Archive: 24 December 2003
93 articles found
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Police identify killer in East Java's PKB murder
Police identify killer in East Java's PKB murder Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After months of investigation, the East Java Police are closing in on the suspected murderers of National Awakening Party (PKB) member Asmuni in Lumajang, East Java, with one suspect being identified.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Gale kills one, damages houses in Makassar
Gale kills one, damages houses in Makassar Andi Hajramurni and ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Makassar/Surabaya At least one person was killed and more than a dozen houses were damaged as a gale hit four villages in the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar on Tuesday. The gale also caused the two-meter high dividing wall on the Makassar toll road to collapse at around 7:30 a.m.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
NGOs urge Australian firm to stop mining in Halmahera
NGOs urge Australian firm to stop mining in Halmahera Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Coalition Against Forests for Mining and representatives of about 5,000 Kao and Malifut tribespeople of Halmahera island in North Maluku are demanding Australian company PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals (NHM) to immediately stop its open-pit mining in the protected forest of Toguraci.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
New three-in-one policy to go on trial today
New three-in-one policy to go on trial today Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The tryout of the new extended three-in-one traffic policy to support the Jakarta busway project is set to start on Wednesday despite strong objections from Jakartans, who say the new policy is unlikely to work any better than the old policy.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Parties yet to report source of their funds
Parties yet to report source of their funds Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The commitment of political parties that will contest next year's elections to transparency is in doubt as they remain reluctant to disclose the source of their initial campaign funds to the General Elections Commission (KPU), a week after the deadline.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Integrated concept imperative
Integrated concept imperative From Warta Kota Jakarta has its own concept of public transportation, but as was reported in the mass media lately, it has no integrated planning, so that the consequent impacts and excesses are not taken into account. For instance, the extended 3-in-1 zones and times have triggered a lot of protests, because in certain areas the restriction forces passengers and motorists to use alternative routes, causing much difficulty and frustration.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Poso blast mars Xmas cheer
Poso blast mars Xmas cheer The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A low explosive bomb went off on Tuesday in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso as the nation readied for Christmas. No fatalities were reported in the incident, but it sent strong message to police that they had to tighten security nationwide in order to prevent any similar violent acts on Christmas Day. The bomb exploded in a field on Tuesday morning in front of the office of the Lembomawo subdistrict head in Poso.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Discrimination in workplace must be ended
Discrimination in workplace must be ended SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Dozens of disabled persons in East Kalimantan staged a protest on Tuesday, demanding the government to end discrimination against them in the work place. During the protest, which coincided with the Disabled Persons International Day, they also demanded the local government to implement central government regulations to punish the companies that barred them from entering private and government-owned firms.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Law enforcement on election fraud and violations
Law enforcement on election fraud and violations Bivitri Susanti Executive Director of Center for Indonesian Law & Policy Studies Jakarta The 2004 general election is coming in the count of days. Will the process fulfill the expectations of the people in bringing a more democratic condition to Indonesia? There are political analyses that answer such a question, but the process plays an important role.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Daring the middle classes
Daring the middle classes Leonard Simanjuntak and Sugianto Tandra, Staff, IMPARSIAL (Indonesian Human Rights Monitor), Jakarta It is a fact that the current government is a coalition government and a pragmatic one at that, led by pragmatic politicians. Naturally, it is a government desperate to hold onto power for as long as it can, regardless of its obliviousness to its moot performance.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
American nabbed in Bali with drugs
American nabbed in Bali with drugs Wahyoe Boediwardhana and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Medan Police here said on Tuesday they had arrested an American national for possessing 59.5 grams of illegal drugs, including 0.4 grams of cocaine that was concealed inside his rectum. "We had him under surveillance for several weeks. After gathering positive intelligence, our officers entered his rented villa in Kerobokan and arrested him," Bali Police narcotics chief Sr. Comr.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
On Melawai market
On Melawai market From Pos Kota Traditional markets in Jakarta are managed by PD Pasar Jaya, the city's market operator, in an outdated fashion, except those run in cooperation with private investors like Pasar Baru and Glodok City, which are attractive and convenient. An example of a poorly maintained markets is Pasar Melawai II, where the escalators have been out-of-order for six years.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
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 Jakarta A 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.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/drug
JP/5/drug 1 x 34 American nabbed with illegal drugs JP/5/Angin 1 x 43 Gale kills one, damages houses in Makassar JP/5/Pastur 1 x 40 Priest devotes his life to helping Acehnese JP/5/pecat 2 x 28 Batam threatens to dismiss 10 officials for party links
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
