Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 24 December 2001

70 articles found

State audit commission fails to reach target

State audit commission fails to reach target Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The State Officials' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) failed to reach its target of scrutinizing the finances of at least 1,500 officials due in part to a distinct lack of enthusiasm from its members and staff members during the current year-end festivities. The 25-strong commission had earlier planned to complete the examinations of at least 1,500 public officials by the end of this year.

JP/3/INSIGHT

JP/3/INSIGHT Whither civil society? Are we getting closer or farther from becoming a civil society J. Soedjati Djiwandono Political Analyst Jakarta Both Sukarno, through his "guided democracy", and Soeharto through his "Pancasila democracy", robbed the sovereignty and power of the people. In a sense, therefore, reform in Indonesia is a process by which the people will endeavor to reclaim their sovereignty and power from the state. Reform is to advance the cause of a "civil society".

No jump yet in flow of people returning to Jakarta

No jump yet in flow of people returning to Jakarta The Jakarta Post, Jakarta There was no significant increase in the number of people returning to Jakarta through the city's three major bus terminals -- Kampung Rambutan and Pulogadung in East Jakarta and Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta -- on Sunday, seven days after the Idul Fitri celebration.

Urban poor, marginalized by the city

Urban poor, marginalized by the city Ida Indawati Khouw The Jakarta Post Jakarta Who's the enemy of the Jakarta administration this year? The answer is neither criminals, nor poverty, nor others one might think more obvious. The enemy, perversely, is the urban poor. This statement is no exaggeration.

Cash handout to boost economy

Cash handout to boost economy V.K. Chin, The Star, Asia News Network, Kuala Lumpur The 100 Ringgit to be given to the hardcore of all races for the festive season will be another boost to consumer spending that will further stimulate the economy. This good news was announced recently by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also the Finance Minister.

Limiting rights of suspects

Limiting rights of suspects From Media Indonesia In the bill on terrorism proposed by the government, the rights of terrorist suspects are reduced to a minimum. If it is established as a law, the suspects, during investigation, will not have the right to remain silent or be accompanied by a lawyer. The head of the team proposing the bill said that as terrorism is categorized as an "extraordinary crime", it is possible to exclude the normal principles of the due process of law.

City demolishes vendors' kiosks

City demolishes vendors' kiosks The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Public order officers demolished on Saturday evening dozens of tents, stalls and kiosks erected by sidewalk vendors along busy roads in Kampung Melayu and Jatinegara in East Jakarta. The demolitions were designed to bring some sense of order to the capital, where vendors operate in an uncontrolled manner. At least 700 personnel, including policemen and soldiers, were deployed to demolish the stalls and kiosks.

Argentina woes carry lessons for IMF in Indonesia

Argentina woes carry lessons for IMF in Indonesia Berni K. Moestafa The Jakarta Post Jakarta Argentina teetering into economic chaos right under the nose of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hammers home some lessons for Indonesia on how it should work with the fund, experts said. Former finance minister Bambang Sudibyo said Argentina was yet another illustration of the failure of the IMF's antidote for sick economies. "The IMF should learn from its experience in Argentina ...

30 soldiers run amok at Bali airport

30 soldiers run amok at Bali airport DENPASAR, Bali: Some 30 soldiers from the Armored Vehicle Panzer Platoon of the Udayana Military Command's Cavalry Company stormed Ngurah Rai International Airport on Thursday evening, ransacked a taxi company's booth, and beat up two taxi driver in an apparent act of retaliation after one of their friends was involved in a brawl with a taxi driver a few hours earlier. Udayana Military Command's spokesperson Lt. Col.

Corporate Briefs

Corporate Briefs Microsoft asked a court Friday for a four-month delay in proceedings with the states that have rejected its antitrust settlement with the U.S. government as not tough enough. Microsoft said it needed more time because of the "dramatic expansion of the scope of the litigation by the states," calling their proposal "extreme and far-reaching."--AFP Microsoft Corp. and Korea Telecom Corp.

Jakarta gridlock, problems and solutions

Jakarta gridlock, problems and solutions JAKARTA: Many residents here seem to take traffic jams for granted since it has become a daily occurrence as well as a characteristic of this city of more than 10 million people. Even though the congestion gets worse each year, many people have no other choice but to face it. Nobody seems to do much about the fact that they have to allocate more time and spend more money for gasoline for their daily travels.

