Archive: 3 February 2003
64 articles found
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Chinese consumers most optimistic in Asia-Pacific region
Chinese consumers most optimistic in Asia-Pacific region Agence France-Presse, Singapore Consumers in China have the most optimistic economic outlook in the Asia-Pacific region, with confidence also strong in Malaysia, Thailand and New Zealand, according to a survey released Wednesday. Less optimism prevails in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, MasterCard International said in its latest six- monthly survey.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
NGOs oppose ecotourism at national park
NGOs oppose ecotourism at national park BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Bandarlampung said it would facilitate a meeting to discuss the polemics of a cooperation between Taman Safari in Bogor, West Java, and the provincial administration, to launch an ecotourism project at the Way Kambas National Park in East Lampung.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Yangon makes minor Cabinet reshuffle
Yangon makes minor Cabinet reshuffle MYANMAR: Myanmar's military junta announced on Sunday the filling of a position left vacant in its top hierarchy for nearly two years, as well as a minor Cabinet reshuffle. The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) said that council member Lt. Gen. Soe Win was appointed to the position of Secretary Two, the fourth most senior position in Myanmar. The post had been left vacant since previous holder Lt. Gen. Tin U died in a helicopter crash on Feb.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
No plans to sever ties with Vanuatu: Minister
No plans to sever ties with Vanuatu: Minister The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government denied over the weekend reports that it would sever diplomatic ties with Vanuatu in reaction to the possible opening of the first embassy of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) in the pacific country. Minister for Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Friday that Vanuatu had never officially said that it would allow the Papuan secessionist group to open an embassy in the country.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
`We're powerless to do anything about it'
`We're powerless to do anything about it' The closed-door meeting for the 2003 city budget has sparked public criticism. The City Council, however, approved the budget of almost Rp 11 trillion regardless of the absence of public scrutiny and reasonable allocations. The Jakarta Post talked to several urban residents in response to the lack of transparency from city councillors and the administration. Oding, 49, is a vendor of soft drinks at Senayan sports stadium, Central Jakarta.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Experts warn of more floods, landslides
Experts warn of more floods, landslides Yuli Tri Suwarni and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Jakarta Rampant deforestation and West Java's unstable ground make for a deadly mixture during the rainy season, leaving the province vulnerable to landslides, said a geologist a week after at least 30 people in the province died in landslides.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Political will needed to eliminate racial discrimination
Political will needed to eliminate racial discrimination Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Eliminating discrimination against Chinese-Indonesians will take a long time and require not only the revocation of some 60 discriminatory rulings, but also a commitment by all sides to promote tolerance, assimilation and equality, according to analysts.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Fire razes T. Duren police station
Fire razes T. Duren police station JAKARTA: Officers from Tanjung Duren police subprecinct in West Jakarta were forced to vacate their headquarters, which was burned down on Sunday afternoon. The fire started at about 2:50 p.m. but firefighters, whose station is located some 200 meters from the police station, managed to put the fire out after deploying nine fire engines. Their rapid response spared the nearby residential area from being consumed by fire.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Investigators to confront Ba'asyir with Samudra
Investigators to confront Ba'asyir with Samudra Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Police plan to confront Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir with Abdul Azis, alias Imam Samudra, and other key suspects in the Bali bombing as they seek to confirm the suspects' claims about Ba'asyir's involvement in the country's worst terrorist attack. The head of the team investigating the Bali bombing, Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika, said the meetings would take place around mid-February.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Aceh truce violations threaten peace deal
Aceh truce violations threaten peace deal Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh The almost two-month-old cessation of hostilities agreement between Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) is under threat by violations committed by both sides. Both GAM and the military have been found guilty of numerous violations and neither side has taken action against those responsible for the breaches, leading to a loss of mutual confidence.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Japan to help RI curb illegal timber trade
