Archive: 19 March 1997
52 articles found
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Youths demonstrate support for Bintang
Youths demonstrate support for Bintang JAKARTA (JP): A group of 20 youths staged a peaceful demonstration outside the Attorney General's Office yesterday, protesting the arrest of rebel politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas. Calling themselves the Committee of Indonesian Youths, the students did not ask for a meeting with the officials, despite being invited inside, but insisted on reading out a statement opposing the arrest.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Local fruit potential
Local fruit potential From Merdeka I have felt for some time that our country is fast loosing what it has, like local fruits, which are increasingly becoming a rarity. A few of these are kesemek, gowok, kebembem, cereme, jamblang, rambutan si nyonya, rambutan lengkeng, etc. which can be found abundantly when in season. We understand that these fruits have become rare species, because people do not like their often pungent flavors.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bonded zones seen reducing RI's current account deficit
Bonded zones seen reducing RI's current account deficit JAKARTA (JP): Bonded zones, despite hosting export-oriented companies, cannot help but reduce the country's current account deficit, legislators have said. When visiting state-owned bonded zone operator PT Kawasan Berikat Nusantara, a number of legislators from the House Budgetary Commission said the export value of companies in the bonded zones were almost the same as the value of imports, when freight and insurance was factored in.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI and Malaysia discuss barriers
RI and Malaysia discuss barriers JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian and Malaysian businesspeople will meet tomorrow to assess the problems and constraints of doing business in the two countries. Indonesian businessman Sofyan Wanandi said yesterday the one- day Jakarta Dialogue, focusing on the Malaysia-Indonesian partnership, focussed mainly on finding the barriers to trade and investment between the two nations.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Classrooms demolished in school dispute
Classrooms demolished in school dispute JAKARTA (JP): About 75 students of the Central Jakarta De la Salle senior high school have been on "holiday" since Monday after public order officials demolished half their school Sunday. The students said yesterday they were shocked when they got to school Monday and found classrooms destroyed. "We want our school back. We want the officials to be punished," one student said.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Thai Bank enters Jakarta
Thai Bank enters Jakarta BANGKOK (Reuter): Thai Farmers Bank Plc, Thailand's third largest commercial bank, said yesterday it would open a representative office in Jakarta. The bank said in a statement that the Jakarta office, its 16th overseas representative office, would open on Thursday and would offer advisory services to foreign investors wishing to invest in Indonesia and in Thailand.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
No anticipation for congestion
No anticipation for congestion From Jayakarta Traffic congestion seems to have become worse this year. And sadly, such conditions do not seem to have been anticipated. Traffic jams occur at any time of the day, mornings, afternoons and evenings. I think the main cause of traffic jams are drivers' unruly behavior and the little anticipation traffic officers have for possible congestion in traffic trouble spots. Traffic in Depok, West Java is congested daily around its terminal area.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Rights body in awkward position
Rights body in awkward position JAKARTA: East Timorese are scared to report possible violations to the local representative of the human rights commission because the office is near a military base. The observation came from Marzuki Darusman, deputy chief of the National Commission on Human Rights when he met Monday with John Shattuck, U.S. under secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
PSN to launch M2A satellites in 1999
PSN to launch M2A satellites in 1999 JAKARTA (JP): PT Pasific Satelit Nusantara (PSN) will spend about US$340 million making two Multi-Media Asia (M2A) satellites. PSN's operating director, Achadiat Djajawinata, said here yesterday the two satellites would be launched by the first quarter of 1999, and begin operation in August 1999. "The cost of launching the satellites alone will reach around $72 million," he said on the sidelines of a telecommunications seminar.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Human rights courses planned for universities
Human rights courses planned for universities JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights is developing courses in human rights to be taught at universities. Commission chairman Munawir Sjadzali said that currently the subject could not be taught at primary or secondary schools. "Our school curriculum is already too big," Munawir said.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Here, here, Amien Rais!
