Archive: 21 March 1998
47 articles found
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Students involved in labor project
Students involved in labor project BOGOR (JP): The head of Bogor village development agency, Tasbi Hadi, has said that 12 students from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture had participated in labor intensive projects run by his office. Tasbi said that the 12 students had been employed to give technical instruction on planting seedlings along the Ciliwung, Cisadane and Cipakancilan river banks. "Each students is paid Rp 7,500 per day, the same wage given to the laborers," he said.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Shipping company accused of trying to cover up accident
Shipping company accused of trying to cover up accident JAKARTA (JP): A local shipping company in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, has finally been forced to admit that it delayed reporting an accident involving one of its ships in which eight crewmen went missing. Antara reported that Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin publicly berated the shipping company's management for allegedly trying to cover up the sinking of the KM Garuda late last month.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
PSSI bans eight referees for fixing soccer matches
PSSI bans eight referees for fixing soccer matches JAKARTA (JP): The All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) banned yesterday eight referees for between seven and 10 years as its crackdown on match-fixing stepped up another gear. The chairman of a fact-finding team set up by the soccer body to probe collusive practices, Adang Ruchiatna, announced that R. Pracoyo and Chairul Agil from Jakarta, Suhartono from Surabaya, Sas Muryadi and Nasirudin from Bandung were suspended for 10 years.
Sat, 21 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, South 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.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 20, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 725 0 0 AHAP Insurance 500 0 0 Alter Abadi 600 50 132,000 Alumindo Light Metal 375 25 1,703,500 Alumindo Perkasa 325 0 3,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 600 25 301,000 Aneka Tambang 1,550 0 1,483,000 Anwar Sierad 400 0 460,000 Apac Centertex Corp.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Plaza Indonesia celebrates its 8th anniversary
Plaza Indonesia celebrates its 8th anniversary JAKARTA (JP): Plaza Indonesia, one of the city's major shopping and leisure attractions, began its 8th anniversary celebrations yesterday with eight activities, eight days of fashion parades and eight days of sales. Plaza Indonesia's Promotions and Advertising Manager Mia Egron said the celebrations were intended to thank the plaza's loyal customers. "The anniversary is very special for us.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI faces daunting Thomas Cup task
RI faces daunting Thomas Cup task JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will face a daunting task in defending its Thomas Cup badminton championship trophy in Hong Kong in May due to a weakened singles team, coach Indra Gunawan said yesterday. Indra said he was even doubtful that his guards could snatch a point out of the three singles matches to be played in the biennial event.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
World champ Patmawati may miss Asiad
World champ Patmawati may miss Asiad JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian world women's weightlifting champion Patmawati is likely to miss the 13th Asian Games due to a chronic shoulder injury, a medical official said yesterday. Carmen Jahja, deputy chairman of the National Sports Council's sports science center, said Patmawati injured her right shoulder before the 19th Southeast Asian Games last year, but nevertheless competed in the event. "She is too lazy to get physiotherapy, take medicine and practice.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina to shut cracker
Pertamina to shut cracker SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia's state oil company Pertamina will shut down its 22,500 barrels-per-day hydrocracker at its Balikpapan refinery for a month from mid-April for maintenance, industry sources said yesterday. Pertamina's Balikpapan refinery in Kalimantan has two crude distillation units of 200,000 and 60,000 barrels per day.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Trading of ozone-depleting substances banned
Trading of ozone-depleting substances banned JAKARTA (JP): The government has banned the import, production and sale of 22 ozone-depleting items, the Ministry of Industry and Trade announced yesterday. Former minister of industry and trade Tunky Ariwibowo signed two decrees Jan. 27 establishing the ban. Ministerial decree No. 110/1998 bans the trade and production of the 22 ozone-depleting items, while ministerial decree No. 111/1998 bans certain imports into the country.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt's decision on minimum wages set for next week
Govt's decision on minimum wages set for next week JAKARTA (JP): The government will announce its decision on the much-awaited minimum wage rise after a meeting with the National Wage Council here next Tuesday, a senior official from the Ministry of Manpower said yesterday. Director General of Labor Supervision Syaufi'i Syamsuddin said new Minister of Manpower Theo L. Sambuaga would chair the meeting with the council, which comprises workers, business representatives and the government.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on March 20, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S dollar 1 9,000.00 11,000.00 Austrian shilling 1 635.00 847.80 Australian dollar 1 5,593.00 6,993.00 Belgian franc 1 224.40 279.00 Canadian dollar 1 5,977.50 7,425.70 Swiss franc 1 5,670.80 7,051.70 Deutschemark 1 4,609.50 5,772.40 Danish krone 1 1,213.10 1,509.30 French franc 1 1,379.00 1,717.40 Poundsterling 1 14,118.50 17,514.00 Hong Kong dollar 1...
