Archive: 25 April 2003
Showing 1-50 of 111 articles
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Keeping up in Indonesia halfway round the world
Keeping up in Indonesia halfway round the world Barbara Harvey, Washington The Jakarta Post provides a lifeline to news of Indonesia for those of us who are no longer physically in Indonesia, but wish to, or need to, keep current on matters in this complex and fascinating country. I find both the news and editorials essential reading because of the accuracy and lack of bias in the reporting, and thoughtfulness in the editorials.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Police arrest five more Medan blast suspects
Police arrest five more Medan blast suspects Tiarma Siboro and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan The police have arrested five more people suspected of involvement in the recent bomb blasts in Medan, capital of North Sumatra province, blaming the two incidents on the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The five were GAM field commander for the Medan/Deli region Abdul Wahab, alias Abu Geudeung, alias Abu; Rakum Sudjono; Tengku Abid Djohan, alias Ampun; Ridwan Yusuf and Said Tengku Azhar.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Building a newspaper on the public's trust
Building a newspaper on the public's trust Raymond Toruan, Executive Director, PT Bina Media Tenggara and Chief Editor The Jakarta Post "I QUIT" The unusually large, nine-column headline splashed across The Jakarta Post's front page on Friday, May 22, 1998, was more than just a report on then president Soeharto's announcement the day before. Technically, the five-star Gen.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Family of Medan SARS patient still in quarantine
Family of Medan SARS patient still in quarantine Apriadi Gunawan and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Medan/Jakarta Eight family members of a probable SARS case in Medan, North Sumatra, have all been either confined to hospital or placed in quarantine in their homes to prevent the killer disease from spreading.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Monas park to welcome ten deer next month
Monas park to welcome ten deer next month Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration is scheduled to transfer 10 spotted deer from the Bogor presidential palace in Bogor, West Java to the National Monument (Monas) square in Central Jakarta on May 22. Hadi S. Alikodra, the coordinator of the team tasked to handle the relocation of the animals, said on Thursday all preparations, including the 2.5-hectare site at Monas square, had been completed.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Post' debut a break with the past
'Post' debut a break with the past Willem A. van den Wall Bake, The Hague One of our better Dutch writers, A. Alberts, wrote a delightful little memoir about his sojourn in Indonesia, aptly titled In en uit het paradijs getild ("Lifted into and out of paradise"), a work which deserves to be translated into both English and Bahasa Indonesia. I was lucky to have lived in Indonesia for almost 25 years, but all good things come to an end and recently I was also lifted out of paradise.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. ECONOMY: 2 x 25
1. ECONOMY: 2 x 25 RI economy weakened by SARS, Iraq war, says WB 2. WORKERS: 1 x 40 Workers stranded in Jakarta due to SARS 3. MEGAWATI: 2 x 24 Megawati continues with arms shopping in Poland 4. SUMANTO: 2 x 25 Seven years demanded for self-confessed cannibal 5. ODD: 1 x 30 Panty raid yields thong thief
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
BNI mulling to issue asset-backed securities
BNI mulling to issue asset-backed securities JAKARTA: PT Bank Negara Indonesia, the country's second largest state-owned bank, is mulling an issue of asset-backed securities later this year to raise working capital for its credit card division, an official with the bank said on Thursday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Dow Jones Newswires that BNI will only go ahead with the plan if the government changes current taxation regulations concerning asset- back securities.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
A must read to understand ever-changing RI landscape
A must read to understand ever-changing RI landscape Barry Desker, Singapore I worked in Jakarta from 1976 to 1980 in the Singapore Embassy and returned as the Ambassador from 1986 to 1993. Between these two sojourns in Jakarta, the establishment of The Jakarta Post in 1982 made a major difference to the diplomatic community in Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Vietnamese migrants detained on Galang Island
Vietnamese migrants detained on Galang Island Reuters, Jakarta/Canberra Thirty-one Vietnamese migrants bound for Australia have been taken into custody after their unseaworthy boat was found beached on a small Indonesian island, a migration agency said on Thursday. The boat was found on Galang Island just south of Singapore with a broken-down motor, said Steve Cook, chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia and China bounce back in Fed Cup
Indonesia and China bounce back in Fed Cup Agence France-Presse, Tokyo Second seed Indonesia and third seed China bounced back from defeat to record crucial victories in the Fed Cup tennis Asia- Oceania zone preliminary round here Thursday. Top seed Japan had a rest day after beating China Wednesday to secure top spot in Pool A, while fourth seed Thailand, the winner over Indonesia, defeated Kazakhstan 3-0 without its ace Tamarine Tanasugarn.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Airlines earn their wings in crowded skies
Airlines earn their wings in crowded skies Airlines worldwide are reeling from the double blow of the war in Iraq and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), but Indonesian carriers have two other problems to deal with: a cut-throat airfare war and the loss of the visa free facility for tourists.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Reclamation debate' held on Friday
'Reclamation debate' held on Friday JAKARTA: The public debate on the plan to reclaim 2,700 hectares of the city's northern coastal area as promised by Governor Sutiyoso will be held on Friday at Hotel Milenium on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta, an official said. Chairman of the city environment management board (BP-LHD) Kosasih Wirahadikusumah, however, said the debate would take the form of a one-day seminar organized by the University of Indonesia (UI).
