Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 8 July 1999

47 articles found

Toyota Astra says Kijang van price will not increase

Toyota Astra says Kijang van price will not increase JAKARTA (JP): Carmaker PT Toyota Astra Motor said on Wednesday it would maintain the prices of its popular brand Kijang multi- purpose van, despite the abolishment of tax breaks to cars with high local content.

PNG's Bill Skate quits, Taiwan deal uncertain

PNG's Bill Skate quits, Taiwan deal uncertain PORT MORESBY (Reuters): Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Bill Skate quit on Wednesday after a deal to recognize Taiwan failed to rescue his sinking career and angered trading partner China.

Motorcycle thieves killed by mob

Motorcycle thieves killed by mob TANGERANG (JP): Angry residents beat two men to death on Tuesday morning after apparently catching them attempting to steal a motorcycle in the Kenanga subdistrict of Cipondoh here.The two men, one of whom has not been identified, were attacked at about 5 a.m.

Is the Jakarta elite out of touch?

Is the Jakarta elite out of touch?By Percival Manglano JAKARTA (JP): Gerry van Klinken, editor of Inside Indonesia, had an interesting article published in the Far Eastern Economic Review on March 18.In Is Indonesia Breaking Down?, Van Klinken vowed to "take a serious look at the accepted wisdom on...

INRO, under fire, defends role in rubber market

INRO, under fire, defends role in rubber market KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The International Natural Rubber Organization (INRO) defended itself on Wednesday against criticism by Malaysia, saying it had achieved its goal of protecting producers against wild price swings.

Austrade opens business club

Austrade opens business club SURABAYA (JP): The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) launched the Business Club Australia here on Tuesday, as part of the Australian government's "Australia Open for Business" program for the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Expert queries 'sudden' drafting of presidency bill

Expert queries 'sudden' drafting of presidency bill JAKARTA (JP): To end confusion on reports of a new bill on the presidency, any draft should be given to the upcoming House of Representatives and the new government to work on, a noted sociologist said.

Prison warden denies 'special treatment'

Prison warden denies 'special treatment' JAKARTA (JP): The warden of Salemba Penitentiary has dismissed reports some prisoners are accorded special privileges and allowed to run criminal activities from behind bars.

WWF manages forestry park

WWF manages forestry park JAKARTA (JP): Conservation organization World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia presented on Tuesday, a management plan to the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations for the 800,000 hectare Betung Kerihun National Park in West Kalimantan.

Where to go in Surabaya

Where to go in SurabayaFilm * 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. Basuki Rakhmat 106-128 (Phone: 031 5311234): - The Tavern Pub: Cosindos Band, Monday to Friday, 9...

Court can't call Soeharto to testify in Goro trial

Court can't call Soeharto to testify in Goro trial JAKARTA (JP): The prosecutor in the Goro land exchange case said on Wednesday that former president Soeharto cannot be called as a witness because of a legal stipulation barring relatives from testifying against a suspect.

15,000 VCDs seized from Glodok

15,000 VCDs seized from Glodok JAKARTA (JP): Police continued their combat against pornography on Wednesday by seizing at least 15,000 video compact discs (VCDs) and arresting 35 street vendors in the capital's busy Glodok area in West Jakarta.West Jakarta Police deputy chief Maj.

New curriculum to be implemented

New curriculum to be implemented JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Education and Culture says a new elementary and secondary education curriculum, an improved version of the 1994 curriculum currently in place, will be implemented at the beginning of the 1999/2000 academic year in mid-July.

Ujungpandang's Borong streets paved in gold

Ujungpandang's Borong streets paved in gold UJUNGPANDANG (JP): Borong in Panakkukang subdistrict, some 10 kilometers east of Ujungpandang, has long been known as a center of gold handicraft.Nearly 90 percent of the 250 people who live in the area are gold craftsmen.

Balinese artist combines cultural icons

Balinese artist combines cultural iconsBy Putu Wirata DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The 32-year rule of the New Order government is remembered as a regime which would not tolerate ideas different from its own.Bali-born artist D.

