Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 28 June 2001

70 articles found

'Malaysia, RI tough rival in SEA Games'

'Malaysia, RI tough rival in SEA Games' JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian national team coach Benny Dolo said that Malaysia will pose a special threat to Indonesia, besides arch-rival Thailand and dark horse Vietnam, in the soccer competition of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur in September.

Justice, or power politics?

Justice, or power politics? Nobody -- as yet -- questions the integrity of the newly appointed Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa. It is no exaggeration to say that he remains to this moment one of the very few Indonesians to start office with a spotless reputation of honesty and dedication in the...

Conoco starts gas deliveries

Conoco starts gas deliveries JAKARTA (JP) Conoco Indonesia Inc. started Tuesday deliveries of natural gas to Singapore from its South Natuna Sea B Block, the company said Wednesday.Conoco Indonesia, a unit of Conoco Inc.

Voices from below the ground

Voices from below the groundBy Barbara Leigh SYDNEY, Australia (JP): Last month at the National Art Gallery of Indonesia was an exhibition of young women's paintings. One of them was a quite beautiful and yet terrifying installation by a woman who was born and grew up in Aceh, Endang Lestari.

PT Indocement to divest its units to pay debts

PT Indocement to divest its units to pay debts JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cement producer PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa said on Wednesday it planned to divest itself of two subsidiaries to help meet debt payments totaling US$861 million.

Boxers to fight in King's Cup

Boxers to fight in King's Cup JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Boxing Association (Pertina) will send seven boxers to the King's Cup in Bangkok from July 1 to July 7 as part of the selection process for a training stint in Havana starting on July 15.

Three men attack food vendor

Three men attack food vendor JAKARTA (JP): Three men attacked a female food vendor believing that she was a police informant in the Kebon Melati area of Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday evening.

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.

Army personnel arrest eight rioters in Poso

Army personnel arrest eight rioters in Poso POSO, Central Sulawesi (JP): Eight armed men were detained on Wednesday as they were allegedly about to attack residents working on a cacao plantation in Batugincu village, Poso, Central Sulawesi, an official said.Tadulako Military spokesman First Lt.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 27, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,525 50 563,500 Adindo Foresta 115 0 43,000 AGIS 140 0 161,000 Alakasa 150 0 0 Alfa...

Live grenade found in Kintamani

Live grenade found in Kintamani DENPASAR, Bali: A resident of Kembangsari village near the Kintamani traditional market in Bangli regency, Bali, discovered a live grenade on a coffee plantation and handed it over to local police, Antara reported on Wednesday.Bali's regional police spokesman, Adj.

Pande admits ordering payment of Bank Bali funds

Pande admits ordering payment of Bank Bali funds JAKARTA (JP): Former deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Pande Nasorahona Lubis testified on Wednesday that he had ordered Bank Indonesia to disburse Rp 904 billion (US$82 million) of IBRA's funds to Bank Bali.

Table tennis association names SEA Games players

Table tennis association names SEA Games players JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI) named its five men and five women players for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Wooing the Myanmar military junta is a tricky game

Wooing the Myanmar military junta is a tricky gameBy Vorapun Srivoranart BANGKOK: Thaksin's visit to Burma could prove fruitful to relations, though there are many long-term obstaclesIn reality, there is no black and white foreign policy, nor is there a single mould for every problem.

KL court quashes jail sentence on Anwar's lawyer

KL court quashes jail sentence on Anwar's lawyer KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's highest court on Wednesday unanimously threw out a contempt of court conviction and a prison sentence imposed on a lawyer for jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

'Madame Dasima' not quite a tale of the times

'Madame Dasima' not quite a tale of the timesBy Hera Diani JAKARTA (JP): Supposedly, it tells of a dysfunctional family. Supposedly, it portrays women's position in a relationship and society. Supposedly, it is about betrayal, and the consequences of "falling in love with someone you are not...

Attitude of Jakartans today

Attitude of Jakartans todayFrom Warta KotaJakarta may be celebrating its 474th anniversary, but the attitude of its residents has not changed for the better. On the contrary, Jakartans have become increasingly unsympathetic.

Law on state secrecy sought

Law on state secrecy sought JAKARTA (JP): What is a state secret or, to put it another way, what kind of information can be categorized as a state secret?In a discussion on Wednesday, observers found that such a term had yet to be properly defined in existing law books, so that certain articles can...

PDI-P legislator named BKPM chief

PDI-P legislator named BKPM chief JAKARTA (JP): Theo Thoemion, a legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI P), has been named the new chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM).

