Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 12 July 2001

83 articles found

Battered maid files report against singer Imaniar, spouse

Battered maid files report against singer Imaniar, spouse JAKARTA (JP): A battered woman filed a complaint with city police on Wednesday against her employers, local singer Imaniar and her husband, for alleged physical abuse.

Korea, Denmark absence boosts RI's hopes

Korea, Denmark absence boosts RI's hopes JAKARTA (JP): The absence of badminton powerhouses South Korea and Denmark at the four-star Malaysia Open next week will help Indonesia's men's doubles retain their title, Candra Wijaya said on Tuesday.

Megawati closes jamboree with new call for unity

Megawati closes jamboree with new call for unity PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially closed the National Boy Scout Jamboree 2001 on Wednesday with fresh calls for national unity.

A privilege through memberships

A privilege through memberships JAKARTA (JP): In the United States there are several private golf clubs that only allow up to 200 members and whose membership and annual fee run into the millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of dollars, respectively.

Team set up to probe death of UNPKF soldier

Team set up to probe death of UNPKF soldier KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): A joint team formed by East Nusa Tenggara Police and the Provincial Prosecutors Office began an investigation on Tuesday into the death of Pvt.

Megawati

Megawati Megawati closes jamboree with new call for unity. Page 2 Bus fare Sutiyoso announces bus fare increase after 1 week delay. Page 3 Malaysian courts Malaysian courts regain respect. Page 4Painter Painter Barli celebrates everyday life.

Few legislators concerned about Sports Bill

Few legislators concerned about Sports Bill JAKARTA (JP): Only a few members of the House of Representatives (DPR) are concerned about sport and this is apparently affecting the introduction of the Sports Bill to the House through the private-member's-bill mechanism.

Bali Arts Festival polishes its image

Bali Arts Festival polishes its imageBy I Wayan Juniartha DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The final week of the 23rd Bali Arts Festival is likely to be more lively.After the release of an album featuring Balinese pop songs earlier this week, there are two more interesting events, a dance-drama and literary...

Twin presidents

Twin presidentsFrom Rakyat MerdekaTwin Presidents? That was a forecast made by Daniel Sparingga, a noted political analyst from the University of Airlangga on a private TV station recently. In his opinion, the twin presidents will be born after the special session of the People's Consultative...

Hundreds of mid-ranking police officers promoted

Hundreds of mid-ranking police officers promoted JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of middle-ranking police officers were promoted via a presidential decree on Wednesday.The promotions were made on the heels of Monday's incident when 150 middle-ranking officers stated that outgoing National Police chief Gen.

RI eases NZ fruit imports

RI eases NZ fruit imports WELLINGTON (Dow Jones): Indonesia has lifted restrictions on imports of New Zealand kiwifruit and other fresh fruit products, Trade Negotiations Minister Jim Sutton said Wednesday.

Water supply halts for 12 hours

Water supply halts for 12 hours JAKARTA (JP): The city's joint venture tap water company, PT PAM Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja), announced on Wednesday that water supplies to West Cengkareng in West Jakarta would be disrupted for 12 hours until Thursday morning.

Indonesia, South Korea sign forestry agreement

Indonesia, South Korea sign forestry agreement JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and South Korea signed on Wednesday an agreement to continue cooperation in the forestry sector for the next two years.The agreement was signed by director general of production forest utilization of the Ministry of Forestry...

Foreign aid sought to build center

Foreign aid sought to build center JAKARTA (JP): The city administration said on Wednesday that it would seek aid from Islamic countries to help finance the development of an Islamic center on a former brothel site in Kramat Tunggak, North Jakarta.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 11, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,400 50 480,500 Adindo Foresta 110 -5 831,000 AGIS 145 5 1,118,500 Alakasa 160 0 0 Alfa...

Police warn residents about dollar syndicate

Police warn residents about dollar syndicate JAKARTA (JP): An accountant reported to the police on Wednesday that he had been duped into handing over more than US$95,000 to a foreigner, who had previously succeeded in apparently doubling up $500 handed over by the accountant to $1,000.

PSSI earns Rp 12b to fund nat'l team

PSSI earns Rp 12b to fund nat'l team JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) has earned Rp 12 billion (US$1.06 million) in interest on the notes issued by the association in February, PSSI treasurer Irawadi D. Hanafi said on Wednesday.

