Archive: 23 April 2003
Showing 1-50 of 72 articles
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
WB to end RI railways reform project
WB to end RI railways reform project The World Bank will end its loan program to Indonesia's State Railway Company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) in September and cancel unused funds because of "unsatisfactory" efforts to reform the ailing state enterprise, sources said on Tuesday. "The World Bank has several times assessed the Indonesian government's and KAI's performance as unsatisfactory.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Belu people criticize E.Timor visa ruling
Belu people criticize E.Timor visa ruling The Jakarta Post, Jakarta People in the East Timor regency of Belu expressed disappointment over the country's recent ruling to impose a US$25 visa on visitors from Indonesia, which it borders. A number of local figures warned on Tuesday that the visa ruling, which took effect on April 19, would burden East Timor more than it would Indonesia.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
SEA Games in question due to SARS outbreak
SEA Games in question due to SARS outbreak Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Sports Council (KONI) is monitoring developments in the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and will wait until September to decide whether to send athletes to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games scheduled for this December in Vietnam. "We will see how SARS develops and the World Health Organization (WHO)'s account of the disease. Is Vietnam already free of SARS?
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Megawati calls for closer ties with Russia
Megawati calls for closer ties with Russia Agencies Jakarta After years of fluctuating bilateral relations with Russia, President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Tuesday called for a new beginning, hoping to boost bilateral trade, which has averaged a mere US$120 million annually for the last five years. Speaking at a Russian-Indonesian business forum in Moscow, Megawati said that Indonesia had to start from the beginning to improve relations with the former communist state.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Bulog accused of hoarding sugar to reap profit
Bulog accused of hoarding sugar to reap profit The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Economic Recovery Committee (KPEN) on Tuesday accused the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), the main distributor of imported sugar, of hoarding the commodity in a bid to prop up the price to gain profit. KPEN chairman Sofyan Wanandi said the move had created scarcity in the market, which led to the current hike in sugar prices. "Bulog is not serious in distributing sugar to the markets.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Minister says Cemex agrees to SG spin-off proposal
Minister says Cemex agrees to SG spin-off proposal Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Confusion surrounding the proposed split of cement makers PT Semen Padang and PT Semen Tonasa from parent company PT Semen Gresik continued following a statement that a key minority shareholder had approved the plan. Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla said on Tuesday that Cemex SA de CV had given its approval.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Govt, GAM to meet in Geneva
Govt, GAM to meet in Geneva Tiarma Siboro and Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh The government has agreed to hold a Joint Council meeting with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Geneva, Switzerland, on April 25 in a bid to salvage the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA). Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Tuesday that he would lead the government delegation.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Malaysian PM's office raps 'AWSJ' over picture mix-up
Malaysian PM's office raps 'AWSJ' over picture mix-up Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's office on Tuesday complained to The Asian Wall Street Journal after it ran a picture of a top terrorist suspect which it identified as Mahathir. The illustration of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, allegedly the al- Qaeda mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, was carried in an article on Malaysia in the AWSJ on Monday and captioned "Mahathir Mohamad".
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Work hard to overcome crisis
Work hard to overcome crisis From Suara Karya There is still a long way to go before Indonesia is truly crises free, despite the ongoing reform and democratization. The government's recent decision to raise the rates of electricity, telephone and gasoline has only meant a greater burden for the people of the middle and lower classes. This decision has led to hikes in daily necessities.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
KPU admits to flaws in registration process
KPU admits to flaws in registration process Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) admitted on Tuesday that many flaws were evident in the voter registration process as revealed by a resistance to the program in some regions.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia, Thailand post easy victories in Federation Cup
Indonesia, Thailand post easy victories in Federation Cup Agence France-Presse, Tokyo Angelique "Angie" Widjaja and Tamarine Tanasugarn posted easy singles wins to give their countries second straight wins in the Federation Cup tennis Asia-Oceania zone Group One preliminary round on Tuesday. Angie whitewashed Karina Jarlkaganova 6-0, 6-0 to add to Wynne Adiati Prakusya's 6-1, 6-0 win over Marina Shpak for Indonesia before the two joined hands to win the doubles 6-2, 6-1.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Telkom turns a deaf ear
Telkom turns a deaf ear From Bisnis Indonesia On March 1, 2003, I went to telecommunications company PT Telkom's service center on Jl. Iskandarsyah to cancel Telkom telephone connection No. 72788479. I was required to provide a security deposit as a guarantee for the February telephone bill. Unfortunately, I was also required to provide a security deposit for the March bill as well. I went to the service center on March 1 to ensure that calculating the bill would be easy.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Semen Gresik's imbroglio
