Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 16 May 2002

78 articles found

House sets up population forum

House sets up population forum JAKARTA: Members of the House of Representatives from various factions and commissions declared on Wednesday the establishment of a parliamentary forum for population and development.

New provinces to have police commands

New provinces to have police commands TERNATE, North Maluku: The National Police will set up provincial police commands in four new provinces, a senior police officer said on Wednesday."The commands will be established next year at the latest," said Brig. Gen.

Democratic Indonesia pivotal for the region

Democratic Indonesia pivotal for the regionHelen Clark, Prime Minister, New Zealand Indonesia is an immensely more complex society than New Zealand. Keeping a strong sense of national identity and purpose will always be a more difficult task for this nation than it is for New Zealand.

Saudi Arabia gives aid for immunization

Saudi Arabia gives aid for immunization JAKARTA: The Saudi Arabian government donated Rp 1.95 billion on Tuesday to the city administration to fund hepatitis B immunization for the city's babies.The financial assistance was handed over by Ambassador Abdullah Hamid Halim to Governor Sutiyoso to...

Ahmad Junaidi

Ahmad Junaidi The Jakarta Post JakartaThe City Council's special committee completed on Wednesday the draft of the gubernatorial election regulation, which, if enacted, would limit certain candidates' chances of being elected and ignore public participation.

GAM takes nine female students hostage

GAM takes nine female students hostageThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has once again taken female students hostage, this time at least nine, for allegedly consorting with government troops.Aceh police spokesman Comr.

South Korea to challenge China in Uber Cup final

South Korea to challenge China in Uber Cup finalNovan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China Host and defending champion China cleared its path to the final stage of the women's team Uber Cup after defeating Hong Kong with a clean sweep victory of 3-0 in a one-sided match at Guangzhou's...

Economic growth?

Economic growth? Praise from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the significant improvement in Indonesia's economic situation could further strengthen market confidence, both in the economic outlook and the government's credibility.

IT product retail sales up 15% this year

IT product retail sales up 15% this year The sales of Information Technology (IT) solutions and services for the retailing sector in Indonesia is predicted to reach US$80 million this year, an increase of about 15 percent from around US$70 million last year.

Police, Army trade blame over Ambon shooting

Police, Army trade blame over Ambon shootingThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Army's Special Force (Kopassus) and the National Police took swipes at each other on Wednesday, after the police accused two Kopassus soldiers of being directly involved in Monday's escape of a suspected provocateur...

Megawati chides defiant party members

Megawati chides defiant party membersYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed on Wednesday her indignation at the undisciplined behavior of local party legislators and warned they would...

Indonesia stunned by India 3-0 in Fed Cup

Indonesia stunned by India 3-0 in Fed CupThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia was beaten 0-3 by India in a Group Three tie at the Asia-Pacific Junior Fed Cup in the Bung Karno tennis hall on Wednesday.While India, which has won twice, is already guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals, Indonesia...

Council defies public hopes with draft election rules

Council defies public hopes with draft election rulesAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The City Council's special committee completed on Wednesday the draft of the gubernatorial election regulation, which, if enacted, would limit certain candidates' chances of being elected and ignore public...

N. Jakarta's road that never dries

N. Jakarta's road that never dries One of the main access roads to the luxury estate of Pantai Indah Kapuk in North Jakarta, Jl. Kapuk Raya, remains under water although there has not been much rain in recent weeks, certainly nothing on the order of the huge floods in February, which paralyzed the...

RI to host workers competition

RI to host workers competition JAKARTA: Indonesia has been appointed the host of the 4th ASEAN Vocational Skills Competition to be held here in October, Manpower Minister Jacob Nuwa Wea said Wednesday.Jacob said the decision was made during the 16th ASEAN Labor Ministerial Meeting in Laos from May...

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSX Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 15 , 2002:-------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Abdi Bangsa Tbk 390 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk...

Chinese-Indonesians still fearful of more rioting

Chinese-Indonesians still fearful of more riotingDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta High, strong fences were erected surrounding some malls and shopping centers here in the wake of the May 1998 riots, yet they fail to ensure business safety, at least for most shop owners who are still...

