Archive: 1 April 1998
58 articles found
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
PDI decides criteria for new leadership
PDI decides criteria for new leadership JAKARTA (JP): The likelihood of Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), regaining her post in June's government-sanctioned congress declined yesterday as one of the criteria set forth for leadership candidates requires them to have been actively participants in last year's general election.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Pusri to raise urea output
Pusri to raise urea output JAKARTA (JP): PT Pupuk Sriwijaya (Pusri), a state-owned fertilizer producer based in Palembang, South Sumatra, will raise its annual urea fertilizer production to 7.48 million tons by 2005 from about 6.16 million tons at present. Suhardin, the company's production director, said in Palembang yesterday that domestic demand for Pusri's urea, which is currently increasing 4 percent a year, was expected to rise to 6.6 million tons in 2005.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
A new elegance dawns in Jakarta, with commercial appeal
A new elegance dawns in Jakarta, with commercial appeal By Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): Sensuality floated through smatterings of black leaves on a cream slip dress. A turquoise-colored rose on the model's hair complemented a crepe gabardine spaghetti-strap dress in grape. A black, knee-length wool skirt with a single three-quarter cut revealed to observers a delicate hint of thigh.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Nameless isles in Riau
Nameless isles in Riau PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Over three-quarters of the 3,214 islands in the province of Riau have not yet been named. Riau provincial legislator Djufri Hasan Basri revealed during a visit to Palembang yesterday that only 714 have been named. "We either haven't got around to naming them or they simply aren't inhabited," he was quoted by Antara as having said. The province of Riau covers an area of 329,868 square kilometers, most of which is water.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Firefighters lack equipment in RP
Firefighters lack equipment in RP PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (Reuters): The Philippines battled yesterday to control forest fires with machetes and shovels, and officials said they expected more outbreaks with the onset of summer. The Department of Foreign Affairs has appealed to the United States and Canada for fire-fighting equipment, including aircraft capable of dousing flames from the air, and Filipino diplomats said they expected to hear from the nations soon.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Dead Indonesian gets PhD in Japan
Dead Indonesian gets PhD in Japan JAKARTA (JP): An Indonesian national has become the first person to get a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Japan after his death. Halwany Microb, an Indonesian education and culture ministry official who died of cancer on July 3 last year, was posthumously conferred his PhD in archeology at Chiba University, Japan, on March 26. The news was conveyed by the university's Professor Nakamura who visited Jakarta on Monday.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
102,000 jobless employed
102,000 jobless employed BOGOR (JP): Labor intensive projects, designed to temporarily provide work for jobless people during the economic crisis, have employed 102,000 workers, an official from the Bogor Mayoralty said yesterday. "At least 1,700 workers have been employed daily," Hari Harsono, the mayoralty spokesman, said. The project, which cost Rp 765 million, has dealt mainly with cleaning and repairing rivers and drains, constructing new roads and planting trees.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mild quake hits Bali
Mild quake hits Bali DENPASAR, Bali: The island of Bali was shaken by a mild earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale yesterday morning. "The quake surprised and frightened residents, but it really wasn't dangerous," Sridadi Budihardjo, an official at the Meterology and Geophysics Agency, said. Antara reported the epicenter of the quake was on the sea floor some 29 km South of Denpasar. The Agency has not received any reports of material damage caused by the earthquake.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
French Guignol to speak for the voiceless in four cities
French Guignol to speak for the voiceless in four cities JAKARTA (JP): French puppet master Guy Baldet is to stage the 190-year-old Guignol puppet show in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Beginning April 2, the comedy marionette show will be staged for five days in Jakarta. On April 7 and April 9, Baldet will perform in Depok, West Java. He will tour Bandung from April 13 to April 18, Yogyakarta, April 20 to April 25, and Surabaya, April 27 to May 2.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
City crime rate on the rise, police say