Here, here, Amien Rais! From Merdeka Being a veteran of the 1945 independence struggle, a former national businessman, and a new order journalist (1966) as well, I was proud to read the front page of Merdeka (March 17) which published a comment from Muhammadiyah general chairman Amien Rais. He said the New Order has eight positive, but two negative aspects. In general, I agree with him.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
ACPC predicts coffee output will fall 25%
ACPC predicts coffee output will fall 25% SURABAYA, East Java (JP): The Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters (ACPC) predicts the country's coffee output will fall about 25 percent to 350,000 tons this year from 469,000 tons in 1996 because of bad weather. "It will be very difficult to reach an output of 350,000 tons," the association's chairman, Oesman Soedargo, said Monday on the sidelines of a ceremony to celebrate the coffee plant of PT Aneka Coffee Industry in Sidoarjo, west of here.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Stamp expo in Bandung
Stamp expo in Bandung BANDUNG: PT Pos Indonesia is to sponsor the Bandung Philately Festival 97 from March 27 through March 31, the state-run company announced yesterday. Part of the 75th anniversary of the Indonesian Philatelies Association, the exhibition will feature stamp collections that have won international awards. The event will also be enlivened by an auction of rare stamps, a seminar and a philately competition, according to Pos Indonesia.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Parrots, cockatoos face extinction
Parrots, cockatoos face extinction MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Protected parrots and yellow- crested cockatoos are on the brink of disappearing from the province due to poaching, a local official said here yesterday. The few remaining birds are mainly confined to Moyo island, in Sumbawa regency, and are now rarely seen on Lombok, said Agus Bambang of the provincial office of natural resources conservation. The birds are in danger because of their popularity with poachers.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia standardizes ecolabeling procedures
Indonesia standardizes ecolabeling procedures JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is standardizing ecolabeling procedures and criteria for its timber companies. The minister of forestry, Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo, said yesterday the standardization of ecolabeling procedures would be completed by April. The Ministry of Forestry in cooperation with the Indonesian Ecolebelling Agency and the Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaires were still working on it, he said.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Medicine prices
Medicine prices From Neraca I had to buy some medicine at a private hospital where a relative of mine was hospitalized. I was greatly astounded at the high price of the medicine prescribed. A woman then advised me to buy the medicine elsewhere. So I bought the medicine at a dispensary outside the hospital. It was evident that the price of medicine at this dispensary was much cheaper than that at the hospital. But why was the same medicine priced differently at different dispensaries?
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
City to investigate disappearing buses
City to investigate disappearing buses JAKARTA (JP): Deputy governor of economic and development affairs Tb. M. Rais asked the City Land Transportation Agency yesterday to investigate why some regular buses have disappeared from their designated routes. Some buses reportedly do not reach their final destinations, while some buses are not in evidence at all. Bus companies' inability to cover operational costs with the current fare was one of the reasons why the buses were scarce.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 18, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------ Dharmala Insurance 1,500 0 0 Ades Alfindo 1,025 0 0 Andayani Megah 1,000 0 303,000 AHAP Insurance 2,675 0 0 Argha Karya Prima Industry 2,450 -200 62,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 1,250 -25 507,000 Alter Abadi 1,175 0 66,000 Alumindo Perkasa 700 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 1,175 -25 71,000 Asahimas Flat 1,400 -25 186,000 Anwar...
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
City buildings designed for worse quakes: Experts
City buildings designed for worse quakes: Experts JAKARTA (JP): High rise buildings in Jakarta were designed to withstand earthquakes of much greater intensity than Monday's tremors, experts here said. The intensity would have to be at least two and a half times that of Monday to damage buildings, architect and building consultant Wiratman Wangsadinata said yesterday.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI elections cultural not political, says observer
RI elections cultural not political, says observer JAKARTA (JP): The general elections over the last three decades have been cultural events rather than political ones, an observer said yesterday. The once-in-five-years polls' popular sobriquet, fiesta of democracy, explains their essential meaning, Cornelis LAY of the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University said. He said that as general elections were regarded as mere fiestas, it implied that every eligible citizen had to take part.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Mar'ie vows to implement new customs law
Mar'ie vows to implement new customs law JAKARTA (JP): Despite private sector concerns the government has vowed to implement the new customs procedures on April 1 without any transition period. The minister of finance, Mar'ie Muhammad, said yesterday the government had made enough preparations to implement the 1995 customs law, including the new customs procedures, which most importers still find vague.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Baby dumper gets six months
Baby dumper gets six months MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: An unmarried woman was sentenced to six months in jail over the weekend for dumping her newborn child into her neighbor's toilet last year. Yabelin Oetpah was found guilty of attempting to murder her 2.8-kilogram baby. She did it out of fear that the baby would give away her affair with the child's father, judge A Ratu Tanahboleng said. The baby had been in the toilet for about four hours when a neighbor heard it cry and fished it out.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
To Mecca with Golkar?
