Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 22 July 2002

67 articles found

'Executives' roam City Hall for rampant corrupt deals

'Executives' roam City Hall for rampant corrupt dealsBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta When you visit City Hall on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, you will see dozens of "business executives" on the left side of the building.

A House of shame

A House of shame Once again, the House of Representatives went into recess on Friday with little to show for its 10-week sitting period. But this time, instead of the apology it owed the nation for letting us down, the House ended the session by shamelessly demanding more money from the government...

A touchpad on a ThinkPad

A touchpad on a ThinkPadZatni Arbi, Columnist, Jakarta, zatni@cbn.net.id Despite recent data from IDC that shows worldwide sales for all PC-makers were down by 0.5 percent year-on-year last quarter, there has been quite an avalanche of new notebooks.

* Headlines:IMET resumption boosts U.S.-RI military ties 2

* Headlines:IMET resumption boosts U.S.-RI military ties 2 * National:Soeharto's rights members more credible 4 * Archipelago:W. Java legislators to return Rp25b gift 5 * City:Squatters take shelters at Komnas HAM building 8 * Opinion:An integrative negotiation between govt and GAM 7 * Sports:Rossi...

An integrative negotiation between govt and GAM

An integrative negotiation between govt and GAMBantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Center for Strategic and International Studies, bandoro@csis.or.id The conflict in the restive province of Aceh has reportedly killed more than 10,000 people in the past 26 years, with fresh...

Buru victims yet to receive donation

Buru victims yet to receive donation BURU, Maluku: At least 482 victims of the sectarian conflict in the Maluku regency of Buru have yet to receive Rp 3 billion each in financial aid from the central government.

Resumption of IMET boosts RI-U.S. military relations

Resumption of IMET boosts RI-U.S. military relationsKurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The decision by the United States Senate Appropriations Committee to endorse the allocation of US$400,000 for the training of the Indonesian Military (TNI) will boost relations between...

Journalist arrested for forging passports

Journalist arrested for forging passports MEDAN, North Sumatra: A journalist was among seven people recently arrested for allegedly printing fake passports for prospective migrant workers.Police said the journalist, identified as Mukhlis Nasution, had helped distribute the fake passports.

Tommy's sentence

Tommy's sentence may be too light From Rakyat Merdeka It is really disappointing to hear that the prosecutor has demanded only 15 years' imprisonment for Tommy Soeharto. The prosecutor may have been afraid of demanding a longer prison term.

The year of living pragmatically without humanity

The year of living pragmatically without humanityMunir, Head, Advisory Board Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Jakarta The House of Representatvies has at last chosen 23 new members for the National Commission on Human Rights.

End of Pertamina's glory?

End of Pertamina's glory? Pertamina, a state-owned company that has frequently entered the public spotlight, no longer enjoys the right to handle oil and gas contracts. This marks a new chapter for the company.

Bengkulu doctor's career blighted

Bengkulu doctor's career blighted BENGKULU, Bengkulu: A general practitioner here has been prevented from pursuing specialist studies in anesthesia following the prosecution of a local anesthetist for negligence that claimed patients' lives.

PDI Perjuangan backs 2004 direct presidential election

PDI Perjuangan backs 2004 direct presidential electionBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) backed away from its initial bid to delay a direct presidential election to 2009, in an agreement reached during a three-day meeting in...

JP/Mulkan Salmona

JP/Mulkan Salmona checkedGAINING CONFIDENCE: A prospective buyer files an bid to buy assets of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) during a recent auction. The role of independent consultants in assessing the value of assets are essential to gain buyers' confidence.

Street children to visit 10 schools

Street children to visit 10 schools JAKARTA: Eighteen street children will share their talents and skills with students at five elementary schools and five junior high schools in East Jakarta, a non-governmental organization said on Saturday.

Sudan-RI university inaugurated

Sudan-RI university inaugurated MALANG, East Java: Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz and his Sudanese counterpart Ali Osman Taha attended here on Sunday the inauguration of a university that symbolizes the two countries' close ties.

Our judicature

Our judicature From Media Indonesia Our people have longed to see a fair and non-discriminatory judiciary in this country.For a premeditated murder case, the case made by the prosecutor must not contain the term "mitigating circumstances".

