Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 21 August 2002

72 articles found

Megawati should be realistic about NGOs

Megawati should be realistic about NGOs In her recent state address to commemorate Indonesia's independence, President Megawati Soekarnoputri said there were irresponsible non governmental organizations (NGOs) that needed regulating.

Thousands take refuge in Poso

Thousands take refuge in PosoThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Some 2,000 people have taken refuge in safer areas in Poso town following a spate of recent attacks in Poso regency, a senior local official said on Tuesday."We are gathering data on the number of new refugees in Poso.

East Timor names Hong Kong businessman as ambassador-at-large

East Timor names Hong Kong businessman as ambassador-at-large Associated Press DiliA Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist who helped East Timor during its violent break from Indonesia in 1999 was named the new nation's first ambassador-at-large, officials said on Tuesday.

Whither privatization?

Whither privatization? We cannot find any conducive economic and political factors that could have prompted the government to more than double its revenue target from privatization to Rp 8 trillion (US$920 million) for the 2003 fiscal year from Rp 3.9 trillion this year.

Situation in Maumere remains tense

Situation in Maumere remains tenseYacob Herin and Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Sikka/Kupang East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Insp. Gen. Yacobus Jacky Uli and West Timor Military District chief Col.

Playing Taiwan's card in a bid to woo China

Playing Taiwan's card in a bid to woo ChinaKornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Seminyak, Bali, korpur@yahoo.com During her four-day visit to Bali and Jakarta last week, Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu showed her skill on how to entertain a broken hearted lady: Promise her the gift...

E. Timor honors HK businessman

E. Timor honors HK businessman EAST TIMOR: A Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist who helped East Timor during its violent break from Indonesia in 1999 was named the new nation's first ambassador-at-large, officials said on Tuesday.

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=================== Tantri Yuliandini The Jakarta Post Jakarta -------------------Encountering the signs and badges announcing that "we only sell cigarettes to adults" while shoping at a Hero supermarket here, Heidy learned for the first time that the store now refuses to sell cigarettes to...

'Police turn blind eye to violations'

'Police turn blind eye to violations' Jakarta is notorious for its traffic jams, which occur in many parts of the city, especially during rush hour. The lack of comfortable public transportation and professional police officers have worsened the problem.

Busway going nowhere with only four months left

Busway going nowhere with only four months leftNovan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With less than four months to go, it appears little preparation has been done for the construction of city administration's plan to build a busway between Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta.

Nusakambangan: A resort or jail?

Nusakambangan: A resort or jail? In the past everybody was horrified upon hearing the word Nusakambangan, which reminded people of Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.Nusakambangan prison, in Cilacap, Central Java, was established for hard core criminals; the most barbaric murderers and the wildest drug...

Food importation worries farmers

Food importation worries farmersFrom Bisnis IndonesiaThe agricultural ministry's policy on the importation of food, particularly rice, from China may indeed lead to a dilemma.On the one hand, it will create competition between domestic and imported rice.

Bar on Jl. Blora catches fire

Bar on Jl. Blora catches fire JAKARTA: A bar located in the entertainment center of Jl. Blora in Central Jakarta caught fire early on Tuesday.The fire was first detected at 3:20 a.m., more than an hour after it closed.

1. DOMUS: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS

1. DOMUS: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS Exquisite Italian cuisine in C. Jakarta 2. MANADO: 1 LINE, 40 COUNTS Le Meridien brings in original Manado cuisine

Caltex accused of exploiting Riau's Sakai tribe

Caltex accused of exploiting Riau's Sakai tribeHaidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau Impoverished for half a century, Riau's Sakai tribe as ancestral land owners should have been entitled to at least 1 percent in royalties from the profit of PT Caltex Pacific Indonesia, a...

Manila proposes new deal with Jakarta on prisoner exchange

Manila proposes new deal with Jakarta on prisoner exchangeFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Philippine government has proposed a new draft agreement to Indonesia for the exchange of prisoners between the two countries so as to allow convicts to serve their prison terms in their...

