Archive: 14 February 2001
55 articles found
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Govt struggles to provide aid for natural disaster victims
Govt struggles to provide aid for natural disaster victims JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare admitted that it is overwhelmed and struggling to provide sustained assistance to more than 1.2 million survivors of natural disasters that have occurred since April 2000. The massive number does not include the estimated 1.05 million internally displaced people (IDP) caused by widespread riots and communal conflicts.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Action urged on piracy
Action urged on piracy SINGAPORE (AP): Piracy is a menace in Southeast Asia and countries in the region must cooperate more to prevent attacks, Singapore's foreign minister said on Tuesday. Pirates are becoming more sophisticated, hijacking whole ships for their cargo, S. Jayakumar told those attending a maritime conference.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
House grills IBRA over Guthrie deal
House grills IBRA over Guthrie deal JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives commission IX on state budget and finance questioned the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) on Tuesday regarding its recent US$350 million deal with Malaysia's Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd. Legislators said that the sale of hundreds of thousands of hectares of oil palm plantations to the Malaysian company could create political and security problems in Sumatra and other provinces.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Stock quotations on JSX
Stock quotations on JSX Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
A way of healing people in E. Timor
A way of healing people in E. Timor DILI, East Timor (JP): How do you cheer up whole villages hit twice by armed gangs killing and burning everything in sight? "With competitions -- sports, boat races, cooking, singing," says Father Yosef Daslan of the Liquica parish in East Timor's western region.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Excelcomindo's service
Excelcomindo's service I have found Excelcomindo's short message service (SMS) very beneficial. As mentioned in the ads, customers can send 10 free messages per day. Unfortunately they don't mention that the 10 free messages include failed ones. On Jan. 27, 2001 I experienced some inconvenience of having some of my messages fail. Therefore, I kept trying to re-send my failed messages. But since Jan. 28 I haven't been able to send any more. So I called the customer service on Jan.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Official wants meat products exempt from VAT
Official wants meat products exempt from VAT JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Agriculture is currently lobbying the Ministry of Finance to scrap a new ruling which imposes a value added tax (VAT) on the meat and dairy industry in order to protect producers against cheaper imports. The VAT has been imposed on raw materials, such as feed stocks, used by farmers, as well as their meat and dairy products.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Govt OKs probe into councillors
Govt OKs probe into councillors JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy Surjadi Soedirdja has sent a letter of approval required by the Jakarta Prosecutor's Office to question six city councillors in connection with the alleged misuse of funds belonging to PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA).
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
First Pacific shares lower
First Pacific shares lower HONG KONG (AFX-ASIA): First Pacific Co Ltd shares were sharply lower on Tuesday on concerns over the continuing political instability in Indonesia, where the company has significant business, dealers said. At 11:58 am, First Pacific was down 0.125 at 2.60 hkd on volume of 3.17 mln shares, while the Hang Seng index was up 136.80 points at 15,829.91 on turnover of HK$4.17 billion.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia mulls gas asset-backed security
Indonesia mulls gas asset-backed security HONG KONG (Dow Jones): Despite earlier skepticism, a plan for an Indonesian bond issue backed by sales of West Natuna natural gas to Singapore could be the answer to the country's search for cheaper offshore funding. Talk of an Indonesian asset-backed security has been around for at least the past two years, said one dealer.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
10 regions submit proposals demanding provincial status
