Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 28 February 2004

82 articles found

IBRA closes, leaves huge tasks behind

IBRA closes, leaves huge tasks behindDadan Wijaksana and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Most people perceive that messy legal cases and the massive cost of the late 1990's banking crisis are the legacy of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency, which the government officially...

Stocks unlikely to move up in coming week: Analyst

Stocks unlikely to move up in coming week: AnalystAgence France-Presse, Jakarta The Jakarta stock market is unlikely to recover lost ground in the coming week after slumping more than four percent in the past week, an analyst said on Friday.

Ambassadors, donors to visit Maluku

Ambassadors, donors to visit Maluku AMBON, Maluku: Ambon mayor Papilaja stated on Friday that ambassadors and representatives from international organizations would visit the city of Ambon early in March.They included the ambassadors from the Netherlands, South Korea and Russia to Indonesia.

Doubt lingers on role of transportation council

Doubt lingers on role of transportation councilM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As the May deadline for the establishment of a bylaw-sanctioned City Transportation Council is nearing, public transportation operators and urban activists are concerned that the council would not be...

Over 2,000 voter ID cards misprinted

Over 2,000 voter ID cards misprinted PURBALINGGA, Central Java: Aside from the late arrival of ballot boxes, printing errors are another problem that may hamper preparations for the upcoming general elections in the regions.

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.

Sebuku mining resumes activities

Sebuku mining resumes activities JAKARTA: The Indonesian coal-mining unit of Australia's Straits Resources said on Friday it was able to resume full operations at its site in East Kalimantan Wednesday after agreeing to grant more funds for community development.

JP/5/CARD

JP/5/CARDOver 2,000 voter ID cards misprintedPURBALINGGA, Central Java: Aside from the late arrival of ballot boxes, printing errors are another problem that may hamper preparations for the upcoming general elections in the regions.

Police to summon officials over councillor's alleged graft

Police to summon officials over councillor's alleged graftEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta Police will summon officials from the Jakarta Public Works Agency as witnesses in a Rp 1.3 billion (US$154,762) alleged graft case involving city councillor Maringan Pangaribuan of the...

Stamping out corruption

Stamping out corruptionFrom Republika The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has done its job well enough and has reported its findings to relevant government agencies for follow-up measures. Now that there are intensified efforts to eradicate corruption, spearheaded particularly by university students and...

BI wants banks to lend more to SMEs

BI wants banks to lend more to SMEsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Bank Indonesia will push the country's banking sector to allocate a greater amount in loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) this year as part of efforts to accelerate economic growth, a top official has said.

IBRA severance pay totals Rp 237b

IBRA severance pay totals Rp 237bThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has decided to provide less severance pay for the 2,500 employees of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA).Agency chairman Syafruddin Temenggung told a press conference on Friday that the severance pay totaled Rp...

TV Today: Saturday, February 28, 2004

TV Today: Saturday, February 28, 2004TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:30 Cartoon10:00 TV Drama: Si Kabayan11:30 Battle of Wits12:30 p.m. Children Show1:00 News: Berita Siang1:30 Health2:30 English News Service3:00 Music3:30 City News4:00 Film7:00 News8:00 TV Series9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita9:30...

Six judges eye two deputy chief posts

Six judges eye two deputy chief postsMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Six judges in the Supreme Court were nominated on Friday to take up two deputy posts that have been vacant for over a year after a preliminary vote by 37 justices at the court here.

Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printing

Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printingMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta With only 37 days before the legislative election, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is still facing huge problems in completing the films for ballot paper printing.

Bantul administration buys crops

Bantul administration buys crops YOGYAKARTA: The Bantul regency administration has set aside Rp 45 million to buy corn from farmers in order to offset an expected surplus in the coming harvest.The program began on Thursday with farmers in Pajangan district, which has more than 100 hectares of corn...

Regreening what?

Regreening what? The "unplanned" felling of trees along Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Jakarta has come as yet another shock to those who believe that this polluted city needs more trees. Worse, the decision to cut the trees was apparently made after the administration admitted that the sacrificing of fast...