Asian currencies mixed, yen rally helps some

Asian currencies mixed, yen rally helps someAlan Yonan Jr., Dow Jones, Singapore Asian currencies were mixed against the dollar Wednesday, with the South Korean won and New Taiwan dollar strengthening on the back of gains in local stock markets and a late session yen rally.

Eye of the mind and window of the heart

Eye of the mind and window of the heartYusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta "I don't see that you're trying to return. I have seen no signs that you want to start changing the situation. Don't blame me for being void of any tolerance.

PIB may forge an alliance with PPP Reformasi

PIB may forge an alliance with PPP ReformasiThe Jakarta Post Jakarta CANBERRA: A prominent Indonesian economist wants his planned political party to forge an alliance with the United Development Party of Reform (PPP Reformasi).Dr.

Danish dalmatians leave their mark in Bali

Danish dalmatians leave their mark in BaliYudha Bantono, Contributor, Kuta, Bali When Danish merchant Mads Johansen Lange landed on the island in the early 1800s, Bali was a serene paradise. There were no hotels, pubs, coffee shops, discotheques or fashion shops along Kuta and Legian roads.

Economy grew by 2.47% in first quarter

Economy grew by 2.47% in first quarterDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The economy grew by 2.47 percent in the first three months of 2002 compared to the same period last year, fueled mainly by strong consumer spending, the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) reported on Wednesday.

Governor vows to dismiss officials with fake diplomas

Governor vows to dismiss officials with fake diplomasApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan Governor of North Sumatra T. Rizal Nurdin vowed on Wednesday to dismiss civil servants found guilty of using fake university diplomas.

ING sells Indonesian unit to QBE

ING sells Indonesian unit to QBE JAKARTA: Australian company QBE Insurance Group is to buy Dutch firm ING's non-medical general business in Indonesia.The two companies said, however, that ING's agents were still allowed to sell the ING non-medical products.

Diplomat who tames hostility

Diplomat who tames hostilityChristina Schott, Contributor, Jakarta Respect, says Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, is the basis of everything."If you want to be credible, you should behave credibly, if you want to be loved, you should behave lovably.

TV, radio operators reject bill on broadcasting

TV, radio operators reject bill on broadcastingKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Television and radio broadcasting operators warned on Wednesday they would go off air if the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government failed to revise the broadcasting bill currently being deliberated.

The country's business players are looking to the future with

The country's business players are looking to the future with increased optimism as business sentiments have improved thanks to the restoration of security and order, a consultancy firm said.Danareksa Research Institute, citing its February-March survey, said the business sentiment index rose 1.

Wiryono, taming hostility

Wiryono, taming hostilityChristina Schott Contributor Jakarta Respect, says Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, is the basis of everything."If you want to be credible, you should behave credibly, if you want to be loved, you should behave lovably. And if you want to be respected you should behave respectably.

PIB seeks alliance with PPP Reformasi

PIB seeks alliance with PPP ReformasiThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta A prominent Indonesian economist wants his planned political party to forge an alliance with the United Development Party of Reform (PPP Reformasi).Dr.

'Ojek' driver found dead in Bogor

'Ojek' driver found dead in Bogor BOGOR: An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver was found dead with wounds all over his body on Wednesday morning, while his motorcycle was taken away by the alleged murderer.The body of Zaenal Abidin, 20, was found in a cassava field in the village of Leuwikotok in Pasir...

It's Tommy's trial, but judge talks about Akbar

It's Tommy's trial, but judge talks about AkbarMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The trial of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra resumed on Wednesday. But presiding judge Amiruddin Zakaria made use of the occasion to defend himself for his failure to stop the war of words between a...

Historic sites give way to supermarkets

Historic sites give way to supermarketsNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon About 150 protesters have demanded the former mayor of Cirebon be held accountable and taken to court for the destruction of four historic buildings in the old city to make way for supermarkets.

