Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 13 February 1998

55 articles found

Netherlands offer RI medicines, food

Netherlands offer RI medicines, food JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Dutch Foreign Minister Hans van Mierlo offered yesterday to send food and medicine to alleviate the shortages facing many Indonesians in the current economic crisis."I think you are facing an urgent problem in medicines...

Perspective on Asian financial crisis

Perspective on Asian financial crisis The following article is excerpted from a presentation by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands Hans van Mierlo before the Indonesian-Netherlands Association and the Forum Indonesia-Netherlands on Feb. 11, 1998 in Jakarta.

Nasio plans to sell shares

Nasio plans to sell shares JAKARTA (JP): Despite the current financial meltdown, PT Nasio Dutamitra Electric (NDE), a manufacturer of electric and telecommunications cable and energy-saving light bulbs, plans to launch an initial public offering (IPO) this year.

Rp 249.18b allotted to improve air transportation facilities

Rp 249.18b allotted to improve air transportation facilities JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Transportation will allocate about Rp 249.18 billion (US$34.14 million) to improve the country's air transportation facilities and services.

Asia must clean house before changing currency systems

Asia must clean house before changing currency systems TOKYO (AFP): Asia's ailing economies must clean house before playing around with new currency systems, analysts said yesterday, aiming their toughest barbs at Indonesia's plan for a fixed rupiah.

Wiranto named new Armed Forces chief

Wiranto named new Armed Forces chief JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Wiranto was appointed the new Armed Forces commander yesterday, replacing Gen. Feisal Tanjung who has held the post for the last four years.

Thailand supports Ranariddh's return

Thailand supports Ranariddh's return BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand wants ousted Cambodian premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh to return home to contest polls planned for July, the prince said after a meeting with Thai premier Chuan Leekpai.

Habibie opts to wait and see an his VP nomination

Habibie opts to wait and see an his VP nomination JAKARTA (JP): Golkar vice presidential candidate B.J. Habibie refused yesterday to count his eggs before they hatched despite his apparent clear lead in the race for the country's second top position.

Classic 'Ramayana' play a morale booster in crisis

Classic 'Ramayana' play a morale booster in crisisBy Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): Puppet masters are hoping performances of an episode from the classic Ramayana play will inspire the nation's leaders to seek the right answers to the social, political and economic turmoil besetting the nation.

Activists report on arbitrary arrests

Activists report on arbitrary arrests JAKARTA (JP): A group of activists have urged the National Commission on Human Rights to probe what they called the arbitrary arrest and disappearance of their colleagues.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb. 12, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 700 0 0 AHAP Insurance 350 0 0 Alter Abadi 575 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 375 -25 76,500 Alumindo Perkasa 275...

State firms asked to sell CPO at discount prices

State firms asked to sell CPO at discount prices JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Agriculture Sjarifudin Baharsjah has ordered all state-owned oil palm plantation firms to sell crude palm oil (CPO) at discounted prices on the domestic market to help stabilize cooking oil prices.

Countering speculators

Countering speculators The planned measures to hit back at currency speculators have now been revealed. Finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad announced on Wednesday that the government was preparing to set up a currency board system (CBS).

U.S. ignores its own rights violations but slams others

U.S. ignores its own rights violations but slams othersBy Arif Havas Ugroseno JAKARTA (JP): The United States' Department of States handed down its annual verdicts on the human rights reports on Jan. 30, 1998.

800 job seekers demand redress

800 job seekers demand redress YOGYAKARTA: About 800 job seekers from Yogyakarta and Central Java plan to sue a labor supplier on charges of breaking an agreement to send them to Brunei.Their representatives sought legal help from the Yogyakarta chapter of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute on...

ABRI defends police tapping of telephones

ABRI defends police tapping of telephones JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters defended yesterday the police plan to access cellular telephone networks to monitor dissidents and to silence calls which were political in nature.

Philips sees low demand

Philips sees low demand EINDHOVEN, Netherlands (Reuters): Philips Electronics NV said yesterday Asian markets would experience weakening demand in 1998."We expect that in 1998 local markets in the countries most affected by the currency crisis - Indonesia, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia and the...

Serious economic crisis

Serious economic crisis What amazes me about Indonesia's present crisis is not that it has occurred, but that its magnitude and seriousness appear not to be fully appreciated. The collapse of the rupiah will inevitably lead to spiraling prices, mass unemployment and, therefore, widespread social...

The Listening Post

The Listening Post "Building English Skills Through Newspaper + Radio" Produced by American Language Center in cooperation with The Jakarta Post and Radio Sonora FM 100.9 Mhz. * English poetry over the Internet: a happy occurrence indeed.

