Archive: 26 December 1998
47 articles found
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah slips to 7,850 as stocks slightly up
Rupiah slips to 7,850 as stocks slightly up JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah slipped further to close at 7,850 against the U.S. dollar in extremely quiet dealings on Thursday, with most banks closing their dealing rooms earlier than usual, currency dealers said. But stock prices on the local market edged up 0.3 percent, supported by buying programs on certain second- and third-line stocks, brokers said.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Adi wants extradition treaty with S'pore
Adi wants extradition treaty with S'pore SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia wants Singapore to sign an extradition treaty so Jakarta can bring back "economic criminals", Minister of Cooperatives Adi Sasono was quoted on Thursday as saying. "We want Singapore to sign an extradition treaty to bring back to Indonesia economic criminals seeking refuge there," Adi was quoted as saying in an interview with Singapore's Straits Times newspaper.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Xmas celebrated in solemnity
Xmas celebrated in solemnity JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Jakartan Christians on Friday held a modest Christmas mass in the ruins of Kristus Church in Ketapang, West Jakarta. The church was burned down during a riot late last month. The merry faces of the church-goers, especially the children, belied the solemnity felt in the roofless church, temporarily covered with a blue plastic sheet. A cross made of burned wood was placed on the top of a Christmas "tree" made of concrete from the ruins.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
No second term for mayor
No second term for mayor SURABAYA: East Java Governor Imam Utomo has virtually killed any chances for Surabaya Mayor Sunarto Sumoprawiro to be reelected for a second term in office after his current one ends in July. "As Indonesia's second largest city, Surabaya needs a more creative, more capable and more intelligent leader. He must also have a proven good governance record," Imam said, reported Antara on Thursday.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Crippled emerging markets seek new lease of life
Crippled emerging markets seek new lease of life BRASILIA (Reuters): Indonesia has been knocked off its feet, Russia is on its knees and Brazil is hobbling on crutches. For emerging market specialists, the crippling events of 1998 will be hard to forget.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Modern but not westernized
Modern but not westernized By Daniel Lindgren and Rob Goodfellow The following is an excerpt of a paper presented at a seminar at the Faculty of Economics of the Islamic University of Indonesia, the International Program, in Yogyakarta on Dec. 18. YOGYAKARTA: Despite the present crisis, Indonesia can expect a massive increase in foreign investment as we move into the next century. Recent research by Prof.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Gus Dur doubts Soeharto really wants a dialog
Gus Dur doubts Soeharto really wants a dialog JAKARTA (JP): Following a controversy over a planned national dialog that would have included former president Soeharto, the man who initiated the plan said that he doubted Soeharto was serious about participating in the dialog. Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim Organization Abdurrahman Wahid said on Friday, "I doubt that pak Harto really wants to meet with (President B.J.) Habibie.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
National dialog
National dialog From Gatra Toward Soeharto's fall, Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto held a "national dialog" in Kemayoran, Jakarta. This dialog was attended by representatives of students' senates from all over Indonesia, community figures, intellectuals, generals and retired members of the Armed Forces as well as 18 Cabinet ministers.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Brokers and looters blamed for hike in food prices
Brokers and looters blamed for hike in food prices JAKARTA (JP): Traders and a councilor have said the soaring prices of foodstuffs such as eggs, chicken meat, beef, chilies and rice in the capital during the first few days of Ramadhan was mainly due to greedy brokers and looters.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thailand to rescue stranded elephants
Thailand to rescue stranded elephants BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand dispatched a ship on Friday to rescue five elephants stranded in Indonesia by the regional economic crisis, officials said. The ship carrying 14 veterinarians and mahouts left from the resort island of Phuket and will return with the elephants in a few days, an official at the prime minister's office, Yongyuth Tiyapairat, said.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
SembGas, Pertamina deal
SembGas, Pertamina deal SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): SembGas, the consortium led by Singapore's SembCorp Engineering, has finally sewn up the long overdue US$8 billion deal with Indonesian state oil company Pertamina to buy natural gas from West Natuna and pipe it to here, a local daily reported Thursday.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Japan gives RI 100b yen in soft loans