Toyota, Siam sign deal

Toyota, Siam sign deal BANGKOK (AP): Group companies led by Japan's Toyota Motor Corp. and Siam Cement, Thailand's largest industrial conglomerate, signed an agreement Wednesday governing three joint-venture automobile parts makers in Thailand.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on July 7, 1999: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 6,711.00 6,779.00Australian dollar 1 4,445.37 4,493.80Austrian schilling 1 499.75 505.31Belgian franc 1 170.47 172.37Brunei dollar 1 3,954.63 3,997.05Canadian dollar 1 4,565.31 4,613.

KONI approves additional Rp 2b for SEA Games

KONI approves additional Rp 2b for SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team may have felt relief as the National Sports Council (KONI) chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar approved an additional Rp 2 billion (US$298,510) to send athletes to compete in the Games in Brunei...

New bill won't affect Telkom and Indosat

New bill won't affect Telkom and Indosat JAKARTA (JP): The bill on telecommunications currently deliberated at the House of Representatives will not affect the exclusive rights held by PT Telkom Indonesia and PT Indosat, a senior official has said.Eman S.

More needed to curb corruption: Experts

More needed to curb corruption: Experts JAKARTA (JP): Senior economist and former finance minister Frans Seda hailed on Wednesday the government's move to publicly divulge corruption in the bureaucracy and state companies, but said it must push on with concrete measures to form a clean government.

Government to send 1,200 more police to East Timor

Government to send 1,200 more police to East Timor JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Wednesday it would send 1,200 police reinforcements to East Timor in response to a recent spate of attacks against personnel of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET).

Ananda seeks sponsorship

Ananda seeks sponsorship JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's young car racer, Ananda Mikola, is looking for a sponsorship deal with local companies to support him with racing facilities for practicing.Ananda told reporters on Wednesday that in the sponsorship deal, he would also help the companies to promote...

Vote count finished for 12 provinces

Vote count finished for 12 provinces JAKARTA (JP): The National Elections Committee (PPI) completed the vote counting in 12 provinces on Wednesday, with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) dominating in Central and East Java and Bali.

Hutama Karya faces second legal suit

Hutama Karya faces second legal suit JAKARTA (JP): Toronto-based Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC) has filed a bankruptcy claim against PT Hutama Karya, the second suit lodged against the state-owned construction company this year.CIBC lawyer Rahmat Bastian from Dermawan & Co.

Transvestites head for Padang

Transvestites head for Padang PADANG, West Sumatra: Tight competition has forced dozens of transvestite prostitutes to flee Jakarta and Pekanbaru for a new life here.Deputy head of the Mayoralty Public Order Office Surya Ramadhan told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that despite the visible presence...

Thai Srichaphan loses to non-seeded de Voest

Thai Srichaphan loses to non-seeded de Voest JAKARTA (JP): Top-seeded Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand had to make an early exit after losing 2-6, 7-5, 4-6 to qualifier Ric de Voest of South Africa in the second round of the Men's Indonesian Fertilizer Future 4 at the Kemayoran Tennis Center on...

Govt cuts import duty

Govt cuts import duty JAKARTA (JP): The government announced on Wednesday a cut in import duty on breakfast cereal products made by Kellogg's Limited of Thailand from 100 percent to only 10 percent.Head of the public relations department of the Ministry of Finance Hadiyanto said the move was part...

Grasberg expansion needs copper demand

Grasberg expansion needs copper demand MELBOURNE (Dow Jones): A sustainable rise in copper demand is needed for before any expansion of the Grasberg copper and gold mine in Indonesia goes ahead, Rio Tinto PLC's managing director of its Australian operations, Barry Cusack said Wednesday.

What falls under pornographic materials?

What falls under pornographic materials?By Loreen Neville JAKARTA (JP): Is a photograph of nude little boys happily jumping and swimming in a lake, child pornography? Women wearing bikinis for a swim or wearing just the lower piece strolling on the beach in Bali, is that pornography? If it is then...

Regional currencies down as threat of intervention looms

Regional currencies down as threat of intervention looms HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Intervention, the threat of intervention and position liquidation combined to drive Asian currencies lower against the U.S. dollar during local trading hours Wednesday.

