Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 March 1999

49 articles found

Ghalib grilled over phone talk

Ghalib grilled over phone talk JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General A.M. Ghalib appeared for three hours on Tuesday before the House of Representatives (DPR), facing sharp criticism from legislators over the scanned phone conversation he allegedly had with President B.J. Habibie.

S'pore to beef up security for Y2K

S'pore to beef up security for Y2K SINGAPORE (AP): Singapore will boost its police force this year to face a possible increase in the number of illegal immigrants and a possible rise in crime caused by the Y2K computer bug, government-controlled television reported on Tuesday.

A look ahead to next elections

A look ahead to next elections There has been a rebirth of interest in political life. Based on SK Mendagri/Ketua LPU No.3 Th. 1999, there will be 48 parties contesting the next general election. Many observers have said hopefully that the next multiparty general election will be the first time a...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on March 9, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,930.00 8,960.00 8,930.00 9,000.00Australian dollar 1 5,602.70 5,681.70 5,550.00 5,750.00Austrian schilling 1 703.59 712.51 - -Belgian franc 1 240.

Thousands of teachers opt out of East Timor

Thousands of teachers opt out of East Timor JAKARTA (JP): About 2,300 teachers in East Timor have demanded the government move quickly to transfer them and their 15,000 family members from the troubled province.

Gamblers busted with FN gun

Gamblers busted with FN gun TANGERANG (JP): Vice squad detectives here apprehended four gambling den operators in Sukabakti village, Curug in an evening raid on Monday.From the suspects police confiscated an FN .32 pistol together with four bullets, a Wrangler jeep, Rp 1.

11 Special Force troops face 15 to 26 months in jail

11 Special Force troops face 15 to 26 months in jail JAKARTA (JP): A military prosecutor demanded on Tuesday jail sentences of between 15 months and 26 months for 11 members of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) accused of abducting nine political activists.Chief military prosecutor Col.

Cheap rice allotted to ID-less poor in Jakarta

Cheap rice allotted to ID-less poor in Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will for the first time offer government-subsidized rice to 1,600 families who lack required Jakarta identification cards, an official said on Monday.

Satria Muda eyes Final Four in 2000

Satria Muda eyes Final Four in 2000 JAKARTA (JP): The newly-launched Mahaka Satria Muda basketball club aimed to compete in this year's NBA-like league Kobatama, a club official said on Tuesday.Doedie Gambiro, the club's chief, said that his club has targeted to qualify for the final four by the...

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 9, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 350 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 300 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0...

Free IDs not official yet

Free IDs not official yet PURWAKARTA, West Java: The administration here has launched an intensive program to urge more than 120,000 residents process their identification cards (ID's), but have yet to decide whether the document will be issued free of charge.

World misinformed about RI

World misinformed about RIBy Lance Castles YOGYAKARTA (JP): The international community has expressed concern over religion-related conflicts in Indonesia but they need to know more about what has really happened in the country.

Indonesia will consult IMF on recapitalization

Indonesia will consult IMF on recapitalization JAKARTA (JP): The government will seek the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) backing before the disputed bank restructuring program begins, Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita said on Tuesday.

RI undergoing healing process, says Anderson

RI undergoing healing process, says Anderson YOGYAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is in a healing process after decaying for years under the untrammeled power of former president Soeharto, leading Indonesianist Benedict Anderson of Cornell University said on Monday.

Govt to simplify plantation licensing

Govt to simplify plantation licensing JAKARTA (JP): The government will simplify the licensing procedure for developing new plantation areas in a bid to encourage more investors, a senior official at the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations said here on Tuesday.

Student hurt by warning shots

Student hurt by warning shots MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: Isac Nasori, a student of a state high school here, is believed to be the victim of a police shooting after a traffic violation, Antara reported on Monday.The agency quoted the commander of the local military police, Second Lt.

Damaged road

Damaged road This is to bring to the knowledge of North Jakarta administrative authorities that the road Jl. Gading Boulevard Timur of Kelapa Gading area in front of Al-Azhar School and more so in front of Pertamina petrol pump No. 34-0118 is very badly damaged.

