Archive: 27 December 1999
43 articles found
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
PAM Jaya workers beat City Council employee
PAM Jaya workers beat City Council employee JAKARTA (JP): Members of city-owned water company PAM Jaya's union ran amok on Friday at the City Council building, beating a staff member from the council's public relation office. The victim, identified as Rusmadi, was punched and kicked by protesters while taking pictures of the rally by some 100 union members.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ryamizard warns Jakartans of attempts to sow conflict
Ryamizard warns Jakartans of attempts to sow conflict JAKARTA (JP): Head of the Jakarta Military Command Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Friday certain groups were plotting to spark religious conflicts in the capital over Christmas and New Year. On Christmas Eve scores of security personnel could be seen deployed at several churches. Until Sunday, no incidents of religiously motivated violence had been reported in and around the capital.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Handicraft Exhibition: Cinderamata Nusantara, at Galeri Kampoeng Seni, in Metropolitan Mal, Bekasi, until Jan. 7. Dances and music performance, every Monday, Thursday, at 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. * Photo Exhibition: by Deniek G. Sukarya, Dandung B. Kahono, at Galeri Foto Cahya, Plaza Menteng, 2nd floor, Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto 79, Menteng (Phone: 3907623), Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Jan. 1.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Workers 'must get holiday bonuses'
Workers 'must get holiday bonuses' JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Manpower Bomer Pasaribu said that nearly all workers should be able to enjoy their Christmas and Idul Fitri bonuses after only two companies requested exemptions from paying the annual bonus. "Of around 15,000 companies employing 10 workers or more, only two requested that they be exempted from the 1994 Ministerial Decree on Annual Bonuses.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Government strives to avoid a baby boom, says Khofifah
Government strives to avoid a baby boom, says Khofifah JAKARTA (JP): Ever wonder the price of family planning in Indonesia? According to the government it is at least Rp 41.7 billion in foreign debt due to the procurement of contraceptives in 1999 alone.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Leaner S'pore seizes chances from crisis
Leaner S'pore seizes chances from crisis SINGAPORE (DPA): A leaner and greener Singapore has emerged from Asia's financial debacle by loosening up and seizing the opportunity to move ahead of the pack. Change has been the byword accompanying the opening up of the financial sector to foreign competition and ownership combined with the city-state's increasingly conspicuous international posture.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Facing tough challenge of Ramadhan in Melbourne
Facing tough challenge of Ramadhan in Melbourne By Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): In this era of facile global travels, it is not unusual for Muslims to find themselves in a foreign land where the majority of the population are non-Muslims. At first glance it can be daunting, especially for those who are away from the familiar environment of their own home for the first time. The emotional support network they have so far leaned on and taken for granted are no longer present.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Reform era puts Army in hot water
Reform era puts Army in hot water By Ridwan M. Sijabat JAKARTA (JP): Despite some progress in internal reform, the Indonesian Military (TNI), especially the dominant Army, has failed to impress people due to its involvement in politics, past human rights violations and drug abuse and trafficking. Since the fall of the authoritarian New Order regime last year, TNI has adopted a new paradigm to phase out its dual function doctrine and instead focus on its main job of defense.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Our legacy into 2000: Refugees in their own land
Our legacy into 2000: Refugees in their own land By Ati Nurbaiti JAKARTA (JP): "Nearly all of today's conflicts churn within national boundaries, and 90 percent of war's victims are civilians, mainly children and women," states the report of The State of the World's Children 2000, issued by the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Estrada meets with guerrilla leaders
Estrada meets with guerrilla leaders BAGUIO, Philippines (AP): President Joseph Estrada met leaders of a breakaway Communist guerrilla group on Sunday as part of government efforts to start peace talks with local guerrillas. The leaders of the Revolutionary Proletarian Army-Alex Boncayao Brigade (RPA-ABB) expressed willingness to hold peace talks with the Manila government during the meeting in the northern mountain resort city of Baguio, an official said.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia denies being base of arms smugglers
