Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 December 2003

92 articles found

KEB unit suspends cash services

KEB unit suspends cash services SEOUL: Korea Exchange Bank (KEB) said Monday its credit card business unit had suspended its cash advance services due to a cash shortage in a widening crisis over South Korea's credit card industry.

Bantar Gebang dump

Bantar Gebang dumpFrom Warta Kota The issue of the final dumping place for garbage from Jakarta in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, has always been politicized. The Jakarta administration seems likely to continue using Bantar Gebang as a final dumping ground.

Rupiah Retes Dec.22

Rupiah Retes Dec.22 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,598.00 5,860.40 6,262.01 6,196.16 Brunei dollar 1 5,264.88 4,676.77 4,996.78 4,944.71 Canadian dollar 1 6,724.99 5,975.04 6,382.53 6,317.36 Swiss franc 1 7,169.96 6,370.23 6,804.85 6,735.

What the city gets from evictions

What the city gets from evictions Evi Mariani The Jakarta Post JakartaThe ambition to turn Jakarta into a slum-free capital city triggered the recent string of evictions ordered by Governor Sutiyoso at all costs, including alleged human rights violations.

Stitch in time, fire nine?

Stitch in time, fire nine?From Media Indonesia One of the aspects of corruption that has not received the attention it deserves is that of time. Post-Idul Fitri spot checks conducted by the minister for administrative reforms (Menpan) have revealed high rates of absenteeism among civil servants...

2003: A year of living in fear of terror

2003: A year of living in fear of terrorKanis Dursin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ever since his wife told him in early November that she had to go home to Hong Kong to attend her younger sister's wedding, James had been restless. Fears of terrorist attacks similar to that of Sept.

Pancasila national culture?

Pancasila national culture?From Kompas The article by Hendardi, chairman of the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI), published in Kompas on Nov. 19, calls for a comment, particularly in regards his claim that the five principles of the Pancasila state philosophy came from...

That's how evictions go: We have a real governor

That's how evictions go: We have a real governorSoeryo Winoto, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post soeryo@thejakartapost.com Observers may be fed up of criticism and comments on the Jakarta administration's policy on forced evictions, given that decision makers' persist, despite such negative analysis.

Banks, JSX closed for the holidays

Banks, JSX closed for the holidays Bank Indonesia said it would not conduct transactions on Dec. 25, Dec. 26, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1, 2004, during the year-end Christmas and New Year celebrations.The announcement means that domestic banks, which will follow suit, will only have two working days during...

Truck pileup kills three

Truck pileup kills three TANGERANG: Three people died, and two others were injured in a pileup involving three trucks and one jeep at the kilometer 24 mark on the Jakarta-Merak toll road, near Cikupa district of Tangerang regency, late on Sunday.

Jakarta to start dumping garbage in Bojong in January

Jakarta to start dumping garbage in Bojong in JanuaryTheresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor Strong opposition from locals did not deter the Bogor regency administration from allocating land in Bojong subdistrict to Jakarta to use as a dump starting January.

Introspection on haj affairs

Introspection on haj affairs The some 29,974 would-be haj pilgrims who will fail to perform their religious obligation in the holy land during the 2004 haj season, will certainly be greatly disappointed.

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, December 23, 2003

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, December 23, 2003Performance* Dance Bajidoran, Taman Budaya, Jl. Bukit Dago Selatan no. 53 A (Tel. 022 2504912), 7:30 p.m., Dec. 31.Film* French Film: South Park, Bigger, Longer and Uncut at CCF - French Cultural Center, Jl. Purnawarman 32 (Tel. 022 4212417), Dec.

Tiarma Siboro

Tiarma Siboro The Jakarta Post JakartaDown but not out, is perhaps the idiom that fits the Indonesian Military (TNI) the most after the reform movement in 1998 put an end to three decades of undemocratic rule, placing much on security for the sake of economic growth.

Malaysia's AirAsia to fly to Indonesia in February: official

Malaysia's AirAsia to fly to Indonesia in February: official Agence France-Presse Kuala LumpurMalaysia's budget airline AirAsia will fly to neighboring Indonesia in February next year in a move to capture a share of the market in Southeast Asia's most populated country, a top official said on...

