Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 24 March 2002

40 articles found

Dude, where's my car?

Dude, where's my car? From Republika On March 11, my family and I went to the Safari Park in Cisarua, Bogor. We parked our car in front of a ticket booth near the cable cars. At about 1 p.m., we found that our car was gone. We asked the man in charge of the ticket booth about our 1996 dark blue Grand Extra Kijang van. He answered that about five minutes earlier, two men had gotten into a dark blue Kijang van whose alarm was going off. Unfortunately, he had seen no reason to become suspicious.

Villa collapses, kills four in Bogor

Villa collapses, kills four in Bogor BOGOR: Four people, including two children, died in a landslide caused by the collapse of a villa on Jl. Kompo, Cipayung village in Megamendung district, Bogor regency, on Friday night. The villa reportedly belonged to the family of the late Susilo Sudarman, former coordinating minister for political and security affairs.

Megawati urges end to corruption

Megawati urges end to corruption Jupriadi, The Jakarta Post, Makassar Amid criticism and polls indicating worsening graft practices in the country under her leadership, President Megawati Soekarnoputri told her supporters on Saturday to help stop these practices.

Japanese food can be had at affordable prices

Japanese food can be had at affordable prices Kenny Santana, Contributor, Jakarta When it comes to food, the words "made in Japan" always sound expensive, even though this could have something to do with our depressed rupiah. But again, it might be true as Japan is indeed one the most expensive countries to live in, and it's so common to hear that people here spend over a million rupiah per person to savor the taste of Japanese food in Jakarta hotels.

VIP toilets

VIP toilets at Gambir From Warta Kota The fee for using VIP toilets at Gambir railway station, Central Jakarta, has been increased to Rp 1,000 probably because they are mostly used by passengers who travel on executive-class trains. At all other railway stations in Jakarta, the fee is still just Rp 500 per person. Two toilets for the disabled on the ground floor at Gambir railway station are always locked. Once I saw, to my surprise, a physically able man using one of these special toilets.

Selling privatization to workers

Selling privatization to workers Strikingly different from the labor demonstrations and strikes that took place earlier this year to demand higher minimum wages and better working conditions, the current wave of industrial action at a number of state companies seems to be unrelated to basic worker rights.

On a search for soul through Subud

On a search for soul through Subud Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Careering along on the fast track of modern life, we often forget about our soul, the seat of our emotions, and that we need to take control of our daily deeds and forge harmonious ties with the Creator. It is here that members of Subud, which at first sounds, aptly, like a remote haven far from the madding crowd, say they can fill the void.

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; ANPAa..r.. ~Across-Mataram- Lombok woven cloth kept in Australian museum MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Curator of the Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery James Bennet said here on Thursday at least 80 pieces of usap traditional woven cloth from Lombok were housed in the museum. "Of the 60,000 collections in the museum, 4,000 come from Indonesia including 80 pieces of usap and umbak embroideries made in the 1970s and given as presents by collectors in Lombok," he said.

Bale Air a good place for some R and R

Bale Air a good place for some R and R Bill Blade, Contributor, Jakarta It's no fun being a pub reviewer, I'll have you know, and it rarely turns out to be a restful vocation. But if it happens to be rest and relaxation that you're looking for while slurping at the trough, you could do a whole sight worse than the delightful and salubrious Bale Air Food Village, located conveniently at Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav.

On the Shelves

On the Shelves No Regrets: Experiences of a Presidential Spokesman; By Wimar Witoelar; Equinox Publishing (Asia), Jakarta, 2002; 200 pp With so many behind-the-scenes type of books available to give the Indonesian public a peek into the daily lives and activities of presidents, prime ministers and other prominent personalities abroad, it is rather odd, and disappointing, that the same cannot be said for Indonesians at the top of the social and political ladder.

Punish big corruptors

Punish big corruptors From Rakyat Merdeka The current state of our country is attributable to rampant corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), as well as the mega- debts that are strangling the economy. How can the country remain unaffected if some Rp 150 trillion is now in the hands of dirty business magnates and some Rp 500 trillion in debts has yet to be repaid? The total amount reaches about Rp 650 trillion, a figure nearly as large as the government's foreign debts.

Indonesian maid jailed in S'pore

Indonesian maid jailed in S'pore SINGAPORE: An Indonesian maid was sentenced to 15 months in a Singapore jail for shaking a baby boy so hard that his skull fractured, it was reported on Saturday. Maria Fransiska Dewi, 23, admitted in District Court to shaking the three-month-old baby at her employers' home, The Straits Times said. The boy has recovered from the abuse he received on Dec. 5 and has suffered no permanent injuries, Deputy Public Prosecutor Chan Wang Ho said on Friday.

Rp 100m for free health care

Rp 100m for free health care BOGOR: Bogor Health Agency has provided Rp 100 million (US$10,000) fund to provide free health care for poor people in the municipality. "The people can obtain free treatment by filling out the form available in each public health center," said head of the agency, Triwandha Elan, on Thursday. The agency has distributed 28,203 forms to the centers. "Doctors in the centers will give recommendation to the patients," he said.

Police shoot 12, arrest 521 but crimes continue

Police shoot 12, arrest 521 but crimes continue Rendi A. Witular The Jakarta Post Jakarta Jakarta police have revealed they shot dead 12 suspects and arrested 521 others allegedly involved in 357 street crime cases in the past three months. But the figures, to be officially announced on Friday, did not impress members of the public interviewed by The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

Sjahrir gets political with young Indonesians

Sjahrir gets political with young Indonesians I. Christianto, Contributor, Jakarta Fair-weather friends are common in politics. But Sjahrir, a noted economic and political observer, has learned the art of being a critic of the government while still remaining its partner. The 57-year-old Sjahrir has been a government critic since his time as an undergraduate at the University of Indonesia's School of Economics.

Bali spas soothe the mind and body

Bali spas soothe the mind and body Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Bali, the island of sunshine, surf and tropical indulgence, has always made tourists feel good. Now they come here to look good as well, seeking treatments in the myriad of spas which have blossomed on Bali in recent years. Twenty years ago, spas were only frequented by the rich and famous in need of a detox or a full-body overhaul.

Sticky fingers with traditional taffy

Sticky fingers with traditional taffy Kartika Bagus C., Contributor, Ponorogo, East Java Have you ever entertained romantic thoughts while gnawing on taffy? Well, when you chew the traditional taffy from Ponorogo, a town in the southern part of East Java, you also taste the metaphoric qualities of love and marriage. For the taffy is part of the requirements a Ponorogo man must fulfill when proposing to a woman.

TV Program: Sunday, March 24, 2002

TV Program: Sunday, March 24, 2002 TVRI 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 8:00 Religious Teachings 8:30 Children's Program 9:00 Music 10:00 Children's Program 12:30 p.m. Traditional Comedy 2:00 Live Report: PDIP Meeting 4:00 Volleyball: Pro Liga Volley 2002 6:00 News 7:00 Comedy 7:30 Songs and Dances 9:00 News 10:00 Rock and Round 12:03 a.m. Puppet Show TPI 5:30 a.m.

How inter-faith dialog can promote a plural society

How inter-faith dialog can promote a plural society Th. Sumartana, Institute for Inter-Faith, Dialog in Indonesia, Yogyakarta Since its establishment in 1999, the Institute for Inter-Faith Dialog in Indonesia (Interfidei) has been fully engaged in popularizing inter-faith dialog, particularly during the unstable late 1990s. Because of its nature, Interfidei has greater freedom to develop its vision and mission.

JP/1/BLURB

JP/1/BLURB Surveying Sonny Sonny Tulung has become a household name thanks to his work on Family 100, with the trademark expression: "And the survey says ..." As this game show host surveys his life, he certainly finds that he has a lot to smile about, even with his new braces. Page 3 'Reog' Ritual The Eight National Reog Festival recently ended, but the monthly dance ritual will continue in East Java. Take photographic journey through the cosmos of the reog. Page 20

bond: Four sylphs with classical taste

bond: Four sylphs with classical taste Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Contemporary classical music is apparently all the rage here. Album sales are high, and ticket concerts are sold out despite the relatively high price. Last September, 1,400 people packed the sold-out performance by Thai-Chinese violinist Vanessa Mae regardless of the ticket fee which was set at Rp 750,000 (US$75).

