Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 February 2004

77 articles found

Cirebon mayor's dismissal delayed

Cirebon mayor's dismissal delayedNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java Cirebon mayor Subardi and his deputy Agus Al Wafier are still in power, despite the legislature issuing a recommendation on Dec. 17, 2003 for their ouster, because of a bureaucratic slip-up.

Porn for kids?

Porn for kids?From Kompas As an Indovision cable TV subscriber, I am disappointed because the channel for children, Nickelodeon, has now been replaced by Animax, a Japanese cartoon with some pornographic scenes.

Govt to divest shares in 28 firms

Govt to divest shares in 28 firms The government plans to sell its controlling stake in 19 state-owned firms this year as part of its continuing privatization program, an official said on Thursday.The government will also sell its minority holding in nine other firms, said Parikesit Suprapto, an...

GAM members receive prison terms

GAM members receive prison termsApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra A panel of judges at Medan district court sentenced on Thursday 10 members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) to between two and 10 years in jail for acts of terrorism.

Legalities leave fraud diploma cases unreported

Legalities leave fraud diploma cases unreportedEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Although the Jakarta General Elections Committee (KPUD) has dropped 23 legislative candidates from the candidacy list for submitting fake school diplomas, the Jakarta Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu...

S'pore must take steps to clear ties with RI

S'pore must take steps to clear ties with RIArdimas Sasdi, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Berkeley, California, ajambak@calmail.berkeley.edu Of all the nagging issues hurting ties between Singapore and its giant but frail neighbor Indonesia, nothing is more contentious than allegations the...

Court says not a chance for Press Law

Court says not a chance for Press LawM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court turned down a proposal from the Tempo magazine legal team to use the Press Council as mediator in negotiations with the Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM) group, in the...

Army donates Rp 1b for quake victims

Army donates Rp 1b for quake victimsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu has donated Rp 1 billion (US$120,841) to help finance rehabilitation projects in the West Irian Jaya regency of Nabire which was hit by a strong earthquake on Feb. 6.

237 fired PTDI workers receive severance pay

237 fired PTDI workers receive severance payYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung, West Java The Jakarta State Administrative High Court (PTTUN) has decided to delay its ruling, not as reported on Thursday, while the management of state-owned aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia...

Hidayat's LP2SI cleard of terror link

Hidayat's LP2SI cleard of terror linkAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The U.S. government admitted on Thursday it had made a blunder -- listing the address of Hidayat Nur Wahid's Al-Haramain educational foundation as the headquarters of an alleged terror group.

Mother prays for conjoined daughters as chances slim

Mother prays for conjoined daughters as chances slimDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Neng Harmani cannot stop praying that the operation to separate her two-week-old conjoined twin daughters will be successful.

No smoking at city offices

No smoking at city officesThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta With little fanfare, Governor Sutiyoso issued an antismoking decree last Tuesday, prohibiting smoking and the sale of cigarettes in city administration offices, Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo revealed on Thursday.

Kerosene shortage hits Yogyakarta

Kerosene shortage hits Yogyakarta YOGYAKARTA: Several areas in Yogyakarta have been experiencing a kerosene shortage for the past week, forcing local residents to queue for hours for kerosene across the city. Due to the shortage, some kerosene suppliers raised their prices from Rp 1,100 to Rp 1,300.

HSBC plans low-key lending target

HSBC plans low-key lending targetTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta London-based Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) has set a conservative lending target for 2004 amid government pressure on banks to revive their lending role.

RI tells U.S. to take the log out of their own eye

RI tells U.S. to take the log out of their own eyeFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has denounced a U.S. report on human rights abuses in Indonesia, saying Washington was not competent to make judgments about what went on here.

Govt to get huge revenue from gas pipeline project

Govt to get huge revenue from gas pipeline projectFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is projected to receive around US$11 billion in revenue for 20 years from the massive gas pipeline project linking East Kalimantan with the heavily populated Java island, according to a...

