Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 26 June 1998

50 articles found

Short films made by locals go International

Short films made by locals go InternationalBy Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): Short films are void of any commercial value in this country, yet, even during the present economic crisis a young man has completed an admirable 29-minute video film.

Youths loot Samarinda shops

Youths loot Samarinda shops SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Dozens of youths looted and destroyed a number of shops at Pinang Bebaris Shopping Center here yesterday, causing panic and prompting shop owners across the city to quickly close their businesses.

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 Music Lessons: Kesenian Degung 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:...

Habibie launches human rights campaign

Habibie launches human rights campaign JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie officially launched the country's five-year National Action Plan on Human Rights yesterday as a part of the new government's ambitious plan to rehabilitate the country's poor record on human rights protection.

Thailand, RI in rice barter

Thailand, RI in rice barter BANGKOK (Reuters): Thailand and Indonesia have agreed in principle to a counter-trade deal for the sale of Thai rice to Jakarta to be paid in terms of some goods, including crude oil, a commerce ministry official said yesterday.

Southeast Asian currencies drift as yen steadies

Southeast Asian currencies drift as yen steadies SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies drifted in relatively tight trading ranges yesterday, following the Japanese yen even as it led nowhere.

Surabaya aid body investigates death

Surabaya aid body investigates death SURABAYA (JP): The Surabaya Legal Aid Office is investigating the death of a worker of the Maspion Group who was allegedly beaten during a clash between demonstrating workers and security forces on June 8.

Observers blast timetable set for general election

Observers blast timetable set for general election JAKARTA (JP): The mid-1998 general election timetable set by President B.J. Habibie is considered not soon enough and will only serve to prolong the country's political and economic suffering, observers said here yesterday.

ADB makes $1,5b loan to Indonesia

ADB makes $1,5b loan to Indonesia MANILA (DPA): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$1.5 billion loan package yesterday to fund an Indonesian government program addressing the weaknesses of its financial sector amid worsening economic woes.

Arrest nation's increasing misery

Arrest nation's increasing miseryBy Omar Halim JAKARTA (JP): After the government of president Soeharto signed the second Letter of Intent with the IMF in late January, the author wrote an article in this newspaper entitled "Economic reform without misery?"Since then, significant changes have taken...

New tribes found in Irian Jaya

New tribes found in Irian Jaya JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Field officers of the provincial social affairs office here have discovered two nomadic tribes living near the Mamberamo River area.The members of the Vahudate and the Aukedate tribes are tall, have dark skin and curly hair and use a sign...

IMF, foreign donors urged to quickly disburse loans

IMF, foreign donors urged to quickly disburse loans JAKARTA (JP): Economists welcomed yesterday Indonesia's new accord with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and urged the agency and other donors to quickly disburse their pledged loans to the country to prevent costlier crisis-saving measures.

Kendari hit by severe flood

Kendari hit by severe flood KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Thousands of homes in the Kendari area were flooded yesterday in up to 50 centimeters of water following incessant rain which began Wednesday afternoon.Antara quoted residents as saying that they were surprised by the flood's severity.

Cash-strapped RI set to play Davis

Cash-strapped RI set to play Davis JAKARTA (JP): Despite financial troubles plaguing its training program, the Indonesian Tennis Association plans to send a team to Lebanon for several Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I matches.

Pertamina seals gas oil deal

Pertamina seals gas oil deal SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia state-owned oil company, Pertamina, has bought its first directly negotiated spot gas oil cargo from a Middle East National oil company, a source involved in the deal said yesterday.

Special address for public complaints

Special address for public complaints JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has set up a special post office box for people to freely lodge their complaints on public services provided by its employees.

Govt called on to give new status to 'TVRI' and 'RRI'

Govt called on to give new status to 'TVRI' and 'RRI' JAKARTA (JP): A group of media owners, journalists and senior editors suggested yesterday that the state-run television network TVRI and radio station RRI be given the new status of "public broadcasting service" organizations like the British...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates JAKARTA (JP): Bank Ekspor Impor Indonesia's (Bank Exim) indicative conversion rates on June 25, 1998: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 14,400.00 15,400.00Austrian shilling 1 1,096.00 1,252.20Australian dollar 1 8,640.00 9,241.60Belgian franc 1 387.10 411.40Canadian dollar 1 9,789.

