Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 19 June 1998

57 articles found

World Bank predicts RI contraction will reach 15%

World Bank predicts RI contraction will reach 15% SYDNEY (Reuters): A World Bank executive said yesterday that the contraction in the Indonesia economy could be up to 15 percent, higher than forecast by policymakers two months ago.

Relatives of missing activists meet with ICRC

Relatives of missing activists meet with ICRC JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of missing activists met with representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) here yesterday in a bid to press authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 18, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Astra Agro Lestari 2,900 125 230,500 Dharmala Insurance 1,450 0 0 Ades Alfindo 450 0 0 GT Petrochem Industrie 100 25...

Merpati returns 17 leased planes to cut operational costs

Merpati returns 17 leased planes to cut operational costs JAKARTA (JP): The state-owned airline operator PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA) has returned 17 of its leased planes to cut swelling operating costs.

Feeling victimized

Feeling victimized Regarding Sumarsono Sastrowardoyo's letter on June 12, 1998, The Jakarta Post entitled: Feeling victimized, it is clear that despite the many reactions of other readers towards his letters, and the reports of atrocities committed against the Indonesian Chinese, Mr.

Stable situation

Stable situation Many think that the present government is a legacy of the past with its dark side. I believe, however, that people change, and learn from their and others' experiences to improve themselves.I agree with Gen.

U.S. to resume support for loans to Indonesia: Albright

U.S. to resume support for loans to Indonesia: Albright WASHINGTON (Reuters): United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright announced Wednesday that Washington would resume support for international lending to Indonesia.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 12:15 p.m. World Cup Soccer (rerun) 2:00 News: Berita 14 2:30 Music 2:35 Children's Film: Tom and Jerry Kids 3:05 Sports 3:30 Village Program 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Performance: Cakrawala Budaya 5:00 Music: Paket 27 5:30 Education Quiz: Cerdas Cermat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My...

UCL's steam deliveries

UCL's steam deliveries EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (Dow Jones): Unocal Corp.'s (UCL) Unocal Geothermal of Indonesia Ltd. unit received a $900,000 payment for $4.3 million in March steam deliveries to Gunung Salak electric generating units 1, 2, and 3, creating a shortfall of $3.4 million.

MPI vows to go it alone despite new forestry group

MPI vows to go it alone despite new forestry group JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forestry Society (MPI) vowed yesterday to remain in existence despite the establishment of a rival forestry society advocating reforms in the sector.MPI spokesman A.

Aquino protests Marcos burial plan

Aquino protests Marcos burial plan MANILA (Reuters): Former Philippine president Corazon Aquino led a street protest yesterday against the planned burial of Ferdinand Marcos at the Heroes Cemetery, saying it was no place for a dictator.

Megawati's camp denies ordering chapter takeovers

Megawati's camp denies ordering chapter takeovers JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) executives aligned to Megawati Soekarnoputri have denied giving the order for a series of "takeovers" of party offices in several cities.

ASEAN noninterference needs reconsidering

ASEAN noninterference needs reconsidering The ASEAN policy of noninterference has long afforded members of our little community the opportunity to misbehave in the certain knowledge that if the neighbors saw something, they would insist that they had not.

Traders say Indonesia may cut crude exports

Traders say Indonesia may cut crude exports SINGAPORE (Reuters): Initial estimates of Indonesia's crude export program for July indicate that state oil company Pertamina has cut the July allocations of its main Minas, Cinta and Widuri crudes compared to June, traders said yesterday.

Two new envoys submit credentials

Two new envoys submit credentials JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie received the credentials of South Korea's new ambassador Hong Jung-pyo and Sri Lanka's new ambassador Tisse Dias Bandaranayke in separate ceremonies at the Merdeka Palace yesterday.

Indonesia likely to launch debt restructuring plan

Indonesia likely to launch debt restructuring plan NEW YORK (Dow Jones): Indonesia is aiming to launch a program to restructure between US$8 billion and $10 billion in bank debt by the end of June, a source familiar with the country's debt restructuring plan said Wednesday.

AAL exports rubber to S'pore

AAL exports rubber to S'pore JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed plantation firm PT Astra Agro Lestari, a subsidiary of the country's largest automaker PT Astra International, announced yesterday that it had exported 32.6 metric tons of rubber worth US$23,065 to Singapore.

Detained Filipinos to be repatriated

Detained Filipinos to be repatriated MANILA (DPA): More than 130 Filipinos arrested for illegal fishing and other crimes in Indonesia will be repatriated to the Philippines next week during a joint naval exercise, the military said yesterday.