Kalbe Farma swings to net profit

Kalbe Farma swings to net profit JAKARTA: PT Kalbe Farma swung to a net profit of Rp 231.53 billion (around US$25 million) in the first half of 2002, from a loss of Rp 7.46 billion a year ago, mostly due to foreign exchange gains, the pharmaceutical company said Tuesday.

Police arrest bombing suspect in Bekasi

Police arrest bombing suspect in Bekasi JAKARTA: The city police arrested on Tuesday a suspect in a series of bombings in Jakarta. The suspect, identified as Ramli, was arrested at his home in the Cikarang industrial area in Bekasi, West Java.After the arrest, National Police chief Gen.

Monopoly Watch warns possible cement cartel

Monopoly Watch warns possible cement cartelA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta An antimonopoly group expressed concern on Tuesday that world giant cement makers, which have started to gain a foothold in local cement companies, could someday form a cartel in the domestic market at the expense of...

UN sees Earth Summit deal

UN sees Earth Summit dealReuters, Johannesburg The United Nations' environment chief said he was confident an action plan to reduce poverty without harming the planet would be clinched at the upcoming Earth Summit in Johannesburg.

1. Busway - 4x12

1. Busway - 4x12 Busway project going nowhere with only four months left 2. Demo - 2x25 Thousands of workers stage demonstration against Nike 3. Pluit - 1x 35 Nightspot torn down in land dispute 4. Speak - 1x30 'Police turn blind eye to violations'

Govt again plays down impact of drought

Govt again plays down impact of droughtThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government again played down the impact of the months-long drought, saying only 170,000 hectares or 1.4 percent of the country's total rice-growing land of 11.8 million hectares had been adversely affected by the drought.

RI polio-free, says health minister

RI polio-free, says health minister JAKARTA: Indonesia has been free from the polio virus since 1995 but the World Health Organization (WHO) has not yet given the country a polio-free certificate, health minister Achmad Sujudi said.

Agricultural products to drive 2003 export

Agricultural products to drive 2003 exportAdianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta post, Jakarta Agriculture products would be the prime mover of the country's non-oil and gas exports next year amid an increasing trend in the prices of the commodities, Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Soewandi said on...

U.S. openly critical of RI prosecutors in E. Timor rights trial

U.S. openly critical of RI prosecutors in E. Timor rights trialMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The inability of state prosecutors to construct a case regarding numerous murders and incidents of torture in East Timor in 1999 into a crimes against humanity indictment has led to the...

'RI finished should military bomb Aceh'

'RI finished should military bomb Aceh'The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government's revised policy on Aceh has drawn sharp criticism from numerous figures both in Aceh and in Jakarta, who said it would not solve the prolonged problem.

500 quake victims remain in camps

500 quake victims remain in camps PALU, Central Sulawesi: More than 500 people, made homeless after an earthquake on Sunday jolted Tojo subdistrict and other areas in the violence-hit regency of Poso, Central Sulawesi, are being housed in makeshift tents.

Truant civil servants must go: Minister

Truant civil servants must go: Minister MANADO: State Minister for Administrative Reforms Faisal Tamin said civil servants who do not report to work for 12 consecutive days should be dismissed."They are unproductive and hamper the government's service to the public," Faisal was quoted by Antara as...

Malaysia to ban tobacco advertising

Malaysia to ban tobacco advertising KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will ban all forms of tobacco advertising and sponsorship next year, giving temporary exceptions to the money-making Formula One grand prix and soccer events, Health Minister Chua Jui Meng said Tuesday.The ban, starting Jan.

1. Labor: 8 x 4 lines

1. Labor: 8 x 4 linesYLBHI, LBH protest worker shootings2. Gaplek: 20 x 2 lines Drought forces E. Java workers to eat cassava3. Sikka: 32 x 1 lineSituation in Maumere remains tense 4. Sakai: 36 x 1 line Caltex accused of exploiting Riau's Sakai tribe5.

