listed exporter of agricultural commodities, expects to book a 9.36 percent increase in its net profits to Rp 29.2 billion (US$12.43 million) this year from estimated total sales of Rp 792 billion.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Plugging electricity to private sector
Plugging electricity to private sector JAKARTA (JP): The government has recognized the need to quickly increase electricity capacity systematically to ensure continued economic growth into the next century. Minister of Mines and Energy Ida Bagus Sudjana recently announced the government will continue to invite private participation in power generation by offering attractive incentives.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Fiscal decentralization
Fiscal decentralization A seminar last week on the impact of local levies on the economy concluded that most local administrations are ignorant of the need to implement probusiness policies because the central government still almost entirely holds the taxing power related to main economic activities. The meeting also discovered just how dependent local administrations are on fundings from the central government due to the absence of fair rules on intergovernmental fiscal relations.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Coconut plant in Bitung
Coconut plant in Bitung JAKARTA (JP): PT Jaka Saktibuana of Indonesia and a private company from the Philippines have set up a desiccated-coconut plant in Bitung, North Sulawesi, with an investment of US$5.8 million. The plant was officially opened on Monday by North Sulawesi Governor E.E. Mangindaan, who noted that the new facility was developed under the East ASEAN Growth Area regional cooperation, involving Indonesia, the Philippines. Malaysia and Brunei.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Electronic goods thief arrested
Electronic goods thief arrested JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested one of three men who allegedly stole electronic goods worth Rp 11 million (US$4,731) from a PT Prima Texindo building on Jl. Penjernihan Dalam, Bendungan Hilir district, in Central Jakarta. Central Jakarta Police Chief Lt. Col. Abubakar Nataprawira said on Monday that with the helping of a sniffer dog, the police arrested Agung Santoso on Sunday night at his house near the scene of the crime.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
More composting needed in city's waste disposal
More composting needed in city's waste disposal JAKARTA (JP): The disposal of the city's garbage would be more efficient if more groups were involved in composting, an official said. The head of the Greater Jakarta Area Development Board, Anjat Lamey, said the constant problem of the lack of trucks and final disposal sites is due to a reliance on an outdated method used for more than 20 years and a lack of proper investment.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Iraq woos Indonesian businesses
Iraq woos Indonesian businesses JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of Iraqi officials yesterday met with Indonesian businesspeople to discuss possibilities of increasing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. During yesterday's meeting, sponsored by the Middle East Committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the businesspeople expressed their interest in the new opportunities provided by the recent partial lifting of the United Nations embargo on Iraq.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Thailand's new cabinet line-up
Thailand's new cabinet line-up BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's new government list after a reshuffle announced yesterday: Prime Minister: Banharn Silpa-archa Deputy Prime Ministers: Somboon Rahong, Chaowalit Yongchaiyudh, Thaksin Shinawatra, Montri Pongpanich, Amnuay Virawan, Samak Sundaravej Ministers attached to the Prime Minister's Office: Pongphol Adireksarn, Phokin Pholakul, Piyanath Vatcharaporn Ruengvit Lik, Boonphan Khaewattana, Chatchai Ea-sakul Interior Minister: Banharn Silpa-archa...
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
Rudini challenges all to run for president
Rudini challenges all to run for president JAKARTA (JP): Noted political observer Rudini has challenged Indonesia's sons and daughters to take part in the 1998 presidential race, as he feels they all have an equal chance of winning. "I don't believe that this country does not have qualified people to meet the standards to be our next president," he told reporters at his office yesterday.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
No new partnerships, ASEAN chief says
No new partnerships, ASEAN chief says JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is not seeking new partnerships at the moment because its secretariat already has too much in its plate. With hundreds of committees and meetings each year, the Jakarta-based secretariat is stretched to fulfill its commitments, Secretary-General Dato' Ajit Singh said. "It's very difficult to make ends meet," Dato' Ajit told a luncheon of the Indonesian Executive Circle.
Wed, 29 May 1996, 00:00 WIB
City promises to reevaluate new AC bus fare
City promises to reevaluate new AC bus fare JAKARTA (JP): The city administration promises to reevaluate implementation of the new air-conditioned express bus fare in order to avoid creating unrest, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja says. Surjadi said yesterday that he had ordered the deputy for economic and development affairs to reevaluate the process -- conducted by the Organization of Land Transport Owners (Organda) -- of the new fare's implementation, which began Saturday.