Educators, politicians must cooperate

Educators, politicians must cooperateSimon Marcus Gower, Principal, Harapan Bangsa High School, Tangerang, Banten Anywhere around the world, where a reasonable representation of democracy exists, politicians will gladly campaign for election on the basis of their education policies and initiatives.

1. Jabar: 8 x 4 lines

1. Jabar: 8 x 4 linesWest Java legislators to return Rp 25b gift2. Sawit: 24 x 2 lines Lampung people threaten to take over oil palm plantation3. Barak: 24 x 1 lineA look at soldiers' life in Aceh

Liberalization of power industry will hurts consumers, expert says

Liberalization of power industry will hurts consumers, expert saysFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The power industry should be state controlled, says one leading expert on energy, who has warned that liberalizing the sector would make power prices very expensive to the public.

Consumer spending to remain robust

Consumer spending to remain robustDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A stable macroeconomic condition would continue to drive consumer spending up in the second semester of this year, with demands on items such as electronics, motorcycles and cars to remain buoyant, experts said.

for focus issue -- business consultancy --- July 21

for focus issue -- business consultancy --- July 21;JP;HEN; ANPAc..r.. Consulting-crisis-orders Crisis: Real boon for foreign consultants Hendarsyah Tarmizi The Jakarta Post Jakarta It has been more than four years since the financial crisis started to hit the country in late 1997, but for many...

Alarming, cyberfraud in Indonesia

Alarming, cyberfraud in IndonesiaDonny B.U., Coordinator of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Watch, Jakarta, donnybu@ictwatch.com Watch out when using your credit cards. According to the latest research by Texas-based security company ClearCommerce, Indonesia ranks second after...

Civil servants are people too

Civil servants are people tooFrom RepublikaWith the price of fuel going up, civil servants (PNS) have to pay more for transportation. Poor people receive some sort of transportation subsidy but not civil servants, who have not received a raise.

Painter Diah reinvents cultural heritage

Painter Diah reinvents cultural heritageCarla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta As images were taking shape on several parts of her body, it must have dawned on Diah Yulianti how tradition and customary beliefs were still playing an important role in her life.

Floods, landslide kill six in RP

Floods, landslide kill six in RP PHILIPPINES: Three people drowned in floods and a landslide buried alive a family of three as heavy rains pummeled the Philippines' main island of Luzon, including Manila, relief officials said on Sunday.

'Soeharto betters House in forming rights body'

'Soeharto betters House in forming rights body'Kurniawan Hari and Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Public disappointment over the personal integrity of members of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has led critics to think that legislators are no better at choosing the...

1. PARAM: 2 x 23

1. PARAM: 2 x 23 RI judiciary worse than first thought: UN rapporteur 2. READING: 1 x 33 Textbooks bore children to tears: Expert or Expert says textbooks bore children 3. ACCOUNTING: 3 x 15 Class action suit against crooked accountants urged

Muninggar Sri Saraswati

Muninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post JakartaIndonesia's education system has failed to develop reading habits among children due to its uncreative teaching methods, a child education expert says.Children tended to ignore reading books because they thought they were the same as school textbooks,...

West Java legislators to return Rp 25b gift

West Java legislators to return Rp 25b giftYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Following increasing criticism and public outcry, West Java legislators look set to return the Rp 25 billion (US$2.84 million) they received as a gift from the provincial administration recently.

Betawi Forum demands native governor

Betawi Forum demands native governor JAKARTA: The newly established Betawi (native Jakartan) organization threatened on Sunday to send hordes of its supporters onto the streets if the next governor was not a Betawi."Whoever the governor is, they should be a Betawi.

Getting nation's reform back on track

Getting nation's reform back on trackTodung Mulya Lubis, Lawyer, Jakarta History opened the door to democracy for this nation in 1945 when the founding fathers agreed to proclaim it as the Republic of Indonesia.

New theory on violence in Thailand

New theory on violence in Thailand THAILAND: A new theory has emerged on a spate of terrorist-style attacks and bombings in southern Thailand: narcotics.Since last December, 20 policemen have been gunned down in still unexplained assaults in the predominantly Muslim deep south.