Calls intensify for restraint in Ambon

Calls intensify for restraint in Ambon JAKARTA (JP): Calls mounted on Tuesday for hostile religious groups in Ambon to keep their cool as more lives were lost from the weeks of clashes."We call on people from both sides to put down their weapons and work together to restore peace and order in...

Sponsored by Satelindo

Sponsored by Satelindo There is an error in the Sunday, March 7, 1999 article entitled "Children's TV show combines fun with moral message" written by R. Masri Sareb Putra.It is said in the article that Saras 008 aired by Indosiar was sponsored by PT Indosat.

Malaysia opens US$75m F1 track

Malaysia opens US$75m F1 track KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Formula One champion Mika Hakkinen test- drove Malaysia's new US$75 million track ahead of its official opening ceremony Tuesday."The layout is one of the best in the world," Hakkinen said in a meeting with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after the...

BI denies plan to pull Rp 50,000 note

BI denies plan to pull Rp 50,000 note JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia denied on Tuesday rumors that the government is planning to replace the Rp 50,000 banknote currently in circulation.BI senior official H.Y.

RP asks RI to defer Davis Cup to July

RP asks RI to defer Davis Cup to July JAKARTA (JP): The Philippines has asked Indonesia to reschedule the Davis Cup Group II Asia Oceania zone semifinal to July for security reasons.The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) deputy secretary general, Benny Mailili, told reporters Tuesday that Pelti...

New structures in Spratlys: RP

New structures in Spratlys: RP MANILA (AFP): New structures are being erected on an uninhabited reef in the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, Philippine Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado said on Tuesday.But he said he did not know which country was building them.

Thailand, Myanmar to fight drugs

Thailand, Myanmar to fight drugs BANGKOK (AFP): Myanmar and Thailand announced on Tuesday a joint crackdown on drugs to meet a deadline to eliminate drug trafficking and drug use in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Testing the junta's commitment

Testing the junta's commitment The visit to Thailand of a 40-strong Myanmar delegation led by Senior General Than Shwe is another step in the junta's campaign to gain world-wide credibility.If the visitors heard some tough talk from their Thai hosts, they were also accorded a meeting with King...

East Timor dilemma

East Timor dilemma When East Timor was "annexed" by Indonesian "volunteers" in 1975 hand in hand with the Fretilin-defeated UDT, I believe most Indonesians at that time agreed to such a move. We have to remember the situation when the Cold War was still going on, and nobody would ever have wanted...

Student groups defy court verdict over rallies

Student groups defy court verdict over rallies JAKARTA (JP): Two student groups charged with holding illegal street rallies in the capital on Monday rejected their trials at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday.

Press freedom in peril

Press freedom in peril Charges of abuse of freedom which have been hurled at the media from several quarters in recent months only go to show how precarious press freedom still is in this country even in the reform era, and how unused we are to the workings of a democratic society.

Obscene callers told their victims to do fatal acts

Obscene callers told their victims to do fatal acts JAKARTA (JP): Three of the 60 junior high school students who were victims of obscene and threatening phone calls early last month said on Tuesday that the callers also ordered them to perform fatal acts.

Habibie receives more support for another term

Habibie receives more support for another term JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar party is set to nominate incumbent President B.J. Habibie for a second term despite criticisms targeted at both Habibie and Golkar.

Elections and mass amuck

Elections and mass amuck The people are looking forward to an honest and just general election this year. If it fails to live up to these expectations, it may trigger their anger and cause a mass amuck, whether or not there are instigators.

Sampoerna suffers Rp 180b in net loss 1998: Director

Sampoerna suffers Rp 180b in net loss 1998: Director JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cigarette manufacturer PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna suffered a Rp 180 billion (about US$21 million) net loss in 1998, compared to a net profit of Rp 20.

Govt OKs $232m in new FDI projects

Govt OKs $232m in new FDI projects JAKARTA (JP): The government approved 87 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects worth US$232 million in the first two months of the year, an official at the Investment Coordinating Board said on Tuesday.

