Archive: 16 June 1999
51 articles found
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Hexindo to sell stake in joint venture firm
Hexindo to sell stake in joint venture firm JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed heavy equipment supplier PT Hexindo Adiperkasa will sell its 12.5 percent stake in PT Hitachi Construction Machinery Indonesia (HCMI), a Hexindo executive said here on Tuesday. President director Rustam Effendi said the stake would be sold for US$1.62 million to Hitachi Construction Machinery Pte., Ltd., Singapore (HCMS).
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Bandung:
Where to go in Bandung: Exhibitions * Installation Exhibition: by Arahmaiani, at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Purnawarman 32, 8 p.m., June 17. * Fine Arts Exhibition: Batu Melangkah Waktu, by Sunaryo, at Selasar Seni Sunaryo, Jl. Bukit Pakar Timur no. 100 (Phone: 022 2507939), until June 30. Peformances * Puppet Show: Braja Kusumah, narrated by Asep Kamajaya, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl. Baranang Siang 1, Kosambi (Phone: 022 433562), 9:30 p.m., June 19.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Money for nothing, perks for free
Money for nothing, perks for free A newspaper report said that President B.J. Habibie, through Presidential Decree No. 20 dated May 20, 1999, has determined that each member of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the period 1997 to 2002 will receive an allowance to the tune of Rp 150 million for their service to the country, apart from their pensions. I agree with Amien Rais' protest that the granting of such a huge amount is wrong.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Appointees to play major role in presidential election
Appointees to play major role in presidential election YOGYAKARTA (JP): Political observers warned on Tuesday that regional and interest group representatives, along with the Indonesian Military (TNI), could wield the balance of power in the next presidential election.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
National soccer team plans European tour
National soccer team plans European tour JAKARTA (JP): The national soccer team plans to compete overseas later this month to prepare for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam from Aug. 7 to Aug. 15. Team coach Bernhard Schumm told reporters on Tuesday that the team would leave Jakarta on June 27 and spend some two or three weeks playing friendly matches with top teams around Europe, including Estonia, Latvia and Finland.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Observers take cold comfort in Ghalib's move
Observers take cold comfort in Ghalib's move JAKARTA (JP): Observers have derided Andi M. Ghalib's decision to temporarily vacate his position as attorney general pending a graft probe, contending that the government's rightful course of action is to fire him. Mochtar Buchori, a senior political observer and leading member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that President B.J. Habibie "wavered" in taking action against Ghalib.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Analysts say rising oil won't curb Asia's rally
Analysts say rising oil won't curb Asia's rally SINGAPORE (Reuters): Buoyant oil prices, likely to breach a two-year high before year end, are unlikely to stifle Asia's rapid economic recovery, analysts said on Tuesday. Crisis-hit countries such as oil producers Indonesia and Malaysia were in for a large windfall, but others facing a bigger import bill could find their recoveries dampened.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tougher on debtors
Tougher on debtors The much tougher stance taken by the government on large domestic bank debtors came as a soothing piece of good news after last week's alarming verdict by the United States credit rating agency, Standard & Poor's, that the banking crisis in Indonesia was the world's worst since the 1970s with an estimated up-front fiscal cost as high as US$87 billion.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
PPP wants male, Muslim president
PPP wants male, Muslim president JAKARTA (JP): The national leadership meeting of the United Development Party (PPP) recommended on Tuesday that only a male Muslim be eligible for the presidency. "The fatwa of PPP's board of ulema says that the Indonesian president is the best Indonesian Muslim son," PPP's deputy chairman, Tosari Wijaya, told Antara.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Parties need conditional accord
Parties need conditional accord The following is the first of two articles on Indonesian post- election politics written by Yulius P. Hermawan,a lecturer on international relations at the Catholic University of Parahyangan and a researcher at the Parahyangan Center for International Studies in Bandung, West Java. He is a graduate of the Department of Politics, Monash University, Australia.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
President Habibie to visit Bali Travel Mart next week
President Habibie to visit Bali Travel Mart next week JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie is expected to attend Bali's first annual international tourism event, the Bali Travel Mart, later this month, an official said on Monday. Head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Luther Barrung, told Antara the president was expected to arrive in Bali on June 23 or June 24.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tedious work ahead
