Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 11 October 2003

111 articles found

Sepaktakraw team set for Thai camp

Sepaktakraw team set for Thai camp The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian sepaktakraw team will take part in a six-week training camp in Thailand ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. However, the team concedes that Thailand and Malaysia look unbeatable in this traditional Southeast Asian ball game, and the best it can reasonably hope for at the SEA Games in Vietnam is bronze. "Thailand is unchallenged in the race for the gold.

Syafruddin Chan

Syafruddin Chan Contributor Jakarta The writer is the author of "Relationship Marketing: Marketing innovation that wins the hearts of customers". Automotive manufacturers realize that the overall revenue, indeed, the major portion of profits may be attributed to its after sales business. This may consist of anything from the simplest maintenance procedures, or change of parts, to major repairs, such as an engine overhaul, or a crashed car repaired to its purchase state.

Garuda to add 65,028 seats for holidays

Garuda to add 65,028 seats for holidays The Jakarta Post, Jakarta National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will add 65,028 seats to its services to anticipate a predicted higher demand during the year-end religious festivities: Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year. Of the 65,028 additional seats, 43,998 will come from extra flights and 21,030 as a result of the use of larger aircraft, head of communication Pudjobroto said in a press statement on Friday.

Commission may rid Constitution of political self-interest

Commission may rid Constitution of political self-interest Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Constitutional Commission has promised it would deal with the substance of the amended Constitution and neutralize articles regarded that contain short-term interests beneficial to certain political parties.

Myanmar thanks ASEAN for tolerance at Bali summit

Myanmar thanks ASEAN for tolerance at Bali summit Agencies, Yangon Myanmar on Friday thanked Southeast Asian nations for opting not to criticize the regime at their summit this week, saying that "cooperation, not confrontation" would help it shift to democracy. Myanmar's military junta had been braced for a lashing over its detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, at this week's Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Bali, Indonesia.

In whom should we trust?

In whom should we trust? Indonesia remains perched on the upper part of the list of the world's most corrupt countries. According to the Berlin-based Transparency International (TI), Indonesia is the sixth most corrupt country out of 133 countries it has observed in 2003. Due to widespread graft in the public sector and the judicial system, it is no surprise that Indonesia ranks again as one of the world's most corrupt nations.

Megawati to visit three provinces

Megawati to visit three provinces GORONTALO, Gorontalo: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to make a working visit to the provinces of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi on Saturday and Sunday. Megawati's itinerary, issued by the Presidential Secretariat on Friday, said the head of state would leave Jakarta on Saturday morning for Tomini Bay via Gorontalo and the Togean Island in Central Sulawesi.

The death sentence

The death sentence No one for some considerable time has faced a firing squad in Indonesia, despite receiving the death sentence for his or her crimes. The decision to go ahead and execute the proven guilty is never easy, but in the case of terrorists and mass murderers it would seem to be more than justified. Easy to struggle with one's conscious over the rights and wrongs of such a final decision, for final it is, as death is certain.

Cheers, confusion in Tehran over Nobel Prize award

Cheers, confusion in Tehran over Nobel Prize award Agence France-Presse, Paris/Tehran The Nobel committee once again proved the tipsters and bookmakers wrong, naming a dark horse, Iranian pro-reform activist Shirin Ebadi, winner of the coveted Peace Prize in what quickly drew widespread praise, uncertainty in Tehran, and a sour note out of Poland.

Bandung to host U-18 soccer finals

Bandung to host U-18 soccer finals JAKARTA: Bandung-based Persib has been chosen as the host for the four-way final of the Bogasari Under-18 Soccer League, which will run from Oct. 13 to Oct. 18. The other three teams -- PSIS of Semarang, Persijap of Jepara and Persijatim of East Jakarta -- had initially competed to host the matches. A total of Rp 65 million will be on offer.

UCI honors Malaysia's PM

UCI honors Malaysia's PM HAMILTON, Ontario: Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad was given the International Cycling Union merit award on Thursday for outstanding contributions to the sport. Mohamad, who is set retire at the end of the month, will be presented with the honor next week by the president of the Asian Cycling Federation and member of the UCI management board Darshan Singh.

PMI on the brink of eviction

PMI on the brink of eviction Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has done much to help the people of this country, including providing food and milk to the evicted squatters of Tanjung Duren Selatan in West Jakarta. But now the organization is facing eviction from its offices in South Jakarta. The Supreme Court ruled that the PMI must vacate its offices on Jl.

Gus Dur's diplomacy

Gus Dur's diplomacy From Warta Kota As he has often done before, former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid has recently -- without fanfare nor publicity -- visited a number of European countries to help improve Indonesia's image abroad. Interestingly, before he was elected president, Gus Dur lashed out at Australian prime minister John Howard for wounding the dignity of the Indonesian people.

[b]Active citizenry

Active citizenry needed to support creation of AEC Muhammad Sauri Hasibuan FORTECH Consulting Jakarta 2. Luthfi -- Right to reply needs more dissemination 1 X 30 Right to reply must be promoted TM Luthfi Yazid Director Indonesian Law in Development Research (Inlander) Jakarta 3. Korea11 -- Renew talks on an FTA 1 x 30 Renew talks on free trade agreement The Korea Herald Asia News Network Bangkok

Probest chief arrested for fraud

Probest chief arrested for fraud JAKARTA: The police arrested the president director of investment company PT Probest International, Burhan Sofyan, on Friday for his alleged involvement in the misuse of company funds. Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said there was sufficient evidence and witness testimony to take Burhan into custody. "We have gathered evidence and testimony from witnesses, including an expert witness from the central bank," the officer said.

