Archive: 11 June 1999
51 articles found
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Six suspects held over Istiqlal blast
Six suspects held over Istiqlal blast JAKARTA (JP): Police have apprehended six people for their alleged roles in the April 19 blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Central Jakarta, National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi said on Thursday. "We're currently detaining six people and preparing the dossiers to be submitted to the prosecutor's office," National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi said at a media briefing on the general election.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sand exports criticized
Sand exports criticized JAKARTA (JP): The Central Bureau of Statistics on Thursday urged the Batam Island authorities to make transparent the exports of sand from the island to Singapore. The head of the bureau's Batam office, Syafei, said the bureau had thus far been unable to obtain accurate figures on the volume and value of the sand exported from the island to Singapore.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police say poll violations down from 1997
Police say poll violations down from 1997 JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi praised Monday's polls as peaceful and smooth which was better, in terms of the number of violations and casualties, than the 1997 elections under Soeharto's New Order regime.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Final results on June 21: KPU
Final results on June 21: KPU JAKARTA (JP): Representative of parties contesting Monday's poll urged the General Elections Commission (KPU) to improve its performance and keep to the original schedule in announcing its vote count. Amid continuing reports of glitches at the local level of vote counting, leaders of the political parties, including Akbar Tandjung of Golkar and Yusril Ihza Mahendra of the Crescent Star Party (PBB), met with commission (KPU) chairman Rudini.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
BII rating reset to CCC
BII rating reset to CCC HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co. Tuesday said it removed Bank Internasional Indonesia's (BII) foreign and local currency long-term ratings outlook from Rating Watch - Down. At the same time, Duff & Phelps reset the bank's rating on long-term foreign currency debt to CCC from B-, and reaffirmed the bank's rating for long-term local currency debt at B-.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Registration sites chosen in E. Timor
Registration sites chosen in E. Timor DILI, East Timor: The United Nation Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) has designated eight towns in the region as registration centers for the Aug. 8 direct ballot. "UNAMET has chosen the eight towns as centers where the participants will be registered and we hope that the registration can be started soon," UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst said here on Wednesday. The eight towns are Dili, Baucau, Lospalos, Suai, Oecusse, Maliana, Ermera and Viqueque.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Detained student activists freed
Detained student activists freed JAKARTA (JP): Forty-two student activists who were arrested on Wednesday for backing up a demonstration by laid-off workers of cookies producer PT Mayora were released by the West Jakarta District Court on Thursday. The court's judges decided that the students were not guilty for joining the demonstration at Mayora's head office on Jl. Raya Tomang, West Jakarta, as charged by the police.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
PDI-P still leads at 15% of vote count
PDI-P still leads at 15% of vote count JAKARTA (JP): Dogged by growing criticism for slow vote counting and suspicion of rigging, the General Elections Commission (KPU) completed a vote count on Thursday night at least 15 percent of the approximately 112 million votes from Monday's poll. Megawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) maintained its lead, winning 4,688,718 votes as of 11.04 p.m.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Seven UK police to go to East Timor
Seven UK police to go to East Timor JAKARTA: Great Britain will send a group of seven police officers to East Timor next week as members of the international civilian police advisory for the August ballot, the British Embassy here said on Thursday. The first contingent of the British team deployed in the province under the auspices of the UN Assistance Mission to East Timor (UNAMET) would consist a chief inspector, four sergeants and two constables from different constabularies in the UK.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Slow boat to democracy
Slow boat to democracy The painfully slow ballot-counting process has dampened, if not entirely killed, the enthusiasm people showed when the nation voted on Monday in its first democratic polls in four decades. That enthusiasm initially turned into frustration, and then apprehension amid concerns that the delay would open room for manipulation of the results in favor of certain parties.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Industry capacity down, states report
Industry capacity down, states report JAKARTA (JP): The country's metal, machinery, electronics and multifarious companies operated at only 58 percent of their total production capacity in the first four months of the year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Thursday. A ministry report said the figure was far below the precrisis level of 76 percent, although it was better than the average production level of 48 percent in 1998.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Unregistered parties get votes in Ambon
Unregistered parties get votes in Ambon AMBON, Maluku: Thirteen political parties which were not registered with the local election committee here, have won some votes, Antara reported. Chairman of Ambon's municipality election committee, Joppy Papilaja, confirmed here Thursday that 13 unregistered parties had won votes in the recent polls. He attributed this to the inadequate socialization of Law No 3/1999 on general elections.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition: Misteri Wanita Dalam Ukiyo-e, at Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang - The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61-62 South Jakarta (Phone: 5201266), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Jun. 30. * Painting Exhibition: Virtual Reality, by Heri Dono, 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., Jun. 12 to July 10.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Military honors
Military honors The success of the polls cannot be separated from the contribution of all parties involved -- non-governmental organizations, the public, the Indonesian Military and the National Police, the government and the political parties. They all have tried to create a conducive atmosphere during the campaigning and on polling day. Interestingly, much appreciation is due the consistency of the Indonesian Military in implementing its new paradigm.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Acehnese see military abuse as root of problem
