Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 June 2001

59 articles found

Jakarta meets Yogyakarta in men's semifinals

Jakarta meets Yogyakarta in men's semifinals JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta's men's team outclassed East Java 3-1 (22-25, 25-22, 25-14, 25-22) in the last qualifying match of the 2001 interchapter national volleyball championships on Friday to top group A.

Position of deputy police chief restored

Position of deputy police chief restored JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid has issued a decree to reinstate the post of the National Police deputy chief, a position which he had earlier removed.Dated June 21 this year, presidential decree No.

Mortuary assistant performs thankless job from the heart

Mortuary assistant performs thankless job from the heartBy Multa Firdaus JAKARTA (JP): The stench of the rotten corpse was unbearable, but Sofah calmly leaned over the body and cleaned it. The dead was not a member of her family, nor her best friend.

Bank syndicate loans Rp 400b to Indosiar

Bank syndicate loans Rp 400b to Indosiar JAKARTA (JP): A syndicate of local banks led by publicly listed Bank Danamon agreed on Friday to provide a loan worth Rp 400 billion (US$35.7 million) to publicly listed television company PT Indosiar Visual Mandiri.

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership

Philippines-Indonesia Relations, a continuing partnership Philippine-Indonesian relations are characterized by a genuine sense of brotherhood borne out of centuries of close and vibrant interaction as neighbors. In precolonial times, trade, commerce and transmigration flourished between our peoples.

Violent protests irrational: NGOs

Violent protests irrational: NGOs JAKARTA (JP): A labor watchdog has claimed that the recent violent labor protests demanding the revocation of two ministerial decrees on labor issues were irrational as they were not comparable to their goals.

Message from the President

Message from the President To all our kababayans abroad, I convey my warmest felicitations on the occasion of the 103rd Anniversary of Philippine Independence.This year's Philippine Independence Day should be extra meaningful in light of another glorious moment in our history at EDSA II.

Miss Universe almost loses her dazzling crown

Miss Universe almost loses her dazzling crown JAKARTA (JP): The thunderous applause from some 100 guests, mostly noted businessmen and celebrities, filled the entire Sasono Mulyo ballroom of Le Meridien hotel when the newly crowned Miss Universe 2001, Denise Quinones August, appeared from backstage.

Tommy skips tax debts as document missing

Tommy skips tax debts as document missing JAKARTA (JP): With the mysterious disappearance of a court document, Indonesia's most wanted fugitive, Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, has managed to avoid the payment of Rp 3.

President, TNI united in defense of troops actions

President, TNI united in defense of troops actions JAKARTA (JP): Despite perceived tension between President Abdurrahman and the Indonesian Military (TNI) recently, both made a united stand on Friday in defense of the much-criticized action of joint security troops stationed in the riot-torn Maluku...

AriaWest rejects demand to set up transitional management

AriaWest rejects demand to set up transitional management JAKARTA (JP): One of state-owned PT Telkom's joint cooperation partner, PT AriaWest International, has rejected its workers' demand for establishment of a transitional management team to run its telecom services in West Java and Banten.

Identifying opportunities in today's job market

Identifying opportunities in today's job marketBy Pri Notowidigdo JAKARTA (JP): Hartono (a fictitious name) was stunned when he walked out of his boss' office.After 12 years of working as an engineer for PT Engineering Indonesia (also a fictitious name), he was informed that he was being laid off.

Abortion case suspects quizzed

Abortion case suspects quizzed BANDUNG: Three suspects in a case allegedly involving over 500 illegal abortions in Bandung are being questioned by police to find out if they were linked to a criminal ring.

Thai-Myanmar

Thai-Myanmar border to re-open BANGKOK (Agencies): Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said Myanmar would reopen its three main border gateways with Thailand on Sunday, after having closed them in February amid tension between the two countries.

Gus Dur repeats threats after Friday prayers

Gus Dur repeats threats after Friday prayers JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid claimed on Friday that he has not run out of ammunition that could foil an attempt by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to impeach him or restrict his power.