Semen Gresik's imbroglio There is nothing substantially new, nor legally meaningful in State Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi's letter of April 16 addressed to West Sumatra Governor Zainal Bakar, yet politicians in this province had prematurely rejoiced, strongly confident that Semen Padang would soon be spun off from its holding company, publicly-traded Semen Gresik.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
checked
checked Hope lives on for ailing tourism industry Sudibyo M. Wiradji The Jakarta Post Worldwide travel fears resulting from the war in Iraq and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) have come as further setbacks for Indonesia's battered tourism industry. Tourism officials and executives of the country's star-rated hotels acknowledge they are already seeing repercussions from the war and the spread of the killer disease, with travelers canceling planned visits.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
~Consumers still left hanging in telecom development
~Consumers still left hanging in telecom development It was a long time coming, but the people of Senggigi in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, are now able to dash off an e-mail or get in a bit of cyber surfing at one of the several warnet (kiosks offering Internet-connected computers) operating in the beach resort area.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
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~ Fire at Sabang Hotel: A small fire broke out at Sabang Hotel in Central Jakarta on Tuesday evening at 10:30 p.m. The fire damaged the hotel's administration room on the third floor. No casualties were reported as all the hotel guests were immediately evacuated after the fire alarms were sounded. Firefighters put out the fire around an hour later. -- Antara
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Dubai-Malaysian joint venture threatens S'pore shipping hub
Dubai-Malaysian joint venture threatens S'pore shipping hub Agence France-Presse, Singapore Malaysian and Dubai businessmen are planning to build a new logistics hub in Malaysia in a move that could challenge Singapore's position as the region's leading shipping and logistics center, a report said Tuesday.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Troops readied for security operation in troubled Aceh
Troops readied for security operation in troubled Aceh Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta At least two battalions of marines and 6,000 members of the feared Mobile Brigade (Brimob) have been told to stand by for a possible security operation in Aceh should the April 25 Joint Council meeting fail to salvage the peace agreement signed last year.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Volleyballers begin SEAG camp on Sunday
Volleyballers begin SEAG camp on Sunday The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Volleyball Association (PBVSI) will open its training camp on Sunday for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games scheduled for Vietnam in December. Seventeen men and 16 women will take part in the camp at the Sentul Training Center in Bogor, West Java. The athletes come from seven provinces: Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, East Java, Yogyakarta, Lampung and Papua.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Soeharto's brother sentenced to four years
Soeharto's brother sentenced to four years M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Central Jakarta District Court on Tuesday sentenced tycoon Probosutedjo, the half-brother of former President Soeharto, to four-years imprisonment after finding him guilty of embezzling state reforestation funds. Presiding Judge Muhammad Saleh also ordered that Probo return Rp 100.9 billion (US$11.2 million) to the state and to pay a fine of Rp 30 million.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
RI seeks UN Human Rights Commission membership
RI seeks UN Human Rights Commission membership Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia is seeking one of the 53 seats on the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) for 2003-2004, hoping that its own poor human rights track record will not count against it. A spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Marty Natalegawa, said on Tuesday that despite its shortcomings, Indonesia deserved the nomination because it was a recognized democracy.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
BNI Q1 net profit soars slightly
BNI Q1 net profit soars slightly JAKARTA: PT. Bank Negara Indonesia's (BNI) net profit for the first three months of this year rose slightly to Rp 850 billion (US$96.5 million) from Rp 842 billion in the same period last year, Chief Executive Saifuddien Hasan said on Tuesday. The bank's loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 40 percent in the first quarter, Saifuddien said.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines: Earth Day: The future of our livelihood 3
* Headlines: Earth Day: The future of our livelihood 3 * National: RI seeks UN Human Rights Commission membership 4 * Archipelago: Belu people criticize E.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Respect for the law
Respect for the law Disrespect for the law in Indonesia has become clearer. In the last two days law enforcers have made efforts to uphold the law appear feeble. The police arrested governor-elect of Lampung Alzier Dianis Thabrani for criminal acts he had allegedly committed before he passed the mandatory test. Alzier also participated in public debate before he was elected governor.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
BNI Q1 net profit soars slightly
BNI Q1 net profit soars slightly JAKARTA: PT. Bank Negara Indonesia's (BNI) net profit for the first three months of this year rose slightly to Rp 850 billion (US$96.5 million) from Rp 842 billion in the same period last year, Chief Executive Saifuddien Hasan said on Tuesday. The bank's loan-to-deposit ratio stood at 40 percent in the first quarter, Saifuddien said.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
