Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 29 May 2003

76 articles found

Ikasi chooses 40 athletes for SEA Games tryout

Ikasi chooses 40 athletes for SEA Games tryout Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Fencing Association (Ikasi) has selected 40 athletes to undergo a tryout ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. The athletes were chosen from 60 contenders at Wednesday's qualifying session, at the Bung Karno sports complex in Central Jakarta. The group is made up of 24 men: eight each competing in saber, epee and foil, and 16 women: eight in saber, four each in epee and foil.

An uphill climb: Tobacco-free entertainment industry

An uphill climb: Tobacco-free entertainment industry Sari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post Jakarta The World Health Organization (WHO) has called upon actors, singers and others working in the entertainment industry, especially those working in film and fashion, to stop promoting tobacco.

Witnesses give new insight into JI network in Indonesia

Witnesses give new insight into JI network in Indonesia Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Three witnesses provided on Wednesday new insights into the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network in the country but did not link suspected JI leader Abu Bakar Ba'asyir to charges over treason and document forgery.

From Media Indonesia

From Media Indonesia It was reported some time ago in the print and electronic media that the president director of PT Jamsostek, Ahmad Djunaidi, and the company's directors of investment and finance were suspects in an alleged corruption case worth over Rp 23 billion in this particular company. This case was concerned with the payment of compensation for land in Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jakarta, now the site of Menara Jamsostek building.

SBI rate falls to 10.44%

SBI rate falls to 10.44% The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The interest rate on the one-month Bank Indonesia SBI promissory notes fell to 10.44 percent on Wednesday during the weekly bidding, compared to 10.68 percent in the previous week. The central bank has been guiding its benchmark rate downward for over a year now amid low inflation and the rupiah's stronger exchange rate against the U.S. dollar.

Thai army chief to visit Indonesia

Thai army chief to visit Indonesia THAILAND: Thailand's army chief Gen. Somdhat Attanand will visit Indonesia next week to discuss weapons smuggling with his Indonesian counterpart, an army official said on Wednesday. Thailand's foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai visited Jakarta last week and met with President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Rights body denounces Kontras attack

Rights body denounces Kontras attack The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The attack on the office of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Tuesday was part of efforts to stifle the anti-war movement, the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) asserted. Komnas HAM also said on Wednesday that the attack was a serious crime as Kontras was a human rights organization with a legal mandate to participate in ensuring better rights protection for all people.

North Aceh: Four GAM leaders were transferred from Medan police

North Aceh: Four GAM leaders were transferred from Medan police to North Aceh police. They four are Mustafa Ibrahim, GAM commander for Cot Koplan area in North Aceh, his wife Nurlina, Nurdin Ibrahim, a GAM coordinator for Medan and Iswandi. Military forces found various weapons, home-made bombs, ammunition, cables and detonators in Matangkuli village, Tanah Luas district. Military personnel found car ownership documents issued by GAM police for the Samudera Pasai area.

Don't shoot the messengers

Don't shoot the messengers The first casualty when war comes is Truth, pronounced U.S. Sen. Hiram Johnson back in 1917. In the case of the war in Aceh, truth has become the second casualty after education, following the torching of hundreds of schools in the first week after martial law was imposed.

New visa

New visa Correction: In the letter New visa hurts RI's tourism by Evan Willis published on May 28, the name Julia Sitorus referred to in the first paragraph should be Junita Sitorus. We apologize for the error and the inconvenience it has caused. --Editor

Govt to recruit 190,000 teachers

Govt to recruit 190,000 teachers JAKARTA: The government said on Wednesday it would recruit 190,000 contract teachers next year and 47,000 in the following year to overcome the shortage of teachers. Secretary-general of the Ministry of Education Makmuri Muchlas said the contract teachers would be hired on a three-year basis although their contract could be extended if they performed well. "We will take candidates from their own regions," he told a press conference.

