Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 22 May 2000

39 articles found

Funny suggestion

Funny suggestion From Media Indonesia I fully agree with Media Indonesia's editorial of May 16 concerning the suggestion made by the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA). The council has suggested that a "first minister" be included in the present Cabinet, which is considered a strange proposal. Is that the only thing the DPA can do? How funny! The present structure of the Cabinet is OK, although the ministers have not done enough in their respective areas of responsibility.

Woman charged for smuggling snakes

Woman charged for smuggling snakes TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang District Court judges ordered the Tangerang Prosecutor's Office on Saturday to release Yuliana binti Hasan, 30, a defendant in a November 1999 snake smuggling attempt, as her detention period is over. Presiding judge Haogoaro Harefa, however, said that the release of the defendant did not nullify her alleged wrongdoing. "The court will announce the verdict on the defendant on May 29," Harefa said in the hearing on Saturday.

Muzadi mulls suing 'Jawa Pos' over apology

Muzadi mulls suing 'Jawa Pos' over apology JAKARTA (JP): Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi is considering filing suit against Surabaya-based Jawa Pos daily for an inadequate apology for a report linking corruption to the country's largest Muslim organization. The chairman of East Java's Ansor Youth Movement, MH Rofiq, said on Saturday the lawsuit would be filed as soon as possible.

Laksamana blasts decision to halt Texmaco inquiry

Laksamana blasts decision to halt Texmaco inquiry BANDUNG, West Java (JP): Former state minister of investment and state enterprises development Laksamana Sukardi lambasted the government on Saturday for its decision to halt the investigation into the alleged Texmaco loan scandal. Laksamana insisted that the loan transaction violated banking rulings and had caused the state to suffer financial losses.

Workers, students mark second year without Soeharto

Workers, students mark second year without Soeharto JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of students and workers belonging to the Workers-Students Joint Action group staged a rally at the Proklamasi Monument in Central Jakarta on Sunday to commemorate the second anniversary of former president Soeharto's downfall.

Gus Dur told to stop creating controversy

Gus Dur told to stop creating controversy JAKARTA (JP): The recent signing of the new letter of intent by the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) should provide enough momentum to revive confidence in the country's economic reform program, experts say. However, noted economist Sjahrir said it was important for President Abdurrahman Wahid to avoid creating new controversy to maintain the positive momentum.

Open discussion vital for federalism

Open discussion vital for federalism By Oliver Draper JAKARTA (JP): The interest in changing the Indonesian government from a unitary to a federal one is fueling a lively debate. The key participants are students, political scientists and constitutional experts, although to date they have not been successful in moving public opinion.

Downer opens bridge in Vietnam

Downer opens bridge in Vietnam HANOI (Reuters): Australian foreign minister Alexander Downer and Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai opened a bridge across a major branch of the Mekong River on Sunday, a project that is Canberra's largest ever single aid project. Officials said the US$51 million My Thuan suspension bridge would bring substantial economic benefit to the Mekong Delta, Vietnam's food basket.

One dead, 12 injured as rebels bomb Manila mall

One dead, 12 injured as rebels bomb Manila mall MANILA (Agencies): A bomb ripped through the Philippines' largest shopping mall on Sunday, leaving at least one dead and 12 injured as the government warned the population to brace for attacks linked to a separatist rebellion.

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, May 22, 2000

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, May 22, 2000 Exhibitions * Batik Exhibition: Batik on Wood Art, presentation, demonstration, exhibition and sales by Zul from H & Z Gallery, at ICAC House, Jl. BonaVista Raya, Lebak Bulus, Jakarta (Phone: 75816710 - 14), 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 25. Tickets are available at entrance * Antique Batik Exhibition and sale, at ICAC House, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 27. Entrance by donation.

Is a first minister what govt needs?

