Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 12 April 2004

85 articles found

DPRD

DPRD Provisional results for the top 10 positions for the City Council (DPRD) based on votes counted by the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) as of 7 p.m. .TB.60" 5.00" ---------------------------------------------------------------- No. Party Votes ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 886,141 2. Democratic Party 774,808 3. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) 517,045 4. Golkar Party 314,840 5.

IBM ThinkPad X40 comes with an 'airbag'

IBM ThinkPad X40 comes with an 'airbag' Zatni Arbi, Contributor, zatni@cbn.net.id Last week, IBM Indonesia invited a bunch of IT journalists to its office in the almost deserted Landmark Building on Jl. Sudirman, Central Jakarta. The occasion? The launch of the tiny IBM ThinkPad X40. I am glad I went, as this irresistible notebook incorporated some new and interesting technologies. First, the notebook is very light and compact.

Persijatim stuns Persikota as league resumes after poll break

Persijatim stuns Persikota as league resumes after poll break Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang After almost a month-long break due to the campaigning period for legislative elections, the Indonesian premier soccer league resumed on Saturday with Persijatim of Surakarta upsetting host Persikota 1-0 at Benteng Stadium in Tangerang in the only match on the day. Akyar Ilyas scored the winning goal for the visitors in the 39th minute to lift his team from the relegation zone.

S'pore to spend more on defense

S'pore to spend more on defense SINGAPORE: Singapore will set aside an extra 1 percent of its annual S$8.62 billion dollar (US$5.16 billion) budget for research into new defense technology to help churn out "third generation" soldiers, the defense minister said in remarks published on Sunday.

'Samudraraksa', mission possible

'Samudraraksa', mission possible A cheerful atmosphere prevailed during the conferring of the Satya Lencana medals by President Megawati Soekarnoputri to the crew of the Samudraraksa traditional sailing vessel at the State Palace recently (The Jakarta Post, March 27). Indonesian sailors aboard the Samudraraksa proved themselves to be the sons of a maritime nation when their ship set sail from Jakarta on Aug.

Homeless people get food poisoning

Homeless people get food poisoning JAKARTA: Thirty homeless people living under the flyover in Grogol, West Jakarta, fell ill with apparent food poisoning after eating meals donated by a foundation late on Saturday. They were taken to the emergency room of the nearby Sumber Waras Hospital and Tarakan Hospital at about 8 p.m. with diarrhea and vomiting. Six of the people, including two children, stayed overnight at Sumber Waras Hospital, and two were treated overnight at Tarakan Hospital.

Beware of unreliable water filters

Beware of unreliable water filters From Republika In June 2003, I bought a water filter guaranteed for one year by PT Arya Buana Sejati, while the product itself carried the name of another company, PT Griya Sentra Mandiri/Sentrafil. The guarantee included clean filtered water and assistance in laboratory examination. In January 2004, the water being filtered turned muddy again, and the phone number given was no longer in use.

Corporate governance improves at Asian firms

Corporate governance improves at Asian firms Deutsche Press Agentur, Singapore Asian financial institutions have improved their corporate governance in recent years, more from a desire to comply with regulations than to capitalize on its strategic advantages, a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study said on Friday. The global study surveyed more than 200 senior executives, 25 percent of whom were from the Asia-Pacific region.

Medan Police uncover strippers in the act

Medan Police uncover strippers in the act Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra Striptease shows have gained in popularity and are being performed regularly at entertainment spots in Medan, where young women dancers can earn from Rp 500,000 (US$60.00) to Rp 1 million an hour. Equally common nowadays is the sight of policemen catching strippers in the act at karaoke halls and even beverage stalls.

Working toward guests' satisfaction

Working toward guests' satisfaction Sudibyo M. Wiradji and Debbie A. Lubis, The Jakarta Post/Contributor, Jakarta At most star-rated hotels, the guests are considered kings who are highly valued, which means that customer satisfaction is the hotels' highest priority. But guests' expectations in terms of services and facilities change from time to time, prompting hotels to continually update in order to meet customers' expectations.

