Archive: 20 September 1999
53 articles found
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Megawati to face hurdles as president, says Lee
Megawati to face hurdles as president, says Lee SINGAPORE (Agencies): Singapore's patriarch Lee Kuan Yew said Indonesia's opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri would have difficulties if she was elected the country's next president.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
East Timor, Bank Bali to weigh on the bourse
East Timor, Bank Bali to weigh on the bourse By Wachyudi Soeriaatmadja JAKARTA (JP): Developments in the Bank Bali scandal and conditions in East Timor will continue to dictate the direction of trade on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX), securities analysts said.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
PM Howard puts the blame on RI
PM Howard puts the blame on RI SYDNEY (AFP): Australian Prime Minister John Howard said in a televised speech aired Sunday night that Indonesia's inability to keep peace in East Timor forced the international community to send in a peacekeeping force. "The total failure of the Indonesian forces to control the violence and put an end to the killings has greatly distressed the Australian people," he said.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
RI wants short WTO round
RI wants short WTO round HAMBURG (Reuters): The forthcoming round of world trade talks should not exceed three years and should exclude non-trade related issues, Indonesia's Trade and Industry Minister Rahardi Ramelan said on Friday. Ramelan, heading a commodities delegation on a German visit, said his comments reflected views held in many developing countries.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Week-long power vacuum looms: Expert
Week-long power vacuum looms: Expert JAKARTA (JP): The deputy chairman of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) warned of the uncertainty which would exist during a one-week legislative power vacuum when legislators will vacate their seats a week ahead of the installment of new ones. "Anything could happen in that one week," Sutradara Ginting said, referring to the end of the current legislators' term on Sept. 24 before new legislators are installed on Oct. 1.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Marines' raid on gambling den 'unlawful'
Marines' raid on gambling den 'unlawful' JAKARTA (JP): A Marine initiative to arrest on Friday 39 gamblers at the Harco Mangga Dua shopping center in Mangga Dua subdistrict, West Jakarta, is outside the bounds of the law, a police spokesman said on Saturday. Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said the arrest was unlawful, as only police officers were authorized to make arrests.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
State Palaces to open their doors to the public
State Palaces to open their doors to the public JAKARTA (JP): A long-standing taboo in the relationship between Indonesian rulers and their people will be lifted when the government allows members of the public to take an inside look at the six presidential palaces. New presidential household chief Kemal Munawar said on Saturday he was assigned to ensure the palaces would be more open and inviting to the public.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Rising oil prices may threaten Asian demand
Rising oil prices may threaten Asian demand LONDON (Reuters): Oil analysts expect Asian oil demand this year to return to the levels seen before last year's financial crisis but runaway oil prices are threatening to stifle the recovery, industry experts said. A survey of eight consultants and the International Energy Agency projects Asian oil demand averaging 19.74 million barrels per day (bpd) this year up just 370,000 bpd from 1998 when demand slumped for the first time in decades.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
APRIL gets relief to expand Riaupulp
APRIL gets relief to expand Riaupulp JAKARTA (Dow Jones): Singapore-based pulp and paper concern Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Ltd., or APRIL, said Friday the relief it will get from a US$800 million debt restructuring plan will help it expand its pulp production in Riau, Indonesia. Creditors representing 75 percent of the company's debt have approved the restructuring, and remaining creditors are expected to complete credit approval by the end of October, the company said.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Lufthansa, SIA plan tie-up
Lufthansa, SIA plan tie-up SINGAPORE (AFP): The cargo subsidiary of German airline Deutsche Lufthansa AG is exploring a joint venture in freight operations with Singapore Airlines Ltd. (SIA), the Straits Times reported Saturday. The move is part of Lufthansa Cargo AG's bid to expand its freight business in Asia, where cargo capacity is expected to grow by between 6 percent and 7 percent this year and next, the report said.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
East Timorese, Indonesian people face common problem
East Timorese, Indonesian people face common problem By Krisna Suryanata and Keith Mattson JAKARTA (JP): A two-week long human tragedy has been unfolding in East Timor. The estimated death toll following the Aug. 30 plebiscite is already in the hundreds and rising, and the terror and forced exodus of residents is all too familiar after Rwanda, Bosnia and Kosovo.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Parties rethink state security bill
