Archive: 13 July 1999
54 articles found
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
A writer's worth
A writer's worth I thank you for publishing Writing needs more recognition by A. Chaeder Alwasih in the July 10 edition. The government's attention to writers and their work is poor, a fact borne out by the 15 percent income tax deducted from writers' fees. It is clearly not conducive to the climate of academic or journalistic writings. If the government were seriously endeavoring to support the creation of quality writing, it should provide attractive incentives to writers.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Crowd control training labeled useless
Crowd control training labeled useless JAKARTA (JP): A 10-day training course on crowd control given by the U.S government to the Indonesian Police will be useless, and would be used by local officers only to break up student and worker demonstrations here, lawyers and students said on Monday.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Witness chided in Anwar trial
Witness chided in Anwar trial KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The judge presiding over the sodomy trial of Malaysian former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim lost his patience on Monday with a senior police witness and called him "stupid". Chief inspector Sampornah Ismail, who led interrogation of Anwar's adopted brother Sukma Darmawan last year, was asked by defense lawyer Karpal Singh if he agreed Sukma was a timid and "soft person". "He is just like normal," Sampornah said.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Greater economic equality promised to cooperatives
Greater economic equality promised to cooperatives JAKARTA (JP): About 70,000 cooperative members and children attending the colorful ceremony marking the 52nd Cooperatives Day at Senayan Sports Stadium on Monday received promises from President B.J. Habibie they would enjoy greater economic equality. VIP guests, including top officials and dignitaries, received the same promises plus a box of snacks which was placed on their respective seats.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Government proposes amendment of judiciary law
Government proposes amendment of judiciary law JAKARTA (JP): The government proposed amendments to the law on the judiciary on Monday with the aim to empower the judicial branch to act independently of the executive. Although only two articles of Judicial Power Law No.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
IPTN delivers Shinwa's AFTE
IPTN delivers Shinwa's AFTE BANDUNG (JP): State-owned PT IPTN handed over on Monday 12 automotive engine assembling units to Shinwa Engineering Indonesia, a subsidiary of the giant Toyota car maker. The 12 were the last of 25 Assy Fixture Toyota Engines (AFTE) ordered by Shinwa from IPTN as part of the aircraft manufacturing company diversification program to stay afloat. The contract was said to be worth US$51,904.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Deutsche Telekom eyes Indosat
Deutsche Telekom eyes Indosat FRANKFURT (AFP): The German telecoms giant Deutsche Telekom is being seen by the Indonesian government as a potential "strategic partner" for state-owned international phone operator Indonesian Satellite Corp, the Wall Street Journal Europe reported on Monday. The Indonesian government was no longer seeking to sell shares in Indosat on the stock exchange but was instead seeking a strategic partner.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia pledges fair East Timor vote
Indonesia pledges fair East Timor vote DILI, East Timor (JP): A team of top government and military officials pledged here on Monday their commitment to a fair popular consultation on self-determination in East Timor next month. "TNI (the Indonesian Military) and the police fully support the agreement achieved by the government in the tripartite (talks)," military chief Gen. Wiranto said. "The decision (by President B.J. Habibie to hold the vote) is final.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 12, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 475 0 175,500 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 325 0 0 Alter Abadi 400 0 20,000 Alumindo Light Metal 1,000 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 600 25 100,000 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,400 -25 4,210,500 Anwar Sierad 375 25 75,500 APAC Centertex Corp.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Gramedia gets support from Nikon
Gramedia gets support from Nikon JAKARTA (JP): Nikon, one of the world's largest camera producers, has sent a senior executive and two technicians from Singapore to service at no charge Nikon cameras, lenses and accessories owned by employees of Gramedia publishing company. "Gramedia is home to the largest population of Nikon users in this country," said Randy Masengi, marketing manager of PT Alta Samaraya, the sole Nikon authorized distributor in the country.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
ICW lawyers demand Djasrie's dismissal
ICW lawyers demand Djasrie's dismissal JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers from the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) asked Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto on Monday to fire Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Djasrie Marin for defying an order to investigate corruption allegations involving suspended attorney general Andi Ghalib. One of the lawyers, Marsaulina Manurung, said Djasrie should be dismissed because he failed to carry out an order from Wiranto.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
House urges government to seize consortium assets
House urges government to seize consortium assets JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives' Commission VII on education, youth affairs and sports recommended the government confiscate the assets of the underwriting consortium for the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Explosive hits party head's home
