Archive: 29 March 1999
43 articles found
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Market awaits Astra's debt solution
Market awaits Astra's debt solution JAKARTA (JP): Analysts have welcomed PT Astra International's plan to restructure its US$1 billion in debt, saying it could set a positive precedent for corporate debt restructuring in the country. Any delay or failure in Astra's debt restructuring plan would complicate debt solution not only for Astra but also for other companies, they warned.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Human rights not high on ASEM agenda
Human rights not high on ASEM agenda BERLIN (Reuters): Sensitive topics like human rights are likely to be soft-pedaled when foreign ministers from 25 European Union and Asian nations gather in Berlin on Monday to discuss a variety of global political and economic issues.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Health hazards threatening Madurese refugees
Health hazards threatening Madurese refugees JAKARTA (JP): Since a massive evacuation which began almost two weeks ago, 41 out of at least 25,000 refugees in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak and its surroundings have died of illnesses, a report on Saturday said. Quoting a local health official, the Suara Pembaruan afternoon daily said health hazards were imminent, threatening almost 4,000 children, including 760 babies. A few women have given birth in refugee centers.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Children of slain generals demand truth
Children of slain generals demand truth By Budiman Moerdijat JAKARTA (JP): Children of Army generals slain during the 1965 coup attempt blamed on the now outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) called on 10 newly released political prisoners to reveal the truth about the event. Riyanto Nurhadi, 43, the son of Maj. Gen.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: Revolution, at Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara, Jl. Antara No. 59 Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3458771), daily except Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., until April 11. * Charity Photo Exhibition: A Glance at Indonesia by Paco Corral, at the Gran Melia Hotel, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said kav. X-0, Kuningan, South Jakarta, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., until April 4.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Philippine navy nets Malaysians
Philippine navy nets Malaysians PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines (AP): A Philippine navy patrol has arrested 39 Malaysians and 11 Filipinos, some of them minors, who were caught fishing in Philippine waters, officials said on Sunday. An official said the Malaysian fishermen were arrested on Friday and would be charged with illegally entering and fishing in Philippine territory.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Oil, gas bill's revenue sharing plan criticized
Oil, gas bill's revenue sharing plan criticized JAKARTA (JP): Several academics criticized the oil and gas bill currently being debated by the House of Representatives for its unclear revenue sharing formula between the central government and provincial administrations.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Car showroom owners slain
Car showroom owners slain BOGOR (JP): A middle-aged couple was found murdered in their Kijang van in a quiet valley where rice and bananas are grown in Pasirmuncang village, Caringin, on Friday morning. Local police identified the victims as Didi Sasmita, 59, and wife Susanti, 51. Both were the owners of car showroom Andrian Motor in Cibinong. Medical staff at Bogor's Red Cross Hospital revealed that the couple suffered serious injuries.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Malaysian freed in Cambodia
Malaysian freed in Cambodia PHNOM PENH (Reuters): Kidnappers released on Sunday a Malaysian businessman seized last week in southern Cambodia after his family paid an unspecified ransom, police said. Chuk Chong Nam and his family were abducted by five or six armed men while driving toward the southern port of Sihanoukville late on Thursday afternoon, deputy provincial police chief Col. Thak Vantha said. The kidnappers released Chuk's wife, two children and driver later that same day.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Diarrhea affects 291 in Timor
Diarrhea affects 291 in Timor KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least 291 people have suffered from diarrhea-related dieases in South Central Timor, some 110 kilometers east of here, since breaking out early this month. Head of the provincial health office, Markus Righuta, said Saturday he expected the figure to climb due to the prolonged rainy season in the remote regency. "Persistent rains have caused the outbreak to affect at least two neighboring villages -- Bena and Oebelo," Markus said.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Can Jakarta reduce pollution?
