Archive: 23 March 1998
53 articles found
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Departure tax
Departure tax I would like to express my opinion about the increase of the departure tax. I am a victim of this new Rp 1 million tax, which was only Rp 250,000 previously. I gather that the government has increased the departure tax to discourage Indonesians from spending their money abroad. I have been working abroad since 1994. I had planned to return home and join my husband and my children in Indonesia.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
New forex tax 'may not be appropriate'
New forex tax 'may not be appropriate' JAKARTA (JP): The new 5 percent tax on foreign exchange transactions which came into effect today will have little effect in stabilizing the rupiah because it will not prevent substantial speculation on the currency, experts said over the weekend. I Nyoman Moena said the new measure would most likely fail to control speculators from profiting from the collapse of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar, as they would still be able to work around it.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ranariddh pardoned, peace plan back on track
Ranariddh pardoned, peace plan back on track PHNOM PENH (AFP): An international peace plan for Cambodia was back on track yesterday after the king pardoned his son deposed co-premier Prince Norodom Ranariddh, but politicians and diplomats remained cautious about the prospects for fair elections. The spokesman for the prince's cabinet in exile in Bangkok said yesterday the ousted first prime minister welcomed the pardon as a vital step in the election process.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:45 TV Series: The Big Valley 3:10 TV Drama: Saat-Saat Bersama 3:35 Belief in God the Almighty 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Health Program: Perawatan Gigi 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:25 Variety Show 5:30 Documentary Film 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 Nusantara, The Beloved Country 6:15 Village Program 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Student's Program: Dunia Mahasiswa 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Music: Mozaik 9:00 World News 9:30 Music:...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt to help worker facing execution in Saudi Arabia
Govt to help worker facing execution in Saudi Arabia JAKARTA (JP): The government will soon dispatch a lawyer to help Indonesian worker Dimyati Usro who has reportedly been convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of his wife, Jumanah, in the oil-rich country of Saudi Arabia, Minister of Justice Muladi said yesterday. "Honestly, I have no idea about the case, because I've just been a minister for a week.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Independent judicial branch needed: Muladi
Independent judicial branch needed: Muladi JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice Muladi said the judicial branch could build a respected and effective legal system only if it was free from intervention from the executive and legislative branches. "Efforts to uphold the system cannot succeed by wiping away corruption and collusion alone. It also has to be free from intervention," said Muladi at Diponegoro University in Semarang, Central Java.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bridge-making competition
Bridge-making competition JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's Tarumanagara University, Petra Christian University of Surabaya and the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) of Chicago held a wooden bridge construction competition last week. Some 38 students from various high schools and Tarumanagara University took part in the one-day competition, the second of its kind, to vie for scholarships from the three organizing institutions. Singgih D.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
So young, so broke
So young, so broke JAKARTA (JP): Accompanied by their mother, three pupils of an elementary school in East Jakarta went to the Ministry of Women's Affairs to ask for money for their school fees Thursday. Ucok, 7, Romy Saputra, 9, and Mirna Julita, 12, all students of SDN Jatinegara 13 public elementary school, went to the office in their uniforms. "We can't pay their tuition fees this month.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
State bureaucracy reform needed to face challenges
State bureaucracy reform needed to face challenges DEPOK, West Java (JP): Indonesia's sluggish and centralistic bureaucracy needs to be reformed in order to address people's increasing demands for better services and face international challenges, an expert says.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Student protests, moral movement without interests?
Student protests, moral movement without interests? By Asip Agus Hasani YOGYAKARTA (JP): Over the last several weeks, hardly a day went by without a group of students holding on-campus demonstrations to demand lower prices for basic commodities and economic and political reforms. In this student city of Yogyakarta, one major demonstration was one which was held the same day as the 1,000-strong People's Consultative Assembly reelected President Soeharto to his seventh consecutive term.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Neglected land to be cultivated
Neglected land to be cultivated BOGOR (JP): Bogor regency is planning to use about 20,000 hectares of idle land in the city, an officer said Saturday. Duddy Sujudi, head of the regency's agency for development planning, said plots which had been neglected by landowners for over 20 years would be cultivated. "The land will be used to produce food crops to help ease the current food crisis," he said.
