Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 25 June 1999

49 articles found

On constitutional reform

On constitutional reformFrom NeracaRecently, constitutional law expert Prof. Dr. Ismail Suny said Abdurrahman Wahid's (popularly known as Gus Dur) proposal on the separation of power between the head of state and the head of government was contrary to the 1945 Constitution.

Suwandi grabs a spot in the SEA Games team

Suwandi grabs a spot in the SEA Games team JAKARTA (JP): Men's singles player Suwandi ensured a place in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team after two victories on the second day of the national selection at Kemayoran Tennis Center.

Street justice gaining popularity

Street justice gaining popularity JAKARTA (JP): The continuing series of brutal mob killings of suspected criminals by residents in the capital has stunned many people.Many condemn the frenzied behavior of the residents, while others understand the anger that causes people to deal out their own...

Government reviews incentives for gas producers

Government reviews incentives for gas producers JAKARTA (JP): A top official at the Ministry of Mines and Energy announced on Thursday the government had reviewed a planned incentive package for the country's natural gas producers, following approval of the intergovernmental fiscal balance law by...

Regent urges end of drugs trade

Regent urges end of drugs trade MAUMERE, East Nusa Tenggara: Sikka Regent Paulus Moa urged all parties to help stop the distribution of illegal drugs here following the arrest of a number of locals involved in the use and distribution of ecstasy and shabu-shabu, which is an amphetamine-derivative.

Indonesia travel mart on schedule

Indonesia travel mart on scheduleBy I. Christianto NUSA DUA, Bali (JP): Following the Bali Travel Mart here from June 22 to June 26, Indonesia will hold the annual Travel Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) for the sixth time in September as scheduled.

Rival East Timor factions to start new peace talks

Rival East Timor factions to start new peace talks DILI, East Timor (JP): The second round of peace talks between disputing factions in East Timor will begin this weekend in Jakarta with 30 members from both the prointegration and proindependence camps, including 1996 Nobel Peace Prize co- laureate...

Estrada apologizes to freed Belgians

Estrada apologizes to freed Belgians MANILA (AP): President Joseph Estrada met on Thursday with two Belgians who were freed by kidnappers in the southern Philippines and apologized to the Belgian ambassador for their abductions.

PBSI uses motivational trainer for juniors

PBSI uses motivational trainer for juniors JAKARTA (JP): In a bid to improve the performance of its junior players, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has invited a motivational trainer in to encourage younger shuttlers ahead of international tournaments.

Salim sells more RI stake

Salim sells more RI stake HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The Salim Group said late Wednesday it still plans to sell up to an additional 12.5 percent of PT Indofood Sukses Makmur despite unloading a 40 percent stake Tuesday.

Floods recede in Bangladesh

Floods recede in Bangladesh CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh (AFP): Flood waters began to recede on Thursday after early monsoon rains wreaked havoc here, stranding 40,000 people and leaving a school headmaster dead, residents said.

Gripes greet low visitor turnout at tourism expo

Gripes greet low visitor turnout at tourism expo KUTA, Bali (JP): The Bali Tourism Expo, held here as part of the first annual Bali Travel Mart (BTM), has not succeeded in attracting visitors, with some vendors attributing it to a lack of promotion by the organizer.

East Kalimantan porpoises face threat of extinction

East Kalimantan porpoises face threat of extinctionBy Iskandar Zulkarnaen SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan (Antara): In the 1970s, Mahakam river was a big attraction for locals wanting to watch schools of playful porpoises (Orcaella brevirostris).

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 June 30.

Court delays bankruptcy claim against Fiskaragung

Court delays bankruptcy claim against Fiskaragung JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Commercial Court delayed on Thursday the first hearing on the bankruptcy petition jointly filed by 10 foreign creditors against publicly listed salt producer PT Fiskaragung Perkasa.

20% of bad debts 'cannot be restructured'

20% of bad debts 'cannot be restructured' JAKARTA (JP): Deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Eko S. Budianto projected on Thursday that some 20 percent, or Rp 46 trillion of the Rp 230 trillion (US$32.