To Mecca with Golkar? JEPARA, Central Java (JP): Hundreds of Moslems going on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca were caught up in the raging political color war here yesterday. They found it impossible to say no when the government officials that had arranged their departure coerced them into buying yellow suitcases which some claimed were of low quality.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia imports 1m tons sugar yearly
Indonesia imports 1m tons sugar yearly BANDUNG (JP): Indonesia imports about one million tons of sugar in a year to supply the demand of sugar in the country, an official has said here. Beddu Amang, the head of the National Logistics Agency, said the demand of sugar now reached 3 million tons, while the domestic production only reached 2.3 million tons a year.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Spotlight
Spotlight Photo A: Indorama Indo-Rama BUSINESS DEAL: S.P. Lophia (second from right), managing director of PT Indo-Rama Synthetics Tbk, congratulates Ray Ho (third from right), director of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Singapore Ltd., after signing a loan agreement in Singapore. Under last week's deal, Indo-Rama obtained a US$175 million syndicated term loan. Photo B: Envoy JP/byi FAREWELL PARTY: Former British Ambassador to Indonesia Graham Burton (center) and his wife Mrs.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Big budget needed to upgrade Bogor lakes
Big budget needed to upgrade Bogor lakes JAKARTA (JP): A large amount of money is needed to upgrade 120 manmade lakes in Bogor, according to regency spokesman Denny M. Moechry, but the Bogor regency has no authority to upgrade them because they fall under the West Java provincial administration's authority. "Even if it was the regency's jurisdiction it could not afford it.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Oki expands business
Oki expands business TOKYO (Reuter): Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd said yesterday that it and a Chinese telecommunications firm would set up a joint venture in China in May to manufacture and sell telephone systems and switchboards. The joint venture will sell its products to markets in Europe, Oceania, Japan and Southeast Asian countries as well as China, Oki said in a statement. The joint venture will be capitalized at US$7.3 million.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Malaysian leaders cautious on Lee's vow to retract remarks
Malaysian leaders cautious on Lee's vow to retract remarks KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian leaders reacted guardedly yesterday to Singapore political patriarch Lee Kuan Yew's promise to retract remarks which triggered a political row between the two neighbors. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the government response would be made public after a weekly cabinet meeting today, expected to focus on former prime minister Lee's criticism of a southern Malaysian state near Singapore.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Brunei confirms for SEA Games
Brunei confirms for SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): Brunei became the last country to confirm its participation in the 19th SEA Games here from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19. An official of the organizers, M. Hindarto, said Brunei will send its 325 athletes and 106 officials to take part in 24 events. Other participating countries: Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and host Indonesia had sent their confirmation last week.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Grahaniaga gets $105 million loan
Grahaniaga gets $105 million loan JAKARTA (JP): Property developer PT Grahaniaga Tatautama secured yesterday a US$105 million syndicated loan from 26 banks. The company's president, Mohamad S Hidayat, said $75 million would be used to finance the development of the second Niaga Tower in the Sudirman Central Business District. American Express Bank Ltd, Bank International Indonesia, Hong Kong branch of the state-owned Bank Bapindo and Bank Tiara arranged the loan.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Defamation case trial to go on
Defamation case trial to go on JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court decided yesterday to continue trying a lawyer charged with defaming Akbar Tandjung, the minister of public housing. Heri S. Kolopaking is accused of spreading false information last year about what he called Akbar's illegal selling of a piece of land belonging to his clients.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Childless couples eye orang utans
Childless couples eye orang utans KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Baby orang utans are being abducted and reared by desperate childless couples in Malaysia, a newspaper reported here yesterday. The couples shave the body hair off the orang utans to make them look more human, Edwin Bosi, an officer at the Sepilok Orang Utan rehabilitation center in eastern Sabah state, told The Star daily.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Rights body says circus guilty of child abuse
Rights body says circus guilty of child abuse BOGOR (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights found that the Oriental Circus Indonesia violated the rights of the employees who ran away to the rights body for help. Two rights body members, Muladi and Djoko Sugiyanto, on a fact finding mission, met with the circus management yesterday to find out how the circus treated its employees, especially the underage ones. The circus still employs 12 children under 17.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