Acehnese see military abuse as root of problem Aceh has recently seen an upsurge of separatist sentiment, which has been accompanied by a string of bloody attacks and counterattacks by members of the Free Aceh Movement and the Indonesian Military. Although the decade-long military operations in the province were officially halted last year, the scars still remain for many, and have led to a renewed quest for secession.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Wismoyo wants financial rewards for SEA Games medal winners
Wismoyo wants financial rewards for SEA Games medal winners JAKARTA (JP): The 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are still about two months away but the National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar has prepared bonuses for his medal winners. Wismoyo called on the government on Thursday to provide Rp 2.5 billion (US$325,000) in bonus insurance for the biennial event medalists.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Separatists deny role in Aceh Violence
Separatists deny role in Aceh Violence LHOKSEUMAWE, North Aceh (JP): Members of the armed wing of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) last Thursday denied military accusations they were behind a series of violent attacks in the province ahead of the June 7 elections.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Liquidated bank owner apprehended in Sydney
Liquidated bank owner apprehended in Sydney JAKARTA (JP): One of the country's most wanted white-collar criminal suspects, businessman Hendra Rahardja, was arrested by the Australian Federal Police in Sydney, an officer said here on Thursday. National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi said Hendra, the owner of the liquidated Bank Harapan Sentosa (BHS) and Bank Guna International, was apprehended last week. "We're still working on extraditing Hendra," Roesmanhadi said.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Red-eyed ballot counters work past deadlines
Red-eyed ballot counters work past deadlines JAKARTA (JP): Thursday was the deadline for ballot counting results at every district polling committee (PPK) but in a number of districts the counting process was still far from finished. According to the official schedule set by the General Elections Commission (KPU), ballot counting at PPK level should have finished on Thursday. June 14 is the deadline for the counting process at mayoralty level.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia's 100 largest bad debtors
Indonesia's 100 largest bad debtors JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency has issued a list of 1.689 bad debtors through its homepage, www.bppn.go.id. Those debtors were transfered earlier this year by the country's state banks, recapitalized private banks and closed banks to the agency. The following are the largest 100 bad debtors according to the size of their bank obligations.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
JSX offers chance for long-term, selective buying: Fund managers
JSX offers chance for long-term, selective buying: Fund managers HONG KONG (Reuters): It could still all end in tears, but the Indonesian stock market offers plenty of opportunity for long- term investors, Asian fund managers say.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Senior EU officials hit out at Asia over dioxin scare
Senior EU officials hit out at Asia over dioxin scare BANGKOK (Agencies): Senior European officials accused Asian countries of "overreacting" to Belgium's dioxin scare on Thursday, as China swelled the list of nations which have banned selected EU food imports. The European Union's (EU) senior diplomat in Southeast Asia called on Asian governments to lift import bans, saying there was no evidence European products were tainted with potentially cancer-causing dioxins.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Neiss praises RI election process
Neiss praises RI election process WASHINGTON (JP): International Monetary Fund (IMF) Asia Pacific director Hubert Neiss said Monday's elections in Indonesia proceeded smoother than many people had predicted. "Everybody predicted violence because they said even under Soeharto there was violence," Neiss told The Jakarta Post correspondent Yenni Djahidin on Wednesday. "There is no single report of a serious violation of the election process. So, I think it's very great.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Searching for real racial unity
Searching for real racial unity By Sri Pamoedjo Rahardjo This is the first of two articles comparing ethnic Chinese in Malaysia and Indonesia. JAKARTA (JP): The social environment in Indonesia is currently characterized by continued disharmony. Repressed anger was manifested in the May 13, 1998, racial riots, which claimed many lives. The victims were ordinary citizens, particularly those of Chinese descent.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sutiyoso ready to go if new govt wants him out
Sutiyoso ready to go if new govt wants him out JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Thursday he was ready to vacate his position if city residents and a new government no longer believed in his leadership. Sutiyoso noted that the governorship was a position entrusted by the public. "So, if the people consider me incapable of leading the city, I will bow to their will. I understand that, as a human being, I have many shortcomings.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI 'unlikely' to ban Euro farm products
RI 'unlikely' to ban Euro farm products JAKARTA (JP): The government is still considering whether to suspend imports of European farm and poultry products amid the scare caused by dioxin-contaminated animal feed in Belgium. Ministry of Health spokeswoman Mariani said on Thursday the ministry was gathering information on the scare and coordinating with related government institutions.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Struggle to complete vote count continues
Struggle to complete vote count continues JAKARTA (JP): The struggle to complete the vote count continued on Thursday with subdistrict elections committees still tallying ballots, as fatigue added to the burden of inexperienced committee officials.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Badminton 2nd stringers to warm up in KL, Bangkok
Badminton 2nd stringers to warm up in KL, Bangkok JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian second stringer shuttlers, who are being groomed for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam in August, will warm up at the Malaysia and Thailand Open tournaments. The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has from Wednesday to Friday been staging a three-day selection round to select the competitors in both Grand Prix series events. PBSI has submitted 14 names to the National Sports Council (KONI).
