Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 August 1998

48 articles found

Tolerance in the name of love

Tolerance in the name of love It's been a time of tense two-way traffic in letters from one supporter (so far) of Mr. Masli Arman and a group of people who stand against him. I myself do not expect to escalate tensions further, but rather wish to speak out all in the name of love (God's love).

Red Cross emblems violated during political upheavals

Red Cross emblems violated during political upheavals By Fadillah Agus JAKARTA (JP): The chaotic events leading up to the downfall of former president Soeharto saw several instances in which the emblem of the Red Cross was not respected or was misused. Several media reports cited cases in which security personnel treated health care volunteers wearing Red Cross badges violently during various student demonstrations across the country.

16-year-old boy arrested for Ciledug killings

16-year-old boy arrested for Ciledug killings TANGERANG (JP): Police have arrested a boy for the violent murder of a housewife and her niece on Jl. Taman Asri Lama in Kampung Cipadu, Ciledug district, an official said here Saturday. Tangerang Police Chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto told The Jakarta Post that the alleged killer, Priyono, 16, was arrested about two and a half hours after the two bodies were found 9 a.m. Friday.

JAA to raise Taipei flights

JAA to raise Taipei flights HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Taiwan has decided in principle to accept Japan's request to increase by 40 the number of annual charter flights by Japan Asia Airways (JAA) to Taipei, Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported Saturday, according to the Kyodo News Service.

Indonesian economy not ruined

Indonesian economy not ruined By C.J. de Koning This is the first of two articles on the Indonesian currency. JAKARTA (JP): Money provides power -- the power to purchase goods and services and the power to save. Many individuals, corporate treasurers and finance ministers would like to have more money at their disposal. Money determines whether families or countries can feed themselves or must starve.

CA asks banks for debt moratorium

CA asks banks for debt moratorium TOKYO (Nikkei): PT Chandra Asri Petrochemical Center has asked banks for a three-year moratorium on repayments of a US$830 million loan, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun Saturday morning edition reported, citing sources at the Japanese companies. The banking syndicate is expected to accept the request and is likely to reach final agreement with the venture by the end of this month.

ABRI should revise political role

ABRI should revise political role Aceh's "Skulls Hill" controversy is the latest blow to the Armed Forces' (ABRI) reputation, which has already been battered by numerous incidents, including the shooting of students and the kidnapping of activists. Hermawan Sulistiyo, a political researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, suggests ways on how ABRI could improve its image. Question: ABRI has been linked to many cases of human rights violations.

TV today

TV today TVRI 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:35 TV Series: The Big Valley 3:05 Documentary: Kisah di Balik Monumen 3:30 TV Drama: Adik-adikku Tersayang 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 6:15 Sports: Monitor Olah Raga 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Cultural Program: Bohusami 8:00 News: Lintasan Berita 8:05 Cultural Program: Bohusami (contd.)...

Mercedes-Benz to stay in Indonesia despite crisis

Mercedes-Benz to stay in Indonesia despite crisis JAKARTA (JP): German carmaker Mercedes-Benz plans to keep its Indonesian operation despite the expected more than 80 percent drop in sales this year, the company has said. Mercedes-Benz Group of Indonesia president, Frank Messer, said over the weekend the company would likely get capital injection from its principle in Germany in order to maintain operations here.

Government urged to attract more Chinese tourists

Government urged to attract more Chinese tourists JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia should attempt to lure more tourists from China in an effort to help revive the tourism industry which has been badly hit by the recent political upheavals and the economic crisis, according to a former tourism official. Andi Mappisameng, former director general of tourism, said over the weekend that some six million tourists from China traveled overseas every year.

Australia to roll over debt

Australia to roll over debt YOGYAKARTA (JP): Australia plans to reschedule its US$1.4 billion loan to the Indonesian government in a bid to help Jakarta cope with its crippling economic crisis, an Australian official has said. John Dauth, the deputy secretary of Australia's foreign affairs and trade department, said his government understood Indonesia's difficulties and that Canberra had drafted a plan to roll over its loan to help ease its neighbor's financial problems.

Business recovery scheme initiated in Surakarta

Business recovery scheme initiated in Surakarta SURAKARTA, C. Java (JP): The government has launched a multi- billion rupiah program to reconstruct business in this historical city which was severely damaged during two days of mass looting and arson one week before the end of Soeharto's 32-year rule in May. Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto, Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan and Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen.