Twins fight for free IDs, education for the poor

Twins fight for free IDs, education for the poor Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Double the trouble, with twice the fight. That could be the motto for activist twins Rossy Admiral and Rian Feisal, who continue their struggle to improve the plight of the poor amid constant bureaucratic neglect. For the past three years the identical twins have been running the Kartini Emergency School to help equip the poor with skills so they may at least have the opportunity to better themselves.

Larry 'Unbreakable' Ellison not invulnerable

Larry 'Unbreakable' Ellison not invulnerable ========================== Lela E. Madjiah The Jakarta Post San Francisco, California -------------------------- Attending Larry Ellison's question and answer session during the Oracle OpenWorld 2001 here opened my eyes to his other side that is not apparent when he's talking business.

Street vendors raided in N. Jakarta

Street vendors raided in N. Jakarta JAKARTA: Around 300 street vendors operating under the flyover on Jl. S Parman, West Jakarta, were raided by city public order officials on Friday night. The vendors offered no resistance. According to the head of the West Jakarta public order office, Jurnal Siahaan, the vendors had been warned about selling their merchandise at the location but most ignored the warnings.

1. Market (1 x 30)

1. Market (1 x 30) Rupiah to end the year unchanged 2. Wall (3 x 16) Santa Claus rally fuels buying spree on Wall Street 3. Stimulus (1 x 40) Economists debate if stimulus is needed 4. Trade (1 x 27) U.S. hails victory in trade spat 5. Belum (2 x 20) Consumers, firms urged to safeguard Windows XP 6. Euro (2 x 22) Europeans have 3.6b euro coins: Commission

JP/5/SOED

JP/5/SOED MPR, interest group delegates epitomize RI democracy Soedijarto Member, People's Consultative Assembly Interest Group Faction Jakarta State University After 56 years of independence, comprehension of the history, culture and aspirations of our founding fathers is waning. A recent article by intellectual Denny JA, published in a national newspaper is one such example of a lack of understanding of the basic concept of our nation state.

Larry 'Unbreakable' Ellison not invulnerable person

Larry 'Unbreakable' Ellison not invulnerable person Lela E. Madjiah, The Jakarta Post, San Francisco, California Attending Larry Ellison's question and answer session during the Oracle OpenWorld 2001 here opened my eyes to his other side that is not apparent when he's talking business. Sitting crossed-legged on a stool, the "King of O" still commanded attention even when he was not talking about the Unbreakable Oracle9i, his company's latest technology.

K. Basrie

K. Basrie The Jakarta Post Jakarta Hoping for an end to a dark time As a keen wristwatch collector, Sudwikatmono, a veteran businessman, has never been quite able to resist his temptation to keep adding new items to his massive collection. "Actually, I already have some 100," the relative of former president Soeharto told The Jakarta Post while browsing at a fine watch expo here at Plaza Senayan recently.

Students clash with police in Jayapura

Students clash with police in Jayapura R.K. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura Jayapura Police apprehended 42 students involved in a violent antigovernment demonstration in the city on Saturday, but some were later released after questioning. The 42 students were arrested because they attacked security personnel after being asked to disperse peacefully.

Can we rely on our consumption for growth?

Can we rely on our consumption for growth? Ari A. Perdana, School of Economics, University of Indonesia, Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Jakarta It was only half a year ago that Chief Economic Minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti said the country's economic recovery would depend on the external economy, particularly foreign investment and loans. The economy requires foreign investment to stimulate the private sector and create employment.

Korean warships to visit Jakarta

Korean warships to visit Jakarta JAKARTA: A Korean naval military fleet, consisting of three South Korean warships carrying 800 cadets and sailors, is scheduled to visit Jakarta from Dec. 27 to Dec. 30, the Korean Embassy said in a statement on Sunday. The visit, which is held every two years, is aimed mainly at strengthening military friendship and partnership with the country being visited, the statement said.

KL gets tough on illegal workers

KL gets tough on illegal workers JAKARTA: Malaysian police are keeping an eye on its coasts in anticipation of an influx of illegal Indonesian job seekers after Idul Fitri. Of particular concern is the coastlines of Selangor where the police know of some 30 places where thousands of illegal Indonesian job seekers usually land. Police said that to evade arrest, boat skippers usually kept changing landing places.

Manpower ministry breaks promise to stem corruption

Manpower ministry breaks promise to stem corruption Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea has failed to make good on his promise to rid his office of deep- rooted corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) practices, arguing instead that the practices were deeply-rooted and widespread. "Stemming KKN is difficult. It is like a tangled thread.