Can Jakarta reduce pollution? From Neraca The air quality in Jakarta gives cause for concern. The capital city, with an area of only 560 square kilometers, has 9.5 million inhabitants. It is ranked third among countries in the world with the highest level of pollution. At least 70 percent of Jakarta's air pollution is caused by the gas emission of motor vehicles. The high mobility of motor vehicles in Jakarta increases pollution. It is aggravated by the additives contained in the fuel.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Appeal to Indovision
Appeal to Indovision I am very much upset and disappointed knowing that my favorite National Geographic Channel will be discontinued on April 1 and replaced with another program. For your information, the National Geographic Channel is rated one of the best programs in terms of education and entertainment and I see no reason whatsoever for Indovision to terminate it.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
New Malaysia rubber plan will not boost prices: Traders
New Malaysia rubber plan will not boost prices: Traders KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia said on Friday it plans to support local rubber prices by buying up to half of domestic output and will consider banning imports temporarily -- moves that traders said would not halt sliding prices for long. They said although the plan would boost prices in the short- term, international prices would prevail in the long term because other countries were still exporting rubber.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tourist taxi service starts
Tourist taxi service starts JAKARTA (JP): Taxi company PT Ratax Armada is scheduled to launch on Monday a tourist taxi service, Taksi Ratax Wisata, an executive of the firm said. Ratax Armada's president, Andra Y. Agussalam said on Thursday the taxis' interiors would be furnished with imitation leather upholstery and stocked with tourism brochures, city maps and candies, with drivers wearing Betawi traditional dress.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar junta offers condolences to Suu Kyi
Myanmar junta offers condolences to Suu Kyi YANGON (Agencies): Myanmar's ruling junta on Sunday offered its "sincere condolences" to opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi over the death of her husband. The junta said it would allow Aung San Suu Kyi to return to England to attend the funeral of Michael Aris.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Golkar should stand down
Golkar should stand down Former president Soeharto may have committed grave mistakes and major sins in his 32 years of rule, a period in which disasters and mishaps hit this nation one after another. Particularly due to rampant practices of avaricious amassing of wealth by corrupt, collusive and nepotistic behavior.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Philippines low key over its Davis Cup chances
Philippines low key over its Davis Cup chances JAKARTA (JP): The Philippines Davis Cup team is playing it low key over its chances of beating host Indonesia in the semifinals of the Group II Asia Oceania zone. Salvador H. Andrada, president of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta), told reporters on Sunday that he could not predict what would happen despite having more experienced players.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Scarcity of sacrificial animals hits Jakarta on Day of Sacrifice
Scarcity of sacrificial animals hits Jakarta on Day of Sacrifice JAKARTA (JP): Observance of Idul Adha in the capital and its surrounding areas on Sunday was marked by a scarcity of goats used for slaughtering to commemorate the Muslim Day of Sacrifice. Goats at many locations in Greater Jakarta had been sold out by midday Saturday.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
12 forest concessions to be auctioned: Official
12 forest concessions to be auctioned: Official JAKARTA (JP): The government will auction 12 logging licenses covering some one million hectares of forest concessions in East Kalimantan, an official said on Saturday. The head of East Kalimantan's forestry and plantations office, Kayat R. Soekaryo, said the logging licenses would expire at the end of this year. The government decided not to extend them to the current holders but auction them to the public.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mob vandalizes shaman's home
Mob vandalizes shaman's home JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of villagers in the Srono subdistrict of East Java's Banyuwangi regency vandalized and looted the house of an alleged practitioner of black magic in Kepundungan village, police said on Saturday. Antara reported that the alleged magician, a 45-year-old shopkeeper identified as Karno, and his family were unharmed in the attack on Friday. Banyuwangi Police chief Lt. Col. Iman Soejarwo confirmed the incident.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tommy's lawyer wants Ghalib to drop case
Tommy's lawyer wants Ghalib to drop case JAKARTA (JP): The lawyer of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who has been named a suspect in a land scam that caused the state Rp 96 billion in losses, wants the attorney general to drop the charges against his client. The lawyer, HM Dault, said on Saturday that he had mailed his request to Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib through a letter dated March 22.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Govt to speed up funds to small firms
