Archive: 13 March 1998
59 articles found
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asia-Pacific share prices flounder on RI uncertainty
Asia-Pacific share prices flounder on RI uncertainty HONG KONG (AFP): Most Asian share prices floundered yesterday on a lack of incentives and persistent uncertainty over Indonesia's economic policy following the election of President Soeharto to a seventh five-year term, analysts said. Most regional markets waivered between slight gains and less than 1 percent daily losses with the exception of Hong Kong, which lost nearly 2 percent, and Kuala Lumpur, down 1.6 percent.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Once again, openness
Once again, openness As we watched some of our fellow developing countries successfully establish sound democratic systems, any signs of greater political openness at home have been welcomed with open arms. It is in this receptive spirit that we greet the inaugural speech to President Soeharto's seventh term in office, delivered in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Consumers foundation cautious in Games sticker probe
Consumers foundation cautious in Games sticker probe JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation's vice chairman, Agus Pambagio, said yesterday that the foundation was being very careful in its investigation of alleged mismanagement of the 19th SEA Games fund-raising revenue. "We're looking for the mastermind and we must be very careful in our investigation in order to avoid wrongly accusing someone.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cabinet lineup is the talk of the town
Cabinet lineup is the talk of the town JAKARTA (JP): Names disappeared as quickly as they came yesterday as politicians, scholars, journalists and diplomats exchanged gossip about the lineup of the new cabinet. President Soeharto, reappointed for a seventh five-year term Wednesday, is expected to announce the formation of the Seventh Development Cabinet tomorrow morning. Talk no longer focused on criteria for the next cabinet as it did a few days ago.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia doubts paralyze Asian currencies
Indonesia doubts paralyze Asian currencies SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian currencies were stuck in well-worn territory yesterday as Indonesia remained in the hot seat and traders looked desperately for clues about the fate of the rupiah. Uncertainty over whether Jakarta would go ahead with a currency board or some other system to stabilize the rupiah severely hampered activity in regional currency markets. "All the flows are commercially driven.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
City takes a step closer to enacting its green approach
City takes a step closer to enacting its green approach JAKARTA (JP): The long-awaited bill on establishing the city's Regional Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda) was passed by the city council into bylaw yesterday. The agency will assist the governor in addressing worsening environmental problems in the capital, which is home to about 10 million people.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Habibie hands ICMI control to Achmad
Habibie hands ICMI control to Achmad JAKARTA (JP): New Vice President B.J. Habibie handed over the executive chairmanship of the Association of Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals (ICMI) yesterday to his deputy, Achmad Tirtosudiro. Habibie, who took the oath of office Wednesday night, will remain chairman, albeit a non-active one, until the next ICMI congress in 2000, Achmad told reporters after his election by the board of executives at a closed-door meeting.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian golf industry hit hard by regional crisis
Asian golf industry hit hard by regional crisis SINGAPORE (AFP): An Asian golf trade fair opened here yesterday amid gloom in the industry after the region's economic slowdown put course construction projects on hold, affecting a wide range of related businesses. With South Korea and parts of Southeast Asia in recession and Japan struggling to swing its way out of an economic sand trap, sales of course designers, contractors and equipment suppliers have slumped along with club memberships.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rubber futures prices ease
Rubber futures prices ease SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore rubber futures prices eased yesterday on higher volumes, dealers said. Turnover for the three contracts traded on the Singapore Commodity Exchange rose to 8,700 tonnes, from 2,755 tonnes the day before. April RSS 1 was last traded at 117 Singapore cents, April RSS 3 at 71.00 U.S. cents, and May TSR 20 (FOB) at 74.75 U.S. cents.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Farm sector should get more attention: Analyst
Farm sector should get more attention: Analyst JAKARTA (JP): The new cabinet should pay more attention to the development of the agricultural sector than the last one did to reduce the country's dependence on imported commodities, according to a noted agricultural analyst. Bungaran Saragih of Bogor Agricultural University said the development of the agribusiness sector should get top priority.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
HK urges world action on Jakarta's crisis
HK urges world action on Jakarta's crisis PARIS (Reuters): Hong Kong chief executive Tung Chee-hwa said on Wednesday Indonesia's financial crisis could have a ripple effect felt around the world and said the international community must resolve the turmoil. Tung, visiting Paris to boost investor confidence in the territory, said Hong Kong was concerned about a further deterioration in Indonesia even though its trade and investment with the Southeast Asian nation was small.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Alcatel supplies Telkom
