Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 20 February 2003

74 articles found

Astra to sell stake in Toyota JV

Astra to sell stake in Toyota JVAgence France Presse, Jakarta PT Astra International, the country's largest automotive firm, will on Thursday sign a memorandum of understanding on the proposed sale of most of its stake in a joint venture with Japan's Toyota Motor Corp.

Heading towards peace in Aceh

Heading towards peace in AcehFrom Koran TempoFeb. 9, 2003, was the day the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) anticipated to enter the demilitarization stage. This is all in compliance with the cessation of hostilities agreement signed on Dec. 9, 2002, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Govt completes contract renegotiation with 19 IPPs

Govt completes contract renegotiation with 19 IPPsA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has completed power purchase contract renegotiations with 19 independent power producers (IPPs), progress that will help ease the financial burden of state-owned electricity company PLN in...

Bank Mandiri to sell written-off assets

Bank Mandiri to sell written-off assetsDadan Wijaksana The Jakarta Post Jakarta State-owned Bank Mandiri, the country's largest bank, is planning to auction off up to 40 percent of the non-performing loans (NPLs) that were recently been written off as part of loss- cutting efforts, the management...

Student protesters raided by city police

Student protesters raided by city police JAKARTA: Six student protesters were in police detention after police cracked down on an anti-government demonstration involving about 60 students overnight Tuesday.

Reclamation plan for waterfront project rejected

Reclamation plan for waterfront project rejectedTertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Based on the results of a recent environmental assessment study, the Office of the State Minister of the Environment issued a decree on Wednesday rejecting the plan to reclaim the northern coastal...

China reiterates support for Sino-ASEAN free trade zone

China reiterates support for Sino-ASEAN free trade zone Agence France-Presse Beijing Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told his Thai counterpart that Beijing was eager to push forward the establishment of a regional Southeast Asian free trade zone, state press said on Wednesday.

Workers face uphill battle to establish trade unions

Workers face uphill battle to establish trade unionsM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The International Labor Organization (ILO) called on the Indonesian government to work more seriously to uphold workers' rights to freedom of association as Indonesian workers have to face hurdles in...

Japan tries to help Jakarta solve its problems

Japan tries to help Jakarta solve its problemsNovan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta has since Independence been considered an overcrowded city with about 8.3 million registered residents and slum neighborhoods found in every nook and cranny of the 650-square- kilometer capital city,...

Islamic parties not interested in Iraq crisis, says analyst

Islamic parties not interested in Iraq crisis, says analystBerni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It is a year from the 2004 general election, but Islamic political parties have been watching the Iraq crisis unfolding without protest, which one analyst attributed to their attempts to keep a...

Rupiah Rates Feb. 19

Rupiah Rates Feb. 19 JP/13/ConverRupiah Rates Feb. 19 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 5,542.40 4,947.21 5,272.90 5,216.48 Brunei dollar 1 5,357.94 4,783.87 5,097.41 5,044.25 Canadian dollar 1 6,184.79 5,521.65 5,884.06 5,822.18 Swiss franc 1 6,833.

Putting face to people living with HIV

Putting face to people living with HIVTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It could have been a photograph of any happy family: a mother laughing along with her two children at a private joke. Only, it wasn't just any family, but one that has fought the anguish and social discrimination...

Path to a fairer

Path to a fairer world lies in the fight against AIDS2. Bunga -- Agribusiness may help uplift rural poor 3. Daily -- 'Let the poor be freed of suffering'

Anwar hopeful of appeal review

Anwar hopeful of appeal review MALAYSIA: Malaysia's highest court has set March 18 to hear a review of an earlier ruling to overturn ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's conviction and six-year sentence for corruption, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

Nissan begins production in China

Nissan begins production in China BEIJING : Japan's third-largest auto maker Nissan Motor said it started production Wednesday of its new Paladin sports utility vehicle in China in a bid to win a dominant share of the fast growing market segment.