~Titles:
~Titles: Note : No Customer First's Logo TNT Indonesia : "Nobody does Logistics & Express Delivery better..." TNT Indonesia has grown rapidly and has now become the most reliable provider of express and logistics service in the country thanks to the company's relentless efforts and strong commitment to meet the every the needs of its customers. This might explain why the number of TNT's customers in Indonesia continue to increase from year to year.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Maintaining the waistline while enjoying a holiday
Maintaining the waistline while enjoying a holiday Melissa Southern-Garcia, Dietitian, Jakarta, SouthernDietitian@yahoo.com When holidays and the end of the school year are all here or around the corner, these occasions usually mean food, fun, traveling and eating out. Here are some tips on how to enjoy your holidays while still maintaining your waistline: When traveling: Plan ahead. Some of the worst nutritional choices are made when a person is hungry and in a hurry.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Bill shuts out alternative presidential candidates'
'Bill shuts out alternative presidential candidates' The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Prodemocracy activists, analysts and mass media are certainly not the only ones longing for the emergence of a strong, fair and wise national leader to bring the nation out of its prolonged crisis, uphold justice and build peace.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Oil, gas producers miss 2002 output target
Oil, gas producers miss 2002 output target A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's oil and gas production in 2002 did not meet the government's target, due to slowing investment, security concerns and natural disasters, a top government official said.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Over 70,000 students take UGM entrance exams
Over 70,000 students take UGM entrance exams Sri Wahyuni and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta/Jakarta Some 76,000 high school students and graduates took admission tests on Tuesday for the Yogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, which were given simultaneously in 17 cities across the country. The tests, which run through Wednesday, will determine which participants will secure one of 4,000 seats at the university.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
~Oei Eng Goan
~Oei Eng Goan The Jakarta Post Jakarta Political and economic relations between China and Indonesia have enjoyed such rapid progress that Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Lu Shumin calls it the best period of development following the resumption of full diplomatic ties in 1990. Ambassador Lu attributed the solid ties to both sides adopting a policy of mutual trust and respect, good neighborhood and comprehensive cooperation, boosted by the support of neighboring countries in the region.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Concern for good of the public needed to justify politics
Concern for good of the public needed to justify politics Ignas Kleden, The Center for East, Indonesian Affairs (CEIA), Jakarta It is an age-old truism that politics has something to do with power; but this is only half the truth. The fact that someone -- the president for example -- is entitled to such great power over others can only be understood and justified if the power given to him or her is used for the common good of as many citizens as possible.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
French envoy discusses investor staying power
French envoy discusses investor staying power Berni K. Moestafa The Jakarta Post Jakarta According to French Ambassador to Indonesia Herve Ladsous, French companies are here to stay. Neither the 1997 economic crisis nor the subsequent political turmoil that ended a three- decade authoritarian regime could scare them away. Most companies, Ladsous said, decided to stay.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Molenvliet' marked Batavia's golden age
'Molenvliet' marked Batavia's golden age Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Molenvliet area -- now the area along Jl. Gajah Mada and Jl. Hayam Wuruk, West Jakarta -- was once the most prestigious area in Southeast Asia. The name Molenvliet, according to historian Alwi Shahab, was still used until the early 1960s.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
PT KAI admits corruption
PT KAI admits corruption Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java State railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (PT KAI) has accepted the irregularities identified by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) in the company but stopped short of launching an investigation into the graft. Patria Supriyoso, a spokesman for PT KAI, confirmed here on Tuesday that the company had admitted that a number of irregularities had occurred in the company in 2001 and 2002.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
RI to host meeting on children
RI to host meeting on children JAKARTA: Indonesia will host the sixth East Asia and Pacific Ministerial Consultation on Children in Nusa Dua on the resort island of Bali from May 5 through May 7. The ministerial consultation is being jointly organized by the Indonesian government and UNICEF.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Motorcycle sales expected to be flat this year
Motorcycle sales expected to be flat this year The Jakarta Post, Jakarta New motorcycles sales will remain flat this year on weaker consumer spending, the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI) says. "For the last three years we have enjoyed significant growth of up to 25 percent per year, but this year, in line with the decline in people's purchasing power, motorcycle sales are predicted to be flat," AISI deputy chairman Gunadi Sindhuwinata told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Govt says it's 'on right track' for fiscal sustainability