New scandal worth Rp 200 billion hits BRI
New scandal worth Rp 200 billion hits BRI Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Police announced on Tuesday another financial scandal at Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) involving Rp 200 billion (US$23.5 million) from the workers insurance fund, PT Jamsostek. The alleged fraud emerged as investigations into another fraud case involving Rp 294 billion at the same bank by the Jakarta prosecutor's office entered its third month.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. KPU ( 4 X 12 )
1. KPU ( 4 X 12 ) Parties yet to report source of campaign funds 2. Halmah ( 2 X 24 ) NGOs urge Australian firm to stop mining in Halmahera 3. Kyai ( 2 X 24) Police identify killer in E. Java's PKB murder 4. Drugs ( 2 X 18 ) Law enforcement fails to deter drug dealers 5. LBH ( 1 X 45 ) Laws favor capital owners, ignore public: LBH
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Airlines having a very festive Christmas season
Airlines having a very festive Christmas season Sari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post Jakarta The airline industry is set to rake in a windfall profit as a large number of people are expected to travel across the country or overseas to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Several airlines claimed to have been fully booked, while others said there were only few seats left several days ahead of the festivities. "On normal days, our load factors for all routes are between 70 percent and 75 percent.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Govt reopens door for foreigners in Aceh
Govt reopens door for foreigners in Aceh Muninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post Jakarta The government has eased its restrictions against foreigners in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam by allowing five international organizations to resume their humanitarian activities in the war- ravaged province.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Mira's films brim with idealism
Mira's films brim with idealism T. Sima Gunawan, tabita@cbn.net.id, Contributor, Jakarta Something unusual can be seen at cineplex movie theaters in the city these days: the screening of three different Indonesian movies at the same time. This is quite amazing, as the national film industry started to grow again just a few years ago after a decade-long debacle. Eiffel...
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
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Daring the Indonesian middle class Leonard Simanjuntak and Sugianto Tandra Staff IMPARSIAL (Indonesian Human Rights Monitor) Jakarta 2. Yale -- China's "Peaceful Ascendancy" 1 X 30 China's 'Peaceful Ascendancy' Yoichi Funabashi Journalists Yale Center for the Study of Globalization Tokyo
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, December 24, 2003
Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, December 24, 2003 Talk * Discussion Club, British Council Surabaya, every Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (Tel. 031-5689958). Museum * Empu Tantular Museum, Jl. Taman Mayangkara No. 6, Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Church Services * Surabaya International Christian Fellowship is an English church service at Hotel Shangri-La, Jl. May. Jend. Sungkono, Surabaya, every Sunday, 10:30 a.m. .
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
The garbage problem seems to be here to stay
The garbage problem seems to be here to stay Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakartans still remember the garbage crisis at the end of 2001 when the Bekasi municipality administration, backed by its residents, closed the Bantar Gebang dump for weeks, leaving the capital perplexed over how to handle its mounting garbage.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Batam threatens to fire 10 officials for party links
Batam threatens to fire 10 officials for party links Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau The Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) in Riau province threatened on Tuesday to dismiss 10 officials should they refuse to cut their ties with political parties contesting the 2004 elections. BIDA spokesman Dwi Djoko Wiwoho told The Jakarta Post that the 10 civil servants had been named legislative candidates by a few parties. The officials in question have been given until Dec.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
IBRA's request posses dilemma
IBRA's request posses dilemma The request of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to Indonesian banks to absorb the agency's employees poses a dilemma. On the one hand, IBRA is trying to protect its employees from losing their jobs as the agency's existence expires in February 2004. On the other, the entry of 2,500 IBRA employees to a number of banks might also create "unrest" among the banks' employees.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
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. 11 said the finance minister had stressed this holiday bonus could not be disbursed in 2003.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
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Sociopolitical aspects of historical Christmas Aloys Budi Purnomo Rector St. Peter Major Seminary Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra aloybudipurnomo@plasa.com 2. Pro -- The diseases of global warming 2 X 30 Global warming brings with it serious medical disorders OR Global warming and the serious medical disorders that accompany it Paul R. Epstein Associate Director Center for Health and the Global Environment Harvard Medical School Project Syndicate
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Govt reopens door for foreigners in Aceh
Govt reopens door for foreigners in Aceh Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has eased its restrictions against foreigners in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam by allowing five international organizations to resume their humanitarian activities in the war- ravaged province.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
RI needs to set up infrastructure financing agency: Bappenas
RI needs to set up infrastructure financing agency: Bappenas The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country should start preparing for the establishment of an infrastructure financing agency to help boost private investments in the sector, which has largely been neglected, said a report released on Tuesday by the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas).