Mysterious circumcision shocks villagers

Mysterious circumcision shocks villagers TASIKMALAYA, West Java: Residents here were surprised on Wednesday by a report that a 10-month-old toddler, Riyan Abdullah, was allegedly circumcised by a spirit.Locals said the strange occurrence took place at around 5 a.m.

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003Exhibition* Photo, Self, by Rama Surya, at Paros Gallery Pantai Purnama Rd, Banjar Palak, Sukawati, Gianyar, until March 17, for further information, Contact: Made Kaek, (Tel. 08123639148 or 0361- 298120) Museums and Galleries * Sika Galery, Jl.

'Police officers should set good example first'

'Police officers should set good example first' The city police have warned the public of the presence of bogus police officers who pose as real police officers, cheating and extorting money from their victims, mostly motorists. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents over the issue.

Dismiss Bank Lippo's management: Indef

Dismiss Bank Lippo's management: IndefDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Institute for Development of Economics and Finance (Indef) urged the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) to dismiss the management and board of commissioners of Bank Lippo to avoid further losses to the...

'Chikungunya' infects more than 500 in Yogyakarta

'Chikungunya' infects more than 500 in YogyakartaSri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Chikungunya, a disease that spread through West Java towns recently, has infected hundreds of people across Yogyakarta province since last December, local health officials said on Wednesday.

Megawati inaugurates ambassador to Japan

Megawati inaugurates ambassador to JapanFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Senior diplomat Irsan Abdul Gani was finally sworn in as the Indonesian Ambassador to Japan on Wednesday, ending a complicated, almost year-long appointment process.

Govt tries to appease Papuans after division

Govt tries to appease Papuans after divisionFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Trying to ease the mounting controversy over its decision to split Papua into three provinces, the government is said to be seeking a formula to ensure fair revenues from exploitation of natural resources...

Water bill pays scant heed to conservation

Water bill pays scant heed to conservationMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Experts criticized the contents of the water resources bill on Wednesday for not paying enough attention to water conservation and giving too much weight to the commercial aspects.

The Kwik and hard truth hurts PDI-P,

The Kwik and hard truth hurts PDI-P, State Minister of National Development Kwik Kian Gie has once again revealed the massive corruption in this country, this time from within his own party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), saying it was the most corrupt in the nation.

'Busway project need broader public participation'

'Busway project need broader public participation'Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The controversial busway project is likely to be postponed until at least the end of this year as more time is needed to disseminate information about the program and to ensure wider public participation, a...

Police issue conflicting statements over police HQ bombing

Police issue conflicting statements over police HQ bombingDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In an apparent attempt to elude unwanted public interest in the Feb. 3 bomb blast in the National Police's Wisma Bhayangkari building, the police issued on Wednesday a statement that negated a...

1. BUSWAY: 50 pt, 2 cols, 4 x 12

1. BUSWAY: 50 pt, 2 cols, 4 x 12 Busway needs broader public participation 2. EVICTION: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 22 'Slum evictions will cause violent conflict' 3. BOMB: 28 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 16 Police contradict bomb statement 4. JICA: 28 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 32More apartments could ease traffic 5.

Yogya to auction off official cars

Yogya to auction off official cars YOGYAKARTA: In a bid to ensure transparency in the management of government assets, the Yogyakarta provincial government will organize an open auction to sell 82 used official vehicles next week.The auction is scheduled for Feb. 26.

House backs labor export suspension

House backs labor export suspensionRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government's decision to temporarily stop sending workers overseas won the full support of the House of Representatives, which said the moratorium was essential so as to improve the quality of jobseekers despite...

Councillors demand probe of rice fund embezzlement

Councillors demand probe of rice fund embezzlementApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra North Sumatra legislative councillors have urged law enforcers to investigate the alleged embezzlement of Rp 2.

New, small parties out in the cold

New, small parties out in the coldTiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Major parties have all the reasons to celebrate the endorsement of the election bill, while their smaller and newly-established rivals will now struggle to keep their hopes of contesting the 2004 election...

