Financial woes delay garbage projects Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta administration officials admitted on Tuesday that they still had made little progress in dealing with the city's 6,000 tons of daily waste as investors who had proposed high-tech garbage management were mostly still waiting for the approval of bank loans to finance their projects. "The plan to introduce hi-tech waste management, which would be fully financed by investors, is still far from being realized.

Malaysian gets 11 years for drugs TANGERANG: Tangerang District Court sentenced Malaysian Tan Chan Wen, 31, on Tuesday to 11 years in prison for possessing 19,951 ecstasy pills. The three panel judges: Presiding Judge Suprapto; Maha Nikmah and Bambang Wirawan; determined the defendant was guilty for violating Article 59 of Law No. 5/1997 on psychotropic substances and has to pay a fine of Rp 100 million (US$11,905). The article carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.

HTI deregulation is not enough: APHI P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Industry players welcomed the issuance of new regulations on industrial timber plantations (HTI), saying the new rulings would solve some of the problems in the sector. "The deregulation will resolve the bureaucratic and financial difficulties faced by industrial players," said Nana Suparna of the Indonesian Forest Concessionaires Association (APHI), referring to ministerial decrees No. 46/2004 and 47/2004.

Busway evaluation From Trust Based on the observations of Consumer Protection, Jakarta, the free busway transport during the 14-day popularization period in January missed its target. The busway system was designed to offer security and comfort to passengers, with a seating capacity of 80. But the number of passengers in that period was allowed to exceed the bus' capacity, thus making the transport uncomfortable.

Mega accused of manipulation in 'TVRI' appointments The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed disbelief on Monday over the results of several TV polls about the most favored presidential candidates, while on the same day an outspoken legislator said the appointment of the new president director of state-owned TVRI was an attempt by Megawati's party to misuse the TV station to win her presidential bid.

Loans to SMEs still below target The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Credits funneled by the banking sector to cooperatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) reached Rp 24.8 trillion (US$2.9 billion) as of the third quarter of 2003, a minister has said. The amount represented only around 58 percent of the full-year target of Rp 42.4 trillion, State Minister of Cooperatives and SMEs H.

Change from within first From Republika Articles on Chinese-Indonesians recently published in Warta Kota daily suggest that Indonesian citizens of Chinese descent are still subject to discrimination in this country. As an example, they receive different treatment in processing documents like identity cards, birth and marriage certificates. In fact, the government from the period of BJ Habibie to the term of Abdurrahman Wahid improved the various regulations concerning Chinese-Indonesians.

Persik to contest Seongnam at home Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesian champion Persik Kediri is gearing up to take on contender Korean champion Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in a Group G match in the first leg of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League 2004 season at Brawijaya Stadium, Kediri, East Java, on Wednesday.

Mega accused of manipulation in 'TVRI' appointments JP/2/METRO The Jakarta Post Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed disbelief on Monday over the results of several TV polls about the most favored presidential candidates, while on the same day an outspoken legislator said the appointment of the new president director of state-owned TVRI was an attempt by Megawati's party to misuse the TV station to win her presidential bid.

Citibank predicts GDP to grow by 4.8% P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Citibank predicts the country's economy to grow by around 4.8 percent this year in line with the government's projection. The bank's economist in Indonesia Anton Gunawan said that domestic consumption would continue to become the main driver of the economy, contributing around 70 percent to gross domestic product.

Sutiyoso says no to executive-class busway Damar Harsanto The Jakarta Post Jakarta Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso turned down on Tuesday a proposal made by the TransJakarta Busway management to add executive-class buses to the busway project, which would occupy space in the dedicated lane. "Forget it! Our focus is to make perfect the existing busway project. We shall reject the plan (for an executive-class busway) if they (the management) insist," he said at City Hall.

Malaysia's draft MOU one-sided, unrealistic Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The final draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) that Malaysia proposed on Indonesian workers in that country's formal sector sets more rigid recruitment standards but carries no provisions on labor protection nor explicit and direct sanctions against any contravention by Malaysian employers of the agreement.

Megawati to visit Hasyim SURABAYA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri, in her capacity as Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader, will visit Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi at his Islamic boarding school in Malang this weekend. However, PDI-P deputy secretary general Pramono Anung was quick to dismiss speculation the meeting would be aimed at reconciling the PDI-P with the National Awakening Party (PKB), whose grassroots are mainly NU supporters.

