Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 13 March 2000

42 articles found

Man shot dead in attempted robbery

Man shot dead in attempted robbery JAKARTA (JP): East Jakarta police detectives are searching for three suspects in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in a robbery attempt on Saturday morning in Pondok Gede. East Jakarta Police chief Col. Fabanxio identified the victim as Anton Pudjaja, 69, who was shot in an attempted mugging when he was trying to open the doors of his lubricants store on Jl. Raya, Pondok Gede. "We are still investigating the incident.

Environment watchdog tells govt to stop forest fire

Environment watchdog tells govt to stop forest fire JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) said on Sunday the present government would lose some of its legitimacy if it failed to take comprehensive measures to stop forest fires.

Reform the judiciary

Reform the judiciary Last week's court ruling acquitting businessman Djoko Tjandra of corruption charges in the high-profile Bank Bali scandal is a major setback for the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid. Here is a case which has consumed a great deal of national and international attention since coming to light in July.

BUMNs on offer to strategic investors

BUMNs on offer to strategic investors JAKARTA (JP): The government is offering to sell several state companies to strategic partners in addition to the initial public offering (IPO) plans of eight state enterprises in the April- December 2000 budget year as part of its privatization program, according to a senior official at the State Ministry of Investment and State Enterprises Development.

Shop owners file protest

Shop owners file protest JAKARTA (JP): Shop owners at the Glodok Plaza shopping complex in West Jakarta filed a protest on Friday against the complex's management, PT Multi Plaza Properties (PT MPP), over parking, sanitation and security fees.

Two teams of doctors meet to discuss Soeharto's health

Two teams of doctors meet to discuss Soeharto's health BANDUNG (JP): Soeharto's private doctors have met with a team of state-appointed doctors from Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) to discuss the condition of the former president. Juan Felix Tampubolon, one of Soeharto's defense lawyers, briefed reporters here on Saturday, saying Friday's meeting of the two teams of doctors was the best answer to end the polemic on his client's health.

The new underdog: The TNI

The new underdog: The TNI By Dewi Anggraeni MELBOURNE (JP): Since discussing the future of Indonesia without focussing on the role of the military would be a futile exercise, the "Rethinking Indonesia" conference last weekend in Melbourne, took a serious look at the issue. Under the New Order government, power was very much weighted against the civilian sector and in favor of the military.

Warnings of drug-resistant malaria

Warnings of drug-resistant malaria MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): With fear of a malaria outbreak high on people's minds due to the climatic shift from the wet to the dry season, a scientist specializing malaria treatment warned that the common drugs used may no longer be effective in treating the illness.

Two killed in blast

Two killed in blast KENDAL, Central Java: Two employees at textile giant PT Texmaco Perkasa Engineering's factory in Kaliwungu district were killed on Saturday when an air conditioner compressor they were repairing exploded. Dulkijab, 38, and Waliyono, 27, both factory technicians, died instantly. The blast threw their bodies 15 meters.

Legislators wary of fake fertilizers

Legislators wary of fake fertilizers SEMARANG: Most of the fertilizers sold to farmers across Central Java are potentially dangerous to human beings and the environment because of their inappropriate chemical composition, a provincial legislator said on Saturday.

Xia and Gong clinch Chinese double

Xia and Gong clinch Chinese double BIRMINGHAM, England (Reuters): China' Xia Xuanze completed his march to the All England badminton championship on Sunday with a stunning 15-6, 15-13 success over 18-year-old Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia. The women's crown also went to China when Gong Zhichao ended a 26-month title drought with an 11-5 8-11 11-5 victory over compatriot and world championship finalist Dai Yun.

Death of a giant

Death of a giant After the loss Indonesia suffered not so long ago with the demise of Sutan Takdir Alisjahbana, one of the most outstanding pioneers of modern Indonesian literature, the death on Saturday of another national literary giant delivered yet another blow to the country's cultural community.

