Archive: 13 March 1999
53 articles found
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Govt to set up labor export agency: Minister
Govt to set up labor export agency: Minister JAKARTA (JP): The government is setting up a labor export agency to simplify procedures and better protect workers overseas, according to Minister of Manpower Fahmi Idris. President B.J. Habibie is scheduled to issue the decree on the establishment of the agency next week, Fahmi told The Jakarta Post on Friday. He would chair the agency, and work in cooperation with local labor exporters.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Three infants die of malnutrition
Three infants die of malnutrition SERANG, West Java: Three infants under five years old died of severe malnutrition, Antara reported Friday while at least 3,000 others were also undernourished. The head of the Serang region's health agency, Djono Kardjoeki, said the three who had suffered for months were Junaedi, two, Febi, six months, and Amarullah, 19 months. Another infant of 16 months, Saepi bin Sanusi, was also under intensive treatment.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Moral commitment
Moral commitment Towards the general election slated for early June 1999, many of our fellow countrymen, whether of Chinese origin or not, and aliens, are getting ready to leave the country. Besides, many companies, both national and foreign, have postponed new investments and business expansion. There is fear, therefore, that the country's economic activities, now proceeding only with difficulty, will shortly come to a complete standstill.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rp 10.4m aid for disaster-hit areas
Rp 10.4m aid for disaster-hit areas SEMARANG: Five regencies in Central Java are slated to receive Rp 10.4 million in aid to help repair homes damaged in recent floods, strong winds and landslides. Antara quoted on Friday the secretary of the natural disaster office of Central Java, Soetono, as saying here that the regions were Semarang, Magelang, Pati, Wonogiri and Batang.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
JSX donates computers
JSX donates computers JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) donated on Friday 36 personal computers to six private and state universities in a move to facilitate the teaching-learning process during the economic crisis.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Suwandi may play in Davis Cup tie
Suwandi may play in Davis Cup tie JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best tennis player Suwandi will likely play singles and doubles in the Davis Cup Group II Asia Oceania zone semifinal here early next month. Coach Dedy Prasetyo told reporters on Friday that Suwandi has shown great improvement in his physical condition recently. "Suwandi has tried hard to chase Febi in physical training. It's good because his weakness was his physical condition.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
25 job seekers complain against manpower supplier firm
25 job seekers complain against manpower supplier firm JAKARTA (JP): About 25 job seekers accused manpower supplier PT Luhur Asaprima on Friday of swindling them of registration fees and other costs for transportation as overseas workers in Taiwan. They brought their grievance to the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute over payments they said ranged from Rp 13 million (US$1,444) to Rp 14 million, institute lawyer Rita Olivia said.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Government to announce closure of 39 banks
Government to announce closure of 39 banks JAKARTA (JP): The long-awaited massive bank restructuring program, which an informed source said would close down 39 insolvent banks and put seven others under the government management, is to be launched on Saturday. Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita confirmed on Friday that the government would decide on the closure of insolvent banks at a meeting between senior economic ministers and President B.J.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Juwono optimistic about Indonesia's survival
Juwono optimistic about Indonesia's survival JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono expressed optimism that Indonesia would emerge from the crisis, which many have said is threatening national unity, Antara reported on Thursday. "I am sure the nation will survive the crisis. Insya Allah (God willing), within 18 to 24 months we will see signs of economic recovery and social conflicts will gradually reduce," the minister said.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Manado to deport six Filipinos
Manado to deport six Filipinos MANADO, North Sulawesi: The immigration office here said Friday it is planning to deport six fishermen from the Philippines who have been detained for entering Indonesian waters illegally, Antara reported Friday. Immigration officer, Pujo Sulistyo, said the six Filipinos will be sent back to Davao, southern Philippines on the Katherina from the port of Bitung here.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Prospects dim for Khmer Rouge tribunal
Prospects dim for Khmer Rouge tribunal By Robert Birsel PHNOM PENH (Reuters): Prospects for a tribunal for leaders of Cambodia's Khmer Rouge have dimmed in recent days but political analysts on Thursday predicted much hard bargaining on the thorny issue still to come.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Assimilation of ethnic Chinese
