Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 2 June 2000

56 articles found

Italian businesses in Indonesia

Italian businesses in Indonesia We, Italian businesspeople of the Italian Business Association in Indonesia (IBAI), believe in Indonesia, its natural riches and potential. But most of all, we believe in its people, because with them, we work daily in firms and in the marketplace.

Tutor Time child-care provider

Tutor Time child-care provider Ingrid's little boy was growing fast. Soon he would have to go to preschool. She started looking around for a good one. Ingrid found many schools in Jakarta but none that really satisfied her expectations.

Counterfeit banknotes

Counterfeit banknotesFrom Pikiran RakyatThe police have, in their integrated operation, successfully nabbed some of the members of a syndicate making a large amount of counterfeit Rp 50,000 banknotes.Ironically, the banknotes were printed with the picture of former president Soeharto, while the new...

BI says no fake Rp 100,000 notes found

BI says no fake Rp 100,000 notes found JAKARTA (JP): While acknowledging that some Rp 100,000 banknotes have a defect, Bank Indonesia said the money is not fake."The banknotes are genuine, but flawed," the central bank's deputy governor Aulia Pohan said in a media statement.

HSBC, Delta sign deal

HSBC, Delta sign deal JAKARTA (JP): Hong Kong-based bank HSBC Indonesia has secured a contract to handle cash management for publicly listed brewer PT Delta Djakarta, the bank said here on Wednesday.Under the agreement signed on Wednesday, HSBC will provide cash management services, including...

Oil prices in Asia regain some losses

Oil prices in Asia regain some losses SINGAPORE (Reuters): Crude prices in Asia on Thursday bounced higher on bargain-hunting, regaining some of the losses made in the New York market, where prices dropped sharply on speculation of an OPEC output rise soon.U.S.

Win prizes over Internet

Win prizes over Internet JAKARTA (JP): Southeast Asia-based online contest provider ContestOnly.com has launched a new site to tap into the Internet markets of Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Bulogate a plot against friends of Gus Dur: Alwi

Bulogate a plot against friends of Gus Dur: Alwi JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab said certain parties are conspiring to use the Bulog scandal to discredit President Abdurrahman Wahid's inner circle, of which Alwi is a member.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 31, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 725 0 0 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 275 -25 10,000 Alakasa Industrindo 950 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 800...

Papuans push for freedom

Papuans push for freedom JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Delegates to the ongoing Papuan Congress called for a declaration of independence on Thursday, defying Jakarta's stern warning that their action amounts to a violation of the constitution.

Straw puppets to appear at Atma Jaya

Straw puppets to appear at Atma Jaya JAKARTA (JP): After taking his wayang suket (straw puppet) skills to Bogor, Bandung, Riau and even as far away as Berlin in Germany, puppeteer Slamet Gundono is bringing his hilarious contemporary show to Atma Jaya Catholic University campus on Monday evening.

Direct elections?

Direct elections? With the office of the President constantly beset by problems, the possibility of the people electing their president through direct elections instead of through their representatives in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), as is currently the case, is once again becoming a...

Conversion Rates

Conversion RatesBank Indonesia's conversion rates on May 31, 2000: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,120.00 9,120.00Australian dollar 1 4,669.81 5,249.47Austrian schilling 1 549.27 617.18Belgian franc 1 187.36 210.52Brunei dollar 1 4,691.74 5,272.59Canadian dollar 1 5,394.

Manulife buys govt bonds

Manulife buys govt bonds JAKARTA (JP): Manulife Indonesia announced on Wednesday that it had purchased Rp 25 billion (US$2.94 million) worth of recapitalization bonds issued by Bank Indonesia."The purchase demonstrates our commitment to provide our clients with high-yielding yet low-risk...

Explosion in Nganjuk linked to Laskar Jihad?

Explosion in Nganjuk linked to Laskar Jihad? SURABAYA (JP): Police here were thinking on Wednesday that the grenade that exploded on Tuesday in a van in Nganjuk, some 130 kilometers to the southwest belonged to the Yogyakarta-based Laskar Jihad (Jihad Force) Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah.

Grasp opportunity to recreate RI's legal system: Scholar

Grasp opportunity to recreate RI's legal system: Scholar Legal reform has proven to be one of the toughest objectives for the new government. A long-time expert on Indonesia, Daniel S. Lev, political science professor at Washington University in Seattle, shares his views.

New state secretary picked on merit: Gus Dur

New state secretary picked on merit: Gus Dur JAKARTA (JP): Beset by allegations of collusion and nepotism in the Bulogate scandal, President Abdurrahman Wahid installed Djohan Effendi as state secretary on Wednesday in what he said was an appointment based on merit.

DPR speaker tells Sjahril to resign from his position at BI

DPR speaker tells Sjahril to resign from his position at BI JAKARTA (JP): With growing speculation that Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Sjahril Sabirin may soon be implicated in the Bank Bali scandal, House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung took the lead on Wednesday in saying that he should...

