Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 12 October 1999

48 articles found

TIM forums unearth rich cultural traditions

TIM forums unearth rich cultural traditions JAKARTA (JP): An international seminar and a festival on writing and oral traditions are two events exploring Indonesia's rich heritage to be held this week beginning on Tuesday at the Taman Ismail Marzuki Arts Center in Central Jakarta. The week-long event is part of the Nusantara Cultural Festival, which opened on Sept. 9 in Tirtagangga, Bali.

Eastern team beats westerner in all-star duel

Eastern team beats westerner in all-star duel YOGYAKARTA (JP): The eastern division basketball team beat the western division 95-79 in the 1999 A Mild Kobatama all-stars meet, in a packed Among Rogo indoor stadium on Sunday. The one-day meet featured the ten favorite players selected by fans from five teams in each division. Ten other players were picked by coaches.

Fish bombs destroying Lampung's coral reefs

Fish bombs destroying Lampung's coral reefs By Budisantoso Budiman BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung (Antara): Despite a high incidence of tragic accidents, Lampung's fishing communities have expressed no sign of remorse for their use of explosives when catching fish. The latest victim was a member of the Army, whose body was badly mutilated following detonation of a bomb. It is believed that the man was killed by the fish bomb that accidentally exploded.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct. 11, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 475 0 4,000 AHAP Insurance 550 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 250 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 0 40,000 Alumindo Light Metal 1,200 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 450 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,500 -25 500,000 Anwar Sierad 225 0 60,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

Fatal shooting sparks tough words

Fatal shooting sparks tough words JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Australia traded tough words on Monday as they reproached one another over the fatal shooting of an Indonesian police officer in Sunday's mix-up over the East Timor border. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas on Monday said the death of Pvt. Hari Sudibyo should be regretted. "Even though what really happened is still being investigated, the incident should be deeply regretted," Alatas told journalists at Merdeka Palace.

Soccer hooligans ready and waiting

Soccer hooligans ready and waiting SURABAYA: The annual soccer league championship final is still several months away, but thousands of soccer hooligans here are ready to flock to Jakarta in support of Megawati Soekarnoputri. Ruslan Abdul Gani, who chairs the Forum for Democracy Enforcement People (FRPD), an institution which organizes soccer hooligans, said on Monday that 5,000 and 10,000 people would begin to trickle into Jakarta on Oct.

PT Pos seeks alliances with private companies

PT Pos seeks alliances with private companies JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to expand nondocument forwarding services, state-owned postal service company PT Pos Indonesia is seeking business alliances with private firms, a company executive announced on Monday. PT Pos's president, Alinafiah, said the postal company had received cooperation proposals from many firms, but that a decision on the matter was yet to be made. "We are still looking for the right partner...

Swallow's nest trade brisk during crisis

Swallow's nest trade brisk during crisis By M.M.I. Ahyani LABUAN, West Java (JP): It is sometimes difficult to understand man's attitude toward and taste for food and medicine. Take a swallow's nest, for example. This edible nest, which is made from the saliva of swallows, is widely famed as a medicine of great efficacy. As for the taste of the nest, that, of course, depends on who you are asking.

Industrially profound Banten area expects more tenants

Industrially profound Banten area expects more tenants By I. Christianto The Jakarta Post, in cooperation with Banten West Java Tourism Development Corporation, is presenting weekly issues on the Banten region. This week's issue is on industry. JAKARTA (JP): Despite lacking its own resources for hard commercial activities, West Java's Banten area has been a popular site for chemical-related industries due to its ideal location.

Habibie's unholy war

Habibie's unholy war With the presidential election only nine days away, President B.J. Habibie is under pressure to accomplish his national duties one by one. Yesterday, he dropped the curtain on a dramatic comedy show while demonstrating strong confidence concerning his future.

Pertamina lost $4.69b, Bulog $840m: Auditors

Pertamina lost $4.69b, Bulog $840m: Auditors JAKARTA (JP): Independent auditors have found losses amounting to US$4.69 billion at state oil and gas firm Pertamina and Rp 6.7 trillion ($840 million at the current rate) at the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).

Indonesia able to put religious discord to rest: Scholar

Indonesia able to put religious discord to rest: Scholar The following is an interview with Greg Barton Ph.D., an Australian expert on liberal Islam in Indonesia. JAKARTA (JP): For more than two years Indonesia has seen numerous outbreaks of unrest in many of its provinces. Some of this unrest appears to have had a religious dimension, with places of worship being burned down.

