Archive: 2 November 1999
51 articles found
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
On the trail of the elusive Javan rhinoceros
On the trail of the elusive Javan rhinoceros Every visitor to Ujung Kulon National Park wants to spot the famed but seldom seen Javan rhinoceros. Many avid visitors stay for days in the reserve, even sleeping in trees, in their attempt to secure an up-close look at the one-horned animal. With a population hovering at 50 animals, seeing a Javan rhinoceros is no easy proposition.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ujung Kulon threatened by increased human activity
Ujung Kulon threatened by increased human activity By Ali Nurdin Threats to the abundant flora and fauna at Ujung Kulon National Park do not come from afar, but from the actions of humans, be they illegal hunters, surrounding communities, tourists and even the park wardens. Visitors only have to look along the Tanjung Layar-Ciramea coastline in the southern section of the park. Plastic garbage and cans abound.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
PwC audit finding on Pertamina
PwC audit finding on Pertamina Please allow me, personally and on behalf of the MOI-MASP Solidarity Forum, to appeal for an explanation on whether the PwC Audit Finding on Pertamina (April 1, 1996 to March 31, 1998) relates to the Mobil Oil MASP program. This is urgent as this MASP has made many people suffer. I strongly believe this audit finding does relate to the Mobil Oil MASP effected in October 1996 for the following reasons: 1.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fishermen should have own unions, says NGO activist
Fishermen should have own unions, says NGO activist JAKARTA (JP): The city administration should accommodate the establishment of fishermen's organizations which would have a strong bargaining position in the determination of the prices of their catch, a non-governmental activist said on Monday. John Erryson, Program Executive of the Bina Desa Foundation, said fishermen could never escape from poverty and have repeatedly become the victims of middlemen.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Syamsumin elected provincial speaker
Syamsumin elected provincial speaker PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: The acting speaker of the provincial council here, Gusti Syamsumin, was elected on Monday as speaker by the 54 council members. After being delayed for weeks, the West Kalimantan Council elected its speaker and three deputy speakers. Gusti Syamsumin from the Golkar Party faction easily defeated his closest rival, Hubertus Tekuwaan Oevang Oeray of the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Party, 48 votes to six.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rape victim files report
Rape victim files report JAKARTA (JP): A young woman told police on Monday that she was raped on Saturday evening by two unidentified men at a house near the Senen bus terminal in Central Jakarta. "They threatened me with a penknife. I had a headache at that time and was very afraid, but when I started to scream, they mugged me," Darwati, 19, a babysitter, told reporters at the Central Jakarta Police station.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conoco finds oil and gas
Conoco finds oil and gas JAKARTA (JP): Conoco Indonesia, a subsidiary of the American oil and gas company Conoco Inc., has found a significant oil and gas reserve at the Blok B field off the island of Natuna in the South China Sea. The state oil and gas company Pertamina said in a statement on Monday the Belut Utara # 3 exploration well flowed 2,480 barrels of oil and 38 million cubic feet of gas per day.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Gandhi school executives to be summoned over parking
Gandhi school executives to be summoned over parking JAKARTA (JP): The city will summon administrators of the Gandhi Memorial International School in North Jakarta following complaints from local residents about chronic traffic congestion caused by students parking on surrounding streets, an official said on Monday.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Committee set up to hold polls in three provinces
Committee set up to hold polls in three provinces JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) established on Monday a committee chaired by Indonesian People's Party (Pari) chairman Agus Miftah to organize local elections in three new provinces -- North Maluku, Central Irian Jaya and East Irian Jaya. KPU chairman Rudini said the local elections would be held to elect representatives in the three provinces to sit at their respective provincial and regency legislatures.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia not in urgent need of IMF money: Neiss
Indonesia not in urgent need of IMF money: Neiss JAKARTA (JP): The country is not in immediate need of funds from the International Monetary Fund, but will require international support over the medium term, IMF Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss said on Monday. He was quoted by Dow Jones newswire as saying his visit to Jakarta would not lead to an immediate resumption of IMF loans, which were suspended in the middle of September following the disclosure of the Bank Bali scandal.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
