Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 16 April 1998

49 articles found

Foreign lawyers' illegal practice?

Foreign lawyers' illegal practice? Police questioned recently a number of expatriates who allegedly practice as counsels/lawyers through a limited liability company (PT).This investigation should be praised and receive support from all Indonesian lawyers.

Govt vows to lift CPO ban on time

Govt vows to lift CPO ban on time JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said yesterday it had been assured by the government that the export ban on crude palm oil (CPO) and its derivatives would be removed April 22 as agreed to in the latest reform package announced last week.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on April 15, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,250.00 8,750.00Austrian shilling 1 565.50 677.60Australian dollar 1 4,790.40 5,370.80Belgian franc 1 199.90 222.90Canadian dollar 1 5,188.

Macquarie cancels RI plan

Macquarie cancels RI plan SYDNEY (Dow Jones): Australia's Macquarie Bank Ltd. said yesterday it has canceled a joint venture with PT Bank Private Development Finance Company of Indonesia (PDFCI).The move comes after the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Authority (IBRA) took control of Bank PDFCI's...

Cue cancels Saga deal

Cue cancels Saga deal OSLO (Reuters): Saga Petroleum ASA said yesterday that Cue Energy Resources NL of New Zealand had pulled out of a deal to buy Saga's 50 percent stake in the Jambi Merang oil prospect in Indonesia.

Collision kills 13 in Kutai

Collision kills 13 in Kutai SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Thirteen people were killed and three others injured when two trucks collided in a dusty road near Separi Besar village, Kutai district, East Kalimantan late Monday afternoon.

Workers take grievances to rights commission

Workers take grievances to rights commission JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of workers from three Jakarta-based companies protested their dismissals to the National Commission on Human Rights yesterday.Workers of PT Yota Megah, Bouraq Airlines and PT Masindo Multimedia told commission members they had been...

Minister turned off by gory TV programs

Minister turned off by gory TV programs JAKARTA (JP): Private television stations were reminded yesterday of their role as a medium to foster unity and educate the public, and were told not to dramatize news reports with graphic footage.

Refiners must be efficient: Kuntoro

Refiners must be efficient: Kuntoro JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto has urged state oil and gas firm Pertamina to improve efficiency at its refineries to offset the government's planned move to cut fuel subsidies.

Puncak Jaya a herbal haven

Puncak Jaya a herbal haven JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: At least 45 kinds of medicinal herbs have been found at the natural reserve of Puncak Jaya mountain here by the researchers of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI).

Govt expects to raise Rp 15t from privatization

Govt expects to raise Rp 15t from privatization JAKARTA (JP): The government projects it will raise Rp 15 trillion (US$1.87 billion) from its divestment in 12 state companies during the 1998/1999 fiscal year, a senior official said yesterday.

Dairy farmers' output drops

Dairy farmers' output drops PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): At least 500 dairy farmers in Purwokerto, a dairy center in Central Java, are experiencing declining output due to increasing feedmeal prices.The chairman of the Pesat dairy cooperative, Siswadi, said that milk produced by the farmers' cows...

SPP suspends RI operations

SPP suspends RI operations SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's construction-based SPP Ltd said yesterday its Indonesian subsidiary plunged into the red in the second half of last year and it had suspended operations in the country.

U.S. hopes Indonesia will impose IMF reforms

U.S. hopes Indonesia will impose IMF reforms JAKARTA (JP): United States Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth expressed hope yesterday that Indonesia would consistently implement its pledge to see through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reforms.

Concerns over reform drag down rupiah again

Concerns over reform drag down rupiah again JAKARTA (JP): The crippled rupiah fell for the second consecutive day yesterday on market apprehension over the country's commitment to thoroughly implementing the revised reforms, currency dealers said.The rupiah, which opened at 7,700/7,800, closed 2.

Murder suspect 'fully' sane

Murder suspect 'fully' sane JAKARTA (JP): A psychological test completed Monday on the suspect in a triple murder investigation in Jagakarsa showed that he was fully sane, according to the police.City Police spokesman Lt. Col. E.

