Archive: 25 February 2000
52 articles found
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Unchanged import duty signals death of sugar mills
Unchanged import duty signals death of sugar mills JAKARTA (JP): At least 50 local sugar mills, or more than two- thirds of the country's 70 mills, will go under if the government does not raise the import duty on the commodity, a sugar mill executive warned on Thursday. The general manager of the Madukismo sugar mill in Yogyakarta, Slamet Darsosoeprapto, said the government should raise the import duty on sugar to 65 percent from 25 percent at present to save the country's sugar industry.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Qantas passengers drop 50%
Qantas passengers drop 50% JAKARTA (JP): Australian airline Quantas said it has suffered a 50 percent drop in the number of passengers traveling to Indonesia, largely due to the January riots in tourist destination Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. Quantas district manager I Made Tantra Widjaya said on Thursday the recent riots in the city of Mataram in Lombok, prompted several countries, including Australia, to issue a travel ban to the island, resulting in Quantas' drop in passengers to Indonesia.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Rp 7.5b allotted for small-scale enterprises
Rp 7.5b allotted for small-scale enterprises JAKARTA (JP): The city administration is allocating Rp 7.5 billion (US$1 million) in soft loans for small-scale enterprises for the 2000 fiscal year, an official said on Thursday. "Small-scale enterprises can use the scheme to finance their businesses," head of the small-scale business task force (GUSK) Dameria Saragih told reporters at her office.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Police search for two men over Rp 100m armed robbery
Police search for two men over Rp 100m armed robbery JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police detectives are on the lookout for two men who allegedly shot a driver of a Honda Civic and stole Rp 100 million (US$13,400) from the car's owner on Jl. Dukuh Golf in Kemayoran. Central Jakarta Police chief Col. Timur Pradopo identified Thursday's shooting victim as Edwin Yudha Wardana, 35, the driver of the car who resides on Jl. Bendungan Jago in Serdang, Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Delay in BCA's IPO won't affect IBRA sale target
Delay in BCA's IPO won't affect IBRA sale target JAKARTA (JP): The delay in the initial public offering of Bank Central Asia (BCA) will not affect the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency's asset sale target of Rp 17 trillion (about US$2.3 billion) for the fiscal year ending in March 31. IBRA's chairman Cacuk Sudariyanto said here on Thursday that the agency had "other sources" to offset the shortage resulting from the delay in the IPO.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Davis Cup players crash in Indonesia Futures-1
Davis Cup players crash in Indonesia Futures-1 JAKARTA (JP): Davis Cup team members Febi Widhiyanto and Edy Kusdaryanto crashed out of the Indonesia Futures-1 on Thursday in the second round of the men's singles at Kemayoran tennis center in Central Jakarta. Febi was outclassed by top seed Artem Derepasko of Russia 5-7, 2-6, while Edy could only win the first set before giving in to Kwon Oh-hee of South Korea 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
China defiant after U.S. warning on Taiwan
China defiant after U.S. warning on Taiwan BEIJING (Reuters): China on Thursday bluntly rejected U.S. criticism of its latest military threat to Taiwan as "crude interference", and said the issue should not be linked to its efforts to join the World Trade Organization. "We express strong dissatisfaction and resolutely oppose this crude interference in China's internal affairs," Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Military planning major reshuffle, says Suaidi
Military planning major reshuffle, says Suaidi JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) is set to announce another round of reshuffling that involves 44 officers, including some top brass, pending approval from the Army chief of staff, TNI Chief of General Affairs Lt. Gen. Suaidi Marasabessy said on Thursday.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Fare value
Fare value From Rakyat Merdeka It is interesting to observe the government's plan to raise public transportation fares. It presents a dilemma because, on the one hand, the government has the obligation to consider the demands of the transportation companies. On the other, however, the fare increase will inevitably exert a negative impact on other aspects of the economy.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Nine killed, 27 feared missing in Brebes landslide
Nine killed, 27 feared missing in Brebes landslide BREBES, Central Java (JP): A landslide swept through the village of Windu Sakti here as residents slept on Wednesday night, leaving at least nine people dead and another 27 missing. The landslide, which followed torrential rains that had fallen in the area since Tuesday, also buried 19 houses, a village hall and a mosque.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Newbridge mulls sale of RI asset
Newbridge mulls sale of RI asset HONG KONG (Dow Jones): As it bids this week for the government's share of Indonesian automaker PT Astra International, Newbridge Capital Ltd. is raising the possibility of selling a unit of the car company it bought just over a year ago. In an effort shed to assets and raise cash amid Indonesia's financial crisis, Astra sold its Advanced Microtronics Technology microchip unit to U.S.-backed Newbridge for $89 million in December 1998.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
People's money
People's money I am concerned to hear the news about the planned increase of salaries of the government officials, the ministers, the President and the Vice President. Are they not heroes of reform? Don't they wish to enhance the people's living standard, uphold justice and human rights, when they get the ruling position? Don't they wish to build and lead the nation towards a better and intelligent future? Do they still have the right to be called patriotic reformists?
