Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 15 January 2000

49 articles found

Marshall Islands stays with Taiwan

Marshall Islands stays with Taiwan MAJURO (AFP): Ending weeks of speculation and uncertainty about relations with Taiwan, newly elected Marshall Islands President Kessai Note said on Friday the ties will continue.

Japanese bank warns of dire RI risks

Japanese bank warns of dire RI risks TOKYO (Reuters): Indonesia faces the risk of a banking sector meltdown and a political break-up that could trigger a financial crisis, a senior official of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JPIC) said on Friday.

Yusril travels to Netherlands to invite home coup exiles

Yusril travels to Netherlands to invite home coup exiles JAKARTA (JP): In an action which would have been unthinkable in the last 30 years, Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra left for the Netherlands Friday night to invite home Indonesians in self-imposed exile in Europe since the...

President's remark upsets Riau council

President's remark upsets Riau council PEKANBARU, Riau: The provincial council plans to send a letter to President Abdurrahman Wahid protesting his recent remark that calls for independence in Riau were "nonsense", council speaker H. Chaidir said here on Friday.

Obuchi optimistic Asia to become center of growth

Obuchi optimistic Asia to become center of growth BANGKOK (Reuters): Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, in Thailand on the last leg of a three-nation Southeast Asian visit, said on Friday he was confident that Asia would be the center of growth in the 21st century.

Student dies from drug overdose

Student dies from drug overdose JAKARTA (JP): A 22-year-old university student was found dead at the house of a classmate in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Friday afternoon, an employee at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital morgue said.

Joko to head human rights commission

Joko to head human rights commission JAKARTA (JP): Joko Sugianto was elected on Friday as chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, replacing Marzuki Darusman who was recently appointed the attorney general.

IBRA under a new chairman

IBRA under a new chairman Hopefully, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) will be able to work more expeditiously under the helmsmanship of its new chairman, Cacuk Sudarijanto. By doing so the agency would be contributing much to efforts to stem inflation, revive the real sector, bolster...

Irian Jaya's name change receives warm welcome

Irian Jaya's name change receives warm welcome JAKARTA (JP): What's in a name? Quite a lot, according to a youth group from Irian Jaya, or what is now being termed Papua.A group of Irianese students who claim to represent the West Papuan Community and All-Indonesia Papuan Students Alliance hailed...

EU unlikely to renew RI arms embargo: British minister

EU unlikely to renew RI arms embargo: British minister LONDON (Agencies): The European Union is unlikely to renew an arms embargo imposed against Indonesia on Sept. 16 and due to expire Monday, a British foreign office minister said Thursday.

IMF says East Timor could join Euroland

IMF says East Timor could join Euroland DILI, East Timor (Reuters): The tiny, traumatized Southeast Asian state of East Timor could adopt the euro as its currency, an International Monetary Fund official in the territory told Reuters on Friday.

Dollars account

Dollars account I have been a customer with the former Bank Exim, now part of Bank Mandiri, for 15 years. I have always been pleased with the Denpasar branch service, and have enjoyed ready access to the dollars in my U.S. dollar account.

Govt agrees to provide debt haircut for indebted firms

Govt agrees to provide debt haircut for indebted firms JAKARTA (JP): Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry Kwik Kian Gie announced on Friday new strategies to accelerate the restructuring of the lifeless corporate sector, including an option for the Indonesian Bank...

Rusdihardjo wants an end to political intervention

Rusdihardjo wants an end to political intervention JAKARTA (JP): Newly installed National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rusdihardjo urged the nation on Friday to no longer allow any parties to intervene in police work for their own benefit.

Hun Sen meets American critic

Hun Sen meets American critic PHNOM PENH (AP): Prime Minister Hun Sen's fiercest American critic expressed hope for Cambodia's fledgling democracy after visiting the capital on Friday, saying he had been "pessimistic looking at the situation from a distance".

KL oppoition warns of protests after arrests

KL oppoition warns of protests after arrests KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Two prominent supporters of Malaysia's jailed former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim and his lawyer were indicted on Friday in a crackdown that drew an opposition threat to mount public protests.

