Archive: 26 August 2003
76 articles found
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Gunungkidul, and the curse of drought
Gunungkidul, and the curse of drought While experts predict that the annual monsoon will not arrive until at least November, the 700,000-plus residents of Gunungkidul regency have been severely affected by this year's drought. The Jakarta Post reporter Sri Wahyuni and contributor Syaiful Amin report from Yogyakarta. Gunungkidul regency in southeastern part of Yogyakarta province is always portrayed as a barren, and poor region. It is not totally wrong.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Prosecutors demand death sentence for Ali Ghufron
Prosecutors demand death sentence for Ali Ghufron Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali In wrapping up its case on Monday, the prosecution demanded the death sentence for Bali bombing suspect Ali Ghufron alias Mukhlas, making him the third man to date who may end up in front of a firing squad.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Counterterror agency needed
Counterterror agency needed It sounds like a myth when one hearkens back to the way the Dutch, who colonized what is now known as Indonesia for about three centuries until the end of World War II, used to describe the population of Indonesia as being the friendliest/most passive people on earth.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
IBRA achieves highest recovery
IBRA achieves highest recovery The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) achieved the highest recovery rate so far, of 152 percent -- compared to previous programs -- in the third property assets sale program, an observer said over the weekend. "I think the PPAP-3 (the third property assets sale program) is the most successful program," Panangian Simanungkalit, property consultant, told newswireAntara.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
BI challenges BPK's audit findings
BI challenges BPK's audit findings The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Bank Indonesia has denied any wrongdoing in the alleged misuse of trillions of rupiah in state funds stashed in a government account, as stated in a recent audit report issued by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK). Central bank Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah said on Monday that, to the best of his knowledge, there were no irregularities in the use of funds in the 502 account, specially designed under the government's bank blanket guarantee.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Alleged jewelry raiders arrested
Alleged jewelry raiders arrested JAKARTA: Police confirmed on Monday that they had managed to smash a robbery gang involving an employee of SCTV television and five police officers. "Yes, we have arrested them, but our investigations are still underway," said the head of the mobile detectives division of the Jakarta Police Detectives, Adj. Sr. Comr. Trihadi Sutono. He declined to provide details of the arrest.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Private car inspections
Private car inspections From Bisnis Indonesia As a Jakarta citizen and taxpayer since 1973, I object to the plan of the land transport director general at the ministry of transportation, to issue a government regulation on compulsory inspections of private motor vehicles, for the following reasons: * In general, most private cars are properly maintained and roadworthy, particularly because they have to be used because the appallingly poor public transportation facilities in this city.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia deports suspected Indonesian militant
Malaysia deports suspected Indonesian militant Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Syaiful Amin, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Yogyakarta A National Police spokesman said that his office was aware of the deportation of an Indonesian militant from Malaysia, but had yet to make any moves against him, pending an investigation into his possible involvement in a series of terror attacks in Indonesia. "The Foreign Affairs Ministry has yet to inform us about it.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
ICW sues Attorney General's Office
ICW sues Attorney General's Office JAKARTA: The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) filed a lawsuit on Monday against the Attorney General's Office for halting the probe into alleged corruption cases involving Texmaco three years ago. A lawyer representing ICW, Iskandar Sonhadji, said the decision did not follow proper procedures, so that the investigation into Texmaco president director Marimutu Sinivasan should have continued. "We want the public to understand.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
NGOs say no to Jatigede dam project in W. Java
NGOs say no to Jatigede dam project in W. Java Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A number of non-governmental organizations strongly opposed on Monday a government plan to construct the Jatigede dam in Sumedang, West Java, saying the government should prioritize the reforestation of the upper reaches of the Cimanuk river instead.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
MPR names ad hoc commission leaders
MPR names ad hoc commission leaders JAKARTA: The People's Consultative Assembly steering committee named the chairmen of its three ad hoc committees as it opened its 2003/2004 sitting period on Monday. Jacob Tobing of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction was reinstated as the chairman of ad hoc committee I which will select the 31 members of the Constitutional Commission.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
WWF urges global firms to stop buying illegal plywood from RI
