Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 3 April 1998

62 articles found

Court rejects lawsuit filed against police

Court rejects lawsuit filed against police JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta District Court predictably rejected lawsuits filed by 57 Megawati Soekarnoputri supporters against Jakarta Police Chief Maj. Hamami Nata over their detention yesterday.

Govt raises rice price to increase farmers' income

Govt raises rice price to increase farmers' income JAKARTA (JP): The government announced yesterday a 17 percent increase in the producer floor price of unhusked rice to Rp 700 (about 8 U.S. cents) per kilogram from Rp 600 to increase farmers' incomes.

Father Sandyawan hospitalized

Father Sandyawan hospitalized JAKARTA (JP): Ignatius Sandyawan Sumardi, a Catholic priest recently cleared of charges for harboring political fugitives, has been admitted to a hospital for dengue fever, sources close to him said yesterday.Sandyawan was admitted to St.

Total sells Tuban stake

Total sells Tuban stake PARIS (Reuters): French energy group Total said yesterday it had agreed to sell its 12.5 percent stake in the Tuban permit in Indonesia to Santa Fe Energy of the United States, as part of a strategy of selling non-core assets.

Foreign lawyers questioned

Foreign lawyers questioned JAKARTA (JP): National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said yesterday that officers had questioned several foreign lawyers over alleged unauthorized practices here.But he declined to disclose the exact number of foreign lawyers, or the regulations or laws the...

Putting racial reconciliation on the agenda

Putting racial reconciliation on the agendaBy Johannes Nugroho SURABAYA (JP): The inauguration of the seventh Development Cabinet by President Soeharto was preceded by an enthusiastic if slightly self-controlled period of name dropping for the cabinet lineup.

Getting out of crisis

Getting out of crisisFrom NeracaA lot has been done to alleviate the community's plight in coping with the economic crisis. The latest trend is providing free meals at certain food stalls to people in the lower income brackets who have lost their jobs because of the crisis.

Proton price cut no joke

Proton price cut no joke KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's national car distributor stressed yesterday that its April 1 announcement of a one-third cut in the price of a Proton model was no April Fool's day joke.Edaran Otomobil Nasional spokesman T.

Most blue chip shares lose ground in JSX

Most blue chip shares lose ground in JSX JAKARTA (JP): Stock trading at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) remained under selling pressure yesterday, with most blue chip shares losing ground in moderate trade, brokers said.

FedEx's Jakarta flight

FedEx's Jakarta flight HONG KONG (Reuters): Federal Express Corp (FedEx) said yesterday it would introduce new Asian and trans-Pacific flights to provide new services to shippers in Jakarta and in Cebu in the Philippines.

Inflation exceeds 25 percent for first quarter

Inflation exceeds 25 percent for first quarter JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's inflation rate soared to 25.13 percent in the first quarter of 1998, with month-on-month inflation rising 5.49 percent in March, the Central Bureau of Statistics said yesterday.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film 3:05 Children's Program: Tunas 3:30 Village Program 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Performance: Sendratari Dewi Sakuntala 5:00 Music: Paket 27 5:30 Education Quiz: Cepat Tepat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 News: Rona Nusantara 6:15...

Malaysian found dead

Malaysian found dead JAKARTA (JP): A Malaysian man was found dead in an alley off Jl. Kebon Sirih Barat, Central Jakarta, yesterday.It is suspected he died of a drug overdose.A Menteng Police subprecinct officer, who requested anonymity, said the victim had been identified as Mohd. Roslan, 45.

Navy gives scholarships

Navy gives scholarships BOGOR (JP): Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Arief Kushariadi handed over yesterday 200 scholarships to students at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB).Each student who was given a scholarship gets Rp 100,000 per month for five years.

Ailing plantation firms face two-year deadline

Ailing plantation firms face two-year deadline JAKARTA (JP): Ministry of Forestry and Plantations Sumahadi said yesterday that poorly managed state plantation firms would be given two years to improve their performance or face merger or liquidation.

