Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 29 March 2000

55 articles found

Dubious delegates haunt PDI-P congress

Dubious delegates haunt PDI-P congress SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Some 115 delegates at the inaugural congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) still were unable to attend the proceedings on the second day because organizers doubted their legitimacy.

IBRA replaces deputy chairman Eko Budianto

IBRA replaces deputy chairman Eko Budianto JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Finance Bambang Sudibyo installed Irwan Siregar as the new deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) in charge of loan recovery, replacing Eko S. Budianto, at a closed-door ceremony on Tuesday.

Rosy environmental audit of Freeport elicits skepticism

Rosy environmental audit of Freeport elicits skepticism BANDUNG (JP): The environmental audit conducted by Montgomery Watson Indonesia (MWI) on PT Freeport Indonesia's activities in Irian Jaya is academically questionable, a Padjadjaran University researcher said here on Tuesday.Oekon S.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on March 28, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 800 25 12,000 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 575 -25 1,275,500 Alakasa Industrindo 475 0 0 Alfa...

DHL to open new service centers

DHL to open new service centers JAKARTA (JP): Leading courier service company PT Birotika Semesta/DHL Worldwide Express plans to open new service centers in Semarang and Medan this year ahead of an expected economic turnaround in Asia, an executive said on Tuesday.

Perspective: Civil-military ties revisited

Perspective: Civil-military ties revisitedBy Todung Mulya Lubis This is the second of two articles based on a presentation at a symposium to honor the contribution of scholar Daniel S. Lev to the Southeast Asian Studies and Societies, University of Washington.

Direct presidential election idea needs time

Direct presidential election idea needs time SURABAYA (JP): Direct election for president could be implemented in 2009, but the people must first learn to comprehend the new system, a scholar says.Ramlan Surbakti of the Surabaya-based Airlangga University said that establishing solid institutions...

French container ship docks at Koja

French container ship docks at Koja JAKARTA (JP): CMA CGM, a major French shipping line, launched on Tuesday the service of its 4,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) container ship to meet the growing demand of the country's exporters.

Kudos to the 'Post'

Kudos to the 'Post' In recent months the media have come under attack from various quarters for the irresponsible manner in which they have portrayed events. It is not my place to argue for or against the various claims, nor to proffer my own views as to the important role in society of the media...

Old city section to be developed to promote tourism

Old city section to be developed to promote tourism JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Tourism Agency is continuing with its plan to develop a "tourism village" in three locations in North Jakarta, the agency's official said on Tuesday.

City absorbs employees of defunct ministries

City absorbs employees of defunct ministries JAKARTA (JP): The City Administration officially absorbed on Tuesday 1,209 employees of the Jakarta offices of the defunct ministry of social affairs and ministry of information into its already sizable organization.

PDI Perjuangan challenges ahead

PDI Perjuangan challenges ahead The ongoing congress of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in Semarang, Central Java, has, for the party in particular and the nation's democratic process, after the first truly democratically elected government, a special historical...

Petronas keeps output flat

Petronas keeps output flat KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's state oil firm Petronas plans to keep domestic oil output at 610,000 barrels per day in 2000, but has an eye on an overseas project to secure output for the future, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

Antam boosts silver quality

Antam boosts silver quality JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed state mining company PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) announced on Tuesday its refinery unit PT Logam Mulia was able to produce high-quality silver suitable for use in high-technology devices, including microchips.

Lifting ban on communism is belated thinking

Lifting ban on communism is belated thinking As warnings have been raised about whether the public is ready for the lifting of the ban on communism, political analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono questions the need for the preservation of an ineffective ruling.

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, March 29, 2000

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, March 29, 2000Exhibition 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.Music and Entertainment * Hotel Majapahit, Mandarin Oriental, Jl.

Settlers return home

Settlers return home JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: More than 260 settlers have abandoned their government-funded transmigration camps in Bonggo, Jayapura regency, because of food shortages, an official said on Monday.

JSX plan to accommodate new Internet firms hailed

JSX plan to accommodate new Internet firms hailed JAKARTA (JP): The plan of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) to ease its listing requirements, in order to accommodate startup companies, received a warm welcome from Internet related firms.

PDI-P defends its role in presidential election

PDI-P defends its role in presidential election SEMARANG (JP): The executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) blamed "unhealthy democratic practices" rather than inept party lobbying for its failure to get Megawati Soekarnoputri elected president in October.

RI wins arbitration hearing in power contract dispute

RI wins arbitration hearing in power contract dispute JAKARTA (JP): International arbitrators in Paris have ruled in favor of the Indonesian government in a power contract dispute with American power company Florida Power and Lights, the lawyer representing Indonesia in the dispute said on Tuesday.

