Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 28 February 2000

45 articles found

East Timorese and pro-RI militia hold secret talks

East Timorese and pro-RI militia hold secret talks SINGAPORE (AP): Groups who fought for East Timor's independence from Indonesia met secretly in Singapore on Sunday with representatives from pro-Jakarta militias to talk about reconciliation. Kjell Ake Nordquist, head of the department of peace and conflict research at Sweden's Uppsala University, presided over the talks.

Syarwan set to clarify July 27 tragedy

Syarwan set to clarify July 27 tragedy JAKARTA (JP): Lt. Gen. (ret.) Syarwan Hamid, former chief of Indonesian Military's (TNI) now defunct socio-political affairs office, said he was ready to give his account of events surrounding the July 27 tragedy. "I am ready to give a clarification to the National Police. The sooner the clarification is conducted the better the situation will be," he said when he asked to comment on renewed Police investigation into the incident here on Saturday.

Aberdeen finds good value in RI firms

Aberdeen finds good value in RI firms SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): It might seem a bit contradictory that a fund management firm executives describe as a "conservative sort of Scottish house" is invested in Indonesia, one of Asia's most volatile markets. But Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Ltd. sees no contradiction, as long as it sticks with its long-standing practice of investing only in companies it knows well.

'No price hike for medicines'

'No price hike for medicines' BANDUNG: Health Minister Achmad Sujudi said on Saturday the government had not considered price hikes for generic medicines and would maintain the Rp 500 billion subsidy for the drug. "Poor people depend much on these medicines. It's impossible for the government to pull out the subsidy," he said. He also said that since the country was also rich in herbs and traditional medicine, people should be encouraged to utilize them.

Anis retains IBF Intercontinental title

Anis retains IBF Intercontinental title JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian boxer Anis Roga retained his junior flyweight IBF Intercontinental title here on Sunday beating Prabpraam Klongphajon of Thailand in the sixth round with a technical knock out (TKO). The bout was held in the studios of privately-owned TV company RCTI. Anis, who comes from the Akas Probolinggo boxing camp, showed that at the age of 33 he could still box, overcoming the Thai boxer with tidy punches starting from first round.

500 'becak' drivers to meet Gus Dur

500 'becak' drivers to meet Gus Dur JAKARTA (JP): Some 500 becak (pedicab) drivers will pedal to Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta on Monday, demanding the President to help settle their dispute with city authorities. According to a statement from the Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) made available to The Jakarta Post on Sunday, pedicab drivers from the Greater Jakarta area plan to bring their problems to President Abdurahman Wahid, who is also known as Gus Dur.

APP settles row over machines

APP settles row over machines SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asia Pulp & Paper Co. Ltd. said Saturday it had settled disputes arising from proposals to buy two paper manufacturing machines from Beloit Corp., a subsidiary of Harnischfeger Industries Inc.

Search of missing people doubted

Search of missing people doubted BREBES, Central Java (JP): One more body was unearthed on Sunday in the landslide-struck village of Windu Sakti in Salem district here, amid doubts as to the continuation of the search operation. Rescue workers recovered the body of Sunarto, 30, two meters beneath the surface to bring the confirmed death toll to 11 since the landslide crushed the village on Wednesday night.

S'pore investors have cold feet over RI

S'pore investors have cold feet over RI SINGAPORE (AP): For decades, Singapore's executives looked out of their sleek office towers and saw opportunity in the islands of Indonesia, happily investing in the sprawling and impoverished archipelago. But when Indonesia's once-booming economy collapsed three years ago in the Asian economic crisis, conservative Singaporeans in the tiny, but wealthy, free enterprise powerhouse began reducing investment in the world's fourth most populous nation.

Executive women reveal secrets of their success

Executive women reveal secrets of their success By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): They might call themselves FEW, but the roles that they play are many. And the choices before them number even more, with to play golf or not to play golf being the least troublesome of them all. Most agree that what pays in the end, whether one is man or woman or at home or at the work place, is to be able to identify a problem, find the most effective way of resolving it and then go ahead and work on it.

Denial of service attacks reveal the Net's vulnerability

Denial of service attacks reveal the Net's vulnerability By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Did you have any problem surfing the Net or sending and receiving e-mail in the last two or three weeks? If you did, you were certainly not alone. You and I were just some of those affected by the massive Denial of Service attacks launched by hackers who flooded the Internet with bogus requests for information addressed to some of the most popular Web sites.

