Archive: 9 February 2004
Showing 1-50 of 73 articles
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Adi Sasono's party vows to smash 'monopoly of information'
Adi Sasono's party vows to smash 'monopoly of information' Frans Surdiasis, Research and Development Unit, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta This is the 15th article in a series on the 24 political parties contesting the 2004 elections. Adi Sasono is way past his days of being a young activist and minister; and in the 1999 elections, when he still wielded some influence, his earlier party which once alleged of corruption, did not even pass the electoral threshold. So why is he back?
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Bojonegoro on alert as Bengawan river threatens to flood
Bojonegoro on alert as Bengawan river threatens to flood Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Bojonegoro, East Java Residents in 92 subdistricts in Bojonegoro regency braced themselves for a new round of flooding as the swollen Bengawan Solo River threatened to burst its banks on Saturday. The depth of the river reached 15.32 peilschal (depth of the water per the width of the river) on Saturday. In the past, flooding has occurred when the river has reached 16.00 peilschal.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Cipondoh swamp left untapped
Cipondoh swamp left untapped TANGERANG: A project to develop Situ Rawa Cipondoh lake in a swamp area into a recreational site has been abandoned for the last two years, an official said on Saturday. Tangerang administration spokesman Saeful Rachman said the project was started by developer PT Griya Eka Paksi when Tangerang was still part of West Java province. The municipality was made a part of Banten province in 2002. "But as of today, it is unclear what the developer has been doing.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Scientists reach out to children
Scientists reach out to children BOGOR: A professor of the school of forestry at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) shared his secret for staying fit and young to a child. "I eat a termite queen once a week," said Dodi Nandika. The professor is one of the institute's scientists who is taking part in a television program called Ta-Ti-Tu (Knowledge, Creativity and Adventure) which is aimed at introducing sciences to children.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Nabire picks up after quake
Nabire picks up after quake Agencies, Jakarta Residents of Nabire, Papua, struggled after Friday's deadly tremor to reestablish some normalcy in their lives on Sunday, as humanitarian aid started to pour into the country's easternmost province. Christians attended Sunday services, shops reopened for business and public transport zoomed back on the streets after two earthquakes in as many days. "The people's enthusiasm was high today. They keep coming to mass.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
KL nabs 120 RI Illegal wood traders
KL nabs 120 RI Illegal wood traders Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia has arrested 120 Indonesian timber traders over the past year in a crackdown on the illegal logging trade, the primary industries ministry said in a statement on Sunday. Despite a ban on exports of logs, Indonesian traders continued to bring logs and square logs into Malaysia, Bernama news agency cited the ministry as saying.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Corruption rampant in Medan courts: Lawyers
Corruption rampant in Medan courts: Lawyers Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra A number of judges at the Medan district and North Sumatra high courts were guilty of extortion and other malpractice, Medan lawyers said on Saturday. Lawyer Januari Siregar said he recently filed a report to the Supreme Court in Jakarta about a judge at the Medan district court, whom he accused extorting money from his client's family.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
1. Child: 10 x 4 lines
1. Child: 10 x 4 lines Refugee children, child abuse prevail in RI 2. Peradilan: 20 x 2 lines Supreme Court to take over judge supervisory role 3. Trauma: 24 x 2 lines Jamsostek to develop more trauma centers for workers 4. KPU: 16 x 2 lines KPU told to consider quick ink re-tender'
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Govt wants reliable contractors
Govt wants reliable contractors TANGERANG: Starting this year, the Tangerang regency office will require contractors who bid for development projects to have a bank balance amounting to at least 10 percent of the value of the project. "With such a requirement, the contractors can no longer play hide and seek with us," Regent Ismet Iskandar told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
RI stocks seen strengthening in coming week
RI stocks seen strengthening in coming week Agence France-Presse Jakarta/Singapore Indonesia's stock market is expected to strengthen further this week after making a strong recovery in the past two days from a week-long slump, an analyst said. "It appears that the index can strengthen again next week, at least strong enough to test the 770 psychological level," said BNI Securities analyst Fitri Murniawati over the weekend.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Rare animal trade out of control