Strengthening rupiah brings fresh hope

Strengthening rupiah brings fresh hope Indonesian businessmen are at present seeing a glimmer of hope in the strengthening trend of our national economy. Hope has been bolstered with the strengthening of the value of the rupiah against the U.S.

Pertamina admits to halting additive imports

Pertamina admits to halting additive imports JAKARTA (JP): After more than two months of silence, state oil and gas company Pertamina acknowledged on Thursday to halting the import of Detergent III Plus, an important additive in fuel for motor vehicles, since April 1.

No paper

No paper In observance of Prophet Muhammad's birthday, The Jakarta Post will not be published tomorrow. The Post will appear again on Sunday. -- Publisher

Why is KPU so slow?

Why is KPU so slow? The General Elections Commission (KPU), whose vote-counting has been painfully slow, seems to be at a loss as to how to improve its operations. The commission, which was responsible for all the preparations for the June 7 general election, has been criticized for its many...

Bakrie to complete debt restructuring in September

Bakrie to complete debt restructuring in September JAKARTA (JP): The widely diversified PT Bakrie & Brothers is set to complete the restructuring of its US$1.02 billion debt in September this year, the business group's top executive said here on Thursday.

Hilton Hanoi boss freed from jail

Hilton Hanoi boss freed from jail HANOI (Reuters): Vietnamese police have released the head of the Hilton Hotel's local joint venture partner in Hanoi after she was detained for alleged gambling activities, officials said on Thursday.Le Thi Mao, director of the state-run Dong Loi Tourism Co.

Maspion predicts higher exports

Maspion predicts higher exports JAKARTA (JP): Widely diversified Maspion Group expects higher export earnings this year thanks to a growing demand for its household electronics appliance, the company's senior executive said on Thursday.

Tricky trap for Megawati

Tricky trap for Megawati I am writing in response to Willem Oltmans letter of June 2.If you declare yourself a friend of Sukarno, Indonesia's first president, having known him intimately (so you say), you should not insult his daughter.

Court set to decide Sempati case in July

Court set to decide Sempati case in July JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Commercial Court will hand down a verdict on July 5 on dissolved private airline PT Sempati Air's bankruptcy petition, the airline's lawyer said on Thursday.

Habibie's trip to Aceh 'a failure'

Habibie's trip to Aceh 'a failure' JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said on Thursday that President B.J. Habibie's visit to the troubled Aceh areas in March was "a failure"."The President's trip...

Watch out! Golkar maneuver

Watch out! Golkar maneuver We all agree that we have made a great mistake letting the New Era abuse power and control this country for more than 32 years and yet again we nearly get trapped by a maneuver.

Car import tariff, tax revised

Car import tariff, tax revised JAKARTA (JP): The government on Thursday restructured taxes and import tariffs on automobiles, claiming the changes could lower the showroom prices of small sedans by 9.8 percent and small pickups by 7.5 percent.

Prospective groom caught for robbery

Prospective groom caught for robbery TANGERANG (JP): Police have arrested a man for allegedly taking part in a mugging with two accomplices -- and using his share of the money to pay for his wedding.Ali, 25, was arrested on Wednesday with Sutisna, 35, and Johadi, 22, at their residences in the...

Police question model Sophia as witness

Police question model Sophia as witness JAKARTA (JP): Movie and television star Sophia Latjuba was summoned by the National Police Headquarters on Thursday and questioned for five hours as a witness in a police investigation into alleged violations of the press' code of ethics by several...

Fatal fire kills family of five

Fatal fire kills family of five BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: A family died in a fire in Banjar Selatan district here on Thursday, Antara new agency reported.The fire broke out at 1 a.m. in the densely populated district where H. Abdul Gani and his family resided.

RP to raise tollway fees

RP to raise tollway fees MANILA (Dow Jones): Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) said Thursday it plans to raise fees at its tollway in the southern portion of Metro Manila.PNCC spokeswoman Cheche Perez said the toll increase will take effect once a new section of an elevated roadway,...