One dead in village clash
One dead in village clash MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: One person died and at least 50 houses were burned in a clash between residents of two neighboring villages in the Bima regency. Bima Police chief Lt. Col. Burhanuddin Andi said on Monday the clash occurred between residents of Soroafu and Sorobali villages on Thursday. He said the police had difficulty stopping the violence due to the remote location of the villages, which can only be reached by sea.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina denies bribing legislator
Pertamina denies bribing legislator JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina denied on Monday it awarded a contract to a South Korean firm connected with a former legislator in reward for his help in blocking a proposed oil and gas bill. Pertamina spokesman Ramli Djaafar said in a statement the company recently held negotiations with Korean firm Il Chil Chemical on the purchase of 8,000 tons of purified telephatalic acid (PTA) from Pertamina's refinery in Plaju, South Sumatra.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indofood's profit surges
Indofood's profit surges JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed food producer Indofood Sukses Makmur announced a consolidated net profit of Rp 845 billion (US$120 million) in the third quarter ending Sept. 30, compared to Rp 81.8 billion during the same period last year. Indofood's CEO and president Eva Riyanti Hutapea said the surge in the net profit was partly due to a 33 percent growth in the company's sales.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Don't hesitate to resign
Don't hesitate to resign From Republika President Abdurrahman Wahid's statement made before the press following the announcement of the lineup of the "National Unity" Cabinet came as a surprise because it is very close to the people's conscience. The institution of Negara Palace is no longer a sacred place that is to be feared.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sinambela seeks new rapport with sports officials
Sinambela seeks new rapport with sports officials JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mahadi Sinambela vowed on Monday to communicate with all officials of sports organizations and all parties involved in sports development as the first step in his post. "Through communicating with the officials, we will decide which sports will be our top priorities in international events, for instance badminton and rowing," he said after his installment.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI rowers withdraw from 2000 Olympics
RI rowers withdraw from 2000 Olympics JAKARTA (JP): The secretary-general of the Indonesian Rowing Association (PODSI), Budiman Setiawan, has declined to send his rowers to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, saying their participation would be based on charity instead of achievement. Budiman said Indonesia's only chance to compete in the quadrennial event was to obtain wild card entries.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
'Penta' ordered to pay Rp 500m to Sudjana
'Penta' ordered to pay Rp 500m to Sudjana JAKARTA (JP): A judge at the South Jakarta District Court ordered Penta tabloid, its executives, and a businessman on Monday to pay Rp 500 million (US$73,500) in compensation for slandering former mines and energy minister Ida Bagus Sudjana in an article published last year. Penta, a tabloid specializing in political and economic coverage, was one of the defendants named by the prosecutors.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
House rejects government's request for full PwC report
House rejects government's request for full PwC report JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung turned down on Monday the government's request for a copy of the full PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report into the Bank Bali scandal. Akbar said it would only be released to the government and made public after it was studied by a joint House committee specially set up to scrutinize the report. "I have received the request letter from the government.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Refugee children missing school
Refugee children missing school TERNATE, Maluku: At least 5,750 children from the Malifut district of Halmahera Island in North Maluku who fled here to escape riots on Halmahera, have not returned to the classroom despite the official start of the school year. Antara reported on Monday that neither the central government or the provincial administration had taken steps to provide for the children's education. The school year officially began on Monday.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Wrestlers named for KL c'ship
Wrestlers named for KL c'ship JAKARTA (JP): Seven wrestlers have been invited to join the training center here in preparations for the second Southeast Asian Senior Freestyle Wrestling Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur from Nov. 18 to Nov. 21. Executive chairman of the Indonesian Wrestling Association Endro Soemardjo named Suriyanto (50kgs), Dedi Damhudi (54kgs), Budi Gunawan (63kgs), Adi Listiano (69kgs), Zulhaidir (58kgs), Didi Supriadi (76kgs) and Bambang Erawan (85kgs).