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Vietnamese migrants
Vietnamese migrants detained on Galang Reuters Jakarta/Canberra Thirty-one Vietnamese migrants bound for Australia have been taken into custody after their unseaworthy boat was found beached on a small Indonesian island, a migration agency said on Thursday. The boat was found on Galang Island just south of Singapore with a broken-down motor, said Steve Cook, chief of mission for the International Organization for Migration in Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Retail keeps 'em coming despite uncertainty
Retail keeps 'em coming despite uncertainty OR Uncertainty no stop to retail expansion Randy Witular Hendarsyah Tarmizi Jakarta Post Jakarta With a population of more than 215 million, Indonesia continues to beckon to retailers even as the country's economic fundamentals remain woefully uncertain.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Libya suspends hiring of Filipinos
Libya suspends hiring of Filipinos LIBYA: Libya has indefinitely suspended the hiring of Filipino workers due to concerns over SARS, the Philippine foreign affairs department said on Thursday. The department said it was informed by the Libyan Embassy in Manila on Wednesday that "no airline is allowed to transport Filipino contract workers bound for Libya". The ban immediately affected 50 Filipino workers who were barred from boarding a Libyan-bound flight on late Wednesday.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
ADB approves $484,000 grant for RI
ADB approves $484,000 grant for RI Bloomberg Jakarta The Asian Development Bank (ADB) approved a US$484,000 technical assistance grant to help the government reduce poverty by improving services for the poor, including health care and education. The aid will go to support five of the poorest regional governments -- a province, a city and three districts -- the bank said in an e-mailed statement. The government will provide $214,000 for the project, which will be completed in early 2004.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Seven years demanded for self-confessed cannibal
Seven years demanded for self-confessed cannibal Agus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Purbalingga, Central Java Onlookers packed the Purbalingga District Court on Thursday to witness the opening session of the trial of a man who confessed to eating human flesh. Prosecutors, however, charged him only with stealing corpses in the absence of a law against cannibalism. If found guilty, the 31-year-old Sumanto could be sent to jail for seven years.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia, with its abundant natural and human resources, once
Indonesia, with its abundant natural and human resources, once ranked as an exotic choice for investment, but the unrelenting bureaucratic, social, economic and political problems of the last five years have pretty much put paid to that designation. It's an uphill struggle for the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) in trying to bring some sunshine to the investment climate, especially as it lacks the political clout to take effective measures.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
MINING: TREASURE OR TROUBLE
MINING: TREASURE OR TROUBLE Emil Salim Former State Minister of the Environment A few years ago in the annual meeting of the World Bank Group (WBG), its President, James Wolfensohn, agreed with civil society to review the WBG role in extractive industries (oil, gas and mining) to alleviate poverty through sustainable development.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Megawati continues with arms shopping in Poland
Megawati continues with arms shopping in Poland Agencies, Jakarta Poland on Thursday offered visiting Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri extensive cooperation in the military field. "We are proposing (Indonesia) a vast cooperation in the military and arms domain," President Aleksander Kwasniewski told a joint conference with Megawati at the outset of her 48-hour visit.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
A community newspaper of sorts
A community newspaper of sorts Endy M. Bayuni, Deputy chief editor, The Jakarta Post If a newspaper's reputation is measured by the kind of scoops it has achieved, The Jakarta Post could rightfully claim to have landed the greatest triumph in Indonesian media history. Our edition on May 21, 1998, broke the story that then president Soeharto was preparing to announce his resignation that morning.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Thuggery against media must end'
'Thuggery against media must end' JAKARTA: A group of journalists and non-governmental organizations (NGO) urged all Indonesian media workers on Thursday to unite and strengthen ties to deter thuggery. The appeal came amid a recent campaign against thuggery, which was intensified after two Tempo journalists and one SCTV cameraman became victims of violence in the course of their work recently.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
BKPM aims to turn up the power to draw investors
BKPM aims to turn up the power to draw investors Or BKPM tries to pull rank to bolster investment Rikza Abdullah Contributor Indonesia, with its abundant natural and human resources, once ranked as an exotic choice for investment, but the unrelenting bureaucratic, social, economic and political problems of the last five years have pretty much put paid to that designation.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Volleyball events on hold due to SARS
Volleyball events on hold due to SARS Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The fifth Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Cup Men's Club Championship, which was scheduled to be held here next month, has been postponed indefinitely due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), a report said.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Cetro issues database for female legislative candidates
