Archive: 20 March 1998
54 articles found
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
On monopoly
On monopoly From Pikiran Rakyat In Pikiran Rakyat March 17, I read a statement by the Minister of Industry and Trade Mohamad (Bob) Hasan that monopolies in the interest of the society are justified by article 33 of the Constitution. I do not agree with the statement. Said article reads as follows: 1. The economy is organized as a joint effort based on family principles. 2. Production sectors which are important for the state and which affect the people's life are controlled by the state. 3.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mataram to host youth games
Mataram to host youth games JAKARTA (JP): The West Nusa Tenggara capital of Mataram has been chosen to host the Arafura Youth Games in early August. It will be the second time the event has been held in the city. Head of the provincial education and culture office M. Soelkan said yesterday that the city was now waiting for government approval to hold the biennial event which groups towns and cities in Indonesia and Australia. Mataram last hosted the games in 1992.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia wants IMF to show more flexibility
Indonesia wants IMF to show more flexibility JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian wants the International Monetary Fund to show flexibility during negotiations on the country's reform program, especially on issues which have potential to adversely affect the poor, such as abolishing certain trading monopolies. Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier said yesterday that Indonesia would basically implement the 50-point agreement and would dismantle cartels and monopolies.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bird in the hand?
Bird in the hand? "I used to think that life in Jakarta was so great. It's like a dream place for people like me," said Eman, a 27-year-old man born and raised in Tangkil Sari, Cibaliung, West Java. Eman is one among thousands of people who think that way. Living in a village is sometimes hard, especially in Cibaliung, Banten. Many of the villagers are jobless farmers. They have not had a harvest for three years because they have nothing to plow.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
China gears up for F1 race
China gears up for F1 race JAKARTA (JP): China is gearing up to host the first Formula One Grand Prix motor racing championship ever at Zhuhai circuit next year. The circuit director Joe Lim Hun Beng was upbeat of China's chance to win its bid to host a round of the world's most prestigious after representatives of the world motor sport body FIA (Federation Internationale de L'Automotive) inspected Zhuhai late last year.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Man killed in revenge
Man killed in revenge TANGERANG (JP): An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver was beaten to death in Serpong Wednesday over an alleged affair with the wife of one of his two attackers, police have said. Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Aryanto Boediharjo said the victim, Ayuhan, 42, died in front of a coffee stall at about 7:30 p.m. "Ayuhan was killed probably because he went out once with the wife of one of the two suspects. Apparently, the suspect took revenge on him," Boediharjo said.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Youths tried for possessing heroin
Youths tried for possessing heroin JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked the West Jakarta District Court to sentence two young men to eight and 14 months in jail respectively for possessing putauw, or low grade heroin, yesterday.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bank credibility
Bank credibility The time has come again that I, as a foreigner, must pay my yearly taxes of US$1,200. It is the rule that these taxes must be paid at a central BRI bank in Jakarta. Because I knew I had to pay this $1,200, I had asked a friend to bring me dollars from my overseas bank account. What happened at the bank was incredible.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI might link rupiah to basket of currencies
RI might link rupiah to basket of currencies TOKYO (Agencies): Indonesia is considering linking its struggling rupiah to a basket of currencies under a band system, Vice President B.J. Habibie told a senior Japanese businessman yesterday. "The currency basket system can be considered" as an option, Habibie told a meeting of the Federation of Economic Organizations, or Keidanren, on the second day of his four-day visit here.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies stable but sluggish
Asian currencies stable but sluggish SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian currencies held on to but failed to extend their gains yesterday as traders responded sleepily to the U.S. dollar's late retreat below 130.00 yen. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji's pledge to defend the Hong Kong dollar's link to the U.S. dollar and firm ruling out of a yuan devaluation also sparked little reaction. The Hong Kong dollar remained steady while forward rates were slightly easier in late trade.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Australian academics criticize IMF
Australian academics criticize IMF CANBERRA (Reuters): The International Monetary Fund was accused of mismanaging and even exacerbating Indonesia's economic troubles during an academic seminar on the Asian currency crisis in Canberra yesterday. Ross McLeod, an academic in the Indonesia Research Project at the Australian National University's economics division, said the IMF has mishandled the Indonesian situation and taken the country from a bad economic crisis to a worse political crisis.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI to export 2.3m tons of palm oil this year
RI to export 2.3m tons of palm oil this year SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia is expected to export up to 2.3 million tons of crude palm oil (CPO) in 1998, Derom Bangun, vice chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association, said yesterday. "Exports can be up to 2.3 million tons after the export ban is lifted, or to be more cautious, at least two million tons, for this year," Bangun told Reuters at the annual Asia Edible Oil Markets in Singapore.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta Garrison has new chief of staff
Jakarta Garrison has new chief of staff JAKARTA (JP): Brig. Gen. Achmad Yahya was installed yesterday as the new chief of staff of the Jakarta Garrison, replacing Maj. Gen. Adam R. Damiri. The ceremony was led by Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin at the Jakarta Garrison Command headquarters on Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur, Central Jakarta.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
The trouble with neighbors
The trouble with neighbors The latest exchanges between ASEAN's newest recruit and its immediate neighbor to the east have involved munitions rather than legal commerce or expressions of amity and cooperation. No diplomatic or cultural niceties here. Instead, intrusions and cross-border mortar attacks by Burmese government forces along with their Democratic Karen Buddhist Army allies have provoked Thai security forces to shell their jungle bases.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
New AG promises better cooperation with police
New AG promises better cooperation with police JAKARTA (JP): Newly installed Attorney General Soedjono Chanafiah Atmonegoro promised to settle a jurisdiction dispute between his office and the National Police Headquarters yesterday. Soedjono said the two law enforcement institutions should cooperate and avoid confrontation when enforcing the law. "We must avoid clashing...
