Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 21 October 2000

66 articles found

Glodok street vendors to be moved: Sutiyoso

Glodok street vendors to be moved: Sutiyoso JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has announced it will relocate the some 400 roadside vendors, most of whom sell pirated VCDs and small electronic goods, operating around the busy Glodok shopping center in West Jakarta beginning next year.

Gus Dur to delay his visit to Australia

Gus Dur to delay his visit to AustraliaBy Budiman Moerdijat SEOUL (JP): Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab said late Thursday here that President Abdurrahman Wahid would likely postpone his planned visit to Australia in November.

After passing resolution, IPU closes its conference

After passing resolution, IPU closes its conference JAKARTA (JP): The 104th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) closed its week-long conference by calling for a review on the effectiveness of embargoes and economic sanctions to resolve international issues.

Indonesia's present chaos is food for satire in new play

Indonesia's present chaos is food for satire in new playBy Kartika Bagus C. SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): For most Javanese, Wisanggeni is a familiar name, symbolizing power that can change a decadent national order.

Goldman Sachs cuts Asia GDP forecast

Goldman Sachs cuts Asia GDP forecast SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Goldman Sachs has lowered its 2001 economic growth forecast for Asia (excluding Japan) to 5.7 percent from 6.1 percent, citing the region's sluggish domestic investment.

Inequality before the law

Inequality before the law President Abdurrahman Wahid has made a complete mockery of the country's legal process by ordering the Attorney General's Office to delay the prosecution of three prominent tycoons on account of their supposedly huge contribution to exports, and hence to the process of...

Rupiah Rates Oct. 20

Rupiah Rates Oct. 20 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,388.00 9,388.00 8,844.00 8,932.00Australian dollar 1 4,402.86 4,932.46 4,642.22 4,692.87Austrian schilling 1 515.95 577.66 544.00 549.60Belgian franc 1 175.99 197.05 185.56 187.

Trees obstruct traffic light

Trees obstruct traffic lightFrom Bisnis IndonesiaOn some Central Jakarta roads many traffic lights are obstructed by trees, hampering motorists and pedestrians.One such traffic light is on the Guntur crossroad near the railroad tracks. The authorities should address this problem to ensure safety.

KL palm oil ends down despite higher exports

KL palm oil ends down despite higher exports KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian palm oil futures surrendered early gains to close lower on Friday as players booked profits ahead of the weekend, traders said.

Blackout hits vast area

Blackout hits vast area JAKARTA (JP): Vast areas in western and southern parts of the capital, including several spots in Tangerang, experienced a blackout lasting a few minutes on Friday evening.A staffer at the state electricity company PT PLN complaints center confirmed the problem, saying it...

Rupiah closes flat as other Asian currencies mostly higher

Rupiah closes flat as other Asian currencies mostly higher SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): The rupiah closed flat Friday for the third straight day in quiet pre-weekend trade, with state bank buying bringing the local unit down from intraday highs.

'Boot Polish', classic Indian film returns

'Boot Polish', classic Indian film returnsBy Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): Moviegoers from the 1950s may well recall Boot Polish, a classic Indian neorealist children's film.Imported by Persari, a company owned by Djamaluddin Malik (singer Camelia Malik's father), the film was screened in Indonesian...

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct. 20, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 2,000 50 851,500 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 115 -5 357,500 Alakasa Industrindo 435 0 4,000 Alfa...

BPK refuses to join team to resolve loans

BPK refuses to join team to resolve loans JAKARTA (JP): Head of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Satrio B. Judono said Friday that the agency would not participate in a joint team to be formed by the Ministry of Finance and Bank Indonesia to seek a "political resolution" over the controversial...

Awad denies criticizing Abdurrahman

Awad denies criticizing Abdurrahman JAKARTA (JP): Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Ribbhi Awad denied on Friday that he had criticized President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's stance over the Middle East crisis.

Correction on Garuda

Correction on Garuda Please note that your article Garuda secures deals to lease 7 Boeing 737s (Oct. 6) has an error concerning one of the companies mentioned. GE Cash should be GECAS (GE Capital Aviation Services). INGGITA NOTOSUSANTOGE IndonesiaJakarta

Court asked to clear Pande of all charges

Court asked to clear Pande of all charges JAKARTA (JP): A defense lawyer has asked the South Jakarta District court to declare former deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Pande Lubis not guilty and acquit his client of all corruption charges.