10 regions submit proposals demanding provincial status JAKARTA (JP): Following the birth of three provinces last year, the government is now being overwhelmed by proposals submitted by 10 regions demanding provincial status.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Seamless Pipe best vendor
Seamless Pipe best vendor JAKARTA (JP): Pipe manufacturer PT Seamless Pipe Indonesia Java said on Tuesday it had been named the best vendor in 2000 by Spanish-Argentine oil firm Repsol YPF Maxus Southeast Sumatra. Seamless, a subsidiary of PT Bakrie & Brothers, said the award showed its pipe products were of international quality. Seamless president Nugroho I Purbowinoto said the company would continue to push for better quality in competing on the international market.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Timber tycoon 'Bob' Hasan sent to jail
Timber tycoon 'Bob' Hasan sent to jail JAKARTA (JP): Timber tycoon Mohamad "Bob" Hasan was sent to Salemba Penitentiary in Central Jakarta on Tuesday following a Jakarta High Court decision to lift his house arrest. Prosecutor Arnold Angkaw said Hasan began serving his jail term at 11 a.m.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Akbar approves Cabinet reshuffle
Akbar approves Cabinet reshuffle JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung hinted on Tuesday that a Cabinet reshuffle may be an appropriate response to the House's memorandum of censure to the President. Akbar remarked that a Cabinet reshuffle may be important to improve the government's performance and as a means of acknowledging the concerns of the House on the performance of the government.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Stock worries spark palm oil liquidation
Stock worries spark palm oil liquidation KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's palm oil market saw further liquidation at the close on Tuesday due to persistent worries over high stocks, which some traders said could reach 1.5 million tons in February due to poor exports. The benchmark third-month April futures contract shed 22 ringgit at 724 ringgit ($190.52) a tonne. Volume was 2,710 lots. "There are rumors that production in February could reach a minimum of 900,000 tons.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
UN intervention in East Timor
UN intervention in East Timor I was surprised to read an article by former Australian Ambassador to the United Nations and Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Richard Woolcott, published in this newspaper on Jan. 29, 2001. The article goes to great lengths to describe what the writer perceives as the negative consequences of the international intervention in East timor in September 1999.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
House agrees to cancel luxury tax on Batam
House agrees to cancel luxury tax on Batam JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives special team for the state budget has approved the government's plan to postpone until the end of the year the imposition of luxury tax on Batam island. The special team's chairman, Abdullah Zainie, said the special team supported the postponement of the luxury tax because there was no clear regulation regarding the status of the island.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Recap banks will suffer if interest rates rise: IBRA
Recap banks will suffer if interest rates rise: IBRA JAKARTA (JP): A number of recapitalized banks may suffer from liquidity problems once again if domestic interest rates rise above the current level, Chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Edwin Gerungan warned on Tuesday. Edwin said that recapitalized banks holding a large portion of fixed interest rate bonds could suffer a negative spread problem as a result of rising interest rates.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Economic reform wobbles
Economic reform wobbles Many are worried that the economy will most likely become the first victim of the heightened political uncertainty and worsening relationship between beleaguered President Abdurrahman Wahid and the House of Representatives because the pace of reform measures will surely wobble.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Mahfud clarifies allegation of Golkar's misuse of funds
Mahfud clarifies allegation of Golkar's misuse of funds JAKARTA (JP): Defense Minister Mahfud MD denied on Tuesday diverting the public's attention from two financial scandals involving President Abdurrahman Wahid through leaking accusations over the alleged misuse of State Logistics Agency (Bulog) fund by Golkar Party in the 1999 general election. Mahfud said his revelation was aimed at "promoting honesty in politics".