Singapore, RI to talk trade

Singapore, RI to talk trade SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Singapore and Indonesia agreed to resume talks over a Singapore plan to guarantee payment for Indonesian imports, the Straits Times newspaper reported Saturday, citing an unidentified Singapore official. Goh Chok Tong, Singapore's prime minister, raised the subject earlier this year when Indonesian manufacturers were thwarted from importing raw materials because foreign banks refused to honor letters of credit issued by Indonesian banks.

Scam through telephone

Scam through telephone From Neraca The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) has, of late, received a lot of complaints from consumers assumed to have fallen prey to a scam with a lottery prize as a cover. The victims, most of whom live outside Jakarta or Java, receive a phone call from someone claiming to live in Jakarta, telling them convincingly that they have won from a certain agency a prize, either an automobile, a motorcycle or a computer.

Return of confidence vital: Mari

Return of confidence vital: Mari JAKARTA (JP): The government's target to lift the country out of its economic crisis by 2000 will largely depend on efforts to win back hard-to-obtain confidence in the country, according to economists. Mari E.

Moslems warned against being used as political tool

Moslems warned against being used as political tool JAKARTA (JP): Observers are warning the Moslem community against being exploited as a political tool to legitimize the status quo, as has been done in the past. A.

Layoffs

Layoffs The company where I was once employed, PT IBP, located on the fifth floor of Plaza Aminta, Jl. TB Simatupang Kav.

ABRI to get new role in Irian Jaya

ABRI to get new role in Irian Jaya JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) is changing its approach in Irian Jaya in a bid to win the hearts of people there, with its highest regional commander pledging Saturday to look after local villagers rather than fight separatist rebels. Trikora Regional Military Chief Maj. Gen.

No near-term upside in Indonesia: Amatil

No near-term upside in Indonesia: Amatil SYDNEY (Reuters): Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd Managing Director David Kennedy said on Sunday he did not see any upside in the soft drink bottler's Indonesian operations for some time. "I think in the case of Indonesia I would say that our business has bottomed out there and assuming that there's no other social or political shock, that we're about where we're going to be for a while," Kennedy told the Nine Network's Business Sunday.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: A Part of Indonesian Historical Journey, 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. to 1:30 a.m., until Aug. 24. * Painting Exhibition: Laga Lukis dan Amal Patra 13 1998, at Jl. Ampera Raya 25, South Jakarta (Phone: 78832989), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Sept. 5.

Juwono to open photo exhibition

Juwono to open photo exhibition JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono is scheduled to open a photo exhibition on the student movement at Bentara Budaya on Jl. Palmerah Selatan, 25 in Central Jakarta today. The four-day exhibition has been put together by students from the University of Indonesia to commemorate Indonesia's 53rd anniversary of independence, Deny Rahman Saleh, head of the organizing committee, said.

5,000 Moslems pray for end to crisis

5,000 Moslems pray for end to crisis KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least 5,000 Moslems attended a mass prayer, known as Istighosah kubro, here yesterday to ask for divine help to lift Indonesia out of its problems, Antara reported. Waves of people from the provincial capital, Kupang, and the districts of Timor Tengah Selatan, Timor Tengah Utara and Belu began flooding into the East Nusa Tenggara Provincial Police soccer field at 6 a.m.

Indonesia orders 500,000 tons of Thai rice

Indonesia orders 500,000 tons of Thai rice BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand has agreed to export 500,000 tons of rice to Indonesia between September this year and January 1999 for close to 6 billion baht (US$143 million), news reports said Saturday.

Caltex says govt may extend oil field contract

Caltex says govt may extend oil field contract JAKARTA (JP): The country's biggest oil producer, PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia (CPI), said the government was considering extending its contract in the Coastal Plains Pakanbaru (CPP) oil field in Riau which expires in 2001. CPI president Baihaki Hakim said over the weekend that it would need a huge investment to develop the field which contributes an average of US$400 million to the government's coffers every year.

Airline employees plan to set up workers' union

Airline employees plan to set up workers' union JAKARTA (JP): More than 70 local airline employees and those who already dismissed from airlines have agreed to set up a powerful union that would cover workers of all sectors of the airline industry.

Armed forces should quit politics, says observer

Armed forces should quit politics, says observer JAKARTA (JP): A civil society cannot be developed if the Armed Forces (ABRI) remains entrenched in the political system because events over the past 30 years show that its presence stifles democracy, senior political scientist Arbi Sanit said here Saturday. Arbi of the University of Indonesia's School of Social and Political Sciences said the Armed Forces must abandon its sociopolitical role and return to a strict role of defense and security.