Soeharto's lawyer says no letter yet from AGO Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former president Soeharto's lawyer Juan Felix Tampubolon claimed he had not received a letter from the Attorney General's Office (AGO) about the plan to reexamine his client's health. Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that if it arrived, the team of doctors would likely come to a conclusion that his client was unable to stand trial due to his health.

Susilo, Kalla set to resign to join presidential election Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Two senior ministers expressed their readiness to resign before challenging incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri in the direct presidential election as stipulated in a draft government regulation.

Probe on deputy mayor urged BOGOR: A group of 21 non-governmental organizations urged West Java governor to order police to start the investigation into the newly elected Bogor deputy mayor Mochamad Sahid. Sahid was accused for submitting a fake high school diploma to run in the mayoral election. The Joint Committee to Save Bogor (KBPKB) spokesman Deddy Djumiawan Karyadi told media on Monday that an inquiry should be held soon before the inauguration later this month.

Foreign embassies to monitor polls JAKARTA: Eight foreign embassies are among 12 overseas agencies registered by the General Elections Commission (KPU) as monitors of the April 5 polls. The embassies represent the United States, Russia, South African, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pakistan, Yemen, Canada and Japan. The other four foreign agencies are the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), the Asia Foundation and the Carter Center.

New steps to fight terror Long a chink in the armor in Southeast Asia's war against terror, Indonesia's move to set up a new counter-terrorism center with Australian backing will go a long way to addressing the problem. Previously hamstrung by lack of money, there are now hopes that the Indonesian police and intelligence agencies will be better equipped to monitor terrorist activity and make the region more secure.

No casualties found in two epicenter villages Agencies, Jakarta Rescuers found no casualties on Tuesday in two isolated villages earlier feared to be at the heart of last Friday's powerful earthquake which killed over 30 people in Nabire, Papua. Frans Ayomi, head of the search and rescue station on Papua's Biak island, said a member of his team had returned from a mission by helicopter to the two villages near the epicenter of the quake which measured 6.9 on the Richter Scale.

RI to boost countertrade Sari P. Setiogi The Jakarta Post Jakarta Indonesia will boost its countertrade to expand the country's export markets amid tighter global trade competition, Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi said on Monday. "We face relatively slow global economic growth and tighter competition with other countries.

Prioritizing plantation bill's aim Lin Che Wei, Director, Independent Research & Advisory, Jakarta There are only a few areas in which Indonesia ranks highly in the world: badminton, plantation products and corruption. In the plantation product sector, Indonesia is one of the largest producers of pepper (#1), palm oil (#2), rubber (#2), coconut(#2), cashew nut (#2), cocoa (#3), coffee (#4) and tea (#5). Despite being the largest producers in these commodities, Indonesia is not a price leader.

Businesses lobby House on tax amnesty, reform Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Businessmen are asking the House of Representatives to take the initiative in drafting two bills on tax amnesty and tax court proceedings as part of an overall tax reform package aimed at boosting tax revenue.

Mari'e to lead team to monitor Aceh operation Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has established a team to monitor the ongoing integrated operation in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and appointed Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) chairman Mar'ie Muhamad as its head. Lt. Gen.

Police act against illegal logging JAKARTA: Police are stepping up their efforts to fight widespread illegal logging in Indonesian forests, the national police chief told the House of Representatives on Tuesday. Gen. Da'i Bachtiar told the House the latest raids took place in December last year and involved a number of foreign citizens. Police apprehended a ship sailing under the Mongolian flag, which was carrying thousands of logs in the waters close to Sorong, Papua, Da'i said.

Economists oppose privatization plan Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In another campaign against the sale of state assets, a coalition of economists has urged a halt in government privatization and divestment programs, at least until the formation of a new government resulting from the upcoming general elections. The group, calling itself Indonesia Bangkit (Indonesia Awakens) consists of around 35 prominent economists.

Muhammadiyah backs Amien The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Muhammadiyah, the second largest Muslim organization after Nadhlatul Ulama, fully endorsed Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais's presidential bid, but some fear it could upset the delicate political balance in which most large religious groups remain neutral.