Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 May 2000

54 articles found

Gus Dur's brother decides to quit IBRA, says Cacuk

Gus Dur's brother decides to quit IBRA, says Cacuk JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's younger brother Hasyim Wahid has resigned from the powerful Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA), the agency's chief said."Yes, that is true.

Catcha launches SMS service

Catcha launches SMS service JAKARTA (JP): Catcha.co.id, one of several localized search engine portals, launched on Monday its first free Short Signaling (SMS) service via the Internet.The company said the service enables visitors to the portal to send SMS messages to their friends and family, who...

Govt criticized for inability to fight graft

Govt criticized for inability to fight graft JAKARTA (JP): The National Law Commission has expressed its concern over ongoing rampant corruption resulting from the sluggish movement of the government's law enforcement agencies to cope with the crime.

What is behind the Texmaco case?

What is behind the Texmaco case?From Warta KotaI am really indignant at the performance of the Attorney General's Office. It is highly incredible that since Soeharto's downfall there has been not one criminal in the economic field who has been brought to court.

Utut wins in Vietnam

Utut wins in Vietnam JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Grand Master (GM) Super Utut Adianto made a good start in the Zone 3.2A Asia Championships in Vietnam beating International Master (IM) Petronica Rona of the Philippines on Sunday.

Traders cool on coffee producer plan

Traders cool on coffee producer plan SINGAPORE (Reuters): A new producer plan to bolster prices on the multi-billion dollar international raw coffee market was greeted coolly on Monday by Asia traders who suspect regional producers will find it hard to fund and to enforce.

Malaysia in a fix over hostages in RP

Malaysia in a fix over hostages in RPBy Nelson Graves KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Guerrillas holding 21 hostages in the Philippines have put Malaysia in a bind, forcing Kuala Lumpur to consider accepting thousands of illegal immigrants in surprise talks that irked Manila.

Pertamina reviews tanker deal

Pertamina reviews tanker deal JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company PT Pertamina said on Monday it had agreed with tanker consortium Pacific LNG Transport Ltd. -- linked with former President Soeharto's family -- to cut the transportation cost of its liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Illegal logging rampant along Indonesian-Malaysian border

Illegal logging rampant along Indonesian-Malaysian border PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): The residents of Seriang village, where people usually live in harmony, recently became involved in a brawl with residents of a neighboring village.

UT's unit restructures debt

UT's unit restructures debt JAKARTA (JP): PT United Tractors Pandu Engineering (UTE), a unit of publicly-listed heavy equipment distributor PT United Tractors, said it had closed a deal with its creditors to restructure a debt of US$14.5 million.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 22, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------ Ades Alfindo 725 0 0 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 375 -25 65,500 Alakasa Industrindo 1,000 0 0 Alfa Retailindo...

Political maneuverings affect the economy

Political maneuverings affect the economy Factions in the House of Representatives, particularly those of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Golkar, have been busily maneuvering lately. What binds them together is common interests such as the recent dismissal of state minister of...

Kerosene missing in Purwokerto

Kerosene missing in Purwokerto PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Local residents here have been suffering from a kerosene drought for the past number of days, with the price soaring up to Rp 1,000 per liter from Rp 400.

Ilham Malayu's poetry a line to sanity

Ilham Malayu's poetry a line to sanityBy Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): Imagine yourself having to live in the confines of a prison for longer than you had lived already? Would you go crazy?In 1984, Ilham Malayu was sentenced to 33 years and four months imprisonment by the Thai government for drug...

ASF gets ISO certificate

ASF gets ISO certificate JAKARTA (JP): PT Astra Sedaya Finance (ASF), a subsidiary of PT Astra International, has received a certificate of ISO 9001 from the United Kindom-based SGS Yarsley ICS.The company said here on Monday that the ISO 9001 certification was issued by SGS Yarsley on April 10...

Govt awards seven oil and gas contracts

Govt awards seven oil and gas contracts JAKARTA (JP): The government awarded on Monday seven oil and gas contracts -- the first of the year -- to four international and three local companies.The contracts, with a total investment commitment of over US$112 million for 10 years, were described by...

Indonesians caught fishing in Malaysia

Indonesians caught fishing in Malaysia KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysian authorities said on Monday 16 Indonesians and 11 Vietnamese fishermen have been arrested for illegally fishing in waters off Malaysia's Sarawak state on Sunday.

Mahmudi tries to sell regions on proposal

Mahmudi tries to sell regions on proposal JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Forestry and Plantation Nur Mahmudi Ismail said on Monday that regional administrations will benefit from his proposal to put all forestry concessions in the hands of Perum Inhutani, the state-owned forestry company.

Habibie Center for the people

Habibie Center for the people The presence of the Habibie Center and the Habibie Comet in the firmament cannot help but rekindle memories of the Habibie era, during which he was the head of state.Speaking in a television interview on the evening of May 21, he said that these days he preferred to be...