Jakarta sticks to five-day workweek

Jakarta sticks to five-day workweek JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration will not follow Lampung province in returning to a six-day workweek because the current five-day workweek has been running pretty well, Governor Sutiyoso said yesterday."This is the capital.

Perhutani to sell veneer straight to users

Perhutani to sell veneer straight to users JAKARTA (JP): State forestry company Perum Perhutani said yesterday that it would sell its veneer, a surface layer for plywood products, directly to plywood producers from next month.

No racism

No racism I'm not a racist, my niece is even married a nice Chinese man. While at Sancta Ursula Boarding School (1949-1955), most of my friends were nonindigenous. For five years, my two sons rented an apartment with two Chinese boys from Singapore while they all studied at the University of...

Govt signs new pact with IMF

Govt signs new pact with IMF JAKARTA (JP): The government has signed another agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the fourth in nine months, promising yet more reforms in a bid to arrest the country's economic turmoil.

Organized groups ignited May riots, says scholar

Organized groups ignited May riots, says scholar YOGYAKARTA (JP): Last month's rioting, which claimed more than 1,100 lives, was not caused by anti-Chinese bias but by organized groups who exploited ethnic sentiments for their own political interests, a noted political scientist said yesterday.

'Let Timorese decide their own fate'

'Let Timorese decide their own fate' The wind of reform has prompted the government to offer special status to East Timor, the former Portuguese colony that became an Indonesian province in 1976. Political scientist Arbi Sanit of the University of Indonesia thinks that the East Timorese should have...

Bogor Regional Police's new chief

Bogor Regional Police's new chief BOGOR (JP): Col. R. Hari Setyabudhi was installed yesterday as the new chief of the Bogor Regional Police, replacing Col. R. Abubakar Nataprawira.The installation ceremony was held at Pajajaran Stadium here and led by West Java Regional Police chief Maj. Gen.

Existing parties need tuning up, analysts advise

Existing parties need tuning up, analysts advise JAKARTA (JP): Political observers said yesterday that it would be more effective to reform the three main political parties -- the United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- rather than forming myriad small...

S'pore to launch economic measures

S'pore to launch economic measures HONG KONG (Reuters): Singapore will announce on Monday tax cuts and increases in infrastructure spending in a bid to counter the impact of the region's financial crisis, which is forcing the government to lower its 1998 growth forecast, a newspaper reported...

Visa launches new debit card service

Visa launches new debit card service JAKARTA (JP): Visa International launched a new debit card service in Indonesia yesterday to tap into the country's growing number of bank depositors.Visa International country manager for Indonesia Ellyana C.

RI's memorandum of economic and financial policies

RI's memorandum of economic and financial policies The following is the text of Indonesia's Second Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies attached to the letter of intent signed by Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita Thursday in Jakarta. 1.

KPC asks three state mining firms to buy stakes

KPC asks three state mining firms to buy stakes JAKARTA (JP): The country's largest coal mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) has invited three state mining companies PT Tambang Timah, PT Aneka Tambang and PT Batubara Bukit Asam to buy 23 percent of its stake to fulfill a mandatory divestment...

Glodok electronic traders move to Mangga Dua Mall

Glodok electronic traders move to Mangga Dua Mall JAKARTA (JP): More than 300 traders specializing in computer, video and digital compact disc equipment have moved to Mangga Dua Mall from the old Glodok electronics center, which was destroyed in last month's riot.

Social welfare

Social welfare Many steps are being taken to alleviate the suffering of people who lost their possessions during the turmoil of May 14, 1998, or the unemployed who lost their means of making a living. Many welfare institutions distributed staple foods to the people, especially those who live below...

Efficiency drive in East Jakarta

Efficiency drive in East Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): The East Jakarta Mayoralty is striving to substantially slash its expenses in a number of offices in a bid to improve efficiency, mayor Sudarsono said yesterday.