Assimilation of ethnic Chinese The various policies pursued by the New Order regime to accelerate the process of assimilation of ethnic Chinese focussed on removing the identity of Chinese-Indonesians. This method was seemingly partly successful in separating ethnic Chinese from their cultural roots. A number of changes observable among Chinese-Indonesians are evidence of this. Most Chinese-Indonesians of the new generation, for example, can no longer speak Chinese.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Taxi stolen, driver wounded
Taxi stolen, driver wounded JAKARTA (JP): A Dian Taxi driver had his car stolen on Thursday night and was dumped in Jl. Sentra Primer, a quiet street in Pondok Kopi, East Jakarta, by three men he had pick up as passengers. Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Friday that the incident took place while taxi driver Hendi, 30, was driving the three men from Klender to Jl. Sentra Primer in Pondok Kopi.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
PM Hun Sen to visit RI next week
PM Hun Sen to visit RI next week PHNOM PENH (AFP): Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen will next week pay an official visit to Indonesia to seal an agreement on the "Promotion and Protection of Investment in Cambodia," a statement said Friday. During the March 15-17 visit, Hun Sen's first to Indonesia, he will hold bilateral talks with President B.J Habibie, before lobbying for increased business cooperation.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Scholar insists Riau deserves independence
Scholar insists Riau deserves independence JAKARTA (JP): A scholar insisted on Friday that Riau separate from the Republic of Indonesia if the government's exploitation of natural resources in the oil-rich province continued. Tabrani Rab, a professor of medicine who loves anthropology, said support had loomed, particularly from students, for his plan to proclaim Riau an independent state. The students are expected to read out the declaration on Monday.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia offers to host alternative archery meet
Indonesia offers to host alternative archery meet JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Archery Association (Perpani) proposed a tournament in August to make up for the lack of an archery competition at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Bandar Seri Begawan in the same month.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
15 journalists abused in W. Sumatra, Kalimantan
15 journalists abused in W. Sumatra, Kalimantan JAKARTA (JP): The Padang Legal Aid Office has urged the West Sumatra Police to carry out a thorough investigation of the maltreatment of 14 journalists in Gunung Medan, West Sumatra, on Thursday. "The police should give an official explanation as to why they failed to give protection to the journalists during the incident," Miko Kamal, chairman of the office, said in a press release in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang on Friday.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Crash program launched for process ID cards
Crash program launched for process ID cards JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso has instructed all the city subdistrict heads to launch a crash program on ID card processing to enable city residents to have new ID cards or have their expired cards renewed ahead of the June 7 general election, an official said on Friday.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
PDI Jakarta faces fresh dispute ahead of polls
PDI Jakarta faces fresh dispute ahead of polls JAKARTA (JP): The head of the Indonesian Democratic Party's Jakarta chapter, Lukman F. Mokoginta, led 20 supporters to City Hall on Friday to ask for clarification on the administration's recent invitation to a get-together extended to "rival" members of the party.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Cambodia to join ASEAN on April 10
Cambodia to join ASEAN on April 10 HANOI (AP): Foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to gather on April 10 in Hanoi for a special ceremony to admit Cambodia, a Vietnamese government source said on Friday. The ministers also would be expected to discuss regional issues on the sidelines of the ceremony. The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry said on Friday it could not confirm yet that the date had been set.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
U.S.-Vietnam trade talks
U.S.-Vietnam trade talks HANOI (AP): The seventh round of talks aimed at reaching a trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam open Monday. Both sides have expressed cautious optimism for real progress at the session, which is scheduled for five days. Six rounds of talks have gone on for almost three years. Washington says they have stalled because of Vietnam's unwillingness to open up its markets.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Live TV shows
Live TV shows Sports competitions to be broadcast live this weekend on local TV stations (all listings West Indonesia Time): Saturday English soccer league: West Ham v Chelsea SCTV (10 p.m.) Sunday Italian soccer league: Inter Milan v AC Milan RCTI (2:50 a.m.) English soccer league: Middlesbrough v Southampton Indosiar (10:30 p.m.) Boxing: Lennox Lewis v Evander Holyfield Indosiar (9 a.m.) Badminton: All England final RCTI (8:30 p.m.)