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Students stage more protests
Students stage more protests JAKARTA (JP): A string of major student protests were held in a number of cities yesterday, but security was notably more lax than for previous days of demonstrations. On the campus of Lampung University in Bandarlampung -- where students and riot police clashed and 60 students were arrested on Thursday -- 300 students continued with their demands for lower priced basic commodities, political reform and the replacement of controversial new cabinet ministers.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tutut leads campaign to ease crisis' impact
Tutut leads campaign to ease crisis' impact JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of Social Services Siti Hardijanti Rukmana led yesterday a limited ministerial meeting to develop both immediate and long-term plans to deal with the social impact of the monetary crisis.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Worker's pay
Worker's pay I have just come back from Brebes, Central Java. There I witnessed a lot of people who were working in the framework of intensive labor program being given salaries ranging from Rp 2,500 to Rp 3,000. What surprised me was that about 50 percent of the workers were fictitious. I was told that the World Bank provides Rp 12,000 for each worker per day. Imagine, a worker has to make do with Rp 3,000 a day in the time of our current monetary crisis.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Basic needs
Basic needs From Republika In the present uncertain situation, many in the community are hoping that the government will take concrete measures to speedily and carefully normalize the economy. We know that things needed by the public at present include foodstuffs, medicine, educational supplies and vehicle spare parts. Of late, the prices of these goods have soared and in some cases, they are not even available. People in low-income brackets generally cannot afford to buy these items any more.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt to impose 5% tax on forex buying
Govt to impose 5% tax on forex buying JAKARTA (JP): The government will impose, starting Monday, a new 5 percent tax on foreign exchange purchases by individuals or legal entities, according to the Ministry of Finance. A ministry spokesman, Agus Haryanto, announced yesterday that the new tax aimed to reduce speculation on foreign exchange, especially the U.S. dollar, which had resulted in the weakening of the rupiah.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Selling logs overseas less profitable
Selling logs overseas less profitable JAKARTA (JP): Few timber companies have sold logs to the international market despite the government's recent decision to ease log export restrictions, a minister said yesterday. Minister of Forestry and Plantations Sumahadi said selling processed wood products was now more profitable than exporting logs.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto inaugurates Semen Gresik's plant
Soeharto inaugurates Semen Gresik's plant JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto officially inaugurated PT Semen Gresik's third cement plant in Tuban, East Java from his Bina Graha office in Jakarta. Semen Gresik president Urip Timuryono said the new plant will increase the company's cement production capacity to 6.9 million tons a year.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Communication breakdown
Communication breakdown When the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) wound up its General Session 10 days ago, many people had hoped that the protests which had been taking place on various campuses throughout the country would also end. After all, the protests were seen as part of the students' attempt to influence the MPR proceedings in electing the president and vice president, and in enacting the State Policy Guidelines for the 1998/2003 period.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Lack of green areas concerns new minister
Lack of green areas concerns new minister JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantation Sumahadi expressed concern yesterday over the limited number of green areas in the city. "Jakarta is supposed to have large areas dedicated to recreation and sports... but there are currently only a small number of open spaces and city forests available for residents to relax in and breath cleaner air. He vowed to help create more green areas in the city.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI foreign currency ceilings cut
RI foreign currency ceilings cut HONG KONG (Reuters): Moody's Investors Service said yesterday it had downgraded Indonesia's foreign currency ceilings for bonds and notes to B3 from B2. It also cut the foreign currency ceiling for bank deposits to Ca from Caa1.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
122 plaintiffs still locked up, lawsuit stalled
122 plaintiffs still locked up, lawsuit stalled JAKARTA (JP): Hearings on lawsuits brought against the city police at South Jakarta District Court were postponed yesterday because the police failed to release the 122 plaintiffs from detention. The 122 are members of Barisan Merah Putih (the Red-and-White Front). They are among 157 members of the group arrested on Feb. 15 while marching from the Attorney General's Office in Blok M to the Ministry of Manpower on Jl. Gatot Subroto.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Resilience council line-up reshuffled
Resilience council line-up reshuffled JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has removed Widjojo Nitisastro from the position of secretary-general of the Economic and Monetary Resilience Council, a body set up to oversee the implementation of the country's economic reform program. The President, through decree No. 47 issued March 19, named the Salim Group's Anthony Salim to succeed Widjojo, who moves to the vice chairman's post on the council. The council is chaired by Soeharto himself.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Foreign universities