Lesson from Lopa for the elite

Lesson from Lopa for the eliteFrom Rakyat MerdekaWe were all shocked by Baharuddin Lopa's untimely death in the middle of his attempts to bring to trial corruptors (some pretending to be reformists and often quoting the Prophet's sayings) rampant in the legislature, executive body, judiciary as...

Smoke affects North Sumatra, after W. Kalimantan's capital

Smoke affects North Sumatra, after W. Kalimantan's capital MEDAN, North Sumatra (JP): As with the people of Pontianak, West Kalimantan, who have yet to be free from choking haze, the North Sumatra capital of Medan began to experience the arriving haze with helpless frustration on Wednesday.

Where to go in Bali:

Where to go in Bali:The 23rd Bali Arts Festival At the Werdhi Budaya Art Center in Jalan Nusa Indah, DenpasarJuly 12: The melodious bamboo ensemble Angklung performance of Kayuputih village. The humorous dringking songs of Genjek performance by Denpasar city's Kapah Jumah troupe and Karangasem...

On the fast lane into oblivion?

On the fast lane into oblivion?By Avie K. Utomo JAKARTA (JP): It's 6:47 a.m. on Saturday. A speeding S-Type blue Jaguar passes on Jagorawi toll road.The person behind the wheel is driving fast to join his already waiting golfing buddies.

Glenn: Bambang ordered the Bank Bali claims

Glenn: Bambang ordered the Bank Bali claims JAKARTA (JP): Former chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Glenn A. Yusuf testified on Wednesday that the repayment of Bank Bali's interbank claims was processed on the order of former minister of finance Bambang Subianto.

Arifin threatens to sue AGO for defamation

Arifin threatens to sue AGO for defamation JAKARTA(JP): Politician and businessman Arifin Panigoro denied any wrongdoing on Wednesday and even threatened to sue the Attorney General's Office for declaring him a graft suspect recently.

House passes bill on foundations

House passes bill on foundations JAKARTA (JP): A plenary session of the House of Representatives passed the bill on institutional foundations on Wednesday which, among other things, increases the public's role in supervising foundations and provides a new legal basis for the establishment of new...

ASEAN to try to narrow development gap

ASEAN to try to narrow development gap BANGKOK (Reuters): Southeast Asian foreign ministers will agree to try to narrow the development gap between their countries at their annual meeting in Hanoi later this month, Thailand said on Wednesday.

Chemical firms coming to town

Chemical firms coming to town JAKARTA (JP): A number of major multinational and local chemical companies are expected to take part in a four-day international exhibition at the Jakarta Convention Center, the organizers said on Wednesday.

Telkom vs AriaWest

Telkom vs AriaWest State PT Telkom's decision to unilaterally terminate its joint operation scheme (KSO) contract with PT AriaWest International could turn what was hailed in early 1996 as the herald of world- class management and efficiency in Indonesia's telecommunications sector into messy...

Indoprom service

Indoprom service I write to inquire whether other readers suffered the problem I did with the magazine distributor PT Indoprom. I subscribe, through PT Indoprom, to the Economist magazine. As my subscription expires on June 9, 2001, I had forwarded a cheque for renewal in February 2001.

Sending laborers to S. Arabia halted

Sending laborers to S. Arabia halted JAKARTA (JP): The government has imposed a seven-week moratorium on labor export to Saudia Arabia to prompt Riyadh to sign an agreement on the protection of Indonesian workers there.The moratorium is effective from July 9 through Aug. 26.

Asian monies mostly down late, Taiwan dollar at 15-year low

Asian monies mostly down late, Taiwan dollar at 15-year low SINGAPORE (Dow Jones): Most Asian currencies tracked the falls in the Singapore dollar and the New Taiwan dollar to their weakest levels in more than a decade late Wednesday, as market participants came to grips with the dire state of the...

A new vice president

A new vice presidentFrom Rakyat MerdekaA city' daily on July 2, 2001 ran a report on Caucus Iramasuka proposing three candidates for the post of vice president after Mega becomes president to replace President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid when the latter's accountability report is rejected at the...

[i] Charismatic and popular figures across Southeast Asia have

Charismatic and popular figures across Southeast Asia have tried to undermine the primacy of the courts.

A secluded haven, carefully carved above the Ayung River, and

A secluded haven, carefully carved above the Ayung River, and hidden among blue skies, green paddies and the soothing distant sounds of age-old rituals. Harmoniously blending nature's rich and ancient traditions, Puri Wulandari, A Boutique Resort and Spa, is an example of Bali's finest property.