RP to inspect former U.S. base

RP to inspect former U.S. base MANILA (AFP): A Philippine government task force will inspect the former U.S. air force Clark base to determine whether any hazardous waste was left behind, President Joseph Estrada's spokesman said on Monday. The technical working group of the task force "will be conducting an ocular inspection of the (suspected) contaminated sites in Clark on Friday", spokesman Fernando Barican told reporters. The U.S.

Glodok Plaza to be rebuilt

Glodok Plaza to be rebuilt JAKARTA (JP): Almost a year and a half after last year's devastating riots, construction work will begin on the gutted Glodok Plaza electronics and computer shopping complex at downtown Kota in West Jakarta, an executive said on Monday. Johannes Suriadjaya, the vice director of Multi Plaza Properties, which owns the Plaza, said he was optimistic that the renamed Plaza Glodok would be a popular shopping destination.

MPR committee works to amend 1945 Constitution

MPR committee works to amend 1945 Constitution JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) set up on Monday demarcation lines between presidential power and privileges to allow a check-and-balance arrangement to work well in the future. Harun Kamil, chairman of the MPR Ad Hoc Committee III in charge of constitutional amendment, said numerous changes had been made to chapters in the 1945 Constitution which gives extraordinary power to a president as head of government and state.

Eight injured in Dayak rally

Eight injured in Dayak rally PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: At least eight people were injured when police opened fire on some 300 Dayaks who attacked the provincial legislature on Monday. Seven protesters suffered gunshot wounds and a policeman was stabbed in the clash sparked by the tribesmen's protest over the unfair ethnic composition of local representatives in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). It was the second protest on the issue in less than a week.

Trial of a suspected drug dealer adjourned

Trial of a suspected drug dealer adjourned JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta District Court adjourned on Monday a trial of a woman charged with selling Nipam pills to at least 20 elementary school students after the woman asked for leniency. The defendant, 35-year-old Sutinah, pleaded guilty as charged but asked presiding judge Soeratno to have mercy on her and give her a chance to earn money to support her parents and children.

Inquiry halted into Soeharto's charities

Inquiry halted into Soeharto's charities JAKARTA (JP): Acting Attorney General Ismudjoko said on Monday he had decided to stop the year-long corruption investigation into former president Soeharto for lack of evidence. Ismudjoko told reporters after a meeting with President B.J. Habibie that the investigation into two of Soeharto's foundations found no evidence that the charity bodies violated any laws.

Should foreigners speak out?

Should foreigners speak out? In his article in The Jakarta Post on Oct. 2, 1999: Let Indonesians choose a ruler, Nova Poerwadi responded to an article I wrote about Megawati Soekarnoputri's recent efforts in Newsweek to portray herself as a reform leader. My purpose in writing was not to vilify Megawati, but to distinguish between her well- established status as an opposition figure and her still- undeserved reputation as a reformer. There is a difference.

Flexibility vital for Golkar: Akbar

Flexibility vital for Golkar: Akbar JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party chief Akbar Tandjung told an executive party meeting on Monday evening that it must be flexible to cooperate with other political parties in the coming days to reach "common goals". "We have to be flexible because things are now unpredictable. We need that kind of flexibility to adjust to the highly dynamic political situation," Akbar said during the opening of the party's two-day meeting at Santika Hotel, West Jakarta.

Repsol to sell RI unit

Repsol to sell RI unit MADRID (Dow Jones): Grupo Repsol-YPF, the Spanish-Argentine oil and energy group, said Monday that it will sell its assets in the UK and Indonesia. A Repsol-YPF spokeswoman declined to say how much the asset sales would generate, but said the sales are part of the company's refinancing program since it purchased 83 percent its Argentine associate YPF SA's stock through a syndicated loan of US$16 billion.

Firm summoned for damaging old building

Firm summoned for damaging old building JAKARTA (JP): The City Council will summon a private developer for allegedly damaging a protected historical building on Jl. Teuku Umar, Menteng subdistrict, Central Jakarta, a councilor said on Monday. The head of the council's Commission E for social welfare, Edy Suchro, said the council would question PT Mandala Griya Cipta over missing items in the building which once served as the Central Jakarta Immigration Office.

Paiton asks PLN to return to power negotiations

Paiton asks PLN to return to power negotiations JAKARTA (JP): Independent power producer PT Paiton Energy asked state electricity company PT PLN on Monday to resume negotiations to settle the dispute over their power purchase contract and to drop both parties' plans to seek a legal solution to the dispute.

