Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 4 August 2003

72 articles found

Councillors receive threats for vote

Councillors receive threats for vote PEKANBARU, Riau: Several members of the Golkar faction at the regional council of Riau say they have been intimidated to vote for a certain gubernatorial candidate in the coming election.

Regent Hotel to reopen Monday

Regent Hotel to reopen Monday JAKARTA: The Four Seasons Regent Hotel is set to reopen on Monday; it was forced to close when a flood engulfed the basement of the hotel and a major part of the city in February, last year.

PKP eyes 10 percent of votes

PKP eyes 10 percent of votes MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Nationhood and Unity Party (PKP) is setting its sights on winning 10 percent of the vote in the 2004 general election, chairman Edi Sudrajat said here on Saturday."We haven't set too high a target.

Club accused of match-fixing attempt

Club accused of match-fixing attempt HANOI: A player in Vietnam's top football team Hoang Anh has accused two of his teammates of trying to fix a match against Indonesia last year in an interview published Sunday in the Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper.

1. BATAM: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18

1. BATAM: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 RI hopes to tap lucrative Asian gas market 2. RIAU: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 25 Megawati opens Malay festival despite criticism 3. STUDENT: 28 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 40 Private universities gain from cancellations 4.

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JP/ /Private universities take advantage of studentsRizky KD Ntoma The Jakarta Post JakartaState university admission test (SPMB) results will be announced on Monday, but it is the private universities that will benefit.

Rupiah to stable, index to recover some ground this week: Dealers

Rupiah to stable, index to recover some ground this week: DealersThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The rupiah is expected to remain stable this week on decreasing pressure from the U.S. dollar and rising optimism over the country's economy, a dealer said.

Mining should never be banned in protected forest

Mining should never be banned in protected forestJulia Kalmirah, Indonesian Biodiversity Foundation (Kehati) and Igor O'Neill, Mineral Policy Institute, Jakarta Biodiversity in Indonesia is threatened by a mining industry that is pushing the government to grant exemptions to Forestry Law No.

FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- Real Estate

FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- Real Estate Property market shows signs of life amid fall in interest rateSudibyo M. Wiradji The Jakarta Post JakartaResidential property has shown signs of life during the past few months amid a decline in lending rates offered by the country's banks.

Former Supreme Court chief justice Sarwata dies: Former Supreme

Former Supreme Court chief justice Sarwata dies: Former Supreme Court chief justice Air First Marshall (ret) Sarwata died of cancer at Pondok Indah Hospital in South Jakarta on Sunday. He was 68. He is survived by a wife and two children.

Should old cars be banned from city?

Should old cars be banned from city?From Media IndonesiaThe plan to reduce traffic congestion by banning cars manufactured in 1990 and before from entering Jakarta is not appropriate and will not solve the problem.

Cirebon Mayor Subardi has said he would not protect any of his

Cirebon Mayor Subardi has said he would not protect any of his subordinates suspected of involvement in this case. He added those found guilty would certainly be dismissed, notifying that his administration was campaigning to create clean government.

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;JP; ANPAc..r.. Projectors-products-trendJP/ /Becoming more functional and affordableWasis Gunarto Contributor Jakarta Today, numerous electronic products using advanced technology are becoming more affordable.

Daylight savings

Daylight savings There was a headline recently in which President Megawati Soekarnoputri urged us all to help save electricity by limiting our usage.This reminded me of an idea I had years ago. When I first entered Indonesia via Singapore, the airline advised us to put our watches back one hour for...

Police shot auto-theft suspect

Police shot auto-theft suspectDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta South Jakarta Police have smashed a car-theft ring during a raid on a car-theft ring tied to an Indonesian Army soldier, killing a man alleged to have robbed the house of a former minister of religious affairs.

Thales wins $180m wireless order

Thales wins $180m wireless order KUALA LUMPUR: French defense company Thales said it has won orders valued at US$180 million from Malaysia's AtlasONE telecommunications operator to provide equipment and services for a national wireless broadband network.

ASEAN a step closer to becoming single market

ASEAN a step closer to becoming single marketAgence France-Presse, Manila Southeast Asian finance ministers are to meet this week to lay the groundwork for a financial system that will fuel a single ASEAN market, similar to the European Community, by 2020, officials said.

Tourism in Poso yet to recover

Tourism in Poso yet to recover PALU, Southeast Sulawesi: The tourism industry in the Central Sulawesi town of Poso is still in the dumps, although the security condition has normalized in the last six months.

