Archive: 23 February 1999
55 articles found
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Students support poll as lesser evil
Students support poll as lesser evil BANDUNG (JP): Student leaders agreed on Sunday after a three- day meeting to support the upcoming general election, which they have deemed unfair for being based on defective political laws, as they said to call off the election would lead to more trouble.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
One killed in latest Maluku religious clash
One killed in latest Maluku religious clash JAKARTA (JP): Fresh violence broke out in riot-prone Maluku province on Monday leaving one man dead, reports said. The violence in the Muslim half of Siri Sori village on Saparua Island was preceded by a Molotov cocktail attack by Christian villagers before dawn, Abdul Majid, the head of the Muslim side of Siri Sori village told The Jakarta Post by phone.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie's misdemeanors 'more stories' than Clinton's
Habibie's misdemeanors 'more stories' than Clinton's The supposed recording of a telephone conversation between President B.J. Habibie and the attorney general has drawn a mixed response, with Habibie's loyalists demanding an investigation and the pro-democracy activists deploring the content of the conversation. Dr. H.S. Dillon of the National Commission on Human Rights believes the President should be impeached.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bank's negative spread may fall to zero this year
Bank's negative spread may fall to zero this year JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia predicted that the negative spread which had been eroding banks' capital bases would decrease to zero this year, compared to an average of 27 percent last year. "Their (banks) cost of funds may still be higher than their lending rates for the next few months but we hope the spread for the whole year will be zero," Soebardjo Djojosoemartono, a managing director at the central bank, said on Sunday night.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Bandung:
Where to go in Bandung: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Owning Memory, Amanda Johnson (Australian), at Galeripadi, Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 329 (Phone: 022 2500578), until Feb. 25. * Photo Exhibition: Germany Advertisement Photograph in 1925- 1988, at Bandung Institute of Technology, Jl. Ganesha 10, until March 27. Performance * Sundanese Traditional Drama: Maharani, Vikta Group, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl. Baranang Siang 1, Kosambi (Phone: 022 433562), 8 p.m., Feb. 27.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Singapore, Australia support U.S. presence in the region
Singapore, Australia support U.S. presence in the region SINGAPORE (AP): Top Singapore and Australian officials said on Monday that they welcomed a strong U.S. presence in the region, where the economic crisis has brought growing social and political turmoil. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Tim Fischer and Defense Minister John Moore met with Singapore's Foreign Minister S.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Golkar vows to support antidiscrimination policies
Golkar vows to support antidiscrimination policies JAKARTA (JP): Five months after President B.J. Habibie instructed his administration's rank and file to scrap policies discriminating against Indonesians on the basis of ethnic origin the ruling Golkar party has taken up an agenda to draw in Chinese-Indonesian constituents.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Scholarships for poor students
Scholarships for poor students JAKARTA (JP): Stichting Steun Schoolkinderen Indonesie, an organization which groups Indonesians living in the Netherlands, has given scholarships worth Rp 18.73 million (5,000 Dutch guilders) to 100 elementary school, junior high school and senior high school students in Tangerang.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Results of June elections key to recovery: Summers
Results of June elections key to recovery: Summers JAKARTA (JP): U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Lawrence Summers said here on Monday that results of the general election in June and the progress of the economic reform plan are key to Indonesia's economic recovery.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
ABRI back bid to ease tension in East Timor
ABRI back bid to ease tension in East Timor JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto said here on Monday he would be sending military officers to join the National Commission on Human Rights visiting East Timor this week. Meanwhile in Ainaro, 145 kilometers south of the East Timor capital of Dili, a pro-Indonesia militia group declared its readiness to fight a civil war against any independence movements.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Marijuana growers turned in
Marijuana growers turned in PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Police found on Friday about 3,000 marijuana plants growing in the Sintang district of the Sungai Urak Forest area, West Kalimantan, Antara reported Monday. The crops were reportedly planted by residents on a 0.2- hectare plot and a 0.25-hectare plot in Mengkurat Baru village, West Kalimantan Police spokesman Suhadi said. Police also arrested three suspects and seized 1.2 ounces of dried marijuana found on two motorcycles.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on Feb. 22, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
