Archive: 18 March 1998
63 articles found
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
BI urged to modify rate structure of SBIs
BI urged to modify rate structure of SBIs JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia should modify the rates of its short-term promissory notes (SBIs) so those with slow maturity carry higher rates to attract more long-term funds for the banking system, experts said. Several local bank treasury executives said the current SBI rates have a negative yield curve -- SBIs with fast maturity have higher interest rates -- and therefore encourage people to place their money in short-term deposits.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies stable, Indonesia worries remain
Asian currencies stable, Indonesia worries remain SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian currencies held up but lacked the ability to move forward on Tuesday as hedge fund dollar sales met corporate dollar demand amid a dearth of fresh leads. The first meeting of Indonesia's new cabinet was largely ignored as it told the market nothing new about the government's plans to cope with the economic crisis or restore the rupiah.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Students continue pressure of reform
Students continue pressure of reform JAKARTA (JP): Students kept up pressure for political reform and lower prices of basic commodities yesterday, holding demonstrations criticizing the government for the economic crisis. Protests were held yesterday at state and private universities in Surakarta and Sukoharjo in Central Java, Bandung and Bogor in West Java and here in Jakarta.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
31 teams to participate in Indonesian league
31 teams to participate in Indonesian league JAKARTA (JP): Despite its financial woes, the All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) confirmed yesterday that 31 clubs would participate in the second leg of the Indonesian league competitions, scheduled to kick off on Sunday. Dali Taher, the federation's tournament and transfer affairs director, said the teams were permanent participants in the league. "The monetary crisis has not reduced the number of clubs taking part in the league," Dali said.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Army leadership to change soon, spokesman announces
Army leadership to change soon, spokesman announces JAKARTA (JP): The leadership of the Diponegoro and the Trikora regional military commands will soon change hands, according to Army spokesman Brig. Gen. I Dewa Putu Rai. Maj. Gen. Mardijanto will soon transfer the reins of the Diponegoro Regional Military Command, overseeing Central Java, to Maj. Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, while Maj. Gen.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
China to give $3m aid to RI
China to give $3m aid to RI BEIJING (Dow Jones): China will give Indonesia US$3 million in emergency food and medical aid and is ready to provide export credit to help the financially battered country, China's foreign ministry announced yesterday. "The Chinese government and people express their deep concern and sympathy with the economic difficulties in Indonesia caused by the Southeast Asian financial crisis," foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said in announcing the aid package.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Politically related stocks remain preferable: Brokers
Politically related stocks remain preferable: Brokers JAKARTA (JP): Local stock prices continued to make mild gains yesterday in moderate trading, with local investors still favoring politically connected stocks, stockbrokers said. The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) Composite Index rose 0.2 percent to 512.14 points from 510.78 the previous day, with trading volume reaching 682.39 million shares worth Rp 524.36 billion (US$52.43 million).
