Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 May 1999

46 articles found

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 8, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 425 0 424,000 AHAP Insurance 425 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 275 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 -50 3,441,000 Alumindo Light Metal 775 0 486,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 225 -25 28,000 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,775 -75 21,166,000 Anwar Sierad 125 25 400,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

No kite flying near airport: Official

No kite flying near airport: Official TANGERANG (JP): Soekarno Hatta International Airport authorities have urged residents living near the airport to refrain from flying kites, as the activity could endanger flights. Mulyono, the operational director of state-owned airport managing firm PT Perum Angkasa Pura II, said the plea was made because the kites could be sucked up by the air intake of a plane, which could lead to an accident.

PNG police join hunt for Irianese rebels

PNG police join hunt for Irianese rebels JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Papua New Guinea (PNG) police are helping Indonesian security authorities track down a group of 30 Irianese separatist rebels who, with 11 people they abducted, are on hiding in the neighboring country. Chief of Trikora military command overseeing Irian Jaya and Maluku Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring said on Saturday that a team from PNG had patrolled the Bewani valley, near the Irian Jaya border district of Skow.

Madurese refugees devastated but not without hope

Madurese refugees devastated but not without hope By Chandra H.N. Ichwani SURABAYA (Antara): When asked if she wanted to return to Sambas one day, the weary woman looked into the distance blankly. "I will go back there only if the government guarantees my safety. I have lost everything there... I am only a peasant," said Naroh, a woman from Bangkalan on Madura Island, East Java.

A dangerous game

A dangerous game The most talked about topics these days are obviously the June general election and the repeated armed clashes in East Timor and Aceh. The first is discussed with optimism while the others with a feeling of regret and disgust, especially last week's bloodbath in Aceh, in which at least 40 unarmed demonstrators were killed. However, in the middle of this mixed public mood, President B.J.

Opposition against Golkar looms large

Opposition against Golkar looms large JAKARTA (JP): Party functions held by the ruling Golkar across Java over the weekend were met with hostile receptions, and at one site led to an emergency rescue of chairman Akbar Tandjung. A helicopter flew Akbar and his wife from Jember to the neighboring East Java town of Lumajang on Sunday, after Golkar supporters were ambushed by opposition parties.

Government cautioned on signs of economic recovery

Government cautioned on signs of economic recovery JAKARTA (JP): Experts have warned the government not to overreact to early signs of an economic recovery, as a fundamental economic turnaround was yet to arrive. Senior banker I Nyoman Moena said at the weekend that excessive optimism might lead to a misjudgment of the real situation and lead to the development of incorrect policies. "We must be extra careful in reading the (economic) indicators.

Accord on East Timor

Accord on East Timor An agreement concerning the future of East Timor was signed at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Wednesday evening by the Indonesian foreign minister, Ali Alatas, the Portuguese foreign minister, Jaime Gama, and United Nations Secretary- General Kofi Annan.

Hamzah to resign from Cabinet

Hamzah to resign from Cabinet JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Investment and chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz announced his resignation on Sunday, citing party interests. He followed in the footsteps of Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung, whose resignation was approved by President B.J. Habibie on Saturday. Habibie named Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tandjung to temporarily fill the post left vacant by Akbar.

Violence erupts again in East Timor

Violence erupts again in East Timor DILI, East Timor (JP): At least one person died in another outburst of violence among civilians on Sunday, even as Dili's bishop urged restraint to enable East Timorese vote in peace. The victim, Eugenio Antonio Fatima, 26, died on the way to the local Motael clinic. He was a student of the University of East Timor. Another man, Jose Agusto L. Pinto, 31, is being treated at the clinic for a gunshot wound to his abdomen. Both were residents of East Dili.

Fiberglass plant vandalized

Fiberglass plant vandalized BANDUNG: Fiberglass factory PT Polyfin, on the Cicalengka toll road, Bandung, was vandalized on Saturday by hundreds of villagers, Antara reported. Crowds from Cikeruh and Rancaekek subdistricts began hurling rocks at hundreds of the plant's glass windows, and many parts of the building were badly damaged. They also damaged office equipment, including computers and five company minibuses. Police are still investigating the cause of the violence, the agency said.

