Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 13 October 2000

63 articles found

Minivan drivers demand tariff hike

Minivan drivers demand tariff hike ANGERANG (JP): Hundreds of angkot (public minivan) drivers staged a rally at the city council building here on Thursday demanding a raise in the minivan tariff.The protesters who drove their vehicles to the compound said that the tariff hike was appropriate...

BSP reschedules $76m debt

BSP reschedules $76m debt JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Bakrie Sumatra Plantation (BSP) said here on Thursday it had signed an agreement with foreign creditors on the restructuring of its US$76 million debt.

Former PM Rao sentenced to 3 years in jail

Former PM Rao sentenced to 3 years in jail NEW DELHI (Agencies): A special Indian court sentenced former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao and a cabinet colleague to three years in jail on Thursday after they were convicted last month in a vote-buying case."I hereby sentence the accused P.V.

Ade defies sanction imposed by IFBB

Ade defies sanction imposed by IFBB JAKARTA (JP): National men's bodybuilder Ade Rai will continue to compete in international events despite the three-year sanction from the Asian chapter of the International Bodybuilding Federation (IFBB).

Campaign to reduce mortality rates launched

Campaign to reduce mortality rates launched JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO) launched on Thursday a campaign called "Make Pregnancy Safer" to reduce the country's high maternal and infant mortality rates.

Malaysia's palm oil futures drop again

Malaysia's palm oil futures drop again KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The selldown in Malaysian palm oil futures continued for a second day on Thursday, with dealers saying there was no positive news to halt the market slide on worries of oversupply and weak exports.

Student dies of drug overdose

Student dies of drug overdose JAKARTA (JP): A student at a private university was found dead with a needle sticking in one of his arms in a toilet at his campus in Cinere, Depok on Tuesday morning, a police report said.

Asia Pulp unit shares slump on over $10b debt concern

Asia Pulp unit shares slump on over $10b debt concern SINGAPORE (Bloomberg): Shares of Asia Pulp & Paper Co. and its units dropped, some to a record, after analysts cut investment ratings on worries about the group's ability to repay more than US$10 billion debt.

Ship stranded off Nabire

Ship stranded off Nabire SORONG, Irian Jaya: Luxurious passenger ship KM Umsini, belonging to the state-owned liner PT Pelni has been stranded in the waters off Nabire since hitting coral reefs on Tuesday, an official said on Thursday.

Thousands in Vietnam disciplined

Thousands in Vietnam disciplined HANOI (Reuters): More than 2,000 Communist Party members and officials have been disciplined in a northern Vietnam province that saw serious unrest three years ago, the party newspaper reported on Thursday.

11 C. Java athletes join SEAG training

11 C. Java athletes join SEAG training SEMARANG (JP): Eleven Central Java athletes will join the centralized training program for the Kuala Lumpur 2001 Southeast Asian Games.The 11 athletes are judokas Wijayanto Purnomo and Lita Theresia, billiard players Heson M and Sumarno, volleyballers M...

Nokia introduces new services

Nokia introduces new services JAKARTA (JP): Nokia Mobile Phones Indonesia and its distributor for wireless data applications, PT inTouch, introduced on Wednesday several new value-added services for booking flights and buying movie tickets through Nokia's handsets.

Maya Sigit sentenced to 8 months in jail

Maya Sigit sentenced to 8 months in jail JAKARTA (JP): The court sentenced on Thursday former president Soeharto's granddaughter-in-law Gusti Maya Firanti Noor, 29, to eight months in prison and fined her Rp 15 million (US$1,720) for possessing a small amount of crystal methamphetamine.

Lippo launches Internet portal

Lippo launches Internet portal JAKARTA (JP): The Lippo Group launched on Thursday its first Internet portal, Lippostar.com, offering news and Internet gimmicks such as games, e-mail and message board."In its first stage, Lippostar provides eight channels ...

60 referees set for nat'l league

60 referees set for nat'l league JAKARTA (JP): Sixty referees who have obtained C-1 national certificates are being prepared for the seventh Indonesian soccer league next year.The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) official in charge of referees and matches, Ecky Tamtelahitu, said the referees...

Marcos, Chun and Soeharto

Marcos, Chun and SoehartoFrom Warta KotaIn 1980, at the end of his reign, former Philippine president Marcos had to flee abroad. The people's power movement opposing Marcos' greed caused the armed forces to divide into two opposing groups.

Moody's to send team to RI

Moody's to send team to RI JAKARTA (Dow Jones): Moody's Investors Service Inc. said Thursday it plans to send a sovereign ratings team to Indonesia in mid-November.Thomas Byrne, a Moody's senior vice president, told Dow Jones Newswires the team would come, but didn't say whether the ratings agency...

Wearing heavy outfits?

Wearing heavy outfits? It is difficult to understand why the members of the People's Consultative Assembly and the House of Representatives (MPR and DPR) prefer to don a complete suit (a jacket, a long-sleeved shirt and a tie) to go to work, considering that Indonesia is a tropical country.

ASEAN monitors Suu Kyi in Myanmar, won't mediate

ASEAN monitors Suu Kyi in Myanmar, won't mediate HANOI (Agencies): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations said on Thursday it was monitoring the situation in Myanmar, where opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been confined to her home, but had no intention of mediating.

Govt bans separatist flag in Irian Jaya

Govt bans separatist flag in Irian Jaya JAKARTA (JP): The government announced on Thursday a ban on the "Morning Star" separatist flag in Irian Jaya and a crackdown on the proindependence Papua Task Force.

Rupiah falls on dollar-buying, peso falls to new record low

Rupiah falls on dollar-buying, peso falls to new record low JAKARTA (Dow Jones): The Indonesian rupiah closed lower Thursday on thin volume led by state bank dollar-buying after falls in regional currencies.

Unocal buys partner shares

Unocal buys partner shares EL SEGUNDO, California (Dow Jones): Affiliates of Unocal Corporation, Unocal Makassar, Ltd., and Unocal Rapak, Ltd., said on Thursday they have agreed to purchase respective interest in Production Sharing Contracts for blocks offshore East Kalimantan, Indonesia from...

Beddu questioned over Bulog scam

Beddu questioned over Bulog scam JAKARTA (JP): The former chairman of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Beddu Amang appeared on Thursday at the Attorney General's Office to face questioning as a suspect in a corruption case linked to the youngest son of former president Soeharto, Hutomo "Tommy"...

Residents demand land certificates

Residents demand land certificates PADANG, West Sumatra: Hundreds of residents of Aur Kuning area set roadblocks on Thursday at Bukittinggi bypass road, paralyzing the traffic leading to the bus terminal and neighboring Agam regency.

Govt to provide provinces with greater tax authority

Govt to provide provinces with greater tax authority JAKARTA (JP): Finance Minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo proposed on Thursday an amendment to regional tax law which would allow provincial and regency administrations to have greater authority in collecting tax and fixing tax tariffs.

BCA's ATM at Wisma Indocement

BCA's ATM at Wisma Indocement Bank Central Asia's (BCA) automatic teller machine (ATM) located at Wisma Indocement on Jl. Sudirman has been down for days and nothing has been done about it.My office is on the 11th floor of the building and it's very convenient for me to withdraw money and pay...

Four arrested for drug trafficking

Four arrested for drug trafficking BOGOR, West Java (JP): Cisarua Police subprecinct nabbed four drug traffickers in separate locations near the popular Puncak resort and confiscated 1.5 kilograms of marijuana, a police officer said on Thursday.Subprecinct chief First Insp.

3,215 officers to secure IPU

3,215 officers to secure IPU JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Nurfaizi said on Thursday the police would deploy 3,215 officers to secure the upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference scheduled to begin here on Sunday.

ASEAN chief insists EU meeting still on

ASEAN chief insists EU meeting still on HANOI (AFP): The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) still expects breakthrough talks with the European Union to go ahead as planned in December despite the mounting crisis in Myanmar, ASEAN secretary-general Rodolfo Severino said on Thursday.

Demand to drop charges against Bob Hasan denied

Demand to drop charges against Bob Hasan denied JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court dismissed on Thursday a motion to have corruption charges against timber baron Mohamad "Bob" Hasan dropped.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Song 9:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Cartoon 3:00 Documentary 4:00 News 4:30 Talk Show 5:30 TVRI News 6:30 Music 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 Sports 9:00 World News 9:30 Music 10:30 NewsProgram 2 5:30 p.m.

Jakarta to host Uzbekistan in Davis Cup Group I matches

Jakarta to host Uzbekistan in Davis Cup Group I matches JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta will host the Group I of Davis Cup match between Indonesia and Uzbekistan next February and is hoping for a miracle to beat the visiting team.

ASEAN information ministers meet

ASEAN information ministers meet HANOI (AFP): Information ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations launched two days of talks here Thursday amid efforts to forge a common IT policy despite huge differences among member states.

Fire destroys important documents at BPKP office

Fire destroys important documents at BPKP office JAKARTA (JP): Documents related to the alleged "mishandling" of multibillion dollar emergency supports from Bank Indonesia have allegedly turned into ashes in a fire that gutted the third floor of the Development and Finance Comptroller's (BPKP)...

Paralympics athletes get funds

Paralympics athletes get funds JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian contingent to the Sydney Paralympics received more than Rp 600 million (US$70,600) in contributions to support their participation, an official said on Thursday.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct. 12, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 2,260 -20 806,000 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 125 -5 17,500 Alakasa Industrindo 430 0 0 Alfa...

INRO allowed to sell stock

INRO allowed to sell stock KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones): The International Natural Rubber Council has decided to allow the International Natural Rubber Organization to sell a minimum of 110,000 metric tons of its buffer stock by March next year, a delegate from a major consuming country said.

Vice chairman of IBRA is replaced

Vice chairman of IBRA is replaced JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) deputy chairman Sumantri Slamet will be appointed as the agency's second top man to replace outgoing vice chairman Arwin Rasyid, Finance Minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo said here on Thursday.

RI vows to fight all-out against Kuwait

RI vows to fight all-out against Kuwait JAKARTA (Agencies): Despite its underdog position, Indonesia's soccer team pledged to fight all-out in its first Group B match of the 2000 Asian Cup final against Kuwait at the Tripoli stadium in Lebanon on Friday.

Hospital finds HIV-contaminated blood supplied by local Red Cross

Hospital finds HIV-contaminated blood supplied by local Red Cross BANDUNG (JP): A private hospital here has found that nine bags of blood supplied by the local office of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) have tested positive to the Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV).

Oki to appeal for clemency over death sentence

Oki to appeal for clemency over death sentence JAKARTA (JP): Convicted murderer Harnoko Dewantono, alias Oki, 35, plans to seek clemency from the President, after the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence imposed on him by the Jakarta High Court in 1997, following his conviction for three murders...

Former tofu boss gets 4 years for corruption

Former tofu boss gets 4 years for corruption JAKARTA (JP): Marzuki Bazis, 37, former head of the Indonesian Tofu Soybean Cooperatives (Kopti), sat silent on Thursday when a packed courtroom cheered after Judge Bay Bastur sentenced him to a four-year jail term for embezzling Rp 1.

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on Oct. 12, 2000: Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,375.00 9,375.00 8,831.00 8,919.00Australian dollar 1 4,460.53 4,997.81 4,703.39 4,754.72Austrian schilling 1 528.11 591.58 556.87 562.

Riau archipelago province bill opposed

Riau archipelago province bill opposed JAKARTA (JP): A bill proposed by the House of Representatives to develop the Riau Islands into its own province, separate to that of mainland Riau, is meeting strong opposition from the provincial administration and council.

Asia sees more financial mergers

Asia sees more financial mergers SINGAPORE (DPA): Asia's financial sectors will see more mergers and acquisitions as cash-rich Singapore institutions seek to expand and Hong Kong banks are forced to consolidate, a leading U.S. investment firm said on Thursday.

Vice-president resignation, peso's fall a blow to Estrada

Vice-president resignation, peso's fall a blow to Estrada MANILA (Reuters): Philippine President Joseph Estrada, accused of links to gambling lords, faced the biggest crisis of his two- year rule on Wednesday when his vice-president quit the cabinet and the peso crashed to a new low.

Singaporean couple's home caught in Web

Singaporean couple's home caught in Web SINGAPORE (AP): Ashley and Raymond Tang can turn the lights on in their Singapore home from anywhere in the world.The couple can also control their television, blender, air conditioner, stereo, computer or any other appliance from any corner of the globe --...