WWF urges global firms to stop buying illegal plywood from RI The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is currently running a campaign to urge global companies to stop buying plywood from Indonesian firms suspected of retaining illegal logs and damaging the environment.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. KIDUL: 1 LINE, 38 COUNTS
1. KIDUL: 1 LINE, 38 COUNTS Gunungkidul, and the curse of drought 2. KIDUL-2: 1 LKINE, 45 COUNTS Villagers sell everything for just a drop of water 3. KIDUL-3: 1 LINE, 49 COUNTS Groundwater abundant but remains unexploited in Gunungkidul
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Villagers sell everything for just a drop of water
Villagers sell everything for just a drop of water It was 1 p.m. in Tepus, located some 30 kilometers south of Gunungkidul regency's capital of Wonosari. Suntono, 68, had given up his hope for a few jerry cans of water for his family. Usually, he would collect the water from a man-made pond about two kilometers away from his humble house of woven bamboo walls. "It has been some time since the pond completely dried up.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Something wrong with govt, publishers'
'Something wrong with govt, publishers' The Ministry of National Education is to issue a new policy which will ban direct deals between publishers and schools or teachers. It intends to use selected mathematics textbooks in a bid to standardize the quality of national education. The government has allocated Rp 150 billion (US$17.6 million) for the nationwide project and assigned eight different publishers to provide the textbooks.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Asia to grow 5.5 percent in next five years, short-term risks seen
Asia to grow 5.5 percent in next five years, short-term risks seen Agence France-Presse, Singapore Asia-Pacific economies are expected to grow faster than other regions in the next five years but expansion could be disrupted in the short term by several risks including a U.S. slowdown and a resurgence of the SARS epidemic, a report said on Monday.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 25, 2003
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 25, 2003 _____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ______________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,000 -50 10,000 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 110 5 688,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 130 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 140 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 950 -25 99,000 Alter Abadi Tbk 20 5 5,151,500 Alumindo...
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
51 Palembang hotels are unlicensed
51 Palembang hotels are unlicensed PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Fifty-one hotels in Palembang, South Sumatra, are operating without tourism business licenses from the local Culture and Tourism office. The illegal operations have caused hundreds of millions of rupiah in losses to the local administration, said Rachman Zeth, head of the local tourism office. The 51 include 11 star-rated hotels and 40 others, located in strategic areas.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Police arrest four robbers
Police arrest four robbers JAKARTA: Four men who allegedly stole items from the house of Abdul Rachman, 57, former director of the Ceramics Museum in Jakarta, were arrested last week, police announced on Monday. "We rounded up them in several areas in Grogol, West Jakarta, and Bogor, West Java, last week," said Adj. Comr. Suharyanto, head of the mobile detectives division of the city police. The suspects are Riski Sihotang, Darwin Sihotang, Bernard Makmur and Karmedi Pakpahan.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Earthquake forces people to flee
Earthquake forces people to flee PADANG, West Sumatra: An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale jolted Padang, the capital city of West Sumatra province, at 10:45 a.m. on Monday, an official said. No casualties or injuries were reported. However, the quake caused panic among local residents. The quake's epicenter was located in the Mentawai straits, some 100 kilometers west of Padang, an official of the provincial meteorological and geophysics agency, Erwin, said on Monday.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
BI seeks regional cooperation to curb terrorist funding
BI seeks regional cooperation to curb terrorist funding The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Bank Indonesia is working on strengthening cooperation with central bankers in the region to improve its ability to detect the flow of terrorist funds, as part of the drive against terrorism, central bank Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah said on Monday.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Established brands are the most valuable assets
Established brands are the most valuable assets Burhanuddin Abe, Contributor, Jakarta For certain people, like executives, artists, celebrities or successful people -- or those who want to look successful -- appearance is highly crucial. One person who also believes this is Aditya Indrajaya, an executive of a company dealing in architecture, interior design and management consultancy. "For me appearance is one of the most important personal assets," he said.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Lampung council rejects revote to replace Alzier
Lampung council rejects revote to replace Alzier Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandarlampung, Lampung Lampung legislative council rejected on Monday the central government's plan to hold a revote to replace the governor-elect, Alzier Dianis Thabranie, whose swearing-in was suspended over corruption charges. "We held an election to select the governor in compliance with procedures, so there is no reason for the central government not to swear in Alzier Dianis Thabranie.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Ferinanto takes third win, Razali still in lead
