Archive: 25 November 1998
51 articles found
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thai tourism booming
Thai tourism booming BANGKOK (AP): With tourist arrivals up by more than 6 percent, officials expect Thailand's crisis-ridden economy to be buoyed by 272 billion baht (US$7.5 billion) in foreign exchange earnings this year. In a release received Tuesday, the government's Tourism Authority of Thailand said international tourist arrivals through the third quarter of 1998 totaled 5.6 million, an increase of 6.4 percent over the same period last year.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stocks, rupiah tremble a little as student protests resume
Stocks, rupiah tremble a little as student protests resume JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah dipped to 7,600 against the U.S. dollar and stock prices lost 1.1 percent on Tuesday as students resumed large-scale antigovernment demonstrations in the capital. Currency traders said the rupiah's fall from Monday's close of 7,475 was also due to international market bullishness on the greenback.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thailand on full alert for terrorists during Games
Thailand on full alert for terrorists during Games BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand has assembled a hard core of special forces, bomb detection units and riot squads to ensure the Asian Games live up to its "Friendship Games" billing. "We want people to come to Bangkok for the 13th Asian Games knowing that they will be safe," said Deputy Prime Minister Bhichai Rattakul, chairman of the games organizing committee (BAGOC). A stifling security blanket will be spread over the capital during the Dec. 6-Dec.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Sri Indriyani tipped for silver in Bangkok
Sri Indriyani tipped for silver in Bangkok JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is pinning its hopes of winning a silver medal at the 13th Asian Games weightlifting competition in Bangkok next month on Sri Indriyani. The Indonesian Weightlifting, Powerlifting and Body building Association executive chairman, Budiono Kartohadiprodjo, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that Indriyani's only serious challenge in the women's 48-kg division would come from the Chinese.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Estrada adamant on execution
Estrada adamant on execution MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Joseph Estrada on Tuesday shrugged off calls from the European Union and the Vatican to call off the country's first execution in 22 years, saying the sentence would send a "lesson". "I am very firm with my decision because I know this will serve as a lesson for those who still try to commit rape," Estrada said, adding that "this is one way of teaching them (rapists) a lesson".
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Supreme Court turns down Amex bankruptcy appeal
Supreme Court turns down Amex bankruptcy appeal JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court has turned down an appeal by the Singapore office of the American Express Bank (Amex) to declare the publicly listed firm PT Ometraco Corporation bankrupt. The Supreme Court said in its verdict on Tuesday that the appeal had been rejected because the debt claimed by the plaintiff had not yet matured. "The loan Ometraco Corporation obtained from the plaintiff has not matured yet," the court said in the ruling.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Help sought in curbing malnutrition
Help sought in curbing malnutrition JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie expressed on Tuesday deep concern over how the economic crisis had caused malnutrition levels to soar, particularly among infants and children under five, and appealed to the financially better-off to help the poor.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Premier finds RI oil, gas
Premier finds RI oil, gas LONDON (Bloomberg): Premier Oil Plc, a UK oil exploration company, said on Tuesday an exploration well it drilled with its partners in the Pangkah area, off the coast of Indonesia, tested successfully for both oil and natural gas. The Ujung Pangkah No. 1 exploration well produced oil at a rate of 987 barrels a day and gas at a rate of 20 million cubic feet per day, when tested.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Lee Kuan Yew leaves hospital
Lee Kuan Yew leaves hospital SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore elder statesman Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew has been discharged from hospital after undergoing treatment for an infection, a government press statement said on Tuesday. The 75-year-old former prime minister left the National University Hospital on Monday after a two-day stay. He has recovered and will finish his course of intravenous antibiotics as an outpatient, it added.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
ABRI gears up for continual demos
ABRI gears up for continual demos JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto warned that campus activists would continue anti-government protests until general elections in mid-1999. Speaking on Tuesday in a hearing with the House Commission I on security and defense, Wiranto predicted student protesters would continue to push for their demands, which include the ouster of President B.J. Habibie and an end to the military's role in politics.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Debate rages on Pancasila as sole political party principle
Debate rages on Pancasila as sole political party principle JAKARTA (JP): Legislators discussing a draft bill on political parties were unable to resolve differences on Tuesday over the inflammatory issue of stipulating the Pancasila state ideology as the sole doctrine of political institutions.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Politicians warn of vested interests
Politicians warn of vested interests JAKARTA (JP): Politicians and youth activists warned on Tuesday that groups with political agendas were playing on people's mutual suspicions to divide and conquer. Since 1996, unsolved investigations into riots with religious overtones led the leaders to state their conviction they would remain a mystery and that people must work to overcome prevalent distrust, Antara reported.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
ICMI's statement disappointing
ICMI's statement disappointing From Bisnis Indonesia As a member of the executive board of the Indonesian Association of Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI), I was very shocked to hear, and consequently lodged a strong protest against, the statement made by the acting general chairman of ICMI and reported in Kompas on Nov. 16, 1998. It went as follows: "In response to the demonstrations staged by students and the masses in the capital on Nov. 12 and Nov.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Japan firms get nod for subway project
Japan firms get nod for subway project JAKARTA (JP): The government gave the nod on Tuesday for Japanese firms to build a subway system in the city and an electric railway connecting the capital to Surabaya, East Java, according to a business leader. Chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Aburizal Bakrie said that President B.J.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Clinic opens for business
Clinic opens for business JAKARTA (JP): The London Institute of Communications Jakarta in cooperation with the Pasundan University of Bandung will soon open a "business clinic" that will provide consultancy services to people intending to enter into food and food processing businesses using local materials.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 6:00 Morning News 6:30 News: Nuansa Reformasi 7:00 Children's Program: Lagu Anak Nusantara 7:30 Cartoon 8:00 Music 8:30 Documantary Film 9:00 Music 9:30 Interval 2:00 p.m.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia needs banking plan
Indonesia needs banking plan HONG KONG (Reuters): Indonesia is unlikely to emerge from its political and economic crisis without strong government leadership and proper implementation of a banking recapitalization plan, Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co said. In its November report on recent developments in the Indonesian banking system received on Monday, the agency said a strong regulatory system must be in place if foreign investors were to regain confidence in the country.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Narcotics officer found dead with gunshot wound
Narcotics officer found dead with gunshot wound TANGERANG (JP): A police narcotics detective was found dead with a gunshot wound to his stomach, at his rented house in the Legok district here on Monday night. His wife was also in critical condition with a similar wound. Both victims were found in their home in the Dasana Indah housing complex in Bojong Nangka. No Tangerang or Jakarta police officers were willing to discuss the incident.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Four-way tie in opening round of Matoa National
Four-way tie in opening round of Matoa National JAKARTA (JP): Four veteran golfers shared the lead after the first round of the Rp 100 million (US$13,300) Matoa Nasional Open-Andersen Consulting Challenge on Tuesday. Burhan Bora, Gimin Suwiryo, Kasyadi and Sukamdi, the country's most experienced professionals thus far, each carded one-under par rounds of 71 to head the 80-strong tournament now underway at the Matoa Nasional golf course and country club in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
'I love rupiah' gold auctioned
'I love rupiah' gold auctioned BANDUNG (JP): Gold contributions totaling 2,249 grams raised during the "I love rupiah" campaign were auctioned off by the state pawn house here Tuesday. The gold was raised in a campaign launched by former minister of social affairs Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, known as mbak Tutut. The final figure raised in the auction was not announced But an employee of the auction authority, Martinah, said the proceeds far exceeded the set target of Rp 101 million.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rights body sets up probe team on Semanggi tragedy
Rights body sets up probe team on Semanggi tragedy JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has established its own team to investigate the Nov. 13 clash between students and security personnel at the Semanggi Cloverleaf junction. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, the commission pointed out that the government's explanation of the incident which claimed 10 lives left much to be desired.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mine prospecting falls in economic, political crisis
Mine prospecting falls in economic, political crisis JAKARTA (JP): Mining explorations in the country have significantly dropped this year amid the monetary and political turbulence, the Indonesian Mining Services Association (Aspindo) said on Tuesday.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Computer problem may bring new crisis in the future: WB
Computer problem may bring new crisis in the future: WB JAKARTA (JP): The so-called Year 2000 computer problem has the potential to emerge as a serious crisis for Indonesia, even as the country might be on its way towards economic recovery, the World Bank has said. In a statement released Tuesday it asserted that Indonesia had to understand the problem and implement pre-emptive measures.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
On ethnic Chinese again
On ethnic Chinese again On Nov. 16, Masli Arman accused me of declaring "... through The Jakarta Post last month that the Chinese in Indonesia were not really a minority but the third largest ethnic group in the country (after the Javanese and Sundanese), ..." He later displayed his knowledge to show that the Chinese only constituted 2.3 percent in 1930 and came to the conclusion that at the moment, the Chinese only form at the most 3 percent of the Indonesian population, not between 3 percent...
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Demontrations spread in several big cities
Demontrations spread in several big cities JAKARTA (JP): Students continued on Tuesday with their demonstrations demanding that former president Soeharto be tried, and that recent riots be investigated thoroughly. Hundreds of students from the University of Indonesia held a peaceful rally at the intersection near the National Monument (Monas) calling President B.J. Habibie and Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto to a dialog with them.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Obituary
Obituary JAKARTA (JP): Ahem Erningpraja, a former minister of manpower in the early 1960s, died on Monday of old age at 85. He was buried Tuesday at Tanah Kusir public cemetery. Born in 1912, he earned a medal for being an independence fighter. From 1959 to 1963 he served as a minister of manpower. Before that he was active in labor unions and chaired the Plantation Union.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt scales down privatization plans to six state firms
Govt scales down privatization plans to six state firms JAKARTA (JP): The government has decided to privatize six state firms rather than the 12 originally planned in this fiscal year due to bearish conditions on the local stock market. Sofyan Djalil, an assistant to the State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises, said here on Tuesday that the government would be unable to privatize 12 state firms on schedule due to bearish sentiment.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Golden Truly staff fight for rights
Golden Truly staff fight for rights JAKARTA (JP): One hundred twenty-three former employees of the Golden Truly supermarket outlet in the popular Blok M shopping area in South Jakarta are keeping up their fight for higher severance pay after the store was closed in August. Seven workers' representatives visited the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute on Tuesday to seek legal advice on the terms of their dismissal.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Fighting violence against women
Fighting violence against women By Julia I. Suryakusuma Today is UN Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. JAKARTA (JP): On Nov. 25, 1989, 14 women, mostly engineering students from a technical university in Montreal, were gunned down by a male student, because "you're all a bunch of feminists, and I hate feminists!".
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Nov. 24, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 450 25 263,500 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 325 25 6,152,000 Alumindo Light Metal 350 0 440,500 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 250 25 252,500 Aneka Tambang 1,800 0 18,800,000 Anwar Sierad 150 25 419,000 Apac Centertex Corp.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Canadians turn Christmas' ball into charity event
Canadians turn Christmas' ball into charity event JAKARTA (JP): It's almost Christmas, the most festive time of the year. It's time to have fun, but also to serve the needy. Responding to the ongoing crisis, the Canadian-Indonesian business community is turning its annual Christmas social events into charity fund raisers.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Former minister of finance questioned over Freeport deal
Former minister of finance questioned over Freeport deal JAKARTA (JP): Prosecutors at the Attorney General's Office questioned on Tuesday former minister of finance J.B. Sumarlin as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the 1991 extension of the mining contract of copper and gold producer PT Freeport Indonesia.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian nations urged to protect workers
Asian nations urged to protect workers BANGKOK (Reuters): The United Nations' labor rights watchdog urged Asian governments on Tuesday not to forget workers' rights as they sorted out the region's economic crisis. William Simpson, director of technical cooperation for the International Labor Organization (ILO) secretariat in East Asia, told Reuters that workers' rights should be built into the economic reforms now underway in many Asian countries.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Prosecutor seeks one year jail sentence for hapless kidnapper
Prosecutor seeks one year jail sentence for hapless kidnapper BOGOR (JP): A prosecutor here has asked the local court to sentence a 20-year-old man to one year in jail for his alleged involvement in the abduction of two South Koreans earlier this year. Prosecutor Rudianto said on Tuesday that the defendant, Okta Yudistira, alias Sarifudin, was complicit in holding Lee Hyun and Park Jeung-hoon hostage at his brother's house in Cinere, North Jakarta, on July 30.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Economic and political crisis
Economic and political crisis From Kompas With each passing day, the economic difficulties that the Indonesian people have to deal with are getting bigger and bigger. In our social life, there is a bigger threat to security, thus causing restlessness among community members.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Fair elections
Fair elections Reports in The Jakarta Post from Nov. 11 to Nov. 15 hinted that Indonesia's upcoming elections will not be free and fair, and will not allow all Indonesians to express their political aspirations peacefully at the ballot box. A truly democratic system is very simple. It allows anyone to run for office; all representatives serve the same number of constituents, and votes are counted accurately. If Indonesia adopted these simple rules, it could be a model for the rest of the world.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
200 harmed by diving
200 harmed by diving PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 200 divers operating without standard diving equipment in the waters of the Togean islands have either died or become incapacitated over the last seven years. Antara reported Tuesday that the Toloka and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said the divers, who work up to dozens of meters underwater for 50 minutes, used hoses linked to compressors as breathing apparatus.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Calm in Ketapang but schools are still closed
Calm in Ketapang but schools are still closed JAKARTA (JP): Residents in Ketapang, West Jakarta, bore witness to an uneasy calm on Tuesday as most shops and offices in the area reopened for the first time since violent clashes erupted three days ago. Traffic clogged up Jl. K.H. Zainul Arifin, the street where violence first erupted on Sunday, and other main thoroughfares in the area including Jl. Gadjah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI, UAE sign trade pledge
RI, UAE sign trade pledge JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) here on Tuesday to improve bilateral trade relations. Signatories were Andy Pancha, the vice chairman of the Jakarta chapter of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Hassan Mohammad Bin Al Shaikh, his counterpart from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Alatas slams Portugal for halting Timor talks
Alatas slams Portugal for halting Timor talks JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas slammed Portugal on Tuesday for suspending United Nations-sponsored negotiations over the future of East Timor based on unsubstantiated reports of a massacre in the territory. Such an attitude raised questions about Portugal's sincereity in finding a peaceful settlement to the conflict in East Timor through the tripartite dialog, Alatas told reporters.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Offshore mutual funds back to Southeast Asia
Offshore mutual funds back to Southeast Asia NEW YORK (Dow Jones): Offshore mutual funds that invest in Southeast Asia made a comeback last week. In Singapore, mutual funds surged 9.47 percent on average during the week ended Friday, according to Lipper Analytical Services Inc. The government's decision to let private fund managers oversee US$6 billion of its reserves to help stimulate growth in the fund management industry helped bolster returns, Lipper said.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Let bad banks die
Let bad banks die What a knotty bind our nation has tied itself up in. Amid the seemingly relentless waves of rioting, positive announcements about key economic indicators such as the strengthening of the rupiah, rising exports and declining inflation look hollow and meaningless.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
SE Asian currencies slip, but mid-term view positive
SE Asian currencies slip, but mid-term view positive SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): The yen re-exerted its baleful influence over regional foreign exchange markets on Tuesday, dragging Southeast Asian currencies lower against the U.S. dollar. Although the Philippine peso held its ground, the Singapore dollar, Thai baht, Korean won and new Taiwan dollar all eased back, as the U.S. currency nosed higher against the yen.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Sutiyoso given demand over gambling dens
Sutiyoso given demand over gambling dens JAKARTA (JP): In a rare move, city councilors on Tuesday demanded Governor Sutiyoso's resignation unless he is able to close down all of the gambling dens in the capital. The councilors even threatened to go on strike, the council's deputy speaker Ade Surapriatna said.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Plan on water tariff hike suspended
Plan on water tariff hike suspended JAKARTA (JP): The city administration, councilors, city-owned tap water company PDAM Jaya and its two foreign partners have agreed to suspend the plan to hike water rates every six months. The plan, stated in the cooperation agreement of the two joint venture water management firms, "will resume in 2000 with an increase of once a year under a new formula," according to a statement released by the city council on Monday.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Palestinians open historic first airport
Palestinians open historic first airport RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Agencies): The Gaza International Airport opened on Tuesday with the arrival of inaugural flights from Egypt and Morocco, giving Palestinians a long-awaited economic lifeline and a key symbol of their hoped-for sovereignty.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Japan to extend $42b to Asia
Japan to extend $42b to Asia TOKYO (AFP): Japan is to extend five trillion yen (US$41.7 billion) in loans to help industrial restructuring in Asia, a report said Tuesday. The loans would be extended over the next five years, the Asahi Shimbun said quoting Kaoru Yosano, the minister of international trade and industry, who is now visiting Bangkok.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Chicken for Ghalib over Soeharto probe
Chicken for Ghalib over Soeharto probe JAKARTA (JP): Disappointed and angry students on Tuesday presented a black chicken to Attorney General Lt. Gen. Muhammad Ghalib when he persistently refused to set a deadline for the investigation into former president Soeharto's wealth.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian coffee output down 24% due to El Nino
Indonesian coffee output down 24% due to El Nino JAKARTA (JP): A prolonged dry spell, believed to have been triggered by the El Nino weather phenomenon, is blamed for a 24 percent drop in the country's coffee output for the production year ending on Sept. 30.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Salim's firm takes control of PLDT for $750 million
Salim's firm takes control of PLDT for $750 million MANILA (Bloomberg): First Pacific Co., a Hong Kong company owned by Indonesia's biggest business group, paid $750 million to take control of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co., locking up three-quarters of the nation's telecommunications market. The purchase, which took three months to complete, is one of the biggest regional acquisitions by an Asian company since economies slid into recession last year.
Wed, 25 Nov 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hurry up in Jakarta
Hurry up in Jakarta After 32 years of dictatorship under President Soeharto, Indonesians are understandably eager for free elections. President B.J. Habibie must move faster in providing them and avoid the Soeharto-style repression he has flirted with in recent weeks. Mr. Habibie, who was Mr. Soeharto's protege, took over when his mentor was forced from power last May. He has made some limited steps toward democracy.