A look at soldiers' life in Aceh

A look at soldiers' life in AcehNani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh The word "barracks" is not an unfamiliar one, and most people know it is a place where soldiers are lodged. If you have seen the 1993 film China Beach about the daily lives of Chinese soldiers, or films about the lives of U.S.

Banking sector starts turning its attention to SMEs

Banking sector starts turning its attention to SMEsA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Semarang, Central Java Two years ago, jobless Arifin Tanjung walked out of a large garment company with an unexpected business opportunity that was to change his fortune.

'Street kids exploited by adults'

'Street kids exploited by adults' The number of street children here has increased in the past few years. They can be found at every intersection in the city. When the traffic lights turn red, they approach the cars and beg.

Govt seeks lawyers for Agus

Govt seeks lawyers for Agus JAKARTA: The government has sanctioned a fund-raising program to collect the funds needed to hire lawyers for Agus Dwikarna, an Indonesian convicted by a Philippine court in Manila for illegal possession of explosives and immigration law offenses.

2. Spend 1 X 35

2. Spend 1 X 35 Consumer spending to remain robust 3. SME 2 X 27 Banking sector starts turning its attention to SMEs 4. Power 1 X 40 Liberalization of power industry hurts consumers

Textbooks make bore children to tears: Expert

Textbooks make bore children to tears: ExpertMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia's education system has failed to develop reading habits among children due to its uncreative teaching methods, a child education expert says.

2. ACEH:

2. ACEH: Travel in Aceh fraught with tension, bribes 3. AUTO: 2 x 20 Brand-name motorcycles dominate automotive expo

KL police detain opposition leader

KL police detain opposition leader MALAYSIA: A senior Malaysian opposition leader was arrested briefly on Sunday for handing out leaflets criticizing Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, police and opposition officials said.

Sumitomo, Vallourec deal in pipeline

Sumitomo, Vallourec deal in pipeline TOKYO : Japan's Sumitomo Metal Industries Co. Ltd. has formed an alliance with Vallourec and Mannesmann Tubes of France to make seamless steel pipes, a daily said Saturday.

Rupiah likely to strengthen: Analyst

Rupiah likely to strengthen: AnalystDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The prevailing bearish mood over the U.S. dollar, coupled with expected good progress in the massive asset sales program conducted by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) will likely keep the rupiah on its...

Disrespecting state symbols

Disrespecting state symbolsFrom Koran TempoWhen university students held a protest rally in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta, some of them stamped their feet on the pictures of the president and the vice president, a disrespectful act against symbols of the state.

ASEAN ministers to discuss anti-terror fight, economic reforms

ASEAN ministers to discuss anti-terror fight, economic reformsP. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse, Manila Counter-terrorism and prospective economic reforms in Southeast Asia are among key issues to be discussed by ASEAN foreign ministers at their annual talks in Brunei next week, officials said.

Most judges fail to clarify their wealth: KPKPN

Most judges fail to clarify their wealth: KPKPNTertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The drive to cleanse the judiciary of corruption and collusion appears more difficult than expected with the latest revelation by the Audit Commission on State Officials' Assets (KPKPN) that many...

FOR FOCUS ISSUE JULY 21

FOR FOCUS ISSUE JULY 21 ;JP;HEN; ANPAc..r.. Consultation-HR-focus Grace Emilia Contributor Jakarta More firms turn to professionals to improve their HR Consulting businesses in Indonesia have been growing rapidly during the past decade as more and more companies turn to their services to help them...

Bad public

Bad public officials must go From Koran Tempo Some people with a preconceived notion of President Megawati Soekarnoputri must have cynically looked upon her request that public officials incapable of carrying out their duties resign.

Travel in Aceh fraught with tension, bribes

Travel in Aceh fraught with tension, bribesYogita Tahilramani and Edith Hartanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Those living in strife-torn Aceh, particularly outside the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, have known fear all of their lives.

Teachers start practicing KKN

Teachers start practicing KKNFrom Bisnis IndonesiaOnly a few months back our hearts sank when we heard about the unfortunate fate and condition of teachers at state schools who have to live a hard life on their meager salaries.

RI judiciary worse than first thought: UN rapporteur

RI judiciary worse than first thought: UN rapporteurBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Having said earlier that Indonesia's judiciary had serious problems, the visiting United Nations investigator on judiciary independence added midway through his mission that its condition was worse than...

