Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 June 1998

51 articles found

Sumatran rhinos becoming fewer

Sumatran rhinos becoming fewer KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Fewer than five endangered Sumatran rhinoceros have survived in a major wildlife habitat in West Malaysia, a local newspaper reported yesterday.A survey conducted by Malaysia's Department of Wildlife and National Parks indicated the number of...

Wells, lakes best way to fight floods

Wells, lakes best way to fight floodsBy Sapto HP JAKARTA (Antara): The huge flood which swamped Jakarta in 1996 is still fresh in our minds. It wrought havoc on the lives of people living near riverbanks from Manggarai to the Thamrin- Sudirman area.The flood was exceptionally widespread.

IPB calls on alumni to help farmers

IPB calls on alumni to help farmers BOGOR (JP): Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) has offered all of its graduates the chance to participate in a two year scheme which they said could help country farmers to increase the yield and quality of their crops.

Regent makes move against nepotism

Regent makes move against nepotism JAKARTA (JP): Bogor Regent Eddie Yoso Martadipura has abruptly canceled the appointment of his son-in-law Iskandar as the new head of the town's planning agency, saying that the latter has not yet received the governor's decree for the job.

Size issue in forestry areas

Size issue in forestry areas JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Forestry and Plantations is mulling the possibility of setting a minimum size for forest concession areas operated by timber companies, a senior official said Friday.

Customs and excise chief calls it quits

Customs and excise chief calls it quits JAKARTA (JP): Soehardjo, former president Soeharto's brother- in-law, has quit his position as director general of customs and excise to give way to the smooth process of reform at his office.

Everyone concerned about nation is `indigenous': Habibie

Everyone concerned about nation is `indigenous': Habibie JAKARTA (JP): Every citizen concerned about and committed to improving the fate of the nation is indigenous, regardless of their ethnic group, President B.J. Habibie said here Saturday.

Hayono names three as possible Golkar head

Hayono names three as possible Golkar head JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of sports and youth affairs Hayono Isman has named former vice president Try Sutrisno, Yogyakarta's Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X and former minister of defense Edi Sudrajat as potential candidates to replace incumbent Harmoko...

SE Asian growth sustainable only after fiscal reform

SE Asian growth sustainable only after fiscal reform SINGAPORE (AP): Sustainable growth could return to Southeast Asia in three to five years, but only after financial and banking reform, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan said in remarks made available yesterday.

RI economy on treshhold of depression, Sumitro says

RI economy on treshhold of depression, Sumitro says JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's economics guru Sumitro Djojohadikusumo is suggesting that the government use US$3 billion to $5 billion out of the IMF-arranged $43 billion bailout fund to recapitalize millions of small and medium-scale businesses that...

A blot on our record

A blot on our record It is easy to assert that the riots that swept through Jakarta from May 13 to May 15 were the most savage the Indonesian capital has seen in as long as most Jakartans can remember. Everybody witnessed or watched on TV some of the violence, looting and burning that killed more...

Human rights activist takes firm line on corruption

Human rights activist takes firm line on corruption It is no secret that corruption is a rampant practice in Indonesia, inflicting huge losses to the state. Last month, a number of people set up the Movement of Concerned Citizens on State Assets (Gempita) in their effort to save the misappropriated...

Govt faces hurdles in distributing cooking oil

Govt faces hurdles in distributing cooking oil JAKARTA (JP): The government has admitted that obstacles in the cooking oil distribution chain are still hampering efforts to stabilize the price and ensure a constant supply of the essential commodity.

Malaysia forms multimedia ministry

Malaysia forms multimedia ministry KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia will merge its information ministry and the energy, telecommunications and posts portfolio, the national Bernama news agency reported yesterday.

Real bullet found exhumed body of Trisakti student

Real bullet found exhumed body of Trisakti student JAKARTA (JP): A real bullet was removed from the body of one of four Trisakti University students killed during a demonstration on May 12, a forensic expert said yesterday.

Political doubt remains problem in capital mart

Political doubt remains problem in capital mart JAKARTA (JP): High interest rates and political uncertainty will continue to cast a shadow over the capital market in the immediate future, analysts have said.

PAL fires al striking pilots

PAL fires al striking pilots MANILA (AP): Philippine Airlines announced yesterday it was firing all striking pilots who had defied a return to work order, plunging the financially-troubled airline into one of its biggest labor crises.

