Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 December 2004

97 articles found

Thai PM's Muslim insurgency blame game a blunder: analysts

Thai PM's Muslim insurgency blame game a blunder: analystsMichael Mathes Agence France-Presse/BangkokThe Thai premier's attempt to shift blame onto Malaysia and Indonesia for his failure to quell an Islamic insurgency in southern Thailand was a blunder that threatened regional ties, analysts warned.

President's official car park?

President's official car park?From KompasOn Nov. 15, I parked my car outside of Klub Bimasena (health/sports center) in South Jakarta, near the gate of the club, which shares the same complex with Hotel Dharmawangsa.

TV Program: Monday, December 27, 2004

TV Program: Monday, December 27, 2004TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi7:00 Cartoon: Maya the Bee7:30 Children Show8:30 Music: Asyik Asyik10:00 Talk Show11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 1:00 p.m.

Two strong men in Jakarta

Two strong men in Jakarta Indonesian Vice-President Jusuf Kalla's election as chairman of the Golkar party introduces an element of drama into the country's political scene in the early days of the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration.

Malpractice cases in 2004

Malpractice cases in 2004 No. Cases Location Result -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Complications after Jakarta Solved by the Ethics otorhinolaryngology Committee (MKEK) head & neck surgery Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI) Jakarta 2.

Inmate suspected of running drug ring

Inmate suspected of running drug ring BANDUNG, West Java: Following the arrest of six suspected drug dealers over the weekend, the Bandung Police announced they suspected an inmate was controlling the city's drug trade from inside prison.

Two die in Cikampek toll road accident

Two die in Cikampek toll road accident JAKARTA: Two people died instantly, while two others were seriously injured in an accident at Kilometer 51 on the Jakarta- Cikampek toll road near East Karawang on Saturday at around 4:20 a.m.

Councillors shoulder great hopes of all Jakartans

Councillors shoulder great hopes of all JakartansBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The April 5 legislative election found Jakartans differing from the rest of the country over who should represent them in the legislative body.

Asia devastated as over 10,000 killed, missing

Asia devastated as over 10,000 killed, missingAgencies, ColomboThe world's biggest earthquake in 40 years hit South and Southeast Asia on Sunday, unleashing a tsunami that crashed into Sri Lanka and India and swamped tourist isles in Thailand and the Maldives, killing more than 10,000 people.

Puteh's trial a test for war on corruption

Puteh's trial a test for war on corruptionMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government's anti-graft campaign will be put to the test on Monday, when Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh goes on trial for alleged graft involving Rp 4 billion (US$440,000) in state...

JP/1/quake

JP/1/quakeHuge quake, tsunami rattle Aceh, 2,000 killed The Jakarta Post Banda Aceh/Jayapura/MedanThe morning after Christmas brought tragedy to Aceh and North Sumatra, as well as to Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean, when a devastating earthquake wreaked havoc with massive tsunamis that...

JP/5/LONGSOR

JP/5/LONGSORRiau-Sumatra highway cut by landslidePuji Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Pekanbaru The main highway between the provinces of Riau and West Sumatra was cut on Friday by a landslide triggered by torrential rains in Kampar regency over the past week.

JP/20/intro

JP/20/intro Year of historical events brings Indonesia new challenges The Jakarta Post/JakartaTime seems to be ticking faster -- as it always seems to in the final months of the year -- until the deafening blares of trumpets and blinding flashes of fireworks will close 2004.

Civil disobedience against graft

Civil disobedience against graftFrom Koran TempoIt is not so hard to eliminate corruption if every member of society is committed to the cause, such as when we are asked for money for identity cards (KTP) and driver's licenses (SIM).

table for bank

table for bank Performance of some of top banks --------------------------------------------------- Profit NIM --------------------------------------------------- 2004* 2003** 2004* 2003** --------------------------------------------------- BRI Rp 4.3t Rp 2.7t 11.7% 9.2% Danamon Rp 2.3t Rp 1.0t 6.

The revolution has begun on Jakarta's streets

The revolution has begun on Jakarta's streetsDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta When one looks at the evolution of Jakarta one cannot go past Governor Ali Sadikin who was once dubbed the city's "father of development".For many, Ali's reign over the city was controversial as it was successful.