Gandhi confusion

Gandhi confusion Someone following my letters to The Jakarta Post for several years, might wonder whether my first name, Gandhi, is related to the great Indian leader. Following President Abdurrahman Wahid's recent visit to India, during which he paid homage to its great leader and founder of India, Mahatma Gandhi, there has been considerable confusion "among Indonesians including intellectuals and journalists" about who is Gandhi's grandson or daughter and who is not.

Armed gang steals ATM machine

Armed gang steals ATM machine DENPASAR, Bali: A group of armed men stole an Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) on Saturday containing an estimated Rp 55 million, police said. "The incident took place around 3 a.m. when the gang, armed with blades and sickles, attacked the guard and lifted the ATM into a waiting car," Badung Police chief Lt. Co. DBM. Suharya said on Saturday. The ATM was located in a branch office of Bank Danamon on Jl. Gatot Subroto on the outskirts of the town.

Sex education to be put into curriculum

Sex education to be put into curriculum JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Education intends to introduce sex education into the curriculum by methodically integrating it into existing school subjects and activities. The ministry's director general of elementary and secondary education, Indra Djati Sidi, said it would be integrated in such a way so as not to burden students who already have a full school load to deal with.

TV today

TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Songs 9:00 Music 10:30 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Children's Program 3:00 Music 4:00 Regional News 4:30 Religious Teachings 5:00 Technology Program 5:30 Sports 6:00 Music 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 Music 9:00 World News 9:35 Talk Show 10:30 TV Series: Labyrinth 11:30 Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m.

Aceh legislators concerned over civilian killings

Aceh legislators concerned over civilian killings BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Local legislators expressed concern on Saturday at the number of civilian killings in this volatile province and asked the security authorities to stop the violence and take firm action against the perpetrators. "Too many people have died for unknown reasons here. Many more are missing without trace.

Agus Isrok's case delayed

Agus Isrok's case delayed JAKARTA (JP): The court proceedings in the drug case involving second Lt. Agus Isrok, a member of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus), remain on hold because military prosecutors need to refine the dossier, officers said on Thursday. "Military prosecutors are studying the dossier to develop it further before sending it to the military court," the head of the Military Prosecutor's Office, Maj. Gen.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Exhibitions * Ceramics Exhibition: Pagerjurang, at Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl. Palmerah Selatan, Central Jakarta, until March 17. * Painting Exhibition: Pameraya 2000 by H. Widayat at the National Gallery, Central Jakarta, until March 31. * Painting Exhibition by Satya Graha, at Galeri Milenium, Golden Plaza complex, Blok B-23, Jl. R.S. Fatmawati No. 15, South Jakarta (Phone: 7507828), 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., until April 2.

Women, the other voice of troubled Aceh, speak up

Women, the other voice of troubled Aceh, speak up More than a year after the formal end of the military operation in Aceh, an average of about five people were killed daily in the province. The following is an excerpt of an interview with Naimah Hasan, chief organizer of the February Acehnese women's congress in Banda Aceh, held from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22. Question: State Minister of Human Rights Hasballah M. Saad has said there are not enough funds for trials of rights abuses.

Nagari's rating upgraded

Nagari's rating upgraded JAKARTA (JP): Local rating agency PT Pemeringkat Efek Indonesia (Pefindo) has upgraded the rating of rupiah bonds issued by Bank Nagari from idBB- to idBB+, while assigning a idBBB- rating to Bank Jabar's Rp 150 billion bonds. Pefindo said it upgraded Bank Nagari 1997's bonds rating because the latter relatively outperformed other banks in capitalization and manageable asset quality.

Special bus lane planned for Gambir to Blok M route

Special bus lane planned for Gambir to Blok M route JAKARTA (JP): The City Traffic and Land Transportation Agency (DLLAJ) is to establish a bus lane serving passengers to and from Gambir railway station in Central Jakarta and Blok M Bus terminal in South Jakarta, an official said on Friday evening. Agency head Buyung Atang said at City Hall the proposed route would likely utilize the far left of what is currently the streets' fast lane.