Ministry sets new academic calendar

Ministry sets new academic calendar JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Education and Culture has established a new academic calendar and also has declared that students in Maluku's ravaged capital of Ambon will not have to sit for exams, Minister Juwono Sudarsono said on Tuesday.

Students condemn brutality

Students condemn brutality JAKARTA (JP): Students lodged a complaint concerning the excessive use of force by security personnel at a demonstration on Jl. Proklamasi in Central Jakarta on Thursday.Carrying a banner which read "Stop Military Violence", the 50 students grouped under the Collective...

SE Asian currencies fall on yuan devaluation fears

SE Asian currencies fall on yuan devaluation fears SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies ended a whipsaw trading session on Tuesday mixed against the U.S. dollar.After trailing the yen higher throughout the Asian morning, regional currencies saw an abrupt sell-off in afternoon dealing...

UN has yet to decide on troops in E. Timor

UN has yet to decide on troops in E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations will not consider a peacekeeping mission to East Timor in the near future, as it is still focusing its attention on Indonesia's autonomy package offer, UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said on Tuesday.

Rp 17b allocated for general election

Rp 17b allocated for general election JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is to set aside Rp 17 billion from its 1999/2000 budget to help finance the June 7 elections in the capital, according to documents released on Tuesday.

Estrada files libel suit against daily

Estrada files libel suit against daily MANILA (AP): An angry President Joseph Estrada filed a libel suit on Tuesday against a Manila newspaper which suggested he had unwittingly allowed an improper power plant repair deal.Estrada is seeking 101 million pesos (US$2.

Debate rages on over central bank bill

Debate rages on over central bank bill JAKARTA (JP): The government and the House of Representatives failed to reach an agreement on whether to retain Bank Indonesia's (BI) banking supervisory function in the new central bank bill currently being debated.

National rights body derided as 'a club'

National rights body derided as 'a club' JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights was handed a fresh no-confidence motion over its legitimacy on Tuesday.The long-standing issue resurfaced during the launching of a book on human rights titled National Commission on Human Rights in Five...

Gates sees HK, Singapore, Malaysia as software hubs

Gates sees HK, Singapore, Malaysia as software hubs HONG KONG (Reuters): Microsoft Corp chairman Bill Gates said on Tuesday there was room for Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia all to become Asian software centers, despite their competition to attract high-technology businesses.

Senayan sports complex to build new facilities

Senayan sports complex to build new facilities JAKARTA (JP): The Gelora Senayan Management Board (BPGS) will both renovate and build venues at the Senayan sports complex to meet international standards as part of the country's effort to win the bid to host the 2006 Asian Games.

Ethnic, racial and religious issues through children's eyes

Ethnic, racial and religious issues through children's eyes JAKARTA (JP): Seven-year-old Kartika knew that the Chinese are not the same as other ethnic groups in the country. She learned the difference when her mother took her along to wedding parties -- the Chinese bride usually wears a Western...

Political parties told to help make city safe

Political parties told to help make city safe JAKARTA (JP): City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman has urged political parties eligible to take part in the June 7 general election to help maintain security in the capital, especially during the campaign period.

On Indonesia-Singapore relationship

On Indonesia-Singapore relationship It is a fact that Singapore, a dot on the map of Southeast Asia, is bordered by the fourth-largest country in the world. But to characterize that dot as red, which Indonesian President B.J.

Motorola sells new cellular

Motorola sells new cellular JAKARTA (JP): United States telecommunications equipment giant Motorola launched here on Tuesday the latest series in its line of mobile phone products.The company said that the new cellular phone, weighing about 83 grams, was the smallest Global System for Mobile...

Australia, RI military hold forum

Australia, RI military hold forum JAKARTA (JP): Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Wiranto and his Australian counterpart Admiral Chris Barric are heading their countries' delegations at a three-day bilateral forum, opened here on Tuesday, to discuss cooperation in defense and security.

Beggars become source of ire

Beggars become source of ire PADANG, West Sumatra: Residents in the West Sumatra capital are complaining of beggars and homeless exhibiting criminal tendencies. Residents, particularly women, said they were forced to give money.