Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 January 2001

56 articles found

Obituary

Obituary Veteran writer Slamet Soeseno, 73, died at his office here on Monday morning, stunning his colleagues and family.Soeseno, a special editor of Intisari monthly, one of the publications of Gramedia group, and the chief editor of Trubus agriculture magazine, collapsed and died in front of a...

Police reveal reason why bombs discovered

Police reveal reason why bombs discoveredBy Yogita Tahil Ramani JAKARTA (JP): It was God's hand that guided police to Elize Maria Tuwahatu, an alleged acquaintance of fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra who was arrested with three bombs in her possession at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) on...

Hanoi hopes for RP stability

Hanoi hopes for RP stability HANOI (AFP): Vietnam on Monday called for political and economic stability in the Philippines after a bloodless uprising ousted Joseph Estrada."We sincerely hope the Philippines government, under the leadership of Gloria Arroyo, will stabilize the political situation,...

Bank Aspac ignored BI warning: Witnesses

Bank Aspac ignored BI warning: Witnesses JAKARTA (JP): The court trying a former Bank Aspac director charged with corruption heard on Monday the bank continued to misappropriate the government's liquidity support funds despite warnings from the central bank.

RI may win bronze in SEA Games basketball

RI may win bronze in SEA Games basketball JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's men's national team manager Erick Thohir expressed optimism about bringing home the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games bronze medal, considering the 16 players named to the team on Monday and the coach's training program.

Surabaya intercity bus drivers go on strike

Surabaya intercity bus drivers go on strike SURABAYA (JP): Haunted by the vandalism of angry mobs who have set fire to several buses, hundreds of intercity bus drivers at the Purabaya terminal went on strike here on Monday demanding that police guarantee their security.

3,000 teenagers elementary education

3,000 teenagers elementary education BOJONEGORO, East Java: Poor economic conditions and a lack of awareness have contributed to the rising number of at least 3,000 teenagers in the Bojonegoro regency who have not continued their education beyond elementary school.M.

PKB will welcome former PAN figures

PKB will welcome former PAN figures JAKARTA (JP): The National Awakening Party (PKB) is ready to welcome political figures who recently quit the National Mandate Party's executive board, said a PKB executive.

Where to go in Bandung:

Where to go in Bandung:Exhibitions* Fine Arts by Bandung Young Artists, at Griya Seni Popo Iskandar, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi 268 (Phone: 022 2013662), until Jan. 27. * Painting, Ikatan Wanita Pelukis Indonesia, Galeri Hidayat, Jl. Sulanjana 36 (Phone: 022 4208257), 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Jan. 27 to Feb.

RI to retain 40,000 tons of coffee to prop up prices

RI to retain 40,000 tons of coffee to prop up prices JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia plans to retain up to 40,000 tons of coffee until August this year as part of its commitment to prop up falling coffee prices in the world, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih said on Monday.

Cardoso visits East Timor, names new foreign minister

Cardoso visits East Timor, names new foreign minister DILI, East Timor (AP): Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso appointed on Monday a new foreign minister as he arrived in East Timor for a visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties with the fledging nation.

Unleaded premium available by April: Pertamina

Unleaded premium available by April: Pertamina JAKARTA (JP): Following the government's plan to initiate the removal of leaded gasoline from sale in the capital this year, the state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina will begin to supply unleaded premium by April 1, 2001.

Badminton coaches to have contract system

Badminton coaches to have contract system JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) plans to employ a contract system for coaches at the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, as a way to improve the performance of the coaches.

Penguin expands to RI, KL

Penguin expands to RI, KL SINGAPORE (AFX-ASIA): Penguin Boat International Ltd said it has established offices in Indonesia, Malaysia and East Timor as part of its regional expansion strategy.It has incorporated PT Penguin Ferry Jasa in Indonesia with paid up capital of US$400,000, of which 95...

Attorney General's Office probes T. Priok rights abuses

Attorney General's Office probes T. Priok rights abuses JAKARTA (JP): State prosecutors decided on Monday to continue their investigation into the 1984 Tanjung Priok incident, while awaiting the establishment of a joint investigating team on human rights abuses which would eventually take over the...

Bantul builds industrial estate to woo investors

Bantul builds industrial estate to woo investors BANTUL, Yogyakarta (JP): The Bantul regency in Yogyakarta province is developing a 55-hectare industrial estate in Piyungan subdistrict in a bid to lure investors into the regency.

Eurico trial to continue

Eurico trial to continue JAKARTA (JP): The North Jakarta District Court decided on Monday to continue the trial of East Timorese militia leader Eurico Guterres, who is standing trial on charges of inciting violence.

Foreign investors resist Indonesian temptation

Foreign investors resist Indonesian temptation HONG KONG (Reuters): Indonesia's Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) wants to clean up the country's biggest financial messes this year, but success hinges on finding a way to tempt back badly burned and deeply skeptical foreign investors.