Japan gives RI 100b yen in soft loans JAKARTA (JP): The Japanese government is giving Indonesia 100 billion yen (US$870 million) in long-term, low-interest loans to help the country cope with its worst-ever crisis. The loan agreement was signed in Jakarta on Thursday by Takao Kawakami, the Japanese ambassador to Indonesia, and Johan S. Syahperi, the director general for foreign economic relations, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stocks Exchange
Stocks Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Dec.24, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 450 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 25,000 Alumindo Light Metal 350 0 7,500 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 200 0 0 Aneka Tambang 1,600 0 295,000 Anwar Sierad 100 0 15,000 Apac Centertex Corp.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Golkar's felonious ploy
Golkar's felonious ploy Every time Indonesians, whose sense of humanitarianism remains intact, speak about civil servants, they do so with strong emotion. This is due to the fact that for decades, administration after administration, the crusade to improve the lot of civil servants has proved unfruitful.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Jobless man kills partner
Jobless man kills partner JAKARTA (JP): Pamulang police, South Jakarta, arrested a 19- year-old jobless man on Thursday for allegedly killing Abdul Karim, 60, a man he claimed was his homosexual partner, an officer said. During preliminary questioning, the suspect, identified only as Sup, allegedly admitted to having killed Abdul, who, he said, had lived with him for about eighteen months, at about 6:30 a.m. on Thursday because of jealousy, South Jakarta police chief Lt. Col.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Calls for disbandment of KNPI widespread
Calls for disbandment of KNPI widespread JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono has been urged to disband the state-sponsored youth organization, KNPI. Antara reported from Bandarlampung, Lampung, on Thursday that in a discussion in North Lampung, the minister told participants that on all his trips around the country people had made the same demand.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
BI foresees further fall in interest rates
BI foresees further fall in interest rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin predicted on Thursday a further fall in interest rates, currently running above 40 percent a year for short term deposit rates. "The current interest rate is still high especially when compared to the recently declining inflation rate," he told reporters after a gathering at the central bank headquarters.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
3 million hectares of forest will be auctioned to public
3 million hectares of forest will be auctioned to public JAKARTA (JP): The government will auction to the public next month a number of concession rights to carry out logging activities in three million hectares of the country's forests, a senior official of the ministry of forestry and plantations has said. Director General of the Utilization of Production Forests Waskito Soerjodibroto said the ministry will also give another three million hectares to cooperatives and small scale businesses.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tanah Abang fire kills six people, destroys shops
Tanah Abang fire kills six people, destroys shops JAKARTA (JP): Six people, including a baby boy, died in a fire that gutted four shop-houses near the crowded Tanah Abang textile market on Jl. K.H. Mas Mansyur in Central Jakarta on Thursday. Their bodies were found shortly after firemen managed to put out the fire, which started at about 11 a.m. at the three-story building used as shops and warehouses for styrofoam and carpets.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Total sells field to Clough
Total sells field to Clough PERTH (Dow Jones): Clough Ltd., an Australian engineering and construction company, said Thursday it has won an A$82 million contract at the Tunu gas and condensate field in Indonesia for a unit of France's Total SA. PT Petrosea Tbk, a Clough subsidiary, will engineer, procure, construct and install offshore platforms and pipelines for phase seven of the Tunu field. The project is in east Kalimantan.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Prabowo's rejection of riot probe result 'no problem'
Prabowo's rejection of riot probe result 'no problem' JAKARTA (JP): A member of the team which investigated riots that rocked the capital in May was unfazed by a rejection by former Army Special Force (Kopassus) commander Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto of his alleged involvement in the riots. The Joint Fact-finding Team's Bambang W. Suharto said on Wednesday, "It does not matter if Prabowo rejects the reports," reported Antara news agency.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Birthday present for alleged murderer
Birthday present for alleged murderer MEDAN, North Sumatra: Popy Wahyuni gave a birthday present here on Thursday to her boyfriend Muhammad Ferizal Batubara, or Ical, the 17-year-old accused of bludgeoning his parents and four of his siblings to death with a hammer in October. Antara quoted Ical's lawyer Abdul Rahman as saying from the local district court that the present, a notepad, was delivered to his client by Popy's sister, Lia, just before a session at the Medan District Court.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
A year of unresolved rights abuse cases
