Archive: 29 September 2000
54 articles found
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Malays face 'very frightening' social problems: Minister
Malays face 'very frightening' social problems: Minister KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Malaysia's ethnic Malays face the "very frightening" social problems of crime, drug abuse and divorce, a minister said on Thursday. Rais Yatim, a minister in the prime minister's department, called for the establishment of a "Malay Council" as a permanent forum to discuss the Malay agenda. He said Malay intellectuals, leaders, professionals and individuals could become members, irrespective of political beliefs.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Stock Exchange
Stock Exchange Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 28, 2000: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 950 5 862,000 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 125 0 404,000 Alakasa Industrindo 430 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 790 -10 30,000 Alter Abadi 210 5 31,000 Alumindo Light Metal 1,000 200 5,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 280 0 25,000 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 985 5 459,500 Anwar Sierad 300 0 0 APAC Centertex Corp.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Telstra threatening to cancel Cyberworks deal
Telstra threatening to cancel Cyberworks deal SYDNEY (AFP): Australian telecoms giant Telstra has threatened to walk away from its US$3 billion alliance with Hong Kong's Pacific Century CyberWorks unless the deal price is slashed, a report said Thursday. The Australian newspaper quoted a source at Telstra as saying it would try to reduce the HK$19.52 (US$2.50) entry price after a slump in PCCW's share price, which closed at HK$9.0 Wednesday.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Gandhi apologizes
Gandhi apologizes I would like to thank Ms. Jilliah Ardie for responding to my remarks on the poor achievements of Indonesian athletes at the Sydney Olympics 2000, in her letter to The Jakarta Post (Sept. 28: Demeaning attitude). I am very sorry if I have made you or anybody else sad by my remarks, and I humbly offer my apologies. I admit that it was, as you sincerely hoped, an attempt at humor which usually sounds different to different ears.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Aceh continues to burn despite truce
Aceh continues to burn despite truce BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Three buildings in Pidie and Biereuen regencies have been attacked by unidentified people in the last three days, a sign that the situation in the riot-torn province continues to deteriorate despite the recent agreement to extend the humanitarian pause there. The deputy chief of Aceh's Cinta Meunasah operation, Supt. Yatim Suyatmo, speculated on Thursday that groups of armed civilians were responsible for the arson attacks.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Ridiculous exit tax
Ridiculous exit tax I couldn't be more agreeable with Martin R. Jenkins (The Jakarta Post, Sept. 23, 2000) that it is now time to abolish the departure tax. The tax is a burden and it's not healthy. I was supposed to go to Singapore once a month for a year for training, sponsored by a Singaporean company, but because of the departure tax which is more expensive than my return economy class ticket, my schedule there had been reduced to three times annually.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Execute treasonous soldiers: General
Execute treasonous soldiers: General JAKARTA (JP): Loyalty to the state and the government is a undisputable creed in the military and servicemen found guilty of betraying this should be shot dead, says the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu. "All servicemen must be loyal to the unitary state and the government without any reservation as is stipulated in the military oath.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Marcos money 'to bridge' RP budget deficit
Marcos money 'to bridge' RP budget deficit MANILA (AFP): President Joseph Estrada's government wants to use more than US$600 million of deposed dictator Ferdinand Marcos' forfeited assets to bridge a growing budget deficit, top economic officials said Thursday.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Transformation to democracy a painful process: Lawyer
Transformation to democracy a painful process: Lawyer Colin McDonald,a prominent human rights lawyer and an expert on international law based in Darwin, Australia, talked to The Jakarta Post recently following the killing of three United Nations workers in Atambua, West Timor. Question: The United States Secretary of Defense William Cohen recently warned Indonesia that it risked international sanctions if it failed to disarm the militias in East Timor. What do you think about such pressure?
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Schizophrenia awareness still low: Doctors
Schizophrenia awareness still low: Doctors JAKARTA (JP): Doctors are calling on the public to pay greater attention to schizophrenia, particularly to teenagers suffering the illness. Psychiatrists warned on Thursday that parents should seek medical advice if their children were intensely paranoid, unreasonably silent, extremely aggressive, or often suffered from delusions and hallucinations, as they could be signs of schizophrenia.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Students against fuel price hike
Students against fuel price hike MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Makassar students again took the streets on Thursday protesting the planned fuel price hike due to come into effect on Oct. 1 and warning President Abdurrahman Wahid that the South Sulawesi people reject the policy. The huge rally involved thousands of students from various universities, including the Makassar State University (UNM), and the Indonesian Muslim University (UMI).