[i][b]the figure needs to be checked. Is this total debt or just to

the figure needs to be checked. Is this total debt or just to PLN? Ardimas Sasdi Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Jakarta ardimas@thejakartapsot.com State-owned television company TVRI is in the news again, but this time not in a positive light. Recent media reports say that TVRI, especially its branches in several provinces, are facing serious financial problems, and that some have even gone off air.

SARS worse than Iraq war, Bali bombings for tourism

SARS worse than Iraq war, Bali bombings for tourism M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika says that if the spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was not contained soon, Indonesia expected to see a plunge in the number of tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings by year's end.

National education

National education One of the objectives of education is to unite the community, not divide it. I strongly believe that our national educational system is striving for this absolute goal. This is due to the fact that our country is inhabited by people from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, each with a different culture and tradition. Given that situation, the national education bill should not be enacted to become national education law.

TNI, police officers to withdraw from Poso

TNI, police officers to withdraw from Poso The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has ordered the withdrawal of 1,000 soldiers and police officers from the Central Sulawesi regency of Poso, in a further sign of improved security in the area after three years of clashes between Muslims and Christians. Central Sulawesi Police chief Brig. Gen. Taufiq Ridha said the 1,000 security personnel were reinforcement troops sent to Poso to curb sectarian clashes between 1999 and 2002.

Text messages steer war from Sweden

Text messages steer war from Sweden Anna Peltola, Reuters, Stockholm In a grim Stockholm suburb, a group of men meet daily to plot the strategy of a guerrilla war fought 10,000 kilometers (6,210 miles) away in separatist Aceh, where Indonesia launched a military campaign two weeks ago.

Information on sex and abortion needed

Information on sex and abortion needed Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A noted abortion expert said on Wednesday the high number of maternal deaths from unsafe abortions was partly the fault of the media, which has failed to educate the public about the issue. The national media, according to Kartono Muhammad, often portrays premarital sex and abortion as moral issues, and sensationalizes these issues to sell papers and attract viewers.

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, May 29, 2003

Where to go in Bali for Thursday, May 29, 2003 Film * Asian Films at Gaya Fusion of Senses, Jl. Raya Sayan, Ubud (Tel. 0361 979253), 7 p.m.: In the Mood for Love (June 6), A Touch of Zen (June 9), Too Many Ways To Be no. 1 (June 13), Peking Opera Blues (June 16), Expect the Unexpected (June 20), The Mission (June 23), Juliet in Love (June 27), Bullet in the Head (June 30). Museums and Galleries * Sika Galery, Jl. Raya Campuhan Sanggingan, Ubud (Tel. 0361 975727, 975085) * Blue Moon Gallery, Jl.

DPD to have less power than DPR

DPD to have less power than DPR JAKARTA: The Regional Representatives Council (DPD) will be prevented from disrupting the decision making process in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), a legislator says. Yahya Zaini said his Golkar faction would suggest that the bill on the composition of legislative bodies now being deliberated should not give the DPD power that matched that of the House of Representatives regarding the decision making process in the MPR.

Rights body to go to Aceh despite govt's reservation

Rights body to go to Aceh despite govt's reservation Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is determined to send its members to war-torn Aceh early next week to monitor possible rights violations there despite lukewarm consent from the government and a condition that it play "fair". Commission member M.M.

Government to boost countertrade programs

Government to boost countertrade programs Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Ministry of Industry and Trade plans to seek more countertrade deals in nontraditional export markets, in a bid to increase export revenue and counter the economic slowdown in developed nations. Minister Rini MS Soewandi said the move was essential because exports to traditional markets like the U.S., Japan and Europe were expected to decline.

RI crew going home after abuse on ship

RI crew going home after abuse on ship NEW ZEALAND: Six Indonesian crew members were taken off a freighter in New Zealand's port of Nelson on Wednesday after the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) said they had been mistreated, underpaid and underfed. One of them told Radio New Zealand the crew had been given water drawn from the Panama Canal to drink while the captain's dog had mineral water.