Akbar Tandjung's trial

Akbar Tandjung's trialFrom KompasThe recent trial of House Speaker Akbar Tandjung was obviously a farce. The punishment demanded by the prosecutor, as the public had earlier predicted, was very lenient. Was the sentence disappointing? The public no longer has such a feeling.

Police to summon minister over treasure dig

Police to summon minister over treasure digThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Legal process against Minister of Religious Affairs Said Aqil Al Munawar in connection with the excavation of a protected historical heritage site in Batutulis looks set to continue despite a public apology from the state official.

Indonesians arrested in Philippines for piracy

Indonesians arrested in Philippines for piracy Police seized close to 1 billion pesos (US$20 million) worth of pirated CDs and copying equipment and arrested seven Indonesian and five Chinese workers in a raid in the northern Philippines, officials said Tuesday.

Antismoking promo targets youths

Antismoking promo targets youthsTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Encountering the signs and badges announcing that "we only sell cigarettes to adults" while shopping at a Hero supermarket here, Heidy learned for the first time that the store now refused to sell cigarettes to children...

Aceh housewives chase Gen. Sjafrie

Aceh housewives chase Gen. Sjafrie TAKENGON, Central Aceh: Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has become a celebrity among housewives in the war torn province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.Despite a tight schedule accompanying Military Chief Gen.

Protesters take legislators hostage

Protesters take legislators hostage MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Hundreds of students and residents here held two local legislators captive during a protest at the provincial legislative council on Tuesday to push for their demand for the establishment of West Sulawesi province.

JP/13/L02

JP/13/L02 Rupiah Rates Aug 20 JP/13/ConverRupiah Rates Aug 20Banknote rates TT ratesSelling Buying Selling BuyingRp Rp Rp Rp Australian dollar 1 5,092.69 4,544.70 4,844.71 4,792.45Brunei dollar 1 5,346.85 4,773.18 5,086.50 5,033.38Canadian dollar 1 5,957.76 5,318.20 5,667.66 5,608.

Pluit nightspot torn down in land dispute

Pluit nightspot torn down in land disputeLeo Wahyudi S, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Due to a land dispute, an entertainment spot, housing the Lucky Star discotheque, karaoke, massage parlor, restaurant and wine bar, on Jl. Pluit Indah, North Jakarta was bulldozed on Tuesday morning.

Husband, wife take turns in jail

Husband, wife take turns in jail SINGAPORE: A Singaporean couple is taking turns to serve jail terms for abusing their Indonesian maid so that one of them can take care of their three children, the Straits Times reported on Tuesday.

Sumatra's East Coast Highway under repair

Sumatra's East Coast Highway under repairOyos Saroso H.N. The Jakarta Post Bandarlampung Repair work on Sumatra's East Coast Highway, which connects Sumatra with Java, is being carried out by South Sumatra and Lampung province in a bid to help develop the two provinces.

Asylum-seekers return to Pakistan

Asylum-seekers return to Pakistan JAKARTA: A group of Pakistanis flew home from Indonesia on Tuesday after abandoning hope of starting a new life in Australia.The 19 adults and two children left Jakarta for Karachi aboard an international air carrier, the International Organization for Migration...

1. ACEH: 2 x 16

1. ACEH: 2 x 16 "RI is finished if military bombards Aceh' 2. RIGHTS: 3 x 16U.S. openly critical of RI prosecutors in E. Timor rights trial 3. BYLAW: 4 x 9City bylaw prepared to curb migrants4. GORILLA: 1 x 34Gorillas to introduce themselves on Sunday

East Timor struggles for investment

East Timor struggles for investmentTom Wright Dow Jones Dili When East Timor asked foreign investors to help rebuild its war-torn phone system after independence three months ago, only one company stepped forward.

