Archive: 14 January 2000
53 articles found
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. 15 and is scheduled to meet with President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Cabinet ministers during a three-day stay. He will fly to Dili, East Timor, on Feb.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. The rupiah edged higher, but interest to buy the Indonesian currency remained limited despite the prospect of sizable inflows in the short-to-medium term.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Syafril said Freddy, 22, Erasmus, 33, and Parlan, 32, part of an unlicensed five-man tow truck crew, tried to force Hendra, 38, to pay them to tow his Mitsubishi Colt sedan after it broke down on the toll road near Grogol.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. The way she expressed her feelings was so sweet by saying when there is a member of the Indonesian Military (TNI) around she feels safe and secure. She guaranteed that she was telling the truth and nothing but the truth and on her own free will.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. INDRA chairman Sumitro said in a statement on Thursday that the new rate was taken from the best exchange rate in December and adjusted according to the month's inflation rate of 1.73 percent.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
Stock quotations on JSX
Stock quotations on JSX Stock 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 1,200 -25 238,000 Aneka Kimia Raya 600 0 17,500 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,350 25 1,742,500 Anwar Sierad 400 50 2,443,000 APAC Centertex Corp.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Firman Noorsya, said a group of men appeared to have confused Nicholas Kopong Dilaga, 30, with another man. "Nicholas must have looked like someone else.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. 3 after she left with her brother from her office on Jl. Gatot Subroto in Central Jakarta. Family members identified her body at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital's morgue from birthmarks on her chest and on one of her legs.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
Popularizing 'wayang' via the Internet? Why not
Popularizing 'wayang' via the Internet? Why not By 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. In 2000, they carry an estimated 10 million. Now, with the aid of technology like the Internet, information is at our fingertips.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. The official, who is also involved in preparing the 2000 draft budget, said adequate salaries were a precondition to good governance.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. "We estimate the exodus will peak today (Thursday) or tomorrow night, with some 30,000 people leaving for Jakarta by bus," Anton said. Heavy traffic congestion was reported on the south coast road in the province. Major roads Jl. Raya Ajibarang, Jl.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 two-assembly legislature ahead of Iraq's general elections in March.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Effendi's body was found near his house at the complex.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Frederick Wu, vice president of economic research at Singapore's DBS Bank, also said it was still too early for foreigners to invest in Indonesia, where separatist violence and religious strife has dogged President Abdurrahman Wahid's administration.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 are already decomposed," a resident said.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
BI governor need not be groggy
BI governor need not be groggy From Suara Karya News 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 would be replaced if the audit of Bank Indonesia (BI) indicated infringement of rules or functional crimes. There is actually nothing special in the news or in the President's statement.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 16.5 trillion in nonperforming loans from state bank Bank Mandiri, according to IBRA loan workout group leader Andreas A. Bunanta on Thursday.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. The President acknowledged that he "requested" TNI chief Adm. Widodo make the change.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. "We've questioned witnesses and three officials, namely railway station chief Ismanto, security chief Endang Sutisna and health post chief Engkos Koswara," Bogor Regional Police chief Col.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Head of Helandohi village on Alor Island Hermanus Lika Sali and his Pandai counterpart Rahman Abdullah said on Wednesday they deserved a bigger annual allowance because of their status, which sometimes required them to work day and night.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 Kalimantan in 1999. The head of the Manpower Office, Kirnadi, said here on Thursday that last year's number represented a 10 percent rise compared to 1998.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Wiranto said certain security measures, including an isolation of the sea surrounding the islands, remained in place to prevent a new outbreak of violence.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
TV today
TV today TVRI 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 News 9:35 Talk Show 10:30 Performance 11:35 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Obuchi arrived in Bangkok from Vientiane for the last stop on a tour of Southeast Asia that has taken him to Cambodia and Laos, the first visits to those countries by a Japanese premier in several decades.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. "My primary task is to achieve the agency's revenue target of Rp 17 trillion (US$2.36 billion) for the state budget by the end of March," Cacuk said after he was installed by finance minister Bambang Sudibyo to replace Glenn Yusuf.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 parties will by no means affect his reputation as a competent manager of high integrity.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Speaking at a foreign correspondents' forum, Estrada said he was extending a previous Dec. 31 deadline for a peace accord with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) by six months on the recommendation of his peace panel.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. He said that the decision on the fate of the banks with insufficient capital would be decided at the next monthly meeting of the central bank board of governors later this month.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 construction sometime in the second quarter of 2000.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 solve their dispute. Newly-installed Kuntoro said PLN had demonstrated its goodwill to negotiate with Paiton by dropping its lawsuit against the company at the Central Jakarta District Court.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. However, they also criticized the city administration for being overly harsh in its action. They also expressed concern for the fate of the vendors at the park.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
Why TNI/POLRI only?
Why TNI/POLRI only? From Rakyat Merdeka I 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. It is pathetic to see people taking pride in disparaging TNI and National Police. At the time of the struggle for independence these people were not even born.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
Striving for effective higher education
Striving for effective higher education By 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. In fact, for many people the situation is more perplexing and dangerous than before. We now have people and institutions who have learned the new paradigm "speak" or language.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. It's quite a lively scene and there's quite a following now. Not just expatriates but even Singaporeans," Lee said in the interview with Channel News Asia. But openness in the arts must have its limits, he said.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Utjin Sudiana said accidents have also left 61 people injured and resulted in Rp 200 million in financial losses. The number of deaths represented a decrease from the 58 recorded during the same period last year, Utjin said.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 company.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Surapati in Kuta, Bali Police spokesman Lt. Col. Y. Suyatmo said. During the questioning, the man confessed that he burned the market out of vengeance. He said he threw a burning cloth under one of the wooden kiosks.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. "Our commitment to a single ASEAN market is total," Economic Planning Secretary Felipe Medalla said in a conference sponsored by the foreign correspondents' club here, referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Area (AFTA).
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. The surplus, which measures the flow of goods, services and investment income and other financial transfers, stood at 809.7 billion yen (US$7.7 billion), down for the 10th consecutive month year-on-year.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 because of the Idul Fitri holiday. He said the ritual, in which revelers smear powder on each other's faces, would be held in the front yard of SMU 52 senior high school.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Jan. 13, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta Friday, Jan. 14, 2000
Where to go in Jakarta Friday, Jan. 14, 2000 Exhibitions * 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 B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No. 15, South Jakarta (Phone: 7507828), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Jan. 30. * Fine Arts Exhibition by Handi Wirman, at Galeri Lontar, Jl.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 principle of transparence for the sake of rehabilitating the national banking sector is being touted.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. "We're ready to face the international court. If the generals are found guilty as charged, then just file it," former justice minister Muladi, a senior consultant for the team, told journalists.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo identified the deceased on Thursday as Semeiu Jhola Oladi Pupo and Muueeden Boca Rinwa of Nigeria; Freeman Charles Siafa of Liberia; Ebraheem Mohammed of Togo; and Mouza Sulaiman Domala of the Ivory Coast.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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 weapons to Jakarta while the CIA further abetted the killing spree by providing a list of PKI members to the army.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Government officials admitted the earlier investigation into the riots, which concluded that at least 66 women were raped, was based on secondhand information.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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. Warouw said that such would allow the athletes to the climatic condition in Sydney in advance of the Olympic Games this fall. "But we will ask their coaches before making the decision.
Fri, 14 Jan 2000, 00:00 WIB
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.