Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 6 July 2001

71 articles found

Government suspends RI-GAM joint committee

Government suspends RI-GAM joint committee JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian government has decided to suspend the joint committee on security modalities it had set up with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) until such time as GAM presents its commander Abdullah Syafi'i at the negotiating table and gives...

Making European Union-ASEAN ties fruitful

Making European Union-ASEAN ties fruitfulBy Grace Sung BRUSSELS: The figures are telling. Between 1995 and last year, the European Union accounted for 21 percent of the total foreign direct investment to ASEAN, putting it ahead of Japan and the United States.

Third bomber tried for Xmas bombings

Third bomber tried for Xmas bombings BANDUNG: Prosecutors here on Thursday demanded a life sentence for Iqbal, 40, a suspect in the Christmas Eve bombings.Prosecutors said the defendant, also known as Aceng Didin, was guilty of violating Emergency Law No.

Police invite Gus Dur for mass prayers

Police invite Gus Dur for mass prayers JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta Police has invited President Abdurrahman Wahid and Cabinet officials to attend a mass prayer at the mosque within the Jakarta Police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman early Saturday morning.City police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Ousted Marzuki back in Gus Dur's Cabinet lineup

Ousted Marzuki back in Gus Dur's Cabinet lineup JAKARTA (JP): Only one month after his dismissal as attorney general, Marzuki Darusman was installed as Cabinet Secretary on Thursday, reclaiming his uncompleted mission to eradicate corruption.

Sinar Mas woes stall acquisition deal

Sinar Mas woes stall acquisition deal JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed food producer PT Indofood Sukses Makmur said on Thursday its US$173 million plan to acquire the Singapore listed Golden Agri Resources had ran into a snag, partly due to financial troubles at the latter's holding company, the Sinar...

Susilo for president

Susilo for presidentFrom Bisnis IndonesiaSince Sukarno's era, the government has been cause for concern, plagued by protracted crises.To be honest, there is only one person who is suitable to lead this nation and save the country from national disintegration.

Mourner mobbed for stealing money at Lopa's residence

Mourner mobbed for stealing money at Lopa's residence JAKARTA (JP): A mourner at the residence of late attorney general Baharuddin Lopa was mobbed by other mourners after he was caught red-handed, stealing condolence money worth Rp 10 million (US$884) on Thursday evening.

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.

WB signs US$526m to Hanoi

WB signs US$526m to Hanoi HANOI (Reuters): The World Bank on Thursday signed its largest-ever set of credit agreements with Vietnam, totaling US$526 million and aimed at restoring faster economic growth and poverty reduction.

Tribute

Tribute Thousands of people pay tribute to Lopa. Page 2 Corruption Court drops corruption case over Supreme Cort official. Page 3 Golf Tiger searching for his game ahead of British Open. Page 7 Chinese rite Ancient Chinese ceremony revived at a Yogyakarta beach.

Govt urged to go ahead with AriaWest takeover

Govt urged to go ahead with AriaWest takeover JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives urged the government to go ahead with its plan to temporarily take over the telecommunications operations of PT AriaWest International in West Java and Banten, despite objections from the company.

IBRA raises another Rp 1t from corporate loan sale

IBRA raises another Rp 1t from corporate loan sale JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said on Thursday that it had raised some Rp 1 trillion (US$88.07 million) from the latest sale of corporate debt assets.

Snap election

Snap electionFrom Media IndonesiaThe possibility of snap elections has become a popular topic recently. This is quite all right as long as it remains a subject of discourse with all its attendant debates without anybody forcing their wishes upon others.

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.

Privatization of Telkom and Indosat to go ahead

Privatization of Telkom and Indosat to go ahead JAKARTA (JP): The government will proceed with plans to further privatize state-owned telecommunications companies PT Telkom and PT Indosat this year despite objections from the House of Representatives, a government senior official said.

Walkathon in Senayan

Walkathon in Senayan JAKARTA (JP): Pharmaceutical company Janssen Pharmaceutica will hold a "Daktarin Jalan Sehat" walkathon for pharmacy employees and their families on Sunday."We want to take the opportunity during the school vacation to hold an event where the families of employees can...

Typhoon kills 55 people and charts course for HK

Typhoon kills 55 people and charts course for HK HONG KONG (Reuters): A typhoon was bearing down on Hong Kong on Thursday after ripping through the northern Philippines and Taiwan, killing at least 55 people in landslides and freak electrocutions and leaving over 30 missing.

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.