Alcatel supplies Telkom BANDUNG, West Java (JP): France's Alcatel Telecom will keep supplying equipment to the projects of state-owned PT Telkom despite the sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, Telkom's vice president D. Amarudien said yesterday. Amarudien said the economic turmoil had not disrupted Telkom's projects in cooperation with Alcatel, although Alcatel reportedly said the crisis had prompted it to delay its supply of telecommunication equipment to Indonesia.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Wiranto warns students not to leave campuses
Wiranto warns students not to leave campuses JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) promised yesterday to continue respecting student demonstrations, but warned that the military would not remain idle if the protests turned violent. ABRI Commander Gen. Wiranto warned the students that they should not take to the streets because this could lead to destruction of property, in which case, the military would have to act. Wiranto said he was willing to meet with the student leaders.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Staid Australian college opens up a little
Staid Australian college opens up a little By Dewi Anggraeni JAKARTA (JP): Mention "Melbourne University Private" to some alumni of the University of Melbourne and you will see outrage; varying degrees, admittedly, but definite outrage. This is Australia's second oldest, arguably its most prestigious and, more crucially, most conservative university.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asia tempts visitors with cut price offers
Asia tempts visitors with cut price offers By Valerie Leroux BERLIN (AFP): Asian countries are engaged in a cut-throat price war to lure as many foreign visitors as they can, bringing dollars and other hard currencies to ease their financial woes. The cost of air tickets and hotel rooms are being slashed to the bone at the international tourism fair which ends here Wednesday, aided by the collapse of the Indonesian rupiah, the Thai baht and the Malaysian ringgit.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
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 * Announcing a shift to cyberspace: after nine years "The Listening Post" moves on. This could well be the very last column you will see in these pages, in line with the times. You may have heard that The Jakarta Post is shrinking, and one of the feature items to be cut is our weekly essay.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Evolution not revolution
Evolution not revolution By Johannes Nugroho JAKARTA (JP): The 1998 General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has satisfied the minimum requirements of Article 2 in the 1945 Constitution, which states that the MPR must sit at least once every five years. In fact, the current convention is the second parliamentary session in five year, following last year's festival of democracy in the general election.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Students jailed for taking drugs
Students jailed for taking drugs BOGOR (JP): The district court here sentenced two students to one year in prison each yesterday for consuming drugs. Jimmy Yulianto, 21, a student of a private university in Bandung, and his girlfriend Yulian, 20, were found guilty of using morphine, locally known as putauw, at a Wisma Duta motel here last October. Judge Nafisah said Jimmy was caught smoking the drug and Yulian injecting it.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
PT Tugu Pratama gained net profit of Rp 137b in 1997
PT Tugu Pratama gained net profit of Rp 137b in 1997 JAKARTA (JP): The monetary crisis has given a windfall profit to PT Tugu Pratama Indonesia, an insurance arm of state oil and gas company Pertamina, the company said yesterday. Company president director Sonni Dwi Harsono said the company, which is one of the country's leading insurance firms, booked a net profit of Rp 137 billion (US$13.7 million) last year, almost three times as much as its 1996 profit of Rp 50 billion.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Triple-tier transit project needs Amdal
Triple-tier transit project needs Amdal JAKARTA (JP): Lecturers and a city official have called on the developer of the triple-tier transit system -- to link Bintaro in South Jakarta to downtown Kota in West Jakarta -- to fast-track the project's Environmental Impact Analysis (Amdal). Retno Soetaryono and Haswinar Arifin of the University of Indonesia underlined yesterday the importance of transparency because the project would affect a lot of poor people.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Fix rupiah without delay
Fix rupiah without delay Independent of the IMF-plus, which may include a currency board system, the government should immediately fix the exchange rate of the rupiah at Rp 5,000 to one U.S. dollar, in line with the 1998/1999 state budget. The risk of doing this is that people in the currency game will buy up dollars. A policy against such a rush is needed: 1.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
One-stop service for bank mergers to be established
One-stop service for bank mergers to be established JAKARTA (JP): A one stop service center will soon be established to assist banks merge and meet the new minimum capital requirement, a government official said yesterday. Director General of Tax Fuad Bawazier said yesterday that banks planning to merge could request free assistance from the center to help arrange the permits required from various government offices.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thief confesses, commits suicide
Thief confesses, commits suicide PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A burglar caught red-handed Wednesday who disclosed the name of his accomplice was found dead in his cell yesterday morning. According to Banyumas police chief Lt. Col. Agus Yudharto, Satria Suhandihad had been arrested a day earlier after he was caught by villagers while burglarizing a house. During police interrogation, the 30-year-old initially refused to name his partner saying that he would be killed if he squealed.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Taiwan starts to help crisis-hit Southeast Asia
