Archive: 23 September 1997
54 articles found
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI wary of Malaysian, Thai shuttlers at Games
RI wary of Malaysian, Thai shuttlers at Games JAKARTA (JP): National badminton coaches are on the alert for Malaysia and Thailand in the 19th SEA Games here next month. Men's singles coach Indra Gunawan, speaking yesterday at the Badminton Training Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, warned that Malaysia has an equal chance of winning the men's singles and the men's team events at the biennial Games on Oct. 11-Oct. 19.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Villagers hold prayer for rain
Villagers hold prayer for rain YOGYAKARTA: Faced with a prolonged dry season, residents in the Gunung Kidul area of Tepus, some 60 km east of Yogyakarta, held a prayer yesterday asking for rain. About 700 people attended the prayer meeting, which was led by the chairman of the local Indonesian Ulemas Council, H. Moh. Husein. Several of those who attended the meeting also brought their cattle with the hope that the animals would also pray.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina awards contracts to nine private companies
Pertamina awards contracts to nine private companies JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil company Pertamina signed yesterday seven production-sharing contracts for oil and gas exploration and production, and two technical assistance contracts with private foreign and local companies. The seven new production-sharing contracts were awarded to Unocal Sesulu Ltd., Canadian Petroleum Manna Ltd., Total East Natuna, Gulf Resources Ltd., Premier Oil Ltd. and Seafield Resources LLC., Saba Petroleum Co.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Gen. Dibyo slams 'extortionist' slur agains officers
Gen. Dibyo slams 'extortionist' slur agains officers JAKARTA (JP): National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo criticized yesterday the public's poor support of the force and constant slating of his officers as extortionists. Dibyo defended his subordinates against public dissatisfaction with their performance and level of service. "It's unfair to blame everything on police officers.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
ICI's Indian deal blocked
ICI's Indian deal blocked BOMBAY (AFP): India's largest paint company said here yesterday it was determined to stop Britain's ICI buying "even a single share" in the firm. "Under no circumstances will we allow ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) to have even a single share of our company," Asian Paints India Ltd vice-chairman Ashwin Dani told AFP.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Wynne, Mimma win in Wismilak qualifiers
Wynne, Mimma win in Wismilak qualifiers SURABAYA (JP): Young Indonesians Wynne Prakusya and Mimma Chernovita of Indonesia qualified yesterday for the 1997 Wismilak International women's tennis tournament at the Embong Sawo tennis complex here. Wynne beat Sara Ventura of Italy 7-5, 6-4 and Mimma struggled to overcome Canadian Martina Nejedly 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the final qualifying round.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
KLA Project at Planet Hollywood
KLA Project at Planet Hollywood JAKARTA (JP): KLA Project, a band which has won three local BASF music awards, will stage an acoustic performance at Planet Hollywood here Wednesday. At its first acoustic performance, KLA Project's lineup will feature rearranged songs that are played without the distraction of an electric guitar, synthesizer or drum machine, band member Adi Adrian said at a recent press conference at Planet Hollywood.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Haze thickens as Malaysia seeks international help
Haze thickens as Malaysia seeks international help KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia's haze crisis worsened yesterday as the country sought help from France and Japan to tackle the choking pollution. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia would send firefighters to Indonesia to help put out forest fires that have sent a blanket of haze across Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Rachmad Buchori released from jail
Rachmad Buchori released from jail JAKARTA (JP): Rachmad Buchori, currently on trial for defaming President Soeharto, was released from Cipinang Prison yesterday because his detention period had expired. Rachmad's lawyer, Johnson Panjaitan, expressed surprise that the South Jakarta District Court did not extend the detention period again. "We are surprised, it's beyond our expectations," he said.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bank Indonesia cuts interest rates again
Bank Indonesia cuts interest rates again HONG KONG (JP): Bank Indonesia for the fourth time lowered yesterday its benchmark interest rates for one to three-month papers by one to two percentage points to a range of 17 percent and 21 percent from 18 percent to 23 percent.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Rossi has checkup after crash
Rossi has checkup after crash PESARO, Italy (Reuter): New 125cc world champion Valentino Rossi, slightly hurt in a car crash on the weekend, faced medical checks yesterday to see whether he was fit to race in the Indonesian Grand Prix on Sunday. The accident happened after a celebration in Tavullia, Italy, held in Rossi's honor Saturday night when a car driven by the father of a teammate hit a lamppost. Rossi was taken to hospital but doctors said he had only very slight head injuries.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 22, 1997: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 1,025 25 88,500 AHAP Insurance 2,500 0 0 Alter Abadi 825 25 25,500 Alumindo Light Metal 775 -25 171,500 Alumindo Perkasa 600 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 950 -25 5,000 Anwar Sierad 1,025 0 349,500 Apac Centertex Corp.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Revised forecasts of top publicly listed banks
Revised forecasts of top publicly listed banks Net profit Bali Danamon BDNI BII Lippo BNI Niaga Panin Tiara (previous) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1996 126.1 201.7 190.4 260.0 116.5 335.0 98.0 80.2 41.3 1997 (f) 150.4 277.0 323.9 407.0 188.9 473.0 135.7 118.9 53.4 1998 (f) 183.8 326.0 401.0 495.0 223.2 557.0 156.3 169.5 64.7 Net profit (revised) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1997 (f) 120.7 169.3 247.7...
