Archive: 16 March 1998
48 articles found
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Social forestry program atop Sumahadi's agenda
Social forestry program atop Sumahadi's agenda JAKARTA (JP): Newly appointed Minister of Forestry and Plantations Sumahadi promised Saturday he would make the social forestry program his top priority during his five-year tenure. Sumahadi said social forestry -- an agroforestry program which allows villagers to plant crops on unused lands on timber estates and plantation areas -- was essential to improve living standards in rural areas.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Sultan of Brunei to visit Singapore
Sultan of Brunei to visit Singapore SINGAPORE (AFP): The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, will visit Singapore this week to discuss bilateral and regional issues with leaders of the island state, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday. The Sultan will be accompanied by his brother Jefri Bolkiah and senior Bruneian officials during his visit from March 16 to 18, a statement from the ministry said.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Professionally clean
Professionally clean From Merdeka The demand for a clean and professional government will always be prominent during times of economic crisis. In the early days of the New Order, there was a pressing need to rectify a messy economic situation and a government capable of undertaking this task was chosen. A series of five-year development plans were implemented, resulting eventually in an annual economic growth rate of eight percent.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian markets try to rebuff Indonesia, analysts say
Asian markets try to rebuff Indonesia, analysts say HONG KONG (Reuters): Asia's financial markets are now battle- hardened enough to ignore all but the worst news from crisis-hit Indonesia, analysts said. As Indonesia's President Soeharto named his new cabinet over the weekend and foreign politicians flew in for talks on the crisis, analysts said markets had already discounted bad news from the country.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:45 TV Series: The Big Valley 3:10 TV Drama: Pupus Mentari Pagi 3:35 Religious Teachings: Buddha 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Tepat Guna 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 Documentary Film 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: Lemhanas 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Music: Mozaik 9:00 World News 9:30...
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bandung capital of Asia-Africa
Bandung capital of Asia-Africa BANDUNG, West Java: The Center of Asia Africa and Developing Countries Study held a panel discussion here Saturday on "Bandung as Peace Messenger and Capital of Asia-Africa" at the Merdeka building. The discussion, which featured several experts as speakers, was sponsored jointly with the state-run Padjajaran University and the Research and Development Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Antara reported.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
New ministers wary of demanding tasks ahead
New ministers wary of demanding tasks ahead JAKARTA (JP): New ministers responded to their cabinet appointments Saturday with elation mixed with wariness over the formidable task of restoring the Indonesian economy. Interviewed separately, most of the ministers echoed President Soeharto's warning about the rough road ahead due to the crisis that had caused the volatility of the rupiah and skyrocketing prices.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
University students break political chains
University students break political chains By A. Wisnuhardana YOGYAKARTA (JP): "Welcome to the Campus of the Struggle for New Order" was recently sprayed in black paint by protesting students of the University of Indonesia (UI) in their Salemba campus. The act seems to have become a symbolic milestone. Around the same time, over one thousand students of Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta held a similar demonstration demanding lower prices and political reform.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Suggestions to beat RI crisis
Suggestions to beat RI crisis By Peter Sheehan and David Ray MELBOURNE (JP): The negotiations between the Indonesian government and the IMF seem to have broken down, and Indonesia may now face further falls in the rupiah and in the economy, together with surging inflation. With the crisis moving beyond the economic realm, there is now a threat of serious social and political instability, of a kind not seen throughout the archipelago for three decades.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
UI students hold bazaar
UI students hold bazaar JAKARTA (JP): The student senate of the University of Indonesia held a mobile bazaar yesterday in five city locations, said head of the bazaar's organizing committee, Abdul Kohar. He said the bazaar, where basic food commodities were sold at reasonable prices, was aimed at helping poor people obtain their basic needs amid the economic crisis. "It's a way for students to show solidarity with the people who are suffering during the crisis," Kohar said.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Sutardji wins literary award for his dedication to 'words'