Makassar court jails bomb courier for 18 years

Makassar court jails bomb courier for 18 yearsAndi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi The Makassar District Court sentenced a militant to 18 years in jail on Monday for his role in last year's blast at a McDonald's outlet in Makassar, South Sulawesi, which killed three people.

Kopassus not involved in Timika ambush: Pastika

Kopassus not involved in Timika ambush: PastikaWahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Former Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Made Mangku Pastika confirmed that the August 2002 ambush of a convoy of Freeport McMoran's employees did not involve any member of the Army's Special Forces...

Texmaco's creditors show interest in textile assets

Texmaco's creditors show interest in textile assetsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said on Monday that some of Texmaco's foreign creditors had expressed interest in purchasing the group's textile division, currently on sale under IBRA's sixth and final loan...

Four Air Force personnel killed in car accident

Four Air Force personnel killed in car accidentThe Jakarta Post, Bandung Four Air Force officers were killed and three others seriously injured early on Monday after their car collided with a bus in Tasikmalaya regency, West Java, police said.The crash took place at around 3:30 a.m. on Jl.

Supreme Court causes backlogs, not the law

Supreme Court causes backlogs, not the lawSebastian Pompe, IMF Residence Legal Advisor, Jakarta One of the most visible problems facing the Indonesian Supreme Court is the backlogs. Though significantly smaller than those of the Indian or Philippine Supreme Courts, Indonesian backlogs still stand...

'I'm still a little bit worried about threat of bomb attacks at Christmas'

'I'm still a little bit worried about threat of bomb attacks at Christmas'Jakartans still recall how the bomb attacks at several churches on Christmas Eve in 2001 had wiped out people's sense of security, a fear which lingers for many until now.

Moch. N. Kurniawan

Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post JakartaNo one in this country who believes in democracy wants the 2004 elections to fail, as it is the only democratic tool to elect a legitimate government that will carry out reforms and dig the country out of its economic doldrums.

Chinese business groups eye more investments in RI

Chinese business groups eye more investments in RISari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Chinese businesspeople are seeking investment opportunities in Indonesia's oil and gas and infrastructure sectors, touting their experience and advanced technology.

Heading for Page 4

Heading for Page 41. KPU ( 1 X 30 ) KPU sticks to registration plan 2. AD ( 2 X 18 ) Army blast from past: Beware 'foreign parties' 3. Women ( 2 X 27 ) Megawati wants more women involved in politics 4. Komisi ( 1 X 30 ) New commission takes vacation 5.

Gufron no-show at Rusydan's trial

Gufron no-show at Rusydan's trial JAKARTA: Prosecutors, again, failed to present a key witness in Monday's hearing of the trial of Abu Rusydan at the South Jakarta District Court without a clear reason.

E. Timorese asylum seekers deported

E. Timorese asylum seekers deported ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: The authorities deported 26 East Timorese asylum seekers from East Nusa Tenggara province on Monday.Atambua immigration office head Slamet Santoso said the deportations were in line with the prevailing laws and legal procedures, and...

Open Kitchen: A new concept at major restaurants

Open Kitchen: A new concept at major restaurantsRudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta Good background music, suitable interior design, quality furniture and tableware have long been important factors that enhance a dining experience, but what about if the hectic activity and full environment of a kitchen...

Four arrested for alleged forgery in Bank Mega

Four arrested for alleged forgery in Bank MegaDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta Police revealed on Monday that they had arrested four suspects who were involved in the forgery of seven deposit certificates worth a total of Rp 9 billion (US$1.

Polls to disappoint reformists

Polls to disappoint reformistsMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta According to a new survey, next year's elections are likely to produce unscrupulous politicians who have no commitment to fighting corruption and enforcing the law, and more and more people are becoming disillusioned with...

Milo event scouts future shuttlers among schools

Milo event scouts future shuttlers among schoolsZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Around 600 elementary school students will take part in the School Badminton Championships beginning on Friday, with the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) hoping that the drive will give the nation more...

