Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 9 June 1999

49 articles found

PDI Perjuangan maintains lead

PDI Perjuangan maintains lead JAKARTA (JP): A mere 2 percent of votes from approximately 100 million voters were counted by 11.15 p.m. on Tuesday, but Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) continued to be the front-runner with 690,622 votes.

New Order regime worse than PKI?

New Order regime worse than PKI?From RepublikaWatching a political program on TVRI on May 25 in which the Indonesian National Party (PNI), the Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU) and the MKGR Party took part, I felt greatly concerned.

Empowering ethnic Chinese in Indonesia

Empowering ethnic Chinese in IndonesiaBy Ester I. Jusuf This is the second of two articles on challenges facing the ethnic Chinese in Indonesia. JAKARTA (JP): Party leaders must be rooted in the people.

Major Asian stock markets close higher

Major Asian stock markets close higher HONG KONG (AP): Most Asian stock markets closed higher Tuesday, with the key index in Jakarta soaring more than 12 percent after Indonesia held its freest election in 44 years in remarkable peace.

Cheating said to be rampant in Mentawai

Cheating said to be rampant in Mentawai JAKARTA (JP): Poll watchers said on Tuesday the elections had been generally free of intimidation, but demanded the polls be repeated in at least one province.The Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) in West Sumatra said cheating had been rampant...

India offers to hold peace talks with Pakistan

India offers to hold peace talks with Pakistan DRAS, India (AP): India offered on Tuesday to hold high-level peace talks with Pakistan this weekend, a move that came even as its warplanes and troops struck against the hundreds of fighters India says Pakistan has sent into the mountains of Kashmir.

Smooth elections bring hope to hotel industry

Smooth elections bring hope to hotel industry JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesia Hotel & Restaurant Association said on Tuesday the peaceful general election brought the ailing hotel industry hope of recovery.

Howard hails Indonesia's democratic, peaceful polls

Howard hails Indonesia's democratic, peaceful polls JAKARTA (JP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard hailed Indonesia's eighth general election, calling the June 7 polls a democratic and peaceful event.

Constitutional change a must

Constitutional change a mustBy J. Soedjati Djiwandono JAKARTA (JP): Reformasi (reform) has been on the lips of everyone since the fall of president Soeharto. Before the elections, it was the almost universal catchword of the political parties, even those most would generally classify as "status quo...

Multiparty coalition required to unite Indonesia

Multiparty coalition required to unite IndonesiaBy Ronnie Hatley YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Ciganjur coalition of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) will gain 344 of the 700 electors in the People's...

Illegal logging in national park

Illegal logging in national park As American visitors we just completed our seventh extended stay in Central Kalimantan to see the endangered orangutan in Tanjung Puting National Park, my husband and I are saddened by Indonesia's apparent total indifference to the welfare of its forests and unique...

Cut on CPO export tax will boost exports: Federation

Cut on CPO export tax will boost exports: Federation JAKARTA (JP): The recent cut in export taxes on crude palm oil (CPO) and its byproducts is expected to boost exports, although the industry considers the new tax level of 30 percent to be still too high.

IMF approves $450 million loan to Indonesia

IMF approves $450 million loan to Indonesia WASHINGTON (Reuters): The International Monetary Fund said on Monday it had approved a US$450 million loan for Indonesia, following completion of the country's first democratic elections in 44 years.

Election results predicted by province and party

Election results predicted by province and partyRepresentatives Elected to Parliament (DPR) Province/ISLAND PDI-P PAN PKB PPP Golkar "ABRI" Total Jakarta 8 4 2 3 1 18West Java 25 13 9 28 7 82Central Java 32 8 11 5 4 60Yogyakarta 3 1 1 1 0 6East Java 27 6 25 5 5 68 JAVA-MADURA 95 32 48 42 17...

Agrobusiness bodies spurn planned govt export tax

Agrobusiness bodies spurn planned govt export tax JAKARTA (JP): Industry associations strongly objected on Tuesday to a government plan to impose export taxes on primary agricultural products.They said the government should look for more suitable alternatives in developing downstream industries.

Late counting hinders parties' vote estimates

Late counting hinders parties' vote estimates JAKARTA (JP): Political parties have experienced difficulties collecting returns from provinces and regencies across the country because of poor communication facilities and late ballot counting.