Community newspapers help boost literacy

Community newspapers help boost literacyBy A Chaedar Alwasilah BANDUNG (JP): British sociologist Basil Bernstein (1958) introduced a theory of linguistic deficiency, hypothesizing that access to social privileges depends to a certain extent on one's linguistic ability to communicate.

Marcos accused of stealing

Marcos accused of stealing MANILA (DPA): Former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos allegedly stole a Mother-Pearl icon and a frame containing her picture from a shrine in her eastern home province of Leyte, a report said yesterday.

Act of chivalry

Act of chivalry Megawati Soekarnoputri's call on all Indonesians to stop defiling fallen president Soeharto was an act of chivalry. Having endured the same agony of being publicly defiled when her father was ousted, she could indeed empathize with Soeharto's family.

Multipolar workers stage rally

Multipolar workers stage rally TANGERANG (JP): More than 1,200 employees of private retail company PT Multipolar Perkasa staged a protest in front of their head office in Karawaci over the weekend, demanding the company clarify their employment status.

S'pore pproperty mart default

S'pore pproperty mart default SINGAPORE (AP): The weak local property market has suffered its first big default, when a Singapore-Hong Kong joint venture missed a deadline to pay 68.6 million Singapore dollars (US$41 million) on a plot for condominium development.

S'pore medicine too costly for some

S'pore medicine too costly for some KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Cost-conscious residents of Singapore have been heading to neighboring Malaysia for cheaper medical treatment, a Malaysian newspaper reported yesterday.

Total reform can't come in half measures

Total reform can't come in half measuresBy Rahayu Ratnaningsih JAKARTA (JP): The nation has just witnessed a critical turning point with the downfall of Soeharto. While the throne has yet to cool, the arena he left behind has turned full circle.

Van der Horst to enter oil and gas sector

Van der Horst to enter oil and gas sector JAKARTA (JP): The publicly-listed flexible packaging manufacturer PT Van der Horst Indonesia (VDHI) plans to move into the Indonesian oil and gas sector through a joint venture operation, a top company official said.

Conference on global drug problem

Conference on global drug problem UNITED NATIONS (AP): Leaders of the world's major drug- producing and drug-consuming nations will open a three-day conference today to combat trafficking, curb demand and strengthen global cooperation in the fight against drugs.

House should 'scrutinize' candidates for keys posts

House should 'scrutinize' candidates for keys posts JAKARTA (JP): Political scientist Ryaas Rasyid, a member of a committee reviewing the five political laws which govern the current political system, said the House of Representatives should be given the right to scrutinize candidates chosen by the...

List of several Indonesian-related sites and homepages:

List of several Indonesian-related sites and homepages: Gema Madani (http://www.pdat.com/madani/) Indo Chaos!! (http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/3233/) Watch Indonesia (http://www.snafu.de/~watchin/) Xpos (http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/xp/) Indonesia - L (http://www.indopubs.

Parents storm school over sudden tuition fee hike

Parents storm school over sudden tuition fee hike TANGERANG (JP): Over 150 students' parents stormed private Ricci II Catholic school on Jl. Utama II near Bintaro here on Saturday in protest of the school management's decision to raise tuition fees by up to 50 percent without consulting them.

Nation needs fresh elections soon

Nation needs fresh elections soonBy T. Mulya Lubis JAKARTA (JP): Waves of student demonstrations helped force Soeharto to resign, but the demands for reinstatement of the people's sovereignty are still far off the target.B.J.

Misperception on ethnic Chinese

Misperception on ethnic Chinese Demands for reform in all fields are being yelled out everywhere. I would like to suggest the reformers reform the misleading perception toward ethnic Chinese. It is common knowledge that some Indonesians relate the majority of Chinese- Indonesians who were born in...

Three states to join naval operations

Three states to join naval operations PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Singapore and Japan will take part in naval civic operations in South Sumatra, Palembang Navy Chief Commodore Nuranto was quoted by Antara as saying here Saturday.

Newmont's gold yields surge in first quarter

Newmont's gold yields surge in first quarter JAKARTA (JP): Private gold mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (PTMNR) reported an increase in gold production to 58,000 ounces in the first quarter of this year, 49 percent more than the 39,000 ounces produced in the same period last year.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:35 TV Series: The Big Valley 3:05 Talk Show: Sebaiknya Anda Tahu 3:30 TV Drama: Kado 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Creative Program: Karya Kita 5:00 Indonesian Lessons 5:30 Education Quiz: Tangkas Cermat 6:00 News: Lintasan Berita 6:05 My Country: Rona Nusantara...