Asian currencies shaken by doubts on RI plan

Asian currencies shaken by doubts on RI plan SINGAPORE (Reuters): Doubts about Indonesia's plans to adopt a currency board system weighed upon Asian currency markets on Thursday, putting an abrupt end to recent gains.Dealers said skepticism about the proposal was heightened by U.S.

City councilor calls for optimal use of idle land

City councilor calls for optimal use of idle land JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged the municipality yesterday to promote the farming of idle plots of land, including those owned by the private sector.

Shops damaged, houses torched in W. Java riot

Shops damaged, houses torched in W. Java riot BANDUNG (JP): Eight shops were damaged and five houses and seven motorcycles torched when hundreds of people ran amok yesterday in Jatiwangi, about 90 kms east of here, officials said.

Water bomber grounded

Water bomber grounded SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The water bomber sent by the Australian government to help put out forest fires in the province is unable to take part in fire fighting efforts due to technical problems.

Misconduct reports checked by PSSI

Misconduct reports checked by PSSI JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) has received a report saying that several referees in the regions had transferred money to the bank account of one of the federation's officer's here.

Perhutani wants 14.6% increase in revenue

Perhutani wants 14.6% increase in revenue JAKARTA (JP): State-owned forestry company Perum Perhutani announced yesterday that it expected Rp 1.01 trillion (US$134.66 million) in revenues, up 14.6 percent from the Rp 881 billion the previous year.Perhutani's president H.

Stock prices tumble 9.29 percent

Stock prices tumble 9.29 percent JAKARTA (JP): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) dropped for a fourth consecutive day yesterday with the main price index tumbling 9.29 percent in sluggish trading.

Smog threat hovers over SE Asia again: Scientists

Smog threat hovers over SE Asia again: Scientists SINGAPORE (Reuters): Southeast Asia could soon be blanketed by another smoke haze as bush and forest fires spread again across Indonesia, scientists said yesterday.

132 protesters tried for joining demonstration

132 protesters tried for joining demonstration JAKARTA (JP): One hundred and thirty-two people allegedly involved in a protest over soaring prices Wednesday, were indicted during a mass trial at Jakarta Police Headquarters yesterday.

Singapore details Indonesian LC support

Singapore details Indonesian LC support SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore has pledged a maximum of US$2.5 billion to underwrite an Indonesian trade finance guarantee facility, the Straits Times said on Thursday.

Hotel Gran Mahakam opens

Hotel Gran Mahakam opens JAKARTA (JP): Hotel Gran Mahakam, located on Jl. Mahakam I near Blok M mall in South Jakarta, is scheduled to start operation tomorrow, its spokeswoman said in a statement yesterday.

INSA calls for change in lubricant trading

INSA calls for change in lubricant trading JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Shipowners Association (INSA) called on state oil and gas company Pertamina yesterday to change its lubricant trading system to ensure a continuous supply to association members.

Health centers maintain rates

Health centers maintain rates JAKARTA (JP): Community health centers (Puskesmas) in the city have announced that they will not raise their tariffs so that people, especially the poor, continue to get cheap medical treatment, a city councilor said yesterday.

Foreign-funded projects to be labor-intensive

Foreign-funded projects to be labor-intensive JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of National Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita said yesterday that most foreign-funded projects in the 1998/199 fiscal year would be designed to help cope with the unemployment problems caused by the economic crisis.

Sugar and flour owners detained

Sugar and flour owners detained PURWOREJO, Central Java: Police have discovered a stockpile of 200 tons of sugar and 40 tons of wheat flour here.Purworejo police chief Lt. Col. Iman Yuwono said Wednesday authorities have questioned the owners of the goods identified as Herman Susanto and Budi...

Bridgestone cuts RI output

Bridgestone cuts RI output TOKYO (Reuters): Bridgestone Corp. said yesterday it had cut tire output at its Thai and Indonesian units but increased exports from those units to other Southeast Asian countries.

Diplomatic rearguard

Diplomatic rearguardFrom MerdekaThe efficiency driven cuts in the number of diplomats in all Indonesia's overseas missions is a justifiable action. However, during this time of reform, discussion of the criteria for appointing ambassadors has been noticeably absent.

Soeharto wants ABRI to get tough

Soeharto wants ABRI to get tough JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto ordered the Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday to take tough measures against any unconstitutional attempts by irresponsible people to damage the nation's unity.

SE Asia told to deal with IMF together

SE Asia told to deal with IMF together MANILA (AFP): Crisis-hit Southeast Asian economies should deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) collectively to ease stringent loan conditions as they battle the regional financial turmoil, the newly appointed Philippine finance chief said yesterday.

