Archive: 28 August 2000
45 articles found
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Internet kiosks bridge the digital gap
Internet kiosks bridge the digital gap By Imelda Anwar JAKARTA (JP): Computer ownership may reach only some 1 million of the country's population of over 200 million, but that's no problem for the techno-conscious on tight budgets. Housed in garages to malls, Internet kiosks, known here by their acronym Warnet, have mushroomed in Greater Jakarta. The Indonesian Internet Kiosks Association (Awari), set up three months ago, has 350 members registered in major towns across the country.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Medan rocked by two bomb blasts, no casualties
Medan rocked by two bomb blasts, no casualties MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): Two bombs exploded separately in an area near Jl. Bahagia in Medan Tenggara district in the early hours of Sunday morning. There were no casualties but one person was slightly injured. Several buildings, however, were damaged from the incident. The first blast took place at about 2:45 a.m. in front of a kiosk belonging to Poltak Panjaitan. "The loud blast shocked people and we were afraid to go outside," a witness said.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Government to draft new defense bill
Government to draft new defense bill JAKARTA (JP): The drafting of a new bill on national defense will top the priority list of a joint agenda involving the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Ministry of Defense, TNI chief Adm. Widodo A.S. said on Saturday. Speaking to journalists after the transfer of duty from former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono to his successor Mahfud MD here, Widodo said TNI was badly in need of a legal basis to undertake its jobs.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bimantara club takes the lead
Bimantara club takes the lead JAKARTA (JP): Thomas Leo and Gatot Puspoyudo of Bimantara shooting club finished first and second in the men's Smallbore Free Rifle three position event on the third day of the 22nd Anniversary Cup at Senayan shooting range. Thomas and Gatot scored a total of 1096 and 1087 respectively. Third place went to Sukarno of PKT club who scored 1082 overall in the Cup, which will finish on Monday.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
UOB president retires
UOB president retires SINGAPORE (AFX-ASIA): United Overseas Bank Ltd said in a statement that its president Ernest Wong Yuen Weng is "retiring to pursue other interests." The bank said Wong will still remain on its board of directors. Wong, who is currently chairman of the Association of Banks in Singapore, is retiring effective Sept. 30.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Hundreds of villagers flee North Luwu regency mayhem
Hundreds of villagers flee North Luwu regency mayhem MALANGKE, South Sulawesi (JP): At least 1,400 residents from eight villages in West Malangke and Baebunta district in North Luwu regency left their homes on Sunday to escape communal clashes in the area that first erupted on Thursday. Most have fled to Amasangeng, West Malangke district, about 500 kilometers north of Makassar, because their houses have been razed in riots, West Malangke district chief Baso Asri said on Sunday.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
C.Java to invite S. Korean coaches
C.Java to invite S. Korean coaches SEMARANG (JP): The Central Java chapter of the Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI) is inviting South Korean coaches to its long-term training program. "It's time for us to be professional in preparing our athletes. Moreover, our taekwondoin must master technical skills. So we are committed to invite coaches from South Korea," said official in charge of athletes development Alex Haryanto. Alex, however, failed to name the coaches.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
First futures exchange to open up next month
First futures exchange to open up next month JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Futures Exchange (JFX), Indonesia's first commodities futures bourse, says it is ready to have its inaugural trading day next month after several delays. JFX director Rico Menayang said the futures exchange is technically ready to start trading activities as most of the necessary preparations have been completed. "All that's left is getting a license from the government," Rico told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian firm breaks hair-washing record
Indonesian firm breaks hair-washing record JAKARTA (JP): A shampoo producer broke a world record for the number of heads washed in a day after its shampooers and stylists washed 4,887 heads on Sunday. The record was broken at the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta, a popular site for sports enthusiasts to jog on weekends. The event started from the morning hours and lasted until about 2 p.m.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Ramos-Horta, Xanana to stay on in CNRT
Ramos-Horta, Xanana to stay on in CNRT DILI, East Timor (Agencies): In a dramatic turnaround, East Timor independence leader Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao and Nobel peace laureate Jose Ramos-Horta vowed on Sunday to stay on at the head of the territory's main political grouping. Earlier the same day, they said they would leave their posts as president and co-vice president of the National Council of Timorese Resistance (CNRT), an umbrella organization of competing pro-independence groups.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Public order officials likely to be insured
