Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 21 January 1999

42 articles found

Torganda's new CPO plant

Torganda's new CPO plant JAKARTA (JP): Plantation firm PT Torganda announced on Monday it would build a crude palm oil (CPO) processing plant and crumb rubber plant in Bengkulu.Torganda's president D.L.

Tourism to recover this year

Tourism to recover this year JAKARTA (JP): Tourism in Indonesia should begin recover after political stability is restored following the general election in June, according to the Minister of Tourism, Art and Culture.

Exiled Indonesians celebrate Idul Fitri holiday

Exiled Indonesians celebrate Idul Fitri holiday JAKARTA (JP): Indonesians in New York City and surrounding areas said their Idul Fitri prayer in the only Indonesian mosque in the United States, where khotib (preacher) M.

Reckless firework use mars festive 'takbiran' parades

Reckless firework use mars festive 'takbiran' parades JAKARTA (JP): Unofficial street parades along the city's major thoroughfares marking the takbiran prayer celebration on Monday night were marred by the reckless use of fireworks.

Golkar apology brushed aside

Golkar apology brushed aside JAKARTA (JP): Observers have dismissed Golkar's recent apology for its past mistakes as too little too late, while rival politicians said it was merely a ploy to salvage the group's tattered reputation.

Honorary consul work permit held

Honorary consul work permit held KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The East Nusa Tenggara office of the Ministry of Manpower is keeping the work permit of Australia's honorary consul, Donald Eric van Cooten, 39, pending Antara reported Monday.

Prospect of unfair poll 'likely'

Prospect of unfair poll 'likely' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid's optimism political bills under deliberation will effect a just general election in June may hold little sway with observers fearful that past bugaboos of rigging and cheating could resurface.

Less Asians visit Australia

Less Asians visit Australia SYDNEY (DPA): The number of Asians visiting Australia continues to fall because of the regional economic down-turn, with arrivals from Malaysia down by a third and those from Indonesia down by a quarter.

Rain fails to dompen Idul Fitri spirit in Jakarta

Rain fails to dompen Idul Fitri spirit in Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Millions of city residents marked Idul Fitri festivities on Tuesday and Wednesday by performing traditional prayers, visiting others to ask forgiveness and flocking to major recreation areas to unwind with family and friends despite...

IMF admits misgauging Asian crisis

IMF admits misgauging Asian crisisBy Reiner S. SINGAPORE (JP): The International Monetary Fund, although admitting it underestimated the severity of the Asian economic crisis, is standing behind its much-criticized high interest rate and banking closure prescriptions as the right remedies.

Street children taught about AIDS

Street children taught about AIDS SEMARANG: The Central Java branch of the Indonesian Family Planning Association is teaching various subjects to street children such as arithmetic, writing, ethics and the dangers of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: by Yanuar Ernawati at The Chedi Gallery, Desa Melinggih Kelod, Payangan Gianyar, Ubud (Phone: 0361 975963), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Feb. 26. * Woodcarving Exhibition: The Legacy, at Museum Puri Lukisan, Jl.

Education reform: Mind over matter

Education reform: Mind over matterBy Simon Marcus Gower JAKARTA (JP): Reform has become an extremely popular word in Indonesia, but have its implication and accompanying objectives been fully articulated, understood and explored?Is the concept of reform being swept away in a whirlwind of popular...

Indonesian dialog, 50 years ago

Indonesian dialog, 50 years ago In 1949, a sequence of monumental episodes occurred. It began with the emergence of the Resolution of the UN Security Council of Jan. 28, which signaled a turning point in the world body's attitude toward Indonesia.

Obituary

Obituary S.H. MINTARDJA, a writer of popular historical fiction of the 1960s, died at age 66 at the Bethesda Hospital in his home town of Yogyakarta on Monday.Mintardja had been treated since Dec. 26 for kidney and heart ailments, Antara reported.