Rare animal trade out of control DENPASAR, Bali: Inter-island trading in rare animals in Indonesia is getting out of hand, therefore law-enforcement agencies need to step up efforts to fight the illegal trade, local conservationist I Wayan Wiradnyana said here on Saturday. Wayan said hundreds of rare animals such as orangutans, gibbons, sloths, eagles and cockatoos were sent every week from the island of Sumatra to Java.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia negotiates access to Hambali: U.S. envoy Black
Indonesia negotiates access to Hambali: U.S. envoy Black Associated Press, Jakarta U.S. law enforcement personnel are in Jakarta to discuss a request by Indonesia for access to Hambali, a leading terror suspect who is in American custody, the U.S. State Department's top antiterror official said. Cofer Black, U.S. ambassador at large for counterterrorism, said U.S. law enforcement personnel who traveled to Indonesia last week with U.S.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
BI needs capable deputy: Analysts
BI needs capable deputy: Analysts Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As the country's banking sector is gearing up for major changes, President Megawati Soekarnoputri should be cautious in selecting figures to be nominated to fill the post of senior deputy governor at Bank Indonesia (BI), which is soon to be vacant, experts said on Sunday. Whoever fills the post, he or she should be capable of leading the industry through the transition period.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Expert, police play down street crime fears
Expert, police play down street crime fears Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta When the administration announced plans to issue a regulation lowering the allowed opacity of tinted car windows in order to help the police enforce the three-in-one traffic policy, many motorists cried foul. Safety-conscious Jakartans said taking away their dark car windows would put them at risk, as car thieves and muggers would be able to look them and their possessions over.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Refugee children, child abuse prevail in RI
Refugee children, child abuse prevail in RI Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite the Child Protection Law, the problems of displaced children and child abuse have not been resolved by the government, which sparked criticism from the Committee on the Rights of Children (CRC).
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
'No middlemen in court, please'
'No middlemen in court, please' The new three-in-one traffic policy gives motorists one more chance to get a ticket. Under Law No. 14/1992 on traffic, offenders of the three-in-one rule can receive fines of up to Rp 1 million (US$119). The size of the potential fine, not to mention the timely court proceedings, means many people prefer to bribe police officers to avoid a ticket. The Jakarta Post talked to some residents about the issue. Rozak, 26, works at a consumer goods company in Jakarta.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Mitsubishi mulls supplying Indonesia LNG to U.S. market
Mitsubishi mulls supplying Indonesia LNG to U.S. market Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Mitsubishi Corporation is mulling supplying liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Indonesia to the California market in the United States. Mitsubishi's energy business group manager in Jakarta Mauren Toruan said the firm's subsidiary Sound Energy Solutions had applied to the U.S.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
The cheapening of loyalty, Indonesian style
The cheapening of loyalty, Indonesian style Aguswandi, Researcher, The Indonesian Human Rights Campaign (TAPOL), London In Aceh, the price of loyalty to the unitary state of Indonesia is not very expensive after all. It is equal to only the two cows and a small amount of cash given out by Aceh's governor, Abdullah Puteh, at each rally held to demonstrate the loyalty of Acehnese to the Republic of Indonesia. There is nothing extraordinary about bribery in Indonesia.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Chicken sales 'normal'
Chicken sales 'normal' BATAM: After slow business last week due to the bird flu scare, chicken sales at the popular American fast food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Batam have returned to normal. Dini Wahyuni, a KFC manager, said on Saturday that the KFC's sales figures dropped by nearly 5 percent as people were gripped by fear on whether the KFC products were free of bird flu.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Panwaslu chairman demoted
Panwaslu chairman demoted PALU, Central Sulawesi: Mohammad Yusuf, the chairman of the Banggai Kepulauan regency Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), has been fired from the chairmanship post due to negligence of his duties -- the first such case in the country in the run up to legislative election on April 5.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
KPU should popularize elections
KPU should popularize elections From Media Indonesia A survey conducted by Cetro, a non-government organization, has shown the greater part of the population remains uninformed about how to vote in the general elections, which will take place in less than 100 days. This lack of public knowledge is due to the low profile methods adopted to promote the 2004 election by the General Elections Commission (KPU).