Tedious work ahead The Indonesian general election is over and people feel relieved that we have passed another critical milestone on the road to a better future for this great nation. Now we are faced with the detailed and tedious task of counting and verifying the votes. Indication of election fraud during this process has not yet emerged because of the attention and monitoring that has been given to this crucial job.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Irian crash victims brought to Jakarta
Irian crash victims brought to Jakarta WAMENA, Irian Jaya: Five crew members and passengers of a Russian helicopter which crashed in the Perime district of Jayawijaya regency here were brought to Jakarta for hospital treatment. Antara reported on Tuesday that those who were seriously injured were load master Rally Miran, mechanic Nicolay and passenger Afiudin. The helicopter crashed about 20 minutes after departing from the Wamena airport.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Accusations of poll misconduct stream in
Accusations of poll misconduct stream in JAKARTA (JP): Ballot boxes stolen, the delivery of returns from villages stopped, observers intimidated, almost 21,000 votes wasted, a rival party's votes allegedly stolen by Golkar and 100 excess ballot papers discovered, the reports from various quarters said. The reports streamed into Jakarta on Tuesday, only two days ahead of the deadline set for all the 27 provinces to report on the final ballot count with the National Elections Committee in Jakarta.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kuntoro upbeat petroleum law approved by July 29
Kuntoro upbeat petroleum law approved by July 29 JAKARTA (JP): Mines and Energy Minister Kuntoro Mangkusubroto and a chief legislator said on Tuesday they were optimistic the House of Representatives would approve a controversial oil and gas bill by July 29. Kuntoro acknowledged that disagreements remained between the House and the government on several issues, but said most of the factions in the House supported the bill's objective of reforming the country's oil and gas industry.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Minivans can't afford to operate
Minivans can't afford to operate TANGERANG (JP): At least half of about 5,000 public minivans that once operated in Tangerang regency have been taken off the roads due mainly to a scarcity of spare parts, the owner of a public transportation company, Darmanto, said on Tuesday. Darmanto said the lack of spare parts was caused mainly by skyrocketing prices as a result of the prolonged economic crisis.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Airline services
Airline services From time to time we read in the Letters column complaints about various airlines. Usually these concern bad service, lost luggage, delayed/canceled flights, etc. Now I have a tale to add to the bad service category.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 15, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 575 -25 773,000 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 400 25 65,000 Alter Abadi 425 -25 566,000 Alumindo Light Metal 1,200 100 164,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 550 0 233,500 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,675 -25 8,222,500 Anwar Sierad 400 0 2,141,000 APAC Centertex Corp.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Call for greater self-reliance
Call for greater self-reliance We are certain that once a new government is formed in the wake of the general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), foreign funds and investment will come flowing back in. After all, whatever its weaknesses, Indonesia is still a profitable destination considering its available manpower, large domestic market and abundant natural resources.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Can a man of religion be a democrat at the same time?
Can a man of religion be a democrat at the same time? A divisive way of thinking as in the Muslim-non Muslim or majority-minority dichotomy has reinvigorated the political stage lately. Political analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono reflects on this issue. JAKARTA (JP): Deputy chairman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) Dr.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ceremony attracts Gus Dur, Megawati
Ceremony attracts Gus Dur, Megawati BLITAR, East Java: Chairman of the Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim Islamic, Abdurrahman Wahid, known as Gus Dur, and chairperson of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Megawati Soekarnoputri, are scheduled to attend an annual ceremony in Blitar held in honor of the first president, Soekarno, on June 20.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Golkar steps up pressures on PDI-P in seats race
Golkar steps up pressures on PDI-P in seats race JAKARTA (JP): The ruling Golkar Party can expect to close in on runaway polls leader Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) if it maintains its dominance in provinces outside Java. As of Tuesday afternoon, the unofficial tally of returns compiled by Antara from 27 provincial elections committees put PDI Perjuangan in command.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where is justice?
