Archive: 16 February 1999
52 articles found
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tour operators visit RI
Tour operators visit RI JAKARTA (JP): A total of 38 tour operators from seven countries are taking part in a family tour program organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, and the Association of Indonesian Travel Agencies (Asita), to provide information on Indonesia's tourism conditions to those operators.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
A sailing adventures on a schooner
A sailing adventures on a schooner JAKARTA (JP): A common problem facing adventurers who are dying to explore the remotest, most exotic parts of Indonesia, is the availability of reliable transportation and accommodation. Many of the outlying corners of Indonesia's over 13,000 islands, especially the eastern territories which boast world- class destinations for divers, trekkers and nature lovers, are yet to be explored.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Whale trapped in Moramo Bay
Whale trapped in Moramo Bay KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A sperm whale is trapped in Tambolosu Bay, Moramo subdistrict, some 70 kilometers southeast of Kendari, Antara reported on Monday. The whale has been trapped in the narrow bay for a month now and will certainly perish unless it is freed.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Bandung:
Where to go in Bandung: Exhibition * Painting Exhibition: Owning Memory, Amanda Johnson (Australian), at Galeripadi, Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 329 (Phone: 022 2500578), until Feb. 25. Performances * Concerts: Virtuoso Piano Music of the Romantic Era, Thomas Emmerling, at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Purnawarman 32 Bandung, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 16. Petersen Quartett, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 22. * Puppet Show: Windu Wulan, narrated by Beben Karta Suhaya, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Akbar assures Singapore of good ties
Akbar assures Singapore of good ties JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia wants to maintain good relations with Singapore and the other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on Monday. "We always try to keep up relations with Singapore as best as we can, and our relations remain excellent," Akbar said after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Skin-deep reforms only
Skin-deep reforms only Amid the economic crisis that continues to burden Indonesians, various efforts have been made by the government to assist those affected. Support has also been received from abroad, for example through the World Bank's Social Safety Net program, which targets the rural poor. We were therefore shocked to learn that leakages within the World Bank's program have led to the non-disbursement of aid to its intended recipients.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Court denies Dharmala bankruptcy petition
Court denies Dharmala bankruptcy petition JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Commercial Court turned down on Monday a bankruptcy petition filed by multifinance firm PT Hanil Bakrie Finance against publicly listed PT Dharmala Sakti Sejahtera. Presiding judge Victor Hutabarat said that the court rejected the plea because the two firms were still involved in negotiations. "Since the two firms are still involved in negotiations, we cannot approve the bankruptcy petition," he said.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Former Garuda staff stage protest
Former Garuda staff stage protest JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of former employees of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia staged a rally at the airline's headquarters in Central Jakarta on Monday to demand that the company pay them outstanding social security payments.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Poor results will not cost coaches
Poor results will not cost coaches JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI), Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, dismissed speculation on Monday that some coaches would be fired over Indonesia's disappointing performance at the recent Asian Games in Bangkok. Subagyo said that all members of the coaching staff would keep their positions with the national team.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Local market turnover sinks ahead of Chinese New Year
Local market turnover sinks ahead of Chinese New Year JAKARTA (JP): Trading volume on the local financial market plummeted on Monday to less than half the usual turnover as major players took a rest for the Chinese New Year holiday. Analysts said share turnover dropped to Rp 60 billion from between Rp 150 billion and Rp 200 billion on regular days, while foreign exchange transactions fell to less than US$50 million from about $100 million.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bank Universal gears up for recapitalization
Bank Universal gears up for recapitalization JAKARTA (JP): Bank Universal is preparing a rights share issue to partly finance its recapitalization program, the subsidiary of PT Astra International announced on Monday. "We have also submitted a business plan to Bank Indonesia (the central bank) to meet one of the requirements for joining the government-sponsored recapitalization program," Universal's president Stephen Z. Satyahadi said in a statement.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 Morning News 7:00 Children's Program 7:30 TV Series 8:00 Music 8:30 Tour and Travel 9:00 Music 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Race means different things in RI and S'pore
Race means different things in RI and S'pore A recent remark by President B.J. Habibie in the Taiwan media concerning the Singapore Armed Forces' policy towards its Malay constituents has stirred up a controversy. Sociologist Ariel Heryanto of the Jakarta-based feminist journal Jurnal Perempuan argues that the problem lies in inter-cultural miscommunication. JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Singapore are immediate neighbors.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Alleged criminal shot dead in Tanah Abang area
Alleged criminal shot dead in Tanah Abang area JAKARTA (JP): Another alleged street criminal was shot dead by police detectives in the busy Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta on Monday morning, bringing the tally killed by law enforcers so far this year to 12. According to Central Jakarta police detective chief Maj. Budiono Sandi, the 30-year-old man was a notorious hoodlum in the area and widely known on the streets as Apel.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Taxi drivers hail police measures
Taxi drivers hail police measures From Neraca We taxi drivers extend our support for the shoot-on-sight order issued by the Jakarta Police against dangerous hoodlums in the city. Since the issuance of the order, we feel much safer driving our taxis, particularly at night. The chance of being robbed at gunpoint when stopped at intersections or driving through housing complexes has declined. However, the illegal traffic supervisors, mostly at U-turns, remain a real nuisance.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where's Indovision?
