Archive: 18 October 1999
49 articles found
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Museums * Bayt Al-Qur'an Museum, at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Bambu Apus, East Jakarta (Phone: 8416466), Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. * Adam Malik Museum, Jl. Diponegoro 29, Menteng, Central Jakarta (Phone: 337403), Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. * National Museum, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta: (Phone: 3811551), Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie's speech gets mixed reactions
Habibie's speech gets mixed reactions JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie's speech to defend his beleaguered administration before the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Sunday drew mixed reactions from various circles. The initial reaction to his response to the Assembly's overview of his accountability speech was better received despite an overwhelming note of disapproval. At the very least his closest allies were unabashed in their praise for the presidential reply.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Council rejects Irian provincial division
Council rejects Irian provincial division JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The Irian Jaya Legislative Council on Saturday rejected the central government's policy to divide the province into three new provinces, and demanded the next president revoke the decree installing two new governors for the territory. The council concluded in a plenary session that the government must listen to the people's aspiration.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
President Habibie makes final plea on East Timor
President Habibie makes final plea on East Timor JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie made a final impassioned plea before the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on Sunday to ratify the results of the Aug. 30 ballot in East Timor which in effect would separate the territory and pave the way for its independence. Seeking the most weighty justification, Habibie cited the 1945 Constitution which stipulates that independence is the right of all nations.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Analysts stage silent strike
Analysts stage silent strike JAKARTA (JP): Journalists without sources resemble someone who loses his or her lover -- the person from whom one seeks inspiration. In the wake of the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, media workers in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, as well as their counterparts in provinces outside Jakarta, bank on local analysts to enrich their stories.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Reporter laments guards' action
Reporter laments guards' action JAKARTA (JP): What would you miss the most if you were a reporter? No access to the country's most important agenda, for one. A female reporter who works for private TV station SCTV experienced such a plight on Sunday when President B.J. Habibie delivered his reply to the MPR, which followed his accountability report on Thursday.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indosat says no to Telkom merger plan
Indosat says no to Telkom merger plan By Christiani S.A. Tumelap JAKARTA (JP): Listed state-owned international telephone operator PT Indosat has opposed a plan to merge it with state- owned domestic telecommunications provider PT Telkom. Company director for business development Safwan Natanegara said Indosat was not in favor of the idea because it would not be of any advantage to the company. "We once agreed to the idea... We were assured it would create more value...
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Draft MPR Decree on the Popular Consultation in East Timor
Draft MPR Decree on the Popular Consultation in East Timor ALTERNATIVE ONE Article 1 The People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia in essence acknowledges the result of the popular consultation held by UNAMET in East Timor on Aug. 30, 1999. Article 2 (1) Assigns the President of the Republic of Indonesia to: a. follow up reports on suspicions of impartiality by the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) in executing the popular consultation as mentioned in Article 1. b.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Investment in Philippines up
Investment in Philippines up MANILA (DPA): Investment pledges for the Philippines amounted to 103.19 billion pesos (US$2.6 billion) for the first nine months of 1999, an indication of investors' confidence in the country, according to a government statement released Saturday. Foreign investment pledges accounted for 19.5 billion (US$488 million), according to the Board of Investments (BOI). More than one half of the total approved investments was committed for the manufacturing sector, it said.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Crowds cheer Malaysia's F-1 debut
Crowds cheer Malaysia's F-1 debut SEPANG, Malaysia (AP): Fighter jets swooped through sunny skies and several thousand racing fans packed the stands to greet Malaysia's Formula One debut Sunday. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad did two laps in a Mercedes Benz official car on the new US$80 million circuit before the gleaming cars roared in.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Users of Straits 'should be charged'
Users of Straits 'should be charged' SINGAPORE (DPA): Participants at an international conference unanimously agreed users of the Malacca and Singapore Straits should be charged to defray costs of infrastructure enhancing navigational safety and environmental protection, delegates said on Saturday. Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia currently pay the tab.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Community media business hits housing complexes
Community media business hits housing complexes By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Veronica A., a housewife living in a Kelapa Gading housing complex, North Jakarta, panicked when her three- year-old daughter fell and injured her elbow. On a neighbor's advice, Veronica rushed her daughter to a masseur in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, who told her that the child's elbow was broken. Then, Veronica rushed her to Gatot Subroto Army hospital in Central Jakarta to have her daughter's condition checked.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Participating in violence 'is harmful to youngsters'
