Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 6 October 1999

63 articles found

TNI playing democratic role

TNI playing democratic role An article in The Jakarta Post, U.S. wants TNI under civilian control, Oct. 1, reported what the U.S. Secretary of Defense Mr. Cohen said in his press conference in Jakarta. I found some parts of his statement confusing, especially when he said: "We hope that the...

Residential care offers hope for drug addicts

Residential care offers hope for drug addictsBy Sirikit Syah SURABAYA (JP): The corner house located in a middle class housing complex of Prapen Indah looks just like the any other house in the neighborhood.

TNI: The people's Army or the people's tyrant?

TNI: The people's Army or the people's tyrant?By Jim Aubrey MELBOURNE (JP): As nations from all corners of the earth join the UN peace enforcement mission in East Timor, many prominent Indonesians are divided between disgust at the actions of their armed forces and at jingoistic nationalist...

Howard says diplomatic ties won't be broken

Howard says diplomatic ties won't be broken CANBERRA (Agencies): Indonesia is unlikely to cut diplomatic ties with Australia, despite months of tension over the East Timor crisis, Prime Minister John Howard said on Tuesday.

Divorce rate climbing due to economic crisis

Divorce rate climbing due to economic crisis BOGOR (JP): Over the past few months an average of 60 divorce cases emerged every month in the Bogor regency, according to the latest data from the local Religious Court.

Indonesia drops Asiad bid and backs Malaysia

Indonesia drops Asiad bid and backs Malaysia JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has decided to withdraw its bid for hosting the 2006 Asian Games and instead throw its weight behind neighboring country Malaysia.The National Sports Council (KONI) vice chairman, Arie Sudewo, announced on Tuesday that President B.

Australian media lacks insight into Indonesian affairs

Australian media lacks insight into Indonesian affairsBy Sukawarsini Djelantik CANBERRA (JP): The relationship between Indonesia and Australia can be compared to a roller coaster, because of its cyclic nature of difficulties. Since the East Timor self- determination ballot was held on Aug.

Cultural diplomacy

Cultural diplomacy Cultural diplomacy of political solutions should be put forward among Southeast Asian countries. It has been a prevalent practice that conflicts in Southeast Asia have been solved by informal rather than formal means.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct. 5, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 500 0 6,500 AHAP Insurance 550 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 250 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 37,500 Alumindo Light...

Rates for tax payment, valid from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10

Rates for tax payment, valid from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10 U.S. dollar 1 Rp 7,960.00Austrian schilling 1 605.09Australian dollar 1 5,184.35Belgian franc 1 206.40Canadian dollar 1 5,423.08Swiss franc 1 5,200.24Deutschemark 1 4,258.73Danish krone 1 1,138.75French franc 1 1,269.31Poundsterling 1 13,084.

Host tennis players qualify for Future c'ships main draw

Host tennis players qualify for Future c'ships main draw JAKARTA (JP): Three national tennis players reached the main draw of the Indonesia Futures F5 tournament at the Kemayoran tennis complex in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

Backers of Malaysia's Anwar spurn report

Backers of Malaysia's Anwar spurn reportBy Nelson Graves KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Doctors on three continents may have concluded Malaysia's jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim was not poisoned, but there was no convincing his supporters.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Two Hours Only 8:00 Children's Song 9:00 Music 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Children's Program 3:00 Music 4:00 News 4:30 Indonesian Lessons 5:00 Student's Quiz 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 9:00 World News 9:30...

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Exhibition * Painting Exhibition : The Time by Fajar Kurniawan, at Mpu Tantular Museum, Jl. Taman Mayangkara No. 6, until Oct. 9Music and Entertainment * Hyatt Regency Surabaya, Jl. Jend.

Global currencies

Global currencies Value Net Changes 1 Day 1 Month 1999 Japanese yen 106.560 +0.3350 -0.31% +3.26% +6.61%Euro 0.9357 +0.0044 -0.47% +0.70% -8.40%Poundsterling 0.6041 -0.0001 +0.02% +3.31% -0.27%Singaporean dollar 1.6759 -0.0131 +0.78% +0.68% -1.58%Australian dollar 1.5044 -0.0055 +0.37% +2.78% +8.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Oct. 5, 1999: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,749.00 7,827.00Australian dollar 1 5,139.91 5,195.56Austrian schilling 1 604.31 610.67Belgian franc 1 206.13 208.31Brunei dollar 1 4,586.56 4,635.48Canadian dollar 1 5,291.