Abdul Gafur elected North Maluku governor

Abdul Gafur elected North Maluku governor TERNATE, North Maluku(JP): Former state minister of sports and youth affairs Abdul Gafur and his running mate Yamin Tawari were elected respectively the first ever North Maluku governor and deputy governor during a plenary session of the North Maluku...

Hunger striker and friends intimidated at Komnas HAM

Hunger striker and friends intimidated at Komnas HAM JAKARTA (JP): Entering their sixth day of hunger strike at the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas HAM) compound, one of the six striking students and several fellow activists have complained of being intimidated.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSXStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 5, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume --------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,375 -75 187,500 Adindo Foresta 115 0 0 AGIS 135 -5 375,000 Alakasa 160 0 0 Alfa Retailindo...

Surabaya prostitutes put on theater in act of empowerment

Surabaya prostitutes put on theater in act of empowermentBy Peter Kerr JAKARTA (JP): In a backstreet of the biggest brothel area in Surabaya, a dozen women sit around on the floor of a small building that serves as a health clinic, a drop-in center and, at this moment, a rehearsal venue.

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.

Emirates drops daily Jakarta-Dubai service

Emirates drops daily Jakarta-Dubai service JAKARTA (JP): The United Arab Emirates-based airline Emirates said on Thursday it had shelved plans for this year to introduce a daily flight service from Jakarta to Dubai from its current schedule of four times a week due to sluggish demand in the...

Rubber producers to buy global stocks to raise prices

Rubber producers to buy global stocks to raise prices BANGKOK (Dow Jones): The Tripartite Rubber Corporation, or TRC, plans to shore up rubber prices by buying global rubber stocks, Malaysia's Minister of Primary Industries, Lim Keng Yaik and Thailand's Deputy Minister of Agriculture and...

Minister to open Students Games

Minister to open Students Games PALEMBANG, South Sumatera (JP): Some 2,500 students and officials gathered here to attend the Sixth Students Games from July 6 to July 14 which will be officially opened by Minister of Education Yahya Muhaimin.

Pembangunan Jaya Ancol to go public this year

Pembangunan Jaya Ancol to go public this year JAKARTA (JP): Despite being plagued by scandal, city-owned developer and recreation operator PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol is expected to go public this year, City Governor Sutiyoso revealed on Thursday.

Giving Ambhara Hotel's Arios Music Lounge a go

Giving Ambhara Hotel's Arios Music Lounge a go JAKARTA (JP): Arios Music Lounge in the Ambhara Hotel. It had never before occurred to me to go. I had been to the Ambhara for the fantastic Indian restaurant and had even gone once to visit the British pub in the hotel.

'11% of firms in Jakarta have company regulations'

'11% of firms in Jakarta have company regulations' JAKARTA (JP): A labor official here urged companies to fulfill a requirement to establish company regulations stipulating the rights and obligations of its employees, warning that the absence of such a guideline could foster internal unrest and...

Japan demands handover of U.S. rape suspect

Japan demands handover of U.S. rape suspect TOKYO (AP): Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi called on the United States on Thursday to make an "appropriate decision" as soon as possible on the handover of an Air Force sergeant accused of rape, while a local assembly on Okinawa denounced Washington for...

Water shortage hits 117,000 customers

Water shortage hits 117,000 customers JAKARTA (JP): At least 117,000 customers in West and South Jakarta are suffering from water shortages, caught in the middle of a dispute over the price of water between Jakarta and Tangerang water companies.

JBIC provides $375m loan for RI rural projects

JBIC provides $375m loan for RI rural projects JAKARTA (JP): The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) signed on Thursday a 46.35 billion yen (US$375.5 million) loan agreement with the Indonesian government to finance several rural projects in Sumatra, Java and Kalimantan.

Court drops court official's corruption case

Court drops court official's corruption case JAKARTA (JP): The South Jakarta District Court dropped on Thursday the case of a Supreme Court official who was tried for allegedly receiving Rp 100 million (about US$8,900) in a payoff to help a lawyer win her client's case.

Two robbers mobbed on street

Two robbers mobbed on street JAKARTA (JP): Police held two men after they had been mobbed by angry residents on Jl. Juanda, Gambir in Central Jakarta late on Wednesday for allegedly robbing a bus passenger.Gambir subprecinct police chief Comr.

Thanks to Le Meridien

Thanks to Le MeridienFrom KompasI am currently employed by one of the companies in Wisma Metropolitan on Jl. Sudirman, and I think I represent other employees in the vicinity in conveying belated gratitude to the management of Le Meridien Hotel for providing security on the pedestrian bridge in...