Ferinanto takes third win, Razali still in lead The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ferinanto again showed his sprint power as he won the eighth stage on Monday, but Malaysian Sharulneeza Razali held his yellow jersey in the Tour d'ISSI, with the final stage to complete on Tuesday.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
RI urges KL to reject Acehnese asylum seekers
RI urges KL to reject Acehnese asylum seekers Agence France-Presse, Jakarta/Kuala Lumpur Indonesia's top security minister on Monday urged Malaysia to reject asylum seekers from Indonesia's conflict-hit Aceh province. As Indonesia's "close friend" Malaysia had shown a very clear stance in supporting Indonesia's territorial integrity, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Groundwater abundant but remains unexploited in Gunungkidul
Groundwater abundant but remains unexploited in Gunungkidul Gunungkidul, which cries for water every year, is rich in water but it is yet to be exploited properly. And the lack of funds is the mother of all problems. The truth is that Gunungkidul boasts many underground rivers that run all year long, sufficient to satisfy its citizens' needs for water. Gunungkidul's tap water company (PDAM) has been exploiting four of the rivers, but not optimally.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Papua clash takes further toll
Papua clash takes further toll Netty Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua A clash involving hundreds of people in favor of and against the creation of a new province in central Papua dragged on for a third consecutive day on Monday, claiming another life. Tinus Mom became the second fatality within 24 hours, in the furious dispute between opposing groups that fought with traditional spears and arrows in Timika, also the home to giant American mining company Freeport.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
No more logging in Java, government says
No more logging in Java, government says Moch. N. Kurniawan and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang/Jakarta Due to a threat to the water supply of 128 million people living on Java, the government declared on Monday a ban on logging and decided to review farming policies on this densely populated island.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. COMMENT: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 22
1. COMMENT: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 22 Following clashes, govt told not to divide Papua 2. MILITANCY: 48 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 24 Religious leaders back surveillance on militants 3. TERROR: 32 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 27 Prosecutors demand death sentence for Ali Ghufron 4. BUDGET: 28 pt, 5 cols, 1 x 50 Councillors try to sneak $1m past public for world tour
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Councillors try to sneak $1m past public for world tour
Councillors try to sneak $1m past public for world tour Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Apparently trying to take all opportunities available before their terms end next year, and undeterred by public criticism, city councillors will spend Rp 9.6 billion (US$1.1 million) of taxpayer money for foreign sightseeing tours this year.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines:Religious leaders back surveillance on militants 2
* Headlines:Religious leaders back surveillance on militants 2 * National:Sukhoi probe to continue: House 4 * Archipelago:Lampung council rejects revote to replace Alzier 5 * Opinion:Terrorizing aid agencies a nasty trend 7 * City:Authorities ignore plight of terrorized senior citizens 8 * Sports:Clarke shrugs off lurking Tiger to win NEC title 9 * World:Truce violations, massacre news strain Liberia peace deal 11 * Business:WTO officials submit latest draft before Cancun 16 *...
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Shattered cars, blood, glass litter Bombay blast scenes
Shattered cars, blood, glass litter Bombay blast scenes Agencies, Bombay Bombay's most famous landmark overlooking the Arabian Sea was Monday littered with mangled car parts, blood and shattered glass. Throngs of tourists and trinket-sellers spending a leisurely afternoon outside the Gateway of India arch were sent scurrying for cover as a taxi in the parking lot blew apart, smashing window panes across the street at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay's most prestigious address.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
'Sudirman' statue commands respect ... from afar
'Sudirman' statue commands respect ... from afar Yusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta Holding a walking stick in his left hand to support himself, a tall man in military dress and donning a sacred kris, stands in full salute. On his head is a blangkon (Javanese cap) and his eyes reflect sincerity, awe and charisma, although the corner of his lips, ever so slightly, shows that he endures a private pain.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Reviving glorious Buginese past
Reviving glorious Buginese past Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi Nurhayati Rahman is dedicated to La Galigo, driven by an unquenchable curiosity she never tires of studying what is believed to be the world's longest manuscript. It is the ancestral legacy of the Buginese in South Sulawesi but is little known to the present generation. La Galigo, or sureq Galigo as the Buginese community calls it, is the epic tale of the lives and heroism of the people of Bugis.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug.25,2003
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug.25,2003 ____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,000 -50 10,00 0 Adindo Foresta 50 0 0 AGIS Tbk 110 5 688,50 0 Akbar Indo Makmur 130 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 140 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 950 -25 99,00 0 Alter Abadi Tbk 20 5 5,151,50 0 Alumindo...