Mon, 23 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 (Phone: 7262991, 7243372), 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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies likely to stay strong
Asian currencies likely to stay strong SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian currencies, which last week posted one of their best recoveries against the U.S. dollar following regional foreign exchange turmoil, are expected to maintain their upward trend this week, analysts said. "In the coming week, the regional currencies could try even being stronger as the rupiah is turning a little bit positive," said Jacqueline Ong, regional economist with British financial house IDEA in Singapore.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Elephants' habitat under threat
Elephants' habitat under threat PEKANBARU, Riau: Special attention must be given to saving some 200 elephants in the forests of Riau which have been ravaged by fires, said Riau Governor Soeripto. Soeripto maintained that much of the haze covering the province came from fires outside the province, but still there was a need to be aware of the dangers posed to the habitat of elephants.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI situation feared to erode Asian gains
RI situation feared to erode Asian gains SINGAPORE (AFP): A further deterioration in Indonesia's economic situation due to a lack of clear government policies could erode progress made by other Asian governments, an independent risk consultancy said. "Indonesia is the wildcard. The policy mix of its government since last November has been so poor that is difficult to see how the situation can be turned around short of a change in government," Political and Economic Risk Consultancy Ltd.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Days of strays numbered
Days of strays numbered BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Officials here say they are stepping up their campaign to hunt down stray dogs which have become increasingly rampant. Zakaria Ibrahim, head of the provincial animal husbandry office, could not give an exact figure but said the number had grown to an alarming rate. "We don't have concrete data about the number of stray dogs that need to be put to sleep, but our estimates put it in the thousands," he said as quoted by Antara.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices expected to strengthen this week
Stock prices expected to strengthen this week JAKARTA (JP): The encouraging signs emerging from the International Monetary Fund's review of Indonesia's reform program are expected to bring a new optimism to the country's stock trading activities this week. Securities analysts said Saturday the renewed optimism would improve confidence in the Indonesian economy, which would in turn have a positive impact on the capital market.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Student demonstrations
Student demonstrations The incident which occurred in Surakarta last Tuesday deserves our attention. Students of Universitas Sebelas Maret (March 11 University) who had been holding their protests on campus grounds took their action to the street. As a consequence, a clash with security officers occurred and at least 40 students were wounded. Yesterday (Wednesday), in the same city, protesting students of Muhammadiyah University were attacked with tear gas, whose origin remains unknown.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Informal sector vital to help solve unemployement
Informal sector vital to help solve unemployement JAKARTA (JP): A noted sociologist has underlined the importance of boosting the role of the informal sector so as to help solve the problem of unemployment, especially during the current monetary crisis. Paulus Wirutomo of the University of Indonesia said boosting the role of the informal sector combined with the government's labor-intensive program was the most obvious thing to do in coping with the crisis.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cutting ad costs 'incorrect for Asian firms'
Cutting ad costs 'incorrect for Asian firms' By Jim Della-Giacoma JAKARTA (Reuters): Asian brands are under threat from international counterparts because domestic companies are cutting advertising costs to try to survive the region's economic crisis, a top advertising agency executive says. But Miles Young, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Asia-Pacific president, said Asian firms were shooting themselves in the foot by trimming costs in this area.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Government urged to reform energy policy
Government urged to reform energy policy JAKARTA (JP): Noted energy analyst Subroto has called on the government to reform its energy policy to optimize the development of the country's energy resources. Subroto said Thursday Indonesia could become a net oil importer in 15 to 20 years if the government did not change its energy policy to attract more investment in oil and gas exploration and to boost the use of alternative energy sources, like coal, geothermal and hydropower.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
CDC eyes Malaysia's banking
CDC eyes Malaysia's banking KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Taiwanese firm yesterday expressed interest in investing in Malaysia's banking sector amid the Asian economic crisis which has sent the once booming economy into a slowdown. Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim was quoted by Bernama news agency as saying Taiwan's China Development Corporation (CDC) was keen to participate in specific sectors of the Malaysian economy.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asia is not just one country
