Archive: 15 March 1999
44 articles found
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Regional market focuses on Indonesia
Regional market focuses on Indonesia SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesia will be under the regional market spotlight this week as Jakarta overhauls its banks and grapples with political uncertainty ahead of the June polls, dealers and analysts said. Most regional currencies ended firmer last week, buttressed by the yen, which surged in New York late Friday to 118.70 per dollar, from 122 levels a week before, despite Tokyo's release of dismal economic figures for 1998.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Biomass fuels, source of common man's energy
Biomass fuels, source of common man's energy By Otto Soemarwoto BANDUNG (JP): Very little attention is being given to biomass fuels, which primarily consist of wood, charcoal and agricultural residues. The government almost never mentions them. Likewise for universities, research institutes, NGOs and the newspapers. The World Bank and the IMF are also silent about them. And yet biomass fuels (biofuels for short) are a very common source of energy in Indonesia.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI, Russian firms sign $30 million barter deal
RI, Russian firms sign $30 million barter deal JAKARTA (JP): Tirtamas Comexindo and Insani Cooperative have secured a barter deal worth US$30 million from Russian Geo Spectrum. Director General of Small and Medium Enterprises Cacuk Sudariyanto said Tirtamas and Insani, under the agreement signed on Friday, would sell farm products in exchange for fertilizer from the Russian firm.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asia's politics challenge Singapore economy: Lee
Asia's politics challenge Singapore economy: Lee HONG KONG (Reuters): The biggest challenge that Singapore faces is Southeast Asia's political instability, rather than the direct economic impact of the region's financial crisis, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said. In an interview with a German newspaper also published in Hong Kong's Sunday Morning Post, Lee said: "...the biggest challenge for us is not the direct economic impact.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bodies of jobseekers found
Bodies of jobseekers found PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): The remaining six bodies of nine people who were aspiring to work overseas and allegedly killed by their recruiting agent have been found, police said Saturday. Police had scoured nearby rivers but the victims were found elsewhere in the province. The remains of Tinggal, Syarif and Arifin were found in Kebumen, the body of Taka was found in Purworejo and Amijaya Firdaus' body was found in Tegal.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition by Sem Cornelyoes Bangun, at Galeri Cipta III, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until March 22. * 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.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Soccer chief ponders changing league venue
Soccer chief ponders changing league venue JAKARTA (AFP): Indonesia's soccer authorities are considering a plan to shift the venue of league matches from Jakarta to a stadium outside the capital for fear of unrest disrupting the competition, it was reported here Sunday.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Experts warn against money politics in poll
Experts warn against money politics in poll JAKARTA (JP): Observers again warned of the possibility of money politics wreaking havoc with the June 7 general election, committed especially by major political parties with great resources.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Navy practices helping riot victims
Navy practices helping riot victims JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy is currently conducting integrated training exercises to handle the evacuation of and first aid for riot victims in Jakarta, in anticipation of possible riots around the June 7 general election and the General Assembly Sessions. The one week of exercises, which began last Thursday, involves at least 64 medical practitioners, a helicopter and several ambulances, the Navy said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mass rallies may be banned in campaigning
Mass rallies may be banned in campaigning JAKARTA (JP): The 53 members of the newly established National Elections Committee (KPU) are to convene on Monday morning to discuss a draft code of conduct for election campaigning, which includes a ban on mass mobilization of supporters. Other stipulations cover adherence to the law, freedom from fear and pressure, prohibition of bribery, transparency of information and equal rights and treatment. Government representative on the committee Andi A.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
SAARC to meet on trade
SAARC to meet on trade ISLAMABAD (Reuters): Foreign ministers of a seven-nation South Asian bloc will meet in Colombo on March 18-19 to discuss economic cooperation, including plans to set up a free trade area, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Give the govt a chance
Give the govt a chance From Media Indonesia I have some ideas to help solve the difficulties faced by the nation mainly in cases like that in Ambon and especially problems in general that may cause disintegration. I am not skilled in writing down my ideas but I would like to give the following pointers; 1. I appeal to formal and informal leaders not to speak of things which are not their business. They should also not blame others if they do not have proof.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bomb threat forces emergency landing