Japan to help RI curb illegal timber trade Rendi A. Witular The Jakarta Post Jakarta The Indonesian government is set to sign a cooperation agreement with its Japanese counterpart in April this year to help curb widespread international trading in illegal timber. Ministry of Forestry spokesman Tachrir Fathoni told The Jakarta Post last week that the cooperation was needed as Japan had long been a major market for illegal timber-based products.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia offers 11 oil and gas concessions
Indonesia offers 11 oil and gas concessions The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali The government is offering 11 new oil and gas concession for investors this year, promising better contractual terms, enabling the investors to reap larger rewards.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Police to confront Ba'asyir with Samudra
Police to confront Ba'asyir with Samudra Wahyoe Boediwardhana The Jakarta Post Denpasar, Bali Police plan to confront Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir with Abdul Azis, alias Imam Samudra, and other key suspects in the Bali bombing as they seek to confirm the suspects' claims about Ba'asyir's involvement in the country's worst terrorist attack. The head of the team investigating the Bali bombing, Insp. Gen. I Made Mangku Pastika, said the meetings would take place around mid-February.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Cheap apartment for factory workers
Cheap apartment for factory workers TANGERANG: The Tangerang municipal administration has completed construction of low-priced apartment building for factory workers at the Manis industrial plant in Manis Jaya subdistrict, Jatiuwung district. The project, in cooperation with state housing company, Perumnas, cost Rp 8.6 billion, municipal resettlement and infrastructure agency chief Roostiwie said on Tuesday. The four-storey building comprises four blocks with a total of 192 rooms.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Dengue fever kills six in Brebes
Dengue fever kills six in Brebes SEMARANG, Central Java: At least six people have died over the last three months from an outbreak of dengue fever in Brebes regency, Central Java. The head of the local health office, Krishnajaya, said here over the weekend that the victims were residents of Sengon village, Tanjung district. Four other people are being treated for dengue fever at the hospital in Brebes.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Global economic recession
Global economic recession A Japanese trading company, for which I had worked for 22 years, retired me at the age of 71. There is nothing unusual about this. Recently the company deemed it necessary to dismiss Effendi, the office boy, although he worked for the company for 27 years. Only three people remain employed. It seems to me that Japan is not exempt from the present global recession. However, the company was humane enough to grant Effendi about Rp 40 million in severance pay.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
[b] Cambodia to mend ties
Cambodia to mend ties with Thailand after riots Lawrence Bartlett Agence France-Presse Phnom Penh A shaken Cambodian government faces the tricky task this week of repairing damage to its reputation and regional relations after being widely accused of responsibility for devastating anti-Thai riots.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Stop using violence to settle land, forest disputes: Survey
Stop using violence to settle land, forest disputes: Survey Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A group of researchers has warned forest concessionaires against using the military or violence to resolve numerous forest disputes with millions of indigenous people across the country.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN liberalizes investment rules
ASEAN liberalizes investment rules The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) decided to accelerate the liberalization of their investment regimes by broadening the scope of economic activities in which ASEAN investors would be given national treatment.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
4 x 10
4 x 10 Aceh truce violations threaten peace deal JP/5/Aids 2 x 25 Sex workers face lack of free condoms in Batam JP/5/alex 1 x 47 Maluku police want convicted separatists detained
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Leaded gasoline reduces IQ of 1 million kids
Leaded gasoline reduces IQ of 1 million kids The Jakarta Post Jakarta More than one million elementary school students suffer a reduced intelligence quotient (IQ) due to air pollution resulting from the use of leaded gasoline in automobiles, an official has said. Students with reduced IQ were found in cities with traffic congestion, as in Jakarta. An official at the environment ministry responsible for environmental impact control, Y.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Shuttle explosion another challenge for Boeing
Shuttle explosion another challenge for Boeing Reuters, Chicago The explosion of the space shuttle Columbia will present yet another challenge for Boeing Co., the largest NASA contractor, as it struggles through an unprecedented downturn in commercial aviation that has sharply hurt its profitability. Chicago-based Boeing builds space shuttles after acquiring the space business of Rockwell International in 1996.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Dictionary piracy