Park Chan-Kyong

Park Chan-Kyong Agence France-Presse Seoul Creditors have decided to put SK Global, the ailing trading arm of South Korean conglomerate SK Group, under court receivership for liquidation, a spokesman for top creditor Hana Bank said Wednesday. The liquidation of SK Global, whose fraudulent bookkeeping triggered a liquidity crisis in March, could lead to the break up of the country's third largest business group, analysts said.

U.S. warns Malaysia's 'sharp-tongued' leaders

U.S. warns Malaysia's 'sharp-tongued' leaders Reuters, Kuala Lumpur The U.S. envoy to Malaysia gave the Southeast Asian nation's leaders a public warning on Wednesday that relations will go downhill unless they curb their sometimes "offensive" criticism of Washington's foreign policy. While other friendly countries also disagreed with the war in Iraq, Malaysian leaders upset senior members of the U.S.

Govt claims early success in Aceh operation

Govt claims early success in Aceh operation Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite several shortcomings, the government said on Wednesday the ongoing military operation to crush the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in the province had been nothing but a success and was moving faster then expected.

Supersemar scholarship

Supersemar scholarship From Kompas Education has become very expensive lately. It is only natural, therefore, that poor university students with a good grades should receive scholarships. It is for this purpose that a "Supersemar" scholarship has come into being. Unfortunately, recipients of the scholarship receive the money very late. The money for the period covering April 2002 to March 2003, for example, was half paid in September 2002.

_____________________________________________________________________________________ Rupiah Rates May 28 ______________________________________________________________________________________ Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 5,738.23 5,077.06 5,436.53 5,378.54 Brunei dollar 1 5,052.67 4,471.31 4,787.01 4,736.81 Canadian dollar 1 6,347.71 5,616.51 6,013.96 5,950.01 Swiss franc 1 6,785.33 6,004.35 6,428.57 6,360.88 Danish krone 1 1,391.10 1,231.28...

Australia provides A$4.5 in aid

Australia provides A$4.5 in aid DENPASAR, Bali: Indonesia and Australia signed an agreement on financial aid worth at A$4.5 million (US$2.97 million), most of which will be used to build a new Intensive Care Center at the Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar. The two-story center will cost A$3.6 million, and the project is expected to begin in June and be completed early in 2004. Australia and the Bali provincial health office are discussing the most effective form of the remaining A$900,000 assistance.

Reward offered for illegal loggers

Reward offered for illegal loggers KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Tongkuno district chief La Ode Kardini has offered a Rp 100,000 (US$12) reward for any information leading to the arrest of illegal loggers in his Southeast Sulawesi district in Muna regency. He has urged the public not to be afraid to come forward and share their information, assuring that their identities would be kept confidential.

Support the war -- or else

Support the war -- or else Ugly scenes straight out of the days of the New Regime continue to confront us. This time, it was Tuesday's attack on the office of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras). The incident immediately brought to mind the same way used in the past to force consent -- violence, conducted shamelessly in broad daylight, because the perpetrators know they will most likely walk free.

Illegal fees squeeze bus drivers

Illegal fees squeeze bus drivers Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Public bus drivers are forced to pay, on average, up to Rp 40,000 for legal and illegal fees each day, a factor that has caused their services and safety to worsen, a survey reveals.

Bogus soldier marries six times

Bogus soldier marries six times The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Outfitted in fatigues and brimming with confidence, 33-year- old Abdul Rochman married six times before his engagement with a seventh woman landed him in jail after the girl's father reported the bogus soldier to authorities in the West Java capital of Bandung. "This man was using a military uniform to get the attention of the girls he was after," said Bandung Police crime unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Masguntur Laupe on Wednesday.

Average transaction values suffer fall: JSX management

Average transaction values suffer fall: JSX management Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX), said the average value of daily transactions on the floor from January to April plunged by around 40 percent to Rp 303 billion (US$36.5 million) compared to the same period last year.

