Archive: 13 April 2004
77 articles found
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Govt to pay Asiatic, BDB depositors soon
Govt to pay Asiatic, BDB depositors soon Urip Hudiono/Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Denpasar The government said on Monday it would pay the depositors of the closed down Bank Dagang Bali (BDB) and Bank Asiatic within two weeks, as more than 100 depositors held a peaceful rally in front of Bank Indonesia's Denpasar office. Director General of Financial Institutions Darmin Nasution said the government was in the process of verifying the depositors.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Muhammadiyah asked to support Amien
Muhammadiyah asked to support Amien Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The second largest Muslim organization in the country has repeated its call that members of the organization should throw their support behind presidential hopeful Amien Rais. Unlike an earlier call which was met with some opposition, this call appeared to receive wider support.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Govt split over military service
Govt split over military service JAKARTA: Minister of National Education Abdul Malik Fajar rejected on Monday a plan to require senior high school graduates to undergo compulsory military service. Malik said there was no urgency in implementing the program, which has been adopted by several Southeast Asian neighbors.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
KPC told to speed up sale of shares
KPC told to speed up sale of shares The Jakarta Post, Jakarta East Kalimantan-based coal mining giant PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC) is required to start offering a 32.4 percent stake to local investors this month, a government official has said. Mahyudin Lubis, director of coal and mineral mining at the Directorate General of Geology and Mineral Resources, said on Monday that the divestment schedule was based on a contract signed with the government.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Another way to win the hearts of particular customers
Another way to win the hearts of particular customers Syafruddin Chan, Contributor, Jakarta For several years now, major banks here have made available premium products and services specially created for their privileged customers. Using a variety of names like BCA Prioritas, Mandiri Prioritas, Niaga Premium Banking, HSBC Premier and so on, banks intend essentially to provide their large-revenue contributors with only the best.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 12, 2004
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 12, 2004 _____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume _____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 975 0 62,500 Adhi Karya 345 -25 6,594,500 Adira Dinamika 2,175 0 407,000 AGIS Tbk 135 5 146,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 85 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 135 0 0 Alfa Retailindo Tbk 950 0 0 Alter Abadi Tbk...
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
No more election delays after Tuesday: KPU
No more election delays after Tuesday: KPU The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Ambon/Kupang The General Elections Commission (KPU) said on Monday the last poll would take place in Paniai regency in Papua on Tuesday, four days behind the April 9 deadline due to transportation problems. KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the late voting would be held in four polling stations, with the ballot counting expected to be completed on Wednesday.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
1. Luwak: 2 lines 22 counts
1. Luwak: 2 lines 22 counts Indonesian 'kopi luwak' not for the faint-hearted 2. Erguto: 1 line 28 counts Chinese wine heads stateside
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
PLN's poor service
PLN's poor 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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Indonesian 'kopi luwak' not for the faint-hearted
Indonesian 'kopi luwak' not for the faint-hearted Dan Eaton, Reuters, Jakarta How much would you pay for a cup of liquid cat dung? Quite a lot, if some highly discerning coffee drinkers are anything to go by. On the lush, volcanic slopes of the Indonesian archipelago, villagers "harvest" kopi luwak. The beans used for the world's rarest and most expensive coffee have already been munched by cat-like palm civets, and now they are plucked from the dung to be dried and roasted.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Sutiyoso orders agency to take down billboards
Sutiyoso orders agency to take down billboards Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso ordered Jakarta Revenue Agency head Deden Supriadi on Monday afternoon to remove billboards along the Sedyatmo toll road in Kapuk, North Jakarta, that were put up without the agency's permission.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Armed men take RI sailor hostage from boat
Armed men take RI sailor hostage from boat Reuters, Manila Armed men in speed boats intercepted a tugboat towing a barge off the Malaysian state of Sabah, taking its Indonesian captain and two Malaysian crew members hostage, the Philippine navy said on Monday.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/ACROSS
JP/5/ACROSS Dysentery hits Madura, 17 treated BANGKALAN, Madura: Following a dengue outbreak, a dysentery outbreak has hit Bangkalan district in Madura island. At least 17 people, mostly children, were treated at Bangkalan General Hospital on Monday. The 17 people, 13 of them children, were suffering from dehydration and their condition was very weak. Director of Bangkalan General Hospital, Dr.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