Foreign universities From Merdeka The media reported recently on the possibility of foreign universities establishing themselves in Indonesia. There are pros and cons to this. Fuad Hasan, a former minister of education and culture, has spoken against it. He has even shown a law that prohibits it. I agree with him and appeal to the authorities not to bring the idea into realization. There are far more drawbacks than advantages, both politically and from a material viewpoint.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI urged to take concrete steps to raise confidence
RI urged to take concrete steps to raise confidence WASHINGTON (Reuters): Indonesia must take "constructive steps" to increase confidence and promote stability, U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers said yesterday. Summers told reporters after a seminar on Asia's economic problems that Indonesia's economic recovery was important for the Group of Seven industrialized countries and others.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Garbage piles in C. Jakarta
Garbage piles in C. Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta mayoralty is facing a shortage of refuse collection trucks, leaving up to 2,700 cubic metres of refuse on the city's streets each month, an official has said. M. Yanis, the mayoralty's spokesman, said early this week that about 5,200 cubic metres of waste was produced by the district each month. He explained that the mayoralty's sanitation office owned 234 trucks, of which only 150 were operational. The remainder of the fleet are defunct.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Japan banks reject rescheduling request
Japan banks reject rescheduling request TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's major banks have rebuffed a request by Indonesian Vice President B.J. Habibie asking them to reschedule his country's private-sector debt, banking sources said yesterday. On the last working day of a visit to Indonesia's biggest creditor nation for talks on how Japan could help Jakarta out of its economic crisis, Habibie held talks with Japan's major commercial banks and the Export-Import Bank of Japan.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bus firms should 'educate' drivers
Bus firms should 'educate' drivers JAKARTA (JP): Bus companies and owners are responsible for educating their drivers about road safety, a senior official said yesterday. The head of City Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ), J.P. Sepang, said the routine training provided by the government was inadequate due to limited funds and facilities. A special course for public transportation drivers is held in Serpong, Tangerang twice a year.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI must brace for debt-for-nature scheme
RI must brace for debt-for-nature scheme JAKARTA (JP): An environmentalist has expressed hope that Indonesia will be included in a U.S. "debt-for-nature swap" scheme in which developing countries' debts are written off if they are found to be committed to protecting their rain forests. Mas Achmad Santosa said the government must prepare for the possibility that the U.S. might offer the program to Indonesia. The U.S.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices up 2.5% on renewed market optimism
Stock prices up 2.5% on renewed market optimism JAKARTA (Agencies): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) rebounded yesterday, gaining 2.5 percent on renewed market optimism that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would soon release its second US$3 billion tranche in financial aid, stockbrokers said. They said investors made significant buying orders for certain big capitalized stocks.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
'Rising stars' take over ABRI strategic positions
'Rising stars' take over ABRI strategic positions JAKARTA (JP): Three "rising stars" took over the leadership of the Armed Forces (ABRI) strategic positions in two simple ceremonies yesterday. Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Lt. Gen. Prabowo Subianto were installed as the new Armed Forces Chief of General Affairs, the Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs, and the Commander of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) respectively.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
About 500,000 Indonesians infected with TB annually
About 500,000 Indonesians infected with TB annually JAKARTA (JP): Around 500,000 Indonesians are infected every year with tuberculosis and an estimated 175,000 die because their illness goes undetected, according to an official. Hadi M. Abednego, director general for the prevention of communicable diseases at the Ministry of Health, told a media briefing here yesterday the government provides free medication to 150,000 TB patients through Puskesmas (public health centers) each year.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Villagers cure rash with iodine
Villagers cure rash with iodine CILACAP, Central Java: Dozens of villagers in Cipari subdistrict had to use iodine to cure their skin rashes due to a shortage of medicine in the regency. The skin rash spread in Cipari following heavy floods that affected nine other villages early this week. About 9,000 people got rashes after their houses were flooded and they used river water for their daily needs. "It is difficult to find appropriate medicine.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Three foreigners die in house fire
Three foreigners die in house fire KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A fire broke out yesterday at a home in Petaling Jaya, 10 kilometers west of the capital, killing three foreign workers, an official report said. Killed in the blaze were Mohd. Isharizah, 26 and his wife Halimah, 25, both Indonesian, and a 30-year-old Indian identified only as Soleh, police told Bernama news agency. Police said there were eight people in the house when the fire broke out. The others managed to flee.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cheap, nutritious meals for laborers
Cheap, nutritious meals for laborers TANGERANG (JP): The Tangerang administration has set aside Rp 270 million ($27,000) to open cheap food stalls for the poor, especially factory workers, during the economic crisis. The stalls, to be set up in several busy places in the industrial town, will sell meals consisting of rice, vegetables, two tempeh cakes and an egg for just Rp 500 (20 U.S. cent).