Asia is not just one country Are the world's financial markets finally beginning to make sharp distinctions between Asia's different countries? Is it beginning to dawn on investors and fund managers that while Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul and Jakarta may be located on roughly the same longitude, that does not mean they are all in the same leaky boat? U.S. President Bill Clinton seems to think so. Investors, he said last week, "are beginning to see a differentiation" between Asian countries.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt program for laid off workers hailed
Govt program for laid off workers hailed JAKARTA (JP): Observers have applauded the government's program aimed at helping laid off workers and the poor, but warned that strong control mechanisms were needed to ensure nothing goes to waste. Sociologists Paulus Wilutomo and Wardah Hafidz said the idea of helping people affected by the crisis was good but needed careful planning and explicit control mechanisms. "Donations and financial assistance must be carefully designed.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Cross section of people pray for respite in crisis
Cross section of people pray for respite in crisis BEKASI (JP): Religious representatives, activists and dozens of scavengers held prayers at Bantargebang garbage dump yesterday to appeal for a respite from the economic crisis and in thanks for the liberation of a Roman Catholic priest and his brother who were accused of harboring wanted prodemocracy activists.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Philippine auto assemblers slam Ford tax incentives
Philippine auto assemblers slam Ford tax incentives MANILA (AFP): Philippine auto assemblers have expressed alarm over a government decision to grant tax incentives to a project by U.S. auto giant Ford Motor Co., reports obtained yesterday said. The assemblers, mostly affiliates of major Japanese auto companies, have filed a protest with the Department of Trade asking for a decision to grant Ford tax breaks to be withdrawn.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
English courses
English courses Every time I read The Straits Times and see another advertisement from The British Council in Singapore offering various English courses, I feel envy. The British Council in Indonesia doesn't hold such courses. The library is the only service it offers Indonesians. Only occasionally does it conduct seminars on study in England and workshops. I believe students, teachers and learners of English in Jakarta are much greater in number than those in Singapore.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mahathir warns of new wave of boat people due to crisis
Mahathir warns of new wave of boat people due to crisis KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad warned that the Asian economic crisis has led to a serious human rights problem with international implications as a new wave of boatpeople seek to escape economic hardship, reports said yesterday. "An injustice has been done to these people. Human rights have been violated," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the New Sunday Times newspaper in Hanover, Germany.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Crisis deals blow to the South
Crisis deals blow to the South By Sayidiman Suryohadiprojo JAKARTA (JP): The economic crisis in Southeast Asia has dealt a heavy blow not only to countries in the region, but also to all the developing nations. Until 1997 there was a strong optimism among the nations of the South that progress would be possible for them, judging from the economic performance of the Southeast Asian nations. They were showered with praise for their spectacular growth which had never been experienced before.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. and Vietnam discuss flight pact
U.S. and Vietnam discuss flight pact HANOI (AFP): Vietnam and the United States will begin hammering out a bilateral aviation accord today that would pave the way for direct flights between the two countries. However, U.S. airline executives say that nonstop flights between the two countries were still a long way off given the small size of the market. "Unless these bilaterals produce an environment which makes it economically viable in the short term, I don't know that any U.S.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Robber shot to death
Robber shot to death JAKARTA (JP): A man allegedly involved in a series of bank- customer robberies was shot dead for resisting arrest on Jl. Melawai, South Jakarta, yesterday. A police source said the suspect, identified as Zulkarnaen, 28, tried to stab an on-duty officer with a sword after being asked to surrender. "The officer shot the suspect in his left leg. But when the man continued to fight, the officer shot him in the chest," said the source, who asked for anonymity.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Physics can put students on their own intellectual feet
Physics can put students on their own intellectual feet By D.K. Nachtigall SINGARAJA, Bali (JP): Physics appears to be boring, meaningless, and not useful for daily life. The reason is that most physics teachers focus upon providing the subject matter on definitions and formulas in physics. They do not provide learners with understanding about physics. Memorization still has priority over application of physics to meaningful events.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Are we really a free nation?
