Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 October 1998

60 articles found

Southeast Asian currencies slip back as rupiah falls

Southeast Asian currencies slip back as rupiah falls SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies mostly slipped against the U.S. dollar during Asian trading hours on Thursday, as the Indonesian rupiah surrendered the spectacular gain it made the previous day,The Singapore dollar, and the new...

Probo named suspect in bank scam

Probo named suspect in bank scam JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto's step brother Probosutedjo was named on Thursday as a suspect in the liquidated Bank Jakarta's credit scam, but he strongly protested his innocence and expressed confidence about escaping from the police allegation.

U.S. bans use of American weapons in East Timor

U.S. bans use of American weapons in East Timor WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States on Wednesday banned the use in East Timor of weapons supplied to Indonesia and continued a ban on education and training aid to the Indonesian Armed Forces.

RI to compete in Putra Cup

RI to compete in Putra Cup JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will be banking on its junior players at the 38th Putra Cup Asia Pacific amateur team golf tournament in St. Elena, the Philippines, from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8.

Rupiah increase unlikely to spur debt repayment

Rupiah increase unlikely to spur debt repayment SINGAPORE (Reuters): The recent strengthening of the Indonesian rupiah against the U.S. dollar is still not enough to encourage corporate debtors to begin repaying debt obligations, analysts in Singapore said on Thursday.

Citra Muda enters Thailand Open

Citra Muda enters Thailand Open JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta-based Citra Muda club will represent Indonesia at the Thailand Open baseball championship in Bangkok from Oct. 25 to Oct. 30.Team manager Doedie Gambiro said on Thursday that five national players would form the backbone of his squad in its...

'Revolusi Harapan' wins gold medal at Brno contest

'Revolusi Harapan' wins gold medal at Brno contest JAKARTA (JP): Nanang Istiabudi's short film Revolusi Harapan (Revolution of Hope) won a gold medal and a special prize at the 39th Brno 16 International Competition of Non-Commercial Feature Films and Video at Brno Cultural and Information Center...

Sigit's positive test shocks sports medic

Sigit's positive test shocks sports medic JAKARTA (JP): Sports medical expert Hario Tilarso was skeptical on Thursday over allegations top badminton player Sigit Budiarto tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid nandrolone."It doesn't make sense.

Fashion designer experiments with silk, fibers

Fashion designer experiments with silk, fibersBy Agni Amorita JAKARTA (JP): It is very rare to find young Indonesians who are interested in traditional textiles. Yet Nelwan Anwar chose to major in textiles at the Jakarta Arts Institute.

Unocal seeks to avoid write-off of PLN debt

Unocal seeks to avoid write-off of PLN debt SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Unocal Corp., the 10th largest U.S. oil company by market value, said it hopes to avoid any write-off of money owed by Indonesia's PT Perusahaan Listrik Umum Negara (PLN) from unpaid power supply contracts.

'RRI' to air business forum

'RRI' to air business forum JAKARTA (JP): PT Harvest International Indonesia and the state-run radio network Radio Republic Indonesia (RRI) will jointly stage an interactive business forum beginning next week.

Police asked to resubmit graft case against Zawawi

Police asked to resubmit graft case against Zawawi JAKARTA (JP): City police are to requestion Ahmad Zawawi after the prosecutor's office returned dossiers on a case accusing the former head of the city's logistics agency of corruption.Speaking to the media on Thursday, Jakarta Police chief Maj.

House passes new freedom of expression bill

House passes new freedom of expression bill JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives endorsed on Thursday the controversial freedom of expression bill for President B.J. Habibie to sign into law, saying they were satisfied with the "democratic" way the document was deliberated.

Biggest sin of leaders

Biggest sin of leadersFrom MerdekaObserving Indonesia's political development and the problems now being faced by Indonesians, who are still very much under the control of Golkar, has thrown me into greater confusion.

Infants suffer in Banyumas

Infants suffer in Banyumas PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy are jeopardizing the lives of newborns, the head of the Banyumas regency's health office said here on Wednesday.M.

