Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 26 June 1997

56 articles found

Tigers habitat is dwindling

Tigers habitat is dwindling JAKARTA: A Sumatran tiger ate three people in West Lampung in recent weeks because the tigers' habitat is shrinking, a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) expert has said. "The dwindling size of their natural habitat has caused the Sumatran tigers to go on a rampage," WWF tiger expert Ron Lilley told Antara here Tuesday.

Art agenda

Art agenda Graphic art exhibition: Mencari Orde at Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta; June 28-July 6 Deny Rusanto studied screen printing at the Jakarta Arts Institute in the hope of opening a small printing business upon his return to his hometown of Palembang, South Sumatra. Twelve years later, he is still in Jakarta, working as a graphic artist and teaching print making at his alma mater.

Rights body members visit Australia

Rights body members visit Australia JAKARTA (JP): Four members of the National Commission on Human Rights have gone to Canberra for a week to tell their Australian counterparts about their work and Indonesia's human rights program. Led by the commission deputy chairman Miriam Budiardjo, the delegation left Monday; although the official visit began yesterday and will end July 2, according to Antara. The visit was arranged by Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

Young sees no abuse of Asian Nike workers

Young sees no abuse of Asian Nike workers ATLANTA (Reuter): Workers at Nike Inc. factories in Asia are well-treated, but many are unaware of their rights and are often supervised by managers who don't speak their language, former U.N. Ambassador Andrew Young said Tuesday.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 25, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 2,050 -50 158,500 AHAP Insurance 2,675 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,025 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 1,150 0 1,130,000 Alumindo Perkasa 875 25 4,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 1,350 25 9,473,500 Anwar Sierad 975 0 62,000 Apac Centertex Corp.

Quicker by air?

Quicker by air? From Media Indonesia On Jan. 31 1997, I sent a parcel to my brother at 6/95 Sherwood Road Toowong, Brisbane, Australia. I sent the package by airmail from the Rawa Barat Post Office, South Jakarta at a cost of Rp 92,800. Two weeks later I called to check if the package had reached its destination. Unfortunately the mail had not arrived. I called the Post Office and was told that the South Jakarta Post Office dispatched the parcel on Feb.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:30 p.m. News: Lintas Nusantara 2:40 Travel: My Country 2:45 Children's Film: Family Matters 3:10 Science Film: Animal Odyssey 3:35 Religious Teachings: Islam 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Environment: Pesona Flora 5:00 Arabic Lessons 5:30 Children's Story: Tamu dari Kota 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, The Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 6:53 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Culture Program: Cakrawala Budaya 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Spectrum 9:00...

'Picture seller' succeeds on his own quirky merits

'Picture seller' succeeds on his own quirky merits By Chandra Johan JAKARTA (JP): No euphemisms or subtle dancing around the truth are present when Irawan Karseno bluntly describes himself as a "picture seller". "It's a fact that I make pictures and earn my living by selling pictures," he said. Irawan's blunt admittance is an exception among artists, most of whom refuse to delve into "distasteful" discussions of the business of their art. Irawan's stance immediately invites a flood of questions.

Kompas Gramedia group to open two more hotels

Kompas Gramedia group to open two more hotels JAKARTA (JP): The country's print media giant Kompas Gramedia group will open a hotel here in September, making Santika, the group's property division, a chain of nine hotels with 1200 rooms by the end of 1997. A Santika executive, Kurnia Munaba, said here yesterday that a Santika hotel would also open in Surabaya later this year.

Coca Cola opens country's largest bottling plant

Coca Cola opens country's largest bottling plant CIBITUNG, West Java (JP): Coca Cola opened yesterday its 11th and largest bottling plant in Indonesia as part of its three-year US$225 million investment program in the country. M. Douglas Ivester of Coca Cola Company said the new plant, that cost Rp 180 billion (US$72 million), brought the Coca Cola system investment in Indonesia to more than $225 million. "And we are not stopping now ...

Wiratama's loss $1.7m

Wiratama's loss $1.7m JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Panca Wiratama Sakti suffered a total loss of Rp 4.07 billion (US$1.7 million) last year due to stiff competition in the middle- and low-cost housing sector. The company's director Mochamad Noerzeiny said yesterday most big developers had switched to the middle- and low-cost housing sector due to weak demand in up-market sector.

The right to die

The right to die Although euthanasia is not yet a national controversy, the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (MUI) has come to realize that positive ideas are needed to resolve the issue. The complex problem will surely drag on from one discussion to another, because it can be seen from so many angles. It also involves all sectors of society.