Husband, wife take turns in jail

Husband, wife take turns in jail SINGAPORE: A Singaporean couple is taking turns to serve jail terms for abusing their Indonesian maid so that one of them can take care of their three children, the Straits Times reported on Tuesday.

Over 200 parties registered for 2004 elections

Over 200 parties registered for 2004 elections As of the end of July, the number of political parties registered with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights for the 2004 general election had reached a staggering 204.

Government told to hire more teachers in 2003

Government told to hire more teachers in 2003Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Legislators are urging the government to recruit more new teachers in 2003 and improve the management of teachers nationwide by distributing them equally throughout the country.

KPU assures no delay in general election

KPU assures no delay in general electionAhmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) will be able to hold the next general election on schedule after securing the government's commitment to meeting the Rp 3.02 trillion budget requested by the body, officials say.

Excise revenue target for 2003 unattainable: GAPPRI

Excise revenue target for 2003 unattainable: GAPPRIDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Association of Indonesian Cigarette Producers (GAPPRI) has appealed to the government to lower its excise revenue target for next year as the industry has been hit by weakening market demand.

Kalbe Farma swings to net profit

Kalbe Farma swings to net profit JAKARTA: PT Kalbe Farma swung to a net profit of Rp 231.53 billion (around US$25 million) in the first half of 2002, from a loss of Rp 7.46 billion a year ago, mostly due to foreign exchange gains, the pharmaceutical company said Tuesday.

Poverty, injustice main causes of terrorism

Poverty, injustice main causes of terrorismKornelius Purba and Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Kuta, Bali Indonesia has been successfully dealing with transnational crimes and combating terrorism without much publicity either domestically or internationally, a senior cabinet minister says.

YLBHI and LBH protest worker shootings

YLBHI and LBH protest worker shootingsYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Jakarta The Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI) and the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) condemned the shooting of two workers in Bandung, West Java, on Monday, saying it showed the security authorities...

BPKP lair of corruptors

BPKP lair of corruptorsFrom Koran Tempo I felt greatly insulted upon reading a statement by honorable members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) about Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) as reported in the mass media on Aug. 8, 2002.

Haze reaches hazardous levels in parts of Kalimantan

Haze reaches hazardous levels in parts of KalimantanBambang Bider and Oni Setiawan, Balikpapan/Pontianak Choking haze from forest and ground fires in Kalimantan has not only disrupted travel, but is also responsible for respiratory problems for thousands of people.

60,000 RI workers to arrive soon

60,000 RI workers to arrive soon JAKARTA: The Indonesian Red Cross said it was expecting between 60,000 and 70,000 migrant workers to arrive by the end of August in Nunukan, East Kalimantan, from Malaysia, which is expelling illegal workers with threats of jail and caning.

Floods swamp Asia as China lake almost overflows

Floods swamp Asia as China lake almost overflowsReuters, Beijing More than 10 million people are at risk in China as a giant flood-swollen lake came close to bursting its banks on Tuesday while elsewhere in Asia floods brought more death and misery.

1. Duit (3 x 12)

1. Duit (3 x 12)Asian monies mixed late on profit taking Asian currencies mixed late on dollar profit-taking, U.S. Econ Asian currencies put up a mixed showing late Tuesday as profit-taking on the U.S. dollar coupled with local factors helped trim or erase early losses.

East Timor struggles for foreign investment

East Timor struggles for foreign investmentTom Wright, Dow Jones, Dili When East Timor asked foreign investors to help rebuild its war-torn phone system after independence three months ago, only one company stepped forward.

JP/14/brief

JP/14/briefKalbe Farma swings to net profit JAKARTA: PT Kalbe Farma swung to a net profit of Rp 231.53 billion (around US$25 million) in the first half of 2002, from a loss of Rp 7.46 billion a year ago, mostly due to foreign exchange gains, the pharmaceutical company said Tuesday.

Two Papuans arrested for burning flags

Two Papuans arrested for burning flags JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: Police said here on Tuesday they had arrested two people and were chasing another suspected of burning Indonesia's red-and-white flag on Independence Day, Aug. 17.Spokesman for Jayapura Police Adj. Comr.