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Sutiyoso vows to make Ragunan Zoo inviting
Sutiyoso vows to make Ragunan Zoo inviting JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso pledged yesterday to make the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta a better place for recreation and nature conservation despite the economic crisis. "I want this zoo to be a more attractive place. This is important because if more people visit it, we will make more money from ticket sales," Sutiyoso said during a visit to the zoo.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
More soccer referees face bribery charges
More soccer referees face bribery charges MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): The probe into alleged collusive practices to fix the outcomes of soccer matches continued yesterday, with an official of the All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) saying that two North Sumatran referees were involved. Amran Y.S., head of the federation's referee and match supervisory affairs, refused to identify the suspects, but said they would soon face police questioning.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Danamon experience
Danamon experience Some months ago you published several readers' complaints about BCA and its dollar/rupiah exchange practices, to which we were belatedly treated to a lecture on banking cartel agreements by its PR staff. This was followed by small change in its policy. Since then, BCA and/or its owners reportedly purchased a 19 percent share in Danamon.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Funds for labor-intensive projects total Rp 25.14b
Funds for labor-intensive projects total Rp 25.14b JAKARTA (JP): Official funds to finance labor-intensive projects, which will be conducted in the city after the start of the 1998/1999 fiscal year on April 1, total Rp 25.14 billion, an official said yesterday.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Reappointment of ministers questioned
Reappointment of ministers questioned DEPOK, West Java (JP): Observers questioned the reappointment of some ministers despite blemished records and unfinished business during their service in the previous cabinet. Eep Syaefullah Fatah of the University of Indonesia told some 300 students at a discussion here Wednesday that he doubted moral integrity was a criteria for the appointment of some ministers.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
KPC exports 15m tons of coal
KPC exports 15m tons of coal JAKARTA (JP): East Kalimantan-based coal mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) exported 15 million tons of coal last year, an increase of 25 percent from 12 million tons in 1996. Company spokesman Usman Fatwa said Wednesday KPC also projected to export 15 million tons of coal in 1998.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Commitment to good governance 'must be genuine'
Commitment to good governance 'must be genuine' JAKARTA (JP): Observers have lauded President Soeharto's campaign for a credible government -- through his instruction that ministers declare their personal wealth and donate their first year's salaries to the poor -- but suggested the measures be enshrined in law.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Credit guarantees to come for shoe and textile firms
Credit guarantees to come for shoe and textile firms JAKARTA (JP): The government has promised Indonesian textile and shoe firms that its facility guaranteeing the companies' letters of credit (L/Cs) will be available within a week or two, industry leaders said yesterday. The chairman of the Indonesian Footwear Association (Aprisindo), Anton J.
Fri, 20 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: Paket 27 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: Kenangan Masa 9:00 World News 9:30 Talk Show: Gelar...