Cetro issues database for female legislative candidates Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Centre for Electoral Reform (Cetro) issued on Wednesday a list of 109 women for political parties to recruit as legislative candidates during the upcoming general election. Cetro spokesperson Erry Seda said the list was presented in response to complaints that qualified female candidates were few and far between.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Our 20th anniversary
Our 20th anniversary Today 20 years ago, the first edition of The Jakarta Post saw the light. In the history of the newspaper publishing business, a mere 20 years of existence is not particularly considered an important milestone. Even for Indonesian standards, for a newspaper to have survived for 20 years is not a spectacular event.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Candra Naya relocation rejected
Candra Naya relocation rejected JAKARTA: A consultant with the City Culture and Museum Agency reiterated on Thursday his team's rejection of the Modern Group's proposal to relocate the late-18th century Chinese mansion, Candra Naya, to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. Mundardjito, a member of the consulting team for cultural conservation, said that in principle, an archaeological heritage site must not be moved from its original location.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia, China to buy RI's AHIH
Malaysia, China to buy RI's AHIH KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's Petronas said on Thursday it had joined with China's PetroChina to buy an energy company in Indonesia for US$164 million. Malaysian state-controlled oil company Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) said the company it had joined with China's biggest oil firm PetroChina to take over Amerada Hess Indonesia Holdings Ltd. (AHIH).
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Three-in-one traffic policy useless'
'Three-in-one traffic policy useless' The city administration unveiled a plan last week to extend the three-in-one restricted zones in a bid to alleviate traffic in the downtown core. However, the public believes that this will not be enough to solve the transportation problem, especially the traffic jams. Several motorists told The Jakarta Post that improving public transportation was more important. Diah Massardi, 40, is the director of an advertising agency in Blok M, South Jakarta.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Migrant workers postpone departure
Migrant workers postpone departure DENPASAR, Bali: A number of migrant workers in Bali have had their departure overseas delayed in the wake of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak. "The migrant workers were ready to depart, but we didn't want anything bad to happen to them, so we temporarily postponed their placement overseas," said the head of Bali's manpower agency, IGP Wijaya, on Wednesday. Bali's migrant workers mostly work in the tourism sector, such as on cruise ships.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Index (in rupiah) on April 24,2003 _______________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 675 0 12,000 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 55 5 411,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 135 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 105 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 700 0 3,000 Alter Abadi Tbk 10 0 100,000 Alumindo Light 160 5 236,500 Andhi...
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Revisiting Indonesia-United States relations
Revisiting Indonesia-United States relations By Tony Agus Ardie, President of KIKAS* The past few months have seen a profusion of developments which could substantially influence the state of relationships between Indonesia and the United States. Some were originated at the Indonesian side: the so- called 'sweeping' of American hotel guests in Solo, anti-U.S demonstrations, call for boycott of American branded products, the Bali bombing, abolishment of free visa facility for U.S. citizens.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Discovering a great friend in a newspaper
Discovering a great friend in a newspaper Dominique Girard, New Delhi From 1992 to 1995, The Jakarta Post was for me much more than a source of information, even though it was convenient to rely on such a well written and professionally managed English-language daily despite all my best efforts to improve my Indonesian. Actually, the Post was a real companion in my job as the ambassador of France. Indonesia was different then. Information was still controlled and transparency limited.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Opening a window into little-known Indonesia
Opening a window into little-known Indonesia Ed Masters, Washington DC I join the many other friends and admirers of The Jakarta Post in extending my very best wishes and congratulations on the happy occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Post. I have been an avid reader of the Post since it began publishing 20 years ago, and the newspaper is unquestionably the best way for those of us far removed from Jakarta to keep up with fast-moving developments in Indonesia.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Our 20th anniversary
Our 20th anniversary This day 20 years ago, the first edition of The Jakarta Post rolled off the press and into the light of day. In the history of the newspaper publishing business, a mere 20 years' existence is not considered a particularly important milestone. Even by Indonesian newspaper standards, surviving 20 years is no spectacular event.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. COHA: 2 x 23
1. COHA: 2 x 23 Peace in doubt after Aceh talks canceled 2. DEAL: 1 x 38 Unfulfilled US$50m deal taints Aceh peace 3. TERROR: 1 x 50 Police warn of terror attacks despite JI arrests 4. BOMB: 4 x 11 Early morning blast near UN office
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
RI economy weakened by SARS and Iraq war: WB
