Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 September 1997

62 articles found

Diarrhea kills five, infects thousands

Diarrhea kills five, infects thousands BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Five people died and 12,340 others suffered from diarrhea in South Kalimantan during an outbreak of the ailment between January and July this year, an official said here over the weekend.

Bowling team to train despite disagreement

Bowling team to train despite disagreement JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's 19th SEA Games bowling team have agreed to continue training despite a disagreement with their team manager.The 10 athletes agreed to continue their program in a meeting with Games training director Djoko Pramono on Monday.

Deregulation of RI shipping too late

Deregulation of RI shipping too late SINGAPORE (Reuter): The deregulation of Indonesia's shipping industry has come too late, prompting Samudera Shipping Line (SSL) to seek expansion funds in Singapore, company officials said yesterday.

Man arrested with 25,750 Ecstasy pills

Man arrested with 25,750 Ecstasy pills JAKARTA (JP): Police have detained a man for allegedly being involved in the smuggling of 25,750 Ecstasy pills and 15 grams of Ecstasy powder from Europe to Indonesia, a customs official said yesterday.

Further talks urged for Blok P cemetery removal

Further talks urged for Blok P cemetery removal JAKARTA (JP): A councilor strongly urged the city administration yesterday to further discuss with the city council its plan to change the designated land use of the Blok P cemetery in South Jakarta.

Awards for good services

Awards for good services BOGOR (JP): PDAM Bogor water company and the Bogor branch of West Java Province-owned Bank (BPD) have been awarded Abdi Satya Bhakti awards for their achievements in services.The awards, which were handed over by President Soeharto at the State Palace yesterday, were...

Government set to ban controversial chat lines

Government set to ban controversial chat lines JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Tourism, Post and Telecommunications is ready to block chat line services and deal firmly with local agents of callback services, a senior official said yesterday.

City govt will rebuild Bulungan

City govt will rebuild Bulungan JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has rejected the idea of allowing private developers to rebuild the Bulungan youth stadium in South Jakarta."Funds for the rebuilding plan must be taken from the city's budget," Surjadi said after attending a City Hall meeting...

Jet Air goes international

Jet Air goes international NEW DELHI (AFP): A private domestic Indian airline with an accident-free record may start flying on international routes, The Times of India newspaper reported yesterday.Jet Air, one of the few successful private carriers in India, has sought permission to go...

Petojo Ilir market traders upset over kiosk demolition

Petojo Ilir market traders upset over kiosk demolition JAKARTA (JP): Traders from Petojo Ilir market in Central Jakarta expressed their anger yesterday over the demolition of their kiosks.Dozens of workers from the city-owned market operator PD Pasar Jaya, guarded by 500 police and military...

Total joins RI power plant

Total joins RI power plant PARIS (Reuter): French oil group Total said on Monday that it signed an agreement with state-owned Electricite de France and Indonesia's state electricity company PLN to build a 200 megawatt natural-gas fired power plant in the Jambi region of southern Sumatra.

Appreciation of literature lacking

Appreciation of literature lacking SEMARANG, Central Java: Scholar Ajip Rosidi lamented Monday the lack of appreciation for literature among Indonesians.He pointed out that in the 1950s, Balai Pustaka, the nation's oldest publisher, often sold out a first print of 5,000 books within two months.

Chaine des Rotisseurs concocts archipelagic potpourri

Chaine des Rotisseurs concocts archipelagic potpourriBy Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): It was time to check all dietary proscriptions at the door on a visit to one of the bimonthly get-togethers of Chaines des Rotisseurs.

Rupiah to ease slightly by year-end, says poll

Rupiah to ease slightly by year-end, says poll SINGAPORE (Reuter): The Indonesian rupiah is expected to decline slightly by the year-end with a Reuter poll of 12 analysts and foreign exchange dealers in Jakarta and Singapore producing a median prediction of 2,965 to the dollar.

KL lifts freeze on foreign maids

KL lifts freeze on foreign maids KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia has been forced to lift its recently imposed freeze on the intake of foreign maids due to the high demand for domestic helpers, reports said yesterday.

