Archive: 10 October 1997
67 articles found
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Man may face jail for minding drugs
Man may face jail for minding drugs JAKARTA (JP): West Jakarta District Court was asked yesterday to sentence a 23-year-old man to one year in jail for failing to report that his friend possessed 1.8 grams of heroin. Prosecutor Agus Widodo said the defendant, Bakhtiar Alamsyah, had been found guilty of violating Article 48 of Law No. 9/1979 on narcotics. Bakhtiar committed a crime when he did not report his friend, Randi, to police, Agus said.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sutiyoso initiates flood prevention campaign
Sutiyoso initiates flood prevention campaign JAKARTA (JP): Newly installed Governor Sutiyoso has urged the city's five mayors to start flood prevention initiatives in their respective areas prior to the rainy season. "I want every mayoralty to start cleaning up their area as part of the flood prevention program," Sutiyoso said on Wednesday. The flood warning was part of his first official statement since being installed as Jakarta's governor on Monday.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto expected to approve seventh generation COW this year
Soeharto expected to approve seventh generation COW this year JAKARTA (JP): Director General of Mining at the Ministry of Mines and Energy Adjat Sudradjat expected President Soeharto would approve this year the controversial seventh generation contracts of work (COWs) for the development of the country's mineral resources. He said presidential approval of the COWs was the last requirement to be fulfilled before Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana put his signatures on them.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
BCA dollar account
BCA dollar account I read Moch Taufiq's letter with great sympathy (Oct. 7, Dollar savings at BCA). I also hold a BCA dollar account and went to withdraw some of my hard-earned U.S. dollars from the Kuningan branch last week. I was also told that if I wanted to withdraw my dollars, I had to pay the exchange rate from dollars to rupiah then back to dollars again.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Surabaya:
Where to go in Surabaya: Music and Entertainment * Novotel Surabaya Hotel & Suites, Jl. Ngagel 173-175: - Dahana Lounge Bar: Happy Hour at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Los Javados Acoustic music. - Puri Pool Bar: Happy Hour at 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Janggala Restaurant: Indonesia theme night, Friday evening. International theme night on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday evening. Cultural traditional performance, on Saturday night * Mercure Grand Hotel, Jl.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Thailand bows to prospect of Indonesia winning title
Thailand bows to prospect of Indonesia winning title As part of our coverage of the SEA Games, The Jakarta Post is running a profile of each of the 10 participating countries. The story below is the seventh in the series. JAKARTA (JP): Thailand is bracing itself for the 19th SEA Games like a wise knight; it prefers to make a retreat for a big leap.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Synchronizing development
Synchronizing development Jakarta's physical development has once again come under the spotlight of public attention, and for obvious reasons. The capital city of Southeast Asia's largest country, Jakarta, is plagued by a host of problems that threaten its very livability. A solution for most of those problems seems nowhere in sight.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Forest firefighting with water bombers bears fruit
Forest firefighting with water bombers bears fruit JAKARTA (JP): With assistance from an international contingent, signs began to emerge yesterday that firefighters were gaining an upper hand in the fight against the raging brush and forest fires. Two Australian water bombers dropped at least 57,000 liters of fire suppressant foam on several hot spots yesterday to extinguish brush and forest fires in Central Lampung.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
IMF prepares to help RI cope with currency woes
IMF prepares to help RI cope with currency woes WASHINGTON (Reuter): The International Monetary Fund got ready to bail out another Asian tiger economy on Wednesday after Indonesia sought help to cope with a currency crash. IMF Managing Director Michel Camdessus said in a statement he welcomed Indonesia's request and measures the authorities were already taking to cope with market pressures.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Free trade may not hurt small companies
Free trade may not hurt small companies JAKARTA (JP): Free trade in the next century may not hurt small-scale companies as much as is feared as long as they can still capture the lower market segment, an economist has said. National Institute of Sciences' researcher Mahmud Thoha said yesterday that a study he did showed that free trade, due to take effect regionally in 2003, might not affect small companies very much, because they would still dominate the lower market segment in the country.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Public places new hot spots for student brawls
Public places new hot spots for student brawls JAKARTA (JP): Student brawls near schools have become less frequent since August as troublemakers target more crowded areas, an official of the city's public order office said yesterday. Toha Reno, head of the office's subdivision, said the new trend had been attributed to students wanting to avoid their old stomping grounds, which were guarded by security officers.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Many athletes unaware of banned drugs