ABRI 'cannot follow up Aceh rights abuses'

ABRI 'cannot follow up Aceh rights abuses'By Ridwan Max Sijabat JAKARTA (JP): The Acehnese, still hurting from the violence inflicted during the years of antiseparatist military operations, are now demanding justice.Many Acehnese leaders have said that Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen.

Habibie visits Nasution on 1st day of Idul Fitri

Habibie visits Nasution on 1st day of Idul Fitri JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie spent the first day of Idul Fitri Muslim holiday on Tuesday receiving illustrious well- wishers, among them ministers and ambassadors, and visiting some of the country's elders, including Gen. (ret) A.H. Nasution.

Slamet Rahardjo hits 50 with much to look forward to

Slamet Rahardjo hits 50 with much to look forward toBy Marselli Sumarno JAKARTA (JP): Director Slamet Rahardjo, who celebrates his birthday today (Thursday), is involved in various organizations.As an actor, he is listed as a member of the Association of Indonesian Film Artists.

Export smuggling of CPO 'continues'

Export smuggling of CPO 'continues' JAKARTA (JP): While the 60 percent export tax on crude palm oil (CPO) has not proven effective in securing adequate supplies of CPO for domestic cooking oil producers, it has prompted profiteers to smuggle the commodity to foreign markets, industry analysts here...

Levies continue despite reform

Levies continue despite reform Corruption, I thought, ended with the "reform drive". But when exporters wished to export a container last week, they were forced to make a payment to guarantee their containers would reach the wharf.

Voilence mars Idul Fitri

Voilence mars Idul Fitri JAKARTA (JP): The Idul Fitri holiday this year was marred by violence in Maluku, Central Sulawesi and Aceh, but signs of progress toward peace in East Timor gave cause for optimism when Catholic and Muslim leaders shared the celebrations.In Jakarta, President B.J.

Rates for tax payment, valid from Jan. 18 to Jan. 24

Rates for tax payment, valid from Jan. 18 to Jan. 24 U.S. dollar 1 Rp 7,925.00Austrian schilling 1 771.10Australian dollar 1 4,996.71Belgian franc 1 263.23Canadian dollar 1 5,171.63Swiss franc 1 5,658.69Deutschemark 1 4,660.67Danish krone 1 1,244.53French franc 1 1,618.85Poundsterling 1 12,911.

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Exhibition * Painting Exhibition at Shangri-La Hotel, Jl. May. Jend. Sungkono 120 (Phone: 031 5661550), until Jan. 24.Music and Entertainment * Hyatt Regency Surabaya, Jl. Jend. Basuki Rakhmat 106-128 (Phone: 031 5311234): - The Tavern Pub: Phenomenon Band, Monday to Friday,...

Pests attack Sumba crops

Pests attack Sumba crops MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Around 750 hectares of crops have been destroyed by locusts in the past few weeks, according to the head of food crops of East Sumba.The official, Umbu Kaludang, was quoted as saying over the weekend that the pests had attacked crops in 26...

Two furniture shops gutted by fire

Two furniture shops gutted by fire JAKARTA (JP): Two furniture shops were gutted by a fire on Jl. Jembatan Tinggi in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Monday.The fire was discovered in a shop belonging to Aming at 4:30 p.m. Despite falling rain, the fire spread quickly to a neighboring shop.

Military goes ahead with militia recruitment

Military goes ahead with militia recruitment JAKARTA (JP): The city military command began recruiting 12,000 people for the People's Security (Kamra) in the capital as part of the Armed Forces' (ABRI) controversial militia recruitment plan, an official said.The command's spokesman, Lt. Col. DJ.

Asian monies drift sideways, won and Taiwan dollar rally

Asian monies drift sideways, won and Taiwan dollar rally SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies ended Asian hours mixed against the U.S. dollar Wednesday, as trading in regional markets was slow to restart after Tuesday's holidays.

WB mulls loans for Indonesia and Malaysia

WB mulls loans for Indonesia and Malaysia BANGKOK (Reuters): The World Bank is preparing a package of structural adjustment loans for Indonesia under a US$1 billion pledge made in March last year when the country was struck hard by crisis.