Dictionary piracy From Media Indonesia Hassan Shadily passed away two years ago. Until his death, he could only complain in silence that the (Indonesian-English and English-Indonesian) dictionaries he coauthored with John M. Echols in 1952 were sold in pirated copies. All his attempts to find the culprits of this piracy failed. Pirated copies of the dictionaries, which demanded a lot of hard work to compile, have continued to be marketed at a price Rp 40,000 cheaper than original copies.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Stock market remains gloomy, awaits news on Iraq
Stock market remains gloomy, awaits news on Iraq The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After falling more than 4 percent last week, the Jakarta Composite Index is set for further losses this week amid bearish market sentiment, resulting from fears of a war in the Middle East, market players have said. "News of a war in Iraq would again play a crucial part in determining where the global markets, including Indonesia, aregoing this week.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Social violence in Indonesia is localized
Social violence in Indonesia is localized Mohammad Zulfan Tadjoeddin, Research Associate, United Nations Support Facility for Indonesian Recovery (UNSFIR), Jakarta, zulfan.unsfir@un.or.id Indonesia is often characterized as a troubled country ridden with conflict and violence in every region. Is this characterization correct? To answer this question, we need to examine carefully data relating to violent social conflict.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines:Imlek celebration proceeds peacefully2
* Headlines:Imlek celebration proceeds peacefully2 * National:Police to confront Ba'asyir with Samudra4 * Archipelago:Aceh truce violations threaten peace deal5 * Opinion:Indonesian military still to win over U.S.7 * City: City budget falls short of serving public interest 8 * Sports:Els scores under pressure to defense title9 * World:Blast destroys Lagos block, more than 20 feared dead 11 * Business:War jitters cloud U.S. economy16 * Features:Samsuridjal gives all to fight AIDS20
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Megawati told to be more assertive over Iraq issue
Megawati told to be more assertive over Iraq issue Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri appears to be wavering on whether to condemn a possible attack by the United States on Iraq as calls mount for her to speak out publicly against an attack. Analyst Ikrar Nusa Bhakti urged Megawati on Sunday to be more assertive in addressing the Iraqi issue in order to avoid the misperception that Indonesia supports the U.S. and its allies over Iraq.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Troops reinforcement in Aceh possible, TNI says
Troops reinforcement in Aceh possible, TNI says Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh With disarmament in Aceh taking effect within a week, the Indonesian Military (TNI) is preparing for the worst, which could troop reinforcements should violations of the peace deal take place. Maj. Gen.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Belgium reschedules RI's debts
Belgium reschedules RI's debts JAKARTA: The Indonesian government and its Belgian counterpart signed last week a debt-rescheduling agreement, as part of a move to help ease the burden on Indonesia in sovereign debt repayment. Under the deal, some 6.8 million euro in debt, which was supposed to fall due by the end of 2002 and 2003, will be extended by another 10 years.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
FBI team arrives in Papua
FBI team arrives in Papua JAKARTA: A U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team arrived in Timika, Papua on Sunday afternoon in order to investigate last year's ambush that resulted in the death of two American teachers and an Indonesian. The team of seven members was accompanied by an Indonesian. They were identified as Roger Tamberlin, Robert Deardorff, Bloes Tara, Barney Johnson, John Pattariri, Nancy Wong and Edward M.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Australian team probes plane crash
Australian team probes plane crash EAST TIMOR: An Australian air safety team joined on Sunday the investigation into the crash of a cargo plane in East Timor, as police removed the bodies of six Russians from the wreckage, officials said. The seven Australians will be joined this week by experts from Malaysia, Portugal, Russia and Indonesia, said Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Ovido de Jesus Amaral.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
We wish to express our deepest
We wish to express our deepest condolences on the passing of A. Martoharsono (84 years of age) father of Hyginus Hardoyo, one of our journalists, on Feb. 2, 2003 in Wedi, Klaten, Central Java Burial will be in Mayungan, Trunuh subdistrict, Kebon Arum district, Klaten on Feb. 3, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. May God Almighty bless and keep him always. The Management and staff of The Jakarta Post
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
JP/4/CAP