Megawati to begins Asia tour

Megawati to begins Asia tour Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri will be visiting four Asian countries in her first foreign trip of the year beginning on Sunday, leaving her nation preoccupied with high-profile issues. During her 12-day trip, Megawati is expected to obtain commitment for economic assistance from more developed countries like China and South Korea, while at the same time lend political support to India and North Korea.

Peugeot 307: Riding a car that turns heads

Peugeot 307: Riding a car that turns heads Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Speeding in a Peugeot 307 XS Sporty really turns heads. Not only because it is a brand new car, which was just launched on March 1, but mostly due to its sporty and elegant design. The stylish eye-look headlight design adds to its uniqueness, helped by the wide windshield and curved hood.

Guard busted for selling drugs in prison

Guard busted for selling drugs in prison Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A guard at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta was seized red- handed, while conducting a drug transaction with an inmate in the high-security prison building, an official revealed on Saturday. The suspect, Muara Simatupang, was arrested on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. while selling drugs to an inmate, named Gunung Sihombing, who is serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence for a drug case.

Battle for talent, the 'fourth world war'

Battle for talent, the 'fourth world war' K. Basrie, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Helen Handfield-Jones, coauthor of The War for Talent, made a stop in Jakarta on her tour of five major cities in Southeast Asia to promote the 200-page book, published by Harvard Business School Press last year. The book is based on research with 200 senior managers from 77 companies in 1997 and 56 companies in 2000, all of which were based in North America.

Bale Air just the place to relax and take it easy

Bale Air just the place to relax and take it easy Bill Blade Contributor Jakarta It's no fun being a pub reviewer, I'll have you know, but it certainly is worth my while. And where better to set forth on such a voyage of discovery than the delightful and salubrious Bale Air Food Village, located conveniently at Jl. Gatot Subroto Kav. 18, South Jakarta, and reportedly a haven of good living and rectitude in this city of unmentionable sins.

JP/4/C04

JP/4/C04 COMPANY: Borobudur Hotel Klub Borobudur: The right place to keep you fit and healthy Most people have their own theories about what makes a gym or fitness center special, and most of the theories are correct; It's the pampering, the exercise, the facilities and the equipment. At Klub Borobudur, the staff establish good relationships with members.

Indonesian banker sentenced to three years in the U.S.

Indonesian banker sentenced to three years in the U.S. Jaymes Song, Associated Press, Honolulu, Hawaii A federal judge on Friday sentenced former Honolulu banker and Indonesian businessman Sukamto Sia to three years in prison on bankruptcy and wire fraud charges. U.S. District Judge David Ezra did not impose any fines and accepted a plea agreement reached last October. The maximum sentence Sia faced was three years and four months in prison and up to US$1.5 million in fines.

'Robatayaki': Old recipe for modern palates

'Robatayaki': Old recipe for modern palates Maria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Prepared with one of the oldest cooking methods, robatayaki is still popular among Japanese people, especially working people, who often enjoy it after office hours. Robatayaki refers to the cooking technique -- broiling the food on a charcoal fire.

More woes in Citra Garden

More woes in Citra Garden I refer to my letter Links from Citra Garden 5 published in The Jakarta Post on Feb. 4, 2002 in respect to problems in the complex and am pleased to inform you that the second gate into Citra 5 was opened on Feb. 3. However, the security guards who man the gates of Citra 3 are slack and indifferent. For instance, the rule that a gate pass should be given to a motorist before he or she is allowed to enter the compound of Citra 3 is not always followed.

