Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 4 August 2003

72 articles found

Drought, clean water shortage continue

Drought, clean water shortage continue Sri 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. The local administration in Gunung Kidul, the regency hardest hit by the drought in Yogyakarta province, estimated that 94,000 people were in need of government assistance, as they could not afford to buy clean water.

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. The office has also summoned 30 members of the regional legislative council for questioning as witnesses, chief prosecutor Suraini Dahlan said. Lesmana was declared a suspect after two months of investigation.

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 system on Jl. Trikora Wosi.

PDI-P changes stance on PKI

PDI-P changes stance on PKI Kurniawan 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 the dissemination of communism, Marxism and Leninism teachings in the country.

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

Assembly shortens session to seven days, saves around Rp 6 billion Kurniawan 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 billion (US$700,000). The Assembly secretariat had allocated Rp 20 billion for the event. With this decision, the Assembly now hopes to conclude its current annual meeting on Thursday.

'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. Endang Suwarya said on Sunday that the planned restructuring of the military operation was aimed at allowing quicker movement of troops.

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. "As a state enterprise, PT PAL Indonesia will not be free from political interference, but we hope we are not going to serve the government's political interests," he said on Saturday.

Private universities gains from cancellations

Private universities gains from cancellations Rizky 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. Thousands of students who passed the SPMB will likely drop their registrations with private universities even though they have paid admission fees.

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. The office has also summoned 30 members of the regional legislative council for questioning as witnesses, chief prosecutor Suraini Dahlan said. Lesmana was declared a suspect after two months of investigation.

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE GRIYA ASRI magazine BUYING 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 law Lina 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. In spite of TNI's claim that they have succeeded in paralyzing GAM military strength, the numbers of civilian casualties are still increasing.

MPR shortens session, saves Rp 6b

MPR shortens session, saves Rp 6b Kurniawan 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 billion (US$700,000). The Assembly secretariat had allocated Rp 20 billion for the event. With this decision, the Assembly now hopes to conclude its current annual meeting on Thursday.

'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. Dozens of people gathered outside the fence of the five- hectare deer zone on Sunday, picnicking. "It's good to have such a zone, as we no longer have to go to the zoo or Bogor to see spotted deer.

Judges need to jail corruptors promptly: Expert

Judges need to jail corruptors promptly: Expert Muninggar 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 straight to prison.

Activists wary of reconciliation commission

Activists wary of reconciliation commission Tiarma 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 duopoly Evi 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. Meanwhile, PT Indonesia Satellite Corporation (Indosat), which the government granted a license to engage in the local call business a year ago, is still struggling to get a foothold in the business.

Nessen sentenced, but finally freed

Nessen sentenced, but finally freed Nani 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. He left the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, at round 9:30 a.m., bound for Jakarta on a Garuda plane before planning to fly home to New York. He was accompanied by his lawyer Amir Syamsuddin, a U.S.

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. Born in Tebing Tinggi, North Sumatra, on July 1935, Sarwata was a 1962 graduate of Gajah Mada University's law school. That same year he graduated from the officer's school.

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. The hotel has undergone major renovations to ensure that it is protected from floods but the structural and design elements remain the same, the hotel management said in a statement on Friday. The hotel will reopen in two stages.

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. With such an outcome the party would remain solid; that's the most important thing," Edi, a former defense minister, said at Hasanuddin Airport on a stopover from Maluku to Jakarta.

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. Midfielder Nguyen Manh Dung said players Nguyen Viet Thang and Luong Trung Tuan had let their teammates know they could earn US$5,000 each if Indonesian side Persita won the ASEAN club championship game in July by one goal, the paper said.

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. NESSEN: 28 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 20 Nessen sentenced, but finally freed

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JP/ / Private universities take advantage of students Rizky 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. Thousands of students who passed the SPMB will likely drop their registrations with private universities even though they have paid admission fees.

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

Rupiah to stable, index to recover some ground this week: Dealers The 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. The rupiah closed at 8,540 per dollar last week, slightly lower than the previous week's close of 8,520.

Mining should never be banned in protected forest

Mining should never be banned in protected forest Julia 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. 41/1999, which prohibits opencast mining in protected areas. On July 18, Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources director general for geology and mineral resources Wimpy S.

FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- Real Estate

FOR FOCUS ISSUE -- Real Estate Property market shows signs of life amid fall in interest rate Sudibyo M. Wiradji The Jakarta Post Jakarta Residential property has shown signs of life during the past few months amid a decline in lending rates offered by the country's banks. Property developers estimate that the more favorable business climate will provide a turning point for the Indonesian property sector, which almost ground to a halt after the financial crisis hit the country in late 1997.

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. "We have received threats of blackmail, as well as threats made over phone to our residences and offices," said a member of the council who did not wish to be identified. He also declined to identify the gubernatorial candidate specified in the threats.

Should old cars be banned from city?

Should old cars be banned from city? From Media Indonesia The 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. Many such vehicles, including those for public transportation, will continue to be used in the city. It is also impossible to reduce the number of cars in Jakarta because automobile purchases take place every day.

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-trend JP/ / Becoming more functional and affordable Wasis Gunarto Contributor Jakarta Today, numerous electronic products using advanced technology are becoming more affordable. Cellular phones, personal computers and notebooks, for example, are already part of many people's daily activities. Likewise, the digital projector.

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 Jakarta time. I thought this was a mistake, as you always put clocks forward as you travel eastwards, but two or three days later I had to admit that the airline had given the right information.

Police shot auto-theft suspect

Police shot auto-theft suspect Damar 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. Police raided a house in Curug, Tangerang, Banten province, on Friday evening following a tipoff from gang-member Tonyik, alias Manto or Edi, who was arrested at his home in Pisangan Baru, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

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. AtlasONE would use the network to offer Internet protocol (IP) services to both large and small businesses.

ASEAN a step closer to becoming single market

ASEAN a step closer to becoming single market Agence 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. Head of Poso tourism and culture Muzakir Podungge said on Saturday that in the first semester, only 50 people visited the Togean islands, the major tourist destination.

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

Saudi husband cops jail term for wife's torture of maid Agence 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. Jeddah judge Mohammed Amin Mordad said the wife tortured the Indonesian maid "by inserting a heated screwdriver into her genitals," Al-Madina said.

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. "We expect her to turn up this time," said chairman of House Commission I for defense Ibrahim Ambong on the sidelines of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Annual Session on Saturday.

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE GRIYA ASRI magazine HOME 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/BOOK 2 x 27 Students forced to buy books featuring Megawati, Sukarno JP/5/DRY 1 x 35 Drought, clean water shortage continue

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE

FEATURE PHOTO for FOCUS ISSUE GRIYA ASRI magazine BUYING 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 software Vishnu 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. Many businesses are also now in a panic, as they now face millions of rupiah in additional costs for legal software purchases. Hard decisions need to be made, and many are scrambling for cover.

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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 your money in the stock market or buying foreign currencies might still be too speculative for the average person.

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. Her lover, Chong Keng Chye, 36, was charged with murder, The Straits Times said. The pair had been on the run and were arrested at a friend's flat on Thursday. Both were due to appear in court again Friday. Police said the crime took place at her former home on June 3, 1999.

Expatriates under spotlight in S'pore

Expatriates under spotlight in S'pore Martin 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.

Majalengka farmers uproot own clove trees

Majalengka farmers uproot own clove trees Nana 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. Some of them have tried to switched to fruit growing in the hope of making good their losses on cloves.

'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. The Session, which carries a price tag of Rp 20 billion, is expected to improve the public accountability of state institutions. However, it has generated criticism of some residents, who told The Jakarta Post that the legislators were only wasting the state budget for unclear objectives.

JI plotting new acts of terrorism, S'pore says

JI plotting new acts of terrorism, S'pore says Associated 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. "While we have detained most of Jamaah Islamiyah members in Singapore, the network has not been completely dismantled," said Lee Boon Yang, Singapore's Minister for Information, Tourism and the Arts.

Megawati rapped for neglecting environment

Megawati rapped for neglecting environment Moch. 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 the government's lack of concern for the issue.

Students forced to buy books featuring Megawati, Sukarno

Students forced to buy books featuring Megawati, Sukarno Agus 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 father Sukarno, Regent Probo Yulastoro and legislative council speaker Fran Lukman.

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. The money will be channeled into the construction of the Huizhou complex, a venture with the China National Offshore Oil Corp., which at $4.5 billion is the biggest foreign investment in Chinese history, the China Daily said.

Indonesia hopes dashed in tight match

Indonesia hopes dashed in tight match Agencies, Jakarta Indonesia'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 ... on the day, in which China triumphed in three of the five events. The Candra/Sigit failure left Indonesia with no title from the biennial world badminton tournament.