No shortcuts to corporate culture
No shortcuts to corporate culture By Rahayu Ratnaningsih This is the second of two articles on corporate culture. JAKARTA (JP): Corporate culture develops gradually. A committed leader can introduce and reinforce a new vision until it becomes intrinsic to an organization. There is no "quick fix". Over time, an interactive management team can allow a performance-driven culture to take shape for the benefit of the whole organization. Fundamental shifts are required from the executive leadership.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI Fed Cup team loses opener
RI Fed Cup team loses opener BANGKOK (Agencies): The Indonesian tennis team got off to a shaky start at the Federation Cup Asia-Oceania qualifying tournament here on Monday, losing to top seeded Chinese Taipei 1- 2 in their pool A match. The Taiwanese settled the issue when their tennis queen, Wang Shi-ting, made short work of Indonesia's number one, Wynne Prakusya, 6-0, 6-1, for an unbeatable 2-0 lead.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bali starling flirts with extinction in the wild
Bali starling flirts with extinction in the wild By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Bali has long been famous for its natural beauty, but only few people know that the symbol of the island's fauna, the Bali starling, one of the world's rarest birds, has been on the verge of extinction in the wild for the last 10 years. In 1990, the Bali starling population in the wild was reportedly only 14 birds. Within two years, that number rose to 50 thanks to extensive conservation efforts.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Military court convicts four more officers in Aceh
Military court convicts four more officers in Aceh JAKARTA (JP): A military court on Monday in Banda Aceh found four low-ranking Army officers guilty of battery that led to the death of five Lhokseumawe villagers in North Aceh, and of injuring scores of others last Jan. 9. Presiding Judge Lt. Col. P.J. Piter sentenced Pvt. Amsir (29) to two years in jail, Pvt. Mahunun Harahap (31) two years and four months, First Pvt. Manolam Situmorang (26) to two years and two months and Pvt.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Political elite warned against playing dirty
Political elite warned against playing dirty JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security/Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto blamed political friction among the elite for much of the current unrest and said that those paying people to make trouble "would face the military". While he has issued instructions to shoot-on-sight if necessary, various individuals and groups within the political elite should also stop their actions, Wiranto said on Monday.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
House sees fiscal decentralization bill as too vague
House sees fiscal decentralization bill as too vague JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives asked for a clear- cut revenue-sharing formula to be included in the bill on fiscal balances between the central government and local administrations to ensure a fair distribution of income.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Oil and gas draft law draws mixed reactions
Oil and gas draft law draws mixed reactions JAKARTA (JP): The oil and gas draft law which will lift the decades-long monopoly held by state oil and gas company Pertamina has received a mixed reaction from analysts. Analyst Bachrawi Sanusi said the bill, which is awaiting approval by the House of Representatives, contained a number of weaknesses and the House should reject it.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Last great wilderness gets the chop in Kalimantan
Last great wilderness gets the chop in Kalimantan By Fred Pearce LONDON: Loggers have torn through a "natural laboratory" the size of the Isle of Wight, wrecking the efforts of international researchers to monitor tropical peat-swamp forests.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
City councilors ready to leave after poll
City councilors ready to leave after poll JAKARTA (JP): City councilors from the three factions said Monday that they are ready to relinquish their posts if they are not successful in the upcoming general election. Interviewed separately by The Jakarta Post, some of the councilors acknowledged that termination of their council terms would be a "tough" outcome. Others insisted that the issue was of little consequence.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Two former Army members netted in police operation
Two former Army members netted in police operation JAKARTA (JP): Two ex-servicemen, believed to be members of a group of vehicle thieves operating in Central Jakarta, were arrested during a routine police operation on Sunday, an officer said. Central Jakarta Police chief Lt. Col. Iman Haryatna said on Monday the two former Army members, identified only as Tasli Dewantoro and Rasmadi, were arrested in a Kijang van together with two other suspects, Agus Amba and Muhammad Mustafa.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Chinese boat shelters in Dili
