Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 26 January 1998

60 articles found

More judges needed in Padang

More judges needed in Padang PADANG, West Sumatra: The chief justice at Padang State Administrative Court, Suparno, said the area was still in desperate need of judges."The Padang court only has 10 judges who are divided into four committees, while the minimum is 15 judges for five committees,"...

Thieves steal Rp 66m in two robberies

Thieves steal Rp 66m in two robberies JAKARTA (JP): Police are searching for five men who were involved in two separate bank robberies over the weekend in West and Central Jakarta.City police spokesman Lt. Col. E.

Firms' travel freebies speed up holiday exodus

Firms' travel freebies speed up holiday exodus JAKARTA (JP): With the monetary crisis hitting workers hard, some major companies have given employees free tickets back to their hometowns in West, Central and East Java to celebrate Idul Fitri.

Sumitro's statement

Sumitro's statementFrom KompasI agree with Sumitro Djojohadikusumo's statement regarding the crisis saying that "the problem now is not monetary any longer" (Kompas, Jan. 11). What is the meaning of a nation if the people only focus on economic, technological and other matters which are viewed as...

The search for dollar profit: A tale of two cities

The search for dollar profit: A tale of two citiesBy Stevie Emilia and Tedy Novan JAKARTA (JP): "Hurry up, change all your dollars into rupiah now or you will suffer a great deal. The rupiah's value is strengthening..." a man on a cellular phone said at a Gunung Agung money changer here.

12 die, two missing in ship accident

12 die, two missing in ship accident SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Twelve people died and two others went missing when a ship capsized last Thursday in the Labuangkallo waters in Tanjungaru subdistrict of East Kalimantan's regency of Pasir, a report said yesterday.

Dollar quotations

Dollar quotations Despite the launch of the high-profile "Love Rupiah" campaign, some local suppliers of raw material have lately started to quote their prices in U.S. dollars for local supplies.Room rates at star-rated hotels, airline tickets for international travel, office and apartment rents...

Corpse gets a free ride

Corpse gets a free ride JAKARTA (JP): A North Sulawesi teacher moonlighting as an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver came home a hero after he took a corpse on a 150-kilometer, midnight journey through a jungle.

The Asian crisis: Towards democracy?

The Asian crisis: Towards democracy?By Gwynne Dyer This is the last in a three-part series of articles examining the economic, social, and political implications of the crisis that began in Asia and now threatens to involve the entire world.

Challenges facing the MPR

Challenges facing the MPR In just little more than a month Indonesia's highest lawmaking institution, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), will begin its 10-day general assembly to deliberate topics and policies that may have the most far-reaching consequences for this country.

Assembly reluctant to make changes

Assembly reluctant to make changesBy Dwi Atmanta JAKARTA (JP): Two months of deliberation in the People's Consultative Assembly concluded last week with an inevitable resolution that silenced calls for a political overhaul.

RI's budget aside, investors await bank plan

RI's budget aside, investors await bank plan NEW YORK (Reuters): U.S. investors on Friday shrugged off the Indonesian government's revised budget and waited for it to announce programs to deal with Indonesia's banking sector difficulties.

Asia feels the bite of higher interest rates

Asia feels the bite of higher interest rates SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian nations embroiled in financial turmoil are struggling against interest rates pushed sharply higher to defend their currencies, but which are taking a toll on their economies.

Reforms not seen hurting dairy producers

Reforms not seen hurting dairy producers JAKARTA (JP): The government's recent decision to liberalize the import of dairy products will not pose a major problem to local producers, a senior official said.

Medan airport authorities seize Rp 271 million

Medan airport authorities seize Rp 271 million MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Security officials at Medan's Polonia airport seized Rp 271 million from six separate passengers leaving for Singapore Saturday, because they allegedly broke a 34-year-old law prohibiting people from carrying more than Rp...

RI market offers Australia new opportunities

RI market offers Australia new opportunities Bilateral trade with Indonesia grew by 30 percent last financial year to a total figure in excess of A$5 billion. It is now Australia's 10th largest trading partner and will soon be its biggest partner in the region.

Battered rupiah remains a barrier to stock trading

Battered rupiah remains a barrier to stock trading JAKARTA (JP): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) are expected to further weaken this week due to continued uncertainty over the battered rupiah.

Bank Dharmala's rating cut

Bank Dharmala's rating cut JAKARTA (JP): The country's only rating agency, PT Pemeringkat Efek Indonesia (Pefindo), announced Saturday that it had lowered the corporate rating of the publicly listed Bank Dharmala to idBBB- from idBBB+, with a negative outlook.

KWI urges Catholics to pray for President

KWI urges Catholics to pray for President JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) has urged Catholics to pray for the President and the government to be given clarity of thought and strength when taking tough decisions to lift the country out of its economic doldrums.

Do not stop with dollars

Do not stop with dollarsFrom NeracaThe "Love rupiah" campaign has become a trend setter. Within one week after Mrs. Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana exchanged dollars for rupiah, government officials, business tycoons and the rich in general have gone to the banks to follow suit.