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
PKS candidates sign political contracts
PKS candidates sign political contracts Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Dozens of legislative candidates from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in Yogyakarta and Semarang signed on Saturday "political contracts" with the public ahead of the April elections. The candidates signed contracts promising not to accept bribes or become involved in corruption if elected. In Yogyakarta, more than 50 candidates signed the political contract in front of a notary public.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
City in dark on lack of bird flu info
City in dark on lack of bird flu info Damar Harsanto and Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor Despite the wide media coverage on the outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, many Jakartans are relatively uninformed on the contagious disease due to a lack of a public health and information campaign by the Jakarta administration.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Myanmar: Difficult road to reconciliation and democracy
Myanmar: Difficult road to reconciliation and democracy Jusuf Wanandi, Member, Board of Trustees Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Jakarta In Myanmar today there appears to be some movement politically. This is certainly only an early beginning, but it is in the region's interest to see that it leads to somewhere. On Aug. 30, 2003, the Myanmar government, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), proposed a road map for Myanmar's political development toward democracy.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Food conference to be held in Bogor
Food conference to be held in Bogor BOGOR, West Java: A number of experts from foreign countries are expected to attend the 4th Asian Food and Nutrition Safety Conference (AFNSC) to take place here on March 2 to March 5. "The conference is being organized jointly by the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)," chairman of the conference's organizing committee Purwiyatno Hariyadi said on late Friday.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Police arrest drug suspect
Police arrest drug suspect BEKASI: The police arrested a 25-year-old man at Pasar Kranji traditional market, West Bekasi, on Saturday, for possessing shabu shabu (crystal methamphetamine). Bekasi Police narcotics chief Adj. Comr. Rasino said his men also confiscated Rp 300,000 (US$35.7) in cash from the suspect, who confessed he got the money from a buyer. Rasino said the arrest was made after a tip off. "His presence around the market had raised concern in the neighborhood," he said.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
'Cap Go Meh' brings Jakarta's streets to life
'Cap Go Meh' brings Jakarta's streets to life Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Thousands of Jakartans flocked the streets in Kota area, West Jakarta, on Sunday morning to witness the colorful celebration of Cap Go Meh, the 15th day after Imlek or Chinese New Year. The celebration was the second such event staged openly after the government declared Imlek an official national holiday in 2002.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
PT Petrowidada to resume operations in March
PT Petrowidada to resume operations in March The Jakarta Post, Gresik, East Java A chemical factory that exploded into flames last month, killing three people and injuring 58, will reopen, its management says, despite strenuous opposition from nearby residents. PT Petrowidada, the owner of the petro-chemical plant in Gresik, East Java that produces plastics, said on Saturday the plant would start production again sometime in March. The factory has been closed since Jan.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Fire damages Ora Et Labora School
Fire damages Ora Et Labora School JAKARTA: A fire badly damaged Ora Et Labora School, one of the oldest in the capital, located on Jl. Cisadane in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Saturday night. No fatalities were reported in the fire. Six fire trucks from the nearby Taman Ismail Marzuki fire station were deployed to extinguish the fire, which gutted the third and fourth floors of the school building. "It's very likely that the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
LPG scarcity and Pertamina
LPG scarcity and Pertamina From Warta Kota Kerosene was recently scarce in Tangerang and Bekasi. Now liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is hard to find in both areas for no apparent reason. Its producer, PT Pertamina, should be able to explain. According to public observations, since its conversion into a limited liability company, PT Pertamina has tended to remain closed to society. Before the status change, it would always respond to consumer complaints at least through its spokesman.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta stocks foreseen to strengthen this week
