Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 3 May 1999

51 articles found

Warehouse bandit shot dead

Warehouse bandit shot dead JAKARTA (JP): Penjaringan police in North Jakarta shot dead on Saturday a man who had been caught red-handed by Muara Karang residents breaking into several stores at a warehousing complex, an officer said. The Penjaringan police officer, who asked for anonymity, said that police shot 35-year-old Romsie Kurniawan in the back as he resisted arrest.

Junior players reach finals

Junior players reach finals JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has earned the final berth of the Asia/Oceania Qualifying Zone after a total victory of 3-0 over South Korea in the 1999 NEC World Youth Cup in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday. Indonesia's young hope Dea Sumantri beat Lee Bit-na 6-2, 6-1 and Angelique Widjaja defeated Lee En-hwa 6-3, 6-4. Dea, who paired with Novianti Warsono, also won in a straight set 6-2, 6-4 over Lee En-hwa and Kim Hea-mi.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Sketch Exhibition: Sketsa Australia by Jerry T, at Australian Embassy Gallery, Kuningan, South Jakarta, until May 14. * Painting Exhibition: Generasi Milenium by Achmad Syahri, Andi Suandi, Bambang Sutrisno, Dumas Indra, Sahat Simatupang, Yaqub Elka, at Santika Hotel, Jl. K.S. Tubun No. 7, Central Jakarta (Phone: 5330350), 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., until May 18. * Painting Exhibition: Gelar Karya 12 Warna by Kelompok Mekar, at Hilton Executive Club, Jl.

New oil and gas law could bust Pertamina: Fuad

New oil and gas law could bust Pertamina: Fuad JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of finance Fuad Bawazier said on Saturday state oil and gas company Pertamina could go bankrupt if the government adopts the new oil and gas bill in its present form. Fuad, also a former director general of taxation, said the new oil and gas bill, which would remove the governmental protection and privileges Pertamina has enjoyed for decades, would throw the oil and gas giant on to the fierce market competition.

Government lifts export ban

Government lifts export ban JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan has defended the government's recent move to lift the ban on exports of sugar and wheat flour. The minister said the removal of the export bans would not affect the supply of the commodities on the domestic market. "I decided to lift the export bans after taking into account all possibilities.

1,000-strong workers rally for better conditions

1,000-strong workers rally for better conditions JAKARTA (JP): About 1,000 workers from Greater Jakarta area marched through the capital Sunday morning to demand better conditions and an end to violence against workers. Workers from the Association of Indonesia's Independent Workers Unions held the march to commemorate International Labor Day. The workers also demanded that the government pay more attention to child workers and to recognize the International Labor Day, which falls on May 1.

KHI clarifies

KHI clarifies With reference to the report in The Jakarta Post dated April 8, 1999, on page 8 under the title Pipe maker protests W.

Hundreds protest at governor's office

Hundreds protest at governor's office MEDAN, North Sumatra: Hundreds of protesters flocked to Governor Rizal Nurdin's office here on Thursday, to lodge complaints about two separate issues. Mandailing Natal people grouped in the Forum Reform of Community and Students demanded the provincial administration suspend the operations of two companies collecting swallow nests in Muara Batang Gadis district. The group alleged the company owners of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Smuggling attempt of Rp 2.68 billion cash foiled

Smuggling attempt of Rp 2.68 billion cash foiled JAKARTA (JP): Customs and excise officials at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport have foiled an attempt to smuggle Rp 2.68 billion (US$326,830) in cash. Tonny Soenanto, head of the Customs and Excise Office, said on Saturday that the money, in Rp 50,000 banknotes, was seized from Edward Mondong, a 30-year-old Indonesian, who was about to board a KLM flight to Singapore on Friday evening.