Sutardji wins literary award for his dedication to 'words' JAKARTA (JP): Poet Sutardji Calzoum Bachri is the recipient of the second Chairil Anwar Literary Award and its prize of Rp 25 million, the head of the Directorate for the Arts' Literary Committee announced at the weekend. Slamet Soekirnanto said Sutardji would be awarded the lifetime achievement award at an official ceremony at Taman Ismail Marzuki, Central Jakarta, this Friday.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Habibie to attend ASEM
Habibie to attend ASEM JAKARTA (JP): Vice President B.J. Habibie will attend the forthcoming Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in London early next month, a government official said yesterday. This visit will be the Vice President's second overseas trip in two weeks, as he is already scheduled to pay an official visit to Tokyo on Wednesday.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hashimoto has faith in Indonesia
Hashimoto has faith in Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Japan's Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto after meeting with President Soeharto yesterday expressed confidence that the required reforms here would be carried out, but he urged the country to make "courageous decisions" to overcome the economic crisis. Hashimoto came out of the 2.5 hour meeting held at Soeharto's residence on Jl.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Two killed in chopper crash
Two killed in chopper crash SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A Puma helicopter owned by Pelita Air Service company crashed Saturday evening on a small island between Tarakan and Nunukan islands, killing the pilot and copilot. Antara quoted Tarakan's Juata Airport administrator, Zainuddin CM, as confirming that pilot Heru Wibowo and copilot Budi Setiarso, the only two on board, were killed in the accident, which took place in the vicinity of Sembakung district, Bulungan regency.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. Treasury confirms to send envoy to Indonesia
U.S. Treasury confirms to send envoy to Indonesia WASHINGTON (Reuters): The U.S. Treasury confirmed on Friday it plans to send an envoy to Indonesia, but refused to be drawn on chances of persuading Jakarta to adopt reforms agreed with the International Monetary Fund.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN urged to fortify regional solidarity
ASEAN urged to fortify regional solidarity KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Southeast Asian nations must face economic crisis, the possible return of choking haze and Cambodia's political turmoil together, ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino said yesterday. "Some in ASEAN seem to pay mere lip service to the ideal of regional solidarity and cooperation," the Association of Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretary-general said.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
EU warns new turmoil if RI does not comply
EU warns new turmoil if RI does not comply EDINBURGH (Reuters): European Union foreign ministers warned on Friday that Indonesia's refusal to comply with an IMF reform program risked triggering a fresh bout of financial turmoil throughout Asia.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Suicide attempt backfires
Suicide attempt backfires KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A jealous woman failed in her suicide attempt last week when a speeding truck just missed her, only to get into trouble with the police for endangering others. Police said on the weekend that Siti Maryam, 18, laid on her back, arms spread, in a busy street with the intention of getting killed after she had a bitter argument with her boyfriend, Daud Muklis, 19.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Golf bogey
Golf bogey I feel I should correct immediately a number of inaccuracies in your article, Hindus complain over advert, in the March 13, 1998 edition. The offending picture did not appear in an advertisement, but in an article promoting the game of golf in Bali (The Green Revolution, March 1998 edition of Bali Kini).
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Honda boosts Thai stake
Honda boosts Thai stake BANGKOK (Dow Jones): Japan's Honda Motor Co. said Saturday it will pump 4.19 billion baht (about $97 million) into its faltering automobile-manufacturing subsidiary in Thailand, a move that will make it a 97 percent owner of the Thai unit. The move reflects a growing number of exceptions that cash- starved Thailand is making to its Alien Business Law, which restricts foreign ownership in key industries.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
19 foreigners washed ashore
19 foreigners washed ashore YOGYAKARTA: Nineteen foreigners were washed ashore on Glagah beach in Kulonprogo regency, 45 kilometers west of Yogyakarta, Saturday, Antara reported yesterday. According to the news agency, the foreigners were allegedly abandoned at sea when they tried to force their Indonesian crew to sail to Australia's Christmas Island after hiring them for a pleasure cruise.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Flood victims ask for help
Flood victims ask for help MALANG, East Java: Residents of Toyomarto and Candirenggo villages in Singosari district, which was inundated by flood last week, are badly in need of assistance. Residents installed charity boxes along streets, hoping people passing through the villages will donate money. The damage to many roads in Toyomarto was caused by flood, Antara reported.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RP Communists want commander release