Public order officials likely to be insured JAKARTA (JP): The City Public Order Agency has asked the city administration for insurance to protect its staff and their vehicles from the increasingly violent resistance shown by certain sections of the public to its operations. "This is just a proposal. The agency must protect its staff and assets from any resistance from people," Thoha Reno, chief of the public facility order unit at the agency, said on Friday.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bintaro parking fees questioned
Bintaro parking fees questioned TANGERANG (JP): Councillors in this regency suspect that parking fees collected from tenants and visitors at the three- story Bintaro Plaza worth some Rp 12 million (US$1,450) per month have gone into the pocket of a staff member at the Tangerang Parking Agency. The alleged graft was disclosed on Saturday during a hearing between councillors of the Tangerang regency and officials from related agencies.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Prove the market wrong
Prove the market wrong On the first day of his nomination as head of Indonesia's economic team, Rizal Ramli announced the outlines of his plan to improve this country's economic condition. Four points will take priority under his command as coordinating minister for the economy. These are: First, to create stability in the financial sector. This is the first priority given the gap that exists between positive growth in the real sector and instability in the financial sector.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Marlev wins motivation with birth of his son
Marlev wins motivation with birth of his son JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Olympic badminton player Marlev Mario Mainaky has gained confidence and motivation after the birth of a son on Aug. 14. Despite his position as the national squad's underdog, Marlev can still threaten. He said the birth of Alweyn Jantje Putra Mainaky had released his mind. "I don't have any wariness in my mind anymore. I can focus my attention on the Olympics. I don't have any burdens although it's my first Olympics.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Thieves net big haul in Sanur
Thieves net big haul in Sanur DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Burglars broke into an antique shop here on Sunday and stole money and jewelry worth at least US$12,700 (Rp 101.6 million). The EMI antique shop in Suwung, near the popular Sanur tourist area, was closed at the time of the burglary as shop owner Wayan Diasta and his family had left at about noon. They returned three hours later to discover thieves had burglarized the two-story shop.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Foreign diplomats join in a day of traditional games
Foreign diplomats join in a day of traditional games JAKARTA (JP): The usually quiet Suropati Park in Central Jakarta was full of life on Sunday when Jakarta-based foreign diplomats showed off their skills by competing in a variety of traditional Indonesian games.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
On amending the Constitution
On amending the Constitution The most crucial point in the proposed amendments to the 1945 Constitution is Article 29, particularly Subarticle 1. According to The Jakarta Post, Aug.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Good news from Bengkulu
Good news from Bengkulu Amid the imbroglio of protest rallies and claims, legitimate or otherwise, encountered of late by many plantation and mining companies in various provinces, a district court in Bengkulu has set a shining example of how things should not, after all, be as murky as many fear despite the turbulent transition to the devolving of stronger autonomy to regional administrations. The district court in North Bengkulu regency on Aug.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
House to deliberate Bangka-Belitung bill
House to deliberate Bangka-Belitung bill JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives is set to deliberate a draft law which will establish Bangka and Belitung islands in Sumatra as a separate province. "The House has decided to deliberate the bill within the next three months on the grounds that (the proposal) gained substantial support in our latest plenary session," Marzuki Achmad, the deputy chairman of the House's special committee dealing with the draft law, said here on Saturday.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Family spat ends in flames
Family spat ends in flames BANDUNG (JP): An irate chicken vendor's daring decision to lock up her gambling husband in their kiosk to teach him a lesson ended in a fire that destroyed 200 kiosks in Sayati market early on Saturday. A bitter quarrel between Fatimah, 50, and her husband ended in flames at 2 a.m. when the fire spread rapidly in the breeze, eyewitnesses said. Angry at being treated like a child, the husband kicked over a stove which Fatimah was using to boil water.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
KL pessimistic of finding more boat survivors
KL pessimistic of finding more boat survivors KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Police said on Sunday they did not expect to rescue any more survivors off a boat carrying illegal Indonesian workers that capsized in the Straits of Malacca, but that a search would probably continue for several days. "It's been too long. We think there are only bodies left," said Lance Cpl. Aspar Supani, a police spokesman in Port Dickson town, 96-kilometers south of Kuala Lumpur, as quoted by AP.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
UI students to launch boycott over extra fee
UI students to launch boycott over extra fee JAKARTA (JP): About 3,000 students from the University of Indonesia (UI) plan to boycott classes beginning Monday after a meeting they held with the UI rectorate ended in deadlock on Friday. Secretary of UI students executive board Indra Falatehan said the decision was taken after the rectorate refused to scrap a policy making students pay an extra fee, called the Education Quality Improvement Fund (DPKP).