China's Sinopec in talks over Iran LNG deal
China's Sinopec in talks over Iran LNG deal Agence France-Presse, Beijing Chinese oil giant Sinopec is in talks with Iranian firms to import at least five million tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually, in what would be a multi-billion dollar deal, state media reported on Monday. Citing Iranian Vice President Mohammad Sattarifar, the China Daily said that in return Sinopec would win the right to exploit some of Iran's richest oilfields.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Working committee on HIV/AIDS in jails formed
Working committee on HIV/AIDS in jails formed Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Alarmed by the rising number of inmates testing positive for HIV/AIDS, the government and non-governmental organizations have formed a national working committee as part of an attempt to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in penitentiaries.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
PDI-P biggest ad spender during election campaign
PDI-P biggest ad spender during election campaign Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The results to date of the count in the legislative elections appear to more or less reflect the amount of work put in by the political parties during the campaign, and how much they forked out on advertising.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
HIV/AIDS cases continue to soar in Papua province this year
HIV/AIDS cases continue to soar in Papua province this year Nethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, Jayapura, Papua The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua province now reaches 1,398 and has sparked concern among Papuans and local health officials. Of the total, 912 people have been diagnosed HIV-positive and 486 have developed AIDS.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Retired generals protest eviction
Retired generals protest eviction JAKARTA: At least 18 retired Army generals sought on Monday legal protection after alleging they were being intimidated by the Army, which wishes to evict them from an Army housing complex on Jl. Gatot Subroto, South Jakarta. "The Army no longer respects its own sons. Such use of terror tactics is a violation of human rights," spokesman for the retired generals Brig. Gen. (ret) Ben Mboi told a media conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH) office.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Golkar officials fear money politics
Golkar officials fear money politics Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Golkar Party officials supervising the party's convention have expressed concern about possible money politics during unreported meetings of leaders of the party's regency chapters with presidential candidates. Regency chapters, which will be represented by their leaders, will have a combined 440 votes in the convention to elect the party's sole presidential candidate, scheduled for April 20.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Bank closure exposes BI's weak control
Bank closure exposes BI's weak control The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The liquidation of Bank Dagang Bali (BDB) and Bank Asiatic, caused in part by a number of lending irregularities, point to the fact that the painful and costly efforts to restructure the banking sector have yet to bear fruit.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
'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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/ACROSS
JP/5/ACROSS Dysentery hits Madura, 17 treated BANGKALAN, Madura: Following a dengue outbreak, a dysentery outbreak has hit Bangkalan district in Madura island. At least 17 people, mostly children, were treated at Bangkalan General Hospital on Monday. The 17 people, 13 of them children, were suffering from dehydration and their condition was very weak. Director of Bangkalan General Hospital, Dr.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Stock, rupiah down on instability fears
Stock, rupiah down on instability fears Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After a week-long rally triggered by relatively trouble-free legislative elections, the Jakarta stock market plunged on Monday on fears of political instability following news that several politicians may reject the general election results. The Jakarta Composite Index, which comprises 388 firms, ended lower by 11.805 points, or 1.5 percent, to 767.812, compared with last week's close.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Working committee on HIV/AIDS in prisons formed
Working committee on HIV/AIDS in prisons formed Leony Aurora The Jakarta Post Jakarta Alarmed by the rising number of inmates testing positive for HIV/AIDS, the government and non-governmental organizations have formed a national working committee as part of an attempt to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS in penitentiaries.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Dysentery hits Madura, 17 treated
Dysentery hits Madura, 17 treated BANGKALAN, Madura: Following a dengue outbreak, a dysentery outbreak has hit Bangkalan district in Madura island. At least 17 people, mostly children, were treated at Bangkalan General Hospital on Monday. The 17 people, 13 of them children, were suffering from dehydration and their condition was very weak. Director of Bangkalan General Hospital, Dr.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
KPU rejects reelection demand but parties remain adamant