Puncak entertainment spots 'should be shut'

Puncak entertainment spots 'should be shut' BOGOR (JP): Over 300 Moslem preachers and residents of the mountainous Puncak area visited the local regency office in Cibinong Saturday, demanding the regent permanently close all entertainment spots in their area. According to the protesters, the decision made by Bogor Regent Eddie Yoso Martadipura Wednesday to temporarily close the establishments dissatisfied them.

City growth to be minus 17.6%

City growth to be minus 17.6% JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's economy is expected to contract by 17.62 percent this year, down substantially from the 5.01 percent growth recorded last year, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said Saturday. "The figure is the lowest for the last 30 years, during which the city has never recorded a negative growth rate," BPS official Rusman Heriawan was quoted by Antara as saying.

Indonesia may import more wheat and sugar in September

Indonesia may import more wheat and sugar in September BANGKOK (Reuters): Indonesia's National Logistics Agency (Bulog) may issue a tender in September to buy more wheat and sugar, the agency top official said yesterday. Beddu Amang, chairman of Bulog, told Reuters the agency might buy 700,000 tons of wheat and 100,000-200,000 tons of white sugar next month. "For this year (April-March), we need to import around 4.25 million tons of wheat grain.

Two more political parties established yesterday

Two more political parties established yesterday JAKARTA (JP): Nearly 10,000 Moslems gathered at the Al Azhar Grand Mosque yesterday to mark the birth of the Justice Party established by a group of young intellectuals. Boasting the support of student groups in 21 provinces, the new party -- which can be added to an already long list of 56 parties created over the past three months -- promised to strive to find ways to help the nation out of the crisis.

Yogyakarta's special status debated

Yogyakarta's special status debated YOGYAKARTA (JP): A royal row is brewing here with President B.J. Habibie likely having to decide whether someone other than a descendant of the Yogyakarta aristocracy would be eligible to become governor of the special province.

RP ready for yuan devaluation

RP ready for yuan devaluation DAVAO CITY (DPA): President Joseph Estrada Saturday assured that his economic managers will work double time to prepare for the possibility of a devaluation of the Chinese yuan as the government reeled from a 1.28 per cent drop in the peso to its lowest level in six months at the close of the week's trade. "We will have to work double time.

Acehnese rejoice over withdrawal decision

Acehnese rejoice over withdrawal decision JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of Acehnese living in Jakarta, including United Development Party (PPP) chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, held a prayer here to express their joy and relief over the recent Armed Forces' decision to withdraw its troops from Aceh. Gathered at the Al Azhar Grand Mosque, the Acehnese said they welcomed the move because the westernmost province had suffered from widespread violence and terror over the past 10 years.

S'pore economy slows and sees deficit, Goh says

S'pore economy slows and sees deficit, Goh says SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Saturday that second-quarter growth in Singapore had slowed and the rest of the year would be worse. "After a revised growth of 6.1 percent in the first quarter, (the economy) registered only 1.6 percent in the second quarter. It will slow further in the second half," he said in his national day message. Singapore celebrates its 33rd year of independence on August 9th.

It's business as usual in downtown Kota

It's business as usual in downtown Kota By Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Shop owners in the downtown Kota areas of Pinangsia and Mangga Dua plan to go about their routines and make no preparations in response to widespread rumors of renewed unrest occurring in the capital on Aug. 17. Contacted by The Jakarta Post on Saturday, traders of Chinese medicines, food, swallows' nests, cosmetics and clothes said the rumors would not stop them from opening their shops.

Nurdin Halid questioned

Nurdin Halid questioned UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: The provincial prosecutor's office plans to question a member of the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly this week over the embezzlement of Rp 50 billion (US$3.85 million) from a farmers cooperative fund. Chief prosecutor Gagoek Subahyanto acknowledged he had been pressured to make legislator Nurdin Halid face legal authorities in Jakarta. The commander of the Wirabuana Military Command, Maj. Gen.

S'pore marks independence

S'pore marks independence SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore celebrated 33 years of independence yesterday but a simmering row with Malaysia highlighted the strained relations since the city-state split from the Malaysian Federation in 1965. Ties have soured over the moving of railway checkpoint posts and last Saturday night, Singapore leaders took the opportunity at celebratory dinners to reply to rhetoric from their northern neighbor.

Stock market expected to remain under pressure

Stock market expected to remain under pressure JAKARTA (JP): Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) are expected to remain stagnant this week as the bearish sentiment pervading regional markets is likely to cast a shadow on trading activities in the local bourse, stock analysts and brokers said.

Violent riot in Surakarta saddens Wiranto

Violent riot in Surakarta saddens Wiranto SOLO, Central Java (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Affairs/Armed Forces Chief Gen. Wiranto on a visit to Surakarta, Central Java, Saturday expressed surprise that the reform movement could alter a town famous for its gentle nature, into a mob of lawless citizens.

Sense of crisis lacking

Sense of crisis lacking From Bisnis Indonesia It is not quite wrong if a certain party suggested that the government and the House of Representatives have not fully shown a sense of crisis. First, this lack of sense of crisis is evident in the government's plan to allocate a gift of a house (or palace?) worth Rp 26,500 billion to former president Soeharto. Second, the government also plans to issue interest-free credit of Rp 40 million to House members to purchase a car.

Antimonopoly law will open businesses to all

Antimonopoly law will open businesses to all By Ronald Nangoi JAKARTA (JP): The planned introduction of an antimonopoly law in the near future is likely to satisfy demands for measures against business monopolies and oligopolies in Indonesia. When the planned law is enacted, more people will have fair access to do business and the currently high level of industrial concentration will be reduced.

Two-faced baby dies of alleged starvation

Two-faced baby dies of alleged starvation BOGOR (JP): A baby girl who was born with two faces in Kampung Cangkurawok, Babakan village, Darmaga district, allegedly starved to death on Friday afternoon, a relative said yesterday. Yunani Yunana was born to her mother, 17-year-old Maryati, at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in a local clinic with the help of a nurse. Her grandmother, Satni, 60, said Maryati was unable to breast feed the baby for medical reasons and her mouth was too small to suckle on a bottle.

Traditional oil workers fight to survive

Traditional oil workers fight to survive By Gin Kurniawan and Risang Pamungkastiran BOJONEGORO, East Java (JP): It is surprising that in our age of modern technology, some oil drilling activities today are managed the way they were a century ago. Such traditional mining techniques are still carried out in the middle of a teak forest in the hilly area of Wonocolo, Kasiman subdistrict, some 75 km west of Bojonegoro, East Java.

Kunarto not to vie for top audit agency post

Kunarto not to vie for top audit agency post JAKARTA (JP): Former national police chief Gen. (ret) Kunarto has pulled his name from those being considered for the Supreme Audit Agency's (BPK) top post in protest over what he perceived as an effort by President B.J. Habibie to force a certain deputy chairman on him. His withdrawal leaves the field to only two nominees for Habibie to appoint: former minister of finance Mar'ie Muhammad and economist Zaki Baridwan.

Bomb thrower 'has personality disorder'

Bomb thrower 'has personality disorder' JAKARTA (JP): Psychiatrists presume that the sole suspect of last week's lobbing of two Molotov cocktails at the official residence of Governor Sutiyoso in Menteng, Central Jakarta, has a personality disorder, an officer said. City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman told the media on Saturday that the disorder had led the police to temporarily treat the 24-year-old suspect, Dino, "with special care".

Canberra to help public campaign

Canberra to help public campaign YOGYAKARTA: Australia is allocating A$250,000 to projects aimed at facilitating the establishment of a civil society in Indonesia, an Australian official says. Richard Woolcott of the Australia-Indonesia Institute (AII) said here Friday the fund would be used to finance the activities of some post-Soeharto non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Laws against Chinese culture

Laws against Chinese culture Jusuf Wanandi, in his article Indonesia must win back its Chinese community made some important suggestions for racial harmony in Indonesia. But he did not mention the need to repeal the laws against Chinese names, literature, religion and ceremonies. While people of some other ethnic groups, such as the Irianese and Dayaks, suffer discrimination in some of these areas, only the Chinese suffer such a wide range of assaults on their ancestral traditions.

Scanning technology reaches a new level with new product

Scanning technology reaches a new level with new product By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): My HP ScanJet IIC has just celebrated its seventh year of existence. Still, it does not show its age very much, except the warming up phase seems to take longer now. It also stops working when it gets a little overheated. Honestly speaking, I no longer take a good care of this flatbed scanner, thinking its useful life is nearing an end. Somehow, it still persists.