'Restoring rights is evidence of democracy'

'Restoring rights is evidence of democracy' The reinstatement of part of the civil rights of former members of the banned Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) and their relatives enables them to participate in the national elections for the first time since their rights were denied by the state in 1966.

Losari: Coffee, trains and nostalgia

Losari: Coffee, trains and nostalgiaTarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java If you want to sip real coffee, you should go to Losari, an old coffee plantation in Magelang, a coffee aficionado friend of mine told me.He was right.

More than 100 missing, one dead in RP ferry fire

More than 100 missing, one dead in RP ferry fireAgence France-Presse, Manila More than 100 people were missing and at least one was confirmed dead after an explosion triggered a fire on a Philippine ferry before dawn on Friday, the coast guard said.

On cable connection

On cable connection I am a brand new customer of Indosat's broadband cable connection for Internet access. This costs Rp 300,000, plus VAT, per month.However, I was informed that this monthly charge will increase to Rp 550,000, plus VAT.

2004 general election: Civilian nationalism versus military

2004 general election: Civilian nationalism versus military nationalismOtto Syamsuddin Ishak, Civil Society Alliance for Democracy (Yappika), Jakarta The political dynamics in 2004 are accelerating as the general election nears.

Supreme Court justices should go

Supreme Court justices should go From 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.

Investors eye natural gas distribution business

Investors eye natural gas distribution businessFitri Wulandari The Jakarta Post Jakarta Malaysia's state energy company Petronas is one of many investors interested in entering the natural gas distribution sector in this country, a senior official said.

Sosrowijayan, present and past

Sosrowijayan, present and pastAsip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta "Mister, Mister, cheap room in Sosrowijayan, Mister! Only Rp 15,000, follow me!" a teenage boy in flip-flops said in pidgin English to a backpacker at the Tugu railway station one afternoon.

Consumer confidence rises to 15-month high

Consumer confidence rises to 15-month highBloomberg, Jakarta Indonesia's consumer confidence in January reached a 15-month record, as people in rural areas expect more income during the elections, a survey showed.A key gauge measuring consumer confidence gained to 97.

In Jakarta, even the dead can't rest in peace

In Jakarta, even the dead can't rest in peaceDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In funeral services, preachers often say, "May he rest in peace". But you can't take that on face value if you are a Jakarta resident.

100,000 to exercise at Monas

100,000 to exercise at Monas JAKARTA: The Community Sports Federation of Indonesia (FOMI) is to hold an exercise session en masse that it anticipates will involve 75,000 to 100,000 people at the National Monument (Monas) on March 7, according to FOMI chairman Datuk Hakim Tantawi.

Herbal medicine modernized

Herbal medicine modernized SEMARANG: The government urged producers of traditional herbal medicines on Friday to modernize their production process to meet quality standards."If we don't want to be ignored by our customers, we should modernize our production process," Deputy chairman of the Food...

Schools need US$159m in loans

Schools need US$159m in loans JAKARTA: The Ministry of National Education is seeking soft loans of up to US$150 million to finance the development of vocational schools across the country."The loans are meant to finance vocational education across the country in 2005, because we do not have enough...

Kimia Farma net profit up by 30 %

Kimia Farma net profit up by 30 %The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State-owned pharmaceutical company PT Kimia Farma recorded a 30 percent increase in net profit last year due to higher sales.The net profit climbed to Rp 46.2 billion (US$5.47 million) last year from Rp 35.

Paper donates 10,000 teak saplings

Paper donates 10,000 teak saplings BOGOR: The Radar Bogor newspaper donated 10,000 teak saplings on Friday and planted them around the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) campus in Dermaga, Bogor, and along the Cihideung River.

Party opens hot line for blood donors

Party opens hot line for blood donors YOGYAKARTA: The Yogyakarta chapter of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) opened a 24-hour hot line on Feb. 25 for blood donors.The hot line was opened in order to help collect blood for victims of the dengue fever outbreak.