Bomb explosion hits Slipi, injuring 14 people

Bomb explosion hits Slipi, injuring 14 people JAKARTA (JP): An explosive device, believed to be a bomb, blew up under the Slipi flyover in West Jakarta on Wednesday evening, injuring at least 14 people.No fatalities were reported.West Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr.

Gumarang train derails

Gumarang train derails BANDUNG (JP): The executive-class Gumarang train plying the Surabaya-Jakarta route derailed at the Cikampek railway station in West Java, at about 5 a.m. on Wednesday.The derailment, about 70 kilometers from Jakarta, caused a two-hour delay of trains from Central and East...

Racing against time: Avoiding a state of emergency

Racing against time: Avoiding a state of emergency In the little time he has left the President may still be able to gain a much needed boost of credibility and avoid declaring a state of emergency, writes analyst J. Soedjati Djiwandono.

Adi Merdangga, Bali's popular marching band

Adi Merdangga, Bali's popular marching bandBy Kadek Suartaya DENPASAR, Bali (JP): Clad in colorful Balinese traditional attire, male and female dancers follow rhythmical beats of a band marching behind them.

Painter Barli celebrates everyday life

Painter Barli celebrates everyday lifeBy Aendra H. Medita JAKARTA (JP): Traders. Dancers. Nostalgia for life remembered in the village. Painter Barli Sasmitawinata has remained consistent in his choice of themes during his 66-year career.

RI greenfields among the region

RI greenfields among the region JAKARTA (JP): Golf Digest Indonesia in its June 2001 edition identified Indonesia as home to some 250 golf courses.In the edition, the monthly presented "the best golf courses in 100 countries" in the Planet Golf column.

Malaysia wins junior c'ships

Malaysia wins junior c'ships JAKARTA (JP): Malaysia defeated host Chinese Taipei 3-0 to win the boys event at the Fifth Asian Junior Badminton Championships on Tuesday.Malaysia reached the final by defeating second seed South Korea 3-1, while last year's runner-up Indonesia fell to Chinese Taipei...

Money politics in MPR

Money politics in MPRFrom Suara KaryaPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais and his deputy Sutjipto are well aware of the rampant money politics ahead of the Assembly's special session on Aug. 1, 2001. Other legislators have also noticed these maneuvers.

SEA Games to use old scoring system

SEA Games to use old scoring system JAKARTA (JP): The president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Datuk Nadzmi Salleh, announced on Tuesday the old scoring system of the best-of-three games, with games lasting 15 points, would be employed at the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala...

Angelique to wait her turn in Fed Cup, SEAG

Angelique to wait her turn in Fed Cup, SEAG JAKARTA (JP): Being a Wimbledon junior champion does not automatically give Angelique Widjaja a privilege in the country's Federation Cup and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games teams.

Three more students join hunger strike

Three more students join hunger strike JAKARTA (JP): Three more students have joined a group of hunger strikers to protest against the hike in domestic fuel prices and to demand the release of a fellow student, replacing three others who have had to be rushed to hospital.

No evidence of pilot suicide: SilkAir lawyers

No evidence of pilot suicide: SilkAir lawyers SINGAPORE (Reuters): Lawyers for SilkAir told a Singapore court on Wednesday there was no evidence from two reports to indicate pilot suicide as the cause of a 1997 crash.

Last four bodies of Musi victims found, death toll reaches 19

Last four bodies of Musi victims found, death toll reaches 19 PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The last four bodies of the passengers killed in a boat collision on the Musi River were recovered on Wednesday by search and rescue team members, bringing the death toll to 19 victims and not 20 as previously...

RP death toll from typhoon at 163

RP death toll from typhoon at 163 MANILA (AFP): At least 163 people were killed when Typhoon Utor hit the Philippines last week, with 180 others injured and 60 still missing, the civil defense office said in a summary report on Wednesday.

PLN sets cost-saving target at Rp 1 trillion

PLN sets cost-saving target at Rp 1 trillion JAKARTA (JP): State electricity company PT PLN said on Wednesday that it expected savings of up to Rp 1 trillion (about US$88.49 million) through its cost reduction program, which is geared to help ease the company's heavy losses for the year.

Property market remains bleak

Property market remains bleakBy 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.

