Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 11 April 2002

77 articles found

Cendrawasih on brink of extinction

Cendrawasih on brink of extinction JAYAPURA, Papua: Protected cendrawasih, or birds of paradise, found in the Papuan village of Yairus, are facing extinction due to excessive forest exploitation, according to environmental activists.

Justice for Sutiyoso?

Justice for Sutiyoso? The public question of whether Governor Sutiyoso would comply with a court summons in the Ancolgate case has been answered. He has obeyed the summons issued by the Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office.

Appointments of 'unskilled teachers' protested

Appointments of 'unskilled teachers' protested PADANG, West Sumatra: The Padang administration in West Sumatra has been criticized for appointing around 100 allegedly unqualified teachers as civil servants in public schools.

Puncak meeting goes ahead despite being 'ineffective'

Puncak meeting goes ahead despite being 'ineffective'Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Puncak, West Java Three months ago, the City Council was criticized for conducting a meeting on the 2002 draft city budget at the city- owned Wisma Jaya Raya resort in Cipayung, in the Puncak hill resort area...

Can we queue only by enforcement?

Can we queue only by enforcement?Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It would be sad to conclude that Indonesians can only manage to wait in lines via enforcement by security officers.This, regrettably, seems to be the case in some private buildings.

Colin Powell's 'mission impossible'

Colin Powell's 'mission impossible'Riza Sihbudi Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Indonesian Society for Middle East Studies (ISMES) Jakarta Colin Powell, the United States State Secretary, is in the Middle East in an effort to ease tensions in the region, following the brutal aggression of...

S'pore ready for airport war with KL

S'pore ready for airport war with KLAgence France-Presse, Singapore Singapore's airport operator said Wednesday it is prepared to face competition from Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur announced an ambitious plan to attract top airlines away from its neighbor.

1. CRISTI: 1 line, 35 counts

1. CRISTI: 1 line, 35 countsIndonesian art vies for world-class status 2. INDIAN: 1 line, 35 countPromoting friendship through Indian art

Regional tourism

Regional tourism The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recently issued a report on developments in the nation's tourist industry. BPS noted that the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia through 13 points of entrance reached about 625,300 people in January and February.

1. Oil (1 x 30)

1. Oil (1 x 30)Oil stays up near six-month high 2. Duit (1 x 32)Asian monies up on Mideast violence 3. Gulf (3 x 10)Gulf Ltd to invest $200m in RI4. Gold (2 x 20)Gold retrenches, but trend stays positive

Batam rocked by mysterious murders

Batam rocked by mysterious murders BATAM, Riau: Mysterious murders are on the increase on the industrial island of Batam, where at least six people have been killed by unidentified assailants since January, local police said on Wednesday.The killers had since disappeared and were still at large.

Alwi briefs US on RI Muslims

Alwi briefs US on RI Muslims JAKARTA: Former minister of foreign affairs Alwi Shihab has recently visited the United States to brief a couple of key officials on the state of radical Islam in Indonesia.

Rituals are not good enough

Rituals are not good enough Recently the Wana Kretih ritual was held in Bali in an attempt to return the island to its natural balance and protect Bali from environmental disaster.For 16 years I have been coming to the "Islands of the Gods".

Prisons for HIV/AIDS carriers?

Prisons for HIV/AIDS carriers? I was shocked to read The Jakarta Post's article on April 4, 2002 about the increasing number of inmates afflicted by HIV/AIDS in Jakarta's prisons. The Post quoted health officials as saying that 22 percent of 200 prisoners who took HIV/AIDS tests at Salemba...

Kenari Mas market site to become a mall

Kenari Mas market site to become a mall JAKARTA: Kenari Mas market on Jl. Salemba, Central Jakarta, will become a mall. The market, which was popularly known as a center for electrical and technical appliances, will be rebuilt as a mall after it was razed by fire on July 12, 1996 that was caused by...

Indonesian art vies for world-class status

Indonesian art vies for world-class statusAgus Dermawan T., Contributor, Jakarta The South-East Asian Painting auction held at The Regent Hotel in Singapore on April 7, 2002 by Sotheby's saw collectors involved in an exciting bid for the paintings put on offer.