Many athletes unaware of banned drugs JAKARTA (JP): Illegal drug-taking can cost athletes their careers, but few know much about banned drugs. The chairwoman of the 19th Southeast Asian Games doping committee, Dangsina Moeloek, told The Jakarta Post that many athletes did not know what doping was all about.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
German firms hold expo
German firms hold expo JAKARTA (JP): At least 35 companies from Germany, mostly manufacturers of analytical and laboratory equipment, are taking part in a three-day exhibition, which opened yesterday at the Jakarta Convention Center.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sorcerer's wife sues prosecution
Sorcerer's wife sues prosecution MEDAN, North Sumatra: Tumini, the first wife of a sorcerer suspected of a series of murders, sued Tuesday the Lubuk Pakam District prosecutor's office for her alleged illegal detention. Antara said Tumini filed the lawsuit yesterday and demanded Rp 550,000 (US$157) in compensation. Tumini's lawyer, Maya Manurung of Medan Legal Aid, said the 39-year-old woman was detained and accused of assisting the sorcerer, A.S.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct. 9, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 950 0 2,500 AHAP Insurance 2,500 0 0 Alter Abadi 850 25 5,000 Alumindo Light Metal 650 25 105,000 Alumindo Perkasa 400 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 750 0 74,000 Anwar Sierad 1,000 75 9,500 Apac Centertex Corp.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
'IMF may impose few conditions'
'IMF may impose few conditions' JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) should not impose many conditions on Indonesia in return for financial help to bail it out of the monetary crisis as it had done well in managing its economy, Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday. But economists and analysts warned that financial assistance from the IMF usually came with tough conditions attached to it and Indonesia could have trouble coping with them.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
SE Asia warned of prolonged currency pains
SE Asia warned of prolonged currency pains HONG KONG (AFP): Southeast Asia's currency crisis will be prolonged and could even get worse, a senior official of the World Economic Forum warned yesterday, as the group prepared to stage an East Asian summit here next week. "We are not yet at the end of the process," said Claude Smadja, managing director of the Geneva-based foundation to encourage global economic dialog. "It is a phase of getting back to economic reality.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
One dead in police helicopter crash
One dead in police helicopter crash JAKARTA (JP): One person was found dead and another in a critical condition when search teams located the wreckage of the police helicopter which went down along the Jambi and South Sumatra border Wednesday afternoon. Mechanic Sgt. Jainul was found alive, but seriously injured, while the body of pilot Capt. Sriono was discovered late yesterday floating in a nearby river. Sriono's body was taken to Palembang later in the day.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Mental illness stigma prevents cures
Mental illness stigma prevents cures JAKARTA (JP): Fear of humiliation still pervades the public and deters people from seeking medical assistance in treating mental illness. Dr Nanang, head of Semarang's state-run mental hospital, lamented the prevailing stigma toward mental institutions and those inflicted with mental disorders. "Many people think, mistakenly, that mental hospitals are only for 'crazy people'," he said in Semarang, Central Java. Yesterday was National Mental Health Day.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
District to launch regreening
District to launch regreening PONOROGO, East Java: The Ponorogo district administration, concerned about its 54,000 hectares of arid land, plans to launch a seven-year regreening program by cultivating at least three million merak teak seeds annually. Antara quoted district chief Markum Singodimedjo as saying Tuesday that 3.2 million seeds had been planted earlier this year. But almost half of the seedlings died due to the prolonged dry season.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Research on sectarian riots to be conducted
Research on sectarian riots to be conducted JAKARTA (JP): Two prestigious state-run universities will cooperate with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to conduct a study on why riots erupted across the country over the past two years. Antara quoted Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher as saying Wednesday in Denpasar, Bali that the researchers at Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University and the University of Indonesia in Depok will begin the study next January.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Jambi to send bands
Jambi to send bands JAKARTA (JP): Jambi will send three marching bands totaling 275 people for the 19th SEA Games closing ceremony on Oct. 19. Provincial police chief Col. Priestiwa, said in Jambi yesterday that the marching bands were invited by the National Sports Council (KONI) and the Indonesian Marching Band Association. The three marching bands are Bahana Masurai from Sarolangun Bangko, Gita Bersama from Tanjung Jabung and Bahana Lintas from Bungo Tebo.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Southeast Asian currency slump squeezing U.S. exports
