Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 17 May 2001

62 articles found

National Library, a haven for researchers

National Library, a haven for researchersBy Tertiani Simanjuntak JAKARTA (JP): Where do you keep history? In your head, in your heart, or in the National Library?The National Library building celebrates its 21st anniversary today and though it may not be considered a historical site, it is very...

Long wait goes on for artist's works

Long wait goes on for artist's works JAKARTA (JP): Visual artist Ray Bachtiar is a dejected man today. An exhibition of his photomontage and collages that opened here recently brings him personal pleasure, but one that is accompanied by much pain.

Minister delays labor law due to fear of rallies

Minister delays labor law due to fear of rallies JAKARTA (JP): Under the threat of massive labor rallies, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al-Hilal Hamdi decided on Wednesday to delay for 14-days the implementation of a ministerial decree annulling severance pay and service fees to retired...

Erroneous history and the future

Erroneous history and the future I refer to Soegih Arto's letter titled No hidden motive behind this?, (The Jakarta Post, May 16, 2001) and the assertion it contains that "Sukarno and Soeharto's downfalls were not caused by foreign efforts", but "purely by Indonesians".

Le Mayeur Museum a fitting homage to Belgian-born master

Le Mayeur Museum a fitting homage to Belgian-born masterBy Alpha Savitri SANUR, Bali (JP): The famous Le Mayeur Museum, located in the Sanur Beach resort area of Bali, every day displays to the public paintings by world-famous painter Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres, as well as personal effects that he...

Vietnam okays BP power plant

Vietnam okays BP power plant HANOI (Reuters): The Vietnamese government has approved the construction of a $359 million gas-fired power plant led by energy giant BP, an industry official said on Wednesday.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 16, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,575 200 4,689,000 Adindo Foresta 115 0 644,500 AGIS 140 0 1,925,500 Alakasa 125 0 0 Alfa Retailindo...

Internet banking essential in the future

Internet banking essential in the future JAKARTA (JP): Although most people are not yet familiar with Internet banking transactions, any delay in providing the service could cause a setback for the future operation of the local banks, says an IT expert.

Joint-SMS feature: New toy for cellular users

Joint-SMS feature: New toy for cellular users JAKARTA (JP): You may find that cellular users in Indonesia are busier with their handsets these days.They do not speak but have a particular look on their face while their thumbs busily work the buttons on their communications gadgets more frequently.

Telkomsel to provide pictures, tunes via SMS

Telkomsel to provide pictures, tunes via SMS JAKARTA (JP): Global System for Mobile (GSM) communications provider PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) is preparing a new service which will allow its customers to buy pictures and tunes for their handsets through the short message service (SMS).

Generic medicine price hike comes under fire

Generic medicine price hike comes under fire JAKARTA (JP): The government's decision to raise the price of generic medicine by an average of 20 percent has proven controversial, as many fear it will make medicine too expensive for the poor.

Getting rid of hoodlums

Getting rid of hoodlumsFrom Suara KaryaI believe all of us, the residents of Jakarta, highly appreciate the plan by the Jakarta Administration to eliminate hoodlums in the city. The only reason for eliminating them is the fact that crimes on the increase mostly involve hoodlums in the street and in...

IBRA raises Rp 7.3t in cash in 2001: Edwin

IBRA raises Rp 7.3t in cash in 2001: Edwin JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Edwin Gerungan said on Wednesday that the agency had so far managed to raise around Rp 7.3 trillion (US$637 million) in cash of the targeted Rp 27 trillion this year.

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-------------------------------------------------------------- Vehicle Make/ Years of Market Weight Prices for Model Production Prices Tax Calculation-------------------------------------------------------------- BMW - 320i Manual 1993 Rp 131.1m 1.35 Rp 176.985m 1998 Rp 205m 1.1 Rp 225.

Visitor at jail caught with drugs

Visitor at jail caught with drugs JAKARTA (JP): Penitentiary guards caught a female visitor carrying five packets of heroin inside her underwear on Wednesday at the Pondok Bambu Women's Penitentiary in East Jakarta.Duren Sawit police chief Comr.

