Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 20 July 1999

60 articles found

Looter killed as police open fire

Looter killed as police open fire GROBOGAN, Central Java: One died and three others were injured when police opened fire to stop timber looters in a forest in Panadaran village, Grobogan district, on Sunday night. Supardi, 27, died after being shot in the chest, while Sukimin, 30, Tejo Sudir, 35 and Tarto, 40, all were shot in the legs. As of Monday morning, the scene of the incident was still kept under tight security by police and local officials.

Martial law may be called in Aceh, Irian: Minister

Martial law may be called in Aceh, Irian: Minister JAKARTA (JP): Separatist movements which have simmered in Aceh and Irian Jaya for years could force the government to declare martial law in the two provinces, a minister said on Monday. Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung, speaking for Minister of Defense and Security Gen.

Government submits forestry bill to House

Government submits forestry bill to House JAKARTA (JP): The government submitted a draft bill on forestry to the House of Representatives on Monday despite appeals for its postponement until the new legislature is sworn in. Minister of Forestry and Plantations Muslimin Nasution said the draft legislation, designed to replace the 1967 law, would allow for greater participation of cooperatives and provincial administration-owned companies in managing forest resources.

Teen indicted for killing girlfriend

Teen indicted for killing girlfriend JAKARTA (JP): A 17-year old schoolboy was indicted at West Jakarta District Court on Monday, on charges of administering an overdose of chloroform to his girlfriend, after she refused a date. He was aided in the crime by two family servants. Prosecutor Patta Sikapang said in a closed trial the defendant, Teddy Yaputra Sulaiman, along with his accomplices, drugged the victim, Heppy Trinita, 17, on April 25, and planned to rape her but found her already dead.

Idea of Islam faction at MPR

Idea of Islam faction at MPR From Rakyat Merdeka United Development Party (PPP) chairman Hamzah Haz's idea of the necessity to form an Islamic faction at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has been much commented on, both for and against. The idea was launched as a continuation of a stembus accoord agreement made by a number of Islamic parties, with the objective to better accommodate the aspirations of Muslims.

ICW veers from its course

ICW veers from its course From Pelita As a layman, I used to have empathy and support for the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), particularly upon its revelation of the alleged bribery of former attorney general Andi M. Ghalib. Not surprisingly, this alleged bribery case has made Teten Masduki, the coordinator of ICW, famous all over Indonesia almost overnight.

Donations for Aceh refugees

Donations for Aceh refugees BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Students grouped in the Aceh Humanity Post distributed food donations to refugees scattered in the areas of Tuepin Raya, Pante Raja and Trieng Gadeng, coordinator Rina Syamsuddin said on Saturday. In Trieng Gadeng and Pante Raja, for instance, there were a total of 14,408 refugees, Rina said, adding there were now 49,000 displaced people in Pidie regency alone.

Dragon dance returns to Medan

Dragon dance returns to Medan MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): After disappearing for 32 years, the traditional barongsai dragon dance appeared again on Saturday in a show at the Club Store in Medan. Hundreds of visitors, mostly of Chinese descent, enjoyed the rare show, which has also reappeared in other towns across the country. "I'm very happy... the dance is rare and it was forbidden for quite some time," Elli, a visitor, said.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Bali's conversion rates on July 19, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.

KPU set to ratify poll results

KPU set to ratify poll results JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) needs another week to check reports before it can declare the results of the June 7 elections valid, according to chairman Rudini. Rudini told the media on Monday he had urged commission members to cooperate so the poll results could be validated before July 26.

PDI-P promises to review list of House candidates

PDI-P promises to review list of House candidates JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) attempted on Monday to appease critical Muslim groups by promising to review its list of legislative candidates, which is dominated by non-Muslims.

YLKI urges city administration to waive parking fee hike plan

YLKI urges city administration to waive parking fee hike plan JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) urged the city administration on Monday to suspend its plan to increase parking fees and a 35 percent levy for private operators until it can provide better parking management.

National basketball team undergoes final workout

National basketball team undergoes final workout JAKARTA (JP): The national basketball team will challenge local clubs as its final preparation for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month. Coach Tjetjep Firmansyah said on Monday that his team would meet Mahaka Satria Muda club on July 27 and Aspac club on July 29. The games will allow players to develop a competitive spirit and adapt to the mental pressure caused by basketball games.

