Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 22 September 1999

58 articles found

Supporters stage protest at PDI-P office

Supporters stage protest at PDI-P office JAKARTA (JP): Some 100 supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) protested at the party's headquarters in Lenteng Agung, South Jakarta, on Tuesday afternoon. Carrying banners and posters, the protesters, who claimed to be party supporters from East Jakarta, strongly urged leaders of the party to immediately fire PDI Perjuangan Jakarta chapter's chairman Roy B.B. Janis and city councilor Maringan Pangaribuan.

Polarized Malaysia plays waiting game

Polarized Malaysia plays waiting game By Nelson Graves KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Rumblings of discontent within his political base have convinced Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad he must extend a nationwide tour before calling long anticipated general elections.

Asia not ready for Y2K bug

Asia not ready for Y2K bug TOKYO (Reuters): Asia Pacific nations and regions are falling behind schedule in preparations to deal with the year 2000 computer millennium bug, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) said in a report on Tuesday. The report was based on a survey of public and private sectors in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, South Korea, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand conducted in August and September.

Impeachment law needed to prosecute presidents

Impeachment law needed to prosecute presidents BANDUNG (JP): Indonesia needs a law to impeach a president, constitutional law expert Sri Soemantri says. Soemantri said that Indonesia had no regulation on crimes committed by a president nor an appropriate institution to take him or her to court. There have been mounting calls for a law to bring erring presidents to court, owing to the government being expected to soon declare former president Soeharto free of all charges.

Why the West grew rich as the rest grew poor

Why the West grew rich as the rest grew poor By Thee Kian Wie This is the second of two articles on David Landes' latest book The Wealth and Poverty of Nations -- Why Some Are So Rich and Some So Poor. The 650-page book was published in 1998 by W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York. N.Y. JAKARTA (JP): Does Landes' book offer any insights into Indonesia's modern economic history?

Bali hotels unaffected by East Timor fallout: PHRI

Bali hotels unaffected by East Timor fallout: PHRI JAKARTA (JP): The Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) said on Tuesday the fallout over East Timor had not affected Bali's tourist and travel-related sectors. "PHRI Bali held a meeting last week and none of our members reported any cancellations in hotel reservations from Australian visitors," I Gde Wiratha, chairman of PHRI Bali said on the sidelines of the PHRI national meeting in Jakarta.

Subdistrict heads told to fight against drugs

Subdistrict heads told to fight against drugs JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso warned on Tuesday he would fire subdistrict heads who failed to show a commitment to the mass antidrug campaign across the city. Speaking after meeting with representatives from the People's Movement Against Drugs (Geram), the governor said that he would soon arrange meetings with all of the 265 subdistrict heads, neighborhood chiefs and teacher representatives to ask them to participate in the campaign.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 21, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 400 0 0 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 250 -25 27,000 Alter Abadi 275 0 12,500 Alumindo Light Metal 1,150 0 0 Aneka Kimia Raya 425 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,425 0 985,000 Anwar Sierad 175 0 210,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

Security the main problem for aid efforts: UNHCR

Security the main problem for aid efforts: UNHCR JAKARTA (JP): Despite protection from local and central governments, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Sadako Ogata said on Tuesday security was the main problem for the humanitarian mission in East Timor and East Nusa Tenggara.

PMI loses Rp 50m monthly

PMI loses Rp 50m monthly BOGOR (JP): The PMI (Indonesian Red Cross) Hospital here has lost some Rp 50 million (US$6,250) every month due to patients' unpaid bills, a hospital executive said on Tuesday. Hospital deputy director Dani Yusuf Haryanto said the huge losses were mainly because patients or patients' families were unwilling to pay the entire bill and claimed they were too poor. Another reason for losses was that some patients often ran away without paying at all, he said.

China disqualified for fielding wrong players

China disqualified for fielding wrong players JAKARTA (JP): The Chinese boys' and girls' teams were disqualified from the first Asian Schools Tennis Championships at the Senayan tennis complex on Tuesday. Referee Akhyar Matra of Indonesia said the Chinese teams fielded the incorrect players for the first singles match in both events. "During the technical meeting on Monday, the Chinese team listed the correct names for today's matches as stated in the regulation book.

Man robbed of van by uniformed men

Man robbed of van by uniformed men JAKARTA (JP): A 26-year-old businessman was robbed of his vehicle by five people in Indonesian Military (TNI) uniforms early Monday morning in Pondok Indah, South Jakarta, the Jakarta Police spokesman said. Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Monday that Dirham was driving his metallic gray Kijang van on Jl. Arteri when the men stopped him and told him to get out of vehicle. "Dirham was scared so he got out of his vehicle.