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah Retes Dec.23
Rupiah Retes Dec.23 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,617.62 5,877.92 6,280.67 6,214.65 Brunei dollar 1 5,272.57 4,683.66 5,004.10 4,951.96 Canadian dollar 1 6,760.62 6,006.76 6,416.38 6,350.86 Swiss franc 1 7,159.91 6,361.39 6,795.35 6,725.81 Danish krone 1 1,499.79 1,332.77 1,423.43 1,409.12 Euro 1 11,161.00 9,916.20 10,592.71 10,484.26 Poundsterling 1 15,873.48 14,100.78 15,065.24 14,908.56 Hong Kong dollar 1 1,158.57 1,029.63 1,099.58 1,088.62...
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Flood crisis center nears completion
Flood crisis center nears completion Leony Aurora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Rain has started to fall regularly over the past several days, but the flood and natural disaster crisis center in the City Hall, Central Jakarta, is not yet up and running. Syarafuddin Arsyad, head of the alertness department at the City Public Order Agency, said on Tuesday that the center would be ready in January but did not specify an exact date.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Infant stolen, sold for $588
Infant stolen, sold for $588 TANJUNG PINANG, Riau: Tanjung Pinang police officers have arrested three women for their roles in the sale of a 3-day-old infant. Tanjung Pinang Police chief of detectives Adj. Comr. Herry Heriawan said on Tuesday that the three women were Nurhayati, Nafsiah and Dartini. Herry said that the crime began when Ani, the mother of the infant, was staying temporarily at the home of Nurhayati. She stayed there in order to give birth to the baby.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Poor executive train service
Poor executive train service From Bisnis Indonesia I had a bad experience traveling on an executive train during the recent Lebaran holiday. The expensive ticket was not worth the service provided. I took the Bima executive train from Yogyakarta to Jakarta on Nov. 30. The train was almost six hours behind schedule. Most annoyingly, the train stopped at many small stations between Cirebon and Cikampek. Actually, an executive train stops only at certain stations.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
JP/ /unrest
JP/ /unrest Social unrest pervades ahead of 2004 elections A'an Suryana The Jakarta Post Jakarta Five years after the reform movement, social unrest still prevails in Indonesia, where political rivalry has begun to heat up ahead of the 2004 elections. The thriving corruption, stagnant poverty rate, poor law enforcement, a lack of jobs and other social grievances, as well as conflicts of interests among the political elite are to blame.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Christmas event brings solidarity to evictees
Christmas event brings solidarity to evictees Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta About 250 evictees of different faiths joined in an early Christmas celebration on Monday evening at the office of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) in Central Jakarta. Some of them sat on a mat in the back yard of the office listening to the service while others stood. Each held a candle and sang Christmas carols accompanied by a pipe-organ.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. BUDGET -- 48pt Bodoni Bold 2/3 (3x12)
1. BUDGET -- 48pt Bodoni Bold 2/3 (3x12) Councillors find absurdity in 2004 budget 2. SECURITY -- 36pt Bodoni Bold 3/2 (2x24) Police to focus security on Christmas Eve 3. BOJONG -- 32pt Bodoni Bold 3/2 (2x30) Three injured in clash with police over Bojong dump 4. COURT -- 32pt Bodoni Bold 4/1 (1x40) Court delays verdict on water price hike 5. FLOOD -- 28pt Bodoni Bold 2/2 (2x22) Flood crisis center nears completion 6.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
U.S. Orleans Investment wins bid for APP $880 million debt
U.S. Orleans Investment wins bid for APP $880 million debt The Jakarta Post, Jakarta U.S. investment company Orleans Investment has been named as the winning bidder to pay off Asia Pulp and Paper's (APP) US$880 million debt owed to the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Court delays verdict on water price hike
Court delays verdict on water price hike M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Central Jakarta District Court once again postponed the handing down of a much-awaited verdict in a class action filed by tap water consumers, this time because the presiding judge is on leave until the end of the month. "Presiding Judge Andriani Nurdin is on leave and therefore cannot chair the hearing.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Three officials eye post
Three officials eye post TANGERANG: Three senior officials are in a tight race to become the secretary of Tangerang municipality administration, Banten, the post left vacant after Wahidin Halim was elected as mayor for the 2003-2008 term. The three candidates are Engkan Lengkana Ranu, who is incumbent head of the public works agency; Harry Mulya Zein, head of the education agency; and Nuriman Machyudin, head of the health agency.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post Jakarta Like her father, the founding president Sukarno, President Megawati Soekarnoputri is obsessed with security and tends to disregard the bigger picture of the country. She seems to think that once the security problems are solved, things will take care of themselves. This explains why she has been adament in ensuring security in the country since she was president in 2001.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Moch. N. Kurniawan
Moch. N. Kurniawan The Jakarta Post Jakarta No 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. But a closer look into the ongoing election preparations suggests that there are many flaws in the process, including the failure to meet election preparation schedules, raising fears over the credibility of the whole exercise.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Overseas employment slavery for many migrant workers