The risk and reward of being an amateur currency trader

The risk and reward of being an amateur currency traderBy Tedy Novan YOGYAKARTA (JP): Yogyakarta's money changers are seeing newcomers in currency trading. Busy sites include PT Baruman Abadi at Hotel Garuda, Bank Dagang Negara and Bank BNI.

Queensland and RI: Long-term partners

Queensland and RI: Long-term partners The state of Queensland in Australia enjoys a long-term partnership with Indonesia that endures despite the rise and fall of economic fortunes in our region.Present economic difficulties have not dulled the appetite of Queensland companies to seek out...

IMF must share responsibility

IMF must share responsibility It has been more than seven days since the Indonesian government signed a letter of intent with the International Monetary Fund. At that time, people hoped that the crisis would soon end, or at the very least, that the value of the dollar would stop skyrocketing.

PLN's rating lowered as crisis goes on

PLN's rating lowered as crisis goes on JAKARTA (JP): The country's sole rating agency, Pefindo, has downgraded the rating of state-owned electricity company PLN's bonds from AA+ to AA- with a negative outlook as the current monetary crisis is severely affecting the company's financial performance.

Proud to be part of RI's success story

Proud to be part of RI's success story Indonesia is the closest neighbor to Australia compared to other ASEAN countries and has become one of the most attractive markets for Australia.The trade relationship between the two countries has been growing considerably over the past few years.

Radio stations feel the pinch of crisis

Radio stations feel the pinch of crisis YOGYAKARTA (JP): Following in the footsteps of the print and television media, private radio stations are now beginning to feel the pinch of the monetary crisis with advertising revenue declining by as much as 60 percent.

Insurance firms must merge to boost capacities

Insurance firms must merge to boost capacities JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian insurance companies should follow the banking industry's merger move to boost their underwriting capacities, a senior insurance executive has said.Insurance council chairman Moenir B.

Free motor oil for travelers

Free motor oil for travelers SEMARANG, Central Java: The Central Java branch of the state- owned oil company PT Pertamina will give free motor oil from Jan. 23 to Feb. 7 to the lucky owners of certain vehicles passing certain gas stations in the province.Local official F.

Asian airlines slash fares to boost outbound travel

Asian airlines slash fares to boost outbound travel SINGAPORE (Reuters): Some airlines in Asia have slashed fares to boost outbound travel, anticipating tougher times when this month's holiday mood evaporates, airline officials said.

Business gloomy in Tanah Abang market

Business gloomy in Tanah Abang market JAKARTA (JP): Business is not as usual at the Tanah Abang market, one of the city's biggest centers for garments and textiles in Central Jakarta, in the lead-up to this year's Idul Fitri.

Firecrackers vendor arrested

Firecrackers vendor arrested JAKARTA (JP): A man has been arrested in Rawa Bunga, East Jakarta, for selling about 480 kilograms of firecrackers, police said over the weekend.City police spokesman Lt. Col. E.

Nusamba banks' merger to pool assets of $1.7b

Nusamba banks' merger to pool assets of $1.7b JAKARTA (JP): Four private banks under the Nusamba Group have agreed to merge to create a new bank with combined assets worth Rp 21.2 trillion (US$1.76 billion).

The Australia-Indonesia Development Area

The Australia-Indonesia Development Area The Australia-Indonesia Development Area (AIDA) was launched on April 24, 1997, by the Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Production and Distribution Ir Hartarto.

3 men arrested for cannabis

3 men arrested for cannabis JAKARTA (JP): Three men were arrested in Tangerang, West Java, Saturday for allegedly possessing two cannabis plants and an ounce of dried marijuana, police said.The cannabis plants are believed to the first found in Tangerang, said police chief Lt. Col.

Sofjan Wanandi denies alleged links with PRD

Sofjan Wanandi denies alleged links with PRD JAKARTA (JP): Business baron Sofjan Wanandi denied over the weekend alleged links with the People's Democratic Party (PRD) but said he would meet the Jakarta Military Command's summons for a questioning in connection with a bomb blast blamed on the...

Economic crisis can erode govt's legitimacy: Arbi

Economic crisis can erode govt's legitimacy: Arbi JAKARTA (JP): The ongoing economic turmoil could erode the government's legitimacy as it can no longer compensate for the tight political restrictions with economic benefits, a political scholar believes.

Politics of East Asia's mirage

Politics of East Asia's mirageBy Vedi R. Hadiz JAKARTA (JP): The highly vaunted East Asian economic miracle is now quickly being dubbed the East Asian economic mirage.As recently as the middle of last year, leaders of countries and international financial institutions now voicing their grave...

Crisis grounds RI's space dreams

Crisis grounds RI's space dreams MOSCOW (Reuters): Indonesia's economic crisis has dashed Jakarta's hopes of putting a man into space, the head of the Russian Space Agency said on Friday."There were negotiations with Indonesia but due to, well, the latest unpleasantness with the economy they've now...

