Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 23 May 2003

86 articles found

Police probe links Ambon killing to JI

Police probe links Ambon killing to JIMuhammad Aziz Tunny, The Jakarta Post, Ambon, Maluku Police here are investigating a possible link between the recent killing of three men in Ambon and Jamaah Islamiyah (JI), on suspicions the victims and the alleged killers were members of the terrorist group.

RI-Australian ties better, but misperceptions remain

RI-Australian ties better, but misperceptions remainJohannes Simbolon, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Melbourne Relations between the Indonesian and the Australian governments, which were increasingly strained over the past three years, are apparently on the mend.

Semen Gresik April sales fall

Semen Gresik April sales fall JAKARTA:Indonesia's cement maker PT Semen Gresik Thursday said its total cement sales fell 20 percent to 992,388 metric tons in April from 1.233 million tons in April last year.

Harmoni Optical Outlets

Harmoni Optical Outlets Kemang Hotel Jl Kemang Raya 2, Jakarta 12730 Telp (021) 719-4523, Telp/Fax (021) 719-6469 e-mail address: harmoni@rad.net.idCosmo - Japanese Supermarket Wijaya Grand Center F 20, Jl Wijaya II, Jakarta 12160 Telp: (021) 270-2943, Telp/Fax (021) 270-2944

Secure Parking respons

Secure Parking respons As the attorneys of PT Securindo Packatama Indonesia, we would like to respond to a letter from Singgih Ananto published in The Jakarta Post on May 2, 2003, about a Honda Astrea motorcycle missing from the Graha Iskandarsyah building, as follows: * It is true that Secure...

Economic partnerships between Japan, ASEAN essential

Economic partnerships between Japan, ASEAN essentialTakashi Shiraishi, Historian, Kyoto University's Center for Southeast Asian Studies, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Asia News Network, Tokyo Economic partnerships between Japan and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations most likely...

East Timorese want compensation

East Timorese want compensation KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Some 80 East Timorese held a rally outside the provincial council on Thursday to seek compensation for the assets they lost when they fled the violence that followed East Timor's separation from Indonesia in 1999.

Solving traffic congestion

Solving traffic congestion One simple solution to the chronic traffic congestion in Jakarta is to ban optional right-hand turns at busy intersections during both the morning and evening rush hours. Otherwise, the "I must go first" attitude always leads to gridlock at busy intersections where...

S'pore to get fuel cell top-up point

S'pore to get fuel cell top-up point SINGAPORE: This tiny Southeast Asian nation will be first in the region where cars that run on environmentally friendly fuel cells can top up with hydrogen, according to a news report on Thursday.

Coach looking to mend defense ahead of Lebanon tie

Coach looking to mend defense ahead of Lebanon tieMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesian under-23 players will gather here on Friday for a short training workout ahead of an away soccer match in Lebanon, with the coach seeking to shore up the defense.

Economic policies

Economic policiesFrom Suara Karya It is really regrettable that Indonesia, a country endowed with rich natural resources, is in crisis in practically all aspects of national life, as shown by the country's weak human resources and poor economic condition.

Govt orders withdrawal of 78 dugs from market

Govt orders withdrawal of 78 dugs from marketMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has ordered the withdrawal of 78 brands of traditional drugs that contain hazardous chemical substances.

Ba'asyir suit against police rejected

Ba'asyir suit against police rejected JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court rejected on Thursday a lawsuit filed by cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir against National Police over his alleged illegal arrest.

Anies Syaichu stays true to reggae

Anies Syaichu stays true to reggaeAde Tanesia Contributor Yogyakarta Mention reggae music, and the legendary Bob Marley will immediately come to mind.Despite the musical genre's popularity here for a long time -- many pubs in major cities play reggae to coax their guests out onto the dance floor --...

Rhoma reports a tabloid to police

Rhoma reports a tabloid to police JAKARTA: Dangdut musician Rhoma Irama who made the headlines following his condemnation of dangdut singer Inul Daratista, reported on Thursday tabloid Bintang Milenia for libel.

Rights body demands access to monitor war

Rights body demands access to monitor warTertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) gave a warning on Thursday of possible unchecked human rights violations in Aceh during military operations as the administrator of martial law had...

* Headlines:Govt to restrict modern retailers' operations2

* Headlines:Govt to restrict modern retailers' operations2 * National:Govt orders withdrawal of 78 traditional drugs 4 * Archipelago: Danny Setiawan elected W. Java governor5 * Opinion:RI-Australian relations better 6 * City:Foreigners deported for rallying8 * Sports:Porto snatches UEFA Cup 10 *...