Chinese boat shelters in Dili DILI, East Timor: Fifty-seven boat people from mainland China have been stranded since Thursday at the Dili port because of a mechanical failure in their vessel,Antara reported Monday. "They were heading for New Zealand. However, the Rantong ship had a mechanical breakdown, so they sought the nearest port," Dili Police spokesman Capt. Widodo, said. The 57 passengers consisted of 43 males and 14 females.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Man arrested for inciting people to acts of destruction
Man arrested for inciting people to acts of destruction JAKARTA (JP): Trisakti University students and residents along Jl. Pulo Mas Selatan in East Jakarta apprehended a man for attempting to incite people to commit destructive acts. Chief of campus security D. Gultom announced on Monday that the man, who identified himself as Richard Dewilmaar Simatupang, was arrested on Friday for repeatedly shouting, "Burn mosques, burn churches, but don't burn Jesus," in front of the campus.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kashmir the key in India-Pakistan relations
Kashmir the key in India-Pakistan relations By Andrew Hill LAHORE, Pakistan (Reuters): A goodwill bus trip to Pakistan by India's prime minister has put relations between the world's newest nuclear states on a safer footing, but ties remain hostage to the 50-year dispute over Kashmir.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Australia, S'pore sign deal
Australia, S'pore sign deal SINGAPORE (DPA): Singapore and Australia have signed a wide- ranging deal on information technology valued at between S$40 and $50 million (US$24 30 million), Singapore television reports said on Monday. The agreement, signed by visiting Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, includes initiatives to speed up commercial and industry exchanges, encourage trade and investment and coordinate electronic commerce.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
MITI raises insurance premium for Indonesia
MITI raises insurance premium for Indonesia TOKYO (Dow Jones): The Ministry of International Trade and Industry will increase trade insurance premiums for Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia on April 1, according to The Nihon Keizai Shimbun's Monday morning edition. The maximum rate hike is estimated at 30 percent. The higher premiums are attributed to increased country risk amid economic and political uncertainty in the three Southeast Asian nations.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar to host heroin meeting
Myanmar to host heroin meeting YANGON (Reuters): Myanmar aims to show it is serious about drug suppression by hosting an international heroin conference organized by Interpol starting on Tuesday, but critics have called the choice of venue a bad joke. The United States and most European Union nations have said they will not attend the four-day meeting in Yangon, capital of a country that is one of the world's leading sources of heroin.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Japan trade surplus rises, but eases against U.S.
Japan trade surplus rises, but eases against U.S. TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's overall trade surplus jumped in January from the same month a year ago but the surplus with the United States edged down slightly, easing fears that it could re- ignite a Japan-U.S. trade row. The Ministry of Finance (MOF) said on Monday Japan's custom- cleared trade surplus for January rose 87.0 percent from a year earlier to 760.3 billion yen ($6.23 billion).
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police apprehend three notorious truck robbers
Police apprehend three notorious truck robbers BOGOR (JP): Police arrested three members of a gang of notorious truck robbers who operate along the roads connecting Jakarta to cities in West Java and Central Java, an officer said here on Monday. The chief of the Bogor Police, Lt. Col. Ade Husen Kartadipura, said that the eight-member gang was at the top of the local police's list of most-wanted criminals.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Villagers want elephants blocked
Villagers want elephants blocked BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Some 200 residents from two districts in Central Lampung staged a protest at the Lampung administration office, demanding protection against wild elephants in the area, Antara reported Monday. Head of Lampung's forestry agency Edi Suryadi pledged to control the elephants by building gutters and installing electrified wires. "We will deploy trained elephants to block the wild elephants from destroying residents' property," Edi added.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Losses on ship sales may put Soeharto-linked firm into red
Losses on ship sales may put Soeharto-linked firm into red SINGAPORE (Reuters): Energy transportation group Osprey Maritime Ltd, partly owned by former president Soeharto's family, will see weaker earnings for 1998, possibly slipping into the red, due to huge losses from the sale of two vessels, analysts said on Monday.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia readies for Sabah polls
Malaysia readies for Sabah polls KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (AFP): The local assembly in the eastern Malaysian state of Sabah was dissolved on Monday for elections likely to prove the first test for the ruling coalition ahead of national polls. The widely anticipated announcement by Sabah Chief Minister Bernard Dompok followed months of speculation about the timing of the election, the first in the state since 1994 when the ruling National Front coalition took control of the assembly.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
