Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 6 January 1999

51 articles found

Govt told strict monitoring of budget funds required

Govt told strict monitoring of budget funds required JAKARTA (JP): Businessmen, analysts and legislators hailed the government's 1999/2000 draft budget which puts a priority on the sectors and people that have been hit the hardest by the current economic turmoil, while also calling for tight...

Aceh craves justice

Aceh craves justice Aceh, and Lhokseumawe in particular, which enjoyed a period of peace after the Military Operations Region (DOM) status was lifted from the province, is once again in the grip of tension. The region resembles a land at war.

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for JakartaWednesdayMaghrib 6:15 p.m.ThursdayImsak 4:12 a.m.Subuh 4.22 a.m.

Police arrest 51 truck robbers

Police arrest 51 truck robbers SEMARANG: Police have arrested 51 people suspected of truck robberies along the Central Java north coast, said Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi."They were arrested after robbing trucks which carried basic needs," Nurfaizi said.

Crowds force police to release detainees

Crowds force police to release detainees PADANG: Two thousand Muaro Paneh dwellers attacked the Solok regency police headquarters, demanding the release of nine detainees on Monday.The police had arrested them for gambling.

West Natuna gas contractors ask for contract extension

West Natuna gas contractors ask for contract extension JAKARTA (JP): Oil and gas contractors grouped in the West Natuna consortium have asked the government to extend their production sharing contracts to secure enough earnings from their gas sales to Singapore.

SEA Games consortium criticized

SEA Games consortium criticized JAKARTA (JP): The Gelora Senayan sports complex management board expressed disappointment on Tuesday with the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games underwriting consortium for failing to live up to its commitment to pay off its outstanding debts.

Death toll rises to 17 in Aceh military raids

Death toll rises to 17 in Aceh military raids JAKARTA (JP): Fatalities from military raids on alleged separatist targets in Aceh rose to 17 as eight more people died on Monday and early Tuesday, human rights activists and hospital staff said on Tuesday.

15-day open house proves followers' respect for Gus Dur

15-day open house proves followers' respect for Gus Dur JAKARTA (JP): The around 1,000 visitors to Abdurrahman Wahid's residence in Ciganjur, South Jakarta, during his 15-day "open house" program bore witness to the large number of people who looked up to him as their leader.

Valuation in time of economic crisis

Valuation in time of economic crisisBy Willson Kalip JAKARTA (JP): We have all witnessed and experienced the dramatic changes over the past one year. These changes involved a drastic economic downturn created by a sharp depreciation of the rupiah, political and social turbulence, and a change in...

FIFA suspends Cameroon

FIFA suspends Cameroon ZURICH (AFP): FIFA on Monday suspended Cameroon from all international competition for an indefinite period following a ticketing scandal which surfaced at the World Cup in France.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Jan. 5, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,725.00 7,925.00 7,725.00 7,975.00Austrian schilling 1 n/a n/a - -Australian dollar 1 4,686.75 4,947.50 4,670.00 4,970.00Brunei dollar 1 - - 4,525.

Teenagers arrested for theft of side mirrors

Teenagers arrested for theft of side mirrors JAKARTA (JP): Police have arrested 10 teenagers for their alleged involvement in a series of street crimes at major traffic lights, Jakarta police spokesman Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang said on Tuesday.

The trial must go on: Military prosecutors

The trial must go on: Military prosecutors JAKARTA (JP): The trial of 11 elite soldiers charged with abducting political activists last year reopened on Tuesday, with the military prosecutors rebutting defense arguments that the court was not qualified to try the defendants.

Fire guts blood transfusion unit

Fire guts blood transfusion unit JAKARTA (JP): A fire gutted the Indonesian Red Cross' three- story blood transfusion unit in South Jakarta on late Monday.No fatalities were reported in the fire on Jl. Haji Joe in Jagakarsa, but a source said that material losses could reach as high as US$2.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings: Hikmah Pagi 6:00 Morning News 7:00 Children's Program: Lagu Anak Nusantara 8:00 Music 9:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News: Berita 14 2:35 Student's Quiz: Cepat Tepat 3:05 TV Series: Daktari 4:00 Regional News 4:30 TV Series: Mohammad Rasulullah 5:00 TV Drama:...

Indonet responds

Indonet responds Referring to Ms. Donna K. Woodward's letter "The service people" of Dec. 31, 1998, Indonet management would like to apologize for the level of service that did not meet Ms. Woodward's expectations.Based on subsequent e-mail and discussions with Ms.