No plan to revive rights of ex-PKI cadres

No plan to revive rights of ex-PKI cadresIndra Harsaputra and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Surabaya The historic verdict by the Constitutional Court to scrap a ruling which prohibits former members of the outlawed Indonesia Communist Party (PKI), or their relatives, from...

SMPN 56 students, teachers seek rights protection

SMPN 56 students, teachers seek rights protectionUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Students, parents and teachers of the SMPN 56 state junior high school opposing a controversial property deal sought protection from the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) on Friday, the day they...

Shipment of illegal coal foiled

Shipment of illegal coal foiled SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Staff at East Kalimantan mining and energy office have, within the past week, confiscated two containers, each with 40 tons of coal, at Samarinda seaport.

* Headlines: Quality schools way beyond the poor's reach 3

* Headlines: Quality schools way beyond the poor's reach 3 * National: More police for conflict areas during polls 4 * Archipelago: Tribal leaders demand UN probe Theys' murder 5 * Opinion: Tolerance should be priority in schools 7 * City: Jumantik squad have a tough task 8 * Sports: Louis Saha set...

'Jumantik' have a tough task

'Jumantik' have a tough taskDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "When is our turn for fogging, Bu?," Sartono, who lives in a neighborhood unit of Palmerah subdistrict, West Jakarta, asked jumantik officer Ibu Budiono when she visited his house on Friday.

More police personnel sent to conflict area during polls

More police personnel sent to conflict area during pollsAbdul Khalik The Jakarta Post JakartaThe National Police have deployed over 7,000 reinforcement personnel to three conflict-prone areas to help the existing forces there maintain security and order, prior to and during the elections.

Up for election

Up for election Along 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).

Tolerance should be a priority in schools

Tolerance should be a priority in schoolsSimon Marcus Gower, Executive Principal, High/Scope Indonesia School, Jakarta It is rare indeed that education and the world of school systems makes international headlines but recently, there can be little doubt that, the French system of education has...

Interests, not platforms behind coalitions: Experts

Interests, not platforms behind coalitions: ExpertsKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Having seen the current pre-election political maneuverings in the country, nobody would argue the classic adage in politics "There are no perpetual enemies, only interests".

Schools remain out-of-reach for the poor

Schools remain out-of-reach for the poorDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The start of the academic year is four months away, but schools in Jakarta -- including kindergartens, high schools, state and private schools -- are already advertising in the media.

TKI must have medical checkups, says minister

TKI must have medical checkups, says ministerThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta All workers seeking employment overseas must now undergo medical checkups in authorized clinics before their departure to avoid future health problems, the minister in charge of worker migration said.

More police personnel sent to conflict area for polls

More police personnel sent to conflict area for pollsAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The National Police have deployed over 7,000 reinforcement personnel to three conflict-prone areas to help the existing forces there maintain security and order, prior to and during the elections.

Tribal leaders demand UN probe into Theys' murder

Tribal leaders demand UN probe into Theys' murderRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Papuan tribal leaders rejected what they called an unsatisfactory investigation into the murder of proindependence Papuan leader Dortheys "Theys" Hiyo Eluway, and called for the United Nations to set up...

Sweden's good intentions

Sweden's good intentionsFrom Media IndonesiaThe prosecutor's office in Sweden has finally concluded that there is sufficient reason to conduct a preliminary investigation into the actions of leaders of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), who are Swedish citizens.

Businesses to launch UN's Global Compact

Businesses to launch UN's Global CompactLeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Business entities in Indonesia will launch Global Compact -- a United Nations' (UN) initiative that calls for heightened awareness of human rights, and the environment among entrepreneurs -- in Jakarta on Saturday.

Denpasar administration expels Javanese migrants

Denpasar administration expels Javanese migrantsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite a strong protest, authorities in Denpasar, Bali, expelled on Friday 77 migrants from East Java for not possessing local identity cards.

Japanese duo to play Hungarian masterpieces

Japanese duo to play Hungarian masterpiecesTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The first of this year's Classical Concert Series will present a piano duo recital featuring Japan's Torie Masako and Fukushi Miwako playing compositions by Hungary's Franz Liszt, Franz Schubert and Johannes...

