Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 1 December 2000

60 articles found

Police gear up for Irian rally

Police gear up for Irian rallyBy Emmy Fitri JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Hundreds of security personnel paraded through the main streets of Jayapura, the capital city of Irian Jaya province on Thursday as a show of force ahead of a mass rally on Friday to commemorate the anniversary of the 1961...

Muslim activists condemn FPI's violent raids

Muslim activists condemn FPI's violent raids JAKARTA (JP): Muslim activists condemned on Thursday the raids on various entertainment centers conducted by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), saying that the group did not represent the whole Muslim community.

Seminar shows Sukarno as someone who crossed religious boundaries

Seminar shows Sukarno as someone who crossed religious boundaries DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The founding president of Indonesia, the late Sukarno, or Bung Karno, was not only a great statesman, but also a freethinker when it came to religion, crossing the dogmatic boundaries of religion, participants of...

Malaysian palm oil rebounds

Malaysian palm oil rebounds KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian palm oil futures bounced back at the close on Thursday on short covering and renewed concern that bad weather may hit plantations, traders said.

Drug abuse spurs spread of AIDS in Indonesia

Drug abuse spurs spread of AIDS in Indonesia Widespread drug abuse has spurred not only social ills in Indonesia, but also has escalated the spread of AIDS in the country. AIDS activist Chris W. Green has written the following three articles in conjunction with World AIDS Day on Dec. 1.

Holland gives aid for child protection

Holland gives aid for child protection JAKARTA (JP): The Dutch government extended 3 million guilders (US$1.2 million) in a grant on Thursday toward child protection programs in Indonesia through the local office of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).

Rusdihardjo should 'submit evidence'

Rusdihardjo should 'submit evidence' JAKARTA (JP): Former National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo should submit the evidence of President Abdurrahman Wahid's alleged involvement in the Rp 35 billion State Logistics Agency (Bulog) scandal to the police, an officer said on Thursday.

Autonomy a disaster?

Autonomy a disaster?From NeracaRecently, worries about the implementation of regional autonomy have been either boldly spoken or timidly voiced. Some are concerned about matters pertaining to indigenous people, while others wonder about the sharing of natural resources.

A chink in India's diplomacy?

A chink in India's diplomacy? India's geopolitical reach does not seem to have sufficiently impressed the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Their latest decision not to invite India to the annual summit-level talks involving the ASEAN and its East Asian dialogue...

E. Timor refugees could be home for Christmas: UN

E. Timor refugees could be home for Christmas: UN DILI, East Timor (AP): Many of the East Timorese refugees still living in camps in West Timor could be home by Christmas, the United nation's refugee agency predicted on Thursday.

Garuda's debt deal 'will not affect CAR'

Garuda's debt deal 'will not affect CAR' JAKARTA (JP): The president of giant state Bank Mandiri, ECW Neloe, said on Thursday that the more than US$200 million debt deal with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia would not erode its capital adequacy ratio (CAR) position.

Former ministers blame Soeharto for $87m graft

Former ministers blame Soeharto for $87m graft JAKARTA (JP): Former forestry ministers Hasjrul Harahap and Djamaludin Suryohadikusumo shifted the blame for two allegedly fraudulent mapping projects involving defendant Mohamad "Bob" Hasan to former president Soeharto on Thursday.

Team formed to probe councillors' foreign trip

Team formed to probe councillors' foreign trip JAKARTA (JP): The City Prosecutors Office has formed a team to investigate the Rp 4 billion (US$425,500) fund from the Ancol leisure complex developer which had been used to finance a trip for six councillors and 11 city officials to Cape Town in South...

Typhoon triggers floods in RP

Typhoon triggers floods in RP MANILA (AP): Heavy rain and high waves triggered by tropical storm Rumbia flooded many areas of the southern Philippines on Thursday and forced residents to flee from coastal villages, officials said.

Government agrees to allow politicians to run BI

Government agrees to allow politicians to run BI JAKARTA (JP): The government agreed on Thursday to allow political party members to be appointed on Bank Indonesia's board of governors, paving the way for the country's senior politicians to become the central bank governor.