Mega wants coalition partner for 1st round knockout victory

Mega wants coalition partner for 1st round knockout victoryFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Megawati Soekarnoputri dropped a very clear hint on Thursday of her intention to get ever more chummy with Golkar Party leader...

'Peranakan' key spice in S'pore gastronomic history

'Peranakan' key spice in S'pore gastronomic historyTony Ryanto, Contributor, Singapore If you visit Singapore, the words peranakan, baba and nyonya are scattered about. Most likely you will pay no attention to them as, to some extent, no matter how vague they are, you already have an idea of what...

Can another 'marhaenis' party attract swing voters?

Can another 'marhaenis' party attract swing voters?Sandy Darmosumarto, Research and Development Unit, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Many parties wave symbols of the ideology established by founding father Sukarno, but they may not really understand his teachings.

Govt fights back at U.S. human rights report on Indonesia

Govt fights back at U.S. human rights report on IndonesiaFabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post JakartaHello fellows, when was the US report released and do we have its official name -- see my bold in story -- cheers, ChrisThe government has denounced a U.S.

Sony Ericsson responds

Sony Ericsson responds This is in response to the letter by Julhandiarso dated Jan. 31, regarding his Sony Ericsson T610. On Feb. 3, we contacted Julhandiarso and replaced his T610 with a new phone at PT Tirta Graha Mas (TGM), where he bought and had his cellular phone repaired.

Rp 30b aid given to 240 poor villages

Rp 30b aid given to 240 poor villages SURABAYA: The East Java provincial government has disbursed Rp 30 billion (US$3.5 million) in aid to 240 poverty-stricken villages in the province. The fund is part of Rp 48 billion from the provincial budget slated to be distributed this year to 400 poor...

Up for election

Up for electionAlong with voting for political parties and legislative candidates in the House of Representatives (DPR) and City/Regency Council (DPRD) on April 5, voters will also pick candidates for the new Regional Representatives Council (DPD).

Total, Petronas, NIOC ink LNG deal

Total, Petronas, NIOC ink LNG deal TEHRAN: French oil giant Total and Malaysian group Petronas signed a US$2 billion deal on Wednesday with the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) to set up a liquefied natural gas production (LNG) venture in Iran, an oil ministry official here said.

With a national character in place and in the absence of

With a national character in place and in the absence of domination from imperialist powers, the nation can achieve the aims of Trisakti as envisioned by Bung Karno: Political independence, economic self-sufficiency and cultural identity.

* Headlines: Ex-PKI members seek to go to poll this year 2

* Headlines: Ex-PKI members seek to go to poll this year 2 * National: Megawati 'fails to end racial discrimination' 4 * Archipelago: Messy paperwork saves Cirebon mayor 5 * Opinion: Singapore must take steps to clear ties with RI 6 * City: Experts boo mishmash traffic policies 8 * Sports: Tiger...

Of the hearts and minds of the Acehnese

Of the hearts and minds of the AcehneseAguswandi, Researcher, Indonesian Human Rights Campaign (TAPOL), London Now that many months have elapsed since the imposition of martial law in Aceh, it is the right time to wonder about the hearts and minds of the Acehnese.

Experts reject bill on legislation

Experts reject bill on legislationKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ten legal experts from eight universities urged the House of Representatives to delay the approval of the bill on law-making procedures, saying it would disrupt the country's legal system.

Official says loan repaid, claims slander

Official says loan repaid, claims slanderDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta Sanitation Agency head Selamat Limbong admitted that he had borrowed money from city councillor Posman Siahaan in 2002.

Credit card crime law urgent: Police

Credit card crime law urgent: PoliceP.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government needed to urgently pass new a law on payment systems to combat rising credit card crime in the country, card groups and the police said on Thursday.

Suspected commies want to be allowed in April's election

Suspected commies want to be allowed in April's electionSuherdjoko and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Semarang/Jakarta Former suspected members of the Indonesia Communist Party (PKI) are urging the government they be allowed to contest the legislative election after a court this week...