Security guard stabbed to death

Security guard stabbed to death JAKARTA (JP): A security officer of the Griya Parahita housing complex at Bumi Serpong Damai in Tangerang was found dead Wednesday after allegedly being stabbed by two associates.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Arts Exhibition: ASEANA, a showcase of ASEAN Cultures, featuring books, video and audio tapes, paintings, photographs, handicrafts, at ASEAN Secretariat, Jl. Sisingamangaraja 70A, South Jakarta (Phone: 7262991), until July 25. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Indonesia at risk of becoming Asia's black hole

Indonesia at risk of becoming Asia's black holeBy Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): A recent seminar, launching the 1998 issue of Asia-Pacific Profiles here, hosted by Asialink of the University of Melbourne and Price Waterhouse, projected a cautiously limited optimism on the prospects of economic...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Jakarta (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on June 18, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 13,500.00 15,000.00Austrian shilling 1 1,064.90 1,252.80Australian dollar 1 8,437.30 9,286.50Belgian franc 1 376.30 411.60Canadian dollar 1 9,468.

Harmful forces 'threaten state'

Harmful forces 'threaten state' JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto warned yesterday of attempts by certain forces to destroy people's confidence in the government, including the military, which, if not stopped, could lead to national disintegration.

Labor fund 'unlikely to curb jobless rate'

Labor fund 'unlikely to curb jobless rate' JAKARTA (JP): A senior manpower official has conceded that Rp 1 trillion (US$66.6 million) earmarked for labor-intensive projects will likely make little headway in stemming the alarming rise in unemployment nationwide.

305 riot victims receive loans

305 riot victims receive loans JAKARTA (JP): Three hundred and five small-scale traders in the city whose shops were looted and destroyed in last month's violent riots have received concessional loans worth Rp 483.5 million (US$20,220) to restart their businesses.

Sjahril says rupiah to remain floated

Sjahril says rupiah to remain floated JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said yesterday that the central bank has no plans to reintroduce a managed exchange rate system to arrest the rupiah's free fall against the U.S. dollar.

Yen mediation helps SE Asian currencies

Yen mediation helps SE Asian currencies SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies rallied across the board against the U.S. dollar, spurred on by joint intervention by the U.S. and Japan overnight to prop up the Japanese yen.

One million Moslems expected to participate in mass prayer

One million Moslems expected to participate in mass prayer JAKARTA (JP): Some one million Moslems from Greater Jakarta are expected to join a special service to pray to Allah at Senayan sports complex eastern parking lot in Central Jakarta on July 5, the organizers said Wednesday.

RI receive $1b trade loan from Japan's Exim Bank

RI receive $1b trade loan from Japan's Exim Bank JAKARTA (JP): The country's crippled export industry will soon get a boost of a US$1 billion trade financing facility from Japan's Exim Bank under a credit agreement signed here yesterday.

Japan's food aid to reach Baliem

Japan's food aid to reach Baliem JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Some 2.6 tons of highly-nutritious food donated by the Japanese government to indigenous people living in the Baliem valley, Jayawijaya regency, is expected to arrive here this month, an official said yesterday.

Foreign firms proposed for waterfront project

Foreign firms proposed for waterfront project JAKARTA (JP): Councilors have recommended that the city administration offer remaining work on the huge Jakarta waterfront project to foreign companies because embattled local firms do not have the means.

S. Sulawesi gets new police chief

S. Sulawesi gets new police chief UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: Brig. Gen. Mudji Santoso was installed here yesterday as the new provincial police chief, replacing Brig. Gen. Ali Hanafiah.Deputy National Police chief Lt. Gen. Lutfi Dachlan, on behalf of his superior Gen.

Who owns the police?

Who owns the police? Many claim that we are a fast-changing society without realizing that some aspects of it have refused to modernize. One notable example is that objectionable attitudes and practices within our police force, the most talked-about component of the Armed Forces (ABRI), have...

Three killed in shop-house fire

Three killed in shop-house fire JAKARTA (JP): A two-story shop-house on Jl. Sadar, Cipinang Muara in Jatinegara, East Jakarta, was gutted by fire Wednesday, killing three of the employees, according to an East Jakarta fire department officer.

Local craftspeople build huge pipe organ

Local craftspeople build huge pipe organBy Yudha Kartohadiprodjo JAKARTA (JP): Although pipe organs are most commonly associated with the grand cathedrals of Europe, it is the hands of Sukabumi craftspeople which are responsible for creating the largest organ in Indonesia.

80% of C. Java craft firms on the ropes

80% of C. Java craft firms on the ropes SEMARANG, Central Java: More than 80 percent of 3,000 small handicraft companies, including batik firms in the province, are on the verge of bankruptcy as they are no longer able to survive the economic crisis.

Maluku's coral reefs in danger

Maluku's coral reefs in danger AMBON, Maluku: A large number of coral reefs in Maluku province have begun to show signs of deterioration due to the use of chemical substances to catch fish, a local expert warned yesterday.

USAID pledges more aid for Indonesia

USAID pledges more aid for Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced yesterday it would give an additional US$50 million in aid in the form of food and loan guarantees to help crisis-worn Indonesia.USAID administrator J.