Preschool targets the poor

Preschool targets the poor JAKARTA (JP): U.S.-based preschool High/Scope is asking for government and private sector funding to set up preschools for disadvantaged children. The High/Scope Foundation is one of many education franchises being set up in Indonesia. High/Scope's Julie Wigton said the company planned to build preschools in poor areas with programs tailored to local needs. The first High/Scope preschool in Indonesia was established in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta.

Low-cost apartment developers seek incentives

Low-cost apartment developers seek incentives JAKARTA (JP): Private developers urged the municipality yesterday to provide more incentives in developing low-cost apartments. One of the developers, Soekardjo Hardjosoewirjo, said that incentives were badly needed to help speed up low-cost apartment development.

Aussie acrobats at Lippo Supermal

Aussie acrobats at Lippo Supermal JAKARTA (JP): Australian bicycle and slam dunk acrobatic teams are performing now at the food court of Lippo Supermal, Karawaci, Tangerang. The BMX Extreme bicycle acrobatic team shows its expertise on a four-meter high ramp. The team's two acrobats are champions in several Australian bicycle acrobatic competitions.

Hamdani forces Nasib to a draw

Hamdani forces Nasib to a draw JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian NM Hamdani Rudin surprisingly forced counterpart IM Nasib Ginting to a draw in the fourth round of the Bali Jeff-RCA Grandmaster Chess Tournament on Tuesday. Hamdani started with the Slavian opening and forced Nasib to a draw in the 40th move. The draw puts Hamdani in second place three Victory Points (VP) behind Filipino GM Rogelio Antonio who has 3.5 VP.

164 passports lost this year

164 passports lost this year JAKARTA (JP): The number of foreigners losing their passports has fallen from 517 in 1995 to 446 last year and to 164 in the first five months of this year, an official said yesterday. The Ministry of Justice's director of immigration supervision, Zaiman Nurmatias, attributed this downward trend to last year's arrests of people involved in passport forging syndicates.

Runner Ruwiyati gets approval for training

Runner Ruwiyati gets approval for training JAKARTA (JP): After concerns over her health, long-distance runner Ruwiyati has been given approval to train for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here in October. Indonesia's training director, Djoko Pramono, said yesterday that Ruwiyati "can join in the training, but she's not 100 percent cured".

Unregistered drivers blamed for strikes

Unregistered drivers blamed for strikes JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja blamed unregistered bus drivers Monday for having caused intermittent strikes in the past two weeks. But drivers in South Jakarta said yesterday they were working hard to secure their jobs. "To be a permanent driver, we have to pay between Rp 150,000 (US$61.29) and Rp 300,000 as down payment to bus owners," said driver Rajimin, 44, who was waiting for orders in Poltangan, near Pasar Minggu.

Managing the state

Managing the state From Gatra I would like to comment on the interview with Kwik Kian Gie and Mubyarto published in Gatra (May 17). I think members of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly should understand the major thoughts contained in the interview. We are concerned about the question of whether or not the instruments deployed for managing our state are adequate. In this case, I would like to share my ideas with legislators.

Manila keeps sugar tariff

Manila keeps sugar tariff MANILA (Reuter): The Philippines will maintain tariffs on sugar imports from Southeast Asian countries at 65 percent, documents from the Agriculture Department said yesterday. President Fidel Ramos, in an executive order signed on June 17, ordered that the country's tariff on imported sugar from Southeast Asian nations be maintained at 65 percent starting on July 1 up to 1998, the documents said.

SEAG consortium stops contract

SEAG consortium stops contract JAKARTA (JP): The 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games consortium has terminated its contract with CV Kepatihan, which was to makes Games souvenirs. The consortium's deputy of business and promotion, Enggartiasto Lukita, said yesterday CV Kepatihan urged each of the 17 North Sumatra city administrations to donate Rp 50 million (US$20,750) to make the Hanoman (white half-monkey knight) in pins, T-shirts, dolls and statues. Hanoman is the Games' mascot.

'Sightings' of extinct animals

'Sightings' of extinct animals SURABAYA: A Javanese tiger and Javanese eagle, both declared extinct, have been reportedly spotted by mountain climbers in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, East Java. The animals were spotted in the 50,275-hectare park, which includes Mt. Bromo, Mt. Tengger and Mt. Semeru, Antara reported. Andrea and Sampurno are among the climbers who claim to have seen the Javanese tiger and eagle. Both said they regretted not taking photographs of the animals.