Civil servants' welfare

Civil servants' welfare From Republika Problems related to civil servants have long been interesting topics for discussion, even though concrete ways to solve these problems still do not come up to expectation. Many quarters believe that in the case of civil servants' welfare, there is still a gap between professionalism and idealism with a compatible level of welfare on the one hand and the government's financial capacity to meet the demand for a raised welfare level on the other.

PAL's chairman may resign

PAL's chairman may resign MANILA (DPA): The chairman of ailing flag carrier Philippine Airlines may resign after a major creditor withdrew its support for PAL's rehabilitation plan, Philippine President Joseph Estrada said Saturday. Estrada added that due to this development, he has convened his economic team for a meeting Monday to discuss the government's next course of action. The U.S.

113 Cianjur farmers detained by police following clash

113 Cianjur farmers detained by police following clash JAKARTA (JP): Following a riot involving hundreds of farmers in the Agrabinta district of Cianjur, West Java, police arrested 113 farmers and three student activists, Antara reported on Saturday. Police seized a number of swords, axes and machetes. In the past week, police said, the farmers have been involved in the destruction of thousands of cocoa plants and coconut hybrids belonging to the Agrabinta state-run Nusantara estate.

Miyazawa hints at steps to spur corp restructuring

Miyazawa hints at steps to spur corp restructuring MANILA (Dow Jones): Japan gave fresh indications over the weekend that it's serious about ridding its economy of excess capacity, but dashed hopes once again of new fiscal spending to boost growth.

Spared a horrible execution, Manila maid turns top singer

Spared a horrible execution, Manila maid turns top singer By Ruben Alabastro MANILA (Reuters): Four years ago, she stood in tears before a court in the United Arab Emirates, scarcely 16 years old but already facing death by firing squad for killing her employer. Today, Sarah Balabagan, the Philippines' most famous maid, has turned into one of the country's promising singers. She holds weekly concerts in Manila's shopping malls, dishing out songs of hope -- and of defiance.

Malaysia extends pig culling

Malaysia extends pig culling KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia has extended pig culling to the southern state of Johor to contain a deadly disease after one animal was tested positive for encephalitis, a report said on Sunday. Chief Minister Abdul Ghani Othman said all pigs at a farm near Tangkak, in the southern most state of Johor, would be destroyed. Officials said the affected farm with about 4,000 pigs was located deep inside a plantation and away from residential zones.

AFC seeks extra place for Asian

AFC seeks extra place for Asian SEOUL (Reuters): Asian soccer chief Peter Velappan said on Sunday he was seeking unity among FIFA members in reaching a decision to allocate an extra place to Asia at the 2002 World Cup finals in Korea and Japan. "We would like all members to demonstrate solidarity (on the issue)," Velappan said. "We are very optimistic...

No records broken in Senayan pool

No records broken in Senayan pool JAKARTA (JP): Four-hundred-and-two swimmers have failed to break any national record during a three-day national aged-group swimming championship at Senayan pool. The purpose of staging the event, which ended on Saturday, was to select swimmers for Indonesia's team competing in the 1999 ASEAN Aged-Group Swimming Championships in Singapore from June 4 to June 6.

Liberian caught with heroin

Liberian caught with heroin JAKARTA (JP): Acting on a tip-off from arrested drug dealers, city narcotics detectives apprehended a Liberian and his local partner at separate locations on Saturday for allegedly possessing a total of 125 grams of heroin. Head of the unit, Lt. Col. Abdullah HS, said over the weekend that Liberian Bernard King, alias Benny, was arrested at his rented house on Jl. Dharmawangsa, South Jakarta, at 12:30 p.m.

Protests against water deal deplored

Protests against water deal deplored JAKARTA (JP): A minister expressed concern on Friday over endless protests by employees of city tap water company PDAM Jaya demanding the cancellation of joint water-management deals with two foreign companies.