City crime rate on the rise, police say JAKARTA (JP): The number of larcenies, robberies and burglaries in the capital increased over the first three months of this year and is feared to rise further this month, police said yesterday. City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E. Aritonang said police believed the worsening crime rate was linked to the deepening economic crisis that had resulted in high inflation and soaring unemployment. "But we have yet to prove the assumption," he said.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ministry launches project to counter foreign music
Ministry launches project to counter foreign music JAKARTA (JP): For many, the country's traditional music is being forgotten, losing the battle against invasions of foreign music. Now, even children tend to watch MTV instead of traditional performances aired on television. More people keep records of Madonna, Pearl Jam, or Spice Girls, rather than those of traditional music.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
KL does not recognize migrant asylum appeals
KL does not recognize migrant asylum appeals KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia said yesterday that it considered 14 Indonesians seeking asylum in the UN refugee agency's compound in Kuala Lumpur as illegal immigrants who were to be deported. "Our position is very clear," Foreign Ministry under-secretary for Southeast Asia and South Pacific Mohd Arshad told Reuters by telephone.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
No meetings in hotels
No meetings in hotels SEMARANG, Central Java: Governor Soewardi yesterday issued an order banning all officials in his administration from holding meetings in hotels. "The prohibition is a move to help save money in all sectors", he said, as quoted by Antara. All meetings must now be held in provincial offices or lodges owned by the administration. "The Central Java administration owns a lot of lodges and meeting places.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Japan think tank revises down Asian growth outlook
Japan think tank revises down Asian growth outlook TOKYO (Reuters): The Institute of Developing Economies (IDE), a Japanese think tank, said yesterday it has revised down sharply its growth forecast for the Asian region in calendar 1998. "One of the main reasons for the revision is the prolonged conflict between Indonesia and the IMF (International Monetary Fund) over conditions attached to IMF lending," said Mitsuru Toida, chief economist of Statistical Research Department of the IDE.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Dry spell dogs water stocks
Dry spell dogs water stocks SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's water stocks have fallen due to unusually hot and dry weather and are expected to drop further in the coming dry season, the government said yesterday. The water stock level fell to 73 percent at the end of March from about 85 percent at the end of February, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) said in a statement. Singapore treats water as a particularly precious commodity as it is dependent on imported supplies.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Govt plans to merge 18 state firms
Govt plans to merge 18 state firms JAKARTA (JP): The government is considering merging 18 state companies under the Ministry of Transportation into a handful of firms to improve their performance. A source at the ministry said four port management companies (PT Pelabuhan Indonesia I, II, III and IV) would be merged, while airport management companies PT Angkasa Pura I and II would also become a single entity.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Long-term capital inflows needed to shore up rupiah
Long-term capital inflows needed to shore up rupiah JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia needs policies at the moment that will attract long-term capital inflows in order to shore up the rupiah and revive the dying economy, economist Rizal Ramli and currency market analyst Theo F. Toemion have said.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
OPEC's decision to trim oil production stumbles
OPEC's decision to trim oil production stumbles VIENNA (Agencies): An OPEC decision to trim oil output for the first time in years stumbled yesterday when prices sank despite unprecedented gifts of cuts from other exporters. But the producer club that pumps 40 percent of global output put a brave face on the no confidence vote by predicting a rally when evidence gradually emerges of supply restraint.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film 3:05 Family's Film 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Teen Program: Remaja Indonesia 5:00 Teen Drama: Dunia yang Beda 5:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My Country: Rona Nusantara 6:15 Sports 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 TV Drama: Raport Palsu 8:05 Education Program: Dunia Buku 8:30 News: Laporan Peristiwa 9:00 World News 9:30 TV Drama: Legenda 10:30 Late News 10:40 TV Series Program...
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Price of milk
Price of milk From Pikiran Rakyat My small child was born amid the ailing economy. The prices of virtually all commodities, basic commodities in particular, have risen. Traders seem to be in a rat race to increase their prices. The price of milk, for babies and adults alike, has skyrocketed. In fact, milk is the most essential food for a baby (of course, either formula or mother's milk).
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
A new approach?