Haj problems show government's incompetence

Haj problems show government's incompetenceKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government's failure to keep its promise to allow almost 30,000 Indonesians to perform the haj pilgrimage in Mecca simply shows the government's lack of professionalism in its management of the pilgrimage, a...

Wet season sees country awash with floodwater

Wet season sees country awash with floodwaterIrvan NR, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi Many parts of the country have been hit by flood in the past few days, killing at least two people and spreading disease.

Protests delay relocation of inmates

Protests delay relocation of inmates JAYAPURA, Papua: The relocation of 13 inmates -- convicted of involvement in the 2000 riot in Papua, in which at least 26 people were killed -- from their prison in Wamena town, to a prison in East Java has been delayed due to security reasons.

Tempo case: Thuggery shadows press freedom

Tempo case: Thuggery shadows press freedomM. Taufiqurrahman The Jakarta Post JakartaThe ongoing lawsuits against Tempo magazine management and journalists at three district courts in Jakarta are landmark cases in the history of the local press, which only recently gained freedom.

'Kompas' wins SEAG photo award

'Kompas' wins SEAG photo award JAKARTA: Kompas' coverage of the 22nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games has earned Indonesia's leading daily newspaper a cash award in a photo-journalism competition here on Monday.Kompas pocketed a cash prize of Rp 18 million (approximately US$2117).

2. 3 x 18

2. 3 x 18 China plans to form massive coal firms to ensure supply 3. 1 x 36 AirAsia to fly to Indonesia in February

JP/ /POOR

JP/ /POORAccountability key to poverty eradication programs A. Junaidi The Jakarta Post JakartaIndonesia has had a series of poverty eradication programs over the past 20 years. Soeharto's New Order regime was hailed for the decline in the number of poor, particularly from 1970 to 1995, from 70...

Workers clash with police in wage protest

Workers clash with police in wage protestYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Some 1,000 workers scuffled with 200 police officers in Bandung on Monday during a protest outside the West Java governor's office against the city's minimum wage for 2004.

Regional autonomy not as easy as it sounds

Regional autonomy not as easy as it soundsRidwan Max Sijabat The Jakarta Post JakartaDespite some progress, four years of regional autonomy has triggered a war among local elites fighting for new political positions, a critical situation that must be overcome to develop democracy and accelerate the...

1. BUSWAY -- 48pt Bodoni Bold 5/1 (1x30)

1. BUSWAY -- 48pt Bodoni Bold 5/1 (1x30) Residents fear clogged streets or Residents fear traffic-clogged streets 2. JONGGOL -- 36pt Bodoni Bold 2/3 (3x18) Jakarta to start dumping garbage in Bojong in January 3. MEGA -- 32pt Bodoni Bold 3/2 (2x27) Four arrested for alleged forgery in Bank Mega 4.

2 x 20

2 x 20 Governor-elect faces 10 months in prison JP/5/tewas2 x 23 Four Air Force officers killed in car accident JP/5/demo2 x 22 Workers clash with police in wage protest

Welcome UNCAC

Welcome UNCAC Dec. 9, 2003, which has been declared Anti-Corruption Day by the United Nations, was marked by the Indonesian people as an additional starting point for the campaign against corruption, as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) was signed in Merida (Mexico).

Dining experience can turn customers into salespeople

Dining experience can turn customers into salespeopleAgus W. Soehadi, Contributor, Jakarta When you find a restaurant that serves good food, gives excellent service in its out-of-the-world ambience, will you then keep it secret? Or will you spread the news to your friends and colleagues? Most...

RI climbers rescued from Mt. Cook

RI climbers rescued from Mt. Cook WELLINGTON: A group of Indonesians had to be rescued from Aoraki-Mount Cook on the South Island of New Zealand on Monday after earlier ignoring advice not to attempt the climb because of their lack of experience.

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post JakartaLike her father, the founding president Sukarno, President Megawati Soekarnoputri is obsessed with security and tends to disregard the bigger picture of the country.

City to revise bylaws, decrees on outdoor advertising

City to revise bylaws, decrees on outdoor advertisingLeony Aurora , The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to simplify and improve regulations on outdoor advertising, a new set of bylaws and gubernatorial decrees will be introduced next year.The current set, including Bylaw No.