S'pore to launch speed crackdown
S'pore to launch speed crackdown SINGAPORE (DPA): While traffic gridlock slowly paralyzes East Asia's big cities from Taipei to Jakarta, Singapore has been lucky or clever enough to keep cars humming along its streets and highways quickly -- perhaps too quickly. Speeding is the major cause of traffic fatalities in the island city-state, responsible for nearly half of its 214 road deaths in 1996, police said in a report released yesterday.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
ABRI member demolishes villa
ABRI member demolishes villa BOGOR (JP): A Jakarta-based general has set an example for other Armed Forces personnel by demolishing his illegal villa in Puncak. Bogor mayoralty spokesman Denny M. Moechry confirmed an ABRI official had demolished his villa in response to the government's campaign to save the water catchment area, up stream of Puncak, reduced by the illegal building of villas. At least 150 of the 300 illegal villas have been demolished, Denny said.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Two soldiers testify against Aberson
Two soldiers testify against Aberson JAKARTA (JP): Two military witnesses testified yesterday in the Central Jakarta District Court against Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho by recalling the defamatory statements he allegedly made against President Soeharto. The witnesses, First Corporal Suratno, aged 37, and Sergeant Sunarto, 24, both of the Jakarta regional military command, said they recalled Aberson making a slanderous speech.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Financindo secures loans
Financindo secures loans JAKARTA (JP): PT Tunas Financindo, a subsidiary of PT Tunas Ridean, signed a loan syndication worth US$30 million in Singapore yesterday to strengthen its working capital. The company announced yesterday the loan, arranged by HSBC Investment Bank Asia Limited, was 23 percent oversubscribed. Tunas Financindo, established in 1989, deals with consumer financing for automotive purchases.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Local stocks keep falling
Local stocks keep falling JAKARTA (JP): Share prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) continued to lose ground yesterday sparked by a sharp drop in Telkom's share price. An HG Asia dealer said the market was featureless as investors were not hungry for shares. The JSX composite index closed 1.7 percent lower or 11.49 points at 659.44. More than 236 million shares worth Rp 479.9 billion were traded.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Thai PM to visit Brunei
Thai PM to visit Brunei BANGKOK (DPA): Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will travel to Brunei and Singapore this week to discuss trade and investment and address problems faced by Thai laborers in both countries, government sources said yesterday. Chavalit will depart today for a one day visit to Brunei before travelling on to Singapore March 20-21.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Pilgrims to face cold weather in Holy Land
Pilgrims to face cold weather in Holy Land JAKARTA (JP): This year's haj pilgrims are facing relatively cold weather in Saudi Arabia, a situation which will increase the physical ordeal of the journey, according to Wan Alkadri, the head of the Ministry of Health's Haj Health Affairs. Reports have said that the temperature in the holy city of Mecca, the port city of Jeddah and Medina, the second holiest city, is between 13 degrees and 29 degrees Celsius.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Radisson Hotel, Jl. Pecenongan 72, Central Jakarta: - Lobby Lounge Bar; Vino on Bass and Yudi on Piano, Mona and Nongky (Singers), Monday to Saturday, 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. * Ancol Travelodge, Jl. Lodan Timur No. 7, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, North Jakarta: - Jungles Restaurant; Pasar Malam, Keroncong and Kecapi Suling, Friday, 6 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., Dixie Band, Saturday, 6 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., Trio Band, Sunday, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. - No.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia rubber production falls 12%
Malaysia rubber production falls 12% KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Weak prices have driven down Malaysian natural rubber output by an estimated 12 percent in the first quarter of 1997 compared to the year-earlier period, rubber traders said yesterday. Production between January and March 1997 is estimated at 257,000-260,000 tons, compared to 291,723 tons in the same period of 1996, the traders told Reuters.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Business in HK to remain as usual after handover
Business in HK to remain as usual after handover JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong's secretary for trade and industry, Denise C.Y. Yue, assured Indonesia's business community yesterday that Hong Kong's economic regime would be unchanged after the colony was transferred to China. Yue said businesspeople and investors should not feel reluctant to continue operating there after China takes over on July 1. "It is business as usual in the area of trade and investment ...