Oil stays up on Venezuela, Iraq supply hitches

Oil stays up on Venezuela, Iraq supply hitches Tom Ashby, Reuters, London Oil prices stayed up near six-month highs on Wednesday on continued supply disruptions from Iraq and Venezuela, despite growing inventories in the world's top consumer the United States.

Outages worry people in West Sumatra, Riau

Outages worry people in West Sumatra, RiauKasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang Power blackouts in West Sumatra and Riau provinces have been causing anxiety among the public, particularly those involved in small and medium businesses.

Acehnese rebel group members seek asylum at Finnish Embassy

Acehnese rebel group members seek asylum at Finnish EmbassyYogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two civilian members of the Aceh-Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF) requested asylum upon entering the Finnish Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday, saying that they feared for their lives.

State prosecutor team for Tommy's trial strengthened

State prosecutor team for Tommy's trial strengthenedMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State prosecutors handling the Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra murder trial switched gears on Wednesday, adding two more people to strengthen their three-member team.

Robberies committed by bogus policemen on the rise

Robberies committed by bogus policemen on the riseRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Alamsyah was driving his Toyota Kijang along Jl. R.E. Martadinata, North Jakarta, when two men in police uniform stopped his car.

SBI down at 16.70 percent

SBI down at 16.70 percent JAKARTA : The weighted average interest rate on Bank Indonesia one-month SBI promissory note notes fell at auction, the central bank said Wednesday.The one-month SBI notes stood at 16.70 percent at the weekly auction Wednesday, down from 16.

Subdistricts demand split from East Lampung

Subdistricts demand split from East Lampung BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Thousands of people from the subdistricts of Pekalongan, Batanghari, and Metrokibang have stepped up pressure on the Lampung administration to allow their regions to split from the East Lampung regency to join the neighboring Metro...

Foundation plans to open casino in Seribu Islands

Foundation plans to open casino in Seribu IslandsAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Puncak, West Java Jakarta's Seribu Islands regency may eventually become a haven for gamblers as a number of investors have proposed to the regency that they be allowed to open casinos.

Next election depends on MPR

Next election depends on MPRKurniawan Hari and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Legislators gave the go-ahead on Wednesday for an amendment to the constitution, which is currently being implemented by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), despite recent attempts to block its process.

Illegal fees

Illegal fees still rifeFrom Kompas I recently processed a permit in an office under the supervision of the finance ministry. Talking with one of the office division heads, I was told that the office had a very limited operational fund while it had to provide services to the public to process...

Scalpers, collusion wreck low-cost housing hopes

Scalpers, collusion wreck low-cost housing hopesRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The City Administration hopes that people from the slum areas will move into low-cost, centrally located apartments built for them, but collusion between scalpers and certain city officials is damaging those...

UPS plans to fly six nights per week to RI

UPS plans to fly six nights per week to RIThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Atlanta-based courier United Parcel Service (UPS) plans to triple the freight capacity of its Indonesian services to 14 tons per night starting in June this year, indicating the company's confidence in Indonesia's trade...

Bomb hoax at Menara BCD

Bomb hoax at Menara BCD JAKARTA: The Menara BCD office building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 26, Central Jakarta, was the subject of a bomb hoax on Wednesday at 9:20 a.m.The threat forced the building's management, PT Nico Central, to evacuate some 500 workers from 50 companies, mostly foreign ones,...

Amien Rais goes to the web

Amien Rais goes to the web JAKARTA: People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais is sick of having his words twisted, so he is going direct to the web."As a public figure I often felt that my press interviews were to a great extent sometimes distorted by our journalists," Amien said...

Young doctors cry foul over abuses

Young doctors cry foul over abusesLeo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Temporarily employed doctors are winning more support for their plight, with the National Commission on Human Rights charging that the mandatory service required of new medical graduates by the government is a form of rights...

Indonesia pledges RP 1b in aid to Palestine

Indonesia pledges RP 1b in aid to PalestineAnnastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian government has pledged to provide the Palestinian people with Rp 1 billion (US$94,300) in food and medical aid.