PDI Perjuangan, PPP meetings

PDI Perjuangan, PPP meetings Two major political parties -- the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the United Development Party (PPP) -- have been organizing a national congress and a national meeting, respectively, one in Bali and the other in Jakarta.

Squatters take shelter at Komnas HAM building

Squatters take shelter at Komnas HAM buildingDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ningsih, who is only 11 months old, cannot yet speak, but her eyes, which continually brim with tears, and her loud cry if her mother stops breastfeeding her, may indicate that life is too hard to bear.

City Council

City Council to be dissolved? From Republika The Jakarta City Council is threatened with dissolution after the capital's military commander, Bibit Waluyo, issued letter No. R/511-5/II/2002 dated July 3, in which he replaced the council's chairman, Edy Waluyo, with Doni Sudarno.

Forget plan to establish gambling den, Sutiyoso says

Forget plan to establish gambling den, Sutiyoso saysAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Pramuka island, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso rejected on Sunday the possibility that he might continue his plan to build gambling centers in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) regency even though he would most...

Islam-based economy

Islam-based economyFrom RepublikaThe economic problem now facing Indonesia basically stems from the unequal distribution of goods and services among the entire public. This is a result of the adoption of the capitalist economic system.

Labor unions going too far, minister says

Labor unions going too far, minister saysThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea now admits that labor militancy has reached such a fever pitch that it is discouraging investors and undermining the overall business climate.

I received a statement showing the balance of my old age

I received a statement showing the balance of my old age pension from Jamsostek (Workers' Social Security scheme) for 11 years on it, but only this year have I received two statements with a discrepancy amounting to some Rp 700,000.

Bulldozer destroys elementary schools

Bulldozer destroys elementary schools PURWAKARTA, West Java: Hundreds of elementary students in Cianting village in the West Java regency of Purwakarta have been forced to hold their classes in a local resident's house since their school building was destroyed by a bulldozer owned by a sand-mining...

Lampung people threaten to take over palm plantation

Lampung people threaten to take over palm plantationOyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung Following a violent clash with security personnel on Thursday, hundreds of striking workers from a PT Budi Dharma Godam Perkasa (BDGP)-owned oil palm plantation in North Lampung have threatened to...

Disney inks pact for China theme park

Disney inks pact for China theme park HONG KONG : The Walt Disney Co. has signed a framework agreement with the Shanghai government to build a theme park there, a newspaper reported Saturday, though a Shanghai official denied the report.

Malaysia, Brunei envoys in Papua

Malaysia, Brunei envoys in Papua JAYAPURA, Papua: Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam ambassadors suggested on Saturday that Indonesia should convince foreign investors to go to Papua now that security conditions are much improved.Brunei Ambassador Haji Moh.

Top-brand motorcycles dominate automotive expo

Top-brand motorcycles dominate automotive expoRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Motorcycles are no longer just for those people who can't afford cars, but also for the well-to-do.The two-wheeled mode of transportation is not only useful in zipping through Jakarta's notorious traffic jams,...

Woman arrested for 145 gr of heroin

Woman arrested for 145 gr of heroin JAKARTA: A woman was arrested in Mayestik, South Jakarta, with 145 grams of heroin on Friday.Jakarta Police narcotics chief Snr. Adj. Comr. Carlo Tewu said on Saturday that Dita Purnamasari, alias Nita, was arrested at 4 p.m.

Class action suit against urged

Class action suit against urgedFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In response to the damaging impact of accounting scams, lawyers are advising investors and shareholders who suffer losses due to cooked financial reports that they can file class action suits against the accountants...

Anti-cancer compound found in SE Asian plant

Anti-cancer compound found in SE Asian plantReuters, Kuala Lumpur Research has shown that a Malaysian jungle plant widely believed to be an aphrodisiac could also be effective against cancer and HIV, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

RP lending rate third lowest in Asia

RP lending rate third lowest in AsiaThe Philippines' real lending rate is the third lowest among 10 countries in Asia, including Japan and India, the central bank said Sunday. Real lending rate refers to the difference between the country's inflation rate and the average lending rate of banks.