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Ba'asyir sentence demand stands
Ba'asyir sentence demand stands JAKARTA: Prosecutors reiterated their demand on Monday that the Central Jakarta District Court sentence Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir to 15 years in jail. Chief prosecutor Hasan Madani told the court evidence was solid to prove the defendant's guilt in subversion and violating immigration law, such that he deserved to remain in jail for 15 years.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Upset KNPI slams Megawati
Upset KNPI slams Megawati JAKARTA: The National Youth Committee (KNPI) criticized President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday after its top leaders were denied a chance to meet the head of state. KNPI chairman Idrus Marham and several other youth organization executives had arrived at the State Palace for a scheduled meeting at 11 a.m., but were told by presidential office staff that the meeting was suddenly canceled because Megawati was preparing for a Cabinet meeting.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
IFC, Vietnam govt hold talks
IFC, Vietnam govt hold talks HANOI: A senior official from the International Finance Corporation is in Vietnam for talks with the government and industry leaders on drumming up foreign investment, the organization said on Monday. Assaad Jabre, IFC vice president of operations, will also discuss ways to improve the investment environment for the private sector in the communist nation during his Aug. 24-28 visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Australia, East Timor ink counterterror pact
Australia, East Timor ink counterterror pact Agencies, Adelaide, Australia Australia and East Timor signed a counterterrorism pact and Indonesia promise better security cooperation with Canberra during three-way talks on Monday. East Timor Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta signed the agreement pact with Australian counterpart Alexander Downer during annual ministerial talks with their Indonesian colleague Hassan Wirayuda in the southern city of Adelaide.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
State-owned companies are not milking cows
State-owned companies are not milking cows Indonesia's state-owned companies have been prohibited from extending contributions to the country's political parties. Although this was only a verbal instruction made by State Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi over the weekend, we can heave a sigh of relief. It has been an open secret that state-owned companies have so far been made into milking cows by various parties, whenever the general election draws nigh.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Traditional music spices up lunch in Menteng, Kuningan
Traditional music spices up lunch in Menteng, Kuningan Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Having a violist playing a classical song and moving from one table to another to accompany a couple's meal is a privilege in high-class restaurants. How about having a traditional Javanese singer, sinden, and a zither player playing a classical Javanese tune and moving from car to car to enrich a couple's eating experience? On one hot afternoon, a number of cars were parked along Jl.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
200 jet fighters
200 jet fighters - F-16 Fighting Falcons - A4-Sky Hawks - Hawk 200 - F-5 However, about 75 percent of the jet fighters are unable to fly due to lack of spareparts. Countries that own Sukhoi: Ukraine : 67 Su-27 Belarus : 23 Su-27 Uzbekistan : 30 Su-27s R.O.C : 32 Su-27s, 18 Su-27ubk Vietnam : 7 Su-27sk, 5 Su-27ubk India : 40 Su-30mki Malaysia : 18 Su-30mk Indonesia : 2 Su-27sk, 2 Su-30mk
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Smuggling of rare birds foiled in Lampung
Smuggling of rare birds foiled in Lampung BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Security forces here foiled an attempt to smuggle at least 327 protected birds through Bakauheni port, Lampung province, on Monday. Yulianto, 29, was arrested as a suspect in the smuggling case by forest police from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency and a team of officials from the Pro-Fauna Indonesia office in the province.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Key to win war on terror
Key to win war on terror Ridwan Max Sijabat, Staff Writer, Ridwan@thejakartapost.com, Jakarta Unlike Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore seem to have obtained good lessons on social order and legal certainty from their British colonizers. Indonesia, some historians reveal, inherited a corrupt and permissive culture from the Dutch colonial rulers who frequently colluded with the local bureaucracy and Chinese businesspeople to further their political and business interests.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Prosecutors, judges hold joint anticorruption training
