Archive: 29 September 1997
53 articles found
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Funds to fight forest fires
Funds to fight forest fires From Media Indonesia I fully agree with this newspaper's editorial of Sept. 24 on forest fires titled: We indeed are strange people. However, with regard to business tycoons and companies holding forest concessions, "apathetic" seems to be a more suitable epithet than "strange". The feelings of shame, concern, solidarity, responsibility and millions of other feelings are all dead.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Parts of the hemisphere devastated by El Nino
Parts of the hemisphere devastated by El Nino By Peter Sartorius MUNICH (DPA): Conflagrations in the dry-as-tinder tropical rain forests of Indonesia, torrential rainfall on the Pacific seaboard of South America, states of emergency declared in Bolivia and Peru. They come as no surprise to the Max Planck Institute of Meteorology in Hamburg. "We could work out what was going to happen," says Mojib Latif.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Thai PM wins support, plan cabinet reshuffle
Thai PM wins support, plan cabinet reshuffle BANGKOK (Reuter): Thailand's embattled premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh won a crucial vote of confidence Saturday from parliament, which also overwhelmingly approved a new reformist constitution. After the vote, Chavalit held an urgent meeting with senior coalition partners and a coalition spokesman said the premier would reshuffle his cabinet soon with the aim of salvaging Thailand from its worst economic crisis in decades.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Compaq redefines home computers with small, usefull Presarios
Compaq redefines home computers with small, usefull Presarios By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): From time to time, we see products that, at first glance, look very familiar. However, when we look closely, we notice small improvements on what we have been used to. In the world of PCs and notebooks, these improvements can sometimes be minor but make life easier nonetheless. Other times we see breakthroughs that change the course of the technology and industry.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Tourism market closes with US$8.7m in deals
Tourism market closes with US$8.7m in deals JAKARTA (JP): At least US$8.7 million worth of transactions were closed during the fourth Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo, which ended here yesterday. The chairman of the event's organizing committee, Wuryastuti Sunario, said on Friday that foreign buyers, mostly consisting of tour operators, signed the deals after a number of meetings with Indonesian sellers during the four-day mart.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Environmental impact analysis awaited
Environmental impact analysis awaited JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta Reclamation Board's chairman has urged developer PT Kapuk Indah Naga of the Salim Group to submit soon the environmental impact analysis on the planned reclamation in North Jakarta Bay. "We expect the developer to complete the analysis soon, to enable us to study it before allowing the developer to start its reclamation work," Sidarta said on Saturday.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
RP property slows down
RP property slows down MANILA (AFP): The Philippine property market is facing a slowdown but will not suffer a glut and will still remain profitable, the head of a property giant said in a speech released Saturday. Jaime Zobel de Ayala, president of real estate-based conglomerate, Ayala Corp., said "it is wrong to see the real estate industry as in a stage of decline.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Smog casts shadow over SE Asian tourism
Smog casts shadow over SE Asian tourism SINGAPORE (Reuter): Southeast Asia's suffocating smog is casting an ominous shadow over the region's US$26 billion tourism industry, tourism officials say. Wild currency fluctuations in the region are also scrambling industry forecasts, they add.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Schools to get week's vacation for SEA Games
Schools to get week's vacation for SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): The city office of the Ministry of Education and Culture is to give the city's elementary and secondary school students a six-day vacation to enable them to watch next month's 19th SEA Games. Hadis Hadianegara, the office spokesman told The Jakarta Post over the weekend that the holidays would be from Oct. 13 to Oct. 18, coinciding with the games that run from Oct. 11 to Oct. 19.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sukanto to replace Polar at Indorayon
Sukanto to replace Polar at Indorayon JAKARTA (JP): Tycoon Sukanto Tanoto will take over as president of pulp and rayon fiber firm PT Inti Indorayon Utama following the death of his younger brother Polar Yanto Tanoto in an air crash in North Sumatra last Friday. Indorayon's parent company, Raja Garuda Mas International, said that Sukanto would be assisted at Indorayon by managing director Roland Mazery and the managing director of PT Riau Pulp, another Raja Garuda Mas subsidiary, Rune Ingvarson.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Humpuss wins US$49.12 million offshore loans