Fishermen families evicted for fourth time

Fishermen families evicted for fourth time Bambang Nurbianto and Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta At least 25 families of 50 evicted fishermen in Ancol Timur survived on their boats on Sunday after the North Jakarta municipality demolished their houses a day earlier.

Lovesick man cuts off penis in suiside try

Lovesick man cuts off penis in suiside try Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang What is done, is done. But 24-year-old Sadikin, a resident of Kampung Pisangan, Kayu Agung village in Sepatan district, could not hide his remorse after cutting off his penis on Friday morning out of a broken heart.

Indonesia's Nova, Vita win Japan Open

Indonesia's Nova, Vita win Japan Open Agencies, Jakarta Indonesia's mixed pairing of Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa won the US$180,000 Japan Open badminton tournament after beating Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thungthongkam of Thailand in the finals in Tokyo on Sunday. The Indonesians, who were seeded eighth, defeated the seventh seeded Thais 15-10, 15-13, according to the tournament's website.

Workers file report of rights abuses

Workers file report of rights abuses JAKARTA: Around 4,000 former employees of defunct aircraft manufacturer PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) have demanded that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) investigate alleged human rights abuses during the company's controversial massive retrenchment last year. The workers are charging that the West Java-based company abused their rights when it arbitrarily closed down without prior notice.

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta DPRD Provisional results for the top 10 positions for the City Council (DPRD) based on votes counted by the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) as of 8 p.m. .TB.60" 5.00" ------------------------------------------------- No. Party Votes ------------------------------------------------- 1. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 961,938 2. Democratic Party 885,314 3. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) 566,219 4.

Easier to become a minister than a legislator

Easier to become a minister than a legislator Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta One thing that people tend to overlook regarding the legislative election is the fact that it is easier to become a minister than a legislator. As in many other countries, ministerial appointments in Indonesia are the exclusive privilege of the president-elect. There is no regulation stipulating the criteria for becoming a minister, but it is an arduous task to become a legislator.

1. INSIGHT: 50 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42

1. INSIGHT: 50 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42 KPU needs one voice to fend off political sharks 2. JAKARTA: 36 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 14 Counting in Jakarta will finish today 3. SUSUL: 28 pt, 1 cols, 3 x 9 Accountants refuse to audit fund 4. WAPRES: 30 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 33 All candidates want to be president, nobody seems ready to be vice president 5. AMBON: 30 pt, 5 cols, 1 x 47 Election results brings worrying message in Ambon

EMP eyes new oil and gas blocks to boost output

EMP eyes new oil and gas blocks to boost output Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Oil and gas company PT Energi Mega Persada (EMP) plans to acquire small and medium scale oil and gas blocks to boost its reserves and production. EMP's president Rennier A.R. Latief said the firm was interested in blocks owned by major energy firms which have begun production and are ready to market their output.

Public relations: Exciting jobs but quite challenging

Public relations: Exciting jobs but quite challenging T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta The phone kept ringing. Dozens of different people called her, asking the same questions. The woman was stressed, tired and weary, but she tried her best to keep calm and answer the questions patiently. "That's the consequence of my job," Mellani Solagratia, the public relations manager of the JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta, said as she recalled the frantic moments surrounding the Aug.

Lost Malaysian soldiers to be freed

Lost Malaysian soldiers to be freed MALAYSIA: Five Malaysian soldiers who were detained after crossing the border into neighboring Thailand during a joint border patrol are to be released soon, a report said on Sunday. The four sergeants and a corporal had strayed some 300 to 500 meters into Thai territory while on a routine mission to pick up supplies last Thursday and are expected to be released later on Sunday, the New Straits Times said.

[b]

Poll results boost Golkar chance of the presidency Jusuf Wanandi Co-founder and Member, Board of Trustees Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta 2. Qodari -- Explaining democratic party's popularity 2 X 30 Explaining reasons behind Democratic Party's popularity Muhammad Qodari Director of Research Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) Jakarta qodari@lsi.or.id

Military kills most wanted rebel

Military kills most wanted rebel LHOKSEUMAWE, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: The military killed on Sunday Suhardi Sulaiman, 33, alias Adi P., who has been listed as the most wanted rebel figure in Bireuen. Troops from the Army's Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) gunned down Suhardi during three hours of crossfire at the foot of a hill in Paya Rhu subdistrict in Bireuen. The soldiers had encircled Suhardi and five of his companions since early in the morning.