Mugged on Jl. Pasuruan

Mugged on Jl. Pasuruan On May 7, at about 4:30 p.m., I had the misfortune of being mugged while driving a metallic color Cressida on Jl. Pasuruan. The muggers made off with an address book and other important documents which are certainly of no use to others, but important for my job.

SMS goes truly global -- well, almost

SMS goes truly global -- well, almostBy Amir Sidharta JAKARTA (JP): By now, almost everybody probably knows about the short message service (SMS).It is a new technology available through global system for mobile (GSM) communications mobile phones that apparently helped topple Joseph Estrada and...

Indonesia needs effective, acceptable government: Factions

Indonesia needs effective, acceptable government: Factions JAKARTA (JP): Leaders of the 10 factions at the House of Representatives agreed on Wednesday that the country urgently needed an effective and acceptable government to lead the country out of the current crisis.

Man stabs relative to death

Man stabs relative to death JAKARTA (JP): Teenager Zuklifki, 19, stabbed his sister-in-law to death in Ragunan Zoo, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, on Wednesday afternoon, over her alleged impoliteness to his mother.Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.

RI told to turn underdog status to advantage at Sudirman Cup

RI told to turn underdog status to advantage at Sudirman Cup JAKARTA (JP): Being an underdog must be turned to the advantage of the Indonesian squad in the upcoming Sudirman Cup mixed team event in Seville Spain, says a badminton official.

Witnesses implicate former IBRA official in Bank Bali scandal

Witnesses implicate former IBRA official in Bank Bali scandal JAKARTA (JP): Five witnesses giving testimony in the trial of Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin have implicated Pande Nasorahona Lubis, who was previously acquitted by a court in the same corruption case, as one of the masterminds...

Indofood makes ready Rp 920b to buy back shares

Indofood makes ready Rp 920b to buy back shares JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed giant food producer PT Indofood Sukses Makmur approved on Wednesday the company's plan to buy-back up to 10 percent of its issued shares in nearly two years.

For SPOTLITE

For SPOTLITE CASH MANAGEMENT: LippoBank president director Ian B. Clyne (second left) and HSBC deputy chief executive officer Alastair J. Bryce congratulate each other after signing an agreement on cash management between the two financial institutions.

A bitter medicine

A bitter medicine The next time a Cabinet minister remarks that the plunge of the rupiah is a mere monetary phenomenon with little consequence on the country's real economy, the entire nation ought to pray that he or she falls so expensively ill so as to be unable to afford the cost of medicine.

Ja'far suspects political motives behind his arrest

Ja'far suspects political motives behind his arrest BOGOR (JP): Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jammaah commander Ja'far Umar Thalib reiterated on Wednesday his innocence and insisted that his arrest was politically motivated.

Car owners shocked by tax increase

Car owners shocked by tax increase JAKARTA (JP): The city administration announced vehicle taxes would increase by up to 22 percent, so vehicles owners were shocked when they realized the increase was really over 100 percent."It's not true that the increase is only 22 percent.

Imported steel hurts industry

Imported steel hurts industry WASHINGTON (AP): Imported steel used to support buildings is hurting the American industry, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled unanimously Tuesday.The panel decided that concrete steel reinforcing bars imported from Indonesia, Poland and Ukraine are being...

Rupiah rate May 16

Rupiah rate May 16 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,913.00 11,913.00 11,356.00 11,470.00Australian dollar 1 5,673.67 6,199.53 5,903.98 5,968.99Austrian schilling 1 694.02 758.05 722.20 729.86Belgian franc 1 236.74 258.58 246.35 248.

Yogyakarta to think about Sukarno

Yogyakarta to think about Sukarno YOGYAKARTA: In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) will host a one-day seminar on May 23 on the country's founding father's thoughts.

VP criticizes regional autonomy law

VP criticizes regional autonomy law JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri strongly criticized Law No.22/1999 on regional autonomy on Wednesday saying that it was against the 1945 Constitution's principle of a unitary state.

PLN clarifies

PLN clarifiesFrom Warta KotaIn response to a news story published in Warta Kota of April 30, 2001 under the title of PLN stops increase of power capacity to poor subscribers, allow us to clarify as follows:On April 30, 2001, a subscriber living somewhere in Utan Kayu made an application for a power...

