Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 2 June 1999

68 articles found

C&W, NTT enter 2nd round of takeover war

C&W, NTT enter 2nd round of takeover war TOKYO (Reuters): Britain's Cable and Wireless Plc went on the offensive on Tuesday in a bidding war for diminutive Japanese telephone company International Digital Corp (IDC), topping up its price a day after NTT had upped its bid.

BAT asks Habibie to review cigarette excise ruling

BAT asks Habibie to review cigarette excise ruling JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cigarettemaker PT British American Tobacco (BAT) Indonesia asked President B.J. Habibie on Tuesday to review the Ministry of Finance's decision to raise excise taxes on the production of regular cigarettes.

UNAMET pledges full cooperation

UNAMET pledges full cooperation DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) has pledged full cooperation with all sides in troubled East Timor to help the Aug. 8 ballot succeed."The UN presence in East Timor is neutral.

Philippine exports up 2.7%

Philippine exports up 2.7% MANILA (AFP): Philippine exports rose 2.7 percent in April from a year earlier to US$2.345 billion, the government's statistics agency said Tuesday.Export receipts from January to April grew 12.1 percent to $10.198 billion from $9.

When nature calls PKB supporters

When nature calls PKB supporters JAKARTA: Police and reporters raced each other to Kebayoran Hospital on Tuesday after seeing scores of campaign participants leave a rally in a soccer field to make their way to the hospital's emergency unit.

Many balk at working the polls in Aceh

Many balk at working the polls in Aceh JAKARTA (JP): Escalating intimidation by groups of people seeking to boycott the June 7 general election in Aceh has forced residents to refuse to be poll workers, a local official said on Tuesday.

KPU under fire for dealine shift

KPU under fire for dealine shift JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) came under attack on Tuesday for moving back the deadline for political parties to arrange vote-sharing deals (stembus akoord).

Children hurt as parties clash in Yogyakarta

Children hurt as parties clash in Yogyakarta YOGYAKARTA (JP): With campaign season nearing to a close, clashes between supporters of rival parties and other acts of violence continued to prevail on Tuesday.

No party will win a majority in elections

No party will win a majority in electionsBy Hermawan Sulistyo JAKARTA (JP): The presence of political parties is a prerequisite for democracy. Together, with other forces, political parties are an important component of civil society. They serve as channels of popular will and interest.

PPP camels on the loose

PPP camels on the loose JAKARTA: Activists of the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) know how to attract a crowd and entertain their supporters.On Monday, party followers successfully attracted huge crowds in their last round of campaigning in South Jakarta with a pair of paper camels...

Agenda

Agenda JAKARTA (JP): The Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) will focus their campaigns at the favorite place of many parties, namely the Hotel Indonesia Traffic Circle, at different times on Wednesday.

Five Indonesia's tae kwon doins vie in World Championships

Five Indonesia's tae kwon doins vie in World Championships JAKARTA (JP): Five national tae kwon doins who are being prepared for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are competing in the World Championships in Canada.

Reports on money politics probed

Reports on money politics probed JAKARTA (JP): A special team of the Election Supervisory Committee has begun investigating alleged practices of "money politics" by political parties in response to reports, committee deputy chairman Todung Mulya Lubis said Tuesday.

Police confiscate 18 stolen cars

Police confiscate 18 stolen cars JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police confiscated 18 stolen vehicles from 16 alleged car thieves, including vehicles from three buyers of the stolen cars, over the last two weeks, an official said on Tuesday.Chief of the city police detective unit Col.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 1, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 425 0 369,500 AHAP Insurance 425 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 275 0 0 Alter Abadi 300 -25 17,500 Alumindo...

Next round campaigns vulnerable to unrest

Next round campaigns vulnerable to unrest JAKARTA (JP): Four days ahead of the June 7 elections, officials and the National Police raised alarms on Tuesday over possible unrest in the final round of campaigning as parties would likely go all out in their last ditch attempt to lure voters.

Government calls off peat land project

Government calls off peat land project JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie decided on Tuesday to stop the one-million-hectare peat land conversion scheme in Central Kalimantan, and ordered several Cabinet ministers to help the 61,000 transmigrants involved in the disappointing project, an official...

Kuntoro supports Pertamina's decision on pipeline project

Kuntoro supports Pertamina's decision on pipeline project JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto supported on Tuesday state oil and gas company Pertamina's decision to name PT McDermott Indonesia to build a natural gas underwater pipeline linking west of Natuna island to...

