Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 April 1999

46 articles found

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 Thursday's rise on Wall Street, where the Dow Jones industrial average rose 112.39 points - 1.1 percent - to close at 10,197.70.

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. It indeed makes no sense to tax the owners of the already insolvent banks with such an obligation, however tragic the fate of the now unemployed workers.

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.

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.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock 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 400 -25 37,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 125 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,475 25 8,668,000 Anwar Sierad 50 0 370,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

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. Spokesman Yudi Prakoso said the ex-bank employees made the decision after a meeting between protesters and executives from the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) on Friday morning.

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. My sense is so far they are, broadly speaking, on track," said the Jakarta-based source, who was on a visit in Singapore. On March 13, Indonesia closed 38 banks and nationalized seven under a program seen as a lynchpin of any economic recovery.

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. "At least nine printing companies licensed by the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency will start printing on Tuesday," Rudini, a retired general, said.

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 "reinforcing the social safety nets... (and) the recovery and decentralization of basic education" in the economically hard-hit regions, the statement said.

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. currency higher against the baht right from the start of Asian trading. At one point in the Asian morning the U.S. dollar was driven as high as 38 baht, its strongest level in nearly six months.

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.

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 children about hygiene and the use of toilets. In cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), Bina Mandiri has built 200 toilets in Talebura district since last year.

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. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, said one suspect, Zainal Abidin alias A Kian, 34, was arrested at midday on Thursday outside the Pesona Bahari apartment in Mangga Dua, North Jakarta. He allegedly tried to sell the drug to an undercover officer.

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 (ICW).

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. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo said they were arrested separately thanks to a tip-off from customs and excise officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. He identified the suspects as Robert Lauha and his wife Elly, Chris Welly, Ronny Wijaya and E.S.

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. In a sense, there is already a light pressure from the international community on the election process. The energetic former U.S. president, while here, stated that the upcoming general election would take place fairly and peacefully.

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. Organizer Syafrial Syamsudin told Antara here the choice of Daik Lingga was based on artifacts revealing the site as the first Muslim-influenced monarchy in the area.

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. Scorpion said Whitehouse was also head of Scorpion's Indonesian operations.

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 intended for exclusive purposes, such as use by the President or state guests, to serve as samples for the manufacture or import by the Indonesian Motor (Sport) Association.

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. * Photo Exhibition: Photos De Scenes by Guy Delahaye, at the Gallery, CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Salemba Raya 25 Central Jakarta (Phone: 3908580,3908585), until April 30.

Making films in hard times

Making films in hard times By 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. The same time-honored excuses are put forward, that this country lacks human resources in the film industry, and that the industry's development has been hampered by Subentra's Group 21 chain of cinemas, which controls film distribution.

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 2.4 billion fund came from the new 1999/2000 city budget and is intended to help finance the parties' political activities ahead of the June general election. The fund packages, in the form of bank checks, were received by chairmen of the parties in a ceremony at City Hall.

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 -- certainly looks much cleaner and better managed than it was a few months ago. IPB's rector behind the change, Prof. R.H.

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 and the provincial capital of Surabaya. In two Golkar-dominated regencies, Madiun and Magetan, nearly all of Golkar's flags and other attributes were stolen by unidentified parties.

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. The general manager of Nokia Mobile Phones Indonesia, Alexander Lambeek, said the new outlet, its eighth such outlet in the country, was the fourth facilitated by PT Bimasakti Usindo Persada (BUP), also known as Graha Nokia, a Nokia distributor.

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. The local University Network for Free And Fair Elections (Unfrel) revealed on Friday six violations related to campaigning, five allegedly committed by Golkar and one by the United Development Party (PPP).

Making most of human resources

Making most of human resources From Republika In 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. If I am not mistaken, about 15,000 employees from the four banks will be dismissed with material compensation that is relatively better than that provided by other companies.

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. Secretary-general of the rights body Clementino dos Reis Amaral told The Jakarta Post on Friday the fact-finding mission would leave for East Timor on Wednesday or Thursday.

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. Head of the ministry's provincial office Sudjuu said PT Tujuh Wali-Wali has proposed to open a 30,000 hectare plantation in the Lereh subdistrict of Kaureh, Jayapura, and PT Prabu Alaska wants will use 6,000 hectares in the Buruway subdistrict of Buruway, Fakfak.

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 the blind will vote," lawyer and coordinator of the University Network for Free and Fair Elections Todung Mulya Lubis said on Friday.

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. Rahardi, who is also the agency's chairman, denied the wheat flour stocks would be sold gradually to prevent disruption of market prices.

Setting foot on two boats

Setting foot on two boats From Merdeka During 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. The president himself chaired the board of elder members. The results satisfied them all. A single majority dominated the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly.

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. 30, 1965, abortive coup blamed on the outlawed Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

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. SINGAPORE: The Asia crisis surprised and shook the world, both because of its sudden outbreak and its severity.

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. has a presence in this region, we have a commitment to this region," U.S. Ambassador to Singapore Steven Green told reporters after talks with American business leaders in Asia.

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. Ade Husen said the suspects admitted their roles in the killing of Ade Supriatna. Based on the suspects' preliminary testimony, police now are looking for eight others suspects, Husen was quoted by Antara as saying.

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 region. According to a Protestant priest, the woman was killed during fighting between Protestants and Muslims in Amahai district, Central Maluku regency.

PSIS upsets Persebaya to claim Ligina title

PSIS upsets Persebaya to claim Ligina title By 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.

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). "The authority has to provide a sweetener so that the merged banks can survive the current harsh environment," banker Thomas Suyatno said on Friday.

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. The 1998 Commonwealth Games champion from Malaysia, who shocked world number three Budi Santoso on Thursday, claimed another big Indonesian scalp with his 15-12, 15-11 win in the men's quarterfinals.

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. Anshari Ritonga said at a seminar that the government would exempt tax on income originating from the debts written off by domestic banks or overseas creditors.

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 shopping complex in the area, an official said on Friday.

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. Zainuri Lubis said the suspects, Joko and Ridwan, along with two accomplices who are still at large, stole Rp 11.6 million (US$1,300) from the station. "The two arrested suspects are employees at the station.

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. The former minister of finance said the nation should be ashamed with the ongoing violence, which had tarnished the country's image. "Let us show to the world that we are a civilized nation, a civilized society," Mar'ie said, after meeting with President B.J.

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. Head of the foreign trade department Mustakin Amin said on Friday the increase in the export volume was due to higher orders for frozen fish, squid, shrimp, pearls and sprinkled fishfrom Asian buyers.

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. "The government will give the fuel subsidy to the company which asks the lowest (fee) to supply fuel. Thus, the government will ensure that only efficient refineries will receive the subsidy," Kuntoro said in a weekly news conference.