Referees banned from matches

Referees banned from matches JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) disciplinary commission has banned four referees and a match commissioner for two years after they violated Bank Mandiri league rules when supervising a match between Persma Manado and Pelita Solo in Manado, North...

Two killed in road accident

Two killed in road accident SURABAYA, East Java: At least two people, a middle-aged woman passenger and a toddler, were killed instantly when a minibus was hit by a passing freight train at a railroad crossing near the Pondok Benowo Indah housing complex in West Surabaya at around 1:30 p.m.

Special session

Special sessionFrom Sinar PagiThe House of Representatives and People's Consultative Assembly speakers have given the green light for the holding of the special session. No matter whether the special session is held in August or July, it appears it is largely aimed at impeaching the President.

Jakarta at 474

Jakarta at 474 It may be a sign of the times that Indonesia's capital city, Jakarta, marked its 474th anniversary on Friday all but unnoticed even by the its own citizens. This is a far cry from earlier years, especially in the 1970s, when the city was governed with both forward-looking vision and...

JP/2/DAYAK

JP/2/DAYAKFollow-up actions to Dayak-Madura reconciliation urged PALANGKARAYA, Central Kalimantan (JP): Several local tribal leaders have called on all levels of the government to promptly follow up results of the newly concluded Dayak people's congress, which recommended the settlement of...

Rp 9 billion for Poso refugees

Rp 9 billion for Poso refugees PALU, Central Sulawesi: The central government has provided Rp 9 billion in relief aid for at least 79,000 refugees from Poso currently accommodated in Palu and several regencies in Central Sulawesi.

Give me back my hot spot

Give me back my hot spot I have been reading The Jakarta Post for years. I first started to love the paper when I once found some nice issues on education. At present, however, your paper is no longer enjoyable to read since you have forgotten my favorite "hot spot".

Former red-light district to become Islamic center

Former red-light district to become Islamic center JAKARTA (JP): The city administration revealed on Friday its plan to convert the former Kramat Tunggak brothel area in North Jakarta into an integrated Islamic center.

Give Megawati a chance

Give Megawati a chanceFrom Koran TempoPresident Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has repeatedly said that he would not step down and that he could not do so even if he had wanted to. His latest statement in this respect was made when he responded to KH Attabil Ali, who had quite wisely reminded him of...

Confident Jakarta 'ready for more autonomy'

Confident Jakarta 'ready for more autonomy' JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso feted the 474th anniversary of Jakarta on Friday with a declaration that the nation's capital was ready to accept greater responsibility, as well as duties, from the central government under the new regional autonomy law.

Tight schedules for Yogya railways

Tight schedules for Yogya railways YOGYAKARTA: State railway authorities in Yogyakarta had to arrange very tight schedules on Friday following the detour of trains serving northern routes to the south.Spokesman for the company's Yogyakarta and Central Java operation Purnomo told Antara that the...

Press charged with disinformation

Press charged with disinformationBy Harry Bhaskara JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian press retains many of its less- than-satisfactory qualities three years into the so-called reform era. Pundits assessing press performance said in a recent discussion here that they found that the "culture of lies",...

Pharmaceutical firms swallow bitter pill of weak rupiah

Pharmaceutical firms swallow bitter pill of weak rupiah JAKARTA (JP): Most local pharmaceutical companies are still facing difficulties due to the Indonesian rupiah's continued slump against the U.S. dollar, an industry insider said here on Friday.PT Darya-Varia Laboratoria president Philip A.

Stock Exchange

Stock ExchangeStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 22, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,500 0 35,000 Adindo Foresta 120 5 34,000 AGIS 145 0 700,000 Alakasa 150 0 0 Alfa Retailindo 1,075...

Weekend lineup

Weekend lineup JAKARTA (JP): The following sports competitions are to be broadcast live this weekend on local TV stations (all times are Jakarta Time):Sunday Boxing: Junior middleweight: Javier Castillejo vs Oscar de la Hoya, RCTI, 9 a.m.Soccer: Bank Mandiri league: Persija vs Persib, RCTI, 4 p.m.