Bomb threat forces emergency landing LOS ANGELES (AP): A Philippine Airlines 747 made an emergency landing after a person called in a bomb threat, officials said. Flight 103 to Manila was called back to Los Angeles International Airport at 10:30 p.m. local time on Saturday night (10:30 a.m. Jakarta time) after the unidentified caller made the threat, said Jerry Johnston, regional operations officer for the Federal Aviation Administration.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
City water deal
City water deal We wish to clarify the content of a news report published in The Jakarta Post of March 12, 1999, on page three, under the headline of "ICW links Soeharto to city water deal". Since your report quoted the statement of Mr. Teten Masduki of Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) we also have obtained Mr. Masduki's endorsement of this clarification. 1.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Govt cold shoulders Irian Jaya independence bid
Govt cold shoulders Irian Jaya independence bid JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya Governor Freddy Numberi confirmed on Saturday the government's disapproval of demands for independence from the country's easternmost province. "The demand for independence raised by a group of Irianese before President B.J. Habibie recently met with government opposition," Freddy said upon arrival from Jakarta at Sentani Airport in Jayapura. He said Habibie asked the delegation to reconsider the demand during the Feb.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
EU pitches new bid to rescue ASEAN talks
EU pitches new bid to rescue ASEAN talks ELTVILLE, Germany (AFP): European Union foreign ministers on Sunday agreed a new initiative aimed at salvaging relations with ASEAN, currently on ice because of a dispute over contacts with Myanmar, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said. At talks here the ministers proposed downgrading an EU-ASEAN ministerial meeting scheduled to take place in Berlin on March 30 in the hope that this will enable it to go ahead.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Minister informed of obscene and threat calls
Minister informed of obscene and threat calls JAKARTA (JP): State junior high school SMP 49 has filed a report with the Ministry of Education and Culture regarding obscene and threatening phone calls received by 30 of its students last month, an official of the school said on Saturday. Bambang Noegroho, deputy principal of the school, said an official report was handed to the ministry's Jakarta office on Thursday. "Initially we did not want to expose the matter.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN finance ministers to focus on averting crises
ASEAN finance ministers to focus on averting crises HANOI (AFP): Finance ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will meet in Hanoi this week to discuss greater regional financial integration and an early warning system to avert new crises. Analysts say the financial crisis which left many ASEAN countries devastated could have been avoided through greater macroeconomic and financial cooperation between countries.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Crisis forces 40% of Tangerang's 'angkot' to stop operating
Crisis forces 40% of Tangerang's 'angkot' to stop operating TANGERANG (JP): The skyrocketing prices of spare parts for vehicles along with the decreasing number of commuters caused by the closure of a number of companies here have forced many angkot (public minivan) owners to halt their services. About 40 percent of the 2,500 angkot which ply 20 routes here are temporarily being kept out of service by their owners, a senior official at Tangerang's Land Transportation Agency said on Sunday.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Women's roles need redefenition: Activist
Women's roles need redefenition: Activist JAKARTA (JP): Activists are championing redefinition of women's social, psychological and political roles as crucial in shaping the "New Indonesia" of the reform era. Speaking in a one-day seminar on women's roles in society, Toety Herati Noerhadi and Karlina Leksono of Voices of Concerned Mothers described marked changes in the patterns of women's political and social participation since the start of the reform movement last year.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
ICMI offers itself as 'glue' to Islamic parties
ICMI offers itself as 'glue' to Islamic parties JAKARTA (JP): The influential Association of Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals (ICMI) campaigned Sunday for the unity of Muslim political parties, offering itself as the "glue" to bring them all together. ICMI executives said here that a "caucus" of Islamic parties was a "very urgent" need in order to promote Muslim brotherhood and to prepare for a new government after the elections. Without referring to President B.J.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Danish shuttler shatters Indonesia's Taufik dream
Danish shuttler shatters Indonesia's Taufik dream BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP): Peter Gade Christensen, the world number one from Denmark, ended his long wait for a major title and succeeded a long line of Danish greats when he won the All- England title on Sunday. The 22-year-old, who recently spent 42 successive weeks at the top of the world rankings, won the world's oldest tournament with a victory over its youngest finalist of the open era.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Diarrhea kills eight people