Eight months sought for soldier

Eight months sought for soldier YOGYAKARTA: Military prosecutor Capt. Agus Hari Suprapto demanded on Wednesday that the Yogyakarta Military Tribunal sentence police First Brig. Hendro Purnomo to eight months in jail for shooting a student when attempting to disperse a student brawl last year.

Danamon sells 14% shares in Chinatrust

Danamon sells 14% shares in Chinatrust JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Danamon agreed on Wednesday to sell 14 percent of its shares in Bank Chinatrust Indonesia, a joint-venture bank, to Taiwan's Chinatrust Commercial Bank.

ASEAN delegates pass Hanoi draft on wealth disparity

ASEAN delegates pass Hanoi draft on wealth disparity HANOI (AFP): ASEAN delegates on Wednesday ended three days of talks and passed a draft resolution aimed at resolving the growing wealth gap between member countries, officials said.

Gus Dur camp turns up the heat on Megawati

Gus Dur camp turns up the heat on Megawati JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's camp turned up the heat on Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Wednesday, saying that she should immediately resign if she wanted to have a clean fight against the embattled President.

Do we really need rates hike?

Do we really need rates hike?By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): It was not long ago that we were complaining of how difficult, and costly, it was to get a new phone line in our office or home.We were at the mercy of the only public telephone service provider that we had, who constantly told us that it...

Auto makers warn government that tax increase will backfire

Auto makers warn government that tax increase will backfire JAKARTA (JP): A number of auto manufacturers warned the government on Wednesday that imposing higher luxury sales taxes would hurt automobile sales this year, which could in turn backfire on the plan to raise tax receipts.

Poultry breeders accuse big firms of unfair practices

Poultry breeders accuse big firms of unfair practices JAKARTA (JP): Small-scale poultry breeders accused major poultry companies on Wednesday of engaging in unfair business practices, including price-fixing and holding a monopoly.M.

Doctors to be quizzed over report on Gus Dur's health

Doctors to be quizzed over report on Gus Dur's health JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro said on Wednesday that four doctors would soon undergo a preliminary police investigation in respect of their determination that President Abdurrahman Wahid was physically and...

Aspac beats Panasia in Kobatama

Aspac beats Panasia in Kobatama JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Aspac Texmaco outclassed Bandung-based Panasia Indosyntec 92-84 in action on the seventh day of the third series of the 2001 Nuvo Kobatama national basketball league here on Wednesday.

ASEAN delegates meet in Hanoi

ASEAN delegates meet in Hanoi HANOI (AFP): ASEAN delegates bunkered down to focus on regional issues here on Wednesday seeking to finalize an agreement on resolving the growing wealth gap between member countries, officials said.

Caltex to terminate contract with Citra Tubindo

Caltex to terminate contract with Citra Tubindo JAKARTA (JP): American oil firm PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia has decided to terminate its welded steel pipe procurement contract with PT Citra Tubindo two years ahead of plan to comply with a ruling issued by the antimonopoly commission.

AriaWest still operates West Java system

AriaWest still operates West Java system JAKARTA (JP): The arbitration claim filed by AriaWest International against state-owned PT Telkom is only for damages caused by numerous fundamental breaches by Telkom of the contract for the Joint Operating Scheme (KSO) in West Java, AriaWest's lawyer...

Labor Law

Labor Law Minister delays Labor Law implementation due to massive protest. Page 2 Car taxes Car owners shocked by massive tax vehicle increase. Page 3 Democracy Climbing the ladder to democracy, economic strength. Page 4 Painting Spontaneity shows in expressionism of van der Sterren.

Military to keep out of politics, say top TNI brass

Military to keep out of politics, say top TNI brass JAKARTA (JP): Top Indonesian Military (TNI) brass have again warned that they would reject any top level reshuffle in the military command if it was geared toward particular political purposes, such as forming political alliances.

PPP wants government regulations annulled

PPP wants government regulations annulled JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP)'s Jakarta chapter and PPP faction on the city council urged the Supreme Court on Wednesday to declare null and void two government regulations that curtail the council's authority over the city's affairs.

