Archive: 4 May 1998
43 articles found
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
1,800 companies report foreign debts to BI
1,800 companies report foreign debts to BI JAKARTA (JP): About 1,800 local companies have reported their foreign debts to Bank Indonesia, the central bank, chairman of the private offshore debt team Radius Prawiro said. Radius said the value of debts reported by the companies had reached a total of between US$63 billion and $64 billion. By Thursday, 1,000 private companies had reported foreign debts worth $58 billion to the central bank, Radius was quoted as saying by Antara on Friday night.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Curbing dengue fever gets highest priority
Curbing dengue fever gets highest priority JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is considering shelving "less urgent" projects and using the money to finance efforts to curb a dengue fever outbreak expected to peak next month. Governor Sutiyoso said over the weekend that he has ordered his deputies to identify such projects which could be postponed in favor of dengue fever eradication campaigns.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Monas traders worry of conflict
Monas traders worry of conflict JAKARTA (JP): About 200 street vendors recently relocated to the southern periphery of Monas (the National Monument) in Central Jakarta are worried about conflicts for space at the new site. They aired their fears at a meeting with Central Jakarta government officials at Gelanggang Remaja stadium over the weekend. The traders said they saw evidence that conflict was likely because new traders were streaming in to the new site.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Business, Mideast peace on Gore-Mubarak agenda
Business, Mideast peace on Gore-Mubarak agenda CAIRO (Agencies): U.S. Vice President Al Gore met with President Hosni Mubarak yesterday to discuss the collapsing Arab- Israeli peace process and deepening business ties with Egypt. It was the final leg of a three-nation tour that also took him to Israel, where he apparently failed to persuade Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a more extensive troop withdrawal from the West Bank, Israeli media reports said.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Economic crisis hits more female workers with layoffs
Economic crisis hits more female workers with layoffs JAKARTA (JP): Female workers have become the prime target of lay-offs and dismissals in Greater Jakarta, a women's organization said. The Indonesian Women's Association for Justice (APIK), which has been monitoring labor relations in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi, said over the weekend that pregnant workers were the number one target of dismissals.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Chavalit seeks results on baht
Chavalit seeks results on baht BANGKOK (Reuters): Former Thai premier and opposition leader Chavalit Yongchaiyudh challenged Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai yesterday to disclose results of an official probe into the Bank of Thailand's bungled defense of the baht in 1997. Chavalit told reporters he was prepared to take responsibility if it could clearly be proved that his government had made incorrect policy decisions that triggered Thailand's worst economic crisis in decades.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Street singers release new album
Street singers release new album JAKARTA (JP): Street singer group Kelompok Penyanyi Jalanan released their second album featuring songs with social themes Saturday. The group leader, Anto Baret, said he was well-aware that launching a new album during the economic crisis would not be profitable. "What concerns us as singers is to compose music -- something that knows no economic crisis," Anto said.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Singapore visitors down 20%
Singapore visitors down 20% SINGAPORE (Reuters): Tourist arrivals in Singapore in the first quarter of 1998 fell by nearly 20 percent to 1.52 million over the year-earlier period. Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported yesterday that the Singapore Tourist Board (STB) said visitor arrivals in March fell by 21 percent over the same month last year, but increased compared with February. The STB counted 519,585 visitor arrivals in March, up slightly from February arrivals of 497,620.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Hepatitis B affects one in three: Official
Hepatitis B affects one in three: Official JAKARTA (JP): An estimated one in three Indonesians are infected with Hepatitis B. The Ministry of Health's director general for communicable disease control and environmental health, Hadi M. Abednego, has expressed concern over the high prevalence of the disease which affects about 36.17 percent of the population.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mahathir vows to fight haze
Mahathir vows to fight haze KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday Malaysia would work with its neighbors to fight the haze blanketing part of the region and ensure the Commonwealth Games would not be affected. "It will not be an easy task to handle but we are sure that we can reduce the amount of haze," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the government news agency Bernama.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
IMF reviewing Thai reforms