2. Duit (2 x 24)

2. Duit (2 x 24) Asian currencies mixed, yen rally helps some JP/ Asian Currencies Mixed Late; Late Yen Rally Helps Some Asian currencies were mixed against the dollar Wednesday, with the South Korean won and New Taiwan dollar strengthening on the back of gains in local stock markets and a late...

Free trade draft set for late 2002

Free trade draft set for late 2002Peter Harmsen, Agence France-Presse, Beijing China and 10 Southeast Asian countries aim to conclude an outline accord on the establishment of a huge free trade zone by the end of this year, officials said Wednesday.

Train derails in Lampung

Train derails in Lampung BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: A passenger train, Limex S-1, derailed in Kalibalangan subdistrict, Lampung province, on early Wednesday morning. No casualties were reported.The ill-fated train had left the Kertapati railway station in Palembang province at 9 p.m.

RI, Singapore navies in exercise

RI, Singapore navies in exercise BATAM, Riau: The Indonesian Navy and its Singaporean counterpart are scheduled to hold a joint exercise to improve security in the waters bordering the two countries next week.

Trials for Tommy, Akbar tainted by 'bangsat' incident

Trials for Tommy, Akbar tainted by 'bangsat' incidentMuninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post JakartaThe trial of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra resumed on Wednesday. But presiding judge Amiruddin Zakaria made use of the occasion to defend himself for his failure to stop the war of words (many of...

2. 2 X 40 36pt Bodoni

2. 2 X 40 36pt Bodoni A democratic and prosperous Indonesia is pivotal for Asia Pacific region Helen Clark Prime Minister New Zealand

Intervention in

Intervention in law enforcementFrom Media Indonesia As Indonesia is a law-based state, Indonesians long to witness the implementation of proper legal enforcement in this country, where, today, the law applies only to the poor but not to the well-to-do, for whom the law is a commodity that can be...

1. WEDHA: 1 line, 35 counts

1. WEDHA: 1 line, 35 counts Composer Wedhasmara demands his rights 2. DOG: 1 line, 32 counts Danish dalmatians leave their mark in Bali

Megawati deters defiant party members

Megawati deters defiant party membersYuli Tri Suwarni The Jakarta Post Bandung Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed on Wednesday her indignation at the undisciplined behavior of local party legislators and warned they would pay...

Pertamina, Expan find Sulawesi gas

Pertamina, Expan find Sulawesi gas JAKARTA: State-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina and its local partner PT Expan Tomori Sulawesi have discovered gas reserves amounting to 1.07 trillion cubic feet (TCF) in the Senoro-Toili block, Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi.

'Discipline would help improve traffic'

'Discipline would help improve traffic' While many people complain about being packed in like sardines aboard decrepit public transportation vehicles, and face the prospect of even higher fares, executives who drive their comfortable private vehicles also complain about traffic congestion during...

Cirebon mayor to face graft probe

Cirebon mayor to face graft probe CIREBON, West Java: The Cirebon prosecutor's office said on Wednesday it had formed a team to investigate alleged corruption cases involving billions of rupiah, which implicated the city's mayor.

Kramatjati market vendors protest

Kramatjati market vendors protest JAKARTA: About a hundred traders at the Kramat Jati wholesale market in East Jakarta expressed their opposition to the plan of the market development, as it will increase their daily operational costs.

Rupiah Rates May.15

Rupiah Rates May.15 JP/13/ConverRupiah Rates May.15 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 9,762.00 8,762.00 9,308.00 9,216.00 Australian dollar 1 5,342.74 4,791.06 5,094.27 5,039.31 Brunei dollar 1 5,401.73 4,845.70 5,150.51 5,096.

Hotel Borobudur

Hotel Borobudur XANANA'S CHOICE: The general manager of Hotel Borobudur Jakarta Poul E Bitsch, welcomes the President of East Timor Xanana Gusmao on his arrival to the hotel. Xanana Gusmao visited Indonesia early this month following his election as East Timor's first President.

Papua to be in orchid show

Papua to be in orchid show JAYAPURA, Papua: Papua will represent Indonesia in the world orchid exhibition for the second consecutive time, in 2005 in Paris, an activist said on Wednesday.Secretary of the Indonesian Orchid Association (PAI) in Papua, Kheissye Manuputty, said the country's...