Hun Sen departs for Singapore

Hun Sen departs for Singapore PHNOM PENH (Reuters): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and other government officials left for Singapore on Thursday to meet Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and attend a business forum.

Positive thinking is what counts

Positive thinking is what countsBy D. Chandramouli JAKARTA (JP): "It's the attitude that counts, at every altitude", says an ad by Lufthansa Airlines.Yes, life is really about hopes. Our very existence from one moment to another hinges on hopes.

Taiwanese investment soars

Taiwanese investment soars TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP): Taiwanese investment in Southeast Asia increased 106 percent to US$407 million in the first quarter as economies in the region began recovering from the Asian financial crisis, the government said Thursday.

Singaporean firms seeking partners for business in RI

Singaporean firms seeking partners for business in RI JAKARTA (JP): A delegation of some 40 Singaporean firms met their Indonesian counterparts here on Wednesday to explore the possibility of establishing joint venture companies.

Matraman witnesses commonplace brawl

Matraman witnesses commonplace brawl JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of angry Kebon Manggis and Pal Meriam residents of Matraman, East Jakarta, strung arrows, threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at each other, and exchanged stick blows on Thursday over a sudden stabbing of a man who incidentally got off a bus...

Italo-Indonesian trade ties, investments and activities

Italo-Indonesian trade ties, investments and activities During 1999, bilateral trade between Indonesia and Italy continued to show a surplus of US$379 million in favor of Indonesia. Data from the Central Board of Statistics indicate that Indonesia exported to Italy sports shoes, textile yarns,...

IPTN may not be able to repay debts: IBRA

IPTN may not be able to repay debts: IBRA JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said on Wednesday that the Indonesian National Aircraft Manufacturer (IPTN) might not be able to repay its debts without financial support from the government.

President to open IDB forum

President to open IDB forum JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to open a symposium to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to be held at Balai Sidang, Jakarta, on June 26.

More consumer purchases made in cash

More consumer purchases made in cash JAKARTA (JP): More than 90 percent of all consumer purchase and business transactions in Indonesia are still made in cash, Visa International country manager Ellyana C. Fuad said on Wednesday.

More swimmers eye Olympics

More swimmers eye Olympics JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia hopes to qualify more swimmers for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney apart from nine swimmers currently attending a training program.Secretary-general of the National Swimming Federation of Indonesia (PRSI) Abdurrahim said the swimmers could test...

Unrest blamed on Soeharto's supporters

Unrest blamed on Soeharto's supporters JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said on Thursday he believed a series of riots and disturbances plaguing the country were linked to supporters of former president Soeharto.

Medan's bomb

Medan's bomb Other communities might consider Medan's reaction to the latest bombings. People seem to realize that the church bombings were not motivated by religious conviction, and, therefore, they haven't felt compelled by mistaken religious identity and pride to engage in face-saving revenge.

Trias to split shares, restructure debts

Trias to split shares, restructure debts SURABAYA (JP): Publicly listed packaging paper producer PT Trias Sentosa won the approval of its shareholders on Wednesday to split its stocks in a bid to improve the liquidity of the company's shares on the stock market.

New IMF chief Koehler open to AMF, capital control

New IMF chief Koehler open to AMF, capital control BANGKOK (Reuters): Neither the idea of an Asian Monetary Fund (AMF) nor controls on capital movement were "taboo" to the new managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he said on Thursday.

Violence raises curtain on Aceh peace enactment

Violence raises curtain on Aceh peace enactment BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Violence persisted ahead of the implementation of the humanitarian pause in the troubled province of Aceh on Friday.A military officer and four civilians were injured and over 2,000 people sought refuge in a fresh outbreak of...

Irene named 1999's best female athlete

Irene named 1999's best female athlete JAKARTA (JP): Irene Truitje Joseph (left), gold medalist in the women's 100m dash in the 1999 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, lifts up the 1999 best female athlete award which was handed over by Wismoyo Arismunandar (right), the chairman of the National Sports...

Jasindo to expand overseas

Jasindo to expand overseas JAKARTA (JP): State-owned general insurance firm PT Asuransi Jasa Indonesia (Jasindo) is to expand overseas as part of efforts to anticipate the 2003 free trade era in the Southeast Asian region, company president Amiruddin Riayat said on Wednesday.

Crime worries in Batam

Crime worries in Batam BATAM, Riau: The number of Indonesian businesspeople of Chinese descent owning firearms is reportedly on the rise in Batam island,Antara reported.Chairman of the Batam chapter of the Chinese Brotherhood, Suhendro Gautama, said here on Wednesday there were increasing reports...

Dharmala Sakti goes bust as debt restructuring opposed

Dharmala Sakti goes bust as debt restructuring opposed JAKARTA (JP): In an unprecedented event, creditors voted on Wednesday at the Jakarta Commercial Court to bankrupt publicly listed PT Dharmala Sakti Sejahtera after they turned down the latter's debt restructuring proposal.