Pamapersada-Mincom deal

Pamapersada-Mincom deal JAKARTA (JP): Computer technology provider PT Mincom Indoservices has signed a multimillion dollar contract to equip leading local mining contractor PT Pamapersada Nusantara with the latest computer technology.

Tanri to ring change at Telkom

Tanri to ring change at Telkom JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprise Tanri Abeng said yesterday he would push for the replacement of PT Telkom's chief commissioner at the company's forthcoming extraordinary meeting.

Sukarno supporter revives Indonesian Nationalist Party

Sukarno supporter revives Indonesian Nationalist Party JAKARTA (JP): Former president Sukarno's Indonesian Nationalist Party (PNI) was officially revived yesterday in Yogyakarta by one of his veteran supporters, Supeni.

APEC may press ahead with liberalization despite crisis

APEC may press ahead with liberalization despite crisis KUCHING, Malaysia (Reuters): Asia-Pacific ministers will press ahead with efforts to free up trade at a meeting in Malaysia next week despite an economic crisis that has rocked Asia, delegates said on Wednesday.

Workers strike for wage hike

Workers strike for wage hike JAKARTA (JP): About 800 workers of Bekasi-based yarn company PT Oceanic Cotton Mill Indonesia went on strike Wednesday, demanding wage increases by 15 percent, reduction on income tax collection and improvement of welfare.

Police detain two for embezzling SEA Games funds

Police detain two for embezzling SEA Games funds JAKARTA (JP): The National Police has detained two suspects for their alleged involvement in embezzling last year's 19th SEA Games sticker funds collected from the public over 18 months.National Police deputy spokesman Col.

Governor's request for contributions questioned

Governor's request for contributions questioned JAKARTA (JP): City councilors expressed concern yesterday over a circular signed by Governor Sutiyoso requesting 55 city-owned companies to contribute a total of up to Rp 815 million (US$51,000) for the commemoration of Jakarta's 471st anniversary and...

Govt considering amending social security: Fahmi

Govt considering amending social security: Fahmi JAKARTA (JP): The government is considering amending the Social Security Law to allow other companies, other than state- owned PT Jamsostek, to run social security programs for workers.

Woman dies in fall on campus

Woman dies in fall on campus JAKARTA (JP): A woman died after a fall Wednesday from a 17- story building on the Tarumanagara University campus at Jl. Letjen S. Parman, West Jakarta.Police identified her as Lie Sioe Ping, 39, a resident of Jl. Petojo in Central Jakarta.

Rains should not dampen SE Asia smog war: Experts

Rains should not dampen SE Asia smog war: Experts SINGAPORE (Agencies): Southeast Asian environment ministers should not let the torrential rains sweeping the region dampen their efforts to tackle the smog caused by forest fires, experts said yesterday.

PLN has poor calculating system: Kuntoro

PLN has poor calculating system: Kuntoro JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto has blamed extreme increases in power prices on a poor calculating system applied by the state-owned electricity company (PLN).

Mandala stewardesses seek legal advice over dismissal

Mandala stewardesses seek legal advice over dismissal JAKARTA (JP): Forty Mandala Airlines stewardesses took legal advice yesterday over their dismissal last month, a decision they claim was groundless and unclear.

Ecolabeling agency to audit operations of 16 timber firms

Ecolabeling agency to audit operations of 16 timber firms JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Ecolabeling Agency (LEI) will audit the operations of at least 16 timber companies this year to ascertain if they deserve to receive ecolabeling certification, the agency's chairman Emil Salim said here yesterday.

Rescuers find body of driver

Rescuers find body of driver JAKARTA (AP): Rescuers have found the body of a Hong Kong movie maker's granddaughter who went missing while scuba diving in Indonesian waters, the National Search and Rescue Agency said yesterday.

Four banks plan to merge

Four banks plan to merge JAKARTA (JP): The publicly listed Bank Mashill Utama, Bank Jayabank International, Bank Artamedia Indonesia and Bank Ciputra announced yesterday their intention to merge to enable them to meet new capital requirements.

Rupiah strengthens to 15,000 to the dollar

Rupiah strengthens to 15,000 to the dollar JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah improved to Rp 15,000 against the U.S. dollar yesterday following a rally by the Japanese yen and intervention by Bank Indonesia (BI) to reduce domestic demand for the dollar, currency dealers said.

Can Pertamina save the nation one more time?

Can Pertamina save the nation one more time?By T.N. Machmud JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto has on more than one occasion discussed the need for Pertamina to restructure and to return to its core business.

ABRI to restructure its information center

ABRI to restructure its information center JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) information center will soon be restructured and integrated with a similar center from the Ministry of Defense and Security.Outgoing Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. A.

Has the reform movement ground to a halt?

Has the reform movement ground to a halt? One month after Soeharto fell from power, the hurly-burly of the reform movement seems to have calmed down. On the other hand, there is an impression that the government has responded to reform calls half-heartedly. Political analyst J.