Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 28 September 1999

48 articles found

House supports national car

House supports national car JAKARTA (JP): House Commission V for industry and trade has suggested that the government save the national car project developed by PT Timor Putra Nasional from bankruptcy and bring in new investors to continue the project.

Blame hypocrisy for lost of East Timor

Blame hypocrisy for lost of East TimorBy Donna K Woodward MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): "To many leaders of the world, (B.J.) Habibie appears to be a democrat, a supporter of human rights. That is a pity." So says Megawati Soekarnoputri in her article in the Sept.

Malaysian tanker blast kills one

Malaysian tanker blast kills one PORT DICKSON, Malaysia (AFP): One crewman was killed and another injured on Monday in an explosion aboard a Malaysian- registered tanker off Port Dickson, police said.The MT Petro Stella, carrying 500 tons of gas and 3,326 tons of diesel, was en route to the...

Government to help importers give Australia a miss

Government to help importers give Australia a miss JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Trade and Industry Rahardi Ramelan said on Monday the government would help in finding substitute supply sources for local importers who wanted to switch their imports of essential raw materials from Australia.

Council elects five members for MPR

Council elects five members for MPR JAKARTA (JP): City Council elected five city representatives for the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), with a Golkar Party candidate securing the most votes in the council's plenary session on Monday.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Sept. 27, 1999: Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,443.00 8,527.00Australian dollar 1 5,500.61 5,561.31Austrian schilling 1 640.70 647.69Belgian franc 1 218.55 220.93Brunei dollar 1 4,949.58 5,001.76Canadian dollar 1 5,737.29 5,796.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 27, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 375 0 0 AHAP Insurance 525 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 250 0 0 Alter Abadi 225 -25 55,000 Alumindo Light...

Almost 1 million youths abuse drugs: Expert

Almost 1 million youths abuse drugs: Expert JAKARTA (JP): Drug abuse is currently affecting at least 900,000 members of Indonesia's youth, says an expert.The figure represents 70 percent of 1.3 million known cases from the age group of 12 to 55, said police Maj. Gen.

Going bananas over sun-dried bananas from South Banten

Going bananas over sun-dried bananas from South BantenYr. Prahista The delicacy sale pisang sold in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang, Cianjur and other towns in West Java is most likely produced in remote villages in South Banten.

Students rally against Interfet

Students rally against Interfet MEDAN, North Sumatra: Some 100 students staged a rally at the provincial council here on Monday demanding Australian troops in the International Force for East Timor (Interfet) be withdrawn.

Indonesia has lost its attraction

Indonesia has lost its attraction In this era of globalization, everything that is happening in this country -- every tragedy, the never-ending violence, the shameful behavior of our politicians and all the instances of corruption -- easily reaches the eyes and ears of the world.

Akbar Tanjung a pathetic comparison

Akbar Tanjung a pathetic comparisonFrom Rakyat MerdekaConcerning the report, believed to be leaked from a meeting, in the Sept. 20 Rakyat Merdeka, I have greater trust in the explanations of Arifin Panigoro than the response given by Akbar Tanjung.1.

Vendors complain about kiosk cost

Vendors complain about kiosk cost BOGOR (JP): Vendors at the renovated Kebon Kembang market in Bogor have complained that the Rp 60 million to Rp 100 million price tag for a new kiosk is out of their reach.

Over 230,000 East Timorese flee to East Nusa Tenggara

Over 230,000 East Timorese flee to East Nusa TenggaraBy Jupriadi ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Almost one third of East Timor's population of 800,000 have sought refuge in neighboring East Nusa Tenggara following the Aug. 30 ballot.

Government urged to delay TRIPs agreement

Government urged to delay TRIPs agreement JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Consumer Foundation (YLKI) urged the government on Monday to postpone realization of its commitment to the Uruguay Round trade liberalization agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPs).

KONI quiets fears about Indonesian taking part in Olympics

KONI quiets fears about Indonesian taking part in Olympics JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) vice chairman, Harsuki, told reporters on Monday there was no need to be afraid of sending a contingent to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Interfet takes control of East Timor

Interfet takes control of East TimorBy Ridwan Max Sijabat DILI, East Timor (JP): The International Force for East Timor (Interfet) officially took over control of security responsibilities in East Timor from the Indonesian Military (TNI) on Monday.