Diarrhea kills eight people KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least eight people have died and 70 others were treated at local community health centers after a diarrhea outbreak in South Central Timor regency, an official said on Saturday. Hundreds more have been evacuated since the outbreak, which followed flooding, hit the subdistrict early this month.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police search for businessman's body in river
Police search for businessman's body in river JAKARTA (JP): Acting on suspects' testimony, police detectives on Sunday searched the Banjir Kanal River in North Jakarta to find the corpse of a businessman believed to have been killed late last month. Some of the police officers even dove into the river, which locally known as the Cengkareng drain, looking for the body of Andrian Hamin, 32, an executive at paper producing firm PT Cipta Karya. According to West Jakarta Police detective chief Capt.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Officials evade land tax payment
Officials evade land tax payment BANDUNG: Hundreds of current and former top government officials who own land or houses here have not paid taxes, a local revenue agency official said on Saturday. The head of the Bandung mayoralty revenue agency, Dada Rosada, said arrears amounted to billions of rupiah because each official owed an average Rp 100 million. Their properties are situated in exclusive areas in Karees, Cibeunying and Bojonagara.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Weapons seized by military in Maluku
Weapons seized by military in Maluku JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of knives and other sharp weapons were confiscated in raids on Sunday as security personnel searched homes as well as travelers entering and leaving Ambon in Maluku province. Twenty were arrested in Ambon city's port as they arrived by boat from nearby islands with weapons, including arrows, daggers and sickles, Reuters quoted witnesses in Ambon.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Former aide of Anwar calls for ouster of Mahathir
Former aide of Anwar calls for ouster of Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): A former aide to sacked Malaysian deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim returned here on Sunday after six months of self-imposed exile, calling for a new political movement to topple Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Senen bus drivers upset of soldier
Senen bus drivers upset of soldier JAKARTA (JP): The busy Senen bus terminal in Central Jakarta was tense on Sunday when scores of drivers flocked to a nearby police station and threatened to attack the post shortly after a soldier had beaten one of their colleagues. The angry drivers demanded the police take stern measures against Chief Private Amril Hambali of the Army's water transportation battalion, or they would take the law into their own hands.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
IBRA to take on up to 30% of closed banks' employees
IBRA to take on up to 30% of closed banks' employees JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) plans to recruit from 20 percent to 30 percent of the 17,000 employees laid off following new bank closures, the agency's vice chairman Eko Budianto said on Saturday. "About half of the closed banks' employees who could not be recruited by IBRA can still stay for one to two months at their banks to help the agency do the final reconciliation work on the closed bank," he said.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Dirty sweep of banks
Dirty sweep of banks The multibillion dollar bank clean up, though the most massive of such an effort ever attempted, is not as extensive or transparent as one would expect for the vital process of restoring public confidence in the banking industry.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asia stronger but fretting over yuan, yen
Asia stronger but fretting over yuan, yen HONG KONG (Reuters): Yen weakness and the chance of a Chinese devaluation reasserted themselves last week as Asia's most sensitive pressure points but analysts said the region is increasingly able to cope with both risks. Investors focussed on both issues late last week with renewed concern when the People's Bank of China unexpectedly increased U.S.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kuntoro has tough task in securing House nod
Kuntoro has tough task in securing House nod By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto will be traversing a rocky road over the next few months in his quest to secure approval for the oil and gas bill from the House of Representatives.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A friend in need is a friend indeed JAKARTA (JP): Tales of crime and violence here have given many people the impression that the capital has reverted to the law of the jungle, but friendship apparently still exists. On Sunday it even saved the life of M. Nur Sulaiman, a 20-year-old tire repairman. Nur was badly injured in a hit-and- run accident on Jl. Satrio in Kuningan, South Jakarta on Sunday morning.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Portuguese envoy holds talks with E. Timor bishops