Participating in violence 'is harmful to youngsters' JAKARTA (JP): Psychologists have expressed deep concern over the active role of children in clashes between security officers and students on main thoroughfares in the city last week. Interviewed separately by The Jakarta Post on Saturday, Frida Mangunsong from the University of Indonesia and Irwanto from Atma Jaya University said the children's involvement would only lead the young teenagers becoming aggressive later.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Six die in house blaze
Six die in house blaze TANGERANG (JP): Six family members died when their two-story house on Jl. Leo Baru, Batu Sari, was gutted in a fire early on Sunday morning, a police official said. Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said the fire started at 2 a.m., when the family was asleep. "They died because they were trapped inside the house. The only survivor was the housekeeper, identified as Enny, who managed to get out of the house," Pudji said.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ahold to quit Indonesia
Ahold to quit Indonesia SINGAPORE (AFP): Dutch giant Royal Ahold plans to pull out its loss-making supermarket operations from Singapore, China and Indonesia, a report said Saturday. Royal Ahold, however, will expand its profitable chains in Malaysia and Thailand, the Business Times here quoted an Ahold spokesman in the Netherlands as saying. "We will divest our non-profitable operations and (we) are in the process of doing that," the spokesman said.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asian values haunt Indonesia's future
Asian values haunt Indonesia's future By Christopher Lingle HONG KONG (JP): There was at least one benefit from the recent crises afflicting East Asia. The slump in the region's economies seems to have dampened the stridency of the proponents of Asian values. Thankfully, Singapore's Lee Kuan Yew and Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad have been reluctant to make such rash claims about the wisdom of their iron-willed rule. Unfortunately, Minister of Defense and Security, Gen.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Aneka Tambang clarifies
Aneka Tambang clarifies I refer to your news article German bank to finance ferronickel project on Oct. 14, 1999. The article updated the current status of PT Aneka Tambang's FeNI III Nickel Expansion Project. I would like to clarify that the preliminary funding arrangements with German banks are progressing favorably.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
MPR sets up commissions
MPR sets up commissions JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the country's highest legislative body, set up on Sunday four commissions with the task of debating the various decrees proposed by the MPR working committees, including rulings on the fate of East Timor and incumbent President B.J. Habibie's election bid.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie told to have moral ethics on his presidential candidacy
Habibie told to have moral ethics on his presidential candidacy JAKARTA (JP): Observers called on President B.J. Habibie over the weekend to have the moral ethics to withdraw his presidential bid if his accountability speech is rejected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Senior political analyst Mochtar Pabottinggi of the National Institute of Sciences said that if the speech was rejected, it would be "politically irrational" for Habibie to insist on pushing ahead with his candidacy.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Witnesses claim Interfet shoots two East Timorese
Witnesses claim Interfet shoots two East Timorese JAKARTA (JP): International Force for East Timor (Interfet) troops shot dead on Saturday two East Timorese residents of Atabae subdistrict, Bobonaro regency, 197 km west of Dili, Antara reported.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Life insurance business expected to forge ahead
Life insurance business expected to forge ahead JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Insurance Council (DAI) predicts that this year's life insurance industry will far exceed 1998's growth, after their survey shows a better than expected growth level during the first half of 1999. The council's survey on performances of 36 local and joint- venture insurance companies revealed that a sharp rise in new premiums' income and policyholders has contributed to the significant growth in the first half of 1999.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Professor says Indonesia liable to disintegrate
Professor says Indonesia liable to disintegrate SEMARANG (JP): A U.S. professor has warned that Indonesia is extremely vulnerable to disintegration and that a leader who has the ability to maintain the unity of this archipelagic country is badly needed. Roger Paget, a professor of political economy and Asian studies, said here on Saturday that electing B.J. Habibie as the next president would carry a high risk to unity and would worsen the economy.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pare-pare residents show support for local hero
Pare-pare residents show support for local hero PARE-PARE, South Sulawesi(JP): Jakarta may have been the scene of fervent and sometimes violent protests against President B.J. Habibie's renomination, but in his home town of Pare-pare, residents came out in force over the weekend to express support for their favorite son.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Garuda opens new routes
Garuda opens new routes JAKARTA (JP): Garuda Indonesia will increase the frequency of its Express service for Jakarta-Surabaya route from eight times a day to 12 times a day starting Oct. 31. The airline said on Saturday it would also open two new routes, which would link Batam and Pekanbaru, and Surabaya and Ampenan, as part of its program to improve its services.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie's brinkmanship