Street vendors vs administration: Partnership is crucial

Street vendors vs administration: Partnership is crucial Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Street vendors have become a unique phenomenon in this city. Not to mention ubiquitous. Just about everywhere you turn, you can see them displaying their wares: at intersections, along the streets, outside schools and office buildings, inside public transportation, and even on the yards of mosques.

Fire in the slums areas displaces Jakarta migrants

Fire in the slums areas displaces Jakarta migrants Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta She wanted to wear the dress for Idul Fitri, but only two days before the holiday, it was burned along with other valuables inside her parents' house and dozens of other semi-permanent buildings in the densely populated Cipulir area of South Jakarta.

Ambon and Poso on alert ahead of Xmas celebration

Ambon and Poso on alert ahead of Xmas celebration Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Poso in Central Sulawesi and Ambon in Maluku, two areas in the country where religious conflicts have been rife remain calm ahead of Christmas celebrations as the people have been asked to maintain peace and stay alert during the festivities.

With dubious achievements, does Sutiyoso deserve reelection?

With dubious achievements, does Sutiyoso deserve reelection? Ahmad Junaidi The Jakarta Post Jakarta It is difficult to cite Governor Sutiyoso's achievements this year. Probably the most striking ones are the award he received from the Jakarta Diplomatic Corps for helping to facilitate the work of diplomats here and an honorary PhD he got from Pusan University of Foreign Studies in South Korea.

'Resume probe' into 1996 tragedy

'Resume probe' into 1996 tragedy JAKARTA: A senior leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) demanded on Friday that the police resume investigations into the attack on the party's headquarters that took place on July 27, 1996. Jacob Nuwa Wea, who is also minister of manpower and transmigration, said the incident offended people who cared about democracy. "The case must be resolved," he said.

Dropping Soeharto case 'hurt sense of justice'

Dropping Soeharto case 'hurt sense of justice' Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri's plan to revoke graft charges against former autocrat Soeharto has angered critics who say that such a move would insult people's sense of justice. Legal practitioner Todung Mulya Lubis said if Megawati did withdraw the charges it would be an act of discrimination. "It will be a bad precedent in our record of law enforcement.

Officials told to publicize Malino Declaration truce

Officials told to publicize Malino Declaration truce Erik W. and Elnino Mohi, The Jakarta Post, Palu/Gorontalo Central Sulawesi Governor Aminuddin Ponulele asked local officials to inform the public about the Malino Declaration, which was recently agreed upon by warring factions in Poso, in an attempt to establish peace in the province.

Christians undeterred in celebrating Xmas

Christians undeterred in celebrating Xmas Annastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With last year's Christmas Eve bombings and other church attacks still fresh in people's minds, most regular church-goes still intend to attend services on Christmas Eve regardless. Christmas is somewhat incomplete without attending services with family and friends, they say, and, despite last year's tragic events, most are putting their trust in the police and hope to have a joyous Christmas.

K. Basrie

K. Basrie The Jakarta Post Jakarta Hoping for an end to a dark time As a keen wristwatch collector, Sudwikatmono, a veteran businessman, has never been quite able to resist his temptation to keep adding new items to his massive collection. "Actually, I already have some 100," the relative of former president Soeharto told The Jakarta Post while browsing at a fine watch expo here at Plaza Senayan recently.

The Jakarta Post

The Jakarta Post Jakarta From a tool to fashion, what next? From machine to quartz, what next? The history of the wristwatch is indeed short. Wristwatches did not begin to see widespread use until the 1920s. Men tended to regard the wristwatch as effeminate. Watches adapted to the wrist made sporadic appearances as early as the late 1500s. Queen Elizabeth I is said to have been given one.

Rupiah to end the year unchange

Rupiah to end the year unchange Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With many market participants away on vacation, a generally weak demand for the U.S. dollar and the absence of currency speculators, pressure on the rupiah this week is expected to ease, but not enough to lift the unit from its current lows by year's end, according to one analyst. Currency and stock market analyst Feri Latuhihin at state owned PT Danareksa Securities predicted quiet trading for the rest of this week.

IBRA lambasted for low recovery in asset sale

IBRA lambasted for low recovery in asset sale The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Instead of bragging about its target-achieving feats, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) should focus more on efforts to boost the recovery rate of its assets sales to minimize the burden of the state, experts said over the weekend. "The agency seems to concentrate on efforts to generate the proceeds from assets sales only to meet the target.

