Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 12 July 2002

68 articles found

Give us Islamic law

Give us Islamic law From Republika Murder, robbery, pornography, prostitution and a protracted economic crisis are common for Indonesians today. Understandably, efforts have been made to address these social ills. One of these efforts is the amendment of the 1945 Constitution. Many people believe that without this amendment, the Constitution cannot be properly implemented because many articles are manipulated and interpreted only with a view toward preserving power.

Nightspot operators admit breaching fire regulations

Nightspot operators admit breaching fire regulations Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Many entertainment center operators here were neglecting the fire safety regulations, which could lead to fatal disasters, an executive of the Association for Nightspot Owners (Aspehindo), said on Thursday. "The main reason is simply that they are unaware of the potential danger from the lack of fire safety.

Ginanjar grilled over corruption

Ginanjar grilled over corruption The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former minister of mines and energy Ginandjar Kartasasmita was grilled on Thursday as a witness in the investigation of an alleged US$190.58 million mark-up in the Balongan oil refinery project in Indramayu, West Java. The main suspect in the case is the former processing director of state oil company Pertamina, Tabrani Ismail, who was in charge of the project.

W. Kalimantan in top alert, fights off haze

W. Kalimantan in top alert, fights off haze The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan West Kalimantan Governor Aspar Aswin declared his province on top alert on Thursday, urging local governments to tackle forest fire outbreaks which have been blanketing the province in a haze for the past week. He demanded all government institutions take concrete action to fight forest fires which were causing health problems to people living in the provincial capital of Pontianak.

West Java leads with two golds at LG Cup

West Java leads with two golds at LG Cup Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Defending champion West Java was off to a winning start with two golds on the opening day of the 3rd LG Cup tae kwon do championship at the Bung Karno Tennis Indoor Hall here on Thursday. West Java started the defense of the title it won last year with a win in the women's middleweight division, in which Emerald Margaret beat Megasari 2-0 in the final.

Japan upset over undistributed aid

Japan upset over undistributed aid JAKARTA: Yasuhiro Sagata, an envoy of the Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry met East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo to question the whereabouts of the Japanese government's Rp 53 billion (about US$6 million) in financial assistance for East Timorese refugees. During the meeting, Sagata explained that he was sent directly by his government to ask why the financial assistance that was sent three months ago had yet to be disbursed to the refugees.

Sinten Remen's new album due for release

Sinten Remen's new album due for release Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta After their success in staging Teater Gandrik's theatrical performance Mas Tom in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Butet Kertaredjasa and Djaduk Ferianto are now back to work. The two siblings are now busy preparing another show titled Pertoendjoekan Hiboeran (Entertainment Show) for the launching their Sinten Remen Orchestra's new album Komedi Putar (Merry-Go- Round).

Earthquake rocks Manado

Earthquake rocks Manado MANADO, North Sulawesi: An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted several cities and towns in the province on Wednesday, including the capital city of Manado, as well as Bitung and Tondano in Minahasa regency. No casualties or damage was reported following the tremor.

Bangkok, Yangon sow the seeds of hate

Bangkok, Yangon sow the seeds of hate David Sterling, The Nation, Asia News Network, Bangkok I have never witnessed a turn of events like the present in which relations between Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand have fallen to their lowest in decades. As a long time observer of both Burma and Thailand, I think the fault lies on both sides. The previous Chuan government never bothered to engage directly with the Burmese military junta as they felt they were not adhering to basic democratic principles.

RI navy detains crews of Assie ship: Indonesia's navy has

RI navy detains crews of Assie ship: Indonesia's navy has detained an Australian ship and its crew after allegedly finding guns and ammunition on the vessel which was anchored in the religious-violence-wracked Maluku islands, an official said Thursday. The ship, MV Alfred Nobel, was found moored Wednesday near the Christian village of Amuhusu on Ambon island, navy chief Col. Buyung Lalana said.

Salim agrees to pledge more assets to IBRA

Salim agrees to pledge more assets to IBRA Dow Jones, Jakarta The Salim Group, formerly Indonesia's richest business conglomerate, agreed to pledge more assets to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency if the proceeds from sales of the assets that it has already pledged to the agency fall short of its debts to the government, IBRA Chairman Syafruddin Temenggung said Thursday.