'SEAG soccer team needs improvement'

'SEAG soccer team needs improvement' JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) Agum Gumelar criticized on Thursday the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games team after observing their performance in a friendly match with Karnos club from the South Jakarta league main division.

Thousands of people pay tribute to Lopa

Thousands of people pay tribute to Lopa JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of people from all walks of life paid tribute to the late attorney general Baharuddin Lopa as his remains arrived at Soekarno-Hatta airport on Thursday.

Stuck in a crisis of communication

Stuck in a crisis of communication Political analyst J.Soedjati Djiwandono looks at yet another dimension of the crisis, which is further isolating the President. JAKARTA (JP): There is definitely another dimension of the multifaceted crisis that has made a major contribution to the political...

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...

Angry son nearly severs mother's ear

Angry son nearly severs mother's ear JAKARTA (JP): Humiliated and angered by his mother's beatings, a teenager took a kitchen knife and slashed his mother's left ear until it nearly came off at their residence in the village of Tambun, Bekasi.Bekasi Police officer Second. Insp.

Erratic leadership

Erratic leadership President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid issued a presidential decree on Thursday appointing Marzuki Darusman the new Cabinet secretary. Marzuki is a prominent Golkar Party politician who was attorney general until President Abdurrahman Wahid ordered him replaced by Baharuddin Lopa,...

Ancient Chinese ceremony revived at a Yogya beach

Ancient Chinese ceremony revived at a Yogya beachBy Tarko Sudiarno YOGYAKARTA (JP): After a long absence due to the former New Order regime's ban on Chinese cultural activities, the Peh Cun celebration has returned to Parangtritis beach, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta.

Police examine two bomb packages

Police examine two bomb packages JAKARTA (JP): The National Police bomb squad (Gegana) are examining two suspected bomb packages, found by seven school students on Jl. Tarumanegara in the village of Pisangan, Ciputat, South Jakarta, on Wednesday evening.

Local govts confused over new autonomy

Local govts confused over new autonomy JAKARTA (JP): The decentralization of power under the new system of regional autonomy has sparked confusion among local governments, causing them to complain about conflicting regulations and legal uncertainties scaring investors off.

Australia's Labor party eyes more active foreign role

Australia's Labor party eyes more active foreign role CANBERRA (Reuters): Australia's Labor party pledged on Thursday to realign Australia's interests with Asia if it won the next election, and said it would forge broader ties with Indonesia and take a firmer line with the United States.

KL urged to allow Anwar go abroad

KL urged to allow Anwar go abroad KUALA LUMPUR (AP): International pressure mounted on Thursday on the Malaysian government to lift its ban on jailed politician Anwar Ibrahim traveling abroad for surgery, while his lawyer said his health was steadily worsening.

Whither Madurese refugees in Pontianak?

Whither Madurese refugees in Pontianak?By Edi Petebang PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan (JP): The threat of bloody interethnic conflict that rocked West Kalimantan two years ago looms large once again as the question of how to manage around 63,000 Madurese refugees stranded here remains unsolved.

Pekanbaru to host racing c'ships

Pekanbaru to host racing c'ships JAKARTA (JP): The Riau capital of Pekanbaru will host the national motorcycle race for Sumatra on July 7 and July 8 at a temporary circuit behind the governor's Office on Jl. Cut Nyak Dien.

Akbar asked to probe alleged graft involving House members

Akbar asked to probe alleged graft involving House members JAKARTA (JP): A whiff of corruption hangs over the House of Representatives following reports that members of its Commission IX on finance asked for some Rp 325 million (US$30,000) from a number of state-owned fertilizer companies during a...

RP weighs US$500m bond issue

RP weighs US$500m bond issue MANILA (Reuters): The Philippines, spurred by solid demand for emerging market bonds, may turn to offshore markets as early as this month to fund its growing budget deficit, Finance Secretary Jose Camacho said on Thursday.

Rupiah rate July 05

Rupiah rate July 05 Bank notes rates TT rates Buying Selling Buying Selling Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,860.00 11,860.00 11,303.00 11,417.00Australian dollar 1 5,621.14 6,144.67 5,850.43 5,915.15Austrian schilling 1 667.45 729.25 694.68 702.01Belgian franc 1 227.67 248.75 236.96 239.

