Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 14 January 2000

53 articles found

Cop killed in fray

Cop killed in fray MEDAN, North Sumatra: Police here are investigating the death of Sgt. Maj. Effendi Ginting, 34, a detective from Percut Sei Tuan Police subprecinct, who was fatally shot in the head while trying to stop a mass brawl in Mandala housing complex here in the early hours of Tuesday.

Obuchi aims to boost Thai ties, recovery

Obuchi aims to boost Thai ties, recovery BANGKOK (Reuters): Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi began a two-day visit to Thailand on Thursday aimed at enhancing a close bilateral relationship and putting Asia's economic recovery on a more solid footing, officials said.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Program 9:00 Music 10:30 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Student's Program 3:00 Music 4:00 News 4:30 Arabic Lessons 5:00 Student's Quiz 5:30 TV Drama 6:00 Sports 6:30 TVRI News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 9:00 World...

Calm returns to Maluku, claims government

Calm returns to Maluku, claims government JAKARTA (JP): The government claimed on Thursday to have restored order in riot-torn Maluku and was now considering reconstruction and reconciliation there.Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen.

Summers to visit Jakarta

Summers to visit Jakarta WASHINGTON (Reuters): U.S. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers will visit India, Indonesia and Japan next week to survey Asia's economic landscape after the region has come through the thick of its worst financial crisis in half a century.

Occupational accidents kill 6

Occupational accidents kill 6 SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The local Manpower Office here recorded six deaths and 72 permanently disabled due to industrial accidents throughout the province last year.The victims were part of the total of 962 recorded accidents occurring in the workplace in East...

Village chiefs ask for allowance hike

Village chiefs ask for allowance hike ALOR, East Nusa Tenggara: A number of chiefs in remote villages in the province have complained over their small government allowances, warning that they could generate corruption.

Three officials questioned over train accident

Three officials questioned over train accident BOGOR (JP): Local police have questioned three officials at Bogor Railway Station and are currently awaiting further information from the five operators of the train, following a tragic incident that claimed 12 lives on Wednesday afternoon.

TNI spokesman Sudrajat set to be replaced

TNI spokesman Sudrajat set to be replaced JAKARTA (JP): In what appears to be part of an ongoing reshuffle within the Indonesian Military (TNI), President Abdurrahman Wahid confirmed on Thursday that military spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat would be replaced by Air Rear Marshal Graito Husodo.

IBRA receives another $1.2b in bad loans from state banks

IBRA receives another $1.2b in bad loans from state banks JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) has recently received an additional Rp 8.5 trillion (US$1.2 billion) in nonperforming loans (NPLs) from three state banks.The agency also expects to get another Rp 16.

BI governor need not be groggy

BI governor need not be groggyFrom Suara KaryaNews about the replacement of Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin has reached the community. Newspapers in the capital even said that President Abdurrahman, also known as Gus Dur, had told the House of Representatives it was possible that Sjahril...

More bodies found in Aceh

More bodies found in Aceh LHOKSEUMAWE, North Aceh: Locals recovered two unidentified male bodies in Blang Buloh village, Blang Mangat district, Lhokseumawe, on Wednesday night."Like the previous nine bodies dug up earlier on Wednesday noon, it's difficult to identify the two corpses because they...

Chinese-Indonesians 'loath' to repatriate funds

Chinese-Indonesians 'loath' to repatriate funds SINGAPORE (AFP): Indonesia's ethnic Chinese, believed to have stashed billions of dollars here, are reluctant to repatriate their money because of political problems at home, an expert said Thursday.

Top officials hail concern over Maluku

Top officials hail concern over Maluku JAKARTA (JP): Two top officials on Thursday pointed to calls for a jihad as a message to the government to take concrete action to stop the bloodshed in Maluku.House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien...

IBRA's new head says asset sales his top priority

IBRA's new head says asset sales his top priority JAKARTA (JP): New chief of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Cacuk Sudarijanto set his top priority on Thursday as the sale of government stakes in PT Astra International, Bank Central Asia and Bank Bali.

Iraq taps KL over plan

Iraq taps KL over plan KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Visiting Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz tapped Malaysia on Thursday for ideas to support Baghdad's plan to set up an upper house of parliament.Aziz met Malaysia's speaker of parliament Zahir Ismail for a briefing on the Southeast Asian nation's...

Extra buses carry holidaymakers

Extra buses carry holidaymakers PURWOKERTO, Central Java: More than 100 extra buses have been sent from Jakarta to transport Idul Fitri holidaymakers from Central Java, chief of the local state-owned bus company (PPD) Anton Sudarto said on Thursday.

President may get Rp 107m in planned pay hike

President may get Rp 107m in planned pay hike JAKARTA (JP): A senior official confirmed on Thursday the government's plan to raise the salaries of state officials and civil servants, including the President, who under the plan would receive Rp 107.4 million (US$14,900) a month.