Centris expects higher revenues

Centris expects higher revenues JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed transportation company PT Centris Multipersada Pratama Tbk (CMPP) estimates its pretax profit this year will increase by about 50 percent to Rp 6.4 billion ($673,700) from Rp 4.2 billion last year, a company executive has said.

Corruption 'from state palace to political parties'

Corruption 'from state palace to political parties' JAKARTA (JP): Unlike in the past, political parties are now the vanguard of corruption in the country, as a result of democratization and decentralization, the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) revealed in its year-end report on Monday.

Soldiers told to remain firm in face of plot to ruin Army's image

Soldiers told to remain firm in face of plot to ruin Army's image JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told soldiers on Monday not to be discouraged by claims by certain groups that the military was behind all the security problems in the country.

Non-military action preferred on hostage case

Non-military action preferred on hostage case JAYAPURA (JP): Army deputy chief Lt. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri and Deputy chief of Irian Jaya police Brig. Gen. Moersoedidarno Moerhadi said in separate interviews on Monday that military action would be the last resort to free the 16 people taken hostage by...

Cheap land sought for new terminal

Cheap land sought for new terminal JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has recommended two separate plots of land that could house the new bus terminal to replace the overcrowded Pulogadung terminal.One of the plots belongs to state housing company PT Perumnas and the other to private...

Construction of Plaza Kelapa Gading halted

Construction of Plaza Kelapa Gading halted JAKARTA (JP): The construction project of Plaza Kelapa Gading in Kelapa Gading Barat subdistrict of north Jakarta has temporarily been halted until the city administration issues a building permit (IMB), an official said on Monday.

Juan refuses to answer questions over bunker

Juan refuses to answer questions over bunker JAKARTA (JP): Lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon refused on Monday to answer police questions over his alleged role in obstructing their efforts to locate an underground bunker in the house of the fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra.

Garbage adds refugee problems

Garbage adds refugee problems ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: As if East Timorese refugees in camps across Belu regency did not have enough problems already, they now have a new menacing problem -- what to do with mountains of garbage.

120 golfers compete in Kosaido circuit

120 golfers compete in Kosaido circuit JAKARTA (JP): One hundred and 20 female golfers will compete in the US$75,000 Kosaido Ladies Asia Golf Circuit at the Ciputra Golf and Country Club, Surabaya, from Jan. 24 to Jan. 27.

Honda to boost Asian imports

Honda to boost Asian imports TOKYO (Reuters): Japan's second-biggest automaker Honda Motor Co Ltd said on Monday it planned to expand domestic sales of cheap motorcycles made at its plants in Asia to cash in on growing demand for cut-price vehicles.

Green turtles staying away from W. Java's Citirem coast

Green turtles staying away from W. Java's Citirem coastText and Photos by Bambang Parlupi CITIREM, West Java (JP): Green turtles have traditionally laid their eggs on Citirem, a 1.1 kilometer stretch of coastline in the Cikepuh nature reserve in Sukabumi, West Java.

Low price of rice

Low price of rice Thousands of demonstrators staged a huge rally around the House complex on Jan. 17, 2001. But none of them protested the low price of rice.I am wondering why the people aren't asking the legislators to establish a special committee to investigate the low price of rice? Do they not...

Demonstrators warned of infiltrators: Mahfud

Demonstrators warned of infiltrators: Mahfud YOGYAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD warned that infiltrators could penetrate both government supporters and opponents, who recently showed their muscle at the House of Representatives (DPR) compound.

32 killed in Sangihe Talaud landslides

32 killed in Sangihe Talaud landslides JAKARTA (JP): Officials said on Monday 32 people were killed in landslides triggered by days of heavy rain in Sangihe Talaud regency on Sangir island, North Sulawesi, while 20 others are feared dead.

JSX called on to withdraw new delisting policy

JSX called on to withdraw new delisting policy JAKARTA (JP): A securities investor association has urged the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) to withdraw a new delisting regulation, saying that the policy could inspire listed firms to manipulate their share prices to avoid being delisted.

Revote order expected in 50 places in Thailand

Revote order expected in 50 places in Thailand BANGKOK (AP): Thailand's Election Commission will throw out the results in at least 50 constituencies and order revoting because of suspected fraud and cheating during the Jan. 6 general election, officials said on Monday.The revote, scheduled for Jan.

Impact of regional autonomy

Impact of regional autonomyFrom Rakyat MerdekaLaw No. 22/1999 on Regional Autonomy was originally planned to start in May, 2001, but its enactment has been put forward to January, 2001, in order to coincide with a discussion of the state budget by the Ministry of Finance.

Asian currencies mostly up but peso rally short lived

Asian currencies mostly up but peso rally short lived SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Most Asian currencies held on to their gains late Monday even after the Philippine peso failed to sustain its rally, as they looked to the Japanese yen for inspiration, dealers said.

Gus Dur walks out of scandals hearing

Gus Dur walks out of scandals hearing JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday left legislators dumbfounded as he abruptly walked out of a meeting with the House of Representatives' special committee investigating the Bulog and Brunei scandals.

