Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 20 August 1997

63 articles found

Haj fare hike kept minimum, Tarmizi says

Haj fare hike kept minimum, Tarmizi says JAKARTA (JP): An increase in the official fee for next year's haj pilgrimage will be kept to a minimum, even after the rupiah took a heavy beating over the past few weeks, Minister of Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher said yesterday. The increase would not be as high as the rate of depreciation of the rupiah against the dollar, Tarmizi told reporters.

Rp 80m ostrich dies of stress

Rp 80m ostrich dies of stress SURABAYA: An ostrich, said to be worth Rp 80 million (US$29,600), has reportedly died of stress at a farm in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Fendro, caretaker of the ostrich farm, said the bird, one of 293 being bred, probably died of injuries sustained when banging itself against its cage due to stress. "The ostriches here often become stressed when they hear an airplane passing by," Fendro was quoted by Antara as saying.

U.S. seeks free financial markets in WTO deal

U.S. seeks free financial markets in WTO deal WASHINGTON (Reuter): The United States wants emerging economies to free their financial markets in a new round of global trade talks, but it will "work creatively" to deal with their worries, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said. A Rubin letter to the head of the World Trade Organization said WTO talks on financial services offered a chance of a global deal that would strengthen the sector.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 19, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 750 0 2,500 AHAP Insurance 2,500 0 5,000 Alter Abadi 1,000 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 1,200 50 1,139,000 Alumindo Perkasa 600 -150 9,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 1,025 0 373,000 Anwar Sierad 1,000 -25 1,157,000 Apac Centertex Corp.

Governor Surjadi urges people to eat more fish

Governor Surjadi urges people to eat more fish JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja urged residents to eat more fish yesterday, guaranteeing that the fish sold in the city's markets were both delicious and poison-free. Surjadi led a one-day fish festival at the Jakarta Fair Grounds in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, aimed at encouraging people to eat a more nutritious diet.

Rupiah strengthens as BI raises interest rates

Rupiah strengthens as BI raises interest rates JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah rose sharply yesterday to cross 2,900 level against the U.S. dollar after Bank Indonesia (the central bank) raised one-week to three-month treasury rates, dealers said. Spot rupiah was traded at over 3,000 level in morning trading. Soon after Bank Indonesia raised treasury rates, the rupiah immediately soared to 2,845 and closed at 2,850/2,870.

Anti-polio drive enters final phase

Anti-polio drive enters final phase JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch the third and last round of a massive anti-polio immunization campaign next week to give the final boost to make Indonesia completely free from polio by the year 2000. Inoculations will be conducted on nearly 22 million children on Sep. 2 and Oct. 7, Minister of Health Sujudi said yesterday. In the first two rounds in 1995 and 1996, the government did not miss a single child under five years old, Sujudi said.

Train conductor shot

Train conductor shot PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Petrus Hermanu Hudoyo, a conductor on the Jakarta-Yogyakarta night train, is currently under intensive treatment at the local Islamic hospital after he was shot Sunday evening. Chief for operational affairs of the state-owned Railway Company (Perumka) Yogyakarta office, Bambang Irawan, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that Petrus was shot by a passenger who refused to pay for the ticket fare.

Council okays three governor nominees

Council okays three governor nominees JAKARTA (JP): The City Council officially submitted three names for the Jakarta governorship to the Ministry of Home Affairs yesterday. Council speaker Edy Waluyo said the three nominated candidates -- incumbent Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, legislator Achmadi and deputy governor of economic and development affairs Tb. M.

Yoke, not yolk

Yoke, not yolk I have been reading The Jakarta Post for over four years now and generally enjoy it very much. Of course, like in every newspaper, sometimes printing errors have occurred. In "Your Letters" of the Aug. 19 issue there was one that should not go unnoticed. Mr. E. Kartaamidjaja refers in his letter Bung Karno's testament to the liberation of Indonesia from the Dutch colonial yolk. However, a yolk is the yellow part of an egg. What Mr.

Official angry over firm's discipline misconduct

Official angry over firm's discipline misconduct JAKARTA (JP): A city official expressed his anger yesterday over the alleged misconduct of Multi Prabu Production, a private company planning to give awards to 150 companies in connection with the National Discipline Movement.