BMW leads Thai car market

BMW leads Thai car market BANGKOK (DPA): The German automobile giant BMW has claimed the lead in Thailand's luxury car market one year after setting up a local company to handle sales, after-sales service and dealerships, executives said Tuesday.

Top clubs struggle to get semis berth

Top clubs struggle to get semis berth SURABAYA (JP): Defending champions Panasia Indosyntec and arch rivals Aspac came closer to clinching the final four berth after overwhelming their opponents on the seventh day of the A Mild Kobatama national basketball league's third series at the Pacific...

Military urged to relinquish political role

Military urged to relinquish political role JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI), which celebrated its 54th anniversary on Tuesday, is facing mounting demands to return to its main task of defense and security and speed up internal reform to repair its badly tarnished image.

IBRA's account freezed

IBRA's account freezed JAKARTA (JP): In an unprecedented move, the South Jakarta District Court has temporarily suspended the bank account of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) in Bank Central Asia until a dispute with finance company PT Hanil Bakrie Finance is legally settled.

The importance of rethinking the shelved oil and gas bill

The importance of rethinking the shelved oil and gas billBy T.N. Machmud JAKARTA (JP): The chorus of incoherent voices debating the merits of the oil and gas bill has, at least for the moment, died down.

Bank worker indicted for tricking money changer

Bank worker indicted for tricking money changer JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia employee Rachmat Supratman appeared in the West Jakarta District Court on Tuesday on charges of complicity in swindling a currency broker.Prosecutor P.D.

Speculations over resignation of Wiranto denied

Speculations over resignation of Wiranto denied JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi strongly dismissed on Tuesday speculations surrounding Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto's resignation.

Thais play down fallout of Myanmar embassy siege

Thais play down fallout of Myanmar embassy siege BANGKOK (Agencies) Thailand will not change its policy of sheltering dissidents and refugees despite last week's attack on Myanmar's embassy in Bangkok by five armed students, Thai officials said on Tuesday.

Asian currencies mixed as markets await Fed meeting

Asian currencies mixed as markets await Fed meeting SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies ended mixed against the U.S. dollar in choppy trading Tuesday, as cautious investors await a decision on the direction of U.S. interest rates when the U.S. Federal Open Market Committee meets overnight.

ASEAN gas pipeline closer to reality, claims official

ASEAN gas pipeline closer to reality, claims official KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A natural gas pipeline connecting Southeast Asian countries could become a reality by 2010, a senior official overseeing the project said on Tuesday.

Cabinet set to discuss alleged Interfet trespass

Cabinet set to discuss alleged Interfet trespass JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is pondering whether to lodge a protest against Australia over territorial violations committed by its troops serving in the International Force for East Timor (Interfet), a minister said on Tuesday.

Mobil starts gas production

Mobil starts gas production JAKARTA (JP): Mobil Oil Indonesia Inc., a production sharing contractor of state oil and gas company Pertamina, has begun gas production at its North Sumatra Offshore (NSO) "A" gas field in the Strait of Malacca.

House forced to vote on speaker

House forced to vote on speaker JAKARTA (JP): The new House of Representative was forced to vote to elect its speaker on Tuesday following an acrimonious debate over technicalities.The debate, which went beyond midnight, surfaced when Crescent Star Party (PBB) legislator Hartono Mardjono protested...

Armed robbers nab teachers' payroll

Armed robbers nab teachers' payroll MEDAN, North Sumatra: A band of armed robbers ambushed a car at Sei Balai palm plantation, Asahan regency, some 200 kilometers from here, and made off with a teachers' payroll of Rp 1.2 billion on Monday night.

Kefa a comfortable and safe place to take refuge

Kefa a comfortable and safe place to take refugeBy Jupriadi KEFA, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): This small town in the North Central Timor regency of East Nusa Tenggara is the third biggest refugee center after Atambua and Kupang.Official figures show that as of Sept.

Lack of platform, national leadership worries West

Lack of platform, national leadership worries West Despite mounting challenges, the latest being the Bank Bali scandal, Golkar has not changed its candidate for presidency, the incumbent B.J. Habibie. Surabaya-based political researcher Daniel Sparingga talked to The Jakarta Post on the issue.

Seminars probe malnutrition causes

Seminars probe malnutrition causes JAKARTA (JP): Lack of awareness of proper dietary needs and poverty were both blamed as causes for the estimated seven million Indonesian children suffering from malnutrition.

RP reviews ties with North Korea

RP reviews ties with North Korea MANILA (AP): The Philippines is inclined to favor establishment of formal ties with North Korea because of the advantages of engaging the reclusive Communist state diplomatically, Foreign Secretary Domingo Siazon said on Tuesday.

Foundation for conservation launched

Foundation for conservation launched JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation and Revitalization (Lestari Foundation) was launched on Tuesday in an effort to increase public awareness and raise funding for the conservation of Indonesia's much neglected historical...

Philippine inflation rate up

Philippine inflation rate up MANILA (DPA): The Philippines' inflation rate inched up to 5.7 percent in September 1999 as consumers began to feel the pinch of oil price hikes, the National Statistics Office (NSO) said Tuesday.

IMF still insists Indonesia disclose PwC report

IMF still insists Indonesia disclose PwC report JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund can understand the legal obstacles Indonesia is facing in fully disclosing the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report on the Bank Bali scandal, according to Chairman of the National Development Planning...

Police chief to be replaced

Police chief to be replaced MANOKWARI, Irian Jaya: Manokwari Police chief Lt. Col. R.E. Hutabarat is expected to be replaced as the result of the shooting death of one person during the police's handling of a melee which erupted here on Sept. 25.The disclosure came from Brig. Gen. Abraham O.

The aftermath of an option

The aftermath of an optionBy Marianus Kleden KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The recent self-determination ballot in which East Timorese, both in East Timor and around the world, took part in has had a disastrous aftermath, with various implications.

TNI at 54

TNI at 54 It was a fitting sign of the times as much a token of good judgment on the part of the Indonesian Military (TNI) that it chose to celebrate the 54th anniversary of its formation on Tuesday in a relatively low-key manner.Following tradition, President B.J.

One more dead in Ambon clash

One more dead in Ambon clash AMBON, Maluku: One died and 15 others were wounded in fresh communal clashes which rocked Ambon on Tuesday.Sources at Dr. Haulussy Hospital confirmed that Yansen, a teenager, died of a bullet wound.

Tangerang penitentiary to house illegal foreigners

Tangerang penitentiary to house illegal foreigners JAKARTA (JP): The women's and children's penitentiary in Tangerang will soon also be used to house illegal foreigners in order to relieve overcrowding in the Cengkareng deportation center, an official said on Tuesday.

One student dies in antimilitary protest

One student dies in antimilitary protest JAKARTA (JP): One student was killed as sporadic rallies broke out across the country to demand the abolition of the military's dual function on Tuesday.The demonstrations marred the 54th Indonesian Military (TNI) Day, which was celebrated throughout the...

Bankruptcy law needs wider definition

Bankruptcy law needs wider definition JAKARTA (JP): The committee for the drafting of the bill on the revision of the Indonesian Bankruptcy Law has proposed a broader definition of "debt" than is contained in the current insolvency law.

Marubeni denies deal to cut stake in Chandra Asri

Marubeni denies deal to cut stake in Chandra Asri TOKYO (Dow Jones): Marubeni Corp., one of Japan's largest trading companies, Tuesday denied a report it has reached an agreement with the Indonesian government to restructure their financially troubled ethylene venture, PT Chandra Asri.

IMF replaces representative

IMF replaces representative SEOUL (Dow Jones): John Dodsworth, the International Monetary Fund's senior resident representative in South Korea, will transfer to Indonesia in mid-October, the South Korean Ministry of Finance and Economy said Tuesday.

Air France has new boss

Air France has new boss JAKARTA (JP): French flag carrier Air France has appointed Frederic Gossot as a new general manager for Indonesia, the airline announced here on Tuesday.Frederic will replace outgoing general manager Christian Herpin, who has completed his three year assignment in Jakarta.

Asian crisis hurt women more than men: Report

Asian crisis hurt women more than men: Report MANILA (AFP): Asian women and children were left worse off than men after the region's gravest financial crisis in half a century, the International Labor Organization (ILO) said in a report released here on Tuesday.