Democracy takes root in world's largest Muslim country

Democracy takes root in world's largest Muslim countryM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In a period of less than eight months, Indonesia held this year an unprecedented three direct elections -- proving the skeptics wrong in their peaceful process and conclusion -- and heralding a new era...

Burglaries, robberies, keep rising

Burglaries, robberies, keep risingEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Residents are advised to remain on the alert and to take steps to protect their property and loved ones, as the crime figures continue to rise in Greater Jakarta.

President's official car park?

President's official car park?From KompasOn Nov. 15, I parked my car outside of Klub Bimasena (health/sports center) in South Jakarta, near the gate of the club, which shares the same complex with Hotel Dharmawangsa.

Authorities fiddle while Jakarta continues to burn

Authorities fiddle while Jakarta continues to burnUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, JakartaIt was only recently that Marsudi, 33, and his family were able to find a new place to live -- in a crowded neighborhood in Kebon Kacang, Central Jakarta.

Corruption and democracy

Corruption and democracyFrom Koran Tempo President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared Dec. 9 Anticorruption Day for the purpose of waging a war against corruption. On several occasions he even said he would direct the corruption eradication movement himself.

The country's rich natural resources endangered

The country's rich natural resources endangeredMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A high ranking official with the (then) Trade and Industry Ministry was clearly puzzled when a journalist asked for his comment about a number of companies accused of polluting a river in West Java.

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, December 27, 2004

Where to go in Jakarta: Monday, December 27, 2004Exhibitions* The Hungry Box: the endless interiors of MVRDV, Erasmus Huis, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Kav S-3, Kuningan, South Jakarta (Tel. 5241069), Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., until Jan. 7.

Bomb attacks could be done at anytime, anywhere

Bomb attacks could be done at anytime, anywhereAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Following the Sept. 9 bombing outside the Australian Embassy in Kuningan, South Jakarta, John Douglas, 40, who worked for a U.S.

Bring back our literacy in local dialects

Bring back our literacy in local dialectsAtmakusumah, Jakarta How many times in a week, or even in a day, is it that I stumble in a conversation in my own national language, Bahasa Indonesia. I realize at such moments that I am unable to finish my sentence because I could only find the proper words...

table for investment

table for investmentElements needed to start a business ------------------------------------------------------------- RI Malaysia Thailand Vietnam India ------------------------------------------------------------- Number of procedures 12 9 8 11 11 Time (days) 150 30 33 56 89 Cost (% per kapita)...

Anti-corruption record poor as ever

Anti-corruption record poor as everM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In 2004, almost six years after the dawn of the reform movement, Indonesia's record on corruption remained shabby as ever.

'Some don't make enough to eat'

'Some don't make enough to eat' A recent increase in the prices of liquefied petroleum gas and high octane fuels sparked protests by people concerned over the possibility of steep price increases for other fuels next year, which also would cause the prices of basic commodities to rise.

JP/ /Bank

JP/ /BankBanks enjoy strong profit, but intermediary role still weakDadan Wijaksana The Jakarta Post/JakartaBusiness-wise, the banking industry is in for probably the best year of showing since the crisis.

Ciputat to build integrated bus terminal

Ciputat to build integrated bus terminal JAKARTA: Tangerang regency administration will build an integrated bus terminal in Ciputat next year to handle the current crowded and traffic-congested area. The terminal is expected to serve intra-city buses and inter-city buses.

The Anti-corruption campaign

The Anti-corruption campaign A number of politicians from the House of Representatives (DPR) have commented positively on President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's declaration on Dec. 9 to crack down on corruption.

JP/5/KAKAK

JP/5/KAKAKWhite cockatoo population dwindlingIndra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya The population of White Cockatoo (Cacatua alba) in North Maluku is dwindling due to uncontrolled poaching. More than 500 of them are traded in Jakarta and other places annually, say an environmental group.

Skepticism of military reform

Skepticism of military reformTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta During the initial years of the "reform" euphoria, the streets were abuzz with spirited talk about removing the military from politics.