1,300 traffic violations in 10 spots

1,300 traffic violations in 10 spots JAKARTA: The police announced that at least 1,300 traffic violations had occurred in 10 trouble spots across the city, mostly committed by public transportation drivers, during a special traffic operation since May 13. City police Traffic Division chief Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Ishak said 900 traffic violations had been committed by public transportation drivers. "The violations range from going through red lights to disregarding traffic signs," said Sulistyo.

Indramayu regent dismisses threat of tax boycott

Indramayu regent dismisses threat of tax boycott Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu, West Java Indramayu Regent Irianto M.S. Syafiudin has dismissed demands made by village heads who have threatened to stop paying property tax, saying that paying tax was every citizen's obligation.

'I never see youngsters reading'

'I never see youngsters reading' The Indonesian Publishers Association is currently holding this year's Book Fair, which lasts until Sunday. The association is hopeful that the fair will encourage more people to read, a habit that seems to be severely lacking in Indonesia. Several people spoke with The Jakarta Post about the issue. Rani, 21, in her final year at Trisakti University in West Jakarta, where she majors in accounting.

[b]Does extension of conflict

Does extension of conflict in Aceh benefit anyone? Imanuddin Razak Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Jakarta iman@thejakartapost.com 2. Yale29 -- Global Prosperity at Risk 2 X 30 G-8 leaders must work to prevent collapse of WTO's Doha Round Ernesto Zedillo Director Yale Center for the Study of Globalization New Haven

Cop named suspect in fatal shooting

Cop named suspect in fatal shooting JAKARTA: The stray bullets which killed two girls and injured the mother of one of the girls in the Taman Sari area of West Jakarta on Monday, allegedly came from the pistol of First Brig. Budi who was chasing alleged drug dealers. "We've found residual powder in the pistol belonging to First Brig. Budi. He also admitted that he had fired the bullets during the incident," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo on Wednesday.

RI opens the door to further ASEAN investments

RI opens the door to further ASEAN investments Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia has fully phased out its temporary exclusion list (TEL) in the industrial sector for investment from Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries in 2003, and is ready to do the same for four other sectors -- agriculture, mining, forestry and fishery -- by 2010, in accordance with the ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) protocol.

MILF separatists offer 10-day truce

MILF separatists offer 10-day truce PHILIPPINES: Muslim separatists declared on Wednesday a 10-day unilateral cease-fire from next week to give peace talks a chance to resume in the troubled southern Philippines, 12 days into a campaign of punitive strikes ordered by President Gloria Arroyo.

Govt seeks cars for ASEAN Summit

Govt seeks cars for ASEAN Summit JAKARTA: State Secretary Bambang Kesowo disclosed on Wednesday his concern about Indonesia's preparations for the ASEAN summit which is slated to take place in October in Bali. Bambang said that among his main concerns was how to procure world-class cars for heads of states attending the summit. He made the statement during a hearing with House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I for political, security and foreign affairs.

1. ASIA (4 x 14)

1. ASIA (4 x 14) Asia expected to outpace rest of world despite SARS 2. SPORE (2 x 24) SARS-hit airlines say the worst is probably over 3. EU (1 x 27) Euro-zone M3 growth picks up 4. DOLLAR (1 x 30) IMF says dollar action may be needed

Conflict in Aceh

Conflict in Aceh * Rights body to go to Aceh despite govt reservation -- Page 3 * Text messages steer Aceh war 10,000 km from Sweden -- Page 3 * Does extension of conflict in Aceh benefit anyone? -- Page 6

[b]RI's foreign policy

RI's foreign policy outlook after the 2004 election 2. Pro29 -- Hands off the "Super-Euro" 1 X 30 Hands off the 'magnificent' euro 3. Star -- Govt doing the right thing in attracting foreign students 2 X 21 KL doing the right thing in wooing foreign students

Indonesia offers great diving potential within region

Indonesia offers great diving potential within region Pariama Hutasoit, Contributor, Tulamben, north Bali In the eyes of a professional diver, Indonesia is pure heaven for diving and other marine sports. "The country, with its thousands of islands, has extraordinary marine assets and underwater potential," said vice president of sales, marketing and distribution for PADI Asia-Pacific Region Claus C. Nimb. PADI is one of the world's largest dive training institutions, with dive centers worldwide.