'Fiesta of democracy' absent in Aceh districts

'Fiesta of democracy' absent in Aceh districts LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh (Antara): "Different ponds, different fish; different fields, different grasshoppers," so the old adage goes.These words of wisdom seem to be reflected in the style of campaigning adopted by political parties contesting the June 7...

Government sets to recapitalize BNI, BRI and BTN

Government sets to recapitalize BNI, BRI and BTN JAKARTA (JP): The government will spend Rp 95.6 trillion (US$1.20 billion) to recapitalize Bank Negera Indonesia, Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN).

A who's who of debtors

A who's who of debtors The 200 largest corporate debtors, who are partly responsible for leading virtually every major domestic bank, including the seven state banks, into technical bankruptcy, were finally announced through newspaper advertisements on Tuesday.

Tricky trap for Mega

Tricky trap for Mega Prof. Herbert Feith (The Jakarta Post, May 31, 1999) compared the founding fathers of Indonesia to the Amien Rais-Megawati Soekarnoputri team. This is dangerous nonsense. Sukarno-Hatta were founders of the unitary state.

Violence mars campaign in Ujungpandang, 11 hurt

Violence mars campaign in Ujungpandang, 11 hurt JAKARTA (JP): Peace held out Tuesday during rallies in the Maluku and East Timor, where hundreds died in recent conflicts, during a round of barnstorming by Megawati Soekarnoputri, but violence marred campaigning in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi.

Habibie greets EU election monitors

Habibie greets EU election monitors JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie thanked the European Union (EU) on Tuesday for dispatching a 135-member team to observe the June 7 general election, saying their presence would contribute significantly to Indonesia's campaign to hold free and fair elections.

Batam hard pressed to list expatriates

Batam hard pressed to list expatriates BATAM: The local manpower office is encountering difficulties in tracing illegal foreign workers on the tiny island due to the reluctance of many companies to release information and the shortage of its own personnel.

Bad debtors face tougher measures

Bad debtors face tougher measures JAKARTA (JP): Finance Minister Bambang Subianto vowed on Tuesday to take tougher measures against the worst debtors of domestic banks who fail to reach a loan recovery plan by the end of this month with the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

Governor asks people to pray

Governor asks people to pray SURABAYA: With fears of election-related unrest and violence still prevailing, East Java Governor Imam Utomo told people in the province on Tuesday to spend the two days of the cooling-off period, June 5 and June 6, with prayers.

Suharyadi disagree on Pelti's coaching selection

Suharyadi disagree on Pelti's coaching selection JAKARTA (JP): National tennis coach Suharyadi is worried about the Indonesian Tennis Association's (Pelti) decision on the process for the selection of coaches for preparations for the 20th Southeast Asian Games in August in Brunei Darussalam.

Why not Chinese-Indonesians also?

Why not Chinese-Indonesians also? I was thrilled to see the photograph of Westerners sitting on top of a car donning Megawati's party uniform and giving the PDI sign, on the front page of The Jakarta Post on May 29, 1999.

Volatile regions face dilemma over elections

Volatile regions face dilemma over electionsBy Edy M. Ya'kub JAKARTA (Antara): Will elections be held or not in the troubled Aceh regencies of North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie? For that matter, will there be elections in riot-torn Maluku, West Kalimantan, East Timor and Irian Jaya, which has been...

Aceh remains tense, 50 shops set on fire

Aceh remains tense, 50 shops set on fire JAKARTA (JP): At least 50 shop-houses belonging to residents of Teunom subdistrict in West Aceh regency were razed in the early hours of Tuesday, leaving 325 people homeless.No fatalities have so far been reported and material losses have yet to be estimated.

Supreme Court backs 'ANteve' in bankruptcy suit

Supreme Court backs 'ANteve' in bankruptcy suit JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court's civil review decision last week maintained its earlier decision and the decisions of the lower courts to reject the foreign creditors' bankruptcy claim against local private television station ANteve.

PDI of Struggle takes over Ambon

PDI of Struggle takes over Ambon AMBON, Maluku: This provincial capital turned into a sea of red on Tuesday as thousands of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters took to the streets to see party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Oil prices plunge as Iraq signals higher crude exports

Oil prices plunge as Iraq signals higher crude exports LONDON (Reuters): World oil prices fell again on Tuesday after Iraq said it would be able to raise crude exports under a new phase of the United Nations oil-for-food exchange.

Animals, dancers set rally alight

Animals, dancers set rally alight SEMARANG: Good times were had by all when thousands of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) here painted the Central Java capital red on Tuesday.A group of partisan supporters brought with them wild and domestic animals, adding life to the...