Group demands prosecution of those allegedly involved in land takeover

Group demands prosecution of those allegedly involved in land takeover TANGERANG (JP): A non-governmental organization, Tangerang Government Watch (TGW), has demanded that the Tangerang Prosecutor's Office soon prosecute the alleged illegal takeover of a 10-hectare state-owned plot in Babakan subdistrict by locals, councilors and high ranking officials.

Report on NZ special force hostage rescue denied

Report on NZ special force hostage rescue denied YOGYAKARTA (JP): Deputy chief of Yogyakarta Police Col. Erwin MAP described a report that a private paramilitary unit from New Zealand had rescued a man allegedly being held hostage near Yogyakarta as illogical and nonsense. "It doesn't make any sense at all.

IBRA takes over Liem's stakes

IBRA takes over Liem's stakes SINGAPORE (AP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency has taken over Indonesian tycoon Liem Sioe Liong's stakes in industrial estates developed jointly with Singaporean parties, a newspaper reported Saturday. IBRA is now looking for foreign investors to take over the shares in the Batam and Bintan industrial estates as part of its asset sales program, Singapore newspaper The Business Times reported.

Barbers cut out a living on the street

Barbers cut out a living on the street JAKARTA (JP): Those walking or driving along the heavily congested Jl. Matraman Raya in East Jakarta cannot help but be aware of the street barbers struggling to make a living on the sidewalk. With worn-out chairs and small, beat-up Echolac suitcases containing mirrors, combs, scissors and modest shaving gear, the barbers -- some of whom have been in the profession for dozens of years -- work under the open sky near Koinonia Church.

E-business to boom after 5 years

E-business to boom after 5 years JAKARTA (JP): Despite the continued launching of new Internet sites, portals and related services by local and foreign firms, Indonesia's Internet market will start booming only in the next five to six years, an analyst has said.

Police to get tough on drugs

Police to get tough on drugs JAKARTA (JP): Marking its massive campaign against illegal drugs, the National Police have taken initial internal law- enforcement measures against its low-ranking officers allegedly involved in drug abuse and trafficking. National Police chief Lt. Gen.

Consumer trust recovered in February

Consumer trust recovered in February JAKARTA (JP): Consumer confidence rebounded in February after falling in the previous two months, according to a research agency of the state-owned investment bank PT Danareksa. The Danareksa Research Institute said a survey of 1,700 respondents in six regions in the country found that the consumer confidence index rose to 66.1 last month from 63.8 in January.

S. Sumatra wood exports up

S. Sumatra wood exports up JAKARTA (JP): South Sumatra earned US$4.19 million from 7,259.6 tons of plywood export in December 1999, up 18.25 percent in value from the previous month, the provincial office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported on Saturday. The head of the office, Hariasa Adiwijata, said South Sumatra exported plywood to 14 countries, including Britain, Taiwan, South Korea, Germany, Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium, Japan and Denmark, Antara reported from Palembang.

Pretending to contract my house

Pretending to contract my house From Pos Kota I placed a notice on Feb. 24, 2000 to the effect that I was leasing my house on contract basis. Exactly at 7 p.m. I got a call from a man by the name of Joko. He was interested in contracting my house for four years as his company moved him from Surabaya to Jakarta, and he agreed to the terms of the contract.

JSX may breach 600-level this week: Equity analysts

JSX may breach 600-level this week: Equity analysts JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) composite index could breach the psychological 600-level this week as bullish sentiment will most likely improve on the back of good news expected from some public companies, securities analysts said here over the weekend. "Several big companies will release better than expected financial reports this week and will certainly improve the trading mood," an analyst said.

Mystery of March 11 Order

Mystery of March 11 Order From Media Indonesia The March 11 Order is now 34 years old. This document is questionable and full of mystery. So far, scholars have been unable to unveil the mystery shrouding both the existence and wording of the March 11 Order. Discussions and seminars have been held, yet the truth of the document remains a mystery. The March 11 Order is indeed a heritage of the past.