JP/R. Berto Wedhatama

JP/R. Berto Wedhatama HOMAGE TO 'GREAT LEADER': North Korean Ambassador Kim Pyong-hong (second from left) invites Mrs. Supeni (second right), a respected independence fighter, to a toast at a dinner to mark the 90th anniversary of the birth of the late North Korean leader Kim Il-sung.

Govt seeks more tax revenue from SOEs

Govt seeks more tax revenue from SOEsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi said the government was discussing ways of raking in more tax revenue from state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

Weighty slogan on an empty wall

Weighty slogan on an empty wall This second part of our series in our weekly column, prepared with the help of marketing expert Hermawan Kartajaya, illustrates the professional views and thoughts of Yaya Winarno Junardy, president director of PT Bentoel Internasional Investama, a publicly listed...

Civil servants's savings gone?

Civil servants's savings gone?From KompasCivil Servants (PNS) are subjected to compulsory housing savings through the monthly salary withholding of Rp 3,000 for group I, Rp 5,000 for group II, Rp 7,000 for group III and Rp 10,000 for group IV.

Coal firms struggle to annul VAT ruling

Coal firms struggle to annul VAT rulingMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Coal mining companies in Indonesia are working to have a value added tax (VAT) introduced by the government in 2000 annulled.

Gulf Indonesia Ltd. to invest at least $200m

Gulf Indonesia Ltd. to invest at least $200mThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Oil and gas company Gulf Indonesia Resources Ltd. will invest US$200 million per year for the "next few years" to explore and develop new oil and gas fields in Indonesia.

Rupiah Rates April 10

Rupiah Rates April 10 JP/11/ConversionRupiah Rates April 10 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,130.00 9,130.00 9,678.00 9,582.00Australian dollar 1 5,385.11 4,848.94 5,144.82 5,089.00Brunei dollar 1 5,526.46 4,978.19 5,279.87 5,224.

Where to go in Bali: Thursday, April 11, 2002

Where to go in Bali: Thursday, April 11, 2002Exhibitions* Painting by Made Somadita, The Chedi (Tel. 0361 975963), Desa Malinggih Kelod, Gianyar, Ubud, until April 20. * Painting Discovery and Concern by Made Alit Suaja, Ketut Lekung Sugantika, I Wayan Susana, Taman Budaya Denpasar, April 16 - 21.

Indonesia plans 'cheap package' for 2003 SEAG

Indonesia plans 'cheap package' for 2003 SEAGMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With the 2003 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Vietnam still less than a year away, Indonesia has unveiled a plan to lobby for a number of sporting events in which it has better medal prospects.M.

World Bank clarifies

World Bank clarifies I read with interest the article entitled WB finds N. Sumatra administration guilty of graft in your April 6 edition. This article on the World Bank and corruption in a project that we financed, the Kecamatan (district) Development Project (KDP), made several important and...

TV journalists held hostage in Boyolali

TV journalists held hostage in BoyolaliThe Jakarta Post, Surakarta/Jakarta Violence against the media is still rampant in certain parts of Indonesian despite the reforms introduced following the downfall of former dictator Soeharto four years ago.

* Headlines: Suspect Akbar, out of detention, back to House 2

* Headlines: Suspect Akbar, out of detention, back to House 2* Opinion: Paris Club and the case for debt arbitration4* City: Hearing adjourned, flood victims disappointed 6* Archipelago: TV journalists held hostage in Boyolali7 * National: Young doctors cry foul over abuses 8* World: Malaysia inks...

Watch out, it's scary demons everywhere

Watch out, it's scary demons everywhereI Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Balinese youth have a very unique way of reminding everybody that Nyepi, the Hindu Day of Silence, is near: by trying to scare everybody off.

;REUTERS;

;REUTERS; ANPAf..r.. Shipping-Malaysia-PortMalaysian port nabs Evergreen from SingaporeJP/cargoPatrick Chalmers Reuters Kuala LumpurMalaysia's Port of Tanjung Pelepas, dealing its second big blow in two years to Singaporean rival PSA, has landed a deal with Taiwanese shipping line Evergreen Marine...