KONI urged to reconsider bid for 2006 Asiad
KONI urged to reconsider bid for 2006 Asiad JAKARTA (JP): The country's bid to host its second Asian Games (Asiad) in 2006 has attracted its first controversy with State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono urging the National Sports Council (KONI) to reconsider the plan. Agung said during the opening of a KONI congress at Hotel Mulia Senayan on Monday that the nation might not be ready for the continent's biggest sports event.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fresh fighting breaks out between Serbs and Albanians
Fresh fighting breaks out between Serbs and Albanians PRISTINA, Serbia (AP): Serb forces backed by tanks battled ethnic Albanian rebels northwest of here Monday, while U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright pushed belligerents to accept a settlement to keep the Kosovo peace talks in France from collapsing.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
DBS Bank eyes more Asian banks
DBS Bank eyes more Asian banks SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's acquisitive DBS Bank plans to buy more Asian banks in a bid to build itself as a leading regional bank, vice president and chief executive officer John Olds said on Monday. Speaking to reporters at a lunch meeting, Olds, an ex-JP Morgan banker who joined DBS seven months ago, said: "We are going to have to do more before we can be viewed as a regional franchise.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
East Timor
East Timor From Republika In trying to find a solution to the East Timor question, the government, in a recent Cabinet meeting on political and security affairs, made quite a shocking announcement to the effect that the Indonesian government is ready to drop the province from the Republic of Indonesia. In my opinion this decision is too extreme and rather unfair.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Private vs public
Private vs public The phone-tapping scandal ensnaring the presidential palace complex has raised legal and ethical questions of interest not only to law-enforcement agents, but also to journalists. Was Panji Masyarakat news magazine at fault or unethical in printing the transcript of the purported phone conversation between President B.J. Habibie and Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib?
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies battered as yen takes dive
Asian currencies battered as yen takes dive SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies were battered during Asian trading on Monday, after the Japanese yen dropped to its lowest level since the beginning of December. In Southeast Asia, the Thai baht, the Singapore dollar and the Philippine peso all ended the day lower, while in North Asian trading only heavy central bank intervention saved the new Taiwan dollar from following the South Korean won down to fresh lows for the year.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
'Gamma' weekly hits newsstands
'Gamma' weekly hits newsstands JAKARTA (JP): New publication Gamma hit the stands on Monday with 140,000 copies, featuring an exclusive interview with Lt. Gen. (ret.) Prabowo, the former chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command. Its management said it was optimistic despite several news weeklies on the market already, citing experience with a couple of leading national weeklies.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
More infants in Tangerang undernourished
More infants in Tangerang undernourished TANGERANG (JP): At least one infant has died of marasmus in Tangerang while seven others are suffering the effects of malnutrition and are receiving treatment at the Tangerang General Hospital. One of the seven severely malnourished babies receiving treatment is the brother of the dead infant.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Harawi's move to take over Bank Papan put on hold
Harawi's move to take over Bank Papan put on hold JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia has not approved the recent move by the Harawi Sekawan Group to take over a majority stake in publicly listed Bank Papan Sejahtera. The director of the central bank, Subarjo Joyosumarto, said on Sunday evening that the green light had not been given to the Harawi Group because of certain considerations.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Chee calls laws 'abuse of power'
Chee calls laws 'abuse of power' SINGAPORE (AFP): A Singapore opposition leader accused the ruling party on Monday of abusing power as he took the stand to defend himself against a second charge of giving an illegal public speech. The trial of Chee Soon Juan, secretary-general of the tiny Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), resumed with Chee claiming a system requiring permits to be issued for talks in public places was a means for the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) to maintain control.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bridgestone's new RI plant
Bridgestone's new RI plant TOKYO (Dow Jones): Bridgestone Corp. said on Monday it had started mass production at its second tire plant in Indonesia, which cost about Y12 billion to build. The Karawang plant, near Jakarta, makes radial tires for cars and light trucks; daily production capacity is expected to reach about 20 metric tons of rubber, equivalent to roughly 4,000 tires, by the end of 1999. It has 243 employees.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
