Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 April 1999

46 articles found

Govt to free children from forced labor

Govt to free children from forced labor JAKARTA (JP): The government will make sure that about 5,000 children are released from forced labor on off-shore jermal (fishing structures) in North Sumatra so they can return home and to school, an official says.

Parties gets Rp 50 million from city administration

Parties gets Rp 50 million from city administration JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso handed over special fund packages worth Rp 50 million each to all 48 political parties for their Jakarta chapters on Friday.The Rp 2.

Making films in hard times

Making films in hard timesBy Brillianto K. Jaya JAKARTA (JP): The national film industry is dying.This statement is heard repeatedly these days, and the reason is obvious. One just has to look at the sharp decline in the number of new national films.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Documentary Exhibition: Jan Steen (1626 - 1679), at Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Phone: 5252321), Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 10 to May 1.

Tax-free luxury cars

Tax-free luxury cars In the past week the mass media has been filled with reports about the duty-free and tax-free import of a great number of luxury cars. The official explanation is that the import duty and special sales taxes were waived for those luxury cars and motorbikes because they were...

Scorpion has new president

Scorpion has new president TORONTO (Dow Jones): Scorpion Minerals Inc said Laurie E. Whitehouse has resigned as president and a director, to pursue other interests.In a news release, the company said it named chairman Michael A. Farrugia as acting president.

Riau hosts writers' camp

Riau hosts writers' camp PEKANBARU: Two hundred poets and writers from Southeast Asia are expected to gather in Daik Lingga in Riau province in June. They are likely to come from Malaysia, Brunei Darrusalam, Thailand and Singapore.

RI election in Australia?

RI election in Australia? The "weather" I mean in this letter has nothing to do with Jimmy Carter, a former U.S. president. Carter came here to see if preparations for the general election are in accordance with international rules in democratic societies.

Drug syndicate suspects arrested at airport

Drug syndicate suspects arrested at airport JAKARTA (JP): City police have arrested five people, including a husband and wife, believed to be members of a drug syndicate, an officer said on Thursday.Jakarta Police detective chief Col.

Bill on clean governance lacks teeth: ICW chairman

Bill on clean governance lacks teeth: ICW chairman JAKARTA (JP): To pass the clean governance bill without giving substantial authority to an independent body to implement the power controls would be a pointless and abortive attempt to uproot corruption, according to the Indonesian Corruption Watch...

Suspected drug dealer nabbed

Suspected drug dealer nabbed JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives seized one kilogram of shabu-shabu, an amphetamine derivative, on Thursday in the Mangga Dua area of North Jakarta, an officer said on Friday.The head of the city police detectives, Col.

Worms affect thousands of kids

Worms affect thousands of kids MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: About 11,000 or 4.7 percent of 251,000 children in Sikka regency have worms, which frequently causes malnutrition and diarrhea.Director of Bina Mandiri Foundation Lourensius described the importance of educating the public and particularly...

Turning IPB into 'window of modern farming'

Turning IPB into 'window of modern farming'By Joko Sarwono BOGOR (JP): The old campus has been undergoing a quiet physical transformation few people would probably notice.The huge Dermaga Campus of the Bogor Agriculture Institute (IPB) -- a 250-hectare area with shady trees, gardens, dens --...

Thai baht down to near 6-month low as swaps drop

Thai baht down to near 6-month low as swaps drop SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): A steep fall in the value of the Thai baht enlivened an otherwise lackluster day of trading in Southeast Asian currency markets Friday.Fresh dollar buying from U.S. players in the offshore market pushed the U.S.

WB approves loans to RI

WB approves loans to RI WASHINGTON (AFP): The World Bank has approved almost US$130 million in loans and equivalent credits to two major education projects in Indonesia, a Bank statement said Thursday.Both the Sulawesi and Eastern Islands and Sumatra Basic Education projects are aimed at...