Tangerang gives IMF new meaning

Tangerang gives IMF new meaning TANGERANG (JP): Although remaining popular for bailing Indonesia out of its economic abyss, the IMF has a new meaning in the mayoralty.Bureaucrats and impoverished citizens have jestingly used the acronym to stand for Irit, Murah, Faedah (economical, cheap, useful),...

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 15, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 650 0 0 AHAP Insurance 500 0 0 Alter Abadi 1,100 175 77,500 Alumindo Light Metal 425 0 125,500...

Waiter tried for keeping Ecstasy

Waiter tried for keeping Ecstasy JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked West Jakarta District Court yesterday to sentence a discotheque waiter to four years in prison and fine him Rp 150 million (US$19,700) for possessing 12 Ecstasy pills.

E. Timor bishops leave for Vatican

E. Timor bishops leave for Vatican DILI, East Timor: Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo and Bishop Basilio do Nascimento, of the Dili and Baucau dioceses respectively, will attend an Asian bishop conference in Vatican City from April 18 to April 30, Antara reported yesterday.

USAID to donate 30,700 tons

USAID to donate 30,700 tons WASHINGTON (Reuters): The U.S. Agency for International Development will donate 30,700 tons of rice and 1,040 tons of a wheat/soy blend to Indonesia under title II of the PL-480 program, a USAID spokeswoman said Tuesday.The rice is valued at about US$15.

Soeharto tells students to study

Soeharto tells students to study JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto called on Indonesian students yesterday to return to class and develop their competitiveness in order to face the future.Soeharto also said that university campuses should return to their original function as learning institutions.

Five plantation companies ready to go public: Minister

Five plantation companies ready to go public: Minister PARUNG PANJANG, West Java (JP): Shares in five state plantations companies are to be floated on stock exchanges this year, Minister of Forestry and Plantations Sumahadi said yesterday.

NU urges ABRI to join reform movement

NU urges ABRI to join reform movement JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Moslem social organization, called on the Armed Forces (ABRI) yesterday to join the growing movement for political reforms.

Why Australia matters to Indonesia

Why Australia matters to IndonesiaBy Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): Wise people say that you only know your friends when you are going through bad times. And true friends, it is fair to say, do not make a song and dance about what they do to assist you.

Govt cannot wash its hands of missing people

Govt cannot wash its hands of missing people The fate of several missing people, most of whom are government critics and student activists, remains a mystery, even though some disappeared a year ago. Corporate lawyer and human rights activist Mulya Lubis shares his view on what should be done.

UN official says E. Kalimantan fires are 'big disaster'

UN official says E. Kalimantan fires are 'big disaster' JAKARTA (JP): At least 10,000 firefighters and significant international support would be needed to extinguish East Kalimantan's raging forest fires, according to United Nations officials who have described the situation as "a very, very big...

JSX gets new commissioner

JSX gets new commissioner JAKARTA (JP): The general shareholder meeting of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) appointed yesterday Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas, president of publicly listed PT Tambang Timah, their new chief commissioner to replace Fuad Bawazier, currently minister of finance.

The voice of the future

The voice of the future Antigovernment student demonstrations are spreading to more campuses in more cities. The young people appear to have won more ears and hearts among the public, who are finding their demands for political and economic reforms legitimate.

Suspension of banks

Suspension of banks Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier announced on April 4, the suspension of seven banks and another seven banks placed under the supervision of the Indonesian Banking Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

RI's foreign debts $133.7b in January

RI's foreign debts $133.7b in January JAKARTA (JP): The nation's foreign obligations dropped to US$133.7 billion as of the end of January, down from $136.1 billion in December last year, Bank Indonesia (BI) reported yesterday.BI said the January debt position was based on the latest data.

Megawati plans own congress in December

Megawati plans own congress in December JAKARTA (JP): The ousted leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Megawati Soekarnoputri, said yesterday she would not attend the party congress planned by rival faction leader Soerjadi in June, and would hold her own in December.

Pakistani national tried for selling heroin

Pakistani national tried for selling heroin JAKARTA (JP): A 46-year-old Pakistani man was indicted at West Jakarta District Court yesterday for selling 70 grams of heroin at the immigration office's quarantine center.