JP/4/CAP Photo caption Antara/Yuniardi HARD GOING: Villagers of Cantilan on a road buried by mud after a landslide hit their village in the West Java town of Kuningan. The road remained impassable for cars on Sunday, a day after a river of mud buried parts of the village and killed 10 people.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Kenyan male runners top winners list in Bali
Kenyan male runners top winners list in Bali Agence France-Presse, Kuta, Bali Kenyan runners took the three top men's places in a 10-kilometer (6.2-mile) run held here Sunday to promote the recovery of the bomb-hit Indonesian resort island of Bali. John Korier (28 minutes 32 seconds), Sammy Kitrouto (29:04) and Abraham Kiprotich Tandoi (29:10) crossed the finish line first in international men's category of the Bali 10-K Solidarity Run.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Chinese New Year celebrations proceed peacefully nationwide
Chinese New Year celebrations proceed peacefully nationwide The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Celebrations for Chinese New Year, known locally as Imlek, proceeded peacefully on Saturday in cities throughout the country, with people marking the holiday by visiting temples and watching barongsai (dragon dance) performances. Chinese-Indonesians praised the government for declaring the Chinese New Year a national holiday.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
JP/4/CAP
JP/4/CAP Photo caption Antara/Hafiz IN DEEP WATER: A man on a bike and a motorcyclist make their way through a flooded section of Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. Hours of heavy rain flooded several parts of the city on Saturday.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia's record industry dying as piracy gets worse
Indonesia's record industry dying as piracy gets worse Berni K. Moestafa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Debuts by new Indonesian artists may soon become a thing of the past. Digital piracy, through the duplication of CDs and VCDs, is rapidly taking over the market and pushing the local recording industry to the brink of extinction. The end may be as near as five years away, said Arnel Affandi, general manager of the Sound Recording Industry Association of Indonesia (Asiri).
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Esprit de corps and failure of the Indonesian judiciary
Esprit de corps and failure of the Indonesian judiciary Winahyo Soekanto, Lawyer, Consumer Care Foundation, Jakarta, winahyo@yahoo.com Woe betide whistle-blowers in Indonesia, especially those from among law enforcers. Rather than being hailed as heroes for publicly unveiling violations, they are usually fed to the sharks by those parties directly threatened by the revelations.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah Rates Jan. 30
Rupiah Rates Jan. 30 JP/13/Conver Rupiah Rates Jan. 30 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 5,507.90 4,915.52 5,239.69 5,183.51 Brunei dollar 1 5,410.53 4,829.94 5,147.05 5,093.26 Canadian dollar 1 6,152.84 5,492.15 5,853.21 5,791.58 Swiss franc 1 6,893.91 6,155.43 6,558.20 6,491.02 Danish krone 1 1,362.65 1,216.74 1,296.29 1,283.08 Euro 1 10,130.91 9,046.50 9,637.57 9,539.71 Poundsterling 1 15,414.08 13,765.47 14,663.46 14,515.96 Hong Kong dollar 1...
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Battle over land management continues
Battle over land management continues BATAM, Riau: A disagreement between the municipal administration and the Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) over who has the right to control the island's land affairs has continued following the implementation of regional autonomy. The municipal administration is claiming full authority over the land's management in line with the 1999 Regional Autonomy Law, while BIDA is defending its right to govern under Law No.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Samsuridjal gives all to fight HIV
Samsuridjal gives all to fight HIV Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta When a group of health workers and community leaders leisurely chatted with an HIV positive woman on her veranda, residents in a village in Indramayu regency, West Java were startled. They were even more surprised watching a doctor eat snacks offered by the woman. The residents were afraid the doctor would be infected by the virus.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Awam Wahono draws final match to win 2003 Pusam Cup
Awam Wahono draws final match to win 2003 Pusam Cup Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Samarinda, East Kalimantan FIDE Master (FM) Awam Wahono drew with Grand Master (GM) Edhi Handoko in 16 moves to win the Pusam Cup chess tournament here on Saturday. Also during the final round, GM Cerdas Barus and International Master (IM) Ivan Situru agreed to a draw after just 11 moves, each player leaving the board with a half a point.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts
In early February last year, heavy rain submerged many parts of the capital, including areas that had never before been touched by flood waters. The flooding claimed many lives and crippled the capital for days. Thousands of people had to spend nights in their vehicles or in roadside shelters because the roads to their homes were underwater. Now, one year later, we are again entering February and heavy rains are expected.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
We wish to express our deepest