Taiwan starts to help crisis-hit Southeast Asia TAIPEI (Reuters): Wealthy Taiwan pressed ahead with a drive to help cash-strapped Southeast Asian neighbors yesterday and rejected rival China's renewed allegations that its motives were less than altruistic. The ruling Nationalist Party's powerful investment boss, Liu Tai-ying, disclosed plans to lead a March mission of Taiwan tycoons to financially battered Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines, the second such mission this year.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Moslem youth organizations call for accountable cabinet
Moslem youth organizations call for accountable cabinet JAKARTA (JP): Three Moslem youth organizations issued yesterday a joint declaration calling on the President to establish a morally accountable cabinet which can help the country out of its economic crux. Dubbed the Al-Azhar Declaration, the nine-point statement stressed the importance of a clean government free of collusive practices.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
BI sets deadline for banks to cut rates
BI sets deadline for banks to cut rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia (BI) has set a deadline of April 15 for commercial banks to comply with its newly established ceiling for deposit rates. BI director for commercial bank supervision and development, Mukhlis Rasyid, said in a circular letter Wednesday that a Feb. 27 regulation establishing a ceiling on deposit rates would come into force April 16.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Congratulatory notes and words for Habibie
Congratulatory notes and words for Habibie JAKARTA (JP): Congratulatory notes and words on B.J. Habibie's election as the country's seventh vice president were received yesterday. China's Vice President Rong Yiren sent his good wishes to Habibie and hoped to see the close ties between the two countries grow stronger in the future.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
USDA food package for RI
USDA food package for RI WASHINGTON (Reuters): The U.S. Agriculture Department and Indonesian officials were discussing a PL-480 "food for peace" package for sales of U.S. wheat, soybeans and rice, Agriculture Undersecretary Gus Schumacher said Wednesday. Discussions should be completed in the near future, he told reporters. The State Department also was considering a food package with Indonesia under another section of PL-480.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Two detained for harboring illegals
Two detained for harboring illegals MALACCA, Malaysia (AFP): Malaysian police have detained another two people, including a policeman, under the powerful Internal Security Act for allegedly harboring Indonesian illegal immigrants. The two, a 44-year-old police personnel and a 48-year-old Indonesian with permanent resident status, were detained Wednesday afternoon and early yesterday respectively.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Visa Card adventure
Visa Card adventure On Sunday, March 8, my husband and I experienced one of the most bizarre telephone conversations with the Visa Approval Service in Jakarta. Following our decision to purchase some furniture from a furniture shop in South Jakarta, my husband presented the shop with his Visa Gold "preferred customer" Card. The store, not being electronically linked to approval service, called the Visa Approval Service.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Goenawan Muhamad protests Ratna's arrest
Goenawan Muhamad protests Ratna's arrest JAKARTA (JP): Noted government critic Goenawan Muhamad and the Indonesian Society for Humanity are among the growing voices expressing their concern over the arrest of actress Ratna Sarumpaet and eight other activists. They were charged with illegally organizing a political meeting.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Acehnese step back in time for contraception
Acehnese step back in time for contraception By Syahruddin Hamzah BANDA ACEH (Antara): Until recently, Nurhayati's contraceptive of choice was hormonal injections. Now, like many women in the province of Aceh, she is relying on the family planning methods practiced by her mother's generation.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on March 12, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hindus complain over advert
Hindus complain over advert DENPASAR, Bali: The chairman of Parisada Hindu Dharma Indonesia, a council of Hindu religious leaders, and several leading Hindu activists have strongly criticized a controversial advertisement published in this month's edition of the Bali Kini tabloid. The advertisement shows a picture of a canangsari, or religious offering, with two golf balls inscribed with the names of the NIRWANA BALI and The Ritz Carlton golf clubs.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Army colonel elected regent
Army colonel elected regent TANGERANG (JP): The regency legislative council elected Col. Agus Djunara the new Tangerang regent yesterday for the 1998/2003 term replacing Saifullah Abdulrachman. Agus, currently an assistant for sociopolitical affairs at Jakarta Military Command, won 35 of the 44 votes. His contenders, Manaf Mulyana and Sudirman got six and three votes respectively.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Defendant hits prosecutor after being convicted
Defendant hits prosecutor after being convicted JAKARTA (JP): Enraged by a six-year jail term handed down by the Central Jakarta District Court for selling Ecstasy pills, a satay seller hit a prosecutor with a bench yesterday. Prosecutor Lukimanto was not seriously injured and said he would forgive the defendant, Arif Andi, 37, who refused to be represented by a lawyer during his trial.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Muchtar Pakpahan admits involvement in street rally