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
PLN creditors and govt to meet every 3 months
PLN creditors and govt to meet every 3 months JAKARTA (JP): The government and a consortium of foreign creditors agreed on Tuesday to hold meetings every three months to discuss developments in the country's private power sector and the restructuring of state power firm PT PLN. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the foreign creditors, who are funding Indonesia's private power sector, had expressed their concern over current conditions in the power sector.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
W. Java to get new refinery
W. Java to get new refinery CIREBON, West Java (Antara): An American businessman and a number of Indonesian entrepreneurs plan to build an oil refinery in Indramayu district, West Java, district head Irianto Syafruddin said here on Tuesday. The company will refine crude oil from the Middle East and sell its product to China, Irianto said. The plan to build the oil refinery was discussed with the investors during a recent meeting at the World Trade Center building in Jakarta.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
RI to invest $18b in power industry
RI to invest $18b in power industry SINGAPORE (Dow Jones):Indonesia plans to invest US$18 billion in its power sector to meet increasing domestic demand in the next 10 years, Endro Utomo Notodisuryo, Commissioner of state- owned power company, Perusahaan Listrik Negara, or PLN, told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Trisakti tragedy remains a mystery
Trisakti tragedy remains a mystery JAKARTA (JP): The mystery behind the Trisakti University shootings which killed four students remains no closer to being unraveled today as it did two years ago. Speaking before a House special committee on Tuesday, military and police officers who held top posts during the May 12, 1998, incident maintained that they were unaware of which personnel opened fire on the student rally.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Dengue fever outbreak requires public action
Dengue fever outbreak requires public action JAKARTA (JP): The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has recorded a staggering 1,547 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever in Jakarta, Padang and Surabaya, which has already left 12 people dead this year. The cases were recorded between Jan. 1 and Feb. 12 this year, Minister Achmad Sujudi said on Tuesday. The minister further warned people to be alert.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Govt to revise law on regional autonomy
Govt to revise law on regional autonomy JAKARTA (JP): Less than two months after its implementation, the government is planning to revise Law No. 22/ 1999 on regional autonomy due to existing loopholes that could lead to misinterpretation.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Revocation of subdistrict council bylaw sought
Revocation of subdistrict council bylaw sought JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of nine non-governmental organizations grouped under the Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) staged a rally at the City Council on Tuesday, demanding the revocation of City Bylaw No.5/2000 on subdistrict council.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Mouth sores might affect your children
Mouth sores might affect your children Dear Dr. Donya, I received your e-mail address from The Jakarta Post and it said feel free to write, so I am. My question concerns my 10-year-old daughter who suffers regularly from what is called sariawan, a kind of mouth sore. The problem is, she is the only one in the family who gets it and I actually do not even know what it is exactly, or what causes it, much less how to treat it.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Taekwondo gets long term support from LG
Taekwondo gets long term support from LG JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Taekwondo Association (TI) has accepted a commitment of long-term support from South Korean- based LG Electronics Indonesia to further develop the Korean martial art form of taekwondo here. "Taekwondo is a very popular martial art form in Korea and has received international recognition. It is our responsibility to develop greater awareness of it," the company's president In Ki- kim said on Tuesday.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Implementation of new city planning 'must be delayed'
Implementation of new city planning 'must be delayed' JAKARTA (JP): The city administration must delay implementation of its ongoing spatial plan, while observing the importance of involving the public in the decision making process and to making them aware of the abundance of urban problems in the capital, observers said on Tuesday. Marco Kusumawijaya, an expert on city spatial planning, said current spatial planning was disoriented as it didn't touch the majority's interests.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah Rates Feb. 13
Rupiah Rates Feb. 13 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Tropical storm to continue
Tropical storm to continue SURABAYA: A tropical storm, which hit East Java and several parts of the country recently, may continue over the next three days, an official said on Tuesday. "Based on the weather forecasts, the wind will blow more strongly in Indonesia at this time of the year," Triadi, head of local office of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, said.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
BancBali to expand target markets
BancBali to expand target markets JAKARTA (JP): Insurance company PT Prudential BancBali Life will further expand its insurance services into the low and middle markets in a bid to boost future revenues, the groups newly appointed president Kevin Holmgren (left) said here on Tuesday. "There are substantial opportunities in the middle to lower markets, which was found in Malaysia as well, and we will pursue that strategy in the near future," he said in a media briefing here.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Faster Pertamina corruption trial urged
