Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 11 June 1998

55 articles found

Groups concerned over Parti establishment

Groups concerned over Parti establishment JAKARTA (JP): An ethnic Chinese Moslem foundation, Haji Karim Oei, expressed concern here yesterday over the recent establishment of a Chinese political party, fearing that such an ethnic-based party would only aggravate animosity toward those of Chinese...

Debates despite people's suffering

Debates despite people's sufferingFrom Pikiran RakyatDemands for total reform continue to resound throughout the country, from students to those who profess to be reformists. Now that B.J. Habibie has taken the place of Soeharto as president, debates go on about whether the handover was...

PPP chairman Ismail refuses to step down

PPP chairman Ismail refuses to step down JAKARTA (JP): United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum brushed aside demands yesterday for him to step down, saying he would only leave the post at the end of his term.

More political prisoners set to walk free today

More political prisoners set to walk free today JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie signed release papers yesterday for 16 young activists, including 15 East Timorese prisoners and detainees, Minister of Justice Muladi said.The President, through decree No.

Rescuing banks

Rescuing banks The banking industry, which lies at the root of Indonesia's economic crisis, and the central bank are now mired in a vicious circle.The government's blanket guarantee for foreign exchange and rupiah depositor and creditor claims on locally incorporated banks has been causing moral...

OPEC basket price plunges

OPEC basket price plunges LONDON (Reuters): The price of OPEC's basket of seven crudes fell to $11.68 a barrel on Tuesday from $12.39 on Monday, the OPEC news agency said quoting the OPEC Secretariat.The basket comprises Algeria's Saharan Blend, Indonesia's Minas, Nigeria's Bonny Light, Saudi...

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film: Thundercats 3:05 Student's Program: Kuliah Universitas Terbuka 3:30 Science Film: Ticket to Adventure 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Kita 5:00 Arabic Lessons 5:30 TV Series 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My...

Marubeni sees profits for Chandra Asri in 2000

Marubeni sees profits for Chandra Asri in 2000 TOKYO (Reuters): Japanese trading house Marubeni Corp said yesterday it hopes Indonesia's giant petrochemical joint venture PT Chandra Asri will become profitable in 2000 after years of losses.

BNI expects nonperforming loans to expand

BNI expects nonperforming loans to expand JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) plans to boost its loan loss reserves to offset a sharp rise in nonperforming loans due to the economic crisis, a top official has said.

Lesson from RI may be hard for Myanmar

Lesson from RI may be hard for MyanmarBy Don Pathan BANGKOK (AP): The abrupt downfall of President Soeharto in Indonesia came as a surprise for much of the world, but for the military regime in Myanmar, it was also a rude awakening.

Heavy rains, currency woe hamper RI coffee exports

Heavy rains, currency woe hamper RI coffee exports SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesian coffee shipments are coming out in dribs and drabs as exporters struggle to smooth the cash- strapped distribution chain, traders said yesterday.

Myanmar to buy KL crude oil

Myanmar to buy KL crude oil KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Myanmar is buying crude oil worth US$80 million from Malaysia and an agreement on payment terms is expected Wednesday, Malaysia's national news agency reported.

FedEx resumes RI flights

FedEx resumes RI flights SINGAPORE (Reuters): Federal Express Corp (FedEx) has resumed its scheduled flights to and from Jakarta, with five times weekly service, the company said in a statement late yesterday.The U.S.

Sheraton Media Hotel's ownership

Sheraton Media Hotel's ownership JAKARTA (JP): One of the owners of the Sheraton Media Hotel in Central Jakarta, Surya Paloh, denied media reports that the hotel was partly owned by former president Soeharto's family.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 10, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 450 0 0 AHAP Insurance 575 0 0 Alter Abadi 500 -25 414,500 Alumindo Light Metal 300 0 55,500 Alumindo...

Crude market watching for RI allocations

Crude market watching for RI allocations SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asia's crude market remains dogged by weak demand, although quiet trading yesterday kept levels relatively steady.Potential sellers of July Indonesian crudes were sidelined, wary of trading before clearer information on exports emerged.

One man's trauma testifies to sad experiences of many

One man's trauma testifies to sad experiences of many JAKARTA (JP): "Our sweat had not fully dried after almost 10 years of hard work when our small drug store was looted and burned by rioters," Chinese-Indonesian Anton, not his real name, recalled grimly.

Cartoonist taken off wanted list

Cartoonist taken off wanted list YOGYAKARTA: The provincial prosecutor's office officially removed cartoonist Bambang Aditya Pradana, alias Yayak, from their wanted list yesterday after the artist spent seven-years on the run for allegedly drawing "subversive" pictures of former president Soeharto.