Explosive hits party head's home KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A Molotov cocktail was thrown at the house of the local chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on Sunday. The incident at Anton E. Haba's residence in Oesapa occurred at 3 a.m., Antara reported on Monday. His wife said from the home that there was an explosion about two minutes after a motorcycle sped past the house.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Residents protest airport extortionists
Residents protest airport extortionists TANGERANG (JP): Residents of Benda village, near the Soekarno- Hatta International Airport here, have demanded that the Tangerang authorities close a number of illegal travel agents on Jl. Husain Sastranegara. According to the residents, the agents have no permits and are only a front for the owners to extort money from Indonesian workers returning from overseas.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on July 12, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bakun project take years to build
Bakun project take years to build KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones): Malaysia's scaled-down, environmentally controversial Bakun hydroelectric dam project is expected to take at least six years to complete, the government- owned news agency, Bernama, reported.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
No grounds for querying poll results: PPI chairman
No grounds for querying poll results: PPI chairman JAKARTA (JP): National Elections Committee (PPI) chairman Jacob Tobing said on Monday there should not be any objection to the June 7 election results because all tabulated votes, which have reached the committee's computation center, had been validated by the lower election committees.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina chief vows to act firmly on auditor's findings
Pertamina chief vows to act firmly on auditor's findings JAKARTA (JP): The president of state oil and gas company Pertamina pledged on Monday to act firmly on an independent auditor's recommendations to transform the state firm into an efficient, transparent and accountable entity. But Martiono Hadianto said he was unsure about the accuracy of Price WaterhouseCoopers' report putting the firm's losses at US$6.1 billion in the past two years due to corruption and gross inefficiency.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Do the Javanese have a stranglehold on power?
Do the Javanese have a stranglehold on power? By Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): It is usually the minority who becomes the scapegoat, like the case of the ethnic Chinese people here. But what happens if it affects the majority? "Well, rather than making the Chinese people or the Westerners scapegoats, why don't we make the Javanese people scapegoats once in a while?" said Lance Castles.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Youths protest Habibie tenure
Youths protest Habibie tenure JAKARTA (JP): A group of youths protested on Monday outside the People's Consultative Assembly/House of Representatives (MPR/DPR), demanding that President B.J. Habibie step down prior to the MPR's General Session scheduled for November. Raising the recent bloody events in Aceh, the group said developments in Indonesia's northern province proved Habibie's inability to cope with crucial issues. As a consequence, they said, the President must step down.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Putting up with a male-dominant society
Putting up with a male-dominant society By Marianus Kleden KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidential candidacy has bumped against a tradition but not an argumentation. Muslim clerics have voiced their objection to -- or even rejection of -- a female leader. Without citing any Koranic verses or hadits as their theological basis, they have stated that a female head of state would be incongruent with Islamic law.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
House names Anwar for 2nd key position at BI
House names Anwar for 2nd key position at BI JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives picked on Monday outspoken economist Anwar Nasution to hold the second top position at the central bank for a five-year term. Anwar, the most vocal critic of the central bank since the early 1980s, was selected for the newly created post of senior deputy governor of Bank Indonesia from three candidates whose names were proposed by President B.J. Habibie on June 4.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
30% of Jakartans do not have access to toilets
30% of Jakartans do not have access to toilets JAKARTA (JP): Some three million Jakartans, or 30 percent of the capital's population, do not use toilets when they relieve themselves, a city official said on Monday. Head of the city office of the Ministry of Health Dedy Ruswendi said that even though the remaining 70 percent of Jakartans do use toilets, it did not mean they own the facility because some of them used public toilets.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Theft, looting threaten makers of electronics
Theft, looting threaten makers of electronics JAKARTA (JP): Rampant theft and looting are threatening the local electronics sector already battered by the slump in the domestic demand, an executive of the local Samsung Electronics affiliate said on Monday. Lee Kang Hyun, marketing and export/import director of the South Korean electronics giant, told Antara that the Association of Electronics Industries filed complaints with the police.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Companies neglect environment: Official
Companies neglect environment: Official TANGERANG (JP): As many as 40 industrial companies here do not have adequate official documents on their activities managing and monitoring the impact of their businesses on the environment, an official said on Sunday. The head of Tangerang's environmental office, M. Harun, said the fee for obtaining such documents issued by his office, locally known as UKL/UPL, was about Rp 11 million (US$1,640).
