Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 16 March 1998

48 articles found

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...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Suggestions to beat RI crisis

Suggestions to beat RI crisisBy 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.

University students break political chains

University students break political chainsBy 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.

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.

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.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 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...

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.

Professionally clean

Professionally cleanFrom MerdekaThe 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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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".

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.

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.

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...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Indonesian university students reborn as a political force

Indonesian university students reborn as a political forceBy 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.

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...

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.

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.