Where is justice? There were two very contrasting news items on Sunday, June 13, 1999. One was a broadcast by Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) in Berita Ibu Kota (News in the Capital) at 2 p.m. regarding 20 train conductors who were suspended from their duties because they were caught demanding money from fare evaders without giving a receipt and the acts of the conductors were therefore considered as a severe and intolerable crime. The other was a telecast by ANteve at 5:45 p.m.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
RP trade deficit widens
RP trade deficit widens MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' trade deficit in April widened 46 percent to US$251 million from a year earlier, as slower export growth weighed down a recovery in imports, the National Statistics Office said Tuesday. Imports expanded 5.7 percent to $2.597 billion from $2.457 billion. It was the second consecutive month of growth for imports after declining for 13 months in a row when industries slowed down or ground to a halt because of the Asian financial crisis.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Polls give Kedungpring villagers renewed hope
Polls give Kedungpring villagers renewed hope By Asip Agus Hasani BOYOLALI, Central Java (JP): Thousands of Kedungpring villagers who lost land to Soeharto's Kedungombo Dam project in the 1980s voted at Monday's polls because of renewed faith that a new government would help ease suffering. These are the same people who boycotted the 1997 general election.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Minister bans coal mining at Bukit Soeharto
Minister bans coal mining at Bukit Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said on Tuesday the government had reviewed its policy to allow coal mining at the Bukit Soeharto conservation area in East Kalimantan. He said the government would not allow any company to mine the allegedly abundant coal deposit of the conservation area as part of environmental protection measures.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Gender an issue in proper health care
Gender an issue in proper health care By Zeynita Gibbons JAKARTA (Antara): Women are generally more susceptible to various diseases than men. The root of the problem is not only biology but also the gender bias that women have experienced since the day they were born, experts say. The gender bias is blamed for the discrimination that women receive in social, cultural and economic aspects of life based on the perception that boys are more useful.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Administration's planned levy increase hailed
Administration's planned levy increase hailed JAKARTA (JP): While many Jakartans remain badly affected by the escalating price of goods and services, the City Council on Tuesday strongly supported the administration's proposal to raise 23 levies on public services and business activities. The councilors agreed to back an administration proposal to hike levies from between 27 percent and 600 percent during a plenary session with administration officials, including Governor Sutiyoso.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Committees deny poll watchers' vote
Committees deny poll watchers' vote MEDAN, North Sumatra: Out of 8,500 volunteers of the University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel) in North Sumatra, 1,700 failed to vote because they were rejected by local polling committees. "A number of polling committees in various districts in the province, without any clear reason, prohibited Unfrel volunteers from voting," coordinator of Unfrel's North Sumatra chapter, Destanul Aulia, said Tuesday, Antara reported.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Revise forestry bill, say former ministers
Revise forestry bill, say former ministers JAKARTA (JP): Two former ministers criticized the government- sponsored forestry bill on Tuesday, saying the proposed law was too weak to protect the country's forests. Former minister of environment Emil Salim said the forestry draft bill, which the House of Representatives will begin deliberating on Thursday, should be revised. "The House's debate of the bill should be delayed until new members of the House are appointed in September," he said.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bombing suspects reenact crime at Istiqlal Mosque
Bombing suspects reenact crime at Istiqlal Mosque JAKARTA (JP): The sequence of events leading to the powerful blast at the Istiqlal Grand Mosque that shocked the country was reenacted on Tuesday by seven suspects, all street musicians. Under the heavy guard of detectives and Elite Police Mobile Brigade officers, the reenactment took at least one and a half hours.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kadin chairman calls for lower lending rate
Kadin chairman calls for lower lending rate JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Aburizal Bakrie called on the central bank on Tuesday to push down lending rates in a bid to revitalize the ailing private sector. Aburizal said current lending rates of over 30 percent were not affordable to most businesses.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on June 15, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Aceh's Banyak Islands prepare to temp tourist
Aceh's Banyak Islands prepare to temp tourist By Heru Dwi Suryatmojo BANDA ACEH, Aceh (Antara): Banyak Islands near southern Aceh are preparing to become one of the major tourist destinations in the western-tip province. Banyak Islands, formerly part of South Aceh regency, had its administrative status moved to Aceh Singkil on March 26, 1999, and is determined to develop it into a tourist haven.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
PBSI puts players through night training
PBSI puts players through night training JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to improve sagging player performance in international events, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has introduced training sessions at night. National training director Christian Hadinata said on Tuesday that the measure, which began on Tuesday, was intended to put shuttlers into a routine to compete at night. "Like it or not, athletes often compete in the evening in a tournament.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
KONI calls for SEA Games bonuses
KONI calls for SEA Games bonuses JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar is holding out for the government to provide insurance bonuses to medalists in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, despite the refusal of State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono. "I will try hard to make the government provide the bonus as a reward to the athletes.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Freeport delays output due to metal price slump
Freeport delays output due to metal price slump JAKARTA (JP): Copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia said on Tuesday it had delayed a plan to increase the ore output at its Grasberg mine in Irian Jaya to 300,000 tons per day (tpd) until metal prices improved. Company president Adrianto Machribie said the company was currently producing 210,000 tpd of ore, and planned to gradually increase it to 240,000 tpd.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Who will break Soeharto's code of silence?