Parents dreaming of Tiger kids

Parents dreaming of Tiger kidsBy Novan Iman Santosa and Primastuti Handayani JAKARTA (JP): Five-year-old Andhika sat stunned in front of the TV watching golf icon Tiger Woods make a final birdie putt on the 18th green at Augusta on April 10.

Sutiyoso finally announces bus fare increase

Sutiyoso finally announces bus fare increase JAKARTA (JP): After a week-long postponement, the city administration announced on Wednesday the new bus fares, which represent an increase of between 28 percent and 50 percent over the old fares.

ASEAN mulls ways to transform into cyber-region

ASEAN mulls ways to transform into cyber-region KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Senior officials Wednesday began a two-day meeting on ways to prepare Southeast Asia for the knowledge economy.The meeting will precede the first meeting on Friday of telecommunications ministers from the Association of Southeast...

Spotlight

SpotlightPhoto: CICJP/Mulkan SalmonaFACILITATING IMPORTS: PT Bank CIC International president director Abdul Aziz Rajkotwala (right) and Amsterdam-based Indover Bank president director Muhamad Muchtar exchange documents after signing a memorandum of understanding on a structured trade finance...

Possible attack anticipated

Possible attack anticipated JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Provincial security authorities have beefed up security around the compound of giant copper and gold mining company PT Freeport Indonesia in Timika district following a threat of an armed attack here on Aug. 1.Aug.

N.Korean No.2 woos Vietnam

N.Korean No.2 woos Vietnam HANOI (AFP): North Korea's titular head of state, Kim Yong- Nam, arrived here on Wednesday on the first such visit in four decades aimed at wooing Vietnam's support ahead of a key regional forum here later this month.

LIA launches new magazine

LIA launches new magazine JAKARTA (JP): In a move to help promote English language learning in the country, the Indonesia-America Foundation or LIA Foundation launched a bimonthly English magazine called Cool'n Smart on Wednesday.

Mitsubishi acquires 16.3 percent stake in Tangguh project

Mitsubishi acquires 16.3 percent stake in Tangguh project TOKYO (Agencies): Mitsubishi Corp. said it acquired Occidental Berau of Indonesia LLC, a unit of Occidental Petroleum Corp. of the U.S., Wednesday for 60 billion yen, giving it a 16.

IMF to disburse loan by the end of August: Akbar

IMF to disburse loan by the end of August: Akbar JAKARTA (JP): The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said it expected to disburse its stalled US$400 million loan tranche to Indonesia by the end of August, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung claimed on Wednesday."Mr.

Aceh students protest ExxonMobil

Aceh students protest ExxonMobil BANDA ACEH, Aceh: A group 50 students staged a rally against ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia here on Wednesday, alleging the company had been facilitating the Indonesian Military (TNI) in serious human rights violations in the past decade.

Nippon, Baoshan eye tieup

Nippon, Baoshan eye tieup TOKYO (AFP): Nippon Steel Corp. has entered into tie-up talks with Baoshan Iron and Steel Co. of China on a joint venture to make automobile steel sheets, a report said Wednesday.

Wires cause fire: Report

Wires cause fire: Report KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Faulty wiring and not arson was the probable cause of a blaze which destroyed a hall at University Malaya, a report said on Wednesday.A minister Monday accused student activists of starting the blaze, which broke out a day before Prime Minister Mahathir...

RI's forex reserves down

RI's forex reserves down JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia said on Wednesday the country's gross foreign exchange reserves declined by US$51.9 million to $28.59 billion in the first week of this month from the previous week.

Every computer needs a peripheral

Every computer needs a peripheralBy Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Come to think of it, a computer system is so much like our stomach. It typically consists of one or more input devices, one central processing unit (CPU), and one or more output devices.

ASEAN try to narrow development gap

ASEAN try to narrow development gap BANGKOK (Reuters): Southeast Asian foreign ministers will agree to try to narrow the development gap between their countries at their annual meeting in Hanoi later this month, Thailand said on Wednesday.

Dialog sought to bring U.S., Indonesian Military closer

Dialog sought to bring U.S., Indonesian Military closer JAKARTA (JP): A U.S. lobbyist for Indonesia revealed on Wednesday that he would try to help foster dialog between the United States government and the Indonesian Military (TNI) to promote better mutual understanding.Visiting President of the U.

Robbers make away with gun

Robbers make away with gun JAKARTA (JP): Four robbers grabbed jewelry worth hundreds of millions of rupiah, electronic equipment and a gun from a pilot's residence in the Puri Gading complex of Jati Asih, Bekasi early Tuesday morning.Bekasi Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr.