Property market remains bleak

Property market remains bleak By I. Christianto There are no promising signs yet that there is even a slow recovery in the property and real estate sector. Meanwhile, in the stock market, concerns over weak consumer demand has dragged down property and real estate heavyweights.

VP successor talks premature, says Megawati

VP successor talks premature, says Megawati JAKARTA (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri brushed aside on Wednesday the discourse on her possible successor should she take over the presidency from Abdurrahman Wahid, calling it premature.

Indonesia pushes for new pacific forum

Indonesia pushes for new pacific forum CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (Reuters): Indonesia on Wednesday invited New Zealand to join a new regional forum that Jakarta is promoting and which would include its former territory East Timor.

IMF team to visit Jakarta soon: Minister

IMF team to visit Jakarta soon: Minister JAKARTA (JP): After six months delay, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may finally send its special mission to Jakarta next month to review the country's economic reform program, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah said on...

U.S. Dollar Rates June.27

U.S. Dollar Rates June.27 Latest Previous %ChangeYen 124.28-33 123.80-85 +0.39Euro* 0.8628-33 0.8629-33 -0.01Sterling 1.4169-74 1.4147-52 +0.16Swiss Franc 1.7640-45 1.7645-50 -0.03Canadian Dollar* 1.5118-28 1.5162-72 -0.29Australian Dollar* 0.5200-05 0.5214-19 -0.27New Zealand Dollar 0.4181-88 0.

Gus Dur told to avoid state of emergency

Gus Dur told to avoid state of emergency JAKARTA (JP): Ministers and security authorities expressed hopes on Wednesday that embattled President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid would not declare a state of emergency, as a last resort, to survive his political life.

Megawati

Megawati VP successor talks premature, says Megawati. Page 2 Rectors Police offer guns to rectors for protection. Page 3Latin America Latin America has democracy, but abuses persist. Page 5Tennis Williams flag flying high at Wimbledon. Page 6Guthrie Guthrie claims Indonesian palm oil deal completed.

PASI eyes eight golds at SEA Games

PASI eyes eight golds at SEA Games JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Amateur Athletics Association (PASI) is optimistic of earning eight of 46 golds at stake in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in September.

Landslide victims still missing

Landslide victims still missing PADANG, West Sumatra: As of Wednesday afternoon, rescue workers had yet to find two workers who went missing in a landslide in Bukit Ngalau, Lubuk Kilangan district, Padang, on Tuesday.

Pertamina books Rp 3.74t net profit

Pertamina books Rp 3.74t net profit JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina booked a net profit of Rp 3.74 trillion (about US$328.21 million) in the nine-month 2000 fiscal year that ended on Dec. 31. This compared to the Rp 4.

Rift among police displayed over dual leadership

Rift among police displayed over dual leadership JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro had reportedly cut short his minor haj pilgrimage and returned to the capital on Tuesday, after receiving news that there had been a near clash among his middle-ranking officers.

Navy arrests mutineers on Malaysian tanker

Navy arrests mutineers on Malaysian tanker JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy arrested 10 alleged mutinying crew members who commandeered a Malaysian-flagged tanker, the MT Selayang, in Tanjung Berau waters off East Kalimantan on Wednesday, Antara reported.Balikpapan naval base commander Lt. Col.

Govt revokes luxury tax on shampoo, PCs

Govt revokes luxury tax on shampoo, PCs JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Wednesday it had decided to revoke luxury sales taxes on several products including shampoo and computers starting next month,The finance ministry said in a statement that previously the items were subject to luxury taxes...

Textile Museum shines in shabby environs

Textile Museum shines in shabby environsBy Hera Diani JAKARTA (JP): Imagine a luxury mansion located right in the heart of the Bronx. That is probably a perfect analogy for the Textile Museum located at Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun No. 4 in Central Jakarta.

Benchmarks, not washing machines

Benchmarks, not washing machines The allocation of funds intended for the purchase of washing machines for members of the House of Representatives (DPR) has sparked a public debate in which this policy has been cynically responded to in view of the large amount of money that the government has...

Great promotions launched despite uncertainties

Great promotions launched despite uncertainties JAKARTA (JP): Housing and property developers are currently promoting their projects with attractive advertisements in the media. Property exhibitions are also held regularly in the capital.

Major challenges lie ahead at the end of HIV/STD project

Major challenges lie ahead at the end of HIV/STD projectBy I Wayan Juniartha DENPASAR, Bali (JP): With more than four million condoms distributed and at least 30,000 people educated in the basic knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS in Bali alone, the five-year Indonesia...