Habibie to help shipowners

Habibie to help shipowners JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie pledged on Thursday to review the IMF-prescribed value added tax on importing ships on the grounds that the vessels were of strategic importance.

Companies nearing agreement on $10b debt restructuring

Companies nearing agreement on $10b debt restructuring JAKARTA (JP): More than a dozen companies with nearly US$10 billion in overseas debts are moving ahead with plans to reach a restructuring agreement with their creditors under the auspices of the Jakarta Initiative Corporate Restructuring Task...

Kite festival down in W. Java

Kite festival down in W. Java BANDUNG (JP): The Pangandaran International Kite Festival, to be held on Pangandaran beach in Ciamis on Saturday and Sunday, has received only six confirmations from the 20 invited countries.

WB denies tampering with RI poverty figures

WB denies tampering with RI poverty figures NEW YORK (Dow Jones): World Bank officials Tuesday hit back at charges they manipulated figures on the number of poor in Indonesia to avoid embarrassing the Soeharto regime before its fall last May.

Rupiah falls on minister's comment

Rupiah falls on minister's comment JAKARTA (JP): After rallying persistently since the beginning of the month, the rupiah slid back to close at 7,800 against the U.S. dollar on Thursday as the market punished a senior Cabinet minister for commenting that the rupiah should not appreciate too rapidly.

Risk-taking key to RI's recovery

Risk-taking key to RI's recoveryBy C.J. de Koning This is the first of two articles in a series on the Indonesian economic crisis. JAKARTA (JP): The good news is that the rupiah has strengthened dramatically over the last few weeks. It has not yet reached the 5,000-6,000 range to the U.

Public encouraged to file lawsuits against decrees

Public encouraged to file lawsuits against decrees JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court has encouraged the public to file lawsuits against presidential decrees which are considered to have been manipulated materially and legally to benefit certain parties, Antara news agency reported on Thursday.

Indonesia's coffee exports fall 18.7%

Indonesia's coffee exports fall 18.7% JAKARTA (JP): Freak weather patterns are blamed for an 18.68 percent slump in the country's coffee export volume in the crop year ending September 1998.Coffee exports dropped to 309,000 metric tons worth US$550 million, compared to 380,000 tons of $675 million...

No 'chickens' found yet in Soeharto probe: Ghalib

No 'chickens' found yet in Soeharto probe: Ghalib JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi Muhammad Ghalib has compared the investigation of former president Soeharto's wealth to the investigation of a chicken theft where the police have to find strong evidence before they can make any arrests.

Cash-strapped RP trims athletic team

Cash-strapped RP trims athletic team MANILA (DPA): The Philippines, hard-hit by the regional economic crisis, has cut back the number of athletes it will send to the 13th Asian Games in Thailand later this year.

Soeharto not invited to MPR special session

Soeharto not invited to MPR special session JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto will not be invited to the attend the special session of the People Consultative Assembly (MPR) scheduled for Nov. 10 to Nov. 13, an official told a media briefing on Thursday.

Exporting corruption?

Exporting corruption? This is a follow-up to an article which appeared in the Sept. 19 edition of The Jakarta Post, which was itself a follow-up to an earlier complaint of corruption against an immigration official in Medan.

Habibie instructs ABRI to be firm against killers

Habibie instructs ABRI to be firm against killers JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie said on Thursday that he had instructed the Armed Forces (ABRI) to completely crack down on the perpetrators of the mysterious killing spree that began in East Java and spread to other places.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct.22, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 275 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 875,000 Alumindo Light Metal 250 -25 100,000 Alumindo...

Malaysian threat clouds INRO meet

Malaysian threat clouds INRO meet KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO) on Thursday began a crucial meeting of its policy-making council, with Malaysia's threat to resign from the group dominating worries, officials said.