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Holland provides parts for Indonesian ships
Holland provides parts for Indonesian ships THE HAGUE (JP): Dutch foreign minister Van Aartsen said on Friday that his government had agreed to supply spare parts to Indonesian Navy ships operating in the waters of riot-torn Maluku. Speaking to reporters after meeting with visiting Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab, Aartsen said the parts would be used to replenish several Navy frigates.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Tobacco industry still calls the shots
Tobacco industry still calls the shots By R.A.I. Warmenhoven JAKARTA (JP): Despite the political changes in the country, a coalition of cigarette companies and the Presidential Palace have overturned Indonesia's first antismoking legislation. While it seems there will be no return to the old days of the New Order regime of president Soeharto and his sycophants, this does not mean the old forces are not fighting back. Sometimes the Presidential Palace even supports them.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
KL to boost ties with Singapore
KL to boost ties with Singapore KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia will seek to boost its informal ties with Singapore after years of strained relations, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Sunday. "There will be a lot of interaction and movements from both sides," he was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency after playing golf with Singapore Foreign Minister S.Jayakumar here.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Expert welcomes government's agriculture policy change
Expert welcomes government's agriculture policy change JAKARTA (JP): Agricultural expert H.S. Dillon welcomed President Abdurrahman Wahid's decision to put forestry, plantations and agriculture under one ministry, saying the merger would improve the management of Indonesia's agricultural and forest resources. "Until now the government's policies have been segregated, which (in the end) sacrificed our natural resources," he said during a break in a seminar on Saturday.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia to buy first submarines
Malaysia to buy first submarines KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia said on Sunday it would go ahead with plans to buy its first submarines in a move diplomats said could unsettle its Southeast Asian neighbors and lead to an arms race in the region. Defense minister Najib Razak said the submarines, first proposed a decade ago, were necessary to help boost the country's defense capabilities, the national Bernama news agency said.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Discrimination in the workplace
Discrimination in the workplace From Media Indonesia A friend of mine who is a mother of two works for a private company, which applies a gender-free salary scale. However, the company is unfair in extending social benefits to its employees. A woman worker, married or otherwise, is considered single with the result that there are no social benefits for husbands and children. The company pays only maternity expenses.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
45 die of rabies on Flores island
45 die of rabies on Flores island JAKARTA (JP): At least 45 people on Flores island, East Nusa Tenggara, have died of rabies this year, prompting authorities to issue a warning to dog owners to chain their pets or face their eradication. Recent lab tests have confirmed that the victims, 43 in Ngada district and two in Ende district, died of the rabies virus after being bitten by stray dogs. "Dogs in Flores, especially in Ngada, are infected with rabies.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
S'pore turns to neighbors to meet shortage of IT staff
S'pore turns to neighbors to meet shortage of IT staff SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore plans to bring in 1,000 plus technologically-skilled personnel from the region within a year to meet the shortage at home, officials said Sunday. The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore is working with NIIT Asia Pacific -- an information technology consulting firm -- to recruit IT personnel from China, India, Malaysia and Indonesia, the IDA said in a statement.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Sen Hea Ha dazzles with inimitable dances
Sen Hea Ha dazzles with inimitable dances By Mehru Jaffer JAKARTA (JP): Watching Sen Hea Ha dance is to get one step closer to attaining nirvana. If birth is little except a temporary separation from the whole, as the yogis put it, then indeed the best way to spend a lifetime is to look for that path which will lead back to where you once belonged.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Back to basics
Back to basics From Jurnal Indonesia We are continuing to worry about military reshuffles in this reform era. Many problems have brought about friction in the Indonesian Military. It's unavoidable that several officers have risen to higher positions, and not only as regional military commander. But some think the rise of officers is negative.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Ito's absence chance for Thais
Ito's absence chance for Thais JAKARTA (JP): The absence of Asian record holder Koji Ito from Japan at the Asian Track and Field Championships has given Thai sprinters great gold medal chances in the meet's most prestigious event, the men's 100 meters dash. Visanu Sophanich said after training at the Senayan Madya Stadium on Sunday that without Ito, who become the first Asian to run 10.00 seconds in the event at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand sprinters should do well.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Greater laxity in discipline