Ibnu Sutowo speaks up about graft charges

Ibnu Sutowo speaks up about graft charges By Johannes Simbolon JAKARTA (JP): After a three-decade silence, Ibnu Sutowo, the controversial founding father of state oil and gas company Pertamina, denied last week corruption charges launched by former president Soeharto's administration in the early 1970s against him. Born in September 1914 in Yogyakarta, Ibnu graduated from the NIAS medical school in 1940 and later took up a military career.

Kalimantan community demands fair treatment

Kalimantan community demands fair treatment JAKARTA (JP): Kalimantan community representatives declared on Sunday their allegiance to the state but issued a carefully worded demand for more recognition from the government. Signing the 17-point declaration were Z.A. Maulani, chairman of the All-Indonesian Kalimantan Community, who is also the head of the State Intelligence Coordinating Board, Oesman Sapta, E. Alamsyah, A.A.

Bogus soldier caught in Tangerang

Bogus soldier caught in Tangerang TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Military District officers arrested a 23-year-old man on Friday for deceiving at least six people by introducing himself as a member of the Army's special force (Kopassus). Chief Sgt. Winarno, an intelligence official from the military district office, said on Friday that the man, who he had been monitoring for weeks, was identified as Wira Wibowo, alias Heldi W.R.

Many refugees refuse to return to Ambon

Many refugees refuse to return to Ambon UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): About 2,400 Muslim refugees sheltered in Bone regency, 185 km north of here, have refused to be shipped back to riot-torn Ambon, Maluku's capital, for fear of further violence, a local activist said on Friday.

Ideas of federalism

Ideas of federalism Some weeks ago Amien Rais initiated an important debate on the need to consider adopting a federal system for Indonesia. Former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad also joined the federalist camp suggesting to President Habibie that the proposal be debated when the next People's Consultative Assembly meets in August. Contrary to these positions, Gen. Wiranto stated recently that federalism has no place in Indonesia and is therefore "out of the question".

Junior boy's team stand in 4th place

Junior boy's team stand in 4th place JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's junior men's team failed to shine in the world junior championship of the Asia-Oceania qualifying zone on Sunday, gripping the last place in the top four after it lost to Taiwan 1-2. In the final, South Koreans top the list after defeating Australia 2-1, Antara reported. Although the Indonesian boys had pocketed the final ticket for the junior tennis world championship, they failed to perform their best.

UKI jailed student end sentence in Cipinang jail

UKI jailed student end sentence in Cipinang jail JAKARTA (JP): Cheered on by some 50 fellow students, an Indonesia Christian University student was released from Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta on Sunday after spending five months in jail for kidnapping a police officer. Edward T.B. Karo-karo told the students from City Forum (Forkot), he would continue to participate in student demonstrations.

Europe investors cool to IBRA presentation

Europe investors cool to IBRA presentation LONDON (Dow Jones): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency painted an optimistic picture of progress in the reform of the country's banking system Friday, but investors were thin on the ground. After presentations in Singapore and Hong Kong that drew more than 250 European, Asian and U.S. bankers and investors, the turnout in London, which saw a re-run of the earlier presentations, was more modest, at around 40.

Military 'must take responsibility for Aceh killings'

Military 'must take responsibility for Aceh killings' JAKARTA (JP): Leading ulema in Aceh have demanded that the military take responsibility for the May 3 massacre in which at least 40 died in a North Aceh village. The Indonesian Council of Ulema's Aceh branch, in a letter to President B.J. Habibie, condemned the tragedy and demanded that stern measures be taken against those found guilty, Antara reported. The religious leaders also reminded Habibie of the promise he made to the Aceh community.

Habibie challenged over communist remark

Habibie challenged over communist remark JAKARTA (JP): Politicians have challenged that President B.J. Habibie prove his allegation that communism, "Marhaenism" and socialism -- dubbed by many as Komas -- have really threatened the nation, warning him against manipulating the issue to intimidate his political rivals.

Illegal aliens deported

Illegal aliens deported KUPANG: Forty-one foreigners were deported from Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, throughout last year, according to an immigration official here, Antara reported. The immigration office's head of Supervision and Action, Surya Pranata, said 25 of the illegal aliens were from Bangladesh, Aljazair, Rumania, Pakistan, mainland China, India, Malaysia and Singapore.

