Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 7 May 1999

50 articles found

Habibie repeats communism alert

Habibie repeats communism alert JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie reiterated on Thursday his warning of a communist threat, Marhaenism and socialism -- which some people dub "Komas".In a meeting with a group of youths at Merdeka Palace, Habibie said the ideologies remained a threat to the...

PLN underestimates arbitration ruling

PLN underestimates arbitration ruling JAKARTA (JP): PT Parusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) on Thursday dismissed fears that other independent power producers (IPP) would follow MidAmerican Energy Holdings' move in settling their disputes with the state electricity company.

U.S. bank has to play nice with PAL: Regulator

U.S. bank has to play nice with PAL: Regulator MANILA (AFP): Philippine laws bar the U.S. Export-Import Bank from seizing planes of ailing Philippine Airlines (PAL), the chief corporate regulator said Thursday, vowing to block any confiscation.

Mayora workers continue strike

Mayora workers continue strike TANGERANG (JP): At least 1,500 striking workers of food producer PT Mayora Indah visited the Tangerang office of the Ministry of Manpower here on Wednesday, asking for help in their struggle for a wage increase.

Cellular firms join forces to improve services

Cellular firms join forces to improve services JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's three Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) operators, PT Komselindo, PT Metrosel Nusantara and PT Telesera, have joined forces to compete with operators in other systems.

Gus Dur back home, PKB ready to nominate him

Gus Dur back home, PKB ready to nominate him JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) is getting ready to call a leadership meeting to discuss the formal launching of Abdurrahman Wahid as its presidential candidate now that the party's patron is home from eye surgery in the U.S.

Sudirman Cup a tribute to Indonesia's badminton figure

Sudirman Cup a tribute to Indonesia's badminton figureBy Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): Ten years ago at Jakarta's Senayan Indoor Stadium, Indonesia confirmed its position at the zenith of world badminton by winning the inaugural Sudirman Cup mixed team event.

Street children, beggars to be employed as sweepers

Street children, beggars to be employed as sweepers JAKARTA (JP): The city administration plans to recruit 1,000 street children, beggars and unofficial civilian traffic attendants known locally as Pak Ogah to work as street sweepers, an official said on Thursday.

Midwives needed in Central Sulawesi

Midwives needed in Central Sulawesi PALU: About 200 midwives are needed in remote villages in Central Sulawesi, Antara reported on Wednesday."We currently have 1,300 midwives, but we need 1,500," the head of the health agency here, Amin Nompo, said.

Disarmament crucial for the warring camps

Disarmament crucial for the warring camps JAKARTA (JP): As students danced in the streets in Dili following the signing of an agreement enabling them to determine their own future, with both proindependence and prointegration leaders saying they welcomed the ballot, the crucial issue of disarmament...

Students fight for three days

Students fight for three days UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: After a three-day brawl among students, Hasanuddin University closed on Thursday and will resume activities on Saturday.Assistant to the rector Amran Razak said the measure was taken to prevent further victims and material losses.

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Bali's conversion rates on May 6, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,025.00 8,095.00 8,025.00 8,135.00Australian dollar 1 5,354.50 5,443.10 5,329.00 5,493.00Austrian schilling 1 624.09 634.55 - -Belgian franc 1 212.88 216.

Hyatt Bali offers reward

Hyatt Bali offers reward JAKARTA (JP): Grand Hyatt Bali in Nusa Dua and Bali Hyatt in Sanur are offering customers a chance to win a three-night stay in an executive suite for clients who make reservations up to June 30.

Residents plunder plantation monthly

Residents plunder plantation monthly MEDAN, North Sumatra: A plantation in Asahan regency was reported to have lost 100 tons to 300 tons per month to looters.Hari Witono, president director of PT Bakrie Sumatra Plantation, told local legislators that the plundering of oil palm and rubber...

Bosses could be jailed for scam

Bosses could be jailed for scam JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor asked the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday to jail two former executives of state-owned construction company PT Hutama Karya for their parts in a Rp 1.5 trillion (US$187,500) corruption scam involving two toll road projects.