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Ginsi asks members not to pay shipping fees
Ginsi asks members not to pay shipping fees JAKARTA (JP): The Association of Indonesian Importers (Ginsi) directed all of its members on Thursday not pay the terminal handling charge (THC) imposed by foreign shipping companies. Amirudin Saud, the chairman of the association, said that the so-called THC, which was first introduced during the Gulf War in 1992, was no longer relevant.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Government begins oparation to disarm militias
Government begins oparation to disarm militias JAKARTA (JP): The government started operations on Thursday to disarm militias in West Timor with a local police chief saying that house-to-house searches for weapons would be extended until Saturday. Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that police and military personnel had been deployed to refugee camps in West Timor to search for weapons.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Contract marriages a ticket out of a small town
Contract marriages a ticket out of a small town SINGKAWANG, West Kalimantan (JP): With too much makeup for her tender years, Su Khim is about to embark on a momentous journey. As a car pulled up in front of a three-star hotel in the center of Singkawang, she was one of the four people who alighted. The others were two middle-aged men and a doltish looking young man. They sat in the lobby, and the two older men began making a series of calls on their cellular phones.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Tommy to be jailed within days, says minister
Tommy to be jailed within days, says minister JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Thursday that former president Soeharto's youngest son Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra would begin serving his jail term within days. Tommy was sentenced by the Supreme Court to an 18-month jail term for corruption in a 1995 land exchange deal between wholesale firm PT Goro Batara Sakti and the State Logistics Agency (Bulog).
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Another man killed for black magic
Another man killed for black magic BOGOR (JP): A sixty-year-old man was murdered by local people in Mekarwangi subdistrict, Cibinong district, Cianjur, on Wednesday after being accused of being a dukun santet (black magic practitioner). A detective at Cibinong police subprecinct, who refused to be named, said that dozens of locals came to the victim's house at about 2 a.m. and dragged him from his bed into the front yard where they severely tortured him.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Government asked not to backtrack on autonomy plan
Government asked not to backtrack on autonomy plan JAKARTA (JP): Political analysts asserted that there should be no backtracking on plans to implement regional autonomy in January next year, even though most of the regions may be ill- prepared to cope with the new responsibilities handed to them. "Ready or not, the regions do not have any other option but to proceed with the process of regional autonomy. If we don't start now, then when?", political scientist Andi A.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
The impact of antitrust law
The impact of antitrust law By Destivano Wibowo JAKARTA (JP): The 1999 law on monopoly and unfair business competition is now effective, and will mostly affect the trade and industry sectors. Relations between manufacturers and distributors, and that between distributors and retailers in Indonesia, will also be greatly influenced. Most manufacturers and distributors in Indonesia often wish to restrict resale methods, but these restrictions raise some major issues under the law.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Sports snappers to display their best
Sports snappers to display their best JAKARTA (JP): Twelve sports photojournalists from five of the countries' major print media will display a selection of their best work in a 19-day expo at Antara Photojournalism Gallery in Pasar Baru, Central Jakarta, starting Friday. According to a tentative schedule, the exhibition will be opened on Friday evening by state news agency Antara boss Mohammad Sobari.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
ICC to make it difficult for the guilty to hide
ICC to make it difficult for the guilty to hide Indonesia now must educate itself on international courts. The following are the highlights on the International Criminal Court (ICC) excerpted from an interview with Colin MacDonald, a senior Australian human rights lawyer based in Darwin, Australia: * The ICC was set up by the Statute of Rome in 1998. What the ICC does is jurisdiction in respect of war crimes.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
SonoSeni to stage collaborative works
SonoSeni to stage collaborative works JAKARTA (JP): Seven composers will stage their compositions during a collaborative hybrid music effort between the SonoSeni Ensemble and Japanese composer Takahito Hayashi on Sept. 29 and Sept. 30. The show, which will be staged at the Surakarta Cultural Park's Arena Theater in Surakarta, Central Java, is entitled Suita 42 Hari (42 Days of Suita).
