Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 6 March 1999

45 articles found

Cambodia wants into ASEAN

Cambodia wants into ASEAN PHNOM PENH (Reuters): Cambodia's foreign minister told ambassadors from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Friday that Phnom Penh was seeking entry into the group as soon as possible, a ministry official said.

Semen Gresik to sign agreement with Cemex

Semen Gresik to sign agreement with Cemex JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly-listed cement producer, PT Semen Gresik, gave approval on Friday to the company's proposal to sign technical aid and export cooperation agreements with its minority shareholder Mexico's Cemex S.A. de C.V.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March. 5 , 1999: ------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 350 0 0 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alter Abadi 275 0 0...

WB says Asia recovering, RI fragile

WB says Asia recovering, RI fragile SYDNEY (Reuters): The World Bank said on Friday Asia was showing early signs of economic recovery but the situation remained fragile, with Indonesia's economic and political future resting on free and fair elections in June.

General election test of RI's 'political maturity'

General election test of RI's 'political maturity' JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tanjung said Friday that the appearance of as many as 48 contestants in the June poll was a sign of freedom and democracy but could lead to clashes among rival supporters.

Marijuana pays student's tuition

Marijuana pays student's tuition BANDUNG, West Java: A student who was cultivating marijuana plants said he did it to pay his tuition, Antara reported on Thursday.Sud, 26, a student at a private university here, said he grew four marijuana plants behind his home in the Cimahi district here, and...

Hotel Mulia starts paying penalty, says Sutiyoso

Hotel Mulia starts paying penalty, says Sutiyoso JAKARTA (JP): The management of five-star Hotel Mulia has started to pay the Rp 15.37 billion penalty imposed on it, amid controversy, by the city administration for violating building height restrictions, Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Technogerma Jakarta 99, exhibition on technology, environment, education etc. at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC), Central Jakarta (Phone: 572-6000), 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. until March 7.

Govt won't sign new rice import contracts

Govt won't sign new rice import contracts JAKARTA (JP): The government will not sign new contracts for rice imports this year in order to ease pressures on the price of locally produced rice, Minister of Agriculture Soleh Solahuddin said on Friday.

Golkar to officially declare itself political party

Golkar to officially declare itself political party JAKARTA (JP): The ruling political grouping Golkar opens a new chapter in its history when it officially declares itself a political party on Sunday.Andi Matalatta, chairman of the Golkar faction at the House of Representatives, said the decision...

Daiwabo opens canvas plant

Daiwabo opens canvas plant JAKARTA (JP): PT Daiwabo Industrial Fabrics Indonesia is ready to supply dryer canvas to domestic paper companies following the completion of its plant in Cirebon, West Java, company president Huto said on Thursday.

Govt to revise seven-month old bankruptcy law

Govt to revise seven-month old bankruptcy law JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to revise the much- criticized seven-month old bankruptcy law before the end of the year as it still contains "several shortcomings", Minister of Justice Muladi said on Friday.

Ghalib doubts tapped chat's authenticity

Ghalib doubts tapped chat's authenticity JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Lt. Gen. A.M. Ghalib on Friday again expressed his doubts about the authenticity of the recently leaked bugged conversation he allegedly had with President B.J. Habibie.

Economy will continue to contract this year: CSIS

Economy will continue to contract this year: CSIS JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's economy will continue to shrink this year, primarily because of incertitude over the bank restructuring program and the settlement of the huge corporate foreign debt overhang, the Centre for Strategic and International...

Task force meets KONI chairman

Task force meets KONI chairman JAKARTA (JP): The task force responsible for reviewing the National Sports Council's (KONI) statute, held a meeting with newly elected council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar on Friday to discuss progress on the statute preparation.

Investment in Asian tigers down 12%

Investment in Asian tigers down 12% GENEVA (Reuters): Foreign direct investment (FDI) in five Asian countries most hit by the region's crisis fell to US$15.4 billion in 1998 from $17.5 billion the year before, a 12 percent drop, a United Nations agency said on Thursday.

City-owned firms exempted from making contributions

City-owned firms exempted from making contributions JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has exempted several city-owned companies from making contributions to the revenue office as their profits have dropped sharply due to the effects of the economic crisis, an official said on Thursday.

Albright praises Indonesian reforms

Albright praises Indonesian reforms JAKARTA (JP): Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright made full use of her stay here on Friday, meeting President B.J. Habibie for two hours lauding Indonesian reforms, before going on to meet with East Timorese leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao...

Asiad bid

Asiad bidFrom Media IndonesiaI wish to propose to Indonesia's sports leaders to bid for the 2010 Asian Games and not the 2006 Games. I have the following reasons: 1. I have heard that the target for the 2006 Asiad is only a sixth ranking overall, i.e.

RI can still take leading ASEAN role

RI can still take leading ASEAN role JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia remains a key member of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), despite its mounting domestic problems, Malaysian foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said on Friday.

East Java poor reach 11.1 million

East Java poor reach 11.1 million SEMARANG: There as 11.1 million people classified as poor in East Java, some 36.7 percent of the total population of 30 million.Antara also reported the number of those who had lost their jobs reached 55,316 people from 64 companies by February.

Singapore rating to remain stable: Moody's

Singapore rating to remain stable: Moody's SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore's Aa1 sovereign rating is likely to stay in place for the medium term despite ongoing problems in neighboring Indonesia, a senior analyst with Moody's Investors Service said on Friday.

Robbers escape with Rp 43 million

Robbers escape with Rp 43 million JAKARTA (JP): A gang of eight armed robbers broke into a house at Raden village in Pondok Gede, Bekasi at 3:30 a.m on Friday, and escaped with Rp 43 million after threatening the victims with sharp weapons and a pistol.City police spokesman Lt. Col.