Malang government to regreen city

Malang government to regreen city MALANG, East Java: The Malang municipality will plant 79,000 trees within five years to normalize the local temperature to between 25 and 30 Celsius, a government official said on Saturday. In preparation, the Malang Park Agency will plant seedlings on a prepare 3,000 hectare plot in Polehan, Kedungkandang district, said Park Agency head Soemarjono.

* Headlines: Verdicts on East Timor cases criticized 2

* Headlines: Verdicts on East Timor cases criticized 2 * National: TNI reeducates more suspected GAM members 4 * Archipelago: Medan Police uncover strippers in the act 5 * Opinion: Poll results boost Golkar's chance of presidency 6 * City: City 'responsible for messy street vendors' 8 * Sports: Buehrle shuts down struggling Yankees 9 * World: Thousands protest voting laws in HK 11 * Business: Poultry farmers unable to restart business 13 * Features: Oldest film school faces the cutting floor 19

Yogya's oldest film school faces the cutting floor

Yogya's oldest film school faces the cutting floor Asip A. Hasani, Contributor, Yogyakarta In a pendopo (large gazebo-like terrace) of an old Javanese traditional house in densely populated Kampong Ngasem in Yogyakarta, five young people watch attentively as an elderly man holds a length of bamboo as if it were a video camera.

The election aftermath

The election aftermath With about 50 percent of the votes counted by Sunday afternoon, we can now probably get a clearer picture of the final result of the April 5 legislative election -- and also the direction and performance of the country's legislative bodies in the next five years.

Talaud to revote in regental poll

Talaud to revote in regental poll MANADO, North Sulawesi: The Talaud Islands is to repeat its regental election following a circular ordering a revote from the Minister of Home Affairs, said AJ Pangkey, spokesman of the North Sulawesi administration. The circular endorsed a proposal submitted by the Talaud Islands Council asking home minister Hari Sabarno to order a revote, after none of the three candidate pairs contesting the election had garnered a clear majority.

Aa Gym invites Susilo, Nurwahid

Aa Gym invites Susilo, Nurwahid JAKARTA: Popular Muslim preacher Abdullah "Aa Gym" Gymnastiar invited founder and presidential candidate of the Democratic Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) Hidayat Nurwahid to his sermon at Istiqlal Grand Mosque here on Sunday. Gymnastiar quickly denied that his sermon themed: "The Beauty of Togetherness" had political overtones. "It's a routine thing.

Peaceful election bodes well for tourism sector: ASITA

Peaceful election bodes well for tourism sector: ASITA Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The country's tourism industry hopes the current general election will run smoothly and lead to the creation of a strong government to help revive the sector.

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

1. RIGHTS: 50 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 Court verdicts on East Timor cases criticized 2. JAPAN : 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 X 28 Nova, Vita win Japan Open 3. SEPT: 30 pt, 3 cols, 2 X 24 Bush was told of al-Qaeda hijacking plans before 9/11 4. BANK: 30 pt, 4 cols, 2 X 32 Small banks may be harmed by latest bank closure 5. EVICTION : 30 pt, 5 cols, 1 x 47 Fishermen's families evicted for the fourth time

S'pore investor eyes coal deposit

S'pore investor eyes coal deposit MUARA TEWEH, Central Kalimantan: A Singaporean investor has planned to invest in the coal mining sector in North Barito regency here, North Barito Energy and Mineral Resources official Asran has said. The company is to soon conduct a survey on Mt. Purei, which has an abundant coal deposit, Asran said on Saturday in Muara Teweh, capital of North Barito. Asran declined to give out details on the Singaporean company.