Rupiah Rates May.15

Rupiah Rates May.15 JP/13/ConverRupiah Rates May.15 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S. dollar 1 9,762.00 8,762.00 9,308.00 9,216.00 Australian dollar 1 5,342.74 4,791.06 5,094.27 5,039.31 Brunei dollar 1 5,401.73 4,845.70 5,150.51 5,096.

Solving Maluku conflict

Solving Maluku conflict I am commenting on the front page article of The Jakarta Post on May 13, titled Expelling militant groups from Maluku is not a solution.The article quotes a sociologist as saying: "When it does not guarantee security, expelling those groups (Muslim militant group Laskar...

PPP may bring forward congress to 2003

PPP may bring forward congress to 2003Annastashya Emmanuelle The Jakarta Post Jakarta In anticipation of the heated competition ahead in the 2004 general election, United Development Party (PPP) chairman and Vice President Hamzah Haz hinted on Wednesday that the party would expedite its much...

Coach awaits heated karate action

Coach awaits heated karate actionMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta National karate coach Willem Mantiri relishes the competitiveness at the Indonesia Open, saying that the international karate tournament should be a good field for the national squad ahead of the 2002 Asian Games.

1. PKB: 8 x 4 lines

1. PKB: 8 x 4 linesMatori and Alwi urged to go to court for settlement2. PPP: 20 x 2 lines:PPP may bring forward congress to 2003: VP 3. Mega: 32 x 1 line Megawati chides defiant party members4. Thoenes: 16 x 2 lines:Dutch journo case may be closed 5.

Govt insists PKB settle dispute before 2004 election

Govt insists PKB settle dispute before 2004 electionThe Jakarta Post JakartaSecuring the recognition of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) for its position there does not mean that the Alwi Shihab- led National Awakening Party (PKB) will automatically receive some Rp 14 billion (US$1.

Improving behavior of state enterprise executives

Improving behavior of state enterprise executives It is appropriate for President Megawati Soekarnoputri to ask businesses to immediately change their behavior. Businesses that only seek maximum profits helped bring all of us into the never- ending crisis.

Malaysia in low key against China in Thomas Cup semis

Malaysia in low key against China in Thomas Cup semisNovan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Guangzhou, China Malaysia will have to carefully rethink its shuttlers doubles lineup when they challenge host China in the men's semifinals of the Thomas Cup on Thursday.

Police set for Ja'far challenge

Police set for Ja'far challenge SURABAYA: The National Police are ready to challenge a pretrial motion lodged by Laskar Jihad leader Ja'far Umar Thalib over his arrest.Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf said on Tuesday the arrest of Ja'far at Juanda Airport here on May 4 had complied with legal...

Night street vendors are back in Aceh

Night street vendors are back in AcehThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Street-side food and beverage vendors are back in trade in Banda Aceh, spurred by the belief that peace is slowly returning to the capital of battle-ridden Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province.

Politicians do about-face on Mega's Dili trip

Politicians do about-face on Mega's Dili tripKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Leading politicians opposed to President Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to East Timor have shifted their combative tone overnight, now that it is clear that the President will stick to her plan.

The public must pay

The public must payFrom Koran TempoThe country's life is indistinguishable from many difficult problems afflicting the state. Many catastrophes concerning economic, legal, social and political issues continue to prevail and have brought enormous suffering to the nation.

Distribution system of fertilizer may change

Distribution system of fertilizer may changeAdianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Ministry of Agriculture will propose to the Ministry of Industry and Trade that the current fertilizer distribution system be revised to help prevent future supply shortages, a senior official said.

PPP may bring forward congress to 2003: Hamzah

PPP may bring forward congress to 2003: HamzahAnnastashya Emmanuelle, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In anticipation of the heated competition ahead in the 2004 general election, United Development Party (PPP) chairman and Vice President Hamzah Haz hinted on Wednesday that the party would expedite its...