Spotlight

Spotlight Photo A: Makro JP/alx FOR MORE COMMERCE: Hendra Firmansyah (left), Director of Bank Bali, shakes hands with Viviyanti Ashali, finance director of PT Karabha Unggul which operates Makro wholesaler outlets. They signed an agreement Wednesday on the provision of factory facilities to Makro suppliers. Bank Bali agreed to pay up to 80 percent of account receivable in advance.

Toyota raises car prices in response to rupiah's fall

Toyota raises car prices in response to rupiah's fall JAKARTA (JP): PT Toyota-Astra Motor (TAM), one of the biggest car producers in Indonesia, raised car prices by between Rp 1 million (around US$350.85) and Rp 7 million as an adjustment to the sharp drop in rupiah against the U.S. dollar. The company said the price of its popular Kijang vans were increased by between Rp 1 million and Rp 2.5 million while those for sedans were increased by between Rp 2 million and Rp 7 million.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Travel: My Country 2:35 Family's Film: Big Brother Jake 3:10 Children's Program: Anak-Anak Indonesia 3:35 Talk Show: Kotak Pos 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:10 TV Series: Road To Avonlea 5:55 Music 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 Entrepreneurship Program: Mitra Kita 8:05 TV Drama: Senandung Tembang Senja 9:00 World News 9:30...

Dong promises to retain World Cup title

Dong promises to retain World Cup title By Primastuti Handayani YOGYAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Dong Jiong of China promised to retain his title at the 1997 Sanyo World Cup Badminton Championships at Among Rogo Sports Hall here. Dong, top seeded in the championships, told a press conference yesterday that he had been preparing for the cup and: "I want to be the champion this time". At the 1996 championships in Jakarta, Dong won the title after beating unseeded Jeffer Rosobin of Indonesia.

RI-U.S. ties endure ups and downs

RI-U.S. ties endure ups and downs JAKARTA (JP): If you think the relationship between the United States and Indonesia is at a low ebb and may well deteriorate -- take comfort. It has been worse, a lot worse, not so long ago. Reading Shared Hopes, Separate Fears -- Fifty Years of U.S.- Indonesia relations by retired senior American diplomat Paul F. Gardner, one concludes that no matter how bad things are, ties were worse in the 1950s and 1960s.

KL cuts machinery imports

KL cuts machinery imports KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday the government may impose import restrictions on heavy equipment in an effort to nail the worsening balance of payments deficit. Mahathir said imports of heavy machinery such as cranes, excavators and bulldozers had contributed significantly to the country's balance of payments deficit.

Timor car project won't be rescheduled

Timor car project won't be rescheduled JAKARTA (JP): PT Timor Putra Nasional said yesterday it would not reschedule or postpone its US$1 billion car manufacturing project in West Java despite President Soeharto's call for spending retrenchment to help the weakening rupiah.

Two military officers installed

Two military officers installed JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Garrison Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso installed Brig. Gen. Adam Damiri as the new Jakarta Garrison chief of staff yesterday, replacing Maj. Gen. Yudomo SHD. Sutiyoso, who is also the City Military Commander, then installed Lt. Col. Marciano Norman as the new territorial assistant to the garrison's chief of staff, replacing Col. Bahir Alamsyah.

Much-ado about might

Much-ado about might There is much fuss about power in Indonesia today. A debate has raged since President Soeharto spoke about the possibility of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which will convene in March, reviving an old ruling which bestows a special power on the president. The idea, which for many people still needs clarification, was spontaneously supported by the government-backed Golkar.

Diarrhea threatens West Kalimantan

Diarrhea threatens West Kalimantan PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: The long dry season hitting West Kalimantan is pushing the province into an alert situation with the possibility of a diarrhea breakout, with nearly two dozen being treated for the illness in the last three days. Antara reported here yesterday that three days ago some adults were treated and released at the Sudarso hospital, but since then three children had been admitted with diarrhea.