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Alcohol puts Brunei out of Tiger Cup
Alcohol puts Brunei out of Tiger Cup KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Brunei's national soccer squad pulled out of the Tiger Cup, Southeast Asia's premier tournament, because a Singapore brewery is sponsoring the event, a newspaper reported Thursday. The oil-rich Muslim sultanate has been embroiled in controversy for months over whether to send a team to the third Tiger Cup championship, in Thailand on Nov. 4-18, the Borneo Bulletin daily said.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bandung theater to stage Moliere's play
Bandung theater to stage Moliere's play JAKARTA (JP): One of Indonesia's modern theater groups, Studiklub Teater Bandung, will bring Moliere's play Tabib Gadungan (Fake Medicine Man) to the stage at Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Cikini, Central Jakarta on Oct. 5. Highlighting the social situation, Studiklub Teater Bandung (STB) will stage this French play, which was originally titled Le Medecin Malgre Lui, under the invitation of the French Cultural Center (CCF) here.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Government told to reduce scope of bank blanket guarantee
Government told to reduce scope of bank blanket guarantee JAKARTA (JP): The government must gradually start limiting the scope of its costly bank blanket guarantee to pave the way for the establishment of an insurance deposit scheme, according to a senior official at the finance ministry. Director for insurance industry at the ministry, Firdaus Djaelani, said on Thursday that the insurance deposit scheme should only be made available for simple bank deposits.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Postpone tax on property
Postpone tax on property From Bisnis Indonesia For the sake of economic recovery and maximizing job opportunities, it is necessary, I think, for the coordinating minister for economy, finance and industry to consider postponing the implementation of taxation policies in the field of property, namely the postponement of levying income tax amounting to 5 percent payable by the seller (PPh) in property trade and another 5 percent to be paid by the buyer for the cost of transfer of ownership (BBN).
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Febi on substitute bench for Taiwan Davis Cup clash
Febi on substitute bench for Taiwan Davis Cup clash JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) has passed over Febi Widhiyanto as a starter for the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group Two clash against Taiwan here next month. Pelti spokesman Benny Mailili said here on Thursday Suwandi will head the team, which also will feature Hendri Susilo Pranomo as second singles player and the veteran doubles team of Bonit Wiryawan and Sulistyo Wibowo, with Feby serving as a reserve.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Military steps up security in Maluku
Military steps up security in Maluku AMBON, Maluku (JP): Security has been intensified in Maluku islands following escalating tension in several riot-hit villages, which has forced many residents to flee their homes. A staff member at the Ambon Civil Emergency Post, Maj. Martin Luther Djari, said on Thursday that the Ambon Military Command had deployed two battalions to reinforce security.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
S. Korea to send food to North, opposition bristles
S. Korea to send food to North, opposition bristles CHEJU, South Korea (Agencies): South Korea said on Thursday it would provide 600,000 tons of food to impoverished North Korea but the opposition blasted the Seoul government for offering more than it could afford. The Unification Ministry said it would provide 300,000 tons of Thai rice and 200,000 tons of Chinese corn on credit to the famine-stricken North.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Orange, CP sign US$100m deal
Orange, CP sign US$100m deal BANGKOK (AFP): British mobile phone operator Orange Plc. on Thursday signed a joint venture agreement with Thai conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group (CP) in a deal reportedly worth about US$100 million. Charoen Pokphand senior executive vice president Veeravat Kanchanadul told AFX-Asia, an AFP financial news subsidiary, that Orange would take a 34 percent stake in the joint venture, to be called Bangkok Inter Teletech Co. (BITCO).
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Councillors likely to get land, cars
Councillors likely to get land, cars JAKARTA (JP): Despite widespread public disproval, the city administration has apparently bowed to councillors demands and allocated them Rp 40.43 billion (US$4.5 million) of the 2000 City Budget to buy land and cars. The funds have been disguised as "welfare" for the city council's "secretariat employees".