Parties rethink state security bill JAKARTA (JP): Officials of the country's top political parties signaled on Sunday they were leaning toward delaying the endorsement of the government-sponsored state security bill by the House of Representatives. Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post that broader concerns were a greater priority than the fiercely opposed bill.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
IMF again warns RI on Bank Bali scandal probe
IMF again warns RI on Bank Bali scandal probe WASHINGTON (Dow Jones): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has again warned Indonesia that it wants swift publication of PricewaterhouseCoopers' review of the Bank Bali scandal. Graham Newman, an IMF spokesman, said Friday the Fund has talked to Indonesian authorities once more about the need for the independent review to be handed to a special committee that is part of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, or IBRA.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Jaywalkers accused of treading on greenery
Jaywalkers accused of treading on greenery JAKARTA (JP): The city park agency is blaming jaywalkers, including white-collar workers, for damaging greenery on the medians on major city streets. "We have put up signs for people to take a little more care about the city's green areas, but many seem to ignore them," head of the Central Jakarta Park Agency Agung Sukaton said on Saturday.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Semen Kupang eyes East Timor market
Semen Kupang eyes East Timor market JAKARTA (JP): State-owned cement company PT Semen Kupang has been ordered to speed up the construction of its second plant in East Nusa Tenggara to be ready for export activities once East Timor becomes independent. Semen Kupang president H.M.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Van not returned by former mayor
Van not returned by former mayor CIAMIS, West Java: Former Banjar mayor H. Suyazid has reportedly "forgotten" to return the city administration's official Toyota Kijang minivan, sources have said here. Antara reported here on Sunday that the former mayor seems reluctant to return the minivan despite no longer serving as the administrative chief in the city.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Bomber killed, travelers beaten in Ambon violence
Bomber killed, travelers beaten in Ambon violence JAKARTA (JP): An unidentified man was killed by security personnel after attacking a military post with handmade bombs in Rinjani village, Baguala, Ambon on Sunday. The victim was among a dozen others who journeyed from Galunggung and threw two homemade explosives into a house used by the personnel as a security post and another one into a market in Rumah Tiga Village, Baguala subdistrict in the provincial capital.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Songs 9:00 Music 10:20 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Children's Songs 3:00 Music 4:00 News 4:30 Children's Program 5:00 Technology Program 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 8:30 TV Series: Full House 9:00 World News 9:30 Talk Show 10:30 Film 12:00 a.m. Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Lollipop vendor arrested for rape
Lollipop vendor arrested for rape BOGOR (JP): A 60-year-old lollipop vendor was confronted about allegedly raping a six-year-old girl, a relative of the girl said on Saturday. The vendor, identified as Suwardi of Warung Jambu village, reportedly acknowledged to committing the rape, the girl's elder sister said. Heti said her sister repeatedly complained about vaginal pain and no longer wanted to be bathed by her parents. "She never refused to be bathed before.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fear, prevalence of firearms 'fuel armed robberies'
Fear, prevalence of firearms 'fuel armed robberies' JAKARTA (JP): The rising incidence of armed robbery in the capital is due in part to anxiety about the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in November, National Police sources said on Saturday.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Tornado ravages village
Tornado ravages village MAGELANG, Central Java: At least 100 houses were damaged when a tornado swept through Ketundan village, Pakis district late Friday night. "It occurred between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m.," resident Suparlan told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday evening. "It sounded like an airplane flying low overhead. People just panicked and started running out of their houses," he added. As of Sunday morning, there were no reports of serious casualties. (har)
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Golkar reviews support for Habibie in October
Golkar reviews support for Habibie in October JAKARTA (JP): Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung issued on Saturday a clearer signal of a possible reverse of Golkar's support for President B.J. Habibie in the upcoming presidential election. After addressing a seminar held by the Alumni of Muslim Students Association (KAHMI), Akbar said Golkar would stick to its decision to name Habibie its sole presidential candidate at least until the party leaders would meet in mid-October.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Canadian says prison 'tolerable'