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
KL oil to last 15 years
KL oil to last 15 years KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's existing oil reserves will last 15 years and its gas reserves will last for 30 years at the current rate of production, a minister said Thursday. The country has an estimated 3.63 billion barrels of oil and 2.4 trillion cubic metres of gas reserves, Bernard Dompok, a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, told parliament.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Gus Dur goes on amid poor personal, government image: Poll
Gus Dur goes on amid poor personal, government image: Poll JAKARTA (JP): A recent poll conducted in five major cities by the Center for the Study of Development and Democracy (CESDA) indicates that most urban dwellers are wary of President Abdurrahman Wahid's indecisive attitude, but still believe he will survive his presidential tenure till 2004.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Indofood books Rp 1.39t profit
Indofood books Rp 1.39t profit JAKARTA (JP): Food producer PT Indofood Sukses Makmur announced on Thursday a net profit of Rp 1.39 trillion (US$187 million) for 1999, an increase from Rp 458 billion in 1998. The company said in a statement the rise in net profit was partly due to the strengthening of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar. Indofood recorded foreign exchange gains of Rp 209 billion in 1999, compared to foreign exchange losses of Rp 1.2 trillion in 1998.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
East Timor, causes and consequences
East Timor, causes and consequences During the Dutch colonial era, my history teacher in junior high school once said that Indonesians have gentle characters, but when they are oppressed intensely or for a prolonged period they will run amok, indiscriminately attack everything or everyone around them, often in a trance-like condition.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Iran's new era
Iran's new era The victory of Iran's reformers over the conservatives in last week's parliamentary elections has undoubtedly sent a significant message to the international community that the younger Iranian generation would prefer to live a more democratic way of life rather than live under a theocratic rule.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Feb. 24, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
JSX suspends three stocks
JSX suspends three stocks JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange suspended trading in stocks in PT Davomas Abadi, PT Anwar Sierad and PT Alakasa Industrindo on Thursday over their legal battles in the bankruptcy court. JSX said in a statement that trading on the three stocks would resume once each of the three companies gave satisfactory explanations to the exchange.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
President diagnosed with the flu
President diagnosed with the flu JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid was diagnosed with influenza on Thursday after a flurry of doctors at the palace earlier in the day sent jitters over his state of health. An official statement from the presidential medical team said the President was thoroughly examined after coming down with a fever in the morning which later subsided. "The President has been advised to rest for a few days," the team said.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Brunei takes sultan's brother to court
Brunei takes sultan's brother to court BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Reuters): Brunei has sued Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's estranged brother Prince Jefri for alleged misuse of funds and frozen his assets, the Prime Minister's Office said on Thursday. The legal moves marked a startling twist in a bitter public split between the 53-year-old sultan and his youngest brother which has thrown a spotlight on the oil-rich sultanate's finances and the royal family.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Luxury car confiscated
Luxury car confiscated JAKARTA (JP): City police detectives have confiscated a black Jaguar sedan from a businessman living on Jl. Kwini, Central Jakarta, a police source said on Thursday. "It was taken early this week from a man identified only as Soni from Jl. Kwini. It had something to do with tax fraud or something ... I can't say further," said the officer, who asked for anonymity. According to city police chief of traffic Col.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
KONI to propose 11 sports for 2001 SE Asian Games
KONI to propose 11 sports for 2001 SE Asian Games JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) will propose 11 sports to feature in the 2001 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur. KONI secretary-general Rudolf S. Warouw named the 11 sports as wrestling, judo, fencing, rowing and canoeing, softball, table tennis, archery, soft tennis, equestrian events, water skiing and beach volleyball.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Accor foresees recovery for RI's hotels
