Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 25 December 2003

33 articles found

Slight growth acceleration facing head wind

Slight growth acceleration facing head windMuhammad Chatib Basri Institute for Economic and Social Research University of Indonesia (LPEM-FEUI) Jakarta I was sitting in a small coffee shop in Jakarta when a friend of mine, a foreign economist, asked me how we reconcile the good macroeconomic...

Promoting Good Governance

Promoting Good Governance Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa Senior Economist Danareksa Research Institute Jakarta The Indonesian community at large has agreed that creating good governance is one of the main agendas of Reformasi. It seems, however, that the implementation of good governance is still far away.

The poor in 2003: The year of living more precariously

The poor in 2003: The year of living more precariously B. Herry-Priyono Driyarkara School of Philosophy JakartaThis is how the draconian government in Jakarta failed to respect calls to display political virtue, even on the eve of Idul Fitri.

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.

Is there a new property boom?

Is there a new property boom?Lini Djafar Director, Head of Research & Consultancy PT. Procon Indah Jakarta Tower cranes are swinging, concrete mixers are churning out concrete and Jakarta's roads are once again dirty from the clearing of new development sites.

The banking sector in 2004: Slow but sure improvement

The banking sector in 2004: Slow but sure improvement 'Money politics next year will help the economy' Fauzi Ichsan Global Markets Economist Standard Chartered Bank Jakarta International investors and donors like to point out that although Indonesia's economic growth is rising, investment in the...

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...

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...

Govt needs to prevent conflicts in 2004 elections

Govt needs to prevent conflicts in 2004 electionsIgnas Kleden Sociologist Director Center for East Indonesian Affairs Jakarta The upcoming 2004 elections is a new political venture. It is new not only in its goal to enable direct election at all levels, but also in terms of its preparation.

From the Editor

From the Editor Indonesia will see two milestones next year: one in politics, the other in the economy. As our special issue on Tuesday argues, the country will mark another crucial step in its democratization process when the nation goes to the polls to elect new national and regional legislators...

Industrial action and industrial peace

Industrial action and industrial peace Vedi R. Hadiz Lecturer the National University of Singapore In January 2004, the minimum wage in Jakarta will stand at Rp 671,550 per month, representing an increase of 6.3 percent compared to the year before.

JP/30/WOMEN3

JP/30/WOMEN3 Urgent steps to increase women's political representation Make political parties democratic and accountable; amend the law on political parties and rule that 30 percent of parties' legislative candidates must be women.

Yearend - Poltical Outlook - Dec. 30.

Yearend - Poltical Outlook - Dec. 30. ------------------------------------- 1. Ignas Kleden : Head of the Center for East Indonesia Affairs (CEIA), Jakarta.2. Alan Wall : Project Manager for the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES), Jakarta. 3.

Paradigm shift in religious understanding

Paradigm shift in religious understandingMuhamad Ali Lecturer State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta muhamad@hawaii.edu As we approach the end of 2003 we must ask ourselves, as world citizens, what has become of our religious tolerance.

Creating a democratic peace in the ASEAN region

Creating a democratic peace in the ASEAN regionBantarto 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...

Changing electoral behavior

Changing electoral behavior Anton Doni In 1955 and thereafter, political scientists believed that Indonesians' political choices were bound solely by ideological ties. One's choice was limited to alternatives within his/her ideology: either nationalist, modern Muslim or traditional Muslim.

JP/30/WOMEN

JP/30/WOMEN Ati Nurbaiti The Jakarta Post Jakarta For each person, young and old, in the regency of Gresik, Central Java, the average annual budget for health is Rp 1,413, or not even 20 U.S. cents. This revelation emerged in a training session on the regional budget, aimed at female political...

Dirges of traders and investors

Dirges of traders and investors Puspa Delima Amri Researcher Dept. of Economics Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta The past year has undeniably seen substantial improvement in Indonesia's macroeconomic performance.

Regional govt behavior contradicting aims of local autonomy law

Regional govt behavior contradicting aims of local autonomy law Ignas Kleden Sociologist Director Center for East Indonesian Affairs Jakarta After three years of implementation, regional autonomy has produced a number of unintended results that will very likely negate its original aim.

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...

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.

Dec.26, 2003

Dec.26, 2003Central 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...

No economy is an island, Jack

No economy is an island, JackB. Herry-Priyono Driyarkara School of Philosophy Jakarta In early August 2003, when we were still engrossed in collective soul-searching over the absurdity of the Bali bombings, another terror strike hit us. It was the bombing of the J. W.

The 2004 elections: The enemy within

The 2004 elections: The enemy withinSatish Mishra UNSFIR Jakarta2004 is an important year. This is the year when Indonesian democracy either opens its doors to a new wave of consolidation and reform or retreats along the historically familiar path towards a new kind of authoritarianism.

Post IMF Indonesia: Business as Usual

Post IMF Indonesia: Business as Usual Satish Mishra UNSFIR JakartaThe 13th annual meeting of the Consultative Group on Indonesia on Dec. 11, was a decidedly upbeat affair. As usual in Indonesia, yet unusual for a large developing country, virtually the whole Cabinet was in attendance.

Contemplating a military coup

Contemplating a military coupKusnanto Anggoro Senior Researcher Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) JakartaHistorian Andrew Janos wrote in 1964 that a military coup in the United States "would be too fantastic to contemplate, not only because few would actually entertain the idea,...

'Ideological map' in Indonesian politics

'Ideological map' in Indonesian politics J. Soedjati Djiwandono Political analyst JakartaLater on, the Islamic-based political parties set up an "Islamic caucus" to promote unity among the Islamic parties, which seemed as remote as ever.

Good governance or perish

Good governance or perish Djisman S. Simanjuntak Executive Director Prasetiya Mulya Business School Jakarta Most Indonesians are undoubtedly grateful for the consolidation of macroeconomic stability they experienced in 2003.

'Ideological map' in Indonesian politics (1)

'Ideological map' in Indonesian politics (1)J. Soedjati Djiwandono Political analyst JakartaThe ideological alignment of Indonesian politics since independence has been one of "nationalism," in support of the Pancasila ideology, versus Islam, striving for the establishment of an Islamic state on...

Banish the hope of military reform

Banish the hope of military reformKusnanto 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...

Muslim voters and Islamic parties in Indonesia

Muslim voters and Islamic parties in Indonesia Mochtar Buchori Legislator for Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle JakartaWhat do Muslim voters want to see as the outcome of their support for the political struggle carried out by their country, Indonesia? Do they want to have an Indonesian...

Indonesia: An economy that lacks dynamism

Indonesia: An economy that lacks dynamismHaryo Aswicahyono LPEM-UI Jakarta Over the last nine months, inflation and interest rates have continued to fall. Fiscal consolidation, bank and corporate sector restructuring is continuing, while capital outflow has turned into an inflow.

'Steady as she goes' on local autonomy

'Steady as she goes' on local autonomy Bambang Brodjonegoro Department of Economics University of Indonesia It has been almost three years since the first day of implementation of Law No. 22/1999 on local government and Law No.