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
IMF approves subsidies and Bulog's existence
IMF approves subsidies and Bulog's existence JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved of Indonesia's plans to continue subsidizing imports of essential commodities and to maintain the State Logistics Agency (Bulog). Bulog chairman Beddu Amang said after a meeting with IMF officials at the Ministry of Industry and Trade yesterday that the IMF did not want to eliminate Bulog as long as the subsidies continued.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Chuan defends govt in censure debate
Chuan defends govt in censure debate BANGKOK (AP): Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai defended his government in a censure debate yesterday against allegations that his efforts to lift Thailand out of the worst economic crisis in decades showed heartlessness to the poor. Chuan was seen as certain of defeating the censure vote, scheduled for Saturday. But Thai media speculated that he might replace his industry minister, accused by the parliamentary opposition of corruption.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
IMF misjudgment fuels food riots
IMF misjudgment fuels food riots By David Ray The following article is an excerpt from a paper presented at the recent Crisis in East Asia conference held in Sydney and Melbourne. SYDNEY (JP): That Indonesia is facing its worst economic crisis in three decades has been well documented recently in the international print media.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
French film festival
French film festival JAKARTA (JP): The French Embassy is holding a Francophone Film Festival and a competition entitled Allons en France '98 to mark the International Day of Francophonie. The festival, which opened yesterday and will close tomorrow, is showing five films at the Pusat Perfilman Usmar Ismail in South Jakarta.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah ends 8.3% higher against dollar
Rupiah ends 8.3% higher against dollar JAKARTA (Agencies): The Indonesian rupiah ended 8.3 percent higher against the U.S. dollar yesterday amid strong rumors on currency trading floors in Singapore that Jakarta was set to impose a tax on dollar purchases, dealers said. The rupiah closed Asian trading at 9,400 against the dollar from Thursday's close of 10,250.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Traders sell cheap paper to students
Traders sell cheap paper to students PURWOKERTO, Central Java: More than 4,300 reams of office paper were sold Thursday at a 40 percent discount to university students. "It is better to have good relation with them rather than to be the target of their demonstrations," said Memen, one of the 18 traders who initiated the paper sale. Paper's skyrocketing prices have severely affected students and become a potential source of unrest among them. Purwokerto Police chief Col.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Germany committed to helping RI: Envoy
Germany committed to helping RI: Envoy JAKARTA (JP): The German government remains committed to helping Indonesia solve its worst ever monetary crisis, a visiting envoy said here yesterday. German Deputy Foreign Minister Werner Hoyer stressed during his visit the importance for Indonesia to work closely together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and major donor countries in solving the crisis.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Thief shot dead in Bekasi
Thief shot dead in Bekasi JAKARTA (JP): A 28-year-old man was shot dead Tuesday night after stealing a motorcycle at a housing complex in Bekasi, an officer said. City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said the victim, Hermansyah, entered the residence of A. Cholihin in Jatibening estate at 4 p.m. and took the motorcycle parked in the yard. He said police, who searched for the suspected thief soon after receiving a robbery report, found Hermansyah on Jl. Jati Karya at 7 p.m.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Police to question Amien over complicity
Police to question Amien over complicity JAKARTA (JP): Police will summon for questioning government critic Amien Rais for involvement in a meeting that allegedly transpired into a campaign to disrupt stability and order, police chief Gen. Dibyo Widodo said yesterday.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tutut's signature forged
Tutut's signature forged MEDAN, North Sumatra: By forging the signature of President Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti Hardijanti Rukmana, Sutrisno was able to collect at least Rp 30 million (US$3,000) from 400 job seekers during his nine month scam here.
Sat, 21 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Police advice for bus drivers
Police advice for bus drivers JAKARTA (JP): Alarmed by the number of road accidents, traffic police chief Col. Fachrudin B. has called on city bus drivers to stop driving recklessly. Fachrudin held a meeting with 80 city bus drivers at the North Jakarta police precinct Thursday during which he stressed the need for road discipline. "The death toll from road accidents in the greater Jakarta area is between two and three a day," he told the drivers.