Government hit over rejection of UN report

Government hit over rejection of UN report JAKARTA (JP): Activists have deplored the government's recent rejection of a United Nations (UN) report on violence against women in Indonesia, on the grounds that its content was akin to viewpoints held by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). "The report is too NGO-like," said human rights activist Saparinah Sadli, quoting on Friday remarks made by the Indonesian delegation to the 55th session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in March.

Burglars injure housewife with hydrochloric acid

Burglars injure housewife with hydrochloric acid JAKARTA (JP): A housewife was severely wounded after she was splashed with hydrochloric acid by two alleged robbers who broke into her house in Tambun subdistrict, Bekasi, early Saturday. The two robbers, who entered the house by breaking its front window, managed to take Rp 6 million in cash from the house after paralyzing her husband. The housewife, identified as Ambar, was treated at the Intensive Care Unit of the Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital.

U.S. embassy in Beijing besieged by protesters

U.S. embassy in Beijing besieged by protesters BEIJING (AP): Throwing rocks and paint, thousands of angry protesters besieged the U.S. Embassy in Beijing on Sunday for a second day of noisy demonstrations against NATO's bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia. Many Beijing demonstrators wore black armbands and waved newspaper photos of three Chinese journalists killed when NATO missiles struck the Chinese embassy in Belgrade on Saturday.

Asian media lament NATO attack on Chinese embassy

Asian media lament NATO attack on Chinese embassy SINGAPORE (Reuters): Leading Asian newspapers voiced regret on Sunday at NATO's missile attack on China's embassy in Belgrade with Japanese dailies urging the U.S.-led alliance to consider ending its air strikes on Yugoslavia.

Share prices

Share prices Correction: Prices quoted for the Jakarta Stock Exchange's Friday trading contained errors. This is the correct version of the stock prices. We apologize to our readers for the erroneous report. -- Editor

SE Asia enters the 21st century

SE Asia enters the 21st century By Hilman Adil JAKARTA (JP): The Southeast Asian political landscape has changed significantly from events related to the unwinding of bipolar international relations since the end of the Cold War, the monetary crisis with its devastating effects on most of the countries' economies in the region and the problem of leadership changes which will have political significance for the region's political stability.

Petrobras, PDVSA plan tieup

Petrobras, PDVSA plan tieup BRASILIA (AFP): Brazil's Petrobras and Venezuela's PDVSA are studying establishing a strategic alliance of the two state oil giants in a venture that could be named Petroamerica, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said here Friday.

Grocers told not ot raise food prices ahead of polls

Grocers told not ot raise food prices ahead of polls JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to avoid public anxiety, the government has asked the country's grocers not to raise the prices of food staples and other commodities. Teddy Setiadi, the director general of trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said in a statement over the weekend that all officials in the ministry's provincial offices have been instructed to oversee the sale of food staples in the market to prevent undue price increases.

Sutiyoso amazed at arrest of senior official

Sutiyoso amazed at arrest of senior official JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said Friday's arrest of the head of the city inspectorate office, Sutardjianto, for his alleged role in a Rp 2.6 billion (US$317,000) corruption scam had caught him by surprise. According to the governor, he was unaware of an ongoing investigation and was only informed of Sutardjianto's arrest on Saturday afternoon. "The arrest was so sudden," Sutiyoso said on Saturday.

Australia supports pollution control

Australia supports pollution control JAKARTA: Sixty graduates from Australian training programs in pollution control and environmental management were awarded their certificates on Saturday at the Australian embassy here. Leslie Rowe of the embassy and Sukardi, vice chairman of the Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedal) presented the certificates, Antara reported.

Request for tourist visa refused

Request for tourist visa refused In Indonesia there is corruption, collusion and nepotism. In Australia there is bureaucracy and the public service. My grievance is with the Australian Embassy in Jakarta.

Malaysia, Singapore share row needs govt intervention

Malaysia, Singapore share row needs govt intervention KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A row over frozen Malaysian shares once traded in Singapore is getting pushed into the growing list of unresolved bilateral issues between Kuala Lumpur and the island republic. Analysts said government intervention was needed to unlock the shares of Singapore investors after they rejected an offer from a Kuala Lumpur-based businessman to buy them out at deep discounts to current market prices.