563 jamboree participants get diarrhea

563 jamboree participants get diarrhea PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): After the National Boy Scout Jamboree 2001 had been running for two days on Thursday, as many as 563 participants suffered diarrhea and a high fever, forcing the organizing committee to rush some of them to nearby Margono Sukarjo...

Stalemate prevents recovery

Stalemate prevents recoveryBy James Castle JAKARTA (JP): Businessmen are normally hesitant to make their political views public, but there is little doubt that the long running political stalemate between President Abdurrahman Wahid and the House of Representatives (DPR) has had severe economic...

Aspac, Bhinneka to compete for basketball league title

Aspac, Bhinneka to compete for basketball league title JAKARTA (JP): Defending champion Aspac Texmaco and Bhinneka Sritex of Surakarta, Central Java, will tussle for the champions title in the Nuvo Kobatama basketball league final, which will apply the best-of-three system for the first time.

Cambodian bombings linked to Hong Kong crime syndicates

Cambodian bombings linked to Hong Kong crime syndicates PHNOM PENH (Agencies): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday blamed a bomb strike that left three people dead on "terrorists" while a leading royalist linked the attack to Hong Kong organized crime syndicates.

Student burned by jealous girl

Student burned by jealous girl JAKARTA (JP): A postgraduate student died on Wednesday night after receiving treatment at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for severe burns, allegedly inflicted upon him by a jealous girlfriend two weeks ago.

Four factories named as polluters

Four factories named as polluters SURABAYA: Four factories could face legal action after they were accused by the administration here of dumping industrial waste into the Surabaya River,City administration spokesman Harry Tjahyono named the four as: the Gresik-based paper company PT Adiprint...

Banten Council inducts members

Banten Council inducts members BANDUNG: The newly established province of Banten will swear in on Friday its first council members.The ceremony will be held in provincial capital Serang with 58 of the 75 council members being sworn in.

Bari takes gold at SEASA c'ships

Bari takes gold at SEASA c'ships JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian women's sharpshooter Bari Agustini Said won gold in the air pistol individual event at the 25th Southeast Asian Shooting Association (SEASA) championships in Bangkok on Thursday.Bari scored 473.

KL wants ASEAN members to seek approval on trade deals

KL wants ASEAN members to seek approval on trade deals KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Malaysia's trade minister urged ASEAN members on Thursday to get approval from the grouping before entering bilateral trade deals to avoid disrupting the regional trade pact.

Govt optimistic about IMF loan as negotiations start

Govt optimistic about IMF loan as negotiations start JAKARTA (JP): The government expressed optimism on Thursday that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would disburse its stalled loan tranche to the country, as the two sides began economic talks late in the day.

Special session funding approved

Special session funding approved JAKARTA (JP): The government has approved the disbursement of some Rp 20 billion (about US$1.79 million) from the state budget to finance the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), following complaints from legislators of funding problems.

To Megawati

To Megawati The present political stalemate is endangering the life of the nation and the state, something that we ought to take care of together to ensure that we will have a harmonious life.To maintain this harmony, you can play an important role in maintaining the balance.

Irex arouses DPR's interest

Irex arouses DPR's interest JAKARTA (JP): Legislators took a break from their customary debates on national politics and finance, and turned their attention to the male performance-enhancing tonic Irex on Thursday, saying that its television advertisements were demeaning to women and should be...

Police troops shoot dead five attackers in Poso

Police troops shoot dead five attackers in Poso POSO, Central Sulawesi (JP): At least five people attacking the police's Mobile Brigade (Brimob) troops in the village of Toyado in Lage district, Poso regency, were shot dead on Thursday.Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.

Bank Universal finalizes deal

Bank Universal finalizes deal JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed Bank Universal said on Thursday it was expecting approval from Bank Indonesia and the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) for a financing deal that would raise its capital adequacy ratio to the minimum 8 percent later this year.

Abdurrahman's last effort at compromise gets cool reaction

Abdurrahman's last effort at compromise gets cool reaction JAKARTA (JP): There was but a cool reaction as President Abdurrahman Wahid made a last ditch on Thursday effort to call a meeting of political party leaders in a bid to seek a compromise.

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.

Public transportation

Public transportationFrom Warta KotaThe recently introduced fuel price hike has prompted the Jakarta chapter of the Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) to demand that public transportation fares be similarly raised on the grounds that, for example, maintenance costs and the price...

Dengue fever spreads among young professionals

Dengue fever spreads among young professionals JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of young professionals, including those working at Jakarta skyscrapers, have suffered dengue fever due to carelessness on the part of high-rise building managements in preventing the spread of the disease, an official said on...