Archive: 17 March 1999
49 articles found
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Carter helps RP slum dwellers
Carter helps RP slum dwellers MANILA (AP): With hammer in hand, Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter will lead next week the construction of low-cost housing for slum-dwellers in the Philippines. Carter, along with about 2,000 other foreign and local volunteers, will put up the first of the homes in the coastal town of Maragondon in Cavite province, south of Manila, officials said Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on March 16, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI to wait to sign rice import contracts
RI to wait to sign rice import contracts JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Tuesday that the government would not sign any new contracts to import rice until May or June. Speaking at a hearing with the House of Representatives, the minister said that the delay would protect farmers from falling rice prices. "We will sign new import contracts only after April... because we will have good harvests.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Donated rice dumped in sea
Donated rice dumped in sea MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: The branch of Care International in Maumere, Flores in Sikka regency here had to dispose of 325 sacks of rice on Sunday because the contents were no longer edible. The head of Care International here, Agnes Savitri F., confirmed the report, saying the rice was spoiled on the way from Atlanta in the United States to Semarang. Parts of the sacks from USAID had been damaged and sea water had seeped in, according to Sikka warehouse officials.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rio Tinto, UNPAD sign deal
Rio Tinto, UNPAD sign deal JAKARTA (JP): Rio Tinto Foundation, established by mining company PT Rio Tinto Indonesia, has signed a cooperation agreement with Padjadjaran University (UNPAD) of Bandung, West Java, to promote geological studies. Rio Tinto Indonesia is a unit of Anglo-Australian giant mining company Rio Tinto.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 16 , 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 350 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 200 0 2,500 Alumindo Light Metal 350 25 25,000 Alumindo Perkasa 125 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 150 0 50,000 Aneka Tambang 1,450 0 1,998,500 Anwar Sierad 50 0 5,000 Apac Centertex Corp.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Citizens arrest robbery suspects
Citizens arrest robbery suspects JAKARTA (JP): Two people were apprehended by Prumpung residents in East Jakarta late Monday after they were caught red- handed robbing a passerby in the area, Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. The two, identified as Karman, 21, and Cahya, 41, regularly operated as transvestites from a park near the Rawa Bunga red- light district, Lubis said on Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI, Dutch energy cooperation
RI, Dutch energy cooperation JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and the Netherlands have agreed to bolster bilateral relations in the energy sector. Indonesian Ministry of Mines and Energy's spokesman Budhi Sulistyo said in a statement on Friday the countries made the agreement during the Dutch-Indonesia fourth energy meeting from Feb. 23 to Feb. 25 in Yogyakarta. He said the Dutch government would invite 10 Indonesians to the Netherlands for training on the use of coal as part of the cooperation.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
The haj pilgrimage: A social and global vision
The haj pilgrimage: A social and global vision By A Chaedar Alwasilah BANDUNG (JP): This year 71,078 Indonesians will perform the annual haj pilgrimage to the holy land of Mecca. This figure is about one third the number of pilgrims last year. Undoubtedly, the prolonged economic crisis accounts for the dwindling numbers.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Baby found suffering from chronic undernourishment
Baby found suffering from chronic undernourishment JAKARTA (JP): At least one infant has been found to be suffering from chronic and acute undernourishment at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta. The mother of the ailing infant, identified as Fauji, said on Tuesday that he was being treated there because, according to one of the hospital's doctors, he was suffering from marasmus kwashiorkor, locally known as busung lapar.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Judiciary marred by distorted rule of law concept
Judiciary marred by distorted rule of law concept The recent detention and trial of student demonstrators in Jakarta unveils the hypocrisy beneath the new law on freedom of expression. Political scientist J. Soedjati Djiwandono uses this law as a springboard to analyze the judicial legacy of the New Order. JAKARTA (JP): The New Order regime from the very beginning had a penchant for distorting constitutional, ideological, political and legal concepts.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Govt says economy set to bottom out
Govt says economy set to bottom out JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's crisis-hit economy should bottom out in the first semester of the next fiscal year beginning in April after shrinking by an estimated 16 percent in the current 1998/1999 fiscal year, the government said Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Subdistricts lack office rent funds
Subdistricts lack office rent funds TANGERANG (JP): At least 13 subdistricts in Cipondoh district here are short of funds to extend their office rentals and could face eviction, an official said on Tuesday. Head of Kenanga subdistrict Suryadi warned evictions would disrupt services to local residents. He said the offices were part of the 21 subdistricts in the district.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bank employees consult legislature
Bank employees consult legislature MEDAN, North Sumatra: Delegates of some 800 employees of liquidated banks went on Tuesday to the legislature here, rejecting the application of the severance pay regulations in their case. Spokesman Hotman Manurung told legislature members that the 1996 rule of the Ministry of Manpower is only relevant to dismissed employees while in the current case thousands of employees lost their jobs because of a government decision. "We are really confused.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Diplomatic row erupts in Bangkok