RP Communists want commander release MANILA (DPA): Communist rebel negotiators urged the government yesterday to release an arrested ranking field commander in the southern Philippines as a sign of goodwill in ongoing peace negotiations aimed at ending one of Asia's longest-running leftist insurgencies.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Four die in road accident
Four die in road accident PALU, Central Sulawesi: A speeding truck smashed head-on into a parked truck on the Trans Sulawesi highway in Siney village in Donggala on Saturday, killing four people instantly and severely injuring another. Donggala Police Chief Lt. Col. Adrizal Adna said three dead victims, identified as Ramli, 35, Yudi, 25 and Hariadi, 23, were respectively the driver and driver assistants of the parked truck.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RP declares full oil sector deregulation
RP declares full oil sector deregulation MANILA (Reuters): The Philippines declared full deregulation of the nation's oil industry on Saturday, allowing oil companies to set pump prices for all but three products. President Fidel Ramos signed Executive Order No 471 declaring deregulation of the downstream petroleum industry, effective immediately.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Residents fear of being relocated for MRT project
Residents fear of being relocated for MRT project JAKARTA (JP): Residents living along the tracks affected by the first-phase 14 kilometers of planned triple-tier transit project have voiced concerns about the possibility of being forced to relocate their homes.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hashimoto's visit
Hashimoto's visit The economic crisis has taught our decision makers a lesson in drafting investment priorities on an appropriate scale. Often it is desirable to avoid dependence on a small number of large-scale industries to provide jobs, instead focusing on industries in which a country holds a comparative advantage. It is hoped that Japan can help us in this matter. Indonesia needs quick and sizable support to overcome the crisis.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian university students reborn as a political force
Indonesian university students reborn as a political force By Ignatius Haryanto JAKARTA (JP): In the past few weeks student protests on university campus sites have been widely reported in the media. The protests were held to demand political and economic reform to end the monetary crisis. Some went as far as to demand a new president. Protests began at the end of last year, when Gadjah Mada University students published mock election results held on the campus.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Experts greet new cabinet with mixed sentiments
Experts greet new cabinet with mixed sentiments JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's choice of aides in the new cabinet yesterday prompted mixed sentiments, with some observers optimistic and others expressing doubts over the new cabinets ability to deal with the deepening economic crisis.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Three men arrested over Klender homemade bombs
Three men arrested over Klender homemade bombs JAKARTA (JP): The military confirmed yesterday reports that three men were arrested in Klender, East Jakarta, over the weekend on charges of making bombs and plotting a political maneuver. Jakarta Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. DJ. Nachrowi said the military suspects the three are linked to an alleged bomb maker who was arrested in an apartment in Tanah Tinggi, Central Jakarta, in January.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto's trusted aides
Soeharto's trusted aides The swift manner with which President Soeharto has put his cabinet team together -- only three days after his reelection -- indicates the pressing agenda his government faces: resolving the economic crisis. Saturday's announcement of the cabinet lineup has eliminated at least one element of uncertainty that clouded the nation's life in the past few weeks. There are still many other uncertainties, particularly in the economy, to deal with.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Yorris to be tried for gambling: Police
Yorris to be tried for gambling: Police JAKARTA (JP): A Golkar representative in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Yorris Raweyai, and four other suspected gamblers will soon be taken to court for their alleged involvement in gambling in West Jakarta, police said. City police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said over the weekend that his office had completed its investigation on the five suspects and had handed the dossiers to the Prosecutor's Office.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
128 developers close down
128 developers close down SEMARANG: All 128 small-scale developers, members of the 160 Real Estate Indonesian Association in Central Java, have gone out of business after failing to secure bank loans for their construction activities. According to Senopati, commissioner of PT Tanah Mas Group, banks have stopped providing construction credit since mid-1997, Facing a gloomy market and losing revenue, the companies have had to lay off thousands of workers, he said here Saturday, Antara reported.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thai premier visits L.A.