Prosecutors finger ex-mayor for graft

Prosecutors finger ex-mayor for graft CIREBON, West Java: The prosecutors' office here has named former mayor Lesmana Suriaatmadja a suspect in a corruption case involving Rp 1.5 billion (US$176,470) from the 2001 regional budget.

Drought, clean water shortage continue

Drought, clean water shortage continueSri Wahyuni and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta/Cirebon Demand for local governments' help to provide clean water is intensifying, as the seasonal drought continues to affect thousands of people in many parts of Java.

Prosecutors finger ex-mayor for graft

Prosecutors finger ex-mayor for graft CIREBON, West Java: The prosecutors' office here has named former mayor Lesmana Suriaatmadja a suspect in a corruption case involving Rp 1.5 billion (US$176,470) from the 2001 regional budget.

Manokwari project stands neglected

Manokwari project stands neglected MANOKWARI, Papua: The local community has questioned the road project in Rendani, which remains incomplete over a year after the disbursement of funds.The project also involves the reconstruction of Tanah Rubuh village, a bridge project at Wirsi, and a sewage...

PDI-P changes stance on PKI

PDI-P changes stance on PKIKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) removed the only potential hurdle for a smooth Assembly session on Sunday by withdrawing its proposal to repeal a decree banning the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and...

Assembly shortens session to seven days, saves around Rp 6 billion

Assembly shortens session to seven days, saves around Rp 6 billionKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) agreed on Sunday to cut short its annual session from 10 days to seven, a move that could save the state budget around Rp six...

'Hundreds of rebel leaders remain free'

'Hundreds of rebel leaders remain free'Agencies, Banda Aceh, Aceh The Aceh martial law administration is focusing on hunting down hundreds of rebel leaders as the military considers restructuring its field operations in the province.Aceh martial law administrator May. Gen.

Shipbuilder needs political support

Shipbuilder needs political support SURABAYA: To keep state ship producer PT PAL Indonesia alive, the company has demanded the government's political support, its president director Adwin H. Surjohardjo has said.

Private universities gains from cancellations

Private universities gains from cancellationsRizky KD Ntoma, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State university admission test (SPMB) results will be announced on Monday, but it is the private universities that will benefit.

Saudi husband cops jail term for wife's torture of maid

Saudi husband cops jail term for wife's torture of maidAgence France-Presse, Riyadh A Saudi court has sentenced a businessman to three years in prison for the torture inflicted by his wife on their Indonesian maid, a newspaper reported on Sunday.

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE GRIYA ASRI magazineBUYING TREND: Big houses carrying price tags of over Rp 1 billion (US$117,600) are among the most sought residences these days.

War in Aceh still subject to international law

War in Aceh still subject to international lawLina A. Alexandra, Centre For International Relations Studies, University of Indonesia, Jakarta It has been more than two months since the start of the military operation in Aceh.

MPR shortens session, saves Rp 6b

MPR shortens session, saves Rp 6bKurniawan Hari The Jakarta Post JakartaA plenary session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) agreed on Sunday to cut short its annual session from 10 days to seven, a move that could save the state budget around Rp six billion (US$700,000).

'May we have giraffes now?'

'May we have giraffes now?'Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Controversy over the deer at the National Monument (Monas) park has apparently not affected people's desire to see the animals. News that the does are pregnant has also increased their desire to pay a visit.

Judges need to jail corruptors promptly: Expert

Judges need to jail corruptors promptly: ExpertMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A string of recent cases have shown fat cat convicts escaping justice with ease. How to prevent the recurrence of such cases?An expert has suggested that judges should send convicted corruptors...

Activists wary of reconciliation commission

Activists wary of reconciliation commissionTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Past rights violators could take advantage of the planned Truth and Reconciliation Commission as a means to whitewash the past and keep their hands clean, rights activists warned on Saturday.

Indosat strains to make way in telecom duopoly

Indosat strains to make way in telecom duopolyEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta One year after the government officially lifted the decades- long monopoly held by state telecommunications firm PT Telekomunikasi in the domestic call business, the firm still controls the business.

Nessen sentenced, but finally freed

Nessen sentenced, but finally freedNani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh William Nessen, the 46-year-old American freelance journalist detained in June while covering the separatist war in Aceh province, was released on Sunday after spending 40 days in prison for immigration offenses.

* Headlines: Released Nessen to fly home soon 2

* Headlines: Released Nessen to fly home soon 2 * National: 'Judges need to jail corruptors promptly' 4 * Archipelago: Books featuring Mega, Sukarno forced on students 5 * Opinion: The real risk of U.S.