Forests need to breathe

Forests need to breathe An old issue has emerged again from Kuta, Bali. President Megawati Soekarnoputri said when she opened a working conference of the Association of Indonesian Forest Concessionaries (APHI) in Kuta recently that forest exploitation should be discontinued to give opportunity to...

Telkom, BSI to develop phone lines

Telkom, BSI to develop phone lines JAKARTA: State-owned telecommunications firm PT Telkom and Bukaka Singtel International (BSI) signed on Wednesday an agreement to develop telephone facilities in Manado, North Sulawesi.

IMF supports government's plan on BII rights issue

IMF supports government's plan on BII rights issueDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The International Monetary Fund (IMF) supported the government's proposal for Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) to launch a rights issue, saying the move would help to strengthen the bank's capital base.

Artist I Nyoman Triarta AP abandons Balinese flair

Artist I Nyoman Triarta AP abandons Balinese flairAhmad Solikhan, Contributor, Yogyakarta The name of I Nyoman Triarta AP may not ring dear in the ears of art buffs. This 29-year-old young artist from Bali has spent eight years developing his career in Yogyakarta.

Matori and Alwi urged to go to court for settlement

Matori and Alwi urged to go to court for settlementThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Securing the recognition of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) for its position there does not mean that the Alwi Shihab- led National Awakening Party (PKB) will automatically receive some Rp 14 billion (US$1.

Why Laskar Jihad exists

Why Laskar Jihad exists Reading the article by Lee Kim Chew in The Jakarta Post on May 14, titled Militant Islam poses test for Mega, I would like to clarify as follows:Clearly the article is very biased and the writer does not understand the background of the foundation of the Laskar Jihad.

Free press and totalitarianism

Free press and totalitarianism I was interested to read Arya Gunawan's article, Indonesian press: Walking a tightrope, in the May 14 edition of The Jakarta Post. While he rightly states that in a democracy a free press provides the public with the information it needs to make decisions about their...

Indosat's Q1 net profit falls 57.4%

Indosat's Q1 net profit falls 57.4%Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State-owned telecommunications company PT Indonesian Satellite Corp. (Indosat) announced on Wednesday that its first quarter net profit declined by 57.4 percent to Rp 195.4 billion (US$21 million) from Rp 459.

HOT WHEELS: Workers unload a BMW sedan at the Sabang free port,

HOT WHEELS: Workers unload a BMW sedan at the Sabang free port, Weh island, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam. The BMW was one of a number of the cars found by port authorities on Tuesday in a cargo ship coming from Singapore.

RI looking strong with five percent growth

RI looking strong with five percent growthTata Huberta, Economist, Washington Through Indonesian newspapers we learned recently the Minister of Finance Boediono believes Indonesia can achieve five percent growth.

UGM mulls applying single entrance test

UGM mulls applying single entrance testSri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University (UGM) is considering simplifying its six different selection processes into a system that requires only one integrated entrance test, UGM Rector Sofian Effendi said here on...

Reform movement hinges on public support

Reform movement hinges on public supportA'an Suryana and Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The reform movement has run out of steam after four years because of waning government support, leaving it up to the people to give it a shot in the arm, observers say.

'Business sentiments improve'

'Business sentiments improve'The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's business players are looking to the future with increased optimism as business sentiments have improved thanks to the restoration of security and order, a consultancy firm said.

Composer Wedhasmara demands his rights

Composer Wedhasmara demands his rightsNi Luh Dian, Contributor, Denpasar On that bright afternoon in Senen, a busy district in Central Jakarta, young couples embraced tightly as if it was the last time they would see each other.

Donors pledge $360m in new aid for East Timor

Donors pledge $360m in new aid for East TimorBronwyn Curran, Agence France-Presse, Dili International donors pledged some US$360 million in new aid for poverty-stricken East Timor at the end of talks on Wednesday, meaning that a total of $440 million in assistance will be available for the first...

Dutch journalist case may be closed

Dutch journalist case may be closedThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Prosecutors investigating the murder of a Dutch journalist in East Timor two years ago have not found sufficient evidence to bring the alleged murderer to court, a military source claims.An investigation into Fr. Lt.