Prosecutors, judges hold joint anticorruption training A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta At least 30 state prosecutors and 10 judges from around the country are currently undergoing a 75-day anticorruption training course aimed at enhancing their abilities and creating common understanding among law enforcers in handling corruption cases. During the course, the first of its kind here, the prosecutors and judges are expected to study the latest techniques for dealing with corruption cases.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Sukhoi probe to continue: House
Sukhoi probe to continue: House The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Legislators with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I for defense and foreign affairs vowed on Monday to continue to probe irregularities in the purchase of the Russian-made Sukhois jet fighters, despite the warplanes' arrival here on Wednesday.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Sakti Makki, Contributor, Jakarta
Sakti Makki, Contributor, Jakarta If someone were to ask you what was the first thing that came to mind when posed the question, "what is the best cola beverage in the world?" more often than not the answer would be Coca-Cola. Why Coca-Cola? How can a simple product or brand evoke such high brand recall? Many cola-based beverage producers in the world have tried their best, but failed, to replicate Coca-Cola's success.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
President opens apartments for low-income residents
President opens apartments for low-income residents The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially opened on Monday the 1,100-unit Cinta Kasih low-cost apartment complex, donated by the Taiwan-based Buddha Tzu Chi foundation, in East Cengkareng, West Jakarta. The foundation spent Rp 58 billion (US$6.9 million) on construction of the complex, which has been allocated to people on low incomes.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
'RI fails to convince ecotourists'
'RI fails to convince ecotourists' JAKARTA: Indonesia's proposed ecotourism industry has failed to attract foreign tourists as many questioned the government's commitment to preservation of the environment, says the head of the tourist association.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Sinking Dok Kodja calls for govt bailout
Sinking Dok Kodja calls for govt bailout Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Hundreds of workers of sinking state-owned shipyard company PT Dok Kodja Bahari are demanding that the government swap the company's huge debts with the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) and the Ministry of Finance into equity participation in the company. They made the demand during a rally outside the Office of the State Minister of State Enterprises in Jakarta on Monday.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Terrorists' penalty: Death without honor
Terrorists' penalty: Death without honor Steve Crewe, Technical Advisor, Moores Rowland Indonesia, Jakarta There are some crimes which are so callous that their perpetrators deserve to forfeit their lives. The intentional murder of innocent civilians through acts of terrorism is one.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
2 x 25
2 x 25 Lampung council rejects revote to replace Alzier JP/5/sutet 3 x 9 Hundreds protest PLN lines JP/5/ikan 1 x 36 Thais allowed to fish off N. Sumatra
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Ba'asyir sentence demand stands
Ba'asyir sentence demand stands JAKARTA: Prosecutors reiterated their demand on Monday that the Central Jakarta District Court sentence Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir to 15 years in jail. Chief prosecutor Hasan Madani told the court evidence was solid to prove the defendant's guilt in subversion and violating immigration law, such that he deserved to remain in jail for 15 years.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Wiranto insists on presidential bid
Wiranto insists on presidential bid YOGYAKARTA: One of Golkar's presidential aspirants, former military chief Wiranto, dismissed on Monday a possibility of running for the vice presidency if his bid for the presidency failed. The retired army general, who was fired from his Cabinet post by then president Abdurrachman Wahid in the wake of the East Timor investigations, said he was not seeking a Cabinet post.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Asian currencies mixed late
Asian currencies mixed late Dow Jones, Singapore The Philippine peso kicked off the week by rewriting its record closing low for a fourth straight session on a day of generally mixed performance from Asian currencies. On Monday's holiday in the U.K. damped trading in foreign exchange markets, and traders said regional currencies just drifted with no real direction. "It's a mixed bag. There's no fresh news on the dollar (versus) majors (major global rivals).
