Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 May 1999

48 articles found

Antam unit to mine diamond

Antam unit to mine diamond JAKARTA (JP): PT Galuh Cempaka, a firm partly owned by the publicly-listed state general mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam), has said it will start mining diamond deposits off the coast of South Kalimantan in the near future.

IBRA returns bad loans to state bank management

IBRA returns bad loans to state bank management JAKARTA (JP): Apparently in a bid to maximize debt recovery, the government has decided to return the management of some non- performing loans (NPLs) to the hands of the country's seven state banks, according to deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Eko S. Budianto.

Indigenous groups still poor

Indigenous groups still poor BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Thousands of indigenous people here are in need of special attention, the head of the local office of social affairs said. Fachri Siregar told an administrative meeting that at least 8,016 indigenous families were not making a decent living. "Some of them have been resettled," Antara quoted him as saying on Thursday, while the rest are scattered throughout the mountains.

Dili students protest coercion

Dili students protest coercion DILI, East Timor (JP): Hundreds of students on Friday demanded an end to intimidation, abductions and killings in order that East Timorese will feel free to choose between accepting or rejecting the government's offer of special autonomy on Aug. 8. The fourth consecutive day of protesting was undisturbed, but in broad daylight in downtown Dili, shots were heard. Residents said a man had been beaten up and taken away by militias in a vehicle.

Govt to ax local content on automobiles

Govt to ax local content on automobiles JAKARTA (JP): The government plans to scrap all rules and incentives designed to encourage increased local content in automobiles in a wide sweeping revision of policy which will bring the country into compliance with international trade rules, Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Friday.

Women unaware of their political power

Women unaware of their political power By Stevie Emilia JAKARTA (JP): Kustinah knows the incumbent President is B.J. Habibie, who replaced Soeharto. But she doesn't know how he came to power. Neither has she ever used her right to vote in a general election, although she has spent 22 years of her life in Jakarta, the heart of Indonesia's political system. "I am just a scavenger... I am sort of useless," the 38-year- old woman said.

Malaysian caught overstaying

Malaysian caught overstaying KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A Malaysian citizen, Tan Tian Chae, 23, has been quarantined by the local immigration office for violating immigration laws. He overstayed his visa by almost four months, Antara reported. An immigration official, Surya Pranata, said here on Friday that Tan, born in Johor, Malaysia, had been in quarantine since March 6, 1999, for overstaying his visa by 68 days.

Residents want aspiration heard

Residents want aspiration heard TANGERANG (JP): About 200 residents went to the office of Tangerang Regent Agus Djunara on Thursday to express concern over the rejection of their proposal to appoint a local to assume the vacant vice regent post by West Java Governor Nuriana. Agus said after a three-hour meeting with nine of their representatives that he would remind the governor about the rejection.

Springtime in economy

Springtime in economy Indonesia's economy still contracted by 10.34 percent in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 1998 but improved markedly with a 1.34 percent expansion from a negative growth of 19.5 percent in the last quarter. Other key indicators also show encouraging signs of improvement. Inflation declined for the second consecutive month with a 0.68 percent drop in April, compared to the 0.18 percent deflation in March.

Gus Dur to go ahead with Jepara visit

Gus Dur to go ahead with Jepara visit JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Abdurrahman Wahid said on Friday he would visit the Central Java town of Jepara for a gathering of the National Awakening Party (PKB), despite calls to cancel the gathering for fear of a repeat of a bloody clash between PKB and United Development Party (PPP) supporters.

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.

The misuse of safety net money

The misuse of safety net money Suspicions have long existed that part of the social safety net money is being used by certain political parties for their own benefit. Efforts to act on those suspicions, however, have always stranded on the legal argument that one must never make assertions unless accompanied by proof. Irregularities are detected by the public's common sense, but the authorities who must do the investigations wait for proof.

Student groups insist on holding rally on May 12

Student groups insist on holding rally on May 12 JAKARTA (JP): Student groups from several universities insisted on Friday they would hold a street rally on Wednesday to commemorate the Trisakti University shootings. The rally will be held "because the military is not serious in revealing the truth behind the bloody shootings," an activist from Forum Kota (Forkot), Mixil, said at Sahid University on Jl. Supomo, South Jakarta, on Friday.