At least 7 die in attack on Chinese vessel in S. Lanka

At least 7 die in attack on Chinese vessel in S. Lanka COLOMBO (AFP): Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger guerrillas set ablaze a Chinese cargo carrier yesterday and killed at least seven people on board, marking an escalation in attacks against foreign vessels, officials said.

RI commits to servicing foreign debt

RI commits to servicing foreign debt JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Mar'ie Muhammad reaffirmed yesterday the government's strong commitment to meeting all its foreign debt obligations on schedule despite the rupiah's sharp depreciation.

Death sentence against Lt. Sanurip upheld

Death sentence against Lt. Sanurip upheld JAKARTA (JP): The Surabaya High Military Tribunal in East Java has upheld a death sentence against an Army Special Forces officer convicted of killing 16 people in a shooting spree in Timika, Irian Jaya, last year.

Toyota opens new plant

Toyota opens new plant JAKARTA (JP): Toyota Astra Motor officially opened a stamping- dies plant yesterday to increase its manufacturing operation in the tooling, engineering and production preparation.

Asian aluminum demand to slow after currency crises: Analyst

Asian aluminum demand to slow after currency crises: Analyst RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuter): Recent currency devaluations in key Asian economies should help cause a slowdown in regional aluminum consumption through 1998 but demand is still unlikely to fall, industry analyst Adam Rowley said.

Bakrie International gets BBB- rating

Bakrie International gets BBB- rating JAKARTA (JP): The Japan Bond Research Institute (JBRI) has assigned a BBB- rating to the foreign currency notes (euro notes) of Bakrie International Finance Company B.V to be issued under the Medium Term Notes Program.

Habibie says Sukhoi jet fighters costly

Habibie says Sukhoi jet fighters costly JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie reiterated yesterday the high price that the government would eventually have to pay for its decision to buy Sukhoi jet fighters.

Sanitation key to wiping out worms

Sanitation key to wiping out worms JAKARTA: Health officials warned yesterday that a pure medical remedy to eradicate worm infestation and disease was not sufficient, but required a change in people's daily attitude towards personal hygiene and environmental sanitation.

Australia live cattle exports to SE Asia fall

Australia live cattle exports to SE Asia fall SYDNEY (AFP): Live cattle exports to Australia's important Southeast Asian markets have dropped dramatically since several regional currencies crashed to record lows, an industry spokesman said yesterday.

ASEAN economics -- recovery or retreat?

ASEAN economics -- recovery or retreat?By David Harries JAKARTA (JP): These are tough times for ASEAN. The only countries not deep in trouble on the money front are those whose currencies have value only within their own borders.

Improve public service: Soeharto

Improve public service: Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto asked public service agencies to jointly publish a guide book detailing their activities.He said the book would help improve the quality of relations between the government and the people because it would explain the services...

AirAsia to add flights to Indonesia

AirAsia to add flights to Indonesia KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Malaysian airline AirAsia Sdn. Bhd. says it plans to add more flights to Indonesia, to destinations other than Jakarta.General Manager Mohd. Nazri Mahajar said here over the weekend it would probably offer two more flights, to Bali and Medan,...

More rice fields damaged

More rice fields damaged UJUNGPANDANG, S. Sulawesi: An official from the agricultural office in South Sulawesi said that 7,000 of 340,000 hectares of rice fields have suffered crop failure due to the prolonged dry season.However, the damage would not threaten the food supply of the province, A.

Hero Utomo Kuntjoro-Jakti dies

Hero Utomo Kuntjoro-Jakti dies JAKARTA (JP): Dr. Hero Utomo Kuntjoro-Jakti, one of Indonesia's leading international relations experts and director of the Center for Japanese Studies at the University of Indonesia, passed away Monday night at the age of 51.

Kadin urges fair treatment

Kadin urges fair treatment JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) yesterday called on the government to pursue a transparent incentives policy and quickly ease liquidity to inject life into businesses.