[b]

Anyone can become a politician in Indonesia Kornelius Purba Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Jakarta purba@thejakartapost.com 2. Ziad -- From kleptocracy to corruptocracy 1 x 48 Foreign consultants could help fight corruption Ziad Salim Contributor Mataram, NTB 3. Wisnu -- Security in the Malacca Straits: Who is responsible? 2 X 21 Upholding security in Malacca Straits Nugroho Wisnumurti Former Director-general for Political Affairs Department of Foreign Affairs Jakarta

Nova, Vita through to Japan Open final

Nova, Vita through to Japan Open final The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Nova Widianto and Vita Marissa of Indonesia advanced to the mixed doubles final at the Japan Open after dispatching Jens Eriksen and Mette Schjoldager of Denmark 15-5, 15-12 in the semifinals on Saturday.

Shrinking water absorption areas

Shrinking water absorption areas From Koran Tempo Floods in the rainy season are not only caused by downpours. The presence of large buildings like malls, shopping centers and housing complexes on areas reserved for water absorption also contribute greatly to floods, particularly in Jakarta.

Fisherfolk evicted for fourth time

Fisherfolk evicted for fourth time Bambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post Jakarta For the fourth time in seven years, around 50 fishermen and their families, around 160 people, were evicted by the city public order officers from their makeshift homes at Ancol Timur in North Jakarta on Saturday morning. During the eviction process, the only land access to the site was blocked by heavily armed military troops along with officers from the public order agency.

Fire safety standards

Fire safety standards It was with interest I read that the Jakarta Administration is to formulate an Indonesian National Standard on Fire Safety. These standards are long overdue for a metropolis the size of Jakarta. I can sympathize with the Fire Department chief, Johnny Pangaribuan, with the multitude of problems he faces in fighting fires under existing conditions. The adoption of these standards should be given the highest priority to prevent needless loss of life and property.

Election results brings worrying message in Ambon

Election results brings worrying message in Ambon M. Aziz Tunny and Achmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Ambon/Jakarta For the last couple of years residents in Maluku have enjoyed a fairly normal life -- but the results of the legislative election brings a worrying message about the religious divide that stoked the flames of a civil war only a few years ago.

Constitution to include free press

Constitution to include free press Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to provide stronger legal grounds for press freedom, the Constitutional Commission has proposed the inclusion of the issue in the newly amended 1945 Constitution. Albert Hasibuan, deputy chairman of the Constitutional Commission, said over the weekend that all commission members had agreed to put freedom of the press, along with freedom of organization and of expression, in the Constitution.

Foreign consultants could help fight corruption

Foreign consultants could help fight corruption Ziad Salim, Contributor, Mataram, NTB Indonesia, under the reign of Soeharto, was often described as "kleptocracy", meaning, a system of government where stealing (of public money) was common. The "alleged" thieves ranged from agents of the government to various business groups known collectively as "conglomerates" or cronies of those in the government. Even former president B.J.

1. EASTER: 2 LINES, 18 COUNTS

1. EASTER: 2 LINES, 18 COUNTS End 'logic of death' in flashpoints, pope says 2. POSO: 4 LINES, 11 COUNTS Christians blast police over Easter shooting 3. POLL: 2 LINES, 20 COUNTS Too early to reject poll results: Major parties 4. IRAQ: 1 LINE, 32 COUNTS Civilians flee Falluja after truce

[b]Constitution

Constitution to include free press 2. 2 x 27 Police arrest illegal loggers, rescue $3.7m in state asset 3. 3 x 16 TNI reeducation for more alleged GAM members 4. 2 x 16 Exhibitions to be held to boost tourism 5. MALACCA U.S. initiative in Malacca Strait 'baseless': RI Navy

'Why no special place for vendors?'

'Why no special place for vendors?' The city cooperatives and small and medium enterprises agency recently admitted its failure in accommodating around 147,000 registered street vendors due to financial constraints to procure land for them. The agency also has to tolerate the presence of unregistered street vendors. The Jakarta Post talked to come residents on the issue. Rima, 32, works for a private company in Central Jakarta.