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Muslimin criticizes IBRA policy
Muslimin criticizes IBRA policy JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution insisted on Monday the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) could not seize forest concessions from debtors. Muslimin said forest areas managed by concessionaires could not be calculated as company assets and must be considered the government's property granted to timber companies under logging contracts.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Parts of human body discovered in separate places
Parts of human body discovered in separate places JAKARTA (JP): Dismembered body parts believed to be of a male in his 20s were found at two separate locations in western Jakarta on Monday afternoon. The discovery of a head, two legs and two arms was reported at 1 p.m. by residents on Jl. Arjuna, near the Kebun Jeruk toll road entrance in West Jakarta.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
1999 British Film Festival set to animate Indonesia
1999 British Film Festival set to animate Indonesia By Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): John Halas, one of Britain's leading movie pioneers, said: "All films are animation." Animation means living, breathing and having a soul, which, according to Halas, inspires great thought on a great number of phenomena in the world of animation.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
More school burning in Aceh Besar regency
More school burning in Aceh Besar regency JAKARTA (JP): Another attempt to torch a school building has been reported in Aceh Besar regency, where a state high school was targeted early on Saturday. Antara reported on Monday from Banda Aceh that the attempt to set fire to the State High School (SMU) I in Krueng Raya had only damaged part of the principal's office. Police chief Lt. Col. Deddy Suryadi said the arson attack was committed by four unidentified people.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
TNI's presidential nominee
TNI's presidential nominee The general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), in which Indonesia's fourth president will be elected, is scheduled to held from Oct. 1, 1999 to Oct. 3, 1999. People are now talking about who should be nominated as Indonesia's new president for the 1999-2004 tenure. Some candidates, put forward before the June 7 polling, now see their positions as presidential hopefuls strengthened following the votes collected by their parties.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
House robberies strike North, South Jakarta
House robberies strike North, South Jakarta JAKARTA (JP): Two robberies occurred separately in Pademangan, North Jakarta, and Kemang, South Jakarta, on Sunday night and Monday morning respectively, causing losses of more than two kilograms of gold, two cars, a motorcycle, US$27,700 and S$10,000. Police were yet to make any arrests in connection with the two cases, but suspected the role of a housemaid in the Pademangan robbery.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pakistani to be hired for squash sparring partner
Pakistani to be hired for squash sparring partner JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Squash Association (PSI) is hiring Pakistani Asaz Azmat as a sparring partner for its men's team in preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month. Coach Bambang Gatot Subroto said on Monday Asaz would soon arrive in the country. "The organization is handling his transportation and accommodation.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Garuda passengers home after flight fright
Garuda passengers home after flight fright DENPASAR: Passengers and crew of a Garuda Indonesia flight which experienced engine trouble in Amsterdam on Saturday arrived on a different plane at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport on Monday. Their Boeing 747-400 was forced to make an emergency landing at Schipol Airport on Saturday morning after smoke was spotted coming from one of its four engines shortly after takeoff, reports said.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Forest abuse threatens Penan nomads
Forest abuse threatens Penan nomads By Frank Zeller MIRI, Malaysia (DPA): "Fifteen years ago we could drink this water," said the Penan boatman, standing on a rock at the edge of a muddy jungle river in the interior of Borneo. Then, he says, timber companies came and logged the rainforest that has been the home of his nomadic people for millennia. "They cut roads into the forest and took the trees down the river. The river turned brown and machine oil was floating on the water.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Five killed in Medan
Five killed in Medan MEDAN, North Sumatra: Five men were killed Monday in the Tuntungan district here, some 20 kilometers southwest of Medan, in a battle with residents. Bows and arrows and machetes were among the weapons used, Reuters reported. Locals said the trigger was because villagers refused the men's demand for money. They said they were fed up of the men they describe as thugs, who had long extorted them.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Sumba's unique forests need greater conservation efforts