Commission funds children's center

Commission funds children's center BANDUNG: Ambassador Klauspeter Schmallenbach, the head of the Representation of the European Commission, officiated on Thursday the opening of a clinic for the treatment of disabled children and launched a project to help develop small-enterprises in the West Java capital of Bandung.

Akbar set to resign in party's interest

Akbar set to resign in party's interest JAKARTA (JP): Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung said on Friday that he would give up his ministerial post so that he could lead the election campaign for Golkar, the political party he chairs. Akbar was commenting on a unanimous decision reached by the General Election Commission (KPU) earlier in the day to uphold a rule banning political parties from recruiting state officials, including ministers, for electoral campaigns.

Correction on 1965 PKI putsch?

Correction on 1965 PKI putsch? From Neraca The Sept. 30, 1965 Indonesian Communist Party revolt (G30S/PKI) was an attempted coup, what must be straightened out? (Neraca April. 29). That Soeharto made use of the attempted coup to seize power afterward is another matter. It is the duty of historians to put the matter in the right perspective. But that the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) started the putsch with the abduction and killing of the Heroes of the Revolution is a historical fact.

Govt protects sugar farmers

Govt protects sugar farmers JAKARTA (JP): All sugar mills in Java will be obliged to procure locally-produced sugar at Rp 2,500 (30 U.S. cents) a kilogram to protect farmers from the falling price of sugar on the local market, a senior minister has said. Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said here on Friday the government would pay the difference between the price of cheaper imported sugar and sugar grown in Indonesia.

Answers leaked in Bali exams

Answers leaked in Bali exams JAKARTA: The Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to investigating how answers for national high school exams came to be leaked to students in Denpasar, Bali, according to a ministry official. Antara quoted Indra Jati Sidi as saying on Wednesday that firm action would be taken if any of the ministry's employees were found to be involved. He confirmed that answers to Monday's examinations on mathematics and civics had been leaked.

Sutiyoso upholds ban on pedicabs

Sutiyoso upholds ban on pedicabs JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday he would take every effort to prevent becak (pedicab) drivers from operating in the capital during his term of office. He said the drivers, along with the rest of the poor, were free to channel their votes to any party, but they had to know that regulations could only be revoked in accordance with proper procedures. City Ordinance No.

Thailand to stay calm over attacks

Thailand to stay calm over attacks BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand vowed on Friday it would not intrude into Myanmar to chase guerrillas blamed for an attack on a police border post and the kidnapping of three Thais. Army chief Gen. Surayud Chulanond told reporters in his first formal press conference since taking office last year that Thailand would not resort to violence and would protest by closing border checkpoints.

Government sells 9.62 percent stake in PT Telkom

Government sells 9.62 percent stake in PT Telkom JAKARTA (JP): The government announced on Thursday the sale of 898 million shares in domestic telecommunications provider PT Telkomunikasi Indonesia (PT Telkom) to foreign institutional investors. The office of the state minister for the empowerment of state enterprises said the shares, which represented 9.62 percent of the government stake in the telecommunications provider, were sold at Rp 3,650 per share.

Mayora workers seek legal advice

Mayora workers seek legal advice JAKARTA (JP): At least 40 representatives of 1,500 workers laid off by their employer, food producer PT Mayora Indah, visited the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute on Friday to seek legal advice on the dismissal. The workers' spokesman, identified only as Tono, said they were dismissed with a severance payout equivalent to only one- months salary for joining a labor strike for two weeks at the company's compound in Jatake area in Tangerang.

Most Asian currencies retreat on profit taking

Most Asian currencies retreat on profit taking SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Profit-taking eroded a bit more of Asian currencies' recent gains on Friday, after U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan raised fears that U.S. interest rates might rise, spooking market players into covering their short dollar positions. The won, new Taiwan dollar, Singapore dollar and the baht all ended lower in response to the position-covering as dealers closed out short U.S.