RI-Australia CPO plant

RI-Australia CPO plant JAKARTA (JP): PT Comismar Wana Atmaja will build a crude palm oil mill in Samarinda, East Kalimantan next year to support its 60,000 hectares of oil palm estates under development in Bulungan district.The company's director, Andas F.

4th national drag race to begin

4th national drag race to begin JAKARTA (JP): The fourth leg of the national drag race series continues at the Sentul Circuit near Bogor in West Java on Oct. 3.The race features five categories: the free for all, 1000cc to 2000cc cars, jeeps, Volkswagens and motorcycles.

Prosecutor says Bank Bali 10 dossiers lacking

Prosecutor says Bank Bali 10 dossiers lacking JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office has rejected dossiers of the 10 suspects in the Bank Bali scandal due to a "minor technicality", a senior official at the National Police said on Monday.Police spokesman Brig. Gen.

Police investigate fatal wall collapse

Police investigate fatal wall collapse TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Police have questioned three soccer tournament committee members here, following the collapse on Sunday of a factory wall which killed three children.Police declined to identify the committee members.

Team blames officers for shooting

Team blames officers for shooting JAKARTA (JP): An independent fact-finding team probing the Sept. 24 incident when shots were fired into a crowd of protesters said on Monday security personnel were responsible for the fatal shooting.

Kuntoro calls for thorough inquiry into refinery graft

Kuntoro calls for thorough inquiry into refinery graft JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Kuntoro Mangkusubroto called on the public prosecutors and government auditors on Monday to thoroughly investigate alleged corruption at the Balongan refinery in Indramayu, West Java.

Pertamina signs four oil production sharing deals

Pertamina signs four oil production sharing deals JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil company Pertamina awarded on Monday four contracts for the exploration and development of Indonesian oil and gas resources, the first oil mining deals signed this year.

Govt expects lower inflation

Govt expects lower inflation JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is expected to post another deflation in September on the back of an oversupply of food commodities, the chief of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Sugito Suwito, said."We expect deflation of between 0.5 percent and 0.

Who started the fire?

Who started the fire? You did not have to be military intelligence to foresee last week's violence in the streets of Jakarta. The writing has been on the wall since the Indonesian Military (TNI), ignoring mounting public opposition, virtually coerced the House of Representatives to endorse the...

Making new foes

Making new foesFrom Rakyat MerdekaI do not understand why the government and the politicians are angry at Australia because of East Timor. Didn't the East Timor problem arise because of the two options offered by President B.J.

Legislator decries Singapore's illegals

Legislator decries Singapore's illegals SINGAPORE (AFP): A Singapore legislator has called for firm action against illegal immigrants after at least six Chinese nationals were involved in the kidnapping of a local girl, a report said on Monday.

Megawati best choice for president

Megawati best choice for president Let me first express my compliments on your newspaper, especially in relation to the editorials. Upon reading the articles I often have an urge to comment on and sometimes to express my bewilderment with the (to me as a westerner) incredible happenings in...

UI abandons street protests

UI abandons street protests JAKARTA (JP): University of Indonesia (UI) students decided on Monday to continue their struggle for justice in the killing of a fellow student without resorting to street protests.

Bhakti set to issue Rp 200b in bonds

Bhakti set to issue Rp 200b in bonds JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of securities company PT Bhakti Investama approved on Monday a plan to issue bonds worth Rp 200 billion (about US$23.5 million) to boost working capital.

Habibie: Legal means best to solve discord

Habibie: Legal means best to solve discord JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie urged the nation on Monday to resolve differences nonviolently and according to the law, warning several political time bombs may surface in the near future."Sure, there is the East Timor issue, the Bank Bali issue.

Government to lower natural gas prices for domestic market

Government to lower natural gas prices for domestic market JAKARTA (JP): The government will reduce natural gas prices from an average of US$2.50/Million British Thermal Units (MMBTU) to around $1.50/MMBTU, a senior official at the Ministry of Mines and Energy said on Monday.