Debbie A. Lubis and

Debbie A. Lubis and Muninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post Jakarta Most people still think that the spread of HIV/AIDS here is mainly caused by the sharing of syringes -- usually between drug users -- and unsafe sex. However, one may also be infected by HIV/AIDS via a blood transfusion. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 percent to 10 percent of people with AIDS are infected via blood transfusions.

Muhammadiyah Youth to win back reformist credentials

Muhammadiyah Youth to win back reformist credentials Harry Bhaskara, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya Muhammadiyah Youth (the youth wing of Muhammadiyah) carries a huge burden on its back: the venerable name of Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization in the country. Muhammadiyah Youth also carries another burden: how to live up to the reputation for reform that its parent organization built up over the years.

Syahril and Dorodjatun

Syahril and Dorodjatun It is good news for economic recovery. Bank Indonesia (BI) will ease monetary liquidity. The central bank also intends to maintain the level of the rupiah at Rp 8,450-Rp 9,000 per U.S. dollar. No less important is that the 2002 state budget target of keeping inflation at 9 percent to 10 percent may be achieved.

Heidi Awuy to represent RI

Heidi Awuy to represent RI JAKARTA: When harpists from 50 countries get together for the 8th World Harp Congress in Geneva, Switzerland, two weeks from now, Indonesia's Heidi Awuy will be there. At the renowned event, Heidi will play two traditional compositions from Aceh and North Sulawesi, Bungong Jeumpa and O Ina Ni Keke, respectively. "I am from North Sulawesi and the song is familiar to me and I am proud to play it in front of an international audience.

* Headlines: Minimum jail term sought for Abilio 2

* Headlines: Minimum jail term sought for Abilio 2 * National: RI ready to help ease Korean tension 4 * Archipelago: W. Kalimantan fights off haze 5 * Opinion: Dealing with Aceh rebels6 * City: Gubernatorial candidates blast council8 * Sports: UEFA scraps Euro Cup 2nd group phase 10 * World: Turkish foreign minister quits 12 * Business: Food, beverage prices set to increase13 * Features: Bokir, always up for a laugh 20

Stance of some legislators

Stance of some legislators From Media Indonesia Some members of the House of People's Representatives from Aceh, led by Farhan Hamid, have recently rejected martial law in Aceh. They argued that the House's special committee on Aceh had recommended dialog not violence. This reaction is confusing because these people do not react when the people of Aceh are terrorized, kidnapped or murdered by the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Elections commission urgently needs branch offices in regions

Elections commission urgently needs branch offices in regions Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) has urged the House of Representatives to provide a legal basis for the establishment of KPU branches in 30 provinces and 400 cities throughout the country. The establishment of KPU branch offices is needed for the registration of voters and for verifying the political parties that are to contest the general election in 2004.

1. Front: 6 x 4 lines

1. Front: 6 x 4 lines PRD launches forum for reformers 2. Komnas: 20 x 2 lines House urged to clarify Komnas selection results 3. Korea: 24 x 1 line RI ready to help ease Korean tension 4. KPU: 24 x 2 lines: Elections commission urgently needs branch offices in regions 5. Ginanjar: 24 x 1 line --- to come later------

Intervention steadies U.S. dollar in Asia

Intervention steadies U.S. dollar in Asia Dow Jones, Singapore The struggling U.S. dollar stabilized against Asian currencies Thursday with the help of foreign exchange market intervention by monetary authorities in South Korea and Taiwan. The U.S. dollar finished Asian trading hours little changed against the won, New Taiwan dollar, Singapore dollar and Thai baht, after falling to multimonth lows against all four a day earlier. The Indonesian rupiah and Philippine peso weakened.

RI-Singapore bilateral ties

RI-Singapore bilateral ties A two-day closed-door conference will be organized over the weekend in Jakarta to discuss the bilateral relations between Indonesia and Singapore. The event is being jointly organized by the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and the Jakarta- based Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

[i]For French Day/Sunday/July 14

For French Day/Sunday/July 14 Material from embassy. France-RI trade ties: Confirmed for long-term commitment Indonesia has, for a long time, been a major Asian trading partner for France. Despite the deep economic and monetary crisis of the late 1990s, French companies have confirmed their commitment to the Indonesian market. Around 120 French companies are present in Indonesia, including 80 joint ventures.