37 nations set for Shotokan c'ships

37 nations set for Shotokan c'ships JAKARTA (JP): Thirty seven countries have confirmed their participation in the seventh World Shotokan Karate-do International Federation (SKIP) championships next month in Nusa Dua, Bali.

Revival in works for traditional 'wayang'

Revival in works for traditional 'wayang'By Sirikit Syah SURABAYA (JP): Talib Prasojo's hands skillfully arranged the dried grass and rice stalks into a wayang (puppet). Only one week after the Javanese Puppets exhibition and workshop opened at Majapahit Mandarin Hotel in Surabaya, he had sold a...

Surabaya apartments ready for economic development

Surabaya apartments ready for economic developmentBy Sirikit Syah SURABAYA (JP): Surabaya is ready for more business activities in the region, even if active business means many expatriates living in Surabaya.

Govt official tells police of kidnapping

Govt official tells police of kidnapping JAKARTA (JP): A government official lodged on Saturday a complaint at the Jakarta Police headquarters that he had been kidnapped by an allegedly notorious debt-collector from the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, held hostage and mentally tortured late...

GAM members may join TNI

GAM members may join TNIFrom PelitaPresident Abdurrahman Wahid has made signals to the effect that the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members are allowed to join the Indonesian Military (TNI) provided they pass a test.

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on March 28, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,443.00 7,517.00Australian dollar 1 4,572.23 4,621.45Austrian schilling 1 522.84 528.31Belgian franc 1 178.34 180.21Brunei dollar 1 4,345.26 4,391.03Canadian dollar 1 5,111.

Superficial and real reforms in the Indonesian Military

Superficial and real reforms in the Indonesian Military Competing agendas remain one hindrance to reform within the Indonesian Military, says Damien Kingsbury, the Executive Officer of Monash Asia Institute, who recently wrote Guns and Ballot Boxes: East Timor's vote for independence.

Unitary system with federal elements urged

Unitary system with federal elements urged JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia should retain the unitary system of government but may incorporate elements of federalism to take into account the diverse history, values and geographic factors of the regions, observers said on Tuesday.

IBRA to issue bonds to bail out ailing companies

IBRA to issue bonds to bail out ailing companies SINGAPORE (Agencies): The chief of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said Tuesday top Indonesian ministers have given "verbal" approval to issue bonds to bail out 48 companies indebted to IBRA.

Bimantoro says 'B 1 MA does not belong to me anymore'

Bimantoro says 'B 1 MA does not belong to me anymore' JAKARTA (JP): National Police deputy chief Maj. Gen. Bimantoro said on Tuesday that B 1 MA, the controversial registration number which earlier belonged to a city resident and was allegedly sold off to him for a price, did not belong to him...

KONI flush with cash for Olympic training

KONI flush with cash for Olympic training JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has received more support for its training program for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, and is now well past its initial fund target.

Web site business in Asia, from conglomerate to corner store

Web site business in Asia, from conglomerate to corner storeBy Joe McDonald SHANGHAI, China (AP): Fresh out of Harvard Business School last year, Shao Yibo passed up lucrative U.S. jobs and came home to start a Web site that sells goods as varied as houses and hot- pink cellphones.

Rupiah plunges on quarterly dollar demand in Asian trade

Rupiah plunges on quarterly dollar demand in Asian trade HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The Indonesian rupiah fell to its lowest since the beginning of the month during Asian trading hours Tuesday, while the New Taiwan dollar rose to hit its highest level in six weeks.

Cleaning services told to adjust wages

Cleaning services told to adjust wages JAKARTA (JP): The city administration issued a ruling on Tuesday that all cleaning service companies operating at City Hall should immediately adopt the central government-established new minimum regional wage (UMR) of Rp 286,000 (US$38) per month for their...

FedEx wins freight awards

FedEx wins freight awards JAKARTA (JP): Courier service company Federal Express (FedEx) announced on Tuesday it had been named Best Total Logistics Operator for the fifth consecutive year at the 14th Asian Freight Industry Awards (AFIA).

Schools out in Jayawijaya

Schools out in Jayawijaya JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Thousands of primary-age school children have stopped attending classes because their teachers have quit in the face of intimidation from West Papuan separatist rebels.The head of the Ministry of National Education Office in the Jayawijaya regency, G.

Key government officials still holding two jobs

Key government officials still holding two jobs JAKARTA (JP): Senior United Development Party legislator Aisyah Aminy and Golkar's Yahya Zaini called on members of the House of Representatives who hold dual posts in the government to resign from the legislature.