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Farmer stumbles across treasure
Farmer stumbles across treasure PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A farmer accidentally found over 100 Dutch coins dating back to the 18th century while plowing his cornfield. Kastam, 47, said initially he did not take much notice when his hoe hit a bright shiny metal object. But the second time he dug deeper and again hit more shiny coins. Kastam then decided to carefully dig deeper and found a bowl filled with gold coins.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Haryanto still unclear about his new job
Haryanto still unclear about his new job JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Food, Drugs and Horticulture Haryanto Dhanutirto said yesterday he was unclear about his responsibilities in his new ministerial post. Haryanto, former minister of transportation, said he was waiting for his job description to begin work in the newly established state ministerial office. "I'm still waiting for further details about my duties, functions and responsibilities.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bank Jakarta drops liquidation lawsuit
Bank Jakarta drops liquidation lawsuit JAKARTA (JP): A lawsuit challenging the closure of Bank Jakarta, a private bank chaired by President Soeharto's half- brother, has been withdrawn Antara reported yesterday. Lawyers for Bank Jakarta withdrew the suit challenging the closure, which was ordered by the government last November, during a hearing at the State Administrative Court presided over by Judge Lintang Oloan Siahaan, the news agency said.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt urged to submit sports bill to the House
Govt urged to submit sports bill to the House JAKARTA (JP): A noted sports figure called on the government yesterday to present a sports bill to the House of Representatives for deliberation. Sports observer Mangombar Ferdinand Siregar said the country had long needed laws to regulate the rights and obligations of athletes, as well as to guarantee their post-career lives and boost the development of sports facilities. "We are racing against time.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 19, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 725 0 0 AHAP Insurance 500 0 0 Alter Abadi 550 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 350 25 1,236,000 Alumindo Perkasa 325 75 63,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 575 0 134,500 Aneka Tambang 1,550 -50 4,296,000 Anwar Sierad 400 0 208,500 Apac Centertex Corp.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Lampung farmers fell coconut trees for money
Lampung farmers fell coconut trees for money By M. Tohamaksun BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung (Antara): Wood from coconut trees is gaining a high commercial value and rural people are increasingly engaged in felling the trees, although in many cases, the trees are still productive. The monetary crisis and a failure of rice crops have prompted more and more villagers to resort to coconut tree felling as their means of livelihood. It is an easy way to earn money.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Call to donate must be voluntary, councilors say
Call to donate must be voluntary, councilors say JAKARTA (JP): City councilors welcomed yesterday President Soeharto's call to donate one year's salary to the poor so long as it was not made obligatory. Council Speaker Edy Waluyo said he had not discussed the latest poverty alleviation campaign with all 75 councilors so he was unable to say whether there would be agreement.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Police under fire for handling of detainees
Police under fire for handling of detainees JAKARTA (JP): City Police are currently under pressure from lawsuits filed by 128 of the 172 people arrested since the middle of last month for allegedly staging or participating in street rallies and other politically related activities. A case brought by 122 detained members of Barisan Merah Putih (the Red-and-White Front), is due to be heard at the South Jakarta District Court today.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Shoreline remains untapped resource
Shoreline remains untapped resource BOGOR, West Java: The director of the center for coastal and sea resources, Rokhmin Dahuri, said Indonesia's shoreline potential remained an untapped resource which could greatly help the country in this time of crisis.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Trading quiet as investors await outcome of IMF talks
Trading quiet as investors await outcome of IMF talks JAKARTA (JP): Trading activities in the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) remained lackluster yesterday as investors awaited the results of talks between the Indonesian government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), stock brokers said. The JSX composite index closed almost unchanged at 504.14 yesterday, after only moderate trading. About 587.82 million shares worth Rp 476.16 billion (US$46.68 million) changed hands in regular trade.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
300 to compete in drag race
300 to compete in drag race JAKARTA (JP): Some 300 local drivers have confirmed their entry in the national drag race championship opener in Sentul, near Bogor, West Java on April 5. Committee official Rio Sarwono said Wednesday that the organizers had planned to hold seven series this year. He said five legs would take place in Sentul while the other two in South Sulawesi and Central Java.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Parts of IMF deal run 'against constitution'
Parts of IMF deal run 'against constitution' TOKYO (Agencies): Indonesia wants to stick to a 50-point deal agreed with the IMF but some parts could be unconstitutional, Vice President B.J. Habibie said here yesterday. On a day of conflicting signals from Habibie's meetings with Japanese leaders, he first said the whole 50-point IMF reform program would help the Indonesian economy and then appeared to backtrack.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Why govt lost students' trust
Why govt lost students' trust By Aleksius Jemadu BANDUNG (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto says his office is open to dialog with government critics who have realistic suggestions on how to solve the economic crisis. He also said the recent student demonstrations were acceptable and within the law.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Kuntoro urges public to conserve energy
Kuntoro urges public to conserve energy JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto called on the public yesterday to help improve the country's battered economy by conserving energy. Kuntoro said that although the government had an ongoing energy conservation program, most consumers, including industries, still wasted energy.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Auric buys into RI bank
Auric buys into RI bank SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's cash rich Auric Pacific Group Ltd said yesterday it had bought 32.16 million shares in Indonesia's Bank Niaga. The trading-based company said it paid Rp 700 or equivalent to Singapore $3.6 million plus commission and expenses for the stake. The purchase increased the group's total stake in the bank to about 10 percent.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Military will help boost farm production: Justika
Military will help boost farm production: Justika JAKARTA (JP): Military personnel will be deployed in various agricultural activities to help boost the production of staple commodities such as rice, soybean and corn. Minister of Agriculture Justika Sjarifudin Baharsjah said yesterday that Armed Forces personnel, equipped with tractors and other modern equipment, would help farmers grow crops.