Unocal provides scholarships

Unocal provides scholarships JAKARTA (JP): American energy company Unocal Corporation is to provide up to US$1 million in scholarships for Southeast Asian students to study petroleum and related disciplines at the Colorado School of Mines (CSM).

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 2, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 650 0 0 AHAP Insurance 500 0 0 Alter Abadi 825 150 56,500 Alumindo Light Metal 425 25 145,000 Alumindo...

Lonsum has new president

Lonsum has new president JAKARTA (JP): Publicly-listed plantation company PT PP London Sumatra (Lonsum) Indonesia has appointed Muhammad Akib as temporary president to replace Geoff Brown, the company said yesterday.

Government lowers this year's tourist arrivals target

Government lowers this year's tourist arrivals target JAKARTA (JP): The government has revised down its foreign tourist arrivals target for this year about 15 percent to 5.5 million from the initial projection of 6.5 million.

Culture of resignation

Culture of resignationFrom Media IndonesiaIn keeping with progress and globalization, ethical behavior as well as the quality of human resources needs to be improved. Professionalism needs to be complemented with good ethics, openness, creativity and integrity.

Aussies keep tariff barrier on RI copy paper

Aussies keep tariff barrier on RI copy paper CANBERRA (Dow Jones): The Australian government yesterday said it will keep price restrictions on imports of A-4 copy paper from Indonesian company PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia.

88 injured in student demonstrations

88 injured in student demonstrations YOGYAKARTA (JP): The continuing wave of student protests reached new heights yesterday when thousands of youths tried to march off their campuses here and clashed with security personnel, leaving 88 injured.

No fresh orders for many ad agencies

No fresh orders for many ad agencies JAKARTA (JP): The economic crisis has severely wounded Indonesia's advertising industry, with some ad agencies receiving no fresh orders in the past three months, analysts said yesterday.

RI, IMF agree on new targets

RI, IMF agree on new targets JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed on new economic targets and a more gradual reduction of subsidies for basic commodities, government sources said yesterday.

Food relief yet to reach famine victims in Irian Jaya

Food relief yet to reach famine victims in Irian Jaya JAKARTA (JP): Amid fresh reports of food shortages in East Kalimantan, hundreds of boxes of food relief for famine victims in Puncak Jaya, Irian Jaya, are sitting in storage due to a poor distribution system.

Orangutans get helping hand

Orangutans get helping hand SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The Samboja Forest Research Center here has rescued several orangutans trapped in the Sangatta forest area in Kutai district.The head of the research center, Adi Susilo, said yesterday that the orangutans were believed to have come from Kutai...

Fair to feature education expo

Fair to feature education expo JAKARTA (JP): The upcoming Jakarta Fair will, for the first time ever, feature a large education exhibition aimed at luring rich Indonesian students to study at local schools and universities.

Taboo: Talking about it rather than doing it

Taboo: Talking about it rather than doing it MEGAMENDUNG, Bogor (JP): The quiet wooden grandeur of the Sadaparibhuta Vihara did nothing to absorb the muffled murmurings of some of the 700 people seated in the temple.

Laelae islanders refuse to move

Laelae islanders refuse to move UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: About 200 families on Laelae island have refused to move after the provincial administration leased the island to ALatieF Corp. which plans to develop it into a tourist resort.

Deutsche Bank cuts back loan exposure

Deutsche Bank cuts back loan exposure FRANKFURT (Reuters): Deutsche Bank has cut back its loan exposure to problem countries in South-east Asia by almost two billion marks, a Deutsche management board member said yesterday.

Thai army opens bases for tourists

Thai army opens bases for tourists BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand's cash-strapped army announced a plan yesterday to open up its bases around the country to tourists in an effort to raise much-needed money.Army commander Chettha Thanajaro said in a statement that the army would open some of its camps up...