Popularizing 'wayang' via the Internet? Why not

Popularizing 'wayang' via the Internet? Why notBy Kanti Waluyo JAKARTA (Antara): The communications revolution has changed people's lives.The world has become a huge system of information exchange. In 1988, one optic fiber cable could carry 3,000 electronic messages at the same time.

Woman's body found in motel

Woman's body found in motel JAKARTA (JP): Medical officials suspect suicide in the death of a woman whose decomposed body was found in a bathtub at an East Jakarta motel on Wednesday.The woman was identified as Evelina Sihite, in her late 20s, who was missing since Jan.

Off-duty guard hacked to death

Off-duty guard hacked to death JAKARTA (JP): Police believe mistaken identity led to the killing on Thursday afternoon of an off-duty security guard in Pela Mampang subdistrict, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta.The precinct's deputy chief of detectives, First Lt.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 13, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 975 -25 479,000 Alakasa Industrindo 525 0 0 Alter Abadi 450 25 1,363,000 Alumindo Light Metal...

INDRA rate set at Rp 6,738

INDRA rate set at Rp 6,738 JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Debt Restructuring Agency (INDRA) has set the exchange rate used to convert private foreign debt at Rp 6,738 to the U.S. dollar for companies joining the agency this month.

Is TNI always to blame?

Is TNI always to blame? I was pleasantly surprised when I read a letter written by Irine Dewi Kurniati called TNI in the eyes of a layman in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 5, 2000. To me it was like drinking ice-cold Coca-Cola on a hot windless day.

Unlicensed tow truck crew caught

Unlicensed tow truck crew caught JAKARTA (JP): West Jakarta Police on Wednesday arrested three members of an unlicensed East Jakarta tow truck crew who tried to extort money from a vehicle owner, deputy police chief Maj. Syafril Nursal said.

Asian currencies move higher, rupiah sentiment gets a boost

Asian currencies move higher, rupiah sentiment gets a boost HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Asian currencies ended mostly higher Thursday as the yen stabilized, removing much of the downward pressure on the regional currency markets.

Kofi Annan to visit Indonesia, E. Timor

Kofi Annan to visit Indonesia, E. Timor JAKARTA (JP): United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan is due to visit Indonesia and East Timor in mid-February as part of an Asia Pacific tour.Annan will arrive here on Feb.

Kuta arson suspect nabbed

Kuta arson suspect nabbed DENPASAR, Bali: Police detectives arrested on Thursday a suspect in last week's arson attack on Kuta souvenir market which destroyed 512 kiosks.The male suspect, identified only as Aw, 28, was arrested at around 00:20 a.m. at his rented house on Jl.

KONI suggests Olympics athletes train in Sydney

KONI suggests Olympics athletes train in Sydney JAKARTA (JP): Secretary-general of the National Sports Council (KONI) Rudolf S. Warouw proposed on Thursday that the women archers and the windsurfer who are being groomed for the 2000 Olympic Games should train in Sydney.

Govt starts fresh investigation into May 1998 riots

Govt starts fresh investigation into May 1998 riots JAKARTA (JP): Almost two years after the May 1998 riots, government officials said on Thursday it was starting a new investigation, as past inquiries had uncovered scant evidence to support claims of sexual violence.

The U.S.: A party to mass murder?

The U.S.: A party to mass murder?By Frank Richardson This is the second of two articles examining the influence of the United States government on Indonesia in the past 30 years. JAKARTA (JP): The U.S., of course, welcomed the 1965 coup it had helped to orchestrate and immediately dispatched...

Police identify five alleged foreign drug suppliers

Police identify five alleged foreign drug suppliers JAKARTA (JP): City police have established the identities of five foreigners shot dead during a drug raid at a rented house in South Jakarta on Wednesday evening.Jakarta Police detectives chief Col.

Generals' lawyers ready for international court

Generals' lawyers ready for international court JAKARTA (JP): The legal defense team representing Army top brass under scrutiny for violence in East Timor said on Thursday they were ready to face legal proceedings including, if necessary, an international tribunal.

Lippo Life to invest $42m

Lippo Life to invest $42m JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Lippo Life of the Lippo Group said on Thursday that it had allocated Rp 300 billion (US$41.7 million) to form a venture capital focusing on the financing of internet-related businesses.

Bank Mandiri's lack of transparence

Bank Mandiri's lack of transparence The statement issued recently by Bank Mandiri's chief director, Robby Djohan, that the time hasn't yet come for his bank to disclose the names of its bad debtors constitutes a new phenomenon in this time of reform in the financial services sector, when the...