Are we really a free nation? From Merdeka We (albeit not all of us, of course) are an easily satisfied nation with a tendency to be quantitatively oriented. "Tired" of being under the colonial rule of three countries for more than 350 years, we got the feeling that we were fully independent when we proclaimed our independence on Aug. 17, 1945.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI key to regional economy: Goh
RI key to regional economy: Goh SINGAPORE (Agencies): Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said regional economies have improved, but they are unlikely to recover fully until Indonesia overcomes its financial crisis. Goh, speaking at the opening of a community center late Saturday, said the region would grow at four to six percent per year in the medium term, but faced up to four years of pain from economic crisis.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Crisis and optimism
Crisis and optimism The current piteous state of our country makes all of us sad, upset and anxious as to what will happen in the days to come. But I myself thank God that we finally have to face such a situation. Let's look at things from another point of view. This suffering makes us realize that many undesirable things have happened here. Indirectly the current crisis is educating us morally, mentally and politically. It generates solidarity among people, both rich and poor.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
1,100 workers go on strike
1,100 workers go on strike TANGERANG (JP): At least 1,100 workers of wood processing company PT Jabar Utama Wood Industry in Cikupa went on strike Saturday, demanding annual bonuses and other benefits. The workers began a sit-in protest at the company's factory compound at 8 a.m., demanding improvements to their food menu, increased allowances for transportation and the continuance of their shift working allowances.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Nominations for governor just 3
Nominations for governor just 3 JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Minister of Home Affairs R. Hartono has approved a short list of three candidates for the post of Irian Jaya governor for the 1998/2003 term. They are Jayapura naval base Commander Rear Adm. Freddy Numberi, chairman of the Irian Jaya development planning agency Henook Elieser Makbon and Deputy Governor of Social Welfare Herman Monim. According to Antara, Irian Jaya's House Speaker Robert Sitorus said the local legislative assembly on Feb.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
KL still plans to buy CN-235s
KL still plans to buy CN-235s KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia will not cancel an agreement to buy six CN-235 transport aircraft manufactured by Indonesia's state-owned Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara, despite a delay in delivery. Defense Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Saturday he had assured Indonesia that the contract would be honored. The planes should have been delivered by the end of last year.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Gandhi can starve, not students: Wiranto
Gandhi can starve, not students: Wiranto JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Wiranto Arismunandar said students should not emulate Mahatma Gandhi by staging hunger strikes to express their grievances. "Let Gandhi go on hunger strikes. You're not Gandhi!" Wiranto said referring to the renowned Indian leader who advocated peaceful means, among them hunger strikes, to fight colonial oppression. "Hunger strikes make you go hungry.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Passengers urged to be careful in choosing taxis
Passengers urged to be careful in choosing taxis JAKARTA (JP): Police warned Saturday that people should take care when choosing taxis because robberies involving drivers were becoming commonplace. City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said some dishonest taxi drivers had conspired with criminals to rob foreigners or people unfamiliar with the capital.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Landslides haunt 516 villagers
Landslides haunt 516 villagers PURWAKARTA, West Java: At least 516 people at Pasiripis village near the West Java city of Purwakarta are threatened by possible landslides after torrential rains fell for two consecutive days. Landslides have already buried and destroyed three houses. Village officials are on full alert and residents have been told to prepare for immediate evacuate if it is deemed necessary.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Kalimantan fires cause $220m loss
Kalimantan fires cause $220m loss JAKARTA (JP): Parts of Kalimantan continued to be ravaged by fire yesterday as residents in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, were again forced to don face masks in a province which has seen 127,770 hectares of forest burn and incur over Rp 2.2 trillion (US$220 million) in material losses in three months.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Father arrested over baby's death
Father arrested over baby's death JAKARTA (JP): A man has been arrested in the Cikupa district of Tangerang, West Java, for allegedly killing his five-month-old son, police said Saturday. City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said that the man he identified only as H and his unidentified wife were being questioned by Tangerang police. The baby, Adam, was found dead Saturday afternoon, he said. "A postmortem examination showed that the baby had been hit in the head," said Aritonang.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