[b]

That's how evictions go: We have a real governor Soeryo Winoto Staff Writer The Jakarta Post soeryo@thejakartapost.com 2. Edi2 -- Election 2004 is the impetus for cultural movement 2 X 30 The 2004 general election may be impetus for cultural movement Edi Suhardi Advisor Partnership for Governance...

Stitch in time,

Stitch in time, fire nine?From Media IndonesiaOne of the aspects of corruption that has not received the attention it deserves is that of time. Post-Idul Fitri spot checks conducted by the minister for administrative reforms (Menpan) have revealed high rates of absenteeism among civil servants...

In search for formless Jamaah Islamiyah

In search for formless Jamaah IslamiyahMuhammad Nafik The Jakarta Post Jakarta"Do you believe Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) really exists here?" a friend of mine once asked. Others have also raised the same question on other occasions.

Indonesia blocks plan for deportation of JI suspect

Indonesia blocks plan for deportation of JI suspectSean Yoong, Associated Press , Kuala Lumpur Indonesia blocked a plan over the weekend to repatriate an alleged leader of the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group from Malaysia because he gave false information used to prepare travel documents,...

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

1. FLOOD: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 Floodwaters spread across archipelago ORWet season sees country awash with floodwater2. HAJ: 36 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 28 Watchdog slams govt over haj debacle OR Haj debacle sees govt branded incompetentOR Haj predicament earns government more criticismOR Government gets...

Smelly garbage to irk Jakartans for some time ahead

Smelly garbage to irk Jakartans for some time ahead or The garbage problem seems to be here to stay Bambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post JakartaJakartans still remember the garbage crisis at the end of 2001 when the Bekasi municipality administration, backed by its residents, closed the Bantar Gebang...

Bekasi police dismiss outlaw

Bekasi police dismiss outlaw BEKASI: Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Bachtiar Hasanudin Tambunan dismissed on Monday one of his personnel, who was reportedly involved in a crime.The person, whose last rank was that of second brigadier, was a member of Sukatani subprecinct police.

Police to decide officers' fate in libel case

Police to decide officers' fate in libel caseAbdul Khalik and P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Police are continuing the legal process against Adj. Sr. Comr. Tito Karnavian and Adj. Comr.

Tribespeople marginalized by water bill: Experts

Tribespeople marginalized by water bill: ExpertsMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The bill on water resources, which has been widely criticized for regarding water as a commodity, does not guarantee the rights of ethnic minority groups and poor people to access to clean and...

Rebels, too, have no fixed address to be obliterated

Rebels, too, have no fixed address to be obliteratedKanis Dursin The Jakarta Post JakartaForeign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda unleashed the first-ever scathing criticism by any Indonesian official on the invasion and occupation of Iraq in early December, almost nine months after allied forces,...

The 13th month's salary

The 13th month's salary From Kompas The House of Representatives has endorsed the 2004 state budget but, unfortunately, neither the House nor the government have taken a clear stance about the 13th month's salary -- or the holiday bonus for civil servants.A report published in Kompas on Nov.

YLKI criticizes parking fee hike

YLKI criticizes parking fee hikeBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI) on Monday criticized Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for an on-the-sly hike in off-street parking charges of up to 100 percent, saying that the policy violated the consumer's right to...

Young, old sculptors met in a rare exhibit

Young, old sculptors met in a rare exhibitAsip A. Hasani, Contributor, Magelang, Central Java A joint exhibition of the work of 21 Indonesian modern sculptors is now on display at Langgeng Gallery, Magelang, Central Java.

Singapore MP in jeopardy

Singapore MP in jeopardySINGAPORE: The political career of one of Singapore's few opposition members of parliament was in jeopardy on Monday after he admitted to taking digital photographs of his Indonesian maid as she posed topless.

N. Jakarta cops nab 539 drug suspects

N. Jakarta cops nab 539 drug suspects JAKARTA: North Jakarta precinct police arrested 539 drug suspects this year, most of whom were allegedly in possession of marijuana and putaw (low-grade heroin)."Areas prone to drug trafficking include Tugu, Rawa Badak, Warakas, and Koja.