Southeast Asian currency slump squeezing U.S. exports SEATTLE, Washington (AFP): Sharp devaluations of Southeast Asian currencies have begun to put the brakes on Washington and Oregon state exports, especially agricultural products. The Thai baht, Philippine peso, Indonesian rupiah and Malaysian ringgit had been overvalued but have nosedived over the past two months. This means expected U.S.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Honorary doctorate for Kusunoki
Honorary doctorate for Kusunoki DEPOK, West Java: The University of Indonesia presented on Wednesday an honorary doctorate to Japanese scholar Masahiro Kusunoki for his contribution to the development of Japanese- Indonesian studies. The presentation ceremony was held at the university's convocation hall here, about 25 kilometers south of Jakarta. Kusunoki delivered his dissertation summary titled What Was Forgotten by the Japanese at the ceremony.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Property market severely hit by economic crisis
Property market severely hit by economic crisis JAKARTA (JP): The excessive depreciation of the rupiah and high interest rates have made the local property market significantly vulnerable, an analyst and an industry executive said yesterday. "The property market has been dealt a triple blow," property consultant PT Procon Indah, in cooperation with Jones Lang Wootton, said in a statement yesterday.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia sends cultural mission to Utah, Boston
Indonesia sends cultural mission to Utah, Boston JAKARTA (JP): A group of about two dozen Indonesian dancers leave tomorrow for Utah and Boston in the United States on a cultural mission aimed at helping build more positive bilateral relations. The mission is being organized by the Indonesian-American Friendship Association.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Pianist Iswargia R. Sudarno pulls off all-Schubert recital
Pianist Iswargia R. Sudarno pulls off all-Schubert recital By Laksmi Pamuntjak-Djohan JAKARTA (JP): It was both a bane and a blessing for Iswargia R. Sudarno, or Lendi as he is better known to his peers, that the Erasmus Huis was only but a quarter full the night of his solo recital. A bane because what he represented aside from obvious talent was courage, something that we rarely see in our classical musicians nowadays.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Port officials deny spill
Port officials deny spill MEDAN, North Sumatra: Belawan port denied there had been an oil spillage when a tanker loaded with 2,200 tons of palm oil caught fire in the Strait of Malacca off Aruah Island Monday. "The MT Permaisuri cargo was saved and until now, there is no indication of water pollution at the site," the port official, Barjuweh, was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
The Listening Post
The Listening Post "Building English Skills Through Newspaper + Radio" Produced by American Language Center in cooperation with The Jakarta Post and Radio Sonora FM 100.9 Mhz * Nine years ago something wonderful sprang miraculously into being: "The Listening Post," the first ever teaching program of its kind, was born.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Tourism fair in Balikpapan
Tourism fair in Balikpapan JAKARTA (JP): Balikpapan, the second largest city in East Kalimantan, will host a Tourism, Trade and Investment (TTI) Fair from Oct. 28 to Oct. 31. The organizer said yesterday that the event has won full support from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) which has set up the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia- Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP EAGA).
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Glimmers of hope drive SE Asian currencies up
Glimmers of hope drive SE Asian currencies up SINGAPORE (Reuter): Southeast Asian currencies rebounded yesterday as traders saw rare glimmers of hope in Indonesia's bid for IMF assistance and Malaysia's looming budget. Malaysia's ringgit, which has been creeping higher this week on expectations of a market-friendly budget, was the day's biggest gainer. It rose nearly four percent at one point to hit a high of about 3.0514 to the dollar against levels of about 3.1774/804 late on Wednesday.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Philatelists bullish for buffalo stamp
Philatelists bullish for buffalo stamp By Fredrich C. Kuan UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (Antara): International and local stamp collectors are in the hunt for a limited edition stamp featuring the striped buffalo from Tana Toraja. State-owned postal service PT Pos Indonesia will issue 100,000 of the stamps in conjunction with the official opening of the International Philately Makassar '97 exhibition in Ujungpandang tomorrow to Wednesday, Oct. 15.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Law enforcement, incentives needed to curb fires: Emil
Law enforcement, incentives needed to curb fires: Emil JAKARTA (JP): Stringent law enforcement and greater economic incentives are needed to curb the use of fire in land clearing activities by plantation companies and forest concessionaires, a respected environmentalist said yesterday. Former state minister of environment Emil Salim reiterated here yesterday the need to prevent a repeat of forest fires started by slash-and-burn land clearing practices.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Three suspects shot dead, another arrested
Three suspects shot dead, another arrested JAKARTA (JP): Three alleged criminals were gunned down and another one was arrested during police raids in East and Central Jakarta yesterday, increasing this year's death toll of suspects' shooting to at least 80.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