[b]

Mega ripped for blaming corruption on human rights 2. 2 x 23 Military tribunal acquits soldiers of assault charges 3. 1 x 49 KPU starts to screen political parties 4. 2 x 27 Comission may rid Constitution of political self-interest 5. 1 x 32 NU rejects sharia for Criminal Code

After Cancun: Indonesia needs pro-poor trade strategy

After Cancun: Indonesia needs pro-poor trade strategy Indonesia's trade policy after Cancun Neil McCulloch Senior Economist The World Bank Jakarta The failure of Cancun has been heralded by many in Indonesia as a victory. Indeed, the recent trade talks in Cancun, Mexico, represents one of the first times in which developing countries have worked together to form a powerful negotiating block to pressure rich countries for greater liberalization.

Stock index hits 44-month high

Stock index hits 44-month high The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Rising sharply for the third consecutive days, the Jakarta stock index hit on Friday its highest level in almost four years, thanks to regional gains and positive sentiment at home, dealers said. The Composite Index hit a 44-month high on the day to close at 644.82 points, a 1.4 percent higher than Thursday's close, with 3.15 billion shares valued at Rp 1.37 trillion (US$163.6 million) exchanging hands.

Refugees seek permanent homes

Refugees seek permanent homes ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: One hundred and twenty-five East Timorese refugee families want homes in a new housing complex to be built in the Manleten subdistrict here, an Indonesian official said. The modest housing complex, which will be built on 800 hectares of land, will have 350 houses, said Lt. Col. Ganip Warsito, the Indonesian official in charge of refugee affairs in the area.

Crushing grief as remains of crash victims brought home to Yogyakarta

Crushing grief as remains of crash victims brought home to Yogyakarta Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta The Yapemda I senior high school in Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, was a place of grief on Friday as parents, other family members and relatives waited for the arrival of the remains of 54 of the school's students who died in a recent bus crash tragedy.

JP/5/RIVER

JP/5/RIVER Medan's murky waters degrading rapidly Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post Medan, North Sumatra Industrial and household waste has heavily polluted all five rivers that flow through Medan, North Sumatra, degrading the quality of the water, say local environment officials. "The finding is based on a survey conducted last year in 27 spots along those rivers," said Hakimil Nasution, the head of North Sumatra Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda).

Govt may issue bonds later this month

Govt may issue bonds later this month The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government plans to issue more bonds later this month or early next month to refinance maturing bonds. "We'll announce the exact timing -- whether to issue the bonds this month or next. We'll keep a watchful eye on the market," Boediono said on Friday. Boediono did not specify the value of the bonds, but the government still has around Rp 5 trillion-worth of bonds to be issued this year.

Protectionism not the answer after Cancun

Protectionism not the answer after Cancun After Cancun: Indonesia needs pro-poor trade strategy Indonesia's trade policy after Cancun Neil McCulloch Senior Economist The World Bank Jakarta 2. Ong -- Who's responsible for the bad press on Megawati? 1 X 45 Who's responsible for bad press on Megawati? Ong Hock Chuan Maverick Jakarta 3. Nation -- Trampling on the rights of the people 1 X 30 Trampling on the people's rights Pravit Rojanaphruk The Nation Asia News Network Bangkok

JP/6/SISWO

JP/6/SISWO Is ASEAN ready for an anti-terrorist convention? Siswo Pramono Deputy Director for Global Organization Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jakarta Various regions -- America, Western Europe, East Europe, Africa, and South Asia -- have regional treaties to combat terrorism. Southeast Asia has no such treaty.

Where to go in Jakarta: Saturday, October 11, 2003

Where to go in Jakarta: Saturday, October 11, 2003 Exhibitions * Photo by Paul kadarisman, Galeri Mini, Pusat Kebudayaan Jepang - The Japan Foundation, Summitmas I, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 61- 62 South Jakarta (Tel. 5201266), 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Oct. 21. * Graphic Trienal Seni Grafis Indonesia 2003, Bentara Budaya Jakarta, Jl. Palmerah Selatan No. 17, Central Jakarta (Tel. 5483008 ext. 7910/7911), until Oct. 19. * The Fascinating World of Traditional Indonesian Textiles, Borneo Gallery, Jl.

PM minister never expected Megawati at Bali memorial

PM minister never expected Megawati at Bali memorial Agencies, Sydney, Australia Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Friday he never expected Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri to attend this weekend's anniversary commemorations for the Bali nightclub bombings. Leading up to Sunday's anniversary of the attacks that killed 202 people there were reports that Megawati would not attend out of respect for the tropical island's mostly Hindu population.

Antam, Pegadaian receive award for best financial report

Antam, Pegadaian receive award for best financial report The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government announced on Friday the annual reports of PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) and Perum Pegadaian were the best annual reports produced by state enterprises this year.