UIC 2000 income increased

UIC 2000 income increased JAKARTA (JP): Chemical producer PT Unggul Indah Cahaya (UIC) announced on Wednesday a net consolidated income of US$13.8 million for 2000, a 54.7 percent increase from $9 million in the previous year.

Supreme Court holds Tommy's tax document

Supreme Court holds Tommy's tax document JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court's deputy chief justice for civil and administrative courts, Paulus Effendi Lotulung, said on Wednesday the court possessed the reportedly missing decision in a case involving a company belonging to fugitive Hutomo "Tommy"...

Indonesia to recover faster after August special session: Ramli

Indonesia to recover faster after August special session: Ramli KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Indonesia's economy will recover faster after Aug. 1 whatever the outcome of a parliamentary session which could impeach the president, Finance Minister Rizal Ramli said Wednesday.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:The 23rd Bali Arts festival at The Werdhi Budaya Art Center at Jl. Nusa Indah, Denpasar : June 28: The romantic Semara Pagulingan traditional gong ensemble of Denpasar's Kaja Sesetan hamlet. Plus the grand procession of Ngelawang Agung of Tabanan regency, 10 a.m.

Aceh peace talks must prioritize civilian protection: Amnesty

Aceh peace talks must prioritize civilian protection: Amnesty LONDON (Agencies): Peace talks on Aceh, which are to resume in Geneva next week must prioritize human rights protection, Amnesty International said on Tuesday.

Asia must adopt managed float: Japan

Asia must adopt managed float: Japan KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Emerging economies in Asia should adopt a managed currency float tied to a trade-weighted basket of currencies, Japan's top financial diplomat Haruhiko Kuroda said on Wednesday.

Poll still places RI among the most corrupt countries

Poll still places RI among the most corrupt countries BERLIN (AFP): The latest poll by Transparency International still put Indonesia among the most corrupt countries with scores of two or less, with Finland, Denmark and NewZealand ranked the 'cleanest' ones with scores of between nine and ten.

WB approves US$422 million in loans for Indonesia

WB approves US$422 million in loans for Indonesia WASHINGTON (Reuters): The World Bank said on Tuesday it had approved new loans of US$422 million for Indonesia and said it could increase lending to as much as $1 billion annually if an impasse with the IMF were resolved.

Spotlight

SpotlightPhoto: BaliBALI GALLERYNEW MALL IN KUTA: Bali Governor Dewa Beratha signs a placard to mark the opening of Mal Bali Galeria, a one-stop shopping center in the popular tourist town of Kuta. Duty Free Shop and Ema Chinese Restaurant are among the mall's tenants.

Banks required to report suspicious transactions

Banks required to report suspicious transactions JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia said on Wednesday that its new "know your customer" ruling required banks to report any suspicious transactions as part of a concerted effort to improve prudential banking practices and help curb money laundering.

Lautan Luas revenue drops

Lautan Luas revenue drops JAKARTA (JP): Chemical company PT Lautan Luas said that its net income for last year dropped to Rp 26 billion (US$2.3 million) from Rp 55.7 billion in 1999."The primary cause of this reduction is the foreign exchange loss due to rupiah exchange rate fluctuations," Lautan...

Rupiah rate June 27

Rupiah rate June 27 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,896.00 11,896.00 11,339.00 11,453.00Australian dollar 1 5,663.74 6,189.49 5,894.01 5,959.00Austrian schilling 1 682.49 745.56 710.24 717.79Belgian franc 1 232.80 254.32 242.27 244.

Photographer captures images of Balinese art

Photographer captures images of Balinese artBy Alpha Savitri DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Except for one small room in the Ksirarnawa Building, the month-long 23rd Bali Art Festival in Denpasar would have been just another routine annual event in which the arts were placed center stage.

Indonesia Open badminton c'ships 'on as planned'

Indonesia Open badminton c'ships 'on as planned' JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) strongly denied a report from the Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) saying that the US$170,000 Indonesia Open was being postponed until November.

Urban poor hold rally

Urban poor hold rally JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of becak (pedicab) drivers (photo above) held a march on Wednesday to demand that the poor be given the right to earn a living in the capital.The march, organized by several non-governmental organizations, began at the National Monument and passed by the...

Artist Yos Suprapto skewers a culture of barbarism

Artist Yos Suprapto skewers a culture of barbarismBy Aendra H. Medita JAKARTA (JP): Dissatisfaction and a desire for change from the established order in which avarice and injustice have been allowed to run amok are the grand themes in Yos Suprapto's paintings and drawings.