400 million ballots must be distributed by May 10: Rudini

400 million ballots must be distributed by May 10: Rudini JAKARTA (JP): Four hundred million ballots will have to be distributed to the provinces by May 10 at the latest, chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Rudini said on Friday.

RI bank reform on course, WB says

RI bank reform on course, WB says SINGAPORE (Reuters): Indonesia is on track to reform its banking system after sweeping measures to clean up the sector was announced last month, a source at the World Bank told Reuters on Friday."It's a huge task.

Ex-employees from closed bank continue rallies

Ex-employees from closed bank continue rallies JAKARTA (JP): Former employees from at least 18 closed banks vowed to take to the streets on Monday for a massive rally, unless severance payment demands are fulfilled, a spokesman said on Friday.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 9, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 400 50 124,000 AHAP Insurance 400 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 75 0 0 Alter Abadi 200 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on April 9, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,680.00 8,730.00 8,680.00 8,770.00Australian dollar 1 5,399.30 5,473.10 5,374.00 5,523.00Austrian schilling 1 675.07 683.96 - -Belgian franc 1 230.

Bad weather halts chopper salvage

Bad weather halts chopper salvage SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Rescue workers found on Thursday the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed off the coast on Saturday.Bad weather made any attempt to salvage the wreckage impossible.

Bank workers' demand

Bank workers' demand Seen from an economic standpoint, the demand by former bank employees for severance pay up to ten times the government- mandated standard package could simply be discarded as completely unreasonable and excessive.

Another Wall Street rally boosts Asian stock markets

Another Wall Street rally boosts Asian stock markets HONG KONG (AP): Most Asian stock markets ended the week higher Friday on the back of another record rally overnight on Wall Street.In Jakarta, the key index surged more than 5 percent on active foreign buying in selected blue chips following...

The Asia crisis in perspective

The Asia crisis in perspective The following is a paper presented by Hubert Neiss, director for Asia and Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund, at an IMF media seminar in Singapore on April 2.

Maluku fish exports up

Maluku fish exports up AMBON (JP): Maluku's fishery exports increased by about 20 percent last year to 170.96 million tons, from 143 million tons in 1997, according to the provincial office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Nation should be ashamed of ongoing riots: Mar'ie

Nation should be ashamed of ongoing riots: Mar'ie JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of Social Safety Net Supervision, Mar'ie Muhammad, said on Friday rioting in many parts of the country would not be brought to an end by indiscriminate blaming.

Two arrested for robbing gas station

Two arrested for robbing gas station JAKARTA (JP): Police arrested two employees of a gas station in Taman Cibodas in Jatiuwung, Tangerang, on Friday for their alleged roles in a robbery of the station.City police spokesman Lt. Col.

Authorities stick to their guns over red-light district

Authorities stick to their guns over red-light district JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will turn the 10.4- hectare Kramat Tunggak red-light district into a residential area if brothel owners, who own half of the land, fail to reach an agreement with business investors wishing to develop a...

Offer on tax incentive unfair

Offer on tax incentive unfair According to point K, article 1, chapter 4 of Law No. 10/1994 on Income Tax, income originating from written-off debts is subject to income tax with a rate of 30 percent.Recently, Director General of Taxes A.

Wong sets up clash with Gade Christensen

Wong sets up clash with Gade Christensen TOKYO (AFP): Wong Choong Hann outclassed Marleve Mainaky on Friday to set up a semifinal meeting against reigning world number one Peter Gade Christensen in the Japan Open badminton tournament.

Incentives termed vital to prompt bank mergers

Incentives termed vital to prompt bank mergers JAKARTA (JP): The central bank's appeal for 74 private banks to merge into several larger banks would be realized only if it provides incentives, according to a senior advisor with the Indonesian Private Banks Association (Perbanas).

PSIS upsets Persebaya to claim Ligina title

PSIS upsets Persebaya to claim Ligina titleBy Ivy Susanti MANADO, North Sulawesi (JP): Underdog PSIS Semarang unexpectedly upset defending champion Persebaya Surabaya 1-0 in the thrilling final of the fifth Indonesia Soccer League (Ligina) at Klabat stadium on Friday.