Overseas employment slavery for many migrant workers Ridwan Max Sijabat The Jakarta Post Jakarta How 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 without proper payment or traded from one employer to another.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Onde-onde' tradition lives on in Indonesia
'Onde-onde' tradition lives on in Indonesia Tony Ryanto, Contributor, Jakarta For the majority of today's Chinese-Indonesians, the philosophical meaning of Tang Cheh or Dongzhi probably eludes them. The two words refer to a festival that falls on Dec. 22 -- which also happens to be the National Women's Day. On that day, family members, young and old, receive glutinous rice flour balls, locally known as onde-onde in accordance with one's age.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Councillors find absurdity in budget
Councillors find absurdity in budget Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Councillors and observers have discovered many overlapping and questionable programs in the draft 2004 city budget proposed by the city administration.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Airlines having a very festive Christmas season
Airlines having a very festive Christmas season Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The airline industry is set to rake in a windfall profit as a large number of people are expected to travel across the country or overseas to celebrate Christmas and the New Year. Several airlines claimed to have been fully booked, while others said there were only few seats left several days ahead of the festivities. "On normal days, our load factors for all routes are between 70 percent and 75 percent.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
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 worse. The government appears ignorant of the many international surveys that consistently rank the struggling country one of the most corrupt in the world.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
KPPU to monitor cement industry
KPPU to monitor cement industry Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) said on Tuesday that it would keep a watchful eye on cement producers in Indonesia, due to suspicions over a cement cartel in the country. Didik J.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Tiarma Siboro
Tiarma Siboro The Jakarta Post Jakarta Down 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. The last five years has seen TNI lying low. It has become the punching bag of politicians and the public alike for its blind loyalty to the past regime.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Women's role in politics
Women's role in politics The apparently casual news item titled Women urged to get into politics (The Jakarta Post, Dec. 19) should not be underestimated by reason of its format. The importance of the piece lies in its substance, as it reflects a current trend in women's behavior toward politics.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Golkar keeps 30 percent of old faces
Golkar keeps 30 percent of old faces MAKASSAR: Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung admitted on Tuesday that 40 percent of the party's candidates for the House of Representatives were old faces. Besides the old faces, Akbar, who has been convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to three years in jail, also claimed that 30 percent of the party's candidates would be women.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
In search for formless Jamaah Islamiyah
In search for formless Jamaah Islamiyah Muhammad 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. It is truly hard to verifiably say "yes" in reply to that question, although police have repeatedly linked Indonesian bombers to JI.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Bekasi to increase wages
Bekasi to increase wages BEKASI: Bekasi regency agreed on Tuesday to increase monthly wages for workers at metal working factories by 10 percent as demanded by the workers' association, from the current Rp 670,000 (US$79) to Rp 737,000. The decision was made following a rowdy protest earlier in the day staged by 300 workers, mostly connected to the Association of Indonesian Metal Workers (SPMI), who work at three electronics factories in the Cikarang industrial estate.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Regional autonomy not as easy as it sounds
Regional autonomy not as easy as it sounds Ridwan Max Sijabat The Jakarta Post Jakarta Despite 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 development of rural areas. The beacon of democracy has begun shining as, unlike the past, the people have indirectly elected their leaders through elections from national to municipal level.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
What the city gets from evictions
What the city gets from evictions Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The 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. Arguing that squatters, living in makeshift houses, were responsible for turning state-owned land or private property into slums, Sutiyoso refused to provide shelters for the evictees.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Rare animal trade flourishes with 'official' protection
Rare animal trade flourishes with 'official' protection A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Many officers from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and police, as well as politicians and government officials are involved in the rare animal trade in the country, allowing the illicit practice to flourish, activists claim.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Law enforcement fails to deter drug dealers
Law enforcement fails to deter drug dealers Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) once again voiced concern over rampant drug abuse in the country, blaming the situation on weak law enforcement. The chief of the BNN's Law Enforcement Support Center, Brig. Gen. Djoko Satriyo, said that since 1994 the courts had convicted 27 people and sentenced them to death for drug dealing, but nobody had been executed so far.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
2003: A year of living in fear of terror