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Arrested students on hunger strike
Arrested students on hunger strike JAMBI: Four university students held at the provincial police headquarters for their alleged role in the attack and damage of Jambi's gubernatorial office last month have gone on a hunger strike to protest their arrest. One of the student activists, Yosep Askan from STMIK (management and computer college), was taken to a police hospital after his condition deteriorated. The other three were identified as Mardiansyah from Bungo Tebo student association and M.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Soccer players in poor shape: official
Soccer players in poor shape: official JAKARTA (JP): Seven of the 24 soccer players in training for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are in below-standard physical condition, an official admitted on Thursday. "The physical condition of 30 percent of the 24 players is below our minimum standard," national training director Imron Z.S. said. He could not remember their names. He said the National Sports Council (KONI) would discuss the matter with German coach Bernhard Schumm.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Investors told to use labor
Investors told to use labor JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Batam branch on Thursday called on investors to develop labor-intensive projects to help lower unemployment. The head of the chapter's industrial division, Irsafin, was quoted by Antara as saying in Batam, Riau, that the government moves to provide incentives to lure foreign investors would be useless for the people if those who came built only capital- intensive industries.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI to proceeds with CGI donors meeting as planned
RI to proceeds with CGI donors meeting as planned JAKARTA (JP): National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) chairman Boediono said on Thursday Indonesia would meet with its major international donors on July 27 as scheduled despite calls to delay the meeting until a new administration was in place. "We will hold to the schedule," he told reporters after meeting with several senior economic ministers.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Singapore Airlines sued for defamation
Singapore Airlines sued for defamation JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court heard on Thursday a lawsuit filed by a female passenger against Singapore Airlines for defamation and causing humiliation. The plaintiff, Yulmatri Rais, is demanding the airline's Jakarta office pay Rp 100 million for material losses and Rp 10 billion for nonmaterial losses. Represented by lawyer John Pieter Nazar, Yulmatri said she was questioned on Jan.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
PKB politician's arrest upsets leaders
PKB politician's arrest upsets leaders PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: National Awakening Party (PKB) chapter leaders here expressed shock over the recent arrest of one of its legislator candidates, identified as DRW, for being under the influence of drugs. The 59-year-old politician was nominated by Musi Rawas regency chapter of PKB for the House of Representatives. He was arrested on Tuesday evening along with two women and the candidate's aide in a hotel room in the Grogol area of West Jakarta.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia's gains could be lost in elections: Mahathir
Malaysia's gains could be lost in elections: Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad warned on Thursday that Malaysia's economic and political gains could be lost if a strong party fails to emerge from forthcoming elections.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Journalists complain to police over banning
Journalists complain to police over banning JAKARTA (JP): Three journalists prohibited from covering activities at the Attorney General's Office filed a complaint at the National Police Headquarters in South Jakarta on Thursday, urging police to investigate the ban. The three banned journalists -- Bambang Wahyu from Kompas daily, Driantama from television station RCTI and Roy Tumpal Pakpahan from the Suara Bangsa afternoon newspaper -- were received by police Capt.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Habibie receives ICW delegation
Habibie receives ICW delegation JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie directly received on Thursday all necessary documents from Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) executive coordinator Teten Masduki to back up the latter's allegations that Attorney General Lt. Gen. Andi M. Ghalib abused his power to enrich himself.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Faisal Basri grilled over Habibie remarks
Faisal Basri grilled over Habibie remarks JAKARTA (JP): Economist Faisal Basri, who is secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN), was grilled by police detectives on Thursday over alleged derogatory remarks made about President B.J. Habibie. After being questioned for four hours at National Police Headquarters, Faisal acknowledged having made the remarks published by Rakyat Merdeka daily in its May 12 edition. However, he said he had no intention of insulting the country's leader.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Our attorney general
Our attorney general Who is the most famous person in this country? None other than Mr. Attorney General. Let us think of a case that made our attorney general special: The scanned phone conversation purportedly between President B.J. Habibie and Andi Ghalib. The case was considered settled before a thorough investigation into the matter was conducted. This very same attorney general was presented with a chicken. Now another controversy about him has surfaced.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI bank crisis world's worst: S&P
RI bank crisis world's worst: S&P SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesia is experiencing the world's worst banking crisis since the 1970s and may need to spend US$87 billion to revive the sector, credit rating firm Standard and Poor's warned on Thursday. "Indonesia is suffering the world's worst banking crisis since the 1970s as measured on a fiscal cost-to-gross domestic product basis, and may take up to a decade to fully recover," it said in a statement.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Semanggi victims' families protest