Govt to speed up funds to small firms JAKARTA (JP): The government has pledged to remove obstacles in the distribution of funds set aside by state companies (BUMNs) to help small businesses. State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises, Tanri Abeng said, beginning next fiscal year, state companies will be allowed to channel funds directly to small businesses and cooperatives.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sumatra's police shoot 50 suspects
Sumatra's police shoot 50 suspects BANDAR LAMPUNG, Lampung: Police in Sumatra shot at least 50 suspects in the past three months, with two dying from gun shot wounds. Chief detective Lt. Col. Yoyon Prasetyo told Antara on Saturday the suspects were allegedly involved in a number of armed robberies, some of which resulted in murders. Yoyon said 24 of the suspects were shot in North Lampung, 20 in Central Lampung, with the rest in the provincial capital and South Lampung.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
'Surabaya Post' to be revived
'Surabaya Post' to be revived SURABAYA: Local afternoon daily Surabaya Post is set to reappear on April 1 after a two-week labor strike, chief editor Tuty Azis said on Friday. Tuty said a settlement was mediated by the local legislature, with the daily's employees agreeing to return to work in exchange for the management's pledge to heed their demands for a new job deal. "Shortly after this meeting we will prepare for a comeback, hopefully on April 1.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Faltering privatization program 'affects banking'
Faltering privatization program 'affects banking' JAKARTA (JP): Government failure to raise the US$1 billion privatization proceeds targeted for the 1998/1999 fiscal year ending in March, may create another obstacle for the bank restructuring program, according to economists.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Foreign water firms clarify statements on subsidies
Foreign water firms clarify statements on subsidies JAKARTA (JP): Two foreign partners of city-owned tap water company PDAM Jaya expressed objections on Friday over a recent statement by an executive of the firm on water subsidies. "The statements by the PDAM Jaya executive are misleading and untrue. We only presume that this person did not speak on behalf of the company," presidents of the two foreign companies said in a joint statement.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Polls likely to be called off in 10% of regencies: KIPP
Polls likely to be called off in 10% of regencies: KIPP JAKARTA (JP): Elections are unlikely to take place in 10 percent of the country's 243 regencies due to their vulnerability to unrest, a poll monitor predicted on Saturday. Mulyana W. Kusumah, secretary-general of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), said there was not a strong likelihood of polls being held in areas such as Aceh, Maluku, West Kalimantan and Irian Jaya.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
23,000 volunteers to be recruited to poll monitoring
23,000 volunteers to be recruited to poll monitoring JAKARTA (JP): At least 23,000 volunteers will be recruited to monitor the June 7 general election in the city and surrounding areas, an executive at the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) said on Saturday. Mulyana W. Kusumah, KIPP's secretary-general, said the volunteers would be deployed to monitor the election at polling booths in Jakarta, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Praise, brickbats for Habibie's Aceh trip
Praise, brickbats for Habibie's Aceh trip JAKARTA (JP): An Acehnese community leader here expressed appreciation over President B.J. Habibie's day trip to Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh province, on Saturday. Antara on Sunday quoted a statement from Mustafa Abubakar, who also raised concerns over a clash between demonstrators and security personnel. About 100 people were reportedly injured in the clash.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
PMI obtains blood bag donation form Japanese firm
PMI obtains blood bag donation form Japanese firm JAKARTA (JP): Japanese Terumo Corporation gave a donation worth Rp 132 million (US$14,700) to the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) on Friday to assist its blood transfusion services. The donation, comprising 5,604 blood bags, was given in a ceremony at PMI headquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Idul Adha peaceful in riot-torn areas
Idul Adha peaceful in riot-torn areas JAKARTA (JP): Messages of peace were issued across the country in conjunction with the Islamic Day of Sacrifice, calling for self-restraint, a halt to violence and respect for diversity. Muslims were urged to set aside self interest and hate, and pick up on the lesson of Idul Adha, which commemorates the ultimate sacrifice of Prophet Abraham, who offered to slaughter his own son as a test of faith to God.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
12 Jakarta youths dead in Bogor
12 Jakarta youths dead in Bogor JAKARTA (JP): At least 12 students of two maritime high schools (SPM) in Jakarta were found dead in Cisadane River in Bogor on Sunday. Local police said the students were among 200 students of SPM Baruna and SPM Aditama in Jakarta, who arrived in Bogor -- 40 kilometers to the south of here -- a day earlier and were involved in a fierce street brawl with local students of Penerbangan technical high school (STM Penerbangan) on Jl. Semeru.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bank employees' severance pay