2003: A year of living in fear of terror Kanis 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.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines:New scandal worth Rp 200 billion hits BRI 2
* Headlines:New scandal worth Rp 200 billion hits BRI 2 * National:Parties yet to report source of campaign funds 4 * Archipelago:Maluku separatists jailed for 16 months 5 * Opinion:Daring the Indonesian middle class 7 * City:Councillors find absurdity in budget 8 * Sports: Blair under scrutiny for London's 2012 Olympics bid 10 * World:Greed taints Pakistan nuclear probe 11 * Business:More tourists to come despite election: Minister 13 * Features:Flu vaccine system needs updating: Experts 18
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Party interests stifle bill debates
Party interests stifle bill debates Kurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post Jakarta Despite 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.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Creating a democratic peace in the ASEAN region
Creating a democratic peace in the ASEAN region Bantarto Bandoro Editor 'The Indonesian Quarterly' Centre For Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta bandoro@csis.or.id The 2003 Bali summit of ASEAN leaders saw the signing of the Bali Concord II, which according to President Megawati Soekarnoputri was a watershed in the history of ASEAN. ASEAN is determined to move forward to face more severe security and economic challenges ahead.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Three injured in clash over Bojong dump
Three injured in clash over Bojong dump Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor Three residents were injured during a clash with police officers during a rally opposing the installment of a waste processing facility for Jakarta in Bojong subdistrict, Bogor regency. Nuryati, 27, Cecep, 23, and Yanto, 22, suffered minor lacerations and bruises on their heads, and were treated by their families.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Police to focus security on Christmas Eve
Police to focus security on Christmas Eve Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Security measures to prevent any bomb attacks on Christmas eve will top the Jakarta Police's priority to safeguard the capital during the upcoming holidays, says chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara. Makbul alluded on Tuesday to possible bomb attacks considering that many suspects in the bombing of the JW Marriott Hotel in South Jakarta on Aug. 5 and the series of bombings in Bali on Oct.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Rebels, too, have no fixed address to be obliterated
Rebels, too, have no fixed address to be obliterated Kanis Dursin The Jakarta Post Jakarta Foreign 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, led by the world's lone superpower, the United States, dropped their first bombs at selected targets across Iraq in March.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. BRI: 48 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42
1. BRI: 48 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42 New scandal worth Rp 200 billion hits BRI 2. COALITION: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 21 Campaign kicks off to ditch unscrupulous politicians 3. CONSTRUCTION: 32 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 30 RI needs to set up infrastructure financing agency: Bappenas 4. WWF: 28 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 40 Police, military, officials emperil wildlife 5. ODD: 20 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 21 5.1: Jobless man throws money from Japanese TV tower 5.2: Jordan sets world record for biggest box of tissues
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Confusing traffic lights
Confusing traffic lights From Kompas In many places in Jakarta, traffic lights actually create rather than reduce traffic jams. At the Pramuka intersection, for instance, the red lights stopping traffic from Jalan Pramuka to Jalan Pemuda and vice versa stay red much longer, while the traffic from Tanjung Priok to Cililitan and vice versa has the green light for much longer.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
BNI sees net profit jump to Rp 3t next year
BNI sees net profit jump to Rp 3t next year Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Troubled state-owned Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) projected a net profit of around Rp 3 trillion (US$352 million) and a lending growth of between 27 percent and 36 percent next year, despite a tougher business environment, a senior official said. The newly elected BNI president, Sigit Pramono, said the higher lending volume should provide the bank with a higher interest revenue.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
No paper
No paper In observance of the Christmas holiday, The Jakarta Post will not be published on Thursday (Dec. 25). The Post will reappear on Friday (Dec. 26). We wish you a Merry Christmas. -- Publisher
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
'I'm still traumatized by the 2000 bombings'
'I'm still traumatized by the 2000 bombings' The Jakarta Police have deployed about 12,000 personnel to guard the city during Christmas, with most of them stationed at churches, entertainment spots and other public places, which are considered potential targets for a terrorist attack. Despite the pledge to safeguard the holiday, some people The Jakarta Post talked to are still suffering from the traumatic bomb attacks at several churches on Christmas Eve in 2000.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Maluku separatists jailed for 16 months
Maluku separatists jailed for 16 months M. Azis Tunny and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Maluku/Bandung The Maluku District Court sentenced on Tuesday nine members of the separatist South Maluku Republic (RMS) movement to 16 months in jail for rebellion against the government.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
KPU starts delivering computers
