Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 22 December 1998

49 articles found

Public pressure called for to neutralize bureaucracy

Public pressure called for to neutralize bureaucracy JAKARTA (JP): Political observer J. Kristiadi has called on the public to exert pressure on the House of Representatives -- now in recess -- so that it decides against allowing the 4.1 million civil servants to enter politics.

The Soeharto factor

The Soeharto factor Abdurrahman Wahid, often known for going against the current of public opinion, stunned the nation once again over the weekend when he suggested the inclusion of former president Soeharto in a national dialog.

Govt to ease requirement for provincial banks

Govt to ease requirement for provincial banks JAKARTA (JP): The government is considering modifying the legal entity status of provincial administration-owned development banks to enable investors to participate in their recapitalization.

Acronyms! Oh, my!

Acronyms! Oh, my! Indonesians may not know it, but they have going for themselves a most comprehensive secret language, which defeats all foreigners on arrival, and which is a never-ending struggle for us old-timers to keep up with.I refer to acronyms and abbreviated/truncated words.

Habibie's toy boys?

Habibie's toy boys? Will Gen. Wiranto's questionable plan to deputize 70,000 civilians to join Indonesia's security faction have the effect of ensuring greater law and order throughout Indonesia? Not if the crop of new recruits turns out to be like their older brothers.

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Music and Entertainment * Hyatt Regency Surabaya, Jl. Jend. Basuki Rakhmat 106-128 (Phone: 031 5311234): - The Tavern Pub: Hazztoria Band, Monday to Friday Saturday, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Saturday, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. - Lobby: Gamelan (Traditional Music), Monday to Sunday, 6 p.m.

Secularization an extension of the idea of primacy of reason

Secularization an extension of the idea of primacy of reason The following article is based on an interview by The Jakarta Post columnist Mochtar Buchori with Prof. Bassam Tibi, a Syrian-born expert on Islamic studies from Goettingen University, Germany.Dr.

Is the Indonesian economic recovery for real?

Is the Indonesian economic recovery for real?By Eddy Soeparno JAKARTA (JP): Recent economic indicators suggest that the Indonesian economy is on its way to recovery. Inflation seems to be under control, therefore allowing interest rates to soften, while consumer goods (especially basic needs or...

Kupang fire guts 15 buildings

Kupang fire guts 15 buildings KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Fire razed 15 shops and restaurants in Oesao traditional market in south Kupang on Monday, Antara reported.The fire began just after midnight in a shop known to have been vacated by its owner for two weeks, Chris Ndoki, the chief of Oesao...

Where to go in Bandung:

Where to go in Bandung:Performance * Sundanese Traditional Drama: Sayembara Pasopati, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl. Baranang Siang 1, Kosambi (Phone: 022 433562), 8 p.m., Dec. 26.Music and Entertainment * Hotel Papandayan, Jl. Gatot Subroto No.

ADB backs Asia fund, readies new loans

ADB backs Asia fund, readies new loans TOKYO (Reuters): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing to help underwrite between US$2 billion and $3 billion in new loans to the Asian economies most directly hit by the regional crisis, a senior official at the bank said on Monday.

Most SE Asian currencies up against the dollar

Most SE Asian currencies up against the dollar SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies were generally higher against the U.S. dollar in late trading Monday as sentiment for the U.S. currency wanes, traders said.The apparent end of U.S.

Economic crisis dampens Singapore's Christmas spirit

Economic crisis dampens Singapore's Christmas spiritBy Jasmina Kuzmanovic SINGAPORE (AP): For the first time in years, an economic crisis has forced this rich island nation to cut down on preparations for Christmas, usually one of its biggest entertainment and shopping events.

Star witness says she tried to 'save' brother from Anwar

Star witness says she tried to 'save' brother from Anwar KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A star witness who lodged accusations of sexual misconduct against Anwar Ibrahim took the witness stand for the first time on Monday and told how she tried to "save" her brother from the former deputy premier.

Financial market trading quieter ahead of Xmas

Financial market trading quieter ahead of Xmas JAKARTA (JP): Trading activities in the local financial market were quiet on Monday with the rupiah closing at 7,725 against the U.S. dollar as share prices inched up 0.13 percent, dealers and stockbrokers said.