Elephants protect forests

Elephants protect forests BENGKULU, Bengkulu: The provincial nature conservation agency has formed a team of officials and elephants to safeguard protected forests against illegal logging. "The team consists of forest rangers and is assisted by 28 trained elephants," said agency head Agus Priambudi on Wednesday. He said that using elephants helped the forest rangers patrol and safeguard the 252,042 hectares of protected forests in Bengkulu.

Police promise legal action against Kontras attackers

Police promise legal action against Kontras attackers Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Police revealed on Wednesday that it had detained two members of the nationalist youth group Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM), which attacked the office of the human rights watchdog Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) on Jl. Cisadane, Central Jakarta. "We are grilling these two PPM members, Furqon and William, as suspects in the attack," said City Police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Please refer to computer column counting

Please refer to computer column counting 1. Aceh -- 2 cols, 4 lines, 60 pts MB, 28 counts Govt claims early success in Aceh operation 2. Kontras -- 5 cols, 1 line, 40 pts MB, 40 counts Rights body denounces Kontras attack or Punishment sought for Kontras attackers 3. Refugee -- 5 cols, 1 line, 36 pts MB, 45 counts Acehnese flee their homes in fear of military sweep

UGM results available via SMS

UGM results available via SMS YOGYAKARTA: Students who took the entrance test at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) will soon find out whether they have been accepted into the university through short messaging service (SMS) on their cellular phones. "The service provides candidates with easier access to their test results," said UGM rector Sofian Effendi on Wednesday, after signing an agreement on the service with telecommunications company PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo).

Planned bill to secure Bappenas' legal authority

Planned bill to secure Bappenas' legal authority Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) plans to draft a bill on economic development that will allow it to retain its role in drawing up the country's short and medium-term development programs, including the annual state budget.

Bali has abundant, untapped diving destinations

Bali has abundant, untapped diving destinations Ayu Anggraeni, Contributor, Karangasem, East Bali Tourism, which provides the bulk of the diving industry's income, is already one of Southeast Asia's most important money-spinners, and moves are afoot to further improve infrastructure and make the respective countries more palatable to international travelers.

Government warns of more forest fires

Government warns of more forest fires Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government said on Wednesday forest fires might spread from Riau, West and Central Kalimantan to several provinces in Sumatra and Kalimantan as total hot spots now reached 234. The government also urged local administrations in those islands to take necessary measures to anticipate fires which often cause haze in Malaysia and Singapore.

DPD to have less power than DPR

DPD to have less power than DPR JAKARTA: The Regional Representatives Council (DPD) will be prevented from disrupting the decision making process in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), a legislator says. Yahya Zaini said his Golkar faction would suggest that the bill on the composition of legislative bodies now being deliberated should not give the DPD power that matched that of the House of Representatives regarding the decision making process in the MPR.

Does extension of conflict in Aceh benefit anyone?

Does extension of conflict in Aceh benefit anyone? Imanuddin Razak, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta, iman@thejakartapost.com To the surprise of many, the ongoing military offensive against the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam province has led down an unexpected path -- the burning of school buildings.

Council demands M1 alternative

Council demands M1 alternative TANGERANG: The Tangerang municipal council demanded that PT Angkasa Pura, operator of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, seek an alternative security measure instead of closing the M1 airport gate. The council's Commission D chairman, Waisulkorni Mufti, said on Tuesday that the airport management should have prepared a solution that would not disrupt the residents' daily routines.