Malaysia denies being base of arms smugglers KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP): Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi denied that Malaysia is a base for separatists to smuggle weapons into the strife-torn Indonesian province of Aceh. "We have never supplied any arms to the movement and will never allow our country to be the base for the smuggling of weapons for any group," Abdullah was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times on Sunday.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Business slow at botanical gardens
Business slow at botanical gardens BOGOR (JP): This year's Christmas has recorded the lowest number of visitors to the Bogor Botanical Gardens. The park's supervisor, Enday, said, "If it's compared with past years, the number of visitors this year is very small. "There could be 30,000 visitors on past Christmas days." He said the reason for such a great decrease in visitors was because this year's Christmas fell during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
IT players showed great resilience in 1999
IT players showed great resilience in 1999 By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): We started 1999 off with no encouraging sign of brighter days ahead. The unstable political situation still made it impossible for our economy to breathe in any fresh air. Information technology (IT), with all its e-commerce promises, was supposed to be a cure for a quick economic recovery. But e- commerce requires investment, and most investors were hesitant. The hesitance was not unfounded.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
On reporting about Africans
On reporting about Africans I have been dismayed with the consistently negative and racist bias you have in reporting about Africans in Indonesia. For example, in the news item entitled Zimbabwean, Indonesian nabbed with heroin, published on Dec. 14, 1999 on your City page, you portray a negative image of Africans just because a guy from Zimbabwe was arrested on a drug-related offense.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tegal road crash claims 3 lives
Tegal road crash claims 3 lives SEMARANG, Central Java: A road accident claimed three lives and left 12 others injured in Maribaya village, Kramat district, Tegal regency, on Saturday evening. Spokesman for the Central Java Police Lt. Col. M. Ramlie said the incident occurred when a Zebra, driven by 39-year-old Sukardi with ten passengers, had a high speed blowout and overturned.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
A different Jacqueline
A different Jacqueline I was surprised by your article Rocking to Jesus at S.O.F. cafe published on Dec. 19, 1999 which mistakenly mentioned my name, Jacqueline Losung, as a self-confessed former junky. Herewith, I would like The Jakarta Post to correct this and ensure my name is cleared. I would like to inform you that I have never been a drug addict nor a singer of the White Dove Band. JACQUELINE LOSUNG Jakarta Note: It was a different Jacqueline.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Battle for Astra shares
Battle for Astra shares The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), hard pressed to achieve its target of raising Rp 17 trillion (US$2.4 billion) in revenue for the state budget, is in danger of repeating the mistake that scuppered its deal with Standard Chartered Bank Plc. for equity investment in Bank Bali early this month. IBRA's decision on Dec.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Concert for victims of communal clashes
Concert for victims of communal clashes JAKARTA (JP): Aid organization the Justice Post for People held a charity concert on Sunday to raise funds for refugees and victims of communal clashes and the impoverished. The concert at Graha Bakti Budaya in the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Central Jakarta featured popular Malaysian music group Raihan, a theatrical show by Theatre Kanvas and a showing of the film Humanitarian Tragedy in Indonesia.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
PBSI tries to figure out what went wrong in 1999
PBSI tries to figure out what went wrong in 1999 By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): The year 1999 was definitely not one to celebrate for the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) after its shuttlers failed to meet targets to bring home the Sudirman Cup and defend their crowns in the World Championships in Copenhagen in May.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
From authoritarianism to democracy
From authoritarianism to democracy This is the first of a two-part article, an excerpt from an address by State Minister of Investment/State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi before an international conference on transition and globalization. The conference was hosted by the Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand on Dec 18. BANGKOK (JP): It is not possible to discuss Indonesia's present and future without mentioning a bit of history.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hutchison eyes Multipolar
Hutchison eyes Multipolar HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. is in talks with the Lippo Group of Indonesia, the company confirmed Friday, but declined to say what the talks are about. Various newspapers have recently reported that Hutchison is looking to buy up to 20 percent in Lippo unit PT Multipolar Corp., Indonesia's sole provider of broadband telecommunication links.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Businesses along Jl. Jaksa refuse black Africans