Accor foresees recovery for RI's hotels JAKARTA (JP): The country's major hotels are heading for a full recovery thanks to a surge in business activities in the country, a major international hotel group said. A product manager for the Indonesian operation of the Accor Asia Pacific Group, Fabrice Burtin, said on Thursday that most star-rated hotels showed significant growth in their occupancy rates in recent months.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
IBRA signs agreement with Astra management
IBRA signs agreement with Astra management JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) has signed a confidentiality agreement with the management of auto manufacturer PT Astra International to allow bidders access to complete a timely due diligence of the company. Agency chairman Cacuk Sudarijanto said on Thursday the agreement demonstrated the support of Astra's management for the sale of IBRA's 40 percent stake in the publicly listed automotive company.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bank Indonesia issues four rules for Islamic banks
Bank Indonesia issues four rules for Islamic banks JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia has issued four regulations governing the operation of the mushrooming interest-free Islamic banks, locally known as syariah banks. The regulations cover rules on minimum reserves at the central bank, clearing, the creation of interbank money market and Bank Indonesia promissory notes designed only for Islamic banks, which adopt profit sharing principles.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Student loans suggested as alternative to subsidies
Student loans suggested as alternative to subsidies JAKARTA (JP): Education experts suggested on Thursday the adoption of a loan scheme to help students cope with tuition fees and help alleviate the burden of subsidies the government has to bare. "By giving out such loans, as it is well-known in several countries, we can help students stay in university. The students can pay the loan back maybe a few years after they graduate," Winarno Surachman told The Jakarta Post.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Make generic drugs available
Make generic drugs available Living as an expatriate physician in Jakarta, I had the following experience: Recently in a well-known dispensary I stood beside a customer who needed a special medicine. From the clothes he wore one could tell that he was not wealthy. As for the medicine he needed, he was given the most expensive one. Being a physician myself I knew that the same medicine produced by another world-famous company is much less expensive.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Police arrest seven for 'witchcraft' killings
Police arrest seven for 'witchcraft' killings BOGOR (JP): Police detectives in Sukabumi arrested 12 people suspected of killing at least seven Tegal Beleud villagers whom they accused of practicing witchcraft. Col. Edi Darnadi, the chief of the Bogor Regional Police, which also oversees Sukabumi, said on Thursday the 12 men were suspected of killing and dumping the bodies of the seven victims in separate incidents last month in the Cigaranten and Cigadok areas of Sukabumi.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Palembang wins race to host 2004 PON
Palembang wins race to host 2004 PON JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid finally gave a green light to Palembang to host the 2004 National Games (PON). It will be the first PON to be staged outside Java island in the last 30 years. "The President approves South Sumatra capital of Palembang as the host. Palembang won the voting election in the National Sports Council (KONI) plenary meeting last week," said KONI chairman, Wismoyo Arismunandar, Wednesday.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bandung lacks space for burials
Bandung lacks space for burials BANDUNG: The West Java capital of Bandung lacks open space for public cemeteries, an official said here on Thursday. The head of the Bandung burial service agency, Goesti Djafar, said the administration had tried to acquire more land for burials over the past 10 years, but to no avail. "We need an additional 2.4 hectares per annum for graveyards, based on the fact that an average of 6,000 people die every year, or between 15 and 17 per day," Goesti said.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb. 24, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 800 -25 5,000 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 700 -25 1,619,500 Alakasa Industrindo 525 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 850 0 209,500 Alter Abadi 400 0 0 Alumindo Light Metal 950 -25 17,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 500 0 0 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,175 -25 3,117,500 Anwar Sierad 300 0 0 APAC Centertex Corp.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