Faster Pertamina corruption trial urged JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives may issue a vote of no confidence against Attorney General Marzuki Darusman unless he can bring to court within three months nine corruption cases at state oil and gas firm Pertamina, including one involving the Balongan oil refinery in West Java. The House's Commission VIII, which oversees among other things energy and mine affairs, urged Marzuki on Tuesday to finalize investigations into the nine cases.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Killing spree continues in troubled Aceh province
Killing spree continues in troubled Aceh province JAKARTA (JP): Tensions in Aceh remain as three more civilians were shot during military and police operations against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in East Aceh and Aceh Besar on Monday, a volunteer said on Tuesday.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
E. Timor's difficult questions of reconciliation
E. Timor's difficult questions of reconciliation The following two articles by The Jakarta Post journalist Ati Nurbaiti deal with reconciliation in East Timor, written after an invitation to Dili to attend the first congress of the Association of Journalists of Timor Lorosae in January. JAKARTA (JP): In the face of accumulated, unsettled crimes, a commission of truth and reconciliation has been set up in East Timor.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Road to telecoms liberalization
Road to telecoms liberalization By Winahyo Soekanto DENPASAR (JP): Djamhari Sirat, who replaced Sasmito Dirdjo as director general of telecommunications in late January, is facing a great deal of homework in implementing the campaign to liberalize the telecommunications industry. The outgoing official was responsible for some of the earlier liberalization measures, including the drawing up of Law No. 36/1999 on telecommunications, but much has yet to be done.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Rallies pose national security threat: Malaysian Police
Rallies pose national security threat: Malaysian Police KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): A senior officer on Tuesday defended police actions in breaking up a mass protest by Malaysia's opposition, saying demonstrators posed a national security threat. Johar Che Din, deputy police chief of Selangor state, was giving evidence at an inquiry by the human rights commission into alleged brutality last Nov. 5.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies gain on American dollar's pullback
Asian currencies gain on American dollar's pullback SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Asian currencies were firmer on the dollar's pullback against the Japanese yen, but they stayed within familiar ranges as investors awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan's Senate committee testimony, dealers said. The Indonesian rupiah closed slightly higher in thin trading Tuesday due to persistent dollar selling by state banks, dealers said. The dollar closed at Rp 9,599, down from Rp 9,615 at Monday's close.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Sub crash may damage Japan-U.S. ties
Sub crash may damage Japan-U.S. ties By Jon Herskovitz TOKYO (Reuters): The accidental sinking of a trawler by a U.S. submarine off Hawaii has left Japanese bewildered and may give further pause for thought over the need to station tens of thousands of U.S. troops on their soil. While hopes fade for the nine missing Japanese, including four 17-year-old fisheries students believed entombed in their sunken vessel, recriminations against the U.S. military are stirring back home.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Lumintang appointed Defense Ministry's Secretary General
Lumintang appointed Defense Ministry's Secretary General JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Mahfud MD installed on Tuesday the former governor of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) Lt. Gen. Johny J. Lumintang as the ministry's secretary general, replacing Lt. Gen. Sugiono. Johny will be replaced by Ermaya Suradinata. The installment of Ermaya, currently Directorate General for National Integration at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy, will take place on Thursday.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
New Hanoi airport to open
New Hanoi airport to open HANOI (AP): Hanoi's long-awaited new international airport terminal is scheduled to open in April, six years after construction started, an airport official said Tuesday. The first phase of the US$76 million Terminal One will go through a test-run in mid-March before the officially opening, said an official with the Northern Airports Authority requesting anonymity. A date for the formal opening will be announced later.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Seeing Indonesia's violence in Arendt's light
Seeing Indonesia's violence in Arendt's light By Harry Bhaskara JAKARTA (JP): The destruction of buildings by a mob in East Java last week during huge rallies in support of beleaguered President Abdurrahman Wahid is only the latest example of public violence, displayed consistently since the country was hit by a crisis four years ago. Other violence may be lighter in scale but continues unabated, and this is not small in significance to the life of the people.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Police must keep better watch
Police must keep better watch From Warta Kota On Jan. 30, 2001 evening the traffic all along Jl. MH Thamrin, Jakarta, was smooth because there were some traffic police officers on duty enforcing discipline from the traffic circle at the end of Jl. Thamrin (in front of Bank of Indonesia) as far as the one at Hotel Indonesia. As a daily user of Jl.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