A flexible budget needed to respond to changes

A flexible budget needed to respond to changes The government presented on Tuesday its draft budget for the 1999/2000 fiscal year. It balances at Rp 218.2 trillion (US$29 billion), a 17.3 percent drop from the current budget.

Lockheed takes 30% stake in Asia Cellular Satellite

Lockheed takes 30% stake in Asia Cellular Satellite JAKARTA (JP): PT Pasifik Satelit Nusantara (PSN) announced on Tuesday the addition of the United States aerospace, defense and telecommunications giant Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications as a major equity participant in PT Asia Cellular...

Net international reserves tumble

Net international reserves tumble JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia announced on Tuesday that its net international reserves dropped by US$374 million to $14.1 billion as of Dec. 31 from the Dec. 23 level of $14.43 billion.

Syarwan, Akbar split over civil servants

Syarwan, Akbar split over civil servants JAKARTA (JP): There is neutral, and then there is neutral when it comes to the role of civil servants in politics. Two ministers were split on Tuesday over President B.J. Habibie's instruction that the state's 4.1 million civil servants stay out of politics.

Corporate restructuring toward growth: 'C' curve

Corporate restructuring toward growth: 'C' curveBy Bernd Waltermann JAKARTA (JP): During this period of reshaping Indonesia's companies and its economy, many executives look for lessons from international experience on corporate restructuring to guide their own management agenda.

Poor Jakartans get aid from Malaysia

Poor Jakartans get aid from Malaysia JAKARTA (JP): The Malaysian government on Tuesday donated foodstuffs for 74,900 poor Jakartans in an expression of solidarity between the neighboring countries.The donation of 749,050 kilograms of rice, 11,580 bottles of cooking oil and 10,000 kilograms of sugar...

Eight children die of hunger in Banjarmasin

Eight children die of hunger in Banjarmasin JAKARTA (JP): Eight severely undernourished children have died in a hospital in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, over the past six months, a doctor says.Hasan Zain of Ulin Public Hospital said in Banjarmasin on Tuesday that dozens of children were admitted...

30 officials being looked at for roles in vehicle scam

30 officials being looked at for roles in vehicle scam JAKARTA (JP): Thirty officials of the city supplies office are currently under scrutiny for their alleged involvement in marking up the number of city-owned vehicles in the city budget thus causing the administration a loss of Rp 16 billion, an...

Market reacts positively to new budget

Market reacts positively to new budget JAKARTA (JP): The local bourse reacted positively to the 1999/2000 zero-growth State Budget announced by President B.J. Habibie early on Tuesday, with blue chips gaining ground in moderate trading.

Reform starts with yourself

Reform starts with yourself I read with great interest Pak Habibie's rhetorical question "What's wrong with the nation?" on the front page of the Jan. 2 edition of The Jakarta Post along with several recent letters to the editor regarding poor customer service.

Comrades protecting Khmer Rouge leaders

Comrades protecting Khmer Rouge leadersBy David Brunnstrom PHNOM PENH (Reuters): The return of two top Khmer Rouge defectors to a town controlled by their old comrades means the Cambodian government would have to use military force if it wants them back to stand trial for genocide, analysts say.

Proof against Khmer leaders varies

Proof against Khmer leaders varies PHNOM PENH (Agencies): Direct evidence exists to implicate Khmer Rouge leader Nuon Chea in mass killings in the 1970s but cases against two others, Khieu Samphan and Ieng Sary, may be more difficult, a leading scholar said on Tuesday.

Opposition leader arrested in KL

Opposition leader arrested in KL KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian opposition leader Syed Husin Ali and his wife have been arrested along with eight others, following protests over the demolition of squatter areas, his party said on Tuesday.

Stolen taxi abandoned

Stolen taxi abandoned JAKARTA (JP): A group of men robbed a Blue Bird taxi driver in East Jakarta on Monday and made off with his taxi, later abandoning the vehicle after it ran out of gas.Police found the taxi near a toll gate in the Cikopo area in Karawang, West Java, at about 11:45 p.m.

Current account surplus set to drop to $1.3 billion

Current account surplus set to drop to $1.3 billion JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is projected to post a lower current account surplus of US$1.3 billion in the 1999/2000 fiscal year compared to the $4.5 billion estimated for the current fiscal year ending in March 1999.

Habibie unveils 'survival' budget

Habibie unveils 'survival' budget JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie on Tuesday unveiled the draft of the 1999/2000 State Budget, devised for the extraordinary conditions of worsening fortunes of the business sector and depressed global oil prices.

