Archive: 8 May 2001
40 articles found
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Timber consultant says bad guys are winning the war
Timber consultant says bad guys are winning the war By Bruce Emond JAKARTA (JP): It's not all black and white when Jim Jarvie turns his expert eye on the rape of the country's forests. Sure, there are the bad guys, a gang of thieves which includes corrupt concessionaires, government officials and, reportedly, members of the security apparatus on the take.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah gains as tension cools down
Rupiah gains as tension cools down JAKARTA (JP): The rupiah is poised to maintain its upward trend this week on signs of abating political tension as the market sees a compromise between conflicting parties nearing, analysts predicted over the weekend. The rupiah could renew its strength as market players see that efforts are being made to end the country's political impasse, they said.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
School girls drown in Permata Hijau swimming pool
School girls drown in Permata Hijau swimming pool JAKARTA (JP): At least three unnatural deaths occurred over the weekend in greater Jakarta, including the drowning of two elementary school students, and a murder over a minor misunderstanding. In the first incident, two elementary school students drowned on Saturday in a swimming pool, in the Permata Hijau housing complex in Grogol Utara, Kebayoran Lama district of South Jakarta.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Daihatsu boosts KL stake
Daihatsu boosts KL stake TOKYO (AFP): Japanese minicar maker Daihatsu Motor Co. Ltd. will take a majority stake in its Malaysian auto joint venture to raise output capacity there by 25 percent, a report said Sunday. The automaker, a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Co., plans to boost its 25-percent stake in the Malaysian partner Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn. Bhd. (Perodua) and take over the management, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Anti-communist groups accused of communist practice
Anti-communist groups accused of communist practice JAKARTA (JP): The threat issued by anticommunist groups to raid bookstores and burn books perceived as leftist was blasted by experts and activists, who labeled it as "a practice of communism itself". Sociologist Paulus Wirutomo said nowadays people had lost suitable models to demonstrate their disagreement and simply resorted to anarchical actions to attract public attention.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
38 dead in weekend traffic accidents
38 dead in weekend traffic accidents JAKARTA (JP): The long weekend, traditionally a time for people to take out of town trips, saw tragedy with three separate accidents claiming 38 lives. All three accidents -- one in West Java, and two in Central Java -- were attributed by the police to reckless driving.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Falungong strive for another dimension in life
Falungong strive for another dimension in life By Peter Kerr JAKARTA (JP): It is a little after six in the morning, and the square around the National Monument (Monas) is coming alive. A new sun burns through Jakarta's haze and warms the faces of a dozen people standing motionless at the base of Monas, their eyes closed and arms outstretched in the Falun Standing Stance. This is number two in the set of five exercises of the movement.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Orangutan only one of Indonesia's vanishing species
Orangutan only one of Indonesia's vanishing species By Daniel Cooney NYARU MENTENG, Central Kalimantan (AP): Seven-month-old Nabima often has nightmares. She wakes in the night screaming and crying, says Lone Droscher-Nielsen, who is looking after the little orangutan. At only a few weeks old, Nabima and her mother were shot out of a tree by tribesmen in the remote interior of Borneo, called Kalimantan in Indonesia and shared with Malaysia.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Violent winds destroy houses
Violent winds destroy houses JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of houses were damaged and trees uprooted in Jatiasih, Bekasi, when a violent storm with strong winds and heavy rain struck the area for 30 minutes on Saturday afternoon. No fatalities were reported. The storm struck houses suddenly in the Pondok Gede Permai Housing Complex at around 4 p.m., Antara reported on Saturday.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
17 highway criminals shot dead
17 highway criminals shot dead JAKARTA (JP): Police have shot dead at least 17 criminals on city highways from January to April, outgoing city police chief Insp. Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman said over the weekend. The 17 killed were involved in highway robberies, murder and hijacking, Mulyono said. "They were shot dead, mostly for resisting arrest," Mulyono told reporters at city police headquarters.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