Canadian says prison 'tolerable' KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A Canadian journalist jailed for contempt of court in Malaysia has said that prison conditions are "tolerable", a report said on Saturday. Canadian barrister Paul Fraser told the New Straits Times that a group of lawyers visited Murray Hiebert at the Sungai Buloh prison on a personal basis, and that legal aspects of his case were not discussed.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
No excuse for mob burning down hotel, say police
No excuse for mob burning down hotel, say police TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Police are trying to determine what provoked a mob to set fire to a hotel on the town's main street on Saturday. "We're still searching for the responsible parties in this arson, whether it was purely a protest by residents or provocateurs involved in the attack," Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Pudji Hartanto said on Sunday. Pudji said no arrests were made in the incident.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Baramuli's story
Baramuli's story When asked why he trusted Baramuli upon receiving from him Rudy Ramli's alleged letter denying the existence of a journal on the details of the Bank Bali scandal, Habibie responded: "I trusted him because he is the head of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA)." When Baramuli was asked why Habibie trusted him, he replied: "People trust me because I am the head of DPA." Now that the true scenario has gradually been revealed by the actors taking part in the "Baligate" show and the...
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Expert urges govt care for cataracts
Expert urges govt care for cataracts SEMARANG: The government should pay serious attention to blindness caused by cataracts, as the some two million sufferers across the country will likely surge in the coming years, public health expert Soebowo warned here on Sunday. "The government should earnestly handle this matter, if not, then numbers will continue to increase, especially during times of economic crisis," said Soebowo of Diponegoro University.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Xanana designates Darwin as his base
Xanana designates Darwin as his base DARWIN, Australia (Agencies): East Timorese resistance leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao arrived here on Sunday after fleeing Indonesia with a pledge to soon begin "commuting" to his homeland. Gusmao, who was freed by Indonesian authorities earlier this month after seven years in prison and house detention in Jakarta, was whisked to a car on arrival and taken away before reporters could ask him any questions.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Local traders to promote e-commerce network
Local traders to promote e-commerce network By Christiani S.A. Tumelap JAKARTA (JP): A number of local manufacturers, distributors and retailers have established a grouping to promote e-commerce in the country. The Efficient Consumer Response Indonesia (ECR Indonesia) followed the establishment of ECR Asia, a joint trade and industry body created to foster the use of e-commerce in the region. ECR Indonesia's arrival is receiving a positive response.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Mutual cooperation pledged in East Timor
Mutual cooperation pledged in East Timor By Budiman Moerdijat DILI, East Timor (JP): Indonesia's top military commander in East Timor and the chief of the incoming multinational peacekeeping force pledged mutual cooperation on Sunday ahead of the arrival of some 2,500 troops in the territory on Monday. In an apparent effort to dispel suspicions and ill-feeling, Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, head of Indonesia's Restoration Operation Command in East Timor, and Maj. Gen.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
PDI-P supporters 'understand' speaker vote
PDI-P supporters 'understand' speaker vote JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said on Saturday that party supporters understood the party's decision to back the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police faction candidate for the City Council speaker position and had agreed not to protest the move.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Australia's East Timor stand comes at a cost
Australia's East Timor stand comes at a cost By Trevor Datson CANBERRA (Reuters): A cartoon kangaroo, its pouch crammed with thousands of East Timorese, is a telling image of the financial and political cost of Australia's newly adopted role as a significant player in Asia. The cartoon in the last Friday edition of The Australian, the country's influential national newspaper, illustrates the costly flip side of Canberra's leadership in the East Timor crisis.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Asian capital markets hold promise as region recovers
Asian capital markets hold promise as region recovers SINGAPORE (AFP): Asia's nascent capital markets can attract billions of dollars in pension fund investments if they aggressively pursue reforms alongside those in the banking sector, analysts say. Following the financial crisis which struck in mid-1997 and battered domestic banking systems regionwide, Asia is weaning itself away from bank borrowing and resorting to capital markets for funding.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Universal principles of ethical conduct