Thai premier visits L.A. LOS ANGELES, California (AP): Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai arrived in Los Angeles a day after U.S. officials announced a US$1.7 billion aid package for Thailand to help the country recover from its financial crisis. Chuan briefly greeted Thai consulate officials after his plane landed Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport before he entered a limousine waiting on the tarmac and was whisked away.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hard job awaits new mines and energy minister
Hard job awaits new mines and energy minister JAKARTA (JP): The country's new minister of mines and energy, Kuntoro Mangunsubroto, will face the tough job of helping improve the country's battered economy with dollar-based earnings from the energy and mining sector, analysts said on the weekend.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Prolonged crisis of confidence feared
Prolonged crisis of confidence feared JAKARTA (JP): Analysts warned over the weekend that markets could react negatively to the new cabinet, as most appointees were not perceived to be pro-reform and this could hinder the process of regaining public confidence in the government. However, business leaders and some other observers were cautiously optimistic, saying that the new cabinet would be able to strike a better understanding with the President when tackling the crisis.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
The New Order, past and present
The New Order, past and present The People's Consultative Assembly last week returned President Soeharto to power for a seventh consecutive term and named a new Vice President. J. Soedjati Djiwandono contemplates the long road traveled by the New Order government from its inception up to the present day. JAKARTA (JP): Since the same President has held power for over three decades, I imagine the present government continues to claim to be the New Order in Indonesia.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. pledges $1.7b to Thailand
U.S. pledges $1.7b to Thailand BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand has gained US$1.7 billion of U.S. government and private pledges to help it through a credit crunch and strengthen exports, Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai said on Saturday. Chuan and his finance minister, Tarrin Nimmanahaeminda, told reporters in a teleconference from Washington that the U.S. Export-Import Bank would lend up to $1 billion in short-term trade finance that would greatly assist Thai exporters.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Exchange rate of rupiah to the dollar
Exchange rate of rupiah to the dollar I am no economist, but just a retired civil servant of the Ministry of Finance. With respect to the drawn-out monetary crisis, which is far from being settled even though the government has done all sorts of things to remedy the situation, let me suggest the following: 1. The free foreign exchange regime should be restricted in a directed and controlled manner. The exchange rate of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar should be fixed at, for example, Rp 5,000.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cabinet lineup casts shadow on stock trading
Cabinet lineup casts shadow on stock trading JAKARTA (JP): The announcement of the much-awaited cabinet lineup by President Soeharto on the weekend will cast a shadow on local stock trading this week, stock analysts said. Many analysts said the new cabinet lineup would be too weak to cope with the country's worst ever crisis and that the appointments would discourage trading activities.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Trains crush three to death
Trains crush three to death JAKARTA (JP): Three people were crushed to death by two trains traveling in opposite directions in Cikarang Kota, Bekasi, Friday. The victims were identified as Alinuddin Harahap, 22, Hasannul Arifin, 24, and Salman Harahap, 25. The three died of severe head, abdomen and leg injuries. The three possibly panicked when they became trapped in the narrow space between the two passing trains. One of the trains was the Jayabaya train, plying the Jakarta- Surabaya route.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Statues at the DPR/MPR building
Statues at the DPR/MPR building In her article "DPR/MPR building a silent witness" published in the March 7 edition of The Jakarta Post, Sri Wahyuni related in detail the history of the building. She did not mention the statue in front of the building, which has the theme "the future". It is the work of But Muchtar of the Bandung Institute of Technology. Many people consider this work of art the most beautiful modern statue in Jakarta.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
S'pore's proposal on economic union studied
S'pore's proposal on economic union studied KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia will study in depth Singapore's proposal for both countries to form an economic union, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday. Such a proposal has never been discussed before by leaders of both countries, he said. "This is their proposal and we're not rejecting it. But we need to know it in detail," Mahathir said. Singapore Foreign Minister Professor S.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesians smuggled into S'pore
Indonesians smuggled into S'pore SINGAPORE (AP): While Singapore police tighten enforcement, syndicates are refining their operations to smuggle Indonesian workers into the city-state, a newspaper reported yesterday. At least 20 syndicates are using the nearby islands of Batam and Bintan -- popular destinations for Singaporeans on weekend holidays -- as staging points for highly coordinated smuggling into Singapore and neighboring Malaysia, The Sunday Times said.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
New minister Fuad vows to stabilize battered rupiah
New minister Fuad vows to stabilize battered rupiah JAKARTA: The newly appointed minister of finance, Fuad Bawazier, said Saturday that he would focus on efforts to quickly stabilize the ailing rupiah, continue banking reform, and recover overseas confidence in the country's shattered private sector. Fuad explained that the rupiah's current unrealistic exchange rate against the U.S. dollar has caused many activities to run below normal conditions and widespread negative impacts.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia says illegal immigrants pose threat
Malaysia says illegal immigrants pose threat KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Illegal immigrants in Malaysia pose a social and possibly political threat to the country, Foreign Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said yesterday. Malaysian authorities estimate that 800,000 of two million foreign workers in the country are illegal, mostly Indonesians.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Councilors lament rising number of hospital touts
Councilors lament rising number of hospital touts JAKARTA (JP): City councilors have expressed concern over the increasing number of touts working in public hospitals, particularly as it is feared their existence further burdens patients or people accompanying patients. The councilors urged the city office of the Ministry of Health and other related parties over the weekend to take stern action against hospital touts.
Mon, 16 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Saadilah explains new cabinet posts
Saadilah explains new cabinet posts JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has created some new posts and dropped several others in his 1998/2003 cabinet, a development that will be the responsibility of his aides to explain. New Minister/State Secretary Saadilah Mursjid pointed out that Soeharto had set up the offices of State Minister for the Empowerment of State Enterprises, State Minister of Food, Drugs and Horticulture, and Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture.