Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 May 2003

87 articles found

Please refer to computer column counting

Please refer to computer column counting 1. Aceh -- 5 cols, 1 line, 60 pts MB, 25 counts Students in Aceh sit final exams2. Amrozi -- 2 cols, 3 lines, 36 pts MB, 51 counts (17 each) Witnesses recall horror of Bali bombings 3.

Reclamation project jinxed from the outset

Reclamation project jinxed from the outset The Jakarta City administration's plan to reclaim part of the Jakarta Bay for commercial projects has sparked controversy. The Jakarta Post's reporters Bambang Nurbianto and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak look into the issue.

1. DUIT (4 x 12)

1. DUIT (4 x 12) Asian monies mostly up, rupiah at record high 2. OPEC (2 x 21) OPEC to cut output to avoid price collapse

Witnesses recall horror of Bali bombings

Witnesses recall horror of Bali bombingsWahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Nine survivors who took the witness stand on Monday had one thing in common. They have still not overcome the trauma that has haunted them for the eight months since bombs destroyed two popular nightclubs...

* Headlines: Mega says she got fake medicine from doctors 2

* Headlines: Mega says she got fake medicine from doctors 2 * National: RI seeks better security synergy among ASEAN 4 * Archipelago: N. Sumatra reelects Rizal Nurdin as governor 5 * Opinion: U.S. tired misunderstanding of SE Asia 7 * City: 17 inmates escape from Bekasi prison 8 * Sports: Chinese...

Crew blamed for ferry tragedy

Crew blamed for ferry tragedy PHILIPPINES: Rescuers searched rough seas off the Philippine capital on Monday for survivors of a ferry collision that claimed at least 28 lives, as officials blamed crew incompetence for the accident.

Students ask police to release friends

Students ask police to release friends JAKARTA: A number of students demanded on Monday that police release eight of their colleagues under police detention following their arrest on May 21 in front of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly.

136 people treated for food poisoning

136 people treated for food poisoning BOGOR: A total of 136 residents of Pasir Datar hamlet in Cibening village, Pamijahan district, Bogor regency, were taken to community health centers last Friday morning with food poisoning.Four of the people were still being treated at the center on Monday.

Toyota, Honda lift ban on trips to Guangzhou

Toyota, Honda lift ban on trips to GuangzhouDeutsche Presse-Agentur, Tokyo Honda Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. announced on Monday the lift of a business trip ban to Chinese production bases in Guangdong province, hit hard by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Bank Sumsel to issue Rp 200b worth of bonds

Bank Sumsel to issue Rp 200b worth of bondsEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The development bank of South Sumatra, Bank Sumsel, is to issue five-year bonds worth Rp 200 billion (about US$24 million) with fixed interest rates ranging from 14.25 percent to 14.75 percent per annum.

Polygamous councillor sentenced to jail

Polygamous councillor sentenced to jail SURABAYA, East Java: An East Java deputy council speaker from the Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) faction was sentenced on Monday to four months in jail by a local military court on charges of fraud, carried out to enable him to take a second wife.

Govt orders split of Papua into 3 provinces

Govt orders split of Papua into 3 provincesNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has asked Papua Governor Jaap Solossa to enforce a controversial law enacted in 1999 that orders the province of Papua be split in three.

Golkar begins presidential screening

Golkar begins presidential screening JAKARTA: Hasta Karya, a forum of eight organizations under the Golkar Party, began screening four presidential hopefuls on Monday at the Mulia Hotel here, months before the party holds national congresses in October 2003 and February 2004.

President says she got fake medicine

President says she got fake medicineThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri disclosed here on Monday that she was once given fake medicine by presidential doctors, an incident that draws attention to the widespread distribution of such medicine within the country.

136 people treated for food poisoning

136 people treated for food poisoning BOGOR: A total of 136 residents of Pasir Datar hamlet in Cibening village, Pamijahan district, Bogor regency, were taken to community health centers last Friday morning with food poisoning.Four of the people were still being treated at the center on Monday.

Description of 'indigenous'

Description of 'indigenous'From Koran Tempo There has been much discussion of late on presidential candidates, though the law regulating this matter has yet to be thoroughly discussed by the House of Representatives.

TPJ urged not to cut water supply

TPJ urged not to cut water supply JAKARTA: The City Council urged water operator PT Thames PAM Jaya (TPJ) not to cut the water supply to low-cost apartments in Klender, East Jakarta, stressing that the tenants should not become victims of alleged corruption by the management.

Conflict in Aceh

Conflict in Aceh * Another Timor massacre must be avoided -- Page 6 * Int'l NGOs will continue assistance for Aceh despite ban -- Page 3 * Legislators back TNI position against media coverage -- Page 3 * Scholar condemns arrest of right activists -- Page 3

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_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates May 26 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling BuyingAustralian dollar 1 5,709.37 5,046.64 5,406.96 5,348.

Govt reportedly fails to pay fertilizer subsidy

Govt reportedly fails to pay fertilizer subsidyM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta An association of fertilizer producers revealed on Monday the government has yet to meet its obligation to disburse a subsidy aimed at producing affordable fertilizers for the domestic market.

'Rapid appreciation of rupiah not good for exporters'

'Rapid appreciation of rupiah not good for exporters'Dow Jones JakartaA rapid strengthening of the rupiah could hurt the country's exporters, Bank Indonesia Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah said on Monday. "A too rapid rupiah appreciation is not good for business," he told reporters.

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_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates May 26 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling BuyingAustralian dollar 1 5,709.37 5,046.64 5,406.96 5,348.

Minister predicts agriculture growth in 2004

Minister predicts agriculture growth in 2004The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's agriculture sector is expected to grow by 2 percent in 2004, up from than this year's estimate of 1.9 percent, mainly due to an increase in farmer's productivity, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih said on...

'Rupiah's surge not good for business'

'Rupiah's surge not good for business'Dow Jones, Jakarta A rapid strengthening of the rupiah could hurt the country's exporters, Bank Indonesia Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah said on Monday."A too rapid rupiah appreciation is not good for business," he told reporters.

1. RECLAIM: 1 LINE, 38 COUNTS

1. RECLAIM: 1 LINE, 38 COUNTS Reclamation project jinxed from the outset 2. IMPACT: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS Planned reclamation worries the poor 3. OTDA: 2 LINES, 27 COUNTS Autonomy often leads central, local governments to feud

'Twixt orangutans and puppets

'Twixt orangutans and puppetsTarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan Each time he starts his leather puppet show in English, Ki Peter Karsono, always quote Shakespeare: "The world is but a stage and we are only players.

'Busway project to be operational by 2010'

'Busway project to be operational by 2010'Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration revealed on Monday its transportation system concept -- bus rapid transit (BRT) or busway and railway -- and said it expected it to be fully operational by 2010.

1. NGO: 2 x 28

1. NGO: 2 x 28Int'l NGOs will continue to aid Aceh, despite ban2. RIGHTS: 1 x 44Rights body asks for access to monitor Aceh3. MEDIA: 2 x 31Legislators back TNI position against media coverage in Aceh4. ACTIVIST: 1 x 36Arrest of rights activists condemned

Kuala Lumpur hazed over

Kuala Lumpur hazed over MALAYSIA: Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur was shrouded on Monday in a smoky blanket of haze caused by a prolonged dry spell, as well as smoke from forest fires in Indonesia, environmental officers said.

Managing customer expectations no easy job

Managing customer expectations no easy jobTaufik Hidayat Contributor Jakarta When business is thriving and customers are lining up for your products, you feel deeply contented and think that you are going in the right direction.

Rights body asks for access to monitor Aceh

Rights body asks for access to monitor AcehTertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With the war in Aceh entering its second week, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) plans to dispatch an ad hoc team to monitor the military operation in the province, as reports on human...

Chinese coach to lead RI divers to SEA Games

Chinese coach to lead RI divers to SEA GamesMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian aquatic sport authority has turned to China in an effort to step up the performance of its divers ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

U.S. tired misunderstanding of SE Asia

U.S. tired misunderstanding of SE AsiaMichael J. Montesano, Assistant Professor, Southeast Asian Studies Program, The National University of Singapore For all its glitter and buzz, Monday's White House state dinner in honor of Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo could not conceal the...

PKB may not name presidential candidates soon

PKB may not name presidential candidates soonA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Awakening Party (PKB)'s national meeting, scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Thursday this week, may end without the party having named its candidates for the 2004 presidential election.

Parties differ on election debates

Parties differ on election debates JAKARTA: The issue of whether presidential candidates in 2004 should be required to take part in public debates has yet to be resolved by legislators deliberating the bill on presidential elections.

17 inmates escape from detention in Bekasi

17 inmates escape from detention in BekasiDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two days after two inmates escaped from a detention cell at the Matraman Police station in East Jakarta, 17 detainees made good their escape from the Bekasi Police station on Monday morning by sawing through the...

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_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates 23 May ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling BuyingAustralian dollar 1 5,794.50 5,133.98 5,493.77 5,434.

Mine clearing to begin in Ambon

Mine clearing to begin in Ambon AMBON, Maluku: Soldiers are set to clean scores of land mines in Sirimau district, outside the provincial capital of Ambon, that were planted during the three-year sectarian clash.

A broader perspective on Aceh

A broader perspective on Aceh Students turned out to be among the first victims of violence in Aceh (since the military operations). More than 300 school buildings in the troubled province of Aceh were set ablaze as of Sunday, May 25, forcing about 100,000 children to stay at home.

Agriculture sector to grow by 2% next year

Agriculture sector to grow by 2% next yearThe Jakarta Post JakartaThe country's agriculture sector is expected to grow by 2 percent in 2004, up from than this year's estimate of 1.9 percent, mainly due to an increase in farmer's productivity, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih said on Monday.

Antam may issue $150m bond in 3Q

Antam may issue $150m bond in 3Q JAKARTA: Indonesia's state-owned gold and nickel miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) may issue US$150 million in bonds in the third quarter to help finance a new ferronickel smelter project, an official with the company said over the weekend.

2. AIDS 2 lines x 20

2. AIDS 2 lines x 20 HIV/AIDS cases in Papua reach alarming level 3. Papua 2 lines x 18 Govt orders split of Papua into 3 provinces

Ay Tjoe brings new luster to graphic art

Ay Tjoe brings new luster to graphic artCarla Bianpoen, Contributor, Jakarta At a time when graphic art have been left to artists with clear ideals and great integrity, such as Marida Nasution (born 1956) and a few other senior artists, Ay Tjoe Christine (born 1974) fills the spaces of Edwin Galeri...

Int'l NGOs will continue to aid Aceh, despite ban

Int'l NGOs will continue to aid Aceh, despite banFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta International organizations will continue providing humanitarian assistance for Aceh people, despite the government's ban imposed on foreign agencies wishing to enter the war-torn province.

N. Sumatra reelects Rizal Nurdin as governor

N. Sumatra reelects Rizal Nurdin as governorApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra The North Sumatra legislative council voted on Monday 51 to 33 to reelect Rizal Nurdin as governor for another five years, in one of the few major regional election victories for the Indonesian...

Mine clearing to begin in Ambon

Mine clearing to begin in Ambon AMBON, Maluku: Soldiers are set to clean scores of land mines in Sirimau district, outside the provincial capital of Ambon, that were planted during the three-year sectarian clash.

Autonomy often leads central, local government to feud

Autonomy often leads central, local government to feud The ongoing saga between the city administration and State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim is just another example of a dispute between central and regional administrations over who gets the last word in implementing regional...

Expo urges public to buy Indonesian goods

Expo urges public to buy Indonesian goodsZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In silence, yet full of excitement, Herwantoko walked around the main exhibition hall, his face a picture of awe and appreciation.

Another Timor massacre must be avoided

Another Timor massacre must be avoidedAboeprijadi Santoso, Radio Netherlands, Amsterdam, aboeprijadi@yahoo.com Indonesia's past experience with East Timor has been a lesson of political, military and human disaster.

Haze returns to Pontianak

Haze returns to Pontianak The start of this year's dry season in West Kalimantan was not only marked by the absence of rain over the past two weeks, but also by the return of thick haze over the provincial capital of Pontianak.

Bill on health insurance covers all citizens

Bill on health insurance covers all citizensMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to improve the poor health insurance system, the House of Representatives has drafted an initiative do you mean "initial"? bill on national social health insurance that covers all citizens.

Antam may issue $150m bond in 3Q

Antam may issue $150m bond in 3Q JAKARTA: Indonesia's state-owned gold and nickel miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) may issue US$150 million in bonds in the third quarter to help finance a new ferronickel smelter project, an official with the company said over the weekend.

Students in Aceh sit final exams

Students in Aceh sit final examsThe Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe/Banda Aceh Elementary school pupils in warn-torn Aceh crammed into mosques and partially burned classrooms on Monday to take their national final examinations, days after unidentified arsonists burned down hundreds of schools.

Agency sets individual bank deposit guarantee at Rp100m

Agency sets individual bank deposit guarantee at Rp100mFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The planned deposit guarantee agency may only guarantee individual bank deposits of not more than Rp 100 million (about US$11,628 at present rates), a senior finance ministry official said here on...

ADB grants $4m to fight SARS

ADB grants $4m to fight SARSAgence France-Presse, Manila The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved technical assistance grants totaling US$4 million to prevent the spread of SARS in China and several other countries in Asia-Pacific.

Security tight for joint Cabinet meet

Security tight for joint Cabinet meet THAILAND: Security will be tight at a forthcoming joint Cabinet meeting between Thailand and Cambodia after a threat against Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was revealed last week, a Thai official said on Monday.

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

1. CELL: 50 pt, 2 cols, 4 x 12 17 inmates escape from detention in Bekasi 2. BETAWI: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 25Betawi Center is a work in progress' 3. PPI: 28 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 20 Expo urges public to buy Indonesian goods 4. SPEAK: 28 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 30 'Honestly, I don't like reading'

Parties differ on election debates

Parties differ on election debates JAKARTA: The issue of whether presidential candidates in 2004 should be required to take part in public debates has yet to be resolved by legislators deliberating the bill on presidential elections.

JP/4/head27

JP/4/head271. 5 columns, 1 X 44 Bill on health insurance covers all citizens 2. 2 columns, 3 X 20 PKB meeting may not name presidential candidates 3. 3 columns, 2 X 25 Celebrities told to support antitobacco drive 4. 2 columns, 2 X 20 Indonesia seeks more cooperation in ASEAN

Celebrities told to support antitobacco drive

Celebrities told to support antitobacco driveSari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The latest survey on the smoking habits of high-school students should be a matter of concern to all: 42 percent of 2,047 students surveyed in Jakarta admitted to being active smokers, 43.

IBRA expects APP restructuring deal in July

IBRA expects APP restructuring deal in JulyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) expected Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) to reach a final debt restructuring agreement with its creditors in early July.IBRA Chairman Syafruddin Temenggung was quoted on Monday by detik.

Planned reclamation worries the poor

Planned reclamation worries the poor Sidiq, 50, has been renting a small boat to tourists at Muara Baru Bay in North Jakarta for about 20 years. He is happy with his job, through which he earns enough to support himself, his wife and their two children.

Betawi Cultural Center a work in progress

Betawi Cultural Center a work in progressArya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Anyone who turned up at the newly opened Betawi Center on Monday expecting to view books, pictures and documents on the Betawi ethnic group would have discovered that the center remains a work in progress.

OPEC to cut output to avoid price collapse

OPEC to cut output to avoid price collapseAgence France-Presse, Doha OPEC can be expected to agree to slash production at a ministerial meeting in Qatar on June 11 to avoid a price collapse, OPEC President Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah told AFP on Monday, strongly defending Iraq's position within...

'Honestly, I dont like reading'

'Honestly, I dont like reading' Reading is definitely not all the rage here in Indonesia. The Jakarta Post spoke with several people who said they did not have the time to read, nor could they afford to buy books.

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_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates May 26 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling BuyingAustralian dollar 1 5,709.37 5,046.64 5,406.96 5,348.

JP/1/MAP26

JP/1/MAP26Day 8: Conflict in Aceh Pidie: An Army infantry unit led by Capt. Arifin clashed with some 40 Free Aceh Movement (GAM) members in Lhok Ulam hamlet at around 11:20 a.m. local time. One of the government troops, First Sgt. Andrian Basidu was injured.

Surakarta to host Olympic 10K

Surakarta to host Olympic 10K JAKARTA: Surakarta, a Sultanate town in Central Java, is likely to host a 10K Olympic Day run in early July, a top official of the National Sports Council (KONI) said on Monday.

Indonesia seeks more cooperation in ASEAN

Indonesia seeks more cooperation in ASEANFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia will propose the establishment of a stronger, more effective Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) security agreement to be further discussed at a ministerial meeting in June.

PIB clarifies

PIB clarifies We are writing with regards to a short article published on May 24, 2003, on page 4 of The Jakarta Post entitled: PIB registers for 2004 election. We regret to inform you that there were several mistakes about crucial facts printed in the article.

'Antara' lashes out at subscribers

'Antara' lashes out at subscribers JAKARTA: Most subscribers to state-owned news agency Antara use the agency's news reports as raw material only, Antara chief editor Mohammad Sobary said on Monday."Thus our soul has been murdered by our subscribers," Sobary said during a hearing with House of...

Reckless cop shoots two girls to death

Reckless cop shoots two girls to death Two girls, a toddler and a 12-year-old, were killed by stray bullets shot by a plainclothes police officer who was chasing a suspected criminal in the Taman Sari area of West Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

Arrest of rights activists condemned

Arrest of rights activists condemnedA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A human rights activist criticized on Monday the arrest of Aceh students and rights activists during the first week of a major military campaign against rebels in Aceh, warning it could worsen human rights violations by the...

Arroyo declares victory in campaign against rebels

Arroyo declares victory in campaign against rebelsAgence France-Presse, Manila President Gloria Arroyo on Monday declared victory in a 10-day- old military campaign against "terrorist cells" allegedly sheltered by the largest Moro separatist group in the southern Philippines.

Malaysia set to launch antiterror center

Malaysia set to launch antiterror centerAgencies, Kuala Lumpur A Southeast Asian antiterrorism center that was proposed by the United States will begin operating in Malaysia before the end of the year, a diplomat heading the project said on Monday.

Asia's Q1 server sales up

Asia's Q1 server sales up SINGAPORE: Computer server sales in the Asia Pacific increased 7 percent to US$ 1.12 billion in the first quarter from a year ago but the SARS outbreak could hit demand in the June quarter, an industry monitor said on Monday.Technology research house Gartner Inc.

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_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates May 26 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling BuyingAustralian dollar 1 5,709.37 5,046.64 5,406.96 5,348.

Candidates should be tested

Candidates should be testedFrom Kompas Top management of banks and state-owned enterprises, as well as officials at some state institutions now undergo a test of their suitability.If this test had been conducted much earlier, many of the banks in this country would not have gone bankrupt due to...

Batam running short of water

Batam running short of water BATAM, Riau Islands: A local water company warned that drought might hit the industrial island of Batam, as water catchment areas were shrinking, giving way to business complexes.

Motorcycle thieves arrested

Motorcycle thieves arrested SEMARANG, Central Java: Police here arrested five alleged members of a gang specializing in motorcycle thefts in the regencies of Kudus and Jepara.A joint team of the Kudus and Jepara police precincts raided the suspects' hiding place in the village of Muryolobo in...

Genuine excellence or just lip service?

Genuine excellence or just lip service?Andi Muh. Sadat Contributor Jakarta At certain hotels you may have experienced their royal treatment right from the moment you arrive. A friendly, smiling bellboy opens the door of your car and greets you.

War in Aceh

War in Aceh Peace talks between the Indonesian government and separatist rebels from Aceh province held in Tokyo broke off with no agreement. Within hours, Indonesia's President Megawati Soekarnoputri declared effective martial law in Aceh and ordered an army assault on the Free Aceh Movement, the...

Paradise lost?

Paradise lost? Leaving economic and political problems aside for a while, it must be admitted that Indonesia is a formidable geographical entity indeed. This country of more than 17,500 islands -- the largest archipelago in the world -- stretches for a distance of more than 6,400 kilometers across...

Legislators back TNI position against media coverage in Aceh

Legislators back TNI position against media coverage in AcehKurniawan Hari and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A number of legislators on Monday regretted most reports on Aceh by both domestic and international media, and demanded the government to find a mechanism to control...

The value of service lies in a moment of truth

The value of service lies in a moment of truthRoy Goni Contributor JakartaWill services provide a competitive advantage for a company? The answer is a definite "yes". Today, companies realize that, in the long term, their products alone cannot bring in profits, but the intangible element of...

HIV/AIDS cases in Papua reach alarming level

HIV/AIDS cases in Papua reach alarming levelNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua Compared to Papua province's population of 2.1 million, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS cases in the province has reached an alarming level with a total of 1,263 people with HIV, including 539 who have...

Mulia Senayan wins international award

Mulia Senayan wins international awardThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The American Academy of Hospitality Sciences, the world's leading hotel rating agency, has granted the Hotel Mulia Senayan the 5- Star Diamond Award for its high standard of service.