Merpati is technically bankrupt: Official

Merpati is technically bankrupt: Official JAKARTA (JP): State-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines has technically tumbled into bankruptcy due to huge debts and the country's economic crisis, and will need a foreign investor to bail it out, according to a senior official at the airline. Merpati chairman Muchtaruddin Siregar said that the country's second state airline had a massive Rp 1.8 trillion (about US$212 million) debt compared to its assets of only Rp 830 billion.

Students protest divisions plan for Irian Jaya province

Students protest divisions plan for Irian Jaya province JAKARTA (JP): Students from Irian Jaya in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi and Yogyakarta, protested plans on Saturday to divide the province into three. They also charged that their demands for independence had been ignored by the government which instead responded to the claims with the above plan. Jeffry F.

Hedge funds come under scrutiny at ADB meeting

Hedge funds come under scrutiny at ADB meeting MANILA (AFP): The role of hedge funds sparked strong debate at a key meeting of the Asian Development Bank Saturday amid signs private capital was returning to crisis-hit Asia. Japanese Finance Minister Kiichi Miyazawa said the recession- hit region should be wary of short-term, speculative funds as the region recovered from financial turmoil caused by rapid currency declines.

RI doubles win Future II

RI doubles win Future II JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's best duo of Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo won the second leg of the Indonesia Futures after defeating Japan's pair of Hideki Kaneko/Mitsuru Takada 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday at the Danamon Tennis Center in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta. Bonit and Sulistyo bagged US$965 in prize money while the Japanese took home $425. In the singles event, Australia's James Sekulov won the title and collected $1,950.

Customs office seizes cars

Customs office seizes cars SURABAYA: The provincial customs and excise office confiscated five luxury Japanese cars as they were about to be smuggled into the country. Chief of provincial police Maj. Gen. Moch. Dayat said on Thursday the customs officers found four Toyota Land Cruisers and a Toyota Celsior in two unclaimed containers. Dayat said nobody claimed the containers 30 days after their arrival. The cars were not equipped with the required documents.

To Sonia Gandhi

To Sonia Gandhi In a spiritual sense, there is no country closer to Indonesia than India. In their struggle for independence, the two were, so to speak, brother and sister, fighting the same evil of colonialism. The Bandung Asian African conference in 1955 was initiated by, among others, the post-independence leaders of India and Indonesia with the common goal of warding off the calamity of an East-West global atomic confrontation.

Half of foreign tourists enter Indonesia through Bali, Batam

Half of foreign tourists enter Indonesia through Bali, Batam JAKARTA (JP): Foreign tourist arrivals to Indonesia this year are projected to reach between 3.9 million and 4.4 million, higher than the total arrivals of 3.5 million recorded in 1998. According to the latest data issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Art and Culture, Bali and Batam will receive at least 50 percent of the tourists.

BI vows to continue economic reforms

BI vows to continue economic reforms MANILA (Dow Jones): Indonesia's top central bankers pledged Saturday to push ahead with painful economic reforms but failed to offer fresh details on some of the thorniest issues that threaten to slow its economic recovery.

Justice Party drums up better education

Justice Party drums up better education The Justice Party is an Islamic-based party founded by a group of young Muslim scholars and activists last year. The party's secretary-general, Anis Matta, recently spoke with The Jakarta Post about the party's vision and its preparations for next month's general election. JAKARTA (JP): The Justice Party makes no secret about its ideology: Islam. But nothing in the party's vision or platform says it is striving to establish an Islamic state.

Students must go to school: Habibie

Students must go to school: Habibie JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie called on all parents on Saturday not to let their children drop out of school or discontinue their education because the nation needed excellent human resources for the next millennium. In his televised speech to commemorate National Education Day, which fell on Sunday, the President said the ongoing economic turmoil should not deprive parents of their hopes for their children's future.

Fatal clashes of party supporters widely deplored

Fatal clashes of party supporters widely deplored JAKARTA (JP): Friday's clash involving supporters of political parties in the Central Java town of Jepara, in which four people were killed, was widely deplored on Sunday as campaign-related violence in the province continued. The Jepara village of Dongos in Kedung district, Central Java, remained tense on Sunday following the violence. Over 400 police, backed by the military, were on alert to guard the surrounding areas.