Habibie's brinkmanship Four parties, including two of the biggest factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), rejected President B.J. Habibie's accountability report outright. Six others, including the incumbent's own Golkar Party, raised so many questions and qualifications, they effectively negated the President's achievements. With the outright support of only one minor faction, we expected Habibie to take a magnanimous decision and renounce on Sunday his presidential bid.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
PDI Perjuangan 'unlikely to pick' Wiranto as partner
PDI Perjuangan 'unlikely to pick' Wiranto as partner JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) hinted on Sunday that it was unlikely to pick Minister of Defense/Indonesian Military Commander General Wiranto as the vice presidential running mate of Megawati Soekarnoputri. The party's vice chairman, Laksamana Sukardi, who is also a noted economist, said the market would show a negative reaction to the party's nomination of Wiranto for vice president.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
ERP is not only for big firms that can afford SAP
ERP is not only for big firms that can afford SAP By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Take a close look at the new Jaguar S-Type and the sleek Lincoln LS. At a glance you may see more differences than similarities. The Jag, with its retro grill, looks like a car from 50 years ago, while the Lincoln does not hide its high- tech characteristics. The Jag is still very British, and the Lincoln is very American. But both are luxury and high performance cars, and both are made by Ford.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Nation glued to MPR broadcasts
Nation glued to MPR broadcasts DENPASAR, Bali: Live broadcasts of the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should top television ratings, at least for viewers in this land of paradise. People from all walks of life here say they spend their nights watching the live broadcast of the Assembly sessions. The first four days of the event, which began on Oct. 1, saw the sessions go beyond midnight.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fears of postelection violence on the rise
Fears of postelection violence on the rise JAKARTA (JP): Experts have warned that Indonesia's only hope to prevent mass riots from happening in the country in the postpresidential election period is to appoint a new credible government.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Teenager allegedly kills newborn son
Teenager allegedly kills newborn son BOGOR (JP): A 14-year-old girl called Sartini allegedly killed her newborn soon, shortly after delivering the infant on Friday at noon, an official said on Saturday. The forensic staff member at Bogor's PMI Hospital, Mursito, said that a postmortem examination result showed that the two- kilogram male baby died from stab wounds to his neck. Sartini, a resident of Empang village here, said she was still overwhelmed about the birth.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
N. Sumatra Council lacks board leader
N. Sumatra Council lacks board leader MEDAN, North Sumatra: Despite the installment of fresh North Sumatra legislators over a month ago, the local council is yet to elect its board leader due to an internal dispute. The dispute originated from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction when it insisted on nominating two cadres from the party to fill the job, while others only submitted one name for each faction.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police shoot dead suspected drug dealer, seize 200 grams of heroin
Police shoot dead suspected drug dealer, seize 200 grams of heroin JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives shot dead a 26-year-old Liberian drug dealer at his rented home on Friday evening, an officer said. The officer, who requested anonymity, said the dealer, identified as Harmon Lawrence, resisted arrest when police apprehended him with 200 grams of pure heroin at his home. "The residents of Kebon Kacang had alerted us almost two weeks ago about this man. We finally got him," the officer said.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Presidential poll, court 'fatwa' to weigh on JSX
Presidential poll, court 'fatwa' to weigh on JSX JAKARTA (JP): The country's presidential election and the release of the Supreme Court's legal opinion on the Bank Bali scandal will weigh significantly on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) this week. Securities analysts said over the weekend most investors would still take a wait-and-see attitude until the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) elected a new president on Wednesday.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
No time to eat at luxury hotel
No time to eat at luxury hotel JAKARTA (JP): The late night sessions at the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) have led one legislator to miss out on his meal vouchers from the five-star Jakarta Hilton Hotel.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Draft decree to prevent disintegration proposed
Draft decree to prevent disintegration proposed JAKARTA (JP): Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said his party will propose to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) a draft decree on national unity to prevent the nation's disintegration. "The issuance of such an MPR decree is quite urgent in line with the separation of East Timor from Indonesia and threats of national disintegration," he said at a gathering on Sunday of MPR members who were former activists of the Indonesian Youth Committee.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police arrest suspects in pawnshop theft
Police arrest suspects in pawnshop theft JAKARTA (JP): Detectives from the South Jakarta Police arrested three of the seven suspects in the robbery of the branch office of state-owned Perum Pegadaian pawnshop, in which the thieves made off with Rp 8 billion (US$1 million) in jewelry. Chief of detectives Capt. Rycko Amelza Daniel said on Saturday the police also seized from two of the detained suspects some 4.5 kilograms of stolen gold and diamonds.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hexindo signs $5.4m deal
Hexindo signs $5.4m deal JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Hexindo Adiperkasa, a Hitachi heavy equipment distributor company has secured a US$5.4 million contract to supply heavy equipment to PT Wirakarya Sakti. The company's president, Rustam Effendi, said on Saturday that the contract would include the sale of 66 excavators and 800 hours training.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