Dutch coach Hiddink to visit Seoul

Dutch coach Hiddink to visit Seoul SEOUL: Dutch coach Guus Hiddink, who led South Korea to the World Cup semifinals, will return to Seoul next month to attend an inter-Korean soccer match on Sept. 7., soccer officials said Tuesday.

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, August 21, 2001

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, August 21, 2001Performances* Piano and Flute Concert, Majapahit Hotel, Jl. Tunjungan 65 (Tel. 031 545 4333), 7 p.m., Aug. 28. * Music by Jet Set group band, at Desperados Bar and Cafe, Shangri-La Hotel, Jl. May. Jend. Sungkono 120 (Tel.

* Headlines: Haze hits hazardous levels in Kalimantan2

* Headlines: Haze hits hazardous levels in Kalimantan2 * National:Govt to hire more teachers in 2003 4 * Archipelago: East Java workers eat cassava 5 * Opinion:Playing Taiwan's card in a bid to woo China6 * City:Thousands stage protest against Nike 8 * Sports: Krajicek crushes struggling Hrbaty 10...

Thousands of workers stage demonstration against Nike

Thousands of workers stage demonstration against NikeThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Some 3,000 workers from PT Doson Indonesia, a company which produces Nike athletic shoes, staged a demonstration on Tuesday in front of the U.S.

Sandeq Boat Race, a less-publicized regatta

Sandeq Boat Race, a less-publicized regattaFabio Scarpello, Contributor, Makassar, South Sulawesi Initially it was meant as a medium to promote a community development project for South Sulawesi fishermen, but the annual Sandeq Boat Race has slowly turned into a sporting event and cultural...

'Autonomy benefits officials but not people'

'Autonomy benefits officials but not people'The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In theory, Jakarta hoped regional autonomy would decentralize power and wealth to the people across the sprawling archipelago, but in practice much of what was promised has ended up in the hands of local officials, experts said...

Aceh housewives chase Gen. Sjafrie

Aceh housewives chase Gen. Sjafrie TAKENGON, Central Aceh: Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin has become a celebrity among housewives in the war torn province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.Despite a tight schedule accompanying Military Chief Gen.

Thousands flee following renewed unrest in Poso

Thousands flee following renewed unrest in PosoThe Jakarta Post JakartaSome 2,000 people have taken refuge in safer areas in Poso town following a spate of recent attacks in Poso regency, a senior local official said on Tuesday."We are gathering data on the number of new refugees in Poso.

Le Meridian brings in original Manado cuisine

Le Meridian brings in original Manado cuisineMaria Endah Hulupi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The first thing that comes to people's minds when talking about Manado is its famous national sea park, Bunaken, home to a stunning coral reef and various species of colorful fish.

Taiwan tones down talk after VP's Indonesia trip

Taiwan tones down talk after VP's Indonesia tripBenjamin Kang Lim, Reuters, Taipei Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian said on Tuesday the island had no intention of engaging China in fruitless confrontation, toning down polemical talk after his deputy ruffled Beijing's feathers by visiting Indonesia.

Drought forces E. Java workers to eat cassava

Drought forces E. Java workers to eat cassavaAinur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya Already hard hit by the economic crisis that has been assailing the nation since 1997, more Indonesians are now facing the prospect of being plunged into severe poverty due to drought.

Gorillas to introduce themselves on Sunday

Gorillas to introduce themselves on SundayThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Four male African gorillas at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta were shown to the public on Tuesday after being officially handed over by the Gibbon Foundation to the city administration in a ceremony on Tuesday.

City bylaw prepared to curb migrants

City bylaw prepared to curb migrantsBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city is now drafting a bylaw aimed at curbing the rapid rate of urbanization that has been blamed for various social problems like poverty, and the rapid increase in the number of street vendors and slum areas in...