Maids need protecting

Maids need protectingThe Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore For as long as the Manpower Ministry is reluctant to impose contractual obligations in the hiring of foreign maids, more partisan schemes will rush in to fill the void. The Indonesian Embassy is the latest to join the fray.

Child protection drive launched

Child protection drive launchedSari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta To stem the growing number of children involved in the sex industry, the government is preparing a nationwide campaign.A pilot project will be launched at tourism sites, campaigning through posters, stickers and banners, Seto...

Smuggler flees, but leaves drugs behind

Smuggler flees, but leaves drugs behindMulta Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang A Brazilian paraglider reportedly failed to smuggle in 13.7 kilograms of cocaine through Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang on Saturday afternoon, but did manage to escape arrest.

Indonesia hopes to tap lucrative Asian gas market

Indonesia hopes to tap lucrative Asian gas marketFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Batam Indonesia is gearing up to tap the huge potential of the Southeast Asian gas market with the launching of a gas transmission pipeline from Grissik to Sakra, Singapore, on Monday, a senior government official...

APEC members accept travel cards

APEC members accept travel cardsThe Jakarta Post, Jimbaran, Bali Sixteen of the 21 member countries of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, including Indonesia, have agreed to accept the APEC Business Travel Card (BTC), which gives greater mobility for APEC businessmen to travel in...

Campaign launched to protect children from sex industry

Campaign launched to protect children from sex industrySari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post JakartaTo stem the growing number of children involved in the sex industry, the government is launching a nationwide campaign, a seminar unveiled on Wednesday.

Megawati opens Malay festival

Megawati opens Malay festivalHaidir Anwar Tanjung, The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially opened the five-day World's Malay Cultures Festival (FBMS) on Sunday in Riau the capital of Pekanbaru, which critics blasted as a waste of money.The Rp 4.

Fire razes a bakery in Bekasi

Fire razes a bakery in BekasiBEKASI: A fire destroyed a two-story bakery at Taman Galaxi shopping complex on Jl. Galaxi Raya, Jaka Setia in South Bekasi on Saturday. No fatalities were reported.The blaze started in a room on the second floor, which was used by the bakery's workers to rest, at about...

Candra and Sigit come through for RI

Candra and Sigit come through for RIAgencies JakartaCandra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto won the men's doubles final on Sunday to earn Indonesia a title in the world badminton championships in Birmingham, England.Candra/Sigit defeated Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark ...

PKP eyes 10 percent of votes

PKP eyes 10 percent of votes MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: The Nationhood and Unity Party (PKP) is setting its sights on winning 10 percent of the vote in the 2004 general election, chairman Edi Sudrajat said here on Saturday."We haven't set too high a target.

Confidence key to generating high economic growth: Long Yongtu

Confidence key to generating high economic growth: Long YongtuChina's economy has been growing rapidly over the past several years and is predicted to be one of the world's giants in the future. Last week, The Jakarta Post's Dadan Wijaksana had an interview with Long Yongtu, former chief negotiator...

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;JP; ANPAc..r.. Projectors-sales-trendJP/ / A versatile tool for business and home entertainmentIntan Sugiharti Contributor JakartaToday, many people -- even a number of children -- are familiar with the word digital. Its application in numerous gadgets has made it a household word.

Nonbinding advisory commission set up

Nonbinding advisory commission set upM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The People's Consultative Assembly agreed during a plenary meeting on Sunday to establish a commission that would issue non- binding recommendations in response to progress reports delivered by President Megawati...

Club accused of match-fixing attempt

Club accused of match-fixing attempt HANOI: A player in Vietnam's top football team Hoang Anh has accused two of his teammates of trying to fix a match against Indonesia last year in an interview published Sunday in the Thanh Nien (Youth) newspaper.

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;JP; ANPAc..r.. Houses-loans-tipsFOR FOCUS - INDUSTRIAL ESTATESFOR FOCUS ISSUE: INDUSTRIAL ESTATESShopping around for the best loan for your new homeHendarsyah Tarmizi The Jakarta Post JakartaIf you don't have enough cash, taking out a bank loan to purchase or renovate a house is one of the best...

Three Africans arrested over fraud allegations

Three Africans arrested over fraud allegationsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Three Africans were arrested by South Jakarta Police at a hotel in South Jakarta for alleged fraud having caused a victim, a lecturer at an economic science institute (STIE) in Papua province, Dewa Nyoman Wiryawan TB, to suffer...

Punctuality of electric trains

Punctuality of electric trainsFrom Warta Kota As an economy-class electric train commuter, I'm annoyed to find that the train often fails to arrive on schedule, a situation that causes the train to be overcrowded.