PM Koizumi vows to strengthen ties with China, Asia
PM Koizumi vows to strengthen ties with China, Asia TOKYO (Reuters): Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held out an olive branch to regional rival China in his debut parliamentary speech on Monday, avoiding a string of tricky diplomatic issues that have irritated relations with Beijing.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Economic pain, protests cloud financial meet
Economic pain, protests cloud financial meet HONOLULU (Reuters): Asian financial leaders, still struggling with the lingering pain of the 1997 crisis, gather in Hawaii this week ready to unveil progress in stitching together a currency safety net to ward off another regional meltdown. The Asian Development Bank annual meeting in Honolulu from Wednesday to Friday is drawing ministers and central bankers from across Asia, as well as U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Government reviews pro-labor decree
Government reviews pro-labor decree JAKARTA (JP): Labor unions are threatening massive strikes following Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Al-Hilal Hamdi's decision to amend controversial Ministerial Decree No. 150/2000 on employment termination which allows employees to receive a substantial payout regardless of whether they resign or are dismissed. Labor unions charge that the government buckled under pressure from foreign investors and big businesses.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Musician Charles Hutagalung dies of stroke
Musician Charles Hutagalung dies of stroke JAKARTA (JP): One of Indonesia's pop song composers, Charles Hutagalung, 52, died here on Monday after suffering the effects of a stroke that he had three years ago, Antara has reported. Charles' eldest son Immanuel said his father died at 7:53 a.m. on the way to Pertamina Hospital. "Papa told me to take care of Mom," Immanuel said, quoting the last words from Charles, a father of four children and husband of Deli Sriati.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Fifth JJGF Open Golf Championship set to tee off on Thursday
Fifth JJGF Open Golf Championship set to tee off on Thursday JAKARTA (JP): The fifth JJGF Open Golf Championship will kick off on May 10 with the pro-am tournament proceeding it one day earlier at the Jagorawi Golf and Country Club in Bogor. The tournament is offering Rp 200 million (US$18,350) prize money, Rp 70 million less than the last tournament in September 2000.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
IBRA unhappy with Chandra Asri's debt workout
IBRA unhappy with Chandra Asri's debt workout JAKARTA (JP): The US$730-million debt restructuring scheme for PT Chandra Asri's olefins center in West Java could still fall apart due to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA)'s disappointment with the proportion of debt-to-equity conversion, sources close to the negotiations said over the weekend.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Oddness of 'Kim' episode masks its gravity
Oddness of 'Kim' episode masks its gravity TOKYO: A man believed to be Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, attempted to enter Japan illegally at Narita airport Tuesday only to have his attempt foiled by immigration authorities. The supposed younger Kim was deported to Beijing Friday after three days of detention. The man reportedly possessed a forged Dominican Republic passport and was accompanied by two women and a child.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Asian stocks edge up on possible U.S. rate cut
Asian stocks edge up on possible U.S. rate cut SINGAPORE (Reuters): Holiday-thinned Asian equity markets were mostly higher on Monday aided by expectations of further U.S. rate cuts and some local factors. Markets in Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand and Malaysia were shut for a public holiday. Shares in Tokyo finished higher after being weighed down earlier as investors opted to take profits specifically in technology shares upon returning from the Golden Week.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Cabinet 'will not abandon President'
Cabinet 'will not abandon President' JAKARTA (JP): Chief political affairs minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono insisted on Monday that he and other ministers would not abandon the administration of President Abdurrahman Wahid in times of crisis, and pledged to aid the embattled President to make the right political decisions.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Hotels enjoy high occupancy rate over long weekend
Hotels enjoy high occupancy rate over long weekend JAKARTA (JP): Several hotels in the capital benefited from the long weekend, with the Buddhist holiday Waisak on Monday, as shown by an increase in their occupancy rates of up to 30 percent. Horison Hotel in North Jakarta, which is located near Ancol beach and Ancol Fantasy Land Amusement Park, had an 89 percent occupancy rate during the weekend. "Usually on weekends, the occupancy rate is 75 percent.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies mixed on volatile yen moves