Rector wants Trisakti shooting be reinvestigated

Rector wants Trisakti shooting be reinvestigated JAKARTA (JP): The shooting of Trisakti University students on May 12 last year will be clarified if reform movement groups win next month's general election, rector Thoby Mutis said on Sunday.

BI warns of dangers faced by bank reform program

BI warns of dangers faced by bank reform program JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia director Subarjo Joyosumarto warned on Saturday that the country's bank restructuring program will only be successful under a stable macroeconomic condition. Subarjo said that based on experiences in other countries, efforts to revive the ailing banking sector could not be implemented amid a high inflation and interest rate environment.

Court to rule on Pertamina-Gulf case

Court to rule on Pertamina-Gulf case JAKARTA (JP): The Palembang State Administrative Court will issue a ruling on the land dispute between a plantation company and state oil and gas company Pertamina and its contractor Gulf Resources of Canada in the next two weeks. Gulf's lawyer Deni Rijadi told The Jakarta Post on Saturday the court would issue its ruling on the dispute on May 11 after hearing final arguments from lawyers representing both parties on Friday.

Start with big fish, Mar'ie says

Start with big fish, Mar'ie says JAKARTA (JP): Amid the government's apparent foot-dragging efforts to try former president Soeharto over alleged corruption, former finance minister Mar'ie Muhammad said on Saturday that fighting it "should start from the big fish". Making the issue a political commodity instead of pursuing the alleged corruptors indiscriminately would simply be "counterproductive" to the country's campaign to eradicate corruption, he said.

700 bowlers join in Lippo tourney

700 bowlers join in Lippo tourney JAKARTA (JP): About 700 athletes are competing in the Lippo-MR Cup bowling tournament this week at the Grand Bowling Supermal Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang. The tournament was officially opened on Saturday by the National Sports Council chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar, the Indonesian Bowling Association chairman Subagyo and Lippo Group commissioner president James T. Riady.

Java, Lombok workers stage protest in Jambi

Java, Lombok workers stage protest in Jambi JAKARTA (JP): About 200 workers from East Java, Jember in Central Java, and Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara, have demonstrated in Jambi to protest what they said was inhumane treatment by the management of the labor supply company which recruited them. Antara reported on Saturday that the workers who had applied to work overseas had, among other things, been threatened by company people and had to sell their clothes to buy food.

Directive for away voting being prepared

Directive for away voting being prepared JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee (PPD I) is currently preparing a directive on the use of registration forms for people unable to cast a ballot at their place of registration for the June 7 poll to avoid ballot rigging, an official said on Friday. The directive was badly needed to avoid multiple ballot casting as had happened in previous elections, PPD I chairman Djafar Badjeber said.

Former tennis star Yayuk launches biography

Former tennis star Yayuk launches biography JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's former top tennis player Yayuk Basuki has launched her biography Dari Yogya ke Pentas Dunia (From Yogya to the World Stage). The book was written by Daryadi, a sports reporter for the Media GO tabloid.

Asian sovereign credit ratings improve, S&P says

Asian sovereign credit ratings improve, S&P says MANILA (AFP): Asian sovereign credit ratings have improved two years into a financial crisis, but the outlook is clouded by possible defaults by Pakistan and Indonesia and potential trouble in China, US ratings agency Standard and Poor's said Sunday.

Voting with their feet

Voting with their feet While there is no reliable figure on how many Indonesians are planning to be away from the country on election day, the number must be alarmingly high for President B.J. Habibie to appeal for them to stay and not to squander their voting rights.

Between Sukarno and Soeharto

Between Sukarno and Soeharto (Minister of Education and Culture) Prof. Juwono Sudarsono has called on scholars not to make unfair generalizations regarding the past, including the figures of former presidents Sukarno and Soeharto. In the past, demonstrators and the media tended to attribute all that was bad to Sukarno; now it is Soeharto... Prof.