We wish to express our deepest condolences at the passing of A. Martoharsono (84 years of age) father of Hyginus Hardoyo, one of our journalists, on Feb. 2, 2003 in Wedi, Klaten, Central Java The burial will be in Mayungan, Trunuh subdistrict, Kebon Arum district, Klaten on Feb. 3, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. May God Almighty bless and be with him always. The Management and staff of The Jakarta Post
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Regional administrations want to issue bonds for development financing
Regional administrations want to issue bonds for development financing The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Citing lack of funding sources, provincial and district administrations lobbied the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to push the central government to allow them to issue bonds as an alternative funding source for financing development programs. Deputy chairman of the MPR's regional representatives faction Oesman Sapta Odang supported the regions' appeal.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
27 soldiers desert after being denied Ambon job
27 soldiers desert after being denied Ambon job Yemris Fointuna The Jakarta Post Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara At least 27 soldiers were detained for desertion from the Naibonat Military Headquarters in East Nusa Tenggara province, a local military officer said on Thursday. The runaway troops, all Ambonese, fled the headquarters on Jan. 26 after being told they would not join a deployment of soldiers to their war-torn homeland of Maluku.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
City budget falls short of serving the public: Critics
City budget falls short of serving the public: Critics Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The 2003 city budget, which amounts to Rp 10.98 trillion, will better serve the city administration and council, instead of the general public, critics have said. This year's budget, which was approved by the council's 11 factions on Friday, increased by about 10 percent from last year's budget, which was Rp 9.7 trillion.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Chinese enjoy happier New Year's celebrations
Chinese enjoy happier New Year's celebrations Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta For most Indonesians of Chinese descent, such as Widyawati, this year's Chinese New Year has been much happier than last year's, mainly because there were no floods. "I'm exhausted right now, but after all the visits from relatives and friends, it's been worth it. The celebration was much better this year," Widyawati, whose Chinese name is Chu Tuan Hwa, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Yangon makes minor Cabinet reshuffle
Yangon makes minor Cabinet reshuffle MYANMAR: Myanmar's military junta announced on Sunday the filling of a position left vacant in its top hierarchy for nearly two years, as well as a minor Cabinet reshuffle. The ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) said that council member Lt. Gen. Soe Win was appointed to the position of Secretary Two, the fourth most senior position in Myanmar. The post had been left vacant since previous holder Lt. Gen. Tin U died in a helicopter crash on Feb.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Today - 04th February 2003 Sri Lanka celebrates her fifty-fifth (55th) anniversary of gaining Independence from colonial rulers
Today - 04th February 2003 Sri Lanka celebrates her fifty-fifth (55th) anniversary of gaining Independence from colonial rulers. It is my great pleasure on this very special day to address the Indonesian friends, the Sri Lankans and others who have had roots in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka and Indonesia have very close religious, political, cultural, economic and commercial relations over a period of a millennium.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia to be lead-fuel free by 2005: Minister
Indonesia to be lead-fuel free by 2005: Minister Johannes Simbolon and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali The government declared on Saturday that Indonesians will enjoy much cleaner air by 2005, when all of the vehicles on the country's roads are expected to be using unleaded gasoline. State Minister for the Environment Nabiel Makarim said the government was campaigning for the use of unleaded gasoline because of the alarming pollution levels in major cities across the country.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Eliminating subsidies
Eliminating subsidies From Koran Tempo What is considered good is not necessarily right. This is the picture of a decision made by the government to ease the nation's financial burdens. The government has argued that the decision to increase fuel prices was based on relieving the burden of the state budget and diverting subsidies from the wrong target to the right one: People of the low-income bracket. Providing subsidies has been a dilemma for the government.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Maluku police want convicted separatists detained
Maluku police want convicted separatists detained Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku Police in the war-torn province of Maluku have called for the arrest of two separatist leaders, who remain free despite having been sentenced to three years in jail last week, in order to maintain peace in their homeland. Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