A year of unresolved rights abuse cases By Budiman Moerdijat JAKARTA (JP): Leading rights campaigner Marzuki Darusman described 1998 as the year when unresolved cases of violations were the "most visible dimension" of Indonesia's rights situation. To many activists the year may have also been among the most frustrating as they contended with the fact that revealing rights violations was by no means a solution nor indeed an insurance against a repeat.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
May, 21, 1998 marks the end of an autocratic regime
May, 21, 1998 marks the end of an autocratic regime By Santi W.E. Soekanto JAKARTA (JP): "I quit as president." Those words were uttered by Soeharto when on May 21, 1998, he stepped aside and handed over the power that had been in his hands for 32 years to Vice President B.J. Habibie. Indonesia was in a fever, engulfed in massive, nationwide demonstrations led by students calling for political and economic reform. Those words were music to millions of Indonesian ears here and abroad.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Strike ends at Caltex's contractor
Strike ends at Caltex's contractor PEKANBARU, Riau: A strike by workers of PT Tri Patra, a major contractor of PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, ended on Thursday after the company agreed to meet most of their demands, Antara has reported. The workers' demands included an increase in transportation allowances, housing subsidies and other allowances. Work resumed on Wednesday as negotiations continued to discuss their overall demands.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
KB-UI students to hold 'tarawih' at Atma Jaya campus
KB-UI students to hold 'tarawih' at Atma Jaya campus JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of students grouped in the Big Family of University of Indonesia (KB-UI) will hold a breaking of the fast gathering and tarawih (Ramadhan evening prayer) inside the Atma Jaya Catholic University on Saturday, its executives said.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Opposition to new education chief
Opposition to new education chief PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Local university students staged a protest at the West Kalimantan' office of the Ministry of Education on Wednesday opposing the appointment of its new head, Antara reported. Sjech Ahmaddin, who formerly served in Aceh, was recently appointed to the post by Jakarta in preference to five names proposed by the West Kalimantan administration.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
1998 paves the way toward a legal, legitimate democracy
1998 paves the way toward a legal, legitimate democracy By Ridwan Max Sijabat JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Deliar Noer insisted recently that all pro-reform elements ensure that the general election take place next year, "no matter what". If the elections are foiled, "the status quo forces would be stronger," he said.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Silent Indovision!
Silent Indovision! I would like to join in the ongoing correspondence published in your paper regarding Indovision, to which the company has not seen fit to reply. I agree with what all your other writers have said and find Indovision's service nothing short of appalling. I have phoned the company several times and received no satisfactory response. I have also sent them fax messages, none of which have been replied to.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Singapore jobless to exceed 30,000
Singapore jobless to exceed 30,000 SINGAPORE (AP): More than 30,000 Singaporeans will be out of work by the end of the year, exceeding the government's projections, the head of the city-state's largest union was quoted on Friday as saying. "In the fourth quarter, retrenchment has gone up compared to the previous three months," Cyrille Tan, head of the United Workers of Electronic and Electrical Industries, was quoted as telling The Business Times.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Dec. 24, 1998: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Habibie struggles to find his footing in presidency
Habibie struggles to find his footing in presidency By Kornelius Purba JAKARTA (JP): If one is a new head of state who takes office amid shouts of "lack of legitimacy" or even "a mere extension of the old regime", what should one do to find one's footing? For President B.J. Habibie, the answer is obviously not to resign, as thousands of students and detractors have demanded. Instead, he has forged ahead full steam, while managing to find small ways in which to keep his balance.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rights body, KWI posts in new council stay vacant
Rights body, KWI posts in new council stay vacant JAKARTA (JP): The government decided on Thursday not to fill places left vacant by the National Commission on Human Rights and the Indonesian Bishop Conference (KWI) on the Council for Enforcement of Security and Law. "There will be no replacements," Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung was quoted as saying by Antara after the first meeting of the council, which was presided over by President B.J. Habibie.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: World Press Photo 1998, at Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Phone: 5252321), Dec. 27 to Feb. 11. * Photo Exhibition: Dari Lengser Sampai Semanggi, at Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara, Jl. Antara No. 59 Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3458771), 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., until Jan. 14. * Fine Arts Exhibition: by Gotot Prakosa, at Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Lower interest rates!