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Asian monies down late amid twists in rupiah's fortunes
Asian monies down late amid twists in rupiah's fortunes SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies slumped late Thursday, as Northeast Asian currencies fell on domestic concerns while Southeast Asia's reacted to the dramatic twists in the Indonesian rupiah's fortunes.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Retail consumer goods sales continue to grow
Retail consumer goods sales continue to grow JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's consumer-led recovery continues its upward trend with retail sales of fast moving consumer goods almost returning to their pre-crisis levels, according to the findings of a survey conducted by ACNielsen. Advertising, particularly on TV and in newspapers, has also shown strong growth and is fueling demand for consumer products in retail outlets, the research firm said in a statement.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Chinese influence pervades Singkawang
Chinese influence pervades Singkawang By Erma S. Ranik SINGKAWANG, West Kalimantan (JP): A clue to what makes Singkawang special can be found in its popular name, "the city of a thousand temples". Travelers bound for West Kalimantan should include a stop in this administrative town in Bengkayang regency, 140 kilometers from the provincial capital of Pontianak. Much of the town's attraction is physical, with its location at the foot of a mountain.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Verdict on Soeharto may cause 'greater unrest'
Verdict on Soeharto may cause 'greater unrest' JAKARTA (JP): Observers sounded a warning in the wake of the court's decision not to pursue the trial against former president Soeharto, saying that it could spark greater unrest across the country. Political analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono said on Thursday the turn of events could have a damaging political impact on Abdurrahman's administration. "The consequences for Gus Dur is very bad.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN, an historical embodiment of Southeast Asia
ASEAN, an historical embodiment of Southeast Asia The following is the first of two articles based on the address of former foreign minister Ali Alatas on his acceptance of a degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, conferred by the National University of Singapore on Sept. 19.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Fire destroys shop-house, kills 13
Fire destroys shop-house, kills 13 MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi (JP): Thirteen people died when a fierce fire destroyed a shop-house selling electronic goods here on Thursday. Police records say that four under-five-year-old toddlers and a pregnant woman were among the fatalities. Makassar Police chief Sr. Supt. Aryanto Boedihardjo said the fire, the worst in the city in terms of fatalities, started at 5 a.m. local time on the second floor of the three-story building.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
PAL stake offered for $200m
PAL stake offered for $200m MANILA (AFP): Philippines businessman Lucio Tan is willing to sell his controlling stake in Philippine Airlines (PAL) for US$200 million with the buyer assuming two billion dollars in loans, Finance Secretary Jose Pardo said on Thursday.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Tension grips Bukittinggi
Tension grips Bukittinggi PADANG, West Sumatra: Tension still gripped Bukittinggi on Thursday following an overnight brawl between around 800 students from two high schools which resulted in student Edo Siswanto being severely injured. The city, known as the province's tourism center, was paralyzed as most residents remained at home on Thursday after an open clash between students from SMK Kosgoro and SMK Muhammadiyah took place on Wednesday around 8 p.m.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
A damaging ruling
A damaging ruling The South Jakarta District Court's decision to dismiss the corruption charges against former president Soeharto on the grounds that he is too ill to stand trial will have much wider repercussions that go beyond the US$590 million case brought by the state prosecutors. The ruling has not only effectively closed the door on all legal avenues to try the former tyrant for his past actions, but it could also destroy President Abdurrahman Wahid's antigraft campaign.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Conversion Rates
Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Sept. 28, 2000: Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
All charges against Soeharto dismissed
All charges against Soeharto dismissed JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court dropped on Thursday multimillion-dollar graft charges against former president Soeharto after hearing medical arguments from an independent team of doctors that he was mentally and physically unfit to stand trial. The court also released the defendant from his city arrest status.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Cartoon exhibition at TIM
Cartoon exhibition at TIM JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Cartoonist Association and the German-based Friedrich-Naumann-Stiftung Foundation will put on a three-day cartoon exhibition beginning on Oct. 6 at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) arts center in Central Jakarta. The exhibition, titled The House of Representative and the People's Representation, will display cartoons which represent the public's perspective of the House.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Drug dealers busted in Bali