Sampoerna to buy back 28m shares from Panamas

Sampoerna to buy back 28m shares from Panamas JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed cigarette producer PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna agreed on Wednesday to buy back its 28 million shares worth Rp 336 billion (US$29.5 million) from its subsidiary PT Perusahaan Dagang dan Industri Panamas.

Guthrie claims RI palm oil deal completed

Guthrie claims RI palm oil deal completed KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysia's Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd. said on Wednesday its newly purchased palm oil plantations in Indonesia were up and running, and it had paid Jakarta US$368 million to close the controversial deal.

City news website launched

City news website launched JAKARTA (JP): After operating for a couple of months, the city administration officially launched on Wednesday its news website BeritaJakarta.com.City Governor Sutiyoso inaugurated the website at the City Hall and said that the city administration would use the website to...

Blind masseurs to mend image

Blind masseurs to mend image BANDUNG (JP): At least 100 delegates from massage parlors affiliated with the Indonesian Association for the Blind (Pertuni) met here on Wednesday to restore their tarnished image, which has been associated with prostitution.

Oxfam gets complaints about mining companies

Oxfam gets complaints about mining companies CANBERRA (AP): An aid group said Wednesday it has been swamped with allegations of human rights abuses and pollution by Australian mining companies operating in other nations.

Hockey players cancel tryout

Hockey players cancel tryout JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian hockey players, groomed for the Sept. 8 to Sept. 17 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, have had to cancel their plan to warm up in Malaysia next month, due to a lack of finances.

Ex-cooperative chief takes away Rp 200m

Ex-cooperative chief takes away Rp 200m CILACAP, Central Java: The head of a joint-venture employees' cooperative in Cilacap has disappeared with half of Rp 200 million worth of profits earned from the sale of its shares.

Road victim's body thrown onto garbage site

Road victim's body thrown onto garbage site BEKASI (JP): A Koasi public transportation minivan plying the Bekasi-Bantar Gebang route allegedly hit a pedestrian on Tuesday night on Jl Raya Narogong, Bojong Menteng, Bekasi, then transported the dying victim to a nearby garbage disposal site.

SE Asian nations told to unite against sea piracy

SE Asian nations told to unite against sea piracy KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): Southeast Asian countries need to join forces to combat the piracy that makes the region's sea lanes the most dangerous in the world, a conference heard on Wednesday.

Police offer rectors guns for protection

Police offer rectors guns for protection JAKARTA (JP): Expressing a desire to provide protection on the campuses of both state and private universities, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Sofjan Yacob offered guns to the heads of universities.

Fishermen complain over intimidation

Fishermen complain over intimidation JAKARTA (JP): Some 100 people from 206 fishing families who are being forced out of their homes in East Ancol, North Jakarta, filed a complaint with the National Commission on Human Rights on Tuesday, accusing the North Jakarta mayoralty of intimidation.

Bali Kite Festival still soaring in popularity

Bali Kite Festival still soaring in popularityBy Susi Andrini DENPASAR, Bali (JP): As they fly high in the sky, kites are a great leveler for those on the ground, loved by people of all ages and classes as an inexpensive, easy way to have a good time.

Jakarta may increase bus fares by up to 57 percent

Jakarta may increase bus fares by up to 57 percent JAKARTA (JP): Despite the government's promised subsidy for bus operators, the Jakarta administration has proposed to the City Council an increase of between 30 percent and 60 percent in public transportation fares following the recent fuel price...

Government puts an end to decision-making role of FSPC

Government puts an end to decision-making role of FSPC JAKARTA (JP): The government ended on Wednesday the decision- making role of the Financial Sector Policy Committee (FSPC), Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah said.

Selangor shooting range renovated

Selangor shooting range renovated JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur are spending two million ringgit (US$660,000) to renovate the Selangor Shooting Range in Subang, Malaysia.

Students cancel antigraft rally

Students cancel antigraft rally MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Students canceled on Wednesday a rally at the South Sulawesi legislative building in Makassar in support of the government's antigraft drive for fear of possible clashes.

Eli Lilly plans S'pore unit

Eli Lilly plans S'pore unit SINGAPORE (AFP): US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Co. will spend US$140 million in the next five years to establish a research and development center in Singapore, the state Economic Development Board said.

Palm oil at 2.5 month high on India talk

Palm oil at 2.5 month high on India talk KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Technical covering pushed Malaysian palm oil futures to a 2-1/2 month high on persistent talk that India planned to cut import duty, traders said on Wednesday.