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stocks close mixed on domestic, regional affairs
Stocks close mixed on domestic, regional affairs TOKYO (AFP): Asia-Pacific stock markets went their separate ways yesterday, taking their cue largely from domestic factors in thin trade. Tokyo, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Manila, Singapore and Sydney were among the gainers. Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul, Taipei and Shanghai registered losses. Concerns over Indonesia's standoff with the International Monetary Fund (IMP) hovered in the backdrop, on the eve of talks aimed at resolving the impasse.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on March 17, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hashimoto's Jakarta trip a qualified success
Hashimoto's Jakarta trip a qualified success By Yvonne Chang TOKYO (Reuters): Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto's weekend visit to Indonesia put Japan back in the forefront of efforts to solve Asia's economic crisis. Although he carried no new aid to Jakarta and left without specific new assurances from President Soeharto, analysts said Hashimoto's trip went some way towards defusing criticism of Tokyo for not doing enough about the crisis.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina cuts oil exports
Pertamina cuts oil exports SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesian state oil company Pertamina has reduced the export allocations of its heavy Minas crude for April lifting to 7,000 barrels-per-day (bpd), down from 15,000 bpd in March, traders said yesterday. It also did not allocate any light Belida crude for April for the third consecutive month, they said.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tanri foresees hurdles in his new job
Tanri foresees hurdles in his new job JAKARTA (JP): State Minister for Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng said yesterday he might face many political hurdles in his new job. "That's why I must have support from the top," he said yesterday after the first plenary cabinet meeting at the Bina Graha presidential office, indicating that without support from President Soeharto he might not be able to accomplish his tasks.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
KL gets tough on forest burners
KL gets tough on forest burners KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia said yesterday it may use the powerful Internal Security Act (ISA) against anyone found openly burning forests, one of the major contributors to the smog in Southeast Asia.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
New cabinet needs to prove clean governance
New cabinet needs to prove clean governance A new 36-strong cabinet was sworn in on Monday. Subroto, rector of the Pancasila University and a former cabinet minister, discusses society's expectations from the new cabinet. Question: Do you think that President Soeharto has accommodated calls for a cabinet consisting only of people with integrity in his new line up? Subroto: We had better not hold prejudices against the new cabinet. We must be open-minded.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Taiwan fund expects 25% returns in S.E.Asia
Taiwan fund expects 25% returns in S.E.Asia TAIPEI (Reuters): Taiwan's China Development Corp said yesterday it and other backers of a T$20 billion private Southeast Asia Fund expect 25 percent annual returns from their investments in the financially battered region. "We are looking at very profitable opportunities there," China Development president Benny Hu told reporters. "We can expect 25 percent annual returns from the investments," Hu said.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia should retain OPEC leadership: Analysts
Indonesia should retain OPEC leadership: Analysts JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto should assume the position of his predecessor, I.B. Sudjana, as president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an OPEC official and an analyst said here yesterday.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Publish or perish
Publish or perish The story about two major Indonesian book publishers heading for bankruptcy, tagged onto the bottom right corner of Kompas daily last Friday, has all the symptoms of a national tragedy of unimaginable proportions that very few people in this country seem to realize. The plight of PT Pustaka Sinar Harapan and PT Grafiti Pustaka Utama is typical of the entire book publishing industry in Indonesia.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Utut finishes fifth in Calicut
Utut finishes fifth in Calicut JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's number one chess player, Grandmaster Utut Adianto, ended his Indian tour on a low note when he crashed to host player International Master P. Konguvel in the final match, finishing fifth in the Grandmasters Championships in Calicut on Monday. Utut only managed to score six points after 11 round-robin matches. He had his elo rating of 2,615 slashed by 15 points following his poor result.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Australia to give Indonesian companies credit guarantees
Australia to give Indonesian companies credit guarantees JAKARTA (JP): Australia has agreed to provide credit guarantees for Indonesian companies to import certain commodities from that country, Bank Indonesia (BI) said yesterday. BI director for legal, internal supervision and logistic affairs, Haryono, said in a statement that the central bank signed an agreement on credit guarantees with the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC) of Australia on March 13.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Australia warns IMF not to lead RI deeper into crisis
