Archive: 14 December 1998
51 articles found
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI's trouble threatens sea-lanes: Singapore
RI's trouble threatens sea-lanes: Singapore SINGAPORE (AP): If Indonesia's instability inspires a flood of refugees, the safety of vital shipping lanes could be threatened, Singapore's defense minister said in an interview published on Sunday. Tony Tan, who is also deputy prime minister, said that all the Japanese ministers he had met during a trip to Japan last week had expressed great concern about Indonesia, and feared a resumption of rioting.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Protectionism on the increase
Protectionism on the increase By Guest van der Veen BANDUNG (JP): The same herd mentality that caused the rupiah to plummet last year makes main stream economists regularly speak half-truths. These half-truths are very dangerous because they distort reality. Main stream economists maintain that globalization is all about the opening of markets. They believe that the keyword is freedom.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Taufik leads RI to second round
Taufik leads RI to second round BANGKOK (JP): Debutant Taufik Hidayat led the Indonesian wagon to the second round of badminton competition at the 13th Asian Games on Sunday. Playing in the men's singles, 17-year-old Taufik hardly broke into a sweat while disposing of Afshin Bozorgzadeh of Iran, a country where the sport is alien. It took Taufik, who used jumping smashes and overhead lobs to outclass the minnow Iranian, just 23 minutes to score a 15-5, 15- 1 win.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
School's out on Sonit
School's out on Sonit LUWUK, Central Sulawesi: As many as 114 elementary school pupils on Sonit island have not been able to resume classes since a powerful earthquake destroyed their school buildings last month, Antara reported on Saturday. The quake virtually flattened the island and hundreds of people had to be evacuated to Banggai, a town on a nearby island. The local administration is planning to organize classes for the children in temporary shelters. (01)
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mahathir says no decision on new deputy post
Mahathir says no decision on new deputy post KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Sunday he had not made any decision on appointing a deputy, a position vacant since the September sacking of Anwar Ibrahim, now on trial for sodomy and corruption. "It's not true. I have not made any decision," he said when asked at a news conference about speculation that he was expected to announce a deputy.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Village head faces 8 months in jail
Village head faces 8 months in jail BOGOR (JP): Prosecutor Laode Halipo has asked Bogor District Court to sentence Baranangsiang village head E. Herdian to eight months in jail for falsifying ownership documents for a 1,182- square-meter plot of land. Laode said that Herdian, 51, was guilty of issuing the document stating that the land was owned by Miftah Yudhi Hermawan, even though the title to land was held by Yalis Bachtiar.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI hopeful of Japan's aid
RI hopeful of Japan's aid HANOI (Dow Jones): Indonesia hopes to learn this week how much aid it will receive as part of Japan's US$30 billion assistance package for Southeast Asia, and the conditions that will be attached to it, Senior Economics Minister Ginandjar Kartasasmita said Saturday. "We would like to get some clarifications from Japan on this," Ginandjar told Dow Jones.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Why the ban on studying abroad?
Why the ban on studying abroad? Having enjoyed years of Western education, President B.J. Habibie would now like to deprive Indonesia's youngsters of the same experience. The line of reasoning, if there is any, seems to be that studying abroad corrupts the mind and diminishes the nationalistic spirit of impressionable young people. For me, the reverse is true.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
What now? Why now?
What now? Why now? With blood from the Black Friday tragedy not yet even dry, the Armed Forces (ABRI) has announced that it plans to forge ahead and recruit tens of thousands of civilians to help maintain security in the country. Few people will question the legality of the plan since the government, under the 1982 law on national defense, is permitted to recruit civilians for the purpose of defending the country.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian Olympic boss calls for World Cup boycott
Asian Olympic boss calls for World Cup boycott BANGKOK (AFP): The head of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has called for an Asian boycott of the football World Cup if the continent's representation at the 2002 finals is not increased. Even though the finals are to be co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, the OCA president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah said Asia must fight for its rights.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ballpoint gun shooting an accident: Friends
Ballpoint gun shooting an accident: Friends JAKARTA (JP): After three days of intensive questioning, North Jakarta Police arrested on Saturday three friends of a woman who suffered a serious gun shot wound on Thursday, an officer said. The three, identified as Yuli, a female discotheque employee, and businessmen Tommy and Erick, are currently charged with giving false information to the police about the shooting of their friend Dewi Yulianti, 24, at Danau Sunter Hotel, North Jakarta.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tangerang population to triple
Tangerang population to triple TANGERANG (JP): The population of Tangerang mayoralty, currently home to 1.3 million people, will triple to between three and four million residents in the year 2010, Mayor Mochammad Thamrin said, quoting the World Bank's estimates on Thursday. The prediction, he said was made by the WB based on average population growth rate of 8.27 percent per year in the mayoralty between 1990 and 1993.