S. Korean envoy travels to US, Japan on North's nuclear ambitions
S. Korean envoy travels to US, Japan on North's nuclear ambitions Seoul envoy travels to U.S. on North's nuke ambitions Agence France-Presse Seoul A special envoy of South Korea's president-elect Roh Moo-Hyun left for the United States on Sunday to push for a peaceful solution to the standoff over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The envoy, Chyung Dai-Chul, will stay in the U.S. until Wednesday for talks with President George W. Bush and other U.S. officials. He will visit Japan on Thursday.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Experience with
Experience with Allianz Insurance On Dec. 12, 2002, I visited a physician at the Omni Medical Center, one of the hospitals in Jakarta registered as a member of the Allianz Health Insurance network, for help with an annoying pain around my "twelfth thoracic vertebrae". After the usual physical examination, the doctor gave me a prescription for medicine that cost Rp 127,750.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Regions allowed to seek foreign loans
Regions allowed to seek foreign loans JAKARTA: In another development regarding regions' financing sources, the Ministry of Finance has issued a decree allowing regions to seek foreign loans. Minister of Finance Boediono issued over the weekend a ministerial decree allowing such a move -- following years of pressure from regional administrations -- in a bid to speed up economic development in the regions, which has lagged due to financial constraints, a media release said.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Sex workers face lack of free condoms in Batam
Sex workers face lack of free condoms in Batam Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Batam, Riau Wanda Yolanda gambles with her life every time she decides not to spend Rp 15,000 (US$1.60) on a package of condoms for her line of work. Wanda, 19, is a prostitute on the industrial estate island of Batam, where AIDS is feared to be spreading fast. The World Bank and USAID have given away over $100,000 in free condoms and funding to help fight the spread of AIDS on the island.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Oil and gas investors warn of RI's waning attraction
Oil and gas investors warn of RI's waning attraction The Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali Oil and gas investors warned on Saturday of Indonesia's waning attraction and urged the government to improve regulations and the sector's fiscal environment to revive investor confidence.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Swimmers told to be cautious
Swimmers told to be cautious Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Swimming is certainly one of the world's most favorite pastimes with people diving into swimming pools, sometimes to imitate renowned Australian swimmer Ian Thorpe or just to have fun in the water with friends and relatives. However, all that fun and effort of getting in shape can end in unexpected tragedy. Swimmers should be reminded repeatedly that they need to take special care when swimming alone.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian military still to win over U.S.
Indonesian military still to win over U.S. Lee Kim Chew, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore Human rights activists protested vigorously when American lawmakers voted last week to provide funds for the Indonesian military despite the lack of reforms. They overreacted.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
[b] Cambodia to mend ties
Cambodia to mend ties with Thailand after riots Lawrence Bartlett Agence France-Presse Phnom Penh A shaken Cambodian government faces the tricky task this week of repairing damage to its reputation and regional relations after being widely accused of responsibility for devastating anti-Thai riots.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Southeast Asia to remain competitive in manufacturing: Singapore
Southeast Asia to remain competitive in manufacturing: Singapore Agence France-Presse, Singapore Southeast Asia will remain competitive as a manufacturing base despite the rapid growth of industries in China, Singapore Trade Minister George Yeo said Wednesday. "First, Southeast Asia has a longer history in advanced manufacturing and has built up strong competencies over the years, with well-developed knowledge clusters," he said.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
Worker finds live ammunition
Worker finds live ammunition JAKARTA: A construction worker, Suwarno, found live ammunition on Saturday while he was working on Jl. Tanjung Lengkong in Bidara Cina subdistrict, East Jakarta. Suwarno found the ammunition after digging 50 centimeters down. His shovel struck a hard object, covered in a plastic sheet. Suwarno unearthed the package and found two grenades, 20 MK-3 bullets and 125 FN-46 bullets inside it. He promptly notified the Jatinegara Police.
Mon, 03 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. APBD: 50 pt, 2 cols, 4x12
1. APBD: 50 pt, 2 cols, 4x12 City budget falls short of serving public interest: Critics 2. IMLEK: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2x 24 Chinese enjoy happier New Year's celebrations 3. SWIM: 28 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 37 Swimmers told to be cautious 4. SPEAK: 28 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 30 'We're powerless to do anything about it'