Indonesia's futures exchange to begin trading in August

Indonesia's futures exchange to begin trading in August JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's first future commodities exchange will begin operation in August this year after several delays in its opening.The president of state-owned commodities clearing house PT Kliring dan Jaminan Bursa Komoditi, A.

25 Ambon refugees die in shelters

25 Ambon refugees die in shelters JAKARTA (JP): Twenty-five Ambon refugees in makeshift refugee centers in Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, died of cholera in recent weeks, while 400 others were hospitalized with various diseases.

More violence predicted ahead of general election

More violence predicted ahead of general election JAKARTA (JP): Observers have painted a gloomy picture of Indonesia before and after the June 7 general election, an election in which they said violence would prevail.

Details of UN agreement

Details of UN agreement NEW YORK (AP): Here are details of an agreement on the future of East Timor signed by Indonesia and Portugal at the United Nations on Wednesday.BALLOT QUESTION: East Timorese voters at home and abroad will be asked two questions on the ballot Aug.

KPU urges govt regulation to deter pre-campaign activities

KPU urges govt regulation to deter pre-campaign activities JAKARTA (JP): Members of the General Election Commission have urged the government to issue a regulation banning parties from campaigning before the start of the official campaign period on May 19.

City unable to guarantee security during campaign

City unable to guarantee security during campaign JAKARTA (JP): Authorities have said they are unable to guarantee the security of the city during the upcoming campaign period and the June 7 general election.Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso and City Military Commander Maj. Gen.

Referendum in East Timor

Referendum in East Timor It is sad to see that tens of thousands of innocent people have become victims of brutality, unclear policy and political orchestration in East Timor due to the government's lack of seriousness to end the problems there.

The Lhokseumawe tragedy

The Lhokseumawe tragedy The television newscasts and newspaper photographs we have seen raise the question whether the security measures taken to quell the most recent unrest (in Aceh) were not excessive.

Choosing a political party

Choosing a political partyFrom Pikiran RakyatThe 1999 general election is only a little more than a month away. Some political parties, both old and new ones, have held campaign rallies ahead of the official campaign period.

Concern over bank restructuring

Concern over bank restructuringBy Sidesh Kaul This is the first of two articles on bank and corporate restructuring in Indonesia. JAKARTA (JP): There is a growing sense of disillusionment with the course charted out by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for Indonesia's economic recovery.

Principal's health policy

Principal's health policy JAKARTA (JP): Insurance company Principal Indonesia launched on Thursday its new health policy, the Principal Sehat Sejahtera (PSS).The company's managing director, F. Doug Rasmussen, said in a statement the new product was a supplement to Principal's pension fund and...

Sports bodies gear up training program

Sports bodies gear up training program JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cycling Federation (ISSI) will send its key cyclists for the national training centers in preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August.

BNI's rating confirmed despite negative equity

BNI's rating confirmed despite negative equity JAKARTA (JP): U.S. rating agency Standard & Poor's affirmed Thursday its ratings on Bank Negara Indonesia and its US$145 million notes due 2007 despite the bank's negative equity.

Population of Weri gets clean water

Population of Weri gets clean water FAK FAK, Irian Jaya: The people of Weri in East Fak Fak, now enjoy clean water following the completion of a clean water project, Antara reported on Thursday.The head of the clean water supply in Weri, CH Simanjuntak, said the project was funded from the state...

Quality control lacking

Quality control lacking Quality control has never been one of Indonesia's strengths, but the saga of my Daihatsu Feroza is a particularly sad example of Indonesian companies shooting themselves, and their customers, in the foot by failing to monitor the quality of their products.

Djadja wants no rallies to mark Trisakti shooting

Djadja wants no rallies to mark Trisakti shooting JAKARTA (JP): City Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman on Thursday asked students to cancel their plan for a mammoth rally next week to observe the first anniversary of the fatal Trisakti University shooting.

Singapore to use care in untying CLOB tangle

Singapore to use care in untying CLOB tangle SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday investors will be helped with their problems over funds locked in frozen Malaysian shares, but stopped short of saying the government would buy them.

Forestry firms causing fires will be closed

Forestry firms causing fires will be closed JAKARTA (JP): The government warned on Thursday that forestry and plantation companies found to have caused forest fires would be closed down.Companies responsible for forest fires would lose their operating permits, Minister of Forestry and Plantations...