Fri, 20 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, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
We know only the best citizens
We know only the best citizens From Merdeka I read in Merdeka, March 12, an article entitled Soedomo: Don't be afraid of inclusion of nonindigenous people in the cabinet. The article's title, apparently, touches on a subject which is still highly sensitive. In fact, the article discusses mainly security and requirements demanded for the cabinet ministers. I regret that this issue was raised in the essay.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
District chief's house attacked
District chief's house attacked KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The governor will send a special team to investigate a mysterious incident in which a Molotov cocktail was hurled at the house of the Napabalono district chief in Muna regency. "I've heard about the case and will soon send a team to investigate," Governor Kaimoeddin said yesterday.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Philippine volcano monitored
Philippine volcano monitored MANILA (Agencies): Experts are monitoring a volcano in the eastern Philippines which has been rumbling with an increasing number of earthquakes, officials said yesterday. The officials said an abnormally large number of minor quakes had been rocking Bulusan volcano in eastern Sorsogon province since March 5, prompting them to issue the first of a five-level danger alert.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Uncovering the root of evil in the society
Uncovering the root of evil in the society President Soeharto's call to his new cabinet to donate their first year's wages to the poor chimed well with widespread public demands for a clean government. Political scientist J. Soedjati Djiwandono looks for the meaning of a good and clean government.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Washington to give $25m in emergency aid to Jakarta
Washington to give $25m in emergency aid to Jakarta WASHINGTON (AFP): The United States will provide US$25 million in emergency food aid to Indonesia to alleviate shortages caused by drought, an administration official said Wednesday. The type and quantity of aid remains undecided, said the official, who asked not to be named. But an announcement from the White House is expected soon, and the price tag is "in the ballpark of 25 million dollars," the official said.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on March 19, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Navy to repatriate RI's illegal migrant workers in KL
Navy to repatriate RI's illegal migrant workers in KL JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy will once again be called upon to help repatriate more than 17,000 illegal Indonesian migrant workers currently being detained by Malaysian authorities. "The Indonesian government can understand the Malaysian government's plan to repatriate the Indonesian workers," Indonesia's foreign minister Ali Alatas said here yesterday.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
El Nino may ease up from May on: Agency
El Nino may ease up from May on: Agency JAKARTA (JP): The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) predicts the effect of the freak El Nino weather phenomenon -- which caused a prolonged dry season in some regions of Indonesia last year -- will most probably ease in May. The agency also forecast that this year's dry season would be "moderately wet".
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thomson, IPTN win contract
Thomson, IPTN win contract PARIS (Dow Jones): France's Thomson-CSF (F.CSF) and Indonesia's IPTN Wednesday won a $150 million defense contract to provide the United Arab Emirates with four maritime patrol aircraft. The contract, which was awarded at an arms fair in Abu Dhabi, is split into two parts. The part that covers the actual planes was awarded to IPTN, while the part that covers the surveillance and reconnaissance systems with which the planes will be equipped was awarded to Thomson-CSF.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tension rises in student demonstrations
Tension rises in student demonstrations JAKARTA (JP): Police in Lampung fired warning shots and tear- gas at about 3,000 stone-throwing students who staged a demonstration demanding sweeping reform and lower prices of basic commodities yesterday, a student leader said.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
PLN to raise electricity rates 7.78%
PLN to raise electricity rates 7.78% JAKARTA (JP): State electricity company PLN will raise the electricity tariff by 7.78 percent beginning next month through July, the company announced yesterday. PLN spokesman Alfian Helmy said the March-July rise was higher than the increase in the previous three months due to the sharp depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar during the period.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Military officer impersonators tried
Military officer impersonators tried JAKARTA (JP): Two jobless men are on trial for impersonating army officers and trying to blackmail motorcyclists. The West Jakarta District Court indicted the men, aged 28 and 31, Wednesday. During the trial, presided over by judge Soeratno, the prosecution supplied two witnesses, Rosikun and Abdul Muhdi, who had made the suspects' arrest possible. The witnesses said the suspects, dressed in army fatigues, stopped them on the night of Dec.
Fri, 20 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
PT Metromini pledges to pay compensation for fatalities
PT Metromini pledges to pay compensation for fatalities JAKARTA (JP): PT Metromini promised yesterday that it would compensate relatives of two people killed by a bus plying the Senen-Tanjung Priok route on Sunday. Operations manager Maninting Panjaitan said the company would also offer compensation to the owners of the two roadside houses badly damaged in the accident in which a third person was seriously injured. The accident occurred in Sunter Jaya, North Jakarta, at about 5:30 a.m.