The tyranny of development

The tyranny of development This is the first of two articles on developing economies by Sidhesh Kaul, an observer of regional economic and political affairs based in Jakarta. JAKARTA (JP): On Jan. 20, 1949, president Harry Truman, in his inaugural speech before the congress, christened impoverished...

Respect results of test on chief justice nominees

Respect results of test on chief justice nominees JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung called on legislators on Thursday to take the results of fit and proper tests on chief justice candidates into consideration during a vote to choose two of the nominees next week.

BNI to subscribe to Rp 6.1t worth of staple bonds

BNI to subscribe to Rp 6.1t worth of staple bonds JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) said on Thursday that it planned to exchange bonds worth Rp 6.18 trillion (US$657 million at the current exchange rate) with higher rate staple bonds from the government in a bid...

ADB approves US$180m RI loan

ADB approves US$180m RI loan MANILA (AFP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said Thursday it has approved a US$180 million loan to Indonesia for the improvement of higher education.The loan will go to a project for the restructuring of higher education management through improved governance,...

Dharmala faulted for selling its shares in Manulife

Dharmala faulted for selling its shares in Manulife JAKARTA (JP): The Capital Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam) said on Thursday that the sale of PT Dharmala Sakti Sejahtera's (DSS) 40 percent stake in insurance company PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (AJMI) violated capital market...

RI palm oil 'to rise to 7.3m in 2001'

RI palm oil 'to rise to 7.3m in 2001' KUALA LUMPUR (Dow Jones): Indonesia will produce 7.3 million metric tons of palm oil in 2001, up 12.3 percent from an estimated 6.5 million tons this year, Derom Bangun, chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Producers Association said.

Bad experience with AEA

Bad experience with AEA My wife and I insist on the best medical treatment for our children, so I agreed when she chose AEA International (a.k.a SOS Medika) on Jl. Arteri Cipete when our youngest daughter was sick the other week.

Seismometer stolen from BMG station

Seismometer stolen from BMG station BOGOR (JP): A seismometer belonging to the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) and used to detect and monitor earthquakes and underground nuclear explosions has been missing since early last month, an official said on Thursday.

Illness finds its way in by the mouth

Illness finds its way in by the mouth President Abdurrahman Wahid's tirade against Singapore while attending the ASEAN summit last weekend in Singapore has invited instant criticism, with critics denouncing the tirade as an "inelegant" emotional outburst.

Relief work goes on amid foul weather

Relief work goes on amid foul weather BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Rescuers continued their efforts on Thursday to find and dig out survivors and victims of the devastating floods and landslides that have wrecked havoc in three Sumatran provinces amid foul weather and difficulties in reaching the...

Kanematsu to sell RI stake

Kanematsu to sell RI stake TOKYO (AFX-ASIA): Kanematsu Corp. said it will sell a 40 percent stake in cotton sales unit PT Nikawa Textile Industry based in Jakarta, Indonesia to Nisshinbo Industries Inc. for an undisclosed amount.

Icuk asks PBSI to improve sponsorship agreement

Icuk asks PBSI to improve sponsorship agreement JAKARTA (JP): Former world badminton champion Icuk Sugiarto called on the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) to improve its performance in raising funds for athletes.

Are schools ready to accept HIV?

Are schools ready to accept HIV? JAKARTA (JP): "We will address AIDS prevention activities in schools, but we will leave it to NGOs and other organizations to address the problems arising from infection by HIV."This was a recent comment by an official from the Ministry of National Education.

Court rejects ex-banker's pleas, continues trial

Court rejects ex-banker's pleas, continues trial JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court rejected on Thursday the pleas advanced by the lawyers for former Bank Aspac director Hendrawan Haryono and decided to continue with the trial.Hendrawan has been accused of allegedly misallocating Rp 583.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Nov. 30, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 2,950 750 2,981,000 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 110 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 385 110 1,500 Alfa Retailindo...