Dealing with Aceh rebels

Dealing with Aceh rebels Siswo Pramono, School of Social Science, The Australian National University, Canberra The harsher the state of emergency (i.e. civil or military) imposed in Aceh, the easier for the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to manipulate the corresponding tension. Aceh would become like an overheated but sealed oxygen tube, with GAM waiting for the explosion. Some aspects of military strategy must be reviewed. The government must avoid the fatal trap of GAM's asymmetric warfare.

NGOs demand government renegotiate IPP contracts

NGOs demand government renegotiate IPP contracts A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) said that the cost of seven power projects that were recently relaunched by President Megawati Soekarnoputri was still too expensive, and demanded that the government renegotiate the deals with the independent power producers (IPPs).

Gubernatorial candidates blast council

Gubernatorial candidates blast council Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Most of the 114 gubernatorial and vice gubernatorial candidates expressed their disappointment over the City Council's plenary session on Thursday, which deprived them of the chance to present their individual visions and missions. During the two-hour session, the election committee only introduced the candidates by name in front of the city's 85 councillors. "We are very disappointed.

Bokir, always up for a laugh

Bokir, always up for a laugh Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Bokir is a trademark of laughter. Mention his name and most people here would laugh, or smile at the least. Interestingly, Bokir himself has no idea how is able to make others laugh. "I don't understand why people think I am funny. Guah kagak bikin-bikin. Ada-ada ajah luh (I don't make it. You must be joking)" said the 77-year-old Bokir in his Betawi (native Jakartan) accent.

PRD launches forum for reformers

PRD launches forum for reformers The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Democratic People's Party (PRD) launched on Thursday the Democracy Front to unite like-minded reformers within a forum in a bid to revive the country's original reform movement. PRD secretary-general Natalia Scholastika said the Democracy Front could prove to become a viable opposition force to the government and the legislature.

checked by Melinda I decided to change it to patent from pattern

checked by Melinda I decided to change it to patent from pattern For France National Day/Sunday/July 14 RI remains attractive to French investors --------------------------------------------------------------- French people all over the world are celebrating Bastille Day today to commemorate the founding of the nation. The French Ambassador to Indonesia, Herve Ladsous, talks to The Jakarta Post contributor, I.

Surabaya council seeks mayor's ouster after one month in office

Surabaya council seeks mayor's ouster after one month in office Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya After its successful move in removing the former Surabaya mayor, Surabaya City Council in East Java decided on Thursday to seek the removal of newly installed Mayor Bambang Dwi Hartono, by rejecting his budget accountability speech for 2001.

Soeripto graft trial begins

Soeripto graft trial begins PEKANBARU, Riau: Amid tight security, former Riau governor Soeripto stood trial on Thursday at the Pekanbaru District Court for alleged graft committed during his tenure. Dozens of armed police were seen guarding the court building, but no incident broke out during the two-hour hearing. Prosecutors accused Soeripto of embezzling shore reclamation fees he imposed on all companies operating in the province, totaling Rp 11 billion (US$1.2 million).

Food and beverage prices set to increase

Food and beverage prices set to increase Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The price of food and beverage products will rise by 5 percent to 10 percent after the government has increased the import duty on sugar, according to chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmi) Thomas Darmawan. "I predict they (local producers) will start raising the price of food and beverage products next month," Thomas told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

'Blood may contain lethal HIV/AIDS virus'

'Blood may contain lethal HIV/AIDS virus' People may be infected with the virus via a blood transfusion. Even though the possibility of getting the virus is very small, some shared their thoughts with The Jakarta Post about their concern over the issue. Johannes Koes Novianto, 27, is a Yogyakarta-born employee at an information technology company in Kemang, South Jakarta. He has lived in Patal Senayan, South Jakarta, for one year. "I had a blood transfusion in 1998 when I got dengue fever.

House urged to clarify Komnas selection results

House urged to clarify Komnas selection results Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several veteran human rights activists who were inexplicably considered "unsuitable" for the National Commission of Human Rights by legislators called on the House of Representatives to explain to the public the controversial results of the recent selection.