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. When Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung decided that he too would run for the nomination, he effectively killed the democratic character of the convention.

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. Gus Dur's spokesman Adhi Massardi said on Sunday that after celebrating his birthday, Gus Dur would likely be allowed to leave the hospital, as his health was improving.

Candra and Sigit come through for RI

Candra and Sigit come through for RI Agencies Jakarta Candra 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 ... in the final matches, in which China triumphed in three of the five events. China won the men's and women's singles through Xia Xuanze and Zhang Ning respectively, and the women's doubles by Gao Ling/Huang Sui.

Maids need protecting

Maids need protecting The 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. An estimated 50,000 Indonesian maids work here, so it is perfectly normal for the embassy to want the best deal for its nationals.

Child protection drive launched

Child protection drive launched Sari 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 Mulyadi of the National Commission for Children's Protection (Komnas PA) told a seminar recently.

Smuggler flees, but leaves drugs behind

Smuggler flees, but leaves drugs behind Multa 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. His whereabouts is unknown, but customs and excise officers at the airport suspect that Marco Archer Moreira fled to Bali. It is the biggest smuggling attempt of cocaine in the country this year.

Indonesia hopes to tap lucrative Asian gas market

Indonesia hopes to tap lucrative Asian gas market Fitri 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 said on Sunday. The completion of the pipeline will enable Indonesian gas producers to look for more buyers in the region.

APEC members accept travel cards

APEC members accept travel cards The 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 the APEC region.

Campaign launched to protect children from sex industry

Campaign launched to protect children from sex industry Sari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post Jakarta To stem the growing number of children involved in the sex industry, the government is launching a nationwide campaign, a seminar unveiled on Wednesday. A pilot project will be launched at tourism sites, campaigning through posters, stickers and banners, Seto Mulyadi of the National Commission for Children's Protection (Komnas PA) said.

Megawati opens Malay festival

Megawati opens Malay festival Haidir 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 4.3 billion festival is being participated in by officials and experts from only four countries -- Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam.

Fire razes a bakery in Bekasi

Fire razes a bakery in Bekasi BEKASI: 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 11:00 a.m. The fire swiftly spread to other rooms on the floor.

* 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. deficits 6 * City: Africans arrested over fraud allegations 8 * Sports: Clijsters, Henin-Hardenne in San Diego final 10 * World: Al-Qaeda threatens U.S.

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. With such an outcome the party would remain solid; that's the most important thing," Edi, a former defense minister, said at Hasanuddin Airport on a stopover from Maluku to Jakarta.

Confidence key to generating high economic growth: Long Yongtu

Confidence key to generating high economic growth: Long Yongtu China'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.

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;JP; ANPAc..r.. Projectors-sales-trend JP/ / A versatile tool for business and home entertainment Intan Sugiharti Contributor Jakarta Today, many people -- even a number of children -- are familiar with the word digital. Its application in numerous gadgets has made it a household word. As one form of advancement in technology, that is currently taking place at a rapid pace, digitalization is intended to enhance the quality of life. In a number of ways, it actually does.

Nonbinding advisory commission set up

Nonbinding advisory commission set up M. 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 Soekarnoputri and other state institutions last Friday.

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. Midfielder Nguyen Manh Dung said players Nguyen Viet Thang and Luong Trung Tuan had let their teammates know they could earn US$5,000 each if Indonesian side Persita won the ASEAN club championship game in July by one goal, the paper said.

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;JP; ANPAc..r.. Houses-loans-tips FOR FOCUS - INDUSTRIAL ESTATES FOR FOCUS ISSUE: INDUSTRIAL ESTATES Shopping around for the best loan for your new home Hendarsyah Tarmizi The Jakarta Post Jakarta If you don't have enough cash, taking out a bank loan to purchase or renovate a house is one of the best alternatives available. Using financial supports from other financial institutions are usually more costly.

Three Africans arrested over fraud allegations

Three Africans arrested over fraud allegations The 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 around Rp 1.5 billion (US$176,470) in losses. "The Africans were arrested for fraud. They had promised to increase threefold U.S.

Punctuality of electric trains

Punctuality of electric trains From 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. As a result, many passengers stand close to the doors of the trains, thus endangering their own safety. It must also be noted that when a train is overcrowded with passengers, pickpockets can operate freely.

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. Police raided a house in Curug, Tangerang, Banten province, on Friday evening following a tipoff from gang-member Tonyik, alias Manto or Edi, who was arrested at his home in Pisangan Baru, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.