Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 9 July 1999

49 articles found

Bimantara clarifies

Bimantara clarifies We were disappointed to read your report titled Pertamina cancels Soeharto's oil and gas contracts in your July 3, 1999, edition. Paragraph eight states: "PT Genindo EPS, a subsidiary of the Bimantara Group controlled by Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, was forced to transfer...

'Abductees' deny radio report

'Abductees' deny radio report JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Two locals believed kidnapped by separatist rebels recently have reappeared and denied the report.One of the men, P. Ramandey, said Wednesday he was surprised by a recent state radio RRI broadcast saying he and his colleague were abducted by the...

Educational technology's place in Indonesia

Educational technology's place in IndonesiaBy Nirwan Idrus JAKARTA (JP): Much has been said about higher education in Indonesia in the recent past. The new paradigm the government is seeking to implement has concentrated on the mechanisms of changing attitudes and processes.

Activists revive bid to slow CGI meeting

Activists revive bid to slow CGI meeting JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) renewed calls on Thursday for the country's main aid donors, grouped under the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), to delay their annual meeting scheduled for July 27 and July 28 in Paris.

115.5 kgs of ganja seized

115.5 kgs of ganja seized TANGERANG (JP): The local military district command arrested a suspected member of a marijuana dealing syndicate on Wednesday and seized 115.5 kilograms of the drug from the man.

Ministry regrets call to raze school

Ministry regrets call to raze school BOGOR (JP): The head of the local office of the Ministry of Education and Culture regretted on Thursday the issuance of a decree by the Bogor mayoralty office for the demolition of newly completed Al-Azhar school, which has begun enrollment.

Ex-PNG premier defends Taiwan ties

Ex-PNG premier defends Taiwan ties PORT MORESBY (Agencies): PNG Prime Minister Bill Skate formally quit his post on Thursday but stood by his decision to set up diplomatic ties with Taiwan despite protests from China.

House, media organization out to challenge new bill

House, media organization out to challenge new bill JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives and the Indonesian Press and Broadcast Society (MPPI) agreed on Thursday to accept a government-sponsored bill on mass media for deliberation for practical reasons.

Antigambling drive nets agents

Antigambling drive nets agents BANDUNG: Police here arrested seven alleged traders of betting coupons in a crackdown on gambling rings in the town on Wednesday night.Detectives chief Maj. Ronnie F. Sompie said on Thursday the suspects were caught on Jl. Antapani and Jl.

Government revokes vast forest concessions

Government revokes vast forest concessions JAKARTA (JP): Eight forest concessions totaling 1.17 million hectares owned jointly by former president Soeharto's children and their business associates were revoked because they were allegedly granted through corruption, nepotism and collusion, the...

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Bali's conversion rates on July 8, 1999: TT rates Bank notes rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 6,695.00 6,755.00 6,695.00 6,785.00Australian dollar 1 4,445.40 4,537.25 4,420.00 4,612.00Austrian schilling 1 492.51 502.02 - -Belgian franc 1 168.00 171.

Return DPRD's severance pay

Return DPRD's severance pay I fully subscribe to the demonstration launched by some 800 university students in Malang, East Java. The students were strongly opposed to the severance pay allocated to departing members of the (regional) legislative council (DPRD), thus the students showed their...

Bank Bali deal soon finalized SCB: UK bank

Bank Bali deal soon finalized SCB: UK bank JAKARTA (JP): Standard Chartered Bank of the UK is confident it will be able to finalize its plan to acquire 20 percent of publicly listed Bank Bali by the end of the month.

Ghalib no suspect: Military Police

Ghalib no suspect: Military Police JAKARTA (JP): The Military Police has denied reports that Lt. Gen. Andi M. Ghalib, the former attorney general who stepped aside amid allegations that he had accepted bribes, has been named a suspect in their investigations.

Calls mount to replace Habibie 'within Golkar'

Calls mount to replace Habibie 'within Golkar' JAKARTA (JP): Deputy chairman of the ruling Golkar, Marzuki Darusman, said on Thursday that calls to replace the incumbent President B.J. Habibie as the party's sole presidential candidate had strengthened.

Asian stocks mixed, Bangkok plunges

Asian stocks mixed, Bangkok plunges HONG KONG (AP): Asian stocks closed mixed Thursday, with Tokyo prices edging slightly higher as Hong Kong shares fell and Thailand's key index plunged 3.8 percent.In Tokyo, shares rose slightly after the Cabinet approved a supplementary budget worth 520 billion...