Telkom's new `discount' hours

Telkom's new `discount' hours BANDUNG (JP): State-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom has proposed the government change the peak and off-peak hours for local long distance calls, a Telkom executive said on Monday. "Peak hours would be from 8 a.m to 8 p.m, during which a surcharge of 25 percent would be applied," Telkom's assistant vice president for communications A.M. Sampurna said. He said off-peak hours would be from 11 p.m.

PDAM Jaya dismisses 12 protesting workers

PDAM Jaya dismisses 12 protesting workers JAKARTA (JP): The city-owned tap water firm PDAM Jaya has dismissed 12 of its "outspoken" employees starting from Monday for allegedly damaging the company's image by conducting a series of protests over the last six months.

Traffic jam swamps Denpasar

Traffic jam swamps Denpasar DENPASAR, Bali: A downpour, believed to mark the beginning of the rainy season, caused eight hours of traffic congestion here on Monday. Roads were flooded and there were power outages at some 30 traffic lights across town. Traffic congestion began when people thronged the streets immediately after the rain stopped at 10 a.m. local time. Among the streets worst affected by congestion were Jl. Ahmad Yani, Jl. Surapati, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl.

Lightning kills three boys, injures three others

Lightning kills three boys, injures three others JAKARTA (JP): Three teenage boys were killed instantly and three others severely injured when lightning struck a wooden farm hut they were sheltering in at Parigi village in Tangerang on Saturday afternoon. Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto confirmed on Monday that Rachmin, 14, Uslani and Solihin, both 15, died in the accident in Parigi Baru subdistrict, Pondok Aren district. He said the boys were aged between nine and 15.

Forex reserves rise slightly

Forex reserves rise slightly JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's net foreign exchange reserves increased by US$39.6 million to $16.05 billion as of Oct. 7, from $16.01 billion in the previous week, Bank Indonesia (BI) said on Monday. The central bank said in its weekly report that the increase was attributed to revenue from the country's oil exports and disbursement of foreign loans.

Seminar on food industries

Seminar on food industries JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to improve public nutrition during the economic crisis, the government, food experts and food-related companies will hold this month a two-day national seminar on food technology. The seminar from Oct. 12 to Oct. 13 will focus on programs to empower small food industries and help them improve the nutrition value of their products.

Affairs of the heart as minister toes govt line

Affairs of the heart as minister toes govt line JAKARTA (JP): Its not easy being a top government official. Sometimes one has to conform to political protocol rather than following the heart. Juwono Sudarsono certainly felt his heart strings being tugged following the fatal shooting of several university students during several demonstrations in the past year, but how he wanted to react as the Minister of Education and Culture was often contrary to what he would have wanted to do as a teacher.

Hospitals struggle to survive during crisis

Hospitals struggle to survive during crisis JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Hospital Association (PERSI) on Monday warned of mass hospital closures across the country if the economy did not rebound. "Most Indonesian hospitals are still suffering from the economic crisis which began in 1997", the Association's chairman Dr. A.W. Boediarso told journalists here. Boediarso said that 1999 has been a fortunate a year as there were no reports of closures from its 1,100 member hospitals.

S'pore investors to stay

S'pore investors to stay SINGAPORE (DPA): Officials on Indonesia's Batam Island are assuring foreigners they will safeguard their investments despite the political and social instability in the country, a report said on Monday. Singapore's investments in Batam so far this year have reached US$55 million, putting the city-state in the top spot. Other big investors are Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, in that order.

Color photocopiers

Color photocopiers From Kompas I attended PT Datascript's presentation of printers that can function as color photocopiers. I intend to buy one, but I am worried because, as far as I know, there was a regulation issued by Perum Peruri (Botasupal), the coordination board for the eradication of counterfeit money of the government money printing office and the Ministry of Trade and Cooperatives, at the time, which banned the use of color photocopiers.

RI near to forming rubber body

RI near to forming rubber body JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia plan to set up an international rubber producers association to replace the International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO), an executive of the Indonesian Rubber Producers Association said on Monday. "Implementation of the plan is awaiting a final decision from Thailand, the world's largest rubber producer," Surya Mercu told Antara in Medan, North Sumatra.

Transforming Indonesia's civil service

Transforming Indonesia's civil service By Raphael Lengesa Nombo YOGYAKARTA (JP): The 1980s and 1990s are viewed as very challenging and meaningful decades for civil service reform in most developing countries.

Graft law, rights tribunal rulings passed

Graft law, rights tribunal rulings passed JAKARTA (JP): With just a few days left to his term, President B.J. Habibie had a busy day on Monday issuing a decree on the establishment of an independent commission to keep tabs on state officials' wealth and signing a government ruling to set up a national human rights tribunal. Apart from the independent commission, the presidential decree will also see to the establishment of a secretary-general's office to support the commission's work.

East Timor's independence

East Timor's independence If the East Timorese independence leaders based their strategies to achieve independence on Jim Aubrey's approach to and understanding of Indonesia (see TNI: The people's Army or the people's tyrant in The Jakarta Post, Oct. 6) one can understand why the East Timorese have had to pay such a terribly high price for freedom.

Exporters unable to benefit from BEI

Exporters unable to benefit from BEI JAKARTA (JP): Exporters have been unable to benefit from the newly established, state Bank Expor Indonesia (BEI) due to the bank's strict lending terms, the secretary general of the Indonesian Textile Association (API) said. API's secretary general, Irwandy Muslim Amien, admitted that exporters have been reluctant to apply for loans from BEI as the bank imposes terms many exporters could not comply with.

Demonstration of democracy

Demonstration of democracy On Oct. 8, 1999, President B.J. Habibie displayed democracy for a gathering of media representatives. The event was covered by TVRI and was seen and heard throughout Indonesia. Habibie repeatedly said, "The president of this country is very powerful, but I do not want to use that power to ...(harm) democracy. We must establish the supremacy of law." What about Habibie's track record?

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Oct. 11, 1999: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.

MPR urged to stay on reform track

MPR urged to stay on reform track UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: At least 200 students marched through town on Monday to demand the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) stick to the reform agenda. The students said they suspected that MPR members, who have convened in Jakarta, are busy bargaining for power and have neglecting the reform agenda set by students nationwide.

Asian currencies mixed; Japan, U.S. holidays mute activity

Asian currencies mixed; Japan, U.S. holidays mute activity SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies were mixed in thin trading late Monday as holidays in Japan and the U.S. muted market activity. Traders said they had expected a relatively quiet session and got one, given the absence of any fresh news to move the markets. Even the recently volatile Indonesian rupiah remained relatively quiet ahead of some key political decisions being made this week. Indonesian President B.J.

Mother, kids, friends caught in drug orgy

Mother, kids, friends caught in drug orgy JAKARTA (JP): A woman, her two adolescent children and two friends were arrested during a drug orgy in the woman's rented room at Gang Langgar in Taman Sari. West Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Adjie Rustam Ramdja identified the woman as cake seller Upi, 36, her children Dewi, 16, and Dedi, 20, and their friends, 21-year-old Insar, alias Andri, and 23-year-old Stephen Kosasih. "They were all caught at about 10 p.m.

'TPI' broadcasts wildlife program

'TPI' broadcasts wildlife program JAKARTA (JP): Private television station TPI will begin broadcasting the 30-minute documentary Toyota World of Wildlife at 8:30 p.m. every Monday starting this week. Jointly produced by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Discovery Channel and Sunset+Vine Production Ltd, the 26-episode series invites viewers to explore the wonders and mysteries of the natural world.

Two-hour deluge causes flood in Bogor

Two-hour deluge causes flood in Bogor BOGOR (JP): A two-hour heavy downpour on Sunday inundated Tegal Gundil village in East Bogor district, destroying at least five houses and damaging 66 others. Strong wind and rain hit the area on Sunday afternoon at about 5:30 p.m. Water quickly overflowed from the nearby Ciparigi river and from a drainage tunnel which was heavily choked with garbage. The five houses destroyed by the flood belonged to Bachtiar, Memet, Abdul Latif, Sugiri and Rangkuti.

Court to issue legal opinion on PwC report

Court to issue legal opinion on PwC report JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court will issue a legal opinion on whether the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) should disclose the full report of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit of the transactions relating to the Bank Bali scandal, a government source said. "The justices are now meeting to decide their opinion on whether BPK should be allowed to fully disclose PwC's audit of Bank Bali to the House of Representatives," the source told The Jakarta Post.

Indonesia ministers to sign Iraqi oil deals in Baghdad

Indonesia ministers to sign Iraqi oil deals in Baghdad BAGHDAD (Reuters): Indonesia will dispatch its trade and energy ministers to Baghdad on Tuesday to conclude oil and trade deals with Iraq under its oil-for-food arrangement with the United Nations, an official at the Indonesian embassy in Baghdad said on Monday.

Police say nothing to show Tanri's role in Baligate

Police say nothing to show Tanri's role in Baligate JAKARTA (JP): National Police detectives have been unable to find any sign of involvement of State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng in the Rp 546 billion Bank Bali scandal, an officer said on Monday. "Pak Tanri Abeng has not been proven (to be involved) in any corrupt practices. We have nothing against him.