Australia warns IMF not to lead RI deeper into crisis SYDNEY (AFP): Australia stepped up efforts yesterday to broker a reconciliation between Indonesia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) by warning the IMF to avoid plunging Indonesia into deeper crisis. On the eve of a trip to Washington for talks with IMF and U.S. officials, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the IMF must take into account the social environment of Indonesia in implementing its rescue package.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hotel strives to survive crisis, security issues
Hotel strives to survive crisis, security issues We inadvertently printed the wrong article for the box story on page 4 in the Sunday paper. Below is the correct article. We apologize for the error. -- The Editor LEGIAN, Bali (JP): First the haze, then the monetary crisis. As if those were not bad enough, the tourist industry is enduring another blow from media coverage of the riots that have erupted in many towns across the country as people grapple with ever increasing prices of the staples.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
No nepotism in cabinet recruitment: Tutut
No nepotism in cabinet recruitment: Tutut JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana defended herself and fellow ministers from speculation that they were recruited because of their closeness to the President. The new minister of social services told a media briefing at her office that her appointment was entirely the President's decision. She revealed that her father had tried to recruit her five years ago, but she refused.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Train kills homeless woman
Train kills homeless woman JAKARTA (JP): A homeless 35-year-old woman was killed by a train in Klender, East Jakarta, at about 7 a.m. yesterday, police and eyewitnesses said. A police officer from Duren Sawit Police post said Paini sustained severe head injuries and died on impact. Paini was crossing the railway tracks after bathing in a pond, oblivious to a passing train on its way from Cirebon in West Java to Jakarta, an eyewitness, Dody, said.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Unocal drills 2 wells in RI
Unocal drills 2 wells in RI EL SEGUNDO, California (Reuters): Unocal Corp Monday said its Indonesian subsidiary in Indonesia has drilled two new, successful wells in the deepwater Merah Besar area expanding the field's size. "Based on the latest drilling results...we now estimate the gross resource potential for the Merah Besar area at 75 to 300 million barrels of oil equivalent," Timothy Lauer, president of Unocal Indonesia, said in a statement.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Badminton body asks advice from former champions
Badminton body asks advice from former champions JAKARTA (JP): Past heroes will be recruited to help the national Thomas Cup and Uber Cup badminton squads rebuild their fighting spirit ahead of the world team championships in May. Deputy chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia Agus Wirahadikusumah said yesterday the nation's badminton greats would share their experiences with their successors whose nontechnical troubles could threaten their bid to retain their titles.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Two Bangladeshis to be deported
Two Bangladeshis to be deported JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Two Bangladeshi citizens, Ali Reza, 25, and Ahmad Shah, 27, who have been detained by the immigration office here since Jan. 16, will be taken to Jakarta tomorrow and deported soon after, Antara reported. Soehirwand, head of the local immigration office, said on Monday the two Bangladeshi citizens had been detained for entering Indonesia illegally via Batam from Singapore.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cabinet focuses on meeting basic needs
Cabinet focuses on meeting basic needs JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto asked ministers yesterday to donate their first year's salaries to the poor, declare their personal wealth and that of their spouses and pay serious attention to the public's demand for clean and credible governance.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thin pickings for 'freelancers' as clientele dries up
Thin pickings for 'freelancers' as clientele dries up By Stephanie Bells JAKARTA (JP): It could be a night club anywhere in the world. The music is loud, ultra-cool and pulsates through the dark and smoky atmosphere. The patrons are young and attractive. Yet, observe for long enough, and you will discover that this bar is not just full of people out to have a few drinks and listen to music. The conversation is not quite as casual as you may first think.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Two provinces closed to new plantations
Two provinces closed to new plantations JAKARTA (JP): North Sumatra and Riau provinces have been closed off to new plantation developments to prevent a further decline in forest areas, it was announced yesterday. Minister of Forestry and Plantations Sumahadi said existing plantation companies in the two provinces have also been banned from expanding their land parcels.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Another baby found dead
Another baby found dead JAKARTA (JP): A one-day-old newborn was found dead in a plastic bag in front of a Central Jakarta housing complex on Jl. Kepu Selatan yesterday, the fourth such case this year. The body of the female baby was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for a postmortem. Slamet Poernomo, a forensic expert at the hospital, said the baby was apparently killed before being dumped in a waste basket.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Three arrested for timber theft