50 candidates to join MAT selection

50 candidates to join MAT selection JAKARTA (JP): Fifty candidates from 19 cities in Indonesia will join the final selection for the Marlboro Adventure Team (MAT) Winter Challenge at Mount Bromo this weekend.

Campaign to increase public participation

Campaign to increase public participation JAKARTA (JP): In line with the inception of regional autonomy, the city administration launched on Monday a 10-month campaign in five subdistricts aimed at increasing public participation in community development.

Top shuttlers in easy group at National C'ships

Top shuttlers in easy group at National C'shipsBy Novan Iman Santosa BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan (JP): Top seeds will face weak competition during round-robin matches, following the group draw for the Inter-club National Badminton Championships commencing on Tuesday at the Hasanuddin Sports Hall.

IBRA reports Dharmala to AG office

IBRA reports Dharmala to AG office JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) filed on Monday a criminal report with the General Attorney's Office against PT Dharmala Sakti Sejahtera for allegedly unlawfully selling Dharmala's stake in a joint venture insurance firm.

Two top officials of IBRA resign

Two top officials of IBRA resign JAKARTA (JP): Two deputy chairmen of the powerful Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) have tendered their resignation amid rumors of increasing political interference with the agency.

Petronas wins Algerian project

Petronas wins Algerian project KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia's state-owned oil firm, Petronas, has been awarded a joint project to explore for gas in Algeria in a venture with Algerian and French firms, the company said on Monday.

RI, HK fugitive agreement deliberated

RI, HK fugitive agreement deliberated JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra officially proposed to the House of Representatives on Monday a bill that would allow the administrations of Indonesia and Hong Kong to surrender fugitives sought by each other.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan. 22, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,775 -75 130,500 Adindo Foresta Indonesia 145 0 1,094,000 Alakasa Industrindo 425 0 0 Alfa...

Ivo Mas merger approved

Ivo Mas merger approved SINGAPORE (AFX-ASIA): Golden Agri-Resources said shareholders of its unit PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources & Technology have approved the merger of the palm plantation companies PT Ivo Mas Exim and PT Satya Kisma Usaha.

IFC confident of victory in Indonesian debt case

IFC confident of victory in Indonesian debt case JAKARTA (Reuters): The World Bank's private sector lending arm is confident of final victory in a drawn out bankruptcy case highlighting the trouble creditors have getting Indonesian debtors to pay up.

Heroes cemetery for civil servants

Heroes cemetery for civil servantsFrom Rakyat MerdekaAre civil servants not entitled to be honored as national heroes? To the best of my understanding, "to die in harness" means to die while doing one's routine occupation.

Gian still authorized to hold his speaker post

Gian still authorized to hold his speaker post TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang mayor H.M. Thamrin asserted on Monday that he is still acknowledging Gian Sugiharsono as speaker of Tangerang (Mayoralty) Legislative Council despite reports that Gian was among members facing expulsion from the Indonesian...

RP shares star in Asia, Tokyo ends up

RP shares star in Asia, Tokyo ends up SINGAPORE (Agencies): Philippine stocks surged 17 percent on Monday after the weekend departure of President Joseph Estrada, bracing markets elsewhere in Asia, and Tokyo shares staged a late recovery to notch up their seventh successive gain.

Rupiah Rates Jan. 22

Rupiah Rates Jan. 22 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 8,850.00 9,850.00 9,303.00 9,397.00Australian dollar 1 4,917.06 5,477.59 5,168.75 5,225.67Austrian schilling 1 600.77 669.01 631.52 638.24Belgian franc 1 204.93 228.21 215.42 217.

Cardoso offers hints on reform

Cardoso offers hints on reformBy Emmanuel Subangun JAKARTA (JP): The visit of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president of Brazil, to Indonesia this week reminds me about a term in the language of development science.

Growth outlook in RP enhanced by Estrada dismissal

Growth outlook in RP enhanced by Estrada dismissal MANILA (Dow Jones): The outlook for the Philippines' economy is brighter following the ouster of President Joseph Estrada, but economists warn the new leadership will still have to grapple with various problems, including a runaway budget deficit,...

Mt. Merapi activity intensifies: Rizal

Mt. Merapi activity intensifies: Rizal YOGYAKARTA (JP): Monday's activity of the 2,968-meter-high Merapi volcano increased nearly threefold compared to the day before with the emission of increasing amounts of lava and gas clouds, and dust seen blanketing its slopes, except for the eastern side.

KL palm oil ends lower ahead of holiday

KL palm oil ends lower ahead of holiday KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Liquidation dragged Malaysian palm oil futures lower by the close on Monday as trading dwindled ahead of the Chinese New Year holiday, traders said.

China boosts holiday vigilance

China boosts holiday vigilance BEIJING (Reuters): Chinese state media attacked the Falungong spiritual movement on Monday as police were put on alert for protests by adherents ahead of the Chinese New Year.