VP candidate in helicopter mishap

VP candidate in helicopter mishap MANILA (AFP): A helicopter carrying leading vice-presidential candidate, Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, made an emergency landing in the central Philippines yesterday. Arroyo was unhurt, aides said.

Stranded Indian ship towed to port

Stranded Indian ship towed to port BANDAR LAMPUNG: An Indian cargo vessel which became stranded near Tegal island, Lampung Bay on Friday, has been tugged to Panjang Port near here.It took four tug boats about four hours to tow the ship, Nand Shristi, Monday.

Minister Juwono blames timber estates for forest fires

Minister Juwono blames timber estates for forest fires JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Environment Juwono Sudarsono said yesterday that timber estates were responsible for about 65 percent of the current forest fires in East Kalimantan.

Moeloek calls high maternal mortality rate a 'tragedy'

Moeloek calls high maternal mortality rate a 'tragedy' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Farid Anfasa Moeloek, describing Indonesia's average of 385 women dying in labor every week "a tragedy", called for concerted efforts to reduce the maternal mortality rate.

Ex-cemetery to be used for farming

Ex-cemetery to be used for farming JAKARTA (JP): City councilors urged the municipality yesterday to use the idle land in former Blok P cemetery, South Jakarta, for farming until the nation recovers from its economic woes.

Fuad says state firms must be profit-oriented

Fuad says state firms must be profit-oriented JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Fuad Bawazier has issued guidelines to help state firms draft budgets and long-term plans which are more orientated toward accumulating profits and improving shareholder value.

Foundation donates Rp 500m to help the poor

Foundation donates Rp 500m to help the poor JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians of Chinese descent showed their compassion and solidarity with those worst hit by the monetary crisis when they donated Rp 500 million (US$58,824) to the Ministry of Social Affairs yesterday.

CPO smuggling rife again: Hasan

CPO smuggling rife again: Hasan JAKARTA (JP): Concerns about the smuggling of crude palm oil (CPO) out of the country have arisen again amid the government's decision to maintain the export ban which was originally due to be lifted on April 1.

Oil prices in budget optimistic: Analysts

Oil prices in budget optimistic: Analysts SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia's one dollar cut in the oil price used in the budget leaves it at a still optimistic level when oil revenues are likely to be hit anyway, analysts said yesterday.

Antipollution campaign starts at Hard Rock Cafe

Antipollution campaign starts at Hard Rock Cafe JAKARTA (JP): Concerts dedicated to a campaign stressing the benefits of unleaded fuel began Monday night at the Hard Rock Cafe amid uncertainty as to when leaded fuel will be banned here.

Streamlining the bureaucracy

Streamlining the bureaucracy According to Minister of Industry and Trade Mohamad "Bob" Hasan, the government intends to revamp port bureaucracies in order to facilitate import and export procedures."Red tape at ports must be eliminated.

U.S. must act quickly to help SE Asia: Envoy

U.S. must act quickly to help SE Asia: Envoy SINGAPORE (AFP): The United States must act quickly to help Southeast Asia out of economic turmoil because the region's potential for growth was still strong, U.S. ambassador Steven Green said yesterday.

Six indicted for kidnapping tycoon

Six indicted for kidnapping tycoon JAKARTA (JP): Six men were indicted at South Jakarta District Court yesterday for kidnapping the major shareholder of Bank Dagang Nasional Indonesia (BDNI) and extorting Rp 15 billion (US$1.7 million) from him.

Tokyo slump drags Asian bourses down

Tokyo slump drags Asian bourses down TOKYO (AFP): Japanese share prices led a regionwide fall yesterday, with the key index suffering the largest decline this year after the release of a weak "Tankan" business confidence survey.Singapore lost 2.

SilkAir flight drifts on landing

SilkAir flight drifts on landing SINGAPORE (AP): A SilkAir flight from Phuket, Thailand, drifted toward the edge of the runway when it landed at Singapore's Changi Airport yesterday, television reported.No injuries were reported.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on April 2, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,000.00 9,500.00Austrian shilling 1 576.50 742.20Australian dollar 1 5,077.80 6,119.40Belgian franc 1 203.60 244.30Canadian dollar 1 5,485.