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
SE Asian police chiefs to meet
SE Asian police chiefs to meet PHILIPPINES: Southeast Asian police chiefs will meet in Manila next month to discuss antiterrorism cooperation, officials said on Monday. Association of Southeast Asian Nations police officials will discuss how to strengthen the region's war on terrorism and cross-border crime during the Sept. 8 through Sept. 11 meeting, Philippine police chief Hermogenes Ebdane said.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Following clashes, govt told not to divide Papua
Following clashes, govt told not to divide Papua The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Following fatal clashes between opponents and supporters of the establishment of Central Irian Jaya province, the government has come under pressure for its decision to partition the country's easternmost province, Papua. "The government must take law No.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines:Religious leaders back surveillance on militants 2
* Headlines:Religious leaders back surveillance on militants 2 * National:Sukhoi probe to continue: House 4 * Archipelago:Lampung council rejects revote to replace Alzier 5 * Opinion:Terrorizing aid agencies a nasty trend 7 * City:Authorities ignore plight of terrorized senior citizens 8 * Sports:Clarke shrugs off lurking Tiger to win NEC title 9 * World:Truce violations, massacre news strain Liberia peace deal 11 * Business:WTO officials submit latest draft before Cancun 16 *...
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Religious leaders back surveillance on militants
Religious leaders back surveillance on militants M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Religious leaders have thrown their support behind plans to impose the tight surveillance of a number of districts in West Java -- believed to be home to militants advocating sharia (Islamic law) -- as part of preemptive measures against future terrorist attacks.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Ramayana expects sales to grow to Rp 3.5t
Ramayana expects sales to grow to Rp 3.5t Indonesian retailer PT Ramayana Lestari Sentosa expects sales this year to grow above Rp 3.5 trillion (US$415 million), compared with Rp 3.26 trillion the previous year, due to an increase in consumer spending over the next four months. Ramayana's corporate secretary, Dwijanto, also said the rupiah's recent strength against the U.S. dollar and falling interest rates should help improve consumer confidence.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Good forest management
Good forest management Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), one of Indonesia's largest pulp and paper producers, signed a cooperation agreement with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) last week that could become a model for good forest management for wood-based manufacturing companies in the country. Under the agreement, APP will set aside almost 50 percent, or 58,500 hectares, of its forest concessions in Riau province as conservation areas.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Green NGO to hold int'l workshop
Green NGO to hold int'l workshop JAKARTA: Non-governmental organization Mitra Emisi Bersih (MEB), which campaigns for reduced use of motorized vehicles in order to reduce exhaust emissions in the city, will stage an international workshop and environment exhibition at Jakarta Convention Center, Senayan, Central Jakarta, from Oct. 7 through Oct. 9. The committee will invite experts, mostly from Asian countries, including India, to become speakers at the three-day workshop.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Authorities ignore plight of terrorized senior citizens
Authorities ignore plight of terrorized senior citizens Zakki Hakim and Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As the terror at the Pniel nursing home on Jl. KH Samanhudi Dalam in Central Jakarta ended with the management deciding to abandon the century-old facility to the bullyboys, both the public and the police seem to be unmoved by the fate of the terrified senior citizens.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Thais allowed to fish off N. Sumatra
Thais allowed to fish off N. Sumatra Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra The North Sumatra legislative council has approved a proposal for Thai vessels to fish in waters off the province, despite increasing complaints from local fishermen about their small catches, which they blame on rampant theft by foreign vessels.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Prosecutors want Samadikun to appear in court
Prosecutors want Samadikun to appear in court Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Prosecutors demanded on Monday that the panel of judges in the Central Jakarta District Court dismiss the petition for a judicial review filed by banker Samadikun Hartono, who has thus far managed to escape jail following his conviction in a graft case worth Rp 1.7 trillion (US$202.4 million).
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Ilyassak takes two-shot lead at PGPI golf event
Ilyassak takes two-shot lead at PGPI golf event The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Playing nearly flawless golf on the first day of this PGPI minitour event at the Halim Golf Course II in East Jakarta, Aceh- born Ilyassak took a two-shot lead after carding a four-under-par 68 (33 35) on Monday. This is the third event in this year's minitour, organized by the Association of Professional Golfers of Indonesia (PGPI). It has a total cash prize of Rp 50 million (US$5,400).
