Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 29 July 1996

40 articles found

Police raid nets village chief

Police raid nets village chief SEMARANG, Central Java: Police arrested three people including a nearby village chief during a raid on a house which had been used for gambling on Saturday. The 42-year-old village chief of the Pilang Wetan Dempet in the Demak district, was found at a house on Jl. W.R. Supratman. Semarang police chief, Col. Atok Rismanto, confirmed the arrest and said he deeply regretted the fact that a person of such high standing was caught in such a place.

Indonesia names Olympic Chess team

Indonesia names Olympic Chess team JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia named yesterday six male chess players for the 32rd Chess Olympiad in Yerevan, Armenia, from Sept. 15 to Oct. 3 this year. The team roster was completed after four players -- Ivan Jonathan Situru, Salor Sitanggang, Cerdas Barus and Danny Yuswanto -- secured their places in a national selection wound up here yesterday.

100-ha land in

100-ha land in Puncak cleared BOGOR, West Java (JP): Local authorities have taken back from developers at least 100 hectares of state-owned land being used for buildings in the tourist resort of Puncak, Bogor. Denny M Moechrry, head of the information office at the Bogor Regency, said that the plots were seized after numerous buildings and luxury villas were destroyed.

Quick end to kidnapping drama

Quick end to kidnapping drama JAKARTA (JP): The 3.5-hour kidnapping drama of a nine-year-old schoolgirl in South Jakarta ended last Friday with the girl's parents agreeing to give up US$85,000 in ransom, though the money has not been lost. Nursiah, the girl's mother, told the Berita Yudha morning daily over the weekend that she transferred the money to the BII bank in Cawang, East Jakarta, on Friday at 2:15 p.m., as demanded by the abductor.

Garuda's toll-free lines

Garuda's toll-free lines JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned air carrier Garuda Indonesia has set up a toll-free number. A Garuda spokesman, Arif Hartanto, said on Saturday that travelers can dial 0-800-21747 to make reservations. He said that the 24-hour phone service has a total of 60 lines, 55 for incoming calls and five for outgoing calls.

Jakarta book fair opens

Jakarta book fair opens JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Book Fair 1996, held to promote reading and September's "book-reading month", was officially opened on Saturday by the Jakarta governor's wife, Mrs. Surjadi Soedirdja, at the Senayan indoor stadium.

Two-step loans only for healthy firms: Mar'ie

Two-step loans only for healthy firms: Mar'ie JAKARTA (JP): The two-step loans pledged by Japan's Export- Import Bank (Exim Bank) will only be provided to viable venture capital and small-scale companies, says Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad. He said Saturday that venture capital companies and small- scale businesses applying for the two-step loans would be closely evaluated. Two-step loans are generally channeled to borrowers through commercial banks.

100-ha land in Puncak cleared

100-ha land in Puncak cleared BOGOR, West Java (JP): Local authorities have taken back from developers at least 100 hectares of state-owned land being used for buildings in the tourist resort of Puncak, Bogor. Denny M Moechrry, head of the information office at the Bogor Regency, said that the plots were seized after numerous buildings and luxury villas were destroyed.

Indomobil starts price war amid tight competition

Indomobil starts price war amid tight competition JAKARTA (JP): PT Indomobil Niaga Internasional, an automotive subsidiary of the giant Salim Group, began a price war at the onset of the 9th Jakarta Auto Expo on Saturday. Amid tight competition in the subcompact class, Indomobil's president, Subronto Laras, said that his company is determined to secure and expand its market share by cutting prices.

TV today

TV today TVRI 12:05 p.m. TV Series: Saber Rider and The Star Sheriff 12:30 Children's Program: Anak Anak Indonesia 1:00 TV Series: Major Dad 1:30 Science Film: Animal Odyssey 2:00 Quiz: Cepat Tepat 2:30 Olympiad '96 - live 5:00 Regional News 5:30 Hobbies 6:05 Nationality: Parlementaria 6:15 Village Program 6:30 Science: Potensi Kehidupan di Laut 7:00 Evening News 7:25 Garuda Pancasila/Filler/Trailer 7:30 TV Drama 8:05 Variety Program: Mozaik 9:00 World News 9:30 Journal Olympiad '96 9:40 Music:...

Mivan wins RI contract

Mivan wins RI contract BELFAST (Reuter): Northern Ireland construction company Mivan announced late last week it has won major contracts in Northern Ireland and Indonesia. It will be the main contractor on a 21 million pound (US$32.64 million) Hilton Hotel development at a new waterfront site in Belfast and will build a $21 million apartment project for real estate developers, Summarecon, in Jakarta.

Appeal to Megawati

Appeal to Megawati Swadesi of July 12-18, 1996 edition published an report in which Siswono Yudohusodo suggested Megawati accept the results of the recent congress of the PDI in Medan, North Sumatra. In his interview with the Swadesi reporter, Siswono pointed out that in 1993, Soerjadi, who was unanimously elected Chairman of the party in an election that was later nullified, accepted his fate with equanimity, kept calm and did not make any attempt to provoke the masses.