KPU rejects reelection demand but parties remain adamant The Jakarta Post Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) turned down on Monday a demand for a nationwide reelection by a score of political parties contesting the legislative election. KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsudin said that the political parties failed to come up with a strong case, as they could only cite a small number of irregularities in polling stations.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/poso
JP/5/poso 300 police reinforcements arrive in Poso Ruslan Sangadji The Jakarta Post Palu, Central Sulawesi More than 300 additional paramilitary police arrived in the religiously-mixed regency of Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday after an new attack on a church over the Easter weekend injured seven Christians.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Police object to TV crime shows
Police object to TV crime shows Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Annoyed with the content of the increasing number of crime shows that are aired on almost all of the 10 television channels, the National Police issued a circular on March 30 to the TV stations and police headquarters in all provinces to discourage television stations from joining police operations.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Offering premium services to lure privileged clients
Offering premium services to lure privileged clients Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta In the current tough market, Indonesian banks must improve the quality of their services and products if they want to remain competitive. For many banks, their future relies on their existing big customers. This explains why the competition in alluring premium clients is getting stronger.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Tawun once a haven for freshwater turtles
Tawun once a haven for freshwater turtles Singgir Kartana, Contributor, Ngawi, East Java A decade ago, Tawun village, Padas district, Ngawi regency, East Java, was still noted for its bulus or small freshwater turtles. These reptiles were found in nearly every part of the local river and also in almost every pond in this village. Locals, however, simply let them live freely as nature had intended. "When I was young back in the 1930s, the stream in front of this house had a lot of turtles in it.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Smuggled cigarettes seized in Medan
Smuggled cigarettes seized in Medan MEDAN, North Sumatra: The Customs and Excise authority in Belawan Port, near Medan, the capital of North Sumatra, have seized three containers laden with hundreds of thousands of cigarettes smuggled into Medan from China. The smugglers previously tried to deceive officials by manipulating the manifest of the containers. They wrote glass coasters instead of cigarettes on the manifest.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Hundreds protest at Riau governor's office
Hundreds protest at Riau governor's office PEKANBARU, Riau: Around 700 people, who claimed to be the supporters of the dismissed Kampar regent, Jefri Noer, descended on the Riau governor's office in Pekanbaru on Monday, protesting the governor's endorsement of Jefri's dismissal. They also demanded that Jefri and his deputy Zakir be reinstated.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Conjoined twins die, hospital criticized
Conjoined twins die, hospital criticized Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Newborn conjoined twins Ardi and Arda from Kampung Naga village in Tangerang died on Monday at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) before doctors could perform surgery on them. Ardi and Arda, who were born on Friday with the help of a midwife, were originally taken to the city-run Tangerang General Hospital for treatment. They were then transferred to RSCM.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Tangerang needs fire trucks
Tangerang needs fire trucks TANGERANG: The Tangerang Fire Department has said that it lacks the hook and ladder trucks necessary for fighting fires in high-rise buildings. "We submitted a proposal to Mayor Wahidin Halim but he said the cash-strapped administration could not afford (the trucks). But they purchased trucks for us, but they were types of trucks that we did not urgently need," fire department chief Hendro Ruswiyanto told The Jakarta Post over the weekend.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Telephone bills and public rights
Telephone bills 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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Citigroup to buy out Indian affiliate
Citigroup to buy out Indian affiliate BOMBAY: U.S. banking giant Citigroup said on Monday it plans to buy out its Indian affiliate, e-Serve International, an IT- enabled services company, for some 5.5 billion rupees (US$127 million). Citigroup now holds a 44.4 percent stake in e-Serve and plans to acquire the rest of the stake held by the public at a price of about 800 rupees per share.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Heat put on Braga street development
Heat put on Braga street development Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung The controversial Braga City Walk project was unlikely to bring the historic Jl. Braga area back to life, a heritage activist and residents said on Monday. Bandung Heritage Society chairwoman Harastoeti said building a mall, apartment, supermarket and hotel on the street would not be enough to attract people to the area.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
KPU dismisses parties' call for repeat election