13 injured in latest Ambon religious clash

13 injured in latest Ambon religious clash AMBON, Maluku (JP): Thirteen people were injured on Monday in a clash between Muslims and Christians, 11 of them passengers of a public transport vehicle. The vehicle's driver fled the scene on Jl. Diponegoro around 10 a.m., while the conductor, Daniel Tuahatu, 25, sustained injuries from a machete. One man and 10 women were listed as passengers. All the victims were taken to Perigi Lima Police Hospital.

'No immediate plan to raise RI rating'

'No immediate plan to raise RI rating' SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): U.S.-based ratings agency Standard & Poor's Corp. doesn't expect to upgrade its sovereign debt rating for Indonesia in the near term, the agency's regional head told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

New question emerges

New question emerges The sudden installation of Navy chief Adm. Widodo A.S. as deputy commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) over the weekend caught many people by surprise. Their reactions were understandable, since the job, vacant for more than a decade, was startlingly filled in without any fitting security or professional reasons.

Texmaco, Polysindo post losses

Texmaco, Polysindo post losses JAKARTA (JP): Widely diversified Texmaco Group announced on Monday a net loss of Rp 1.749 trillion for its publicly listed textile manufacturing unit PT Polysindo Eka Perkasa in 1998. Texmaco said in a statement the massive loss was primarily on account of unrealized foreign exchange losses and an increased interest burden.

No suspects yet in murder case

No suspects yet in murder case JAKARTA (JP): Thirty people have been questioned in relation to the mutilation-murder of Sumarsana, but police are yet to name any suspects, an officer said on Monday. Those questioned were mostly relatives, close friends, and coworkers of the 33-year-old victim, whose dismembered body parts were found last Monday at two different spots -- Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta, and Tangerang. "No one has been detained, they're still witnesses," city police chief Maj. Gen.

Crisis forces more children to work: ILO

Crisis forces more children to work: ILO JAKARTA (JP): A nationwide survey in December 1998 found that the number of children forced to work to augment their families' incomes increased to 1,809,935 from 1,644,227 in 1997. The survey, conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics, involved children between the ages of 10 and 14.

Environment needs own ministry: PPP

Environment needs own ministry: PPP JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) has recommended establishing an environment ministry with more budget and better human resources than the current non-portfolio office to deal with increasingly complicated environmental problems.

Tomen triples capacity in RI

Tomen triples capacity in RI TOKYO (Dow Jones): Tomen Corp. a Japanese general trading company, said Monday it has tripled production capacity at its styrene monomer plant in Indonesia to 300,000 metric tons. The plant, PT Styrindo Mono Indonesia, located in West Java, makes styrene monomer for use in electrical appliances, packaging materials, and home products, Tomen said in a statement.

Privatization a delicate deal

Privatization a delicate deal By Winarno Zain JAKARTA (JP): Former president Soeharto once said the Indonesian people did not have to worry about their foreign debt. He said that because the country had so many state-owned enterprises, it would have enough money to pay the debt simply by selling some of them. It indeed has happened.

Bakrieland shares suspended

Bakrieland shares suspended JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange suspended trading of property firm PT Bakrieland Development on Monday after the company failed to meet Friday's deadline to submit its 1998 financial statement. JSX suspended trading of seven companies on Monday morning, but trading resumed for six of them in the afternoon session after they submitted their 1998 financial reports.

Timber company to breed deer in Southeast Sulawesi

Timber company to breed deer in Southeast Sulawesi JAKARTA (JP): A giant timber company often accused of being partly responsible for the loss of much of Indonesia's forests is planning to breed deer (cervus timorensis) in Buton, Southeast Sulawesi, where it runs an industrial forest estate. Local forestry officials have endorsed the project, which will involve 30 female deer and five male deer to be raised by PT Barito Pasifik Timber Group on a six-hectare breeding ground in Rumbia subdistrict.

Players vie for billiard trophy

Players vie for billiard trophy JAKARTA (JP): About 200 players are expected to compete in the billiard championship for the Kapolda (Jakarta police chief) Cup, the organizer said on Monday. The four-day championship will take place from July 22 to July 24 and will be held at Bengkel Night Park on Jl. Sudirman. It is organized by the Indonesian Billiard Foundation (YBI) in cooperation with the Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association (POBSI) and the Jakarta Police.

Forex reserves decline to US$16.1 billion

Forex reserves decline to US$16.1 billion JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia said on Monday its net foreign exchange reserves decreased by US$281 million to $16.1 billion on July 15 compared to the previous week's level. The central bank said in its weekly indicator report the drop was mainly due to the repayment of government foreign debts. But BI said its net international reserves were still above the IMF-adjusted target of $14.7 billion despite the drop.

