Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 17 April 2001

60 articles found

ISSA protests government regulation on shipping

ISSA protests government regulation on shipping JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Shipping Agencies Association (ISAA) has called on the government to annul a controversial regulation that requires every agency of a foreign shipping company in the country to own, at the minimum, a 5,000-ton...

Kopassus readied to quell Aceh rebels

Kopassus readied to quell Aceh rebels JAKARTA (JP): Army Special Force (Kopassus) commander Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni said on Monday that the force was ready to dispatch its troops to the troubled Aceh province in an effort to suppress the rebels.

African national arrested over drugs

African national arrested over drugs JAKARTA (JP): Malawian Dennis Namaona, 35, became the sixth foreigner this year to be arrested for drug possession at Soekarno-Hatta airport, after customs officers apprehended him on Sunday morning for attempting to smuggle heroin into the country.

Maritime body wants trial of RI pirates for hijacking

Maritime body wants trial of RI pirates for hijacking KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) hopes Indonesia will extradite and prosecute seven Indonesian pirates arrested last month in the Philippines after they allegedly hijacked a cargo ship, a news report said Monday.

Where to go in Bandung:

Where to go in Bandung:Exhibitions* Traditional and Modern Art Collaboration, by Kalingga Gallery the lobby of Grand Hotel Preanger Bandung, Jl. Asia Afrika No. 81 (Phone: 022 4231631), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., until April 30.* Sculpture: Para Rupa, by Toni Kanwa, CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl.

Government agrees to bail out PLN

Government agrees to bail out PLN JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Monday it had accepted a proposal from state electricity company PLN to take over its Rp 29.9 trillion (US$2.76 billion) debts in a bid to prevent the state company from going bankrupt.

Lawyers ask court to drop the JSX bombing charges

Lawyers ask court to drop the JSX bombing charges JAKARTA (JP): Lawyers of the suspects of last year's bombing of the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) building demanded that South Jakarta District Court drop charges on Monday claiming that they were legally flawed.

APP considering merger of four Indonesian units

APP considering merger of four Indonesian units JAKARTA (JP): Singapore-based Asia Pulp & Paper Company Ltd (APP) is considering merging its four Indonesian units to speed up the company's complicated debt restructuring process, a senior executive of the group said here on Monday.

City officials to be freed from Ancol charges

City officials to be freed from Ancol charges JAKARTA (JP): City officials are likely to be freed from charges that they were involved in a controversial foreign trip - dubbed the Ancol scandal - as no witness has testified against them, the Jakarta Prosecutors Office intelligence chief, R.J.

Kupang needs 5,900 teachers

Kupang needs 5,900 teachers KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Head of the East Nusa Tenggara National Education Office Jhon Manulangga said on Monday that the province faces a severe shortage of school teachers, forcing more than one in 10 elementary school students to drop out.

Aurora Gold to quit Indonesia

Aurora Gold to quit Indonesia SYDNEY (DPA): Lawlessness and political uncertainty in Indonesia has prompted Australian mining company Aurora Gold to seek buyers for its Toka Tindung gold mine in North Sulawesi, news reports said on Monday.

Babies and corruption

Babies and corruption Recently The Jakarta Post reported two separate news stories. One was that nearly seven million young Indonesian children are undernourished and at risk of permanent developmental damage because of poverty and malnutrition.

People's search for spirituality at core of religious TV programs

People's search for spirituality at core of religious TV programs JAKARTA (JP): As an important part of her day, Ria Irvilita does her best to catch the regularly aired Islamic TV programs."I am the kind of person who is always thirsty for religious teachings, so I like to watch such programs,...

Fed Cup team needs ranked players

Fed Cup team needs ranked players JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Tennis Association (Pelti) should invite more players with better world rankings to the Federation Cup team to help secure its position in the world group qualifying round, the association's spokesman said on Monday.

Why health messages fail to get through in Indonesia

Why health messages fail to get through in IndonesiaBy Santi W.E. Soekanto JAKARTA (JP): To many, statistics may be mere numbers that do not reflect human realities, whereas to more people statistics are depressing because the numbers do not seem to shift much over the decades.