Villagers protest at electricity office

Villagers protest at electricity office JAKARTA (JP): More than 150 people demonstrated outside an office of state-owned electricity company PT PLN in South Jakarta yesterday against a high-voltage cable installed over their land near Bogor. The protesters, from Ciseeng and Ciheuk villages, arrived at the office on Jl. Trunojoyo in two buses. They carried banners and read poems condemning the installation and the fact that their land had not been appropriated. Some carried a mock coffin.

The House and the PDI election debacle

The House and the PDI election debacle The drastic decrease in votes obtained by the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in the recent election is likely to complicate the procedures and working mechanism of our legislative institutions, including the House of Representatives. These complications are due to the fact that the PDI is only allotted 11 seats in the House.

No end in sight for ban on Chinese language

No end in sight for ban on Chinese language JAKARTA (JP): A senior official in charge of ethnic integration said yesterday the ban on Chinese-language publications should not be hastily relaxed, citing racial concerns as the primary reason. Responding to questions from journalists, Bakom-PKB chairman Juwono Sudarsono said that as long as economic imbalances prevailed, matters which could aggravate misperceptions and spark racial tension should be avoided.

Alumindo hopes $18m profit

Alumindo hopes $18m profit SURABAYA (JP): PT Alumindo Light Metal Industry expects a 113 percent increase in net profit to Rp 44 billion (US$17.97 million) this year from Rp 20.6 billion last year. The company's president Alim Markus said after shareholders meeting here yesterday that the company also projected a 32 percent increase in net sales to Rp 326.3 billion this year from Rp 245.5 billion last year.

Vacation apprenticeship programs for students

Vacation apprenticeship programs for students JAKARTA (JP): A non-governmental organization is offering vacation apprenticeship programs to secondary school students. The second annual program aims to give students from low and middle-income groups four days work experience at social organizations. They would be paid Rp 5,000 (US$ 2.04) a day, Indonesian Child Welfare Foundation director Widya Samsudin said yesterday.

Sumarlin discloses huge losses

Sumarlin discloses huge losses JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has discovered financial losses of hundreds of billions of rupiah caused by government overspending, overpriced projects, unpaid taxes, bad loans at state-owned banks and other irregularities in state finance management. This was disclosed by BPK chairman J.B.

Telagamas Pertiwi changes name, nature

Telagamas Pertiwi changes name, nature JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed PT Telagamas Pertiwi approved a restructuring proposal which would change the company's status to a holding company and its name to PT Artha Graha Investama Central. PT Artha Graha's director Sutikno said yesterday the company wanted to diversify its core business from shoe making to consumer electronic product distribution and multi-financing.

Policies needed to boost industrial competitiveness

Policies needed to boost industrial competitiveness JAKARTA (JP): The government needs to encourage restructuring in the textile industry and upstream-downstream integration in the palm oil sector to maintain their international competitiveness, experts said yesterday. At a seminar held by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), analysts also suggested the government open the petrochemical industry's upstream sector to more competition to strengthen the industry. Mari E.

Amien urges more debate on succession

Amien urges more debate on succession YOGYAKARTA (JP): Moslem scholar Amien Rais made a fresh call yesterday for more unrestricted debate on the national leadership succession, saying it was needed to help Indonesians grow politically. The chairman of the Muhammadiyah Moslem organization expressed regret that the current discourse on the issue was limited to debating the candidates for vice president in 1998.

Mixed reactions to justice council

Mixed reactions to justice council By Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court's decision to set up special justice councils on intellectual property rights and banking has drawn mixed reactions from lawyers and observers. Some say the court's decision is progressive but others doubt that the councils will be able to solve the increasingly complicated problems facing the judiciary. But most favor the creation of the special councils.

Election victims

Election victims From Forum Keadilan The election is over and the dominant Golkar was again the winner. But one disturbing question is still on my mind and it relates to the status of the 234 people who died in the election campaign. In my opinion, the victims are Indonesian citizens, not simply sympathizers of a certain party, rioters or an anonymous group of people, or whatever you like to call them. Their status is uncertain, and their deaths were not recognized by the state.