Kerosene scarce in Bogor

Kerosene scarce in Bogor BOGOR: Locals often complain about kerosene shortages in certain parts of the regency, but recent shortages have not been due to the poor distribution system. It was difficult to find kerosene last week because many traders had not returned from the annual Idul Fitri pilgrimage to their hometowns.

Drugs abuse: How low can you go?

Drugs abuse: How low can you go? Damar Harsanto The Jakarta Post Jakarta Amid mounting concerns due to the increasing numbers of drug abusers in the capital, the government seems to be powerless to contain the problem and curb the distribution of illegal drugs.

Elderly citizen run over by train

Elderly citizen run over by train YOGYAKARTA: Senja Utama executive train, which left Jakarta on Friday evening bound for Yogyakarta, arrived four hours late at its destination after being withheld at the village of Kemiri in Kulonprogo, Central Java on Saturday evening after it ran over an elderly man. Purnomo, spokesman for state-owned railway company PT KAI, confirmed the accident on Saturday and said the victim was 78- year-old Kromodimejo.

Argentina woes carry lessons for IMF in Indonesia

Argentina woes carry lessons for IMF in Indonesia Berni K. Moestafa The Jakarta Post Jakarta Argentina teetering into economic chaos right under the nose of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hammers home some lessons for Indonesia on how it should work with the fund, experts said. Former finance minister Bambang Sudibyo said Argentina was yet another illustration of the failure of the IMF's antidote for sick economies. "The IMF should learn from its experience in Argentina ...

RI eying Chinese LNG market

RI eying Chinese LNG market Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia is seeking to supply the growing Chinese liquefied natural gas (LNG) market as part of its expansion strategy, a senior government official says. Director general of oil and gas Rachmat Sudibyo said Saturday that in addition to the 3 million ton per year demand from the Guangdong province, two other Chinese provinces had also expressed interest in establishing an overseas LNG supply.

Dope finding on lifter Gustar a mystery: PABBSI

Dope finding on lifter Gustar a mystery: PABBSI Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The stripping of the weightlifting gold medal Gustar Junianto won at the recent Kuala Lumpur SEA Games has left the Indonesian weightlifting community and the sport's governing body, PABBSI, with a mystery to solve. The 21 year old from Lampung, about 200 kilometers northwest of Jakarta, lifted a total of 285 kilograms to snatch the gold in the 62kg category.

Homebound trip uncomfortable but worth it

Homebound trip uncomfortable but worth it Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Blitar Carrying a travel bags, two shoulder bags and a cardboard box, Sunartin, 47, got out of the worn-out cab. With unsteady steps she approached Pulo Gadung bus station in East Jakarta to join the sea of homebound travelers.

Officials should be frugal

Officials should be frugal From Rakyat Merdeka Our country is still gripped by an economic crisis and trapped in huge foreign debts. Based on the report of the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN), our senior officials have abundant wealth. However, it has not spurred the commission into action. We need to recall Bung Karno's struggle during the Dutch colonial period. He was jailed several times by the Dutch colonialists. But, Bung Karno felt neither daunted nor hopeless.

RP forces rescue kidnapped Canadian

RP forces rescue kidnapped Canadian PHILIPPINES: Government troops and police on Sunday rescued a Canadian man held for ransom for nearly two months after a shootout in which two of his kidnappers were killed, government officials said. Pierre Belanger, 51, a Canadian married to a Filipina, was rescued by a team of troops and police in a village in the southern province of Davao on Mindanao island, Presidential Assistant for Mindanao, Jesus Dureza, told reporters. "I am healthy, I am OK.

Home of the very young, old

Home of the very young, old Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Blitar About 40 kilometers south of Blitar, East Java there is a poor and arid area inhabited mainly be the elderly and the very young for most of the year. It is called the Kali Kuning hamlet located in the steep highlands surrounding the Gunung Gede village, Wonotirto subdistrict.

Some products still protected at start of AFTA

Some products still protected at start of AFTA Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government said that import tariffs on some chemical and plastic products would remain above five percent next year despite the implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

Muslim leaders pledge to preach peace, prosperity

Muslim leaders pledge to preach peace, prosperity Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Muslim leaders from around the globe have vowed to preach peace and prosperity and actively participate in creating a more humane society. "We pledge to be courageous defenders of peaceful teachings and interpretation of Islam and to be exemplary peacemakers in our personal, family and social conduct of our lives," the leaders said in a statement issued on Saturday.