Retired judge admits meeting 'case broker'

Retired judge admits meeting 'case broker' JAKARTA (JP): A retired judge who has been accused of accepting bribes told the Central Jakarta District Court on Thursday that he had met a "case broker" at his residence three times, but denied receiving any money.

Rupiah rate June 22

Rupiah rate June 22 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,845.00 11,845.00 11,288.00 11,402.00Australian dollar 1 5,594.94 6,116.76 5,823.48 5,887.99Austrian schilling 1 672.28 734.70 699.74 707.22Belgian franc 1 229.32 250.61 238.69 241.

Searching for the right school always a headache

Searching for the right school always a headacheBy Hera Diani JAKARTA (JP): This month, many parents find themselves in the quest for selecting schools for their children, which, as in war, needs a certain strategy.Searching for a good school in a big city like Jakarta is not easy for most people.

Threats

Threats Gus Dur repeats threats after Friday prayers. Page 2 School Searching for the right school always a headache. Page 3 Unleaded gas Switching to unleaded gasoline. Page 4 Tennis Davenport in Eastbourne final at expense of Rubin. Page 6 Offerings Offerings a must before sugar mill rolls.

Mahfud's statement

Mahfud's statementFrom RepublikaOn June 14, 2001, TPI aired its interactive dialog program called Pro and Con featuring Prof Dr. Yusril Ihza Mahendra, Mahadi Sinambela and Prof. Dr. Mahfud MD.Mahfud MD gave an interesting and rational analysis, but one point must be underlined. He said, "...

Offerings a must before the sugar mill rolls

Offerings a must before the sugar mill rollsText and photos by Bambang Muryanto KARANGANYAR, Central Java (JP): So, the machines are all installed, the workers are organized and ready to start -- now it's time to take care of the spirits.

ICJ to hear Sipadan-Ligitan case

ICJ to hear Sipadan-Ligitan case THE HAGUE (AFP): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will start public hearings here on Monday to determine if the Philippines can intervene in a territorial dispute between neighbors Malaysia and Indonesia.

Government to provide subsidy for imported buses and taxis

Government to provide subsidy for imported buses and taxis JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Friday it would subsidize imported new buses and taxis by public transportation companies instead of handing out cash to compensate for the recent fuel price hike.Minister of Industry and Trade Luhut B.

Where to go in Jakarta: Friday, June 22, 2001

Where to go in Jakarta: Friday, June 22, 2001Exhibitions * Art in Italian and Indonesian Ceramics in the framework of the Indonesian-Italian Workshop on Advanced and Conventional Ceramics, Italian Cultural Institute, Jl. HOS Cokroaminoto 117, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3927531), Monday to Friday, 9 a.

Towards better cooperation between home and school

Towards better cooperation between home and schoolBy Mochtar Buchori JAKARTA (JP): Education starts at home, many say, and school education is said to be merely an extension of education provided within the family.In reality, the situation is not that simple.

BAM hopes to hire Indonesia's Kho Mei Hua

BAM hopes to hire Indonesia's Kho Mei Hua JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is hoping to hire Indonesia's women's singles coach Kho Mei Hua to support its ambition of improving its women's squad in international events, in particular, at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in...

Indonesia added to moneylaundering blacklist

Indonesia added to moneylaundering blacklist PARIS (Agencies): Industrialized nations added Indonesia to a money laundering blacklist on Friday, thereby putting international financial transactions with that country under a tougher scrutiny.

Compensation for ministers

Compensation for ministersFrom Bisnis IndonesiaI would like to ask several questions of the Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration with regard to the many recent cases of early dismissal of ministers from office:* Is a minister a permanent employee, or one hired on a contract basis?* Will a...

Pertamina postpones Arun start-up to mid-July

Pertamina postpones Arun start-up to mid-July JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina said on Friday that gas production from the Arun gas fields in Aceh was expected to be restarted by mid-July, or two weeks later than previously scheduled.

Mahathir asked to crack down on opposition group

Mahathir asked to crack down on opposition group KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Picking up on a lead from Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, officials from Malaysia's ruling party on Friday demanded that the government crack down harder on a powerful fundamentalist Islamic opposition group.

