Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 22 March 2000

46 articles found

Hunt for Acehnese rebels goes on

Hunt for Acehnese rebels goes on JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Lt. Gen. Rusdihardjo said on Tuesday that the sweep for Acehnese separatists would continue despite reported abuses of civilians.

Eros blocked from contending in PDI-P's chairmanship poll

Eros blocked from contending in PDI-P's chairmanship poll JAKARTA (JP): The central board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) has taken a controversial vote, blocking Eros Djarot's participation in the party's upcoming congress in Semarang, Central Java. The decision, if confirmed by party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri and Secretary-General Alex Litaay would effectively kill Eros' nomination bid for chairmanship.

Defective ammo blamed for blast

Defective ammo blamed for blast BANDUNG: The provincial military investigation team revealed on Tuesday that a cannonball which killed a boy after it crashed into a house in Batujajar district here last week was the result of "a product defect". Spokesman for the Siliwangi Military Command Lt. Col. Fatwa Suratnoko said the 105-millimeter cannonball came from the third cannon. "Unlike normal cannonballs, a strange smell came from this one," he said.

Bonit and Sulistyo join Davis Cup team

Bonit and Sulistyo join Davis Cup team JAKARTA (JP): The long-standing partnership of Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo has been invited to join the Davis Cup team after impressive performances in recent national tournaments, the Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) official in charge of athletes development, Sudjiono Timan, said on Tuesday.

ASEAN finance minister to rehash ongoing initiatives

ASEAN finance minister to rehash ongoing initiatives SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Finance ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are expected to rehash a host of ongoing initiatives, but break little new ground at their meeting in Brunei this week. The meeting opens Thursday and runs through Sunday.

Todung turns down Supreme Court offer

Todung turns down Supreme Court offer JAKARTA (JP): Renowned lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis turned down on Tuesday his nomination by the government to the Supreme Court. According to a statement made available to The Jakarta Post, Todung declined the offer, saying he was focusing his work on improving the profession of advocates. He is currently the deputy of the Indonesian Bar Association (Ikadin).

IBRA strives to boost legal power

IBRA strives to boost legal power JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) is seeking to boost its legal power in a bid to bolster the legitimacy of its decisions, a senior official has said at the agency. IBRA legal division head Pandu Djajanto said on Tuesday that the agency would propose to the President to upgrade the legal basis governing the agency to a government ruling in lieu of the law. IBRA is currently directed under Government Regulation No. 17/1999.

Change of guard at 'Antara'

Change of guard at 'Antara' Any change of guard at the top levels cannot fail to attract attention, although in essence it must be seen as a natural cycle, at least under normal conditions. I cannot speak for others, but I think present conditions, economic, political or otherwise, are normal in the general sense.

Bank Mandiri expects Rp 725b net profit this year

Bank Mandiri expects Rp 725b net profit this year JAKARTA (JP): President of Bank Mandiri Robby Djohan expects the giant state-owned bank to book a net profit of Rp 725 billion (US$97.32 million) in net profit this year, compared to a loss of Rp 36.86 trillion last year. Speaking at a hearing with the House of Representatives Commission IX on finance and state budget, Robby said that net profit per February 2000 was Rp 318 billion.

Indonesia has no plan to cancel rice imports

Indonesia has no plan to cancel rice imports JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Trade and Industry Jusuf Kalla said on Tuesday the government had no plans to cancel rice import contracts despite the sharp drop in rice prices in the domestic market. "We still need to import rice because our local production is still insufficient to meet the demand," he told reporters. Kalla, also the chairman of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), was commenting on Minister of Agriculture M.

PSSI trickles money from sponsors to clubs

PSSI trickles money from sponsors to clubs JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) announced that 28 clubs in the main division will receive Rp 3 billion (US$405,000) from state Bank Mandiri, the new sponsor for the premier division soccer league this year. PSSI's treasurer Irawadi said after launching new Bank Mandiri Soccer League logo on Tuesday that each club will receive about Rp 106 million to stage the remaining matches until finish in June.

Fit & proper tests need clarification

Fit & proper tests need clarification JAKARTA (JP): Criteria for fit and proper tests in appointing top officials at state-owned firms needs clarification to avoid political interference, the Indonesian Society for Transparency (MTI) said on Tuesday. MTI secretary-general Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas said any fit and proper test would be meaningless if its criteria was subject to political interests.

