Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 15 July 1999

48 articles found

PLN runs up big losses in Ambon

PLN runs up big losses in Ambon AMBON, Maluku: State-run electricity company PT PLN lost Rp 2 billion during the sectarian violence in the city earlier this year.Director of the provincial branch Kasian Tanjung said on Saturday that income dropped Rp 600 million by the middle of the year.

Unions protest Olympic uniforms

Unions protest Olympic uniforms SYDNEY (AFP): Only half of the clothes the 60,000 Olympic workers will wear at next year's Sydney Olympics will be made in Australia, the New South Wales Labor Council said on Wednesday.

Panwaslu-KPU row over poll results takes new turn

Panwaslu-KPU row over poll results takes new turn JAKARTA (JP): Controversy over the official Election Supervisory Committee's authority to validate results of the poll in the absence of approval by the General Elections Commission (KPU) continued on Wednesday.

Ginandjar to sound out Japan's loan commitment

Ginandjar to sound out Japan's loan commitment JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for Economy and Finance Ginandjar Kartasasmita will leave for Tokyo on Monday to secure loans already committed by the Japanese government to Indonesia's current budget and to discuss budget financing needs for...

Governor Sutiyoso sues Hotel Mulia for Rp 15b

Governor Sutiyoso sues Hotel Mulia for Rp 15b JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso, in a hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday, demanded the management of five-star Hotel Mulia, PT Jakarta Country Club, pay a Rp 15.13 billion (US$2.

Observers tell KPU to speed up pace

Observers tell KPU to speed up pace JAKARTA (JP): A United States-based poll watchdog has suggested the General Elections Commission (KPU) speed up the tabulation and announcement of election results, warning that the poll's credibility would otherwise be eroded.

Motorola to launch new models

Motorola to launch new models JAKARTA (JP): United States mobile phone maker Motorola will launch wireless phones of the V-series in new colors as well as its latest innovative L-series next month.Radar blue, galaxy gray and silvery light titanium models will join the masculine black V3688 launched...

Government urged to alter role in cooperatives

Government urged to alter role in cooperatives JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of major political parties said on Wednesday that the new government should refrain from intervening in the affairs of cooperatives to allow strong growth of the movement.

WB calls on Indonesia to expedite asset sales

WB calls on Indonesia to expedite asset sales SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): The Indonesian government needs to accelerate bank asset sales and state bank reforms to kick start the economy, World Bank country director Mark Baird said on Wednesday.

Inneke questioned in indecency case

Inneke questioned in indecency case JAKARTA (JP): Movie and television star Inneke Koesherawati was summoned by the National Police on Wednesday and questioned for two hours as a witness in a police investigation into alleged violations of indecency in several publications here.

PRSI to hold simulation ahead of SEA Games

PRSI to hold simulation ahead of SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): To allow the national swimmers to prepare to compete in the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month, the Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) will hold a two-day simulation for its 13 swimmers.

AAMCI protests agents arrests

AAMCI protests agents arrests JAKARTA: The Association of Indonesia's Print Media Agent (AAMCI) protested Tuesday the arrest of some of its members by Central Java Police allegedly involved in publishing pornographic materials.

Mia ready for Singapore, Indonesia opens

Mia ready for Singapore, Indonesia opens JAKARTA (JP): After a two-month break in which she gained a considerable amount of weight, Indonesian women's singles player Mia Audina says she is ready to compete in the Singapore and Indonesia opens next month.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on July 14, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 6,600.00 6,660.00 6,600.00 6,690.00Australian dollar 1 4,315.55 4,407.00 4,290.00 4,482.00Austrian schilling 1 484.65 494.15 - -Belgian franc 1 165.

Sanitory conditions claim 21 Tual refugees' lives

Sanitory conditions claim 21 Tual refugees' lives AMBON, Maluku (JP): At least 21 refugees in makeshift refugee centers in Tual, the capital of Southeast Maluku regency, have died in recent weeks from cholera and other communicable diseases.

Fisherman survives mishap

Fisherman survives mishap MATARAM, Lombok: A fisherman from Lombok who floated in the sea for 17 days returned to his residence in Cilacap, Central Java, early Wednesday Antara reported.Saharuddin, 23, was a survivor of a mishap when a fishing boat with five other fishermen went missing after a...