Rates for tax payment, valid from July 19 to July 25

Rates for tax payment, valid from July 19 to July 25 U.S. dollar 1 Rp 6,625.00 Austrian schilling 1 488.38 Australian dollar 1 4,353.95 Belgian franc 1 166.60 Canadian dollar 1 4,470.31 Swiss franc 1 4,189.59 Deutschemark 1 3,437.09 Danish krone 1 910.08 French franc 1 1,024.51 Poundsterling 1 10,315.79 Hong Kong dollar 1 853.73 Italian lira 100 347.08 Japanese yen 100 5,424.99 Malaysian ringgit 1 1,743.47 Dutch guilder 1 3,049.60 New Zealand dollar 1 3,452.95 Norwegian krone 1 830.09 Swedish...

Traffic light needed

Traffic light needed On my way home, I usually pass through Jl. Jend. Pol. Soekanto, East Jakarta. At the end of this road there is "T- junction" which connects the Pondok Kopi area to the right and the Malaka area to the left. The distance from this junction to my house is about 300 meters. The problem is that it takes me half an hour to one hour to cover this distance.

Elephant gives birth to 'Mega'

Elephant gives birth to 'Mega' SURABAYA, East Java: The Indonesia Safari Park in Prigen, in Pasuruan district of East Java, had a new addition as a 75- kilogram, 61-centimeter tall Sumatran elephant, which was named Mega, was born on Monday night, Antara reported. Park spokeswoman Vita Nugroho said the elephant's parents were named Umri and Sidarta, both from the Way Kambas elephant preservation area in Lampung. Umri carried Mega for 23 months.

Sayumin eyes a gold medal this time

Sayumin eyes a gold medal this time JAKARTA (JP): Sayumin Teng has won silver medals at each of the past four SEA Games; he has the right to be a little jaded with the color. "No more silver. This year I have to earn the gold. I'll be ashamed if I go home with another silver," said the snooker player. Sayumin, who was born in Jambi on Nov. 22, 1967, has competed in the biennial event since the Manila Games in 1991.

Filthy air could dent HK's competitive advantage

Filthy air could dent HK's competitive advantage By Tan Ee Lyn HONG KONG (Reuters): The air in Hong Kong is getting so bad even big business is getting worried. Citizens have long cried out against the choking exhaust that has turned the skies above this city of 6.8 million people into a hue of constant gray regardless of the weather.

Big parties agree on CGI loan program

Big parties agree on CGI loan program JAKARTA (JP): The five major political parties, except the National Mandate Party (PAN), agreed on Monday that Indonesia's creditors continue loan disbursements to plug the current state budget deficit. The five party leaders expressed their views at a closed-door meeting with World Bank resident staff and discussed the agenda of the upcoming meeting of the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) in Paris early next week.

Asia needs 4,300 planes

Asia needs 4,300 planes HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Asia's airlines will need 4,300 new aircraft from now until 2018, a top executive of Airbus Industrie said Monday. Adam Brown, Airbus' vice president for Asia, was presenting the European aircraft maker's 20-year projection of regional demand for planes by Asian airlines. Asia-Pacific airlines will soak up 25 percent of the world's airliner production over the next 20 years, Airbus forecast.

KL condemns S'pore-Israel deal

KL condemns S'pore-Israel deal KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia has scolded Singapore for purchasing Israeli guided missiles, saying the defense pact was inconsiderate and made Malaysia not "feel good", news reports said on Monday. Malaysian deputy defense minister Abdullah Fadzil Che Wan acknowledged that Malaysia could not interfere in another nation's policies but said Singapore should be more sensitive to Malaysia's feelings, particularly regarding Israel.

Ghalib may continue as PGSI chief

Ghalib may continue as PGSI chief JAKARTA (JP): Former attorney general Andi M. Ghalib said on Monday he was likely to retain his post as chairman of the Indonesian Wrestling Association (PGSI), despite claims of his alleged involvement in corrupt activities. After meeting on Monday with chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar, a fit and healthy looking Ghalib said his assignment to continue chairing the wrestling body until 2003 would depend on a decision by Wismoyo.

Police vow war with Aceh rebels

Police vow war with Aceh rebels JAKARTA (JP): Aceh Police vowed on Monday to use any legal means to fight Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist rebels in the province. Speaking at a media conference here, chief of the provincial police Col. Bahrumsyah called the rebel group members "criminals" and said security authorities would continue a crackdown on the group for their unlawful acts in the province. Bahrumsyah was accompanied by former commander of the Crack Riot Troops (PPRM) in Aceh, Col.