Railway company wants DPR to set new ticket price

Railway company wants DPR to set new ticket price BANDUNG (JP): President of state railway company PT KAI Edie Haryoto has called on the House of Representatives to decide on new prices of train tickets before April 1, in case the firm suffers losses due to the fuel price hike. Edie told reporters after inaugurating a new train station at Kiaracondong here that the proposal was being processed at the House.

East Timor: Dutch war crime replayed

East Timor: Dutch war crime replayed By Aboeprijadi Santoso This is the first of two articles on the origins of war crimes in Indonesia. AMSTERDAM (JP): Fifty-five years after a Dutch officer, Raymond Westerling, engaged in war crimes in the shadow of Indonesia's decolonization, a number of Indonesian officers were accused of similar crimes in what was essentially last year's decolonization of East Timor.

President renews call for diversity

President renews call for diversity JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid renewed his call for the nation to accept diversity in religion, ethnicity and cultural background as a heavenly blessing and urged people not to force their will against each other in the name of religion.

Indonesia-Australia ties: After fear, before justice

Indonesia-Australia ties: After fear, before justice By Richard Tanter This is the second of two articles on RI-Australia relations ALICE SPRINGS, Australia: Imagine, just for a moment, that ethics did matter, and that there was a decision to treat the peoples within the two societies we now call "Indonesia" and "Australia" as members of a single system, with shared moral responsibilities.

Protesting airport staff not allowed to work

Protesting airport staff not allowed to work JAKARTA (JP): Thirty-two airport employees who took part in a strike on Monday at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport were prevented by their superior from performing their daily jobs at the airport, said a lawyer representing the employees on Tuesday. "I've suggested the 32 employees speak to their superior over the matter," Achdiat Mihardja, a lawyer representing the protesting PT Gapura Angkasa employees, told The Jakarta Post.

Stock Exchange

Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Mar. 21, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 775 0 0 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 600 -25 272,000 Alakasa Industrindo 450 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 1,000 75 1,110,500 Alter Abadi 325 0 25,000 Alumindo Light Metal 950 0 2,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 325 25 12,500 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,150 0 386,500 Anwar Sierad 300 0 0 APAC Centertex Corp.

Gang uses girl to tease victims

Gang uses girl to tease victims BOGOR (JP): Detectives from the Bogor City Police have arrested a gang of 10 people for their suspected roles in a series of vehicle thefts, an officer said on Tuesday. Chief Lt. Col. Toto Adi Kuncoro stated that his men also seized 12 motorcycles and a Mitsubishi Kuda van from the suspects in raids on Saturday at a house on Jl. Otista and at another residence in the Pedongkelan area of North Jakarta.

Importers asked to register at customs

Importers asked to register at customs JAKARTA (JP): The directorate general of customs and excise has required all importers to register their companies in a bid to tighten the processing of import documents. Daeng M. Nazier, the head of the customs and excise office in Tanjung Priok Port, said on Tuesday importers had until the end of April to register.

BPS to launch nationwide census every ten years

BPS to launch nationwide census every ten years JAKARTA (JP): The government will launch a nationwide population census, held every 10-years, in June with the results announced two months later. Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) chief Sugito Suwito on Tuesday said the bureau would hire some 300,000 enumerators to collect data from about 52 million families throughout the country.

TV today

TV today TVRI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Children's Program 9:00 Music 10:00 Interval 2:00 p.m. News 2:30 Children's Program 3:00 Music 4:00 News 4:30 Indonesian Lessons 5:00 Teen Program 5:30 Sports 6:30 TVRI News 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama 8:00 Music 9:00 World News 9:35 Talk Show 10:35 Film 12:00 a.m. Late News Program 2 4:30 p.m. Student's Program 5:00 City News 5:30 Music 6:00 TV Drama 6:30 News (in English) 7:00 Evening News 7:30 TV Drama TPI 5:30 a.m.

Superfluous advice

Superfluous advice Even though chief economic minister Kwik Kian Gie welcomed President Abdurrahman Wahid's decision to appoint another team of economic advisors, in addition to the two teams already installed, no one is fooled by the real message of the move.