KPU dismisses parties' call for repeat election The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) turned down on Monday a demand for a nationwide reelection by a score of political parties contesting the legislative election. KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsudin said that the political parties failed to come up with a strong case, as they could only cite a small number of irregularities in polling stations.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
New stars in RI political skies
New stars in RI political skies Leo Suryadinata, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore Prior to this year's election in Indonesia, observers generally agreed that the PDI-P led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, and Golkar, the ruling party during president Soeharto's time, would remain as the top two parties, with most predicting that Golkar would have a slight lead.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Councillor questioned over libel of ex-cop
Councillor questioned over libel of ex-cop Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara A senior councillor from the Crescent Star Party (PBB) in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) was questioned on Monday as a suspect in a libel case. This is the second time that Arief Rahman has faced such a charge. He has been accused of defaming the province's former police chief, Brig. Gen.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
1. Bantar -- Diplomatic challenges await new government
1. Bantar -- Diplomatic challenges await new government 3 X 15 New diplomatic challenges await next government Bantarto Bandoro Editor, The Indonesian Quarterly Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta bandoro@csis.or.id 2. Strait -- New stars in Indonesian political skies 1 x 30 New stars in RI political skies Leo Suryadinata The Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore 3.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Rude awakening for man in flood
Rude awakening for man in flood Theresia Sufa and Marilin, The Jakarta Post, Bogor/Depok A man woke up in a tree in Depok on Sunday night to find that he and his house had been swept downriver by floodwaters in the area. A heavy downpour and mounting garbage at the Laya River at Pal Sigunung village in Cimanggis, Depok, late on Sunday, led to an overflow that destroyed the riverbank and swept away the man's house, which was less than three meters from the river.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Ong begins visit to Australia
Ong begins visit to Australia AUSTRALIA: Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) secretary-general Ong Keng Yong was due here on Monday to begin a five-day visit to Australia at the government's invitation, officials announced. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Trade Minister Mark Vaile are expected to push the case for a free trade agreement between Australia and the 10-nation group during talks with Ong in Canberra on Thursday.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
House should quickly approve cyber law: Experts
House should quickly approve cyber law: Experts Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government and the House of Representatives should quickly deliberate on and approve the bill on electronic information and transactions as it will be a crucial tool to fight rampant cyber crime in the country, an expert says.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Minivan drivers want police to ticket them
Minivan drivers want police to ticket them BOGOR: Dozens of drivers of public minivans plying the Sukasari to Bubulak route held a strike rally on Monday at Bogor City Council, protesting extortion by officers from the transportation agency. "We want the police, not the officers, to uphold traffic rules because they are more firm. Transportation agency officers, on the contrary, often demand Rp 3,000 (35 US cents) from us," said Teguh, 35.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Douglas E. Ramage
Douglas E. Ramage and Zacky Husein Jakarta 2. Pat -- Indonesia's global profile 1 X 30 KKN a stumbling block to investments Patrick Guntensperger Business Consultant Jakarta ttpguntensperger@hotmail.com
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Two of 16 suspects in high-profile BNI scandal tried
Two of 16 suspects in high-profile BNI scandal tried M. Taufiqurrahman and P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The high-profile state Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) trial began on Monday at the South Jakarta District Court, with two bank officials facing corruption charges in a case that caused Rp 1.7 trillion (US$200 million) in state losses. BNI Kebayoran Baru branch head Koesadiyono and Foreign Customers Division head Edy Santoso stand accused of violating Law No. 31/1999 and Law No.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Ballot counting in Jakarta near completion: Officials
Ballot counting in Jakarta near completion: Officials Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite sluggish computerized ballot counting at the Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD), officials were confident that all work would be completed by late Monday, as about 93 percent of ballots had been counted as of 8 p.m. on Monday.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Commission tells members to zip it
Commission tells members to zip it Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Pressed for time, the Constitutional Commission will not allow its members to talk too much during the remaining three weeks of deliberation of the amended Constitution. The commission has to finish harmonizing articles on the amended Constitution and present its report before the Steering Committee of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) on May 6.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Ministry leaves open-pit mining decision to House