Where's Indovision? Has anyone tried calling Indovision recently? I have tried unsuccessfully dozens of times. Indovision does not accept calls these days, only faxed messages which go unanswered. Indovision made a calculated business decision when they cut off their service without any advance notice.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fact-finding team visits Ambon after 11 killed
Fact-finding team visits Ambon after 11 killed JAKARTA (JP): Just as violence over the weekend killed 11 people in two islands to the east of Ambon, the capital of Maluku province, a government fact-finding team arrived in the capital on Sunday. Antara reported Monday that the team sent by President B.J. Habibie was led by Maj. Gen. (ret.) Jose Muskita, a former secretary to the vice president, along with members of the Maluku community Des Alwi and K. Kaplale.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
RP senator wants the 'Freedom Sea'
RP senator wants the 'Freedom Sea' MANILA (AFP): Senior Philippine Senator Francisco Tatad on Monday called on the government to now refer to the South China Sea as "Freedom Sea" in reaction to China's conflicting claims in the area. Tatad, who also acts as an adviser to President Joseph Estrada, said in a resolution that because of its name, the South China Sea is sometimes perceived as belonging to China with the Chinese even claiming it as their internal waters.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asia's rice output drops
Asia's rice output drops BANGKOK (DPA): Asia's rice production in 1998 was 510 million tons, 16 million tons less than in 1997, the Food and Drug Organization (FAO) announced Monday. The estimated figure was revised downwards due to lower than expected output in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Foreign telecoms start bidding for PT Indosat
Foreign telecoms start bidding for PT Indosat JAKARTA (JP): A number of major foreign telecommunications companies have passed the initial stage in the bidding process for shares in international telecommunications provider PT Indosat, the Office of the State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises announced on Monday.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
'Community hatred' may lead to social revolution
'Community hatred' may lead to social revolution JAKARTA (JP): Community distrust and hatred of corrupt officials has the potential to cause the widely feared social revolution, an economist and party executive said. Economist Faisal Basri, who is also secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said on Monday that corruption "fosters seeds of hatred" which may suddenly explode.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Syamsu impending replacement confirmed
Syamsu impending replacement confirmed JAKARTA (JP): Only five months after his appointment as deputy attorney general in charge of intelligence affairs, Maj. Gen. Syamsu Djalal will be replaced on Wednesday. Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib confirmed the plan on Monday. Quoted by his office spokesman Soehandoyo, Ghalib said the former Military Police Corps chief -- who gained prominence following his investigation into the abduction of political activists last year -- will be replaced by Lt.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Finance watchdog says fund leakage above Rp 1 trillion
Finance watchdog says fund leakage above Rp 1 trillion JAKARTA (JP): Head of the Government Finance Comptroller (BPKP) Soedarjono said on Monday the state has suffered more than Rp 1 trillion (US$117.6 million) in losses due to corruption during the first three quarters of the 1998/99 fiscal year (April 1998 to December 1998). He said only Rp 19.6 billion, 10.54 percent of the discovered losses, had so far been recovered.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
'Emergency fund only for capital's ID card holders'
'Emergency fund only for capital's ID card holders' JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso on Monday insisted that the Rp 109.52 billion emergency fund is only for Jakarta ID card holders. He ordered all the city's 265 subdistrict heads to strictly follow his guidelines in loaning the aid, locally known as the social safety net fund, to needy Jakartans.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ban on celebration of 'Imlek' still effective
Ban on celebration of 'Imlek' still effective JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has so far issued no new regulations governing Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in the capital, meaning that the government's ban on the Imlek festival is still effective, an official said on Monday.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Most Asian airlines ready to beat 2000 'bug'
Most Asian airlines ready to beat 2000 'bug' SINGAPORE (Agencies): Seventy percent of Asian airlines are confident they will be airborne at the turn of the new year despite the threat of the "millennium bug", a Reuters survey found. Fourteen out of 20 respondents -- 70 percent -- said they would "definitely" be flying on Jan. 1, 2000.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Govt to merge trading firms for efficiency, Tanri says
Govt to merge trading firms for efficiency, Tanri says JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng said on Monday that state trading companies PT Dharma Niaga and PT Kerta Niaga would be merged in a bid to boost their efficiency and profitability. He said that the two companies would not be offered to foreign strategic partners as was the case with many other state companies.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Astra offers upfront payment