Most IDUs use unclean syringes, says ex-user

Most IDUs use unclean syringes, says ex-userZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The House of Representatives held a discussion on Wednesday focused on giving injecting drug users (IDUs) easy access to sterile syringes to contain the rapid spread of the Human Immuno- deficiency Virus (HIV) among...

Rp 650b allotted for school repairs

Rp 650b allotted for school repairs SURABAYA: The government has decided to allocate Rp 650 billion for school repairs in 2003, including rebuilding schools destroyed by floods, an official says.Director General for elementary and high schools of the Ministry of National Education Indra Jati Sidi...

Bank Mandiri to sell written-off assets

Bank Mandiri to sell written-off assetsDadan Wijaksana The Jakarta Post Jakarta State-owned Bank Mandiri, the country's largest bank, is planning to auction off up to 40 percent of the non-performing loans (NPLs) that were recently been written off as part of loss- cutting efforts, the management...

Councillors urge rice fund embezzlement inquiry

Councillors urge rice fund embezzlement inquiryApriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post Medan, North SumatraNorth Sumatra legislative councillors have urged law enforcers to investigate the alleged embezzlement of Rp 2.

Sex trade flourishes, but no gambling wanted in Batam

Sex trade flourishes, but no gambling wanted in BatamFadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau Police were considering summoning Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir, who has come under mounting fire for his decision to legalize gambling in a restricted area of the industrial island, which forms part of Riau province.

BHP Steel accuses Asian countries of dumping steel

BHP Steel accuses Asian countries of dumping steelAgence France-Presse, Melbourne BHP Steel said on Wednesday it would file anti-dumping charges against Japan, China, South Korea and Indonesia due to imports of carbon steel heavy plates.

Kwik stands by corruption statement despite reprimand

Kwik stands by corruption statement despite reprimandFabiola Desy Unidjaja and M. Taufiqqurahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Proving to be an honorable man, senior member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Kwik Kian Gie stood by his allegation on Wednesday that his own...

Agribusiness may help uplift rural poor

Agribusiness may help uplift rural poorBungaran Saragih, Minister for Agriculture, Jakarta Borrowing from Amartya Sen, the Nobel laureate of economics, the framework on valuing food security and poverty eradication has both intrinsic and instrumental values.

Experiencing Borobudur tells us more about Javanese

Experiencing Borobudur tells us more about JavaneseMarco Kusumawijaya, Architect, Jakarta There are many ways to experience Borobudur and the path to enlightenment, as there are many ways to destroy this experience, if the current course of events neglect the true value of this Javanese Buddhist...

2. ILO: 2 x 27

2. ILO: 2 x 27 Workers face uphill battle to establish trade unions 2. LIPPO: 2 x 21 Dismiss Bank Lippo's management: Indef 3. KWIK: 2 x 28 Kwik stands by corruption statement despite reprimand 4. CESSNA: 1 x 46 Rescuers again halt search for missing Cessna 5.

* Headlines:Dismiss Bank Lippo's management: Indef 2

* Headlines:Dismiss Bank Lippo's management: Indef 2 * National: House backs labor export suspension4 * Archipelago:'Chikungunya' infects over 500 in Yogyakarta5 * Opinion: NAM must reinvent role 6 * City: Busway needs broader public participation8 * Sports:Tyson, Etienne set to fight Saturday 10 *...

Eko Patrio reported to police

Eko Patrio reported to police JAKARTA: Comedian and presenter of a number of TV entertainment programs, Eko Patrio, along with his colleagues at PT. E Titik Tiga Komando (PT. Ekomando), was reported to the police on Wednesday over a business dispute earlier on Tuesday.

RAPP's plan to increase output meets opposition

RAPP's plan to increase output meets oppositionHaidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau An environmental organization has urged the Riau provincial administration to prohibit pulp and paper mill PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) from increasing its annual output because it would...