Asian currencies mixed on volatile yen moves TOKYO (Dow Jones): Asian currencies were mixed late Monday as the yen rebounded against the U.S. dollar after the Japanese currency gave back some of last week's gains earlier in the holiday-thinned trading session. With national holidays in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and other parts of Asia, the Asian currencies mostly tracked the yen's volatile moves amid the thin markets. The yen initially fell against the U.S.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Merpati to lease Garuda planes
Merpati to lease Garuda planes JAKARTA (JP): State-owned airline PT Merpati Nusantara plans to lease F-28 aircraft owned by flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia in order to overcome an aircraft shortage when it begins servicing new domestic routes, a senior executive said. "Merpati will propose it (the plan) to Garuda, but we don't know whether or not they will agree," Merpati finance director Budiman was quoted by Antara as saying.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian winning streak in World Cup group
Indonesian winning streak in World Cup group MALE (Agencies): Indonesia maintained its 100 percent record and its position at the top of the 2002 World Cup Asia Zone Group Nine qualifying tournament with a 2-0 victory over host the Maldives on Sunday. The victory also wiped out Indonesia's worry after the Maldives managed to hold China 1-0 at home on April 28.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Is Indonesia really collapsing?
Is Indonesia really collapsing? By Jusuf Wanandi JAKARTA (JP): Much has been written in the press about the mess in Indonesia. There is also a lot of speculation about Indonesia's implosion and its demise as a nation. Contingency plans have reportedly been drafted to include joint military exercises under the United States, in anticipation of the impact on Southeast Asia. How valid are all these speculations, assessments and scenarios about Indonesia's future breakup?
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Legal experts decry Atambua sentences
Legal experts decry Atambua sentences JAKARTA (JP): Legal experts lamented the "lenient" sentences handed down to six men for the killing of three United Nations humanitarian workers, saying that the prosecutors should have prepared a stronger case and should immediately appeal to a higher court for severer punishment.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Budget deficit to be limited to 3.8% of GDP
Budget deficit to be limited to 3.8% of GDP JAKARTA (JP): Finance minister Prijadi Praptosuhardjo said on Monday that the government would try to limit the 2001 state budget deficit to 3.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Telkom's discount
Telkom's discount From Pos Kota The North Jakarta branch office of the state-owned telecommunications corporation (Telkom) has since April 2001 been advertising a 60 percent discount off the cost of installing a new telephone line. Interested in the offer, I registered myself as a new subscriber but, to my surprise, I was told there were no lines available.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Police question former rector over his role in ethnic riots
Police question former rector over his role in ethnic riots JAKARTA (JP): National Police are still questioning former rector of Palangka Raya University, KMA Usop, for his alleged role in inciting interethnic clashes between local Dayaks and Madurese migrants in Central Kalimantan, which killed more than 400 people. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi said on Monday that the police would take action against anybody who made statements which created mass unrest and provoked chaos.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Tectonic quake hits N. Maluku
Tectonic quake hits N. Maluku TERNATE, North Maluku: A tectonic earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter Scale rocked Ternate and Halmahera in North Maluku on Sunday but there were no immediate reports available on damage or fatalities. Antara quoted the head of Ternate Meteorological and Geophysics Agency Bambang on Monday as saying that the quake centered on the district of Ibu island or some 96 kilometers north east of Ternate at a depth of 33 kilometers.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Abdurrahman insists on Islamic law for Aceh
Abdurrahman insists on Islamic law for Aceh JAKARTA (JP): Despite opposition from the country's largest political party, President Abdurrahman Wahid insisted on Monday that the government would go ahead with its plan to implement Islamic law or syariah in the restive province of Aceh.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Holidayers prefer domestic packages