Businesses along Jl. Jaksa refuse black Africans JAKARTA (JP): Tourism businesses along the famous Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta, which is home to inexpensive guest houses, are refusing to serve black Africans. Interviewed separately on Friday, owners and employees of hostels, cafes and restaurants along the 500-meter-long narrow street, which is popular among foreign backpackers, said that receiving Africans as their guests would only create financial losses for them.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Aria West to invest $180m in West Java
Aria West to invest $180m in West Java JAKARTA (JP): Telecommunications firm PT Aria West International said on Friday that it planned to invest US$180 million in its concession area in West Java once it reached agreement with state-owned telecommunications company PT Telkom. Aria West chief financial officer Stephen R. Dowling said 40 percent of the planned investment fund would come from the company's shareholders, with the rest sourced from bank loans.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
President unmoved by criticism of Sofyan
President unmoved by criticism of Sofyan JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said accusations of corruption leveled against businessmen Sofyan Wanandi and Aburizal Bakrie must be proven in the courts before the men would be asked to resign from the National Business Development Council.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Observers, businessmen optimistic about House
Observers, businessmen optimistic about House JAKARTA (JP): The new-look House of Representatives (DPR) is on the right track in the way it conducts its legislative and control functions, say political observers and businessmen. Nabiel Makarim, deputy chairman of Parliament Watch Indonesia (Parwi), gave a thumbs-up to the House's performance over the last two months in channeling the aspirations of the people.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Finally, Indonesia's own `First Amendment'
Finally, Indonesia's own `First Amendment' By Endy M. Bayuni JAKARTA (JP): After surviving intact for more than 54 years, the 1945 Constitution underwent some modifications this year. The changes to the Constitution, which to its staunch defenders, including the Indonesian Military (TNI), would have been unthinkable only two years ago, came peacefully after going through a considerable democratic and transparent process.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta criminal suspected in East Java murder spree
Jakarta criminal suspected in East Java murder spree JAKARTA (JP): East Java Police chief Maj. Gen. M. Dayat has alleged the person behind the continuing murder spree in Malang regency, East Java, is a wanted criminal from Jakarta. "We still don't know the motive but we're pretty sure that the provocateur is a man from Jakarta who has been in and out of jail three times and is currently at large," he said here on Saturday night.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
President Abdurrahman to visit Makassar on Dec. 30
President Abdurrahman to visit Makassar on Dec. 30 MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is slated to visit Makassar on Dec. 30 for a number of events, including a mass prayer and a series of dialogs with representatives of tribespeople, it was announced here on Sunday.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Boat capsizes off Jambi, 8 dead
Boat capsizes off Jambi, 8 dead JAMBI: Eight people died when an overloaded speedboat carrying 32 people capsized off the eastern coast of Jambi province on Wednesday. Antara quoted the head of the Kuala Tungkal Port, Nurdin, as saying that the remaining 24 passengers survived the accident. Jambi port administrator, Dirmansyah, said the overloaded boat overturned when it hit a large wave as it was traveling from Kuala Tungkal to the coastal village of Mendahara.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
42 dead in RP ferry tragedy
42 dead in RP ferry tragedy MANILA (DPA): The death toll in the sinking of a Philippine ferry carrying hundreds of passengers going home for the holidays rose to 42 as navy divers found more bodies trapped inside the ship, officials said on Sunday. At least seven bodies were retrieved from the M/V Asia-South Korea that sank near Bantayan Island off Cebu province, 585 kilometers south of Manila, early on Thursday, said Maj. Gen. Santos Gabison, an army regional commander. Maj.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Denpasar mayor dies on court
Denpasar mayor dies on court DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Denpasar Mayor Col. I Komang Arsana died on Sunday after suffering a heart attack while playing tennis in his hometown of Amplapura, 80 kilometers east of here. He was immediately rushed to nearby Karangasem General Hospital, but doctors there did not have the necessary facilities to help. The dying man was then dispatched to Sanglah Central General Hospital, the main hospital on the resort island. "He arrived here at 11:20 a.m.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Government guarantees gasoline supply over holidays
Government guarantees gasoline supply over holidays JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina said it stocked sufficient gasoline in anticipation of a surge in demand during the New Year and Idul Fitri holidays. The company increased gasoline reserves from the normal supply of 21 days to 25 days, Pertamina president Martiono Hadianto said on Friday.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Paiton energy dispute