New auto prices set by government to affect vehicle taxes

New auto prices set by government to affect vehicle taxes JAKARTA (JP): The city administration will soon impose higher taxes on vehicles based on the new auto prices set recently by the Ministry of Home Affairs, officials said on Tuesday. City spokesman Muhayat told reporters at the City Hall that the decision was based on a decree issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 1/2000 on vehicle base price.

Investors' ownership in Baligraha to decline by 66%

Investors' ownership in Baligraha to decline by 66% JAKARTA (JP): The share ownership of the investing public in hospital operator PT Baligraha Medikatama Tbk will decline by 66 percent after the merger of another hospital operator Siloam Gleneagles into the company. "Public investors's ownership in Siloam Gleneagles will decrease by as much as 15 percent as a consequence of the merger," Baligraha president Yohanes Oentoro told securities analysts in the company's public showcase.

Investigating past events crucial

Investigating past events crucial While it requires a great deal of courage for Indonesia to reinvestigate the controversial events that occurred under former president Soeharto, it is an essential process in providing a solid basis for the development of democracy and society in Indonesia. It is heartening to see that those who are supportive of such moves include Indonesian political observers, historians and President Abdurrahman Wahid himself.

S'pore cancels RI investment

S'pore cancels RI investment SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore firms have put on hold investments worth some S$1.7 billion (US$1 billion) in Indonesia's nearby Riau province, a news report said here Tuesday. Singapore's Business Times said that of a total of 66 projects worth some $3.2 billion that were committed in 1998, only 22 projects worth some $1.58 billion have been pursued.

Where to go in Surabaya:

Where to go in Surabaya: Exhibition Workshop and Puppets Exhibition at Art Deco Lobby, Hotel Majapahit, Mandarin Oriental, Jl. Tunjungan 65 (Phone: 031 5454333), 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., until April 3. Performance * Baroque Music Concert: L'Ensembel XVIII-21, by France musicians Jean Christophe Frisch (conductor), Cyrille Gerstenhaber (soprano), Freddy Eichelberger (clavecin), Hager Hanana (cello-violin), Gilone Gaubert (violin), at Balai Adika Ballroom, Hotel Majapahit, 7 p.m., March 28.

Court agrees to extradite American to RP

Court agrees to extradite American to RP JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court accepted on Tuesday a request from the government of the Republic of the Philippines to extradite United States citizen Dennis Austin Standefer to the neighboring country over an alleged criminal offense. Judge Romana Pardede said Standefer had been indicted for rape in a Philippine court.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on March 21, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.

Public urged to adopt new burial system

Public urged to adopt new burial system JAKARTA (JP): The City Public Funeral Agency has called on residents to adopt multilayer burials for deceased family members to help solve the scarcity of land in the capital. "The fact that public graveyards are not increasing in size while the city population is growing is the basic problem," the agency's information officer, Eddy Supriyatna, said on Tuesday.

Replaced news agency head threatens court action

Replaced news agency head threatens court action JAKARTA (JP): Former Antara news agency chief Parni Hadi said on Tuesday that he was considering filing a lawsuit at the Jakarta Administrative Court against a presidential decree which replaced him with Mohamad Sobary.

Rio Tinto boss leads IABC

Rio Tinto boss leads IABC JAKARTA (JP): The annual general meeting of the Indonesia- Australia Business Council (IABC) elected Noke Kiroyan on Tuesday as its new president until 2002. Noke Kiroyan, who is the president of Rio Tinto Indonesia, a subsidiary of Anglo-Australian mining firm Rio Tinto, replaces Sabam Siagian, who served as the council's president from 1996 to 2000, IABC said in a statement.

Public transportation drivers not informed of fuel coupon plan

Public transportation drivers not informed of fuel coupon plan JAKARTA (JP): Although just 10 days away, public transportation drivers said on Tuesday that they still knew nothing about the planned fuel coupons to be distributed under the government-sponsored fuel subsidy scheme. Interviewed separately, the drivers insisted that the subsidized coupons would not be enough to cover their daily operations, much more their earnings.

A band of thieves

A band of thieves From Suara Karya Coordinator of the Indonesian Corruption Watch Teten Masduki said that of the 36 justices on the Supreme Court, only five had been declared clean, and the remaining were "thieves". He deplored that the Supreme Court, the last fortress of justice in Indonesia, was dominated by thieves working as judges. I think the truth of this very strong statement must be proven.