Do we have national pride?

Do we have national pride? The UN-approved International Force for East Timor (Interfet) arrived in the territory on Sept. 20. Even though there was a "mild" argument raised by Indonesia in an attempt to prevent Australia from leading this peacekeeping force, the United Nations Security Council had decided that Australia would lead the force. Various comments, concerns and protests were raised by Indonesia.

UN rights body to hold special session on E. Timor violence

UN rights body to hold special session on E. Timor violence GENEVA (Agencies): The United Nations' main human rights body will hold an emergency special session this week to discuss the violence in East Timor, a UN spokesman said on Monday. The 53-member state body narrowly agreed to meet on Thursday and Friday for the fourth such session in the more than 50-year history of the UN Commission on Human Rights.

Bridges of understanding

Bridges of understanding The East Timor case has made it increasingly clear that many bridges of understanding need to be built between the two nations (Indonesia and Australia). Just one bridge of formal relations between the two states has proven to be insufficient because states have a disposition toward arrogance as well as political interests that do not always represent the concerns of the peoples involved. Take, for example, culture.

Tribesmen bank on future with deposit accounts

Tribesmen bank on future with deposit accounts By Neles Tebay MOANEMANI, Irian Jaya (JP): For many people, the koteka -- the penis sheath worn by Irianese tribesmen -- symbolizes "backwardness" and "poverty". Those who wear koteka are thought to be unsuitable or incapable of taking part in state-sponsored development programs. But wait a minute. This assumption is not entirely correct.

Antidumping body investigates steel pipe imports

Antidumping body investigates steel pipe imports JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Anti-Dumping Committee (KADI) is investigating steel pipe imports from Japan, China, South Korea and Singapore, following charges that the pipes were sold through dumping practices. The move was taken in response to a petition filed by four local steel pipe producers -- PT Bakrie Pipe Industries, PT South East Asia Pipe Industries, PT KHI Pipe Industries and PT Bumi Kaya Steel Industries.

Habibie's speech gets mixed reactions

Habibie's speech gets mixed reactions JAKARTA (JP): An account of the government's policy on East Timor given to the House of Representatives in a plenary session on Tuesday by President B.J. Habibie met with mixed reactions from various circles. A number of legislators who tried to interrupt the plenary session criticized the President's speech, and said his explanation failed to answer questions around the East Timor debacle.

China joins in

China joins in One of China's top foreign policy priorities in recent years has been to portray itself as a respectable member of the international community. Such a responsible image would have been impossible to maintain if Beijing had blocked efforts to end the killings in East Timor. It would have been hard to reconcile such a stance with the concern expressed at the brutality inflicted on ethnic Chinese during last year's riots in Jakarta.

TV today

TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Two Hours Only 8:00 Children's Song 9:00 Music 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Children's Program 3:00 Music 4:00 News 4:30 Indonesian Lessons 5:00 Students' Quiz 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Music 9:00 World News 9:30 Talk Show 10:30 TV Series: Labyrinth 11:25 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m. Students' Program 5:00 City News 5:30 Music 6:00 TV Drama 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama TPI 5:30 a.m.

NU youths pledge to defend RI

NU youths pledge to defend RI MAGELANG, Central Java: About 5,000 young followers in the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, have grouped in a task force and pledged they were ready to defend the country and fight Australian troops. They were among the latest wave of protesters who have supported the view that Australians, who make up the largest part of the multinational force in East Timor, had no right to be there.

Uncertainty crippling economy

Uncertainty crippling economy The Indonesian government once again demonstrated its determination to cover up corruption in the highest levels by invoking the banking secrecy law as a legal pretext for not fully disclosing the results of the PricewaterhouseCoopers audit of the transactions relating to the Bank Bali scandal. A similar excuse was used in June to protect former attorney general Andi M. Ghalib from prosecution on allegations of corruption.

Government says illiteracy stands at 6 million

Government says illiteracy stands at 6 million JAKARTA (JP): There are 6.07 million illiterate Indonesians between the ages of 10 and 44, an official said on Tuesday. Antara news agency quoted the director of nonformal schooling at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Endro Sumardjo, as saying he hoped these six million people could become literate by the year 2004 through intensive courses.