Bank employees' severance pay From Pikiran Rakyat The demand by laid-off bank employees of the 38 banks liquidated by the government on March 13 for severance pay 10 times their monthly salaries makes sense. The government therefore should consider the matter with wisdom. The government should not persist in following the manpower ministry decree which stipulates severance pay equal to two months' salary for laid-off employees.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Chemical linked to Thai illnesses
Chemical linked to Thai illnesses BANGKOK (AP): Aviation officials believe a chemical substance found buried beneath a provincial Thai airport that has caused hundreds of people to feel ill may be a solvent used to remove paint, local papers reported on Sunday. The reports countered initial suspicion the chemical was a defoliant used by the U.S. military.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
CD-ROM holds library of classic works
CD-ROM holds library of classic works By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Would you care to know why I admire Norman Shwarzkopf so much? It definitely is not because he successfully led the Allied troops during Desert Storm. It is more because, in my opinion, he talked the way any military leader should talk: clear and concise. With his wit and intelligence, he often sprinkled his press briefings with a little touch of humor, but he always was clear and concise.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Caretaker governor installed
Caretaker governor installed PADANG, West Sumatra (JP): A demonstration accompanied the installing of West Sumatra's caretaker governor on Saturday in protest over what was seen as a symbol of the central government's arrogance. The protest took place outside the provincial legislature where Maj.Gen. D. Dunidja was being officiated as caretaker governor by Acting Minister of Home Affairs Feisal Tanjung. The current minister, Syarwan Hamid, is on pilgrimage.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Almost 1.4m phone access line units installed in three years
Almost 1.4m phone access line units installed in three years JAKARTA (JP): Five contractors from state telecommunications operator PT Telkom announced on Saturday the installment of 1,371,548 access line units in the last three years. Contractors' spokesman D. Siregar, said the achievement exceeded the three-year target of 1,268,000 lines agreed with PT Telkom in January, 1996.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Who will thriumph at the polls
Who will thriumph at the polls This is the first of two articles on the mapping of Indonesian politics prepared by Lance Castle, a visiting lecturer in political science at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. YOGYAKARTA (JP): Like in the early 1950s, Indonesia has embarked on a long campaign which hopefully will culminate in a general election in June. Every weekend will see parades and rallies.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Experts urge high school students to end brawls
Experts urge high school students to end brawls JAKARTA (JP): Psychologist Tika Bisono and criminologist Erlangga Masdiana urged high school students on Saturday to start formulating their own solutions to bring an end to the continual street brawls in the capital.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Managed knowledge a valuable asset
Managed knowledge a valuable asset By Bambang Wicaksono Witoyo JAKARTA (JP): Unlike other kinds of company assets, knowledge increases in value differently. In comparison to capital assets, knowledge assets have two distinct characteristics. First, "harvesting" knowledge does not increase its value, instead its value increases when used and "shared" with the right people. Knowledge is a capital asset that grows in value as it is used.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Expert urges court ruling on ministers in campaign
Expert urges court ruling on ministers in campaign JAKARTA (JP): A constitutional law expert has urged the Supreme Court to immediately issue a ruling to end the polemic on whether ministers should be allowed to campaign in the general election. The court's ruling is the only way to overcome competing political interests, Sri Sumantri said on Sunday.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Baby born without an anus dies
Baby born without an anus dies JAKARTA (JP): A three-month-old baby boy who was born without an anus died on Sunday after suffering difficulties in breathing. His parents recalled that the face and abdomen of Muhammad Fauzan, the couple's first baby, had turned blue, especially around the lips. Fauzan was rushed to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital at about 9:30 a.m. and announced dead by the medical staff four hours later.
Mon, 29 Mar 1999, 00:00 WIB
Message from Aceh
Message from Aceh Judging by the hostile reception given to him, President B.J. Habibie failed to impress the people of Aceh during his brief peace mission to the province on Friday. This was in spite of saying Friday prayers with thousands of Acehnese at the grand mosque in Banda Aceh, holding a dialog with them afterwards, and making a public apology for past military atrocities.