High interest rates prove IMF failure

High interest rates prove IMF failure HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The grip of high interest rates in Southeast Asia is showing the failure of the International Monetary Fund programs and will lead several nations to permit higher inflation, according to a Morgan Stanley & Co.

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Exhibition * Photo Exhibition: Asiatica, works of 18 photographers from South-East Asia in CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Darmokali 10 (Phone: 031 5678639), 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., until June 14.Music and Entertainment * Hyatt Regency Surabaya, Jl. Jend.

Asian Amex card debts minimal

Asian Amex card debts minimal SINGAPORE (Reuters): American Express Co's (Amex's) exposure to bad debts in its Asian credit card business is minimal, the firm's top regional executive said yesterday."Our credit losses in most markets other than two markets are actually better than last year at the...

Help Indonesia now

Help Indonesia now After three decades of stultifying dictatorship, Indonesians have enjoyed two weeks of remarkable political freedom, marked equally by exuberance and self-restraint. There is a sense in the world's fourth most populous nation that the future is up for grabs.

The pot calling the kettle black?

The pot calling the kettle black?From KompasOn May 21, 1998, an event of historic significance to the entire Indonesian people occurred as there was a peaceful change in the national leadership. As a good citizen, I would like to call on various circles and groups not to have an a priori dislike...

1,500 workers demand total labor law reform

1,500 workers demand total labor law reform JAKARTA (JP): More than 1,500 workers from the metal, electronics, machines and tourist sectors staged a boisterous demonstration at the Ministry of Manpower here yesterday, demanding the revocation of the 1997 labor law and thorough reform of the...

Tangerang hit by two demonstrations

Tangerang hit by two demonstrations TANGERANG (JP): Protesters called for the mayor's resignation here yesterday, while a separate demonstration demanded a major company clarify the status of its workers.

Garuda clips its wings to ride out economic crisis

Garuda clips its wings to ride out economic crisis JAKARTA (JP): Crippled by the economic crisis and pressured by its employees, the financially distraught national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia promised yesterday to sever links with companies linked to Soeharto's family and cronies and return...

Two wounded in armed robbery

Two wounded in armed robbery JAKARTA (JP): A father and son were severely wounded in an armed robbery yesterday at their residence on Jl. Damai Gg. Musyawarah No. 27 in Pondok Labu, Cilandak, South Jakarta.

Bogor Police asked to reexamine three students in Dadang case

Bogor Police asked to reexamine three students in Dadang case JAKARTA (JP): Bogor Police have been urged to requestion three students from Juanda University who were charged with beating a police officer to death.

Govt to abolish state school fees

Govt to abolish state school fees JAKARTA (JP): The government is to abolish tuition fees for all state schools in an attempt to ease the devastating impact of the monetary crisis which has resulted in nearly one out of every three children dropping out of school.

Indonesia to import sugar, soybeans to meet needs

Indonesia to import sugar, soybeans to meet needs JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Food and Horticulture AM Saefuddin said yesterday the country would import 1.3 million metric tons of sugar and 0.7 million tons of soybeans this year to make up for shortages on the domestic market.

SE Asia currencies follow yen lower

SE Asia currencies follow yen lower SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies closed sharply lower yesterday in a volatile day of trading in Asia.Against the backdrop of the weak Japanese yen, which has pressured regional currencies for the past several weeks, exchange rates were hit by bad...

Golkar must quickly transform itself or disappear: Analyst

Golkar must quickly transform itself or disappear: Analyst JAKARTA (JP): Golkar must quickly transform itself or possibly face life in political oblivion after the government introduces a new law on political parties in the next few months.

Separatists surrender

Separatists surrender DILI, East Timor: As many as 21 sympathizers of the separatist Fretilin group living in the western part of East Timor have surrendered to the Maubara district military command in Liquisa district."Eighteen of them surrendered last Thursday and the rest last Sunday.

Witness explains on murder case

Witness explains on murder case JAKARTA (JP): Rushdy Hasan Belbasy, an associate of a murdered Yemeni man, denied yesterday that he was being sought by the police in connection with the slaying."I was summoned to the city police headquarters in my capacity only as a witness in the case," Rushdy...

IMF director arrives to review aid program

IMF director arrives to review aid program JAKARTA (JP): IMF Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss said yesterday he expected the agency to disburse its second US$1 billion bailout money to Indonesia next month."It could be mid July, or early July.

Man faces 30 months in jail

Man faces 30 months in jail TANGERANG (JP): A prosecutor asked Tangerang district court to sentence Sopan Tarigan, 36, to 30 months in jail for attempting to smuggle 25,750 Ecstasy pills and a quantity of the drug in powdered form through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Theft at five-star hotel

Theft at five-star hotel I would like to draw the attention of The Jakarta Post readers to security arrangements in Gran Melia here in Jakarta.On April 3, 1998, my mobile phone was stolen while I sat in the lobby of that hotel reading a newspaper, so beware, do not relax at Gran Melia Jakarta.