Compassion may rule Mega's decision on Soeharto

Compassion may rule Mega's decision on Soeharto Tiarma Siboro and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Aides close to Megawati Soekarnoputri revealed that she is strongly inclined to forgive ailing former president Soeharto, either by presidential pardon or revoking the charges, irrespective of whether legal proceedings continue.

Idul Fitri exodus more than tradition

Idul Fitri exodus more than tradition Leo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Spiritual festivities like Idul Fitri are always long-awaited for a number of reasons. For millions of migrants, this is the time to go home. For the past year many have worked day and night and Idul Fitri is the perfect time to celebrate their achievements with their family and friends in their hometowns.

Man beaten to death by crowd

Man beaten to death by crowd JAKARTA: A man was beaten to death by residents of Selang Tengah, Bekasi, for allegedly stealing electronic appliances, Bekasi police said on Friday. The man, Guntur, 30, was caught by Tatang, a resident of Selang Tengah, stealing a VCD player, television, speakers and clothes from a neighbor's house, Second Brig. Harun told Antara. After being confronted by Tatang, Guntur dropped the items and began to run.

Missing PDI cadre reappears

Missing PDI cadre reappears Agus Maryono and Abu Hanifah, The Jakarta Post, Purbalingga/Jakarta The chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's Ngawi office, Yuwono Susetyo, was found alive on Saturday morning after he was kidnapped on Dec. 1 following unrest in the area, a police officer said on Sunday. Purbalingga Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.

Batam bridges lay dormant

Batam bridges lay dormant Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam The central government has built six bridges connecting Batam with a group of neighbouring islands --Tonton, Nipah, Setoko, Rempang, Galang and New Galang-- at a cost of at least Rp 256 billion, but the mega project has now ground to a halt as the bridges, built using the latest technology between 1993 and 1998, have failed to attract any foreign or domestic investors to the islands.

Why not learn from history?

Why not learn from history? The fall of all our governments, since independence, have been prompted by their abuse of the public's aspirations. It was the Sept. 30 movement (G30S) and the involvement of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) -- cursed by the people -- that brought the Old Order down. The New Order regime crashed because it was not responsive enough to public demands for civilian supremacy.

Banners over pedestrian bridges

Banners over pedestrian bridges From Warta Kota Striking banners reading "Happy Idul Fitri" from various political parties are now being displayed on pedestrian bridges. As we know, Jakarta's road users have a very low sense of discipline and the traffic police have yet to take stern action.

Pro XL can't be wrong, can it?

Pro XL can't be wrong, can it? On Nov. 11, 2001, I purchased a Pro XL card for my cellular phone number 0818372592 at Matahari Simpang Lima in Semarang. Unfortunately, there were no additional units recorded in my cellular phone and my card was blocked. On Nov. 30, 2001, I filed a complaint to the retailer. But, the reply was that my cellular phone had been blocked since Nov. 4. The units I charged for my cellular phone were said to be suspended.

Argentina economic woes carry lessons for IMF in Indonesia

Argentina economic woes carry lessons for IMF in Indonesia Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Argentina teetering into economic chaos right under the nose of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) hammers home some lessons for Indonesia on how it should work with the fund, experts said. Former finance minister Bambang Sudibyo said Argentina was yet another illustration of the failure of the IMF's antidote for sick economies. "The IMF should learn from its experience in Argentina ...

Taiwan companies to build Manado-Bitung road

Taiwan companies to build Manado-Bitung road Yongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Manado The LED Group, a construction and road building business group in Taiwan, is preparing a substantial transport infrastructure project in North Sulawesi's emerging industrial districts. The construction company will build a 47-kilometer-long tollroad connecting the industrial districts of Manado, Bitung and a seven-kilometer-long coastal road in an industrial estate along the Bitung coast.

Singapore's largest bank came under union criticism Saturday for

Singapore's largest bank came under union criticism Saturday for axing 435 employees right before the Christmas holiday. The National Trade Union Congress "is certainly disappointed that United Overseas Bank could not wait till after the festive season to retrench staff", deputy secretary general Matthias Yao said. The first round of staff cuts on Friday followed UOB's merger with Overseas Union Bank earlier this year. --DPA

Citibank responds

Citibank responds We refer to the letter from Ms. Adrilin Evi published in The Jakarta Post on Dec. 7, 2001 titled Citibank disappoints. Thank you for your feedback. We have tried numerous times to contact our customer, Ms. Adrilin Evi, who was disappointed with Citibank's services. However, we have not succeeded in talking to her. Therefore, we would appreciate it if Ms. Adrilin Evi could kindly contact Citibank's 24-hour CitiPhone Banking service at 021 2529999.