Majalengka farmers uproot own clove trees

Majalengka farmers uproot own clove treesNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Majalengka, West Java The declining price of cloves has prompted farmers in Talaga and Baturajeg districts to uproot their clove trees, saying they could no longer afford to maintain their plantations.

Trade minister faces sanctions

Trade minister faces sanctions JAKARTA: The House of Representatives (DPR) said it would hand down sanctions against Minister of Trade and Industry Rini Soewandi if she failed to fulfill the second summons for questioning over her role in the purchase of Sukhoi jet fighters.

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE GRIYA ASRI magazineHOME LOAN: Bank usually can provide loans of up to 80 percent of the value of a house. The interest rate for home loans has declined to as low as 13 percent per annum.

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2 x 19 Majalengka farmers uproot their clove trees JP/5/BOOK2 x 27 Students forced to buy books featuring Megawati, Sukarno JP/5/DRY1 x 35 Drought, clean water shortage continue

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE GRIYA ASRI magazineBUYING TREND: Big houses carrying price tags of over Rp 1 billion (US$117,600) are among the most sought residences these days.

Linux, an alternative to proprietary software

Linux, an alternative to proprietary softwareVishnu K. Mahmud, Contributor, Jakarta, vmahmud@yahoo.com On July 29, the Indonesian Intellectual Property (HAKI) Law came into effect. Bootleg VCD/DVD stalls and software stores closed shop as they took a wait-and-see attitude.

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;JP; ANPAc..r.. Houses-investment-tips JP/ /Buying house for investment ... why not?Agustina Wayansari The Jakarta Post Jakarta With a continued drop in the interest rate, putting your money in a bank deposit or other fixed-income investment options is certainly not recommended, while investing...

Woman charged over son's murder

Woman charged over son's murder SINGAPORE: A 39-year-old woman in Singapore has been charged with helping her lover murder her own son, news reports said on Sunday.No plea was taken from Sung Peck Imm in court on Saturday.

Expatriates under spotlight in S'pore

Expatriates under spotlight in S'poreMartin Abbugao, Agence France-Presse, Singapore Rising unemployment as wealthy Singapore stumbles into hard times has rekindled a debate on the presence of about 800,000 foreigners, most of them workers, in the tiny city-state.

Damar Harsanto

Damar Harsanto The Jakarta Post Jakarta South Jakarta Police have smashed a car-theft ring tied to an Indonesian Army soldier, killing a man alleged to have stolen a car from a former minister of religious affairs.

'Annual Session not worth Rp 20b'

'Annual Session not worth Rp 20b' The Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) that kicked off on Friday will be different from the previous sessions due to the lack of controversial issues.

JI plotting new acts of terrorism, S'pore says

JI plotting new acts of terrorism, S'pore saysAssociated Press, Singapore Members of the al-Qaeda-linked Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) terror network "are actively plotting new acts of terrorism," said a Cabinet minister in this wealthy Southeast Asian city-state.

Megawati rapped for neglecting environment

Megawati rapped for neglecting environmentMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Environmental experts have criticized President Megawati Soekarnoputri for failing to address serious environmental problems in her annual report to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), saying it reflected...

Students forced to buy books featuring Megawati, Sukarno

Students forced to buy books featuring Megawati, SukarnoAgus Maryono, The Jakarta Post, Cilacap, Central Java Elementary and junior high school students in Central Java have been "asked" to buy exercise books bearing the pictures of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, former president and Megawati's...

Royal Dutch to build $4.5b project

Royal Dutch to build $4.5b project BEIJING: Anglo-Dutch oil giant Royal Dutch/Shell and a Chinese partner plan to borrow a record US$2.7 billion from a group of banks to fund a vast petrochemical project in south China, state media said on Saturday.

Indonesia hopes dashed in tight match

Indonesia hopes dashed in tight matchAgencies, JakartaIndonesia's hopes for a title at the World Badminton Championships were shattered after Candra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto lost their men's doubles final match on Sunday in Birmingham.Candra/Sigit lost to Lars Paaske/Jonas Rasmussen of Denmark ...

Who is Golkar fooling?

Who is Golkar fooling? When Nurcholish Madjid announced last week that he was withdrawing from the Golkar convention that will be held to select its presidential candidate, he was not the only one who felt disgusted at the country's second largest party.

Gus Dur has birthday at RSCM

Gus Dur has birthday at RSCM JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid will celebrate on Monday his 63rd birthday in his room at Cipto Mangunkusumo general hospital, Central Jakarta, where he is being treated for high blood pressure.