Three killed, houses destroyed by floods

Three killed, houses destroyed by floodsNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu, West Java Three people were killed and tens of thousands of homes were damaged after floods swept through a large part of Indramayu regency this week, officials have said.

Poso Muslims visit Christian base

Poso Muslims visit Christian base PALU, Central Sulawesi: At least 100 Muslim residents from various parts of Poso regency visited on Wednesday afternoon Christian communities in Tentena, North Pamona district.

New Order rights abuses probed

New Order rights abuses probed JAKARTA: The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has agreed in a plenary meeting to start a thorough inquiry into alleged human rights violations by former president Soeharto during his 32 years of iron-fisted leadership.M.M.

Freedom of the press under strong pressure in Southeast Asia

Freedom of the press under strong pressure in Southeast AsiaDeutsche Presse-Agentur, Bangkok Freedom of the press, which flowered in several Southeast Asian nations in the 1990s, now appears to be withering under pressure from authoritarian governments, corrupt judges and corporate interference,...

Singapore must be sensitive to Indonesia's problems

Singapore must be sensitive to Indonesia's problems OR Singapore must not take advantage of IndonesiaArdimas Sasdi Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Berkeley, California ajambak@calmail.berkeley.edu2. Yale -- The fallout of Pakistani revelations on North Korea 2 x 30 Fallout of Pakistani revelations on...

Commitment forged to save elections

Commitment forged to save elections KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Leaders of political parties and the police here established on Thursday a commitment to ensuring peaceful elections.All representatives of the 24 political parties contesting the general election attended the meeting at Southeast...

1. MARRIOTT: 50 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18

1. MARRIOTT: 50 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 Marriott bomber Sardona gets 10 years in prison 2. PDIP: 36 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 28 Mega wants coalition partner for 1st round knockout victory 3. PKI: 32 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 24 Suspected commies want to be allowed in April's election 4.

Telekom Malaysia remains committed for Excelcomindo

Telekom Malaysia remains committed for ExcelcomindoBloomberg, Jakarta Telekom Malaysia Bhd., the country's biggest phone company, said it remains committed to acquiring a stake in PT Excelcomindo Pratama, Indonesia's No.3 mobile-phone operator.

Fallout of Pakistani revelations on North Korea weapons trade

Fallout of Pakistani revelations on North Korea weapons tradePhillip C. Saunders, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, Washington Recent revelations about Pakistani scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan's involvement in a global network selling fissile material production technology and a nuclear...

Police to set up HIV/AIDS info center

Police to set up HIV/AIDS info center JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police narcotics division is to set up an HIV/AIDS public information center next month, following the establishment of a narcotics information center three months ago.

It's official, Mega declares dengue a problem

It's official, Mega declares dengue a problemThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri expressed her sorrow and offered help to the families of the country's dengue victims on Thursday -- 255 deaths, thousands of cases and two months after the beginning of the epidemic.

KPU to probe flaws in elections preparations

KPU to probe flaws in elections preparationsMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After a series of problems in the provision of election materials, the General Elections Commission (KPU) said it would establish two working committees to monitor and investigate possible mistakes in the...

Associated Press

Associated Press Hanoi U.S. business delegation said on Thursday that Vietnam's growing economy is ripe for foreign investment. "For American business, this is the year to focus on Vietnam. Vietnam is a stable, fast-growing and promising market for American companies," said Ernest Bower, president...

Govt urged to review poverty policy paper

Govt urged to review poverty policy paperA. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several non-governmental organizations (NGO) grouped under the Indonesian Antipoverty Movement (Gapri) demanded on Thursday that the government invite wider public participation in producing the Poverty Reduction...

Stamping out tin smuggling

Stamping out tin smugglingFrom Media Indonesia Stamping out smuggling is a difficult task that must be supported by all parties concerned; otherwise, it will be futile.Tin has been smuggled out of Indonesia since the 18th century, when Indonesia was still a Dutch colony.