Corruption a serious threat to business sector, Kadin says

Corruption a serious threat to business sector, Kadin saysFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Rampant corruption, coupled with ineffective bureaucracy and unfavorable industrial relations, remains the main obstacle in doing business in this country, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and...

Lee's wife recovers from stroke

Lee's wife recovers from strokeSINGAPORE: The wife of Singapore's Senior Minister and elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew has been discharged from hospital after treatment for a stroke that partially blinded her in one eye, the government said on Monday.The Oct.

Megawati wants more women in politics

Megawati wants more women in politicsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed concern on Monday over the low participation rate of women in politics, despite the fact that they account for 51 percent of the country's population and shoulder the bulk of the burden of...

Drug seminar 'poorly organized'

Drug seminar 'poorly organized' JAKARTA: A number of participants of a national seminar on the eradication of illegal drugs held by several government ministries complained the event was poorly organized."As a national seminar, this is poorly organized.

Bantar Gebang dump

Bantar Gebang dumpFrom Warta Kota The issue of the final dumping place for garbage from Jakarta in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, has always been politicized. The Jakarta administration seems likely to continue using Bantar Gebang as a final dumping ground.

Army blast from past: Beware 'foreign parties'

Army blast from past: Beware 'foreign parties'Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu called on the people on Monday not to promote a civilian-military dichotomy, arguing that such a division was part of a foreign scenario to destroy the country.

AirAsia to fly to Indonesia in February

AirAsia to fly to Indonesia in FebruaryAgence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia's budget airline AirAsia will fly to neighboring Indonesia in February next year in a move to capture a share of the market in Southeast Asia's most populated country, a top official said on Monday.

Medco may buy Australia's Novus

Medco may buy Australia's NovusRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Publicly listed oil and gas firm PT Medco Energy International announced on Monday it intended to acquire Australian oil and gas company Novus Petroleum Ltd.

Party interests stifle bill debates

Party interests stifle bill debatesKurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post JakartaDespite their pledge to fight for the aspirations of the public at large, legislators in the House of Representatives continue to display a willingness to betray their constituents in order to further their own interests.

Jakarta, city of terror

Jakarta, city of terrorDamar Harsanto The Jakarta Post JakartaFor many Jakartans, bomb attacks and threats are still a real fear because of their frequent occurrence. The repeated bombings have spread an acute sense of anxiety affecting the way people live.

Overseas employment slavery for many migrant workers

Overseas employment slavery for many migrant workersRidwan Max Sijabat The Jakarta Post JakartaHow tragic and terrible has been the violence against a great number of Indonesian women employed overseas this year! Not only were they harassed, physically abused or even raped but were also sent home...

Residents fear traffic-clogged streets

Residents fear traffic-clogged streetsTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Hengki, 34, had no idea that the quiet street where his shop is situated, Jl. Kopi, West Jakarta, might soon become one of the busiest in the capital when the city administration launches its much-vaunted busway project...

Law enforcement weak, forest destruction worsens: WWF

Law enforcement weak, forest destruction worsens: WWFA. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post,Jakarta Heightened illegal logging activities and poor law enforcement worsened forest destruction across the country in 2003, a noted non-governmental organization said in its year-end review on Monday.

* Headlines:Flood disaster spreads across archipelago 2

* Headlines:Flood disaster spreads across archipelago 2 * National:Army blast from past: Beware 'foreign parties' 4 * Archipelago:Governor-elect faces 10 months in prison 5 * Opinion:Supreme Court causes backlogs, not the law 7 * City:Jakarta to start dumping garbage in Bojong in January 8 *...

KPU sticks to registration plan

KPU sticks to registration planMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) dismissed on Monday a demand from a number of new political parties to delay the Dec. 29 deadline for the submission of the names of legislative candidates.

Towards judicial liberty

Towards judicial liberty The skepticism that attends the recent move by the House of Representatives to end the duality in supervision over the judiciary, by placing control over the country's court system solely in the hands of the Supreme Court, illustrates perhaps better than anything the...