Armed men rob state banks

Armed men rob state banks BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Armed men stormed branches of state Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and provincial administration-owned Bank Pembangunan Daerah (BPD) in Bireuen regency, northern Aceh, making away with a total of Rp 43 million on Wednesday, an officer said.

'Phaedra', a play of forbidden love, on stage in Yogya

'Phaedra', a play of forbidden love, on stage in YogyaBy Kartika Bagus C. SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): "I can see the strange things love can do," Hypolitus tells Phaedra cynically.Phaedra's husband, King Theseus, is leaving his kingdom and she does not know for sure when or whether he will be...

Asia farming on horns of a dilemma over GMO

Asia farming on horns of a dilemma over GMO SINGAPORE (Reuters): Asia, home to three fifths of the world's people, faces a dilemma -- how to feed a growing population without disrupting traditional farming methods that help social and political stability.

Uncalled-for criticism

Uncalled-for criticism What can I say about your paper's review of our restaurant in The Jakarta Post dated Oct. 11, 2000? I was not aware of the reviews, until a customer telephoned me to comment. His rebuttal of this tasteless piece of drivel allows for little explanation on my part.

Juniors win first round

Juniors win first round JAKARTA (JP): Three Indonesian junior chess players had a good start in the World Youth Chess Championship in Oropesa del Mar, Spain, by beating their opponents."Percasi Master (MP) Andrean Susilodinata, 10, beat Alex Cuevas of Argentina at the 31st move of Caro-Kann defense.

Print batik finally gains popularity among youths

Print batik finally gains popularity among youthsBy Tiwi and Erry YOGYAKARTA (JP): For decades, batik cap (print batik) has been considered "second class" and less worthy than batik tulis (hand- made batik).

Prosecutor's appeal is baseless, says Soeharto's lawyer

Prosecutor's appeal is baseless, says Soeharto's lawyer JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers defending former president Soeharto submitted a counterstatement to the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday in response to the appeal brought by the state against the court's ruling on their client.

Two soldiers arrested for supplying arms to GAM

Two soldiers arrested for supplying arms to GAM JAKARTA (JP): Two soldiers from the Military Police Headquarters have been arrested on charges of supplying AK-47 rifles to the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen Slamet Kirbiyantoro said on Thursday.

Extradition of Eurico opposed

Extradition of Eurico opposed JAKARTA (JP): Speakers of the country's two legislative bodies urged the government on Thursday not to allow the extradition of former militia leader Eurico Guterres to East Timor.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition Ojo Ngono by Nasirun, at Galeri Nasional Indonesia (the National Gallery), Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur 14, Gambir, Central Jakarta (Phone: 34833954), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Oct. 15.

Govenment denies plans to lift Maluku civil emergency status

Govenment denies plans to lift Maluku civil emergency status JAKARTA (JP): The government denied on Thursday having made plans to lift the civil emergency status in the conflict-ridden Maluku and North Maluku provinces, despite its failure to bring peace and order in the territories.

Reforming the military

Reforming the military President Abdurrahman Wahid must find himself in a difficult situation as he embarks on the second year of his presidency this month. The task of bringing about the democratic reforms entrusted to him by the People's Consultative Assembly at the time of his election in...

More on Satelindo service

More on Satelindo service I refer to the letter by Mr. Amir Sidharta regarding the poor service of Satelindo which appeared in this column on Oct. 11. I fully agree with Mr. Amir on this point. Particularly over the last six months, Satelindo's service has deteriorated completely.

PPD badly needs overhaul not new management

PPD badly needs overhaul not new management JAKARTA (JP): The 46-year-old PPD city bus transportation company urgently needs government intervention in handling the firm's oversized workforce and the growing number of aging vehicles, its spokesman said.

KONI has problems raising Rp 77 billion for SEA Games

KONI has problems raising Rp 77 billion for SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): The Kuala Lumpur 2001 SEA Games are less than one year away but the National Sports Council (KONI) is still encountering difficulties in raising the Rp 77.4 billion (US$9.

Anti-tobacco campaign in schools in major cities

Anti-tobacco campaign in schools in major cities JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of National Education launched on Thursday an anti-tobacco campaign in five of the country's major cities in a bid to reduce the number of smokers below 18 years of age.