Diplomatic row erupts in Bangkok BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand has threatened to revoke the diplomatic immunity of seven North Korean Embassy staff members facing possible arrest over a bungled kidnapping of a runaway diplomat, officials said on Tuesday. Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan also ordered North Korean agents here to immediately release the North Korean diplomat's son and again warned the scandal was severely damaging bilateral ties.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
17 foreigners caught for immigration violations
17 foreigners caught for immigration violations JAKARTA (JP): Immigration officers detained 15 Africans and two Indians for permit violations during raids on three different spots in the capital on Tuesday. Coordinator of Jakarta immigration affairs, Hamsuk S. Wijaya, who led the five-hour operation which began at 9 a.m., said 13 Africans were netted in Palmerah, West Jakarta, two others in Kebayoran Lama, South Jakarta, and the Indian nationals in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Women show their mettle in crisis
Women show their mettle in crisis By Mayling Oey-Gardiner JAKARTA (JP): In Indonesia's predominantly patriarchal framework, women are all too often seen as the weaker sex. Yet, the ongoing economic and social crises seem only to be demonstrating how Indonesian women are, in fact, acting as a real social safety net for many households. We are seeing that many women did not just whine about the bitter consequences of the crisis on their households. They did not sit and mope.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Security forces fire warning shots in riot-torn Ambon
Security forces fire warning shots in riot-torn Ambon JAKARTA (JP): Tensions again rose in the ravaged Maluku capital of Ambon on Tuesday when a fire mysteriously broke out and a security officer fired warning shots to disperse spectators. Triyono, a staff member at Al Fatah Mosque, told The Jakarta Post by phone from Ambon the fire, which gutted nine houses, occurred near the mosque. "The fire broke out at around 3 p.m. in a Muslim area on Jl.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN moves to avert future financial shocks
ASEAN moves to avert future financial shocks HANOI (AFP): Southeast Asian finance officials were attempting to firm up a proposal on Tuesday for an early warning system to avert future crises of the kind that has left regional economies in tatters. The ASEAN Select Committee -- composed of finance ministry and central bank officials -- discussed a plan prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to alert member-nations well in advance of impending financial perils, delegates said.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indovest Bank likely to close: Official
Indovest Bank likely to close: Official JAKARTA (JP): The government is weighing the fate of publicly listed Indovest Bank after its Japanese partners refused to recapitalize the ailing joint venture bank, a senior government official said on Tuesday. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, he said a final decision would be made by Robby Djohan, president of state Bank Mandiri, on Wednesday afternoon in a meeting with Indovest's board of directors and commissioners.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
No paper
No paper In observance of the Hindu Day of Silence, The Jakarta Post will not be published tomorrow. The Post will appear again on Friday. -- The Publisher
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Acting on asset foreclosure
Acting on asset foreclosure JAKARTA (JP): Lawyer J.M. Sutarman on Tuesday urged the finance minister, the governor of Bank Indonesia and the chairman of the Capital Market Supervisory Agency to honor and follow up the South Jakarta district court's order last week for the foreclosure on two properties of Bank Bali in Jakarta and Tangerang, West Java. Sutarman, a lawyer for Mrs.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Staffs of closed banks vow to continue strikes
Staffs of closed banks vow to continue strikes JAKARTA (JP): Employees of banks closed by the government late last week pledged on Tuesday to continue their strike unless demands for fair severance payment were met. Striking employees of most of the 38 closed banks frustrated bank customers who were anxious to retrieve money from their accounts and valuable items from bank safety boxes. Bank branch office employees across the country participated in the strike.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Defense asks military court to drop abduction charges
Defense asks military court to drop abduction charges JAKARTA (JP): Defense lawyers called on the military court on Tuesday to drop all charges against 11 Army's Special Force (Kopassus) soldiers, accused of abducting political activists in the last months of the Soeharto regime, claiming the kidnappings were carried out to safeguard national interests.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Inappropriate to ask for U.S. help
Inappropriate to ask for U.S. help From Pikiran Rakyat U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's visit to Indonesia embraced a comprehensive political mission. She paid a visit to the President and also met with a number of figures who could serve U.S. interests in Indonesia. One of the reformists openly asked Albright to exert pressure on the Indonesian government to help overcome the riots in various parts of Indonesia. The man then explained that he only asked the U.S.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Prosecutor's demand to free legislator Nurdin protested
Prosecutor's demand to free legislator Nurdin protested UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Hundreds of university students and lecturers on Tuesday protested the provincial prosecutor's office over its demand for the acquittal of legislator Nurdin Halid on charges of embezzling funds from a cooperative. In another unexpected twist in the case, Nurdin blasted the government for negligence toward the country's cooperatives, including its failure to root out corrupt managers.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Soehartos puts London homes on market: Report
Soehartos puts London homes on market: Report JAKARTA (Agencies): Relatives of former president Soeharto are selling three lavish London properties in a move which could be linked to the corruption probe Soeharto faces back home, AFP reported on Tuesday. Quoting The Independent daily's report on Tuesday, the news agency said the properties in upmarket areas of the city had been put on the market for a combined total of more than 11 million (US$17.6 million).