Police stage Marriot bombing reenactment

Police stage Marriot bombing reenactmentNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java Police conducted here on Monday a reenactment of the arrest of two suspects in the JW Marriott Hotel bombing, hoping it would help with the hunt for the bombing masterminds, Malaysians Azahari and Noordin...

Garuda sees clear skies for new Vietnam route

Garuda sees clear skies for new Vietnam routeAdianto P. Simamora The Jakarta Post Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Despite its absence for about six years, the country's flagship carrier Garuda Indonesia does not seem to be finding any difficulty in luring customers back for its new Jakarta-Ho Chi Minh...

JP/ /unrest

JP/ /unrestSocial unrest pervades ahead of 2004 electionsA'an Suryana The Jakarta Post JakartaFive years after the reform movement, social unrest still prevails in Indonesia, where political rivalry has begun to heat up ahead of the 2004 elections.

Parties and people's aspiration: Where do we draw the line?

Parties and people's aspiration: Where do we draw the line?The Jakarta Post JakartaA total of 24 political parties have been declared eligible to contest the 2004 elections, when the country will hold its first ever direct presidential election since declaring independence in August 1945.

Twin teachers get award but schools face eviction

Twin teachers get award but schools face evictionEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta While Sri Rossiati and Sri Irianingsih, who are fondly called Ibu Kembar (Twin Mothers), received an award on Monday from President Megawati Soekarnoputri in commemoration of Women's Day, their work to provide...

S. Korea, RI agree to currency swap plan

S. Korea, RI agree to currency swap planSeoul, Dow Jones South Korea and Indonesia agreed on Monday to a bilateral currency swap arrangement for US$1 billion, South Korea's Ministry of Finance and Economy said.

Botanical gardens has new chief

Botanical gardens has new chief BOGOR: Irawati has been appointed as chief of the Bogor Botanical Gardens, the first woman to occupy the position."This could be a present for women on Women's Day," botanical gardens spokeswoman Sugarti told Antara in a release made on Monday.

The 2004 general electiosn may be impetus for cultural movement

The 2004 general electiosn may be impetus for cultural movementEdi Suhardi, Advisor, Partnership for Governance Reform in Indonesia, Jakarta The 2004 elections are a new opportunity for leadership and regime change.

Maluku separatist sent to jail

Maluku separatist sent to jail AMBON, Maluku: Maluku Police arrested local separatist leader Samuel Waeleruny on Monday and sent him to Jakarta to serve his three-year jail term."Based on a request from the Maluku Prosecutor's Office, we went to his (Samuel's) house this morning and ordered him to...

New commission takes vacation

New commission takes vacationKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite their heavy workload, the 31 members of the Constitutional Commission, which is in charge of harmonizing amendments to the 1945 Constitution, have gone on a two-week year-end vacation until Jan. 5, 2004.

Moral force takes over half-hearted anti-graft drive

Moral force takes over half-hearted anti-graft drive Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It is a miracle that Indonesia has remained intact as a Nation given the rampant corruption that benefits only the ruling elite, while many of their fellow Indonesians struggle to survive, or...

80 soldiers quizzed about abuses in Aceh

80 soldiers quizzed about abuses in Aceh BANDA ACEH: Military police have been investigating 80 soldiers, eight of them officers, for various violations during the first six months of martial law in Aceh.Aceh-based Iskandar Muda Military commander Maj. Gen.

Indonesians see economic improvement next year

Indonesians see economic improvement next yearEva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesians are somewhat confident of the country's economic recovery and are showing an increase in spending, according to a survey released by AC Nielsen on Monday.

Governor-elect faces 10 months in prison

Governor-elect faces 10 months in prisonOyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung, Lampung Prosecutors sought on Monday only a 10-month-jail term for the governor-elect of Lampung, M. Alzier Dianis Thabranie, who is charged with fraud and falsifying a document before his election last year.

Will 2004 usher in new traffic woes?

Will 2004 usher in new traffic woes? Bambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post JakartaTraffic in Jakarta has been a chronic problem for years. The capital's 7,500 kilometers of roads cannot accommodate its approximately 4.7 million vehicles -- of which only 315,000 are public transportation vehicles.