Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 26 April 2004

79 articles found

21,000 sex workersin Java: Activist

21,000 sex workersin Java: Activist MEDAN: Financial hardship has forced about 21,000 young girls to become sex workers on Java, the country's most populous island, an activist says.North Sumatra Women coordinator Maya Manurung said on Sunday that 7,000 young sex workers were operating in East...

Taufik brings home Asian trophy

Taufik brings home Asian trophyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Taufik Hidayat beat fellow Indonesian and reigning champion Sony Dwi Kuncoro to win the Asian badminton trophy on Sunday in the finals in Kuala Lumpur.

BI should do more to merge banks: Analysts

BI should do more to merge banks: AnalystsUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Although mergers between private banks are indeed up to the owners, experts are saying that Bank Indonesia (BI) could -- and should -- do more to encourage them, in order to create a stronger banking industry...

Are parties seeking wealth?

Are parties seeking wealth?From Koran TempoNineteen political parties have rejected the results of the legislative election held on April 5. If this is true, it increases my conviction that most legislative candidates are seeking to amass wealth instead of working for the population.

Anticorruption judges hard to find, legal observer says

Anticorruption judges hard to find, legal observer saysMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta People with convincing track records in fighting corruption are hardly to be found on the list of applicants for ad hoc judges in the proposed corruption court, an activist says.

Wiranto in the storm

Wiranto in the stormPitan Daslani Contributor Jakarta pitand@singapore.com When Gen. (ret) Wiranto defeated Akbar Tandjung in the vote to become the Golkar Party's presidential candidate on April 21, I recalled the days when he could have taken over the national leadership without too much...

Minor-party alliance vows to reject result of legislative election

Minor-party alliance vows to reject result of legislative electionA. Junaidi/Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta An alliance of 17 small parties said on Sunday that it would reject the result of the April 5 legislative election, saying the poll was illegitimate due to many flaws, including erroneous ballot...

Indonesian fruit industry stranger to science and technology

Indonesian fruit industry stranger to science and technologyAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A failure to apply science and technology has hampered the development of the Indonesian fruit industry, and left it incapable of meeting domestic and international demand.

Jakarta Bay pollution

Jakarta Bay pollutionFrom Warta KotaUnlike in the past, the North Jakarta regional environment control agency has now openly admitted the presence of pollution in Jakarta Bay, as recently reported in a Jakarta daily. The pollution of Jakarta's coastal waters is nothing new, in fact.

Students on hunger strike to protest planned nuke plant

Students on hunger strike to protest planned nuke plantID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post , Surabaya The government's controversial plan for a mega nuclear power plant (PLTN) on Madura island, East Java, has been thrust back into the spotlight by a group of students.

Hepatitis B remains a threat in RI

Hepatitis B remains a threat in RILeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post , Jakarta The number of people infected with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the country remains high due to a lack of vaccination for babies and low awareness of the disease among the public, says a liver expert.

Idle billboards blamed on City's poor coordination

Idle billboards blamed on City's poor coordinationDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Jakarta Building Management and Supervisory Agency (P2B) has blamed the poor coordination of related agencies of the city administration for the condition of billboards across the city, which either...

* Nine retail centers to enter market this year Page 3

* Nine retail centers to enter market this year Page 3 * Selection of corruption court judges starts Page 4 * Students on hunger strike to protest planned nuke plant Page 5 * Wiranto must face the storm Page 6 * Lots of Jakarta billboards carry no ads Page 8 * Klitschko crushes Sanders to capture...

Benchmark investors remain unattracted to Indonesian stock

Benchmark investors remain unattracted to Indonesian stockRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite a giant leap recorded by the local stock market since early this year, global benchmark investors remain reluctant and cautious to pour their money into the market due to a variety of...

'SMP 56 dispute politicized'

'SMP 56 dispute politicized' The recent closing down of the SMP 56 senior high school by city public order officers elicited various reactions, but most people appeared to be against the officers actions.

NGOs urge government to review power contract with Siemens

NGOs urge government to review power contract with SiemensFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Power Sector Working Group (WGPSR), a grouping of several non-governmental organizations, urged the government to review a contract obtained by a Siemens-led consortium in the operation and...

It's just horse-trading

It's just horse-tradingFrom Bisnis IndonesiaAfter the legislative election vote counting controversy, with the Golkar Party still holding the lead, public attention is now turning to the country's presidential candidates and their running mates.

A handsfree for your car?

A handsfree for your car? Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and dozens of other countries around the world have prohibited the use of a mobile phone while driving.Indonesia, unfortunately, has not come around to introducing the same regulation.

Golkar Party considers teaming up with PKB, PPP

Golkar Party considers teaming up with PKB, PPPKurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta Once again, it's a case of everyone wanting the presidency and no one wanting to be No. 2, as is evident in hopefuls' efforts to influence voters who, for the first time, will have a direct say in choosing...

FOR FOCUS ISSUE: SPORT EQUIPMENT --- APRIL 25

FOR FOCUS ISSUE: SPORT EQUIPMENT --- APRIL 25Fitness Equipment:Photo A/BJP Members of a Jakarta-based fitness center (photo above and below) use different types of equipment to keep in shape. There is a growing trend now among busy executives to buy their own equipment for home workouts.;JP ANPAv..

Mega launches new toll road

Mega launches new toll roadThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri officially opened an 18- kilometer (km) stretch of toll road connecting Cikampek, Purwakarta and Padalarang, West Java, on Saturday.

BI should do more to merge banks: Analysts

BI should do more to merge banks: AnalystsUrip Hudiono The Jakarta Post Jakarta Although mergers between private banks are indeed up to the owners, experts are saying that Bank Indonesia (BI) could -- and should -- do more to encourage them, in order to create a stronger banking industry consisting...

Indonesia tops preliminary Fed Cup group

Indonesia tops preliminary Fed Cup groupAssociated Press New Delhi Second-seeded Indonesia topped its preliminary pool in the women's Fed Cup Asia-Pacific tennis competition, defeating third- ranked South Korea 2-1 on Friday to complete its league play with four straight wins.

Human rights issue pops up in presidential campaign

Human rights issue pops up in presidential campaignWimar Witoelar, InterMatrix Communications, Jakarta wimar@perspektif.net Suddenly things are starting to make sense, and it does not look good. What had so far been a lackluster campaign for legislative seats, devoid of issues and lacking any...

Megawati, Susilo to attend NU meet

Megawati, Susilo to attend NU meet SURABAYA: Presidential aspirants Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono are slated to attend on Monday Nahdlatul Ulama's Halaqah, or preparatory meeting, for a November assembly in Surabaya, East Java.

Opposition needed to check military's rise

Opposition needed to check military's riseM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Reform-minded political parties should form an opposition in the House of Representatives if a candidate with military background gets elected in the July 5 presidential election, a respected Muslim scholar says.

Regent urged to revoke sand mining permit

Regent urged to revoke sand mining permitMulta Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang Responding to the warning of an environmentalist that three islands in the Banten Gulf could be submerged in the near future, four factions of Serang Council called on Regent Bunyamin to revoke private company PT...

NGOs urge government to review power contract with Siemens

NGOs urge government to review power contract with SiemensFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Power Sector Working Group (WGPSR), a grouping of several non-governmental organizations, urged the government to review a contract obtained by a Siemens-led consortium in the operation and...

JP/5/PLTN

JP/5/PLTN3 x 19 Students on hunger strike to protest planned nuke plant JP/5/BANDUNG2 x 26 Proposed road in Bandung forest subject of debate JP/5/AIR 2 x 28 East Java faces water crisis as demand outstrips supply

1. MALUKU: 2 LINES, 15 COUNTS

1. MALUKU: 2 LINES, 15 COUNTS At least 6 die in fresh Ambon clash 2. PKB: 2 LINES, 18 COUNTS 3. LONGSOR: 1 LINE, 42 COUNTS Illegal logging blamed for deadly Pasaman landslide

Mia Audina Tjiptawan returns to her best

Mia Audina Tjiptawan returns to her best Agence France-Presse Geneva Mia Audina Tjiptawan, who once clinched the Uber Cup for Indonesia as a 14-year-old, suggested that now, fully a decade later, she has at last returned to her best, reaching the final of the European championships with a brilliant...

Our 21st anniversary

Our 21st anniversary The Jakarta Post has just reached the challenging age of 21, as the first edition of the paper saw the light of day on Monday, April 25, 1983. For a newspaper, a 21-year history is not a particularly outstanding achievement.

NGO says civilians killed in Papua clash

NGO says civilians killed in Papua clashTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A non-governmental organization (NGO) has refuted reports on the death of two members of the Free Papua Organization (OPM) separatist group during a clash with local police recently.

Kuwait deports more RI workers

Kuwait deports more RI workers JAKARTA: Another 150 Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) have been deported from oil-rich Kuwait, which imports many Indonesian workers.Indonesian Ambassador to Kuwait Mohammad Khalaf did not expound upon the reasons behind their expulsion, saying only that they were...

City gives money to 400 poor families

City gives money to 400 poor families JAKARTA: The Jakarta administration plans to give soft loans to 400 low-income families -- 200 in South Jakarta and another 200 in North Jakarta -- the administration's official website beritajakarta.com reported on Saturday.