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Anwar's wife testifies at trial
Anwar's wife testifies at trial KUALA LUMPUR (AP): The wife of jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim testified on Friday that she had seen a confidential government document on a high-level political conspiracy against her husband, the ousted deputy prime minister. Azizah Ismail, who now leads the political reform campaign her husband started, said Anwar -- accused of corruption and sexual misdeeds -- showed her a police report in 1997 about the existence of a plot to destroy him.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Expert wants Kamra to be trained by police
Expert wants Kamra to be trained by police JAKARTA (JP): An expert on police affairs claims that the training given to People's Security (Kamra) members by the military will lead to the militia's failure to best assist the police in their duties. The training arranged by the city military command did not meet police requirements, Prof. Sadjipto Rahardjo, also a legal expert at Semarang's Diponegoro University, told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Friday.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
JSX delists 10 companies, including four closed banks
JSX delists 10 companies, including four closed banks JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) on Friday delisted ten companies, including four banks closed by the government last year, and warned 37 other corporations of a similar punishment unless they improved their businesses.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on March 12, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Japan lends RI $680m
Japan lends RI $680m JAKARTA (JP): Japan has agreed to extend an 80.48 billion yen (US$680 million) concessional loan to Indonesia to finance the social safety net and health programs. The loan agreement was signed by Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Takao Kawakami and the director general for foreign economic relations at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Johan S. Syahperi, here on Friday. The Japanese Embassy said in a statement that the new loans were part of the Miyazawa Plan.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stifling toll rates
Stifling toll rates From Bisnis Indonesia Corruption, collusion and nepotism practices in the construction of toll roads were reported a few months ago. Government officials have been deft in the competition to suffocate the people in deeper mud by raising telephone rates. Now, it is the turn of eight investors and managers of toll roads (including the former president's relatives and cronies) to stifle the people. How can an increase in toll rates be justified?
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
SSN tangled up in bureaucracy
SSN tangled up in bureaucracy By Nurina Widagdo WASHINGTON (JP): Indonesia's social safety net (SSN) program, introduced under a financial bail-out package of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has not managed any significant achievements due to the disorientation of the bureaucracy. The bureaucracy has become disorientated since the change in the country's top leadership in May 1998, which was not followed by a change in the bureaucracy itself.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Korea targets 2% GDP growth: IMF
Korea targets 2% GDP growth: IMF SEOUL (Reuters): South Korea has targeted 1999 annual GDP growth of two percent but growth could be higher, the Finance Ministry said on Friday in its latest policy review with the International Monetary Fund. Prospects for higher gross domestic product growth would depend "critically on continued improvements in domestic confidence, as well as the external environment," the review said.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Action needed to ease tension in W. Kalimantan
Action needed to ease tension in W. Kalimantan At least 12 Madurese were killed in a week of sporadic clashes that erupted on Feb. 21 between Madurese and Malays in villages in Sambas regency, West Kalimantan. Earlier, three Malays were killed in an attack by the Madurese. The resentment between the so-called "migrant" Madurese and the "indigenous" Malays, Dayaks and Chinese, is long standing. The Jakarta Post reporter Sugianto Tandra visited these areas early March.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar minister on official visits
Myanmar minister on official visits YANGON (Reuters): Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung will leave Yangon on Sunday for official visits to the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos, official media reported. A Foreign Ministry official described the visits as courtesy calls to fellow member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) similar to visits he made to Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand last month.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Backlash may hit foreign buyers