Aetna committed to RI insurance market

Aetna committed to RI insurance market JAKARTA (JP): International insurance company Aetna International Inc. remains upbeat about its operations in Indonesia despite the nation's worst-ever crisis.Company president and CEO Frederick C. Copeland Jr.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Cartoon: Warner Kartun 3:05 Music Lessons: Ansamble Alat Musik Tiump 3:30 Village Program 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Performance: Cakrawala Budaya 5:00 Music: Paket 27 5:30 Educational Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05...

Natuna gas pipeline tender criticized

Natuna gas pipeline tender criticized JAKARTA (JP): Legislator Priyo Budi Santoso blasted on Thursday alleged irregularities in the tender for the development of the US$1.5 billion gas pipeline between the western part of the Natuna islands and Singapore.

Astra to stop paying interest on foreign loans

Astra to stop paying interest on foreign loans SINGAPORE (Agencies): PT Astra International, parent company of one of Indonesia's biggest business groups, informed foreign bankers here Thursday that it has to stop paying interest on about US$1.4 billion in group loans, effective immediately.

Stronger rupiah will not hinder exports: Rahardi

Stronger rupiah will not hinder exports: Rahardi JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan dismissed on Thursday fears that the revitalized rupiah would adversely affect Indonesia's exports.

Typhoon Babs pummels RP

Typhoon Babs pummels RP MANILA (AFP): Typhoon Babs battered the Philippines on Thursday, killing seven people, sending 200,000 fleeing from its deadly path and leaving a trail of damage to worsen the country's economic gloom.

Furkon plans mass gatherings

Furkon plans mass gatherings JAKARTA (JP): A Moslem organization plans to hold mass gatherings in 50 subdistricts in Greater Jakarta on Sunday, the organization announced on Thursday.The chairman of the Moslem Forum of the Upholders of Justice and the Constitution (Furkon), Faisal Biki, said the...

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Batik Exhibition, at Gedung Departemen Perindustrian, Ground Floor, Jl. Gatot Subroto, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., until Oct. 28. * Painting Exhibition: The Beauty of Watercolour, at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 2-3, South Jakarta (Phone: 5268833), 10 a.m.

Corporate loan 'signals confidence'

Corporate loan 'signals confidence' JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank's private sector financing arm, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Deutsche Investitions und Entwicklungsellschaft (DEG) agreed on Thursday to provide US$28 million worth of loans and equity capital to Indonesian video...

Executive sex on the rise as monogamy loses its luster

Executive sex on the rise as monogamy loses its luster JAKARTA (JP): Promiscuity and extramarital affairs are on the rise among executives, the majority of them men, a sexologist believes, but sleeping with prostitutes is increasingly disdained.

Gubernatorial picks named for Riau

Gubernatorial picks named for Riau PEKANBARU, Riau: Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid has named three gubernatorial candidates for Riau province, Antara reported on Thursday.The news agency quoted the provincial house speaker Darwis Rida Zainuddin as saying that the candidates were Firdaus...

Doctor's testimony needed to explain Sukarno's death

Doctor's testimony needed to explain Sukarno's deathBy R. Diah Imaningrum MALANG, East Java (JP): The cause of Sukarno's death has suddenly become an issue of heated public debate and suspicion after one of his widows, Ratnasari Dewi, alleged that the country's first president was murdered.

Riot probe team postpones presentation of findings

Riot probe team postpones presentation of findings JAKARTA (JP): The team investigating the May riots has postponed the disclosure of its findings scheduled for Friday, until next week due to "technical problems," it was announced on Thursday.

Foreign investors still wary of property sector

Foreign investors still wary of property sector JAKARTA (JP): Foreign investors have held off on big buys of properties of local debt-ridden developers because they find no signs of imminent economic recovery, property consultant First Pacific Davies said on Thursday.

Top cement producers eye ASEAN stakes

Top cement producers eye ASEAN stakes HANOI (Reuters): Swiss cement maker Holderbank Financiere Glaruse Ltd said on Thursday big foreign cement makers are battling for position in key Southeast Asian markets and will play a significant role in the industry.