Judges receive raises

Judges receive raises JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid issued a decree on Wednesday increasing the salaries of judges.The head of the Indonesian Judges Association (Ikahi), Toton Suprapto, said the basic salary of first-grade judges would increase from Rp 750,000 (US$68) a month to Rp 1.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:Exhibitions * Painting by Seniwati Sanggar Muda, Seniwati Gallery of Art by Women, Jl. Sriwedari 2b, Banjar Taman, Ubud (Phone: 0361 975485), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., until May 30. * Indonesian 'Kain Ikat' from many places around the country at any ages, at Gaya Gallery (Gaya Fusion...

USA watching 'troubled' Indonesia: Powell

USA watching 'troubled' Indonesia: Powell WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States is carefully watching President Abdurrahman Wahid's battle against impeachment in "troubled" Indonesia, Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Tuesday.

IBRA plans to develop four 'core banks'

IBRA plans to develop four 'core banks' JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) plans to develop four "core banks" with strong capital and large- scale business in a bid to establish a strong banking industry.

Korean insurance firms refuse to pay fire claim

Korean insurance firms refuse to pay fire claim JAKARTA (JP): Two Korean-affiliated insurance firms have refused to pay US$5.85 million in an insurance fire claim from a noted paint and chemical company, alleging that the latter faked the time of a fire accident in October last year.

Climbing the ladder to democracy, economic strength

Climbing the ladder to democracy, economic strengthBy Patrick Schwarz SEMARANG (JP): Under a dictatorship, ethnically and religiously diverse people left each other alone because they had been forced to do so. In a democracy, they have to learn to be tolerant on their own.

Bank NISP triples profit

Bank NISP triples profit JAKARTA (JP): Bank NISP more than tripled its net profit to Rp 60.3 billion (US$5.24 million) and net earnings per share to Rp 55 last year, increasing its total assets to Rp 5.26 trillion, the publicly listed bank said in a statement.

RI still popular among Japanese

RI still popular among Japanese JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia was one of the top 10 destination countries for Japanese tourists in 2000 despite the social and political issues still clouding the country.The Ministry of Culture and Tourism reported on Wednesday that Indonesia ranked 10th in the Top Ten...

Karma prevails over popular Bali seaside resort Candidasa

Karma prevails over popular Bali seaside resort CandidasaBy Des Price CANDIDASA, Klungkung, East Bali (JP): Away from the crowds that amass in the south of Bali, the sereneness of Candidasa provides a welcome break to those weary of the hustle and bustle of city life and the over-commercialized...

Students beat up Makassar policeman

Students beat up Makassar policeman MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: A group of students, believed to be members of the local branch of the Association of Muslim Students (HMI), mobbed a policeman on Wednesday in front of their headquarters on Jl. Bontolempangan.

Spontaneity shows in expressionism in van der Sterren

Spontaneity shows in expressionism in van der SterrenBy Ipong Purnama Sidhi JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 paintings by artist John van der Sterren are on display at Galeri Mon Decor in the solo exhibition A Tropical Journey, which is scheduled to run until May 23.

KONI ready to replace Hasan

KONI ready to replace Hasan JAKARTA (JP): The National Sports Council (KONI) has three candidates ready to replace Mohamad "Bob" Hasan on the International Olympic Committee (IOC)."The suspension (of Bob Hasan) is not yet final because the IOC is still waiting for reports from its ethics commission.

Caltex cuts contract with Citra Tubindo for breaching law

Caltex cuts contract with Citra Tubindo for breaching law JP/12/CaltexCaltex to terminate rigged contract with Citra Tubindo JAKARTA (JP): American oil firm PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia has decided to terminate its welded steel pipe procurement contract with PT Citra Tubindo two years ahead of plan...

India supports ASEAN's nuclear-free status

India supports ASEAN's nuclear-free status KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Nuclear power India said on Wednesday it respected Southeast Asia's nuclear-weapons-free status and pledged to support any move to formalize the bloc's security position along those lines.

Audit body to get tough on officials

Audit body to get tough on officials JAKARTA (JP): The Public Servants Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) will announce the names of state officials who refuse to fill out wealth forms or fail to submit their forms in a timely manner, the commission's chief said on Wednesday.

Illegal detention upheld in KL

Illegal detention upheld in KL KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Delivering a blow to two opposition leaders who have been jailed without trial for five weeks, Malaysia's Federal Court on Wednesday ruled that they should not appear in court during a case challenging their detention.N.