APP to meet export credit agencies

APP to meet export credit agencies JAKARTA: Asia Pulp & Paper Co. will meet key creditors tomorrow to discuss their proposal for protection from a second debt default, the head of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said.

Army general skips court session for fourth time

Army general skips court session for fourth timeThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta For the fourth consecutive time, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, the former chief of the Udayana Military Command overseeing Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor, has skipped his trial at the ad hoc human rights...

Candidates for KPI unknowns

Candidates for KPI unknowns JAKARTA: Legislators are having difficulty finding out background information on most of the 32 candidates selected for the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) because they are unknowns.

Astra aims to resume bank borrowing by year-end

Astra aims to resume bank borrowing by year-endRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia's largest car manufacturer PT Astra International said it was optimistic that it could greatly reduce its debt level by the end of this year, which would allow the company to borrow from the bank...

Int'l request for govt talks with GAM unfair: Minister

Int'l request for govt talks with GAM unfair: MinisterFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda criticized the repeated calls by the international community for Jakarta to pursue dialog with separatist group Free Aceh Movement (GAM) as being...

Victims of war

Victims of war Surely it is too early to predict the outcome of the ongoing "integrated operations" in Aceh, only a few days into the state of military emergency? The facts, however, already indicate large flaws in the supposedly well-prepared, military-dominated operations.

* Headlines:Govt to restrict modern retailers' operations2

* Headlines:Govt to restrict modern retailers' operations2 * National:Govt orders withdrawal of 78 traditional drugs 4 * Archipelago: Danny Setiawan elected W. Java governor5 * Opinion:RI-Australian relations better 6 * City:Foreigners deported for rallying8 * Sports:Porto snatches UEFA Cup 10 *...

Travel industry seeks financial aid to weather multiple crisis

Travel industry seeks financial aid to weather multiple crisisFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's travel industry has asked the government for a subsidized credit facility to help travel agencies battle the collapsing tourism business due to the outbreak of Severe Acute...

Foreigners busted for visa violations

Foreigners busted for visa violations JAKARTA: Nine foreigners were apprehended on Wednesday by officers from the Directorate General of Immigration for violating the Immigration Law.The foreigners, eight of whom are Taiwanese and one Japanese, were detained while working at a firm on Jl.

Drug smuggling foiled at airport

Drug smuggling foiled at airport TANGERANG: Authorities seized 39,034 ecstasy pills packaged in two food containers that were sent on flight GA-975 from Amsterdam to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport last Friday.

Sao Paulo to bid 2012 Olympics

Sao Paulo to bid 2012 Olympics SAO PAULO: The Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB) has started a series of inspections in Sao Paulo with a view to the city bidding for the 2012 Summer Olympics.City mayor Marta Suplicy said: "Hosting the Olympics would be important for the whole continent as a South...

Aceh Besar: Three GAM separatists were shot dead in a skirmish

Aceh Besar: Three GAM separatists were shot dead in a skirmish with Army troops in Ujung Pancu district.East Aceh: A TNI company in Cakra clashed with GAM fighters in Seribu Hill, some 400 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Banda Aceh.

Five years sought for bomb suspects

Five years sought for bomb suspectsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Prosecutors on Thursday asked for a five-year jail sentence for Ramli, alias Dadang Hermana, 42, who is on trial in connection with the bomb explosion at Graha Cijantung mall in East Jakarta on July 1, 2002.

Cashless parking system on trial in Jakarta's streets

Cashless parking system on trial in Jakarta's streetsZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The new on-street parking system, which will provide parking attendants with hand-held computers, is to be launched on May 28 on Jl.

Singapore endorses wage cuts for SARS-hit industries

Singapore endorses wage cuts for SARS-hit industries Agence France-Presse Singapore The Singaporean government endorsed on Thursday recommendations by the National Wages Council (NWC) for companies hit hard by the SARS fallout to cut salaries in order to save jobs and survive the crisis.

Cash-less parking system on trial

Cash-less parking system on trialZakki Hakim The Jakarta Post Jakarta The new on-street parking system, which will provide parking attendants with handheld computers, is to be launched on May 28 on Jl. Agus Salim, Central Jakarta, an official said on Thursday, but most of the parking attendants...

Raids give Acehnese the jitters

Raids give Acehnese the jittersBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The raids conducted by the city police and city officials against alleged members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in the capital have caused anxiety among the Acehnese here.

Ba'asyir suit against police rejected

Ba'asyir suit against police rejected JAKARTA: The South Jakarta District Court rejected on Thursday a lawsuit filed by cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir against National Police over his alleged illegal arrest.

_____________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates May 22 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling BuyingAustralian dollar 1 5,773.05 5,115.34 5,473.61 5,414.

TV Today: Friday, May 23, 2003

TV Today: Friday, May 23, 2003 .TB.30" .90"TVRI .tb .30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:00 English News Service10:00 Quiz: Dibisikin11:00 News: Berita Dearah12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang1:00 Talk Show: Konsultasi Keluarga2:00 News: Metro Indonesia2:30 Music3:30 Documentary 4:00 Music5:00 Variety...

RI bans Canadian meat over BSE fears

RI bans Canadian meat over BSE fearsDow Jones, Jakarta Indonesia has banned all imports of meat and meat products from Canada with immediate effect, a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday.

Where to go in Jakarta:Friday, May 23, 2003

Where to go in Jakarta:Friday, May 23, 2003Exhibitions* Graphic Design Fragment of Imagination, The British Council, S. Widjojo Center 1st floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 71, South Jakarta (Tel. 2524115), until June 30.

Too many political parties

Too many political parties From Kompas On a recent television program, Burhanuddin N, chairman of the alumni group of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas), said the presence of some 240 political parties in Indonesia was politically and economically disadvantageous.

RI lacks surgeons: ISA

RI lacks surgeons: ISASari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With a population of over 200 million, Indonesia has only about 2,000 surgeons, a ratio of 1 to 100,000, which is ten times less than the ideal situation for a country.

Bank Mandiri to meet investors on $300m sale

Bank Mandiri to meet investors on $300m sale Bloomberg Jakarta PT Bank Mandiri will contact investors from today as it prepares to raise as much as $300 million in Indonesia's biggest initial share sale since November 1996, said a banker involved in the sale.

Creation of new regencies to disrupt poll preparations

Creation of new regencies to disrupt poll preparationsKurniawan Hari and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) demanded on Thursday that the House of Representatives (DPR) stop discussing bills on the establishment of new municipalities and regencies by June...

People unaware of new Constitution

People unaware of new Constitution JAKARTA: A series of visits by members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to provinces revealed that local residents did not clearly understand amendments to the 1945 Constitution.

Rival camps set for PPP chairmanship race

Rival camps set for PPP chairmanship raceA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Five provincial chapters of the United Development Party (PPP) announced their support for the reelection of Hamzah Haz on Thursday, but demanded that in return he recruit young cadres to fill 70 percent of positions...

Megawati to visit Bangladesh

Megawati to visit Bangladesh DHAKA: Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri is expected to visit Bangladesh next month, a foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday.He told reporters Megawati's itinerary was "being worked out" and did not give an exact date.

Australia's secret still leaks

Australia's secret still leaksJohannes Simbolon, The Jakarta Post, Canberra In Australia, the government's budget is a top secret until it is delivered to parliament, as it is in Indonesia.In Australia, some content of the budget is usually leaked to the press prior to its official delivery to...

Has GAM bitten off more than it can chew?

Has GAM bitten off more than it can chew?Shukor Rahman, New Straits Times, Kuala Lumpur It looks as if it has badly underestimated the new-found steely resolve of President Megawati Soekarnoputri. Two years ago, Indonesia was wracked by internal turmoil and the dithering leadership of Abdurrahman...

Hypermarkets to be banned from regencies

Hypermarkets to be banned from regenciesAdianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is currently revising the existing regulations on the retail sector with the aim of preventing modern retailers from entering regencies, to protect local traditional markets, a senior official at...

~FOR ADS

~FOR ADS Freeport Publishing date: June 05 Biodiversity studies in Papua: A harbinger for future protectionSimon Sinaga Public Relations staff PT Freeport Indonesia TIMIKA: From the world's longest lizard to its most exotic bird species, the southern region of the sparsely populated Papua province...

Danny elected new West Java governor

Danny elected new West Java governorYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung For the first time in 30 years West Java has a governor with a nonmilitary background, following the gubernatorial election here on Thursday that ended with supporters from the losing candidate rioting inside the...