KL quiets tensions with interfaith body

KL quiets tensions with interfaith body JAKARTA (JP): A Malaysian scholar believes his ethnically and religiously diverse country has escaped major religious conflicts in the last hundred years because rumblings of discord are handled in their early stages.Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr.

A solution to the monetary crisis

A solution to the monetary crisisFrom Suara KaryaThe monetary crisis is showing no signs of going away. Life is becoming more and more difficult for the majority of us, although the well-off and business tycoons can still afford to eat meat and play golf or tennis every day.

Bekasi ponders new bus terminal

Bekasi ponders new bus terminal BEKASI (JP): The local administration is considering building another bus terminal because the existing one can no longer accommodate the increasing number of buses."We are studying all relevant aspects," Mayor Nonon Sonthanie said here Tuesday.

Eliminate corrupt mentality

Eliminate corrupt mentalityFrom MerdekaA clean government that commands respect must be created without delay because the Indonesian people, who have a deep moral and ethical sense, have long dreamed of having one.

RI backs Australia for ASEM membership

RI backs Australia for ASEM membership JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas reaffirmed yesterday Indonesia's support for Australia's admission to the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM)."I think it is important for me to state once again that such a perception (that Indonesia does not...

Officers learn on the English language beat

Officers learn on the English language beat JAKARTA (JP): The Police Language School (Sebasa) held an English speech contest here Tuesday in an effort to help officers polish their language skills.The school's head, Col.

Garuda offers delivery service

Garuda offers delivery service JAKARTA (JP): National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia launched an express delivery service to 10 major cities across the country and Singapore.The firm's commercial director, Sudarso Kaderi, said Garuda Express Delivery would emphasize "speed, accuracy and customers'...

'La Nina' looms for Philippines

'La Nina' looms for Philippines MANILA (AP): The Philippines, still reeling from the effects of a severe drought caused by the El Nino weather phenomenon, is now bracing for floods from a La Nina that may follow, officials said yesterday.

Students want rector to resign

Students want rector to resign TANGERANG (JP): Syech Yusuf Islamic University's 32nd anniversary reception ended in chaos Tuesday night when hundreds of students staged a surprise demonstration demanding their rector's resignation.

IMF confident latest plan will work

IMF confident latest plan will work WASHINGTON (Reuters): International Monetary Fund chief Michel Camdessus said on Tuesday he was confident the latest rescue package for Indonesia would work and rejected criticism of the IMF's approach to Jakarta's problems.

Local rider wins Tour stage

Local rider wins Tour stage CEBU, Philippines (AP): Filipino Virgilio Durain pushed hard in the last 100 meters yesterday to narrowly win a four-kilometer (2.5-mile) prologue to the 2,494-kilometer (1,558-mile) Tour of the Philippines.

Asian markets mostly down ahead of G-7 meeting

Asian markets mostly down ahead of G-7 meeting HONG KONG (AP): Most Asian markets closed lower yesterday prior to a meeting of world finance ministers, with Malaysia's key index tumbling three percent on company liquidation fears.Kuala Lumpur's benchmark Composite Index fell 20.

Students intensify pressure for reforms

Students intensify pressure for reforms JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of students kept up their demands for reforms and lower prices of basic commodities yesterday in on- campus rallies organized concurrently at dozens of universities.

Thai holiday toll at 70 deaths

Thai holiday toll at 70 deaths BANGKOK (AP): Road accidents in Thailand during the five-day Buddhist New Year's holiday have killed 70 people so far, highway police said yesterday.During the holiday, many Thais who work in Bangkok travel back to their ancestral homes in the provinces, jamming roads...

West Jakarta fires leave 1,500 homeless

West Jakarta fires leave 1,500 homeless JAKARTA (JP): Fires in Tomang and Krukut, West Jakarta, destroyed more than 140 houses yesterday, leaving about 1,500 people homeless, firefighters said.No injuries were reported in either incident and estimates on the value of material loss were not...

50% of city bus, minibus fleets 'off the streets'

50% of city bus, minibus fleets 'off the streets' JAKARTA (JP): About 50 percent of the city's more than 10,000 buses and minibuses cannot operate on the streets due to the impact of the current monetary crisis, a City Land Transportation Agency official said yesterday.