Journo murder trial to continue

Journo murder trial to continue YOGYAKARTA: A court here ruled yesterday to proceed with the trial of Dwi Sumadji, alias Iwik, who allegedly killed Bernas journalist Fuad M. Syafruddin last year. The district court of Bantul, a small town 15 kilometers south of here, rejected Iwik's rebuttal statement that the police had coerced him to admit to killing Fuad, alias Udin, before arresting him.

RP trade deficit falls

RP trade deficit falls MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' merchandise trade deficit dropped 6.9 percent on the previous year from 6.047 billion dollars to US$5.631 billion in the six months to June, the National Statistics Office said yesterday. Import bills expanded 10.9 percent to $17.3 billion, while export revenues grew 22.1 percent to $11.7 billion, the government agency said in a statement.

Sempati Air responds

Sempati Air responds Allow us to respond to Ita Sembiring's complaint about her journey on Sempati Air flight SG 507 from Medan to Jakarta on July 6 (Aug. 13, Thieves on the airplane?). We regret very much to hear that she only realized there were items missing from her baggage when she arrived home. We understand that she did not have any suspicion upon receiving her baggage since it was still closed.

Gardner's book has many authors

Gardner's book has many authors By Yenni Djahidin WASHINGTON (JP): Paul F. Gardner, a retired American diplomat, says that in writing Shared Hopes, Separate Fears -- Fifty Years of U.S.-Indonesia Relations, he only put together information collected from other people. "There were many, many authors of this book, and I simply put it together," Gardner said. Gardner spent 10 years on and off in Indonesia, and was in Jakarta at the time of Gestapu, or the Gerakan 30 September (Sept.

Megawati's lawyers receive bomb threats

Megawati's lawyers receive bomb threats JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers for the fractured Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) canceled yesterday their first anniversary celebration, planned for today, following bomb threats. Chief of the group known as the Public Defenders of Indonesian Democracy (TPDI), R.O.

RI, Namibia sign MOU

RI, Namibia sign MOU JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian and Namibian governments signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote bilateral cooperation in mining and energy. The MOU was signed by Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana and his Namibian counterpart Minister of Mines and Energy Andimba Toivo Ya Toivo.

S'pore fund for Asia

S'pore fund for Asia SINGAPORE (AFP): An umbrella group of Singapore industries launched an investment holding company yesterday to invest in quasi-government and private sector projects in the Asia-Pacific region. The Singapore Confederation of Industries (SCI) said it was issuing a total of 50 million shares in the company to raise S$50 million (US$33.33 million). One million shares in Manufacturers Investment Holding Ltd. (MIHL) can be allotted only to the SCI.

Housewife's ballooning assets

Housewife's ballooning assets UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Money fell from the sky for Mrs Sani when a balloon worth Rp 1 million (US$370) landed in her garden. The mother of seven was at home Monday when she found several balloons stuck to a guava tree in her garden. Attached to one of the balloons was a yellow cloth with something written on it. Being illiterate, Mrs Sani took the cloth to a neighbor and asked that the message be read out to her.

PM Goh Chok Tong to visit Japan

PM Goh Chok Tong to visit Japan TOKYO (AFP): Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong will visit Japan next week, the Japanese foreign ministry said yesterday. During his five-day visit starting Aug. 27, Goh will meet Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and business leaders. Goh and Hashimoto will "discuss many issues ranging from relations between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to Cambodian situations," a ministry official said.

Suspected killer gets death penalty

Suspected killer gets death penalty SURABAYA: A court here meted out a death penalty for Aris Setiawan, 30, after finding him guilty of the premeditated murder of a mother and her two daughters last April. Judge Achmad Husein said Aris, a construction worker, had been proven beyond reasonable doubt to have beaten to death Tong Lee Tjen, 27, Indriani Wono, four, and one-and-a-half-year-old Ling Ling, wife and daughters of banker Budi Wono.

Boon for forestry ministry

Boon for forestry ministry JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry said yesterday the rupiah value of reforestation funds collected this month jumped by Rp 12 billion (US$4 million) because of the rupiah's depreciation. Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo said more than 90 percent of forest concessionaires paid their reforestation fees in dollars. The ministry collected $24.8 million in fees this month.