One killed, two injured in fresh violence in Maluku

One killed, two injured in fresh violence in Maluku JAKARTA (JP): A Muslim woman was killed and two others were injured in a clash on Seram Island, Maluku, on Friday morning, even as Maj. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy, the head of a special task force to restore security in the province, was visiting the...

Anonymous letter leads to arrests

Anonymous letter leads to arrests JAKARTA (JP): Bogor Police arrested five suspects for last month's murder of a man after receiving an anonymous letter which revealed the motive behind the killing, an officer said on Friday.Bogor Police chief Lt. Col.

U.S. top brass looks at ASEAN

U.S. top brass looks at ASEAN SINGAPORE (AFP): Top U.S. military officials have been visiting Southeast Asia to discuss the security situation which has caused nervousness among American businessmen, officials said here on Friday."The issue of security is on everyone's mind. The U.S.

Future fuel subsidies offered for tender

Future fuel subsidies offered for tender JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said on Thursday future fuel subsidies would be offered for tender in a bid to promote efficiency among refinery owners.

Air Force backs search for truth about 1965 coup

Air Force backs search for truth about 1965 coup JAKARTA (JP): The Air Force leadership said it was giving its full support to the writing of a book by former senior servicemen aimed at countering suggestions of the force's involvement in the Sept.

Setting foot on two boats

Setting foot on two boatsFrom MerdekaDuring the New Order regime, all Cabinet ministers and government officials from the upper to the lower echelon were ordered to campaign for Golkar. Apart from their official job, they were also Golkar functionaries and leaders at various levels.

Bulog getting out of wheat flour trading

Bulog getting out of wheat flour trading JAKARTA (JP): The State Logistics Agency (Bulog) will relinquish its wheat flour activities to deal solely with rice once its remaining stock is sold, Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Friday.

Blind voters face obstacles

Blind voters face obstacles JAKARTA (JP): How will blind people vote in the June 7 elections? Will they have to pick out one of the 48 parties, whose symbols will be printed on a flat piece of paper, without accompanying braille characters?"The General Election Commission (KPU) must decide on how...

Oil palm estates in Irian

Oil palm estates in Irian JAYAPURA (JP): Two plantation firms, PT Tujuh Wali-Wali and PT Prabu Alaska, intend to open oil palm plantations in Irian Jaya, an official from the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations said on Friday.

Rights body to probe E. Timor violence

Rights body to probe E. Timor violence JAKARTA (JP): Members of the National Commission on Human Rights will visit strife-plagued East Timor next week to investigate reports of an attack on a proindependence group in Liquica on Monday, which was allegedly perpetrated by the military-backed militia.

Making most of human resources

Making most of human resourcesFrom RepublikaIn the final stage of the merging process of four state banks -- Bank Dagang Negara, Bank Exim, Bank Bumi Daya and Bapindo -- into Bank Mandiri, there will be layoffs which will provide golden handshakes to those affected.

Poll monitors begin to unveil their findings

Poll monitors begin to unveil their findings JAKARTA (JP): Despite lacking official accreditation, independent poll monitors both foreign and local have begun announcing findings of irregularities in the preparations for the June 7 general election.

Nokia opens outlet in Medan

Nokia opens outlet in Medan JAKARTA (JP): Nokia Mobile Phones Indonesia, a subsidiary of Finnish mobile phone producer Nokia, opened on Thursday a new Nokia Professional Center (NPC) outlet in Medan, North Sumatra.

Rivals admit responsibility for seizing Golkar flags

Rivals admit responsibility for seizing Golkar flags JAKARTA (JP): Rival political parties admitted responsibility for the theft of scores of Golkar Party flags in a number of regencies in East Java.Flags were stolen in the regencies of Probolinggo, Magetan, Bojonegoro, Tuban, the Malang township...