ICW foresees no closure of graft case

ICW foresees no closure of graft case JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) said they expected no resolution of the alleged corruption at the Balongan oil refinery in West Java if President B.J. Habibie retains power in the new government.

Government pressed ahead with rights tribunal

Government pressed ahead with rights tribunal JAKARTA (JP): An interministerial team set a two-day timeframe on Tuesday to complete a draft of a government regulation in lieu of a law which will constitute the establishment of a national tribunal to prosecute human rights abuses in East Timor.

Garbage dump closure plan opposed

Garbage dump closure plan opposed BEKASI (JP): Hundreds of scavengers at the disputed Bantar Gebang garbage dump site here had the opportunity on Tuesday to meet with Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and urge him to disregard a request from Bekasi councilors to close the dump.

Jakarta-Merak toll road prone to robbery

Jakarta-Merak toll road prone to robbery TANGERANG (JP): Motorists heading for the Kebon Jeruk- Tangerang toll road ought to be careful when giving lifts to strangers following two separate vehicle robberies on Saturday and Sunday.

Sutiyoso told to settle PDAM rift

Sutiyoso told to settle PDAM rift JAKARTA (JP): An observer has warned Governor Sutiyoso to put back on track the derailed water management deal between city water company PDAM Jaya and its two foreign partners.

Two scavengers shot dead

Two scavengers shot dead JAKARTA (JP): The bodies of two scavengers were found on Tuesday morning with gun shot wounds near Mega Guna warehouse in Penjaringan, North Jakarta.Andi Tabrani, 25, had bullet wounds in the chest and right thigh, while Mulyono, 28 -- who was known to his friends as Yudi...

Sugar mills boycott imports from Australia

Sugar mills boycott imports from Australia JAKARTA (JP): Local sugar mills have decided to halt imports of raw sugar from Australia as a protest against the neighboring country's "unfriendly manner" against Indonesia, a senior government official said here on Tuesday.Sahat M.

Community effort needed to battle drugs

Community effort needed to battle drugs JAKARTA (JP): Parents beware. If you find many used lighters in your child's room, you have a reason to be suspicious. He or she might be a drug user."My son used a lighter to burn heroin so that he could inhale the smoke," lawyer Henry Yosodiningrat said.

Where to go in Bandung:

Where to go in Bandung:Peformances * Javanese Comedy: Ketoprak Mataram Deledah Kediri, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl. Baranang Siang 1, Kosambi (Phone: 022 433562), 8 p.m., Oct. 9. * Theater: Seni Terbang by Kelompok Seni Terbang Buhun Sinar Saputra, at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl.

Shell provides scholarship

Shell provides scholarship JAKARTA (JP): Dutch oil company Shell has allocated 10 million pounds (US$16.5 million) in scholarship funds for students in developing countries, including Indonesia, who want to pursue studies in Britain.

City reporter arrested for drug possession

City reporter arrested for drug possession JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang Police apprehended three men, one of them a reporter of the Warta Kota daily, who were in possession of drugs on Jl. Rambutan, Sukarasa subdistrict, Tangerang, on Saturday evening.Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col.

S&P's calls for greater credit quality in Asia

S&P's calls for greater credit quality in Asia SINGAPORE (AFP): Global ratings agency Standard and Poor's, warning Asia's recovery from crisis is fragile, called Tuesday for quick improvement in credit quality as part of corporate reforms to woo back foreign investors.

Mahathir plays the Malay card

Mahathir plays the Malay card KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has accused foreign currency and stock market speculators of wrecking Malaysia's affirmative action program to help ethnic Malays, reports said on Tuesday.

45 dead in Ciloto bus accident

45 dead in Ciloto bus accident CIANJUR, West Java (JP): At least 45 people were killed and 29 others were severely injured when a Turangga bus plying the Jakarta-Bandung route struck a cliff wall and was thrown to the bottom into a hill.

Tiny voices echo in ransacked Dili orphanage

Tiny voices echo in ransacked Dili orphanageBy Kurt Schork DILI, East Timor (Reuters): Shafts of sunlight knife through the ransacked rooms of a Dili orphanage as a barefoot boy wanders through its empty hallways playing haunting, discordant notes on his recorder.