A new approach? The step taken by the Armed Forces (ABRI) chief of sociopolitical affairs, Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to hold a dialog with intellectuals in Yogyakarta deserves to be welcomed. It seems that ABRI is serious in its intention to approach the social and political difficulties prevailing in this country by holding dialogs -- an approach which is expected to yield good results.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
No hike in fuel prices in near future: Govt
No hike in fuel prices in near future: Govt JAKARTA (JP): The government will not increase fuel prices today, as outlined in the IMF-brokered reform package signed on Jan. 15, and is likely to maintain fuel subsidies for some time to curb the spiraling inflation rate and prevent possible social unrest. Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier said yesterday that the government would not raise fuel prices in the foreseeable future.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
ABRI denies involvement in activists' disappearance
ABRI denies involvement in activists' disappearance JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) headquarters yesterday dismissed allegations that the military were behind the recent disappearance of a number of activists. ABRI spokesman Brig. Gen. A. Wahab Mokodongan said the allegations were groundless. "How can people say that ABRI are behind the disappearances when our personnel have painstakingly searched high and low for the missing individuals?" he asked journalists.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Job description of new cabinet announced
Job description of new cabinet announced JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto issued a decree yesterday defining the positions, basic functions and organizational structure of his 36-strong cabinet, in a bid to avoid overlapping tasks. Coordinating Minister for Development Supervision and State Administrative Reforms Hartarto Sastrosoenarto said the President had clarified all possible confusion and conflict caused by the creation of some new posts in the 1998/2003 cabinet.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Aussie, RI seal research deal
Aussie, RI seal research deal CANBERRA (Dow Jones): An Australian government scientific and research agency will conduct research on minerals exploration and mining with its Indonesian counterpart under a new agreement, CSIRO Australia said yesterday. The agreement will provide the framework for research on minerals and coal exploration, and mining and environmental management in tropical terrains.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia may keep oil product imports down
Indonesia may keep oil product imports down SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia is not expected to step up spot gas oil and jet fuel purchases despite its failure to renew a one-year term contract with Kuwait Petroleum Corp (KPC) which expired in March, industry sources said yesterday. "I really don't think they will be buying more, I have not seen them (in the spot market)," a trader, with a western oil company which is a regular supplier into Indonesia, said.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Court rejects Ratna's lawsuit against police
Court rejects Ratna's lawsuit against police JAKARTA (JP): North Jakarta District Court rejected lawsuits filed against the police by stage actress Ratna Sarumpaet and five other people for alleged illegal arrest and detention during a hearing yesterday. Judges said the plaintiffs' arrest and detention was legal and dismissed the late issue of the necessary warrants as an insignificant administrative triviality.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Dharmala sees higher income
Dharmala sees higher income JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Dharmala Insurance expects a 17 percent increase in gross premium income this year from Rp 145 billion (US$16.86 million) last year, the company has said. Director M. Mulyatno said Monday the rupiah's depreciation against the dollar had increased the value of the insured amount and thus the gross premium had increased.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hashimoto eying ASEM gains
Hashimoto eying ASEM gains By Linda Sieg TOKYO (Reuters): The promise of a record big stimulus package and some diplomatic goodwill from his visit to Indonesia could smooth the way for Japan Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto at an Asian-European summit this week.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Government to provide more incentives to boost investment
Government to provide more incentives to boost investment JAKARTA (JP): The government is to provide more incentives for investors in a bid to boost new investment projects this year, it was revealed yesterday. State Minister of Investment Sanyoto Sastrowardoyo said that offering new incentives was increasingly important to give a breathing space for private companies severely hit by the ongoing economic turmoil.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Experts call for limitation of presidential term
Experts call for limitation of presidential term JAKARTA (JP): Senior political scientists and law experts openly requested a limit to the number of terms for which a person can hold the office of president and called for a revision of the 1945 Constitution to accommodate the move. Speaking at a symposium on the reform of state institutions at the University of Indonesia in Depok, south of Jakarta, yesterday, Harun Alrasyid, Ismail Sunny and Miriam Budiardjo all gave their support to the idea.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia, IMF reach reasonable conclusion: Neiss
Indonesia, IMF reach reasonable conclusion: Neiss JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have come to a reasonable conclusion in reviewing the country's monetary policy, the IMF Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss said yesterday. Neiss declined to give details, saying that overall discussions have not yet finished. However, a government official who attended the meeting indicated that a strict, high interest rate regime would be used to stabilize the ailing rupiah.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI Asiad team to fly on military cargo plane
RI Asiad team to fly on military cargo plane JAKARTA (JP): The government announced the first part of its package to help the Asian Games team yesterday when it said the Air Force had promised to transport the country's 200-member contingent to Thailand on a Hercules military cargo aircraft. State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono said the Air Force would fly the Indonesian team to Bangkok for free.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia likely to be a dominant issue at ASEM
Indonesia likely to be a dominant issue at ASEM By K. Basrie LONDON (JP): Indonesia's economic crisis will be a major topic at the 2nd Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which begins here tomorrow, a British foreign office spokesman has said. Indonesia "will be a dominant issue" in the April 2 to April 4 ASEM 2 talks, M.H.P. Hill, head of the Southeast Asia Department, told The Jakarta Post in his office.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
RI cocoa output predicted to increase
RI cocoa output predicted to increase PANAMA CITY (Reuters): Indonesia's annual cocoa production could reach as much as 500,000 tons by the year 2005, cocoa experts said on Monday. "Indonesia's cocoa production should steadily increase over the coming years," Francois Ruf, who tracks trends around the world for France's CIRAD crop agency, told Reuters.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
'Consult locals please'
'Consult locals please' SEMARANG, Central Java: About half of the 216 registered consultancy firms in Central Java have gone bankrupt, an association official said yesterday. "Half of those that are still in business have had to streamline themselves to survive, while the remainder are in a static condition," Soenandar, head of the Central Java branch of the Indonesian Consultancies Association, said.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Army Academy ready to greet female cadets
Army Academy ready to greet female cadets By Ridwan Max Sijabat MAGELANG, Central Java (JP): The Army is to introduce changes at it's prestigious Army Academy in order to produce professional cadets who are ready for action, an officer said. Deputy Governor of the academy Brig. Gen. Irvan Edison said recently that changes would cover recruitment procedures, curriculum material, education strategy and even lecturers.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
No breakthroughs in maritime talks
No breakthroughs in maritime talks HANOI (AFP): Talks between Vietnam and China on maritime limits in the Gulf of Tonkin have ended without any breakthroughs but were considered productive, a Vietnamese official said yesterday. A member of Vietnam's Marine Affairs Department of the National Border Committee and Continental Shelf Committee close to the talks said the two sides "are always making progress".