Bayer names new president

Bayer names new president JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed pharmaceutical company PT Bayer Indonesia Tbk., a subsidiary of the German-based Bayer Group, has appointed Hans-Josef Schill as president upon the retirement of Wolfgang Piroth.

Two charred in road accident

Two charred in road accident BANDUNG: Two people were burned to death in their car during a toll road accident between Padalarang and Cileunyi in West Java on Monday.The two fatalities were identified as Asep Ridwan and Leni.

Petronas signs LNG deal with Tohoku

Petronas signs LNG deal with Tohoku KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): A unit of Malaysia's state-owned oil firm Petroliam Nasional (Petronas) signed an agreement on Monday to sell 900,000 tons of liquefied natural gas a year to Japan's Tohoku Electric Power for 20 years.The value of the deal would be US$4.

Malaysia launches palm-fuel burning

Malaysia launches palm-fuel burning PRAI, Malaysia (Reuters): Malaysia, the world's biggest producer of palm oil, on Monday officially launched its first large-scale scheme to burn the crude oil in power plants and use it in other industries.

Angry residents burn, stab police officers to death

Angry residents burn, stab police officers to death BOGOR (JP): Angry residents of Gunung Sindur district here burned a man alive and stabbed another to death on Monday, reportedly over the wrongful fatal shooting of a worker.

Maluku governor bans FKM activities

Maluku governor bans FKM activities AMBON, Maluku (JP): Administrator of the civil emergency status in Maluku Governor Saleh Latuconsina issued a decree to ban the activities of the separatist Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) on Monday in a bid to maintain the improving security situation in the...

KL to ask U.S. to retract warnings

KL to ask U.S. to retract warnings KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia will ask the United States to retract a warning to Americans against visiting resort islands off the eastern state of Sabah, Tourism Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fazdir said on Monday.Abdul Kadir said he would soon contact U.S.

Illegal clearing takes mangrove reserve to brink of extinction

Illegal clearing takes mangrove reserve to brink of extinctionText and photos by Apriadi Gunawan LANGKAT, North Sumatra (JP): Mangroves are abundant in the coastal area of Langkat, and one of the most famous mangrove forests is in the subdistrict of Secanggang.

Rates for tax payment, valid from April 16 to April 22

Rates for tax payment, valid from April 16 to April 22 U.S. dollar 1 Rp 10,560.00Austrian schilling 1 Rp 681.48Australian dollar 1 Rp 5,186.02Belgian franc 1 Rp 232.45Canadian dollar 1 Rp 6,751.05Swiss franc 1 Rp 6,151.70Deutschemark 1 Rp 4,255.25Danish krone 1 Rp 1,255.25French franc 1 Rp 1,429.

ExxonMobil expected to resume operations in May

ExxonMobil expected to resume operations in May JAKARTA (JP): ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc., the subsidiary of American energy giant ExxonMobil Inc., is expected to resume operations at its gas fields in the restive province of Aceh by the end of May and thereby revive liquefied natural gas (LNG)...

RP vehicle sales down 14.7%

RP vehicle sales down 14.7% MANILA (AFP): Philippine motor vehicle sales fell 14.7 percent from a year earlier to 17,899 units in the three months to March, an industry association said Monday.Passenger car sales plunged 29.

Governor Sutiyoso surprised by traders' comments

Governor Sutiyoso surprised by traders' comments JAKARTA (JP): The crackdown on hoodlums began on Monday, and to the surprise of Governor Sutiyoso, who was informed by traders in Tanah Abang Market, Central Jakarta that they had never been extorted by thugs, locally known as preman.

State firms sell more rubber

State firms sell more rubber JAKARTA (JP): The joint marketing office of state-owned plantation companies will auction 466,128 kilograms of rubber this week.The volume of unprocessed rubber to be tendered in Jakarta on Tuesday represents a 70 percent increase from 271,944 kilos last week.

Religious TV shows fuel hope and prayers for viewers

Religious TV shows fuel hope and prayers for viewersBy Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Blurting out her story in between sobs, the caller tells Lutfiah Sungkar that her husband has taken a second wife and is now ignoring her.