Portuguese envoy holds talks with E. Timor bishops JAKARTA (JP): The head of Portugal's diplomatic post here, Ana Gomes, on Sunday met with two leading East Timor bishops on her second day of visit scheduled to end Tuesday. Her arrival on Saturday came amidst another outburst of violence when a priest was stabbed while helping a man being assaulted by a pro-integration group in Maubara, 15 kilometers west of Dili.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Unhalu admits Ambon students
Unhalu admits Ambon students KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: State-run Haluoleo University (Unhalu) here has admitted 40 Pattimura University students who fled the riot-torn Maluku capital of Ambon. The university's head of education and information services, La Otjo Oti, confirmed over the weekend the students would be allowed to complete their studies at the institution.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar FM in Philippines
Myanmar FM in Philippines MANILA (AFP): Myanmar Foreign Minister Win Aung arrived here on Sunday for a brief visit during which he is expected to seek the Philippines' support for his country's inclusion in a dialog between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU), officials said. Win Aung, Myanmar's former ambassador to London who was appointed foreign minister last year, arrived aboard a Thai International Airways plane, airport officials said.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Searching for a leader
Searching for a leader Who will be our next president? If one were to ask this question of the average Indonesian, he is likely to answer with a single name, without much further thought or argument. Our people are not used to making choices. For decades, during every election, only one name was mentioned. This time, too, people are not likely to care. People are likely to readily put their choice on the first philanthropist who gives out more than just promises.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Economists hail banking move
Economists hail banking move JAKARTA (JP): Analysts and businessmen hailed the government's decision on Saturday to close down 38 insolvent private banks, take over seven more and recapitalize nine others, but reiterated that the success of the bank restructuring program lies in subsequent measures. They said the most daunting task for the government was to bring down interest rates to solve the negative spread problems currently burdening the local banks.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Will new govt heed Anderson's plea?
Will new govt heed Anderson's plea? By Lance Castles YOGYAKARTA (JP): After a quarter century of malicious exclusion from what he wanted to be his second country, the belated return of prominent American Indonesianist Ben Anderson appears in the media as a triumphal progress. Of course, many academic readers long knew what he said and what he stood for: thought control never really applied under the New Order.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pros and cons
Pros and cons From Sinar Pagi There are many pros and cons in this era of reform. It is only logical, our country is getting acquainted with democracy for the first time. The student demonstrations, the presence of vigilantes, the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, the existence of a militia and the behavior of Abdurrahman Wahid are not free from pros and cons. Will the new culture of pros and cons become ours in the future? It is correct that they are part of democracy.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Think, E. Timor brothers
Think, E. Timor brothers From Sinar Pagi Seeing the reports in the media on East Timor, I think that the proposal and explanation by foreign minister Ali Alatas to free the province if the first option is rejected, is not the result of international pressure but that of Portugal and Australia and anti-integration groups both at home and abroad. But, do these people want to take responsibility if anything happens in East Timor?
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Councilor urges orderly collection of parking fees
Councilor urges orderly collection of parking fees JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged the city parking agency on Saturday to put in order parking attendants who collect parking fees at places which are not subject to such a collection. Head of Commission D for development affairs Ali Wongso Sinaga said the actions of the parking attendants could be classified as breaking Gubernatorial Decree No. 761/1988 on areas subject to parking fee collection.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rahardi challenges associations over resignation call
Rahardi challenges associations over resignation call JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan has challenged critical business associations which recently demanded all economic ministers to quit, to talk the matter over at his office. "If they really want economic ministers to quit, please come to my office and talk directly to me.
Mon, 15 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Frenchwoman turns from reporting to studying Islam
Frenchwoman turns from reporting to studying Islam By Kafil Yamin BANDUNG (JP): If there is anyone with a clear view of the interreligious conflicts in Indonesia, it is Andre Feillard, a French historian specializing in Indonesian studies. Her doctoral dissertation discussing the role of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, in Indonesian politics drew her into the inner circle of kyai (Muslim clerics). "Being among the kyai, we feel we are virtuous human beings.