New incentives proposed to lure foreign investors

New incentives proposed to lure foreign investors JAKARTA (JP): The government is considering giving permanent resident status to foreigners who invest US$1 million or more in the country.State Minister of Investment/Chairman of the Investment Planning Board (BKPM) Marzuki Usman said here on...

Parties battle in the skies

Parties battle in the skies PADANG, West Sumatra: Major political parties contesting next weeks elections are intensifying their war of words into the skies.Over the past week, kites carrying symbols of the popular parties here -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the...

AIA's premium income surges

AIA's premium income surges JAKARTA (JP): Life insurance company PT Asuransi AIA Indonesia announced on Tuesday a 150 percent growth in its premium income to Rp 118.50 billion (about US$14.8 million) in 1998 compared to the figure in previous year.Company general manager and director Mark S.

Message from the Ambassador

Message from the Ambassador The celebration of a national day affords the opportunity to illustrate the relations between two countries and, where possible, their strength and depth. I will not abstain from this outstanding task and, therefore, I am proud to remind everyone that the first...

East Timor policy needs rethinking

East Timor policy needs rethinkingBy Jusuf Wanandi JAKARTA (JP): The Habibie government proposal in mid-1998 to grant special autonomy status to East Timor was a measure too little and too late. Although it specified full home rule, with the exception of defense, foreign affairs and monetary...

Habibie's mixed-up ancestry

Habibie's mixed-up ancestry To be forthright about one's ancestry is a laudable attitude to take. Unfortunately, Habibie is adopting this stance at the very time when everyone knows he has ambitions to be elected President of Indonesia for the 1999-2004 term.

Wardah keeps social justice issues alive

Wardah keeps social justice issues aliveBy Herry Nurdi JAKARTA (JP): Many television viewers still remember during a recent talk show how Wardah Hafidz maintained her cool and, without raising her tone, relentlessly shot questions and illustrations at an executive of the People's Sovereignty Party...

593 senior officers opt to leave military

593 senior officers opt to leave military JAKARTA (JP): A total of 593 middle and high-ranking military officers, many with strategic positions in the bureaucracy and current Cabinet, declared on Tuesday their decision to leave the military.

My case visits 'Ibu Menteri'

My case visits 'Ibu Menteri' No doubt there is much speculation abroad about why the venerable Adi Sasono, Minister of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises, was recently dismissed from Golkar. I would like to contribute my version of the events.

New ferry's maiden voyage all at sea

New ferry's maiden voyage all at sea SEMARANG, Central Java: German-made Mahakam express passenger ferry, operated by state water transportation company PT ASDP, had significant problems on her maiden voyage on Monday from the Kumai seaport in Central Kalimantan to Tanjung Emas Port in Semarang,...

Palangka Raya turns blue

Palangka Raya turns blue PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: The National Mandate Party (PAN) sealed its election campaign here on a high note, with a crowd of some 10,000 attending its rally at Cilik Riwut soccer field in the outskirt of this provincial capital.

Eni in Indonesia contributes to RI's growing energy need

Eni in Indonesia contributes to RI's growing energy need Eni, the Italian oil and natural gas company, has leading international market positions in oil and gas, petrochemical and oil field services and engineering industries. Eni has been operating in Indonesia since 1970.

JSX ready for the millennium bug

JSX ready for the millennium bug JAKARTA (JP): The president of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX), Mas Achmad Daniri, said on Tuesday the exchange was nearly year 2000 compliant."Almost 100 percent of the hardware in the exchange's infrastructure is Y2K compliant," Daniri said.

Polls in Irian villages in doubt

Polls in Irian villages in doubt MERAUKE, Irian Jaya: The election day in remote villages in the Merauke regency may have to be delayed because only a few ballot sheets and boxes have arrived, a local official said on Tuesday.R.

Indonesians swarm Singapore

Indonesians swarm Singapore SINGAPORE (AFP): An influx of Indonesians fearing election- related unrest and an international convention are expected to boost Singapore hotel occupancy in June to the year's highest level, a report said Tuesday.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on June 1, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,080.00 8,140.00 8,080.00 8,180.00Australian dollar 1 5,201.90 5,292.85 5,176.00 5,367.00Austrian schilling 1 609.41 618.99 - -Belgian franc 1 207.87 211.

Swiss offers help but no freeze on Soeharto assets

Swiss offers help but no freeze on Soeharto assets JAKARTA (Agencies): The Swiss federal authorities in Berne on Monday told visiting Indonesian Minister of Justice Muladi and Attorney General Andi Ghalib that they were willing to help search for any assets hidden in the country by former president...