Activists criticise Court verdicts on East Timor cases

Activists criticise Court verdicts on East Timor cases Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Supreme Court's decision find former East Timor governor Abilio Soares Jose Osorio Soares guilty of rights violations has drawn criticism from activists, who claimed the verdict was "discriminatory and insidious".

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta DPR Provisional results for the top 10 positions for the House of Representatives (DPR) based on votes counted by the General Elections Commission (KPU) as of 7 p.m. .TB.60" 5.00" ------------------------------------------------- No. Party Votes ------------------------------------------------- 1. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 975,541 2. Democratic Party 899,752 3. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) 576,046 4. Golkar Party 355,749 5.

Modern lifestylethreatens Wana tribespeople

Modern lifestylethreatens Wana tribespeople Erik W., The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi Members of isolated communities, wherever they are, live modestly and have little in the way of luxury. They do not enjoy the comforts of paved roads, luxurious houses, mineral water, electricity, hospitals, satellite dishes or the Internet. They are familiar with simple homes, usually in or among trees, eat cassava, drink river water and go to shamans for medical treatment.

TNI reeducation for more suspected GAM members

TNI reeducation for more suspected GAM members Nani Farida , The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe, Aceh Darussalam The martial law administration in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam opened a "reeducation" course on Sunday for 190 men and 10 women who have been accused of membership of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). Aceh military commander Maj. Gen.

Pubic bus crews deserve better

Pubic bus crews deserve better From Suara Karya As a user of public transportation in Jakarta, I observe the daily activities of crew members of the various vehicles, particularly city bus drivers and conductors. With their major role in operating a means of public conveyance to serve large numbers of ordinary people, they deserve proper compensation to ensure their welfare. In reality, they earn barely enough while they have to work from dawn to dusk.

Too early to reject poll results: Major parties

Too early to reject poll results: Major parties Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Major parties said on Sunday it was too early to reject the results of the April 5 elections and called on the public to remain calm while waiting for the manual count. Asserting that any statement rejecting the election results would only spark confusion among the public, the parties suggested that any disputes over the poll results be settled in the Constitutional Court.

U.S. initiative in Malacca Strait 'baseless': RI Navy

U.S. initiative in Malacca Strait 'baseless': RI Navy Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya Indonesian Navy chief Adm. Bernard Kent Sondakh has joined the opposition to a United States suggestion that it send troops to the Malacca Strait under the Regional Maritime Security Initiative (RMSI), calling the idea "baseless".

City responsible for street vendors

City responsible for street vendors Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Street vendors in the capital have long been blamed for causing traffic congestion, with many of them cramming the sidewalks and encroaching onto the road. But non-governmental organization Jakarta Residents Forum (Fakta) says Jakarta Administration, not the vendors, is to blame for failing to accommodate these businesses.

Repeat voters reported to police

Repeat voters reported to police JAKARTA: Four voters who were caught red-handed trying to vote more than once in the April 5 legislative election were reported to the Jakarta Police on Thursday by the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu). "Three voters were arrested at polling stations in West Jakarta and another was apprehended at a polling station in North Jakarta," Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Prasetyo said on Thursday.

Teenager stabbed to death

Teenager stabbed to death JAKARTA: A teenager died on Sunday morning after being stabbed in the temple with a screwdriver by another teenager identified as Abdillah. Wahyu Prasetyo, 17, a resident of Kalibata in South Jakarta, was pronounced dead at 4 a.m. at the Budi Asih Hospital in Cawang, East Jakarta. The incident began when Wahyu, along with three friends, all of them reportedly drunk, stopped Abdillah who was on his way home to Pengadegan, South Jakarta.

Honesty, the Merpati way

Honesty, the Merpati way Good news about Indonesia is rare these days and good news about airlines is even more rare, but I have both to relate. A guest of mine, Murray Anderson of Lochar, Meigle, Perthshire, Scotland, arrived on Merpati flight MZ 514 at 1 p.m. in Palangkaraya on the inauspicious day of April 1 to find his wallet missing. It contained about US$2,000 in cash, three credit cards and his driver's license.

Traffic back to normal in Garut

Traffic back to normal in Garut GARUT, West Java: Traffic between Garut and Tasikmalaya regencies returned to normal on Saturday, following a landslide the previous day that hit Sukamaju subdistrict, Garut. The landslide had left parts of a road in Sukamaju covered in mud, cutting access between Garut and Tasikmalaya. The local government and residents worked to clear the road on Saturday morning and finished at noon the same day.

Christians blast police over Easter shooting

Christians blast police over Easter shooting Irvan NR, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi Christians here lashed out at security forces for failing to protect them from Saturday's Easter shooting by unidentified gunmen in Poso regency, Central Sulawesi, despite recent police reinforcements.

Bandung government endorses 'Braga City Walk' project

Bandung government endorses 'Braga City Walk' project Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung The Bandung municipal government has welcomed a proposal by a local developer to build a hotel and mall on Jl. Braga, saying that the project could bring the historic street back to live. Tjetje Subrata, the head of the Bandung municipal government's Planning and Development Board (Bappeda), supported the proposal as Jl.

Fire safety standards

Fire safety standards It was with interest I read that the Jakarta Administration is to formulate an Indonesian National Standard on Fire Safety. These standards are long overdue for a metropolis the size of Jakarta. I can sympathize with the Fire Department chief, Johnny Pangaribuan, with the multitude of problems he faces in fighting fires under existing conditions. The adoption of these standards should be given the highest priority to prevent needless loss of life and property.

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta DPR Provisional results for the top 10 positions for the House of Representatives (DPR) based on votes counted by the General Elections Commission (KPU) as of 7 p.m. .TB.60" 5.00" ------------------------------------------------- No. Party Votes ------------------------------------------------- 1. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 975,541 2. Democratic Party 899,752 3. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) 576,046 4. Golkar Party 355,749 5.

Indonesia romps to 5-0 victory over New Zealand

Indonesia romps to 5-0 victory over New Zealand Zakki Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia completed a comprehensive 5-0 victory over New Zealand with two more wins in the rubber singles on Sunday in their Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 Davis Cup play-off at the Bung Karno tennis stadium in Jakarta. Although Indonesia was already assured of keeping its place in the group after racing to an unbeatable 3-0 lead on Friday and Saturday, the hosts did not experience any letdown in their play.

Poll results boost Golkar change for the presidency

Poll results boost Golkar change for the presidency Jusuf Wanandi, Co-founder and Member, Board of Trustees Center for Strategic and International Studies, (CSIS) Jakarta With the expected victory of the Golkar Party in the legislative election of April 5, the party would become the biggest faction of the House of Representatives (DPR). For Golkar, this would entail some heavy responsibilities.

Cheney to meet with Koizumi: U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney

Cheney to meet with Koizumi: U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney pledged U.S. support for Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in pressing ahead with plans to double Japan's noncombat forces in Iraq despite the furor over the abduction of three citizens, U.S. officials said on Sunday. The kidnapping of the Japanese by Iraqi militants cast a pall over Cheney's visit to Japan as hundreds of antiwar demonstrators took to the streets to urge their government to withdraw its troops from Iraq.

Officers accused of robbery

Officers accused of robbery TANGERANG: Claiming to be searching for a teak thief, seven men who identified themselves as police officers allegedly stole Rp 4 million (US$470), a cell phone and a watch from four kerosene vendors in Bojong Nangka village, Legok district, Tangerang, late on Friday. The men are also alleged to have assaulted the vendors, identified as Nurichsan, Asmadi, Trisno and Dohiri. They reportedly threw Dohiri, who works for the Moch.

Explaining reasons behind Democratic Party's popularity

Explaining reasons behind Democratic Party's popularity Muhammad Qodari, Director of Research, Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), Jakarta, qodari@lsi.or.id The Democratic Party (PD), which was founded only on Sept. 9, 2001, came out as one of the best performers in the April 5 legislative election. A nationwide survey conducted by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) last November showed that the prospect of votes for the PD was quite tiny -- less than 1 percent.