147 parties now registered with Ministry of Justice
147 parties now registered with Ministry of Justice JAKARTA (JP): As of Monday, the last day for political parties to register, 147 parties had registered with the Ministry of Justice. Of these, 116 parties had gained corporate body status while the remaining 31 parties were given until Feb. 24 to complete registration requirements. Eleven parties had registered with the ministry on Monday, as of 4 p.m.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb.22, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 375 0 500 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 325 25 210,000 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 175 0 0 Aneka Tambang 1,450 -25 1,360,000 Anwar Sierad 75 0 0 Apac Centertex Corp.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
LKMD chiefs targeted in telephone scam
LKMD chiefs targeted in telephone scam JAKARTA (JP): At least five chiefs of the capital's Village Resilience Boards (LKMD) have been targeted in a telephone scam informing them they were recipients of Kijang vans from the government. Nazar Amir, LKMD head of Bidara Cina subdistrict in East Jakarta, said on Monday he received a telephone call in the morning. He was instructed to transfer Rp 4.1 million (US$455.5) to an account at privately run Bank Internasional Indonesia to obtain the van.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Broadcast lapses affect sales
Broadcast lapses affect sales PEKANBARU, Riau: Electronic goods vendors complained over a sharp drop in antennae sales, which was attributed to broadcast disruptions from several television stations there, Antara reported Monday. "Since the parabola antennae can no longer catch several private television programs, sales of the devices have plunged," Yeni, one of the vendors, said. The missing programs were on ANteve, Indosiar, SCTV and later followed by TPI.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Probe into Semanggi incident criticized
Probe into Semanggi incident criticized JAKARTA (JP): The independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) lashed out on Monday at the probe into the shooting of protesters at the Semanggi cloverleaf in Nov. 13, which killed 14, mostly students. The last of the 14, Engkus Kusnadi, a 19-year-old student of architecture, died after 10 days in coma.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Claimants occupy Danau Bogor Raya
Claimants occupy Danau Bogor Raya BOGOR (JP): Some 30 people, claiming to be children and grandchildren of a man who died 64 years ago, are occupying a part of the vast Danau Bogor Raya housing complex at Tegal Harendong village of Cimahpar area here. The people are demanding Rp 3 billion compensation from the developer of the upmarket housing complex for 1.5 hectares of land, which they claim belonged to the late Muhali bin Piang.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Honest and fair election
Honest and fair election From Republika President B.J. Habibie is called a "transitional president" because he took over after former president Soeharto stepped down from office on May 21, 1998. He has also been the target of some unfavorable comments. Many, however, have praised and supported him. It is not usual to have positive and negative comments about him, something which also occurred during the New Order regime.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police widen probe into tapping
Police widen probe into tapping JAKARTA (JP): Police have extended the investigation into the recording of a conversation believed to be between President B.J. Habibie and Attorney General A.M. Ghalib, summoning television station employees and naming Habibie as a possible witness in a criminal case. Police were building criminal charges against the media workers based on laws prohibiting the dissemination of false information.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rice import to halve last year's figure
Rice import to halve last year's figure JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia will import about 2 million metric tons of rice this year, half of the 4.3 million tons imported last calendar year, Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Monday. Rahardi, who is also head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) said the decrease was due too the better-than-expected rice crop this harvest season.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bomb hoax scares JSX employees
Bomb hoax scares JSX employees JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) was hit by a bomb threat on Friday and closed about an hour early with hundreds of workers in the two 32-story towers being evacuated. Atik Suwardi, the security head of PT Danareksa Jakarta International which manages the two towers, said the bomb threat was received over the phone by Mia, a receptionist of PT Bursa Efek Jakarta, at 2:20 p.m. and again at 2:25 p.m.
Tue, 23 Feb 1999, 00:00 WIB
Officer testifies he heard Anwar screaming
Officer testifies he heard Anwar screaming KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A Malaysian police officer on Monday said he heard a groan from sacked finance minister Anwar Ibrahim's detention cell in September after the then police chief and another senior officer entered the room.