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Armed gang robs a house in Puncak
Armed gang robs a house in Puncak BOGOR (JP): A group of armed robbers raided a villa on Monday in Pacet, Puncak, believed to be owned by a high-ranking official from the scrapped information ministry, a police officer said on Monday. The thieves broke into the villa through the front door and pointed guns at the owner, Syamsur, 43, and his wife Diah, 44, in the early hours of Monday morning. They then locked them both in the bedroom.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ali Alatas looks back on 11 years of Indonesia's foreign policy
Ali Alatas looks back on 11 years of Indonesia's foreign policy Ali Alatas, Indonesia's longest serving foreign minister, oversaw the country's foreign policy at the height of its activism. In the last days of his tenure last month, he spoke to The Jakarta Post reporters Meidyatama Suryodiningrat and Kornelius Purba about his experiences, the future and, of course, the pebble in his shoe -- East Timor. Alatas formally hands over his post to Alwi Shihab Tuesday.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mustofa among contenders to head NU
Mustofa among contenders to head NU SEMARANG (JP): Mustofa Bisri and Kyai Sahal Mahfud are considered the leading contenders from Central Java to replace President Abdurrahman Wahid as chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the country's largest Muslim organization. Mustofa Bisri is an influential Muslim cleric from Rembang.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
A lesson for Bagito
A lesson for Bagito A few days ago, the Bagito Group conveyed an apology because of parodying the physical condition of President Abdurrahman in a comedy act. This matter was wisely settled by the new President, the Bagito Group and Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). To err is human and an act that may have offended a president should not be blown out of proportion. Hopefully, what happened to Bagito may serve as a good lesson to us all.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Alleged necklace snatcher shot
Alleged necklace snatcher shot JAKARTA (JP): A young homeless drifter was shot in the leg by a police officer who spotted him on Monday allegedly snatching a gold necklace from a woman at the Senen bus terminal in Central Jakarta, police said. Parlindungan Samosir, 22, allegedly snatched the four gram gold necklace from Fitriani, an employee in the capital's Kuningan business district, while she was waiting for a bus to take her to her office. As Fitriani fell backward, Samosir ran away. Sgt.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Workers continue to protest minister
Workers continue to protest minister PEKANBARU, Riau: For the fifth straight day, workers here occupied the local council building to protest the appointment of Bomer Pasaribu as minister of manpower. The workers told Antara they would continue their protest and intended to send the new minister a coffin as a symbol of their disapproval. Armed security officers remained on alert around the building to prevent any vandalism, but so far the protest has remained peaceful.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Nov. 1, 1999: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Nov. 1, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 475 0 0 AHAP Insurance 550 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 325 25 35,000 Alter Abadi 300 -25 54,500 Alumindo Light Metal 1,300 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 425 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,450 0 614,500 Anwar Sierad 250 0 47,500 APAC Centertex Corp.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Government favors pardoning Soeharto
Government favors pardoning Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday said he would consent to try former president Soeharto if strong evidence could be found against him, but personally felt he would prefer to pardon the former strongman rather than sentencing him.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Military chief scoffs at students' separatism bid
Military chief scoffs at students' separatism bid MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): After choosing to keep out of the debate in the past two weeks, the military declared on Monday its opposition to local students' calls for an independent state. Addressing provincial legislators, community leaders and student representatives, chief of the Wirabuana Military Command overseeing Sulawesi Maj. Gen. Suaidy Marasabessy labeled the demand "irrational".