Backlash may hit foreign buyers LOS ANGELES (Reuters): Foreign investors scavenging for bargains amid the rubble of Asia's financial crisis could spark nationalist backlashes that could alter the political landscape, an analyst who sparked controversy over alleged corruption in Indonesia said on Thursday. The West could do more to uphold democracy and the rule of law in Asia, although implementing those ideas will likely be driven by popular demand rather than by foreign lecturing.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina, PGN sign gas pipeline contract
Pertamina, PGN sign gas pipeline contract JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina and several production sharing contractors (PSC) agreed here on Friday to cooperate with the state-owned PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) in the transportation of gas from Jambi and South Sumatra to Singapore. Under the agreement, Pertamina contractors Gulf Resources (Grissik) Ltd., Gulf Resources (South Jambi) Ltd.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Detained man shot in trip to hideout
Detained man shot in trip to hideout TANGERANG (JP): Police shot dead a man believed to be a member of a gang of robbers and wounded one of his accomplices in the back in Kampung Lontar, Pakuhaji district, early on Thursday. The dead man was identified as detainee Suar, 36, and the wounded as Edi Item, 32, Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said on Thursday. Edi fled the scene. Pudji explained officers were forced to shoot Suar, who was apprehended on Feb.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Riot-hit Ambon calm despite protest over Gus Dur remark
Riot-hit Ambon calm despite protest over Gus Dur remark JAKARTA (JP): Fragile calm returned on Friday to the ravaged Maluku capital of Ambon, rippled only by 500 Muslims voicing protest against Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid's remarks on Thursday concerning the unrest there, witnesses said.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies end mixed as yen swings up
Asian currencies end mixed as yen swings up SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian currencies ended mixed on Friday as the Japanese yen traded erratically, with the Indonesian rupiah rebounding on profit-taking ahead of a weekend announcement on bank restructuring. The rupiah closed around 9,150 per dollar, from a low of 9,600, after dropping sharply the previous day to 9,450 amid political uncertainty in Jakarta in the run-up to the June general elections. There was some profit-taking by U.S.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 12, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 350 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 225 0 3,500 Alumindo Light Metal 300 0 0 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 150 0 50,000 Aneka Tambang 1,450 0 13,235,500 Anwar Sierad 75 0 0 Apac Centertex Corp.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie silent on calls for visit to Ambon
Habibie silent on calls for visit to Ambon JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie thanked Maluku leaders on Friday for their advice on how to resolve violence between Muslims and Christians in the province, but kept silent over growing calls that he visit Ambon. In a meeting with members of the Maluku legislative council, the President promised to take all necessary measures to restore peace and order in the province.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police search for bodies of six workers
Police search for bodies of six workers PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Of the nine people believed to have been killed by a person recruiting them to work overseas, police have only recovered three of the bodies. Banyumas Police chief Lt. Col. Johnny H. Hutauruk told The Jakarta Post on Friday that the three were identified as Syaiful, 20, Suratno, 21, and Sarno, 23, all from Cirebon.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
KPU draws lots for numerical party order
KPU draws lots for numerical party order JAKARTA (JP): Confusion and debate marked a lottery that decided on Friday the numerical order of 48 parties qualifying for the June 7 elections. A hilarious scene ensued when 53 members of the newly established National Elections Committee (KPU) argued the merits of a lottery machine to determine the order of parties on ballot sheets. "No! no! We do not want to use a machine, because it is prone to engineering.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia, S'pore to settle disputes
Malaysia, S'pore to settle disputes KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Senior officials from Malaysia and Singapore will meet in the next two weeks in an attempt to resolve long-standing bilateral squabbles, Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said on Friday. "The faster they (discussions) can be held, the better," Syed Hamid was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency during a visit to the southern state of Johor. "Let the officials discuss whatever is necessary...