A state of law

A state of law I can understand very well Pak Soegih Arto's point of view Do we need foreign troops? (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 16, 1999) and I agree with him that no foreign troops should have been needed in East Timor. However, the facts collected by the UN proved that Indonesian Military (TNI) was directly involved in the massacres committed in East Timor. East Timorese people were asking UN troops to go in.

6,806 Ecstasy pills destroyed in Medan

6,806 Ecstasy pills destroyed in Medan MEDAN, North Sumatra: The Provincial Prosecutor's Office here has destroyed 6,800 Ecstasy pills which were confiscated between June 1998 to July of this year. In the same period, 32 cases of trafficking and possession of marijuana and 19 cases of psychotropic drugs were brought to completion, the chief of the Provincial Prosecutor's Office, J.T. Siahaan said.

Currency boards still left on the drawing board

Currency boards still left on the drawing board By James T. Areddy HONG KONG (Dow Jones): It's back to the ivory towers for currency board proponents. When exchange rate instability began rocking Asia two years ago, the relatively obscure method of locking one currency against another was touted by many as a safe harbor from the turmoil.

Hotel employee dies of overdose

Hotel employee dies of overdose JAKARTA (JP): A twenty-year-old hotel employee was found dead in front of a kindergarten by residents of Pejaten in South Jakarta, a staff member at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital said on Tuesday. "The deceased, Ferdinand Edwards, died of a drug overdose," Bambang said, adding that the family of the deceased took the remains to their hometown of Yogyakarta, Central Java, for burial.

Court rejects bankruptcy petition against PT Jasindo

Court rejects bankruptcy petition against PT Jasindo JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Commercial Court rejected on Tuesday a bankruptcy petition filed by Taiwan-based Chinatrust Commercial Bank (CCB) against state-owned general insurance company PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Jasindo). Presiding judge Mahdi S. Nasution said in the verdict that the plaintiff had failed to show adequate proof for it's claim that it was a valid creditor to Jasindo. The plaintiff's lawyer, Rahmat Bastian from Dermawan & Co.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on September 21, 1999: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.

Regional representatives for MPR still undecided

Regional representatives for MPR still undecided JAKARTA (JP): With just two weeks remaining, provincial legislatures across the country have yet to submit the names of their representatives in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). Director General of Regional Autonomy and Public Administration Ryaas Rasyid told reporters on Tuesday he was looking forward to hearing the selection results from the provincial legislatures.

East Timor crisis strains Australian-Indonesian ties

East Timor crisis strains Australian-Indonesian ties By Sid Astbury SYDNEY (DPA): Has Australia humiliated its giant neighbor by raising an international brigade to ensure East Timor gets the freedom it was promised? Or has Indonesia embarrassed its former defense pact partner by allowing a cataclysm in what is still part of the republic even though the 800,000 East Timorese have voted overwhelmingly to leave?

East Timorese cheer troop arrivals

East Timorese cheer troop arrivals By Budiman Moerdijat DILI, East Timor (JP): Hundreds of East Timorese left refugee enclaves in surrounding hills on Tuesday to greet warships bringing more International Force for East Timor (Interfet) troops. About 100 troops in battle gear filed out of the Jervis Bay naval ship at about 7:10 a.m. local time to the cheers of some 200 refugees sheltering at the seaport. The ship also carried logistic supplies and armored personnel carriers (APC).

TNI seeks way back through security bill

TNI seeks way back through security bill The controversial government-proposed state security bill found its way smoothly to the House of Representatives and is scheduled to be passed on Thursday. State administration legal expert M. Mahfud MD of Yoygakarta's Islamic University talked about the issue with The Jakarta Post.

Hefty price to pay for meddling

Hefty price to pay for meddling By Richard Woolcott CANBERRA: I have been sickened by many of the scenes from East Timor. Nobody can condone the savagery of the anti-independence militias and any support they have received from the Indonesian Military (TNI). Many Indonesians will also be shocked by these acts.

Jakarta-Yogya train service

Jakarta-Yogya train service JAKARTA (JP): State-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) launched on Tuesday its new executive class service between Yogyakarta and Jakarta. KAI director Edie Haryoto said in Yogyakarta the existing two executive class services, Senja Utama and Argo Lawu, could no longer accommodate the steadily rising number of travelers between the two cities.

Companies donate to refugees

Companies donate to refugees JAKARTA (JP): Two pharmaceutical companies in Jakarta donated 20,000 bottles of intravenous solution and 4,400 IVs worth Rp 260 million (US$32,500) to hospitals in East Nusa Tenggara to help meet the medical needs of refugees from East Timor. PT Otsuka Indonesia and PT Widara Bhakti provided the medical supplies for at least 60,000 East Timor refugees in the province who need medical treatment.