Govt guarantee on L/Cs extended

Govt guarantee on L/Cs extended JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia deputy governor Dono Iskandar Djojosubroto said on Wednesday that the government guarantee on letters of credit (L/Cs) issued by local banks had been extended through December 2000.

The first family starts decadal national census

The first family starts decadal national census JAKARTA (JP): The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) initiated on Thursday the decadal National Census, with President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso as the first three respondents.

Dengue on rise in E. Kalimantan

Dengue on rise in E. Kalimantan BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: At least 11 people have died and nearly 280 others have been hospitalized in the two largest cities in the province this year due to dengue fever.

Thones' death still puzzling as no bullet wounds found

Thones' death still puzzling as no bullet wounds found JAKARTA (JP): The cloud of mystery surrounding the death of Dutch reporter Sander Thoenes thickened on Wednesday when a former East Timor military commander said doctors had found no gunshot wounds in the slain journalist's body.

BPS chief exits with snipe at President Abdurrahman

BPS chief exits with snipe at President Abdurrahman JAKARTA (JP): Minutes before relinquishing his post as Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) chief, Sugito Suwito fired back at President Abdurrahman Wahid, saying he was being truthful in scaling back his economic growth projection.

Motorists enjoy free parking facilities

Motorists enjoy free parking facilities JAKARTA (JP): While a parking dispute is being tried at the Jakarta State Administrative Court, motorists can enjoy free parking at several private parking lots until a ruling is issued on the case.

Asian currencies mostly stronger

Asian currencies mostly stronger HONG KONG (Dow Jones): The Indonesian rupiah gained ground Thursday on talk the government is considering capital controls, while the won lost some in part on concerns that Korea's chaebol haven't yet overcome their liquidity problems.

Cage for Soeharto

Cage for Soeharto If everything goes according to plan, one of world's former richest and most powerful people, according to Forbes magazine, will soon be put in a "cage" in his own house. In other words, placed under house arrest.

Ex-drug addict Iskandar caught up in the beauty of art

Ex-drug addict Iskandar caught up in the beauty of art BANDUNG (JP): "One day I was dying to buy shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) because I had gone without the drug for a week," Iskandarsyah recalled. But I did not have enough money and the drug dealer refused to give me the substance.

Parking at Graha Medika

Parking at Graha MedikaFrom KompasIn March, my family and I traveled from Bandung to Jakarta to see one of our relatives who was being treated at Graha Medika Hospital. We were at the hospital for about 30 minutes. When we returned to our car, the front right signal lamp was on the ground.

Why not use local language!

Why not use local language! Besides locally assembled personal computers (PCs), there are a lot of ready built PCs entering the Indonesian market. Hewlett Packard, Compaq and Acer to mention but a few. All these brands appear almost everyday in print advertisements, side by side with local brands.

Int'l Ramayana seminar in Bali

Int'l Ramayana seminar in Bali DENPASAR, Bali: About 400 participants from 40 countries are scheduled to participate in a seminar on the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, to be held at Udayana University here on Sept. 13 to Sept. 15.

BCA's debut fails to boost sentiment on capital market

BCA's debut fails to boost sentiment on capital market JAKARTA (JP): Bank Central Asia's much waited stock market debut on Wednesday failed to boost the bearish sentiment on the local exchange as lingering uncertainty over the political and social situations continued.

10 firms prepared for privatization

10 firms prepared for privatization JAKARTA (JP): Ten state-owned companies have been put on a primary list for privatization this year, according to an updated master plan to be issued by the Office of the State Minister of State Enterprises and Investment.

Cold reception for a strong currency

Cold reception for a strong currencyBy Frank Vinke This is the first of a two-part article looking at the fate of the euro and its prospects. JAKARTA (JP): On Jan. 1 1999, 11 member countries of the European Union merged their currencies to form a brand new monetary unit, the euro.

BATAN focusing research on farming and health

BATAN focusing research on farming and health JAKARTA (JP): The national agency on atomic technology says it has switched from long-term, costly projects to those, such as farming and public health, which give more immediate benefit to the public.

Man robbed outside bank

Man robbed outside bank JAKARTA (JP): Menteng Police detectives are searching for two men who robbed a man outside the Menteng branch of the BNI bank on Jl. Cut Meutiah at about 2 p.m. on Wednesday.Central Jakarta Police chief of detectives Capt.

Where to go in Jakarta: Friday, June 2, 2000

Where to go in Jakarta: Friday, June 2, 2000Exhibitions * Painting Exhibition by Eddy Sundara, at Negeri Lama Gallery, Jl. Cinere Raya A-36, South Jakarta (Phone: 7543133), 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., until Jun. 25. * Painting Exhibition by John Van Der Sterren at Galeri Kafe Linggar, Jl. Kemang Timur No.

Antiviolence task force formed

Antiviolence task force formed BOGOR (JP): A total of 15 principals from vocational high schools in Bogor agreed on Wednesday to establish a task force at each school to prevent rampant student brawls, drug problems and vandalism.