Singaporeans on civic mission

Singaporeans on civic mission JAKARTA: About 30 polytechnic students from Singapore recently went on a six-day civic mission to Sungai Kecil village in Riau, Antara reported yesterday. They helped repair the village's elementary school, using 30,000 Singapore dollars from Singapore's National Youth Council and the Bintan resort's management. The youths had been on a similar mission for two weeks in the municipality of Batam.

Duta Anggada to invest $400m in new projects

Duta Anggada to invest $400m in new projects JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Duta Anggada Realty plans to invest $400 million (Rp 961 billion) in new property projects in the next four years. "The new investment projects will develop multi-function properties," Duta Anggada's president Hartadi Angkosubroto said after the company's shareholders meeting yesterday.

Withdrawal of Tadjus deplored

Withdrawal of Tadjus deplored JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor said yesterday that the withdrawal of Golkar city-chapter chairman Tadjus Sobirin from the list of nominated City Council candidates was his right. H.M. Zakiruddin Djamin of Golkar said that Tadjus was expected to become a city councilor due to his success in raising the number of Golkar votes in the city in the May 29 general election. "I regretted his decision, but it's his right," Zakiruddin said.

Will 'SCTV' care?

Will 'SCTV' care? From Kompas Housewives busy taking their children to school in the morning, doing household chores and much more, are disappointed with SCTV because the TV station has discontinued the series Dua Hati Yang Berbeda (Two Different Hearts). The program used to be screened from Monday to Friday at 4.30 p.m. After that, the program was screened only once a week, on Fridays at 8.30 a.m. This time is inconvenient for a housewife because it is one of the busiest times of the day.

Where to go in Bandung:

Where to go in Bandung: Music and Entertainment * Horison Hotel, Jl. Pelajar Pejuang 45 No. 121, Maskumambang 8 Buah Batu: - Spec's Music Lounge and Karaoke, at 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., P&P Band and Flower Power Band, Wednesday, Saturday; Organist and Singer, daily. - Malabar Coffee Shop, open 24 hours: New Name Vocal Group, Tarambo Vocal Group, Rotama Vocal Group. - Lobby: Jaipongan Dance, Saturday, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. * Chedi Hotel, Jl. Rancabentang 56-58: Job (Pianist), Monday to Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

Car buyers should verify papers with City Police

Car buyers should verify papers with City Police JAKARTA (JP): Police suggested yesterday that people planning to buy used vehicles should verify documents first with police headquarters to avoid any trouble. City Police Spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said that checking was important to ensure documents of cars or motorcycles they wanted to buy were legal. "People should check vehicle documents to make sure they don't buy stolen cars," Aritonang said.

Duta Pertiwi's profits

Duta Pertiwi's profits JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Duta Pertiwi Nusantara expects a 15 percent increase in net profit and sales this year due to the glue industry's bright prospects. The company recorded total sales of Rp 34.70 billion (US$14.2 million) and net profit of Rp 6.93 billion last year. The company's president Siang Hadi Widjaja said plywood demand, including particle board and medium density fiberboard, was projected to increase significantly this year.

Seeking for a new format in RI-U.S. ties

Seeking for a new format in RI-U.S. ties By Aleksius Jemadu JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government's decision to cancel the purchase of United States F-16 fighter jets and to withdraw from the American-run International Military Education and Training (IMET) program signified a new episode in bilateral relations between the two countries. The decision reminds us of the 1992 rejection of Dutch aid when The Hague was perceived to be intruding in Indonesia's domestic affairs.

HK, Singapore battle on as rival ports

HK, Singapore battle on as rival ports SINGAPORE (AFP): Old rivals Hong Kong and Singapore will battle on to be the world's busiest port beyond the territory's handover to China next week, but both also have a fight on their hands from emerging competitors, analysts say. Asia's two premier shipping hubs have for long been engaged in a ding-dong race to be the world's top container port, an honor Hong Kong snatched in 1992 and has held ever since, profiting from China's economic boom.

Redefining Jakarta's electronic frontier

Redefining Jakarta's electronic frontier By Adrian Gunadi JAKARTA (JP): As technology and public awareness continue to expand in the modern era, traditional emblems may no longer be enough to establish the identity of a country. So what better way to break into the global community than with a web page on the Internet? As a developing country, Indonesia has had a strong tradition in marketing its natural resources.

Call for fresh probe into May 23 riot

Call for fresh probe into May 23 riot JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation called yesterday for another independent investigation into the May 23 riot in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, which claimed 123 lives. The foundation had just completed a week-long investigation into the riot. The investigating team concluded that the problems in the town were "not over yet", especially regarding human rights protection.