No more evictions, please

No more evictions, please Our sense of justice was moved by the recent, forcible demolition of hundreds of houses belonging to squatters in Kampung Baru, Cengkareng, and Kampung Sawah, both in West Jakarta. Hysteria and anger among the owners of the illegal buildings and the arrogance of the officers in charge of the demolition led to some shocking incidents and bloody scuffles. Several people were injured in the clashes. Who is to blame?

Governor defends policy on squatters

Governor defends policy on squatters Governor Sutiyoso defended on Friday his administration's policy on a string of evictions in the capital, expressing confidence in obtaining full support from the central government once he had made an explanation to President Megawati Soekarnoputri. "I will set a timetable to report to the President ... I believe everybody will agree with me, including the government, that what we have done is upholding public order and the law," he said at his office.

Mirza denies second chance

Mirza denies second chance Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The march of top seed Sania Mirza from India was finally halted after Thailand's Montinee Tangphong knocked her out with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in the semifinals of the Indonesia Women's Circuit at the Hilton tennis courts on Friday. A dominant run in the opening set did not help Mirza, who won the first series of the US$10,000 tournament last week, in her hunt for the second title.

Megawati to visit three provinces

Megawati to visit three provinces GORONTALO, Gorontalo: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to make a working visit to the provinces of Central Sulawesi, Gorontalo and North Sulawesi on Saturday and Sunday. Megawati's itinerary, issued by the Presidential Secretariat on Friday, said the head of state would leave Jakarta on Saturday morning for Tomini Bay via Gorontalo and the Togean Island in Central Sulawesi.

KPU begins to screen political parties

KPU begins to screen political parties Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) began screening political parties on Friday to decide whether or not they could contest the 2004 elections. KPU member Anas Urbaningrum said the commission would carry out administrative screening on 40 of 50 parties that had registered with KPU. The commission has to finish the verification within one week.

TV Today: Saturday, October 11, 2003

TV Today: Saturday, October 11, 2003 TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Children's Program 7:30 Music 8:30 Documentary 9:00 Music 10:00 TV Drama 11:00 Religious Teachings 11:30 Music: Konteswara 12:00 p.m. Talk Show 1:00 News: Berita Siang 1:30 Children's Show 3:00 City News 4:00 Children's Show 5:00 Music 6:00 English News Services 7:00 News 8:00 Music 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 10:30 Puppet Show TPI 6:00 a.m.

54 bodies, mostly still unidentified, sent to Yogyakarta

54 bodies, mostly still unidentified, sent to Yogyakarta ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Situbondo, East Java The 54 bodies of schoolgirls and others killed in a horrific three-vehicle crash were brought home to Yogyakarta on Friday, although most of them were not identified yet, while police arrested a trailer truck driver blamed for the tragedy. The corpses, wrapped in white and put in wooden coffins, were dispatched aboard dozens of ambulances at around 4:30 p.m.

Oil holds near five-week high on supply worries

Oil holds near five-week high on supply worries Reuters, London Oil prices held above the US$30 mark on Friday as the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned of potential supply tightness heading into the northern winter. Benchmark London Brent crude, up more than 17 percent in barely two weeks since OPEC's surprise decision to cut production from Nov. 1, was off 16 U.S. cents at $29.98 a barrel, having topped $30 for the first time in six weeks on Thursday. U.S. light crude was down 5 U.S.

Bush to hold talks with Megawati

Bush to hold talks with Megawati JAKARTA: United States President George W. Bush has confirmed his arrival in Bali on Oct. 22 for a meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri. The Indonesian visit will form part of President Bush's Asia- Pacific trip, which will also take him to Japan, the Philippines, Singapore and Australia, starting from Oct. 17.

Kutai sacred ceremony shows how to serve

Kutai sacred ceremony shows how to serve Pandaya, The Jakarta Post, Tenggarong, East Kalimantan The clock struck 8 p.m. The last guests briskly filed into the Old Palace verandah, where about 100 people were seated on carpets. In the eastern section of the long verandah was a gamelan orchestra. Three rows of palace relatives in colorful traditional court dress were seated nearby. In the western section were aristocrats solemnly seated among the younger members of the royal family.

Exhibition highlights 'Jamu'

Exhibition highlights 'Jamu' YOGYAKARTA: Herbs and traditional herbal medicines, popularly known as jamu, are one of the highlights of the 8th Jogja Export Expo at the Jogja Expo Center here until Tuesday. According to Hermawan Ardiyanto of the expo's organizing committee, some 40 companies comprising of jamu producers, herbal plant producers and medicine ingredient traders will participate in the exhibition, which the committee claims is the first of its kind to be held in the country.

Experts blames unchecked development for floods

Experts blames unchecked development for floods Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta An imbalanced policy between physical development and environmental conservation has contributed to the flooding in the capital in the last 10 years, environmentalist Ahmad Syarifuddin says. "The intensifying conversion of open spaces into buildings has made the remaining green areas unable to support the physical development," he told The Jakarta Post recently.

Indonesian "potential"

Indonesian "potential" Talk of a mass rapid transport (MRT) system similar to Singapore, Bangkok, and Kuala Lumpur to alleviate the traffic problem are most welcome indeed. Sometimes one wonders whether there is any planning that goes on in this city. The busway does not sound too promising as there are already too many metro mini buses and angkot (a sort of public vehicle serving short distances in the city) that are major causes of congestion.