Independence pioneer Hamid Algadri dies aged 87

Independence pioneer Hamid Algadri dies aged 87 Hamid Algadri, a freedom fighter and chairman of an organization of Indonesian independence pioneers, died early yesterday at Medistra Hospital. He was 87.

APEC panel unveils Asian self-help measures

APEC panel unveils Asian self-help measures TAIPEI (Reuters): A panel of Asia-Pacific economies proposed on Saturday a package of self-help measures for Asia's battered economies, including issuance of state bonds that would be backed by regional powers and the Asian Development Bank.

4 killed as rebels clash with soldiers

4 killed as rebels clash with soldiers COTABATO, Philippines (AFP): Three Moslem rebels and one soldier were killed and at least two others injured in a fresh round of fighting yesterday in the southern Philippines, military officials and radio reports said.

Asian markets can expect respite from volatility

Asian markets can expect respite from volatility SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian financial markets can expect a respite from volatility with the Lunar New Year and Moslem holidays ahead, but unrest in Indonesia looms as a threat to stability.

Amien, Megawati meet to reaffirm bid for presidency

Amien, Megawati meet to reaffirm bid for presidency YOGYAKARTA (JP): Prominent government critics Amien Rais and Megawati Soekarnoputri met here yesterday under the glare of great publicity to reaffirm their bid for the 1998/2003 presidency.

Legal businesses allowed to continue in Kemang

Legal businesses allowed to continue in Kemang JAKARTA (JP): Business owners in Kemang who possess legal business permits will be allowed to continue their activities, Governor Sutiyoso said over the weekend.

Garuda to add flights

Garuda to add flights JAKARTA (JP): National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is to operate additional flights to seven destinations from the capital, in anticipation of a 10 percent increase in the number of passengers during the Idul Fitri holiday.

Corporate debt woes haunt foreign banks

Corporate debt woes haunt foreign banks SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia's massive $65 billion corporate debt mountain is now virtually impossible to pay off given the sharp drop in the value of the rupiah, analysts said."It's a nightmare.

Forestry firms 'still need supervision'

Forestry firms 'still need supervision' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo has said the ministry should be allowed to continue technical supervision of state forestry and timber companies despite the change in the legal basis of state enterprises' operations.

Japan, IMF have secret plan for RI

Japan, IMF have secret plan for RI TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's Vice Finance Minister for International Affairs said yesterday that Japan and the IMF planned "some sort of measures" this week on Indonesia's growing financial crisis.

Qantas' Indonesian services

Qantas' Indonesian services Effective Feb. 21, 1998, Qantas will suspend its twice-weekly service between Jakarta-Brisbane and Jakarta-Melbourne. It will, however, maintain its daily service between Jakarta-Sydney and thrice-weekly service between Jakarta-Perth.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for JakartaMondayMaghrib 6:19 p.m.TuesdayImsak 4:23 a.m.Subuh 4:33 a.m.

Aceh jewelers offer quick cash for gold

Aceh jewelers offer quick cash for gold BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Several jewelry stores have been doing unusually brisk business this past week, not because people have been buying jewelry, but because people have been selling it, Antara reported Saturday.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 My Country 2:35 Cartoon Film: The Big Valley 3:10 TV Drama: Benang-Benang Kasih 3:35 Belief in God The Almighty 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Tepat Guna 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 TV Drama: Kewajiban 6:00 News:...

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: 100 old photos from Indonesia and Singapore, at Galeri TC (Twilight Cafe), Jl. Kemang Raya No.24A South Jakarta, Sunday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., until Jan. 29.

Asia-Pacific triangle business project

Asia-Pacific triangle business project In the arena of global trade, which is increasingly becoming a "world without frontiers", the importance of cross-border, or multilateral trade, in relationships cannot be overlooked.

Warehouse engulfed by flames

Warehouse engulfed by flames JAKARTA (JP): A major fire engulfed a two-story warehouse of a cosmetic and medical equipment distributor at the Pulogadung industrial complex in East Jakarta on Saturday afternoon.

Trade and Investment -- Australia's potential

Trade and Investment -- Australia's potential Far-reaching structural reform and opening of the economy to global competition over the past decade has made Australia a more competitive exporter of a diverse range of goods and services, and an increasingly attractive location for foreign investment.

Victoria's business opportunities

Victoria's business opportunities The Victorian Government Business Office in Jakarta is developing networks with Indonesian companies, industries and government to identify and secure investment and trade opportunities.

Air France to add flight to Paris-Jakarta route

Air France to add flight to Paris-Jakarta route JAKARTA (JP): Air France says it will go ahead with its expansion plan to add another flight serving the Paris-Jakarta route this year, despite the country's economic slowdown.

Oka sends letter of resignation

Oka sends letter of resignation DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Bali Governor Ida Bagus Oka said Saturday he had sent in his letter of resignation to President Soeharto.The governor said the letter was submitted Jan. 16 through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Forest fires threaten Kalimantan

Forest fires threaten Kalimantan JAKARTA (JP): After weeks of rain that has brought respite from last year's drought, forests in Kalimantan are again under threat of fire, Antara reported over the weekend.