Where to go in Jakarta Friday, Jan. 14, 2000

Where to go in Jakarta Friday, Jan. 14, 2000Exhibitions * Poster Exhibition: Ilmu Warna Goethe, at Goethe-Institute, Jl. Matraman Raya 23, East Jakarta (Phone: 8509132), until Jan. 20. * Painting Exhibition: Fenomena Masyarakat Urban, by 15 Jakartan artists, at Galeri Milenium, Golden Truly, Blok...

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on Jan. 13, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,172.00 7,244.00Australian dollar 1 4,748.58 4,799.87Austrian schilling 1 536.27 542.18Belgian franc 1 182.93 184.94Brunei dollar 1 4,300.53 4,346.31Canadian dollar 1 4,932.

Tugu community holds ritual

Tugu community holds ritual JAKARTA (JP): Residents of the historic Tugu area of North Jakarta will hold a traditional ritual purification ceremony on Sunday.Longtime resident Samuel Quiko said on Thursday the mandi- mandi festival should have been held a week after New Year's but was postponed...

Japan's account surplus down

Japan's account surplus down TOKYO (AFP): Japan's current account surplus in November dropped 31.0 percent from the previous year as the strong yen offset a recovering Asia to drive up imports, the finance ministry said Thursday.

RP committed to AFTA

RP committed to AFTA MANILA (AFP): The Philippines' commitment to a Southeast Asian free trade area is "total" despite challenges resulting from the regional financial crisis, the country's chief economic planner said Thursday.

Goh proposes $740m fund for Indonesia

Goh proposes $740m fund for Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, who is leading a big investment mission here, proposed on Thursday two investment funds totaling US$740 million designed to kick-start investment by Singaporean companies in Indonesia.

Gus Dur wants new president for Pertamina

Gus Dur wants new president for Pertamina JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid wants to replace the president of state oil and gas company Pertamina, Martiono Hadianto, and is calling on his ministers to select the best candidate to become the new leader of the largest and most strategic state...

42 people killed on the road

42 people killed on the road SEMARANG: A total of 42 people have been killed in road accidents in the three days before and after the Idul Fitri holiday, provincial police announced on Thursday.Chief of traffic directorate Col.

Singapore's art sector opening up

Singapore's art sector opening up SINGAPORE (AP): Singapore's arts sector has opened up and is becoming more liberal, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a television interview broadcast on Thursday."We have opened up quite considerably over the last 10 years.

Striving for effective higher education

Striving for effective higher educationBy Nirwan Idrus This is the second of two articles on ways to improve higher education. JAKARTA (JP): It is exactly two years to the day. Regrettably, business is as usual in almost all the country's state higher education institutions.

Why TNI/POLRI only?

Why TNI/POLRI only?From Rakyat MerdekaI am a retired member of the Indonesian Military (TNI). I dedicated my life to the struggle for independence against the Dutch and Japanese. I am now greatly concerned that TNI and the National Police (POLRI) are objects of vilification.

Residents support Taman Puring closure

Residents support Taman Puring closure JAKARTA (JP): Businesspeople, workers and residents near Taman Puring in South Jakarta expressed support for last week's closure of the park's flea market in a bid to ease traffic in the area.

Kuntoro urges Paiton to revoke arbitration case

Kuntoro urges Paiton to revoke arbitration case JAKARTA (JP): President of state electricity company PT PLN Kuntoro Mangkusubroto urged independent power producer PT Paiton Energy on Thursday to revoke its arbitration claims against the state company as a condition of starting out-of-court talks to...

RI men's doubles move to S. Korea quarters

RI men's doubles move to S. Korea quarters JAKARTA (JP): Veteran Indonesian men's doubles pair Ricky Ahmad Subagja and Rexy Mainaky upset the world number one pairing of Ha Tae-kwon and Kim Dong-moon of South Korea 15-10, 17-16 in the second round of the 2000 Samsung Korea Open on Thursday.

Trans Pacific to revive Tuban olefins project

Trans Pacific to revive Tuban olefins project SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Indonesia's Trans Pacific Petrochemical Indotama, the joint venture behind the stalled $2.3 billion olefins project in Tuban, East Java, hopes to reach an agreement with interested investors by the end of March, and resume...

BI to decide soon on Category A banks' fate

BI to decide soon on Category A banks' fate JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said on Thursday that the central bank was still undecided on whether to close private banks with a capital adequacy ratio (CAR) under the minimum 4 percent requirement.

Guerrilla peace talks extended

Guerrilla peace talks extended MANILA (AFP): Philippine President Joseph Estrada said on Thursday he was extending the deadline for sealing a peace agreement between the government and Muslim separatist guerrillas to June.

IBRA gets new chief

IBRA gets new chief Cacuk Sudarijanto's first challenge as the new head of the country's most powerful economic organization, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), is to prove to the public, notably the market, that his connections with the "axis force" of Muslim-oriented political...