SEA Games participants spread throughout 35 hotels
SEA Games participants spread throughout 35 hotels JAKARTA (JP): The participants in the 19th SEA Games are staying in 35 different hotels during the competition, the organizers' accommodation deputy Rianto Nurhadi said yesterday. Rianto, who is also the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association's secretary, said that Hotel Mulia Senayan, dubbed the athletes' village, could not accommodate all 4,000 sportsmen and women from the participating countries.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Tung clashes with leading democrat on HK democracy
Tung clashes with leading democrat on HK democracy HONG KONG (AP): Hong Kong leader Tung Chee-hwa differed sharply with the territory's leading democrat yesterday over the pace of democracy, saying it was more important to improve living standards. Martin Lee, chairman of the Democratic Party, accused Tung of doing China's bidding by curtailing Hong Kong's freedoms.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Regional stocks up on currency gains
Regional stocks up on currency gains HONG KONG (AFP): Asian stock markets were mixed yesterday with some Southeast Asian markets rising on improved currency positions, but major markets in Japan and Hong Kong both fell. Hong Kong share prices dived 3.8 percent following heavy losses on Wall Street, dealers said. The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong's key Hang Seng Index lost 565.40 points to finish at 14,273.12.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Bali:
Where to go in Bali: Music and entertainment * Nikko Bali Hotel: - Kupu-kupu Amphitheater, Balinese dance performances at 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., Ramayana, on Saturday. - Oo Looloos Santap Restaurant presents live music daily except Monday at 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. * Bali Cliff, Pecatu: Frog Dance, Saturday, Kecak Dance, Tuesday and Saturday, Legong Dance, Friday, Tektekan Calonarang, Sunday, from 8:30 p.m. * The Ritz Carlton Bali, Jl.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Man confesses to art attack
Man confesses to art attack JAKARTA (JP): A man admitted to having damaged a valuable painting by the late Hendra Gunawan in the Central Jakarta District Court Wednesday. Sri Sugeng Edhi Kwartanto, alias Teted Sri WD, confessed to damaging the painting while he was being questioning by presiding judge Zulkifli Lubis.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
C. Sulawesi famine claims 12 lives
C. Sulawesi famine claims 12 lives JAKARTA (JP): At least 12 people in a drought-stricken village in Central Sulawesi have died of starvation in the past month, while thousands of others are now facing the same threat, Antara reported yesterday. Palasa is one of four villages in Tomini subdistrict, Donggala regency, currently under threat of food shortages caused by the severe drought in the region.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bush fires may hurt rubber output: INRO
Bush fires may hurt rubber output: INRO TOKYO (Reuter): Raging bush fires in Indonesia may have hurt natural rubber production in Southeast Asia, but it is hard to assess the damage at present, an official of the International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO) said yesterday. "We have not received (reports) on what extent the haze damaged production of rubber, but there might be some effect," INRO executive director Ahmad Zubeir Noordin told a news conference in Tokyo.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian 'sea gypsy' fights for fishing rights
Indonesian 'sea gypsy' fights for fishing rights SYDNEY (Reuter): An Indonesian "sea gypsy" detained for the past five months for illegally fishing in Australian waters plans to use an Aboriginal "native title" argument to defend his right to fish off Australia. Captain Nasir and his four crew, nomadic Bajau or "sea gypsies" from the island of Roti near Timor, argue that their ancestors have plied the waters off northern Australia for thousands of years.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Tokyo to monitor talks on IMF aid for RI
Tokyo to monitor talks on IMF aid for RI TOKYO (AFP): Japanese Finance Minister Hiroshi Mitsuzuka said yesterday Tokyo would monitor discussions on a possible IMF-led international financial package for Indonesia as it wrestles with currency woes. "Japan will maintain close collaboration with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank," Mitsuzuka told a news conference, referring to Indonesia's move on Wednesday to seek assistance the international bodies for its economic program.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Postal services
Postal services From Pikiran Rakyat On behalf of the organizing committee of the All-Indonesia PMKN University Students Communications Forum (Forkoma), I wish to express our dissatisfaction with the services rendered by state-owned postal service company PT Pos (particularly with its Bandung municipality branch office). Our disappointment regards invitation letters for a seminar slated for Oct. 9, 1997 that we sent on a free-stamp facility basis.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Worker killed after 10m fall
Worker killed after 10m fall JAKARTA (JP): A construction worker died yesterday after falling from 10-meter-high scaffolding at a hotel construction site in South Jakarta, bringing this year's death toll to 101. The number of deaths has already equaled last year's toll for all victims of work-related accidents. The worker in the latest accident was identified as Edi Suparman, 31, of Jl. PLN at Duren Tiga, South Jakarta.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bribe taker not duped