Holidayers prefer domestic packages JAKARTA (JP): The depreciation of the rupiah against the U.S. dollar has badly affected business for tour and travel agencies in the city as people prefer to take domestic rather than overseas tour packages. Deddy Souhoka of Zamrud Holiday which operates Iwata Nusantara, Blue Swan and Sejati tour and travel agencies said on Saturday that he used to see 60 percent of his customers taking overseas tour packages.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Rp 50 billion funding for poor 'vulnerable to corruption'
Rp 50 billion funding for poor 'vulnerable to corruption' JAKARTA (JP): The city administration's plan to grant Rp 50 billion (US$4.5 million) to 25 poor subdistricts could be easily misappropriated because of a lack of clarity in its program and insufficient control, an activist and residents said on Monday.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Communal brawl erupts in Bali
Communal brawl erupts in Bali DENPASAR, Bali: A brawl between two neighboring hamlets in Mambal village, some 15 kilometers north of here, left one house, one family temple and a motor scooter badly damaged on Sunday night. No fatalities were reported in the incident. An eyewitness reported that the brawl started at 5 p.m. local time and ended a few hours later after the police arrived at the scene.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Suspected pushers nabbed in Denpasar
Suspected pushers nabbed in Denpasar DENPASAR, Bali: The police have arrested four people and seized some 75 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and 300 ecstasy pills in separate raids in the past few days. The police arrested alleged drug dealer I Gede Suwirta, 32, at his house in downtown Denpasar on Saturday afternoon. The police reportedly found two grams of shabu-shabu on Suwirta and another 50 grams hidden inside a stuffed toy cat, Badung Police officer First Insp.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Muslim group to sue police over group leader's arrest
Muslim group to sue police over group leader's arrest JAKARTA (JP): The Laskar Jihad Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamma'ah Muslim group declared on Monday that it would file a lawsuit against the National Police over the alleged wrongful arrest of their commander, Ja'far Umar Thalib. Laskar Jihad deputy commander Aip Syarifuddin contended that the police had not handed a police summons to Ja'far prior to his arrest on Friday.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Scalpers rampant at 'Republic Bagong'
Scalpers rampant at 'Republic Bagong' JAKARTA (JP): Scalpers are rampant at the drama performance from Teater Koma titled "Republik Bagong" since it started a few days ago at Graha Bhakti Budaya in Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Arts Center, Central Jakarta. The scalpers hiked the price from Rp 35,000 (US$3.18) for a first class ticket to as much as Rp 150,000 ($13.63), Antara reported.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Solution to diesel oil scarcity
Solution to diesel oil scarcity From Warta Kota As an Indonesian citizen residing in Jakarta, I feel concerned about Pertamina's predicament in seeking a solution to reductions in the diesel oil subsidy. As a matter of fact, the government's efforts to clamp down on diesel oil smuggling and to reduce its subsidy have been somewhat satisfactory, but they apparently have not yet given serious thought to the consequences that may arise.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Ever elusive justice
Ever elusive justice Indonesia's ability to deliver and to uphold justice has come under the world spotlight once again. International condemnation came swift and fast on Friday as soon as a district court in Jakarta sentenced six pro-Indonesia East Timorese to between 10 and 20 months in jail for their roles in the September murder of three United Nations humanitarian aid workers.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Government finalizing steps to launch treasury bonds
Government finalizing steps to launch treasury bonds JAKARTA (JP): The government is close to finalizing preparations for the launch of short-term treasury bonds that will be used to finance future budget deficits and crucial for the avoidance of a potential fiscal disaster in 2004, when many bonds already issued by the government mature.
Tue, 08 May 2001, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Bandung:
Where to go in Bandung: Exhibition * Batik, at Grand Hotel Preanger Bandung, Jl. Asia Afrika No. 81 (Phone: 022 4231631), 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. until May 31. Performances * Sundanese Traditional Drama Dewi Cindemaya, produced by Paguyuban Sandiwara Sunda Bandung, Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl. Baranang Siang 1, Kosambi (Phone: 022 4233562), 8 p.m., May 12. * Sundanese Dance, Music: Semalam di Tatar Sunda, by Credible group (students of UNPAD), CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl.