Archive: 24 September 2001
46 articles found
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Mega promises U.S. investors better security at home
Mega promises U.S. investors better security at home By Fabiola Desy Unidjaja HOUSTON, Texas (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri promised U.S. investors that her administration would work hard to improve the security situation in Indonesia in a bid to attract more investment. Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that the assurances were given at a business luncheon here on Saturday with some 40 U.S. businessmen, including top officials of U.S.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Laborers demand unpaid wages
Laborers demand unpaid wages JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of workers of PT Maesa Maju, a garment factory in the village of Cicadas, Gunung Putri, Bogor, staged a rally at the town council hall on Friday to complain about unpaid wages. The protesters told councillors that they had not received their salary from August yet as their employer had claimed to be in financial problems, Antara reported.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
RI steps up efforts to attract regional tourists
RI steps up efforts to attract regional tourists JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian inbound tour operators are stepping up marketing efforts to attract tourists from the Asia Pacific region as long haul flights become unattractive in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the United States, a senior executive said.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah, stock market brace for U.S revenge
Rupiah, stock market brace for U.S revenge JAKARTA (JP): Concerns over a U.S. attack against Afghanistan could ignite rupiah, stock selling this week as edgy investors brace for a fully fledged global recession, analysts warned. Currency and stock analyst Feri Latuhihin at PT Danareksa Securities said a U.S. attack that stirs up regional uncertainties, would upset the market here. "It (the attack) could come like a shockwave slashing the market," Feri said over the weekend.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia's stand against terror is firm
Indonesia's stand against terror is firm SINGAPORE: Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri's assurance to her U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, that her Muslim nation will join the world community to fight terrorism, underscores the fact that terrorist acts also threaten Indonesia's democracy and security.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Blasts rock Jakarta's Atrium Plaza
Blasts rock Jakarta's Atrium Plaza JAKARTA (JP): At least two explosions rocked the Atrium Plaza shopping mall in Central Jakarta's busy Senen business district on Sunday, just days after President Megawati Soekarnoputri joined the U.S.-led global war on terrorism. The blasts hit the same shopping mall where a bomb attack on Aug. 1 injured six people, including the Malaysian citizen who planted the bomb.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
900,000 counterfeit bank notes seized
900,000 counterfeit bank notes seized PURWOKERTO, Central Java (JP): The National Police in cooperation with Bank Indonesia (the central bank) managed to confiscated 900,000 counterfeit rupiah bank notes during the period between 1998 and 2000, an officer said here on Saturday. Comr. Yakobus, a detective from the police's counterfeit money section at National Police Headquarters, said that the confiscated bills were in various denominations, ranging from Rp 5,000 to Rp 50,000.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Hepatitis B epidemic in C. Java
Hepatitis B epidemic in C. Java SEMARANG, Central Java: Hepatitis B, which causes inflammation of the liver, has reached epidemic proportions in the Central Java capital of Semarang, with between 5 percent and 10 percent of its four million population suffering from the disease, a doctor says. Dr. Hirlan of the Dr. Kariadi Hospital in Semarang said that the public's reluctance to participate in vaccination programs had contributed to the large number of infections. Dr.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Privately-managed islands should be returned: Council
Privately-managed islands should be returned: Council By A. Junaidi JAKARTA (JP): Within the spirit of regional autonomy, the City Council has demanded that business magnates return islands they own at Kepulauan Seribu (the "Thousand" Islands), North Jakarta, to the city administration. Deputy chairman of the council's Commission A for administrative affairs Syarifien Maloko said the magnates, through their companies, had secured land certificates for the islands from the central government.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Tommy promises to surrender
Tommy promises to surrender JAKARTA (JP): The police were again made a promise by fugitive Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who has been on the run for more than 10 months, that the latter planned to surrender himself to them provided they could guarantee him both security and justice. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Jakarta:
Where to go in Jakarta: Art Summit III * Theater Mutiara dari Mesir by Elwarsha (Egyptian), Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jl. Cikini Raya 73, Central Jakarta, 8 p.m., Sept. 24. * Theater Humor Sosial Politik Gaya Indonesia, Teater Koma, N Riantiarno (Indonesian), Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jl. Gedung Kesenian No. 1, Central Jakarta (Phone: 3808283), 8 p.m., Sept. 25 - 26. * Dance, Folkwang Tanzstudio (German), Graha Bhakti Budaya, Taman Ismail Marzuki, 8 p.m., Sept. 26 - 27.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Thais urge Muslims against 'Holy War'
Thais urge Muslims against 'Holy War' BANGKOK (DPA): Thailand's Defense Ministry has warned Thai Muslims against falling victim to two websites, reportedly based in Germany, that are recruiting people to fight a "holy war" against the United States, the Bangkok Post reported on Sunday.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Ghost of 1997 returns to haunt Asian banks
Ghost of 1997 returns to haunt Asian banks SINGAPORE (AFP): Asian banks still hurting from the crash of 1997 are again being burdened with nonperforming loans (NPL) amid an economic slowdown, and the global security crisis is compounding the situation, regional analysts said.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Muslim groups hunt for Americans
Muslim groups hunt for Americans SURAKARTA, Central Java (JP): Hundreds of members of several radical Muslim groups went to five-star hotels here on Sunday to find out whether Americans were staying there, insisting that U.S. citizens should leave if the U.S. attacked Afghanistan.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Pakistan, India welcome lifting of U.S. sanctions
Pakistan, India welcome lifting of U.S. sanctions ISLAMABAD (AFP): Pakistan and India welcomed on Sunday the U.S. decision to waive sanctions imposed after the two South Asian rivals staged tit-for-tat nuclear weapons tests in 1998. The response was more effusive in Islambad where the government's efforts to pull the country back from the brink of bankruptcy had been hampered by the sanctions' economic impact.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Traffic offense trials prone to corruption
Traffic offense trials prone to corruption By Muninggar Sri Saraswati JAKARTA (JP): Some legal process may last for years, but not traffic violation cases in Jakarta where the hearings last on average just three minutes. In one day, a court may hear dozens, or even hundreds, of traffic violation complaints. The process is simple and quick. The cases are handled by a judge and a clerk, without the presence of any prosecutors or lawyers.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
S'pore wins US$3.95b investment, Goh says
S'pore wins US$3.95b investment, Goh says SINGAPORE (Reuters): Singapore attracted S$6.9 billion (US$3.95 billion) in direct investment in fixed assets and S$1.2 billion in business spending in the first eight months of this year, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong said on Saturday. A spokesman for Goh later told Reuters that three-quarters of the investment came from overseas sources, including the United States, Europe and Japan, with the rest from Singapore companies.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Endriarto's idea to disarm police gets thumbs down
Endriarto's idea to disarm police gets thumbs down JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto's proposal to disarm the nation's police has received a big thumbs down. Observers say that, if unarmed, the police would be dysfunctional and their lives placed in danger because of the number of hardcore criminals brandishing guns nowadays. Police Watchdog Coordinator Nur Atar Achmad dismissed Endriartono's proposal as "ridiculous".
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Man may get 6 years for fraud
Man may get 6 years for fraud PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: A state prosecutor demanded on Saturday that the Central Kalimantan District Court sentence a former employee of the provincial police's logistics office to six years in prison for manipulating rice requisitions from the central government.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
DPA should be disbanded
DPA should be disbanded Based on the nation's interests, the controversy over the tenure of the members of the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) and its existence should be responded to, effectively. As the 1945 Constitution, under which the DPA exists, is not a holy writ and given that the presence of 45 DPA members only burdens the state budget (monthly expenses incurred could amount to Rp 1 billion), it is high time we disbanded this institution.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Teachers' backpay vs. regent's volvo
Teachers' backpay vs. regent's volvo From Suara Karya Some of my colleagues, who are elementary school teachers in remote areas of Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi, have voiced their concerns to me regarding the delay in receiving their backpay. To process the backpay of Lawa's teachers, one of my colleagues had to make frequent visits to the relevant office in Raha, a city in Muna regency, which is almost 50 kilometers away.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Singing for childen, not as simple as it really sounds
Singing for childen, not as simple as it really sounds By Ida Indawati Khouw JAKARTA (JP): Julie Andrews once said in the Sound of Music that "When you read you begin with A, B, C. When you sing, you begin with do, re, mi, ..." A simple seven-note scale, but apparently not all children can sing it.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Sugar tariff cuts delayed
Sugar tariff cuts delayed MANILA (Reuters): The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council has allowed the Philippines and Indonesia to delay the start of sugar import tariff cuts, a senior Philippine government official said on Sunday. The decision "will allow the Philippines to maintain high tariffs on sugar for several more years before phasing them down to a maximum of five percent in 2010," Trade Secretary Manuel Roxas said in a statement.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia
Indonesian workers in Saudi Arabia From Replublika PT Agrosin Maromi sent the ten of us to Saudi Arabia to work as foremen and heavy equipment operators in a road construction project undertaken by PT AL Aswal. Under the contract we were obliged to work for one year, but after working for four months without receiving any salary we could bear it no longer.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Storytelling almost a novelty
Storytelling almost a novelty By Fitri Wulandari JAKARTA (JP): Dozens of children gathered, sitting silently on the carpeted floor, staring at and listening attentively to a middle-aged man on the stage telling a funny story about an elephant. A scene like this, found in a hall at the Jakarta Convention Center during the 2001 Indonesian Book Fair, suggests that listening to stories remains popular among some but not all children today.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Ex-intelligence officer, zoo manager 'steal' birds
Ex-intelligence officer, zoo manager 'steal' birds SURABAYA (JP): A zoo manager and a former intelligence officer have been named as suspects by police for stealing and illegally breeding endangered Bali starlings taken from Surabaya Zoo, police said. Lt. Col. (ret.) Kamilo Kalim, a former local Brawijaya military command intelligence chief, is suspected of stealing four of the six Bali starlings reported missing on Sept.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
American companies boost security measures
American companies boost security measures JAKARTA (JP): American companies operating in Indonesia have been boosting security measures to protect foreign workers, particularly United States citizens, amid rising tension in the wake of the U.S. government's threat to attack Afghanistan. Oil company PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, which is a joint venture between American firms Chevron and Texaco, has asked its employees to stay at home or on company property to avoid undesirable harassment.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Teacher stabbed to death for sodomy
Teacher stabbed to death for sodomy YOGYAKARTA: Santo Dul Ari, 19, a student of a vocational school in Pundong subdistrict, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta stabbed his teacher, Rudy Harsoyo, (50), to death on Saturday, a police officer said. Head of the Bantul police's detective unit Adj. Comr. Hadi Paryitno quoted Santo as saying that he stabbed the teacher because he was angry at the victim who had sexually harassed him.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
400 nightspots operate illegally
400 nightspots operate illegally JAKARTA (JP): Over 400 nightspots in West Jakarta operate without any permit and many of them have turned into flesh markets, an official said. Head of the West Jakarta tourism agency, Haryanto, said that the practice of prostitution takes place at certain hotels and massage centers, BeritaJakarta.com reported. Those that operate illegally include cinemas, hotels, restaurants, bars, karaoke parlors, game centers, discotheques, and hairdressers.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
World Press Photo expo at Erasmus
World Press Photo expo at Erasmus JAKARTA (JP): The best photos taken by journalists from around the world will be on display at Erasmus Huis, on Jl. Rasuna Said, Kuningan, South Jakarta, for two weeks. Writer Seno Gumira Adjidarma is scheduled to open the exhibition, which will feature winners and runners-up in the World Press Photo 2001 contest, on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. For this year's contest, 42,321 pictures were submitted by 3,938 photographers from 121 countries.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia Airline may cut jobs
Malaysia Airline may cut jobs KUALA LUMPUR (AP): Malaysia Airline may be forced to slash jobs if its business suffers from the fallout of the suicide attacks in the United States, Malaysia's Transport Minister said, according to a report Saturday. Ling Liong Sik said the government's plan to revamp the debt- ridden airline had included the possibility of job cutbacks, but that they had previously been considered just an option, the Malaysian news agency Bernama reported.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
School burning continues in Aceh
School burning continues in Aceh BANDA ACEH, Aceh: At least three more schools in troubled Aceh province were set ablaze by unidentified persons on Friday night raising the number of schools gutted in North Aceh regency over the last two months to 61, an official said on Saturday. Last month alone over 50 schools experienced a similar fate, M. Umar Ar Khadi, an official of the education bureau in the regency, said. By comparison there are about 500 schools in North Aceh regency, he said.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Police seal massage parlor
Police seal massage parlor JAKARTA (JP): Jatinegara police sealed late on Friday a massage parlor near the Duri Plaza ruko (shop-houses), which was suspected of running a prostitution business, police said on Saturday. Jatinegara police chief Comr. F.X. Supardi said police took stern action against Mandarin, the massage center, after nearby residents had threatened to take the law into their own hands.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Is KKN rife in RI's petroleum industry?