IMF reviewing Thai reforms BANGKOK (Reuters): The International Monetary Fund will start a two-week review of Thai economic reforms today before announcing a decision on the next disbursement of loans under a US$17.2 billion multilateral bailout package for the country. A senior Thai central bank official said yesterday IMF officials would focus on issues such as measures to ease a severe credit crunch and high lending rates.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Mangkusari buried in C. Kalimantan
Mangkusari buried in C. Kalimantan PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: H.D. Mangkusari, speaker of the provincial legislature, died Saturday at the age of 65. Mangkusari died in Jakarta and his remains were brought here yesterday morning so he could be buried in the afternoon. Leading provincial figures including Deputy Governor Siswanto Adi paid their respects. A three-kilometer convoy of cars accompanied the body which was taken from the airport to the deceased's home here on Jl.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia promises bridging loan for RI
Malaysia promises bridging loan for RI KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia will provide a bridging loan to help Indonesia while it waits for the rest of a US$43 billion rescue package organized by the International Monetary Fund, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday. The amount was not mentioned, but Mahathir said Malaysia could provide only part of the help needed. He said Japan also has given Indonesia financial aid.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
New levy a new burden for CPO producers
New levy a new burden for CPO producers JAKARTA (JP): Crude palm oil (CPO) producers are claiming the government's plan to impose a redeemable levy on the interisland shipment of CPO and its by-products will cause them a heavy financial burden. They said Saturday the new measure would take a big bite out of their cash flows, since they would have to set aside a large sum of money before they could deliver their shipments.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Diana King on promotional tour
Diana King on promotional tour JAKARTA (JP): Singer Diana King is scheduled to arrive here Tuesday for a three-day promotional tour for her second album, Think Like A Girl. The 25-year-old singer of Shy Guy and I Say A Little Prayer fame will perform at Hard Rock Cafe Jakarta on Thursday, singing selections from her albums. These will include I Say A Little Prayer, Think Like A Girl, L-L-Lies and Do You Really Want To Hurt Me.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Robbery at gas stations rampant: Police
Robbery at gas stations rampant: Police JAKARTA (JP): Gas station robberies are on an upward trend, with both gas station attendants and gasoline buyers being victimized, police said over the weekend, with robberies reaching 21 in the city over the past four months A man was badly beaten Saturday by residents near a gas station on Jl. Meruya Utara, West Jakarta, for allegedly stealing Rp 2.8 million from the gas station's cash drawer, police said. The suspect, identified as M.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Canceling sticker system
Canceling sticker system From Media Indonesia Mr. Governor, your readiness to cancel the planned introduction of the car sticker system due to popular objections proves that you are a leader of people, not their ruler. Your stance is worthy of appreciation and is an example to all leaders in our republic. In a state based on Pancasila, the notion that money can buy anything, including the right to drive a private car down a public road, is not appropriate. Mr.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Chandra gives young contenders a lesson
Chandra gives young contenders a lesson JAKARTA (JP): Veteran driver Chandra Alim dazzled his young challengers with sheer mastery in the opening leg of the national Formula Asia auto racing championship series at Sentul circuit, near Bogor, West Java yesterday. Chandra, who slipped back into his racing suit after two years off the track, led from start to finish with the fastest time of 23 minutes 52.352 seconds after yesterday's 15-lap race. He averaged 148.9 kmh.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Fight for justice
Fight for justice From Kompas The media have recently reported the objections voiced by Adnan Buyung Nasution and other lawyers to the relevant government agencies about the illegal practices of foreign lawyers in Indonesia. I am a young lawyer and support the action, considering that the illegal practice of foreign lawyers clearly contravenes Indonesian laws. Many of our illegal workers in Malaysia have been repatriated by the Malaysian government.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
U.S. Democrats blast IMF over Indonesia
U.S. Democrats blast IMF over Indonesia WASHINGTON (Reuters): Congressional Democrats dealt a blow to President Bill Clinton on Friday by threatening to withdraw their support for the IMF over loans to Indonesia and the agency's push to open capital markets around the globe. The International Monetary Fund is expected on Monday to restart bailout payments to Indonesia despite fierce criticism from U.S.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rachman shines in pro bouts, Herry struggles
Rachman shines in pro bouts, Herry struggles JAKARTA (JP): Former national amateur boxing champions Rachman Kilikili and Herry Makawimbang maintained their winning run in pro Saturday. Rachman made short work of Sanusi Anwar in their junior bantamweight bout. The referee stopped the fight one minute into the opening round after Sanusi could not answer Rachman's merciless charges.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Bad debt in property may reach Rp 35t