Megawati blames Soerjadi and government for rioting

Megawati blames Soerjadi and government for rioting JAKARTA (JP): Ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, blames the government and her rival Soerjadi for the massive rioting on Saturday. "Soerjadi has the main responsibility for the incident at the PDI headquarters in the morning and the rioting which ensued afterwards," Megawati told the press at her house in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, on Saturday afternoon.

Investments canceled

Investments canceled It would be interesting to find out why during the first half of 1996 the number of investors, both foreign and domestic, who canceled their investment plans increased so drastically compared to the same period last year. Whereas between Jan.1 and July 15 last year the total of foreign investments that were canceled totaled only US$29.3 million, that value jumped by 1,464.8 percent during the same period this current year.

Stock prices may fall following mass riots

Stock prices may fall following mass riots JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) are projected to further decline this week on foreseeable selling pressures, as most investors are nervous about staying in the market due possible issues tied to the weekend riots in the city.

Howard cancels RI visit

Howard cancels RI visit CANBERRA (Reuter): Australian Prime Minister John Howard said yesterday he had cancelled official visits to Indonesia and Japan planned for August because his wife had to undergo a major operation. "My wife Janette will be admitted to a Sydney hospital early this week for a major operation," Howard said in a statement. "Naturally I wish to spend as much time as possible with her," he said.

Anyone interested in duck herding?

Anyone interested in duck herding? SEMARANG: The city plans to host a series of contests involving animals, including herding a school of ducks, later this year to promote tourism, Antara reported. Other contests include a bull race and singing birds. The competition, slated for December, is expected to draw thousands of visitors given that the competition this year is open to participants from outside the city. The first such festival was held in May last year and featured only a bull race.

Sultanate gets two elephants

Sultanate gets two elephants YOGYAKARTA: The sultanate of Yogyakarta received two elephants from the Way Kambas elephant training center in Lampung. The elephants were received by Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X at a ceremony on Friday. The male elephant was later named Kyai Ajar and the female Nyai Badra. The sultan said he had ordered the elephants from Lampung to remind his subjects of the symbolistic nature of such creatures as elephants in Javanese culture.(mds)

Big nation, few athletes

Big nation, few athletes From Neraca I think all sports fans must have watched some of the Atlanta Olympics to watch how the world's athletes are fighting for the gold. But the question that keeps nagging me is why can't Indonesian athletes compete in events other than badminton, boxing and archery. It is almost incomprehensible that a country of nearly 200 million cannot produce more competent athletes. European countries with relatively small populations produce many.

Jakarta tense after flare-up

Jakarta tense after flare-up JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of armed soldiers and police patrolled streets in Central Jakarta yesterday, amid tension following massive unrest triggered by the takeover of the disputed headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). Using tear gas and canes, police charged at a crowd which attempted to stage yet another protest yesterday afternoon.

Learning from each other

Learning from each other We must give full marks to that great Italian crusader, Piero Ronci, for his dogged determination to, at every opportunity, expose his anti-British sentiment, whether it is denouncing all footballers who ever kicked a ball on UK turf, berating commentators who dare to use English when waxing poetically about the great game of soccer, conducting a single handed campaign to protect Indonesians from the "corrupting influence" of the English language.

Malang students win fuel-saving rally

Malang students win fuel-saving rally JAKARTA (JP): Students from Brawijaya University won the Laga Pantura 50 fuel-saving rally which finished in Surabaya, East Surabaya on Saturday. Anwar Andi Rakhman and Fajar Alam Yudha from the Malang-based university in East Java took home an Isuzu Panther van, the same make of car used for the rally, and Rp 10 million in bank savings.

Still a long way to go

Still a long way to go ASEAN foreign ministers and their counterparts discussed a whole range of subjects during almost a week of meetings in Jakarta. In the end, two issues dominated: Burma and the World Trade Organization (WTO). It takes great pride in what is seen as its increasing maturity, its ability to initiate international activities (such as the regional security forum), and the fact that it no longer has to follow the lead of the Western powers.

Sony's CD-ROM Discman follows old strengths

Sony's CD-ROM Discman follows old strengths By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): On one of the shelves in my study sits the first Sony Discman that I had ever bought. It is definitely very bulky compared with today's designs, but it has a rechargeable battery. It introduced me to the wonderful sonic world of compact disks. My first audio compact disk was one that contained Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik played by the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Sir Neville Marriner as the conductor.

AIDS drive at workplaces

AIDS drive at workplaces JAKARTA: The Indonesian AIDS Foundation is launching a campaign against the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) at workplaces. A play depicting the behavior of some workers, such as having sex during a lunch break, was held to mark the new drive on Friday night. Former health minister Adhyatma, who heads the campaign, said the foundation targets workers because most AIDS victims are people in the productive ages of between 20 and 39 years old.

City reels from weekend outburst of violence

City reels from weekend outburst of violence JAKARTA (JP): The two days of rioting on Saturday and yesterday which injured hundreds of people and saw the burning of buildings and vehicles disrupted life in the city quite dramatically. Last night, thousands of people were stranded at Senen bus terminal and along the streets of Salemba district in Central Jakarta due to a shortage of buses. Salemba was the area hit hardest in the rioting, described as the worst rioting in over two decades.