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Premier Hashimoto plans talks with Zhu in London
Premier Hashimoto plans talks with Zhu in London TOKYO (AFP): Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto plans to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Zhu Rongji in London this week, officials said yesterday. Officials were seeking to schedule talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) starting tomorrow, a foreign ministry official said, adding that a date had yet to be set. Kyodo News agency said Hashimoto and Zhu would meet tomorrow before joining the ASEM talks.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Tax revenue target for non-oil sectors exceeded
Tax revenue target for non-oil sectors exceeded JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier estimated that government tax revenues from non-oil sectors for the 1997/1998 fiscal year ending yesterday totaled Rp 62.42 trillion, or 11 percent higher than the Rp 56.14 trillion budget target. The minister, who is also the director general of taxation, said the higher-than-projected tax revenues were due to larger income tax receipts accrued from bank depositors profiting from high interest rates.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hoodlums reign again in Tanah Abang market
Hoodlums reign again in Tanah Abang market JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has vowed to crack down on a new gang of hoodlums that have reportedly been extorting money from traders in the Tanah Abang market, Central Jakarta. Reports of the presence of hoodlums in the textile and garment wholesale market come barely four months after the place was last cleared of criminal gangs.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Medical services on dengue
Medical services on dengue TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang General Hospital is offering free medical services to dengue fever victims who cannot afford to pay for treatment, a hospital official said. Syartil Arfan, a hospital director, said on Monday that the provision had been made in consideration of the fact that medical treatment for the disease was very expensive. He said three out of 47 patients treated for the disease at the hospital over the last seven days had died.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto openly laments people's suffering
Soeharto openly laments people's suffering JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto openly lamented the growing torment and increased poverty faced by the people due to the economic crisis which has become so bad that even some mothers cannot afford to buy milk for their children. But Soeharto avowed that the nation would persevere as it has many times in the past. "We are a nation of fighters who do not bow in the face of challenges...