Humpuss wins US$49.12 million offshore loans JAKARTA (JP): Through its three subsidiaries, PT Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi (HIT) of the Humpuss Group, has secured US$49.12 million in offshore loans. The company's spokesperson, Kurnia Wamila Putra, said Friday that the loans would be used to finance the construction of two new tankers and one other vessel.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Students told to don masks
Students told to don masks JAMBI: Head of the Jambi education office Madil HS has instructed all students to wear surgical masks to reduce the adverse health effects of the severe haze enveloping the province. "We've instructed all students to wear a mask because, based on reports from the health office, the haze in Jambi contains increasing amounts of dust particles," he said as quoted by Antara yesterday. Students have also been instructed not to engage in any outdoor activities.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
U.S. team treats 190 in Myanmar
U.S. team treats 190 in Myanmar YANGON (DPA): A team of five surgeons from Stanford University Medical Center in the United States have treated 242 ear, nose and throat patients at Myanmar hospitals this month, news reports said yesterday. The team gave checkups to 190 patients at five government hospitals in Yangon, Mandalay and Pyinoolwin and operated on 52 people during the surgeons' stay in Myanmar from Sept. 14 to Sept. 17, the New Light of Myanmar newspaper said.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
No new duty free stores in RP
No new duty free stores in RP MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos has reaffirmed a ban on the construction of new duty free stores and the expansion of existing ones in the Philippines, a document received here yesterday said. Ramos issued the order Friday "in order to prevent abuse of duty free privilege and to protect local industries from unfair competition," a copy of the order stated. The order however also acknowledged that the operation of existing duty free stores in the former U.S.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
ABRI welcomes Amien's presidential ambition
ABRI welcomes Amien's presidential ambition JAKARTA (JP): Two of the Armed Forces most senior officers said they were not opposed to politician Amien Rais' stated presidential ambitions, but stressed that his nomination should be conducted through the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung and Armed Forces Sociopolitical Affairs Chief Lt. Gen. M. Yunus Yosfiah both said Saturday that it was Amien's right to declare his nomination.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Driver killed in crash had planned earlier flight
Driver killed in crash had planned earlier flight PERTH, Australia (AFP): An Australian rally driver killed in Indonesia's worst aviation disaster had promised last week to return to Australia on an earlier flight, a friend said yesterday. Clive Slater, three times West Australian rally champion, was among 234 people killed when a Garuda Airbus A300 flight crashed on approach to Medan, North Sumatra, on Friday.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sarwono wants all-out effort to combat haze
Sarwono wants all-out effort to combat haze JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Sarwono Kusumaatmadja called yesterday for continued alertness and urged individuals with expertise to assist in alleviating the haze problem. "We need to increase alertness around Indonesia," he said. "All government instructions to extinguish fires should be conducted in an integrated way," he said.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Okada wins 500cc title at Sentul motorcycle GP
Okada wins 500cc title at Sentul motorcycle GP JAKARTA (JP): Tadayuki Okada of Japan outwitted world champion Michael Doohan of Australia to claim the 500cc title at the Indonesian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sentul, near Bogor yesterday. Okada, riding a Honda, clinched the title after passing Doohan in the final lap of the 30-lap race. Okada clocked 43 minutes and 22.010 seconds. Doohan, also riding a Honda, clocked 43:22.079. Alex Criville of Spain was in third place with a time of 43:33.001.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ramos takes steps to save RP economy
Ramos takes steps to save RP economy MANILA (AFP): President Fidel Ramos ordered cabinet officials to review proposals aimed at solving the country's economic situation, bruised by a regional currency crisis and threatened by the El Nino weather phenomenon, a statement said yesterday. Cabinet officials are to submit by Oct. 17 their recommendations to a three-part program prepared by the house of representatives, the presidential palace statement said.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Air Force planes to combat haze
Air Force planes to combat haze BANDUNG (JP): A modified Hercules C-130 plane took off from the Hussein Sastranegara airbase here Saturday for Sumatra in the government's first mission to combat the haze from the air. The plane carried five tons of calcium oxide mild solution which it would disseminate from the sky over Sumatra to clear the air and enable more sun to penetrate.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Sulawesi cacao output unaffected by fires