Greater laxity in discipline From Bisnis Indonesia It is common knowledge that the level of discipline in our country is very low. In times of crisis, people tend to pay no attention to this matter. If someone crosses the road at the wrong place or a motorcycle taxi violates a traffic regulation, one will simply comment: "At least they did not become a criminal," or "Well, they are trying to earn a living". In the long run, however, this kind of attitude will only destroy the nation.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Amien gives new Cabinet 90 days
Amien gives new Cabinet 90 days SURABAYA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais said the new Cabinet had three months to prove it could cope with the various challenges the nation is facing. "If the Cabinet fails to perform well, the House of Representatives (DPR) may take steps," he told reporters on Saturday after a meeting with the heads of regional branches of the National Mandate Party (PAN) across East Java.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Police complete Polo's dossier
Police complete Polo's dossier JAKARTA (JP): Unlike a previous drug case involving comedian Sudharmaji, alias Doyok, city police headquarters quickly completed the investigation into comedian Barata Nugroho, who is better known as Polo. City police spokesman Supt. Muhammad Nur H. Usman said on Saturday police investigators only required two days to complete the dossier on Polo, who was arrested at a hotel in East Jakarta on Thursday afternoon.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Kimia Farma to up exports
Kimia Farma to up exports JAKARTA (JP): State-owned PT Kimia Farma is seeking to increase its exports of iodine and quinine because of the low usage of the two substances by the local drug industry, Antara reported on Saturday. Kimia Farma, which is overseen by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, already exports the two substances to the tune of Rp 20 billion (US$2.4 million) per year, the news agency quoted director Darojatun as saying in Semarang.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Host Indonesia still the favorite for the Independence Cup
Host Indonesia still the favorite for the Independence Cup JAKARTA (JP): Host Indonesia may not find well-matched competitors to test players' skills in the 2000 Independence Cup soccer tournament which kicks off at Senayan Stadium on Monday. Iraq, Myanmar and China Taipei remained humble on their chances and goals in the Cup, saying at a media conference they had agreed to take part in the tournament to gain experience.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Resources remain untapped in Padang
Resources remain untapped in Padang PADANG, West Sumatra: Academics here have called on the government and the private sector to make full use of the vast potential of the province's chemical and medicine industries. Andalas University rector Marlis Rahman said on Sunday that West Sumatra had abundant resources, however they were still underutilized. "West Sumatra has unlimited natural resources for the chemical industry, but they haven't been exploited yet," Marlis told Antara.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Juwono looks to return to campus
Juwono looks to return to campus JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of defense Juwono Sudarsono, who handed over his post to Mahfud MD on Saturday, has said he intends to go back to school. After serving under three different Cabinets in the past three years, Juwono says he looks forward to teaching full-time again. "I will go back to the campus. The academic year will start on Sept. 4," he said.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
AEKI seeks foreign funds to finance retention plan
AEKI seeks foreign funds to finance retention plan JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian coffee exporters are looking for foreign funding to enable them to participate in the Association of Coffee Producing Countries' (ACPC) plan to curb world coffee supply. An executive of the Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters (AEKI) said here on Saturday that foreign loans would be the association's last hope to enable it finance the retention program imposed by ACPC.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Model teacher dies following accident
Model teacher dies following accident JAKARTA (JP): A member of a visiting delegation of teachers from around the country died on Friday evening from injuries she received when the ojek (motorcycle taxi) she was riding on crashed on Thursday afternoon. Binsar Gultom, a staff member at the Ministry of National Education, said on Saturday 42-year-old Juliana Tupalessy was involved in the accident when she was traveling to Depok, south of Jakarta, to visit a friend.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Missing activists returned home safely
Missing activists returned home safely JAKARTA (JP): Four agrarian activists missing since Aug. 14 have returned home safely after being abducted by an unknown group, the Committee for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) said on Sunday. "All of the four men returned to Jakarta on Sunday," Kontras executive Munir told a media conference at the Legal Aid Foundation office.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Boy's dream team to challenge Masters
Boy's dream team to challenge Masters JAKARTA (JP): The "dream team" from Utut Adianto chess school will challenge FIDE Masters team comprising Kasmiran, Irwanto, Maksum Firdaus and Sukirman Teddy on Monday and Tuesday in a series of warm-up matches ahead of the Merdeka Cup in Kuala Lumpur. The warm-up will use the Scheveningen system.
Mon, 28 Aug 2000, 00:00 WIB
Clashes erupt in Ambon
Clashes erupt in Ambon AMBON, Maluku: At least three people were injured when a series of incidents erupted in Ambon over the weekend. Gunfire and explosions hit the Mangga Dua area, home to the official residence of Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Firman Gani and Pattimura Military chief Brig. Gen. I Made Yasa, in the early hours of Saturday morning. An electricity pole was damaged near the governor's residence, causing a blackout in the area.