Bribe taker not duped From Surabaya Post Riding my motorcycle close to Jl. Ambengan near the railway crossing around noon on Sept. 29, I entered a roadblock set up by the East Surabaya Police who were checking on vehicle registration papers. I only had a photocopy of my vehicle document (STNK). I explained to the policemen that the original STNK was at the police office for its yearly extension. The officers did not accept my explanation and wanted to ticket me.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
New airport project in Medan continues
New airport project in Medan continues JAKARTA (JP): The project to construct a new airport in Medan, North Sumatra is continuing, and the clearance of about 1,350 hectares of land for the construction has been completed. Spokesman for the Ministry of Transportation, Bambang S. Ervan, said here yesterday that the master plan for the new airport, located in Kuala Namu, Deli Serdang, some 20 km from Medan, was scheduled to be completed by the end of this month.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI's request for IMF aid to spur Asia fund
RI's request for IMF aid to spur Asia fund TOKYO (Reuter): An Indonesian request for aid to cope with a currency crash will spur momentum for the creation of an Asian fund to help troubled economies in the region, but opposition from key players in the debate won't fade quickly.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bogor gets new police chief
Bogor gets new police chief BOGOR (JP): Lt. Col. Edmon Ilyas was installed yesterday as the new chief of Bogor City Police, replacing Lt. Col. Zaenal Abidin. Bogor Police chief Col. Dadang Garnida, who presided over the ceremony at local police headquarters, urged the new chief to improve on the successes of his predecessor in maintaining security in Bogor. "You have to be consistently improving police vigilance against developments in the area, including its impact on security," he said.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Nokia, Telkom join forces
Nokia, Telkom join forces JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Telkom has established a radio access network laboratory in its research and information technology unit (Risti) in Bandung, West Java, in cooperation with Nokia of Finland. The laboratory was launched by Telkom's president, Asman A. Nasution in Bandung yesterday. Through the laboratory, Nokia and Risti will study together new services and technologies.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Opening ceremony to be grand festival
Opening ceremony to be grand festival JAKARTA (JP): A well-knit blend of dance, music and acrobatic performances are set to raise the curtain to the 19th SEA Games at Senayan stadium tomorrow. Barring unexpected rain that may fall due to the change of season, the opening ceremony will be a grandiose, exuberant festival, courtesy of 13,000 high school students, athletes, artists and Armed Forces cadets.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Magnificent Indonesia thrashes Malaysia 4-0
Magnificent Indonesia thrashes Malaysia 4-0 JAKARTA (JP): Four unanswered goals yesterday rekindled Indonesia's hopes of winning the soccer gold medal in the 19th SEA Games. Playing arch-rival Malaysia in a crucial group B match, the victory hungry Indonesians entertained some 70,000 fans at the Senayan stadium yesterday with a near-flawless attacking game. The match, however, was tarnished with two red cards reducing both teams to 10 men after just 33 minutes.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
FCB enters Indonesia
FCB enters Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB) -- a large advertising agency in the United States -- has entered Indonesia through a technical assistance agreement with Advis, a local advertising agency. Under the agreement, the local company will be known as FCB Advis. David Wibowo, FCB Advis' managing director, said yesterday that the strategic cooperation would improve the agency's performance in Indonesia.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Food industry needs government push
Food industry needs government push JAKARTA (JP): The government must boost the competitiveness of the national export of farm products by providing fiscal incentives, a government official has said. The Director General of Agricultural and Forestry Products Industries Sujata said yesterday that giving tax incentives to farm-related industries would help boost their exports.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Manila eying tighter rules on forex trade
Manila eying tighter rules on forex trade MANILA (AFP): The Central Bank of the Philippines said yesterday it was considering new restrictions on banks' foreign exchange trading to shore up the defenses against speculation.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
'Voice of oppressed' Seno sweeps literary awards
'Voice of oppressed' Seno sweeps literary awards JAKARTA (JP): Many people are oppressed but only a few dare to speak out against it. Seno Gumira Ajidarma, winner of this year's Southeast Asia Write Award and one of the country's most prolific writers, is one of them. His 1995 short story anthology, Dilarang Menyanyi di Kamar Mandi (Singing in the Bathroom Prohibited), impressed the jury in the annual event. Seno received the award from Thai Prince Maha Vajralongkorn in Bangkok on Sept. 26.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah and stock prices continue stabilizing