Exhibitions to be held to boost tourism

Exhibitions to be held to boost tourism Leony Aurora and P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Office of the State Minister for Culture and Tourism plans to hold at least one national exhibition and several regional events to boost domestic tourism in 2004. Marketing deputy director Udin Saefuddin, announced recently that a national exhibition would be held in Jakarta from May 20 to May 23.

Accountants refuse KPU's job

Accountants refuse KPU's job Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang Noted public accountants have reportedly refused to audit campaign funds of political parties, a member of the General Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), Didik Supriyanto, said on Saturday. He said the auditors were concerned about possible questions from Panwaslu, the General Election Commission (KPU) and non- governmental organizations.

Chicken farmer struggles to restart business

Chicken farmer struggles to restart business Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Yudhi sits in front of his home in Dukuh Mekar, Parung, West Java, looking at his two empty chicken pens. He has little money left after most of his birds died in January. "I had more than 7,000 chickens in these coops only two months ago. I felt rich at that time. I even planned to add another while paying my debts by using profits from the sale of the chickens," Yudhi, 32, said.

Ballot paper counting

Ballot paper counting From Republika During the New Order era, we often read reports about the discovery of a number of ballot boxes containing marked ballot papers (usually for the opposition party) in forested or swampy areas in remote places of the country. It was also open secret during the New Order era that ballot boxes containing ballot papers could easily be changed with other ballot boxes containing ballot papers marked in favor of a particular party in the polls.

All-in-one printers lead popularity contest

All-in-one printers lead popularity contest Have you ever been to a computer exhibition such as the recent Mega Bazaar at Jakarta Convention Center? If you did, you must have noticed that there were perhaps more multifunction devices or multifunction printers than the single-purpose printers on display. It seems that the top printer makers -- Canon, Epson and Hewlett-Packard -- have placed more emphasis on multifunction printers because of their increasing popularity.

1 x 35

1 x 35 Medan Police uncover strippers in act JP/5/Braga 2 x 27 Bandung government endorses 'Braga City Walk' project JP/5/WANA 3 x 15 Modern lifestyle threatens Wana tribespeople

Anyone can become a politician in Indonesia

Anyone can become a politician in Indonesia Kornelius Purba, Staff Writer, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta purba@thejakartapost.com A legislature candidate from a new and small party was hardly bothered by the small number of votes his party received in the April 5 legislative election. He said he had already anticipated that before joining the party. He sold his only car to finance his campaign, and displayed his picture along the streets near his residence in East Jakarta.

Air Asia arrives to offer low fares, not to challenge

Air Asia arrives to offer low fares, not to challenge The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Malaysian no-frills airline Air Asia launched on Saturday its maiden flight from Johor Baru to Jakarta, which will be followed by flights from Kuala Lumpur to Bandung today (Monday) and from Kuala Lumpur to Surabaya on Thursday. In less than two years since commencing operations, Air Asia has become a major player in the regional market with 100 international and domestic flights per day.

PSM stuns PSMS 1-0 to build on lead

PSM stuns PSMS 1-0 to build on lead Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan PSM Makassar consolidated its position at the top of the Indonesian soccer league after chalking up a crucial 1-0 away win over PSMS at Teladan Stadium in Medan, North Sumatra. Last season's runner-up, which is currently competing in the Asian Champions League, PSM Makassar now has 27 points, four points ahead of Persebaya Surabaya. Persebaya only managed a 1-1 draw in Cilegon, Banten, against Pelita KS.

KPU needs one voice to fend off political sharks

KPU needs one voice to fend off political sharks Ong Hock Chuan, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) seems to have become a crisis-in-progress. It appears to have lost control of the situation. Disgruntled political parties called for the election results to be declared invalid, though later they said these were only the statements of their individual leaders.

Indonesia thumps NZ to stay in Group 1

Indonesia thumps NZ to stay in Group 1 Zakki Hakim The Jakarta Post Jakarta Indonesia has retained its place in Asia-Oceania Group 1 for next season's Davis Cup after securing an overall 3-0 win over New Zealand in their second round playoffs at the Bung Karno Open Tennis Stadium.