Small boy found floating in canal

Small boy found floating in canal JAKARTA (JP): A three-year-old boy was found dead, floating on a canal on Jl. Angkasa Raya in Kemayoran district, Central Jakarta, early Thursday, city police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said. Lubis said the floating body was spotted by a local named Wawan at about 3:30 a.m. Lubis said Wawan was on his way home when he saw the body on the canal which is located near the office building of Merpati Nusantara Airlines.

Creditors agree to reschedule debts

Creditors agree to reschedule debts JAKARTA (JP): PT Intraco Penta said on Friday that most of its 14 foreign and local creditors had agreed to reschedule their debts to the publicly listed heavy equipment supplier. Intraco's finance director, Petrus Halim, said the debt restructuring agreement with the local and foreign banks would be signed here on Monday.

Junior men's team cruises to c'ship

Junior men's team cruises to c'ship JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian junior men's team clinched world junior tennis championship final berths after they defeated the Japanese 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the Asia Oceania qualifying tournament here on Friday. Antara reported that Al Imron/Harris Ernanda sealed the national's team victory after they beat Japanese Yusuke Iwahashi/Hiroya Kumada 6-0, 0-6, 6-4 in the final round.

RI to import more fuel

RI to import more fuel JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina has been forced to import more fuel this month as the result of an interruption in the operation of its refinery in Cilacap, East Java. The Ministry of Mines and Energy said in a statement on Friday that Pertamina shut down a crude distillation unit at the refinery on April 29 for essential maintenance which was expected to be completed by May 26.

Riot troops arrive in troubled Aceh

Riot troops arrive in troubled Aceh JAKARTA (JP): A battalion of riot troops arrived in Aceh on Friday afternoon when reports said the death toll from Monday's military shooting in the troubled province rose to 40. "A battalion of Mobile Brigade personnel has just arrived here and they will be officially greeted in a ceremony in the local military headquarters later in the evening," Lilawangsa Regional Military Headquarters Col.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 7, 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) 775 -75 21,166,000 Anwar Sierad 125 25 400,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

Sudirman Cup rankings strike a sour note

Sudirman Cup rankings strike a sour note By Primastuti Handayani COPENHAGEN (JP): Officials from participating countries have expressed disappointment with the International Badminton Federation (IBF) ranking list for the Sudirman Cup here from May 10 to May 15. Denmark head coach Kenneth Larsen said on Friday the ranking lists, based on individual points from IBF international circuits, did not reflect the real strengths of each country.

Reform bolsters Indonesian foreign policy

Reform bolsters Indonesian foreign policy By Irawan Abidin VATICAN CITY (JP): The detractors of Indonesia have in recent weeks indulged in a great deal of gloating. In their perception is a weakening of Indonesian foreign policy as it appears to yield one concession after another to Portugal, the UN-recognized administrative authority over East Timor, and to the East Timorese advocates of independence from Indonesia. They are, of course, mistaken.

Gran Melia

Gran Melia Correction: The handover of an ISO certificate from Llyod's Register Quality Assurance Indonesia to PT Nusa Raya Cipta was held in the Gran Melia Hotel and not in the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel as stated in our caption on the business page on Friday. We regret the error. -- Editor

PDAM Jaya employees quit jobs with foreign partners

PDAM Jaya employees quit jobs with foreign partners JAKARTA (JP): Scores of employees with city water company PDAM Jaya's partners -- PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) and PT Thames Jaya (TPJ) -- stopped work on Friday to protest the companies' operations. Moerdiyanto, chairman of the PDAM Jaya labor union, said the strategy was taken to push the city administration to cancel the cooperation on water management with the two joint venture companies.

Police promise to find lost Kamra salaries

Police promise to find lost Kamra salaries JAKARTA (JP): The city police said on Friday they are determined to thoroughly investigate the disappearance of hundreds of millions of rupiah in allowances intended for members of the People's Security (Kamra) civilian force. "We're exploring all possibilities to find the missing funds," city police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said.

Government to recapitalize 12 provincial banks

Government to recapitalize 12 provincial banks JAKARTA (JP): The government has agreed to recapitalize 12 provincial development banks in order to lift the banks' capital adequacy ratios (CAR) to eight percent. Finance Minister Bambang Subianto said on Friday that the total cost of the move would be Rp 1.54 trillion (US$192.25 million).