Drug dealers busted in Bali DENPASAR, Bali: Badung Police detectives arrested two alleged drug dealers in separate raids early hours on Thursday, seizing 6.8 grams of shabu (crystal metamphetamine) as evidence. A native from Badung, identified as Iwang Kumawang, was busted in a house on Jl. Gunung Krakatau, while Mohammad Aswan was at his house on Jl. Gunung Sanghyang.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Pirates steal gas oil from tanker
Pirates steal gas oil from tanker KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): A Malaysian tanker was hijacked and robbed of its cargo of gas oil by pirates on Monday near Indonesia's Natuna islands in the South China Sea, a news report said on Thursday. The Petchem, which was carrying gas oil and jet fuel, was boarded by pirates and taken to an unknown destination where its cargo of 2,200 metric tons of gas oil was siphoned off into another ship.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Telxsel, Chinese firm to enter wireless telephone services
Telxsel, Chinese firm to enter wireless telephone services JAKARTA (JP): PT Telekomunikasi Xinwei Selular (Telxsel) will soon enter the wireless telephone market in cooperation with Chinese Xinwei Telecom Technology, Ltd. Telxsel President Agung Laksono said here on Thursday that the new telecommunications operator would provide services for both fixed telephone lines and mobile phones.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
KL palm oil futures continue their fall
KL palm oil futures continue their fall KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian palm oil futures extended their fall on Thursday on liquidation with lingering concerns about rising local supplies exerting pressure on the market. The benchmark third-month December futures contract closed 10 ringgit down at 896 ringgit (US$235.79) a ton, dipping below the 900 ringgit level for the first time since December 1993.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Extortion by tow truck drivers
Extortion by tow truck drivers From Media Indonesia The print media have often carried toll-road users' complaints about the illegal operations of tow truck drivers. Unfortunately, the relevant authorities do not seem to pay any attention to such complaints. At about 1 p.m. on Sept. 2, 2000, I got a flat tire and pulled my car over to the side of the road, about 500 m away from Kebon Jeruk exit toll gate.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
City Councilors need to introspect
City Councilors need to introspect From Warta Kota As a Jakarta citizen I can only feel sad and helpless after reading the news about the Jakarta City Council members who've given more emphasis to their own facilities than to public interests. After asking for a lot of land, they also asked for a car, whereas a car subsidy of Rp 75 million had been granted to each of them. I am extremely concerned. They haven't even been working for one year, but they've made so many demands.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
City set for violent protests over fuel hike
City set for violent protests over fuel hike JAKARTA (JP): City authorities say they are fully prepared for violent protests, strikes and shortages when fuel prices are raised on Sunday. The authorities said on Thursday 200 buses were on standby should bus drivers in the capital go on strike to protest the 12 percent fuel price hike. The police will deploy thousands of personnel to assure the smooth distribution of gas, kerosene, and basic goods.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
BI wins debt rollover from London Club
BI wins debt rollover from London Club JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia won approval from the London Club of commercial creditors on Thursday to roll over some US$340 million in sovereign debts. Bank Indonesia director for foreign affairs Nana Supriana said in a press statement that the foreign creditors agreed to extend the repayment date for the debt principal to 12.5 years, with a grace period of three years.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina says fuel stocks enough to anticipate surge
Pertamina says fuel stocks enough to anticipate surge JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina said on Thursday it had stockpiled enough fuel to anticipate a sudden surge in demand ahead of a fuel price increase on Sunday. "Our fuel stock is enough for 23 days of national consumption. We don't expect the public to panic and rush to buy fuel prior to the implementation of the fuel price increase.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Bondowoso Police shoot dead five attackers
Bondowoso Police shoot dead five attackers JAKARTA (JP): Five people were shot dead by police who were attempting to fend off a mob attacking a police station in the East Java town of Bondowoso, National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said on Thursday.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Robot demonstrators
Robot demonstrators From Jurnal Indonesia Have you ever seen a student demonstration with your own eyes? I am writing to tell you, readers, that in many cases our students act exactly like robots in that they will do things as instructed by their operator(s). Yes, they can be very brutal, wild, and inhumane. Let's take an example of a recent incident between the police who were safeguarding former president Soeharto's residence at Jl.
Fri, 29 Sep 2000, 00:00 WIB
Running street battles erupt after Soeharto walks
Running street battles erupt after Soeharto walks JAKARTA (JP): Some 30 people were wounded in the capital on Thursday in clashes between anti-Soeharto and pro-Soeharto protesters and the police following the dismissal of corruption charges against the former president. Police stated that at least one anti-Soeharto protester was killed in a clash with police personnel near the trial's venue at the Ministry of Agriculture in Ragunan, South Jakarta.