Telkom network service rerouted

Telkom network service rerouted BOGOR (JP): The Bogor office of state-owned telecommunication company PT Telkom has decided to move part of its network service to PT Telkom in Tangerang starting on April 1 as part of efforts to bring customers back, officials said on Tuesday.

Bob Hasan detained over scandal

Bob Hasan detained over scandal JAKARTA (JP): Timber tycoon Mohamad "Bob" Hasan was detained at the Attorney General's Office on Tuesday after formally being named a suspect in a US$87 million corruption scandal.

Indonesia third in tuberculosis cases in the world

Indonesia third in tuberculosis cases in the world JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is third in the world in number of tuberculosis patients with over 583,000 recorded infections last year, of which 140,000 died.

Gus Dur tells BKKBN to stop fudging population figures

Gus Dur tells BKKBN to stop fudging population figures JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid warned officials of the National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) on Tuesday to stop manipulating population figures merely to please the country's leaders.

Greater independence urged for BPK

Greater independence urged for BPK JAKARTA (JP): In order to provide objective audit reports for the House of Representatives, the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) must be given greater independence to carry out its duties, according to a former government official.

Two declared suspects in Sunday murders

Two declared suspects in Sunday murders JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police declared on Tuesday two suspects in connection with the murder of a Police mobile brigade (Brimob) private and a civilian early on Sunday morning.Central Jakarta police chief of detectives Capt.

Buildings burned in Matraman brawl

Buildings burned in Matraman brawl JAKARTA (JP): Five buildings were burned but no fatalities reported following a vicious brawl between residents of Kebon Manggis and Palmeriam in the Matraman area of East Jakarta on Tuesday evening.Matraman police chief Maj.

Zarina trial set to go ahead

Zarina trial set to go ahead JAKARTA (JP): The West Jakarta District Court ruled on Tuesday it would continue hearing the drug case against Zarina Mirafsur."The indictment prepared by the prosecutor meets all the requirements as stipulated in Paragraph 2, Article 143 of the Criminal Code...

Another E. Timor disaster

Another E. Timor disaster The violent way with which Indonesia got rid of East Timor last year is likely to haunt the nation for many years to come. As Indonesia faces international demands for a war crime tribunal to try its military leaders, another East Timor humanitarian disaster of horrendous...

Legislators want hefty pay hike

Legislators want hefty pay hike PADANG, West Sumatra: Members of the West Sumatra legislative council demanded on Tuesday an increase in their monthly salary from Rp 750,000 to Rp 10 million.They compared their situation to the large increase in allowances that echelon civil servants will receive...

Families find the comfort zone in inviting world of apartments

Families find the comfort zone in inviting world of apartments SURABAYA (JP): Jane Miles has been living at the Graha Residen apartment housing complex for two-and-a-half years. So far, she is happy. When she said she would like to live in a house in a real neighborhood rather than in an apartment...

IMF may again delay aid to Indonesia

IMF may again delay aid to Indonesia JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) representative here, John Dodsworth, confirmed on Tuesday that the IMF Executive Board in Washington won't meet on April 4, as originally scheduled, to approve the next disbursement of US$400 million in loans...

Arbitration can settle legal disputes

Arbitration can settle legal disputesBy Stefanus Haryanto JAKARTA (JP): In a dispute over the termination of the distributorship agreement between plaintiff PT Perusahaan Dagang Tempo and defendant PT Roche Indonesia, the South Jakarta District Court decided it had the jurisdiction to hear the...

Radio commentator shot in Philippines

Radio commentator shot in Philippines COTABATO, Philippines (AP): A radio commentator known for his scathing criticism of Muslim separatist rebels was shot and wounded in an ambush that killed two people in a southern city, police said on Tuesday.

Surabaya legislative body educates itself for more autonomy

Surabaya legislative body educates itself for more autonomyBy Sirikit Syah SURABAYA (JP): There are always excuses. "This is a transition period and most local legislators don't have the experience." Hence legislators are always excused if they make odd statements, draw wrong conclusions, or make...

Health education for women key to a healthy society

Health education for women key to a healthy society JAKARTA (JP): Women remain the main health providers in many countries. Their role begins at home, where illness usually begins. Outside the home, they are well recognized as doctors, nurses, midwives, other health workers and volunteers.

Leading dangdut singer Rafiq demands Rp 1 billion royalties

Leading dangdut singer Rafiq demands Rp 1 billion royalties JAKARTA (JP): Famous dangdut singer and composer A. Rafiq demanded on Tuesday Rp 1 billion from a recording company for pirating three of his best selling songs.

Team to work out parting of ways with East Timor

Team to work out parting of ways with East Timor JAKARTA (JP): A presidential decree issued on Tuesday laid the foundation for the establishment of a national team to iron out details of the transition of East Timor to an independent state.