Kiu Sen grabs Ibis Chess title

Kiu Sen grabs Ibis Chess title JAKARTA (JP): Kiu Sen of Jakarta-based Gunadharma University won the Ibis Youth Chess Tournament here on Friday after collecting 3 match points in the final round.Sugianto of Surya Naga chess club, also in Jakarta, also finished with 3 MPs, but managed only second...

Indocement owners approve debt restructuring plan

Indocement owners approve debt restructuring plan JAKARTA (JP): The extraordinary general shareholders meeting of publicly listed cement producer PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa approved on Friday the company's US$1.1 billion debt restructuring plan.

Court rejects Eurico's presence at hearing

Court rejects Eurico's presence at hearing JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court rejected once again on Friday a call for pro-Indonesia East Timor militia leader Eurico Guterres to be allowed to appear at his own pretrial hearing.

Democracy 'may not yield results'

Democracy 'may not yield results' JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's approach to overcoming separatist problems in the regions through political means rather than military strength is cumbersome and does not necessarily guarantee results, a senior military officer says.Lt. Gen.

Traffic mix up at Cikokol

Traffic mix up at CikokolFrom Media IndonesiaPassing through Cikokol is now inconvenient. The road in front of the Cikokol market consists of three lanes: one for the shoppers to park their cars, the middle one for public transportation vehicles, leaving only one for thousands of cars passing by...

Toward a democratic state

Toward a democratic state Glancing at the editorial on Oct. 7 on the Indonesian position viewed from Friedman's study on the five categories of countries in the post-Cold War era, in which Indonesia and Russia belong to the "messy states", I herewith wish to comment from my educational point of...

Journalists protest new police chief

Journalists protest new police chief YOGYAKARTA (JP): The Yogyakarta branch of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) sent a letter to the National Police Chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro on Friday, protesting the decision to promote Brig. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman as Jakarta Police chief.

Wimar and the funnier government

Wimar and the funnier government Wimar Witoelar is now the presidential spokesman. Wimar was quoted by Thomas L. Friedman in the International Herald Tribune of Oct. 4 in his article Wahid's new look, Indonesia is frankly a mess, as saying that "In Soeharto's time things were clear -- you always...

Police slam new religious groups

Police slam new religious groups AMBON, Maluku (JP): Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani criticized on Friday the establishment of new organizations along religious lines, saying the trend runs counter to the drive to restore peace between Muslims and Christians in the province.

Media ads and gender insensitivity

Media ads and gender insensitivityBy Michael K. Muchiri YOGYAKARTA (JP): You have been glued to a television program, probably watching the local love dramas, the Mexican dramas or the Indian musicals where mostly the woman is typified as ungrateful, self-seeking, insatiable, but a gorgeous thing.

Ramayana cuts profit target

Ramayana cuts profit target KUALA LUMPUR (AFX-ASIA): PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa Tbk has scaled down its net profit estimate for next year to Rp 311 billion from the original Rp 337. 5 billion as it continues to reduce prices of its products to boost sales, chief executive officer Koh Boon Kim said.

Beware the 'thief in the night', warn doctors

Beware the 'thief in the night', warn doctors JAKARTA (JP): Doctors urged the public, especially women above 45-years-old, to be more alert to the dangers of osteoporosis, the prevalency of which is believed to be rising among the Indonesian population.

Decision on tycoons not final: Attorney General

Decision on tycoons not final: Attorney General JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's order to delay the prosecution of three top businessmen on account of their huge contribution to exports was intended as a public discourse and not binding, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said on Friday.

ADB approves 2 loans worth US$115m to RI

ADB approves 2 loans worth US$115m to RI MANILA (DPA): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Friday it has approved two loans worth US$115 million to fund a rural development project in Indonesia that would benefit more than one million people.The Manila-based ADB said it will also provide a 1.

World Food Day

World Food Day Your esteemed newspaper on Oct. 17 published an opinion by Prof. Didin S. Damanhuri on the problems faced by rice farmers, especially the declining price of rice in the market. This opinion and the others in the paper were thought-provoking.

South Korea moves into Asian Cup quarters

South Korea moves into Asian Cup quarters BEIRUT (AFP): A hat trick from 'Lion King' Lee Dong-gook sent South Korea into the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup here Thursday as China and Kuwait drew to top Group B.