Human rights integral for reform

Human rights integral for reform JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of political parties said over the weekend that the protection of human rights was inseparable in the campaign for total reform. The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) said improving the protection of human rights required the reestablishment of sovereignty of the people.

Elderly bachelor murdered

Elderly bachelor murdered JAKARTA (JP): An elderly bachelor was found murdered in his house in East Jakarta early Thursday, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. The victim was identified as 65-year-old Sadeli Sastra Sanjaya, a resident of Bea Cukai housing complex in Pisangan Lama subdistrict. Lubis said the victim's hands and feet were bound and his neck had a wound.

PT Ariawest welcomes MediaOne-AT&T merger

PT Ariawest welcomes MediaOne-AT&T merger JAKARTA (JP): PT Ariawest International said the merger of its U.S.-based parent company MediaOne Group with American telecommunications giant AT&T will further strengthen its Indonesian operation. Ariawest said that with the merger, the company's operation in Indonesia would be backed by two telecommunications giants.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Citra '99, at Galeri Cipta II, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., until May 15. * Painting Exhibition: Budi's Gallery Collection, by Sudjana Kerton, Nyoman Gunarsa, etc., at La Casa de Mexico, Jl. Panglima Polim III no. 1-3, South Jakarta, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., May 11. * Painting Exhibition: by Darman, Helmy Krisnamurti, Radiastuti, etc., at Wisma Mitra Budaya, Jl. Tanjung no.

Ask for God's guidance!

Ask for God's guidance! From Pikiran Rakyat American politicians may well consider our upcoming general election, which 48 parties will contest, more democratic than polls in the United States. If the number of political parties participating in the elections is your yardstick, well, you may as well take pride in the general election in Indonesia in view of the number of political parties taking part in it.

Siemens expects larger market share despite crisis

Siemens expects larger market share despite crisis JAKARTA (JP): German mobile phone maker Siemens remains bullish on Indonesia's cellular telephone market and expects to fill at least 15 percent of the total demand this year. Robby Darmasetiawan, the general manager of Siemens' sole agent in Indonesia PT Dian Graha Elektrika, said last week that increasing the market share to 15 percent this year, from 12 percent, was realistic despite the economic crisis.

Marcos sets foot in presidential palace

Marcos sets foot in presidential palace MANILA (DPA): Thirteen years after her husband was ousted in a four-day popular revolt, former Philippine first lady Imelda Marcos set foot again in the Malacanang presidential palace on Sunday to receive a "mother of the year" award. The flamboyant 69-year-old widow of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos was accompanied by her three children when she was honored for being a model mother in an annual ceremony marking Mother's Day in the Philippines.

TV today

TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 Morning News 8:00 Children's Songs 8:30 TV Drama 9:00 Music 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Dances 3:00 Music 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Student's Quiz 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:35 Music 8:30 Quiz 9:00 World News 9:30 Talk Show 10:30 Film 12:00 a.m. Late News Program 2 5:00 p.m. City News 6:00 Music 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 8:30 Documentary TPI 5:30 a.m.

One thousand ballots stolen in N. Jakarta

One thousand ballots stolen in N. Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): A box containing 1,000 ballot papers for the June 7 general election was stolen from a truck on Thursday afternoon, an officer said over the weekend. City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the missing box was among 1,017 boxes containing ballots to be sent to the General Election Commission (KPU).

City authorities accused of glossing over security

City authorities accused of glossing over security JAKARTA (JP): Party officials expressed concern on Saturday over recent statements made by city authorities, in which they devolved responsibility for maintaining security during the upcoming campaign activities and the general election. The officials were responding to statements made by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman, who said on Thursday they were unable to guarantee the security of the city.

Multilateral institutions lack responses to Asian crisis

Multilateral institutions lack responses to Asian crisis SINGAPORE (AFP): Appropriate policy responses to Asia's economic woes by multilateral institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been inadequate, a survey among expatriates in 12 Asian countries revealed.

Khatami expresses support to jailed Tehran mayor

Khatami expresses support to jailed Tehran mayor TEHRAN (Agencies): Iran's moderate President Mohammad Khatami has joined the groundswell of support for jailed former Tehran mayor Gholamhossein Karbaschi, the press reported on Sunday. "Karbaschi has rendered much service to the country... we regret that we are deprived of his services for the time being," Khatami told Karbaschi's wife in a telephone conversation on Saturday.