Domestic tourist industry urges open-skies policy

Domestic tourist industry urges open-skies policy JAKARTA (JP): Tourist industries here remain adamant that the government should take further steps to open up domestic air routes to foreign carriers, arguing that the changes would be a welcome boost to tourism.

Malaysia's 'reformasi' movement shifts tack

Malaysia's 'reformasi' movement shifts tackBy Benjamin Low KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Off the city streets and back to the villages.Cowed by police batons and tired of fighting, anti-government demonstrators in Malaysia's capital say they have not given up the fight, just shifted tactics.

Hundreds kept waiting at port

Hundreds kept waiting at port JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of people were kept waiting for over five hours on Monday after the Kambuna and Sirimau were late to arrive at Tanjung Priok port in North Jakarta.Many passengers arriving in time for the scheduled departure were forced to wait outside due to the...

Three die in accident

Three die in accident DILI (ANTARA): A public transport vehicle fell into a ravine in Lautem regency in East Timor, killing three of its passengers.Antara reported Monday that five others were severely injured in the accident on Saturday around 2 p.m. in the Moro district.

Shoe producers predict exports down this year

Shoe producers predict exports down this year JAKARTA (JP): Local shoe producers foresee a continuing drop in export orders to US$1.5 billion this year from $1.8 billion in 1998 as foreign buyers anticipate economic and political instability in Indonesia, an industry executive has said.

Asian stocks end mixed as Tokyo shares rise 1.9%

Asian stocks end mixed as Tokyo shares rise 1.9% TOKYO (AFP): Tokyo shares rose 1.9 percent Wednesday on expectations of massive government spending to lift the real- estate sector as Asian stock markets ended mixed.After a modest rise overnight on Wall Street, Hong Kong gained 0.

RI asks Japan to help fill budget shortfall

RI asks Japan to help fill budget shortfall TOKYO (Agencies): Indonesia's top economic minister called on Japan Tuesday to join international institutions in forming a rescue package to help fill Indonesia's budget shortfall.

Lower farm produce exports expected

Lower farm produce exports expected JAKARTA (JP): Exports of agricultural produce are expected to fall this year, while manufactured exports are forecast to show a slight increase, according to an official report.

The millennium bug: Mild cold or nasty flu?

The millennium bug: Mild cold or nasty flu?By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): People have made such a big deal about the millennium bug. Recently, there has been a marked increase of advertisements offering assistance and consultation on how to deal with the potential problem that could be caused by...

SIA, Changi are the best

SIA, Changi are the best HONG KONG (AFP): Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the city-state's Changi Airport swept the board in the OAG Worldwide annual industry awards announced here Tuesday.Frequent business travelers voted SIA the world's best airline for its services to the Asia-Pacific region, its...

Producer of hydrocarbon

Producer of hydrocarbon With reference to your article Pertamina may raise output by 56 percent next year dated Dec. 22, 1998, we were very much surprised that Total Indonesie, a production sharing contractor of Pertamina operating in the Mahakam Block in East Kalimantan, was not quoted as being a...

Riots flare up in Ambon and South Sulawesi

Riots flare up in Ambon and South Sulawesi JAKARTA (JP): Ten people died and more than 100 were injured in communal clashes that exploded on Tuesday in the Maluku provincial capital of Ambon. The incident followed Thursday's rioting in Dobo, Southeast Maluku, 700 kilometers to the east, in which...

Rumors of attacks cloud Idul Fitri in Lhokseumawe

Rumors of attacks cloud Idul Fitri in Lhokseumawe JAKARTA (JP): Idul Fitri passed quietly on Tuesday among tense residents of Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, as rumors circulated that alleged separatist leader Ahmad Kandang was planning to attack the town during the holiday.

Oil, gas exploration increases despite financial catastrophe

Oil, gas exploration increases despite financial catastrophe JAKARTA (JP): Oil and gas contractors intensified exploration last year in anticipation of a recovery in oil prices over the next few years, according to state oil and gas company Pertamina.