Sumba's unique forests need greater conservation efforts By Tomie Dono and Andalusi Apsari BOGOR, West Java (JP): Sumba Island, located in the southern part of East Nusa Tenggara, about 100 kilometers south of Flores Island, is 250 kilometers long with a total area of 10,845 square kilometers. It is formed from volcanic crust fragments and limestone. The geological formation of Sumba is different from other islands in Nusa Tenggara, which originally derived from volcanic rock.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Cohesion a must for Indonesia's recovery
Cohesion a must for Indonesia's recovery By Sidesh Kaul This is the second of two articles on the government's effort to rescucitate the ailing economy. JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) has to recognize the fact that its entry into the corporate restructuring process is almost two years late. By this time, most companies are either well down the road in their negotiations with their respective creditors or have sunk even further in the morass of overindebtedness.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Planned cigarette excise scheme goes up in smoke
Planned cigarette excise scheme goes up in smoke JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Industry and Trade Rahardi Ramelan said on Monday the government had canceled plans to set cigarette excise rates according to nicotine and tar content because of technical difficulties. Rahardi said it would be difficult for the government to implement such an excise system because it did not have the technology to measure the nicotine and tar content of cigarettes.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Thai Newsweek dispute deepens
Thai Newsweek dispute deepens BANGKOK (AFP): Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan scolded Newsweek magazine on Monday amid growing anger over a cover story highlighting Bangkok's notorious sex trade. Surin said the foreign ministry had summoned Newsweek representatives to complain about the article, an in-depth analysis of Thailand's prospects for economic recovery after its worst crisis on record.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Bandung:
Where to go in Bandung: Exhibition * Photo Exhibition: Halflight by Accra Sheep, at Galeripadi Jl. Ir. H. Juanda 329 (Phone: 022 2500578/2504229), 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., until July 14 (Monday closed). Peformances * Concert, Speech: Parahyangan University's Student Choir, Goenawan Mohamad, at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Purnawarman 32, 8 p.m., July 13. * Theater: Indonesia 1/2 Tiang, at CCF - French Cultural Center, 7:30 p.m., July 16. * Puppet Show, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Templeton dismisses fears of Asian market downturn
Templeton dismisses fears of Asian market downturn SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Templeton Emerging Markets Fund Inc. president Mark Mobius Monday said Asia is in a new bull market with "considerable upside," dismissing fears the region's non- stop climb could come to a halt soon. Although markets such as South Korea have about tripled in value since September last year, most Asian bourses, except for Singapore, are still a way off from their pre-crisis highs, he said.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia urged to press on with restructuring
Indonesia urged to press on with restructuring SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesia must proceed immediately with bank and corporate restructuring despite political uncertainty, top International Monetary Fund (IMF) officials said.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Pioneer launches new corn seed
Pioneer launches new corn seed JAKARTA (JP): United States-based corn seed producer PT Pioneer Hibrida Indonesia introduced on Monday five new premier hybrid corn seeds, the P10, 11, 12, 13 and 14, despite the current sluggish domestic market. Pioneer country manager Andy Gumala said in a statement the use of hybrid corn seeds in Indonesia was not as popular as elsewhere in Southeast Asia.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
House supports creditors' meeting
House supports creditors' meeting JAKARTA (JP): The outgoing House of Representatives said on Monday it supported the government's decision to go ahead with the annual meeting of Indonesia's creditor consortium, the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), in Paris on July 27 and July 28.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
The Pertamina expose