Bad debt in property may reach Rp 35t JAKARTA (JP): Bad debt in Indonesia's property sector may jump to Rp 35 trillion (about US$4.6 billion) by the end of 1998 unless the government comes up with ways to help the ailing industry, an analyst said yesterday. Property consultant Panangian Simanungkalit said the figure represented 25 percent of total loans to the sector. "In 1994, bad debt was only Rp 3.9 trillion, and in just four years it could multiply by 10 times," he said.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Alumni back student calls for reform
Alumni back student calls for reform JAKARTA (JP): Alumni from 48 leading universities and institutions have thrown their weight behind student rallies for reform and vowed to establish a special network to aid families whose relatives "disappear". After a gathering which featured a free-speech forum, the Cooperation Body of Indonesian University Alumni said Saturday they were concerned about the cases of missing persons, many of whom were students from universities they had graduated from.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Man mistakenly mobbed to death
Man mistakenly mobbed to death JAKARTA (JP): A 24-year-old man was mistakenly mobbed to death by a group of hoodlums in front of a discotheque on Jl. Pangeran Tubagus Angke, West Jakarta, early yesterday morning. The victim was identified as Rohmat, a resident of Jl. Pesing Poglar in Kedaung Kaliangke subdistrict, West Jakarta, his brother, Abdul Rahman, said. Rahman said that one of the hoodlums involved in a quarrel with Rohmat's friend, Erwin, later targeted Rohmat when his friend fled.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Three Worlds by Ledek Sukadi, Herly Gaya, Kukuh Nuswanto, at Galeri TC, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 24A, South Jakarta (Phone: 7194270/78), Sunday, at 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday to Saturday 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., until May 30. * Painting Exhibition: Works of Indonesian Painters Association at Devi Collection Interior House, Jl. Kemang Timur No. 46A (Phone: 7991636), South Jakarta, 10 a.m.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Ministry ordered to help crisis-affected students
Ministry ordered to help crisis-affected students JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto has ordered Ministry of Education officials and university rectors to help students with financial difficulties so they can continue their studies. The President said he gave special attention to university students because the nature's fortune and future depended on the level and quality of education for the next generation.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Rainfall brings respite for fires in E. Kalimantan
Rainfall brings respite for fires in E. Kalimantan JAKARTA (JP): Intermittent rainfall in many areas of East Kalimantan recently has brought relief to the fire-ravaged province, where almost 500,000 hectares of forests have been razed this year, resulting in an estimated loss of Rp 9.2 trillion (US$1.15 billion) in timber revenues.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Teenager jailed for killing his mother
Teenager jailed for killing his mother JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta District Court sentenced a 17- year-old boy over the weekend to three years and six months in prison for killing his mother. Presiding judge Mahdi S.N. said the defendant, Hardiansyah, was guilty of killing his 53-year-old mother, Jumriyati, on Feb. 3 in their house on Jl. Setiakawan in Duri Pulo.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
City cuts sticker price but commuters may not benefit
City cuts sticker price but commuters may not benefit JAKARTA (JP): City administration will cut the one-day Rp 5,000 traffic sticker to Rp 2,500 in response to mounting protests against a plan to implement the sticker system in lieu of the current three-in-one traffic regulation, an official said. The deputy governor for administrative affairs, Abdul Kahfi, said over the weekend that the Rp 2,500 sticker would be valid only for a half day.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Australia gives RI $19m in aid
Australia gives RI $19m in aid CANBERRA (Reuters): Australia will contribute A$30 million (US$19.4 million) to the United Nations World Food Program's (WFP) emergency operations for poorer areas of eastern Indonesia, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said yesterday.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
World Bank agrees on loan to Indonesia
World Bank agrees on loan to Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank has formally agreed to provide a US$381 million loan to finance infrastructure projects in Indonesia. The loan agreement was signed in Washington on Friday by the Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dorodjatun Kuntjoro- Jakti and by the World Bank's Acting Vice President for East Asian and Pacific Region Javad Khalilzadeh-Shirazi.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Better salary key to boosting judges' integrity and quality
Better salary key to boosting judges' integrity and quality JAKARTA (JP): A better salary and complete organizational separation from the bureaucracy are key to improving the integrity and quality of judges in Indonesia, head of the Bandung District Court Djoko Soetono said. Djoko, 57, argued that at present the status of judges was caught between the roles of a legal officer and a civil servant.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Stickers must not be burdensome