'A Streetcar Named Desire' to play in Jakarta

'A Streetcar Named Desire' to play in JakartaBy Tam Notosusanto JAKARTA (JP): Last time it was model Tamara Blezinsky. Now it's another model's turn: Donna Harun.Teater Lembaga is doing it once more. Following the success of its 1997 staging of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, the Jakarta Arts...

Bank Mandiri forecasts profits to triple in 2000

Bank Mandiri forecasts profits to triple in 2000 JAKARTA (JP): The state's newly established Bank Mandiri expects to triple its profits from about Rp 400 billion this year to around Rp 1.2 trillion in 2000, according to the bank's president and chief executive, Robby Djohan.

Speeding truck kills two women

Speeding truck kills two women KARANGANYAR, Central Java: A speeding truck slammed into a group of women in Balong village here on Tuesday evening, killing two and wounding three others.The fatalities were identified as Mrs. Ahmad, 55, and Mrs. Kasban, 60, both local residents.

RP asks Libya to return nurses

RP asks Libya to return nurses MANILA (AP): The Philippines has asked Libya to allow the return of 42 Filipino nurses being kept in the country on suspicion of spreading the virus that causes AIDS, officials said on Thursday.

Press law, who needs it?

Press law, who needs it? The press freedom Indonesia has enjoyed since the demise of Soeharto's authoritarian regime in May last year is not founded upon any solid legal basis. It has flourished on the basis of the 1982 Press Law enacted to serve the interests of the old regime.

It's our traditional courteousness

It's our traditional courteousness On the second day of a Language Seminar held by Lembaga Bahasa of American Indonesian Institution (LIA), from July 1 through July 3, I joined a presentation conducted by Mr. Paul Hudson cs.

Ciganjur signatories to meet Habibie

Ciganjur signatories to meet Habibie JAKARTA (JP): Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid announced on Thursday the four signatories of the 1998 Ciganjur declaration were ready to meet President B.J. Habibie to discuss preparations for the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in...

Four foreigners deported

Four foreigners deported PALU, Central Sulawesi: The immigration office here has deported four foreigners since January for overstaying their visas, an official said on Thursday.Head of the justice ministry's office Edwin Sihombing said two of the aliens were Australians, one was a Czech woman and...

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Photo Exhibition: Panggung dan Potret, by photographers of the Galeri Foto Jurnalistik Antara, at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Salemba Raya 25 Central Jakarta (Phone: 3908585), 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., until July 27.

34 escape after prisoners set ablaze Aceh jail

34 escape after prisoners set ablaze Aceh jail JAKARTA (AFP): Thirty-four prisoners escaped from a jail in the troubled province of Aceh after inmates set the building on fire, but 12 were later recaptured, police said on Thursday.Head of the Banda Aceh Police precinct Lt. Col.

Two taxi drivers apprehended in murder of Korean last year

Two taxi drivers apprehended in murder of Korean last year JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives apprehended on Wednesday two men who allegedly specialized in preying on foreigners.The two were identified as 33-year-old Jazuli and 27-year-old Darlin -- both Gema taxi drivers.

Big debtors submit guarantee to repay: IBRA

Big debtors submit guarantee to repay: IBRA JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) has secured personal guarantees from the country's business tycoons in case the assets they pledged to repay loans to the government were not sufficient, said a prominent official at the agency.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 8, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 475 0 182,500 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 325 0 0 Alter Abadi 400 0 0 Alumindo Light...

UN to decide on date of East Timor ballot next week

UN to decide on date of East Timor ballot next week JAKARTA (JP): United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan will set the exact date of the autonomy ballot in East Timor next week after studying the situation in the province, his special envoy, Jamsheed Marker, said Wednesday, Antara reported from...

Take cheap flight to westernmost Weh Island

Take cheap flight to westernmost Weh IslandBy Yasad Ali BANDA ACEH, Aceh (Antara): A man was busy explaining to his children and wife the beautiful landscape below as the light eight-seater airplane approached the airstrip on Weh Island.

Won, baht hit 1 month lows, rupiah improves

Won, baht hit 1 month lows, rupiah improves HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The South Korean won and the Thai baht both fell to their lowest levels in a month, and the Philippine peso hit a three-month low Thursday, as Asian currencies weakened against the U.S. dollar for the second day running.