Mon, 14 Dec 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 Talk Show: Kesejahteraan Keluarga 9:00 Music 9:30 Interval 2:00 p.m.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Supreme Court to set up unit to review presidential decrees
Supreme Court to set up unit to review presidential decrees JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court is planning to set up a special unit to review laws and presidential decrees in a move seen as an improvement on its earlier stance, under which it insisted it would only review legislation if requested to through a lawsuit.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cambodia's ASEAN entry still hang in the balance
Cambodia's ASEAN entry still hang in the balance By Meidyatama Suryadiningrat HANOI (JP): The question of Cambodia's admission into ASEAN hung like a dark cloud as ministers concluded their meetings on Sunday, with concerns growing that setting too many criteria for entry could undermine the grouping's revered principle of nonintervention.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
S'pore Moslems urged to give alms
S'pore Moslems urged to give alms SINGAPORE (AP): Because only 9 percent of Singapore's 120,000 working Moslems pay alms, the Islamic Religious Council will launch an advertising campaign and more active collection methods, according to a report published on Sunday. Collectors will visit wealthy Moslem households instead of waiting for them to come to the mosque to pay, The Sunday Times said, quoting Singapore's mufti, Syed Isa Semait.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
50 students receive scholarships
50 students receive scholarships JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Children's Welfare Foundation handed over scholarships to 50 elementary school students from poor families in Cilincing slum area, North Jakarta, on Saturday. The foundation's vice executive director, Arum R. Kusuma Negara, said the scholarships were part of the Depot Anak program launched by the foundation in July with the aim of helping elementary school students continue their studies.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia to keep the ringgit pegged at 3.8 to U.S. dollar
Malaysia to keep the ringgit pegged at 3.8 to U.S. dollar KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday laid to rest all speculation that the ringgit currency's peg might be revised, saying it will remain at 3.8 to the dollar for a "long, long time". Mahathir emphatically reiterated that the ringgit, pegged against the U.S.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
EU backs calls for referendum on E. Timor
EU backs calls for referendum on E. Timor VIENNA, Austria (AP): In a decision welcomed as a landmark by Portugal, European Union (EU) leaders backed calls on Saturday for a referendum to decide the fate of East Timor, the former Portuguese colony which was integrated into Indonesia in 1976.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Democratization process must never stop: Gus Dur
Democratization process must never stop: Gus Dur JAKARTA (JP): Moslem leader Abdurrahman Wahid has reminded the nation that democratization is an ongoing process which must never stop. Once it falters, he said, democratization becomes "totalitarian".
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN will study impact of hot money
ASEAN will study impact of hot money HANOI (Reuters): Southeast Asian nations will study the possibility of setting up a mechanism to protect the region from the shocks associated with hot money flows, Indonesia's top economics minister said on Sunday. Ginandjar Kartasasmita, coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry, said in an interview the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would examine ways of monitoring capital flows.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Oka gives RI second gold at Asiad
Oka gives RI second gold at Asiad BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia entered the second half of the 13th Asian Games with some pride after collecting its second gold medal through windsurfer Oka Sulaksana. Competing in the men's IMCO heavy division, Oka grabbed the coveted laurel after a panel of judges sustained Indonesia's protests over an alleged violation committed by Kenjo Motokazu of Japan in the penultimate and ninth stage.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Strong rupiah fails to boost car sales
Strong rupiah fails to boost car sales JAKARTA (JP): Sales of four-wheeled vehicles fell in November to 2,470 units from 3,634 the month before, despite the strengthening of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, according to the latest report issued by the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo). The November sales of passenger cars dropped to 341 units from 366 in October while those of commercial cars fell to 2,129 units from 3,268 in October.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
People run amok in Surakarta over a drag race stoppage
People run amok in Surakarta over a drag race stoppage JAKARTA (JP): Only a day after a bloody clash between villagers in Bali that killed at least three people, a mob of about 1,000 people rioted in the Central Java town of Surakarta in the early hours of Sunday. According to police, at least 10 people were injured, and two buildings on a Surakarta-Yogyakarta intercity street were damaged in the incident that erupted after police attempted to disperse hundreds of spectators of a drag race.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Probe takes time into Anwar injury
Probe takes time into Anwar injury KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The Malaysian Attorney General's Office needs more time to study a report on injuries sustained by ousted deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody, a report said on Sunday. "We have been very busy lately and I cannot promise a time frame to study the investigation papers. We will proceed when we are ready," Attorney General Mohtar Abdullah was quoted as saying by the Sunday Star newspaper.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
18 youth detained over street brawl in Tangerang
18 youth detained over street brawl in Tangerang TANGERANG (JP): Military personnel here have netted 18 youths for allegedly possessing, among other things, a Molotov cocktail, a crowbar, pocket knives and swords and sickles during a noisy street brawl on Saturday. Tangerang Military chief Lt. Col. Meris Wiryadi said that most of the detained teenagers were students of a local technical high school. But one of the suspects, identified as M.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Attorney chief replaced