Govt urged to protect turtles

Govt urged to protect turtles PALU, Central Sulawesi: The rife smuggling of green turtles (chelonia mydas) from the province may soon threaten the survival of the amphibious species, an environmentalist said here on Monday.

Reconciliation a must in East Timor

Reconciliation a must in East TimorBy Olle Tornquist This is the second of two articles analyzing the historic changes unfolding in East Timor. OSLO (JP): The United Nations, as already mentioned in the first part of this article, could well have referred to Article 7 of the May agreement and...

Cooperation with tribunal would boost trust in Indonesia

Cooperation with tribunal would boost trust in Indonesia A United Nations decision to bring Indonesia before an international tribunal would not be a surprise, Coordinator of the Independent Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Munir, told The Jakarta Post.

Seven ministers to resign for new seats in Assembly

Seven ministers to resign for new seats in Assembly JAKARTA (JP): More ministers will be holding dual posts in the current, following the announcement that seven Cabinet members will be serving as members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).

Students reject military speaker

Students reject military speaker BOGOR (JP): Some 18 students representing Bogor Agricultural Institute, Bogor Pharmacy School, Pakuan University and Ibnu Chaldun University filed a petition with the City Council here on Monday, rejecting a military or police candidate for the post of council...

World Habitat Day sends message that habitat is a gender issue

World Habitat Day sends message that habitat is a gender issueBy Inge Komardjaja BANDUNG (JP): This year's World Habitat Day on Oct. 4 carries the message "Cities for All". It reminds urban planners and managers that women and men, girls and boys, from all walks of life and different backgrounds...

Police keep 49 street protesters in custody

Police keep 49 street protesters in custody JAKARTA (JP): City police are detaining 49 people, including students, they apprehended during two days of street protests on Jl. Sudirman, an officer said on Monday.Jakarta Police spokesman Lt. Col.

Idea of merging Telkom, Indosat hailed

Idea of merging Telkom, Indosat hailed JAKARTA (JP): Legislators welcomed on Monday the idea of merging two state-owned telecommunications operators, PT Telkom and PT Indosat, as a strategy to survive the impending open market competition.

Mother denies reports of Jumadi's death

Mother denies reports of Jumadi's death JAKARTA (JP): Street singer Jumadi, who was reported as murdered last week during the two-day violent demonstrations in the capital, is receiving care in the intensive care unit at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta.

PLDT quits Asia Cellular

PLDT quits Asia Cellular MANILA (AFP): Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. said Monday it sold part of its stake in a regional satellite venture, Asia Cellular Satellite, to its partners PT Pacific Satelit Nusantara of Indonesia and U.S. aerospace firm Lockheed Martin.

A thorn in one's side

A thorn in one's side After Soeharto took over power from Sukarno in 1967, for many years he had cleverly navigated Indonesia through political storms and crises, using his political instincts. His aim had always been to bring Indonesia to a safe port, but like Moses, he was to reach that promised...

Gus Dur behind Megawati bid despite nomination: Matori

Gus Dur behind Megawati bid despite nomination: Matori JAKARTA (JP): Party leaders have brushed off Abdurrahman Wahid's acceptance of the presidential nomination by the "axis force", claiming the move is unlikely to affect the race between the main contenders -- Megawati Soekarnoputri and incumbent...

BRI to inject Rp 428b into Bank Inter-Pacific

BRI to inject Rp 428b into Bank Inter-Pacific JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed Bank Inter- Pacific approved on Monday the management's proposal to issue rights shares to strengthen the bank's capital structure.The bank said it would sell 9.

Villages given tourism awards

Villages given tourism awards JAKARTA: Ten villages in eight provinces have been awarded citations for their success in promoting tourism.Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Marzuki Usman, presented the awards on Monday to representatives from the villages of Tembi in Yogyakarta, Mukhai Mudik in...

UN body to set up inquiry on East Timor

UN body to set up inquiry on East Timor GENEVA (Agencies): The United Nations' main human rights body on Monday voted for an international inquiry into atrocities in East Timor, despite opposition from Indonesia and its Asian allies.