Bigger steps toward accelerating Asian integration

Bigger steps toward accelerating Asian integrationEric Teo Chu Cheow, China Daily, Asia News Network, BeijingThe recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit held in Vientiane, Laos on November 28-30, could have broken new ground in Asian integration and community-building.

Death toll from Asian quake, tidal waves rises to 8,467

Death toll from Asian quake, tidal waves rises to 8,467 Death toll: Sri Lanka: 3,225 India: 2,447 Indonesia: 2,439 Thailand: 310 Malaysia: 29 Maldives: 15 Bangladesh: 2 Total: 8,467

1. ROUNDUP: heading already made

1. ROUNDUP: heading already made 2. ACEH: 3 x 14 Massive quake rattles Aceh, 2,400 killed 3. CEMEX: 1 X 36 Cemex ceases legal battle: Minister

Council takes vow of silence

Council takes vow of silenceMulta Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang In protest against the regulation on protocol and financial affairs of councillors, Tangerang Legislative Council members are to form an ojek (motorcycle taxi) convoy to drive to the office on Monday and not speak a word the whole...

When will the 'play group' move up a grade?

When will the 'play group' move up a grade?Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former president Abdurrahman Wahid had such a difficult time finding a polite word to describe the House of Representatives that, back in 2001, he called it a "kindergarten".

Neighborly tempers

Neighborly tempers For four decades, the amity between members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been the bedrock of the region's vibrancy. ASEAN leaders became "cronies", with their personal bonds ensuing much given-and-take within relationships, allowing disagreements to...

Cemex ceases legal battle: Minister

Cemex ceases legal battle: MinisterUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Mexican cement giant Cemex SA has agreed to suspend a law suit it had filed against the government in a protracted dispute regarding cement producer PT Semen Gresik, a senior minister said.

Residents protest garbage dump

Residents protest garbage dump BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Hundreds of residents of West Telukbetung blocked off access to the local dump over the weekend to protest what they said was pollution caused by the dump.

Improving the dreadful

Improving the dreadful state of transportationFrom Warta KotaWith the frequent reports of fatal road accidents, in which vehicles drive into oncoming traffic, causing head-on collisions, I would like to suggest that median strips be built to prevent further mishaps.

Grandma Ponirah, 'becak' driver

Grandma Ponirah, 'becak' driver Ponirah, 55, a mother of six children and grandmother to two, is no ordinary woman. The woman from Jeblog village, Kasihan district, Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, sports a crew cut and is of solid build, the muscles of her biceps and forearms clearly defined.

Managing waste properly

Managing waste properlyFrom Koran TempoI have been wondering if the government can draw up a regulation on the proper management of waste, which regulates the separation of organic from inorganic garbage and recycling.

;JP;REN;

;JP;REN; ANPAf..r.. JSX-stock-yearender Despite weak law enforcement, RI stocks shine JP/13/JSXDespite weak law enforcement, RI stocks shine Rendi A. Witular The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Jakarta stock market made headlines in the nation's media nearly every week this year with its record-high...

Gloomy year for RI media as big guns try to sink it

Gloomy year for RI media as big guns try to sink itM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A year of living dangerously for the press here was signaled early last year when well-connected businessman Tomy Winata filed a criminal complaint with the police against Tempo magazine over an article...

Affected countries

Affected countriesDeath toll:Sri Lanka: 3,225 India: 2,447 Indonesia: 4,185 Thailand: 310 Malaysia: 29 Maldives: 15 Bangladesh: 2

Anti-graft ruling to shift burden of proof

Anti-graft ruling to shift burden of proofMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government is making a breakthrough in its anticorruption campaign with the drafting of a regulation that will shift the burden of proof to suspects.

Malls packed with shoppers as new year gears up

Malls packed with shoppers as new year gears upDewi Santoso The Jakarta Post/JakartaVarious promotions offered by malls and shopping centers across the capital have prompted Jakartans to spend their time there during the holiday season after Christmas Day and ahead of the New Year.

Quilt painting, an alternstive art

Quilt painting, an alternstive artDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta For a beginner like Ratna, the idea of doing a watercolor or oil painting can be daunting.So the 36-year-old decided to go to a workshop on quilt painting that she thought would be interesting."I cannot paint.