National Games to go on schedule: Official

National Games to go on schedule: Official JAKARTA (JP): Secretary General of the National Sports Council (KONI) Rudolf S. Warouw confirmed on Monday that the 15th National Games (PON) will go on as originally scheduled, from June 19 to June 30 in Surabaya.

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on May 22, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 7,790.00 8,790.00Australian dollar 1 4,430.95 5,004.15Austrian schilling 1 507.36 572.74Belgian franc 1 173.06 195.37Brunei dollar 1 4,512.54 5,094.77Canadian dollar 1 5,202.

Business back to normal at driver's license unit

Business back to normal at driver's license unit JAKARTA (JP): What time is it? Ask anyone at the Jakarta Police driver's license processing unit on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta, and you might get confused.

Rejoice in victory

Rejoice in victory Indonesia's victory in the Thomas Cup in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday provided a welcome celebration for the nation that has been mired in a seemingly endless crisis for the past three years.

Bank Mandiri has new boss

Bank Mandiri has new boss JAKARTA (JP): Finance minister Bambang Sudibyo has appointed ECW Neloe, a former director of the state Bank Dagang Negara (BDN) as the new president of state Bank Mandiri.Neloe, who is currently president of petrochemical giant PT Chadra Asri, replaced Robby Djohan, who...

Abdurrahman inaugurates Habibie Center

Abdurrahman inaugurates Habibie Center JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid inaugurated the highly publicized Habibie Center on Monday and said that promoting democracy in the country is not "an easy job" as democratic traditions were virtually unknown during the past regime.

Asian currencies mixed, rupiah falls slightly

Asian currencies mixed, rupiah falls slightly SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): The South Korean won and the Philippine peso were battered late Monday on a host of domestic concerns, shrugging off the impact of a stronger yen's earlier in the day which helped buoy other regional currencies, dealers said.

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, May 23, 2000

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, May 23, 2000Exhibition* Art Stone and NTT Traditional Handycraft Exhibition by Mayorga Gallery and Joglocakra, at Grand Hotel Preanger Bandung, Jl. Asia Afrika No. 81 (Phone: 022 431631), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., until May 31.

Angkasa Pura faulted over tender

Angkasa Pura faulted over tender TANGERANG (JP): Head of the Tangerang chapter of the Indonesian Builders Association (Gapensi) Moch. Syafei protested on Monday discrimination and procedural violations by the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura II, in appointing firms...

KEM's gold output plunges due to blockade

KEM's gold output plunges due to blockade JAKARTA (JP): Australian based mining company Rio Tinto Indonesia said on Monday that gold production of its subsidiary PT Kelian Equatorial Mining (KEM) had dropped by about 400,000 per troy ounce since locals blocked the road to its mine in East...

Main suspect in fake money case questioned

Main suspect in fake money case questioned JAKARTA (JP): South Jakarta Police detectives have started questioning entrepreneur Seno Adjie, a much sought after suspect in connection with the Thursday's arrest of two alleged owners of counterfeit Rp 50,000 banknotes valued at Rp 25.

Asiana converts most debts to equity

Asiana converts most debts to equity JAKARTA (JP) Publicly listed toys manufacturer PT Asiana Multi Kreasi obtained approval from shareholders here on Monday to restructure the majority of its US$31.3 million debts through a debt-to-equity swap.Asiana's president, M.

Laskar Jihad warned over its aggressive activities

Laskar Jihad warned over its aggressive activities AMBON, Maluku (JP): Chief of the Pattimura Military Command overseeing Maluku Brig. Gen. Max Tamaela warned members of Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Jihad Force) on Monday to cease all aggressive activity or face the wrath of the military.

Victorious shuttlers arrive home, receive kudos from President

Victorious shuttlers arrive home, receive kudos from President JAKARTA (JP): The victorious Thomas Cup badminton team and the Uber Cup women's squad returned home from Malaysia on Monday, with their performance in the team events quieting fears about the country's chances in the Sydney Olympics.

More stringent capital market law needed: Bapepam

More stringent capital market law needed: Bapepam JAKARTA (JP): The Capital Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam) is preparing a draft law to provide sterner sanctions against law violators, according to the agency's chairman, Herwidayatmo.

Bridge meet interrupted by workers' strike at hotel

Bridge meet interrupted by workers' strike at hotel TANGERANG (JP): Some 200 workers of five-star Imperial Century Hotel in Lippo Karawaci staged a strike on Monday, paralyzing almost all of the hotel's activities, including a meeting of Pacific-Asia Bridge Federation (PABF).

Kwik says time needed to put business in order

Kwik says time needed to put business in order JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia still needs a longer period of time to be able to implement a sound business competition policy in an economy long dominated by a handful of powerful conglomerates, according to Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and...