Deforestation ruins Jambi's rich medicinal heritage

Deforestation ruins Jambi's rich medicinal heritage SOROLANGUN, Jambi (JP): Deforestation in Jambi and Riau is not only depriving jungle tribespeople of their natural habitat, but also destroying plant species with potential medicinal value. A study conducted in Jambi's Bukit Duabelas Biosphere and Bukit Tigapuluh National Park documented more than 100 plants and fungi traditionally used to fight disease by jungle dwellers and those living near the forests.

Arrested gamblers freed, money held at Naval base

Arrested gamblers freed, money held at Naval base JAKARTA (JP): Naval Base II authorities have acknowledged that a marines-initiated raid over the weekend in which 39 gamblers were apprehended was unlawful. The gamblers were apprehended last Friday by marines after a raid on the third floor of the Harco Mangga Dua shopping center in Mangga Dua, West Jakarta. All 39 detainees were released after two hours of questioning.

Cilacap residents resort to potatoes

Cilacap residents resort to potatoes CILACAP, Central Java: At least 600 residents of Grugu village here have been forced to eat sweet potatoes instead of rice. "The residents are so poor, they can no longer afford to buy staple food," Ansor Basuki, the Cilacap administration spokesman, said on Tuesday. Grugu village houses 172 families who mostly come from Tegal, Brebes, Cirebon and Pekalongan.

Deliberation of state emergency bill to end

Deliberation of state emergency bill to end JAKARTA (JP): Amid mounting protests, the House of Representatives (DPR) came closer to finishing on Tuesday the deliberation of the state security bill. To further improve the wording of the bill, the House's special committee in charge of the bill deliberation met with Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto, who sponsors the draft law.

PSSI to set up provincial chapters for old 'Komda'

PSSI to set up provincial chapters for old 'Komda' JAKARTA (JP): Members of the All-Indonesian Soccer Federation (PSSI) will recommend the setting up of provincial chapters to replace the current system of boards of commissioners (Komda) in a plenary meeting on Wednesday. PSSI spokesman Tondo Widodo said on Tuesday that the federation's commission A also voted against a proposal to select executive members who would elect the chairman.

Golkar vows to promote Habibie-Wiranto duet

Golkar vows to promote Habibie-Wiranto duet JAKARTA (JP): Next month's Golkar executive meeting is expected to endorse the nomination of incumbent President B.J. Habibie and Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto as its presidential and vice presidential candidates, the party's chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Tuesday.

On East Timor

On East Timor The globally circulated Newsweek magazine on Sep. 13 published an article titled East Timor, one thug, one vote. This article is clearly manipulative and misleading by stating: "East Timor's prospects are grim. In 1975 Portugal departed the island colony, and Indonesian forces immediately moved in. The East Timorese fought the invaders, and lost." Unfortunately, the article does not tell readers why Indonesian forces moved in.

KONI to seek support for 2006 Asian Games bid

KONI to seek support for 2006 Asian Games bid JAKARTA (JP): National Sports Council (KONI) officials plan to meet the state minister of youth affairs and sports on Thursday to clarify recent newspaper reports which quoted the minister as saying that KONI should reconsider its intention to bid for the 2006 Asian Games. "If the government gives us a red light, we'll stop our efforts, but if it says 'yes', we'll move on," KONI vice chairman Arie Sudewo said on Tuesday.

Bank Bali staff support Rudy

Bank Bali staff support Rudy JAKARTA (JP): Amid the public furor over the Bank Bali scandal, most of the bank's employees are wearing purple ribbons on their name tags as an expression of support and solidarity for former executive director, Rudy Ramli. The action, which was started by a few employees earlier this month, was later followed by others -- from managers down to the security guards, an employee at Bank Bali's headquarters said on Tuesday.

JSK extends trading ban on three firms

JSK extends trading ban on three firms JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) said on Tuesday that a suspension on trading of Bank Bali, PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada (CMNP) and PT Semen Cibinong shares would stay in place until the three companies fully disclosed their respective controversial transactions.

'Serious mistakes' seen in audit report

'Serious mistakes' seen in audit report JAKARTA (JP): Chief of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Satrio B. Yudono said on Tuesday that there were "many serious mistakes" in the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit report on the Bank Bali scandal. He said many of the personal bank accounts audited by PwC had turned out to have no connection at all with the Bank Bali affair.