Three arrested for timber theft SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Three Malaysians were arrested recently for timber theft and illegal felling in Lumbis subdistrict, Bulungan district, police said yesterday. The three were employees of a company which subcontracts for Sabah's largest timber company, Log Hwat, police spokesman Lt. Col. Faah Sumarsono of the East Kalimantan Police was quoted by Antara as saying.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI volleyball team to step up training
RI volleyball team to step up training JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Volleyball Association pledged yesterday to step up preparations for the 13th Asian Games in December despite the financial crisis. The association's executive director, Rita Subowo, said the national volleyball teams would play warm-up matches abroad to score the minimum ranking points needed to qualify for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
City allows gas station operations in green areas
City allows gas station operations in green areas JAKARTA (JP): The municipality has allowed 21 gasoline stations built in green areas to continue operating, provided they are equipped with environmentally friendly liquefied gas filling facilities, Governor Sutiyoso said yesterday.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Salim, Astra donate staples
Salim, Astra donate staples JAKARTA (JP): Salim Group and Astra Group, Indonesia's largest conglomerates, have donated a total of 90,000 packages of basic goods to low-income families in West Java. The packages, which each contain five kilograms of rice, one liter of cooking oil and instant noodles, were given to 12 districts in the province, a press statement released by Astra said yesterday.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Highland Gathering makes donations
Highland Gathering makes donations JAKARTA (JP): British Ambassador Robin Christopher is scheduled to present donations on behalf of the Highland Gathering to three nonprofit organizations at his residence on Jl. Teuku Umar, Central Jakarta, today. Two of the three recipients are Rio Tinto Foundation and Suara Ibu Peduli (Voices of Concerned Mothers), while the third was not identified.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thomson cuts Indonesia's rating to B-
Thomson cuts Indonesia's rating to B- HONG KONG (Agencies): U.S.-based credit agency Thomson BankWatch cut the country and bank ratings for Indonesia yesterday, citing the government's unwillingness to reform the economy and continued deterioration in the banking sector. The agency lowered Indonesia's sovereign risk rating to B- from B+. It also cut the short-term local currency rating of seven Indonesian banks to LC-3 from LC-2.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
New type of goat created
New type of goat created KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): A group from the University Malaya (UM) and German scientists have made a breakthrough in breeding a goat which can produce more meat and milk, UM vice chancellor Abdullah Sanusi said yesterday. The result of their 15-year collaboration in research is a crossbreed between Malaysian and German stock named Germanasia, he told reporters.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 17, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 725 -75 30,000 AHAP Insurance 500 100 2,500 Alter Abadi 550 0 22,500 Alumindo Light Metal 350 0 473,000 Alumindo Perkasa 300 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 600 25 27,500 Aneka Tambang 1,600 0 3,258,500 Anwar Sierad 400 -50 617,500 Apac Centertex Corp.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Minister Theo faces first demonstration
Minister Theo faces first demonstration JAKARTA (JP): Thirty activists and relatives of migrant workers demanded yesterday that new Minister of Manpower Theo L. Sambuaga step in and save five Indonesian workers possibly facing the death penalty abroad. Staging a demonstration outside the ministry, the activists of Solidaritas Perempuan (Women's Solidarity) said Warni Sawiran and Dimyati Usro may be beheaded if convicted of murders in Saudi Arabia.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Old buildings to be restored
Old buildings to be restored SEMARANG: The local administration and the World Bank are discussing the possibility of renovating 153 buildings constructed by the Dutch colonial rulers in a bid to bring back the ambience of the old city, and to boost tourism. The work would take some Rp 1 billion (US$1 million), head of the city administration's urban management division, Slamet Riyadi, was quoted by Antara as saying Monday.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Free food staples
Free food staples From Bisnis Indonesia For two consecutive days, my family and I have had nothing to eat except rice and sambal (condiment containing chilies) because I have no money to buy other foodstuffs. My salary of Rp 250,000 is only enough to live austerely for 20 days, including the expenses for three school children. Before the monetary crisis it was already difficult to make ends meet on that salary. Now, I must look for a loan to buy just two liters of rice.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian fires could cost US$6 billion, experts say