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, Feb. 28, 2000

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, Feb. 28, 2000 Exhibitions * Documentation Exhibition: German-Indonesian Relations from the 16th to the 19th Century by the German Embassy, at Gedung Arsip Nasional, Jl.Gadjah Mada 111, Central Jakarta, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., until Feb. 29. * Installation 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.

Labor murder probe to go on

Labor murder probe to go on SURABAYA: Chief of East Java Police Maj. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said over the weekend it would take his office one month to investigate the alleged involvement of police and military personnel in the 1993 murder of labor activist Marsinah. "We will concentrate the probe on the East Java Police unit with assistance from the National Police, internal affairs, military police and Brawijaya Military Command," Da'i said.

Musa backs bid for top posts

Musa backs bid for top posts KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his preferred successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should face a contest for the top two ruling party posts in May, a veteran politician says. Former deputy premier Musa Hitam, in an interview in Sunday's Star newspaper, also predicted that Mahathir's old rival Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would challenge either the premier or Abdullah in the UMNO leadership elections.

Channeling people's aspirations

Channeling people's aspirations From Pelita The development of political activities is getting hotter. In all occasions the media are reporting on the prevailing conflicts which tend to benefit an individual or a group. The application of democracy in this country during the past two years seems to have stressed the "people's sovereignty", which is taken to mean "freedom" but disrespects other basic elements of human aspects.

RP volcano leaves evacuees living on the edge

RP volcano leaves evacuees living on the edge LEGASPI, Philippines (AFP): Relief officials scrambled on Sunday to find ways to house and feed some 48,000 people evacuated from villages close to Mayon volcano as lava still trickled from the mountain. There were no violent explosions on Sunday like the ones late last week when the volcano belched huge plumes of smoke and ash into the air, said Eduardo Laguerta, senior researcher of the government volcano observatory monitoring Mayon.

Minister warns of influx of foreign doctors

Minister warns of influx of foreign doctors JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi warned that Indonesia could be inundated with foreign health practitioners with the start of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 2003, if it does not improve the quality of its human resources and services in this field. "The ability of our doctors and nurses along with our health technology are still below the quality of foreign health practitioners," Sujudi told reporters on Saturday.

Soldier vs general over traffic dispute

Soldier vs general over traffic dispute BOGOR (JP): A low-ranking soldier threatened to shoot and amputate the legs of a retired two-star general and his son over a traffic dispute here on Friday evening. Second Private Nikson Lumban Toruan of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) 1st Division threatened Maj. Gen. (ret) Durmawel Achmad and son, named Fica, 20, accusing the general's car of blocking his Yamaha RX King motorcycle.

Experts back new audit of Indorayon

Experts back new audit of Indorayon By Berni K. Moestafa BOGOR, West Java (JP): Experts from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture supported a new audit of pulp and rayon firm PT Inti Indorayon Utama on Saturday, following a recent recommendation by the environment minister to close down its operations.

Nissho Iwai, Sinar Mas tie up

Nissho Iwai, Sinar Mas tie up TOKYO (Nikkei): Nissho Iwai Corp. will form a joint venture by April with Indonesia's Sinar Mas group and Commerce One Inc., a U.S. provider of e-commerce solutions, to set up Internet portals for paper and pulp, metals and other industrial sectors, according to the Sunday morning edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei).

Expecting more sophisticated mobile communications services

Expecting more sophisticated mobile communications services JAKARTA (JP): The explosive growth in the use of cordless communications tools has seen billions of personal messages sent through mailboxes, answering machines, beepers and PCs across the world. In Indonesia, the number of cellular phone users has also increased significantly.

Irianese congress rejects 1969 plebiscite

Irianese congress rejects 1969 plebiscite JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): The first Papuan Congress ended on Saturday with a unanimous rejection of the 1969 plebiscite that incorporated the former Dutch territory into Indonesia. In a statement made available to The Jakarta Post on Saturday, the 500 congress participants said the popular consultation lacked legitimacy because the Indonesian government held it without involving eligible voters.

Let TNI vote in polls, say observers

Let TNI vote in polls, say observers JAKARTA (JP): Observers suggested on Sunday that Indonesian Military (TNI) members be given the right to vote in general elections as compensation for their complete departure from politics after the 2004 polls.