Govt says it's 'on right track' for fiscal sustainability Dadan Wijaksana and Reiner S. The Jakarta Post Jakarta The government has been applauded for making substantial progress in managing its post-crisis fiscal challenges, but dangers stemming largely from the crisis persist. Minister of Finance Boediono said the government remained committed to continuing the fiscal consolidation process, which often requires taking difficult and unpopular measures.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Forestry taxes fall short in Riau: Timber expert
Forestry taxes fall short in Riau: Timber expert Haidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau A timber association executive warned of irregularities in the local tax payments on forestry products to the province of Riau, saying pulp and paper companies should have paid six times more than they had done so far.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
~Rita A. Widiadana
~Rita A. Widiadana and I Wayan Juniartha The Jakarta Post Denpasar, Bali Nothing cuts deeper than the loss of image and a shattered peace, especially when the victim is not to blame. It is what happened to the once tranquil island of Bali, a venerated paradise for the world's tourists. Overnight, the bombings of Oct.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Earth Day: Rethinking our approach to the earth
Earth Day: Rethinking our approach to the earth Yanuar Nugroho, Director, The Business Watch Indonesia, Surakarta, yanuar-n@unisosdem.org Founded in 1970 by Gaylord Nelson, a former United States senator from Wisconsin, Earth Day has grown into a global event. This year, April 22 marks the 33rd celebration of Earth Day, a day when people around the world hold events to honor our planet and to remind everyone about the importance of our ecosystem.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
NGOs start education campaign
NGOs start education campaign JAKARTA: Nine non-governmental organizations belonging to the Plural Community Group (KUMPUL), and hailing from Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Bogor, have joined forces to organize a one-month education campaign from April 21 through May 20.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Candra Naya: A heritage already forgotten?
Candra Naya: A heritage already forgotten? Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta It is not easy to find the building even though it was once one of the grandest Chinese houses in Batavia (old Jakarta). The building is listed as being located at Jl. Gajah Mada no. 188, but it does not help much as what one finds is not what one would expect of a cultural heritage. Candra Naya, which is a cultural heritage building as stipulated by Gubernatorial Decree No.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
~Drawing up the balance sheet of Indonesian economic performance
~Drawing up the balance sheet of Indonesian economic performance is a discouraging job. How can it be otherwise when we hear incessant complaints and cynical comments on the sorry state affairs. For five years we have been mired in economic crisis, our fortunes rising or falling in concert with the rupiah. Although the rupiah has strengthened to around Rp 8,800 to the U.S.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'I often violate the 3-in-1 traffic rule'
'I often violate the 3-in-1 traffic rule' The city administration is considering expanding the three-in-one traffic policy for motorists later this year with the launching of the busway project. Currently, vehicles with less than three passengers are not allowed to pass the main thoroughfares of Jl. Jend. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin between certain hours. But there are frequent violations, as told to The Jakarta Post. Arleta, 33, is an executive of an English language school on Jl.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta to introduce new parking system
Jakarta to introduce new parking system Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration will introduce on a limited basis next month a new on-street parking system that will employ prepaid cards, with the goal of increasing the annually disappointing parking revenue.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
N. Sumatra gubernatorial candidates to present views
N. Sumatra gubernatorial candidates to present views Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra The North Sumatra provincial legislative council has picked three candidates to contend the gubernatorial election scheduled for May 15. Of 40 gubernatorial candidates and 33 deputy gubernatorial candidates, the provincial legislature in its plenary meeting here selected on Monday incumbent governor T.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Boatpeople issue could sour RI-Australia ties
Boatpeople issue could sour RI-Australia ties Agence France-Presse, Sydney, Australia/Jakarta The decision of Indonesian authorities to allow the boat to sail to Australia has raised concerns the episode could sour an already sensitive relationship ahead of a people-smuggling conference being hosted by the two countries in Bali next week.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
RI wants closer ties with Russia
RI wants closer ties with Russia Agencies, Jakarta After years of fluctuating bilateral relations with Russia, President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Tuesday called for a new beginning, hoping to boost bilateral trade, which has averaged a mere US$120 million annually for the last five years. Speaking at a Russian-Indonesian business forum in Moscow, Megawati said that Indonesia had to start from the beginning to improve relations with the former communist state.
Wed, 23 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Minister takes over Lampung govt
Minister takes over Lampung govt JAKARTA: Home minister Hari Sabarno has temporarily taken control of public administration in Lampung province following the arrest of governor-elect Alzier Dianis Thabranie on criminal charges. The ministry's director general for regional autonomy, Oentarto Sindung Mawardi, made a statement to that effect here on Tuesday while explaining the government's stance over Thabranie's arrest.