Indonesian fires could cost US$6 billion, experts say SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia's forest fires could cost Southeast Asia US$5-6 billion, experts said yesterday. "The losses are enormous," said David Glover, director of the Economy and Environment Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA). The bill would be equivalent to 2.5 percent of the combined total annual gross domestic product (GDP) of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in actual and indirect costs.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Car sales fell 74% in February
Car sales fell 74% in February JAKARTA (JP): The economic calamity is having a devastating effect on the country's floundering car industry, dragging down domestic sales about 54 percent in January and a further 74 percent in February compared to the same months last year. Data from the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries shows the sales of both passenger and commercial vehicles has dropped to 14,318 cars in January from 31,760 cars in the same period last year.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Austerity programs
Austerity programs Mindful of the present monetary and economic crisis, many large companies have begun to implement much-reported austerity programs in earnest. Here follows some tales connected to this, albeit some of them should, perhaps, be taken with a grain of salt. An investment banking institution on Jl. Sudirman instructed all employees -- regardless of rank or position -- to leave the office at 6 p.m. in order to save electricity.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Plan on coal mining divestment opposed
Plan on coal mining divestment opposed JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Mining Professionals (Perhapi) has called on the government not to intervene in the mandatory divestments of foreign coal mining contractors. Association chairman Herman Afif Kusumo said yesterday foreign mining companies should be allowed to select the companies buying their shares. "Let them choose companies which they think are professional, reliable and experienced," Herman said.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
IMF the best doctor at present
IMF the best doctor at present From Media Indonesia It is necessary for us to pay special attention to Media Indonesia's editorial on March 7, 1998 titled Between a quack doctor and a doctor, which was written in the same vein as an article appearing in The Sunday Times and reprinted in Kompas on Feb. 16, 1998 titled The West begins "to be involved" in Asian crisis. I wish to underline the statement made by Prof.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Telkom's profit falls 23.3% to Rp 1.15 trillion
Telkom's profit falls 23.3% to Rp 1.15 trillion JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed telecommunications firm PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) announced yesterday a 23.3 percent fall in net profits to Rp 1.15 trillion (US$115.2 million) last year from Rp 1.5 trillion in 1996. The company said the profit fall was mainly due to foreign exchange losses from the rupiah's 49 percent depreciation against the U.S. dollar during the year.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cheap RI corn hurts Malaysia's grains trade
Cheap RI corn hurts Malaysia's grains trade KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Trading of imported feed grains in Malaysia was lifeless yesterday as livestock farmers limited their buying to absolute essentials due to tight liquidity, industry sources said. The market was further hurt by cheap Indonesian corn, which continued to arrive in unknown quantities on barges run by barter traders. Corn is the most widely consumed imported feed grain in Malaysia.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Two arrested for phone fraud
Two arrested for phone fraud MEDAN, North Sumatra: Two foreigners, identified as a Malaysian and a Pakistani, were arrested by police Friday on suspicion of illegally stealing phone time worth over Rp 280 million. The two had been operating out of a rented house here on Jl. Monginsidi, where they had set up sophisticated equipment which could illicitly tap into state-owned telephone company PT Telkom to make long distance phone calls.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Nationalist specter raises its head in a crisis
Nationalist specter raises its head in a crisis By Makmur Keliat SURABAYA (JP): Is it necessary for Indonesia not to endorse the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) reform package because of nationalistic reasons? Is nationalism an answer to our economic turmoil? The answer seems inconclusive and to a large extent it will be determined by how we define and put the idea into practice. Semantically, the term nationalism originated from the word nation.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Triple-tier developer urged to be open
Triple-tier developer urged to be open JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso yesterday urged the developer on the triple-tier transit project to place project implementation details in the public domain. "Up until now, no date has been fixed for starting the project," he told reporters. "I think it is important for the developer to inform the city administration (about details of the project) so that we in turn can begin to inform the public," he said.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Best shots in Minister Cup
Best shots in Minister Cup JAKARTA (JP): Some 200 sharp-shooters are expected to compete in the Minister of Defense/Armed Forces Commander Cup to be held in Jakarta from March 20 to March 25. Secretary-general of the Indonesian Target Shooting and Hunting Association, Anthony Sunarya, said yesterday that the individual competition would be used to help select the national women's double trap quartet team for the 13th Asian Games in December.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Telkom offers better service