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Akbar: Government should continue disseminate information
Akbar: Government should continue disseminate information JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung, facing disgruntled employees from the abolished Ministry of Information, said the government should consider establishing a lower level agency which could take over the important task of public information dissemination. Akbar was speaking on Monday before some 2,000 employees of the phased-out ministry who jammed the DPR building to protest the loss of their ministry.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Man uses 'shabu-shabu' to spice up sex life
Man uses 'shabu-shabu' to spice up sex life JAKARTA (JP): Laughter resounded at a West Jakarta District court room when a defendant admitted before judges on Monday that he had used shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) to "enhance his sexual ability." "I used to inhale the drug before I had sex with my female partners, Judge," said Jimmy Wijaya, in a trial session held at West Jakarta District Court, presided over by judge Bey Mastur.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
The Bank Bali audit report
The Bank Bali audit report The Indonesian people have a vital interest in the recovery of the economy. If one major precondition for this is a resumption of the disbursement of funds by international financial institutions, then that demand must be met. The PricewaterhouseCoopers audit report (on the Bank Bali scandal) in its unabridged form is already in the hands of the House of Representatives. Releasing the data to the public should not be difficult to do.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia supports expansion in agenda for WTO talks
Indonesia supports expansion in agenda for WTO talks JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will support a proposal for the expansion of the agenda for the next round of World Trade Organization talks, a senior official at the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Monday. Director General of International Trade Hatanto Reksodiputro said Indonesia might opt to have a widened scope of negotiations for the upcoming trade talks in Seattle in the United States.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
TNI chief ordered to probe 'rights abuses in Aceh'
TNI chief ordered to probe 'rights abuses in Aceh' JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid ordered Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Admiral Widodo A.S. on Monday to launch an investigation into alleged human rights abuses by military commandants in Aceh and to quickly withdraw all nonorganic troops from the troubled province in a bid to end prolonged violence there.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Observers track migration of birds of prey through Java
Observers track migration of birds of prey through Java By Paul Jepson BOGOR, West Java (JP): A network of observers is tracking the southward migration of birds-of-prey into Java and East Indonesia. For many years ornithologists have known about the October passages of buzzards and hawks across the straits between East Java and Bali. But it was only in 1995 that staff of BirdLife International discovered that these birds were funneling over the Puncak Pass on their way through Java.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Defending champ Panasia certain for final four
Defending champ Panasia certain for final four SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Defending champion Panasia Indosyntec won convincingly 94-50 on Monday against bottom team Pacific Bank Swadesi in the last game of the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league's fifth series. With this result, Panasia are certain to enter the final four with 24 points after five series, along with western division's Aspac, who have collected 25 points after four series.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
City to use surplus funds for 'strategic activities'
City to use surplus funds for 'strategic activities' JAKARTA (JP): The City Council is about to enact a bylaw on the use of the city's reserve funds to help finance "strategic activities" and "force majeure" situations in the capital, a councillor said on Monday.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Public vs private good
Public vs private good The current debate over the government's plan to close down the Ministry of Information and Ministry of Social Services has neglected the philosophical argument of "public versus private good" originally put forward by President Abdurrahman Wahid. In announcing his Cabinet last week, which omitted these two ministries, Abdurrahman said the government's task was to guide and lead the nation, and not so much to execute policies.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
5,000 women workers stranded in Middle East
5,000 women workers stranded in Middle East JAKARTA (JP): More than 5,000 women workers have fled their employers and are being housed temporarily in Indonesian embassies across the Middle East, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of the major impediments to assisting these workers is that many of them entered their countries of employment illegally, an official at the Labor Export Association (Apjati) said.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Maritime studies
Maritime studies A historical phenomenon in the life of the state seldom occurs single-handedly or isolated, but instead is interrelated to another conspicuous occurrence. Following the rise of Abdurrahman Wahid as the fourth President of the republic, there never has been such a high sounding and thought inspiring pledge uttered in respect of the high expectation to see Indonesia return to its historical repute as a "seafaring nation".