Stickers must not be burdensome From Media Indonesia Subarticle two of Article Two of Presidential Decree No. 50/1998 on the stipulation of restricted traffic areas in the capital city of Jakarta says that the measure is " ...designated for vehicles... (used by those) working or having their businesses at sites located along certain roads set forth in this presidential decree." So, the enforcement of this presidential decree does not apply to all residents using the roads in question.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Political tension likely to worsen stock market
Political tension likely to worsen stock market JAKARTA (JP): The country's escalating political tension may further worsen the stock market, which has been severely hit by the central bank's high interest rate policy over the past several weeks, analysts have said. The analysts said over the weekend that fears of the escalating political tension and the government's commitment to adopt a high interest rate policy would be the main concerns.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Gen. (ret) Soemitro still in coma
Gen. (ret) Soemitro still in coma JAKARTA (JP): Former chief of a now defunct internal security agency (Pangkopkamtib) Gen. (ret) Soemitro was still in a coma yesterday, two days after being hospitalized here for a stroke. A doctor on duty at Mitra Kemayoran Hospital's Intensive Care Unit told The Jakarta Post that he could not give a prognosis on the 71-year-old retired general.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia, Australia and overcoming the Asian crisis
Indonesia, Australia and overcoming the Asian crisis Former Australian prime minister Paul J. Keating, in his capacity as visiting professor of public policy, discussed the impact of the Asian economic crisis on the region in his lecture at the University of New South Wales in Sydney in March. The following is a slightly edited version of the lecture. This is the first of three articles based on the lecture.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Campuses quit after massive student protests
Campuses quit after massive student protests JAKARTA (JP): Students took a break yesterday from incessant protests as faculty staff from one university decided to suspend classes after rallies in several major cities Saturday left dozens injured. Four students were still being treated here yesterday as a result of tussles with security officers on various campuses in the capital. In Medan, North Sumatra, another university has decided to suspend campus activities.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Leading maritime law expert dies
Leading maritime law expert dies BANDUNG, West Java: Komar Kantaatmadja, professor of the School of Law here at Padjadjaran University, died yesterday at the age of 62. Komar is known as one of the country's few leading maritime law experts. He is survived by his wife Mieke, who is also a legal expert, and three children. He will be buried today at Cikutra Cemetery. (43)
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Brunei delegation to monitor fires
Brunei delegation to monitor fires SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A nine-member delegation from Brunei is expected to arrive here this week to take a close look at forest fires in the province which have so far razed up to 500,000 hectares of brush and forest, a local environment official said here on Saturday. "They earlier pledged to help deal with the burning of forests," the head of the East Kalimantan Environmental Impact and Management Agency (Bapedal), Awang Farouk Ishak, said.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Seven students killed in crash
Seven students killed in crash BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Seven elementary students were killed Saturday afternoon when the small public minivan they were riding in collided with a Muncul interisland bus. The seven students, with an average age of 12, were on their way home after attending a ceremony at their school commemorating National Education Day. Thirteen other students in the minivan were treated for injuries after the large bus rammed the middle section of the minivan.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Can the UN direct disarmament?
Can the UN direct disarmament? By Imron Cotan and Iwan Wiranataatmadja This is the first of two articles on the efforts of the UN to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. JAKARTA (JP): Due to their devastating impacts on human beings and the environment, nuclear, chemical and biological weapons have since their invention preoccupied the international community.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Passengers escape fire on Ambon ferry
Passengers escape fire on Ambon ferry AMBON, Maluku: Hundreds of Indonesians survived a fire which broke out Saturday aboard the passenger ship MV Simpati as it was to set sail for Buru island from Ambon. No one was killed. The fire was most likely caused by a short circuit, Antara reported. "We had to abandon the ship immediately after the lights went out and thick smoke came out of the engine room," Antara quoted a passenger as saying.
Mon, 04 May 1998, 00:00 WIB
Jobless court UI students
Jobless court UI students JAKARTA (JP): People who have lost their jobs due to the economic crisis have found that students are sympathetic to their plight. Dozens of workers from Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi flocked to the University of Indonesia (UI) campus in Depok, just south of here, where they sought ideas on what to do next.