Payoffs prominent in court system

Payoffs prominent in court system By Fabiola Desy Unidjaja JAKARTA (JP): Many cite law enforcement as the key to structuring a better way of life in Indonesia. But Indonesia's judicial system, one of the backbones of law enforcement, has yet to show any signs of change. Too often people claim that money, not the law, is the determining factor in legal decisions. Testimony by several lawyers also indicates that the practice is far too easy to conduct, particularly in civil cases.

Taking the high road on a bicycle trip out and about

Taking the high road on a bicycle trip out and about By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): A BMW is fine but if you asked Vaughn Ball he would probably say a bicycle was better, if not the best way to explore rural pleasures. An expatriate geologist living in Jakarta, Vaughn prefers to spend much of his leisure time cruising along kampung trails on a bicycle and discovering what people do in remote areas of this island.

Denpasar installs traditional guards

Denpasar installs traditional guards DENPASAR, Bali: Denpasar Mayor A.A. Puspayoga officiated on Monday afternoon a ceremony installing Pecalang (traditional security guards) in Adat Sumerta village, east of here. East Denpasar district chief I.B. Brahma Putra said it was the first time the guards were grouped in a formal organization on the island. "They used to be a temporary force without regular members," Brahma said.

Prosecutor files appeal against decision on Djoko

Prosecutor files appeal against decision on Djoko JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta Prosecutor's Office filed an appeal at the Jakarta High Court on Tuesday over the South Jakarta District Court's decision to drop the indictment against Djoko S. Tjandra, a defendant in the Rp 546 billion (US$73.7 million) Bank Bali scandal.

East Timor investigators to be named

East Timor investigators to be named JAKARTA (JP): A team tasked to investigate last year's violence in East Timor will be established by next week, focusing on five of the most notorious incidents, Attorney General Marzuki Darusman said on Tuesday. Marzuki said the team of investigators, which would consist of elements from the military police, the police, experts and the Attorney General's Office, would be formed "either this week, or next week at the latest".

Thousands protest new Toraja regent

Thousands protest new Toraja regent MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Thousands of locals thronged the Tana Toraja legislative building on Tuesday, demanding a rerun of the regent election due to allegations of bribery. The group threatened to vandalize the building if the legislators failed to meet their demand. The protest was sparked by the unlikely win of Yohannes Amping Situru in the vote on Monday. He qualified for the election after finishing at the bottom in the preliminary selection.

Datakom objects to share reduction

Datakom objects to share reduction JAKARTA (JP): PT Datakom Asia opposed on Tuesday the decline in its ownership in private television station SCTV to 26.85 percent from 47.5 percent. The company's lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea, said the decision to cut its ownership in the station had no valid legal ground. "The dilution in the ownership has a legal defect. Datakom Asia still has a 47.5 percent stake in SCTV," Hotman told journalists.

Indonesia seen as improving in watch list

Indonesia seen as improving in watch list JAKARTA (JP): The United States is expected to ease its stance against Indonesia on the issue of intellectual property rights following the recommendation of American businesses in Indonesia, a senior official at the Ministry of Law and Legislation said on Tuesday.

Police arrest two with drugs

Police arrest two with drugs JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Police detectives arrested on Monday evening two suspected drug dealers for possession of 800 ecstasy pills and 285 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) on Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai in Klender, East Jakarta. Secretary to the city police detectives chief Lt. Col. Tjiptono identified the suspects as Efer Pattikawa, 25, and Andriyunus Lewol, alias Tinus, 37. Both are currently unemployed.

Taiwan softens on China trade and independence

Taiwan softens on China trade and independence TAIPEI (Reuters): Tiptoeing towards an accommodation with Beijing, Taiwan's victorious Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said on Tuesday it would open debate on dropping its incendiary call for a separate state. And in a goodwill gesture after presidential elections that swept the DPP to power, parliament voted to end a five-decade ban on direct trade, travel and postal links with the mainland, starting in a limited way through offshore islands.

Aura colors reveal more of you

Aura colors reveal more of you JAKARTA (JP): According to Fisslinger's book Aura Mastery, there are 12 aura color types: from deep red to white. DEEP-RED people are: physically strong, hardworking, active, powerful, realistic, physically active, vital, grounded, strong and full of stamina. RED people are: exciting, energetic, physical, competitive, leaders, winner, achievers, courageous, sexual, entrepreneurs and promoters. Boris Becker and Madonna have this aura color.