New curriculum not up to snuff
New curriculum not up to snuff The article Indonesia to introduce new education curriculum (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 23, p. 1) suggests that the Ministry of Education may be a bit out of step with recent political and legal changes, which began with the 1999 Decentralization Law. In many decentralized/federal countries, education is the right and duty of regional or even local governments.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
HI books Rp 15b in profit
HI books Rp 15b in profit JAKARTA (JP): PT Hotel Indonesia Internasional Natour said on Thursday it booked Rp 15 billion (US$2 million) in net profit for the year 1999, exceeding its target by 15 percent. The State owned hotel chain's president A.M. Suseto said the company had initially targeted Rp 13 billion for this year's profit. Suseto did not reveal the company's profit in 1998.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
West Sumatra gets new governor
West Sumatra gets new governor PADANG, West Sumatra: After three postponements due to threats of massive demonstrations, Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja swore in Zainal Bakar as the new West Sumatra governor on Thursday. The ceremony passed almost peacefully, with only about 50 students turning up to rally outside the municipality hall. The protesters demanded a rerun of the election due to several damaged ballots. However, the protest went unheeded.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
High crime rate blamed for decrease in tourist arrivals
High crime rate blamed for decrease in tourist arrivals JAKARTA (JP): The high crime rate is the main reason for the decrease in the number of tourist arrivals in the capital, an official said on Wednesday. "The City Tourism Agency recorded 1,057,104 tourists visiting Jakarta in 1998, but this number dropped to 981,183 last year," the head of the agency, Witjaksono Muwardi, said during a discussion on tourism at Wisma Nugra Santana on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Fresh riots kill 12 in N. Maluku
Fresh riots kill 12 in N. Maluku AMBON, Maluku: Pattimura Military Commander Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela confirmed on Thursday new communal clashes had erupted on Bacan island in North Maluku, leaving 12 dead and 25 injured. Tamaela said the clashes, the most serious after weeks of calm, rocked the remote tiny island between Tuesday and Thursday. He said security personnel had restored order there and rescue operations had begun to evacuate people who fled into the jungle to avoid the violence.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Instalation Exhibition: Pangaradeon Ni Oroan (Persiapan Pengantin Perempuan, by Altje Ully Panjaitan, Galeri Lontar, Jl. Utan Kayu 68 H, East Jakarta (Phone: 8573388), Feb. 17 to March 17. * Painting Exhibition: Kehidupan dan Pesona Alam, by Krijono, Bambang, Arum, etc., at the Lobby Imperial Country Club, 405 Boulevard Jend. Sudirman, Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang (Phone: 5460123), 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Feb. 29.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
UN presses Jakarta to hold East Timor trials
UN presses Jakarta to hold East Timor trials UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) urged Indonesia to bring to justice those responsible for atrocities in East Timor but shied away from recommending or even mentioning an international tribunal. The council urged Indonesia to create a transparent, legal process that conforms with international standards and said swift and effective action by the government would help mend relations with East Timor.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Strengthening East Asia economic cooperation
Strengthening East Asia economic cooperation By Li Tieying This is the second of two articles based on a presentation at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences in Jakarta on Feb. 16. JAKARTA (JP): China, though not directly involved in the East Asia crisis, was affected as well. Now, what lessons have we learned from the crisis? In the first place, developing countries should be very careful when they open their capital markets.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Police struggle to put out fire
Police struggle to put out fire JAKARTA (JP): Tanjung Priok Seaport (KP3) Police officers were still desperately trying on Thursday evening to put out a fire on a cargo ship. KP3 Police chief Lt. Col. Edward Aritonang said port workers were seeing off the Wasian ship, which was supposed to set sail for Jayapura, Irian Jaya, at 10 a.m. on Thursday, when they saw smoke rising from the storage area in the ship's hold. "That storage area contained paper, paints, thinners ...