Cambodia to try JI suspects

Cambodia to try JI suspectsCAMBODIA: Five foreign and Cambodian men accused of belonging to the regional terror group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) and having links to al-Qaeda will go on trial in Phnom Penh on Friday, lawyers said.

Experts boo mishmash city traffic policies

Experts boo mishmash city traffic policiesDamar Harsanto and Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Experts on urban transportation criticized on Thursday the city administration's project to widen main thoroughfares Jl. Sudirman and Jl.

Outlook for RI bond stable: Moody's

Outlook for RI bond stable: Moody's JAKARTA: International ratings agency Moody's assigned on Thursday a B2 rating to the government's new sovereign bond, with a stable outlook.Moody's praised improvements in the country's economy and external financial position in recent years as a strong signal...

RP looking forward to talks on peacekeeping force

RP looking forward to talks on peacekeeping forceAgencies, Manila The Philippines is "looking forward" to discussions on the creation of a regional peacekeeping force with fellow Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members, AFP reported from Manila on ThursdayIndonesia this week pushed...

AGO loses most taxpayer money

AGO loses most taxpayer moneyKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Attorney General's Office (AGO), the nation's frontline in eradicating corruption and guarding the state coffers, was declared by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) on Thursday as the country's top state "money abuser" last...

Kerosene shortage hits Yogyakarta

Kerosene shortage hits Yogyakarta YOGYAKARTA: Several areas in Yogyakarta have been experiencing a kerosene shortage for the past week, forcing local residents to queue for hours for kerosene across the city.Due to the shortage, some kerosene suppliers raised their prices from Rp 1,100 to Rp 1,300.

Researchers seek credibility audit of polling bodies

Researchers seek credibility audit of polling bodiesMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The credibility of pre-election polls has become cause for concern among observers, as polls on the same subject have provided disparate outcomes.

On WTO

On WTO Efforts by World Trade Organization members to resume global trade talks that broke down at a ministerial meeting in September are gaining momentum.U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick is urging WTO members to restart stalled international trade talks after presenting developing nations...

Marriott bomber Sardona gets 10 years in prison

Marriott bomber Sardona gets 10 years in prisonThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta A panel of judges at Bengkulu district court sentenced on Thursday defendant Sardona Siliwangi, 23, to 10 years in jail for his role in the Marriott bombing last year.

Indian Navy calls at Surabaya

Indian Navy calls at Surabaya INDONESIA: The Indian Naval Ship Tir will be in Surabaya, East Java, on a visit from Friday through Sunday to improve relations between the two countries' navies.The ship is on a two-month training cruise under the command of Col. Rajeev Girotra.

PBSI ensures security for Thomas, Uber Cup event

PBSI ensures security for Thomas, Uber Cup eventThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Following the growing concern over security issues during the final round of the Thomas and Uber Cup in Jakarta in May, the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) has assured everyone that it would be safe for foreign...

Top seeds cruise into Cigna quarterfinals

Top seeds cruise into Cigna quarterfinalsZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta On the third day of the US$11,800 Cigna Open tennis tournament, all but one of the seeded contenders breezed through to the quarterfinals.

S&P unlikely to review its RI rating before election

S&P unlikely to review its RI rating before electionDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta International rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) acknowledged progress in the Indonesian economy but said that a review of the country's sovereign rating would depend on the implementation and...

Huge fund for education earmarked

Huge fund for education earmarked BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: The Balikpapan mayoral administration has earmarked at least 20 percent of its Rp 550 billion (US$68.75 million) 2004 budget toward education, as stipulated in the Constitution.

Get a swig of all the club happenings around Jakarta this weekend

Get a swig of all the club happenings around Jakarta this weekendFriday, Feb. 27There's a brand-new, British-style pub, Mad Dogs, located inside Cilandak Commercial Estates. Run by a former manager of the M- Club and The Gate, the place could be a popular after-work watering hole for all the South...

Pressure mounts on KL to free detained Islamic militants

Pressure mounts on KL to free detained Islamic militantsAgence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Pressure mounted on the Malaysian government on Thursday over the detention without trial of alleged Islamic militants as human rights groups pressed for their release and 16 detainees threatened to go on...