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Aceh, Malaysia police hold joint exercise
Aceh, Malaysia police hold joint exercise BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Aceh Police began a four-day joint exercise yesterday with the Malaysian police force to mainly upgrade operations in fighting maritime crimes along with search and rescue. The joint exercise involves 267 police personnel and six patrol boats from both sides. As reported by Antara several airplanes and helicopters will also be involved in the intensive exercise. (mds)
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Shangri-La plans more hotels here
Shangri-La plans more hotels here JAKARTA (JP): Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, a Hong Kong-based hotel operator with a portfolio of 34 hotels, plans to operate 50 hotels by the year 2000. Among the additional hotels will be the Traders Hotel, on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, in Jakarta, according to Shangri-La Jakarta spokeswoman, Romy Herlambang.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indosiar to air 'Kupu Kupu Kertas'
Indosiar to air 'Kupu Kupu Kertas' JAKARTA (JP): Production house PT Multivision Plus will add another television series to its 800 hours of prime-time viewing slots on television. The company's president, Raam Punjabi, said that the love and drama-packed Kupu Kupu Kertas (Paper Butterflies) series would air on Indosiar beginning Sept. 30.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
SE Asian timber trade continues to thrive
SE Asian timber trade continues to thrive KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): Southeast Asia's timber industry will remain healthy despite the pall of smog cast over much of the region from forest fires raging in Indonesia, officials say. Government officials in Malaysia and Indonesia said they had adopted policies to ensure logging would not strip the land.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Asian gas oil prices rise on RI buying
Asian gas oil prices rise on RI buying SINGAPORE (Reuter): Gas oil prices edged higher yesterday supported by indications of further Indonesian buying, while a flurry of jet offers were made in the face of no buyers. A European major sold 150,000 barrels of Oct.7-11 gas oil to a Pertamina affiliate at $23.85 per barrel, up from a similar trade on Friday for Oct. 4-8 at $23.60. The major just pipped a Singapore trader to the post.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Eleven dead in guerrilla attack
Eleven dead in guerrilla attack DILI, East Timor: In two separate incidents, guerrillas attacked and killed five soldiers and six civilians last week. East Timor Military Commander Salamat Sidabutar confirmed yesterday that two attacks occurred on Thursday. The first attack came when guerrillas shot up a truck carrying villagers working on road construction. Five were killed. The second several hours later when separatist guerrillas attacked a military vehicle carrying soldiers and civilians.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Farmers seek Council's help in land dispute
Farmers seek Council's help in land dispute JAKARTA (JP): A group of farmers sought the City Council's help yesterday over their land dispute with a private developer belonging to the giant Ciputra Group. At stake, according to the farmers, is a four-hectare plot in Kalideres, West Jakarta, on which they live and grow rice to earn a living. The land has been claimed by PT Citra Regency.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar's Ne Win arrives here today
Myanmar's Ne Win arrives here today JAKARTA (JP): Myanmar's former leader Ne Win arrives here this afternoon as President Soeharto's private guest. In this three-day visit, the retired general will be accompanied by his physician daughter Dan Khin Win, his son-in- law U Aye Zaw Win and his grandchild Maung Kyaw Ne Win. "This visit is to fulfill the President's long-standing invitation," Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono said yesterday.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting and Ceramics Exhibition, works of Firman, Tisna Sanjaya, Agus Suwage and Suyatna, at the Lontar Gallery. Jl. Utan Kayu 68 H East Jakarta, Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Sept. 30. * Contemporary Art Exhibition: Axis, at the National Gallery, The Art Exhibition Building, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., until Sept. 24. * Painting Exhibition: by Soegeng, at the Galeri TC, Jl. Kemang Raya No.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Traditional rites a burden: Regent
Traditional rites a burden: Regent DILI, East Timor: Ermera Regent Constantino Soares claims that much of the poverty in his regency stems from the community's lavish traditional ceremonies rather than a lack of resources. "Ermera is known as the largest producer of coffee in East Timor so that means economically the people here aren't poor. "The poverty stems from their inability to manage their finances," he said, as quoted by Antara Sunday.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Time to probe forest burning