Govt promulgates latest facts on rape during rioting

Govt promulgates latest facts on rape during rioting JAKARTA (JP): The government said 76 women were violated during the May rioting here and in other cities, but claimed on Monday they were not the victims of an organized crime.

Govt about to issue new ruling on tax break criteria

Govt about to issue new ruling on tax break criteria JAKARTA (JP): A presidential decree spelling out criteria for tax breaks for particular investments will be released this month and take effect in January, State Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz said on Monday.

Civilian militia delayed until House debate

Civilian militia delayed until House debate JAKARTA (JP): Following days of public uproar, the government decided on Monday to postpone the establishment of a civilian militia until at least a law on trained civilians is issued.

Foreigners held for illegal entry

Foreigners held for illegal entry MANILA (AP): The Philippine navy has detained 11 foreigners who illegally entered the Philippines aboard a boat laden with smuggled canned goods from Indonesia, officials said on Monday.

Habibie 'should not join dialog'

Habibie 'should not join dialog' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi supported on Monday President B.J. Habibie's refusal to meet with his onetime mentor, Soeharto, for the so-called national dialog.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Dec.21, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 450 -50 31,000 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 0 96,000 Alumindo Light Metal 350 -25 190,000 Alumindo...

120 sea accidents in Bali in 1998

120 sea accidents in Bali in 1998 JAKARTA (JP): The country's main tourist destination, Bali, has had 120 marine accidents involving both domestic and foreign tourists this year. The accidents were blamed on rising tides on the coasts of Pecatu, Nusa Dua, Canggu and Kuta.

Abduction cases go to court Wednesday

Abduction cases go to court Wednesday JAKARTA (JP): The trial of 11 military members who are defendants charged with involvement in the abduction of activists will start Wednesday at the military court.

50-year-old woman dies in bakery fire

50-year-old woman dies in bakery fire JAKARTA (JP): A 50-year-old woman died in a fire which gutted the back part of the large Mon Ami bakery on Jl. K.S. Tubun in Slipi, West Jakarta, early Monday morning.City police deputy spokesman Maj.

Mountaineers on Mt. Merapi found

Mountaineers on Mt. Merapi found PADANG, West Sumatra: Four mountaineers who had gone missing for eight days were found in a Mt. Merapi ravine on Sunday in a critical condition, police said.All four were evacuated on Monday and sent to hospital for treatment, Maj.

Official warns students 'to remember' their studies

Official warns students 'to remember' their studies JAKARTA (JP): Students' academic records are likely to regress following intensive street demonstrations, an official at the Ministry of Education and Culture said Monday.

Discotheque employees seek severance pay

Discotheque employees seek severance pay JAKARTA (JP): Twenty-one employees of Sydney 200 Discotheque on Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta, claimed on Monday that they were dismissed without severance pay.The employees went to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute to air their complaints.

'Ratih' shows ABRI's poor coordination

'Ratih' shows ABRI's poor coordination Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto's plan to establish Rakyat Terlatih (trained militia) to safeguard next year's general election, has caused an uproar. Military observer Lt. Gen. (ret.) Hasnan Habib discusses problems facing its establishment.

1.9m tons of coal exported

1.9m tons of coal exported JAKARTA (JP): State-owned coal producer PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam said on Monday it had exported 1.9 million tons of coals this year.The company president, R. Sunardi, said the exported portion represented only 18 percent of its annual output of 10.5 million tons.

50 political convicts to be released: Muladi

50 political convicts to be released: Muladi JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie will soon release up to 50 political prisoners or detainees, including East Timorese and Acehnese activists, Minister of Justice Muladi said on Monday.

Export financing body to open soon

Export financing body to open soon JAKARTA (JP): The government-sponsored Export Financing Agency will most likely begin operations in February to overhaul unresolved trade financing issues, Industry and Trade minister Rahardi Ramelan said on Monday.

Tangerang mayoralty recieves less in tax revenue

Tangerang mayoralty recieves less in tax revenue TANGERANG (JP): The mayoralty's annual income from hotel and restaurant tax dropped by half from Rp 20.78 billion (US$2.73 million) in 1997 to Rp 10.4 billion this year, an official said on Monday.

Texmaco signs engine deal

Texmaco signs engine deal PERTH (Dow Jones): Australia's Orbital Engine Corp. (OE), an engine technology concern, Monday said Indonesia's PT Texmaco Perkasa Engineering has signed a license agreement to manufacture a range of Orbital Combustion Process two-stoke engines.