Mediterranean foods now in Yogya

Mediterranean foods now in Yogya YOGYAKARTA: Food lovers, listen to this! The Mediterranean foods can now be found in the city of Yogyakarta. If you want to try the exotic Gulf food, go to the Kayu Api restaurant at Yogyakarta's Novotel Hotel on Jl. Sudirman. "Starting from this month and on the menus is available at the restaurant from 6 p.m.

'We could only think about saving ourselves'

'We could only think about saving ourselves' Emergency posts in areas prone to flooding are usually established prior to the onset of the rainy season. They are set up in order to assist the residents whose houses are flooded. In some cases, the residents are evacuated to temporary shelters. The situation is miserable and they can certainly use help, even from strangers. Some of last year's flood victims talk to The Jakarta Post on the need for emergency posts.

'RP can thwart terrorist attack'

'RP can thwart terrorist attack' PHILIPPINES: The Philippines is capable of preventing terrorist attacks by the Southeast Asian militant network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) or other groups, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Friday after Australia warned that the country faces the region's greatest terror threat. "The Philippines is an open target. But we would like to assure everyone that we are ready to thwart any plan of JI or any other terrorist group," Arroyo said in a statement.

Kyoei Prince has 2nd bomb hoax

Kyoei Prince has 2nd bomb hoax JAKARTA: A bomb hoax caller threatened Wisma Kyoei Prince building on Jl. Jend. Sudirman on Friday. It was the second threat after a hoax call on Tuesday. The city police bomb squad found nothing inside the building. The threat was received by a telephone operator with Matsushita Electronic, which leases the 5th floor.

corrected

corrected FOR EXPO: FOR SATURDAY Workshop on natural gas processing A four-day interactive workshop will be held in Jakarta from Oct. 21 to Oct. 24 to discuss an overview of the natural gas industry, from the wellhead to the marketplace, with emphasis on gas plant process operations.

Policeman beaten by own chief over truck

Policeman beaten by own chief over truck The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A policeman in Muna regency, Southeast Sulawesi was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday after being assaulted by his superior identified as Comr. AA on Monday. As of Friday, the victim, identified as Second Brig. Saibah bin La Molo, could barely talk due to a fracture he suffered to his left jaw and a serious head injury.

Pakistan to release four arrested Indonesians students: RI police

Pakistan to release four arrested Indonesians students: RI police Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Pakistani authorities have promised to release four of six Indonesian students detained in the South Asian country for alleged involvement in acts of terror, a top police officer said on Friday. National Police chief Gen.

Active citizenry needed to support creation of AEC

Active citizenry needed to support creation of AEC M. Sauri Hasibuan, FORTECH Consulting, Jakarta The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Bali has among others produced a communique supporting the creation of an "ASEAN Economic Community" (AEC). This is the right time to strengthen ASEAN, especially given current U.S. arrogance in the region.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct 10 .2003

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Oct 10 .2003 ___________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,025 0 107,000 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 100 -5 150,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 160 5 95,000 Alakasa Industrindo 145 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 1,250 0 53,500 Alter Abadi Tbk 30 0 932,500 Alumindo Light...

Hamzah to open Rp 1t regent office

Hamzah to open Rp 1t regent office EAST KUTAI, East Kalimantan: Vice President Hamzah Haz is scheduled on Saturday to inaugurate the offices of the East Kutai administration in Bukit Pelangi, Sangatta, East Kutai regency. The offices, standing on 600 hectares of land, cost Rp 1 trillion (US$125 million), sources within the East Kutai administration said on Friday. The inauguration of the new offices will take place concurrently with the fourth anniversary of East Kutai regency on Oct. 12.

Mega ripped for blaming corruption on human rights

Mega ripped for blaming corruption on human rights Tiarma Siboro and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Human rights activists criticized President Megawati Soekarnoputri for using human rights as an excuse to allow corruption to flourish in the country. "Efforts to combat corruption and possible human rights violations are two different things.

JP/17/NAT

JP/17/NAT Natsuko Shioya, a quiet library with beautiful panorama Library to commemorate the neverending love story Though Yogyakarta boasts itself as a student's city for being a home to dozens of universities and scholars, in fact it has more shopping malls than good public libraries. Now, if you want to find a library with a pleasant reading atmosphere, come to Sumberan village in Sariharjo, Sleman.

Hotel seized for tax evasion

Hotel seized for tax evasion JAKARTA: The City Revenue Agency seized Twin Plaza Hotel and Apartments on Jl. S. Parman, West Jakarta, on Thursday for tax arrears worth Rp 2.56 billion (US$301,176.47). Agency official Lumban Gaol said the seizure was in accordance with Law No. 19/2000 on tax collection. City administration website beritajakarta.com reported that the agency had sent warning letters on Aug. 1, 2002, on July 2, 2003 and the final warning on Oct. 6.

Garbage administration

Garbage administration From Warta Kota The rain has come to Jakarta and its surrounding areas. The immediate impact is that some places have seen pools of water and stinking piles of garbage. Ditches and gutters are blocked by garbage that the residents have thoughtlessly dumped.

Bandung to host U-18 soccer finals

Bandung to host U-18 soccer finals JAKARTA: Bandung-based Persib has been chosen as the host for the four-way final of the Bogasari Under-18 Soccer League, which will run from Oct. 13 to Oct. 18. The other three teams -- PSIS of Semarang, Persijap of Jepara and Persijatim of East Jakarta -- had initially competed to host the matches. A total of Rp 65 million will be on offer.