Universal principles of ethical conduct Just two weeks after the bloody offensive by anti-independence paramilitary groups in East Timor, the Indonesian government has accepted the presence of a U.N.-led force there. The critical situation in East Timor, now the focus of international concern, can no longer be ignored. The violence against that population evokes other recent cases of genocide, such as those in central Africa and the Balkans.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Manila sends 123 troops on mission
Manila sends 123 troops on mission MANILA (Agencies): Some 123 Filipino soldiers left Manila for Australia on Saturday to join the multinational force given the task of restoring order in bloodied East Timor. The head of the Philippine humanitarian mission to East Timor, Col. Felix Cabreros, said his group -- including engineers, doctors and dentists -- would join other troops from neighboring countries in Darwin.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Comic strip contest reveals hidden talents
Comic strip contest reveals hidden talents JAKARTA (JP): A comic strip contest at Bentara Budaya cultural center in Central Jakarta on Sunday showcased the hidden talent of young artists, said two comic experts. The 62 participants of the one-day contest, on the theme of Indonesian culture, stunned the jury panel, which mostly consisted of the country's senior comic artists.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia needs natural disaster mitigation plans
Indonesia needs natural disaster mitigation plans A seminar on disaster mitigation was jointly held by the Indonesian Urban Disaster Mitigation Program and the Bandung- based Pikiran Rakyat daily in Bandung from Sept. 10 through Sept. 12. The meeting was attended by 30 journalists from all Java provinces. The Jakarta Post was represented by Fabiola Desy Unidjaja. Below is her reports.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fleeing bishop
Fleeing bishop As an Indonesian Catholic I have always been led to believe that a good shepherd will lay down his life for his flock. So what is Bishop Belo doing out there in Portugal, bowing and smiling and being embraced by the Portuguese dignitaries? Is he the good shepherd or is he the one sheep that is lost? I cannot help wondering whether Father Sandyawan or the late Father Mangun would have done the same thing, i.e.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Wiranto for president?
Wiranto for president? It would be a great irony if the end result of Indonesia's first free elections in more than four decades was to see its military chief being elected president. But that prospect is now much closer to reality following reports that Indonesian Military chief Gen. Wiranto plans to step down from his post to contest the presidency.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Couple arrested with 'putauw'
Couple arrested with 'putauw' JAKARTA (JP): Kampung Bali subdistrict head Siswanto made another successful move against drugs when he arrested a married couple on Saturday and confiscated five small packages of putauw (low-grade heroin) and Rp 190,000 (US$22). "The couple and the evidence will be handed over to police," Siswanto said after the arrest which was made as a result of information received from locals. The suspects were identified as Ahmad Sofyan and Zubaedah.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Debt restructuring praised
Debt restructuring praised BANGKOK (AFP): Thailand has struck the right balance between government intervention and private action in restructuring its corporate debt, reports said Saturday. The chief regional counsel for Chase Manhattan Bank, John Knight, dismissed local criticism that the pace of debt restructuring was too slow.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
TNI fortified by West's approach to East Timor
TNI fortified by West's approach to East Timor By Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Following the announcement of the result of the Aug. 30 East Timor direct ballot on Sept. 4, 1999, pro-Indonesia militia, armed with homemade and other weapons, wreaked immense havoc in East Timor, pushing Dili into chaos. They attacked the headquarters of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), burned villages and shot at refugees.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Thailand to stop using IMF money
Thailand to stop using IMF money BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand, with its economy heading towards three to four per cent growth this year and foreign exchange reserves up to US$32.2 billion, will stop withdrawing money from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a news report said Sunday.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
State security bill
State security bill In the context of the discussion on the state security bill, I wish to state that: 1. It is correct that a state security law is needed according to Article 12 of the 1945 Constitution, which states that the conditions and consequences of an emergency situation are determined by law. 2. It is correct that a staatsnoodrecht (state of emergency law) is already known here. The contents of the state security bill are indeed the same as that law.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Helping Word97 spell in Bahasa Indonesia