NGOs educate voters

NGOs educate voters JAKARTA: Non-governmental organizations grouped in the Media Coalition for Free and Fair Elections kicked off their election information dissemination program at the subdistrict level on Friday.

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.

Students should

Students should keep strugglingFrom Koran TempoThe acquittal of Akbar Tandjung by the Supreme Court is a betrayal of reform, which sets a bad precedent for law enforcement in Indonesia. But not all is lost. The struggle to uphold justice and eliminate corruption, collusion and nepotism will go on.

KPU, court, asked to discuss rules

KPU, court, asked to discuss rulesKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A constitutional law expert has called on the General Election Commission (KPU) and the Constitutional Court to have a look into two contradictory rules about the presidential elections to avoid possible chaos in the...

Aceh student activists accused of treason

Aceh student activists accused of treasonNani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh Aceh police declared two of 11 student activists arrested recently as treason suspects on Friday, saying that they had supported the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

IBRA leaves Rp 15.1t of unsold assets

IBRA leaves Rp 15.1t of unsold assetsTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) officially ended its mandate on Friday, with unresolved business, including Rp 15.1 trillion (US$1.77 billion) in unsold state assets.

Govt prepares team to combat dengue fever

Govt prepares team to combat dengue feverEva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government plans to dispatch over 70,000 field workers to 10,000 villages nationwide to help eradicate dengue fever and increase people's awareness of sanitation, an official said.

Donated blood suplies: Need for strict control

Donated blood suplies: Need for strict controlInez Nimpuno, Canberra The news about contaminated blood donations is no surprise. Readers of the Feb. 14 article on tainted donated blood were not jolted or shocked, as public impression about transfusions is drawn from the common knowledge of how...

Akbar decision dangerous precedent

Akbar decision dangerous precedent From Media Indonesia The acquittal of Akbar Tandjung in his corruption case has established a dangerous precedent, in the sense that the court decision may serve as the reference for a future trial.

Where to go in Yogyakarta: Saturday, February 28, 2004

Where to go in Yogyakarta: Saturday, February 28, 2004Exhibitions* Contemporary art Home Sweet Home by French artists Eva Jospin and Pierre Thorreton at Kedai Kebun Forum's Gallery, Jl. Tirtodipuran 3 (Tel./Fax. 0274-376114, e-mail: kkforum@indosat.net.id), until March 4.

Govt to go ahead with reservoir construction

Govt to go ahead with reservoir constructionNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Indramayu, West Java A senior government official said on Friday that the central government would build a large dam in Sumedang regency, called Jatigede dam, which would hopefully put an end to prolonged drought and...

S'pore battles trade in fake drugs

S'pore battles trade in fake drugsSINGAPORE: Singapore has sentenced a woman to a year in jail for distributing fake anti-impotence drugs to illegal street peddlers, highlighting a robust market for bogus Viagra in the city-state, authorities said on Friday.

Trade, singers and soap operas: Chinese switch from North to South Korea

Trade, singers and soap operas: Chinese switch from North to South KoreaCindy Sui, Agence France Presse, Beijing In Jin Zi's family, loyalties towards North and South Korea are clearly divided between the generations.

Tens of thousands of voters may lose right to vote

Tens of thousands of voters may lose right to voteMuh. Azis Tunny and Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Ambon/Kupang Tens of thousands of eligible voters in Maluku and East Nusa Tenggara provinces may not be able to vote in the upcoming elections, as they are not registered with the Central...

After the 2004 election babble: Then what?

After the 2004 election babble: Then what?Max Lane, Visiting Fellow, Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA, Australia, m.lane@murdoch.edu.au Elwin Tobing's article The Elections: Substance or Babble? in The Jakarta Post, Feb.

Officer schools to be reduced

Officer schools to be reduced JAKARTA: Minister of National Education Malik Fadjar said on Friday that his office would reduce the number of state-sponsored schools especially designed to educate state officials.