Is a first minister what govt needs? Amid the pros and cons to a suggestion for President Abdurrahman Wahid's government to have a first minister, scholar Arief Budiman of the Melbourne University does not think it is a bad idea. Question: You were among those who initially proposed the need for Gus Dur's government to have a first minister. Why do you think this is important? Answer: This is about the recent situation in Indonesia. It depends on the process of economic recovery.

Floods engulfs West Timor area

Floods engulfs West Timor area JAKARTA (JP): Some 300 square kilometers of West Timor are under water following days of incessant rain in the area last week, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said over the weekend. UNHCR said that aerial reconnaissance photos show an estimated 10 to 15 percent of the houses in the south-eastern areas of West Timor have been destroyed and a further 25 percent damaged.

Surya Semesta in the black

Surya Semesta in the black JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed property developer PT Surya Semesta Internusa booked a net consolidated profit of Rp 36.42 billion (US$4.28 million at the current exchange rate) last year, a turnaround from a net loss of Rp 65.36 billion. The company said over the weekend that shareholders had approved the management's proposal for most of the profit to finance part of its debt to foreign creditors and the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency.

Motorbike sales to get fierce with new entrants

Motorbike sales to get fierce with new entrants By Christiani Tumelap JAKARTA (JP): The competition in the local two-wheel vehicle market is expected to get fiercer with the entrance of dozens of new brands from China, India, South Korea and Taiwan. The entrance of the new brands could undermine the position of locally produced Japanese brands such as Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki, which have dominated the country's motorcycle market for decades.

Stronger rupiah may save stock prices from spill

Stronger rupiah may save stock prices from spill By Wachyudi Soeriaatmadja JAKARTA (JP): Renewed violence in some parts of the country and continued political instability will likely continue to undermine stock trading on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX). But equity analysts said that the expected rebound of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar would be able to save the stocks from taking another plunge.

City set to face lawsuit over parking policy

City set to face lawsuit over parking policy JAKARTA (JP): While admitting private parking operators had the right to sue the city administration over its parking policy, Governor Sutiyoso said on Friday he would continue with all efforts to enforce city parking regulations. "It's their right to file a lawsuit against us (the city administration) over private parking issues. "We, however, will continue with our law enforcement efforts," he said on Friday while visiting Glodok, West Jakarta.

RI's badminton women need to learn from Chinese

RI's badminton women need to learn from Chinese By Primastuti Handayani KUALA LUMPUR (JP): There is no doubt the Chinese women dominate badminton. Proof enough is the slew of international titles with Chinese names on them. They walked away from the Putra Indoor Stadium here on Saturday with the Uber Cup. They grabbed the sport's most prestigious women's team event by defeating European favorite Denmark, which reached its third final in the event.

DPR and MPR session

DPR and MPR session From Republika Recent rumors had it that People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung secretly agreed to change the General Session of the MPR into a special session in order to unseat Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid from office. Later, a number of political forces, mass movements and NGOs also voiced a desire to unseat Gus Dur.

Demand for land mapping and survey services seen rising

Demand for land mapping and survey services seen rising JAKARTA (JP): Demand for land mapping and survey services is likely to grow this year as regions gain more autonomy from Jakarta, the National Coordinating Agency for Surveying and Mapping (Bakosurtanal) said on Saturday. Bakosurtanal head Joenil Kahar said that provincial administrations would need maps and natural resource data of their respective regions.

Govt reviews mining-investment competitiveness

Govt reviews mining-investment competitiveness By Bernie K. Moestafa JAKARTA (JP): Amid looming uncertainties in the local mining industry, the government said it was reviewing Indonesia's mining investment competitiveness. "We're looking at ways to improve our competitiveness," the director of mining development at the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Simon Sembiring, told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.

Critics warn Gus Dur of possible impeachment

Critics warn Gus Dur of possible impeachment JAKARTA (JP): The polemic over President Abdurrahman Wahid's intention to have the three-decade-old communism ban lifted has been dragging on, with contenders warning of massive opposition that could lead to his ousting. Executive director of the Center for Information and Development Studies (CIDES) Jumhur Hidayat said here on Saturday that Abdurrahman's intention to pursue the revocation of the ban would raise people's anxiety.