Bank Universal plans to offer shares to public

Bank Universal plans to offer shares to public JAKARTA (JP): PT Bank Universal, PT Astra International's financial services flagship, plans to float 300 million new shares to the public next month through local stock exchanges to raise Rp 150 billion (US$51.7 million) in fresh funds. The planned public offering of Universal's shares will be underwritten by PT SBC Warburg Indonesia.

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 way of life in Indonesia, at the Lagoon Tower, Jakarta Hilton International, Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta. The Lagoon Lounge open daily at 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Lagoon Bar, 5 p.m.

Baramuli, lawmaker who provokes curiosity

Baramuli, lawmaker who provokes curiosity JAKARTA (JP): Among 35 people awarded Indonesia's second highest distinguished medal, the Bintang Mahaputra, was outspoken legislator A.A. Baramuli whose ideas and statements often provoke public curiosity. The award presentation was held last Friday in conjunction with the country's 52nd independence anniversary which fell on Sunday.

Nine robbers arrested

Nine robbers arrested JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested a gang of nine alleged robbers over the last five days and confiscated two FN handguns from them, an officer said yesterday. They were arrested in Bekasi, West Java; Central Jakarta and West Jakarta. The officer, who asked for anonymity, said that the gang had committed a series of burglaries and shop robberies in Greater Jakarta, Madiun, East Java, and other cities.

House agrees to decrease commissions to 8

House agrees to decrease commissions to 8 JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives has approved an internal reorganization that would shrink the current 11 commissions to only eight. Syamsul Mu'arif, who chairs a special committee in charge of deliberating the House's internal rule amendments, said yesterday that fewer commissions would help prevent hurdles in the decision-making process stemming from the underrepresented Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

Asian central banks urged to cooperate

Asian central banks urged to cooperate KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Asian central banks should seek an institutional solution to combat future speculative assaults on their currencies, Deutsche Bank Group chief economist Norbert Walker said yesterday. "If you could win over big banks in Taipei, Hong Kong and Beijing which have foreign reserves amounting to almost 400 billion dollars... this is the kind of ammunition one should look for," Walker told a news conference.

4,000 youths at sports meet

4,000 youths at sports meet JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta Mayor H. Suprawito opened a sports and art competition yesterday attended by about 4,000 youths. Suprawito said at the opening ceremony that the annual event was aimed mainly at filling youths' spare time so as to prevent them from becoming involved in mindless activities, such as brawling. The other objectives of the competition, which will end on Sept.

Soeharto foresees less use of force

Soeharto foresees less use of force JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto foresaw yesterday a decline in the use of force and arms in the future, saying they would no longer be effective. Speaking to leading members of the Indonesian Association for Social Sciences Development (HIPIIS) at the Bina Graha presidential office, Soeharto told the social scientists to assist the government in promoting and enforcing democracy without victimizing the people.

65 floats entered in Monas street festival

65 floats entered in Monas street festival JAKARTA (JP): Join in the colorful street fiesta this Sunday morning at Monas, or else stay far away from the square and Jl. Thamrin area. That's the official advice as 65 floats and 14 marching bands will be taking part in a parade to mark Indonesia's 52nd independence anniversary and Jakarta's 470th birthday. President Soeharto will kick off the parade on the south side of the square. Vice President Try Sutrisno, his wife Mrs.

Luster of 'Malaysian Miracle' begins to fade

Luster of 'Malaysian Miracle' begins to fade By Bill Tarrant KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): The World Bank once referred to it as the "Malaysian Miracle" -- nearly a decade of 8 percent economic growth or better, with low inflation, little indebtedness, a strong currency and a surging stock market. Malaysia was the toast of the emerging market crowd. Foreign investment gushed into the stock market and a money market that offered high interest rates and a stable exchange rate.

S'pore PM Goh accused of using courts for politics

S'pore PM Goh accused of using courts for politics SINGAPORE (Reuter): A top British lawyer accused Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong yesterday of using the courts as a tool to get an opposition leader out of parliament. Cross-examining Goh on the second day of a defamation case against Workers' Party (WP) leader Joshua Jeyaretnam, libel lawyer George Carman suggested to a packed High Court that the action was designed to bankrupt Jeyaretnam.