'No common ground between Gus Dur - House'

'No common ground between Gus Dur - House' JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung admitted that there remained a wide gap in the political position between most legislators and President Abdurrahman Wahid, who remained defiant over plans to seek a presidential accountability...

S'pore to impose measures to soften economic downturn

S'pore to impose measures to soften economic downturn SINGAPORE (AP): The Singapore government said Wednesday it will announce a package of measures within weeks to soften the blow of a sharp economic downturn in the wealthy island city- state.

City holds onto Pulau Seribu

City holds onto Pulau Seribu JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration is immersed in a bitter dispute with the Tangerang administration over several islands in Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands).Governor Sutiyoso rejected handing over the islands on Wednesday to the Tangerang regency, following the...

An attack on a woman's dignity

An attack on a woman's dignity One of the reasons why robbery is so intolerable is because such an act does not discriminate which of the victim's body parts are injured. This happened to a 27-year old woman named Puspita living in Jakarta who was struck on the breast by one of four men who robbed...

Rupiah rate July 11

Rupiah rate July 11 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,852.00 11,852.00 11,295.00 11,409.00Australian dollar 1 5,534.52 6,050.45 5,760.45 5,824.29Austrian schilling 1 673.42 735.91 700.91 708.40Belgian franc 1 229.71 251.03 239.09 241.

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.

Microsoft's Office XP: Is it a compelling upgrade?

Microsoft's Office XP: Is it a compelling upgrade?By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): You must have heard a lot about it already: Microsoft has just launched the latest version of its Office productivity suite.

Aiming for Market Leadership in Information Technology Services

Aiming for Market Leadership in Information Technology Services The information technology (IT) industry in the Philippines has been going through remarkable progress and growth in recent years. In the hardware sector, the Philippines' semiconductor and electronics industries have been growing at...

Pertamina sticks to its guns on outsourcing policy

Pertamina sticks to its guns on outsourcing policy JAKARTA (JP): State oil and gas company Pertamina said it would stick to its controversial outsourcing policy, which, among others stipulations, requires goods and service suppliers to have minimum capital of US$40 million, despite protests from...

NZ, Australia want in on Asian trade pacts

NZ, Australia want in on Asian trade pacts SINGAPORE (AP): New Zealand and Australia should be included in Asian free-trade pacts, New Zealand Finance Minister Michael Cullen said Wednesday.Cullen told a group of business people in Singapore that he was "concerned" about being excluded in an...

ExxonMobil Oil to resume its operation Friday

ExxonMobil Oil to resume its operation Friday JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina said on Wednesday ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia, a unit of the U.S.-based Exxon Mobil Corp., would resume its operations at the Arun gas fields in Aceh on Friday, four months after the company was...

PLDT bond battle averted, investors forced to wait

PLDT bond battle averted, investors forced to wait HONG KONG (Reuters): A head-to-head battle for investor funds between the Philippine government and the country's biggest telecom firm has been averted after Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co (PLDT) effectively put back a planned bond issue to...

Fired hotel workers vow to fight on

Fired hotel workers vow to fight on JAKARTA (JP): Some 82 people who were fired by the Shangri-La Hotel in December for launching a strike that shut down the five- star establishment, vowed on Wednesday to continue their fight for their old jobs.

TNI to help police secure MPR session

TNI to help police secure MPR session JAKARTA (JP): Top Indonesian Military (TNI) officers said TNI would assist police in safeguarding the coming special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and indicated that it could not at present support the imposition of a state of emergency.

Violence, chaos stalk Bangladeshi democracy

Violence, chaos stalk Bangladeshi democracyBy Ahmed Fazl DHAKA (DPA): The specter of violence and chaos stalks Bangladesh as its fragile democracy is put to test next week when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling Awami League step down giving up power to a caretaker government ahead of a...

YTL to buy S'pore power unit

YTL to buy S'pore power unit KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters): Malaysian power firm YTL Power International said on Wednesday it would tie up with Hong Kong's CLP Holdings to bid for at least one power generating plant in Singapore."China Light has agreed to bid together with us.

China clears Hutchison

China clears Hutchison HONG KONG (Reuters): China has cleared Hutchison Whampoa Ltd to take a majority stake in a port project despite the country's policy of barring foreign investors from controlling domestic container operations.