Attorney chief replaced UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: The chief of the South Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, Gagoek Soebagyanto, has been replaced in the middle of a politically charged corruption investigation of a senior Golkar politician. Gagoek confirmed on Friday that he had received a letter from Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib, dated Dec. 9, informing him of his dismissal. Bachtiar Fahri Nasution, currently the chief of the Aceh Prosecutor's Office, has been appointed to take his place.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Solution for poor Irianese
Solution for poor Irianese JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The provincial administration is calling on poor people in Irian Jaya to resettle as a way of improving their economic condition. Budi Sinulingga, the head of the Irian Jaya Transmigration Office told Antara that the administration was allocating more places for local people, rather than people from other islands, to take part in the resettlement program within the province.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
East Java killings 'acts of political terror', says NU
East Java killings 'acts of political terror', says NU JAKARTA (JP): In the face of repeated denials by the local government and military, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) announced on Saturday its conviction that political maneuvering was behind a recent killing spree in Banyuwangi, East Java, and surrounding areas.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Reelected head of chamber
Reelected head of chamber Aburizal "Ical" Bakrie was reelected chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for the 1999/2004 term at the end of the chamber's national congress on Friday. Anyone has the right to be elected to the post of the chamber's chairman. But the most important thing is how to mold the association in such a way that it eventually becomes a partner of the government in making economic policies.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: Face to Face: Indonesia and Britain, at World Trade Center, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 29-31, South Jakarta (Phone: 5211320), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Dec. 18. * Painting Exhibition: Great Charcoals by Indonesian artist Krijono, at Hore-Hore Resto Kafe, Jl. Ampera Raya No. 11A, South Jakarta, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., until Dec. 15. * Painting Exhibition: by Bagong Kussudiardja, at Galeri Nasional, Jl. Merdeka Timur 14, Central Jakarta, until Dec.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Crony investigation
Crony investigation If things were not as they unfortunately are -- a president who was Soeharto's protege presiding over a cabinet largely made up of Soeharto cronies -- the main headline in The Jakarta Post Dec. 11 ('Citizen' Soeharto questioned), might have raised high hopes that at last Soeharto would soon stand trial and be stripped of his ill-gotten billions.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Year-end window dressing may prop up share prices
Year-end window dressing may prop up share prices JAKARTA (JP): Year-end window dressing by fund managers will probably have a positive impact on share trading on the local market this week, analysts said. Analysts said that many big fund managers would reenter the market this week and make some purchases to prop up prices of popular stocks, especially those representing the majority of their local equity portfolios.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ramayana best managed
Ramayana best managed JAKARTA (JP): PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa, one of Indonesia's largest retail chains, has been voted the best managed publicly- listed company in Indonesia for this year by the Hong Kong-based Asiamoney business magazine. The rating was based on a four-month survey covering 700 fund managers conducted by the business magazine for drawing its annual list of the top 100 best-managed companies in the Asia- Pacific region.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
AFTA to be set one year sooner
AFTA to be set one year sooner By Meidyatama Suryadiningrat HANOI (JP): Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gave their stamp of approval on Sunday to accelerating the deadline for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) from 2003 to 2002. The decision came at the end of a Joint Ministerial Meeting between ASEAN foreign and economic ministers held in the Vietnamese capital as a prelude to the sixth ASEAN Summit of leaders set to begin on Tuesday.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Election of new president
Election of new president From Merdeka A general election will soon be held and Indonesia will soon have its new president, who will be fully entrusted to lead the state. The presidential cabinet system prevailing until today has furnished a great opportunity to the mandate holder of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to exercise his power as broadly as he wishes, especially because he comes from the political party winning the election.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Yayul waltzes into tennis quarterfinals
Yayul waltzes into tennis quarterfinals By Primastuti Handayani BANGKOK (JP): Indonesia's tennis queen Yayuk Basuki opened her campaign in devastating fashion for the women's singles gold medal at the 13th Asian Games on Sunday. Armed with blistering serves and volleys, world number 58 Yayuk was in another class from Tayana Babina of Kazakhstan. She did not lose a game in the second-round match at the Muang Thong Thani sports complex which lasted only 30 minutes.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Workers joint students' protest at University of Indonesia
Workers joint students' protest at University of Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): A group of workers joined a student demonstration on Sunday at the University of Indonesia campus in Depok, West Java, as a way of expressing their wish not to be left behind by the students. "We are asking that we are not left out in the (student) struggle for reform. We want to take part in the current movement, too," said Prambudi, one of the workers. "Basically, we all have the same goal, namely a democratic Indonesia.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bank Mashill says it's ready to merge to increase capital
Bank Mashill says it's ready to merge to increase capital JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Mashill said on Saturday it was ready to merge with other banks as part of the government- sponsored banking restructuring program. The bank's president, Dradjat Bagus Prasetyo, said Bank Mashill was open to offers to merge with any bank, especially with those which had passed the government's due diligence.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
New LNG center looking for market
New LNG center looking for market By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina and its oil and gas contractor from the United States, Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO), are struggling to find markets for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) they will produce at Tangguh LNG center in the country's easternmost province of Irian Jaya.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Observers skeptical over micro credit schemes
Observers skeptical over micro credit schemes JAKARTA (JP): The government's effort to invigorate the lower end of the private sector by providing heavily subsidized loans to small scale business has been given a cool response by experts.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
National consensus needed to avoid more serious chaos
National consensus needed to avoid more serious chaos By Laksamana Sukardi This is the first of two articles analyzing the current crisis in Indonesia and predicting the outcome in the near future. JAKARTA (JP): After Soeharto's fall from the presidency in May 1998, Indonesia was thrown from the frying pan into the fire.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
President Habibie warns national press against tyranny
President Habibie warns national press against tyranny JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie warned the national press on Saturday to remain committed to balanced and objective news reporting to avoid a tyrannical press or the risk of being misused for vested interests. Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 61st anniversary of Antara news agency at the State Palace, the President assured people of his government's commitment to respect press freedom.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
ABRI to forge ahead with planned militia
ABRI to forge ahead with planned militia JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is forging ahead with a plan to set up a civilian militia to help the police maintain law and order, ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto said on Sunday. An initial 40,000 civilians would be recruited under the Rakyat Terlatih (trained civilian) scheme "to be assigned to security disturbance-prone areas," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Row over disputed plot at BSD goes on
Row over disputed plot at BSD goes on TANGERANG (JP): A dispute over a 2.5-hectare plot of land at Bumi Serpong Damai housing complex continued after the claimant insisted on measuring the land according to his estimates rather than relying on measurements done by the National Land Agency (BPN).
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
National car Soeharto's mistake
National car Soeharto's mistake On Dec. 9, 1998 Soeharto, former president of the Republic of Indonesia, was questioned by the investigators from the Attorney General's Office regarding, among other things, the national car program. To make the matter clear, allow me to reveal the following: a. Two policies were implemented by the former president regarding the national (Timor) car issue. The first was Presidential Decree No.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Habibie calls for religious harmony
Habibie calls for religious harmony JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie performed his dawn prayer at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque here on Sunday with 10,000 other Moslems, during which he urged the nation to maintain religious harmony and non-Moslems to respect Islamic places of worship. "We hope other believers can respect the Moslems' places of worship," said the President, reported the Antara news agency. The agency said Habibie entered the mosque at 4:05 a.m.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
True democracy applicable?
True democracy applicable? From Pikiran Rakyat The term "democracy" is very familiar to our ears, and most of the Indonesian people are struggling for democratization in all fields, which is in line with the era of reform. And this very process of democratization has given rise to the establishment of tens of new political parties, each with its beautiful concept of how democracy should be implemented.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Earth's innermost core is solid: Scientists
Earth's innermost core is solid: Scientists SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters): Inside a liquid core, the center of the Earth is solid, scientists said at a meeting of the American Geophysical Union, providing the first direct evidence backing a long-held theory. The long-sought finding, which had been hinted at but never proven, came from an analysis of seismic waves generated by a very strong earthquake that occurred in June 1996 about 360 miles (600 kms) below Indonesia.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Water supply disrupted
Water supply disrupted JAKARTA (JP): A dam rupture at Perum Otorita Jatiluhur's West Tarum canal in Curug, Tangerang, on Friday caused a sudden reduction in the water capacity supply to all water treatment plants at Buaran and Pulogadung, East Jakarta, and Pejompongan, Central Jakarta.
Mon, 14 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN wants peace in Spratlys
ASEAN wants peace in Spratlys HANOI (AFP): Southeast Asian ministers treaded cautiously on Sunday on the Spratly islands dispute with China ahead of a summit next week that follows renewed irritants in the archipelago. Philippine foreign secretary Domingo Siazon said the Hanoi declaration to be adopted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) after the summit ends Wednesday would make no direct reference to China.