Centralized training for Asiad delayed

Centralized training for Asiad delayed JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's medal-winning in the Asian Games this December may fall below expectation because some sports organizations failed to kick off their respective centralized training program on schedule, a sports official warned yesterday.

Strong earthquake hits West Sumatra

Strong earthquake hits West Sumatra JAKARTA (JP): An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the open-ended Richter scale rocked West Sumatra towns early yesterday morning, jolting residents awake and prompting them to flee in panic.There were no reports of casualties as of late last night.

YLBHI sets up post to trace missing activists

YLBHI sets up post to trace missing activists JAKARTA (JP): With the number of missing activists increasing, the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) yesterday set up a monitoring post to help trace their whereabouts.

IMF is not a good Samaritan (2)

IMF is not a good Samaritan (2)By T.J. Addati This is the second of two articles on the role of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in the global economy. JAKARTA (JP): In all fairness to these institutions, there is one important respect in which countries may appear to be...

News on Indonesia

News on IndonesiaFrom KompasIt has gradually dawned on me that the foreign media's method and style of reporting on Indonesia still reflect the prejudices and superiority of the old days vis-a-vis a developing nation. Exaggeration also characterizes those foreign reports.

Portuguese premier seeks meeting with VP Habibie

Portuguese premier seeks meeting with VP Habibie LISBON, Portugal (AP): Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres has proposed meeting with Indonesian Vice President B.J. Habibie this week to discuss the thorny subject of East Timor, a government official.

Asian currencies drop sharply as yen falters

Asian currencies drop sharply as yen falters SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asian currencies fell sharply yesterday, hit by concerted buying of dollars as the yen suffered from flagging confidence in Japan's economy and its ability to help the region.

RI seeks international 'halal' recognation

RI seeks international 'halal' recognationBy Joko Sarwono BOGOR, West Java (JP): The spate of bomb hoaxes in Jakarta which marked the heightened political tension prior to and during the presidential election last month did more than just scare people in high-rise buildings.

Eight caught in dawn raid

Eight caught in dawn raid DILI, East Timor: East Timor military commander Col. Slamat Sidabutar said troops had ambushed and captured eight members of the Fretilin separatist movement.He said the ambush occurred as the eight suspected separatists were about to hold a meeting in a house in Ainutin...

FAO aids rural banking

FAO aids rural banking JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) agreed yesterday to provide US$258,000 in technical assistance to improve Indonesia's rural banking services.FAO country representative A.W.

26 participants at Borobudur festival

26 participants at Borobudur festival SEMARANG, Central Java: Twenty-six cultural troupes from 16 countries, including Indonesia, have confirmed their participation for the International Folklore Art Festival to be held at the Borobudur Temple from July 7 to 11.

Thought for food

Thought for food The drought currently plaguing several regions of Indonesia could not have come at a worse time. If United Nations research findings published this week are correct, an estimated 7.5 million Indonesians now face food insecurity that could last until early next year if the present...

Mexico, Latvia cancel Indonesian tours

Mexico, Latvia cancel Indonesian tours JAKARTA (JP): World Cup qualifier Mexico and the Latvian national team have dropped their plans to play exhibition matches here against the national soccer team being groomed for the Association of Southeast Asia Nation (ASEAN) Tiger Cup in September.

Woman to marry her robber

Woman to marry her robber PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): A 22-year-old shop attendant, Sofyah, will marry today the man who grabbed a stack of banknotes totaling Rp 4 million (US$470) from her counter last week.

600 patients evaded medical treatment costs

600 patients evaded medical treatment costs JAKARTA (JP): At least 600 patients treated at the state Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta evaded paying for their medical treatment in the period between October and last month, it was revealed yesterday.H.