Evicted squatters brace for rainy season

Evicted squatters brace for rainy season Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta First the eviction, now the rainy season. These are the challenges faced by families now living in makeshift tents where their homes used to stand, before they were torn down by public order officers.

PTDI set tp rehire workers who passed reselection test

PTDI set tp rehire workers who passed reselection test Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java State-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara (PTDI) announced on Friday the results of a reselection test the company had held from Sept. 23 to Oct. 3 in order to rehire employees of good caliber.

Did the Oct. 12 inferno really change Australia?

Did the Oct. 12 inferno really change Australia? Rob Goodfellow, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia How to cope with proximity to Asia has been Australia's dilemma since the World War II. Four events have framed Australian national perceptions of the countries near north: The defeat of the invading Japanese Army in New Guinea, the Vietnam War, Indonesia's annexation of East Timor and the 12 Oct. 2002 bombings in Bali.

On shifting holidays

On shifting holidays From Media Indonesia In response to Media Indonesia's editorial on Sept. 24, 2003 on holiday shifts, we would like to explain the background and substance of the government policy. The joint decree (of three ministers) on this matter -- effective for the calendar year 2003 -- was issued after a long process of consultations with religious leaders and inter- departmental meetings.

Wiranto rues lengthy convention

Wiranto rues lengthy convention JAKARTA: Former Indonesian Military chief Gen. (ret) Wiranto criticized on Friday a plan to extend Golkar Party's national convention to select its presidential candidate, saying it would tarnish its image. Wiranto, one of Golkar's presidential hopefuls, said the plan would not materialize. "I trust the (convention) committee and morality of Golkar Party. They will not take a decision that may tarnish their own image," he told a media briefing here on Friday.

Ambon's sweet road to conflict recovery

Ambon's sweet road to conflict recovery Edi Suhardi Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia Jakarta When the horrifying sectarian conflict broke out in 1999, no one believed it could happen in the capital of Maluku province long known as Ambon manis, or Sweet Ambon. Ambon was at the center of the communal conflict that affected almost the entire province until 2002.

JP/5/siantar

JP/5/siantar Governor questions mayor's suspension Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post Medan, North Sumatra North Sumatra Governor Tengku Rizal Nurdin questioned on Friday Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno's decision to suspend Pematang Siantar Mayor Marim Purba, despite his acquittal from graft charges. "I'm not saying the ministerial decree is fictitious because I have not yet received it.

Robberies mar

Robberies mar tourism image From Warta Kota The high frequency of robberies experienced by foreign residents in Jakarta will spoil the image of the city as a tourist destination. A Malaysian living in a leased house in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, was reportedly robbed of his car on Oct. 5. This is only one of many such cases. The incident is counter productive to the plan to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals.

More vehicle deaths in Java

More vehicle deaths in Java BANYUMAS, Central Java: Three people were killed and six others heavily injured on Friday afternoon after an executive train traveling between Yogyakarta and Jakarta collided with a truck in Landung subdistrict in Central Java. Two of the three killed were truck passengers, while another victim was a nearby bicycle rider. The six who were injured were construction workers aboard the truck.

Military tribunal acquits soldiers of assaults charges

Military tribunal acquits soldiers of assaults charges Teuku Agam Muzakkir and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe/Banda Aceh The Banda Aceh military court in Lhokseumawe acquitted on Friday 12 soldiers charged with assaulting civilians during a hunt for members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) late August. Military judge Maj.

Relatives of bomb victims arrive in Bali for memorial

Relatives of bomb victims arrive in Bali for memorial I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Over 1,200 relatives of the Bali bombing victims have arrived in Bali to participate in the ceremony commemorating the tragedy slated to be held on Sunday evening. "We believe the number will increase because the ceremony is still a day away," chairman of the commemoration committee Bagiana Karang said on Friday.

Sutiyoso in command of flood response

Sutiyoso in command of flood response Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A crisis team has been set up by the city administration to deal with possible flooding in the coming weeks. With a total of 40,874 members, the team will assist residents in any flooded areas. But who will have the power to declare an emergency in the city and decide on what efforts are needed to help victims.

Bumi concludes purchase of KPC

Bumi concludes purchase of KPC Rendi A. Witular The Jakarta Post Jakarta Publicly listed mining company PT Bumi Resources completed the acquisition of coal mining firm PT Kaltim Prima Coal on Friday from Anglo-American energy firm BP Plc. and Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto. Bumi finance director Eddie J. Soebari told The Jakarta Post by telephone that the company had concluded the purchase of KPC by paying a total of US$500 million, including assumed debt, to BP and Rio Tinto.

Busway project needs reviewing

Busway project needs reviewing From Bisnis Indonesia The construction of busway facilities is underway on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta, in the fast lane. The question is whether upon the completion of this project, traffic jams along this road will be overcome. When the busway system is implemented, the buses now operating will pick up and drop passengers in the slow lane, so that a long line of vehicles behind will be halted every time or take the middle lane on their right.