Time to probe forest burning From Neraca Of the 115 hot spots detected by satellite imaging, estate companies and timber plantations were responsible for starting nearly all of these fires. Only a small portion were attributed to those people preparing land for transmigration. It is estimated that forest burning has affected about one million hectares of land, with the smoke spreading from Southeast Asia to the Pacific and causing both ecological and sociological damage.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
NYMEX aims for Asian crude futures
NYMEX aims for Asian crude futures SINGAPORE (Reuter): The New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) plans to launch a crude oil futures contract for Asia by the middle of next year, NYMEX president Patrick Thompson said yesterday. But NYMEX has not determined whether it will be a sweet or sour crude contract, or which physical crudes will be used as the basis of the contract, he said. "There's certainly strong support in the region for Oman and Dubai.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Many public phones out of order
Many public phones out of order PADANG, West Sumatra: Nearly half of all public telephones in the province are out of order. The head of the provincial telephone company, Teguh Widodo, said yesterday that 41.6 percent of public telephones, both coin and card-operated, were found to be damaged during a recent survey. "The pay phones often become a target of vandals," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
ING Baring predicts lower profits for top banks
ING Baring predicts lower profits for top banks JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia's tight monetary measure to shore up the rupiah is expected to cut the earnings growth of Indonesia's top publicly listed banks. ING Baring Securities said in its latest weekly report that the banking system was among the worst hit by the credit crunch measure, which had caused a sharp increase in interest rates.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
New mayor installed
New mayor installed JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja installed yesterday Col. Andi Subur Abdullah, former district military commander of Purwokerto in Central Java, as the new Central Jakarta mayor, replacing Abdul Kahfi. Kahfi is to be appointed the city's new deputy governor of administrative affairs, replacing Idroes who retires on Oct. 26. Born in Jakarta 55 years ago, Subur is a 1968 graduate of the National Military Academy.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Govt will not hold dialog on succession: Yogie
Govt will not hold dialog on succession: Yogie JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. dismissed yesterday suggestions to hold a national dialog discussing presidential succession. Yogie said the idea of holding such a dialog was groundless. "The people's aspirations have been included in the draft of State Policy Guidelines," he told journalists.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Cipto hospital refuses to examine 'mummy'
Cipto hospital refuses to examine 'mummy' JAKARTA (JP): The Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital refused to examine yesterday a 15-centimeter mummy its owner claims is 3,000 years old. In spite of strong public curiosity and the media blitz that Jenglot, as the gray-bearded tiny creature is called by its owner, has generated, the hospital insisted that the owner should go through normal procedures and apply to have it examined. He was told to come back today.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ringgit and baht hit new lows on Mahathir remarks
Ringgit and baht hit new lows on Mahathir remarks SINGAPORE (AFP): The Malaysian ringgit and the Thai baht hit record lows yesterday after Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's call for curbs on foreign exchange trading set off a scare in regional markets. The ringgit closed at the psychological 3.1000 to the dollar level in Asian trading, from 3.0225 last Friday, while the Thai baht ended at 36.30 offshore from 35.75. Other regional currencies were infected by the ringgit's weakness.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Traffic deaths
Traffic deaths The death of 35 people in a Jakarta highway accident is still fresh in people's minds as Indonesia marks today its annual National Traffic Day. Though only one in a series of serious road accidents in the country during the past few years, the latest collision has attracted the attention of officials in the highest levels of government, including President Soeharto. On that fateful Sunday evening (Sept.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Marsinah case closed
Marsinah case closed JAKARTA (JP): Police have closed their investigation into the 1993 murder of labor activist Marsinah after their last lead, a DNA test, failed because the blood sample had been contaminated. "We are temporarily closing the investigation due to a lack of evidence," National Police Chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo said yesterday. "We sent the blood sample to Britain, but the laboratory could not use it for a DNA test because it was contaminated. "The sample was two years old," he said.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
ABRI faction at House to be more perceptive: Hari
ABRI faction at House to be more perceptive: Hari JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) faction, which has been allotted 75 seats in the House of Representatives, pledged yesterday to listen more to people's demands. Maj. Gen. Hari Sabarno, after receiving the faction's leadership baton from Lt. Gen. Suparman Achmad, said legislators must be more perceptive to people's demands if the House wished to improve its performance.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Witnesses testify in favor of Iwik