RI economy weakened by SARS and Iraq war: WB The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The World Bank painted a weak outlook for the country's economy this year due to the negative effect of the recent war in Iraq and the outbreak of SARS. The country's major creditor said on Thursday that the economy this year would likely grow at a slower rate of 3.3 percent from 3.7 percent last year, which in turn would worsen unemployment.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Early days -- of strong coffee and tight censorship
Early days -- of strong coffee and tight censorship Bill Tarrant, Singapore The phone call came at around 10:30 p.m., after the paper had been put to bed. The voice on the other end of the line identified himself as an Indonesian military spokesman. The Jakarta Post had just started publication a few weeks before. I was the late duty editor, a young consultant armed with a master's degree in journalism and a few years on a Florida newspaper.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Concrete Steps to Put Investors at Ease
Concrete Steps to Put Investors at Ease By Tom A. Clough, President Director, PT Semen Cibinong Many people are overly critical of what is now happening in Indonesia, expecting overnight changes in areas that took hundreds of years to be accomplished in European countries. It is baffling that such unrealistically rapid gains are demanded in the transition from an authoritarian, centralized government to a democratic, decentralized state.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
2004 ELECTION & THE REFORM PROCESS: In Search of a Leader
2004 ELECTION & THE REFORM PROCESS: In Search of a Leader Part 1 of 2 J. Soedjati Djiwandono Political Analyst Jakarta Under Soeharto's "New Order" regime a general election was held every five years from 1971, the last being the general election of 1997. It resulted in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), the supreme governing body based on the 1945 Constitution, which, in turn, elected Soeharto president consecutively for the seventh time, each time as sole candidate.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Once upon a time for a young reporter
Once upon a time for a young reporter Binny Buchori, Activist, Jakarta It was April 1983, I had just resigned from my job as a junior editor in a publishing company and was looking for a new job. Danny Yatim, an old friend from university, told me that his sister, Debra, had just joined an English newspaper, The Jakarta Post, that was going to be published very soon and that the paper may need some staff, maybe a librarian. Danny asked me to give him my CV.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Police warn of terror attacks despite JI arrests
Police warn of terror attacks despite JI arrests Agencies, Jakarta A police spokesman warned the public on Thursday to stay alert against future terror attacks despite a major haul this week of Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) suspects and the seizure of arms and explosives. "Threats of new attacks always exist. We have to remain vigilant," said National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Zainuri Lubis. National Police chief Gen.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Bulog gets license to import extra amount of sugar
Bulog gets license to import extra amount of sugar Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has awarded the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) a license to import an extra 150,000 tons of sugar this year, in a bid to stabilize the price of the commodity on the local market.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Problem in the schools
Problem in the schools From Media Indonesia In 1998 the national education minister issued a decree abolishing household management sciences (PKK) at high schools and leaving the teaching of foreign languages (other than English) fully at the discretion of the high schools. Many PKK teachers had to move to vocational schools to find work. Likewise, many foreign language teachers -- with the exception of English teachers -- had to find jobs elsewhere.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
A continuing journey to meet future challenges
A continuing journey to meet future challenges Jusuf Wanandi, Co-founder and member, Board of Trustees Centre for Strategic and International Studies Before The Jakarta Post was established in 1983, there were two English dailies, The Indonesian Observer and The Jakarta Times (later The Indonesian Times). Both were considered weak in influence and capacity due to limited resources, human and capital.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
HSBC sees stronger bond market this year
HSBC sees stronger bond market this year Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's bond market this year is predicted to grow by between 20 percent and 50 percent due to strong demand from local and overseas investors, an expert at HSBC Bank said. HSBC director of debt market Radianto Kusumo said on Thursday that local investors were now seeking better return-on-investment alternatives amid declining interest rates of bank time deposits and the volatile stock market.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Surviving our own years of living dangerously
Surviving our own years of living dangerously Susanto Pudjomartono, Chief Editor 1991-2001 It was August 1991, and the authoritarian regime of Soeharto was at the peak of its power. With the help of the military, he controlled the country with an iron fist that swiftly crushed any form of dissent. Politicians and activists who dared to oppose him were thrown into prison, many on trumped-up charges. As the newly appointed editor in chief of The Jakarta Post, I had two options.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
Mining industry: Treasure or trouble?
Mining industry: Treasure or trouble? Emil Salim, Former State Minister of Environment A few years ago in the annual meeting of the World Bank Group (WBG), its President, James Wolfensohn, agreed with civil society to review the WBG role in extractive industries (oil, gas and mining) to alleviate poverty through sustainable development.
Fri, 25 Apr 2003, 00:00 WIB
KPU admits flaws in voter registration
KPU admits flaws in voter registration 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.