Triumph for democracy?

Triumph for democracy? While we wait for more definitive results from the general election, we can congratulate ourselves for the peaceful and orderly manner in which we carried out the ballot and vote counting on Monday.

Validity of KPU computerized results queried

Validity of KPU computerized results queried JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee has questioned the validity of data used by the General Elections Commission (KPU) in its ballot tally for the House of Representatives.

Rupiah, stock prices surge, driven by investor confidence

Rupiah, stock prices surge, driven by investor confidence JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian rupiah rose 5.6 percent, while the Jakarta Stock Exchange benchmark index touched the 700 point level on Tuesday after Monday's landmark general election.

A waste of time, energy and money

A waste of time, energy and moneyFrom Rakyat MerdekaI used to admire Minister of Justice Muladi but my admiration turned to bitter disappointment when I learned that he accompanied Attorney General Andi Ghalib to Switzerland, purportedly to trace Soeharto's alleged fortune.

No more lies

No more lies While Andi M. Ghalib and Gen. Wiranto drag their feet in the sand, a great tidal wave of democracy has reached Indonesia's shores and is about to engulf them and those like them who refuse to open their eyes and see the future.

Carter holds talks with Xanana

Carter holds talks with Xanana JAKARTA (JP): Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter held talks with East Timorese leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao at the latter's prison house here and expressed support for the territory's direct vote on autonomy in August.

ICW urges Habibie to fire Andi M. Ghalib

ICW urges Habibie to fire Andi M. Ghalib JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) on Tuesday strongly recommended that President B.J. Habibie dismiss Attorney General Andi M. Ghalib from his post for allegedly receiving Rp 1.8 billion in his bank accounts from several parties.

Rupiah's rally boost Asian monies

Rupiah's rally boost Asian monies HONG KONG (Dow Jones): A wave of post-election euphoria lifted the Indonesian rupiah Tuesday, buttressing positive sentiment toward other Asian currencies.As initial results indicated a strong showing by Megawati Soekarnoputri's PDI-P party and Gus Dur's PKB party...

PDI Perjuangan celebrates win

PDI Perjuangan celebrates win SURABAYA: Hundreds of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters rode their motorbikes in a deafening street rally on Tuesday to celebrate the party's victory in the elections for local legislature seats.

Fires engulf restaurant, house

Fires engulf restaurant, house JAKARTA (JP): Two fires broke out in different places on early Tuesday, engulfing a sea food restaurant in South Jakarta and a house in Tangerang, but no fatalities were reported.City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the restaurant on Jl.

Overseas voters direct votes to PDI Perjuangan

Overseas voters direct votes to PDI Perjuangan JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) came out tops in votes cast by expatriate Indonesians in several cities abroad.Thousands of Indonesians living in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia's other major cities, as well as...

Calm election 'restores faith of investors'

Calm election 'restores faith of investors' JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita said on Tuesday that Monday's peaceful general election would provide a strong basis for the revival of confidence in the country's battered economy.

ASEAN's Wise Men discuss group's future

ASEAN's Wise Men discuss group's future SINGAPORE (AFP): Prominent representatives of the 10 ASEAN members met for the first time here on Tuesday to ponder the future of a diverse grouping rocked by economic crisis and political problems.

Team to probe officials' wealth

Team to probe officials' wealth JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie will soon establish an independent team to probe the wealth of state officials in a bid to create clean governance, Minister of Justice Muladi said on Tuesday.

Market kiosks razed in fire

Market kiosks razed in fire PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan: Kiosks selling daily provisions at Kuala Kapuas traditional market in Kapuas regency were razed in a fire on Monday night.No fatalities were reported and losses were still being calculated.

One killed in Jayapura flood

One killed in Jayapura flood JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The local Search and Rescue (SAR) team, with the help of residents, found the body of a university student, said to be the only victim of last week's massive flood.

Ballot counting runs at snail's pace

Ballot counting runs at snail's pace JAKARTA (JP): A telecommunication traffic glut and unskilled elections workers have been blamed for the slow-coming of ballot counting reports across the country. At least one observer has aired concern the tardiness may invite vote-rigging.

Officer's fiancee shot by colleague

Officer's fiancee shot by colleague MANOKWARI, Irian Jaya: A police sergeant from Windesi Police sub-precinct in Manokwari regency allegedly accidentally fired his gun while cleaning the weapon on Monday evening, killing the fiancee of one of his fellow officers.