Witnesses testify in favor of Iwik YOGYAKARTA (JP): The wife of Dwi Sumadji alias Iwik said her husband was with her most of the night and could not have committed the murder of local journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin. "Mas (my husband) Iwik didn't go anywhere on the night Udin was murdered," Sunarti said yesterday at the 11th session of the murder trial, presided by Judge Endang Sri Murwati. "He was with me in our bedroom at 8 p.m.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Couple tried for stealing jeans
Couple tried for stealing jeans JAKARTA (JP): A couple was indicted at the West Jakarta District Court yesterday, charged with stealing four pair of jeans from a department store. Prosecutor S. Sitanggang said the female defendant, Marina, 32, stole the jeans, worth Rp 298,800 (US$101), from Ramayana department store on Jl. Tanjung Duren in West Jakarta on July 13. He said Marina stuffed the jeans inside her dress and pretended to be pregnant.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Govt to provide schooling for child workers
Govt to provide schooling for child workers JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch next month a program to provide schooling for children who have to work to supplement their parents' income, the Ministry of Education and Culture announced yesterday. The government will run special elementary and junior high school classes for child workers, the director general for extracurricular education, youth and sports, Soedijarto, said.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Crisis fund idea gets mixed reaction
Crisis fund idea gets mixed reaction By Vincent Lingga HONG KONG (JP): The proposal to set up an Asian emergency fund to counter a currency crisis such as the one hitting several Southeast Asian countries received mixed reactions from delegates at the International Monetary Fund-World Bank meetings here. Japan was the only member of the Group of Seven leading industrial countries (G-7) which supported the idea and brought it up at the G-7 ministerial meeting here Saturday.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
A disturbing tendency
A disturbing tendency Once again police posts have been attacked. As reported by the media, two police headquarters, one in Polongbangkeng, Takalar, South Sulawesi, and another in Bagansinembah, Bengkalis, Riau, were attacked by mobs on Wednesday. This was the umpteenth time that such an attack against police headquarters has occurred. Last Aug. 3 the police headquarters of Pelabuhan Ratu was attacked by a mob, and on Aug. 31 a similar incident occurred in Pameungpeuk, near Garut, West Java.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Workers' monument
Workers' monument From Suara Karya We have frequently heard, read or watched reports in the mass media, both print and electronic, about accidents involving construction workers in Jakarta. A great many of them have either lost their lives or become permanently, physically disabled. They have died because part of a toll road collapsed on them during construction, they fell from a high building or were buried alive when a tunnel for cable or pipe laying caved in.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Firm seeks Darwin-Kupang ferry route
Firm seeks Darwin-Kupang ferry route JAKARTA (JP): Timor Sea Transport, an Australian shipping company based in Darwin, Australia is seeking to operate a round trip ferry service to link Darwin and Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Antara reported yesterday.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Property firm staff strike over welfare
Property firm staff strike over welfare JAKARTA (JP): Almost 150 employees of publicly listed developer PT Jaya Real Property went on strike and demonstrated yesterday morning at Jaya Building on Jl. MH. Thamrin, demanding welfare improvements. The firm is a subsidiary of the widely diversified property developer PT Pembangunan Jaya, which is owned by the city administration and tycoon Ciputra.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
SE Asian palm oil markets bullish
SE Asian palm oil markets bullish KUALA LUMPUR (Reuter): South East Asian palm oil markets should maintain a bullish trend in the coming week, supported by good export prospects and upbeat currency and technical factors, regional traders said yesterday. "It's up, up and up. We're seeing a lot of buying right now and this should continue this week," a European dealer said. "Technically, the market is looking bullish.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto to bid farewell to outgoing legislators
Soeharto to bid farewell to outgoing legislators JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto and Vice President Try Sutrisno will say adieu to outgoing legislators at a reception on Friday. House Speaker Wahono said yesterday that cabinet members and senior government officials were also expected to attend the farewell ceremony at the House of Representatives where the President will deliver a farewell speech.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Australia's aid plan may backfire