A sister's search for beloved brother
A sister's search for beloved brother By Stephen Collinson DILI, East Timor (AFP): Amalia Rodrigues walks the ruined streets of Dili day after day, desperately searching for the young brother she fears was cut down in a hail of militia bullets. Behind her wide smile of welcome lies an agony of family separation, death and uncertainty that aid workers say thousands of East Timorese are living with. "I think he must be dead," she says, blinking quickly as tears well up in her eyes.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Parliamentary ethics
Parliamentary ethics Aside from the question of whether the President's policy address will be accepted or rejected, we hope that this first gathering of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in this era of reform will proceed successfully, and that the Assembly can produce resolutions that contribute to the establishment of a civil society in a new Indonesia. Interruptions and expressions of disapproval are normal parts of democracy, which is what we are seeking to establish.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
MPR may resort to voting on Habibie's speech
MPR may resort to voting on Habibie's speech JAKARTA (JP): Rejection by four factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) of President B.J. Habibie's accountability speech will likely result in voting on whether the MPR members will accept or reject the speech on Tuesday, several lawmakers hinted on Sunday.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pro-Megawati supporters lead rallies on Java
Pro-Megawati supporters lead rallies on Java JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters staged simultaneous protests in major cities on Java on Sunday, encouraging Megawati Soekarnoputri to continue her struggle for presidency. About 25,000 party supporters thronged the main streets in the Central Java town of Surakarta on Sunday, expressing support for Megawati's presidential bid.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
East Asian summit to focus on recovery
East Asian summit to focus on recovery SINGAPORE (AP): Whether Asia's economic recovery is here to stay is the question on the minds of top economists and businessmen, gathering in Singapore for a conference beginning Monday. The three-day eighth annual East Asian summit, organized by the World Economic Forum, a private agency based in Switzerland, will also take a look at new growth possibilities in the region.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Health care vital for MPR members
Health care vital for MPR members By Emmy Fitri JAKARTA (JP): Nothing is more important for a politician than to receive a literal and figurative clean bill of health if he or she wants to forge a brilliant career. To take into account this need, the Secretariat General of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has set up five makeshift clinics in the MPR compound, and assigned doctors and paramedics to stand by around-the-clock to provide medical services.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Reformist cause is still swaying
Reformist cause is still swaying The pendulum of truth will continue swaying until Oct. 20, 1999, when a new president is elected and a new era will begin, the second era of reform and deformation. The choice is at the hands of the people's representatives who are holding a General Session at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) building. But the judges are somewhere else. It began on the streets, but hopefully it will not end on the streets.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Golkar Party seeks alternative candidate
Golkar Party seeks alternative candidate JAKARTA (JP): The Golkar Party's central board of executives is seeking an alternative presidential candidate in anticipation of a possible rejection of President B.J. Habibie's accountability speech by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the party's deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said on Sunday. Marzuki, who heads the party's faction at the Assembly, declined to nominate an alternative Golkar Party presidential candidate.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
A murder suspect declared
A murder suspect declared JAKARTA (JP): Police found strands of hair in the fingernails of Sarah, who was killed along with her three-year-old son on Thursday night, in their rented house in Kampung Gunung Utara, Ciputat subdistrict, South Jakarta, an officer said. South Jakarta Police detective chief Capt. Rycko Amelza Daniel said on Saturday that the strands "most probably" belonged to Sani, a security guard at the house who is now at large.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie makes last effort
Habibie makes last effort JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie staunchly defended his achievements and magnanimously asked for forgiveness for all his shortcomings in a last-ditch attempt on Sunday to convince the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to accept his accountability report. "To the factions which have rejected my accountability report and which think I have accomplished nothing...
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kaneko wins Futures F6
Kaneko wins Futures F6 JAKARTA (JP): Hideki Kaneko of Japan defeated Danai Udomchoke of Thailand 6-4, 6-2 in the men's singles final to win the US$15,000 Futures F6 Indonesia tennis tournament on Sunday. In the semifinal matches on Saturday, Kaneko surprisingly beat his teammate and first seeded Satoshi Iwabuchi 6-4, 6-3 while Udomchoke beat second seeded Jan Hermansson of Sweden 6-2, 6-2.
Mon, 18 Oct 1999, 00:00 WIB
Does Megawati still have a chance to win?
Does Megawati still have a chance to win? By Yulius P. Hermawan BANDUNG (JP): It is surprising to see political parties backroom deals in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) General Session. The victory of Amien Rais in the election of MPR's head and the general acceptance of Akbar Tandjung for head of the House of Representative (DPR) creates much speculation about Megawati Soekarnoputri's chance for the top office. Will the MPR elect the winner of the general election to head the country?