Incident mars last day of Kobatama league

Incident mars last day of Kobatama league BANDUNG (JP): Unruly spectators marred the final day of the 2000 Nuvo Kobatama basketball league's fourth leg on Friday, forcing a half hour delay to the start of the third match of the day.

Drivers get cash over Suwondo's arrest

Drivers get cash over Suwondo's arrest BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Two public minivan drivers received Rp 1 million (US$112) each from Sr. Supt. Alex Bambang Riatmodjo, a former senior Jakarta Police detective on Friday for their role in the recent arrest of Suwondo, a suspect in the multibillion...

Volkswagen plans more JVs

Volkswagen plans more JVs SINGAPORE (DPA): Volkswagen Financial Services AG (VFS) plans to set up joint ventures in China, Taiwan and Australia in addition to a tie-up with a Singapore motor group, it was reported on Friday.

Japan remains top aid donor

Japan remains top aid donor TOKYO (DPA): Japan remained the world's biggest donor of official development assistance (ODA) for the ninth consecutive year in 1999, with its aid to Asian countries rising to help their recovery from the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis, Japan's Foreign Ministry said...

Timor terror campaign may end soon: Surayud

Timor terror campaign may end soon: Surayud BANGKOK (AP): A terror campaign by pro-Indonesian militias in East Timor could end soon because of U.S. pressure and the creation of a new Thai rapid-reaction force, the Thai army chief said Friday.

Registry of Trusts to open this month

Registry of Trusts to open this month JAKARTA (JP): The Registry of Trusts in Jakarta, the first of its kind in the country, will open for business on Oct. 30.Minister of Justice and Human Rights Affairs Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who announced the opening on Thursday, said other provincial capitals...

Brimob officers arrested for motorcycle theft

Brimob officers arrested for motorcycle theft JAKARTA (JP): A gang of eight members of the elite police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) have been arrested for allegedly stealing a number of motorcycles, including some parked in their unit's compound in Jakarta Police Headquarters, an officer said.

S'pore to auction 3G licenses

S'pore to auction 3G licenses SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Singapore will issue up to four third- generation mobile licenses through an auction that will be held in February 2001, the Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore said Friday.

Protect your batik: Megawati

Protect your batik: Megawati SURAKARTA, Central Java: Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged local batik artists on Friday to register copyright of their products so the legacy of the ancestors can be legally protected.She made the remarks while opening the Danar Hadi Batik Antique Museum here.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta:Exhibitions * Painting, Schulpture Exhibition: Budaya Papua by Icnatius Owiok Haluk, and Agustinus Ongge, at Hotel Borobudur Jakarta, Jl. Lapangan Banteng Selatan, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3805555), 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., until Oct. 26.

All Hawk-100s grounded

All Hawk-100s grounded JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) decided on Friday to ground all of its British-made Hawk-100 fighters, after one of the aircraft crashed on Thursday killing two pilots.

Militia rallies at The Habibie Center

Militia rallies at The Habibie Center JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of East Timorese militia members rallied at The Habibie Center on Jl. Kemang Selatan, South Jakarta, on Friday, demanding that its founder B.J.

Gus Dur comes under fire

Gus Dur comes under fire JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's instruction to delay the prosecution of three of the country's top indebted businessmen could damage the economy and the legal system, analysts here said on Friday.

Journalism and political struggle: Soeryono 1927-2000

Journalism and political struggle: Soeryono 1927-2000By Aboeprijadi Santoso AMSTERDAM (JP): Journalism only thrives with freedom as fish do with water. But what if freedom still had to be fought for? At the time of Indonesia's independence revolution, the press was inevitably caught up in the...

Non-operating income pushes up PT Timah's profit

Non-operating income pushes up PT Timah's profit JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Tambang Timah, one of the world's major tin producers, reported a net profit of Rp 296 billion (about US$34.8 million at the current rate) for the nine months ending September 30.

Another Wamena riot victim found

Another Wamena riot victim found WAMENA, Irian Jaya: Jayawijaya Police chief Supt. D. Suripatty said on Friday that another victim of the bloody Wamena riots had been found floating in Uwe River, Woma village.

Munir refuses to help government

Munir refuses to help government JAKARTA (JP): Noted rights activist Munir refused on Friday to help the government draft a revision of the Emergency Law and argued that such a law is completely unnecessary."This country doesn't need such a law.