PDI Perjuangan wins support of urban poor

PDI Perjuangan wins support of urban poor JAKARTA (JP): The Urban Poor Consortium will coordinate the capital's poverty stricken, including becak (pedicab) drivers, to vote for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in order to win at least one seat on City Council in the June...

Survey defies assumption of a 'sick society'

Survey defies assumption of a 'sick society' JAKARTA (JP): A survey of residents in seven cities has found respondents are convinced theirs is a healthy society, despite the prolonged crisis."This contradicts widespread assumptions that ours has become a sick society," secretary-general of the...

Sari Husada to expand market

Sari Husada to expand market YOGYAKARTA (JP): Infant skim milk powder producer PT Sari Husada said on Wednesday it would boost production capacity and expand its overseas market this year.Sari Husada's president Dwiyatno Siswosumarto said the company, with a new German-made production machine worth...

Asian monies mixed against dollar

Asian monies mixed against dollar SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian currencies ended mixed against the U.S. dollar Thursday, while the Japanese yen pulled back from earlier highs as trade resumed in Tokyo after a three-day holiday, dealers said.The Singapore dollar closed higher at 1.6993 from 1.

The debate

The debate As a novelty, I would like to applaud the students of the University of Indonesia for staging the much-talked-about debate, which featured some political party chiefs who will supposedly run for the presidency.

Excelcomindo, Nusapage tie up

Excelcomindo, Nusapage tie up JAKARTA (JP): Pro-XL prepaid telephone card provider PT Excelcomindo Pratama has agreed to cooperate with paging service provider PT Persada Komindo in the sale and distribution of the cards in Jakarta.

Separatist fighters kill villagers, take hostages

Separatist fighters kill villagers, take hostages JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): A band of up to 30 separatist rebels allegedly attacked on Wednesday a transmigration settlement, killing four residents and injuring four others. They also took 11 other people hostage.

More troops to be sent to Aceh, death toll hits 39

More troops to be sent to Aceh, death toll hits 39 JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto, pledging to uphold the law at all costs, said on Thursday riot troops will be dispatched to Aceh, where the death toll from Monday's military shootings has risen to 39.

Early return to Ambon may 'open old wounds'

Early return to Ambon may 'open old wounds'By Jupriadi UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Soekarno-Hatta seaport has been unusually busy over the past few weeks. Men and women of all ages have been jostling their way onto the ferries which will ship them back to Ambon, the capital of Maluku...

Howard takes credit for Timor deal

Howard takes credit for Timor deal JAKARTA (Agencies): Australian Prime Minister John Howard claimed credit for initiating the successful agreement on East Timor between Portugal and Indonesia, AFP reported in Sydney.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 6, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 425 -25 763,500 AHAP Insurance 425 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 275 0 0 Alter Abadi 350 75 4,994,500 Alumindo...

KL, RI slam world for lack of forest fire aid

KL, RI slam world for lack of forest fire aid KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia and Indonesia attacked the international community for failing to produce promised aid to tackle forest fires which have stricken southeast Asia in recent years."They (international community) have promised us (aid).

School of theology develops experimental liturgical music

School of theology develops experimental liturgical music JAKARTA (JP): Those tired of the "conventional" sounds of the keyboard or piano in liturgical music can look to the Jakarta Theological Seminary for an alternative.

East Timor's future

East Timor's future After months of talk and speculation, Indonesia finally has found itself faced with the tangible prospect of granting the former Portuguese colony of East Timor either autonomy within the Indonesian republic or independence.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * 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.

Government predicts positive growth in 1999/2000

Government predicts positive growth in 1999/2000 JAKARTA (JP): Senior government officials and the International Monetary Fund are unanimous in predicting Indonesia's battered economy will recover earlier than previously estimated following recent positive developments in the country's...

East Timor deal signed at UN

East Timor deal signed at UNBy Imanuddin UNITED NATIONS (JP): Indonesia and Portugal signed a landmark agreement on Wednesday that will give East Timorese people an unprecedented chance to determine their own future.