Ramadhan time for Jakarta

Ramadhan time for JakartaFriday Maghrib 5:58 p.m.Saturday Imsak 3:56 a.m.Subuh 4:06 a.m.

24 named suspects in killings

24 named suspects in killings BANDUNG: West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Yun Mulyana said on Wednesday the police had completed questioning 24 suspects in connection with the murder of several men accused of practicing black magic recently.

Telkom subsidiary to provide VoIP service

Telkom subsidiary to provide VoIP service JAKARTA (JP): State-owned domestic telephone operator PT Telkom introduced a new service on Thursday that will enable voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) providers to use its network.

AIDS: Men make a difference

AIDS: Men make a difference JAKARTA (JP): "Eliminate prostitutes! That will solve the AIDS problem." So screams a headline on the website of a well-known professor of psychiatry at the University of Indonesia in his World AIDS Day message.

GAM seeks to delay talks in Geneva

GAM seeks to delay talks in Geneva BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is seeking to delay further talks with the government of Indonesia scheduled to be held in Geneva, Switzerland on Dec. 5 and Dec. 6.

It's a living

It's a livingFrom Media IndonesiaReferring to a news article on Nov. 17, 2000, in Media Indonesia, I was extremely impressed and surprised by the determination and spirit of the some 2,000 demonstrators demanding that President Abdurrahman Wahid resign.

President talks tough on separatists

President talks tough on separatists JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid warned here on Thursday that any attempt to break away from the republic would be dealt with "accordingly"."Paying close attention to developments in several regions in Indonesia, I would like to convey that (people)...

Utut to play white pieces against Peng of China

Utut to play white pieces against Peng of China JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master Utut Adianto will play the white pieces in his second-round match against Grand Master Peng Xiaomin of China at the US$3.5 million 2000 FIDE World Championships in New Delhi on Thursday.

Indosatcom and U.S. firm tie up

Indosatcom and U.S. firm tie up JAKARTA (JP): Indosatcom, a division of state-owned PT Indosat, signed an agreement on Thursday to form a joint venture with MeetChina.com, a San Francisco e-business portal company with a huge operation in China, to start a portal service for local small and medium...

Sri Bintang cleared of charges

Sri Bintang cleared of charges JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court cleared on Thursday Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) chairman Sri Bintang Pamungkas of subversion charges and ordered the government to publicly rehabilitate his name.

Animals have rights, too

Animals have rights, too I have lived in Jakarta for almost a decade and have found several commendable traits about the bustling metropolis, but the ones I am about to mention here are anything but commendable.

Abdurrahman criticized for being undiplomatic

Abdurrahman criticized for being undiplomatic SINGAPORE: Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid has gathered an impressive list of descriptions for one so new in tenure: Impetuous, erratic, unpredictable, confusing.

Yogyakarta's court dance goes public

Yogyakarta's court dance goes publicBy Y. Bintang Prakarsa JAKARTA (JP): Do you consider Javanese dancing to be long, uneventful and boring enough to fall asleep over? Seeing the lively Lawung or blunt lance dance from the court of Yogyakarta might change your mind.

Asian currencies down late, cautious investors prefer dollars

Asian currencies down late, cautious investors prefer dollars SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Support for Asian currencies continued to erode Thursday with a host of negative external factors and domestic political concerns providing a bearish backdrop for the region's markets.

Indocement closer to debt deal

Indocement closer to debt deal JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cement producer PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa said on Thursday it had secured the commitment of its creditors to restructure debts of US$1.1 billion.

$210m lost due to haze, official

$210m lost due to haze, official KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A drop in tourist arrivals and in agricultural production due to the haze caused by forest fires three years ago cost Malaysia nearly 800 million ringgit ($210 million), Parliament was told on Thursday.

Man killed over inheritance

Man killed over inheritance TANGERANG (JP): A man allegedly killed his elder brother with a bamboo stick after a heated dispute over an inheritance on Thursday, a relative said.The relative, Suhendra, said at Tangerang General Hospital that 29-year-old Holid, the suspect, and his 34-year-old...