Customs officials find 2.62kg heroin hidden in shoes

Customs officials find 2.62kg heroin hidden in shoes JAKARTA (JP): Customs and excise officials at the Soekarno- Hatta International Airport arrested a 21-year-old Indonesian girl and her 25-year-old brother for allegedly attempting to smuggle 2.62 kilograms of pure heroin into the country on Tuesday. Head of the airport's customs office, Tonny Soenanto, said Ayu Kusumaiti and brother Astion Marlim were apprehended shortly after customs officials discovered "something funny in their shoes".

Ambon death toll rises to seven

Ambon death toll rises to seven AMBON, Maluku (JP): The death toll from Monday's clash in Auhuru subdistrict here rose to at least seven after two more people died of their injuries and another body was discovered on Tuesday. Staff members at the private Dr. Haulissy Hospital identified the two victims as Samuel Loupatty, 30, and Latuholan, 36. Police also discovered the body of Yordan, 30, in Batu Merah subdistrict earlier in the day.

Shots fired at Australian Embassy

Shots fired at Australian Embassy JAKARTA (JP): National Police detectives have said they have no leads on the identity of those responsible for firing shots on Monday evening at three empty offices of the Australian Embassy on Jl. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta. "We have no idea who the shooters are. I can assure you, though, that we are doing our best to investigate this case," a police source said on Tuesday. "We found a live bullet that hit the window of the third floor... it's being examined.

Magician muddle

Magician muddle I feel obliged to make a correction concerning my letter Tourism is important printed in the Sept. 12 edition of The Jakarta Post. In the first paragraph, I mentioned a show by the famous magician "Furukawa". His name is actually John Hirokawa. A. DJUANA Jakarta

Officials puzzled over empty class

Officials puzzled over empty class BOGOR (JP): Head of Bogor's ministry of education and culture office, Akos K.M., said his office has run out of ideas for persuading street children and underaged workers to attend informal classes. For awhile, the office arranged for 50 street children to join lessons once a week, he said on Tuesday. "The class went from 2 p.m. until dusk to allow them to work during the daytime," he recalled. "But the children only came in for the first two sessions.

Cellular phone airtime rates raised by 23 percent

Cellular phone airtime rates raised by 23 percent JAKARTA (JP): After more than two months of opposition, the government and House of Representatives have agreed to raise airtime rates for regular cellular phone services by 23 percent from the current Rp 325 per minute to Rp 400.

City plans to manage terminals

City plans to manage terminals TANGERANG (JP): The local municipal administration office plans to regulate the estimated dozens of unauthorized intercity bus terminals and unlicensed bus ticket booths that are increasing here. "The existence (of illegal terminals) has disturbed traffic and created heavy congestion on several streets," Rachmat Hadis, head of Tangerang's Land Transportation Agency, said on Tuesday. Rachmat, however, did not mention the exact sites of the booths.

PPRC vows to build plant at Pare-Pare

PPRC vows to build plant at Pare-Pare JAKARTA (JP): Pare Pare Refining Corporation (PPRC) reconfirmed on Tuesday its plan to start developing a US$4.6 billion refinery next year in Pare-Pare, South Sulawesi. The Singapore-based company said that political and economic turmoil had not discouraged it from realizing the plan. "PPRC is maintaining continued confidence in the economic recovery of Indonesia," the company said in a statement.

Bribers targeted by officials

Bribers targeted by officials KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): People who pay bribes rather than those who take them will be the target of a new anticorruption drive by Malaysian authorities, news reports said on Tuesday. Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said anticorruption officials had in the past focused more on taking action against those who accepted bribes. Government figures showed 300 people were arrested for corruption last year, of whom two-thirds were civil servants.

Thais in Japan as prostitutes

Thais in Japan as prostitutes BANGKOK (AP): Ninety percent of Thai women who travel to Japan are going there to work as prostitutes and are becoming a burden to the Japanese government, Thailand's ambassador to Japan said in a statement issued on Tuesday. Increasing numbers of Thai women are being lured into the flesh trade by large crime syndicates, said Ambassador Sakthip Krairiksh, adding that the problem needs to be addressed by both countries.

Asian currencies end lower, despite late surge in yen

Asian currencies end lower, despite late surge in yen HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The late surge in the Japanese yen helped lift some Asian foreign exchange markets off their intraday lows Tuesday, but regional currencies still ended local trading hours down across the board. In Southeast Asia the Thai baht sank to a new 12-month low in early dealing, after second quarter GDP figures released late Monday disappointed investors.