Archive: 23 March 1998
53 articles found
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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,...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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,...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
TV today
TV todayTVRI 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,...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
Are we really a free nation?
Are we really a free nation?From MerdekaWe (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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
Physics can put students on their own intellectual feet
Physics can put students on their own intellectual feetBy 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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
Crisis deals blow to the South
Crisis deals blow to the SouthBy 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.
Mon, 23 Mar 1998
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...