Rupiah breaks 13,000 barrier against dollar

Rupiah breaks 13,000 barrier against dollar JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah broke the 13,000 barrier against the U.S. dollar in thin morning trade yesterday but managed to recover slightly in the afternoon to end the day at 12,900.

El Nusa may lose Pertamina monopoly

El Nusa may lose Pertamina monopoly JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said he would abolish the monopoly given to PT EL Nusa for the maintenance of the state oil and gas company Pertamina's refineries.

Floods could hit Kalimantan

Floods could hit Kalimantan SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Several cities in the province could be vulnerable to severe flooding during the coming rainy season because of the poor condition of water catchments, particularly those located along the Mahakam river, an official said yesterday.

Jakarta's anniversary to be commemorated in modest way

Jakarta's anniversary to be commemorated in modest way JAKARTA (JP): The commemoration of Jakarta's 471st anniversary next month will be a very modest occasion due to the limited availability of funds, deputy governor for administrative affairs Abdul Kahfi said yesterday.

Animals go on diet in leaner times

Animals go on diet in leaner times JAKARTA (JP): Like their cousins at zoos across the country, animals at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta are finding the economic crisis has taken a big bite out of their food allotments.

Astra reshuffles management, halts cars production

Astra reshuffles management, halts cars production JAKARTA (JP): The country's largest automaker, Astra International, reshuffled its management yesterday and announced a temporary halt in production due to lack of orders.

RI power on credit watch

RI power on credit watch NEW YORK (Dow Jones): Standard & Poor's triple-C ratings on the following Indonesian independent power producer (IPP) project bonds and bank loans remain on creditwatch with negative implications, where they were placed December 1997:-- Paiton Energy Funding B.V.

Suu Kyi wants Estrada's support

Suu Kyi wants Estrada's support MANILA (DPA): Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi appealed yesterday to Philippine President-elect Joseph Estrada to take the lead in persuading the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support democracy in her homeland.

Myanmar economy grows 4.6%

Myanmar economy grows 4.6% YANGON (AP): Myanmar's economy grew 4.6 percent in the last fiscal year, failing to reach the targeted growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to newly-released official statistics seen yesterday.

PAL says strike over, downsizing

PAL says strike over, downsizing MANILA (Reuters): Philippine Airlines unilaterally declared an end to a six-day strike yesterday which has crippled its operations and said it was looking for new pilots.

Sjafrie advises Jakartans on political activities

Sjafrie advises Jakartans on political activities TANGERANG (JP): City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin called on Jakartans yesterday to concentrate on their work rather than joining political activities which could threaten public safety.

Mochtar blasts BI's bank rescue policy

Mochtar blasts BI's bank rescue policy JAKARTA (JP): Mochtar Riady, a senior executive of a major business group, said here yesterday that Bank Indonesia's policy of rescuing the country's ailing banks may only worsen the state of the banking sector.

ABN AMRO eying more Asia acquisitions

ABN AMRO eying more Asia acquisitions BANGKOK (Reuters): Dutch banking giant ABN AMRO said yesterday it was actively seeking new acquisitions in Southeast Asia after its takeover of Thailand's Bank of Asia Plc.

RI does not object to UNHCR asylum plan for Acehnese

RI does not object to UNHCR asylum plan for Acehnese JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will not object the decision by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to arrange political asylum for 22 Acehnese who are seeking refuge at the United States embassy and UN compound in the Malaysian...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on June 10, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 11,900.00 13,400.00Austrian shilling 1 958.00 1,120.50Australian dollar 1 7,300.00 7,992.00Belgian franc 1 338.50 368.00Canadian dollar 1 8,526.

Gold hunting an alternative during crisis

Gold hunting an alternative during crisisBy Kafil Yamin BANDUNG (JP): A wedding date has been set for Yadi, 37, and his fiancee, Yunyun. Yadi rushed to nearby jewelry stores to buy a pair of 24-karat gold rings. But he had difficulty finding them.

Rubin to visit Malaysia

Rubin to visit Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): U.S. Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin will visit Malaysia at the end of the month following a trip with President Bill Clinton to China, officials said yesterday.Finance Minister Anwar Ibrahim's spokesman said Rubin would make a courtesy call on Anwar.

Press freedom in Indonesia

Press freedom in IndonesiaBy A.Muis UJUNGPANDANG (JP): Shortly after the resignation of president Soeharto, the reform movement pioneered by the students throughout Indonesia -- and fully seconded by the press -- has also touched on the national press law. The notorious, dreaded regulation No.