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Govt relaxes rules on election campaigners
Govt relaxes rules on election campaigners JAKARTA (JP): The government, already under fire for its election policy that critics say benefits Golkar, is relaxing the rules governing election campaigners. After meeting with leaders of the three political parties contesting the May 29 election, government officials said campaigners would be free to address gatherings as soon as they were registered with the General Elections Institute.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
UN, U.S. human rights officials to visit E. Timor
UN, U.S. human rights officials to visit E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): Two high-ranking foreign officials, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State John Shattuck and United Nations special envoy Jamsheed Marker, are due in East Timor this week on separate fact-finding missions on the human rights situation. Shattuck, who is the assistant secretary for democracy, human rights and labor, arrived here quietly Sunday with no formal announcement from officials in Jakarta.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Tariffs for AFTA set
Tariffs for AFTA set JAKARTA (JP): The government has set a schedule of tariff reduction for most industrial products of up to 5 percent by 2003 for the ASEAN Free Trade Area. Finance minister decree No. 94/KMK.01/1997, dated Feb. 28, stipulates that products produced in other ASEAN countries would benefit from the so-called Common Effective Preferential Tariffs (CEPT).
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Foreign fishermen deported
Foreign fishermen deported MANADO, North Sulawesi: Eight Filipino fishermen have been deported by the immigration office here for entering the province without proper documents, Antara reported yesterday. The head of the provincial immigration office, Amar Cho, said the eight fishermen were caught by a Navy patrol on Feb. 13 while fishing in Indonesian waters. The Philippines embassy in Jakarta paid for the cost of sending the fishermen home. (swe)
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Wismoyo tells swimmers to win back national pride
Wismoyo tells swimmers to win back national pride JAKARTA (JP): Wismoyo Arismunandar, the National Sports Council's chairman, went to the Senayan Swimming Pool yesterday to encourage the national swimming team to clean up in the pool at the 19th SEA Games. "You will have to stop Thailand's swimmers dominating the events. The fight to win back our honor will require your sacrifice," he said.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Telkom responds
Telkom responds I am writing in reference to the letter New telephone line from S & J Watson (March 13). After checking the line on March 13, we found that the cause of the disturbance was the damage of multiplexer equipment, and we repaired the damage on the same day. Concerning the mistake of the billing of the monthly subscription fee for December 1996 (Rp 20,500) and the fine for delayed payment (Rp 10,000) we had reimbursed the money.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
RP army attack on camp kills 11
RP army attack on camp kills 11 COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): An army bombing raid on a Moslem camp in the southern Philippines hit a school killing 10 teenage pupils and their teacher, Moro guerrilla leaders charged yesterday. The bombing of the Madrasah (Arabic School) happened last Sunday, when four 105-Howitzers landed inside the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) camp in Buldon, said MILF leader Al Haj Murad.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
BT sees S'pore as Asian telecom hub
BT sees S'pore as Asian telecom hub SINGAPORE (Reuter): British Telecommunications Plc (BT) said yesterday it aimed to turn Singapore into an Asian communications hub if it and its partners won their bid for a license to operate telephone services there from 2000.
Wed, 19 Mar 1997, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto blasts hasty analyses
Soeharto blasts hasty analyses By Dwi Atmanta MEDAN (JP): President Soeharto criticized Indonesian social scientists yesterday for issuing what he called unsubstantiated analyses of the unrest that rocked the country in recent months. "It is rare to find analyses which help clarify and settle a problem. Many of them are quick analyses and even speculation with no strong base and not supported by strong facts," Soeharto said.