Rupiah and stock prices continue stabilizing JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah and stock prices continued to stabilize yesterday in response to the government's move to seek financial help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), dealers and stockbrokers said. Currency dealers said the rupiah was stable against the U.S. dollar in late trading after making a gradual recovery in the morning. They said spot rupiah closed at 3,550/70 compared with the opening of 3,535/75 and Wednesday's close of 3,665.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Seoul parties trade charges over fund scandal
Seoul parties trade charges over fund scandal SEOUL (Reuter): South Korea's main parties traded fresh accusations yesterday in a political slush fund controversy ahead of the country's presidential elections. The ruling New Korea Party (NKP) offered fresh details to back allegations that opposition leader Kim Dae-jung illegally amassed more than 67 billion won ($US73 million) in real and false accounts.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Timber estates threaten forests
Timber estates threaten forests By Stepanus Djuweng PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): President Soeharto said recently that the forest fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra have been caused by the land clearing on cash-crop estates, timber estates and transmigration sites. This is the first time the Indonesian government recognized direct environmental pollution is caused by development projects. It is a shift from the government's customary blame on indigenous farmers.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Qantas sees more passengers
Qantas sees more passengers JAKARTA (JP): Qantas Airways of Australia transported some 214,000 passengers from Jakarta to Australia in the first nine- months of this year. An executive of the air carrier's Jakarta office, Fonny Tedjakusmana, said here yesterday that most of the passengers went to Sydney, followed by Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. She said that some 194,000 passengers flew to Sydney from Jakarta in the January to September period.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Thailand relying on swimming veterans
Thailand relying on swimming veterans JAKARTA (JP): Thailand will bank on veterans in its bid to haul in gold medals from the swimming pool during the 19th SEA Games. National coach Samreng Thosakul said during a workout at the Senayan pool yesterday that his 21-strong team would again feature the likes of Ratapong Sirisanont and Prapansai Minpraphal, who collected 10 gold medals between them in the last games in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Graphic Art Exhibition: by Marida Nasution, at the Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, at 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Oct. 16. * Painting Exhibition: Van Der Sterren from New Zealand, at Galeri Linggar, Jl. Kemang Timur No. 36, South Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., until Oct. 19. * Painting Exhibition: by Ling Nan Lung, Tjeng Tjiam Hwie, L. Mantarja, Eveline Hilman, Chien Pang L, at Balai Budaya, Jl.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Currency crisis exposes RI's bank shortcomings
Currency crisis exposes RI's bank shortcomings By Marike Stellinga JAKARTA (JP): The recent currency crisis has put the focus on the weaknesses of Indonesian banks. Although none of the problems seem as severe as in Thailand, the World Bank and the IMF have pointed out that Indonesia's financial sector is in bad need of correction as well. Research shows that although a collapse in the banking sector does not necessarily cause a recession, it definitely makes an economic downturn worse.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Start rights pact debate, Golkar told
Start rights pact debate, Golkar told JAKARTA (JP): More activists called on Golkar yesterday to let go of its anxiety toward a proposed human rights charter and initiate deliberations on it at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Secretary-general of the Association of the Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) Adi Sasono and human rights lawyer Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said Golkar should not ignore the proposal and respond positively to the initiative.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Tourism police given the cold shoulder
Tourism police given the cold shoulder By Christiani Tumelap JAKARTA (JP): Many foreign tourists visiting the capital are still reluctant to ask for help or assistance from the city's tourism police unit, which was established 10 months ago. Some tourists may prefer to handle a problem themselves or think that police officers cannot solve their difficulty, the head of Jakarta Tourism Police, Maj. M. Nur H. Usman, told The Jakarta Post.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Clouds disrupt Games torch-lighting ceremony
Clouds disrupt Games torch-lighting ceremony JAKARTA (JP): Men can only plan, God decides. And so it was during the SEA Games torch lighting ceremony at the ASEAN Secretariat on Jl. Sisingamangaraja, South Jakarta, yesterday. The plan to use a magnifying glass to light the torch was scrapped after the sun stayed hidden behind clouds during the ceremony, although rays began peaking through after the formalities.
Fri, 10 Oct 1997, 00:00 WIB
Trust must be restored
Trust must be restored What is needed at present is a restoration, at home and abroad, of people's trust in the Indonesian economy and in the fact that we have a solid mechanism to regulate our political system. A growing trust will eventually build confidence and encourage productivity. One of the reasons of the present weakening of the rupiah is this weakening trust. It takes time, however, to restore trust.