Tommy still sick

Tommy still sick JAKARTA: The police again failed to question Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra at the Cipinang Penitentiary on Thursday as he was still sick. The first attempt to question Tommy, in conjunction with his controversial statements in court two weeks ago, failed last Thursday as the South Jakarta District Court had not yet issued the permit. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Garbage problems still looming

Garbage problems still looming The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Garbage problems continue to haunt the Jakarta city administration. The Bekasi legislative council complained on Thursday about what they saw as poor management of the garbage dumped at the Bantar Gebang site by the Jakarta Sanitation Agency. Councillor Nurul Yakin of the National Mandate Party (PAN), claiming to represent the council, said the city administration had failed to improve sanitary landfill systems.

Drought causes Rp 8.4b in losses in East Java

Drought causes Rp 8.4b in losses in East Java Yogita Tahilramani and Edith Hartanto, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya, East Java This year's drought has dealt a severe blow to East Java province causing the country's major rice producing area to suffer losses to the tune of Rp 8.4 billion. The loss has been caused mainly by a water shortage, ravaging hundreds of thousands of hectares of paddy fields and crops in 12 regencies.

RI ready to help ease Korean tension

RI ready to help ease Korean tension Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri offered North Korea her assistance to help ease mounting tension between the two Koreas and to resume dialog with its southern rival. Megawati accompanied by foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda, gave the offer to visiting North Korean deputy leader Kim Yong-Nam during their talks at the State Palace here on Thursday.

What Jakarta's

What Jakarta's governor must do From Sinar Pagi Whoever is elected governor of Jakarta for the 2002-2007 period should improve the social, economic, security and educational conditions of this capital city. They must also, as former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin said in an interview with Tempo magazine in its June 24-30 edition, revive youth centers. During the 1970s, every municipality had a youth center.

Govt urged to help terror suspect

Govt urged to help terror suspect JAKARTA: Hundreds of students and Muslim youths staged a demonstration in front of the South Sulawesi provincial legislature building, demanding the government to take concrete action to help release Agus Dwikarna who has been arrested in the Philippines for what they claimed were groundless charges.

Shareholders sue Toba Pulp over $140m money transfer

Shareholders sue Toba Pulp over $140m money transfer Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Three shareholders of publicly listed pulp producer PT Toba Lestari are suing the company for Rp 25 billion (about US$2.8 million), on charges it transferred out US$140 million without notifying them. The three shareholders feel Toba Lestari deceived them, legal representative Eri Hertiwan of Buying Nasution & Partners said on Wednesday. Eri is representing shareholders Djoko Santoso, H.N.D.

East Java councillors plan visit to Europe

East Java councillors plan visit to Europe The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As most students return to school after a month-long holiday, a group of East Java provincial councillors are eagerly packing their bags for a 10-day overseas trip. The councillors, from Commission E for social welfare, will visit Singapore, Malaysia, the Netherlands and France between Aug. 3 and Aug. 13 to visit, among other places, museums, hospitals and art centers.

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Stock Exchange has suspended shares of

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Stock Exchange has suspended shares of four companies from trade Thursday as they failed to submit their financial statements for 2001 on time. The four are debt-ridden pulp and paper producer PT Indah Kiat Pulp & Paper, paper producer PT Pabrik Kertas Tjiwi Kimia, textile company PT Argo Pantes and garment company PT Bhuwanatala Indah Permai. Both Indah Kiat and Tjiwi Kimia are units of Singapore-based Asia Pulp and Paper Co. The reports for the financial year ended Dec.

English national deported from Palu

English national deported from Palu PALU, Central Sulawesi: The immigration office here deported on Thursday an English national who has exceeded his permitted stay. Crispin Lancelot Gibbs left Mutiara airport for Sam Ratulangi airport in Manado, North Sulawesi at 11 a.m. local time, flanked by immigration officials. Palu immigration office head Darmawan Daud said Crispin would leave Indonesia from the North Sulawesi capital for Singapore.