Inzamam helps Pakistan to 256

Inzamam helps Pakistan to 256 KARACHI (AFP): Middle order batsman Inzamam ul-Haq pushed Pakistan to 256 all out on the first day of the third and final cricket Test against Sri Lanka here Sunday. Pakistan's batting faltered once again as only Haq with 86 and Shahid Afridi with 74 hit a purple patch. Only two other batsmen could reach double figures on a hot day before a small holiday crowd. At close Sri Lanka was 10-0 after batting for two overs.

Mahathir closes in on reelection

Mahathir closes in on reelection KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has crossed the halfway mark to being reelected to the pinnacle of Malaysia's ruling party while his only possible challenger languishes far behind. The 74-year-old Mahathir, in power for almost two decades, had clinched 33 of the 50 nominations needed to run for the presidency of the dominant United Malays National Organization (UMNO) by 3:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. Jakarta time) on Sunday, party officials said.

Agency calls for more funds to improve roads

Agency calls for more funds to improve roads JAKARTA (JP): A limited budget and the increase in the price of construction materials due to the weakening of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar has crippled the city's efforts to repair the capital's streets, an official said. The head of the City Public Works Agency, Fadly Khatib, told councillors on Thursday his office did not deserve the blame for the poorly maintained streets in Jakarta.

'Linguist': A locally-made Indonesian-English dictionary

'Linguist': A locally-made Indonesian-English dictionary By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Have you often wished that there had been an English-Indonesian dictionary right there on your PC so that you would not have to leave your machine just to find the equivalent of the word "exchequer" in Indonesian? Or the equivalent of wakuncar in English? With an electronic dictionary you could find the translation in either language with only a few clicks.

Part-time teachers demand appointment

Part-time teachers demand appointment JAKARTA (JP): Some 700 part-time teachers questioned on Thursday why they were denied status as civil servants after years of teaching at various public schools in Central Jakarta, a city official said. Giat Suwarno, head of the Jakarta chapter of the National Education Department, said at a meeting, which discussed the city's annual working program, that those teachers were hired because of an insufficient number of teachers in Central Jakarta.

Graft, bank laws nourish Asia's dirty money

Graft, bank laws nourish Asia's dirty money SYDNEY (Reuters): Money laundering is on the rise in Asia, and reasons cited are official corruption, strict bank secrecy laws, traditional ethnic underground banking networks and in some countries a lack of anti-laundering laws. A recent U.S. State Department report pinpointed China, Hong Kong and Macau as major money laundering centers, and also named Indonesia, the Philippines and India.

Lawyers to be available for RI migrant workers

Lawyers to be available for RI migrant workers BANDUNG (JP): A minister said here on Saturday that in a bid to protect Indonesians working abroad from abuse, the government planned to provide them with lawyers. Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the lawyers would help Indonesian workers who happened to get involved in legal cases in the countries in which they worked.

Shorter curfew imposed in Ambon

Shorter curfew imposed in Ambon AMBON, Maluku: Military authorities here announced on Saturday that the city-wide curfew remained effective, although its length would be reduced by one hour due to improving security conditions. "Because Ambon is gradually getting back to normal and people are already back in business, we have decided to end the curfew one hour earlier at 5 a.m.," Pattimura Military Commander overseeing Maluku Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela said.

Muslim organizations split on sacrifice day

Muslim organizations split on sacrifice day JAKARTA (JP): Muslims will celebrate Idul Adha (the Islamic day of sacrifice) on two separate days as the country's two leading Islamic organizations have decided upon different dates for the holiday. Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Muslim organization with 35 million followers, announced on Saturday that the start of Dzulhijjah month in the Islamic calendar this year fell on March 8 and, therefore, Idul Ahda would fall on Friday, April 17, 2000.