Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 18 August 1997

48 articles found

President Soeharto's State of the Nation Address

President Soeharto's State of the Nation Address Following are excerpts of the state address given by President Soeharto before the House of Representatives on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of Indonesia's Independence Day Aug. 17.

ASEAN to beat speculators

ASEAN to beat speculators KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday said Kuala Lumpur was discussing with other Southeast Asian economies ways to beat rogue currency speculators.

Robbery defendant gets 10 years

Robbery defendant gets 10 years BOGOR (JP): Heri Faisal, alias Hendrik, one of the four suspects in last October's Jagorawi toll road robbery and murder, was sentenced to 10 years in jail by the district court here Saturday.The sentence half that demanded by the prosecutors.

City residents celebrate Independence day in style

City residents celebrate Independence day in style JAKARTA (JP): Jakartans celebrated yesterday Indonesia's 52nd independence day by participating in flag raising ceremonies and various traditional activities.

Japanese funds welcome decision to float rupiah

Japanese funds welcome decision to float rupiah TOKYO (Reuter): Indonesia's decision to float its currency has been welcomed by Japanese funds, helping to reinforce their relatively positive view of the country despite turmoil in Asia as a whole, fund managers in Tokyo said.

Traffic discipline

Traffic discipline Four years have elapsed since the government ordained traffic law No. 14/92 but the traffic situation has remained virtually the same. Every day we witness traffic violations, some go unnoticed and accordingly unpunished.

More concrete steps needed to defend rupiah: Economists

More concrete steps needed to defend rupiah: Economists JAKARTA (JP): Economists and members of the House of Representatives said they were optimistic the rupiah would soon stabilize but warned that more concrete measures were needed for similar currency turmoil in the future.

Economic turbulence in SE Asia may be shortlived

Economic turbulence in SE Asia may be shortlived HONG KONG (AFP): The proud economies of Southeast Asia, buffeted by turbulence since they surrendered their currencies to market forces, may have only a short period of pain yet to endure, experts say.

Many people dissatisfied with House's performance: Wahono

Many people dissatisfied with House's performance: Wahono JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Wahono, at the start of the last session of the current House, conceded that many people were dissatisfied with the legislature's performance and called on newly elected members to be more open...

Santa Fe details Jabung output

Santa Fe details Jabung output HOUSTON (Reuter): Santa Fe Energy Resources Inc said yesterday oil production has started at the North Geragai field, the first of three discoveries made on the Jabung Block on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Videovan and Gobel to distribute Fox's films

Videovan and Gobel to distribute Fox's films JAKARTA (JP): Singapore-based Videovan Entertainment Industries Pte Ltd will tie up with the Gobel Group of Indonesia to market and distribute in Indonesia the home entertainment products of a major Hollywood film studio.

RI oil investment incentives lack bite: Industry sources

RI oil investment incentives lack bite: Industry sources SINGAPORE (Reuter): Major oil companies are not likely to pump billions of dollars into Indonesia despite new incentives to build refineries as long as the domestic market remains closed to them, industry sources said.

Economy sound, says Soeharto

Economy sound, says Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto stressed Saturday that the Indonesian economy was fundamentally strong despite the sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar.

Govt insists on hands-off approach on PDI

Govt insists on hands-off approach on PDI JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) continued to be at odds with the government over who should initiate the settlement of protracted conflicts in the minority party and ways to go about it.

Tennis body targets five gold medals at SEA Games

Tennis body targets five gold medals at SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association aims to win five of the seven gold medals at the 19th SEA Games here in October by recruiting the best players in the National Team Board.

Rupiah's tumble seen to shore up inflation

Rupiah's tumble seen to shore up inflation JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah's sharp depreciation against the U.S. dollar will result in a higher inflation rate, State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita said yesterday.

Govt denies Suwardi's election reward for district chiefs

Govt denies Suwardi's election reward for district chiefs JAKARTA (JP): The government denied Saturday that Central Java Governor Suwardi planned to promote district chiefs as a reward for their efforts to help Golkar win the general and local elections.