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Southeast Asian currencies rise further as yen surges
Southeast Asian currencies rise further as yen surges SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Southeast Asian currencies extended their recent bull-run, rising further against the U.S. dollar during Asian trading late on Tuesday. North Asian currencies also rose, but most analysts remained extremely cautious. Despite a flurry of positive developments around Asia, market optimism in the regional currencies may be misplaced, they warned.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Golkar 'the common enemy' to beat lawfully in polls
Golkar 'the common enemy' to beat lawfully in polls JAKARTA (JP): Ruling party Golkar will be the common enemy of parties seeking political changes in the country, but it must be defeated through fair play, politician Rudini said on Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Young designer promotes ready-to-wear collection
Young designer promotes ready-to-wear collection By Stevie Emilia LOMBOK, West Nusa Tenggara (JP): Expressionless models wearing chic, clear-cut, all-white, simple ready-to-wear outfits took to the stage with slow strides under the shade of palm trees. Most of the outfits, made of French linen, light cotton and cotton-polyester, were sleeveless -- perfect for tropical weather -- while skirt lengths varied but were mostly knee length for day suits or ankle length for evening wear.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hindus to attend ritual at Prambanan
Hindus to attend ritual at Prambanan SEMARANG: At least 50,000 Hindus from Central Java and Yogyakarta are to attend the Tawur Agung Sasih Kesanga rite centered at the Prambanan temple in Klaten, Central Java, on Wednesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
PT Telkom to enter joint ventures for more efficiency
PT Telkom to enter joint ventures for more efficiency JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to convert the existing joint operation schemes between state-owned telecommunications operator, PT Telkom, and private partners into joint ventures in order to improve efficiency, a minister said on Tuesday. Minister of Telecommunications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono said the change in the partnership scheme would be included in a new telecommunications regulation, which is now being prepared by his office.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Elections committee set up to run polls
Elections committee set up to run polls JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) established on Tuesday a seven-member National Elections Committee (PPI) to run the general election scheduled for June 7.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
PLN renegotiates deals with IPPs
PLN renegotiates deals with IPPs JAKARTA (JP): President of state electricity company PT PLN Adhi Satriya said on Tuesday renegotiations would soon get underway with independent power producers (IPP) on power purchase agreements. "We have sent letters calling on the IPPs to prepare for the renegotiations.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Next president
Next president A date for the general election has been fixed, and we are waiting and praying that we will get a good president, one who can lead us to a better Indonesia. By a good president I mean that he or she should have a good educational as well as religious background. The criteria for a good president may be summarized as follows: 1. Be responsible to God. A president must remember that his position is only for a certain period, not a lifetime. 2. Must have a low profile.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asia's oil producers reject call to cut output
Asia's oil producers reject call to cut output SINGAPORE (Reuters): Some of Asia's main oil producers have rejected calls by the world's biggest exporters to cut output in a bid to raise sunken prices. The lone voice of support has come from Indonesia -- Asia's only member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). "In principle we agree on the effort to improve oil prices," Indonesian Mines and Energy Minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto told reporters on Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
W. Sumatra governor resigns
W. Sumatra governor resigns JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid said he will appoint a caretaker to replace West Sumatra Governor Muchlis Ibrahim, whose resignation was approved by President B.J. Habibie on Wednesday. "The Director General for Administration and Provincial Autonomy (Ryaas Rasyid) will deal with the matter," he said after swearing in Zainal Bakar as West Sumatra deputy governor on Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kowani's statement
Kowani's statement From Media Indonesia The Indonesian Women's Congress appeals to the political parties in the following manner; 1. In conformity with the demands of the reform era and democratization which is marked by the increasing number of political parties, the Indonesian Women's Congress (Kowani), as the largest and oldest federation of women in the country, wishes that women's potential be fully utilized in every aspect of the nation's life and involved in the decision-making process.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Another criminal shot dead