Japan wins int'l bridge tourney

Japan wins int'l bridge tourney JAKARTA (JP): The Japanese national team won the Djarum Cup International Bridge tournament after defeating the Indonesian Lippo SGS team on Sunday in a one-sided four-session final match.

Thousands demand annulment of election

Thousands demand annulment of election BANJARNEGARA, Central Java : Thousands of people, mostly supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), staged a rally in front of the local council building on Monday to demand the cancellation of the recent result of the election...

PT Newmont clarifies

PT Newmont clarifies As is often the case with media interviews conducted over the telephone, quotes attributed to spokespeople are sometimes placed into news stories without context and, in some cases, erroneously.

Sjamsul detained as corruption suspect

Sjamsul detained as corruption suspect JAKARTA (JP): Mogul Sjamsul Nursalim was detained at the Attorney General's Office on Monday evening as a suspect in a corruption case.However, as of 10:30 p.m., it was still unclear whether Sjamsul would immediately serve his 20-day detention warrant in a...

Police to crack down on 'Defenders of Truth' squad

Police to crack down on 'Defenders of Truth' squad JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro asserted on Monday that he has ordered a crackdown on paramilitary training activities in East Java conducted by civilians grouped under the "Defenders of Truth" squad (FPK) who pledge to...

Law shifting burden of proof sought in war against scam

Law shifting burden of proof sought in war against scam JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has said the government should sponsor a bill on shifting the burden of proof instead of just a issuing a government regulation in lieu of a law.

GSM program spurs U.S. soy sales to Indonesia

GSM program spurs U.S. soy sales to Indonesia SINGAPORE (Reuters): U.S. credit guarantees and growing demand from Indonesia's poultry industry will help U.S. soy sales there in 2000/2001 (Oct-Sept) surpass last year levels, an American Soybean Association (ASA) official said on Monday.

Mosque caretaker found dead

Mosque caretaker found dead BOGOR (JP): The caretaker of al-Hadi Mosque in Cilendek Barat subdistrict was found dead on Sunday night with severe head injuries.West Bogor substation chief First Insp. Nono Darsono refused on Monday to comment on the cause of death of Suryadi Wardana, 50, who had been...

Media law may be tightened: Mahathir

Media law may be tightened: Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad fired another broadside at the foreign media on Monday and said Malaysia may amend its own media law to make the legislation more effective.

Gus Dur sets three issues for 'summit'

Gus Dur sets three issues for 'summit' JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has proposed that the planned meeting between the country's top leaders include discussions on security, law enforcement and the economic crisis, a right activist said on Monday.

Irian wants lion's share of revenues

Irian wants lion's share of revenues JAKARTA (JP): Irian Jaya wants to keep the lion's share of its own wealth under the special autonomy status offered by the central government, the province's governor said on Monday.Governor Jacobus P.

U.S.-China rivalry shifts to ASEAN's back yard

U.S.-China rivalry shifts to ASEAN's back yardBy Kavi Chongkittavorn WASHINGTON: Diplomats of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation here were relieved when the Chinese government released the 24 crew members of the U.S. EP-3 spy plane last week. However, they now fear that future U.S.

Arrests to boost opposition but Mahathir 'still secure'

Arrests to boost opposition but Mahathir 'still secure'By Simon Martin KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's clampdown on pro-Anwar activists is likely to swell support for the opposition but Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's grip on his ruling party is still strong, analysts said.

150 traders protest raid

150 traders protest raid JAKARTA (JP): At least 150 street vendors operating along Jl. Sudirman thoroughfare and its access Jl. Bendungan Hilir in Central Jakarta, gathered at the City Council on Monday to protest a raid conducted by the city's public order officers over the weekend.

World Bank cancels loan

World Bank cancels loan Here is another international vote of no confidence in the credibility of the government of President Abdurrahman Wahid. The World Bank revealed in a statement put on its website early last week that it had canceled the second US$300 million tranche of its $600 million...