Indonesia, the United States and Democracy

Indonesia, the United States and Democracy The following is an abridged text of a lecture by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright before Indonesian civic leaders in Jakarta on the last day of her visit to Indonesia on Friday.

INRO short of money, stop buying

INRO short of money, stop buying KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO) has run out of money for market operations and stopped buying rubber to stabilize prices, a senior official said on Friday.

SE Asian monies up as traders trim long greenback position

SE Asian monies up as traders trim long greenback position SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Fearful of overextending their positions, participants in Asian regional foreign exchange markets sold U.S. dollars on Friday, lifting Southeast Asian currencies above levels seen on Thursday.

Students take to streets to condemn Ambon tragedy

Students take to streets to condemn Ambon tragedy JAKARTA (JP): Over 5,000 Muslims, mostly students, staged noisy but peaceful rallies on the capital's streets on Friday to condemn the continuing communal bloodshed in Ambon that has so far killed 166 people.

Muslim leaders say PKB 'fills NU's shoes'

Muslim leaders say PKB 'fills NU's shoes' JAKARTA (JP): Many traditional Muslim leaders assume that the National Awakening Party (PKB) is the reincarnation of the now- defunct Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Party, a leading NU figure said.

ASEAN investment chiefs vow to tear down barriers

ASEAN investment chiefs vow to tear down barriers PHUKET, Thailand (AFP): Southeast Asian countries agreed in principle Friday to ditch a 2020 deadline for complete liberalization of foreign investment and decided to move quicker, officials said here.

Arts festival begins on Sunday

Arts festival begins on Sunday KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The administration here is holding the Al-Kautsar Festival of traditional arts from Sunday to Wednesday, Antara reported.Organizing chairwoman Norma Kaimoeddin said here on Friday that the festival would, among others things, feature...

Banned dragon dance reappears amid changing political climate

Banned dragon dance reappears amid changing political climateBy Edi Petebang PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): West Kalimantan again saw Chinese culture celebrated at this year's Chinese New Year with public performances of the dragon dance, which has been banned for more than two decades.

Importers have bone to pick over cheap beef remark

Importers have bone to pick over cheap beef remark JAKARTA (JP): Meat importers questioned on Friday State Minister of Food and Horticulture A.M. Saefuddin's statement on import offers for cheap Australian beef.The chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Meat Importers (Aspidi), Frieda N.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on March 5, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,880.00 8,910.00 8,895.00 8,945.00 Austrian schilling 1 694.59 703.49 Australian dollar 1 5,526.65 5,605.50 5,480.00 5,680.00 Belgian franc 1 236.93 239.

Salaries of civil servants and ABRI

Salaries of civil servants and ABRIFrom TempoThe salaries of civil servants and Armed Forces (ABRI) members is an indicator of political stability. There is a significant correlation between salaries and professional interest and the tendency of a code of conduct of the civil servants and ABRI.

Bintuni Minaraya to go public

Bintuni Minaraya to go public JAKARTA (JP): Fishing and canning company PT Bintuni Minaraya said on Friday it planned to offer about 50 million new shares to the public next month to raise funds for strengthening its working capital and the operations of its subsidiaries, PT Biak Minajaya and PT...

15 malnourished infants in Padang

15 malnourished infants in Padang PADANG, West Sumatra: Fifteen severely malnourished infants were found by a nutrition monitoring team here this week.Antara reported that eight infants were discovered on Friday in Padang Pariamanan regency and seven infants were found earlier this week.

Bomb blasts shatter brief calm in Ambon

Bomb blasts shatter brief calm in Ambon JAKARTA (JP): A series of bomb blasts, reported near the downtown Silo Church in Ambon on Friday, shattered the calm in the riot-torn Maluku capital, where almost two months of communal clashes have claimed at least 166 lives.

Brutal treatment of protesters and journalists deplored

Brutal treatment of protesters and journalists deplored JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) condemned on Friday security personnel's brutal treatment of student demonstrators and journalists.

Malaysian PM rules out alliance

Malaysian PM rules out alliance KOTA KINABALU, Malaysia (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad ruled out working with the opposition on Friday should the ruling National Front coalition win the March 12 to March 13 elections.

U.S. prefers international presence in East Timor

U.S. prefers international presence in East Timor JAKARTA (JP): United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said Friday her government preferred an international presence and urged disarmament of civilians in order to ensure peace in East Timor.

Caution prompted 'bank closure delay'

Caution prompted 'bank closure delay' SYDNEY (Dow Jones): Indonesia's decision last week to delay closing banks was because it wanted to act cautiously, and needed to collect more information, Indonesian State Minister for Development Planning Boediono said Friday.

Japan firms see better Asia

Japan firms see better Asia TOKYO (DPA): About 37 percent of Japanese manufacturers operating in Asia have predicted their host economies will begin recovering in the year 2000, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) said Friday.

Albright's optimism

Albright's optimism Fair is fair. There is no denying that since the downfall of president Soeharto some significant improvements in human rights and democracy have been made under the fallen autocrat's successor, B.J. Habibie.

RI's bank reform delay prolongs distress: Thomson

RI's bank reform delay prolongs distress: Thomson HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Thomson BankWatch said Friday that Indonesia's sovereign risk rating stands at CCC and that the outlook for the country is stable.

Two thieves face citizen's arrest

Two thieves face citizen's arrest JAKARTA (JP): A resident of Jl. Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta apprehended two men after they robbed a woman of her handbag containing Rp 7 million on Thursday morning.The two were identified as Jumaher, 20 and Selaman, 21, Lubis said.City police spokesman Lt. Col.