94 Langkat children saved

94 Langkat children saved MEDAN, North Sumatra: A joint team of the provincial administration and the navy of Belawan port on Friday and Saturday saved 94 children working in dozens of off-shore fisheries. An earlier operation saved 16 children in Langkat. Antara reported the operation covered 46 fisheries (jermal) along the Tanjung Ledong in Asahan regency from which the children were transported to Pematang Siantar for health checks.

English learning should start from young age

English learning should start from young age By Setiono JAKARTA (JP): English language learning at elementary level has been increasingly perceived as a burdensome subject. School children lament the excessive tasks their teachers assign such as memorizing all the things stated in their textbooks. It is for this reason that the Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono issued an instruction to evaluate the present English curriculum (Tempo, March 1, 1999).

During the crisis, cheaper may be more expensive

During the crisis, cheaper may be more expensive By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): It's a familiar story. While printing out a term project, Anita ran out of ink for her eight-month-old Epson Stylus printer. Because she was pressed with a deadline, she went to a store in the nearby market to buy a new cartridge. She didn't really take a look at the box that the store owner handed to her, and she didn't even look at the packaging when she took the cartridge out.

Man mobbed to death for robbing

Man mobbed to death for robbing JAKARTA (JP): An unidentified man was mobbed to death by residents of Bojong Nangka in Tangerang on suspicion of robbing an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver on Friday, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. Lubis said on Saturday that local residents attacked the man at about 7 p.m. after they heard a scream for help from the ojek driver, identified as 23-year-old Nana Sukarna.

Detained suspects must be released: Lawyers

Detained suspects must be released: Lawyers JAKARTA (JP): City police are under pressure to release three people detained for alleged involvement in a foiled robbery attempt and bomb blast in West Jakarta. Their lawyer claims that the police lacked preliminary evidence and that his clients were improperly arrested.

Bali to have electricity cuts

Bali to have electricity cuts DENPASAR, Bali: The head of the branch of the state-run electricity company, I Made Sebet, said Bali will experience a power cut for two weeks in two stages because of maintenance work at the Gilimanuk gas power plant. The first cut will last four days from May 3 to May 6; the second for 10 days from June 21 to July 1, Antara reported. The cuts will last four hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Indonesia set to produce 500,000 tons of cocoa in 2005

Indonesia set to produce 500,000 tons of cocoa in 2005 JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's annual cocoa production is expected to increase to 500,000 metric tons by 2005 from 330,000 tons this year. The Indonesian Cocoa Association (Askindo) said that about 425,000 tons of the estimated cocoa output would be available for export.

ASEAN complete: Is it stronger or weaker?

ASEAN complete: Is it stronger or weaker? By Thomas Lanig SINGAPORE (DPA): It was a sober, almost austere event, but the official acceptance of Cambodia into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) last Friday was nonetheless the fulfillment of its founders' long-cherished dream: the grouping is finally complete, with all the region's 10 members on board.

Habibie hopes Japan will join UN police in E. Timor

Habibie hopes Japan will join UN police in E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie voiced hope on Sunday that Japan would be part of a United Nations civilian police force to be deployed to assist local police during polls to determine the future of East Timor. The hope was expressed to a four-member Japanese parliamentary delegation headed by Taku Yamasaki who paid Habibie a courtesy visit at his residence, Antara said.

S'pore's eviction bid rejected

S'pore's eviction bid rejected SINGAPORE (AFP): Some 200 residents of an historic Malay settlement in Singapore's premier central district appealed on Sunday to Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong against a government bid to evict them from their homes. The residents, consisting of around 25 families, are descendants of Sultan Hussain Shah, the Sultan of Johore, who was granted by the British East India Company in 1819 some 23 hectares of land for him and his descendants to live on.