Another criminal shot dead JAKARTA (JP): Police shot dead another alleged criminal near the crowded Cililitan bus terminal in East Jakarta early Tuesday morning, bringing to 24 the number of alleged criminals shot dead by police over the last two months. City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Tuesday that the suspect, identified as R. Siregar, was shot after he was caught robbing a woman and resisted arrest. "Siregar was shot twice, once in the leg and once in the back.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Memorandum of economic and financial policies
Memorandum of economic and financial policies JAKARTA: The following is text of the Supplementary Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies, Fourth Review Under the Extended Arrangement, attached to a letter the Indonesian government wrote to the International Monetary Fund on Tuesday. 1. Progress continues to be made in implementing the Government of Indonesia's economic program, despite difficult domestic and external conditions.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Students injure two at RSCM
Students injure two at RSCM JAKARTA (JP): Two staff members at state-owned Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) suffered light wounds and a number of doors and windows in the hospital were broken by a group of some 30 students on Tuesday. According to the two victims, the students became upset after they were told not to collect money from motorists parking their vehicles along Jl. Diponegoro, which is located in front of the hospital.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ideological rift worsens conflict in politics
Ideological rift worsens conflict in politics JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the Armed Forces Territorial Affairs Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said an ideological rift has worsened conflict among the political elite, hampering efforts to overcome the crisis. "The biggest problem and challenge the nation is facing is that the national crisis has yet to be defused because ideological fragmentation still continues, and it has worsened the conflict among the political elite," he said Tuesday.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI bank moves a positive step: S&P
RI bank moves a positive step: S&P JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's latest bank restructuring move was a positive step and marked the effective nationalization of the banking sector, Standard and Poor's said Tuesday. But more recapitalization is needed, the New York-based rating agency has said in a statement, a copy of which was made available here.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Caltex's new project
Caltex's new project JAKARTA (JP): Oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia has begun the operation of a light oil steamflood (LOSF) project in its Minas oil field in Bengkalis, Riau. The company announced the tertiary process to recover oil has gone through an intensive screening process, laboratory tests and facility design work conducted by Caltex, Chevron, Texaco and state oil and gas company Pertamina's office for the supervision of foreign contractors.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Poll watchdogs 'lacking coordination'
Poll watchdogs 'lacking coordination' JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) blamed on Tuesday a lack of coordination among three leading non- governmental organizations (NGOs) acting as poll watchdogs for its failure to disburse funds allocated for election monitoring. Poll monitoring advisers at UNDP, Erna Witoelar and Moeslim Abdurrahman, said after a seminar on elections that funds could only be disbursed after the three NGOs settled their disagreements.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bogor judges upset by lack of cases
Bogor judges upset by lack of cases BOGOR (JP): The district court here announced on Tuesday that all of its 18 judges have had less to do in the past few months due to a significant drop of cases to be tried. But this does not mean that the drop reflects a renewed willingness on the part of the local people to obey the existing laws.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hotel to donate meat to the needy
Hotel to donate meat to the needy JAKARTA (JP): PT Metropolitan Realty International, the owner of Horison Hotel in Ancol, North Jakarta, will provide three cows and 30 goats for slaughter in commemoration of the Islamic Day of Sacrifice on March 28. The hotel management announced on Tuesday that the meat would be provided to hotel employees and local residents, particularly the needy.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Persija makes good start in Ligina playoffs
Persija makes good start in Ligina playoffs JAKARTA (JP): Persija made a fine start to open its campaign at the fifth Indonesian soccer league (Ligina) playoffs on Tuesday by defeating Pelita Bakrie 1-0 in a Group II round-robin match at the Senayan main stadium. The match proceeded peacefully despite the worry of hooliganism. Governor Sutiyoso was among the 10,000 fans. Chairman of the All Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) Agum Gumelar and former chairman Azwar Anas were also present.
Wed, 17 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bank Indonesia to take errant bankers to court
Bank Indonesia to take errant bankers to court JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Sjahril Sabirin pledged on Tuesday to take to court the management and owners of the 38 banks closed down last week who were suspected of violating banking rules. He said the banking authority was also drawing up a list of bankers who would have to be barred from traveling outside the country.