Australia's aid plan may backfire By Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): Australia's 1997/1998 aid budget announced last month brought few surprises. Total aid flow to PNG and the south pacific are expected to be maintained at last year's level, country program assistance to most East Asia recipients, including Indonesia, will be maintained at 1996/1997 levels, Australia's treaty obligations in PNG, and obligations to the multilateral development banks will be met.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
A time for belt tightening
A time for belt tightening From Kompas One thousand members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and People's Consultative Council (MPR) will be inducted on Oct. 1. They will convene in a general assembly in March 1998. I have been working at the DPR secretariat general for the past 35 years. For as long as I can recall, the DPR and MPR members have always stayed at luxurious hotels in Jakarta for the induction ceremony.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Libel award 'excessive'
Libel award 'excessive' SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore's Court of Appeal was told yesterday the country's biggest libel award should never have been given against opposition politician Tang Liang Hong and should be thrown out. Top London libel lawyer Charles Gray told the court the cases brought by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and 10 fellow leaders of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) were politically motivated and the award "grossly excessive".
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Hawkers protest evacuation
Hawkers protest evacuation KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): More than 500 hawkers staged a picket in a slum market area in Kuala Lumpur, protesting forced evacuation under plans to clean-up the capital for the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The hawkers, mostly ethnic Malays, took to the streets carrying banners reading "The mayor is crazy for power", "Corporates are protected, hawkers are betrayed", "The city council is cruel" and "Honk for support".
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Govt may raise fuel price
Govt may raise fuel price JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy I.B. Sudjana said yesterday the government may raise domestic fuel prices to reduce the government's subsidy. "The rupiah's sharp depreciation against the U.S. dollar has inflated the subsidy value, therefore making it hard for us," Sudjana said. He said it was therefore necessary to increase fuel prices, especially diesel oil, to reduce the government's subsidy in domestic fuel sales.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Weak ringgit boosts Malaysian rubber
Weak ringgit boosts Malaysian rubber SINGAPORE (Reuter): Malaysian rubber producers will get a boost from a falling ringgit, but the rest of the Southeast Asian rubber market will probably remain weak due to ample supplies, dealers said yesterday. "I think the market will sustain its rise with SMR 20 seen trading above 265 Malaysian cents if (the) ringgit softens further," a senior dealer at a trading house in Malaysia said. The ringgit fell to an all-time low of 3.06 to the U.S.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ailing housewife dies in fire
Ailing housewife dies in fire JAKARTA (JP): A 42-year-old housewife burned to death in yesterday afternoon's fire in the Binong Permai housing complex in Curug subdistrict in Tangerang. Neighborhood chief Bambang Sugiarto said locals failed to rescue Elmiyati Sarkawi, mother of three, when the fire intensified after they broke the window panes to enter her house. Bambang said that Elmiyati was ill and was lying down when the fire broke out.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Surjadi blames poor for development chaos
Surjadi blames poor for development chaos JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has blamed poor people, particularly the huge number of migrants who flock to the city, for causing the current disorder in the capital's development. Their presence made it difficult for the administration to rectify mistakes made in the city's spatial plan, the outgoing governor said yesterday. "These people live on riverbanks and occupy state-owned land all over the city.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Observer doubts MPR strength
Observer doubts MPR strength JAKARTA (JP): Any demand for political reform will likely not come from the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), which will be installed on Oct. 1, a political observer said yesterday. J. Kristiadi of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said he doubted the independence of MPR members given the way most of them were recruited. They could hardly be called representatives of the people, he said.
Tue, 23 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI welcomes aid to combat fires
RI welcomes aid to combat fires JAKARTA (JP): The hazardous level of haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia has prompted a joint response by neighboring countries offering over a thousand volunteers and water bombers to help quench the blaze. Malaysia will send 1,210 volunteers to Sumatra and another 210 to Kalimantan to combat fires on the two giant islands, Indonesian Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas said here yesterday.