Paiton energy dispute I write to add my voice to the debate over the Paiton IPP affair. To my mind the two developments that do not assist a satisfactory resolution to the problem are first the involvement of the Indonesian judicial system and second the resignation of Adhi Satriya and Hardiv Situmeang.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar exports machines to RI
Myanmar exports machines to RI YANGON (DPA): Myanmar has started exporting locally produced barbed wire-making machines to Indonesia, news reports said on Sunday. State Peace and Development Council Second Secretary Lt. Gen. Tin Oo on Saturday presided over a ceremony marking the first shipment of two such machines made by the Luthit Factory, said the New Light of Myanmar newspaper.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
A reflection of injustice
A reflection of injustice The establishment of a commission of human rights abuses in East Timor (KPP HAM) by the government has invited pro and con views in this country. The government's move has been viewed to have insulted not only the military members but also the justice seekers, the Muslims in particular, so to speak.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
596 foreigners deported for immigration violations
596 foreigners deported for immigration violations JAKARTA (JP): As many as 596 foreigners as of November have been deported from Indonesia. The Immigration Office's Control and Supervision Head Zaiman Nurmatias said those deported mostly came from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and China. "Most of the foreigners over-stayed or violated immigration permits," he explained.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Doulos Foundation may rebuild complex: Accord
Doulos Foundation may rebuild complex: Accord JAKARTA (JP): The Doulos Foundation and residents of Cipayung, East Jakarta, signed an agreement on Friday afternoon declaring that the foundation could rebuild the complex, which was razed in an arson attack on Dec. 15, soon after it secures a permit from the city administration.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asia to face stiff challenges in luring investments
Asia to face stiff challenges in luring investments SINGAPORE (AFP): Post-crisis Asian economies face stiff challenges in securing foreign direct investments as China pursues its membership bid in the World Trade Organization, an independent think-tank reported.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Auto sales in SE Asia up some 46 percent: Report
Auto sales in SE Asia up some 46 percent: Report SINGAPORE (AFP): Sales of automobiles in Southeast Asia jumped 46.2 percent in the first 10 months of 1999 compared to the same period last year, experts said. A total of 519,039 vehicles were sold during the 10 months of 1999 against 355,029 sold last year with monthly sales in Indonesia reporting the highest growth, Visteon, one of the largest automotive component makers in the world, said in a report.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Window dressing on JSX to continue this week
Window dressing on JSX to continue this week JAKARTA (JP): Year-end window-dressing by listed companies is expected to continue on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) this week, with a few foreign investors intensify their buying of selected blue chips in anticipation of January rises, according to analysts. The analysts said window-dressing could be expected from the issuers of second-line stocks, with the diversified conglomerate Lippo Group being the most noticeable example.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Local car industry looks to get in gear in 2000
Local car industry looks to get in gear in 2000 By Sylvia Gratia M. Nirang JAKARTA (JP): Domestic automotive sales are back on track for recovery, with most car manufacturers reporting higher sales this year. According to data of the Association of Indonesian Automotive Industries (Gaikindo), automotive car sales reached 78,739 units as of November, almost 35 percent higher than total sales for 1998.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Students to be tested for drugs
Students to be tested for drugs JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta mayoralty will test all students attending senior high schools located near the former Kramat Tunggak red-light district for drugs by administering urine tests. "We received reports from residents that the high schools were used for drug dealing," North Jakarta Mayor Subagyo said on Thursday. The Kramat Tunggak red-light district was closed by the city administration on Dec. 8 after almost 30 years of operation.
Mon, 27 Dec 1999, 00:00 WIB
Renewed violence in Ambon following Christmas celebrations
Renewed violence in Ambon following Christmas celebrations AMBON, Maluku (JP): A post-Christmas clash involving large groups of people rocked Ambon on Sunday; one building was burned but no fatalities were reported. Eyewitnesses said two groups of Muslim and Christians confronted each other at 5:00 p.m. along the road from the crossroads close to the Silo Protestant Church to the downtown Pohon Pule bridge. "A collision between a local transit vehicle and a motorcycle on Jl.