Police warn against disruption of polls

Police warn against disruption of polls JAKARTA (JP): The National Police reaffirmed on Friday that any attempts to disrupt the forthcoming general election would be dealt with sternly. National Police Chief Gen. Roesmanhadi said in a speech read out at the Mobile Brigade Corps Headquarters in Kelapa Dua, Bogor, that the security forces would work hard to protect the general public from the threat of unrest.

Senayan directors agree to write off consortium debt

Senayan directors agree to write off consortium debt JAKARTA (JP): Gelora Senayan sports complex's board of directors has agreed to write off a Rp 1 billion debt owed by a consortium assigned to manage the 19th Southeast Asian Games. The consortium incurred the debt through preparing venues at which to stage various competitions in the biennial event.

Concern over bank restructuring

Concern over bank restructuring By Sidesh Kaul This is the second of two articles on banking and corporate restructuring in Indonesia. JAKARTA (JP): The rehabilitation of the banking system is the other top priority item on the International Monetary Fund's agenda. Here too, the problems are manifold and complex. Indonesia has traditionally been a country which borrowed heavily and the national debt has been increasing at a rapid rate.

Street sweeper plan gets cold response

Street sweeper plan gets cold response JAKARTA (JP): Many street children and unofficial traffic attendants rejected on Friday the idea of working as street sweepers for the city administration. Interviewed separately at Tanah Abang and Petamburan in Central Jakarta, the street children and traffic attendants, known locally as pak ogah, said if they became street sweepers they would earn lower wages and have their freedom restricted. "Why should we give up jobs which give us more money?

Bir Bintang to hold mini golf meet

Bir Bintang to hold mini golf meet JAKARTA (JP): Bir Bintang beer producer will hold a one-day mini golf tournament at Taman Ria Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Sunday. The tournament is organized by SMS Production and offers a total cash prize of Rp 3 million to winners in the individual and team events. One team consists of four people. The Rp 3 million is split into Rp 500,000 and Rp 250,000 for first and second prize for individuals and Rp 1.5 million and Rp 500,000 for teams.

PKB sets out a clear vision for the future

PKB sets out a clear vision for the future The National Awakening Party (PKB) is one of four new parties claiming to represent the interests of the Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization. Party leaders talked to The Jakarta Post recently about its strategy for next month's general election.

Indonesians must be optimistic

Indonesians must be optimistic With reference to Mr. Mada Suradi's letter in your paper dated April 29, 1999, I am very anxious and shocked that in this era there is a person who still has an opinion like him, someone who would like Indonesia to be under British rule rather than what it is now.

Bank Bali service charms big depositors

Bank Bali service charms big depositors JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Bali said on Friday its newly launched private banking service has received a positive response from wealthy customers. The bank's executive director, Budi T. Halim, said nearly 100 customers with large accounts at the bank had benefited from the new service, which was introduced early in March.

Government abolished anti-Chinese rules

Government abolished anti-Chinese rules JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie issued on Wednesday an instruction to lift an almost three-decade ban on the use and teaching of the Mandarin language and the discriminative citizenship requirement for Indonesians of Chinese origin. In the presidential decree No.

Bappenas must account for safety fund leakage

Bappenas must account for safety fund leakage JAKARTA (JP): The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) must account for the leakage of Rp 8.6 trillion in the social safety net program for the needy, a government official said. "Bappenas must be responsible for the leakage in the social safety net funds because it is the only government institution which has controlled the funds, distributed them and designed projects for their usage.

Puppetmasters no longer support govt policies

Puppetmasters no longer support govt policies JAKARTA (JP): It is no secret that during former president Soeharto's New Order regime, Javanese shadow puppet masters, dalang, served as tools of government propaganda.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on May 7, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.

Denmark, S. Korea to fight for top place in Group A

Denmark, S. Korea to fight for top place in Group A This is the first of two articles on the strength of teams of Group A competing in the Sudirman Cup mixed team championship in Copenhagen next week. The Group B analysis will appear on Sunday. JAKARTA (JP): Denmark is poised to become the first European country to win the Sudirman Cup mixed team championship, when it hosts the biennial event in Copenhagen from May 10 to May 15.