New inquiry into alleged 1998 rapes draws mixed reactions

New inquiry into alleged 1998 rapes draws mixed reactions JAKARTA (JP): The government decision to start a fresh investigation into alleged widespread sexual abuse during the May 1998 riot received mixed reactions from female activists concerning the relevance of the inquiry.

Candidate for Army commander

Candidate for Army commander It is interesting to observe the reassignments happening within the Indonesian Military (TNI), in particular the Army. For the past year the Army has been suspected of committing big mistakes during the New Order regime.

People begin pouring back into city

People begin pouring back into city JAKARTA (JP): City residents began crowding railway stations and intercity bus terminals on Friday as they returned from their hometowns after the Idul Fitri holiday."There were more than 11,000 passengers who arrived at Pasar Senen Railway Station as of 8 p.m.

National dialog planned in Aceh

National dialog planned in Aceh JAKARTA (JP): The government and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) will participate in a dialog aimed at seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict in the restive province, organizers of the talks announced on Friday.

Imlek Chinese New Year decorations color the city

Imlek Chinese New Year decorations color the city JAKARTA (JP): Ornaments of Imlek Chinese New Year have started to color the street kiosks at the busy Chinatown of Glodok in downtown Kota of West Jakarta as the annual celebration is just weeks away.

National Police urged to deploy more officers

National Police urged to deploy more officersBy Maria Endah Hulupi JAKARTA (JP): Two leading criminologists have blamed the National Police for its inability to cope with the rising crime rate in the capital, saying more police personnel were needed to guard crime-prone areas to ensure the safety...

A learning process

A learning process Strained relations between President Abdurrahman Wahid and Muslim-oriented political parties show that democracy is very much alive here. The rift is also teaching those involved that they still have much to learn about navigating the political currents of newfound openness.

Komnas Ham sets up inquiry on Maluku

Komnas Ham sets up inquiry on Maluku JAKARTA (JP): In the wake of mounting criticism for its alleged indifference, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas Ham) set up on Friday a commission to investigate atrocities in Maluku and North Maluku.

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on Jan. 14, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp RpU.S. dollar 1 7,189.00 7,261.00Australian dollar 1 4,785.72 4,837.28Austrian schilling 1 535.77 541.34Belgian franc 1 182.76 184.66Brunei dollar 1 4,299.13 4,344.78Canadian dollar 1 4,956.

Strong winds wreck houses in C. Java

Strong winds wreck houses in C. Java SEMARANG: Strong winds hit Purbalingga and Pati regencies on Thursday evening, severely damaging 125 houses and leaving some 400 families without proper shelter.Central Java administration spokesman B. Sutrisno said on Friday that five people were also injured.

Wismoyo in charge of Olympics preparations

Wismoyo in charge of Olympics preparations JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the National Sports Council (KONI) Wismoyo Arismunandar said on Friday that he would lead the team preparations for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

Two arrested over security guard killing

Two arrested over security guard killing JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta Police detectives have arrested two suspects Friday in connection with the killing of an off-duty security guard in Pela Mampang subdistrict, Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, on Thursday.South Jakarta Police chief Col.

Govt argues ministers' pay hike good for all

Govt argues ministers' pay hike good for all JAKARTA (JP): The government has defended its plan to raise the salaries of state officials, saying a more appropriate pay level would allow officials to concentrate on their job without seeking additional sources of income.

Gus Dur and axis force

Gus Dur and axis forceFrom Pikiran RakyatIt is evident there has been a difference of attitude between President Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, and the "axis force" which supported him to become President.

RI wants OPEC to maintain oil production level

RI wants OPEC to maintain oil production level JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday Indonesia would ask the upcoming ministerial meeting of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to maintain the present production level.

Building professional teachers

Building professional teachersBy Otong Setiawan Djuharie BANDUNG (JP): An article on teaching by Bantarto Bandoro last month reminded us that teachers are transformative intellectuals who must see themselves as professionals who are able to connect pedagogical theory and practice with wider social...