Doctor says Estrada needs surgery

Doctor says Estrada needs surgery PHILIPPINES: Detained former president Joseph Estrada will be crippled within three years without immediate knee surgery, a government doctor told a court on Wednesday.

JP/4/C04

JP/4/C04 COMPANY: Borobudur Hotel Klub Borobudur: The right place to keep you fit and healthyMost 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.

JP/12/BEJ

JP/12/BEJ .pl .rmStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in Rupiah) on April 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Shares Close Change Volume ------------------------------------------------------------------ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 235 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,225...

Rupiah Rates April 10

Rupiah Rates April 10 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 10,130.00 9,130.00 9,678.00 9,582.00Australian dollar 1 5,385.11 4,848.94 5,144.82 5,089.00Brunei dollar 1 5,526.46 4,978.19 5,279.87 5,224.65Canadian dollar 1 6,355.88 5,724.86 6,072.28 6,008.

An outdated Constitution

An outdated Constitution With pressure on the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) mounting to have its formulation of a draft amendment to the 1945 Constitution completed by August -- which is when the Assembly is slated to meet for its annual session -- voices for and against an amendment are...

Politicians' behavior

Politicians' behaviorFrom KompasThe behavior of politicians in the House of Representatives/People's Consultative Assembly (MPR/DPR) should arouse the nation's grave concern. Almost none of them are of good character, and remain consistent in pursuit of their own interests.

Art embraces all in multicultural Bali

Art embraces all in multicultural BaliRita A.Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar Art has no boundaries. It encompasses religion, culture, race and geographical borders."Only in art forums, we can sit or stand equally. We seek no differences but similarities.

Malaysia inks $364 million missile deals, wants subs

Malaysia inks $364 million missile deals, wants subsEileen Ng, Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia on Wednesday ordered British and Russian missile systems worth US$364 million to boost its air power and agreed to buy its first ever submarines, but denied the shopping spree was aggressive.

Fishermen cancel tax protest

Fishermen cancel tax protestAgus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purwokerto Thousands of fishermen from Central Java canceled their plan to storm Jakarta on Wednesday in protest over the newly decreed fishing taxes, after Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Rohimin Dahuri heeded some of their...

Malaysia, RI to boost intelligence cooperation

Malaysia, RI to boost intelligence cooperationAntara, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia has called for more exchange in intelligence information with Indonesia, including on terrorist networks in the two countries, Malaysian Police Inspector-General Norian Mai said on Tuesday.

'Nggapulu' set for maiden voyage

'Nggapulu' set for maiden voyage JAKARTA: Luxury vessel Nggapulu, the newest in the fleet belonging to national cruise liner PT Pelni, will set sail on its maiden voyage on Sunday for the route across eastern Indonesia.

BBN raids another drug lab in Tangerang

BBN raids another drug lab in TangerangYogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Narcotics Agency (BBN), with the help of police detectives, raided on Wednesday another drug laboratory producing ecstasy pills in the Cipondoh area of Tangerang, seizing, among other things, around...

Irregularities continue as govt fails to act: BPK

Irregularities continue as govt fails to act: BPKAnnastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Although the government has constantly vowed to eradicate graft and corruption, the level of budget malfeasance remains high as action is rarely taken by the relevant government institutions to follow...

Robbers sentenced to lengthy jail terms

Robbers sentenced to lengthy jail terms BOGOR: Two of five robbers who shot and killed a police officer and a security guard during a botched robbery near Bogor last year have been sentenced to lengthy jail terms.

Singapore economy shrank by 2.6 percent in first quarter

Singapore economy shrank by 2.6 percent in first quarterAgence France-Presse, Singapore Singapore's economy shrank 2.6 percent in the first quarter in a worse than expected performance amid weak electronics demand, government figures showed Wednesday.

Texchem pumps $5.7m in China, RI

Texchem pumps $5.7m in China, RI KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian conglomerate Texchem Resources Bhd., said on Wednesday it was investing US$5.7 million in Indonesia and China as part of efforts to become a major chemical and manufacturing group in the region.