ADB helps develop Central Sulawesi
ADB helps develop Central Sulawesi JAKARTA (JP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will soon disburse US$35.66 million worth in assistance to support development efforts in areas of Central Sulawesi recently hit by schistosomiasis. "The ADB is determined to keep their commitment to disburse the assistance based on its agreement with the Indonesian government in April last year," the head of the provincial planning board office, Yahya Ponulele, said in Palu.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Green walkways planned for Jl. Daan Mogot
Green walkways planned for Jl. Daan Mogot JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta mayoralty has allocated Rp 5 billion (US$500,000) to build 14 kilometers of green sidewalks on Jl. Daan Mogot, notorious for its traffic and pollution. The project is the first of a planned two-phase project on the 23-kilometer road linking Jakarta and Tangerang, West Jakarta Mayor Sutardjianto said over the weekend. It was inspired by a similar project on Jl. Kyai Tapa in West Jakarta.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN to discuss ASEM
ASEAN to discuss ASEM NASUGBU, Philippines (AFP): Senior ASEAN officials will discuss the possibility of Myanmar attending the forthcoming Asia-Europe Meeting in London despite European opposition, an official said yesterday. ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino said the ASEAN senior officers' meeting, being held in this city outside Manila, would discuss preparations for ASEAN ministerial meetings and summits as well as the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which starts in London April 2.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Gus Dur quits hospital, told to have total rest
Gus Dur quits hospital, told to have total rest JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Abdurrahman Wahid was discharged from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Central Jakarta yesterday after two months of treatment for a stroke. "He left the hospital this afternoon," NU deputy secretary- general Arifin Junaidi told The Jakarta Post by phone, adding that Abdurrahman returned to his house in Ciganjur, South Jakarta.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Four die in flash flood
Four die in flash flood PURWOKERTO, C. Java: Four people drowned in the overflowing Klawing River in the districts of Kalibagor and Sokaraja following several days of heavy rain. Three decomposing bodies were found yesterday, while the other victim has yet to be found. Banyumas Police chief Lt. Col. Agus Yudharto confirmed the discovery of the three bodies, and said police and locals were still searching for the fourth body.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ramos vows to tackle crisis in final days
Ramos vows to tackle crisis in final days MANILA (AP): President Fidel Ramos said yesterday that in his last 100 days in office, he will make sure the Philippines will be the first country to recover from Asia's financial crisis. Although hurt by currency declines and stock market upheavals, the Philippines has been the least affected among Southeast Asian economies, mainly due to reforms set in place before the crisis struck last year.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia may turn to Europe to import milk
Indonesia may turn to Europe to import milk JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia may soon turn to European countries to buy dairy milk as the prices offered by the country's current foreign sellers are no longer affordable, the Indonesian Association of Food and Beverages Producers has said.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
Plane plows into occupied house
Plane plows into occupied house BACOLOD, Philippines (AFP): At least three people were killed and 30 injured when a Philippine Airlines (PAL) plane overshot a runway on landing and plowed into a residential neighborhood in the central Philippines yesterday, rescuers said. The Manila-based radio station, DZRH, which was reporting on the scene, said at least three people were killed and 30 were taken to three hospitals near this city, 500 kilometers southeast of Manila.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN looking for faster IMF aid, debt rollovers
ASEAN looking for faster IMF aid, debt rollovers NASUGBU, Philippines (AFP): The ASEAN secretariat is proposing faster implementation of more flexible IMF bail-out programs and debt rollovers to help the region cope with the currency crisis, ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino said here yesterday. Severino said some of the ASEAN secretariat's concerns would be raised at a meeting of senior officers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, going on in this town outside Manila.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998, 00:00 WIB
The issue of charity
The issue of charity If the estimate given by World Bank president James Wolfensohn is correct -- and one must assume it is considering the authority of the global institution he leads -- about 20 million Indonesians are at present threatened with destitution due to the economic crisis. According to Wolfensohn, it is Indonesia's poor who are feeling the brunt of the crisis and not the wealthy bankers and industrialists, as unemployment is rising "at really very scary rates".