RI won't import rice: Bulog head

RI won't import rice: Bulog head JAKARTA (JP): Head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), Beddu Amang, reiterated here yesterday that the government would not import rice despite the prolonged dry season. Beddu said the agency's current rice stocks of about three million tons were sufficient to offset a possible drop in rice production. "The existing rice stock will be enough to face the dry season until next March or April," Beddu said after reporting to President Soeharto.

SE Asian currencies languish at week levels

SE Asian currencies languish at week levels SINGAPORE (AFP): The Indonesian rupiah, Thai baht and the South Korean won plunged to record lows yesterday and other Southeast Asian currencies languished at weak levels with no end in sight to exchange-rate turmoil. Dealers said rising political and economic concerns surrounding Thailand and the anticipated dismantling of capital controls on the baht spilled over into other regional units and spread even to the South Korean won.

Foreign athletes at Indonesia Open

Foreign athletes at Indonesia Open JAKARTA (JP): Fifteen athletes from three foreign countries will take part in the Indonesia Athletics Open here from Aug. 21 to Aug. 24. The fifteen athletes from Singapore, Brunei Darussalam and Myanmar will compete against 400 local athletes in 15 events at the championships. Among the 15 events are the men's and women's 100-meter sprints, long jump, javelin throw, 100-meter hurdle and 10,000- meter walk.

Govt to add tax incentives for human resources

Govt to add tax incentives for human resources JAKARTA (JP): The government is preparing a regulation to increase tax incentives to companies which provide training and education to their employees, a senior official said yesterday. Assistant to the Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Ihjar Musa, said the regulation would allow companies to have more than 100 percent tax deduction.

Indonesia in Uzbek telecoms talks

Indonesia in Uzbek telecoms talks TASHKENT (Reuter): The former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan is holding talks with companies from Indonesia, Japan and South Korea about selling a 49 percent stake in the Tashkent phone network, a senior privatization official said yesterday.

Deportation of Taiwanese women

Deportation of Taiwanese women In response to the news story about the deportation of 11 alleged "Taiwanese" women, published in The Jakarta Post on July 15, the Taipei Economic and Trade Office would like to clarify some key points. According to the office's investigation, 10 of the passports held by the 11 women have been reported missing by the original owners. The remaining passport has already expired. Furthermore, the birth dates on four of the passports have been tampered with.

Samoa loses Pacific Games

Samoa loses Pacific Games APIA (AFP): Samoa lost its bid to host the 2003 South Pacific Games to Fiji because of its lack of sporting facilities and for boycotting the games in 1987 and in 1995, a senior official said Monday. Seiuli Paul Wallwork, secretary of Youth, Sports, and Culture, said in an interview with government radio that Samoa had promised in its bid for the 1995 games to build a synthetic track, a swimming pool and another gymnasium. But none of them were built.

Matahari delays FRNs

Matahari delays FRNs HONG KONG (Reuter): PT Matahari Putra Prima's US$100 million floating-rate note issue has been shelved until market conditions improve, bankers said yesterday. "It's simply been postponed until market conditions improve," said a banker close to the deal, adding that Matahari did not have immediate need of the money. "So it doesn't really make sense to go out into the market, where there's a lot of uncertainty (and) they may end up having to pay a premium," he said.

Sudjana to probe Canadian contracts

Sudjana to probe Canadian contracts JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana said the government would thoroughly investigate Canadian mining contractors who have applied for seventh generation contracts of work (COWs) in order to prevent such scams like the Busang scandal. Sudjana said he would also conduct on-site inspections of the companies during his visit to Canada to attend the Energy Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation's (APEC) in Vancouver.

Extension workers need motorbikes

Extension workers need motorbikes KENDARI, S.E. Sulawesi: Agriculture extension officers in four regencies have not received an allocation of motorcycles which they need for work, Antara said. The motorcycles had already been dispatched by the Ministry of Agriculture in Jakarta to the four regencies, chief of Southeast Sulawesi Agriculture Office, Yusuf Yakub, said.