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Students say no to dialog with ABRI
Students say no to dialog with ABRI JAKARTA (JP): Students from the country's top universities have snubbed the offer of a meeting with Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto and several cabinet ministers which was planned for Saturday. Students expressed concern that the format for the dialog had been prearranged by the military and pro-government groups.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Wood-processing industries face log supply shortage
Wood-processing industries face log supply shortage JAKARTA (JP): Wood-processing industries will face a log supply shortage of at least 14.5 million cubic meters per year over the next five years due to forest fires, a forestry official said yesterday. Director General of Forest Utilization Titus Sarijanto said the fires, which mainly affected log producers in Kalimantan and Sumatra last year and over the past few months, would significantly decrease the country's log production.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia braces for tough Thomas, Uber Cup fights
Indonesia braces for tough Thomas, Uber Cup fights JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia may have to settle for semifinal places in both the Thomas Cup and Uber Cup badminton championship finals in Hong Kong next May, a coach predicted yesterday after tournament drawings placed teams into competition groups. Christian Hadinata, former badminton great, admitted yesterday that Indonesia would enter the world men's and women's team competition as underdogs despite the fact that they were defending champions.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Spotlight
Spotlight Photo A: Medal French Embassy MEDAL OF MERIT: French Ambassador Gerard Cros (right) presents a medal of merit, Chevalier dans l'Ordre Nationale du Merite, to Buly Oskar Suryaatmadja, former deputy of international relations at the National Development Planning Board. The medal was presented March 24 at the ambassador's residence in Jakarta.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bad times dog Thai sugarcane farmers due to El Nino
Bad times dog Thai sugarcane farmers due to El Nino By Anchalee Koetsawang SUPHAN BURI, Thailand (Reuters): El Nino is an alien word to Thai sugarcane farmer Panya Chankongsuwan but the catastrophic effect of the disruptive weather phenomenon on his crops is something he is very familiar with. A severe El Nino-induced drought, which gripped Thailand last year, devastated his crops and slashed the plantation's sugarcane output to its lowest level ever.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bakrie forms trading holding
Bakrie forms trading holding JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed PT Bakrie Sumatra Plantations approved yesterday the company's plan to inject all of its trading firms into Lewis & Peat (Rubber) Holdings Pte Ltd. Bakrie Sumatra said it currently controlled 75 percent of the Singapore-based Lewis & Peat (Rubber) Holdings and that Enner Latex LLC of Hong Kong owned the remaining 25 percent.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Military to crack down on blood 'merchants'
Military to crack down on blood 'merchants' JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin threatened yesterday to punish scalpers who exploited blood donors to rake in quick profits. He said the scalpers would buy blood directly from donors, who are generally poor, and then sell it at much higher prices to people who badly needed it.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
53 people unable to perform haj
53 people unable to perform haj TANGERANG (JP): Fifty three people planning to perform their haj pilgrimage to Mecca this year have been informed that they cannot go even though they had paid Rp 9 million each to pilgrimage coordinator RA Afandi. "We don't know why we can't go because we haven't gotten any information from the coordinator," Enah, one of the would-be pilgrims, said Monday. Enah said she and the other 52 were told last week that they would be unable to depart for their pilgrimage.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto still loved by the people: ABRI
Soeharto still loved by the people: ABRI JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) dismissed suggestions yesterday that President Soeharto had lost the people's confidence because of the ongoing monetary crisis. ABRI spokesman Brig. Gen. A.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Dili can't confirm death of Santana
Dili can't confirm death of Santana JAKARTA (JP): Military officials in Dili, East Timor said yesterday it could not confirm reports that Fretilin separatist leader Coni Santana had died in a car accident because his body has not been found. "Until today, we have not received any report on the car accident that supposedly killed Santana on March 11," Dili military spokesman Col. J. Surya Prabowo, said as quoted by Antara. Prabowo said he believes the reports are merely rumors.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asia-Pacific may lose up to 12 million tourists
Asia-Pacific may lose up to 12 million tourists MANILA (AFP): Asia-Pacific tourist spots can wave goodbye to up to 12 million tourists annually over the next three years amid the regional economic crisis, a World Tourism Organization (WTO) official predicted here yesterday.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
No deal on new aid for RI
No deal on new aid for RI TOKYO (Dow Jones): A senior Japanese finance ministry official said yesterday that no deals had been reached yet on either the Indonesia corporate debt problem or to restart the US$43 billion aid program between Indonesia and the International Monetary Fund.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Worse over, except Indonesia
Worse over, except Indonesia CHICAGO (Reuters): The worst may be over for most Asian economies with the exception of Indonesia, according to P. Jan Kalff, chairman of the board of managing directors for the Dutch bank holding company ABN AMRO Holding NV. "I think you have seen the worst of it for almost all countries except one -- Indonesia," Kalff told reporters Monday in Chicago.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Asian markets end mixed as Japan readies for reform
Asian markets end mixed as Japan readies for reform TOKYO (AFP): Asian markets closed mixed yesterday as Japan readied for its Big Bang financial reforms to kick in with high hopes that they would boost the world's second biggest economy. Japanese share prices closed 1.6 percent higher as public funds were injected to lift the market on the final day of the current fiscal year, Tokyo-based brokers said.
Wed, 01 Apr 1998, 00:00 WIB
Gambling, not confidence
Gambling, not confidence So, a bunch of foreign investors, especially large fund managers, are strongly interested in buying shares in the country's publicly listed companies, which, as our esteemed minister of finance refers to as "this strong interest indicates their continuing confidence in Indonesia" (The Jakarta Post, March 31). How's that for pure, unmitigated twaddle! It's nothing but speculation, period.