Muchtar Pakpahan admits involvement in street rally JAKARTA (JP): From his hospital room, labor leader Muchtar Pakpahan has admitted that he distributed a letter urging nationwide protests during the just concluded General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly. Pakpahan's lawyer Bambang Widjojanto said the ailing labor leader had been questioned yesterday at Cikini Hospital, where he was being treated for a lung tumor. Pakpahan was questioned for more than two hours.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Flood-hit areas attract governor's attention
Flood-hit areas attract governor's attention JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso inspected yesterday residential areas in East Jakarta which were inundated by floodwaters early this week. The first area the governor visited was Kramatjati district. He walked along alleyways and listened to the complaints of local residents whose houses were affected.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Standing tall
Standing tall As an observer from within the country, it appears to me that Indonesia is now in its third major crisis. The first was the removal of Dutch colonialism, which resulted in independence, the second was the removal of the communist threat in the mid-1960s, which resulted in the establishment of Indonesia as we now know it. President Soeharto played an important part in both these, and now he must steer Indonesia through the third.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Currency stability is top priority: Soeharto
Currency stability is top priority: Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): Restoring currency stability will be the new government's most immediate priority, President Soeharto said last night. "We're not asking for much. We just want to have a stable rupiah so that people's living standards do not fall further," Soeharto said during a dinner in honor of the 1,000 members of the People's Consultative Assembly. If this was achieved, the country's economic wheels could start rolling again, he said.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 12 , 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 800 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 525 25 33,000 Alumindo Light Metal 325 0 407,500 Alumindo Perkasa 250 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 575 0 105,000 Aneka Tambang 1,600 0 1,023,000 Anwar Sierad 300 25 925,500 Apac Centertex Corp.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
First Asian professor for Harvard university
First Asian professor for Harvard university NEW YORK (ANTARA): Indonesian professor Ali Shihab has been invited to become the first Asian intellectual to teach Islamic philosophy at the prestigious Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts. "I was asked to teach at Harvard as of July," he said from Connecticut, where he has worked for two years as a guest professor at Hartford Seminary.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Why equate Karlina with a thief?
Why equate Karlina with a thief? From Neraca Mrs. Karlina Leksono has been found guilty for protesting about milk prices on Jl. Thamrin. The court session took 12 hours! We know that Karlina had no agenda to her protest besides inviting other individuals to join her and her friends in expressing concern at the increase in the price of milk. Why was she treated like an ordinary thief?
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 My Country 2:35 Cartoon: Tom and Jerry Kid 3:10 Children's Dance: Aneka Tari Daerah 3:35 Talk Show: Sambung Rasa 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Student's Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 5:10 Documentary Film: Science World 5:30 Music: Lagu Pop Daerah 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, The Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Development Program: Dinamika 8:05 Music: Seriosa 9:00 World News 9:30 The Appreciation...
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Business leaders call for reliable cabinet
Business leaders call for reliable cabinet JAKARTA (JP): Business associations called for a solid and capable new cabinet to strengthen and help restructure the country's crisis-hit industries. Executives of the Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo), the Indonesian Textile Association (API) and the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo) said yesterday the new cabinet must be able to sort out priorities to help their industries.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
PPP backs ABRI governor
PPP backs ABRI governor Samarinda, East Kalimantan: The provincial branch of the United Development Party (PPP) has announced it will only support an active-duty Armed Forces (ABRI) gubernatorial candidate. "Based on the thousands of letters we have received and various consultations we have conducted ... we have decided to support a gubernatorial candidate for the 1998/2003 period who comes from an active Armed Forces background," said PPP provincial chief Ridwan Suwidi, as quoted by Antara.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Citizens foil taxi robbery
Citizens foil taxi robbery JAKARTA (JP): Residents foiled the attempted robbery of a taxi driver early Wednesday on Jl. Mandar Bintaro, in Tangerang, and caught the two suspects, eyewitnesses and police said yesterday. Residents said they sensed something fishy when the speeding Kosti Jaya taxi, with one of its front doors half open, failed to stop for a person hailing it. The taxi was also seen swerving and it stopped abruptly.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices up 1.2% on renewed optimism