1. DEMO: 50 pt, 5 cols, 1 x 30

1. DEMO: 50 pt, 5 cols, 1 x 30 Foreigners deported for rallying 2. QUAKE: 36 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 16 Quake risk for RI capital 'very high' 3. ACEH: 28 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 30 Raids give Acehnese the jitters 4. SPEAK: 28 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 20 'Reform makes the rich richer, the poor poorer' 5.

Foreigners deported for rallying

Foreigners deported for rallyingDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Four foreigners were deported to their home countries on Thursday for committing what immigration officials called "a dangerous activity" by participating in a rally to protest the Indonesian government's decision to launch a...

IBRA to initiate Bank Lippo sale during June

IBRA to initiate Bank Lippo sale during JuneDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) expects to start the sale of a majority stake in Bank Lippo next month, provided it gains the backing of the House of Representatives later this month.

S. Korea's economy grows 3.7%

S. Korea's economy grows 3.7% SEOUL: South Korea's economy grew 3.7 percent year-on-year during the first quarter to March, slightly weaker than expected, the central Bank of Korea (BoK) said on Thursday.

EXHIBITION

EXHIBITIONIn the article titled Exhibition Marks 50 years of French printing published on May 20 on this page, the incorrect venue was given. The exhibition is being held at the National Gallery, Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur 14A, Jakarta 10110 (tel: 021-34833954), not at CCF Jakarta as reported.

New marine battalion inducted

New marine battalion inducted JAKARTA: The Navy inaugurated the establishment of a new marine infantry battalion during a ceremony at the Cilandak Marine Headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday.Navy chief of staff Adm.

Suicides on the rise in Gunung Kidul

Suicides on the rise in Gunung Kidul YOGYAKARTA: Police said that cases of suicide in the regency of Gunnungkidul have risen sharply during the first quarter of this year, with 13 cases, compared to 16 cases in all of 2002.Gunnungkidul Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.

Villagers claim TNI murdered 10 civilians in cold blood

Villagers claim TNI murdered 10 civilians in cold bloodAgencies, Bireuen, Aceh Indonesian troops murdered 10 civilians in cold blood, including a 12-year old boy, at a shrimp farm in Peusangan district, Bireuen Regency, Aceh early Wednesday morning, villagers claim.

Semen Gresik April cement sales fall

Semen Gresik April cement sales fall JAKARTA:Indonesia's cement maker PT Semen Gresik Thursday said its total cement sales fell 20 percent to 992,388 metric tons in April from 1.233 million tons in April last year.

The race among parties

The race among parties The reform movement has been fighting for its life amid increasing uncertainties. To certain groups of students, the reform movement has been dead, thus they urge President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz to resign for failing to maintain the spirit of...

Bank Mandiri to meet investors on $300m sale

Bank Mandiri to meet investors on $300m saleBloomberg, Jakarta PT Bank Mandiri will contact investors from today as it prepares to raise as much as $300 million in Indonesia's biggest initial share sale since November 1996, said a banker involved in the sale.

Rights court acquit former East Timor military commander

Rights court acquit former East Timor military commanderMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The ad hoc human rights tribunal acquitted on Thursday former East Timor Military commander Brig. Gen.

Cash-less parking system on trial

Cash-less parking system on trialZakki Hakim The Jakarta Post Jakarta The new on-street parking system, which will provide parking attendants with handheld computers, is to be launched on May 28 on Jl. Agus Salim, Central Jakarta, an official said on Thursday, but most of the parking attendants...

Destroying school buildings unacceptable

Destroying school buildings unacceptable Since the military offensive was launched on Monday, at least 183 schools have reportedly been torched and destroyed in the restive province of Aceh.We were informed that it was the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) that was behind the destruction, but GAM apparently...

Official questioned over alleged graft

Official questioned over alleged graftThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Head of the city population and civil registration agency Silviana Murni was questioned by prosecutors Thursday over Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) findings of alleged corruption in her office.

Quake risk for Jakarta 'very high'

Quake risk for Jakarta 'very high'Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In the event of a strong earthquake with its epicenter near Jakarta, the damage to buildings and resulting casualties would be far worse than in cities such as Tokyo or Vancouver, a report from the Agency for the Assessment...

Fears of food shortage in Aceh

Fears of food shortage in AcehThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta As schools throughout Aceh continue to burn, trucks distributing food are now being torched in what may be a campaign to create food shortages in the war-torn province.