Government will not write off consortium debts: Agung

Government will not write off consortium debts: Agung JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Agung Laksono on Wednesday refuted reports that the government would write off the debt of the 19th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games underwriting consortium."The reports are untrue.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Two Hours Only 8:00 Soccer (live) 10:00 Music 11:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Student's Quiz 3:00 Music 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Arabic Lessons 5:00 Student's Quiz 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV...

Justice for credit card holders

Justice for credit card holders From time to time newspapers in Jakarta publish statements by banks apologizing for "less than sympathetic treatment" by their employees, adding they did not intend to terrorize their customers.

Principals told to understand students' plight

Principals told to understand students' plight JAKARTA (JP): Elementary school principals have been instructed not to force new students from poor families to wear school uniforms and to exempt them from admission and various other fees, a city official said on Thursday.

Sanken moves to Indonesia

Sanken moves to Indonesia TOKYO (Dow Jones): Sanken Electric Co., a leading Japanese maker of power sources and semiconductors, said Wednesday that it will liquidate a converter production unit in Japan and will transfer production to its unit in Indonesia.

Suhendar lone local left in Future tourney

Suhendar lone local left in Future tourney JAKARTA (JP): Nonseeded Suhendar Dinata is the lone surviving Indonesian in the men's singles quarterfinals of the Men's Indonesian Fertilizer Future 4 here after four of his compatriots lost in the third round on Thursday.

Soeharto's lawsuit 'a mere PR gimmick'

Soeharto's lawsuit 'a mere PR gimmick' Soeharto filed a civil lawsuit against New York-based Time magazine at the Central Jakarta District Court last week for reporting that the former president had amassed a US$15 billion fortune during his 32-year reign.

Harun Alrasyid quits KPU over election results

Harun Alrasyid quits KPU over election results JAKARTA (JP): Pressure is building against the General Elections Commission (KPU), including from deputy chairman Harun Alrasid who abruptly resigned out of frustration over repeated delays in the poll results announcement.

Softball included in National Games

Softball included in National Games JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has decided to include softball in the 2000 National Games (PON) in Surabaya, East Java, an official said on Thursday.

Mistery shrouds housewife's death

Mistery shrouds housewife's death TANGERANG (JP): Local police detectives are still in the dark over the death of a young housewife found two days ago with plastic twine tied around her neck at her rented house in the Kampung Sawah area of Ceper district.

Ranks of the poor hit 49.5 million

Ranks of the poor hit 49.5 million JAKARTA (JP): The number of poor in the country increased by almost 100 percent to 49.5 million in 1998 from 22.6 million in 1997, the government said, blaming the prolonged economic crisis.A.

Qantas service does not fly

Qantas service does not fly On June 29, 1999, I took a flight from Sydney to Jakarta with my wife, two-year-old daughter and four-year-old son aboard Qantas flight QF41. The departure was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. local time.We arrived at the airport at 8:45 a.m. for check-in.

Landhuis building designated a museum

Landhuis building designated a museum JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has decided to use the Landhuis historical building on Jl. Bekasi Timur in East Jakarta for a home affairs government museum, an official said on Thursday.

Local banks lose $24.4b last year

Local banks lose $24.4b last year JAKARTA (JP): Locally incorporated banks suffered net losses totaling Rp 166.4 trillion (about US$24.4 billion) in 1998, as compared to the Rp 2.3 trillion net income in 1997, according to the latest issue of local monthly magazine Info Bank.

Masseurs give more than the gentle touch, police say

Masseurs give more than the gentle touch, police say JAKARTA (JP): After one month of careful surveillance, the Jakarta Police on Wednesday afternoon assigned three undercover women officers to check out the suspicious goings-on at a house on Jl. Tebet Barat Dalam in South Jakarta.

Nine still missing in landslide

Nine still missing in landslide SINJAI, South Sulawesi (JP): Rescue workers blamed difficult terrain for their failure on Thursday to unearth the bodies of nine people still missing following a landslide early Wednesday in Pattiro hamlet, Bonto Salama village, West Sinjai district.

Bank loans still on hold, BI says

Bank loans still on hold, BI says JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia deputy governor Subarjo Joyosumarto said on Thursday domestic banks could not immediately resume lending despite the sharp drop in interest rates.