Mia survives scare to reach quarterfinals

Mia survives scare to reach quarterfinals ATLANTA, Georgia (Agencies): Indonesia's badminton prodigy Mia Audina might defy the bombing which has haunted the Atlanta Olympic Games since Saturday, but she needed a little luck to survive her third-round match to reach the quarterfinals.

Exhaust emission standards

Exhaust emission standards I refer to the July 27, 1996 article Cheap sedans threaten van market and your automotive supplement. You forgot to point out one of the most important aspects of car standards for the new releases, including for those displayed at the Jakarta Auto Expo: the exhaust emission standards.

Typhoon threatens northern RP

Typhoon threatens northern RP MANILA (AFP): Fifty-five people were killed or went missing when Typhoon Gloria hit the Philippines, officials said yesterday, as a more powerful storm roared towards its northern islands. The Manila Weather Bureau charted Typhoon Herb at 1,060 kilometers east of Basco town, the capital of the Batanes group of islands in the country's northernmost tip yesterday morning.

RP's debt $39.37b

RP's debt $39.37b MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' foreign debt rose 1.8 percent from a year earlier to US$39.37 billion at the end of 1995 due to foreign currency fluctuations, Central Bank of the Philippines governor Gabriel Singson said. Singson said monetary authorities excluded from the computation money remitted by foreign banks to their local branches because these cannot be considered as loans.

Committee sides with bank workers

Committee sides with bank workers JAKARTA (JP): The arbitration committee at the Ministry of Manpower has decided to back the HongkongBank employees in their dispute with the management. Wilhelmus Bokha, a member of the arbitration committee, was quoted by Pos Kota daily as saying over the weekend that the arbitrary committee had turned down the request of HongkongBank management to dismiss around 200 of its staffers. "That's a big win for the workers.

Jaya Daido gets ISO-9002

Jaya Daido gets ISO-9002 JAKARTA (JP): PT Jaya Daido Concrete, a subsidiary of the Pembangunan Jaya Group, has accepted an ISO-9002 management quality assurance certificate from PT Lloyd's Register Advisory Services Indonesia. Jaya Daido, which produces construction piles and electricity transmission poles, said in a statement over the weekend that the ISO-9000 certificate will help the company improve efficiency and productivity.

22 fishery licenses revoked

22 fishery licenses revoked JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Agriculture has revoked at least 22 fishery licenses and suspended 59 fishery companies for violating government regulations. "We have also issued warning letters to 669 companies," Director of Agricultural Business Development and Crops Processing Boedi Soesilo said over the weekend. He said that of the 669 warning letters, 330 are first warnings, 228 second warnings and the other 111 are third warnings.

ABRI vows to crack down on rioters

ABRI vows to crack down on rioters JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung vowed yesterday to continue cracking down on rioters to restore public order after 206 of them had been arrested as of yesterday. Feisal said "irresponsible persons or groups" have exploited the internal conflict in the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to create anarchy and threaten the nation's stability.

Privatizing park management: Is it workable ?

Privatizing park management: Is it workable ? By Winarta Adisubrata JAKARTA (JP): The state of nature conservation and park management in Indonesia can be broken down into two aspects: what is threatening them and what is being done about the threats.

Weekend of violence

Weekend of violence No sane person could ever endorse the violence and anarchy that we saw in Jakarta this weekend. The lawlessness and arson that officially left two dead and massive material damages are deplorable. Violence will not resolve or achieve anything. Instead, it causes rage, frustration and misery. Nothing good came from this weekend of rioting. But we need to look at the incident more objectively and less emotionally. The rioting was not an isolated incident.

Why do students smoke?

Why do students smoke? From Pikiran Rakyat Monday, July 15 1996 was the first day of the 1996/1997 school year. Between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. I noticed many students in school uniform heading for home along the Kebon Kelapa-Setiabudi route, puffing on cigarettes. As a member of society, I know that smoking affects people's health and, therefore, is best avoided. The question is, why do many students like to smoke? Several questions beg an answer: 1.

Asian leaders condemn Atlanta Olympic blast

Asian leaders condemn Atlanta Olympic blast TOKYO (AFP): Asian leaders yesterday condemned the fatal Atlanta Olympic bombing but the decision to continue the games despite the attack received widespread support. The blast, which killed two and injured 110, also prompted fears for the safety of athletes and led to heightened security alerts at the Olympic Village for some nations' contingents.

Fund sought for nutrition program

Fund sought for nutrition program BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: The Supplemental Food Program for School Children in South Kalimantan will cost the province Rp 3.4 billion ($1.5 million) during the 1996/1997 school year. The head of the province's education office, Fahrin Ilham, said the program would cover some 67,692 elementary school children in the province. The aim of the program, which is being introduced nationwide, is to boost the nutrition of elementary school children.

Decree lifts ban on fishing boat imports

Decree lifts ban on fishing boat imports JAKARTA (JP): After weeks of waiting for a solid, legal basis to follow up a government announcement on reform measures in the fisheries sector, businesses can now finally start laying down plans to import fishing vessels. In Ministerial Decree No.