At least 2 dead in armed attack in Morowali

At least 2 dead in armed attack in Morowali The Jakarta Post, Palu/Jakarta An armed group of raiders attacked the Central Sulawesi village of Beteleme in Lembo district, Morowali regency, early on Friday, leaving two people dead and several others injured. It was the most serious outbreak of communal violence since the end of the prolonged sectarian conflict that rocked the neighboring town of Poso two years ago. National Police Chief Gen.

Bumi Resources concludes purchase of KPC

Bumi Resources concludes purchase of KPC Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Publicly listed mining company PT Bumi Resources completed the acquisition of coal mining firm PT Kaltim Prima Coal on Friday from Anglo-American energy firm BP Plc. and Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto. Bumi finance director Eddie J.

If a headhunter calls ... be positive

If a headhunter calls ... be positive SSM Consulting, Jakarta Pursuing multiple approaches when looking for new employment opportunities can be done in a variety of ways, one of them through headhunting firms. Although the headhunting business is nothing new at all, many executives, unfortunately, have no idea what the headhunting firms -- simply call them headhunters -- do or how to deal with them.

Farah Wardani

Farah Wardani Contributor Jakarta Between 1973 and 1983, a child exodus occurred in Indonesia, whereby a great number of Indonesian babies and children were taken by adoptive parents from foreign countries, mostly the Netherlands. These children were given away by their biological parents for many reasons, from escaping social and cultural restrictions for having an illegitimate child, to purely economic motives.

N. Sumatran coffee hits foreign markets

N. Sumatran coffee hits foreign markets MEDAN, North Sumatra: Coffee exports from North Sumatra have penetrated 41 countries, mostly in Europe. According to information from the North Sumatra industry and trade office in Medan, almost 47,000 tons of coffee -- 34,591 tons of arabica, 11,848 tons of robusta and 1,230 tons of instant coffee -- were exported to 41 countries from January to August 2003. The export value of the coffee was US$32.547 million.

More vehicle deaths in Java

More vehicle deaths in Java BANYUMAS, Central Java: Three people were killed and five others heavily injured on Friday afternoon after an executive train traveling between Yogyakarta and Jakarta collided with a truck in Landung subdistrict in Central Java As of Friday evening, the police were still trying speak with witnesses about the exact causes of the accident.

Chief insists his officers innocent in 'Tempo' case

Chief insists his officers innocent in 'Tempo' case Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite the fact that National Police authorities have named two police investigators as suspects in the Tempo magazine case, City Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara insisted on Friday that his subordinates committed no crime. "I admit there was an administrative mistake in the dates used in the dossiers...

JP/6/CIFOR

JP/6/CIFOR Can money-laundering law catch illegal loggers? Bambang Setiono Policy and Financial Analyst Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Bogor The writers JM Winer and TF Roule in their January paper The finance of illicit resource extraction, state the need for a genuine drive to link efforts at preventing the illegal exploitation of natural resources with antimoney-laundering initiatives currently on the increase throughout the world.

Prosecutors named for Abepura case

Prosecutors named for Abepura case JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office appointed on Friday six prosecutors in the gross human rights violations in the Papua town of Abepura in 2000. Secretary to the office's human rights working committee K. Lere said the prosecutors would start working only after tbeir induction in November.

Exhibition highlights 'Jamu'

Exhibition highlights 'Jamu' YOGYAKARTA: Herbs and traditional herbal medicines, popularly known as jamu, are one of the highlights of the 8th Jogja Export Expo at the Jogja Expo Center here until Tuesday. According to Hermawan Ardiyanto of the expo's organizing committee, some 40 companies comprising of jamu producers, herbal plant producers and medicine ingredient traders will participate in the exhibition, which the committee claims is the first of its kind to be held in the country.

JP/17/

JP/17/ Bedugul offers scientific and natural delights I Wayan Juniartha The Jakarta Post Denpasar, Bali With its cool air, beautiful scenery and quiet atmosphere, Bedugul in Tabanan regency is a comfortable haven for those who have grown bored with Kuta's cramped environs and frustrated with Denpasar's traffic jams. Lying some two hours by car from Denpasar and about two-and-a- half hours from Nusa Dua, Bedugul sits next to the misty Lake Beratan.

G-22 seeks to cement unity after WTO battle of Cancun

G-22 seeks to cement unity after WTO battle of Cancun Frederic Garlan, Agence France-Presse, Buenos Aires The G22 bloc of WTO countries will meet here on Friday seeking to maintain their unity and momentum after ganging up on the developed countries and scuttling last month's world trade talks.

I'm leaving if sharia is imposed

I'm leaving if sharia is imposed Thank you for publishing the letter from I Wayan Setiawan entitled Return to "dark ages" (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 9). I am a Muslim and I have been living in Indonesia for 12 years. I own a house and I love this country. But, if one day, sharia is implemented in this country, I will be ready to leave and settle in an another country in Southeast Asia, where a minority will not be able to impose laws and extremism on the majority. G. BERTRAND, Jakarta

Three killed when train crashes into truck

Three killed when train crashes into truck Three people were killed and six others heavily injured on Friday afternoon after an executive train traveling between Yogyakarta and Jakarta collided with a truck in Landung subdistrict in Central Java. Two of the three killed were truck passengers, while another victim was a nearby bicycle rider. The six who were injured were construction workers aboard the truck.