JP/12/BEJ

JP/12/BEJ .pl .rmStock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in Rupiah) on April 10, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------ Shares Close Change Volume ------------------------------------------------------------------ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 235 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,225...

1. (BOX) NII: 30 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 22

1. (BOX) NII: 30 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 22 No legal basis to charge NII followers: Police 2. SANDRA: 55 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 18 TV journalists held hostage in Boyolali 3. PLTA: 40 pt, 5 cols, 1 x 40 Outages worry people in West Sumatra, Riau 4. NELAYAN: 36 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 28 Fishermen cancel tax protest 5.

Colin Powell's 'mission impossible' to Mideast

Colin Powell's 'mission impossible' to MideastRiza Sihbudi, Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Indonesian Society for Middle East Studies (ISMES), Jakarta Colin Powell, the United States State Secretary, is in the Middle East in an effort to ease tensions in the region, following the brutal...

No legal basis to charge NII followers: Police

No legal basis to charge NII followers: Police The West Java Regional Police released on Wednesday the remaining five followers of the Negara Islam Indonesia (NII), suspected of planning to establish an Islamic state in the country, as they could not find a legal basis on which to charge them.

Hearing adjourned, flood victims disappointed

Hearing adjourned, flood victims disappointedDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Flood victims who filed a class action suit against the President, Jakarta governor and West Java governor were disappointed on Wednesday as the first hearing was postponed due to a lack of understanding of...

Inaplas urges Pertamina to provide more naphtha

Inaplas urges Pertamina to provide more naphthaAdianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Olefin and Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas) urged state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina to produce more naphtha products for local petrochemical companies to help boost the...

TaylorMade launches new drivers

TaylorMade launches new drivers JAKARTA: Indonesia's golfers were again provided with another choice of drivers when TaylorMade launched its latest products here on Wednesday.At the Prestasi Andalan Golf Driving Range, the Japan-based golf equipment maker introduced the R300 Ti and R320 Ti, which...

Promoting friendship through Indian art

Promoting friendship through Indian artMehru Jaffer, Contributor, Jakarta Despite the delays inherent in the art of globetrotting, the relationship between the people of Indonesia and India was probably far more intense in the past.

Australia feared to become haven for RI's criminals

Australia feared to become haven for RI's criminalsClaire Harvey and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra expressed fear on Wednesday that Australia could become a haven for Indonesian criminals if the country fails to expedite...

Suspect Akbar back to House, claims he is still in control

Suspect Akbar back to House, claims he is still in controlKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Corruption suspect House Speaker Akbar Tandjung reported back to work on Wednesday, declaring that he was still the speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR).

Probe into JEC bribery stalls

Probe into JEC bribery stallsAsip A. Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Progress in the much-demanded investigation into a bribery scandal over the Jogja Expo Center (JEC) project remains uncertain despite prosecutors obtaining the approval of the home minister to summon a local senior legislator...

Councillor Aziz Boeang passes away

Councillor Aziz Boeang passes away JAKARTA: Councillor Aziz Boeang of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) passed away on Wednesday at the Pertamina hospital in South Jakarta.The 70-year-old Aziz, a member of the Council's budget commission, had been receiving treatment for...

Telkom secures $63.5m loan

Telkom secures $63.5m loanDebbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State telecommunications company PT Telkom said on Wednesday that it has signed a US$63.5 million loan to finance the development of its transmission network project in Sumatra.

Two Acehnese slip into Finnish Embassy

Two Acehnese slip into Finnish EmbassyYogita Tahilramani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two civilian members of the Aceh-Sumatra National Liberation Front (ASNLF) requested asylum upon entering the Finnish Embassy in Jakarta on Wednesday, saying that they feared for their lives.

Govt denies Ne Win in coma

Govt denies Ne Win in coma MYANMAR: The military government denied on Wednesday that former dictator Ne Win had fallen into a coma while under virtual house arrest in the wake of an alleged coup attempt by some of his relatives.