State budget hangs in balance over dilemmatic fuel subsidy

State budget hangs in balance over dilemmatic fuel subsidy By Reiner S JAKARTA (JP): The government is struggling to create a credible state budget as it attempts to accommodate political pressures that often move against economic rationale. "We're facing a dilemma here," said long-serving legislator Aberson Marle Sihaloho, who is also a member of the House of Representatives budget committee.

Authorities silent over endangered species sales

Authorities silent over endangered species sales JAKARTA (JP): Pramuka bird market in East Jakarta does not only sell birds, people can also procure rare animals from the traders through "black market" transactions. Rumors about the illegal trading at the market are widespread among Jakartans and ironically, the market is adjacent to the main office of the city-owned market management PD Pasar Jaya. But the market authority, seemingly, has done nothing to stop the illicit trading.

Leap year fears might slow down stock trading

Leap year fears might slow down stock trading JAKARTA (JP) Fears of possible computer glitches on Feb. 29, the date of the extra day in the new millenium's first leap year, might slow down trading on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) this week, securities analysts say. "There are some worries, especially from foreign investors, approaching Feb. 29," said Yuzar Nazaruddin from Ficor Sekuritas Indonesia over the weekend.

Taking a closer look at the role of the State Secretariat

Taking a closer look at the role of the State Secretariat The all powerful State Secretariat is now seeing more democratic days, with all its shortcomings. The Jakarta Post interviewed lecturer in public administration Warsito Utomo from Yoygyakarta's Gadjah Mada University on the subject. An excerpt of the interview follows: Question: How do you see the changes in the once powerful State Secretariat?

Bandung promotes recycled garbage

Bandung promotes recycled garbage BANDUNG: The provincial administration and the Indonesian Design Development Institute (LPDI) have set up six centers to recycle garbage over the past two months in a bid to develop home industries and provide employment opportunities. Chief of the institute Lian Lubis said each station was expected to produce goods such as recycled papers and bags.

RI forex reserves rise $286m

RI forex reserves rise $286m JAKARTA (JP): The country's net foreign exchange reserves rose by US$286 million to $16.81 billion in the week ending on Feb. 24. Bank Indonesia said in its weekly report on Saturday the increase was mainly due to a loan disbursement from the Asian Development Bank and revenue from oil exports. The central bank said the country's gross forex reserves also increased to $28.10 billion from $27.82 billion the previous week.

S'pore, KL markets agree on CLOB shares

S'pore, KL markets agree on CLOB shares SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore and Kuala Lumpur's stock exchanges have unlocked an impasse over frozen Malaysian shares worth billions of dollars, exchange officials said. In a joint statement late Friday, the Singapore Exchange and the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange said an agreement had been reached concerning shares of the Central Limit Order Book International (CLOB) held by Singaporeans.

Blue Bird explains driver's dismissal

Blue Bird explains driver's dismissal JAKARTA (JP): The Morante taxi driver who plunged his car into a fountain at the House of Representatives compound last week was dismissed for damaging the vehicle, and not for the publicity stunt, his employer said on Saturday. Ateng Aryono, vice operation director of the Blue Bird Group which manages Morante taxis, said the driver, Bustari, was told of the decision to fire him on Friday.

Bogor hotel destroyed by hundreds of locals

Bogor hotel destroyed by hundreds of locals BOGOR (JP): Mobs destroyed on Saturday night a hotel on Jl. Bogor Raya in Nanggewer village, Cibinong district, for allegedly housing "immoral activities". No fatalities were reported in the fray, but the incident led to heavy traffic congestion along the street, which is usually glutted with vehicles during weekends.

Local veterans shine in doubles matches

Local veterans shine in doubles matches JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian pair of Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo won the men's doubles title at the Men's Futures- 1 tennis tournament at the Kemayoran Tennis Center in Central Jakarta on Sunday. Bonit and Sulistyo beat Davis Cup team members Edy Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in the final of the US$15,000 (Rp 110 million) Men's Futures-1 on Sunday. For their victory, Bonit and Sulistyo won $945, while Edy and Hendri took $495.

Armed gang dressed as police sought for robbery

Armed gang dressed as police sought for robbery JAKARTA (JP): Bogor and Bekasi Police detectives are on the lookout for five armed men wearing police uniforms and driving a van with military license plates who made off with a container truck on Friday. "We know all their identities. It's just a matter of time before they make an appearance," Bogor Regional Police chief Col. Edi Darnadi told The Jakarta Post on Sunday evening. Separately, Bekasi Police chief Lt. Col.