The closing of IBRA: Major events (1998-2004)

The closing of IBRA: Major events (1998-2004)1998:* IBRA's leadership changes hands three times, from Bambang Subianto, Iwan Prawiranata to Glenn Yusuf* 38 closed and ailing banks are placed under the care of IBRA* 39 large debtors sign an agreement to repay debts amounting to Rp 111.

AGO dismisses report of rife fund abuses

AGO dismisses report of rife fund abusesAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Attorney General's Office (AGO) rejected on Friday the audit of the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) that named the law enforcement institution as the country's leading state money abuser, saying that the audit had been...

Surya awarded win as top three march to Cigna semifinals

Surya awarded win as top three march to Cigna semifinalsZakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Top national players dominated the US$11,800 Cigna Open tennis tournament as they advanced to the semifinals after Friday's quarterfinals at the Jakarta Hilton International Executive Club.

Eat-chicken campaign continues

Eat-chicken campaign continues JAKARTA: Hundreds of students, officials and poultry breeders gathered at the office of the East Jakarta municipal administration on Friday morning to partake in various chicken dishes, an event held as part of the campaign to promote chicken after the recent bird-flu...

PNG interested in forging closer economic ties with Indonesia

PNG interested in forging closer economic ties with IndonesiaNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua Papua New Guinea (PNG) has expressed interest in strengthening economic ties with Indonesia, particularly Papua province.

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Donated blood supplies: Need for strict control Inez Nimpuno Canberra2. Joga -- Busway lacks environment orientation 2 x 30 Busway, pinnacle of sustainable environmental degradation Nirwono Joga Chairman Indonesian Landscape Architecture Study Group Jakarta

The war on intolerance

The war on intolerance On the subject of Islam and religious extremism, Indonesia's President, Megawati Soekarnoputri, is impeccably qualified to speak. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, has consistently rejected the idea of itself as a theocratic Islamic state.

Officials benefit from logging

Officials benefit from logging SEMARANG: State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim says it is very difficult to end illegal logging across the country as local government officials and people benefit from the practice.

Busway, pinnacle of sustainable environmental degradation

Busway, pinnacle of sustainable environmental degradationNirwono Joga, Chairman, Indonesian Landscape Architecture Study Group, Jakarta The current debate about the busway project has dealt with the muddled transportation system and worsening traffic.

Stop conflicts

Stop conflicts In response to the ruling by the Constitutional Court that allows former members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) to be nominated as legislative candidates, we, the National Forum for Good Relationships (FSAB), an organization set up by the children and grandchildren of...

Mega inaugurates navigation school

Mega inaugurates navigation school JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri opened Asia's most modern and biggest navigation school in Marunda, North Jakarta, on Friday.Minister of Communications Agum Gumelar said the school, situated on a 32-hectare site in Marunda, North Jakarta, aimed to meet...

PSI uses success stories to woo voters

PSI uses success stories to woo votersMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Indonesian Unity Party (PSI) will present a number of successful projects rather than promises in its campaign to win voters' hearts in the upcoming elections, a party leader says.

1. BALLOT: 50 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 24

1. BALLOT: 50 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 24 Film problem causes delay in ballot paper printing 2. CANDIDACY: 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 28 KPU, court asked to discuss rules 3. COALITION: 32 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 24 Mega to form coalition that will guarantee a sure win 4.

Mega-Akbar partnership not a pipe dream

Mega-Akbar partnership not a pipe dream Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post JakartaLeader 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 Akbar Tandjung, as her...

Abused by Ciputra Hotel

Abused by Ciputra Hotel On the morning of Feb. 17, my car was hit by a Ciputra Hotel van along Jl. Arjuna Selatan in West Jakarta, not far from the Indonesia Esa Unggul University campus.After the accident, the hotel management said it would be responsible for any damage to my car and would pay me...

Anton, Bahasa Indonesia's vanguard

Anton, Bahasa Indonesia's vanguardTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta How does it feel to talk with a linguistic expert? Well, it is like dancing with a professional and you have two left feet. I was conscious of being ever watchful of how I posed my sentences.