Fighting unabated in troubled Aceh

Fighting unabated in troubled Aceh BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Hopes of an end to the conflict in Aceh are quickly fading as continued clashes over the weekend brought the number of dead to 15 since the signing of an accord between the government and the Free Aceh Movement on May 12. On Saturday and Sunday Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels engaged in gun battles with police forces. A Mobile Brigade (Brimob) policeman Pvt.

RI crushes China to keep Thomas Cup

RI crushes China to keep Thomas Cup By Primastuti Handayani KUALA LUMPUR (JP): As China's Ji Xinpeng failed to return Taufik Hidayat's overhead, about 12,000 Indonesian spectators erupted in elation on Sunday as Indonesia won the Thomas Cup for the 12th time. Led by Taufik, the Indonesian players blanketed themselves in red-and-white flags and took a victory lap accompanied by the national anthem Indonesia Raya sung by their compatriots.

Action taken to stop final exam cheating

Action taken to stop final exam cheating JAKARTA (JP): Education officials have enlisted police help to ensure copies of the upcoming national final examinations (Ebtanas) will not be leaked to studens. From previous years' experience when students obtained test copies before the exam, officials said they took preemptive measures, including establishing coordination with the city police.

Man dies after jeep hit at train crossing

Man dies after jeep hit at train crossing JAKARTA (JP): A man died instantly on Saturday when his jeep was hit by a train at Rawa Buaya in Klingkit village in West Jakarta. "The crash happened because of an unattended railway crossing gate which led the victim, Han On Tjiang, 53, to drive his Feroza jeep onto the railway track," a Cengkareng Police detective.

Standard income for medical specialists needed: Experts

Standard income for medical specialists needed: Experts JAKARTA (JP): A standard for the minimum wage for medical specialists is needed to encourage them to work in areas which offer fewer benefits, experts said here on Saturday. Gadjah Mada University's health services management center's director, Laksono Trisnantoro, said that the standard would make hospitals and local governments prepare a "decent" incentive if they were willing to employ specialists.

Vendors running rings around Senayan joggers

Vendors running rings around Senayan joggers JAKARTA (JP): For many years, the Senayan sports complex in Central Jakarta has been a favorite site for Jakarta residents from all walks of life and ages to jog and take part in morning exercises, particularly on weekends. Nowadays, the morning view at the vast complex has drastically changed as more and more people come to the site for different reasons.

Megawati's flying visit disappoints thousands

Megawati's flying visit disappoints thousands SORONG, Irian Jaya (JP): Thousands of residents were left disappointed on Sunday after a long wait to meet Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri ended fruitlessly here. The Vice President's visit began and ended on the outskirts of town and lasted just 20 minutes. Thousands of anxious residents had gathered at the airport in anticipation of the Vice President's arrival.

Two die, three injured in brawl at discotheque

Two die, three injured in brawl at discotheque JAKARTA (JP): Two people died and three others were seriously injured early on Sunday morning after dozens of people armed with machetes attacked MW Istana Dangdut discotheque on Jl. Pangeran Tubagus Angke, Pesing, West Jakarta. Agus Suratman, 29, from nearby Tambora, and Halim Murtadho, 18, a parking attendant at the discotheque, were stabbed to death during the attack, believed to have been carried out by a gang of people from Surabaya.

Exaggerated interpretation

Exaggerated interpretation From Tajuk Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto recently stated that the Indonesian Military (TNI) would oppose any side attempting to unconstitutionally topple the government. It promptly drew reactions.

Fishermen want oil-spill money

Fishermen want oil-spill money CILACAP, Central Java: Local fishermen demanded on Friday Rp 80.2 billion in compensation for the oil spill caused by an oil spill from tanker MT King Fisher off Cilacap on April 1. "We demand the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina and related parties responsible in the oil spill pay for the environmental damage and the economic losses," fishermen's coordinator Atas Munandar told a hearing with Minister of Maritime Exploration Sarwono Kusumaatmadja here.