More discounts expected despite surge in rental demand

More discounts expected despite surge in rental demand The rental apartment market in Jakarta has shown promising signs of activity over the first three months of this year but future demand will remain soft as primary occupants, such as foreign investors, are still waiting for the results of the...

World Earth Day

World Earth Day The international community commemorated World Earth Day on April 22. In Jakarta, the Ministry of Forestry, in cooperation with the Center for International Forestry (CIFOR), launched a regreening campaign called Program Adopsi Pohon (Tree Adoption Program) in Situgede village,...

House to summon Da'i over Ba'asyir terror probe

House to summon Da'i over Ba'asyir terror probeP.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The House of Representatives has arranged a hearing with National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar scheduled for early in May to clarify the motives behind the probe into Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir for his...

New 'senator' to empower proletariat

New 'senator' to empower proletariatBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Modest, consistent and reliable were claims that Sarwono Kusumaatmadja made of himself in his campaign prior to the April 5 election for members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) from Jakarta.

Minister opens new port in Batam

Minister opens new port in Batam BATAM, Riau: Minister of Transportation Agum Gumelar inaugurated the new Batam Center Point International Port, asking its operators to ensure the port served as a welcoming gate into Indonesia.

Nabil wants minimum term

Nabil wants minimum term PAKANBARU, Riau: State Minister for the Environment Nabil Makarim is seeking to include a minimum punishment for perpetrators of illegal logging in the planned government regulation in lieu of law, which is to introduce a maximum death sentence.

2004 elections not merely a big fiesta

2004 elections not merely a big fiestaImanuddin Razak Staff Writer The Jakarta Post Jakarta iman@thejakartapost.com Today, nearly 147 million registered voters will throng polling booths nationwide with a single-minded agenda; to cast their votes to elect their representatives for the Regional...

JP/5/BANDUNG

JP/5/BANDUNGNorthern Bandung forest area threatened by new road Yuli Tri Suwarni The Jakarta Post BandungThe Juanda Dago forest (Tahura) in north of Bandung is at risk of environmental damage as the provincial administration plans to build a 7-kilometer road there.

Tommy gets 2-week sick leave from prison

Tommy gets 2-week sick leave from prisonEvi Mariani, Jakarta Convicted felon Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra has been ordered to take a minimum two-week rest at the plush Kartika Pavilion, Gatot Subroto Army Hospital (RSPAD), Central Jakarta, after a nine-hour surgery on Sunday to treat a tumor behind...

NAM to hold meeting on Mideast

NAM to hold meeting on MideastMALAYSIA: At least a dozen mostly developing nations will meet in Malaysia next month to discuss the surging violence in the Middle East, news reports said on Sunday.The meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) will be held on May 13 with a special emphasis on how the...

Opposition needed

Opposition needed The Indonesian media are very busy these days speculating about possible coalitions ahead of the final outcome of the general election. But there is so far hardly any discussion about the crying need for an effective opposition in the legislature.

Proposed road in Bandung forest subject of debate

Proposed road in Bandung forest subject of debateYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung The Juanda Dago forest (Tahura) in north of Bandung is at risk of environmental damage as the provincial administration plans to build a 7-kilometer road there.

RCTI goes too far

RCTI goes too far On March 29 I watched Kopaja, an afternoon "comedy" show on RCTI television. One of its features involved a mock evening hold-up on a packed public transport vehicle.Two brawny thugs threatened the passengers and the driver, causing the bus to hit the sidewalk.

Anti-cigarette campaign goes up in smoke

Anti-cigarette campaign goes up in smoke JAKARTA: An antismoking campaign in the city administration, supported by Gubernatorial Decree No. 11/2004 issued on Feb. 24, has apparently failed, with many city employees still to be seen puffing away in city administration offices including City Hall.

RI universities to visit U.S.

RI universities to visit U.S. SEMARANG: Representatives of 50 universities from Indonesia and the United States will hold a meeting from April 28 to 30 in Washington to boost cooperation in improving the quality of education.

Most of Cipinang, Bekasi swamped

Most of Cipinang, Bekasi swampedThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite very little rain over the weekend in Jakarta, the swollen Krukut and Sunter rivers burst their banks and flooded thousands of houses in the Cipinang area of East Jakarta, to a level of two meters in some neighborhoods, forcing the...

American Corner opens in Yogya

American Corner opens in YogyaYOGYAKARTA: Witnessed by Counselor of Public Affairs Charles N. Silver of the U.S. Embassy to Indonesia, Rector of Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University (UMY) Khoiruddin Bashori inaugurated on Saturday the American Corner, an on-campus resource center.

JP/3/WINDOW for 3endy

JP/3/WINDOW for 3endy Even if the Soehartoists were returned to power, they would find themselves returning to a different Indonesia.