Telkom offers better service JAKARTA (JP): The state-run telecommunications company, PT Telkom, has opened 26 new telecommunications kiosks in South Jakarta, bringing the number in the mayoralty to 201, an official said yesterday. The chief of the South Jakarta Telkom office, Rizal Saat, said the 201 kiosks had a total of 1,214 phone booths. Rizal said that to improve its services, Telkom would respond quickly to complaints on malfunctioning equipment, especially in telecommunications kiosks.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Longing for a new dawn
Longing for a new dawn By Djisman Simandjuntak This is the first of two articles on the Indonesian economic crisis. JAKARTA (JP): The past five years of Indonesia's economic development will be shelved in history as a mixture of extremes, namely a roaring boom for the first four years and then an epilog of a grievous meltdown. More than nine months since its eruption, the financial crisis is yet to subside.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Budihardjo named new vice governor
Budihardjo named new vice governor JAKARTA (JP): Budihardjo Sukmadi, former head of the city's Development Planning Board (Bappeda), was installed yesterday as new deputy governor of development affairs, replacing TB. M. Rais. Budihardjo was officially installed as deputy governor in a plenary session of the City Council, presided over by council speaker Edy Waluyo and witnessed by Governor Sutiyoso. (edt)
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Lawyers look to rights body over arrest of activists
Lawyers look to rights body over arrest of activists JAKARTA (JP): A group of junior lawyers has registered a complaint with the National Commission on Human Rights about the arrest of colleague Alexius Surya Tjahaja Tomu and eight government critics, including playwright-actor Ratna Sarumpaet. Group member Paskalis Pieter told commission members Clementino Dos Reis Amaral and B.N.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Suggestion on merger of city-owned firms welcomed
Suggestion on merger of city-owned firms welcomed JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso yesterday welcomed the city council's suggestion to merge the management of city-owned companies which operate similar core businesses in a bid to improve their efficiency. Sutiyoso said that the basic principle of the idea was good because it would improve the health of the firms included in the merger program. "But we should consider the condition of each company. The merger should not hamper sound companies.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian boxers get PABA title fights
Indonesian boxers get PABA title fights JAKARTA (JP): Two veteran Indonesian boxers, Nico Toriri and Robby Rahangmetan, will try their luck overseas in Pan Asia Boxing Association (PABA) title bouts next month.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Garbage truck drivers strike over wages
Garbage truck drivers strike over wages TANGERANG (JP): The local administration is at odds with scores of garbage truck drivers who are demanding higher wages, access to a social security program, health allowances and the right to moonlight. Some 160 garbage truck drivers and their assistants staged a protest on Monday by parking their vehicles in front of a government office to dramatize their demands.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Klender suspects to be charged with subversion
Klender suspects to be charged with subversion JAKARTA (JP): The three men arrested in an East Jakarta apartment last week are allegedly affiliated with the outlawed Democratic People's Party (PRD) and will be charged with subversion, police said yesterday. City police chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata said the men were activists of Indonesian Students Solidarity for Democracy (SMID), which is the student wing of the banned party.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 My Country 2:35 TV Series: Big Brother Jake 3:10 Indonesian Children 3:35 Talk Show: Kotak Pos 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 5:10 TV Series: Road to Avonlea 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News 6:53 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Entrepreneurship Program: Mitra Kita 8:05 Entertainment 8:30 Jazz Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Music: Kamera Ria 10:30 Late News 10:40 TV Drama: Secercah...
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Family robbed in armed heist
Family robbed in armed heist TANGERANG (JP): Four armed robbers reportedly broke into a house in Kroncong subdistrict, Jatiuwung, here yesterday and stole 35 grams of gold jewelry, a television set and Rp 100,000 in cash. The house owner, Suprapto, 30, said he woke up at 3:30 a.m. when the four men entered his room. The robbers reportedly pointed a sickle and a pistol at him. "Don't shout or I'll kill you," one of the men was quoted by Suprapto as saying.
Wed, 18 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Factory workers on strike
Factory workers on strike TANGERANG (JP): At least 330 workers of a garment factory, PT Inspiran Aditama in the Jatake industrial estate, went on strike yesterday demanding higher wages and social insurance. The strike began at 7 a.m. when the workers, mostly women, amassed in front of the factory gates. Some workers refused to strike. The strikers demanded the factory's management increase their daily minimum wage from Rp 5,200 (US$52 cents) to Rp 5,750 as government regulation requires.