Syrian PM due here to forge bilateral ties

Syrian PM due here to forge bilateral ties JAKARTA (JP): Syrian Prime Minister Mahmoud Al-Zoubi and his entourage are due to arrive here today for a five-day visit to strengthen bilateral trade and other relations. "The main purpose of this visit is to boost trade and economic ties, although the volume (of bilateral trade) is still very low," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday. He announced the visit after meeting President Soeharto at the Bina Graha presidential office.

U.S asks for WTO panel on Indonesia car policy

U.S asks for WTO panel on Indonesia car policy GENEVA (Reuter): The United States, joining the European Union and Japan in pressuring Indonesia over its car policy, asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) yesterday to set up a settlement panel to look into the dispute, officials said.

RI to host journos' meeting

RI to host journos' meeting PADANG, West Sumatra: The second ASEAN journalists conference will be held in Bukittinggi, about 100 kilometers north of here, from July 2 to July 6, Antara reported yesterday. The head of the Indonesian Journalists Association's local chapter, Sahar B.S., said that up to 120 journalists from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries and Australia would participate. The meeting is expected to cover problems faced by ASEAN journalists.

RI undecided on ASEAN secretary-general

RI undecided on ASEAN secretary-general JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has yet to decide on whether to back Filipino Rodolfo Severino or incumbent Dato Ajit Singh of Malaysia as the next secretary-general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). "We will determine our position later at the appropriate time," Ali Alatas replied when asked yesterday on who he would back when Singh ends his five-year tenure in December.

Ulemas say no to mercy killing

Ulemas say no to mercy killing JAKARTA (JP): Leading members of the Indonesian Council of Ulemas rejected yesterday a colleague's proposal that euthanasia or mercy killing be allowed for people with AIDS. The ulemas council said that taking a person's life was Allah's prerogative. In a statement issued in a seminar on ulemas' role in the campaign against AIDS/HIV, the council said that euthanasia would only rob AIDS patients of the opportunity "to repent" and correct their lifestyles.

'Effective state' key to economic development

'Effective state' key to economic development JAKARTA (JP): Effective state is the cornerstone of successful economies, and without it, economic and social development is impossible, the World Bank asserts. The World Development Report 1997: The State in a Changing World issued in Washington today attributes the dazzling growth of East Asia to effective state, one which harnesses the energy of private business and individuals, and acts as their partners and catalyst.

UIC buys S'pore firm to enter Australia

UIC buys S'pore firm to enter Australia JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's sole producer of alkylbenzene PT Unggul Indah Corporation (UIC) gained control of 50 percent of Australia's phosphate and surfactants producer Albright and Wilson Limited (AWA) by buying Singapore's Salim Olechemicals Pte Ltd (SOC), the company said yesterday.

RI-Malaysia bridge project

RI-Malaysia bridge project JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Public Works Radinal Moochtar said yesterday that it was technically feasible to build a bridge connecting the western part of Indonesia to Malaysia. "The idea was discussed at the sub-regional economic cooperation of Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand growth triangle," Radinal told a hearing with Commission V for public works, transportation and communications at the House of Representatives.

U.S. harbors new foreign policy in Asia-Pacific

U.S. harbors new foreign policy in Asia-Pacific By Anak Agung Banyu Perwita BANDUNG (JP): Almost all local media reported Indonesia's recent cancellation of the purchase of nine U.S. F-16 fighter jets and the government's refusal to take part in the American- run International Military Education and Training. The government's decisions were political responses to U.S. criticism over the implementation of democracy in Indonesia.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Music * Hotel Horison, Jl. Pantai Indah, Taman Impian Jaya Ancol, North Jakarta: - The Anging Mamiri Garden: Fantastic Group from Philippines, Ever Green Hawaiian Band/Orkes Keroncong, Hula-hula Dances, every Saturday Night, 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Nelayan Bar: Sandra Lintang, Yully, Purwanto (electone & singers), Monday to Sunday, 9 p.m. to midnight. - Pondok Samudra: Dolimas Vocal Group, Saturday and Sunday, 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

No RI laws have political bias, say legal experts

No RI laws have political bias, say legal experts JAKARTA (JP): Experts said yesterday there was no political judicature in Indonesia despite people being persecuted for allegedly spreading hatred against the state. University of Indonesia law professor Loebby Loqman and lawyer Luhut M.P. Pangaribuan were of the same opinion that no laws were politically bias.