'PKI won't return, we've learned from past'

'PKI won't return, we've learned from past' Although not all of the constitutional rights of the relatives of former members and former members of the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) have been reinstated, they can now exercise the right to vote and to run in the legislative elections.

PDI-P faction slams govt for racist policies

PDI-P faction slams govt for racist policiesKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Departing from its usual passivity, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction at the House of Representatives criticized the government of President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Thursday for failing...

Asian monies weaken, central banks may sell their currencies

Asian monies weaken, central banks may sell their currenciesChristina Soon, Bloomberg, Singapore The Singapore dollar fell, leading its Asian counterparts lower, after the government said regional central banks may sell their currencies to help sustain export-driven economic growth.

3-in-1 bothersome

3-in-1 bothersomeFrom Bisnis Indonesia The Jakarta administration is now enforcing its three-in-one policy that requires cars to carry a minimum of three passengers to be able to pass certain streets during certain hours of the morning and afternoon.

Bank Niaga net profit jumps 230%

Bank Niaga net profit jumps 230%The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Publicly listed Bank Niaga has reported a more than 230 percent jump in 2003 net profit on the back of strong revenue from its lending operation.The country's ninth largest lender said on Thursday its net profit surged to Rp 467.

Two nations, two women, one aim

Two nations, two women, one aimW. Scott Thompson, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore On the face of it, there is something extraordinary about the Indonesian and Filipino presidential races.

Australian lawmakers to aid election

Australian lawmakers to aid election JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri met with visiting Australian parliament members on Thursday, and they told her that bilateral relations would remain strong regardless of the outcome of the upcoming elections.

Tarmizi named PKB campaigner

Tarmizi named PKB campaigner SURABAYA: Former minister of religious affairs Tarmizi Taher said on Thursday he had been enlisted to campaign for the National Awakening Party (PKB) by co-founder Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid."I expressed my intention to be the party's campaigner.

Penalties for public officials

Penalties for public officialsFrom RepublikaThe case of a vice presidential limousine using the dedicated busway lane is one example of a trend among bureaucrats to violate their own rules. According to the city police, the procedure for escorting public officials is covered by a government...

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange(in rupiah) on Feb.26, 2004

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange(in rupiah) on Feb.26, 2004 ____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume _____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo...

1. BPK: 2 LINES, 15 COUNTS

1. BPK: 2 LINES, 15 COUNTSAGO loses most taxpayer money2. BOYCE: 1 LINE, 24 COUNTS Hidayat cleared of terror link 3. DENGUE: 3 LINES, 14 COUNTSIt's official, Mega declares dengue a problem 4. TWINS: 2 LINES, 21 COUNTS Mom prays for conjoined daughters as chances slim

PGN plans to sell $350m bonds

PGN plans to sell $350m bonds PGN plans to sell as much as $350 million of 10-year bonds by October, its second overseas sale this year to raise money for expansion."We have informed investors that bought our bonds last time about this sale plan," PGN's president WMP Simanjuntak told reporters in...

Rupiah Rates Feb.26

Rupiah Rates Feb.26 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,911.15 6,134.38 6,557.21 6,488.09 Brunei dollar 1 5,277.04 4,684.20 5,006.79 4,954.30 Canadian dollar 1 6,695.87 5,944.91 6,352.95 6,287.70 Swiss franc 1 7,105.51 6,308.47 6,741.62 6,672.

[b]Supreme Court

Supreme Court justices should goFrom Koran TempoThe Supreme Court has pronounced its decision, which is final, in spite of wider arguments for and against it. Students protesting the decision should not be mistaken when voicing their demands.

Public service and law enforcement

Public service and law enforcementFrom Suara KaryaIn declaring 2004 the year of public service, State Minister for Administrative Reforms Feisal Tamin emphasized the need to treat the public not merely as recipients of service but as loyal customers.