Two nabbed for producing, distributing pornography

Two nabbed for producing, distributing pornography JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested two men for allegedly producing and distributing pornographic material. Police seized 32,070 items, ranging from video CDs, videotapes, magazines, books and gambling cards, from the men and their alleged agents at Pasar Senen in Central Jakarta, City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday.

Lawyer demands revelation of Marsinah murder probe result

Lawyer demands revelation of Marsinah murder probe result JAKARTA (JP): A lawyer in the murder case of labor leader Marsinah questioned yesterday why police took so long to announce the results of a blood test which many expected would shed light on the as yet unresolved case. Trimoelja D. Soerjadi, the lawyer for the acquitted defendant Judi Susanto, demanded for an immediate disclosure of the blood test results in an open letter to National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo.

E. Kalimantan Attaka oil field resumes production after fire

E. Kalimantan Attaka oil field resumes production after fire JAKARTA (JP): Oil company Unocal Indonesia has restarted production at the Attaka offshore oil field near Balikpapan, East Kalimantan after a fire razed one of its platforms. Company onshore production manager Eddy Suryo told The Jakarta Post from Balikpapan yesterday the oil field resumed production Monday, one day after its Echo platform was burned and submerged following a gas leak from the oil well.

'No intimidation in TV fees'

'No intimidation in TV fees' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Information R. Hartono defended yesterday the plan to use military personnel to help state television network TVRI collect contributions from television owners. Speaking after a ceremony commemorating the ministry's 52nd anniversary, Hartono said the move was appropriate as long as the military personnel's presence was not aimed at intimidating people. "Each province is given the right to seek their own means of collecting TV contributions.

Bogor street protesters freed unconditionally

Bogor street protesters freed unconditionally BOGOR (JP): The police have released the 13 street protesters who were arrested while staging a rally criticizing the government on Sunday's Independence Day anniversary. "They were released all together at around 11 a.m. today," Bogor Police Chief Col. Dadang Garnida said yesterday. The number of people released differs from the figure announced erroneously by the head of the Bogor police intelligence section, Maj. Umar Saefudin.

Have surgery, tour Coke plant

Have surgery, tour Coke plant JAKARTA (JP): Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia is organizing free surgery for 50 cataract patients today to mark Indonesia's 52nd independence anniversary. Those selected for the operation will be given the privilege of touring the company's bottling plant in Cibitung, Bekasi, billed as the biggest and technologically most advanced in Asia.

Indonesia wants to become world's tempeh center

Indonesia wants to become world's tempeh center JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto ordered the National Institute of Sciences (LIPI) to take necessary measures to ensure that Indonesia's position as a leading producer and center for studies on tempeh remained. The President expressed concern that tempeh was often claimed as a national product of other foreign countries, while Indonesia was unaware of its benefits.

Court rules to hear April blackout case

Court rules to hear April blackout case JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court ruled yesterday it would hear the lawsuit filed by the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) against the State Electricity Company (PLN) for the eight-hour power blackout which hit Java and Bali in April. Presiding judge K. Simanjuntak dismissed the electricity company's claim that YLKI should instead sue PLN's Kramat Jati branch in East Jakarta, because that is where YLKI buys its electricity from.

Police bill needs betterment to appease concerns

Police bill needs betterment to appease concerns By Anton Tabah SEMARANG (JP): Now that the House of Representatives have completed their deliberations on the police affairs bill, questions are being asked about whether the necessary improvements have been made. Is the bill forward-looking or not? Has the bill reinstated the power previously taken away from the National Police? Can the bill right the legal system which deviates from the criminal code procedure or the basic law?

New charter tackles Thailand's woes

New charter tackles Thailand's woes By Vikas Bajaj BANGKOK, Thailand (AP): A Thai adage has it that the poor fear the police, the police fear the rich and powerful, and the rich and powerful fear change. As Thailand grapples with the worst economic crisis in 15 years, the status quo is running into conflict with constitutional reforms that could deeply change Thai society -- if the rich and powerful allow it.