Sulawesi cacao output unaffected by fires JAKARTA (JP): South Sulawesi's cacao output, which accounts for nearly half of Indonesia's total exports, has not been affected by the bush and forest fires raging in parts of the province, the local chapter of the Indonesian Cocoa Association said. Chairman Cornelis Patty said in Ujungpandang Saturday that a fire at a private cocoa plantation in Mamuju regency had already been extinguished, Antara reported.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Traditional markets struggle to survive
Traditional markets struggle to survive JAKARTA (JP): A total of 153 traditional markets in and around the city might be forced out of business due to the fierce competition from mushrooming supermarkets and chain stores, according to a councilor. Chairman of Commission B for economic affairs, Djafar Badjeber, said over the weekend that the administration should immediately solve the problem by allowing small traders to run their businesses again.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Quake rocks S. Sulawesi, killing at least 16 people
Quake rocks S. Sulawesi, killing at least 16 people UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): At least 12 people were killed when an earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale shook South Sulawesi yesterday morning. The towns of Pinrang, thought to be the closest to the quake's epicenter, and nearby Parepare were the worst hit, but tremors were felt all the way to Ujungpandang, some 200 kilometers away. Five people died in Pinrang while seven were found dead in Parepare.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Reckless driving
Reckless driving From Sinar Pagi We recently visited Medan in North Sumatra for a few days. We found there were many changes in the traffic regulations, such as new one-way streets and the public transportation service system. The changes have ostensibly been made to improve traffic conditions, but that is not the case in reality. Vehicles stopped where they were prohibited to halt or ran the traffic lights.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Latief denies proposing marriage to starlet
Latief denies proposing marriage to starlet JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Abdul Latief vehemently denied reports yesterday that he had proposed to starlet Desy Ratnasari, and said he would sue the media which had published slanderous reports. "It's not true that I proposed to Ms Desy Ratnasari... our relationship is merely one of friendship," Latief said.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Fire guts 250 houses
Fire guts 250 houses JAKARTA (JP): A fire has gutted 250 houses on Jl. Bandengan Utara, Penjaringan, North Jakarta, leaving 1,562 people, or 400 families, homeless. No fatalities were reported. A firefighter with the North Jakarta Fire department, Kusmadi, said the fire started on Saturday at 9:55 a.m. and quickly spread through the slum because of strong winds. "Firefighters also had difficulties in extinguishing the fire due to a low water supply in the area," he said.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Grants for needy religious students
Grants for needy religious students TEGAL, Central Java: The Ministry of Religious Affairs, with the support of the Asia Development Bank, will present scholarships to 10,000 students from 3,000 madrasah, Islamic schools, over the next five-years. The students, selected from impoverished families, will receive between Rp 120,000 and Rp 150,000 each.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar opposition looks to the future
Myanmar opposition looks to the future YANGON (AFP): Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) took stock yesterday of a nine-year struggle against the country's ruling junta and looked to the future with plans for its youth wing. The second and final day of the NLD congress resumed with more than 700 delegates in attendance after the military's State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), in a surprise move, gave its consent to the meeting.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Singaporeans flee overseas as air quality worsens
Singaporeans flee overseas as air quality worsens SINGAPORE (Reuter): Singapore's air quality was heading toward unhealthy levels again yesterday, and the persistent smog is sending increased numbers of residents overseas. The Environment Ministry's three-hour Pollutants Standard Index (PSI) was at 91 at 9 a.m., up from 84 at 7 a.m. At PSI levels of 101 or higher, the ministry warns the elderly and those with heart or respiratory diseases to reduce physical exertion and outdoor activities.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Travel: My Country 2:35 TV Series: Lucan 3:10 TV Drama: Ratna 3:35 Creative Program: Karya Nyata 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Tepat Guna 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 Talk Show: Sebaiknya Anda Tahu 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Performance: Pelangi 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Talk Show 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Talk Show 9:00 World News 9:30 Variety Show: Pemilihan Pangeran...