Ministry leaves open-pit mining decision to House Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite mounting public criticism, the Ministry of Forestry will not push the House of Representatives to reject regulation in lieu of law No. 1/2004 that allows open-pit mining in protected forests.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Govt allocates Rp 60b for private vocational schools
Govt allocates Rp 60b for private vocational schools Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Ministry of National Education has allocated Rp 60 billion (US$7.06 million) in grants for hundreds of private vocational high schools this fiscal year in an attempt to improve their capabilities and facilities.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
* Headlines:300 police reinforcements arrive in Poso 2
* Headlines:300 police reinforcements arrive in Poso 2 * National:11 parties meet to discuss poll flaws, alliance 4 * Archipelago:Legislature pressing for mayor's ouster 5 * Opinion: Justice system slowly beginning to reform6 * City:Police object to TV crime shows 8 * Sports:Sizzling Mickelson cooks Els in Masters shoot-out 9 * World:Cheney lends support to Koizumi on Iraq issue 11 * Business:Bank closure exposes BI's weak control 13 * Features: Over 300 rare species unprotected18
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Court opens new case against Akbar
Court opens new case against Akbar Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Just as he gears up for the presidential convention, Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung is about to face another battle he did not choose to fight -- a lawsuit filed by a self-confessed middleman.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Banking moral hazard
Banking moral hazard The closure of two small banks -- Denpasar-based PT Bank Dagang Bali (BDB), owned by I Gusti Made Oka, and Jakarta-based Bank Asiatic, owned by Tong Muk Keung -- by Bank Indonesia on Thursday due to insolvency is not likely to cause a major panic. Nor will the drastic measure damage the public's trust in the banking industry, which will contribute to facilitating an orderly exit of the banks from the financial system.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
New diplomatic challenges await next government
New diplomatic challenges await next government Bantarto Bandoro, Editor, The Indonesian Quarterly Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Jakarta, bandoro@csis.or.id Many here are quite skeptical the general election will guarantee better domestic political, economic, social and security conditions. Such skepticism is based mainly on the poor performance of the current regime with regard to the management of national issues.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Public park for vendors?
Public park for vendors? From Kompas A public park in Pancoran Glodok, West Jakarta, has now become a hub for vendors and has turned into a shabby slum that disturbs the comfort and security of local residents. This situation has lasted for quite a while, yet no action has been taken by the city administration.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Winning in Indonesia
Winning in Indonesia No one won last week's Indonesian elections. As elections go, it was one of the largest and most complicated exercises in the history of modern democracy. Almost half a million candidates put their names to national, provincial and local ballot papers across three time zones, taking in some of most remote polling booths on earth. With slow counting continuing, it appears that at least seven parties will have to squeeze their rivalries into the new parliament.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Scouts told to save environment
Scouts told to save environment JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri asked the National Scouting Movement (Pramuka) on Monday to pay more attention to environmental conservation. "The President has asked the new Pramuka board of executives to promote among scouts awareness of environmental issues," new Pramuka chief Azrul Azwar said after a meeting with the President.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Bouraq Airlines opens new route
Bouraq Airlines opens new route JAKARTA: Bouraq Airlines will begin direct flights between Palu, Central Sulawesi, and Surabaya, East Java, on April 13, a company official said. Bouraq Airlines general manager Erry Syahrizal said on Monday the new direct flight was meant to provide passengers with easy access to Surabaya. Previously, passengers traveling from Palu to Surabaya had to transit in either Makassar, South Sulawesi, or Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
JP/5/AIDS
JP/5/AIDS HIV/AIDS cases continue to soar in Papua Nethy Dharma Somba The Jakarta Post Jayapura, Papua The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Papua province now reaches 1,398 and has sparked concern among Papuans and local health officials. Of the total, 912 people have been diagnosed HIV-positive and 486 have developed AIDS. The disease has killed 172 people in Papua since it was first detected in the province in 1992, according to data obtained from Papua Administration health office.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Machinery exports sign of industry relocation
Machinery exports sign of industry relocation Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Analysts warned on Wednesday that the increase in Indonesian machinery exports as reported by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) could be due to relocation to other countries by foreign factories rather than genuine export growth. The chairman of the National Economic Recovery Committee (KPEN) Sofjan Wanandi said that there was a strong possibility that BPS recorded all machinery sent abroad as exports.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Navy boat purchases by regional administrations condemned