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Menjaring Waktu, by Iskandar Syah, at Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang - The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61-62 South Jakarta (Phone: 5201266), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until March 23. * Painting Exhibition: Bali-Lombok, at the Two Ends of the Rainbow, by Roger Von Gunten and Rosa Velasco (Mexican), at La Casa de Mexico, Jl. Panglima Polim III No. 13, South Jakarta, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., until March 16.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Forest export earning estimated at $8.5b
Forest export earning estimated at $8.5b JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forestry Society (MPI) expects that foreign exchange earnings from exports of wood and other forest-related products will reach US$8.5 billion this year despite a sluggish market in the first two months of this year. MPI's chairman Sudradjat DP said on Friday that MPI is optimistic that the export target could be achieved because the overseas demand for Indonesia's forest-related products would pick up in the second quarter.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Team says Habibie must give concrete solution on Aceh
Team says Habibie must give concrete solution on Aceh JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie is expected to provide clear outcomes for Aceh when he visits the province on March 26, an advisor said on Friday. Usman Hasan, chairman of the 12-strong advisory team for Aceh affairs, said he hoped the President would announce expeditious measures for the troubled province.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
CPO prices could fall as cheaper oils used
CPO prices could fall as cheaper oils used SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Malaysia and Indonesia, the world's largest palm oil producers, could see prices for the commodity fall as technology allows use of other oils as substitutes, an industry consultant said on Friday. Advances in genetic engineering will allow users to substitute palm oil with cheaper soybean and canola oil, pulling down prices of palm oil, said Alastair J.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI, Portugal agree on 'direct' ballot
RI, Portugal agree on 'direct' ballot JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Portugal have agreed on a "direct" ballot for East Timorese to decide on their future, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced in New York on Thursday. The agreement was reached after two days of negotiations between Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his Portuguese counterpart Jaime Gama under the auspices of the secretary- general.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Two men injured trying to stop fight
Two men injured trying to stop fight JAKARTA (JP): Two men, attempting to stop an altercation between residents of Kebon Pala in East Jakarta and three alleged chicken thieves, were wounded on Thursday. The wounded victims were identified as Suparjono, 52, and Nanang, 24. Both men are residents of Cawang in East Jakarta, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Friday. Lubis said that Suparjono received a head injury while Nanang suffered from slash wounds to his head and hands.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Whither East Timor?
Whither East Timor? Significant as it may be, the agreement reached on Thursday in New York between Indonesia and Portugal for the holding of a "direct vote" in East Timor, hopefully before August, actually was not unexpected. In fact, it was rather slow in coming.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
ISM members protest 'Kompas' report
ISM members protest 'Kompas' report JAKARTA (JP): Some 50 people grouped in the Maluku Friendship Union (ISM) staged a noisy rally in the compound of the daily Kompas in Central Jakarta on Friday afternoon, protesting a report on the Maluku bloodshed published by it recently.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Amien Rais lacking self-confidence
Amien Rais lacking self-confidence From Merdeka From 1990 to early 1999 I greatly admired Amien Rais. At the time the tiger was at its fiercest, he had the pluck to bring the succession of the country's leadership into question. He also had other brilliant ideas. It is only fitting to crown him the Father of Indonesian Reform. He always remained in the corridors of the constitution making life difficult for the authorities of the New Order regime.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI and Russia agree to promote trade
RI and Russia agree to promote trade JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian and Russian governments signed on Friday three agreements to promote bilateral economic relations. The deals signed by Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan and his visiting counterpart Georgy V. Gabuniya included agreements on technical cooperation, on trade and on the avoidance of double taxation.
Sat, 13 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tommy hit with travel ban for land scam
Tommy hit with travel ban for land scam JAKARTA (JP): Businessman Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the youngest son of former president Soeharto, was barred from traveling outside of the city on Friday. Announced by Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib, the city arrest is one of the first relatively stern actions taken by President B.J. Habibie's administration against Soeharto family members for alleged misdeeds.