Is KKN rife in RI's petroleum industry? By Parulian Sihotang and Alex Russell JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia's remarkable economic growth rate over the past 30 years has been predominately fueled by the proceeds of the exploitation of its oil and gas wealth which, arguably, is the birth right of every Indonesian citizen. Indeed, on average over 42 percent of Indonesian domestic revenues, and 48 percent of all export income, can be directly attributable to oil and gas output.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Never argue with judges, police
Never argue with judges, police JAKARTA (JP): Never try arguing with a judge in a traffic violation case hearing. You will only be disappointed because the judge will ignore your objections. Meet Sumarno, 45, who was on trial at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. He was ticketed for changing the original car license plate made by the police with an embossed plate he ordered from a street-side kiosk.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Suwandi leads Indonesia past China's great wall
Suwandi leads Indonesia past China's great wall JAKARTA (JP): Suwandi made amends for his loss in the opening day of the Davis Cup duel against China with nearly flawless play, which saved Indonesia from relegation on Sunday.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Minister voices support for AEKI tax proposal
Minister voices support for AEKI tax proposal JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih has backed a proposal for the annulment of a tax on coffee beans to assist farmers increase their income amid the prolonged economic crisis and low international coffee prices, according to the Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters (AEKI) on Saturday AEKI chairman Hassan Widjaja said that during a closed door meeting with the association on Thursday, the minister promised to lobby the...
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Piracy suits don't deter illegal software dealers
Piracy suits don't deter illegal software dealers JAKARTA (JP): The business of selling pirated software here remains brisk, despite legal action in two separate courts taken by the giant software company, the Microsoft Corporation, against five computer dealers over software piracy.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
No personal guarantee from Eka Tjipta, son says
No personal guarantee from Eka Tjipta, son says JAKARTA (JP): The owner of heavily indebted Sinar Mas Group said its founding father, Eka Tjipta Widjaya, would not surrender his personal guarantee for debts guaranteed by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA). Indra Widjaya, a member of the Widjaya family, which owns Sinar Mas, said his father Eka should not be held liable for the debts, as he was no longer a shareholder of the group.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Get trained online and earn a certificate, too
Get trained online and earn a certificate, too JAKARTA (JP): A while back, a lot of people in the Internet community here in Indonesia had a good laugh as they read an official acknowledgement in the Website of an American university that one of its alumni had been appointed to a very high position in this country.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
New leaf in U.S.-RI ties
New leaf in U.S.-RI ties The red carpet treatment President Megawati Soekarnoputri received during her official visit to the United States last week went far beyond the normal diplomatic protocols bestowed upon previous Indonesian leaders. President George W. Bush made a point of meeting Megawati and having lunch with her at the White House, in spite of his busy schedule amid preparations to launch a war against international terrorism.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Selling low priced rice
Selling low priced rice From Rakyat Merdeka On Sept. 1, North Bogor Police succeeded in arresting a member of a syndicate manipulating the government's provision of cheap rice for the poor. Six trucks originally slated to carry rice from Dramaga Bogor logistics depot warehouse to Cariu and Sukaraja regencies were rerouted on the way to an illegal broker's warehouse. Police suspected this rerouting and, thanks to their expertise and professionalism, foiled the scam attempt.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Some Windows features can assist the disable
Some Windows features can assist the disable By Zatni Arbi JAKARTA (JP): Personal computers are supposed to help us maximize our productivity. They are supposed to make it easier for us to access, process, store and retrieve information. They should also serve as enablers, and therefore they should also help people with different kinds of physical disability realize their potential.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Fire guts Bogor market
Fire guts Bogor market JAKARTA (JP): Fire destroyed about 180 kiosks in Cigombong market, Cijeruk district, Bogor, on Friday morning, inflicting at least Rp 1.5 billion in losses. The incident, which occurred at around 4 a.m., was believed to have happened because of a short circuit in one of the kiosks, Antara reported. Six fire engines managed to extinguish the fire within one hour. No casualties were reported as there was little activity at the market when the fire broke out.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Govt criticized for no clear program on Aceh impasse
Govt criticized for no clear program on Aceh impasse BANDA ACEH, Aceh (JP): Two respected Acehnese figures have criticized the government of Indonesia for lacking concrete programs to peacefully end the problems in the troubled province of Aceh.
Mon, 24 Sep 2001, 00:00 WIB
Full-traffic disrupts calls: Mobile firms
Full-traffic disrupts calls: Mobile firms JAKARTA (JP): The country's leading cellular phone operators brushed aside allegations that they have failed to increase their network capacity, which has resulted in disturbances during rush hour. PT Telkomsel and PT Excelcomindo Pratama said over the weekend that the troubles simply occurred due to "full-traffic", not because of the network's inability to deal with the capacity.