Astra offers upfront payment JAKARTA (JP): Publicly-listed PT Astra International's Chief Executive Officer Rini Suwandi announced Monday the company would provide an upfront payment equivalent to three months' interest to creditors. The offer was contained in a new proposal to the company's credit committee and creditors made in a concerted bid to reach an agreement and push its debt restructuring process to move faster.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Quake jolts Aceh, no casualties
Quake jolts Aceh, no casualties BANDA ACEH, Aceh: An earthquake registering 5.2 on the Richter scale hit Aceh at 12:46 p.m. on Monday. It was the second large earthquake to hit the region this month, Syahnan, an official at the geophysics station said. The 10-second quake affected the North Aceh, but its epicenter was reportedly located in West Aceh and 33 kilometers below the earth's surface.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rescuers intensify search for 'Arta Rimba' victims
Rescuers intensify search for 'Arta Rimba' victims JAKARTA (JP): Rescue workers have intensified the search for the hundreds of people aboard the KLM Arta Rimba, which sank in West Kalimantan waters last week, with the deployment of three more Navy ships and one other boat, KM Clurit from Jakarta, an official said Monday. According to Capt. Zainuddin, the section chief in charge of sea traffic and transport at the port office in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, five bodies were taken to the Dr.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mahathir warns ethnic Chinese his opponents sowing discontent
Mahathir warns ethnic Chinese his opponents sowing discontent KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has told the country's large ethnic Chinese minority that government opponents are trying to sow racial hatred and hinder development. In a statement issued late on Sunday ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations this week, Mahathir said there would be riots if instability prevented the people from earning a living.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie the best, Golkar insists
Habibie the best, Golkar insists JAKARTA (JP): A top Golkar official said on Monday President B.J. Habibie was the ruling grouping's best candidate for the presidency. While acknowledging that Golkar has yet to make an official declaration, deputy chairman Theo L. Sambuaga said Habibie was considered the most appropriate and likely to be elected from among its ranks.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Time for East Timor
Time for East Timor After decades of Indonesian occupation, East Timor is beginning to see events move at an almost breathtaking pace. Only a day after rebel leader Xanana Gusmao was moved out of his jail cell came President Bacharuddin Habibie's declaration that, one way or another, he expects the former Portuguese colony's status to be resolved by Jan. 1. Independence, an option which his government only recently accepted as a fallback, has suddenly catapulted to the top of Jakarta's agenda.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
President speaks about Prabowo
President speaks about Prabowo JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie made his first public comment on Monday about Army Strategic Reserves Command's then chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto's alleged resistance to his ascent to the presidency after Soeharto stepped down on May 21 last year.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
No progress made in probe of bloody Semanggi incident
No progress made in probe of bloody Semanggi incident JAKARTA (JP): The Armed Forces (ABRI) admitted on Monday to no progress in its three-month-old investigation into the fatal shooting of protesters at the Semanggi cloverleaf in Central Jakarta last Nov. 13 Maj. Gen.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Power contract terms reworked soon: PLN
Power contract terms reworked soon: PLN JAKARTA (JP): Cash-strapped state electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) will soon start renegotiating agreements with independent power producers (IPP). PLN's president Adhi Satriya said in a statement on Monday that PLN had sent letters to the IPPs notifying them of its readiness to start renegotiating the contracts. "Earlier today, letters were sent to the IPPs to commence discussions.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
French agricultural group extends aid
French agricultural group extends aid JAKARTA (JP): France's Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development agreed here on Monday to continue giving technical assistance to the Indonesian government for another five years. The agreement was signed by the director general of the center, Bernard Bachelier, and the head of the research and development agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Djoko Budianto.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Business outlook unclear
Business outlook unclear SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Monday the island-state's economic outlook remains unclear and worse problems can come if the regional situation deteriorates, particularly in Indonesia. "Our neighbors, especially Indonesia, are burdened with deep economic, social and political difficulties," the prime minister said in his Chinese New Year's message, released early Monday.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI expected to undergo significant shift in health paradigm
RI expected to undergo significant shift in health paradigm By Does Sampoerno JAKARTA (JP): Health and sickness concepts keep changing along with our understanding on the value and role of health. Since the golden era of the Greeks, health has been a virtue, something to be proud of, whereas sickness is considered as useless. The philosophy during that time was that the Cartesian had its orientation in physical health only.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Gas sales to Singapore