Imelda threatened with contempt

Imelda threatened with contempt MANILA (Reuters): A Philippine Senate panel threatened on Monday to cite former first lady Imelda Marcos for contempt after she refused to identify businessmen allegedly acting as trustees of the family's fabled fortune.

KL seeks $5b from Miyazawa Plan

KL seeks $5b from Miyazawa Plan KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia is seeking US$5 billion from a 30-billion-dollar fund for Asia proposed by Japan's Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa in October, Second Finance Minister Mustapa Mohamed said Monday.

Council indicts new local tabloid

Council indicts new local tabloid KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The provincial legislative council has lodged a complaint with the police about an article that appeared in the Pro Demokrasi tabloid in November.

Pertamina may raise output by 56 percent next year

Pertamina may raise output by 56 percent next year JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina could raise its oil output by 56 percent next year to 117,000 barrels per day (bpd) following the recent discovery of significant oil reserves in Prabumulih, South Sumatra, the company said on...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Dec. 21, 1998: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,550.00 7,700.00 7,550.00 7,750.00Austrian schilling 1 604.70 674.70 - -Australian dollar 1 4,538.10 4,798.10 4,550.00 4,850.00Belgian franc 1 201.

Sugar production may drop 31 percent this year: Official

Sugar production may drop 31 percent this year: Official JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's sugar production is expected to drop by 31 percent to 1.5 million tons this year, from 2.1 million tons last year, an official at the ministry of forestry and plantations said on Monday.

Marker describes meeting with Gen. Wiranto helpful

Marker describes meeting with Gen. Wiranto helpful JAKARTA (JP): Visiting United Nations (UN) special envoy Jamsheed Marker said he was pleased with his meeting with Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto here Monday which can be useful for future dialogs on the East Timor issue.

EU to help ASEAN

EU to help ASEAN BANGKOK (DPA): The European Union will help Southeast Asian countries conform to World Trade Organization rules on intellectual property rights by funding a co-operation program with the regional body, the EU said Monday.Under the five-million-euro (US$5.

Police pursue vicious robbers

Police pursue vicious robbers BOGOR (JP): Police are looking for men believed to have killed Edwin Saputra, 28, a resident of Gading Elok housing complex in Serpong, Tangerang, Bogor Police chief Lt. Col. Ferial Manaf said on Monday.

Why the extra charge?

Why the extra charge? For the past two years my family and I have subscribed to Indovision. The service has been relatively tolerable (despite a fairly intolerable decoder box), although expensive. We paid over Rp 2 million to sign up for the service, back when the rupiah was Rp 2,450 to the dollar.

Ramadhan time

Ramadhan time for Jakarta TuesdayMaghrib 6:08 p.m.WednesdayImsak 4:03 a.m.Subuh 4.13 a.m.

Many subdistricts can't pay cheap rice

Many subdistricts can't pay cheap rice JAKARTA (JP): Most of the 265 subdistricts getting cheap rice amounting to 1,595 tons from the Jakarta chapter of the National Logistics Agency (Dolog Jaya) over the last four months were unable to pay for the commodity, an official said on Monday.

Police probe vandalism of churches in Bekasi

Police probe vandalism of churches in Bekasi JAKARTA (JP): Police are still investigating vandalism of at least three churches and a private school believed to have been committed by hundreds of unknown people in Kali Abang subdistrict, Bekasi on Saturday night.City Police Spokesman Lt. Col.

Forces of nature wrought havoc in parts of Asia this summer

Forces of nature wrought havoc in parts of Asia this summerBy Andreas Landwehr and Juergen Hein BEIJING/NEW DELHI (DPA): Environmental destruction and the forces of nature wrought havoc this summer in large parts of Asia, worst of all in China and Bangladesh which were hit by devastating floods.

Japan's surplus falls, but worries persist

Japan's surplus falls, but worries persist TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's trade surplus declined in November for the first time in 20 months, but economists say it will stay large and concerns about trade friction with the United States will persist until Japan's economy fully recovers.

Civil corps, ABRI to hold low cost Xmas celebration

Civil corps, ABRI to hold low cost Xmas celebration JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie and other cabinet ministers will attend a Christmas celebration organized by civil servants and Armed Forces (ABRI) members on Sunday, an official said on Monday.