HIV infection via transfusions on the rise

HIV infection via transfusions on the rise Debbie A. Lubis and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Most people still think that the spread of HIV/AIDS here is mainly caused by the sharing of syringes -- usually between drug users -- and unsafe sex. However, one may also be infected by HIV/AIDS via a blood transfusion. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 percent to 10 percent of people with AIDS are infected via blood transfusions.

pl

pl .rm STOCK EXCHANGE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Stock Price on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on July 11,2002 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Name Close Change Volume ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Abdi Bangsa Tbk 370 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,075 0 0 Adindo Foresta 40 0 0 AGIS Tbk 115 0 160,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 365 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 185 0 0 Alfa Retailindo...

Minimum jail term sought for Abilio

Minimum jail term sought for Abilio Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ad hoc Human Rights Tribunal prosecutors demanded on Thursday the minimum sentence of 10-and-a-half years jail for former East Timor governor Abilio Soares who is charged with failing to prevent violence surrounding the independence vote in Indonesia's former territory in 1999. Abilio is the first of 18 defendants to hear the prosecutors' sentence demands for alleged crimes against humanity.

Lampung elephants

Lampung elephants I hope that The Jakarta Post's readers didn't miss the short news item in the July 6 edition (82 elephants in Lampung face death). The fate of the 82 Lampung elephants is looking rather gloomy to say the least. I visited Way Kambas Park in 1999, and even then the poor creatures were having a tough time of it. So what are we humans, who have so arrogantly taken upon ourselves the responsibility of this planet's continuation, going to do about it?

TV Program: Friday, July 12, 2002

TV Program: Friday, July 12, 2002 TVRI .tb .30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News 7:30 Sports 8:00 Environment 8:30 Children's Program 9:00 Cooking Program 11:00 Regional News 11:30 Music 12:00 p.m. News 1:00 Talk Show 3:00 Music 3:30 Religious Teachings 4:00 TV Drama 6:00 News 7:00 Talk Show 8:00 Music 9:00 News 9:30 Music: Jazz Club 11:00 Puppet Show TPI 5:30 a.m. Religious Teachings 7:00 Quiz 8:00 Music 9:30 Entertainment News 10:00 Music 11:00 Film: Chips 1:00 p.m.

Malaysian police say won't enforce Islamic laws

Malaysian police say won't enforce Islamic laws Agencies, Kuala Lumpur Malaysian police said on Thursday they will not enforce strict Islamic laws in east coast state of Terengganu approved by the provincial government controlled by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's main opposition. "I have directed the Terengganu police not to participate in any process to enforce the hudud laws," Norian Mai, the national police chief, told reporters.

Betawi theater groups face hard times

Betawi theater groups face hard times Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta What is the connection between the Betawi (native Jakartan) folk theater lenong and English playwright William Shakespeare? You may thing that question is a joke, that there could be no possible connection between the two. Well, there is. Unbeknownst to many people, before the 1980s lenong theater groups would occasionally adapt Shakespeare plays.

RI, Singapore to have conference

RI, Singapore to have conference JAKARTA: A three-day bilateral conference on Indonesia-Singapore relations will be held here starting Friday.

1. Duit (4 x10)

1. Duit (4 x10) Intervention steadies U.S. dollar in Asia 2. Rupiah (2 x 20) Greenback poised for further gains vs rupiah JP/14/Dollar 3. Salim ( 2 x 25) Salim agrees to pledge more assets to IBRA JP/14/Salim

On bilingual education

On bilingual education With regards to Raden Dunbar's letter of response to my article Bilingual education remains a fantasy for Indonesian schools, I would like to make a few simple observations. Clearly Dunbar exists in an exceptional condition. He reports that "80 percent of his students come from an Indonesian family background where at least one parent is a native English-speaker or is fluent with English as a second language".

Analysts doubt Megawati's commission proposal

Analysts doubt Megawati's commission proposal Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Analysts have expressed doubt over President Megawati Soekarnoputri's proposal for a constitutional commission, saying it was nothing more than a blatant effort to win public support. They also found it hard to believe that Megawati was serious given the fact that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which she chairs, was reluctant to proceed with the constitutional amendment process.

More deaths reported in violent PNG polls

More deaths reported in violent PNG polls Agencies, Port Moresby Two more people have been reported killed in election-related unrest in Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s Southern Highlands, where troop reinforcements were deployed early on Thursday to help stem the violence, local media said.