KPU starts delivering computers JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) on Monday started delivering 7,092 computers for ballot counting in next year's elections to subdistricts across the country. KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin said the computers would help speed up the ballot count in the 2004 elections.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Central bank law amended
Central bank law amended The turbulent political process to amend the 1999 Bank Indonesia Act -- amendments that were proposed by the government in late 2000 -- finally ended last week after the House of Representatives, the finance ministry and the central bank reached a compromise on the most contentious provisions.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Tempo case: Thuggery shadows press freedom
Tempo case: Thuggery shadows press freedom M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The 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.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Dec.26, 2003
Dec.26, 2003 Central bank law amended The turbulent political process to amend the 1999 Bank Indonesia Act -- amendments that were proposed by the government in late 2000 -- finally ended last week after the House of Representatives, the finance ministry and the central bank reached a compromise on the most contentious provisions.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Priest devotes his life to help Acehnese
Priest devotes his life to help Acehnese Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam Father Ferdinando and four sisters of Paroki Hati Kudus Church in Banda Aceh kneel before the altar at 6 a.m. Father Ferdinando has been doing this for almost 12 years. The essence of the prayer is largely the same: he prays for the victims of the prolonged war in the troubled province he is serving, Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/drug
JP/5/drug 1 x 34 American nabbed with illegal drugs JP/5/Angin 1 x 43 Gale kills one, damages houses in Makassar JP/5/Pastur 1 x 40 Priest devotes his life to helping Acehnese JP/5/pecat 2 x 28 Batam threatens to dismiss 10 officials for party links
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Leading NU figure dies of diabetes
Leading NU figure dies of diabetes SURABAYA: M. Abdullah Maksum, the chairman of noted Lirboyo Islamic boarding school in the East Java regency of Kediri and also one of the leaders of the Muslim organization Nadhlatul Ulama (NU) here, passed away at dawn on Tuesday. He died of diabetes mellitus and gout, which had afflicted him for at least a decade. His remains were buried on the same day in the family cemetery in Kanigoro subdistrict in Kediri.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
JP/ /POOR
JP/ /POOR Accountability key to poverty eradication programs A. Junaidi The Jakarta Post Jakarta Indonesia 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 percent to 10 percent in 1995. However, people living just above the poverty line, analysts said, were highly vulnerable as long as they were without steady jobs.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Will 2004 usher in new traffic woes?
Will 2004 usher in new traffic woes? Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Traffic 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.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indef, LIPI see moderate growth for next year
Indef, LIPI see moderate growth for next year Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's economic growth is projected to remain at a moderate level of around 4 percent next year as uncertainty during the seven-month voting and campaigning periods will cause investment to remain weak. The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) predicted the economy to grow by between 4.2 and 4.4 percent in 2004, which is lower than the government's projection of 4.8 percent.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Military raises old ghosts again
Military raises old ghosts again JAKARTA: The Indonesia Military (TNI) has made plans to deal with any attempts to disrupt the 2004 elections, its commander says. TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto told reporters on Tuesday that the military has drafted plans to help the police in dealing with security disturbances during the elections. "We always prepare for the worst although it might not happen. The most important thing is that we are ready to help restore order and security.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Garuda sees clear skies for new Vietnam route
Garuda sees clear skies for new Vietnam route Adianto 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 City route. In fact, all of the 134 seats were sold out for its flight from Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat Airport to Jakarta last Friday after reopening the route on Dec. 16.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Go tough with overstayers
Go tough with overstayers Sin Chew Daily Asia News Network Selangor, Malaysia Foreign laborers have taken Malaysia in a big way and some unhealthy phenomena and social issues have been seen as inevitable fallout. We should remember that Indonesian workers created some commotions in the country not that long ago, seriously threatening the security of this country.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta, city of terror
Jakarta, city of terror Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta For 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. "I feel that public places now are possible targets for bomb attacks... To be cautious, I limit my visits to shopping centers. Staying at home is probably the best choice now," said Suparni, 24, a resident of Radio Dalam, South Jakarta.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Dec.23, 2003
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Dec.23, 2003 ___________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ___________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,025 25 18,000 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 80 0 757,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 70 -5 25,000 Alakasa Industrindo 200 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 1,250 0 0 Alter Abadi Tbk 25 5 87,500 Alumindo Light 220 20...
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Campaign kicks off to ditch unscrupulous politicians
Campaign kicks off to ditch unscrupulous politicians Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Government critics, students, and non-governmental organization activists on Tuesday launched a nationwide drive aimed at urging the people not to elect "dirty rotten politicians" in the 2004 elections. The campaign, according to the proponents, was part of their efforts to free the country from corrupt state officials.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
More tourists to come despite election: Minister
More tourists to come despite election: Minister Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government appears convinced that more tourists will come here next year, playing down fears that the general election will scare them off. Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika said he was convinced that next year's general election would proceed smoothly and not discourage tourists from visiting Indonesia. "Our people are now more experienced with democracy.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Aceh agency miffed by Walhi
Aceh agency miffed by Walhi BANDA ACEH: Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam's regional infrastructure agency has sent a formal legal objection to the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi)'s Aceh office, protesting a statement by the latter over a road project in the troubled province. The agency's lawyer, Syariffuddin, said that Walhi's earlier statement claiming that the development of a 504.9 kilometer road, known by its local acronym as the Ladia Galaska, was destroying forests was baseless.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
The possible impact of the elections on ASEAN
The possible impact of the elections on ASEAN Bantarto Bandoro The last decade has seen tremendous pressure for greater democratization in Southeast Asia. This pressure will be sustained as Indonesia will hold its general election next year, a process that will determine the country's destiny at the global as well as regional and national level.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Defendants absent from eviction trial
Defendants absent from eviction trial JAKARTA: The first hearing of the trial over the decision to evict about 300 Muara Angke fishermen and their families went on Tuesday without the presence of the defendants -- the North Jakarta mayor, Effendy Anas and the head of Penjaringan district, Setiabudi. The evictees' lawyers from People's Legal Aid Institute (LBHR) read out their complaint over the eviction to the judge of the State Administrative Court.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Banish the hope of military reform
Banish the hope of military reform Kusnanto Anggoro Senior Researcher Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta As the military's official political role prepares to end in 2004, questions remain as to why the armed forces are withdrawing from politics and how this will further develop and affect democratic reform.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Duck billionaire named suspect
Duck billionaire named suspect CIREBON, West Java: Ade Suhidin, the owner of a duck husbandry firm PT Adess Sumber Hidup Dinamika, was named a suspect on Tuesday for alleged embezzlement and is wanted by the Cirebon police. Adj. Comr. Taufik Asrori, the chief of police detectives said that Ade, who earlier this year was a gubernatorial candidate for West Java, was named a suspect after he was charged with embezzling Rp 2 billion belonging to 120 investors.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Laws favor capital owners, ignor public: LBH
Laws favor capital owners, ignor public: LBH Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta) criticized the House of Representatives for producing legislation that served the interests of capital owners more than the general public. "We are particularly concerned about the legislation on workers' rights and the privatization of natural resources," the LBH Jakarta's director Uli Parulian Sihombing told a year-end conference.
Wed, 24 Dec 2003, 00:00 WIB
Thai PM cancels trip to Myanmar
Thai PM cancels trip to Myanmar Reuters, Bangkok Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has canceled a visit to a drug-producing region in neighboring Myanmar after Thai intelligence officials cited security concerns. Thaksin, who has waged a bloody war against drugs in his own country, and Myanmar Prime Minister Khin Nyunt had been due to visit Yong Kha village on Friday where a Thai-sponsored farming scheme aims to shift farmers away from drug production.