Gas sales to Singapore Following media reports of the sale of gas to Singapore, a subject on which Mr. Budi Santoso, a member of the House of Representatives, commented, allow me to congratulate the Indonesian government and the three contractors (PSCs) for their success in selling gas to Singapore. This sale is indeed a blessing to us considering that it took over a decade before Singapore's government finally decided to buy gas from us.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
More bad news in store for Asian markets
More bad news in store for Asian markets By P. Parameswaran SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian financial markets will remain depressed as they undergo a correction after their second phase of recovery from the regional turmoil with analysts unsure when the downward adjustment will end. "In assessing the fundamental issues confronting Asian economies -- both external and internal -- there is more downside to go," said Fong Cheng Hong, senior vice-president for research at Nomura Singapore Ltd.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie wants 'to be remembered for E. Timor'
Habibie wants 'to be remembered for E. Timor' By Kornelius Purba JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie's startling decision to let East Timor become an independent state by Jan. 1 next year is influenced by a desire to prove to the world his statesmanship and courage in handling the province, aides believe.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bag trader busted with ganja
Bag trader busted with ganja JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police detectives arrested a bag trader on Sunday for allegedly possessing 10 kilograms of marijuana in his rented house in Central Jakarta. Central Jakarta Police detectives chief Maj. Budiono Sandi identified the suspect as Soritua Pangaribuan, 36, a resident of Jl. Irawan in Tanah Tinggi.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
The long road to democracy
The long road to democracy By Terry Russell JAKARTA (JP): In Indonesia, as in my own country, Australia, we cannot question democracy. We have all been told that democracy slayed communism in 1989 and that nowadays only fascists and fundamentalists question democracy. Western governments are now pushing harder for democratization, abandoning dictators like Saddam Hussein, Soeharto, Pinochet and Mobutu, whom they supported during the Cold War.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Feb. 15, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb. 15, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 350 0 15,000 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 30,000 Alumindo Light Metal 325 0 77,500 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 175 0 10,000 Aneka Tambang 1,475 0 107,000 Anwar Sierad 75 0 0 Apac Centertex Corp.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta ready to host league playoffs
Jakarta ready to host league playoffs JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Monday that the city would go on with its preparations for the Indonesian league playoffs, despite growing fears that the competition would be vulnerable to unrest. "My stance is clear. I don't want the competition to be canceled due to fears of unrest," Sutiyoso said.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
CDs smuggling attempt foiled
CDs smuggling attempt foiled TANGERANG (JP): The customs officers at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport here have foiled at least three compact disc smuggling attempts to Malaysia and Saudi Arabia since last month, an airport official said Monday. Heru Santoso, a senior customs officer at the airport, told reporters that his office has collected a total of 16,817 CDs of various types such as Audio CDs, Video CDs and CD-ROMs.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Eleven perish when bus crashes, burns
Eleven perish when bus crashes, burns SURABAYA, East Java: Eleven people burned to death and eight others were injured when the Kamal-Pamekasan bus they were aboard overturned and caught fire in the vicinity of Lomaer, Blegah district, along the border of Bangkalan and Sampang on Monday. Antara said the eight survivors were being treated at the Blegah health clinic.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rahardi says rehash consumer rights bill
Rahardi says rehash consumer rights bill JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Monday that the government could technically accept the draft law on consumers' rights proposed by the House of Representatives, but he called for some changes in its contents and format to make it acceptable to the public. "The bill is in tune with the government's view that the country needs to have a law which protects consumers.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
President orders aides to improve aid distribution
President orders aides to improve aid distribution JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie ordered Cabinet ministers on Monday to improve and accelerate the distribution of the much- criticized social safety net program. He said transparent management was needed to maintain people's trust in the program.
Tue, 16 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Two die in city prisons
Two die in city prisons JAKARTA (JP): A prisoner at the Salemba penitentiary in Central Jakarta was found dead in his cell on Monday. Prison officers said that Yeheskiel Simarmata, 27, who was jailed for robbery of public vehicles at the Senen bus terminal, died from a serious fever. A day earlier, a thief detained at North Jakarta's Koja military post was also found dead in his cell. The officials said that Tupal Pandapotan, 28, who was arrested a few hours earlier, had committed suicide.