Councillors face uphill battle against graft charges

Councillors face uphill battle against graft chargesA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The 10 people who came to the Attorney General's Office here as representatives of councillors nationwide were kept waiting in a meeting room for more than 30 minutes.

Extreme weather, disaster wreak destruction in Asia

Extreme weather, disaster wreak destruction in AsiaHelen Rowe , Agence France-Press/DhakaNatural disasters and extreme weather -- from quakes and floods to some of the worst typhoons in decades -- claimed 4,000 lives and left a US$22 billion trail of destruction across Asia in 2004.

JP/5/PILKADA

JP/5/PILKADACandidates gear up for June electionsOyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung Candidates vying for top posts in the direct elections for heads of regional governments in Lampung province are confused over which political party to register with, as each party has its own...

Woman stabbed in rape attempt

Woman stabbed in rape attempt JAKARTA: Eka Sulistyowati, 22, a fish vendor at Ciputat Market, Tangerang regency, was severely wounded after another vendor Dedi stabbed her several times in a rape attempt at 2:30 a.m. on Sunday as the market was opening.

Regional autonomy makes little headway

Regional autonomy makes little headwayRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Regional autonomy, including special autonomy in the conflict- ridden provinces of Aceh and Papua, has made little headway in the years since its introduction, not only due to the government's apparent reluctance to...

Tsunami sweeps Sumatra

Tsunami sweeps SumatraThe Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh/Jayapura/Medan The morning after Christmas brought tragedy to Aceh and North Sumatra, as well as to Asian countries bordering the Indian Ocean, when a devastating earthquake wreaked havoc with massive tsunamis that swept through towns, villages and...

The exhausting legal journey

The exhausting legal journeyFrom Media Indonesia Law enforcement in Indonesia is like a long and exhausting journey with no certainty in sight. Law becomes a commodity most demanded by wealthy and powerful buyers, while its enforcers can be so directed that justice is exchanged for money and...

Disaster spells freedom for 500 convicts

Disaster spells freedom for 500 convictsAgencies, JakartaHundreds of prisoners escaped from Indonesian and Sri Lankan jails when a tsunami triggered by a massive earthquake in Aceh province knocked down their walls on Sunday.

Extreme weather and disaster wreak death and destruction in Asia

Extreme weather and disaster wreak death and destruction in Asia Helen Rowe Agence France-Press/DhakaNatural disasters and extreme weather -- from quakes and floods to some of the worst typhoons in decades including the deadly tsunami on Sunday -- claimed over 19,000 lives and left a scores of...

Ciputra Surya, Sampoerna tie up

Ciputra Surya, Sampoerna tie up JAKARTA: PT Ciputra Surya, Indonesia's third- largest real estate developer by value, signed an agreement with a unit of PT H.M. Sampoerna to jointly develop a project in Indonesia's East Java province.According to the Dec.

Megawati's last stand came too late

Megawati's last stand came too lateFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In the last 10 months of her presidency, Megawati Soekarnoputri tried to do the impossible: make up for the disappointment of her first 28 months in office.

What's wrong with RI's development planners?

What's wrong with RI's development planners?Budhi Santoso, Jakarta The Indonesian economic crisis of 1998 provoked a number of practitioners and critics to review national development planning systems that had been implemented for 30 years during the New Order era.

Year-end Special Edition

Year-end Special Edition Three elections made 2004 the year of elections here -- no doubt about that. The legislative election on April 5 saw nearly 150 million Indonesians choose 550 members of the House of Representatives and 128 members of the newly established Regional Representatives Council.

Officers to face the music

Officers to face the musicThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Police investigators are set to hold a disciplinary hearing, which could spell the dismissal of 16 officers alleged to have received bribes during the Bank BNI scandal investigation. Detective chief Comr. Gen.

Malls packed with shoppers as New Year approaches

Malls packed with shoppers as New Year approachesDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Various promotions offered by malls and shopping centers across the capital have prompted Jakartans to spend their time there during the holiday season after Christmas Day and ahead of the New Year.