Sjumandjaja: A director and social critic

Sjumandjaja: A director and social criticBy Marselli Sumarno JAKARTA (JP): Film director Sjumandjaja died on July 19, 1985 at the age of 51. His death took everybody by surprise as just a few days before he died, he was still active in directing his latest film, Opera Jakarta.

Bankers urge quick use of Japanese aid

Bankers urge quick use of Japanese aid CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Reuters): Private bankers in Southeast Asia on Thursday urged regional governments to tap quickly Japan's $30 billion aid plan and to promote sound economic policies to help weather the region's financial crisis.

Petisi 50 calls for dissolution of 'arrogant' Golkar

Petisi 50 calls for dissolution of 'arrogant' Golkar JAKARTA (JP): The Petisi 50 group of government critics has lashed out at Golkar over the dominant political grouping's refusal to apologize to the nation for political mistakes made under Soeharto's New Order regime.

Discrimination still common: Sociologist

Discrimination still common: Sociologist JAKARTA (JP): A noted sociologist said on Wednesday that President B.J. Habibie's instruction outlawing discrimination had yet to prove to be effective considering the difficulty experienced by Chinese-Indonesians in dealing with the bureaucracy.In his Sept.

RI to open up service sector earlier than planned: Bambang

RI to open up service sector earlier than planned: Bambang JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto said on Thursday the economic crisis necessitated that the country expedite the opening of its service sector, including for accounting firms.

NGOs submit their antimonopoly bill

NGOs submit their antimonopoly bill JAKARTA (JP): Three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) handed over their version of the antimonopoly bill to the House of Representatives on Thursday.Their draft, containing 10 chapters and 32 articles, was presented to the House's special committee preparing...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Bali's conversion rates on Oct. 22, 1998: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,500.00 7,700.00 7,600.00 7,750.00Austrian schilling 1 615.00 685.00 - -Australian dollar 1 4,610.90 4,870.90 4,375.00 4,855.

Double standard attitude?

Double standard attitude? One of the headlines in The Jakarta Post dated Oct. 16, 1998 was Winters banned from entering RI. As an ordinary citizen I was very ashamed of this. It's more proof that Indonesia is a country that is ruled by power of government rather than by law.

BA, Qantas have joint manager

BA, Qantas have joint manager JAKARTA (JP): British Airways and Qantas of Australia announced on Thursday the appointment of Claire Hatton as their Indonesia joint manager.They said in a joint statement that Hatton, currently British Airways' Indonesia manager, would take up the new position on Dec.

Ita's death and terrorism

Ita's death and terrorismFrom RepublikaThe statements made by the team of volunteers on mass rapes in the May riots have created problems for themselves.Until now the proof to support these accusations has not been obtained.

Cirebon batik fashion show held

Cirebon batik fashion show held JAKARTA (JP): A fashion show featuring modern and traditional gowns embellished with Cirebon batik motifs was staged at Pasaraya shopping center in Blok M, South Jakarta, on Thursday.

'Indonesians join street protests'

'Indonesians join street protests' KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has accused foreigners, including Indonesians, of involvement in anti-government protests in Malaysia.Foreigners wanted to see the protesters overthrow the government so that Malaysia would open itself up to...

Rainfall this month still normal, says BMG

Rainfall this month still normal, says BMG JAKARTA (JP): Rainfall in the capital this month has been normal, but heavy rains might be recorded by the end of this year and reach a peak in January, according to an official.

Rp 700 million for students

Rp 700 million for students JAKARTA (JP): The European business community here has collected at least Rp 700 million which will be donated to University of Indonesia students who have been financially affected by the economic crisis.

Timah's profit up five-fold

Timah's profit up five-fold JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed state-owned tin miner PT Tambang Timah reported on Thursday an almost five-fold increase in net profits to Rp 305.7 billion (US$40 million) during the first semester of this year from Rp 57.3 billion in the same period of last year.