Ananda wins F-3000 race

Ananda wins F-3000 race JAKARTA (JP): Young Indonesian driver Ananda Mikola fulfilled his ambition by winning the third leg of the Formula 3000 at the Enna circuit, Pergusa, Italy, on Sunday. Ananda, driving under the banner of Edenbridge Racing, reached 189.060 kilometers per hour and finished in 39 minutes 16.389 seconds. He collected the maximum 10 points. Giorgio Vinella of the Martello team was 5.976 seconds behind Ananda. Mark Shaw was 11.692 seconds behind in third.

Clove prices skyrocket

Clove prices skyrocket JAKARTA (JP): Central Sulawesi clove farmers have failed to benefit from a 20-year high price of Rp 50,000 (US$7.46) per kilogram over the past week, from as low as Rp 2,500 in early 1998, due to low output.

Halting corruption by promoting individual rights

Halting corruption by promoting individual rights By Christopher Lingle UBUD, Bali (JP): Few are surprised when corruption is uncovered in Indonesia. Prior to the economic crisis, illicit activities arising from corrupt, collusive and nepotistic (KKN) practices were estimated to add between 15 percent and 30 percent to the cost of doing business here. However, the amounts and extent recently revealed are truly staggering.

Southeast Asia's smog plan seen as smoke screen

Southeast Asia's smog plan seen as smoke screen By Benjamin Low KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Southeast Asian nations have not yet proved they are up to combating smog and could be touting a new plan merely as a delaying tactic, an influential Malaysian environmentalist says.

Telkom-1 satellite gets go-ahead for launch

Telkom-1 satellite gets go-ahead for launch By Christiani Tumelap KOUROU, French Guiana (JP): After a four-month delay, the Telkom-1 satellite owned by state telecommunications firm PT Telkom will be launched from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana on August 4. In addition to the delay, there was also a significant change to the launching plan.

Foreign tourist arrivals up in May

Foreign tourist arrivals up in May JAKARTA (JP): The number of foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia increased by 22.85 percent in May, according to the latest report released by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture here on Monday. Approximately 301,000 foreign tourists visited the country in May, well above the projected 280,000 arrivals. The foreign tourists generated around US$281.04 million in foreign exchange earnings, the ministry said.

POBSI predicts four golds in billiards and snooker

POBSI predicts four golds in billiards and snooker By Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): Officials from the Indonesian Billiards and Snooker Association (POBSI) have questioned the National Sports Council's (KONI) decision to include billiards and snooker as a second category sport for the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games -- meaning it could only win bronze medals. POBSI claimed its players were well prepared for the biennial event in Brunei Darussalam, which runs from Aug. 7 to Aug.

Local athletes win five golds at Malaysia Open

Local athletes win five golds at Malaysia Open JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia won five gold, four silver medals and a bronze at the Malaysia Open track-and-field championships over the weekend at the Darulmakmur stadium in Kuantan, Malaysia.

Megawati's supporters to hold victory parade

Megawati's supporters to hold victory parade BOGOR (JP): Approximately 40,000 supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) will take to the streets on Wednesday in a victory parade to celebrate the party's win of a majority of seats at the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Bogor Council, a party official said. Head of the Bogor Chapter of the party's Regional Executive Board Moch.

Growth triangle talks in Batam

Growth triangle talks in Batam JAKARTA (JP): Some 300 executives from the region are expected to take part on Wednesday in a meeting on the industrial island of Batam to promote cooperation in the context of the Indonesia- Malaysia-Singapore Growth Triangle (IMS-GT). Participants will come from the three countries as well as from Hong Kong and Brunei, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday.

8 hurt, 2 missing after boat blast

8 hurt, 2 missing after boat blast KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Eight people were seriously injured on Sunday night in a blast on a motorized sailing boat, Jabal Qubais, on the dock of a local port near Sentral market here, Antara reported on Monday. Two people have reportedly been missing since the blast. Among the victims identified were captain Rudin and five other crew members: La Muca, Udin, Mirdas, La Ela and Sakiri.

Presidential election

Presidential election H.W. Pienandoro, who was concerned in his letter Electing the president (July 14, 1999) about bloody thumbprints, is worrying about the wrong issue. Mr. Pienandoro says the thumbprint campaigners are emotional and irrational. However, being emotional and being irrational are two different things. As Joseph Conrad put it, "convictions are disguised servants of our passions".