The Pertamina expose Although in Jakarta it was an open secret that corruption was rampant in state-owned oil company Pertamina during Soeharto's 32-year New Order regime, it still came as a shock, if not a surprise, to many that the firm suffered a staggering US$6.1 billion in losses from corruption and gross inefficiency in the past two years.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Finance ministry unveils $28m in corruption
Finance ministry unveils $28m in corruption JAKARTA (JP): The finance ministry announced on Monday it had uncovered 11,536 corruption cases involving Rp 183.64 billion (US$28 million) occurring from April 1997 to the end of last month. Finance minister Bambang Subianto said that more than 76 percent of the corruption was linked to tax fraud. "These findings are related to wrongdoings by various parties," Bambang told a news conference.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Government to grant Rp 2 billion to PPD company
Government to grant Rp 2 billion to PPD company JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Communications has promised to allocate Rp 2 billion to state-owned Perum PPD bus company for the improvement of both its employee's welfare and its operations, a senior official at the ministry said on Monday. "The ministry will soon submit a budget proposal to the Ministry of Finance worth Rp 2 billion," said acting communications ministry spokesman Rukmalan Soemantri.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Presidential election
Presidential election From Rakyat Merdeka The results of the general election show most people would like Megawati Soekarnoputri to be Indonesia's fourth president. This aspiration is reflected by the fact that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) led by Megawati won more votes than other political party in the June 7 polls.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kanematsu denies selling gas stake
Kanematsu denies selling gas stake TOKYO (Dow Jones): Kanematsu Corp., a Japanese trading company, Monday denied a media report it plans to sell its stake in a natural gas concession in Indonesia. "We have not made any decision to sell our stake and do not have any intention to do so at the moment," Kanematsu said in a statement. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported Saturday Kanematsu plans to sell its stake in the Tangguh natural gas project in Indonesia for Y30 billion.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia ranks 105th in HDI index
Indonesia ranks 105th in HDI index JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) revealed on Monday that Indonesia was ranked 105th in its Human Development Report 1999, nine notches lower than last year's report. The report however said that "new data and methodology make direct comparisons between this year's and last year's rankings meaningless". The report said its Human Development Index (HDI) ranked 174 countries in terms of life expectancy, education and income.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Muslim students reject Megawati
Muslim students reject Megawati JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of Muslim students in Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, took to the streets on Monday voicing their rejection of Megawati Soekarnoputri's presidential bid. The demonstration took place at about the same time that hundreds of locals gathered in Medan, North Sumatra, to express their support of the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) by compiling thumb prints in blood.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Ministers to fix ASEAN's image
Ministers to fix ASEAN's image MANILA (AFP): Southeast Asian foreign ministers are to draw up a vision of a "united and solid" ASEAN during their meeting in Singapore later this month, a senior Philippine diplomat said on Monday. The move follows attacks on the 32-year-old organization's performance in the face of serious challenges such as the Asian financial crisis and the dispute over South China Sea territories, where four ASEAN members are rival claimants.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI, Norway form business council
RI, Norway form business council JAKARTA (JP): The Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta announced on Monday Indonesian and Norwegian firms had formed the Indonesian-Norway Business Council (INBC) to promote trade between the two countries. The embassy said in a statement the council would provide a forum for businessmen from both countries to discuss and exchange views on business conditions, both domestic and international, which affect their businesses.
Tue, 13 Jul 1999, 00:00 WIB
Expert sees quick recovery in prime condominium market
Expert sees quick recovery in prime condominium market JAKARTA (JP): A property consultancy firm predicted on Monday demand for prime condominiums in Jakarta would recover sooner than expected given the country's continuing economic improvement. PT Procon Indah/Jones Lang LaSalle said buyers' confidence had begun to recover at the end of the second quarter of 1999 following improvements in the country's economy, the strengthening of the rupiah and the peaceful general election.