Fire guts Mandarin Hotel

Fire guts Mandarin Hotel The upmarket Mandarin Hotel in Central Jakarta was gutted by fire on Thursday -- one of three fires in the capital. Other buildings hit included an office building in Tanah Kusir area in South Jakarta and a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) shop in Jelambar, West Jakarta. No fatalities were reported in the three fires, but two people were seriously injured during the fire in Jelambar.

Rupiah Rates July 11

Rupiah Rates July 11 JP/13/Conver Rupiah Rates July 11 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp U.S.

Negotiation the only option for settling Aceh question

Negotiation the only option for settling Aceh question The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Negotiation has emerged as the only option for the government to resolve the Aceh question after provincial councillors rejected the imposition of either a civil emergency or martial law there.

Dollar poised for further gains vs rupiah

Dollar poised for further gains vs rupiah Benjamin Pedley, Dow Jones, Singapore While the U.S. dollar is under pressure against most Asian currencies, it has recovered sharply during the past three weeks against the rupiah, and technical analysis suggests it could extend those gains. The immediate goal for the dollar would be resistance just under Rp 9,500, with a break above here paving the way for a massive rally to levels not traded since the Asian crisis.

Hitech included in new Copyright Law

Hitech included in new Copyright Law Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta High technology and punishment for violators are among the new elements in the copyright bill that was passed into law by the House of Representatives on Thursday. The law stipulates that the state holds the copyright on ancient, historic or other cultural material as well as cultural products or folklore, which has become public domain, such as fables, legends, calligraphy or handicrafts.

Probe into military role in Ambon conflict sought

Probe into military role in Ambon conflict sought Oktovianus Pinontoan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Maluku provincial councillors urged on Thursday the government- sanctioned team probing violations of the law in the troubled province to investigate the alleged involvement of security personnel in the prolonged sectarian conflict.

E. Timorese student arrested

E. Timorese student arrested KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: An East Timorese student who is registered at a university in Java has been arrested in possession of fake rupiah banknotes. Kupang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Jermias Mirah said on Thursday that the student, identified only as RS, 21, was arrested as he was handing over the fake banknotes to pay for a ticket to Surabaya on the KM Serayu ferry. RS pleaded innocence, saying he did not know his banknotes were fake.

Drought and nature's message

Drought and nature's message During the rainy season, we get floods. During the dry season, we get droughts. These are the disasters which Indonesia faces every year. Last January and February, this nation, including Jakarta, was hit by floods. This July, the dry season is coming to Java island, and with it the threat of drought. Thank God these have prompted government officials to act.

Pro-choice or pro-life? Make up your mind

Pro-choice or pro-life? Make up your mind Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "When will this country cease its ambivalent attitude towards abortion, while at the same time, deaths of women go on unnecessarily?" This rhetorical question was posed by Mely from Jakarta on an Indonesian Internet website www.aborsi.net recently. The question was one among dozens of others that cursed and condemned women who had abortions.

KONI bans athletes from TFC involvement

KONI bans athletes from TFC involvement Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Sports Council (KONI) has warned its member sports associations against involving themselves in the TPI Fighting Championship, citing a fear of distraction from national sports development. The TPI Fighting Championship (TFC) is a free fighting contest where the participants come from various martial arts disciplines. The TFC is aired live on TPI television every Saturday night.

PDI-P puts spin on Indira resignation

PDI-P puts spin on Indira resignation JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) accepted the resignation of its senior member Indira Damayanti Soegondo from the parliament and considered it "a good political education." "This is part of a normal and positive political education, I think deserves to be appreciated," Pramono Anung Wibowo, Deputy Secretary General of PDI Perjuangan said here on Thursday.

Garbage

Garbage problems still looming 2. Fire -- 2 x 22 Nightspot operators admit breaching fire regulations 3. Election -- 1 x 30 Gubernatorial candidates blast council 4. Speak -- 2 x 20 'Blood may contain lethal HIV/AIDS virus'

IBRA flip-flops on Bank Niaga sale

IBRA flip-flops on Bank Niaga sale Dow Jones, Jakarta In a further sign of the confusion surrounding its asset sales program, the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said Thursday that it was restarting a plan to sell a 20 percent stake in Bank Niaga through the stock market only a day after calling the sale off. IBRA Wednesday canceled the sale because Bank Niaga's share price had fallen 25 percent to Rp 45 a share since the offering began July 1.