Stock prices up 1.2% on renewed optimism JAKARTA (JP): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) rose 1.2 percent yesterday in response to the election of Soeharto and B.J. Habibie as president and vice president for the next five years, stockbrokers said. They said stock trading was not significantly influenced by demonstrations staged by students on several campuses across the country yesterday demanding economic and political reforms.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
High-minded rhetoric on IMF unhelpful
High-minded rhetoric on IMF unhelpful Political scientist J. Soedjati Djiwandono wrestles with the emerging issues of nationalism and liberalism amid reports of a delay in loan installments from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). JAKARTA (JP): The majority of reactions to a reported delay in IMF loan installments to Indonesia have been impulsive, excessive and may very well have been counterproductive. Indonesia is not in a position to act in such a manner toward the IMF.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Orangutan victim still recovering
Orangutan victim still recovering SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Supaini, 42, was still recuperating in hospital yesterday after he sustained injuries last week fighting off a 100-kilogram orangutan. The clash occurred as the farmer was putting out the forest fire which had come dangerously close to his field in the Kutai regency. According to Supaini, the orangutan leaped out and attacked him. While attempting to escape the rage of the incensed beast, Supaini fell and his leg was caught in a hole.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Australia's RBA urges fast aid for Indonesia
Australia's RBA urges fast aid for Indonesia SYDNEY (Reuters): The Reserve Bank of Australia said yesterday the Indonesian situation was now so desperate that immediate pressure for structural reform had to be set aside for emergency measures.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Soccer match-fixing probe to go on
Soccer match-fixing probe to go on JAKARTA (JP): Police rejected yesterday reports that they would stop investigating an alleged soccer match-fixing and bribery scam because it involved too many parties. "That (allegation) is untrue. We are collecting more evidence and are determined to proceed with the investigation," city police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said. Police will find out the identities of all the parties involved in the racket, he said.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
IMF team due here for fresh talks
IMF team due here for fresh talks JAKARTA (JP): The government will not send a team to Washington next week but will instead hold talks with International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials due here soon to review the implementation of reforms, Indonesian and IMF sources said yesterday. Director General of Taxes Fuad Bawazier, strongly rumored as the next finance minister, said the IMF team would arrive here soon after the announcement of the new cabinet slated for tomorrow.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Price hikes a kick in butt for cigarette smokers
Price hikes a kick in butt for cigarette smokers JAKARTA (JP): The increase in cigarette prices by up to 120 percent this week might significantly reduce cigarette producers' sales this year, analysts said yesterday. The analysts said that the decline in sales would hit producers of both clove-blended and non-clove cigarettes, which were mostly imported.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Art Exhibition: The Winning Entries of The ASEAN Essay, Photo, and Poster Competitions at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (except Saturday and Sunday), the ASEAN Secretariat, Jl. Sisingamangaraja 70A, Central Jakarta, until April 30. * Fine Arts Exhibition: Identitas Mengambang by Aminudin Siregar, Nandang Gawe, Dodi Rosadi, Dikdik Sayahdikumullah, Heru Hikayat, at Lontar Gallery, Jl. Utan Kayu No. 68 H, East Jakarta, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Students refuse to stop protests
Students refuse to stop protests JAKARTA (JP): Students refused to ease up their campaign of on-campus protests yesterday as universities in four major cities witnessed demonstrations where people loudly criticized the government and demanded that prices of basic commodities be reduced. But the action, for the most part, failed to attract the general public who were oblivious to the protests as the students were isolated on their campuses.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Yeltsin's RI visit postponed
Yeltsin's RI visit postponed MOSCOW (AFP): The Kremlin yesterday confirmed that Russian President Boris Yeltsin's visit to Indonesia, planned for mid- April, had been postponed until later in 1998 or 1999. Kremlin spokesman Sergei Yastrzhembsky gave no reason for the postponement, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. He said that both sides had agreed to put the visit off until later.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Impersonator of bomb squad officer sought
Impersonator of bomb squad officer sought JAKARTA (JP): Police are searching for a man who impersonated an officer from the bomb squad and asked for money from the management of an office building in South Jakarta. City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said yesterday that the man had created a phony letter and pretended his unit had been assigned to temporarily guard the building.
Fri, 13 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
S&P cuts Indonesia's credit ratings
S&P cuts Indonesia's credit ratings NEW YORK (Reuters): Standard & Poor's cut Indonesia's credit ratings Wednesday as Jakarta's uneven progress at implementing economic reforms deepened its financial crisis and led to the suspension of official international support. The U.S. credit rating agency downgraded Indonesia's long-term foreign currency rating to B-minus from single-B, and its local currency rating to B-plus from BB-minus. S&P also said it may lower the ratings further.