C. Sulawesi to get new governor
C. Sulawesi to get new governor PALU, Central Sulawesi: Aminuddin Ponulele will be installed as the new governor of Central Sulawesi on Feb. 16 as scheduled, an official said. City Hall spokesman Longky Djanggola said on Tuesday the installation of Aminuddin as governor and Rully Aziz Lamadjido as his deputy would go ahead as planned. "As many as 900 invitations have already been sent out," he said.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
One more hiker found dead
One more hiker found dead PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The body of one of the 16 missing trekkers from Gadjah Mada University's Nature Lovers club was found on Mt. Slamet on Tuesday. The other 15 missing trekkers were found alive but in poor condition. The discovery of the body of Fauzan raises the number of fatalities to two, after the body of another club member, Masruhi, was discovered on Monday by a search and rescue (SAR) team. Fauzan's body was found at a spot 1,500 meters high.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Pro-govt rallies continue in Java
Pro-govt rallies continue in Java JAKARTA (JP): The wave of support for President Abdurrahman Wahid continued in Central Java on Tuesday with demands that the President remain in office until 2004 and that the Golkar Party be dissolved. In Semarang, Central Java, around 1,000 supporters of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid expressed their wish on Tuesday that the President and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri remain in office until 2004.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Mahathir's daughter speaks up for women
Mahathir's daughter speaks up for women KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): The daughter of Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the appointment of a women's affairs minister was a good thing, but the new minister should be more outspoken in supporting modern women's rights. Marina Mahathir, a prominent AIDS activist and outspoken newspaper columnist, said the new minister's statements suggest she believed in a traditional role for Malaysian women.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Billboard tender put off
Billboard tender put off JAKARTA (JP): The City Administration was forced to put off its plan to auction a billboard spot on Tuesday as advertising companies complained about the high rental fee. Three companies: PT Nindotama Kharisma, PT Rainbow Cipta Utama, and PT Duta Sena Muda Perkasa, objected to the rental fee, which was set for Rp 1.2 billion for a spot for a two-month period. The meeting was held to bid for a spot for a billboard located on Jl.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Wired and waiting for love on the Net
Wired and waiting for love on the Net By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): As if to testify to how far the Internet has penetrated into our personal lives, more and more people are discovering that their significant others are waiting for them on the other side of the world, separated by a phone line. Speak with a couple that has been married for only a few years, and you might learn that their romance started online.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Surabaya
Where to go in Surabaya Exhibition * Poster Exhibition Hari Terindah dalam Masa Remajaku, CCCL - French Cultural Center, Jl. Darmokali 10 (Phone: 031 5615246), 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., until Feb. 17. Music and Entertainment * Hotel Majapahit, Mandarin Oriental, Jl. Tunjungan 65 (Phone: 031 545 4333) - Indigo Restaurant and Bar: Acoustic Quartet, nightly 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. except Wednesday. Weekly Indigo Jazz Performance with Howie Chen and Virtuoso band, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Policemen nabbed for car thefts
Policemen nabbed for car thefts JAKARTA (JP): Two police officers, a military officer, and another nine members of a car theft gang have been arrested for their alleged involvement in several armed robberies here, South Jakarta Police Chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Widaryatmo, said on Tuesday. Bambang said the police also managed to seize seven cars, including a Kijang van, a Panther van, two Baleno sedans, a Timor sedan, a Lancer sedan and a Taft jeep, from the suspects.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Marubeni to complete debt restructuring of Chandra Asri
Marubeni to complete debt restructuring of Chandra Asri By Kornelius Purba TOKYO (JP): Following a round of tough negotiations with the Indonesian government, Marubeni Corp. expressed its hope on Tuesday that it would be able to reach a compromise solution next week over a dispute on a new debt restructuring agreement for the petrochemical giant PT Chandra Asri.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
Student movement must be free from political interests: Adian
Student movement must be free from political interests: Adian The following is an interview with Adian Napitupulu, the leader of the student group Forum Kota (Forkot), about the perceived split among the student groups that have been waging street rallies in response to the current political crisis. Adian's group is widely perceived to be in conflict with groups spearheaded by university student councils, such as BEM-UI, over whether President Abdurrahman Wahid should remain in office.
Wed, 14 Feb 2001, 00:00 WIB
PBSI urged to send more shuttlers to int'l events
PBSI urged to send more shuttlers to int'l events JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) is being urged to be more flexible in allowing shuttlers from outside the Indonesian Badminton Center in Cipayung, East Jakarta, to take part in international events. "PBSI should allow badminton clubs in solid financial condition to send their players abroad as an alternative to improve Indonesia's achievements," former world champion Rudy Hartono said.