Senior members back Tutut to lead Golkar

Senior members back Tutut to lead Golkar JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana fits the bill to lead Golkar, senior members declared on Saturday.Sudharmono and Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, respectively former chairman and secretary-general of the organization,...

Support looms for security decree reintroduction

Support looms for security decree reintroduction JAKARTA (JP): Support grew over the weekend for President Soeharto's call on the succeeding People's Consultative Assembly legislators to redeliberate a security decree.

Nickname for the minister

Nickname for the ministerFrom MerdekaIn response to Siswono Yudohusodo's statement about the need for government officials to declare their property/wealth, I would like to say that this quite reasonable suggestion deserves a thumbs-up and must be echoed by other officials.

No discos, says Banda Aceh mayor

No discos, says Banda Aceh mayor BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Mayor Sayed Husain Al-Haj has said he will never issue a permit to anyone to open a discotheque in Banda Aceh.He said he feared that discotheques would become places to drink alcohol and practice prostitution, Antara said.

Nine fishermen missing

Nine fishermen missing SERANG, West Java: Rescue workers continued searching Saturday for nine fishermen who went missing when their boat sank last Monday between Oar and Panaitan islands in the Sunda Straits.

Kite contest this weekend

Kite contest this weekend MERAK BELANTUNG, Lampung: Kite flyers from eight countries will participate in the International Kite Festival this coming weekend, Antara reported over the weekend.Participants from Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Japan, the Philippines, France, the Netherlands and Indonesia...

What makes people often change jobs?

What makes people often change jobs? Some people often change jobs. Is it because they want more money and better perks? What does it have to do with comfort at work? JAKARTA (JP): In a job interview, Noor SDK Devi asked if she had a chance of becoming a manager.

Taiwanese nabbed with cocaine

Taiwanese nabbed with cocaine JAKARTA (JP): Military police arrested a Taiwanese national in a hotel room in North Jakarta yesterday for possessing one kilogram of cocaine worth about Rp 2 billion (US$740,740).Military Police Chief Maj. Gen. Syamsu D.

Is it possible to control our legal authorities?

Is it possible to control our legal authorities?By J.E. Sahetapy SURABAYA (JP): Everybody seemed satisfied when the government and the House of Representatives announced the Criminal Code Procedure (KUHAP) would replace the old Dutch colonial criminal procedure regulation in 1981.

Bakrie plans power plant in Lampung

Bakrie plans power plant in Lampung JAKARTA (JP): The Bakrie Group is awaiting government approval to build a 4,000 megawatt coal-fired steam power plant in Tarahan, South Lampung regency, Antara reported.

Hayono urges equal bonus for athletes

Hayono urges equal bonus for athletes JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman has urged sports organizations to give bonuses to all Indonesian 19th SEA Games athletes, not just medalists."Giving bonuses to athletes is very generous.

Surono hopes RI will capture SEA games title

Surono hopes RI will capture SEA games title JAKARTA (JP): Former National Sport Council chairman Surono hopes Indonesia will capture the overall title at the 19th SEA Games here in October."Although it is rather difficult, I am still optimistic that Indonesia can grab the overall title in this...

Indonesian rating 'still appropriate'

Indonesian rating 'still appropriate' NEW YORK (Reuter): Indonesia's Baa3 long-term foreign currency debt rating remains appropriate despite the rupiah's decline and the Southeast Asian currency crisis sparked by devaluation of the Thai baht, a Moody's analyst told Reuters Financial Television.

Xanana gets three-month sentence reduction

Xanana gets three-month sentence reduction KARAWANG, West Java (JP): Jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao was one of 16,718 prisoners to receive a remission on this year's independence day, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman said yesterday.

Leaking of World Bank aid

Leaking of World Bank aid Ginandjar Kartasasmita, the minister of national development planning and chairman of the national development planning board, has stressed that he finds it difficult to believe the opinion of Dr. Jeffrey A. Winters.