Inquiry into Lampung council corruption case proceeds

Inquiry into Lampung council corruption case proceedsOyos Saroso, The Jakarta Post, Bandar Lampung, Lampung Prosecutors will investigate irregularities amounting to Rp 23.5 billion (about US$ 2.7 million) at the Lampung provincial council, overcoming initial hesitation to probe the matter after the...

Kalacakra brings local production to Australia

Kalacakra brings local production to AustraliaDewi Anggraeni, Contributor, Melbourne, Australia We only have to look around to realize that we have a wealth of creativity in Indonesia. Thus, in any city in the world where there are over 10,000 Indonesian students, there is bound to be an...

The race among parties

The race among parties The reform movement has been fighting for its life amid increasing uncertainties. To certain groups of students, the reform movement has been dead, thus they urge President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz to resign for failing to maintain the spirit of...

KL, Bangkok vow to crush terror, criminal activities at border

KL, Bangkok vow to crush terror, criminal activities at border M. Jegathesan Agence France-Presse Kuala LumpurMalaysia and Thailand on Thursday signed a military co-operation pact aimed at tightening security along the two countries' porous border to prevent Islamic militants from operating in the...

PLN agrees price cuts

PLN agrees price cuts JAKARTA: PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN), Indonesia's state utility company, reached agreement on price cuts or buyouts with 26 independent power producers, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said.

Covering both sides a tough challenge in Aceh war

Covering both sides a tough challenge in Aceh warThe Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh Covering a war anywhere in the world always exposes a journalist to the risks of compromising the basic principle of impartiality for his or her own safety.

Indonesia latest country to ban Canadian meat over mad cow

Indonesia latest country to ban Canadian meat over mad cow Associated Press Jakarta/WashingtonIndonesia has banned all imports of Canadian meat after a case of mad cow disease was reported in Canada, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Thursday.

Drug smuggling foiled at airport

Drug smuggling foiled at airport TANGERANG: Authorities seized 39,034 ecstasy pills packaged in two food containers that were sent on flight GA-975 from Amsterdam to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport last Friday.

Police arrest alleged terrorist bomber

Police arrest alleged terrorist bomberThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta JAKARTA: An alleged member of regional terrorist group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) had been arrested for his alleged role in a church bombing in December 2000 and for hiding a Bali bomb suspect, National Police said Thursday.

Semen Gresik April sales fall

Semen Gresik April sales fall JAKARTA:Indonesia's cement maker PT Semen Gresik Thursday said its total cement sales fell 20 percent to 992,388 metric tons in April from 1.233 million tons in April last year.

'Reform makes the rich richer, the poor poorer'

'Reform makes the rich richer, the poor poorer' On May 21, 1998, then president Soeharto yielded to demands to step down during the bloody rallies that followed the earlier May riots. Five years have passed since then and the country has seen three presidents.

Blocking access to the airport

Blocking access to the airport PT Angkasa Pura II, the company that manages Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, has the legal right to close the M1 gate on the public road leading to the airport for security reasons.

Court rejects Amrozi's defense

Court rejects Amrozi's defenseWahyoe Boediwardhana and Jongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar/Manado The Denpasar District Court judges ruled on Thursday that the trial of Bali bombing suspect Amrozi would continue after they rejected defense objections to his indictment.

Councillor charged with polygamy

Councillor charged with polygamy SURABAYA, East Java: Military prosecutors charged an East Java deputy councillor from the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) with forging documents and polygamy.Col.

TV Today: Friday, May 23, 2003

TV Today: Friday, May 23, 2003 .TB.30" .90"TVRI .tb .30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:00 English News Service10:00 Quiz: Dibisikin11:00 News: Berita Dearah12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang1:00 Talk Show: Konsultasi Keluarga2:00 News: Metro Indonesia2:30 Music3:30 Documentary 4:00 Music5:00 Variety...

World meditation center in Dieng

World meditation center in Dieng PURWOKERTO, Central Java: The government is considering turning Java's oldest Hindu temple complex at the Dieng plateau in Central Java into an international center for meditation.

Councillor charged with polygamy

Councillor charged with polygamy SURABAYA, East Java: Military prosecutors charged an East Java deputy councillor from the National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) with forging documents and polygamy.Col.

Oil tankers attacked in Myanmar

Oil tankers attacked in Myanmar THAILAND: Unidentified gunmen attacked two oil tankers on Thursday in a border area of Myanmar where a series of bomb explosions killed four people a day earlier, Thai officials and a resident said.