Provincial government to have shares in forest concessions

Provincial government to have shares in forest concessions JAKARTA (JP): Timber companies will be required to give at least 10 percent of their shares to provincial administration- owned companies if their concessions are to be extended, Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution said...

Mutilation case draws speculation

Mutilation case draws speculation JAKARTA (JP): The gruesome discovery on Monday of dismembered human body parts at two separate spots in western part of Jakarta has attracted speculation on the part of police officers and criminologists.

Current economy-class public transport fares maintained

Current economy-class public transport fares maintained JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Communications Giri Suseno Hadihardjono said on Wednesday the government would not increase economy class fares on public transportation given the damage the economic crisis had caused to people's purchasing power.

KL nixes Spratlys for ASEAN agenda

KL nixes Spratlys for ASEAN agenda KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia does not want the Spratly Islands dispute raised at this month's meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN), foreign minister Syed Hamid Albar said on Wednesday.

Bank restructuring cost estimated at $82b

Bank restructuring cost estimated at $82b JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto said on Wednesday the cost for restructuring and recapitalizing the country's battered banking sector was estimated at Rp 550 trillion (US$82.09 billion), or about 50 percent of gross domestic product.

RI eases immigration rules

RI eases immigration rules JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Justice has issued a decree to allow visitors to enter Indonesia without a visa through five airports and 12 seaports, an official said on Wednesday.Director General of Immigration M.

Pertamina to supply natural gas to ammonia plant in East Kalimantan

Pertamina to supply natural gas to ammonia plant in East Kalimantan JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina signed on Wednesday a 20-year contract to supply natural gas to a large ammonia plant, which is partly controlled by Mitsubishi Corp of Japan, in East Kalimantan.

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya:Film * English Film Festival organized by British Council (Phone: 031 5689958) at Mitra 21 Jl. Yos Sudarso, July 23-24.Music and Entertainment * Hyatt Regency Surabaya, Jl. Jend.

Glass painter Sulasno: A man of many talents

Glass painter Sulasno: A man of many talentsBy Israr Ardiansyah YOGYAKARTA (JP): Sulasno's physical features have not changed much since he was a poor bricklayer. He is less than 160 centimeters tall, muscular, his long hair tied back.

Malaysia checks traffic snarls

Malaysia checks traffic snarls KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia is looking into reports of traffic snarls on the Singapore side of its causeway link with the island republic, foreign minister Syed Hamid Syed Albar said on Wednesday.

Economic data underestimates real conditions, says CSFB

Economic data underestimates real conditions, says CSFB JAKARTA (JP): London-based investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB) claims Indonesia's official economic data does not reflect the real conditions of the country's improved economic activities.

Compulsory reporting

Compulsory reporting Most media gave little play to Minister of Finance Bambang Subianto's announcement on Monday of the obligation for companies to file with the government annual reports as part of the national drive against corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Neiss foresees stronger rupiah, lower rates

Neiss foresees stronger rupiah, lower rates SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Despite recent gains on foreign exchange markets, the Indonesian rupiah still has room to strengthen and domestic interest rates could fall further, Hubert Neiss, Asia Pacific director for the International Monetary Fund, said...

Five Japan oil firms closed

Five Japan oil firms closed TOKYO (Dow Jones): State-run oil company Japan National Oil Corp. said Wednesday that five Japanese companies set up to carry out oil and gas exploration projects have been shut down because their projects failed to discover enough oil and gas reserves to be considered...

The looting of Muara Kaman

The looting of Muara Kaman About 1,500 years ago the area around Muara Kaman was the center of a mighty Hindu kingdom, known as Mulawarman. During a recent trip up the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, I spent a few days in this village.

Former chief proposes new police watchdog

Former chief proposes new police watchdog JAKARTA (JP): Prominent former national police chief Awaloedin Djamin on Wednesday suggested the establishment of a special commission to supervise the performance of police across the country.