*Tsunamis: Devastating tidal waves born deep in the ocean Page 2

*Tsunamis: Devastating tidal waves born deep in the ocean Page 2 *Ba'asyir group expands across country Page 3 *City urged to revise miscalculated budget Page 4 *Shaq enjoys Christmas with victory over Lakers Page 5 *What's wrong with RI's development planners Page 6 *Start 2005 with a revitalized...

Disorganized waste management takes its toll, again

Disorganized waste management takes its toll, againBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Incidents surrounding garbage disposal opened and closed the year 2004.Residents of Cilincing, North Jakarta, witnessed the death of thousands of fish in their fish ponds following the Jakarta...

Ba'asyir group spreads wing

Ba'asyir group spreads wingApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post/Medan An Islamic extremist group led by elderly cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, currently standing trial in Jakarta on terror charges, has established dozens of new branches in at least eight provinces across Indonesia.

Stop illegal fees

Stop illegal fees From Warta Kota The government's attempt to stamp out graft must be made at all levels of the government. While major corruption cases are handled by the police, the prosecutor's office, the Corruption Eradication Commission and other agencies, small-scale corruption, which has a...

The exhausting legal journey

The exhausting legal journeyFrom Media Indonesia Law enforcement in Indonesia is like a long and exhausting journey with no certainty in sight. Law becomes a commodity most demanded by wealthy and powerful buyers, while its enforcers can be so directed that justice is exchanged for money and...

Today's cars are smarter, but drivers must still use their heads

Today's cars are smarter, but drivers must still use their headsZatni Arbi Contributor/JakartaWe were traveling in the center lane of the Jakarta-Merak toll road. Suddenly, the white BMW 3-Series in front of us veered sharply to the left and slammed into the metal guard rail.

From ASEAN+3 to Asia-Europe

From ASEAN+3 to Asia-EuropeBunn Nagara, The Star, Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia From regionalization, a process in which countries within a region cooperate and integrate over a range of issues, comes inter-regionalism.

The nail trap

The nail trapFrom Kompas We were riding on our motorcycle on Jl. Daan Mogot, West Jakarta late on Nov. 13 when our rear tire got a puncture near Pesing area. Some ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers in the area said that tire repair workshop owners spread various kinds of nails over the road to boost...

Corruption and democracy

Corruption and democracyFrom Koran Tempo President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared Dec. 9 Anticorruption Day for the purpose of waging a war against corruption. On several occasions he even said he would direct the corruption eradication movement himself.

House's internal

House's internal conflict harmfulFrom KompasThe protracted conflict in the House of Representatives between the Nationhood Coalition and the People's Coalition has remained unresolved. This problem is doing considerable harm to public interests because the House has been rendered unproductive, with...

RP rebels vow to step up attacks

RP rebels vow to step up attacksPHILIPPINES: Communist rebels on Sunday vowed to step up attacks and the revolutionary struggle in the Philippines as they marked the 36th anniversary of the founding of the underground movement.

City urged to revise its miscalculated budget

City urged to revise its miscalculated budgetBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta With less than one week before the Dec. 31 budget deadline, the city administration has been told to fix an error in the draft budget that could cause a deficit of about Rp 1.2 trillion (US$133.

Global's auditors may lose licenses over suspected accounting cover-ups

Global's auditors may lose licenses over suspected accounting cover-upsRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government may revoke the operating license of accounting firms that audited the financial accounts of troubled Bank Global Internasional if they are proven to have committed...

JP/5/FOCUS

JP/5/FOCUSInmate suspected of running drug ringBANDUNG, West Java: Following the arrest of six suspected drug dealers over the weekend, the Bandung Police announced they suspected an inmate was controlling the city's drug trade from inside prison.

LG Electronics considers making LCD, plasma TV in Indonesia

LG Electronics considers making LCD, plasma TV in IndonesiaSouth Korea's LG Electronics (LGE) aspires to attain the rank of global top 3 in the rapidly growing digital display and media sector by 2007. Global demand for plasma televisions alone is estimated to expand to 12 million units by 2007...

Start 2005 with a refreshed old PC

Start 2005 with a refreshed old PCZatni Arbi, Contributor/Jakarta Now that Christmas is over and work pressure must be a bit lighter, it is perhaps the best -- and the last -- opportunity to restore your PC to its level of performance when the operating system was first set up and before all those...