Soeharto orders end to land clearing activity

Soeharto orders end to land clearing activity JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto ordered State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja yesterday to stop land clearing activities across the country which used slash-and-burn methods.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Estetika 5 Ekspresi, at Hilton Executive Club, Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sept. 10. * Painting Exhibition: Nuansa Decoratif by Sutopo, Djoko Maruto, Petrus Pranagung at Mon Decor Gallery, Jl. Gunung Sahari Raya No.

Economic reform package

Economic reform package The government's package of measures that includes steps to boost the stock market, cut budget spending, raise luxury tax and cleanse the banking industry of unsound banks is welcome. This could prevent the country from plunging into a worse financial crisis.

Hungarian bus maker wins $60-million deal

Hungarian bus maker wins $60-million deal JAKARTA (JP): Hungarian Ikarus Vehicle Manufacturing Co said yesterday it had secured a contract to sell 100 gas-fueled buses to the state-owned transportation company PPD.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 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 Educational Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:10 TV Series: Road to Avonlea 5:55 Music 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05...

Inaugural Ericsson Masters tees-off in world class style

Inaugural Ericsson Masters tees-off in world class styleBy Bobby Allen Wilson BINTAN, Riau (JP): Asia-Pacific pro golfers will get to see the Jack Nicklaus-designed Championship Course at Bintan Lagoon Golf Resort here when the US$500,000 Asia-Pacific Ericsson Masters tees-off tomorrow.

RI pilot dies in Turkey

RI pilot dies in Turkey ANKARA (Reuter): The Indonesian pilot of a microlight aircraft due to compete in the World Air Games died when the craft crashed during a practice session in western Turkey, the games' organizing committee said yesterday.

Agency forecasts rain for October

Agency forecasts rain for October JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is forecast to have its hottest day on Sept. 22 this year but long-awaited rains are expected to pour in many parts of the country in October and November, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency announced yesterday.

An intercultural how-to guide for managers

An intercultural how-to guide for managers Kunci Budaya: Business in Indonesia, The Key to SuccessBy Thomas Brandtgoasia Verlag, 1997252 pages JAKARTA (JP): It is quite a paradox that Indonesia's rich culture has acted as a formidable magnet for international tourists, yet at the same time, it is...

Maj. Gen Sutiyoso wins Jakarta gubernatorial election

Maj. Gen Sutiyoso wins Jakarta gubernatorial election JAKARTA (JP): In an unsurprising move, more than 80 percent of city councilors voted for Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso to become the next governor of Jakarta.

BI cuts rates further as rupiah and stocks stable

BI cuts rates further as rupiah and stocks stable JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia, the central bank, cut interest rates again yesterday on its short-term papers (SBIs) by 100 to 200 basis points to drive down high interest rates in the banking system.

Man arrested for arson

Man arrested for arson JAKARTA (JP): A 25-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly setting his family's house alight, police said yesterday.City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday the alleged arsonist, Eng Hin, set his father's house in Tangerang alight because he had...

Jababeka expands estate

Jababeka expands estateJP/alx Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo officially started yesterday construction of the Jababeka-Cilegon Industrial estate.PT Kawasan Industri Jababeka president Ismail Sofyan, said the first phase, covering 200 hectares, was expected to be completed in 1998.

Marine information center to be built

Marine information center to be built JAKARTA: Spain will help build a marine information center in the Central Java coastal town of Cilacap in a bid to help develop Indonesia's marine resources, a minister said.

Foreign investors in BSD project

Foreign investors in BSD project JAKARTA (JP): French company Carefour and South Korean firm Lotte plan, respectively, to build a large-scale wholesale center and a shopping and recreation center at the Bumi Serpong Damai (BSD) satellite city in Tangerang.

Bedugul power project faces strong criticism

Bedugul power project faces strong criticism JAKARTA (JP): A senior environmental expert criticized yesterday the government's decision to allow the development of a geothermal power plant in Bedugul, Bali, saying the power project would have a negative impact on the environment.

Spotlight

SpotlightPhoto A: SuronoJP/obySEPTUAGENARIAN SHARER: Former coordinating minister for social welfare Surono (second right), accompanied by his wife (right), cuts a rice cone at a ceremony marking his 74th birthday in Jakarta.