Navy boat purchases by regional administrations condemned A. Junaidi The Jakarta Post Jakarta A non-governmental organization, the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), urged the government on Monday to cancel the planned purchase of boats worth Rp 130 billion (US$15 million) by six local administrations for the Indonesian Navy. "The planned purchases are not being carried out transparently.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
KKN a stumbling block to investments
KKN a stumbling block to investments Patrick Guntensperger, Business Consultant, Jakarta, ttpguntensperger@hotmail.com As a new government settles in and takes on the Herculean task of turning the Indonesian economy around, there are a number of things that must be considered. In the first place, no significant economic growth is going to take place until the plague of corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN) is addressed and seen by outsiders to be waning.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Policeman shot dead in Solo robbery
Policeman shot dead in Solo robbery Blontank Poer, The Jakarta Post, Surakarta, Central Java In the latest string of violent robberies, Surakarta was hit by an armed bank raid on Monday that left a police officer dead. The robbers also injured two security guards during their raid on the Bukopin Bank branch in the Goro Assalam shopping center in Pebelan at around 4:30 p.m. It was not confirmed exactly how much money the raiders got away with.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Indosat plans to sell its Cambodian unit
Indosat plans to sell its Cambodian unit Publicly-listed telecommunications company PT Indosat plans to sell its 49 percent stake in Cambodian Indosat Telecommunications SA, or Camintel, a company official said on Monday. The government of Cambodia has the remaining 51 percent stake. "We are offering the entire stake in the unit, and hope that the sale can be completed this year," Indosat's spokesman Wahid Sutopo said. He said the company had not yet received any bids for the unit.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
'City, businesses should give space for vendors'
'City, businesses should give space for vendors' The Jakarta Administration has long blamed street vendors for causing traffic jams and lending a shabby look to the city, and has frequently evicted them. Just recently, however, the officials admitted to their failure to accommodate the vendors due to financial constraints. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their thoughts on the issue. Dessy Mulasari, 27, is a runway model.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Kalit's music speaks to the soul
Kalit's music speaks to the soul Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta One of Indonesia's most prolific composers to date is Nortier Panahatan Simanungkalit. On his music scores he is known only as N. Simanungkalit, and to his colleagues and friends, simply as Pak Kalit. Kalit has composed both the 1999 and 2004 general election theme songs.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Elite police personnel arrive in Poso
Elite police personnel arrive in Poso Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu, Central Sulawesi More than 300 additional paramilitary police arrived in the religiously-mixed regency of Poso, Central Sulawesi, on Monday after an new attack on a church over the Easter weekend injured seven Christians.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Council pressing for mayor's ouster
Council pressing for mayor's ouster Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java Members of the Cirebon legislative council appear set to press for the ouster of Mayor Subardi for his perceived poor performance by rejecting his accountability statement, due to be delivered on Tuesday.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
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.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
'Tempo' trial delayed
'Tempo' trial delayed JAKARTA: The hearing of a defamation suit filed by businessman Tomy Winata against Tempo magazine at the Central Jakarta District Court was delayed on Monday when two judges failed to appear. Presiding judge Suripto said judge Ridwan Mansyur was in Makassar, South Sulawesi, attending a human rights workshop, and judge Kusriyanto was in Denpasar.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Justice system slowly beginning to reform
Justice system slowly beginning to reform Douglas E. Ramage and Zacky Husein, Jakarta After the 1999 democratic election, a broad consensus emerged among Indonesians that legal reform was essential to consolidate democracy and support economic recovery through investment. However, perception of the need for reform has not been rapidly translated into a conspicuously clean, competent, and reformed judiciary and the fair application of rule of law throughout Indonesia.
Tue, 13 Apr 2004, 00:00 WIB
Boat purchases by local govts protested
Boat purchases by local govts protested A. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A non-governmental organization, the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor (Imparsial), urged the government on Monday to cancel the planned purchase of boats worth Rp 130 billion (US$15 million) by six local administrations for the Indonesian Navy. "The planned purchases are not being carried out transparently. Many of the purchases are being made without a public tender," Imparsial executive director Munir told reporters.