Soeharto greets birthday in different atmosphere

Soeharto greets birthday in different atmosphere JAKARTA (JP): Soeharto once told B.J. Habibie that it was lonely at the top. The former president who turns 77 today may be finding life can be even lonelier at the bottom.

Internet replaces bamboo spears in fight for freedom

Internet replaces bamboo spears in fight for freedomBy Hanny Agustine JAKARTA (JP): Remember when you were in primary school and asked "What did Indonesian heroes use to fight against the Dutch in 1945?" The answer: Many used bamboo spears.

S'pore RI exposure declines

S'pore RI exposure declines SINGAPORE (Reuters): United Overseas Bank has cut its $999 million Singapore dollars loan exposure to Indonesia as of the end of 1997 by about one third, a bank spokeswoman said on Saturday.

Public expects more from 'freed' press

Public expects more from 'freed' press JAKARTA (JP): The government's decision last week to eliminate press bans has caused a surge in public expectations over the roles the media should play in society.Communications expert M.

Sjahril disappointed by rupiah

Sjahril disappointed by rupiah BASEL (Dow Jones): Life has been hard recently for Indonesian Central Bank Governor Sjahril Sabirin, and he doesn't see it getting much easier in months to come.Still, he does see some bright spots.

No new dengue cases last week

No new dengue cases last week JAKARTA (JP): City hospitals have not received any new dengue patients beginning last week, an official said Saturday.City Health Office spokeswoman Maryani said the good news seemed to contradict a World Health Organization prediction that the country's dengue fever...

Nahdlatul Ulama set to establish new political party

Nahdlatul Ulama set to establish new political party SEMARANG (JP): Hundreds of leaders of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) have agreed to set up a political party -- 14 years after Indonesia's largest Islamic organization shunned politics.

City officials lambasted over huge budget losses

City officials lambasted over huge budget losses JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor lambasted city administration officials yesterday for chronic corruption and collusion practices as the reason behind the huge amount of money missing from the city budget.

Lee warns of yuan devaluation

Lee warns of yuan devaluation SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew said further depreciation of the Japanese yen against the dollar could pressure China eventually into letting the yuan fall, state television said on Saturday.

Law needed to protect minority interests

Law needed to protect minority interests The mass rioting in Jakarta and other cities in the middle of May badly affected many businesses owned by Chinese Indonesians. Director of the Indonesian Business Data Center, Christianto Wibisono,proposes measures to revive their businesses.

PLN annuls deal with private firm

PLN annuls deal with private firm JAKARTA (JP): State-owned electricity company PLN has unilaterally annulled its power purchase contract with PT Cikarang Listrindo after the latter refused to renegotiate their deal.

Free and fair press

Free and fair press Freedom of expression, that inalienable right guaranteed by our Constitution, has flourished in Indonesia these past few months after being virtually missing for more than two decades.It has returned together with the current reform movement.

Thousands bury reform activist

Thousands bury reform activist SURAKARTA, Central Java: Thousands of people, mostly students, thronged to the reburial of reform activist Leonardus "Gilang" Nugroho Iskandar who was found dead in East Java last month.

Jakarta: The good, bad and ugly

Jakarta: The good, bad and ugly I am an American expatriate teaching in Surabaya. On May 28, I had to visit the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta about a problem I had. While in Jakarta, I had a chance to see and experience the worst and best the capital currently has to offer expats.

Minister asked to punish plantation firms

Minister asked to punish plantation firms JAKARTA (JP): The provincial office of the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations in West Kalimantan is seeking the revocation of the licenses of 21 palm oil and rubber plantation companies in the province.

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, June 8, 1998

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, June 8, 1998Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Fenomena Ayam, by Syarief Hidayat, at Galeri TC, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 24A, South Jakarta (Phone: 7194278), Sunday, at 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., Friday to Saturday 11:30 a.m.

Malaysia cuts tourism target

Malaysia cuts tourism target KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia has lowered its targets on tourist arrivals for the next three years following last year's poor showing, a newspaper said Saturday.This year, Malaysia hopes to attract 6.8 million tourists, a sharp drop from an earlier target of 10.