Texmaco Group seeks listing on Nasdaq

Texmaco Group seeks listing on Nasdaq JAKARTA (JP): The widely diversified Texmaco Group said Tuesday it would list some of its subsidiaries on the New York- based over-the-counter stock market Nasdaq to raise funds for payment of the group's overseas debts worth about US$1.4 billion.

Locals protest unfair candidacy

Locals protest unfair candidacy JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Indigenous people of Jayawijaya regency who have been nominated by Golkar for the provincial legislature have lodged a protest over what they said was the party's unfair selection of candidates.

Microloan program

Microloan program As an ex-expatriate of Jakarta I read The Jakarta Post eagerly, one week late. How happy I am that you are finally on the web.Some time ago I read with great interest the article of May 14 World Bank to fight Indonesian poverty with new vigor by Mark Baird, the new World Bank...

Debt restructuring supports troubled companies

Debt restructuring supports troubled companiesBy Candelario Tambis JAKARTA (JP): From mid-1997 up to today, many companies have been in financial trouble because of the lingering economic crisis. Financial difficulties of distressed companies are caused by a variety of reasons, however, in a time...

Golkar backs proposed Irian split

Golkar backs proposed Irian split JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The ruling Golkar Party revealed here on Tuesday that it backed the government's proposal to divide Irian Jaya into three provinces."Golkar wants to see that all the three governors are native Irianese if the proposal materializes," said party...

Inflation declined by 0.28 percent in May

Inflation declined by 0.28 percent in May JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's consumer prices declined by 0.28 percent in May, the country's third month of deflation in a row, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported on Tuesday.BPS chief Sugito Suwito said that the consumer price index declined to 204.

Workers' sit-down protest stops traffic

Workers' sit-down protest stops traffic JAKARTA (JP): About 1,500 laid-off workers of cookie producer PT Mayora staged a sit-down action in front of the Ministry of Manpower in South Jakarta on Tuesday to back their demand for higher severance pay.They traveled to the ministry on Jl.

PKP engaged in 'tobacco politics'

PKP engaged in 'tobacco politics' PALU, Central Sulawesi: The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) shuns the much-condemned money politics and plays "tobacco politics" instead.Party activists started their indoor campaign in town by handing out cigarettes to party supporters.

All hostages fine: Military

All hostages fine: Military JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Trikora Military Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Sembiring said on Tuesday that 11 Irianese hostages released by rebels on Monday "are in fine condition".They were treated well by their abductors, the two-star general said.

PKP seeks to join three major parties' alliance

PKP seeks to join three major parties' alliance JAKARTA (JP): The Justice and Unity Party (PKP) -- many of whose activists are Golkar's renegades -- is reportedly seeking to join an alliance already established among the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Mandate...

Business separation

Business separation We refer to Mr. Riyadi's article in your May 31 edition Bankers shocked by court rulings on derivative deals. We wish to inform you that Hotman Paris Hutapea, whose name was quoted several times in the article, and our firm jointly and amicably agreed to separate effective on...

Greed usurps family values of the former first family

Greed usurps family values of the former first familyBy Rahayu Ratnaningsih JAKARTA (JP): Greed is the root of all evil. When it is combined with unlimited and unbalanced power it could drag an entire nation to the verge of extinction.

Italo-Indonesian trade relations

Italo-Indonesian trade relations Indonesia and Italy have enjoyed a long relationship that dates back to many years ago, reinforced by the presence of the Italian Embassy and the Italian Trade Commission (ITC), a government agency whose main purpose is to promote trade between Italy and other...

Ghalib gains dubious 'Soeharto' honor

Ghalib gains dubious 'Soeharto' honor JAKARTA (JP): Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib has won the "Soeharto Award" after topping a list of anti-reform figures in the country in a student-run opinion poll, the organizers announced on Tuesday.Ghalib was followed by President B.J.

Orangutan habitat under threat

Orangutan habitat under threat PANGKALAN BUN, Central Kalimantan: Illegal timber workers have damaged the 5,000-hectare central area of Tanjung Puting National Park, the official rehabilitation center for orangutans.

Mine area clash leaves one dead

Mine area clash leaves one dead JAKARTA (JP): A man was killed and two others were seriously injured on Monday in a massive clash that started when hundreds of illegal gold miners attacked local Cisarua villagers in Bogor regency on Monday.The dead man was identified as H.