Jakarta stocks foreseen to strengthen this week Agence France-Presse, Jakarta/Singapore Indonesia's stock market is expected to strengthen further this week after making a strong recovery in the past two days from a week-long slump, an analyst said. "It appears that the index can strengthen again next week, at least strong enough to test the 770 psychological level," said BNI Securities analyst Fitri Murniawati over the weekend.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Press freedom to be tested in polls
Press freedom to be tested in polls Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The press will undergo a crucial test of its independence in the face of the upcoming general election since the intervention of interest groups in the mass media will be unavoidable, says an election executive.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
China-ASEAN trade at new high in 2003
China-ASEAN trade at new high in 2003 Agence-France Presse, Beijing China's trade with Southeast Asian countries hit a record high of US$78.25 billion in 2003, surging by 42.8 percent year-on- year, according to Chinese customs statistics released on Sunday. Trade between China and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was tipped in ASEAN's favor, according to the statistics of the General Administration of Customs, the Xinhua news agency said. China's import jumped by 51.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Survivors tell story of Mina stampede
Survivors tell story of Mina stampede Apriadi Gunawan and A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Medan/Jakarta Farid Nasution arrived home from the haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia with a sigh of relief on Saturday, still struggling to bury the bitter memory of his survival in the Mina stampede, which killed 57 Indonesians. "God helped me escape the tragedy," Farid, who was part of the first batch of Indonesian pilgrims, said upon arrival at the Pangkalan Mansyur haj dormitory here.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
One of resto stories for Focus Issue: Cafe and Restaurant --
One of resto stories for Focus Issue: Cafe and Restaurant -- Sunday Feb. 8 ;JP; ANPAc..r.. Restaurant-local-chain Local restaurant franchises make it big T. Sima Gunawan Contributor Jakarta Everybody enjoys good food, which explains why the restaurant business continues to thrive, even during the economic crisis. This was also what Erliza Hambali, a researcher at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, had in mind when she decided to get into the restaurant business.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia likely to ban U.S. chicken imports
Indonesia likely to ban U.S. chicken imports Sari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia is likely to join other Asian nations in slapping bans on poultry imports from the United States, following the finding of two birds on Friday in the northeastern U.S. state of Delaware with the virulent H7 avian influenza strain. "We are studying the case, but as of the weekend, no decision has been taken.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
A wise pen is still mightier than the sword
A wise pen is still mightier than the sword Endy M. Bayuni, Deputy Chief Editor, The Jakarta Post, Cambridge, Massachusetts The media in Indonesia has come under fire once again. Unlike the Soeharto years, when the attacks came directly from the government, this time it is coming from the wealthy and the powerful in league with the courts -- their battleground of choice. Sadly, the media rarely wins these "legal" tussles.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
1. BIRDFLU: 55 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 10
1. BIRDFLU: 55 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 10 Low outreach keeps bird flu in the dark 2. QUAKE: 30 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 27 Nabire picks up pieces after quake 3. KERRY: 32 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 21 Kerry scores big wins in presidential caucuses 4. DAVIS: 28 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 24 Motomura upsets RI, brings Japan 3-2 win in Davis Cup
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
;JP
;JP ANPAv..r.. Photo-McDonald-food checked by Rich JP/P.J.Leo GLOBAL CUISINE: Fast-food lovers enjoy their lunch at a McDonald's outlet in Jakarta. Foreign fast-food outlets have become one of the most preferred dining-out venues in Jakarta.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
KPU told to consider quick ink re-tender
KPU told to consider quick ink re-tender Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A monopoly watchdog has suggested that the General Elections Commission (KPU) consider repeating the ink tender due to the dubious financial capability of the final eight bidders. Monopoly Watch chairman Samuel Nitisaputra said on Saturday the KPU should keep the option for re-tendering wide open to avoid irregularities in the Rp 150 billion (US$17.7 million) tender.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Tangerang's flood-prone areas grow