Cop named suspect in fatal shooting

Cop named suspect in fatal shooting JAKARTA: The stray bullets which killed two girls and injured the mother of one of the girls in the Taman Sari area of West Jakarta on Monday, allegedly came from the pistol of First Brig. Budi who was chasing alleged drug dealers. "We've found residual powder in the pistol belonging to First Brig. Budi. He also admitted that he had fired the bullets during the incident," said Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo on Wednesday.

Ministers bypass Mega in bill discussions

Ministers bypass Mega in bill discussions Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several Cabinet ministers bypassed President Megawati Soekarnoputri when deliberating a number of bills that already had been endorsed by the House of Representatives, State Secretary/Cabinet Secretary Bambang Kesowo said on Wednesday. Speaking at a hearing with House Commission I for legal affairs, Bambang said being bypassed prompted Megawati not to sign the bills into law.

Poaching of rare species plagues national park

Poaching of rare species plagues national park The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Flora & Fauna International (FFI) and the Team for the Conservation of Sumatran Tigers (TPHS) have received reports on the unchecked poaching of Sumatran elephants and other protected species in Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) in Jambi. According to the reports, local people have recovered four dead elephants with their tusks missing in several areas of the park in the regencies of Merangin and Kerinci. Deborah J.

[b]

TNI, police officers to withdraw from Poso Gajah 2 lines x 21 Poaching of rare species plagues national park Tax 1 line x 44 Indramayu regent dismisses threat of tax boycott Bogus 2 lines x 27 Bogus soldier marries six times

Candra Naya, test of commitment to preservation

Candra Naya, test of commitment to preservation Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Even now, straddled by a monstrous, unfinished, concrete and steel structure and stripped of all its splendor, the Candra Naya Chinese mansion on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta, still looks majestic. Two buildings, one in front of the other, with their distinctive "swallow's tail" roof are what remain of the once extensive and imposing mansion.

RI's foreign policy outlook after the 2004 election

RI's foreign policy outlook after the 2004 election Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, 'The Indonesian Quarterly', Centre For Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id People have now begun to discuss the issue of presidential candidates, as the country continues to prepare for the first- ever direct election in 2004.

1. JI: 2 x 30

1. JI: 2 x 30 Witnesses give new insight into JI network in Indonesia 2. BALI: 1 x 40 Bali bombing witness recalls night of horror 3. TOURISM: 2 x 26 SARS worse than Iraq war, Bali bombings for tourism 4. RIGHTS: 1 x 30 SE Asia considers rights body 5. ODD: 1 x 33 Mounting fuss spells death for ass

Hasyim awaits decision on presidential candidacy

Hasyim awaits decision on presidential candidacy Muninggar Sri Saraswati and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi played down on Wednesday being nominated as a candidate for the presidency, saying he would only run for president if his candidacy received the full support of both the Muslim organization and the National Awakening Party.

UGM results available via SMS

UGM results available via SMS YOGYAKARTA: Students who took the entrance test at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) will soon find out whether they have been accepted into the university through short messaging service (SMS) on their cellular phones. "The service provides candidates with easier access to their test results," said UGM rector Sofian Effendi on Wednesday, after signing an agreement on the service with telecommunications company PT Satelit Palapa Indonesia (Satelindo).

No paper

No paper In observance of the national holiday to mark the Ascension Day of Jesus Christ, The Jakarta Post will not be published on Friday, May 30. Our website, however, will run as normal. The Post will resume publication on Saturday. -- Publisher

* Headlines: SE Asia considers human rights commission 2

* Headlines: SE Asia considers human rights commission 2 * National: Ministers bypass Mega in bill discussions 4 * Archipelago: TNI, police to withdraw from Poso 5 * Opinion: RI's foreign policy outlook after 2004 election 7 * City: Motorists appreciate new parking system 8 * Sports: Schummi looking to equal F-1 GP record in Monaco 9 * World: Cambodia cracks down on foreign Muslims 11 * Business: IMF: Rapid dollar fall needs action 15 * Features: Thanking Hope for a century of laughs 20