Plan for new military commands evokes caution

Plan for new military commands evokes caution JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights said on Thursday it would be "very cautious" in supporting the plan to establish eight new military commands throughout the country."It is not clear what the objectives are.

Water needed in drought-hit districts

Water needed in drought-hit districts WONOGIRI, Central Java: Residents in the districts of Pracimantoro and Giritontro face a shortage of clean water, an official said.Budisena said residents had forwarded requests for clean water to be sent to the districts.

Cash rewards given to poll committee

Cash rewards given to poll committee JAKARTA (JP): While most of its counterparts are still debating poll results in their areas, the North Sulawesi elections committee has seen its hard work pay off.The North Sulawesi administration has awarded each of the 44 provincial poll committee members Rp 7...

Would-be councilors vow to wage war against KKN

Would-be councilors vow to wage war against KKN JAKARTA (JP): Executives of political parties' Jakarta chapters which have gained enough votes to secure seats in the City Council vowed on Thursday to rid the city administration of corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on June 24, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 6,690.00 6,790.00 6,690.00 6,830.00Australian dollar 1 4,363.65 4,481.40 4,338.00 4,556.00Austrian schilling 1 499.59 512.16 - -Belgian franc 1 170.

What if Megawati fails to become next president?

What if Megawati fails to become next president?By M.M. Bhoernomo KUDUS, Central Java (JP): Who will be elected the next president? This is the question of most interest after the polls. Although it is likely the next president will be nominated by the political party which collected the largest...

Consortium seeks to write off Games debt

Consortium seeks to write off Games debt JAKARTA (JP): The underwriting consortium for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games have urged high-ranking officials to ask President B.J. Habibie to take over its Rp 35 billion (US$522,388) debt to the State Secretary.

HSBC, Hasko sign agreement

HSBC, Hasko sign agreement JAKARTA (JP): The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Indonesia early this week signed an agreement with panel wood manufacturer Hasko Group to provide cash management financial services.

Time for Golkar to be in opposition

Time for Golkar to be in oppositionBy Jusuf Wanandi JAKARTA (JP): Uncertainties about a new government have emerged in the aftermath of a successful election. This is due to problems relating to the complicated election rules on one hand and the high expectation from people that the elections will...

UNAMET impartiality?

UNAMET impartiality? Preparations for direct balloting in East Timor to determine whether the East Timorese will remain integrated with Indonesia or become independent have been going on intensively, involving both the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) and the Indonesian...

Reforming education with an eye to democracy

Reforming education with an eye to democracyBy Nirwan Idrus JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia played center stage on Monday, June 7. The whole world watched the general election on that day, claimed to be Indonesia's first real democratic election in four decades.

Amien Rais ready for presidency despite party's loss

Amien Rais ready for presidency despite party's loss JAKARTA (JP): National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais has retracted his decision to withdraw from the race for presidency, citing an advantage he may take in the much anticipated deadlock in the presidential election.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 24, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 575 0 471,000 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 375 0 22,500 Alter Abadi 500 0 5,451,000 Alumindo...

Habibie believes economy starting on road to recovery

Habibie believes economy starting on road to recovery JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie said on Thursday Indonesia's recession-hit economy was rising from its nadir and heading toward recovery.He said with the stabilization of the domestic political situation, the pace of economic recovery would...

Elections body membership valid until 2003: Syarwan

Elections body membership valid until 2003: Syarwan JAKARTA (JP): The government gave its guarantee on Thursday that all 53 members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) would serve their full terms until 2003.

Questioning of editors in Ghalib case blasted

Questioning of editors in Ghalib case blasted JAKARTA (JP): The police summons of three senior newspaper editors for questioning regarding the defamation charges lodged by former attorney general Andi Ghalib against executives of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) received strong criticism on...

Telkom-1 satellite launch may be delayed

Telkom-1 satellite launch may be delayed JAKARTA (JP): PT Telkom has not received formal notification from European space launcher Arianespace concerning a possible delay in the launch of its Telkom-1 satellite, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.