ASEAN supply chains

ASEAN supply chains Efficient supply-chain management was one of the key themes in relation to free trade and economic integration often cited in the series of ASEAN government and business summit meetings in Bali last week. The ASEAN Economic Community concept, which was stipulated in the Bali Concord II agreements, says the free flows of goods, services and investment within the ASEAN countries will make the region a more dynamic and stronger segment of the global supply chain.

Army officer beaten in Curug

Army officer beaten in Curug TANGERANG: An Army officer from a battalion stationed in Cijantung, East Jakarta, was beaten by residents after he was caught having sex with a prostitute at his sister's house in the Kelapa Dua housing complex, Curug district, Tangerang regency, on Thursday afternoon. Curug Police chief Insp. I Ketut Sudarsana said on Friday the officer, Chief Sgt. Sukri, 30, brought the prostitute to the house late on Wednesday.

1. IDENTIFY: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18

1. IDENTIFY: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 54 bodies, mostly still unidentified, sent to Yogyakarta 2. TERROR: 36 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 30 Pakistan to release four arrested Indonesians: police 3. FREEPORT: 30 pt, 3 cols, 2 X 25 Search continues for missing employees at Freeport mine 4. SUSUL: 28 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 40 to be decided later 5. ODD WORLD: 20 pt, 2 cols, 1 x 36 Dutch athletes bare all to fund training

Who's responsible for the bad press on Megawati?

Who's responsible for the bad press on Megawati? Ong Hock Chuan Maverick Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri's criticism of the media's tendency to unfairly criticize the government brings to mind an episode in the early 1980s when Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad also criticized the domestic media for its undue emphasis on bad news. A Malaysian newspaper decided he had a point.

Antam, Pegadaian receive award for best financial report

Antam, Pegadaian receive award for best financial report Rendi Witular The Jakarta Post Jakarta The government announced on Friday the annual reports of PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) and Perum Pegadaian were the best annual reports produced by companies this year.

[b]Can money-laundering law

Can money-laundering law catch illegal loggers? Bambang Setiono Policy and Financial Analyst Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) Bogor 2. Siswo -- Is ASEAN ready for an anti-terrorist convention? 2 X 30 Are ASEAN countries ready for an antiterrorist convention? "antiterrorist" should be one word in story, too Siswo Pramono Deputy Director for Global Organization Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jakarta

Hanoi charges officials with graft

Hanoi charges officials with graft VIETNAM: Vietnam has charged two vice ministers of agriculture for irresponsibility in a corruption case that caused losses of US$7.48 million to the government, state media reported on Friday. The official Hanoi Moi (New Hanoi) daily said state prosecutors have pressed charges against former vice ministers Nguyen Thien Luan and Nguyen Quang Ha for causing state property losses.

Local gasoline quality fuels problems and poses challenges

Local gasoline quality fuels problems and poses challenges Wenda Wonoseputra and Eko Yulianto Contributors Jakarta The writers are respectively president director and head of after-sales service at PT Car and Cars Indonesia, the authorized sole agent for Volkswagen cars in Indonesia In contrast to the huge automotive market here, along with its yearly growth in sales, local fuel quality is lower than that in developed countries.

Mayor's suspension raises questions

Mayor's suspension raises questions Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra North Sumatra Governor Tengku Rizal Nurdin questioned on Friday Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno's decision to suspend Pematang Siantar Mayor Marim Purba, despite his acquittal from graft charges. "I'm not saying the ministerial decree is fictitious because I have not yet received it. I will meet Pak Hari to verify the decree," Rizal told The Jakarta Post before he left for Jakarta for that purpose.

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_________________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates Oct.10 _________________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,126.01 5,432.67 5,810.26 5,748.18 Brunei dollar 1 5,152.50 4,570.00 4,886.93 4,835.42 Canadian dollar 1 6,637.29 5,886.39 6,295.19 6,228.26 Swiss franc 1 6,731.82 5,971.98 6,384.85 6,318.82 Danish krone 1 1,402.55 1,243.63...

'Cheap' rice not cheap for poor in Kulonprogo

'Cheap' rice not cheap for poor in Kulonprogo Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Kulonprogo, Yogyakarta Almost every day is a survival attempt for Trisno Wahyudi, 63, and his family. They live in a five meter by seven meter bamboo house, or a hut to be precise, with a dirt floor, in Gorolanggu hamlet, Sidoharjo village, Samigaluh district, Kulonprogo regency, Yogyakarta. Furniture is almost completely absent from their home.

Search continues for missing employees at Freeport mine

Search continues for missing employees at Freeport mine Nethy Dharma Somba and A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura/Jakarta The government has sent a team of experts to investigate a fatal accident at PT Freeport Indonesia mine in Tembagapura area, Mimika regency on Thursday, which left two employees dead and six others missing.

Probest chief arrested for fraud

Probest chief arrested for fraud JAKARTA: The police arrested the president director of investment company PT Probest International, Burhan Sofyan, on Friday for his alleged involvement in the misuse of company funds. Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said there was sufficient evidence and witness testimony to take Burhan into custody. "We have gathered evidence and testimony from witnesses, including an expert witness from the central bank," the officer said.

Poor service from

Poor service from Telkomvision I live in West Jakarta and have been using the Indovision Satellite TV service for many years now. Although the service has been reasonably reliable, Indovision has not provided multiple TV points in my house. Today I received a message with an explanation (Thank you, Indovision).