One arrested hotel shooting

One arrested hotel shooting BATAM, Riau: Batam Police have detained a man on Thursday believed to be involved in a shooting at a hotel on Batam island.Batam Police chief Supt. Bachrul Effendi told reporters that the detainee was identified only as Bus, while two other people identified only as Dar...

Rupiah Rates Nov.30

Rupiah Rates Nov.30 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 9,030.00 10,030.00 9,482.00 9,578.00Australian dollar 1 4,704.63 5,230.65 4,940.12 4,994.93Austrian schilling 1 562.92 625.62 591.10 597.43Belgian franc 1 192.02 213.41 201.63 203.

ASEAN nations told to address credibility crisis

ASEAN nations told to address credibility crisis BANGKOK (AFP): Singapore's deputy premier Lee Hsien Loong urged ASEAN nations on Thursday to put aside their differences, boost economic cooperation and reverse the perception their alliance was "weakened and drifting".

M-Web launches new channels

M-Web launches new channels JAKARTA (JP): M-Web, one of Indonesia's leading internet providers, has launched two new channels-- M-Web Travel and M-Web Finance-- designed to provide users with important information for each sector, including breaking news, new products and interative services.

PSMTI won't adhere to political party

PSMTI won't adhere to political party BATAM, Riau: The Chinese-Indonesian community's Paguyuban Sosial Marga Tionghoa Seluruh Indonesia (PSMTI) will not allign with any one political party, the organization chairman said on Thursday.Brig. Gen.

Guthrie to revamp RI subsidiary debt

Guthrie to revamp RI subsidiary debt KUALA LUMPUR (AFX-ASIA): Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd said it is acquiring interests in plantation companies in Indonesia held by PT Holdiko Perkasa and PT Gemahripah Pertiwi (Holdiko Palm Plantations) as a going concern, and will restructure Holdiko Palm Plantations'...

'Stop discrimination against ethnic Chinese'

'Stop discrimination against ethnic Chinese' JAKARTA (JP): Hailing the move of President Abdurrahman Wahid to allow Chinese-Indonesians to openly practice their religion and perform traditional Chinese ceremonies, sociologist Melly G.

Toward impeachment?

Toward impeachment? It seems hardly a day goes by without President Abdurrahman Wahid getting himself into some kind of trouble. With the furor over the President's tactless criticism of Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew hardly having the time to die down, 151 members of the House of...

Bakrie Finance 3Q losses up

Bakrie Finance 3Q losses up JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Bakrie Finance Corporation said on Thursday that its third quarter losses for this year surged to Rp 230.50 billion (US$24.51 million at the current exchange rate), almost three times its losses of Rp 66.

Lawyers demand acquittal of defendant Soemarjono

Lawyers demand acquittal of defendant Soemarjono SURABAYA (JP): Lawyers defending Col. (ret.) Soemarjono on trial for allegedly producing counterfeit money worth Rp 4.28 billion demanded the local district court here on Thursday acquit the defendant of all charges.In their rebuttal read out by G.K.

Low prices to hit Vietnam coffee sales

Low prices to hit Vietnam coffee sales BUON MA THUOT, Vietnam (Reuters): Vietnam's second largest coffee firm said on Thursday the country's robusta exports could plunge this year as low prices discourage farmers from selling beans unless absolutely necessary.

Fast Food 3Q net profit up

Fast Food 3Q net profit up JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed PT Fast Food Indonesia, which is the franchise holder of Kentucky Fried Chicken, said on Thursday that its third quarter net profit for this year rose to Rp 18.78 billion (US$1.99 million at the current exchange rate) from Rp 17.

PT Sampoerna to renovate Hotel Indonesia traffic circle

PT Sampoerna to renovate Hotel Indonesia traffic circle JAKARTA (JP): People, including street protesters, will see a new look fountain at the famous Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta following the announcement of PT Sampoerna, a giant cigarette producer, of its plan to undertake a...