Tangerang's flood-prone areas grow Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang Rapid construction of residential complexes in Tangerang municipality in the last two years has increased the number of flood prone areas from 22 to 85 sites. Environmental consultant Mukatam said in a workshop on local environmental strategy held by the Tangerang Environmental Agency on Saturday that the municipal administration had not anticipated the floods.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
JP/3/ENDY
JP/3/ENDY A wise pen can still be mightier than the sword, even in RI Endy M. Bayuni Deputy Chief Editor The Jakarta Post Cambridge, Massachusetts The media in Indonesia has come under fire once again. Unlike the Soeharto years, when the attacks came directly from the government, this time it is coming from the wealthy and the powerful in league with the courts -- their battleground of choice. Sadly, the media rarely wins these "legal" tussles.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
24 parties vow to maintain peace
24 parties vow to maintain peace JAKARTA: All 24 political parties eligible to join the general election have signed a nine-point agreement to maintain peace before, during and after the April 5 polls. The agreement was signed on Friday at the General Elections Commission (KPU) building. The accord allows parties to conduct activities in all areas in the country, obliges parties to respect press freedom and avoid bribing voters, election commissions, the supervisory committee and monitors.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
IBRA employees' severance pay
IBRA employees' severance pay From Koran Tempo The Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) is making severance pay available for its 2,500 employees, worth half a trillion rupiah. Some 1,600 of its regular employees and 900 workers on a contract basis will be relieved of their jobs with the end of IBRA's assignment period on Feb. 27.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Lack of tobacco supply imminent
Lack of tobacco supply imminent BOJONEGORO, East Java: Tobacco seeds can not be planted in some 700 hectares of fertile lands in Sumberejo and Kanor districts here in this planting season, as local weather agency has predicted that rain will still pound the areas in the coming months. The planting season will start in April this year.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Bank divestment continues
Bank divestment continues The House of Representatives should approve immediately the government's request to sell its remaining stakes in four private banks that were nationalized at the height of the economic crisis in 1998. Additional divestment will not only help plug the big hole in the state budget, but will also speed up the restructuring of the banking industry ahead of the phasing out early next year of the government's blanket guarantee on bank deposits and claims.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
24 parties vow to maintain peace
24 parties vow to maintain peace JAKARTA: All 24 political parties eligible to join the general election have signed a nine-point agreement to maintain peace before, during and after the April 5 polls. The agreement was signed on Friday at the General Elections Commission (KPU) building. The accord allows parties to conduct activities in all areas in the country, obliges parties to respect press freedom and avoid bribing voters, election commissions, the supervisory committee and monitors.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Jamsostek to develop more trauma centers for workers
Jamsostek to develop more trauma centers for workers The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau State-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek is planning to help set up more trauma centers in industrial zones across the country to provide emergency medical treatment for workers. Jamsostek president Achmad Djunaidi said that although there were 24 trauma centers in the country, more were needed as the number of work-related accidents was so high.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
Cipondoh swamp left untapped
Cipondoh swamp left untapped TANGERANG: A project to develop Situ Rawa Cipondoh lake in a swamp area into a recreational site has been abandoned for the last two years, an official said on Saturday. Tangerang administration spokesman Saeful Rachman said the project was started by developer PT Griya Eka Paksi when Tangerang was still part of West Java province. The municipality was made a part of Banten province in 2002. "But as of today, it is unclear what the developer has been doing.
Mon, 09 Feb 2004, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines: A wise pen is still mightier than the sword 2
* Headlines: A wise pen is still mightier than the sword 2 * National:Refugee children, child abuse prevail in RI 4 * Archipelago: Bojonegoro on alert on posible flood 5 * Opinion: The cheapening of loyalty, Indonesian style7 * City: City to widen main roads, sidewalks8 * Sports: Els hangs in there to win by a stroke9 * World:UN team seeks Iraq vote solution 12 * Business: G7 meeting calls for exchange rate stability13 * Features: Franky tells it like it is in song20