Media center's $80 million counting system

Media center's $80 million counting system JAKARTA (JP): Scores of journalists and observers from all over the world crammed the Joint Operation Media Center at Hotel Aryaduta on Monday evening for the initial tabulation of votes.

PT Megalopolis resumes industrial site expansion

PT Megalopolis resumes industrial site expansion JAKARTA (JP): PT Megalopolis Manunggal Industrial Development, developer of the MM 2100 Industrial Town in Cibitung, West Java, said on Tuesday it would continue its expansion in anticipation of a possible surge in future demand.

Rates for tax payment, valid from June 7 to June 13

Rates for tax payment, valid from June 7 to June 13 U.S. dollar 1 Rp 8,030.00Austrian schilling 1 603.92Australian dollar 1 5,205.11Belgian franc 1 206.00Canadian dollar 1 5,453.32Swiss franc 1 5,241.33Deutschemark 1 4,263.73Danish krone 1 1,137.28French franc 1 1,266.85Poundsterling 1 12,964.

Prosecutor's office, schools burned in Aceh

Prosecutor's office, schools burned in Aceh JAKARTA (JP): The prosecutor's office in Meureudu district, Pidie regency, Aceh, was set on fire by unidentified persons in the early hours of Tuesday.Earlier, dozens of buildings, including schools and administration offices, were torched by unidentified...

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on June 8, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,740.00 7,800.00 7,740.00 7,840.00Australian dollar 1 5,060.00 5,151.40 5,035.00 5,226.00Austrian schilling 1 575.59 585.13 - -Belgian franc 1 196.34 199.

Australia may boost growth forecasts for Indonesia

Australia may boost growth forecasts for Indonesia CANBERRA (Dow Jones): Australia's Treasury Department said Tuesday it expects to upgrade calendar 1999 economic growth forecasts for Indonesia and South Korea issued May 11 in the government's budget.

KIPP office burglarized

KIPP office burglarized BENGKALIS, Riau: The Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) office at Hotel Berlian was burglarized early Tuesday, its activists said.The thieves ran away with Rp 1,500 in cash and a wrist watch, KIPP coordinator M. Rizal Akbar said.

PLN files lawsuit to counter arbitration ruling

PLN files lawsuit to counter arbitration ruling JAKARTA (JP): State electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN) said on Tuesday it had filed a lawsuit at the Central Jakarta District Court to annul the recent ruling by an international arbitration panel on its dispute with U.S.

Golkar in command in Irian Jaya

Golkar in command in Irian Jaya JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The ruling Golkar party held onto a slender lead in the provisional tallying of votes in the province on Tuesday.Golkar tops the standing with 3,145 votes for the House of Representatives, ahead of opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of...

Member of Navy caught for theft

Member of Navy caught for theft JAKARTA (JP): A parking attendant at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) made a citizen's arrest of an Indonesian Navy member for alleged involvement in the theft of a motorcycle on Monday night.The suspect, Second Pvt.

Golkar leads lonely Aceh balloting

Golkar leads lonely Aceh balloting LHOKSEUMAWE, North Aceh: Golkar Party shrugged off a low voter turnout to take a provisional lead in the ballot counting here on Tuesday.The polling place at Sudirman Square was the only one to have finished tallying, with Golkar winning 396 votes for the House of...

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 8, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 450 25 525,500 AHAP Insurance 525 100 5,000 Alakasa Industrindo 275 50 39,000 Alter Abadi 325 0 831,000...

Heads shaved for party victory

Heads shaved for party victory SEMARANG: About 100 supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) shaved their heads in celebration of their party's victory in their village near here.

KONI waives blame over voting snafu

KONI waives blame over voting snafu JAKARTA (JP): The director of training at the National Sports Council (KONI), Imron Z.S., said Tuesday the council was not to blame for athletes' failure to vote in Monday's general election.

Mother's quest for justice brings E. Timor to cinema

Mother's quest for justice brings E. Timor to cinemaBy Jennifer Little AUCKLAND (AFP): In 1991, New Zealander Helen Todd received the phone call that every parent dreads. Far away in the troubled Indonesian province of East Timor, her son Kamal had been shot.