Bambang tells Freeport to cut production for safety

Bambang tells Freeport to cut production for safety JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Mines and Energy Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia must reduce output at its Grasberg mine in Irian Jaya to prevent another landslide at its dumping site.

Tension in RI deters palm oil investors

Tension in RI deters palm oil investors KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Indonesia's political and social tensions have discouraged many palm oil companies in Malaysia, where land for cultivation is getting scarce, from expanding their business in its giant neighbor, industry sources said on Monday.

Volunteers clear garbage on Bidadari Island

Volunteers clear garbage on Bidadari Island JAKARTA (JP): High school students, teachers and other environmental volunteers clear garbage from the Beaches of Bidadari Island in Jakarta Bay.Sponsored by Unesco, LIPI (Indonesian Institute of Sciences) and GE Elfun (a volunteer group formed by General...

Soeharto to be put in 'secure location'

Soeharto to be put in 'secure location' JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office announced on Monday that it would move former president Soeharto to a "secure", state-protected location to facilitate further investigations and other safety reasons.

Cycle & Carriage open to more Astra shares

Cycle & Carriage open to more Astra shares SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Singapore auto-distributor Cycle & Carriage is open to further raising its stake in Indonesian conglomerate PT Astra International, but has no immediate plans to do so, a senior executive says.

Police say retired general among money scam suspects

Police say retired general among money scam suspects SURABAYA (JP): Surabaya Police confirmed on Monday that three retired Army officers, including a retired general, were suspected in the production and circulation of counterfeit money totaling Rp 4.7 billion (US$546,433).

Tracing large-scale illegal logging business in Kalimantan

Tracing large-scale illegal logging business in KalimantanBy Edi Petebang PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): Under a scorching sun and in the presence of a number of West Kalimantan provincial officials, containers containing timber from the KM Clover were pried open on May 5 by activists from the...

E. Timor students back in campus

E. Timor students back in campus YOGYAKARTA: At least 30 East Timorese students will continue their studies at the state Gadjah Mada University (UGM) here after taking an unscheduled leave for last year's self- determination ballot on their home soil.Deputy rector M.

Student protests against Soeharto fan across city

Student protests against Soeharto fan across city JAKARTA (JP): The city witnessed another wave of anti-Soeharto protests on Monday when over 1,200 university students from different groups rallied at the Presidential Palace, Attorney General's Office and near the residence of former president...

Activist predicts violence to prevail

Activist predicts violence to prevail More than 70 suspected petty thieves have been beaten to death, or set on fire, in Greater Jakarta's streets alone in the recent months. Advisory board member of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, Munir, makes a grim prediction:...

Two Malaysians on trial for sedition

Two Malaysians on trial for sedition KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Two leading Malaysian opposition figures went on trial Monday under a widely criticized sedition law and face up to three years' in jail if convicted.

It's time to support businesses

It's time to support businessesBy T.N. Machmud JAKARTA (JP): In a country where politics are of paramount importance and keeping political groups happy is the number one priority, it is not surprising that the plight of the ordinary businessman and what it takes for him to turn a profit or what...

PBSI must work hard to keep winning ways

PBSI must work hard to keep winning waysBy Primastuti Handayani KUALA LUMPUR (JP): Sunday was a time of celebration for the national team's shuttlers, with the men accomplishing their goal of bringing home the Thomas Cup and the women reaching the Uber Cup semifinals.

Sjahril denies involvement in Bank Bali scandal

Sjahril denies involvement in Bank Bali scandal JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin denied on Monday that he attended a Feb. 11, 1999 meeting which discussed measures to accelerate Bank Bali's loan disbursement from the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).

There is no violence in Bali

There is no violence in Bali The violent takeover of power in Fiji by George Speight and a band or armed thugs on May 19, 2000 has opened a window of opportunity for Bali to cash in on what will be millions of dollars worth of cancellations when travel agents in Australia and New Zealand open their...

Thousands of teakwood looted in Banyumas

Thousands of teakwood looted in Banyumas PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The West Banyumas forestry administration revealed that no less than 3,500 cubic meters of wood from around 10,500 trees have been looted from January to April this year.

Team to amend Constitution facing contentious factions

Team to amend Constitution facing contentious factions JAKARTA (JP): The issue of nonelected seats for the military/police at the People's Consultative Assembly and direct presidential elections quickly became contentious issues as an ad hoc committee began proceedings on Constitutional amendment...

Robber shot dead in Senen

Robber shot dead in Senen JAKARTA (JP): Central Jakarta Police shot dead one of four robbers near Senen Railway Station on Monday, a police officer said.Police detectives chief Capt. Hendra Suhartiyono said an officer on patrol saw four men attempting to rob four women.