Cisadane fiesta opens Saturday

Cisadane fiesta opens Saturday TANGERANG, Banten (JP): The annual Cisadane Festival, which opens here on Saturday, will present an assortment of traditional art performances and competitions for residents of Tangerang.Speaking to Antara, E.

U.S. Dollar Rates June.22

U.S. Dollar Rates June.22 Latest Previous %ChangeYen 124.27-29 124.51-56 -0.19 Euro* 0.8523-24 0.8547-51 -0.28 Sterling 1.4140-42 1.4159-63 -0.13 Swiss Franc 1.7788-98 1.7775-85 +0.07 Canadian Dollar* 1.5246-51 1.5223-33 +0.15 Australian Dollar* 0.5160-65 0.5169-74 -0.17 New Zealand Dollar 0.

Sweet tooth in China seen as boost for cocoa

Sweet tooth in China seen as boost for cocoa KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): China's cocoa powder consumption may reach 18,000 tons per year from 17,000 tons in coming years as Chinese develop a taste for chocolate, traders said on Friday.

ExxonMobil sued over rights abuses in Aceh

ExxonMobil sued over rights abuses in Aceh WASHINGTON (Agencies): The International Labor Rights Fund announced here on Thursday that it has sued ExxonMobil Corporation on charges it paid and directed government security forces who committed atrocities while protecting an ExxonMobil facility in...

Negative impacts of fuel hike

Negative impacts of fuel hikeFrom Media IndonesiaSince the New Order era, the increase of fuel prices has always been presented as a reduction in the government's subsidy to the people, as this phenomenon is closely associated with the fluctuation of the oil price in the world market.

DBS announces US$5b takeover bid for rival S'pore bank

DBS announces US$5b takeover bid for rival S'pore bank SINGAPORE (AFP): DBS Group Holdings Ltd. on Friday made a surprise US$5 billion offer to take over rival Overseas Union Bank Ltd. (OUB) as the shakeout of the Singapore banking sector moved into a higher gear.

Megawati asks IBRA to speed up asset sale

Megawati asks IBRA to speed up asset sale JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri has told the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to speed up the sale of various banking assets under its control, Finance Minister Rizal Ramli said on Friday.

Another bomb found at Pancoran blast site

Another bomb found at Pancoran blast site JAKARTA (JP): The National Police's bomb squad (Gegana) found yet another pipe bomb on Friday afternoon among the rubble left by Tuesday's bomb blast in a two-story boardinghouse in Pancoran, South Jakarta.

Switching to unleaded gasoline

Switching to unleaded gasolineBy Kardono JAKARTA (JP): The use of leaded petroleum is gradually being phased out worldwide, because of increasing recognition of health risks of lead exposure and the introduction of catalytic converters, which require unleaded petroleum.

Economist warns inflation in 2001 may surge to 14%

Economist warns inflation in 2001 may surge to 14% JAKARTA (JP): Inflation in 2001 could reach a worrying level of around 14 percent, much higher than the government forecast of 9.3 percent, due to a combination of the country's slower export performance and the recent increase in fuel prices and...

Two Indonesians named in billionaires club

Two Indonesians named in billionaires club JAKARTA (JP): Both are 53 and both sit atop business empires built solely on kretek, the sweet smelling clove-flavored cigarettes. On Friday, Rachman Halim and Putera Sampoerna were named among the world's 538 billionaires by the leading U.S.

Time bomb defused ahead of congress

Time bomb defused ahead of congress SURABAYA, East Java (JP): Police on Friday managed to defuse a time bomb planted near the city's main sports arena, where a congress is scheduled to be held on Sunday to support President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Australia 'went on war footing over E. Timor'

Australia 'went on war footing over E. Timor' SYDNEY, Australia (Reuters): UN-sanctioned warships escorting troops to East Timor in 1999 went on full battle alert after two Indonesian submarines began shadowing the fleet, a New Zealand defense expert said on Friday.

Abdurrahman's Australian visit to begin on Monday

Abdurrahman's Australian visit to begin on Monday JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid is scheduled to arrive on Monday morning in Canberra for a state visit during which he will meet with Australian Prime Minister John Howard and other key Australian figures, Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi...