Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 16 January 1999

49 articles found

Violence likely to continue in 1999

Violence likely to continue in 1999 JAKARTA (JP): Violence is likely to continue during the year as the nation has not proved itself able to tolerate and accept political differences, observers said on Friday.

Pepabri members may support new Justice and Unity Party

Pepabri members may support new Justice and Unity Party JAKARTA (JP): Former members of Golkar established here on Friday the Justice and Unity Party (PKP), which some analysts believed would "deflate" the dominant grouping and become a serious poll contender.

Giri to witness major exodus

Giri to witness major exodus JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Communications Giri Suseno is scheduled on Saturday to witness the departure of 12,000 herbal medicine sellers at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Business loans are available, govt assures

Business loans are available, govt assures JAKARTA (JP): The government assured exporters on Friday that trade financing and credit facilities were available even though the establishment of the much-awaited Export Financing Agency had yet to come about.

Aussie moved to Maesa jail

Aussie moved to Maesa jail PALU, Central Sulawesi: The Palu immigration office has moved Raul Antonio, 39, an Australian tourist who on Monday tried to torch an immigration office cell, to Maesa penitentiary before deporting him.

RI seeks US$5b in new loans

RI seeks US$5b in new loans JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia expects to secure US$5 billion from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and Japan to help finance the 1999/2000 budget deficit, according to Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita.

Farmers resort to detergent to kill pests

Farmers resort to detergent to kill pests SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): Frustrated by soaring pesticide prices, farmers in Mariyai village have begun spraying their paddy stalks with diluted detergent and soap.

New age sparks millenarianism

New age sparks millenarianismBy Marianus Kleden This is the second of two articles about a new age in the new spirit of millenarianism. KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Millenarianism, which seems prevalent among Indonesians nowadays as they look forward to the coming of a just leader, is...

Airport arrivals to pay new taxi charge

Airport arrivals to pay new taxi charge JAKARTA (JP): The state airport management company PT Angkasa Pura II announced on Thursday that it would set additional fare charges for members of the public catching taxis at Soekarno- Hatta airport.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Calligraphy Exhibition: by Yoesoef Effendie, at Jl. Mesjid I/19, Pejompongan, West Jakarta (Phone: 5733912), until Jan. 18. * Batik, Furniture Exhibition: Batik dan Antik, at Galeri TC, Jl. Kemang Raya No. 24A, South Jakarta (Phone: 7194278), Sunday, at 10:30 a.

Myanmar issues protest to Thailand

Myanmar issues protest to Thailand BANGKOK (AP): Myanmar's Foreign Ministry has summoned Thailand's ambassador in Yangon to protest over what it said was an unprovoked attack by the Thai Navy on one of its patrol boats, the ministry said on Friday.

Allianz opens branch

Allianz opens branch JAKARTA (JP): Insurance company PT Asuransi Allianz Aken Life has opened a branch office in the South Sulawesi capital Ujungpandang as part of its expansion program.The office, Graha Allianz, will provide easy access to financial consultants who will assist clients in planning...

Acehnese seek justice for ABRI atrocities

Acehnese seek justice for ABRI atrocitiesBy Ridwan Max Sijabat LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh (JP): The outgoing chief of the Armed Forces (ABRI) General Affairs, Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi, was greeted during his one-day visit here on Friday by around 100 locals who delivered strong demands for justice for past...

Rupiah dives further after Brazil scare

Rupiah dives further after Brazil scare JAKARTA (JP): The country's crippled rupiah tumbled again on Friday to hit an intraday low of 9,300 against the U.S. dollar as stock prices plunged 1.5 percent for the third consecutive day.

DHL to expand business

DHL to expand business JAKARTA (JP): International courier company DHL Worldwide Express has targeted a 5 percent increase in its business in Indonesia for 1999 despite the economic slump.PT Birotika Semesta/DHL Worldwide Express said in a statement on Thursday that it planned to add several new...

Malaysia denies plotting to descredit Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia denies plotting to descredit Anwar Ibrahim KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia denounced on Friday a Singapore newspaper that said Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and trusted supporters met secretly in November to plot strategy against former cabinet minister Anwar Ibrahim.

ABRI yet to prove 'its reform is beyond rhetoric'

ABRI yet to prove 'its reform is beyond rhetoric' DEPOK, West Java (JP): Political science lecturers at the University of Indonesia are so far not convinced that the Armed Forces' reform promises are anything more than rhetoric.

Six die of dengue in Central Java

Six die of dengue in Central Java TEGAL, Central Java: Six people have died of dengue fever in the past week among 474 patients admitted to two hospitals here. Most patients came from towns, the head of the health agency, Siti Rochmah said.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 15, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 400 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 25 115,000 Alumindo Light Metal 275 -25 25,000...

Bira joins govt's plan

Bira joins govt's plan JAKARTA (JP): Publicly-listed Bank Bira, currently under the control of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, has confirmed that it would participate in the government's recapitalization program.

BI's local office catches fire

BI's local office catches fire BANDUNG: The local office of the central bank, Bank Indonesia, caught fire on Thursday evening, Antara reported.Part of the building's parking area was destroyed, as well as dozens of boxes used to transport money.The fire was discovered at about 8:30 p.m.

All dollars not created equal?

All dollars not created equal?From KompasOn Jan. 13 I went to Bank Central Dagang's Kedoya branch in West Jakarta to exchange US$250. The bank's rate was Rp 8,050 to the dollar. But the teller would not exchange my money at the prevailing rate because the banknotes were issued in 1990, 1991 and...

Fewer passengers leave city by plane

Fewer passengers leave city by plane JAKARTA (JP): The outflow of city residents via airlines at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport as of Tuesday, seven days ahead of the Idul Fitri celebration, has fallen by 40 percent from last year's number, an official said on Wednesday.

Independent BI

Independent BI The draft law on the central bank (Bank Indonesia), proposed to the House of Representatives on Wednesday, is part of the overall restructuring of the banking industry. The legislation, designed to shield the monetary authorities from the myopic interests of politicians, will address...

Study room set up to help poor kids

Study room set up to help poor kids JAKARTA (JP): The Nanda Dian Nusantara foundation inaugurated the operation of a study room in the Cilincing slum area in North Jakarta on Thursday with the aim of enabling local children from poor families to attend school.

House wraps up debate on bills until Jan. 25

House wraps up debate on bills until Jan. 25 JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives ended its deliberations of the political bills on Friday for the beginning of the week-long Idul Fitri holiday, practically closing the door on any new attempts to change the outcome of the bills.

BNI plans rights shares

BNI plans rights shares JAKARTA (JP): State-owned, publicly-listed Bank Negara Indonesia plans to issue rights shares in March to improve its capital structure.BNI president Widigdo Sukarman said the size of the issue was currently being discussed with the Ministry of Finance and the central bank,...

Religious figures and politics

Religious figures and politicsFrom Pikiran RakyatI find the following news report, published in a number of dailies on Dec. 22, interesting to respond to: "The National Committee of Human Rights also very much hopes that religious figures will intensify their efforts to teach their followers.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for JakartaSaturdayMaghrib 6:18 p.m.SundayImsak 4:17 a.m.Subuh 4.27 a.m.

Students need not seek leading figures: Jalaluddin

Students need not seek leading figures: JalaluddinBy M.M.I Ahyani BANDUNG (JP): Jalaluddin Rahmat is officially a political communications professor at Padjadjaran University, but since 1992 he has not been given any teaching assignments nor has he been told why.

Congress to discuss social safety net program

Congress to discuss social safety net program JAKARTA (JP): The social safety net program will be at the top of the agenda at the national congress of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Family Welfare Institute when it opens here next month.President B.J.

SE Asian monies mostly down; Singapore dollar safe haven

SE Asian monies mostly down; Singapore dollar safe haven SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies -- with the exception of the Singapore dollar -- were lower against the U.S. dollar in late trading Friday.The Indonesian rupiah, Thai baht and the Philippines peso all languished.

Attorney General urged to speed up BRI inquiry

Attorney General urged to speed up BRI inquiry JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has called on the Attorney General's Office to speed up an investigation of alleged corruption in the state Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI).

Golkar's obstinacy

Golkar's obstinacy It would be very wrong if the ruling Golkar grouping continued to persist in defending its stance that civil servants can still become members, including of the boards, of parties when the people demand that civil servants be truly capable of assuming a neutral attitude in the...

Idul Fitri exodus prompts fears of burglaries

Idul Fitri exodus prompts fears of burglaries JAKARTA (JP): Fearful of their homes being burgled, many Jakartans traveling out of the city to celebrate Idul Fitri holidays in their hometowns have entrusted their valuables to neighbors or relatives.

Govt official almost loses nose

Govt official almost loses nose BENGKULU: A raid on illegal traders ended in a city official losing the outer part of his nose and his upper lip when a fish merchant attacked him with a machete.Antara reported Friday that the raid was conducted the same day.

Surabaya to host free peace concert

Surabaya to host free peace concert JAKARTA (JP): International peace advocate Sri Chinmoy will stage a free peace concert at the Sheraton Surabaya Hotel on Sunday at 7 p.m.The 67-year-old musician, artist, poet, athlete and spiritual leader will perform his own compositions which comprise a...

Security officers get food donation

Security officers get food donation JAKARTA (JP): A group of local celebrities and staffers of Panji Masyarakat magazine visited on Thursday evening the security officers stationed at the House of Representatives building complex, the National Monument Park and Surapati Park in Central Jakarta.

Survey finds half of voters undecided

Survey finds half of voters undecided JAKARTA (JP): Sixty percent of Indonesia's eligible voters are still undecided about which party to vote for in the upcoming general election according to the results of an opinion poll announced on Friday.

Three arrested for robberies at intersections

Three arrested for robberies at intersections JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested three men for allegedly robbing motorists at major street intersections on Thursday and Friday, an officer said.City police spokesman Lt. Col.

Appeal to the nation's leaders

Appeal to the nation's leadersFrom MerdekaGovernment authorities, please help the people. While the situation worsens by the day, you busy yourselves with mutual accusations and reproach, feeling your vision is right.

UKI clarifies

UKI clarifies The Information Management Team of the Indonesian Christian University (UKI) deems it necessary to clarify a news report in The Jakarta Post of Dec. 31, 1998, concerning incidents occurring on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18, 1998, at the UKI campus in Cawang and its surrounding areas.1.

Man arrested for stealing car

Man arrested for stealing car JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested a man for allegedly stealing a Kijang van in the parking lot in front of shipping company PT Pelni at Tanjung Priok harbor, North Jakarta, on Friday.City police spokesman Lt. Col.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 6:00 Morning News 7:00 Children's Program: Lagu Anak Nusantara 7:30 TV Series 8:00 Music 8:30 Documentary 9:00 TV Drama: Bangkit Kembali 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m.

Gold jewelry exports surge as crisis continues

Gold jewelry exports surge as crisis continues JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's exports of gold jewelry have recorded a significant increase during the country's 18-month economic crisis as many traders have shifted their markets overseas due to low demand at home, according to the World Gold Council...

Bekasi child scavengers get new school at garbage dump

Bekasi child scavengers get new school at garbage dumpBy Juliane Gunardono JAKARTA (JP): Yan no longer bothers to shoo away the millions of flies which, like him, live off the endless heaps of municipal garbage in Bantar Gebang, in Bekasi, east of Jakarta.

The rupiah under pressure

The rupiah under pressure The weakening of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar in the last few days has been discussed widely. This is because over the past weeks the currency had shown itself to be quite capable of holding its ground against the greenback.

Taman Mini management raises Idul Fitri bonuses

Taman Mini management raises Idul Fitri bonuses JAKARTA (JP): The Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park) management has finally agreed to its employees' demand for a raise in their annual Idul Fitri bonus, following Sunday's strike.

Govt extends West Natuna gas contracts

Govt extends West Natuna gas contracts JAKARTA (JP): The government has finally agreed to extend the production sharing contracts awarded to the contractors grouped in the West Natuna consortium. This will secure natural gas supplies from the gas fields west of the Natuna Islands to Singapore.