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Lippo E-Net denies shifting core business
Lippo E-Net denies shifting core business JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Lippo E-Net's president Billy Sindoro dismissed on Thursday media reports that the company had changed its core business from insurance to internet services. "No, we haven't yet changed our core business (to Internet services) as reported by the media," Billy said at the company's public announcement at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) office.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bill sets penalties for crimes against children
Bill sets penalties for crimes against children JAKARTA (JP): A government sanctioned team has finished drafting the child protection bill that will allow the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) to take custody of children from parents for alleged negligence or abuse. The bill, consisting of 57 articles, threatens those committing crimes against children, such as physical abuse, rape and trafficking, with minimum penalties of nine years imprisonment and Rp 200 million fine.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Government may reject Damura if it boosts gambling
Government may reject Damura if it boosts gambling JAKARTA (JP): Fund-raising program Damura (the People's Fund for Sports) should not be launched if it encourages gambling, said State Minister of Social Affairs Anak Agung Gde Agung on Thursday. "We'll look at the positive and negative aspects (of the program) before deciding if we can go on. We also have to discuss the program with the House of Representatives," he was quoted by Antara as saying.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
House questions civil servants' right to unionize
House questions civil servants' right to unionize JAKARTA (JP): Several factions of the House of Representatives questioned the controversial bill on labor unions that allows the four-million civil servants to unionize and hold strikes.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Churches reject Papuan separatists
Churches reject Papuan separatists JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): All 11 Protestant denominations here have declared their rejection of the separatist movement, but vowed to maintain truth and justice for the sake of peace in the restive province. Rev.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bantaqiah's relatives appeal for troop withdrawal in Aceh
Bantaqiah's relatives appeal for troop withdrawal in Aceh JAKARTA (JP): Relatives of slain Islamic boarding school teacher Tengku Bantaqiah called on the government to withdraw troops from Aceh, saying their presence only propagated a climate of fear and terror. "We plead for a troop withdrawal because there have been too many innocent casualties in Aceh," the group's leader, Tengku Zainudin, told journalists on Thursday.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bogus seminar organizer charged with swindling
Bogus seminar organizer charged with swindling JAKARTA (JP): Vocational high school teacher Zawawi Suat is being tried at the Central Jakarta District Court for allegedly swindling the participants of a seminar he had organized. The court ran the second hearing of the case on Thursday, hearing testimonies from the witnesses: Mulyadi, a staffer at the state-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek and Nur Hidayat Umatjina, a staffer at an export-import company located in North Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
IPTN seeks foreign partners and funding
IPTN seeks foreign partners and funding SINGAPORE (AFP): Troubled Indonesian aircraft builder PT Industri Pesawat Terbang Nusantara (IPTN) on Thursday expressed determination to become a key Asian player as it seeks foreign partners and funding. IPTN President S. Paramajuda said foreigners could theoretically buy 100 percent of the company, which is now undergoing restructuring, but the firm prefers to remain 51 percent Indonesian-owned.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Sjahril detects political move to unseat him
Sjahril detects political move to unseat him JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said on Thursday that there has been political maneuvering to unseat him from the central bank by launching a renewed accusation that he was involved in the high profile Bank Bali scandal. He stressed that he was not involved in the bank scandal that occurred in the middle of last year. "There seem to be efforts to unseat me from Bank Indonesia...
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
Taxi driver fired for taking dip in DPR complex's fountain
Taxi driver fired for taking dip in DPR complex's fountain JAKARTA (JP): The driver that ran his Morante Jaya taxi into the fountain in front of the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (DPR/MPR) complex last Thursday said he had no regrets over his action.
Fri, 25 Feb 2000, 00:00 WIB
City to be free of 'becak' by April 1: Official
City to be free of 'becak' by April 1: Official JAKARTA (JP): The city administration started netting any becak (pedicabs) operating on any street in the capital beginning last Tuesday in an attempt to become a becak-free city as of April, an official said Thursday. "We expect there will be no more becaks in the capital after March 31," Deputy Governor for Administration Affairs Abdul Kahfi told reporters at City Hall.