PIM resumes fertilizer production

PIM resumes fertilizer production BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Fertilizer company PT Pupuk Iskandar Muda (PIM) in Krueng Geukuh, North Aceh regency, has produced 9,350 tons of fertilizer since it resumed operations on March 27, a company spokesman said on Friday. "Now we are producing 850 tons per day, but this figure will increase gradually," said Fachrulsyah, head of public relations at PIM.

PLN's disappointing service

PLN's disappointing service From Koran Tempo As a subscriber to state electricity company PLN in Kebon Jeruk, Jakarta, I paid my electricity bills from November 2003 to January 2004 at the monthly subscription rate of only Rp 39,130, because PLN officers had failed to keep regular records of power consumption. PLN personnel came to my door only after my complaint and I was required to pay Rp 166,600 for the February bill.

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta

2004 Legislative Election Results for Jakarta DPRD Provisional results for the top 10 positions for the City Council (DPRD) based on votes counted by the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) as of 8 p.m. .TB.60" 5.00" ---------------------------------------------------------------- No. Party Votes ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) 961,938 2. Democratic Party 885,314 3.

Telephone charges

Telephone charges and public rights From Media Indonesia The government has approved a maximum increase of 28 percent for local telephone calls and a minimum decrease of 10 percent for long distance calls. Previously, the Indonesian Telecommunications Regulatory Board recommended that the minister of communications allow a maximum rise in fixed telephone charges of only 15 percent this year.

Small banks may be harmed by Bank Indonesia's latest policy

Small banks may be harmed by Bank Indonesia's latest policy Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The move by Bank Indonesia (BI) to close two small banks last week could trigger nervous depositors to shift their funds from smaller to larger banks, experts said. "There is a possibility that customers of small banks will start shifting their funds to larger banks, which they might consider more reliable," economist Drajat H.

Upholding security in the Malacca Straits

Upholding security in the Malacca Straits Nugroho Wisnumurti, Former Director General, for Political Affairs Ministry Foreign Affairs, Jakarta It has been reported in the media that the United States plans to implement its Regional Maritime Security Initiative, under which the country intends to deploy marines and special-operation forces on high speed vessels along the Malacca Straits to flush out terrorists. The details of this initiative are at this stage unclear.

Weak supervision nurtures corruption at tax office

Weak supervision nurtures corruption at tax office Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The weak supervisory system of the tax office is seen as one of the main factors for corruption among tax officials, which results in massive state losses and a poor business environment. A senior official at the Ministry of Finance who requested anonymity said the four institutions that supervise the tax office were toothless because their authority to investigate corruption was limited.

Telephone charges

Telephone charges and public rights From Media Indonesia The government has approved a maximum increase of 28 percent in local telephone charges and a minimum decrease of 10 percent in long distance charges. Previously, the Indonesian Telecommunications Regulatory Board recommended that the Minister of Communications allow a maximum rise in fixed telephone charges of only 15 percent this year.

Aceh official arrested

Aceh official arrested BANDA ACEH, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: The martial law administration in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam has arrested the provincial secretary's treasurer Teuku Lizam for corruption. "He has been arrested and is being questioned by the martial law administration's intelligence unit for alleged corruption," Aceh military commander Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya told reporters on Sunday. The investigators also include state prosecutors.

Counting Jakarta expected to finish today

Counting Jakarta expected to finish today Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) officials expect to complete the electronic ballot counting for Jakarta on Monday morning, while the manual counting would probably be ready to be made public on Wednesday. "The manual counting is already at the provincial level so it will probably be finished soon," KPUD chairman Mohamad Taufik told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

Police arrest illegal loggers, rescue $3.7m in state assets

Police arrest illegal loggers, rescue $3.7m in state assets P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Sukabumi, West Java Police have arrested a total of 38 suspected illegal loggers, including 5 Malaysians, in West Kalimantan, and seized 20,548 cubic meters of processed logs during an operation conducted from Feb. 19 to March 10. Chief of the Wanalaga I Operation Brig. Gen. Indarto said on Saturday that police also confiscated 22,886 raw logs, several boats and guns from the loggers.