1. Reaction (45) - 48 pts 3cols 2lines (2x18)

1. Reaction (45) - 48 pts 3cols 2lines (2x18) World offers aid to Asian quake victims 2. Tidal (40) - 36 pts 5cols 1line (1x35)Tsunamis: Deadly waves born in the sea3. Jail (23) - 28 pts 2cols 2lines (2x20) Tsunami spells freedom for 500 convicts 4.

DPD's role? Empowering itself ...

DPD's role? Empowering itself ...The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The dream for better legislative representation appeared to have come true when the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) agreed in 2002 to adopt a bicameral legislative system.

JP/13/Y-Invest

JP/13/Y-InvestInvestment climate still weak; brighter outlook aheadDadan Wijaksana The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Despite all the efforts to help revive the business climate here, little improvement has been made this year as direct investment remains weak and is struggling to get back to the pre- crisis...

Year-end Special Edition

Year-end Special EditionThree elections made 2004 the year of elections here -- no doubt about that. The legislative election on April 5 saw nearly 150 million Indonesians choose 550 members of the House of Representatives and 128 members of the newly established Regional Representatives Council.

JP/4/yearend

JP/4/yearendThe Jakarta Post JakartaThe joy of having a second child proved to be short-lived for Hasan Kesuma, 33, a self-employed resident of Bogor, West Java.Just days after giving birth to their second child, his wife Agian Isna Naili, 33, slipped into a persistent vegetative state in July and...

Being herself cost Megawati her presidency

Being herself cost Megawati her presidencyFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With a sorrowful and troubled look in her eyes, Megawati Soekarnoputri pleaded for the lives of two Indonesian maids held hostage by militants in Iraq.

S.Korea to double rice imports

S.Korea to double rice imports SEOUL: South Korea has agreed to double rice imports to extend a World Trade Organization (WTO) accord that allows Seoul a grace period of staying out of market-opening, news reports said Sunday.

Quake, tsunami devastate Asia, 7,459 dead

Quake, tsunami devastate Asia, 7,459 dead Agencies ColomboThe world's biggest earthquake in 40 years hit South and Southeast Asia on Sunday, unleashing a tsunami that crashed into Sri Lanka and India and swamped tourist isles in Thailand and the Maldives, killing 7,459 people.

Human rights enforcement remains a far off hope

Human rights enforcement remains a far off hopeMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The year 2004 was capped by the appointment of Indonesia's senior diplomat, Makarim Wibisono, as head of the United Nation's Human Rights Commission for the next year.Starting Jan.

Special Yearender Section

Special Yearender Section Starting today, The Jakarta Post is running a special year-end section from page 13 through page 20. In today's edition, we take a look back at the national and city scenes of 2003.

World scrambles to offer aid for Asian quake victims

World scrambles to offer aid for Asian quake victims Agence France-Presse ParisGovernments and aid organizations around the world scrambled to offer aid and technical help on Sunday after the devastating quake and tidal waves that killed thousands of people in Asia.

Being herself cost Megawati her presidency

Being herself cost Megawati her presidencyFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With a sorrowful and troubled look in her eyes, Megawati Soekarnoputri pleaded for the lives of two Indonesian maids held hostage by militants in Iraq.

House told to OK chopper deal

House told to OK chopper dealKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The House of Representatives and the government look set to revive their debate over the procurement of Russian-made MI-17 helicopters following an official request from Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono for resumption of the...

Johannes Simbolon

Johannes Simbolon The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The nation's mining industry, which has been mired in problems during the past six years, has yet to see the light at the end of tunnel, experts say.For decades, the industry enjoyed peace and growth during the authoritarian regime of former president...

KL cuts duties to meet AFTA obligations

KL cuts duties to meet AFTA obligationsAntara/Kyodo, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia announced Friday that it will slash import duties on motorcars from other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to 20 percent from as much as 190 percent from January next year in a long-awaited move to...

Petronas expands in Thailand

Petronas expands in Thailand KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's national oil company said it will expand its investments in Thailand by buying the Thai operations of Kuwaiti Petroleum International, which operates over 117 gasoline stations across the country.