State-appointed doctors to examine Soeharto

State-appointed doctors to examine Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): A team of doctors appointed by the Attorney General's office will visit former President Soeharto Monday morning to verify a medical report that the he is incapable of fulfilling a summons for questioning over his alleged corruption. "I have already signed the instruction letter for the medical team to carry out a direct examination on Pak Harto on Monday," Attorney General Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post by telephone on Saturday.

GPP chairman calls vandalism, theft of plantations 'alarming'

GPP chairman calls vandalism, theft of plantations 'alarming' BANDUNG (JP): Almost 6,000 hectares of plantation land in 32 separate locations in West Java has been vandalized and stolen over the last two years, an official said on Saturday. Chairman of the West Java chapter of the Plantation Owners Association (GPP) Dede Suganda Adiwinata said here that the situation was alarming and must be stopped soon. "We are fed up with this. The vandalism has been becoming more serious," he complained.

ASEAN urged to aid in peace talks

ASEAN urged to aid in peace talks MAE SOT, Thailand (DPA): The new Karen National Union chairman, Saw Ba Thin Sein, would like to see the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) press the military government in Yangon to talk peace with the ethnic group, he said.

DLLAJ urges use of portable scales

DLLAJ urges use of portable scales JAKARTA (JP): While observing the continuing destruction of the city's streets, the City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) proposed on Friday the use of portable scales to interdict overloaded trucks operating on the streets. DLLAJ head Buyung Atang said his office had asked the city administration to provide 25 portable scales to conduct immediate operations against overloaded trucks.

President calls for common oil strategy

President calls for common oil strategy BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Agencies): Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on Sunday, called for a common petroleum strategy among Southeast Asia's predominantly Muslim nations. Abdurrahman, stressing he had fully recovered from the flu which had cast doubts over his Brunei visit, said a joint strategy among petroleum-rich countries Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia would go a long way in the costly area of exploiting resources and technology.

Mass grave in Aceh spoils peace hopes

Mass grave in Aceh spoils peace hopes BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): The return of peace remains a remote hope in the province after a village chief was shot dead in East Aceh, where locals in the remote village of Sijuek also found a mass grave. East Aceh Police chief Lt. Col.

Travel ban to Lombok lifted

Travel ban to Lombok lifted JAKARTA (JP): Four of the seven countries which recently banned their citizens from traveling to Lombok have lifted the bans following an improvement in the situation on the island. The governor of West Nusa Tenggara, Harun Al Rasjid, said on Saturday the four countries which had lifted their travel bans were the Netherlands, Germany, Japan and Australia.

West Bekasi seize marijuana, arrest two

West Bekasi seize marijuana, arrest two JAKARTA (JP): West Bekasi Police seized on Saturday 206 kilograms of dried marijuana with a street value of about Rp 412 million (US$54,940) from two suspected drug dealers in a housing complex. City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis identified the two as Basri, 29, who is unemployed, and Sabri, 27, a businessman. Their identification cards stated they were residents of Galur in Central Jakarta.

Heading off communist threat

Heading off communist threat From Pelita Mention of "communism" immediately causes trauma for Indonesians because of past saddening experiences, like the Sept. 30, 1965 Indonesian Communist Party attempted coup in which seven Army generals who met a gruesome death at the hands of party members.

Don't delay regional autonomy

Don't delay regional autonomy By A. Tony Prasetiantono YOGYAKARTA (JP): There is an analogy between last year's two laws on regional autonomy and intergovernmental fiscal balances (Nos.22 and 25) and trade liberalization. Trade liberalization has been an obsession of classical economists starting from David Ricardo. In 1944 in Bretton Woods, the United States, nations attempted to set up the International Trade Organization to rid international trade from any distortions.

Civilian court suitable for Agus: Loebby

Civilian court suitable for Agus: Loebby JAKARTA (JP): Law expert Loebby Loqman suggested on Sunday that the military police allow drug suspect Second Lt. Agus Isrok to be tried in a civilian court. Loebby, a professor of law at the University of Indonesia, said the ongoing legal procedures carried out by the West Jakarta District Court, the police and the military police were incorrect.