Refugees seek permanent homes

Refugees seek permanent homes ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: One hundred and twenty-five East Timorese refugee families want homes in a new housing complex to be built in the Manleten subdistrict here, an Indonesian official said. The modest housing complex, which will be built on 800 hectares of land, will have 350 houses, said Lt. Col. Ganip Warsito, the Indonesian official in charge of refugee affairs in the area.

Rock breakers count their blessings, despite hard life

Rock breakers count their blessings, despite hard life Agus Maryono and Mamock NG, The Jakarta Post, Banyumas, Central Java The middle-aged man sits at the riverside, in his right hand a hammer, in his left a rock the size of the hand that clenches it. He swings the hammer and shatters the rock into small pieces. Pasirun, 50, examines the pieces carefully. If they are not small enough he will again use the force of his hammer before adding them to the steadily growing pile by his side.

Teenagers trained to defuse bombs

Teenagers trained to defuse bombs KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The Kendari Police held a one-day course on Friday to teach 60 junior high school students about the different duties performed by the police, including defusing bombs. The course was aimed at increasing appreciation for the work of the police, a police officer in charge of training, Sr. Comr. Johnny Arjil, said.

'RP can thwart terrorist attack'

'RP can thwart terrorist attack' PHILIPPINES: The Philippines is capable of preventing terrorist attacks by the Southeast Asian militant network Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) or other groups, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Friday after Australia warned that the country faces the region's greatest terror threat. "The Philippines is an open target. But we would like to assure everyone that we are ready to thwart any plan of JI or any other terrorist group," Arroyo said in a statement.

Progress in S'pore warplane deal

Progress in S'pore warplane deal SINGAPORE: Singapore shortlisted Eurofighter, France's Dassault and U.S. firm Boeing on Friday for what is expected to be an influential warplane order worth more than US$1 billion. The decision was a blow to rivals Lockheed Martin Corp. of the United States and Sukhoi of Russia, which were excluded from bidding for the order for about 20 planes, expected to be awarded within a year.

Medan's river 'heavely polluted'

Medan's river 'heavely polluted' Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra Industrial and household waste has heavily polluted all five rivers that flow through Medan, North Sumatra, degrading the quality of the water, say local environment officials. "The finding is based on a survey conducted last year in 27 spots along those rivers," said Hakimil Nasution, the head of North Sumatra Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda).

Singapore economy rebounds but analysts cautious on outlook

Singapore economy rebounds but analysts cautious on outlook Martin Abbugao, Agence France-Presse, Singapore Singapore's economy rebounded in the third quarter after a sharp SARS-led contraction in the second, the government said on Friday, but analysts were cautious that the recovery is not yet broad-based.

NU rejects sharia for Criminal Code

NU rejects sharia for Criminal Code A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's largest Muslim organization the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) rejected on Friday the inclusion of sharia in the planned amendment to the Criminal Code (KUHP), saying it would create disputes between people of different religions or even among Muslim groups. "The inclusion of sharia would create conflict between religions and even among Muslims here," NU chairman Hasyim Muzadi told The Jakarta Post on Friday.

1. BERAS 1x45

1. BERAS 1x45 'Cheap' rice not cheap for poor in Kulonprogo 2. ROCK 1x49 Rock breakers count their blessings, despite hard life 3. SIDE1 1x30 Exhibition highlights 'jamu' 4. SIDE2 1x30 Mediterranean food now in Yogya

Gajah Tunggal to boost exports to Asia and Middle East

Gajah Tunggal to boost exports to Asia and Middle East Tire producer PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk (Gajah Tunggal) will further boost its exports to reduce the impact of a weakening domestic market due to the prolonged economic trouble at home. "The domestic tire market has dropped for various reasons, particularly because of Indonesia's economic problems, which has reduced greatly the movement of goods and people over land.

AIG to take 9.9% stake in PICC

AIG to take 9.9% stake in PICC HONG KONG: American International Group (AIG) said on Friday it plans to buy 9.9 percent of China's largest non-life insurer, PICC Property and Casualty, in a move that will give the U.S. giant early access to China's accident and health insurance market. AIG disclosed the plan following an announcement that it had reached a technical and cooperation agreement with parent PICC Holding Company.

Right to reply must be promoted

Right to reply must be promoted TM Luthfi Yazid, Director, Indonesian Law in Development Research (Inlander), Jakarta Recently we have witnessed a number of high profile disputes concerning the public and the press. These include an incident involving businessman Tommy Winata and senior journalist Goenawan Mohamad and the Koran Tempo daily.

37 escaped convicts still loose on Batam

37 escaped convicts still loose on Batam The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Riau Provincial Police have recaptured just 15 out of a total 52 inmates who escaped from an overcrowded prison on Batam island in September, despite a month-long police pursuit. Provincial Police chief Brig. Gen. Deddy S. Komaruddin called on the people of Riau to help the police track down and capture the convicts. "We are still looking for the other 37 inmates.

A matter of nationalism

A matter of nationalism From Suara Karya The evaluation made by the Institute of Information Flows Study (ISAI) concerning the danger of conditions in Aceh without media control can be justified. But when it meant that the control involved the belligerents, namely the Indonesian military (TNI) and the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), ISAI seemed to ignore the actual problem of the nation.