I use my own money, Sutiyoso says

I use my own money, Sutiyoso says JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso denied on Wednesday allegations he used the city budget to finance the maintenance of his cars, upkeep of his pets and the foreign schooling of one of his children.

Police arrest student leader over separatist protest

Police arrest student leader over separatist protest SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): Police arrested on Wednesday a woman suspected of organizing a separatist protest earlier this week.The head of the Irian Jaya Students Association, Yacomina Isir, was arrested on Wednesday morning while visiting the...

Palm oil heading for $300 per ton in European trade

Palm oil heading for $300 per ton in European trade LONDON (Reuters): As palm oil prices continued to fall on Wednesday morning, European traders said they could be heading for $300 a ton, a level not seen since the mid-1980s.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 7, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 475 -25 22,500 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 325 -75 4,500 Alter Abadi 400 0 392,500...

S'pore navy aids civic mission

S'pore navy aids civic mission TANJUNG PINANG, Riau: The Singapore navy has sent a medical team and a warship to join a civic mission conducted by the Indonesian Navy in the archipelagic province's remote subdistricts.Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Widodo A.S.

BI's benchmark interest rate drops to 17.15 percent

BI's benchmark interest rate drops to 17.15 percent JAKARTA (JP): The benchmark interest rate of Bank Indonesia one-month promissory notes (SBI) fell by over 150-basis points to 17.15 percent at the weekly Wednesday auction, from 18.84 percent last week.

Interpreting bloodied fingerprint

Interpreting bloodied fingerprintFrom Bali PostThere has been a rather unsympathetic response recently to the fact that members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in Surabaya made thumb prints with their own blood.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Exhibitions * Arts Exhibition by D. Chandra 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.

Villagers complain over dust from cement factory

Villagers complain over dust from cement factory BOGOR, West Java (JP): Residents of Kamurang and Puspanegara villages in Citeureup here on Wednesday strongly urged publicly listed cement producer PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa to provide free medical services to locals.

Landslide in South Sulawesi claims two victims

Landslide in South Sulawesi claims two victimsBy Jupriadi and Arifudin Saeni SINJAI, South Sulawesi (JP): Rescue workers and residents unearthed two bodies from the mud on Wednesday here after a major landslide, with the search continuing for nine missing relatives of the dead.

Jewelry craft a goldmine of opportunity

Jewelry craft a goldmine of opportunityBy Jupriadi UJUNGPANDANG (JP): The economic crisis in Indonesia has not, apparently, wiped out every kind of business. Some have even progressed, one of which is gold handicraft business.

Fireworks blast kills man

Fireworks blast kills man KENDAL, Central Java: A man was killed and six others were severely injured when exploding gunpowder used for fireworks destroyed their home in Jetis subdistrict here on Wednesday.Local residents found the dismembered body of Karman, 30, shortly after the morning explosion.

Billiards association eyeing two golds at 20th SEA Games

Billiards association eyeing two golds at 20th SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): The All Indonesian Billiards Association (POBSI) has set a target of two golds at the 20th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Brunei Darussalam next month.

Man sentenced to 14 years for Ita murder

Man sentenced to 14 years for Ita murder JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday sentenced 23-year-old Otong to 14 years in prison for murdering Marthadinata, also known as Ita, 18, in the victim's home in Kemayoran on Oct. 9 last year.

Accounting firm questions Ghalib for alleged graft

Accounting firm questions Ghalib for alleged graft JAKARTA (JP): An accounting firm on Wednesday questioned Andi M. Ghalib, who stepped aside from the Attorney General's Office last month pending a graft investigation, Antara reported.

No special events planned to greet new millenium

No special events planned to greet new millenium JAKARTA (JP): The new millennium is only five months away but the city administration has yet to prepare for the big event, causing confusion among hoteliers, entertainment park operators and shopping complexes which usually start making promotional...

IBRA to appeal Sempati bankruptcy decision

IBRA to appeal Sempati bankruptcy decision JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) says it will appeal a Jakarta Commercial Court decision declaring private airline PT Sempati Air bankrupt.