Tarzan, lord of the shopping mall

Tarzan, lord of the shopping mallBy Jules Bell JAKARTA (JP): At Taman Anggrek Mall at the moment you can literally climb the walls, go skateboarding or if you are feeling a little less energetic, be entertained in a jungle environment.

Pornography: A social menace?

Pornography: A social menace?By Johannes Nugroho SURABAYA (JP): Recent outrage expressed by socioreligious groups over the allegedly pornographic pictures of certain Indonesian female celebrities has fueled a national debate on the issue.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 14, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 475 0 71,000 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 325 0 0 Alter Abadi 400 0 165,000 Alumindo Light...

U.S. warns Indonesia over East Timor violence

U.S. warns Indonesia over East Timor violence JAKARTA (JP): A visiting U.S. official warned Indonesia on Wednesday that its relations with the world community, including the U.S., would suffer if it failed to stop rampant violence in East Timor ahead of a self-determination ballot there in August.

Media's election coverage biased, say observers

Media's election coverage biased, say observers JAKARTA (JP): Journalists and media observers concluded on Tuesday the majority of the Indonesian media, both print and electronic, had been biased in its coverage of the election campaigning and the June 7 polls.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Exhibitions * Arts Exhibition by D. Tjandra Kirana, at the Chedi Gallery, Desa Melinggih Kelod, Payangan, Gianyar, Ubud (Phone: 0361 975963), until July 26. * Painting Exhibition: Kanvas Putih, by Ruri, at Grand Hyatt Hotel, Nusa Dua (Phone: 0361 771234), until July 19.

Bring Soeharto to international court, demand Irianese students

Bring Soeharto to international court, demand Irianese students JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Students in Jayapura called for former president Soeharto to be tried at the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity.

Police announce new identity of mutilated body

Police announce new identity of mutilated body JAKARTA (JP): Based on a detailed description given by family members, city police on Wednesday identified a mutilated body discovered earlier this week as Sumarsana, 33, an employee of plastic household manufacturer PT Lion Star in Cengkareng, West...

Indonesia's own rice museum

Indonesia's own rice museum When in Indonesia, I always read with pleasure The Jakarta Post, appreciating the variety of subjects and opinions.The Aug. 4, 1998, issue featured an article by Ruth Youngblood about the International Rice Research Institute in Los Banos, the Philippines.

Military confirms Aceh rebels' arrest

Military confirms Aceh rebels' arrest JAKARTA (JP): Teuku Umar Military chief Col. Syarifuddin Tippe confirmed on Tuesday the military arrested 20 alleged Aceh separatists in Tennom, West Aceh regency last week, while a human rights group urged the military to find the whereabouts of at least 32...

'King of Sex' on the loose

'King of Sex' on the loose BANYUMAS, Central Java (JP): If you are wondering why you remain "powerless" although you have regularly popped foreign- brand drugs for your erectile dysfunction, police here are offering an answer.

Sex education

Sex education I wish to comment on the issue of UN members agreeing to promote sex education, which was reported in the July 4 edition of The Jakarta Post. The plan calls for increased efforts in family planning, prenatal care and sex education in developing countries, which account for almost 98...

Rupiah from heaven rains in Medan

Rupiah from heaven rains in Medan MEDAN, North Sumatra: It rained money in Medan on Wednesday as some 100 people scrambled for bills of Rp 5,000 to Rp 20,000, after they had set fire to doors and broke into an office of a multilevel marketing firm.

Officers send dying woman to RSCM

Officers send dying woman to RSCM JAKARTA (JP): A critically ill woman, brought to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital by three members of the military police, died upon arrival at the hospital's emergency room on Wednesday afternoon.

West Sinjai landslide devastates locals

West Sinjai landslide devastates localsBy Jupriadi UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): Sadness lingered among residents of the hamlets of Rumbia and Pattiro in Bonto Salama village, West Sinjai district, where a major landslide killed 11 inhabitants on July 3.

Sutiyoso defends capital as one of many corrupt cities

Sutiyoso defends capital as one of many corrupt cities JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso said on Wednesday corruption "was a commonplace activity in the country" and that the Ministry of Home Affairs' revelation of Jakarta's substantial involvement in Rp 2.