Mandela says East Timor should be given autonomy

Mandela says East Timor should be given autonomy JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (Agencies): South African President Nelson Mandela said yesterday the former Portuguese colony of East Timor should be awarded autonomy from Indonesia to end conflict over the territory.

Myanmar is ASEAN's test case

Myanmar is ASEAN's test caseBy Rizal Sukma JAKARTA (JP): Before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided to accept Myanmar as a member, there had been concerns raised that the country's membership in the Association would pose a number of challenges, if not problems, for ASEAN.

Thai helicopter 'shot down'

Thai helicopter 'shot down' BANGKOK (AP): Myanmar dissidents in Bangkok said yesterday a Thai army helicopter that disappeared near the Myanmar border last month was shot down by the Myanmar army.Its four-man crew was killed in the crash, they said.

Harmoko stakes claim to House speaker post

Harmoko stakes claim to House speaker post JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Harmoko staked his claim yesterday for the position of House speaker, asserting that "political logic" dictated that the winner of the general election should be elected as leader of the legislative body.

Banda Aceh wins Coca-Cola Cup

Banda Aceh wins Coca-Cola Cup JAKARTA (JP): Banda Aceh won the Under-16 Coca-Cola Cup soccer tournament defeating Jakarta 4-2 in penalty shootouts.The tournament was held in Banda Aceh on Monday to commemorate National Sports Day.Neither team scored a goal in the 90 minutes of the match.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 9, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,000 100 254,500 AHAP Insurance 2,500 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,000 25 1,000 Alumindo Light Metal 925 25...

SE Asian currencies tread water as dollar sinks

SE Asian currencies tread water as dollar sinks SINGAPORE (Reuter): Southeast Asian currencies stayed afloat yesterday as the U.S. dollar fell sharply against the yen and regional stock markets clambered further out of the depths.The dollar toppled below the key 120 yen level and hit a low of 118.

Enzyme producer to build center

Enzyme producer to build center BOGOR, West Java: The Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and the San Diego-based Diversa Corp signed a cooperation agreement on bioprospecting.Under the agreement, Diversa, an enzyme manufacturer, will build a center for microbial diversity, provide equipment and...

Jakartans' expectations and hopes for their new governor

Jakartans' expectations and hopes for their new governor JAKARTA (JP): As predicted, City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso easily defeated the other two nominees in yesterday's selection to become Jakarta's next governor.He received 62 votes (or 82.

Constitution not specific on presidential term

Constitution not specific on presidential termBy Sri Wahyuni YOGYAKARTA (JP): To limit or not to limit? This question has caused political and legal experts to lock horns following a minister's recent remark that Indonesia needs to limit a president's term in office in the post-Soeharto era.

Govt officials, observers differ on presidency

Govt officials, observers differ on presidency JAKARTA (JP): Government officials opposed yesterday the recent suggestion that civilians were not as qualified as those with a military background to lead the country and would not be ready for at least another five years.

Hottest bridge sextet loses

Hottest bridge sextet losesBy Djanwar Madjolelo JAKARTA (JP): The squad captained by Seymon Deutsch shot to a big first-quarter lead on their way to a 146-109 victory in the Vanderbilt Knockout Team Spring NABC 1996 over the hottest team in bridge, the Nick Nickell sextet.

Airports close due to haze

Airports close due to haze BATAM, Riau: Several airports in Sumatra and surrounding areas were again closed Monday due to thick haze from incessant forest fires.Antara reported that Hang Nadim Airport on Batam Island was closed for four hours Monday morning due to haze that limited visibility.

Toll road operator won't seek increase in tariffs

Toll road operator won't seek increase in tariffs JAKARTA (JP): Toll road operator PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada (CMNP) has promised not to ask for an increase in tolls despite the sharp fall in the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, a minister said here yesterday.

Former De Mono employee tried

Former De Mono employee tried JAKARTA (JP): A former employee of De Mono cooperative faced Central Jakarta Court yesterday on charges of deception for allegedly tricking a woman into paying Rp 23 million (US$7,666).