Callaway reveals new golf iron

Callaway reveals new golf iron Indonesian golfers have another option of irons, with the launching of the Steelhead X-16 at the PGA Driving Range Cafe here on Wednesday.Andrew Loh, a representative of U.S.

Antonio Blanco's heritage secure in unique museum

Antonio Blanco's heritage secure in unique museumTri Vivi Suryani, Contributor, Ubud, Bali The story of Spaniard Don Antonio Blanco, one of a number of celebrated foreign painters who lived in Bali, is intriguingly romantic and amazing -- a young, adventurous and well-bred artist met a simple, yet...

Beware of dengue fever, official warns

Beware of dengue fever, official warns JAKARTA: The Central Jakarta municipality has warned residents of the dangers of contracting fatal dengue fever after learning that 25 patients are receiving treatment in a number of hospitals due to the illness.

'Slum evictions will cause violent conflict'

'Slum evictions will cause violent conflict'Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Urban activists criticized the city administration's plan to evict Angke river squatters in North and West Jakarta, warning that it could spark social unrest.

ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIALToyota Camry ranked as top vehicle in IndonesiaWith a good international reputation, Toyota Camry seems to be car of perfection in Indonesia. Only two years since it was introduced in the local market in October, 2000, the car has become the darling of Indonesian car enthusiasts.

Indonesian Islamic schools struggle for moderate image

Indonesian Islamic schools struggle for moderate imageDean Yates, Reuters, Muntilan, Central Java When the U.S. ambassador to Indonesia arrived at the Pabelan Islamic boarding school last August, an all-girl brass band was playing a song he found hauntingly familiar but just couldn't quite place.

Not easy to define terrorism: Police

Not easy to define terrorism: Police JAKARTA: National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar and Deputy Attorney General Fachri Nasution gave inputs on Wednesday to a House committee deliberating the terrorism bill.

Vietnam to up export to EU

Vietnam to up export to EU HANOI: Vietnam expects to earn up to US$300 million more from textile and garment exports shipped to the European Union this year following a recent agreement to increase quotas, an official said Wednesday.

Seeking true justices

Seeking true justices The House of Representatives will soon screen and interview 63 Supreme Court Justice candidates. It will be the second time that the House has helped choose new justices during the reform era. The first was in 2000.

Thailand claims success in war on drugs, but deaths raise alarm

Thailand claims success in war on drugs, but deaths raise alarmAgence France-Presse, Bangkok Thailand said on Wednesday its 19-day crackdown on drugs is reaping rewards, but any successes are being overshadowed by the nearly 600 deaths in the campaign and accusations of extra- judicial killings.

Dewi settles in Japan as social critic

Dewi settles in Japan as social criticEric Talmadge, Associated Press, Tokyo After securing a quiet nook in the lounge of a plush Tokyo hotel- cum-meeting-place, Madame Dewi spreads out a portfolio of personal photographs on the coffee table before her.There she is with the Gorbachevs.

4 x 10

4 x 10 'Chikungunya' infects more than 500 in Yogyakarta JP/5/batam2 x 25 Sex trade flourishes, but no gambling wanted in Batam 2 x 24 Councillors demand probe of rice fund embezzlement JP/5/RAPP2 x 24 RAPP's plan to increase output meets opposition

From Suara Karya

From Suara Karya I fully agree with Amir Hamzah of the MCWC, when he stated in the mass media that any request for funds made by a member of the election commission (KPU) must be carefully examined.I've read in one media publication that a KPU member, Ramlan Surbakti, has requested Rp 125 billion...

Journalist James tells a tale of Bali

Journalist James tells a tale of BaliBruce Emond, Contributor, Jakarta The journalist in Jamie James keeps up his guard for potential verbal missteps, wary of the flip side that comes with sounding off in print.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb.19,2003

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Feb.19,2003 ------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 575 0 0...

TV Program: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003

TV Program: Thursday, Feb. 20, 2003 .TB.30" .90"TVRI5:03 a.m.Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi6:30 English News Service7:30 Children's Program: Pentas Ceria8:00 Talk Show: RT / RW8:30 DRTV Indonesia 9:00 TV Drama: Janji Cinta9:30 TV Drama: Aku Dan Kau10:30 Entertainment11:00 News: Berita...

Unique Kuta shopping space awaits 2nd chance

Unique Kuta shopping space awaits 2nd chanceFransiska Prihadi, Architect, Legian, Bali A stroll down the Legian-to-Kuta road was a toddling walk between shops, cafes and hotels. One could automatically recall the famous cynical phrase that Bali was becoming "an island of a thousand shop houses"...

Arroyo aims at strong economy, security as legacy

Arroyo aims at strong economy, security as legacyJohn O'Callaghan, Reuters, Manila President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Wednesday she wants to make her mark in the twilight of her term by handing her successor a stronger economy with less graft and a country safer from terror.

Nonaligned movement's members: United they stand, divided they fall

Nonaligned movement's members: United they stand, divided they fallBantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id With war looming on the Persian Gulf, the 114 members of the Nonaligned Movement (NAM) gathered...

Everything on the

Everything on the people's behalf? From Media Indonesia Members of our political elite have become increasingly disgusting in their behavior, as they claim whatever they do has been done on the people's behalf.

Garment workers strike for better pay

Garment workers strike for better pay SEMARANG: Around 1,500 workers of private garment company PT Pantja Tunggal Semarang entered their third day of strike on Wednesday to demand better pay.The protesters, mostly women dressed in blue work uniforms, skipped work and staged a sit-in at the factory,...

Manulife may acquire more local companies

Manulife may acquire more local companiesSari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (AJMI), a life insurance and investment services provider, which is majority-owned by Canadian-based Manulife Financial, plans to expand its operations by acquiring ailing local...

Devastation as lack of water allows Tanah Abang to burn

Devastation as lack of water allows Tanah Abang to burnDamar Harsanto and Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Eyes brimming with tears and panic etched in her face, Jessica, 49, with her hands held together solemnly in front of her, repeatedly murmurs in prayer as she watches the thick...

Law No.3/1999

Law No.3/1999 - Proportional system - General Elections Commission consists of government officials and representatives of political parties - Commission comprises 48 politicians and 5 government officials - To qualify for election, political party must have board in 1/2 of the number of provinces...

China reiterates support for free trade zone

China reiterates support for free trade zoneAgence France-Presse, Beijing Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji told his Thai counterpart that Beijing was eager to push forward the establishment of a regional Southeast Asian free trade zone, state press said on Wednesday.

Police summon editor over article

Police summon editor over article JAKARTA: Police have summoned an editor from a newspaper over an article that allegedly insulted President Megawati Sukarnoputri, a lawyer said Wednesday.Supratman, one of the executive editors with the Rakyat Merdeka daily, will be questioned in relation to an...

Rescuers again halt search for missing Cessna

Rescuers again halt search for missing CessnaNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Majalengka, West Java A team searching for a downed Cessna on the slopes of Mount Ciremai in West Java, has denied earlier reports the plane and its three occupants had been found and again called off the search.

Pelindo III to built a new international seaport

Pelindo III to built a new international seaportRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State-owned seaport company PT Pelindo III plans to build a new US$200 million seaport in East Java to serve as an international hub for cargo ships.

Govt told to replace TVRI directors

Govt told to replace TVRI directors JAKARTA: House of Representatives Commission I for defense and information urged the government on Wednesday to replace all executive directors of the state television station, TVRI, for their lackluster performance.

House wants Tanjung Jati B project restarted

House wants Tanjung Jati B project restartedA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In contrast to its usual nationalistic stance, the House of Representatives put more pressure on the government on Wednesday to exempt a Japanese contractor from a countertrade regulation that is hampering the...