Woman found dead in motel room

Woman found dead in motel room JAKARTA (JP): The corpse of an unidentified woman was found in a motel room on Jl. RE Martadinata in Ancol, North Jakarta, by motel staff on Sunday night.City police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Stockpiles to lower coconut oil prices

Stockpiles to lower coconut oil prices MANILA (Reuters): Coconut oil prices in Europe are likely to dip this week because of ample stocks from major exporters -- Philippines and Indonesia -- and the weaker peso and rupiah against the dollar, traders said on Monday.

Premium recovery expected for Asian crude

Premium recovery expected for Asian crude SINGAPORE (Reuters): Premiums on Asia's sour crude market are expected to show some recovery as June trade kicks off this week, with demand expected to pick up as refineries return from maintenance stoppages, traders said on Monday.

Japanese oil sector gets closer to market

Japanese oil sector gets closer to market SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): A gradual increase in competition - following deregulation of Japan's oil sector in the nineties - could eventually result in a challenge to the dominant role of Singapore-based oil product pricing in Asia, according to traders.

Ginandjar's detention unlawful: Court

Ginandjar's detention unlawful: Court JAKARTA (JP): Former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar Kartasasmita immediately packed his bags on Monday after a court ruled his detention unlawful, but prosecutors thwarted his attempts to leave incarceration, pending further clarification on the ruling.

U.S. slowdown hurting Malaysia's growth: Mahathir

U.S. slowdown hurting Malaysia's growth: Mahathir KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said that the U.S. economic slowdown is already being felt in Malaysia, where the manufacturing sector depends heavily on exporting electrical goods to the American market.

SIA cargo to be independent

SIA cargo to be independent SINGAPORE (AFP): Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte. Ltd. on Monday received its Air Operator Certificate which will allow it to operate separately from parent company Singapore Airlines (SIA).

Kopassus groups reduced to 3, with 2 supporting units

Kopassus groups reduced to 3, with 2 supporting units JAKARTA (JP): The Army's Special Force (Kopassus) officially announced on Monday the reorganization of its structure from five operational groups to three, with two supporting units.Kopassus chief Maj. Gen.

TV today

TV todayTVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Music 8:30 Documentary 9:00 Children's Program 10:00 Music 11:00 Regional News 12:00 p.m. Interval 3:00 News 3:30 TV Series 4:00 Children's Songs 5:00 News 5:30 Economic News 6:00 Village News 6:15 TV Drama 7:00 Evening News 7:30 Talk Show...

FSPC completes Chandra Asri's debt restructuring

FSPC completes Chandra Asri's debt restructuring JAKARTA (JP): The Financial Sector Policy Committee (FSPC) has finalized the debt-restructuring plan for troubled petrochemical giant PT Chandra Asri.FSPC said in a statement that Chandra Asri's foreign creditors, led by Japanese Marubeni Corp.

Sucofindo may loose contract

Sucofindo may loose contract JAKARTA (JP): The Directorate General for Customs and Excise will not renew its contract with state-owned surveyor PT Sucofindo in a bid to improve efficiency, its director general RB Permana Agung said here on Monday.

E-Coli bacteria in tap water

E-Coli bacteria in tap water JAKARTA (JP): A health official made a startling revelation on Monday when he claimed that Singaraja Tap Water Company in Bali is the only tap water company able to supply potable water in Indonesia.

Rupiah rate April 16

Rupiah rate April 16 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,258.00 11,258.00 10,704.00 10,812.00Australian dollar 1 5,191.57 5,705.55 5,417.29 5,479.52Austrian schilling 1 663.40 728.40 692.24 699.54Belgian franc 1 226.29 248.46 236.13 238.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 16, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,025 -50 74,500 Adindo Foresta 95 0 10,000 AGIS 175 -5 591,500 Alakasa 110 0 0 Alfa Retailindo...

Gus Dur approves members of General Elections Commission

Gus Dur approves members of General Elections Commission JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has endorsed the 11 names recommended by the House of Representatives Commission II for home and legal affairs as members of the General Election Committee (KPU), an official said on Monday.

IMF asks government to suspend large projects this year

IMF asks government to suspend large projects this year JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked the government to shelve several large projects this year in a bid to rescue the troubled state budget, according to a source.