Khegai beats RI's Maria Lucia

Khegai beats RI's Maria Lucia JAKARTA (JP): FM Angela Khegai of Uzbekistan caused a big surprise when she defeated Indonesia's best chess player IM Maria Lucia in the fifth round of the Women's Grand Master tournament Saturday.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Doll Exhibition: by Siana Kristiani, at Galeri TC, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 24A South Jakarta, 11.30 a.m. to 12 a.m., until Sept. 13. * Graphics Exhibition: A European View (of Indonesia), old lithographs, engravings, and other graphics from Europe revealing the old...

Thousands join freedom celebration with Soeharto

Thousands join freedom celebration with Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of invited guests gathered at Merdeka Palace yesterday to celebrate the country's 52nd independence day in a solemn ceremony presided by President Soeharto.The one-hour ceremony started at 10.00 a.m.

Robbers break into Islamic school

Robbers break into Islamic school JAKARTA (JP): About 600 students of an Islamic education institute in Pondok Aren, Tangerang, have enjoyed extra holidays after eight unidentified men broke into the premises Friday and made off with two computers, two television sets and Rp 1.

Currency uncertainties will shade JSX's trading

Currency uncertainties will shade JSX's trading JAKARTA (JP): Uncertainties over the direction of the rupiah and other regional currencies will continue to shade trading activities on the local stock market this week, analysts and dealers said.

Malaysia seeks trade with India

Malaysia seeks trade with India KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Malaysian investment delegation will arrive in India today to boost trade and seek joint-venture opportunities, reports said yesterday.The delegation, led by International Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister Rafidah Aziz, will comprise officials...

Moe makes the grade with major win at Singapore Open

Moe makes the grade with major win at Singapore Open SINGAPORE (JP): Myanmar's Zaw Moe ended a frustrating seven year wait for a big career win yesterday by winning the US$500,000 SingTel Ericsson Singapore Open at Jurong Country Club.

Councilors back plan for port management

Councilors back plan for port management JAKARTA (JP): Councilors have expressed strong support over Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's request to take over the management of Tanjung Priok seaport from the Ministry of Transportation.

Protest against ABRI captain

Protest against ABRI captain UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Hundreds of students set up roadblocks, bringing traffic to a complete standstill in some thoroughfares, in their demonstration Saturday against a military officer who hit their teacher.

Business hopes tight policies will end soon

Business hopes tight policies will end soon JAKARTA (JP): Businesspeople are hoping the government will keep its promise that the tight monetary policy launched early this month to shore up the falling rupiah will be only temporary.

Trust fund could spark tribal warfare: Churches

Trust fund could spark tribal warfare: Churches JAKARTA (JP): Leading church groups in Irian Jaya warned yesterday the disbursement of a trust fund designed to help local tribes could spark tensions on tribal warfare.

A spur for efficiency

A spur for efficiency The government's decision to abandon the intervention band for the rupiah constitutes a realistic answer to our national currency's wildly fluctuating exchange rate. Experience has shown that intervention, which depletes our foreign exchange reserves, does not always have the...

A new reality

A new reality With the local currency market still in the doldrums, many people were obviously looking for comforting words and clues as to future government policy on the issue from President Soeharto's State of the Nation Address on Saturday.

The pros and cons of manpower bill

The pros and cons of manpower billBy Teten Masduki JAKARTA (JP): It seems that the manpower bill will smoothly pass through the House of Representatives as all House factions have reached a consensus to complete the discussion in three months, that is before the tenure of the present legislative...

Tarmizi guarantees slight haj fare increase

Tarmizi guarantees slight haj fare increase JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher confirmed Saturday there would be no significant increase in this year's haj pilgrimage fare."The government will put all its efforts into minimizing the impact of the rupiah's fall against the U.S.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Travel: My Country 2:35 Cartoon Film: Silvan 3:10 TV Drama: Diantara Kita 3:35 Religious Teachings: Buddha 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Tepat Guna 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show: World Music Album 5:30 Talk Show: Sebaiknya...