Semanggi victims' families protest JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of family members of the victims of the 1998 Semanggi shootings demonstrated on Thursday in front of the Ministry of Defense and Security on Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta, demanding that Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto take responsibility. The protesters included mothers of students killed in the fatal shooting incident. Mrs. Sumarsih, mother of Atmajaya student Wawan, and Mrs.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tanri insists on high price tag for Indosat
Tanri insists on high price tag for Indosat JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of the Empowerment of State Enterprises Tanri Abeng reaffirmed on Thursday that the government would sell another 5 percent stake in publicly listed state international telecommunications provider PT Indosat when the price was right. "We want to get the best price," he announced after a meeting with senior economic ministers. "So the timing (for the divestment) is very important," he added.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Oil price rises above $16
Oil price rises above $16 LONDON (AFP): Crude oil prices rose to the highest points for a month on Thursday, holding firm above 16 dollars a barrel amid reports of industrial action by oil unions in Venezuela, dealers said here. Brent crude was priced at 16.08 dollars a barrel for July delivery and 16.13 dollars for August delivery, having pushed up through the 1 6-dollar threshold for the first time since May 11 late on Wednesday.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Supremacy of law must be upheld
Supremacy of law must be upheld Recently we heard the news that Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib is suspected of being involved in bribery after he and his wife "received" money from two people who were being investigated by the Attorney General's Office. Apart from determining whether the news is true or not, the controversy has caused other ramifications. First, the credibility of Lippo Bank is declining. Second, the commitment of President B.J.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sulawesi, Kalimantan poll outcome disputed
Sulawesi, Kalimantan poll outcome disputed JAKARTA (JP): Hopes for a general election free of electoral violations are being dashed as opposition parties in many regencies reject poll results, alleging government officials helped the Golkar Party. In Southeast, South and Central Sulawesi, the dissatisfied parties have demanded a repeat of the polls, while in other provinces a unified push from all parties concerned for a similar measure to be taken is yet to be made.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Activists demand reform coalition
Activists demand reform coalition YOGYAKARTA: Approximately 100 activists of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) staged a rally on Thursday to convey a demand that reform parties coalesce in order to prevent the revival of status quo forces embodied in Golkar. The demonstration was held outside of the Provincial Elections Committee. Spokesman Haris Rusli Moti said they were concerned because preliminary results of vote counting showed that Golkar was gaining ground.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Officials doubt new Marcos wealth
Officials doubt new Marcos wealth MANILA (AP): Philippine officials expressed doubt on Thursday over claims by a former chief prosecutor of new evidence of billions of dollars in secret Swiss bank accounts allegedly belonging to the family of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. Swiss bank officials and investigators denied the existence of such accounts. On Wednesday former solicitor general Francisco Chavez claimed he had evidence an account in the Union Bank of Switzerland in the name of I.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia's example in democracy
Indonesia's example in democracy Far from inflicting further economic damage, the unexpectedly peaceful polls sent the Jakarta stock market soaring to levels not seen since the start of the financial crisis almost two years ago. The rupiah also rose, and the International Monetary Fund played its part by releasing a further tranche of its bailout package. Such confidence could yet prove premature. Although it appears to be on the road to recovery, the economy remains fragile.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kobe to buy stake in RI firm
Kobe to buy stake in RI firm TOKYO (Nikkei): Kobe Steel Btd. will buy an estimated 30 percent - 40 percent of PT. Intan Pertiwi Industri (INTIWI), a Jakarta-based manufacturer of welding electrodes, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported in its Thursday morning edition.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
PKB leads vote count, Golkar office bombed
PKB leads vote count, Golkar office bombed SURABAYA: The National Awakening Party (PKB) continued on Thursday afternoon to lead in the ballot counting for East Java, winning approximately 4.88 million votes as of 3 p.m. The party was followed closely by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) with 4.73 million votes, while Golkar ran a distant third with 1.75 million votes, according to the Provincial Elections Committee.
Fri, 11 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Local cocoa bean exports set to rise
Local cocoa bean exports set to rise KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's imports of cocoa beans, particularly from Indonesia, are expected to increase this year following a poor mid-crop in main producer Sabah state on Borneo island. Malaysian cocoa grinders bought 40,000-50,000 tons of Indonesian beans last year to make up for the shortfall in local output. "It's difficult to say how much beans will come in, but it certainly will be more than last year," said a trader at a Malaysian grinder.