Malnutrition in S. Kalimantan

Malnutrition in S. Kalimantan BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: Twenty-six undernourished babies in South Kalimantan have died this year and 59 others are currently receiving treatment, Antara reported on Saturday. South Kalimantan administration spokesman Kamarul Hidayat said there were also at least 4,482 children under the age of five who needed immediate care for undernourishment. He said that since February, 72 incidents of malnutrition were found in the provincial capital of Banjarmasin.

Vision pollution

Vision pollution From Neraca Some foreign tourists think there is vision pollution in Bali. The natural scenery of the island is now cluttered, and this condition has made many tourist sites less attractive to visitors. One of the causes of the vision pollution is the highly disordered arrangement of buildings and billboards along the Nusa Dua-Jimbaran bypass and in places like Sanur and Kuta. I recently visited the island and my view was indeed hampered by the great number of billboards.

Another orangutan haven disappears in Indonesia

Another orangutan haven disappears in Indonesia By Bernard Estrade JAKARTA (AFP): Illegal logging and mining are just two of the dangers which have sounded the death knell for one of the most important remaining sanctuaries for orangutans in Indonesian Borneo. The activities of poachers and political upheaval have also forced the abandonment of the Tanjung Puting haven, which provided an invaluable shelter to the endangered ginger-haired primates, experts say.

Madurese face desparate lives in refugee centers

Madurese face desparate lives in refugee centers By Edi Petebang and Erma S. Ranik PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): There is a new scene in the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak. Child beggars, newspaper sellers and hawkers roaming the streets. They are the children of the Madurese who fled their villages in West Kalimantan in the wake of bloody ethnic clashes between the Madurese migrants and the indigenous Malays. The clashes took place from January to March and claimed 185 lives.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 19, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 475 0 15,000 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 300 0 0 Alter Abadi 400 0 134,000 Alumindo Light Metal 975 -25 5,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 575 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,600 25 12,507,000 Anwar Sierad 325 0 75,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

Aceh rebels kill five soldiers, injure 20 others

Aceh rebels kill five soldiers, injure 20 others JAKARTA (JP): A group of separatist rebels shot five anti-riot troop personnel dead and injured a score of others on Monday in a dawn ambush in Reng Krueng village in Pidie regency, 170 kilometers east of the provincial capital Banda Aceh. The clash took place amid attempts to initiate a peace process, with a number of Acehnese figures, including separatist movement leaders in exile, planning a meeting in Bangkok on July 24 and July 25.

'Bus fare hikes to take effect in August'

'Bus fare hikes to take effect in August' JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso announced on Monday that the planned hike on bus fares would be made effective by the first week of next month. The governor insisted that the increase, which has received sharp criticism from the Indonesian Transportation Labor Union (SPTI) and the general public, was a necessity to prevent public transportation companies and cooperatives from going out of business.

Javan rhino colony stable at 50 to 60

Javan rhino colony stable at 50 to 60 JAKARTA (JP): The endangered Javan rhino population in Ujungkulon National Park, West Java, has remained unchanged, between 50 and 60, since the 1980s, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia. Meanwhile, the park's banteng ((wild bull) population has grown extensively in the past 20 years and are now competing with the rhinos for food, the WWF said in a statement.

UNAMET registration rules come under fire

UNAMET registration rules come under fire DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) is facing mounting demands from East Timorese to soften its regulation requiring voters in next month's self- determination ballot to show at least two pieces of documentation to register.

Where to go in Bandung:

Where to go in Bandung: Exhibition * Cartoon Exhibition: Cartoon for Democracy by, 39 Indonesian cartoonists, at Galeri Soemardja, Art and Design Faculty of ITB Jl. Ganesha 10, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., until July 31. * Photo Exhibition, Photo Pentas, by Herman Effendi, at Hotel Papandayan, Jl. Gatot Subroto No. 83 (Phone: 022 310799), July 21 to July 28. Peformances * Sundanese Drama, Bang Bang Sanjaya, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl.

BI to be audited in drive toward transparency

BI to be audited in drive toward transparency JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) will audit Bank Indonesia as part of its drive to boost transparency, according to a senior official at the central bank. The official, who insisted on anonymity, said the audit plan would be stipulated in the government's new letter of intent (LoI) to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Free school for poor children launched

Free school for poor children launched JAKARTA (JP): A free school for children from poor families was opened on Monday by a non-governmental organization as part of its efforts to help educate teenage school leavers in the city. The school, jointly funded by the Pelita Ilmu Foundation and a local office of the Ministry of Education and Culture, has places for 40 students between the ages of 13 and 16, and has so far enrolled 31 children from the neighborhood area.