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Gunungkidul, and the curse of drought
Gunungkidul, and the curse of drought ---------------------------------------------------------------- While experts predict that the annual monsoon will not arrive until at least November, the 700,000-plus residents of Gunungkidul regency have been severely affected by this year's drought. The Jakarta Post reporter Sri Wahyuni and contributor Syaiful Amin report from Yogyakarta.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
No more logging in Java, govt says
No more logging in Java, govt says Moch. N. Kurniawan and Suherdjoko The Jakarta Post Semarang/Jakarta Due to a threat to the water supply of 128 million people living on Java, the government declared on Monday a ban on logging and decided to review farming policies on this densely populated island.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
IBRA achieves highest recovery rate
IBRA achieves highest recovery rate The Jakarta Post Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) achieved the highest recovery rate of 152 percent in the third property assets sale program compared to the previous programs, an observer said this weekend. "I think the PPAP-3 (the third property sale program) is the most successful program," Panangian Simanungkalit, property consultant, told newswire Antara.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Hundreds protest PLN lines
Hundreds protest PLN lines Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung More than 700 families staged a rally again on Monday in Bandung, West Java, to demand that they be compensated or relocated from their current residential areas beneath dangerous high-voltage transmission lines. The protesters were from six subdistricts of Rancaekek, Solokan Jeruk, Ciparay, Arjasari, Cicalengka and Banjaran. They marched to the West Java legislative council to convey their grievances.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Texmaco, up for sale, misses interest payment
Texmaco, up for sale, misses interest payment Bloomberg, Jakarta Texmaco Group, Indonesia's biggest textile maker, missed a payment on US$3.4 billion of debt due to a state agency that's trying to sell its stake in the group, a spokesman for the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) said. Texmaco, which last year agreed to reorganize its Rp 29 trillion ($3.4 billion) debt to the agency, missed a Rp 139 billion interest payment due on Aug.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Authority for intelligence
Authority for intelligence Many people question why our intelligence agencies have found it so difficult to find all the local terrorist groups. Intelligence actually puts more emphasis on its support of information, while further action depends on the government's decision to respond to the information through its relevant security arm. So far, intelligence units have provided considerable information through their findings of Jamaah Islamiyah in Semarang.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia urges Indonesia to cooperate on palm oil to boost prices
Malaysia urges Indonesia to cooperate on palm oil to boost prices Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia called on Monday for Indonesian cooperation over palm oil production and marketing to help reduce stocks and keep prices at an "acceptable level". "We should cooperate and not undercut each other to compete for existing markets," Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik told delegates to the International Palm Oil Congress 2003.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Dozens rally to support Beratha
Dozens rally to support Beratha DENPASAR, Bali: Dozens of people staged a peaceful protest here on Monday in support of the Bali legislative council's decision to reaffirm the reelection of Bali Governor Dewa Made Beratha despite allegations of bribery in the election. Dressed in traditional Balinese costumes, the protesters from the Forum Rakyat Tresna Bali (FRTB) demanded that Beratha be sworn in as scheduled on Aug. 28. He won the Aug.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
Vanuatu recognizes
Vanuatu recognizes independent Aceh From Media Indonesia On our Independence Day, Aug. 17, this year we were caught by surprise when reading a report that the government of Vanuatu -- a small nation in the South Pacific -- had formally recognized the Free Aceh state, with the legitimate rulers being what we know as the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Diplomatic relations have therefore been established between the Republic of Vanuatu and the State of Aceh.
Tue, 26 Aug 2003, 00:00 WIB
1. APP -- 3 cols, 3 lines, 48pts MB, 23 counts
1. APP -- 3 cols, 3 lines, 48pts MB, 23 counts WWF urges global firms to stop buying illegal plywood from Indonesia 2. Iraq -- 4 cols, 2 lines, 36pts MB, 35 counts Building Iraq peace costs more lives than winning the war 3. Aceh -- 5 cols, 1 line, 36pts MB, 45 counts RI urges KL to reject Acehnese asylum seekers 4. KL -- 3 cols, 2 lines, 36pts MB, 26 counts Greater vigilance against terror financing called for