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Currency crisis triggered by inefficient investment
Currency crisis triggered by inefficient investment By Vincent Lingga HONG KONG (JP): The thousands of economists, monetary pundits and securities analysts who gathered here for the annual meeting last week of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and the dozens of seminars and panel discussions held before the meeting, came up with almost the same diagnosis of the disease which led to the recent currency crisis in Southeast Asia.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition:...Yogyakarta; retrospeksi etnofotografi by Tim etnofotografi UGM, at Galeri Fotojurnalistik Antara, Jl. Antara No. 59 Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, Tuesday to Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., until Oct. 8. * Painting Exhibition: Tiga Nuansa Artistik by Fauzia S. Afiff, Nanan H. Djohan and Nana Banna at Jl. Patra Kuningan VII No. 2, South Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Sept. 30.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Regional currencies come under renewed pressure
Regional currencies come under renewed pressure SINGAPORE (AFP): Southeast Asian currencies have come under renewed pressure after Malaysia and the Philippines received credit-outlook downgrades and a proposed regional bailout fund failed to take off. Last week's annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Hong Kong gave a mixed reception to a still hazy plan to set up a multi-billion-dollar war chest to defend economies from financial raiders.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
KL to resume rescue to find Indian ship crew
KL to resume rescue to find Indian ship crew KUALA LUMPUR (AP): The chances that 29 victims of an Indian shipwreck would be rescued alive dimmed yesterday as authorities prepared to send navy divers into the sunken vessel where they are believed trapped. Ahmad Omar of the Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) told AP by telephone that the search in the Strait of Malacca where the ship went down, had been temporarily delayed due to thick haze.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Protecting nature
Protecting nature We have known for weeks that a smoky haze from Indonesian forest fires has enveloped a number of countries in this region in its ghastly, choking nastiness. Now we know the cause of those devastating fires. Satellite pictures have revealed that 90 percent of them were started by large logging companies.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Relatives receive victims' remains
Relatives receive victims' remains JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of those killed in the Garuda Indonesia plane crash in Sibolangit, North Sumatra, finally swallowed the bitter reality yesterday as they identified and received the remains of their loved ones. Some of them needed extra courage, mainly because they could only identify their loved ones from their clothes, accessories or special marks on their bodies as some of the remains were body parts.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Traffic control system is in confusion
Traffic control system is in confusion JAKARTA (JP): The director of the national traffic police has urged the Directorate General of Land Transportation to clear up confusion over who is responsible for managing traffic control system (TCS) panels. Brig. Gen. Ansyar Roem said over the weekend the directorate should issue clear-cut regulations on the panels erected at almost all major intersections in the city.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Officers involved in alleged subversion
Officers involved in alleged subversion JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) have confirmed that three military personnel have been involved in alleged subversive activities in the East Java towns of Malang and Kediri. Armed Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan said three ABRI members were involved in organizing illegal military exercises in a house in the Malang regency. "One of them was a middle-ranking ABRI officer and the two others were sergeant-majors," Wahab told journalists.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Meritious system for progress
Meritious system for progress From Kompas The Indonesian people have a powerful unifying motto: Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity). Unfortunately, in practice, this has not been well implemented. In the appointment of someone for a particular position, it still often happens that one is not judged on the basis of one's professional merits such as high dedication, discipline, honest, creativeness, innovativeness and broad-mindedness.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia gets German aid
Indonesia gets German aid BONN (AFP): Germany's overseas development minister, Carl- Dieter Spranger said Friday that 10 million German marks (US$5.5 million) had been set aside to help Indonesia fight disastrous forest fires. Smog from the fires has spread across large parts of Southeast Asia and was being blamed for an airplane crash Friday that killed all 234 people on board as the craft came into land at the Indonesian island of Sumatra.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta: A city of crime and fear
Jakarta: A city of crime and fear From Berita Yudha As a Jakarta citizen, who originally came from another town, I have been afraid to go out alone in the evenings lately due to the increasingly sadistic nature of the city's crimes. One day I saw an obviously drunk adolescent ask for a cigarette from a passerby who was a nonsmoker and so could not comply with the demand. The drunken youth then summoned his friends to beat the passerby. My heart ached as a witness to this scene.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Ethnic Chinese at the fore of Asia's business order