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Consumer price up 1st time in eight months
Consumer price up 1st time in eight months JAKARTA (JP): The consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.06 percent in October from the previous month, the first inflation since March, head of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) Sugito Suwito said on Monday. Sugito said that the year-on-year inflation was 1.58 percent. "Higher gold jewelry prices and transportation costs were the major contributors to the inflation," he told a press conference.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Prakosa vows to help farmers
Prakosa vows to help farmers JAKARTA (JP): Muhammad Prakosa replaced Soleh Solahuddin as the minister of agriculture on Monday and said he would focus on the development of agribusiness and food production. Prakosa, formerly program officer of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Jakarta, said the agribusiness development programs he would implement would cover all aspects of food production, from planting and processing to marketing.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies test long term highs as liquidity dries
Asian currencies test long term highs as liquidity dries HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Strong economic data, robust stock market performances and the Japanese yen's run-up against the U.S. dollar helped lift Asian regional currencies during local trading hours Monday. Positive sentiment propelled the Singapore dollar to its highest level since January, while the Thai baht climbed to a two-month high. The Indonesian rupiah also rose.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Students protest against Council
Students protest against Council BOGOR (JP): Twenty-four student activists from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) went to the Bogor council building on Monday and accused the legislators of being "slow and unresponsive" to the people's problems. "It's been two months since your election and still you're meddling with internal matters," Aly Yusuf, the group coordinator, said.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
18 districts in Cilacap flood-prone
18 districts in Cilacap flood-prone CILACAP, Central Java: Eighteen of the 23 districts in Cilacap regency have been declared prone to floods and landslides, Central Java administration spokesman Ansor Basuki said on Monday. "Among the districts liable to flooding are Kroya, Sampang, Sidareja, Kawunganten, Wanareja and Nusawungu. While districts vulnerable to landslides are areas such as Majenang, Karangpucung, Jeruklegi and Kedungreje," Ansor said.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Militias control refugee camps in West Timor: Report
Militias control refugee camps in West Timor: Report JAKARTA (JP): Armed prointegration militias are in control of a number of refugee camps on the western half of Timor island and operating under the eyes of the Indonesian Military, a national commission of inquiry on East Timor said in its preliminary report here on Monday. The commission, which visited refugee camps in East Nusa Tenggara last week, quoted witnesses as saying refugees were being intimidated not to return to East Timor.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hikam backs 'people oriented' technology
Hikam backs 'people oriented' technology JAKARTA (JP): New State Minister of Research and Technology Muhammad Atho'illah Shohibul Hikam promised on Monday to encourage the development of "people-oriented" technology, which would not, however, necessarily exclude sophisticated technology. The main objective in developing technology was to increase the welfare of the people, Hikam said on his first day in office.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Education minister hails American standards
Education minister hails American standards JAKARTA (JP): New Minister of National Education Yahya Muhaimin has dreams of taking the educational experience for students in the country to new heights. After officially taking over on Monday from predecessor Juwono Soedarsono, Yahya, a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, talked enthusiastically of the need for Indonesian students to match American standards.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
MPR fails to heed people's voice
MPR fails to heed people's voice By Rahayu Ratnaningsih JAKARTA (JP): The popular joke about the three prominent presidential candidates (Abdurrahman Wahid, B.J. Habibie and Megawati Soekarnoputri) that they are "blind, deaf and mute" respectively, turns out to be applicable to most members of the People's Consultative Assembly. These members are blind and deaf because they seemed to be totally oblivious to the dynamism that existed outside of the Assembly.
Tue, 02 Nov 1999, 00:00 WIB
Angry soldiers run amok at Senen market
Angry soldiers run amok at Senen market JAKARTA (JP): A group of approximately 40 soldiers, some wearing uniforms and armed with -- among other things -- batons, bayonets and tear gas canisters, angrily stormed Senen market in Central Jakarta on Sunday evening. Three laborers at the market were seriously wounded and have been treated in the VIP ward of the Cipto Mangunkusumo General hospital. None of the soldiers have been arrested but Central Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col.