Gift makers profit from fairs

Gift makers profit from fairs JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian gift and craft merchants have booked US$7.67 million in transactions at recent trade fairs in the United States and the United Kingdom.The National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) said yesterday 31 Indonesian companies participated in the...

Water scarcity in Malaysia

Water scarcity in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia's water supply is expected to dwindle in the next few months following a prolonged dry spell due to the El Nio weather phenomena, a minister was reported as saying yesterday.

Asahi lowers production

Asahi lowers production TOKYO (Reuters): Asahi Glass Co. Ltd. said yesterday it had cut production of automobile glass at its Indonesian and Thai units by 50 percent from autumn last year.An Asahi Glass spokeswoman declined to give current output levels, but said the two units combined had enough...

SEAG consortium suffers Rp 68b budget deficit

SEAG consortium suffers Rp 68b budget deficit JAKARTA (JP): The 19th SEA Games Consortium, the fund-raising body for the biennial event held in Jakarta last year, has suffered a Rp 68.1 billion (US$9.08 million) loss.

Habibie or Harmoko

Habibie or Harmoko Golkar has finally played its cards in the vice presidential election game. The ruling political group has named its own chairman Harmoko and State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie as its chosen candidates for vice president in next month's election.

Credible fixed rate 'vital to CBS success'

Credible fixed rate 'vital to CBS success' JAKARTA (JP): The biggest questions Indonesia has to answer before adopting the currency board system (CBS) are at what fixed rate will the rupiah be pegged to the U.S.

ABRI always serves the nation

ABRI always serves the nation On Feb. 11, 1998, I read a The Jakarta Post article which states that the military denies accusations of orchestrating unrest. It is customary that the first act of a person or organization when accused, is to deny it.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 My Country 2:35 TV Series: Tom and Jerry Kid 3:10 Children's Program: Tunas 3:35 Talk Show: Sambung Rasa 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Students' Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 5:10 Documentary Film: Science World 5:30 Music: Paket 27 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05...

Cellular phone operators lose Rp 200b on bills

Cellular phone operators lose Rp 200b on bills JAKARTA (JP): Local cellular telephone operators have lost Rp 200 billion (US$26.66 million) due to unpaid customer bills, the Association of Cellular Telecommunication Indonesia (ATSI) said yesterday.

Trust needed to end anti-Chinese violence

Trust needed to end anti-Chinese violence Ethnic Chinese have continued to be targeted in riots in several towns in Indonesia and Juwono Sudarsono, chairman of the Agency for the Communication of Comprehension of National Unity, who is also vice governor of the military's National Resilience...

Monetary crisis the kiss of death for 7 nightspots

Monetary crisis the kiss of death for 7 nightspots JAKARTA (JP): At least seven nightspots in the city have closed down while dozens of others are on the brink of collapse due to sluggish business and soaring rental rates, a senior official said yesterday.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on Feb. 12, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 6,000.00 9,000.00Austrian shilling 1 432.70 712.10Australian dollar 1 3,881.30 5,976.30Belgian franc 1 152.90 234.20Canadian dollar 1 3,990.

Selling pressure pulls down Asian stocks

Selling pressure pulls down Asian stocks SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian stock markets were hit by selling pressure yesterday amid concerns over renewed weakness in regional currencies and Indonesia's plans to institute a pegged exchange-rate.The Indonesian stock market dipped 9.

Bomb hoax at BSG building

Bomb hoax at BSG building JAKARTA (JP): The latest in a series of bomb hoaxes throughout the city prompted police to evacuate hundreds of office workers from Bina Surya Group (BSG) on Jl. Abdul Muis in Central Jakarta yesterday.The chief of Central Jakarta Police identification unit, First Lt.

Malls cut rental rates

Malls cut rental rates JAKARTA (JP): Local retailers and mall managements agreed yesterday to set the U.S. dollar's exchange rate at between Rp 2,750 and Rp 3,500 for shop rents, Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo has said.The rate will be effective indefinitely, Tunky said yesterday.

Bogor markets being moved out of CBD

Bogor markets being moved out of CBD BOGOR (JP): The mayoralty has started relocating some modern and traditional markets and warehouses to the city's outskirts in a bid to reduce downtown traffic congestion, an official said.

Poverty, price hike prompt fishermen to riot

Poverty, price hike prompt fishermen to riotBy Haryoso REMBANG, Central Java (JP): Hundreds of fishermen and unemployed people went on a rampage near here two days before the Idul Fitri holiday last month, on learning that the price of kerosene had shot up from Rp 350 (5 U.S.