Ethnic Chinese at the fore of Asia's business order SINGAPORE (AFP): China's emergence as a global economic power has put companies controlled by ethnic Chinese families at the forefront of Asia's new business order, a regional study has found.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Wonosobo fire guts 38 homes
Wonosobo fire guts 38 homes WONOSOBO, Central Java: Fire gutted 38 homes yesterday morning forcing 33 families to seek temporary shelter at a nearby high school. No casualties were reported in the fire but material losses are expected to exceed Rp 560 million (US$189,000). The fire was believed to have started in an empty house used to store dry wood and tobacco leafs, Antara reported.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
RI set to take more measures
RI set to take more measures CHIBA (Reuter): Indonesia, which two weeks ago took steps to stabilize its economy after the rupiah slumped, is prepared to take more measures if they are needed, Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Hartarto was quoted as saying on Saturday.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Take legal action against fire starters
Take legal action against fire starters From Merdeka It is reassuring to hear the concern expressed by the community, the press and especially President Soeharto about the forest fires. The haze has meanwhile been exported to our neighboring countries. Forest concessionaires say that the fires are a disaster. Other related agencies, however, hint at intentional action -- meaning it is forest burning not forest fires.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Pro and cons on dubbing
Pro and cons on dubbing From Kompas The dubbing of foreign television films into Indonesian has become a hotly debated topic recently. Some people are of the opinion that in the absence of dubbing into Indonesian, "we can learn a foreign language", (meaning English). However, if the film is in Spanish, for example, will many of the viewers be able to understand the dialog?
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
RP told to stop blocking asylum bid
RP told to stop blocking asylum bid MANILA (DPA): A Philippine human rights group demanded yesterday the administration of President Fidel Ramos stop torpedoing an asylum bid by an exiled communist leader to save fragile peace talks aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running leftist insurgencies.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Trading activities on JSX set to remain lackluster
Trading activities on JSX set to remain lackluster JAKARTA (JP): Trading activities on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) are likely to remain lackluster due to growing uncertainties in the currency market. The rupiah fell to an historic low of Rp 3,125 against the U.S. dollar before settling at Rp 3,100/22 at close on Friday last week. The rupiah's previous high decline was recorded at Rp 3,070 on Aug. 29 after the government floated the curency on Aug. 14.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Bimantara holds up over $1b projects
Bimantara holds up over $1b projects JAKARTA (JP): The Bimantara Group says it will either postpone or scale down projects worth in excess of US$1 billion even though they are not affected by the government's retrenchment program. Peter F. Gontha, a commissioner of the business group, said Friday that large-scale projects which had been postponed included refinery projects in Cilacap, Central Java, and Situbondo, East Java.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Asian safety net
Asian safety net It is encouraging that developed countries, notably the American economic powerhouse, have not outrightly opposed to the proposal for setting up an Asian crisis fund that could serve as a buffer against a regional financial crisis. Initial reactions were very negative when Japan sold the idea last week to the meeting of the Group of Seven (G-7) leading industrial countries in Hong Kong.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Illiteracy fight begins with adults
Illiteracy fight begins with adults JAKARTA (JP): Fighting illiteracy must start with adults because they determine the future of their children, a leading campaigner against illiteracy said over the weekend. Singgih Praptanugraha, who heads a special government institution for teaching adults, said that adults strongly influenced their children.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
Army promises tight security for SEA Games
Army promises tight security for SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): City Military Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who is also security chairman for the SEA Games, yesterday ordered a special 10,000-strong team to ensure tight security during the event. Security at the 19th SEA Games should be tight, said Sjafrie at a ceremony attended by all of the teams personnel, including military and police officers and related agencies such as the City Fire Agency, Immigration and the Customs Office.
Mon, 29 Sep 1997, 00:00 WIB
New Big Five to leads the world
New Big Five to leads the world Developing countries, not industrialized states, are the engine of growth for the world economy, says the World Bank. Abid Aslam of Inter Press Service reports. WASHINGTON: Developing countries are seen to set the pace of the world's economy over the next 25 years and five of them could fundamentally change the way business is done around the globe, says the World Bank.