Urban lifestyle inspires 'Forbidden Passion'

Urban lifestyle inspires 'Forbidden Passion' Mehru Jaffer, Contributor, Jakarta Ideas continue to be juggled and much sweat is being shed as Forbidden Passion prepares to kick off the city's dance season this year. Put together by members of the very avant garde Eksotika Karmawibhangga Indonesia (EKI), the 60-minute-long performance is divided into four compositions, with each piece attempting to communicate to the audience issues that the dancers consider absolutely essential.

Cabs spread anti-govt propaganda: PM

Cabs spread anti-govt propaganda: PM THAILAND: Thai taxi drivers are spreading antigovernment propaganda when talking with their passengers, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said in Bangkok on Saturday. "There have been dirty tricks recently," Thaksin said during his weekly radio address. "There is a gang hiring people to spread bad rumors about me in taxis," he said.

Tourists call the shots at Chu Chi

Tourists call the shots at Chu Chi Michael Mathes, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Cu Chi, Vietnam Bursts of automatic weapons fire ring out through the eucalyptus northwest of Saigon, and camera-toting tourists are ducking for cover. "A.K., A.K.!" croaks a Vietnamese tour guide, referring to the make of machine gun shattering the serenity of Cu Chi.

'I realize I cannot make everybody happy all the time'

'I realize I cannot make everybody happy all the time' Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Known for his quick wit and playful use of double entendres in dealing with contestants on Family 100, the local version of the U.S. game show Family Feud, Sonny Tulung always knows what the survey says. Born of Manadonese parents in Jakarta, the boyish 34 year old said his first inklings to pursue a career in entertainment began in adolescence.

JP/15/N04

JP/15/N04 .rm75 Bangladesh: The potential investment destination of South Asia Mahmudur Rahman Executive Chairman, BOI Bangladesh is a moderate, democratic and homogeneous country. But being an eighth largest populated nation in the world, Bangladesh needs immediate attention from the strategic planners. It is her people who can shape our desired destiny by utilizing their energy and creativity in productive sector.

'Ruthless' Kosteniuk takes the day at Japfa chess meet

'Ruthless' Kosteniuk takes the day at Japfa chess meet Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Alexandra Kosteniuk appeared ruthless in her quest to be the reigning queen of the Japfa Chess Match, which ended here on Saturday. The Russian women's grand master steamrolled right over the three Indonesians, winning all six games, with the latest victim being Susanto Megaranto.

Thinking retributive justice

Thinking retributive justice Todung Mulya Lubis, Lawyer, Jakarta Can justice be replaced with another means of social avenue? A fair and lasting reconciliation can only be achieved by emphasizing the rights of victims. In Indonesia, efforts to make peace with the past through the formation of a truth and reconciliation commission are more guided by the interest to prevent national disintegration. Reconciliation is deemed more important than accountability.

U.S. troops in Indonesia

U.S. troops in Indonesia The March 20 edition of USA Today reported that officials in the administration of President George W. Bush planned to dispatch military troops to Indonesia. The plan was based on the Pentagon's report that dozens of al-Qaeda fighters had successfully fled Afghanistan and are now hiding in Indonesia. The report of the deployment of troops to Indonesia was denied by the White House spokesman, who said there was no such plan.

'U.S. wants to cooperate with TNI'

'U.S. wants to cooperate with TNI' Agencies, New York/Washington The United States wants to cooperate with Indonesia's armed forces in fighting terrorism, although U.S. military ties between the nations are limited, the head of the U.S. Pacific command has said. "The armed forces of Indonesia, the TNI, have counterterrorism responsibilities, and we deal with the TNI, and I think it's in both our interests for them to do it better and more effectively," Adm.

Sia sentenced to three years in prison on bankruptcy fraud

Sia sentenced to three years in prison on bankruptcy fraud Jaymes Song Associated Press Honolulu, Hawaii A federal judge on Friday sentenced former Honolulu banker and Indonesian businessman Sukamto Sia to three years in prison on bankruptcy and wire fraud charges. U.S. District Judge David Ezra did not impose any fines and accepted a plea agreement reached last October. The maximum sentence Sia faced was three years and four months in prison and up to US$1.5 million in fines.