Who will break Soeharto's code of silence? By Donna K. Woodward MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): It has finally begun. No doubt disgusted by the hypocrisy of Attorney General Andi Ghalib, someone privately sent documentation of his corruption to the Indonesian Corruption Watch. But more than anonymous reports will be needed for the prosecution of the Soehartos for their corruption and human rights violations. Unlike the bumbling Ghalib, the Soehartos were cunning in their modus operandi.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
No-smoking areas
No-smoking areas Minister of Health Farid Anfasa Moeloek on the occasion of the commemoration of World No Tobacco Day said that the loss as a result of smoking amounted to Rp 14.5 trillion, or eight and a half times the government's expenditures in the health sector, while tobacco excise only yielded Rp 2.6 trillion (Kompas, June 2). Moeloek's statement indicates how huge the loss is caused by smoking. In nearly all places in this country we find people who are very fond of smoking.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police strive to improve image
Police strive to improve image JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police have planned to turn the guard post in front of the headquarters into a public service booth to receive public complaints and reports in an attempt to help improve their image, the city police chief said on Monday. The booth would be served by a plainclothes police officer, Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Suspect in Ramayana blast testify in court
Suspect in Ramayana blast testify in court JAKARTA (JP): Two suspects in the Ramayana department store blast on Jl. Sabang early this year testified against two defendants at the Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday, saying their gang received Rp 40 million to blow up the store. Satilan, one of the suspects, said the money was received by his gang's leader, identified as Amir who is still at large, from Rosalina Handayani, one of the defendants, two days after the Jan. 2 blast.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
China puts ties before Spratlys
China puts ties before Spratlys KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): China on Tuesday assured its Asian neighbors that it will not allow the Spratlys issue to harm diplomatic ties. "We won't let the problem to affect bilateral relationship with Malaysia, the Philippines or other countries," said Guan Dengming, China's ambassador to Malaysia. Guan stressed that China hopes the Spratly dispute should be solved through bilateral consultation between the affected countries only.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tangerang low on garbage trucks
Tangerang low on garbage trucks JAKARTA (JP): Tangerang mayoralty is currently burdened with an acute garbage problem due to a limited availability of garbage trucks to transport it to the dump site, an official said on Monday. Tangerang Mayor Moch. Thamrin said out of about 4,000 cubic meters of garbage produced in the city every day, only 2,400 cubic meters could be removed. Therefore, higher piles of garbage could be seen along areas of Jl.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Polls may be reheld in several areas in the city
Polls may be reheld in several areas in the city JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee will decide on Thursday whether to repeat the polls in places where violations were found, committee chairman Djafar Badjeber said on Tuesday. Djafar said a decision to repeat the polls would be taken if vote discrepancies could not be settled after completion of the ballot recount. "The Election Law allows such a repetition.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
CalEnergy lodges claim with OPIC
CalEnergy lodges claim with OPIC WASHINGTON (Dow Jones): California Energy Corp. (CE) has filed a claim with the U.S. government's Overseas Private Investment Corp. to cover Indonesian power purchase contracts mired in litigation. CalEnergy, a unit of Omaha, Nebraska-based MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. (MEC), made the claim on OPIC political risk insurance for the Dieng and Patuha geothermal power plants on Java, OPIC spokesman Larry Spinelli said Monday.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
PAN weighs pluses and minuses of coalition allies
PAN weighs pluses and minuses of coalition allies JAKARTA (JP): Amien Rais is in a quandary over which parties his reformist National Mandate Party (PAN) may eventually join in a coalition. He fears the party could be overshadowed in a tie-up either with Golkar or the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). "We are facing a dilemma here," Amien told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Depok military now under Jakarta's command
Depok military now under Jakarta's command DEPOK (JP): The Siliwangi Military Command overseeing security and order in West Java formally handed over its supervision of the Depok military district here to the Jakarta Military Command on Tuesday. The handover, based on a written order dated May 5, 1999, and signed by Indonesian Military (TNI) Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo Hadisiswoyo, was carried out in a ceremony at the Depok military district office.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Searching for new development alternatives
Searching for new development alternatives By Aleksius Jemadu BANDUNG (JP): The urgency of establishing a new development model for crisis-stricken economies in Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia, is self-evident. Whatever the final outcome of the elections, the new government will have to formulate a new development model to combine economic liberalization and political democratization.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah continues to strengthen as stocks sink in mixed trade
Rupiah continues to strengthen as stocks sink in mixed trade JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah continued to strengthen on Tuesday to Rp 7,175 against the U.S. dollar on offshore-buying propelled by the heartening political development at home, dealers said. The local unit gained 5.15 percent from Monday's close of Rp 7,565 per dollar. Traders attributed the gain of the rupiah particularly to modest buying of the currency by offshore banks, although local companies also did some earlier in the day.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Will Indonesia adopt a fixed-rate system?
Will Indonesia adopt a fixed-rate system? The current lead of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in collecting electoral votes has raised questions whether the coming government will adopt a fixed-rate foreign exchange system. Economist Kwik Kian Gie, who is also deputy chairman of the party, is trying to explain his position on the foreign exchange issue.
Wed, 16 Jun 1999, 00:00 WIB
Water need adds to Aceh troubles
Water need adds to Aceh troubles LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh: North Aceh's problems are worsened with a lack of clean water mainly in the districts of Banda Sakti and Muara Dua. The regional water company, PDAM Tirta Mon Pase, will soon be unable to supply clean water. Its director, Djakfar Ali, told The Jakarta Post on Monday that it was facing bankruptcy due to debts of Rp 95 million to the regional bank BPD and other parties.