Rich Kutai poor in infrastructure, facilities

Rich Kutai poor in infrastructure, facilities By Anton Sudarisman KUTAI, East Kalimantan (JP): Radiman stared in distress at his truck, trapped in a muddy road for four hours. He tried to tow it, but it would not even start. What Radiman worried most about was the vegetables on the truck. If they rotted before they could be delivered to market he would lose a week's pay.

Yen hits three week high, despite U.S. interest hike

Yen hits three week high, despite U.S. interest hike HONG KONG (AFP): Despite initial falls following Tuesday's U.S. interest rate rise, the Japanese yen rallied to a three week high on talk of the country's central bank lifting its "zero- rate" policy. Other Asian currencies suffered mixed reactions to the U.S. Federal Reserve's announcement, with the Thai baht and South Korean won slipping back, while Indonesian rupiah received a boost from the signing of a new letter of intent with the IMF.

Illegal VCDs seized in C. Java

Illegal VCDs seized in C. Java BANYUMAS, Central Java: About 3,200 illegal video compact discs (VCDs) were confiscated by local police in a series of raids here in the past two weeks, police chief Col. Carel Rissakota said on Saturday. "Besides illegal VCDs, we also seized pornographic LDs and VCDs in two regencies, Banyumas and Purbalingga," he said. Three alleged pornographic VCD distributors have been arrested for further investigation.

Hidayat elected new Justice Party chief

Hidayat elected new Justice Party chief JAKARTA (JP): Hidayat Nurwahid was elected the new chairman of the Justice Party on Sunday, replacing Minister of Forestry and Plantations Nur Mahmudi Ismail. Hidayat, a lecturer in the postgraduate program at the state- run Syarif Hidayatullah Islamic Institute, defeated Anis Matta and Irwan Prayitno at the end of the Islamic-based party's congress. Anis, who was second in the vote, retained the post of party secretary-general.

Ambon counts toll from six days of unrelenting violence

Ambon counts toll from six days of unrelenting violence AMBON, Maluku (JP): An uneasy calm returned to the strife-torn province of Ambon on Sunday, as over 200 fresh troops arrived to help soldiers conduct an antisniper operation. As of Sunday, six-days of clashes had claimed at least 38 lives and wounded no less than 100 people. Around 45 buildings have also been burned down. The latest casualties occurred after a fray on Saturday night in Laha village at Teluk Ambon Baguala district.

Desy questioned in heroin arrest

Desy questioned in heroin arrest JAKARTA (JP): Police questioned actress Desy Ratnasari and four other people on Sunday after a small packet of heroin, worth Rp 35,000 (US$4), was thrown from her car during a random check. City police chief of detectives for narcotics crimes Lt. Col. Abdullah identified the others as main suspect Iman Dakka, Desy's former university friend Poppy, Poppy's sister Yosi and Desy's driver Hassan.

Convenience, safety on trains

Convenience, safety on trains From Kompas We, train passengers, no longer feel at ease or safe traveling by train because of crimes which often take place on trains. The Senja Utama Solo-Balapan train, Senja Utama Yogyakarta and Fajar Utama Yogyakarta are some examples. Also, train singers and hawkers seem to have free access onto trains, which is quite a nuisance to the passengers. They do not hesitate to awaken sleeping passengers and insist that they give them some money.

Plant owners must build ties with locals

Plant owners must build ties with locals BOGOR (JP): Police officers urged factory owners on Friday to build better relationships with local residents to help avoid robberies from occurring at their premises. Chief of Bogor Police detectives Capt. Budi Prasetyo cited the May 14 arrest of a gang of four robbers, including a local, believed to have been involved in a series of robberies at factories in the area. "It showed the factories don't have a good relationship with the locals.