Rupiah, stocks cold on new IMF deal

Rupiah, stocks cold on new IMF deal JAKARTA (JP): The country's financial market was unmoved by a new agreement between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the government yesterday.The rupiah was locked at 14,800 against the U.S. dollar almost the whole trading day and the stock market fell 0.

Trisakti tragedy revisited in documentary film

Trisakti tragedy revisited in documentary filmBy Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): It seems some professionals are always busy, busy, busy. Or, at least, they are pretending to be, whatever the circumstances.

Pasar Jaya to help food distribution

Pasar Jaya to help food distribution JAKARTA (JP): PD Pasar Jaya, the city market managing company, will likely be involved in a food distribution center to be set up by the central government to help facilitate food distribution, an official said.

Alcatel's new cell phone

Alcatel's new cell phone JAKARTA (JP): French telecommunications company Alcatel launched yesterday a new pocket size cellular phone, the Alcatel One Touch Com, for business people."Aside from giving a cellular phone service, Alcatel One Touch Com can also function as personal organizer and...

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 25, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 450 0 0 AHAP Insurance 575 0 0 Alter Abadi 500 -25 120,000 Alumindo Light Metal 300 0 59,000 Alumindo...

OPEC cuts could give Indonesia quick reward

OPEC cuts could give Indonesia quick reward SINGAPORE (Reuters): Crisis stricken Indonesia could reap immediate rewards from its decision to join in with OPEC's plan to cut output and shore up flagging prices, experts said yesterday.

City considers streamlining its agencies

City considers streamlining its agencies JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is studying the possibility of streamlining its 29 agencies by closing some and putting others under one roof, Governor Sutiyoso said yesterday.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Indian Photo Exhibition, National Museum, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat 12, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3811551), Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., until July 1.

EU ambassadors to visit E. Timor

EU ambassadors to visit E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): Three European Union ambassadors will arrive in East Timor tomorrow for a four-day visit, in a move reflecting "continuing and increased concern" over the situation there, the British Foreign Office said in a statement.

Better law enforcement needed

Better law enforcement needed In the wake of the May 14 riots in Jakarta and elsewhere, many Indonesian business people, especially those of Chinese descent, are reported to have fled abroad to find safety and conduct business.Although Armed Forces Chief Gen.

Nonindigenous Indonesians

Nonindigenous IndonesiansFrom KompasI am not an Indonesian of foreign descent but an ethnic Javanese-Indonesian. In the recent riots, many Chinese- Indonesians were hurt. They saw their houses and shops burned down.

Djadja replaces Sjafrie as Jakarta military chief

Djadja replaces Sjafrie as Jakarta military chief JAKARTA (JP): Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin will be replaced as chief of the Jakarta Military Command after serving only eight months in the post.The new incoming commander is Maj. Gen.

Kobe completes RI expansion

Kobe completes RI expansion TOKYO (Dow Jones): A Japanese consortium of companies led by Kobe Steel Ltd has completed expansion of a chlor-alkali plant in Indonesia and the facility has begun commercial production, the major steelmaker said yesterday.

Opel offers incentive to reinforce sales

Opel offers incentive to reinforce sales JAKARTA (JP): Opel has launched a new incentive program -- 5,000 liters of free gasoline and three years of free servicing and spare parts for every Blazer car purchased -- to boost flagging sales in the country's sluggish automotive market.Terence B.

Govt's letter of intent to the IMF

Govt's letter of intent to the IMF JAKARTA (JP): This is the full text of the latest letter of intent from the government of Indonesia, signed by Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita, to the International Monetary Fund's Managing Director Michel...

Dire consequences

Dire consequencesFrom Bisnis IndonesiaAllow me to share my painful sorrow as a result of the May 14 tragedy, which is still very much alive in my memory.One of my friends, a young woman who was going to be married this year, was seriously injured on that fateful day.

A pact with the IMF

A pact with the IMF The government has signed yet another letter of intent with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pledging to implement economic reform measures in return for the US$43 billion international assistance that the agency has organized for Indonesia.