Old mosque a legacy of Chinese

Old mosque a legacy of ChineseBy Aan Suryana and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak After an absence of several Saturdays due to public holidays, Save Old Batavia appears again with a story of two protected mosques built by Chinese-Indonesian Muslims in the 1700s.

Where to go in Jakarta Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000

Where to go in Jakarta Saturday, Jan. 15, 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...

Media watchdog pressures Mahathir

Media watchdog pressures Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A French-based media watchdog, World Association of Newspapers, urged Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Friday to drop the sedition charge against an editor of an opposition newspaper.

Govt to step up taxation efforts

Govt to step up taxation efforts JAKARTA (JP): The government will intensify taxation efforts and reduce new foreign borrowing and investment spending to control the budget deficit for the 2000 fiscal year at a maximum of 5 percent of the gross domestic product, finance minister Bambang Sudibyo...

TNI reshuffle signals new balance of power: Analysts

TNI reshuffle signals new balance of power: Analysts JAKARTA (JP): Analysts said the recent reshuffle in the Indonesian Military (TNI) was an attempt by President Abdurrahman Wahid to reduce the institutional dominance of the Army.

U.S. warns of antireform forces

U.S. warns of antireform forces JAKARTA (JP): The United States sounded a strong warning against domestic forces wishing to suppress democratic reform in Indonesia, and warned the military against hindering the work of a national inquiry investigating violence in East Timor.

RI books final berth in men's doubles in Korea

RI books final berth in men's doubles in Korea JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia has earned a place in the men's doubles semifinal and mixed doubles final in the 2000 Samsung Korea Open at Hanra gymnasium in Cheju island, South Korea.

Pertamina's new president expected to be found soon

Pertamina's new president expected to be found soon JAKARTA (JP): The new commissioners of the state oil and gas Pertamina expect to find a new president for the company in one or two weeks, Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Friday.

Celluloid on paper: RI film books still few in number

Celluloid on paper: RI film books still few in numberBy Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): A book discussing films from the viewpoint of the hegemony of power was published recently, another contribution to the relatively sparse collection of books on film in Indonesia.

Free beer for golfers at Imperial Golf Club

Free beer for golfers at Imperial Golf Club JAKARTA (JP): The Imperial Golf Club at Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang, is offering free beer to golfers who wish to participate in six tournaments on Saturdays and Sundays in January.

Salary hike not a priority: Sutiyoso

Salary hike not a priority: Sutiyoso JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will not follow the central government's move to increase the salaries of its employees, Governor Sutiyoso announced at City Hall, saying salary hikes were not considered a top priority.

Philippines protests Chinese "intrusion"

Philippines protests Chinese "intrusion" MANILA (AP): The Philippines protested on Friday the presence of Chinese fishermen last week in a shoal in the South China Sea claimed by both countries.Philippine foreign secretary Domingo Siazon expressed the protest in a meeting with Chinese Ambassador Fu...

750 tons of used lubricants seized

750 tons of used lubricants seized JAKARTA (JP): The Sea and Air Police Corps arrested a man and confiscated 750 tons of used lubricants in drums from a tugboat about 1.5 kilometers north of Tanjung Priok Port on Friday morning, an officer said.

On call for jihad

On call for jihad I read the harsh opinion of Benny Subianto about Amien Rais in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 13, 2000 titled Has Amien Rais' color changed?, and I started wondering, did he have a more precise target for these attacking words beside Amien Rais personally?Why can't Benny say the same...

Welcome guests

Welcome guests If there are welcome guests after the nation has celebrated the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan and the New Year, they must be coming from neighboring Singapore, led by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, and accompanied by almost one hundred businessmen.

Construction begins on airport toll road canal

Construction begins on airport toll road canal JAKARTA (JP): The City Public Works Agency has started constructing a canal along both sides of the 1.5 kilometer inundated part of the Soedyatmo toll road which links Soekarno- Hatta Airport with the city, an official said on Friday.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 14, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ---------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 950 -25 42,000 Alakasa Industrindo 525 0 5,000 Alter Abadi 425 -25 247,500 Alumindo Light Metal...