Police residence rocked by explosion

Police residence rocked by explosion Banda Aceh: A strong explosion rocked the official residence of the deputy chief of Aceh Police on Friday, leaving two injured. Adj. Sr. Comr. Bagus Dwiyanto, chief of the detective unit at the provincial police, said the explosive might have been thrown from afar as the explosion occurred several meters from the structure. The police deputy chief and his family were not at home when the explosion took place, he said.

DPRD Jakarta: empowered but not all that wiser

DPRD Jakarta: empowered but not all that wiser T. Sima Gunawan The Jakarta Post Jakarta One is never too old to study. City councillors know the axiom well and took a shot at implementing it -- without worrying about the cost. In the middle of this year, they made a series of trips overseas for what they claimed were comparative studies. Some took a one-week tour to Los Angeles to study entertainment and advertisement taxes.

Thousand Islands, a new regency need of people first development

Thousand Islands, a new regency need of people first development Benget Simbolon Tnb., The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta city administration inaugurated Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) off the North Jakarta coast as a new regency in November, but many problems have still been left unsolved. The 69,976-square-kilometer mini archipelago has great potential in terms of tourism and marine-based industries. But its basic infrastructure is very poor.

MPR, interest group still needed in RI

MPR, interest group still needed in RI Soedijarto, Member, People's Consultative Assembly, Interest Group Faction, Jakarta State University After 56 years of independence, comprehension of the history, culture and aspirations of our founding fathers is waning. A recent article by intellectual Denny JA, published in a national newspaper is one such example of a lack of understanding of the basic concept of our nation state.

Where to go in Jakarta:

Where to go in Jakarta: Church Services In celebrating Christmas, churches are holding services on Dec. 24 and Dec. 25. Some of them can be seen in the following list: * Grace Methodist Church at Mulia Hotel, Mezzanine Floor, Jl. Asia Afrika No. 1, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. and Year-end Service on Dec. 31 at the Kemang Club Villa, South Jakarta, at 10.30 p.m. For further information contact Rev. Denny Nainggolan at 54394916 or HP 0812 9249179.

Scattering litter, mirror of the administration's ineptitude

Scattering litter, mirror of the administration's ineptitude Annastashya Emmanuelle The Jakarta Post Jakarta The closure of Bantar Gebang, the city's garbage dump, is the dire result of the city administration's incompetence in handling Jakarta's waste problems. Residents in Bekasi, where Bantar Gebang is located, have demanded the site's closure due to the health and environmental problems it has caused.

1. Demo: 8 x 4 lines

1. Demo: 8 x 4 lines Students clash with police in Jayapura 2. Tollroad: 20 x 2 lines Taiwan firms to build Manado-Bitung road 3. Malino: 24 x 2 lines Officials asked to publicize Malino Declaration cease-fire 4. Bridge: 24 x 1 line: The Batam bridges to nowhere

1. Lebaran - 1x38

1. Lebaran - 1x38 Homebound trip uncomfortable but worth it 2. Desa - 1x 25 Home of the very young, old 3. Mudik - 1x34 Idul Fitri exodus more than tradition 4. Celeb - 1x30 Food, noise mark holiday revelry

Food, noise mark holiday revelry

Food, noise mark holiday revelry Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Blitar Celebrating the Muslim Idul Fitri holiday in the remote hamlet of Kali Kuning, near Blitar in East Java, was unique. There was no extravagant party but just simple food with a lot of noise from the bedug (traditional drums) and the firecrackers. Two days prior to Idul Fitri, villagers gathered for megengan, a ritual feast held at the mosque.

Ingenious burglary

Ingenious burglary From Suara pembaruan On Dec. 10, 2001 burglars broke into the office of Asuransi Bintang through a water tunnel connecting Majapahit complex and Majapahit canal and bored a 5-meter-long underground passage to the branch manager's room and then made their way through the ceiling of the office of Bumi Maritim Internasional beside it to the place where the safe was located. The burglars made off with more than Rp 600 million.

Germany to write

Germany to write off RI's debts From Rakyat Merdeka Recently I attended a meeting with a senior representative at the German Embassy. The German government is currently offering to write off Indonesian debts worth 50 million Deutschemarks next year if the Indonesian government carries out certain programs on education, poverty eradication and the environment. Relevant ministries have to submit the proposals through the Indonesian finance ministry.