Lower interest rates! From Bisnis Indonesia As the exchange rate of the U.S. dollar against the rupiah is now under Rp 10,600 to the dollar -- the level set as a target by the IMF and the government in the current state budget -- as a businessman, I hope that bank interest rates may be lowered again a little sooner.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Christmas in a time of crisis
Christmas in a time of crisis In Indonesia this year, Christmas is being celebrated in unfavorable sociopolitical and economic conditions. On the social and political plane, the people are in an euphoric mood over the prospect of reform, which unfortunately has brought with it some ominous negative effects. On the economic plane, this nation is still in the midst of a protracted crisis.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Beggars have own reasons 'to operate' during Ramadhan
Beggars have own reasons 'to operate' during Ramadhan JAKARTA (JP): The beginning of the annual Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan has, as usual, been accompanied by an increase in the number of beggars on the streets and in the public cemeteries of Greater Jakarta. Attired in their pitiable looking clothes, the beggars have grown in number over the past few days, as they beg passersby, particularly Muslims, for rupiahs.
Sat, 26 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 My Country 9:00 TV Drama: Gelas Retak 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ramadhan time for Jakarta
Ramadhan time for Jakarta Saturday Maghrib 6:10 p.m. Sunday Imsak 4:05 a.m. Subuh 4.15 a.m.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
City detectives get new boss
City detectives get new boss JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman on Wednesday installed Col. Alex Bambang Riatmojo on Tuesday as the new head of the city police detective directorate, replacing Col. Gories Mere. A 1977 graduate of the Police Academy, Bambang was previously deputy secretary at the National Central Bureau (NCB)-Interpol.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina struggling to improve its image
Pertamina struggling to improve its image By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): The state oil and gas company, Pertamina, which has been rocked by many scandals over the past several decades, has returned to the press limelight with a battered face this year, following the downfall of former president Soeharto from power in May.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Street children, vagrants and beggars
Street children, vagrants and beggars From Neraca Greater Jakarta reportedly has 12,630 street children. Social organizations take 4,160 of them under their protection, while a UNDP program and the government have 1,084 in their care. In this month of Ramadhan, the number of street children has increased. Many of them accost motor vehicles asking for money, while making "music" with bottle caps nailed to a piece of wood.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Performing arts shed the shackles of repression
Performing arts shed the shackles of repression By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Expressions of agony, anger and disappointment imbued the themes of most performing art works staged throughout l998. The fall of the New Order regime, with former president Soeharto's stepping down in May after 32 years in power, should have been reason enough for the local art community to rejoice.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bankruptcy petition against PT Hutama Karya rejected
Bankruptcy petition against PT Hutama Karya rejected JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Commercial Court turned down a bankruptcy petition on Wednesday against state-owned builder PT Hutama Karya brought by private construction firms PT Jaya Readymix and PT Primacout Lestari. Presiding judge Parwoto Wignjo Sumarto declared that Hutama Karya did not have any direct debt obligation to the two private construction firms.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Prolonged economic crisis adds more fuel to the fire
Prolonged economic crisis adds more fuel to the fire By Ati Nurbaiti JAKARTA (JP): Meisi, a toddler in Tasikmalaya, West Java, was killed early December when her neighbor, a food vendor, caused an accident when trying to snatch her earrings to buy food. Earlier in the year, mothers began replacing costly milk formula with tajin, the water left from cooking rice, which alarmed experts said contained very little nutrients.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Suu Kyi defiant despite rumors
Suu Kyi defiant despite rumors YANGON (Reuters): Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi took a defiant stance amid rumors that Myanmar's ruling military government may deport her and dissolve her National League for Democracy (NLD) party early next month. An NLD statement on Friday quoted Suu Kyi as saying that she had no intention of leaving Myanmar and the military government would have problems finding a country to accept her as she held only Myanmar citizenship.
Sat, 26 Dec 1998, 00:00 WIB
Six banks may change status
Six banks may change status JAKARTA (JP): Six commercial banks have applied to change their status into interest-free Islamic banks, Bank Indonesia director Soebardjo said here on Thursday. He said that the six banks include Bank Mega, BSB, Bank Ratu, Bank Intan, Bank IFI and Bank Nusa Nasional. "The six banks have informally expressed their interest in changing their status to become Islamic banks," the central bank's director was quoted as saying by Antara news agency.