Helping Word97 spell in Bahasa Indonesia By Jules Bell JAKARTA (JP): Right now I am typing this article in Microsoft Word97, with the Check spelling as you type function turned on. But there are no red marks under kata-kata Bahasa Indonesia ini (these Indonesian words). Neither is there a jagged red line under hebat (great) or bagaimana (how). This is because I am using a free Indonesian spell checker for Word97, downloaded from the Internet.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
A 'sleeping revolution' looms
A 'sleeping revolution' looms Amid calls for a speedier transition of government, the military has said the General Session of the nation's most supreme lawmaking body, which will elect the new president, may have to be delayed. The Jakarta Post talked to political researcher Hermawan Sulistyo on the issue. Question: The military has said the situation is not conducive to holding the General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly, slated to start in October.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
U.S. journalist deported
U.S. journalist deported KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: American journalist Allan Joseph Nairn, 55, was deported on Sunday for abusing his temporary stay permit. Surya Pranata of the Kupang Immigration office said Nairn violated his temporary stay permit since he had been in the country for 82 days. Furthermore, Surya said, Nairn allegedly abused his tourist visa for journalistic purposes. "In his visa he claimed to be a journalist.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Fighting fire with fire
Fighting fire with fire This letter is a short commentary on Soedjati Djiwandono's article on the rise of "nationalistic jingoism" in Indonesia (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 15, 1999: Jingoism rises to the fore over E. Timor). It gives me great relief that such a personality would convey an insightful analysis of the media-hyped anti-Western sentiments among our students and local politicians.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Can Australia sever ties with Indonesia?
Can Australia sever ties with Indonesia? By Aleksius Jemadu BANDUNG (JP): Australia's foreign policy toward Indonesia can be at best described as full of paradoxes. On one hand, Australian leaders regard Indonesia as one of its most important Asian neighbors, but on the other hand such appreciation can easily be shattered by contingent policy imperatives. For example, in the mid-1970s, together with the United States, Australia tacitly endorsed the Indonesian Military's invasion of East Timor.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Indian Dolls Exhibition at the National Museum, Jl. Merdeka Barat, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3811551), Sunday, Tuesday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., until Sept. 25. * Painting Exhibition: by Farid Belkahia, at Duta Fine Arts Foundation, Jl. Kemang Utara 55A, South Jakarta (Phone: 7990226), until Oct. 10.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Frustration escalates as Bank Bali scandal drags on
Frustration escalates as Bank Bali scandal drags on By Reiner S JAKARTA (JP): The villains in the Bank Bali saga are fighting back with a vengeance, armed with the considerable might at their disposal. And so far they appear to be winning. Encouraging signs earlier in the month from the House of Representatives that evidence against politically influential figures implicated in the scandal would be revealed soon were dashed with developments last week.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Kidnapped boy reunited with parents
Kidnapped boy reunited with parents JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives have returned 11-year-old William Alexander to his parents after a 13-day kidnapping ordeal allegedly engineered by a disgruntled former business partner of the boy's father, an officer said on Saturday. According to Jakarta Police detectives chief Col.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Police use teargas, water cannon on Anwar supporters
Police use teargas, water cannon on Anwar supporters KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysian police fired teargas and water cannons on Sunday to disperse thousands of supporters of jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim in the biggest rally here in five months. Protesters hurled stones at police and yelled, "Dogs of the government!" and "You are pigs!" Both are harsh insults in mostly Muslim Malaysia, where pigs and dogs are considered unclean. Police were seen beating demonstrators with batons.
Mon, 20 Sep 1999, 00:00 WIB
Forex reserves fall to $15.6 billion
Forex reserves fall to $15.6 billion JAKARTA (JP): The country's net foreign exchange reserves declined US$156 million to $15.58 billion as of Sept. 15 from $15.74 billion the previous week, partly due to foreign debt payments. Bank Indonesia said in its latest weekly report that the level of forex net reserves was still above the minimum target of $14.3 billion set by the International Monetary Fund.