1. RIGHTS: 3 x 18

1. RIGHTS: 3 x 18 Rights body to go to Aceh despite govt's reservations 2. GAM: 1 x 36 Text messages steer war from Sweden 3. ATTACK: 2 x 28 Police promise legal action against Kontras attackers

Visa policy

Visa policy I am a British national and an owner of two foreign investment (PMA) licensed companies that operate restaurants in Bintan resort. I spend most of my time in Bintan. Almost 100 percent of our restaurant revenue is derived from tourists from outside Indonesia.

Bali bombing witness recalls night of horror

Bali bombing witness recalls night of horror Wahyoe Boediwardhana and I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali Grief and sadness marked the trial on Wednesday for the Bali bombings, as one of the heroes who led the disaster's rescue efforts cried during his testimony, apparently agonized by the horror he saw and the lives he was unable to safe.

Motorists appreciate new system of parking

Motorists appreciate new system of parking Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta An unusual scene unfolded on Wednesday along Jl. Haji Agus Salim, Central Jakarta, where about 30 parking attendants appeared to be busy using handheld computers to collect parking fees from motorists. At first, it seemed that both attendants and motorists were feeling awkward, because the first had trouble explaining the new system, while the latter had not the slightest clue of what was going on.

Poaching of rare species detected at national park

Poaching of rare species detected at national park The Jakarta Post Jakarta Flora & Fauna International (FFI) and the Team for the Conservation of Sumatran Tigers (TPHS) have received reports on the unchecked poaching of Sumatran elephants and other protected species in Kerinci Seblat National Park (TNKS) in Jambi. According to the reports, local people have recovered four dead elephants with their tusks missing in several areas of the park in the regencies of Merangin and Kerinci. Deborah J.

Thai army chief to visit Indonesia

Thai army chief to visit Indonesia THAILAND: Thailand's army chief Gen. Somdhat Attanand will visit Indonesia next week to discuss weapons smuggling with his Indonesian counterpart, an army official said on Wednesday. Thailand's foreign minister Surakiart Sathirathai visited Jakarta last week and met with President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Acehnese flee their homes in fear of military sweep

Acehnese flee their homes in fear of military sweep The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe Fatimah stopped a car carrying several journalists and begged them to load her belongings into the car. "Please take my stuff to the Meunasah (mosque); I will follow you by bicycle," pleaded a trembling Fatimah. Fatimah and her teenage daughter decided to abandon their village Krueng in Peudada district, Bireuen regency, on Wednesday after security conditions there worsened.

TV Program: Thursday, May 29, 2003

TV Program: Thursday, May 29, 2003 .TB.30" .90" TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 English News Service 9:00 Music 11:00 News: Berita Daerah 12:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang 1:00 Talk Show: Konsultasi Keluarga 2:00 News: Metro Indonesia 4:00 Religious Teachings 4:30 Documentary 5:00 Music 6:00 News: Berita Petang 7:00 Battle of Wits 8:00 Comedy Drama 9:00 News: Berita Malam 9:30 Music: Country Road 11:00 Talk Show: Bincang Malam TPI 6:00 a.m.

S'pore, India intensify trade talks

S'pore, India intensify trade talks SINGAPORE: Singapore hopes to conclude negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement with India within a year, Trade Minister George Yeo said on Wednesday. "Our links with India are very good. We have begun negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement which should be concluded within a year," Yeo said at a business conference here. "As India looks eastwards, we are their best partner in the region.

Yogya artist has big plans for old socks

Yogya artist has big plans for old socks Stevie Emilia, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Wanting to get rid of your smelly socks? Don't. Yogyakartan artist Nindityo Adipurnomo might need them, badly. For his upcoming art project, the artist, known for his artistic exploration of traditional konde (hair buns), requested people to donate their used socks -- after signing their names on them -- to him.