Batavia, the city of beautiful canals

Batavia, the city of beautiful canalsBy Ida Indawati Khouw Canals played an important role in the old city of Batavia. In the course of time, the canals have been lost. This 61st article on old and protected buildings in Jakarta traces their history again.

Garuda neglects inbound travelers

Garuda neglects inbound travelers Garuda has recently, in huge advertisements in the local press, praised and bragged about their improvements and how service-minded they are today. Gone are the old days and all the troubles faced by Garuda passengers.

Rodent trouble at Semarang council

Rodent trouble at Semarang council SEMARANG: A rodent problem at the Berlian building on the premises of the provincial Council compound has become so serious that the Council's secretariat has issued an order to vacate the building for two days so that it can be fumigated.

Exporters to reclaim paid handling fees

Exporters to reclaim paid handling fees JAKARTA (JP): Members of the Indonesian Importers Association (Ginsi) and Indonesian Exporters Association (GPEI) said they would reclaim terminal handling charges (THC) paid to foreign shipping companies for the last five years.

Unhappy maid runs off with employer's baby

Unhappy maid runs off with employer's baby KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): An Indonesian housemaid, who was fed-up with constant scolding from her employers, ran off on Wednesday with the couple's 15-month-old son, news reports said Friday.

S&P lowers Daya Guna Samudra's rating to 'SD'

S&P lowers Daya Guna Samudra's rating to 'SD' JAKARTA (Dow Jones): Standard & Poor's Friday lowered its long-term corporate credit rating on P.T. Daya Guna Samudera, an Indonesian fishing concern, to 'SD' (selective default) from double-'C'.

Toyota to boost RI operation

Toyota to boost RI operation TOKYO (AFX-ASIA): Toyota Motor Corp will set up a wholly owned Indonesian subsidiary next spring to produce biodegradable plastics, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.Biodegradable plastics can be broken down into water and carbon dioxide by micro-organisms.

Disturbing circumcision

Disturbing circumcision In the article Circumcision ritual honors children which appeared last Sunday in this newspaper, it says that "girls' circumcision would be a grisly and shocking sight for foreigners" and that "it is one of the most important rites of passage in Indonesian Muslim...

Crisis forces a halt to jeepney production

Crisis forces a halt to jeepney production MANILA, Philippines (AP): Rising costs have forced the Philippines' pioneer "jeepney" maker to halt production after 44 years, threatening the gaudily decorated vehicles' dominance of the country's potholed roads.The jeepney, created from surplus U.S.

Foreigner shot dead in Tanah Abang drug bust

Foreigner shot dead in Tanah Abang drug bust JAKARTA (JP): A drug trafficker was shot dead when he attempted to escape arrest in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta on Thursday.Tanah Abang Police chief Sr. Insp.

150 shrimp farmers rally against Brimob intimidation

150 shrimp farmers rally against Brimob intimidation JAKARTA (JP): About 150 shrimp farmers from the region's largest integrated shrimp firm PT Dipasena Citra Darmaja in Lampung, southern Sumatra, staged a rally at the National Police Headquarters here on Friday over intimidation from some local...

An intelligence service for the President

An intelligence service for the President The more intelligence agencies a regime maintains, the more it tends to be cruel. That, at least, is the conviction of liberals and democrats. For that reason, in countries that profess to be based on civil democratic principles and don't want to be called...

Eddy Nalapraya decides to quit as chairman of Persilat

Eddy Nalapraya decides to quit as chairman of Persilat JAKARTA (JP): Incumbent chairman of the International Pencak Silat Federation (Persilat) Eddy Nalapraya said he had no intention of running for a fifth successive term.

Aceh police firm on special operation

Aceh police firm on special operation BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The police vowed on Friday to continue the Cinta Meunasah (Love the Mosques) security operation in Aceh, despite growing public demand that the action be halted.

BI closes down Bank Prasida and Bank Ratu

BI closes down Bank Prasida and Bank Ratu JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia closed down Bank Prasidha Utama and Bank Ratu on Friday, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said in a statement.IBRA said that it would immediately send its officers to secure all of the assets of the two banks.

Metrodata to issue bonds

Metrodata to issue bonds JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed electronic firm PT Metrodata Electronics will issue five-year bonds worth Rp 65 billion (US$7.3 million) to pay its debts and acquire a stake at its subsidiary, the company said on Friday.