Golkar wants to maintain ABRI's support

Golkar wants to maintain ABRI's support JAKARTA (JP): The dominant party Golkar begged on Tuesday that the powerful Armed Forces (ABRI) reconsider its expressed stance of no longer supporting any political parties, including Golkar, in the coming polls.

President worried about press freedom

President worried about press freedom JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie expressed his concern over what he believed was abuse of press freedom on Tuesday, which he said had reached an alarming level.

Junior shuttlers set for SEA Games debut

Junior shuttlers set for SEA Games debut JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia plans to field juniors in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.The association's deputy chief of athletes development, Hadi Nasri, told reporters on Tuesday that the organization...

Police arrest 4 suspects in Saturday's bombing

Police arrest 4 suspects in Saturday's bombing JAKARTA (JP): Security authorities have arrested at least four people in connection with last Saturday's bomb explosion at a department store on Jl. H. Agus Salim in Central Jakarta, a reliable source said on Monday.

General accused of inciting hatred

General accused of inciting hatred JAKARTA (JP): A group formed from seven Muslim organizations on Tuesday demanded the Jakarta Police summon Maj. Gen. (ret) Theo Syafei for allegedly spreading groundless information and hatred against Islam.

Students issue defiant new year statement

Students issue defiant new year statement JAKARTA (JP): Students from Java, Lampung and Bali pledged on Tuesday they would continue with demonstrations this year as a way to keep up pressure on the government.

Main streets lack cleanliness

Main streets lack cleanlinessFrom NeracaMain streets like Jl. Kebon Sirih, the Farmers' Statue traffic circle and Jl. Menteng Raya have lost their attraction with their accumulated dirt. Both the streets and the greens are neglected and in need of cleaning. On Jl.

Floods may cut supplies of palm oil

Floods may cut supplies of palm oil KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Palm oil output in Malaysia, the world's largest producer, is expected to fall sharply this month due to floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains, plantation sources said on Tuesday.

South Sulawesi flooding kills 8

South Sulawesi flooding kills 8 UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: At least one more man has died in widespread floods striking the province since Saturday, bringing the death toll to eight and severely disrupting public services.Rescue workers identified the victim as Umar Dg. Ngeppe of Takalar.

Telkom collects on overdue bills

Telkom collects on overdue bills JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta office of state-owned telephone company PT Telkom recovered Rp 801 million (US$106,800) in outstanding telephone bills last year, an official of the firm said on Monday.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 5, 1998: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 400 0 20,000 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 -25 12,500 Alumindo Light Metal 325 25 46,500...

Are the mediations you are taking really safe?

Are the mediations you are taking really safe?By Rita A. Widiadana JAKARTA (JP): With the country still in the throes of the economic crisis, most people cannot afford to visit the doctor. The cost of medical treatment and prescription drugs has risen by 100 percent to 300 percent over the past few...

City to host Idul Fitri bazaars

City to host Idul Fitri bazaars JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has called on Jakarta's entrepreneurs to set up stalls at special bazaars organized in the city's five mayoralties in the run-up to Idul Fitri.

Bambang defends program for bank recapitalization

Bambang defends program for bank recapitalization JAKARTA (JP): The government has defended its plan to set aside Rp 18 trillion (US$2.25 billion) of the 1999/2000 state budget to recapitalize the country's beleaguered banks, saying it was the least the country could do to help revive the banking...

Legislators must be proactive

Legislators must be proactiveFrom Sinar PagiA legislator of the Jakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) said on TV that he would go on strike if their demand addressed to the Jakarta administration to close down gambling dens and other immoral establishments was not met.

More bodies found in Pongkor landslide

More bodies found in Pongkor landslide BOGOR (JP): Five more bodies of illegal miners were recovered from the debris of Saturday's fatal landslide at the Pongkor gold mine here, raising the death toll from the incident to 14, according to a report from the local district military command.

Habibie's budget

Habibie's budget President B.J. Habibie's speech outlining the government's spending plans in the House of Representatives on Tuesday was exceptionally long for a bare-bone budget that essentially offers little to stimulate Indonesia's depressed economy.

Marijuana crop seized in Bandarlampung

Marijuana crop seized in Bandarlampung BANDAR LAMPUNG: Police have seized 100 kilograms of marijuana planted on hills in South Lampung during a raid,Antara reported.They also arrested three people suspected of distributing and growing the plants.Bandar Lampung Police chief Lt. Col.