Dozens injured in thug attack

Dozens injured in thug attackTheresia Sufa, Bogor Dozens of residents of Kampung Cipining, Argapura village in Cigudeg district, were injured in a brawl on Saturday evening with a group of men who claimed they were hired by a company whose trucks were charged illegal fees by villagers.

Dili claims on fuel sympathy 'a tactic'

Dili claims on fuel sympathy 'a tactic' Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer accused East Timor on Sunday of trying to stir up sympathy over its claims for a greater share of oil and gas revenues from the Timor Sea oil reserves.

Fresh Ambon clash kills six

Fresh Ambon clash kills sixAzis Tunny and Octavianus Pinontoan, Ambon At least six people were reported killed and dozens of others severely wounded on Sunday afternoon after a fresh major outbreak hit Ambon, the capital of Maluku province.

BPPT produces cheap coke briquettes for small industries

BPPT produces cheap coke briquettes for small industriesThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) has launched a pilot project to produce coke briquettes from local coal amid the rising price of imported coke.

USU to open new programs

USU to open new programs MEDAN, North Sumatra: The University of North Sumatra (USU) plans to offer several new programs in the near future."The university will offer two new study programs for stratum one (bachelor of arts), three new study programs for stratum two (master's) and two study...

Mia takes European badminton title

Mia takes European badminton titleAgence France-Presse Geneva, Switzerland Mia Audina Tjiptawan, the former Olympic silver medalist whom some thought might never be the same again after she married gospel singer Tylio Tjiptawan and left Indonesia, showed she should be a Games medal contender again...

East Java faces water crisis as demand outstrips supply

East Java faces water crisis as demand outstrips supplyIndra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya Water supplies in East Java, which has suffered from serious forest destruction, are being constantly depleted due to increasing demands from industrial and domestic users, sparking fears of further...

1. ENDI: 55 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42

1. ENDI: 55 pt, 7 cols, 1 x 42 Wiranto's candidacy revives specter of Soeharto 2. REJECT: 36 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 28 Minor-party alliance vows to reject election result 3. WOMEN: 32 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 18 Police reports filed by abused women rise dramatically 4.

1. IRAQ: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18

1. IRAQ: 48 pt, 3 cols, 3 x 18 Strikes halt Iraqi oil, mediator reports new Fallujah truce 2. MARKET: 36 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 28 Benchmark investors remain unattracted to RI stocks 3. RETAIL: 30 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 24 9 retail centers to enter overcrowded market 4.

Govt to pay some of Asiatic, BDB depositors

Govt to pay some of Asiatic, BDB depositorsThe Jakarta Post Jakarta The government has decided to pay initial compensation of only Rp 250 billion (US$29.4 million) to 124,000 depositors of recently dissolved Bank Asiatic and Bank Dagang Bali (BDB), a finance ministry official said.

Illegal logging blamed for deadly Pasaman landslide

Illegal logging blamed for deadly Pasaman landslideImran Rusli and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Padang/MedanLocal residents blamed on Sunday illegal logging as the main cause of Friday's landslide in Pasaman regency, West Sumatra, that buried a bus and killed at least 39 of its passengers.

Thailand, RI reach world playoffs

Thailand, RI reach world playoffsAssociated Press New Delhi Thailand and Indonesia advanced to the Fed Cup World Group qualifying playoffs with contrasting victories in Saturday's Asia-Pacific Zone Group 1 matches.

Women trafficking syndicate busted

Women trafficking syndicate busted SEMARANG: Central Java Police said on Saturday they had uncovered a syndicate trafficking prostitutes with the help of a victim, a junior high school student who is now four months pregnant.Central Java Police chief of detectives Comr.

Police reports filed by abused women rises dramatically

Police reports filed by abused women rises dramaticallyEvi Mariani, Jakarta Since the establishment of a special desk to handle cases of violence against women at the Jakarta Police headquarters in 1999, the number of reports filed have been steadily increasing.

Police investigate Mitsubishi for truck accident

Police investigate Mitsubishi for truck accident Police questioned the former chairman of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck & Bus Corp. on suspicion the Japanese truckmaker tried to shirk responsibility for a fatal accident in which a wheel flew off one of its trucks, national media reported on Sunday.

Rental demand to remain soft despite surge in Q1

Rental demand to remain soft despite surge in Q1 The rental apartment market in Jakarta has shown promising signs of activity over the first three months of this year but future demand will remain soft as primary occupants, such as foreign investors, are still waiting for the results of the...

Chilean president to visit Indonesia

Chilean president to visit IndonesiaVeeramalla Anjaiah, Jakarta Chilean President Ricardo Lagos will arrive in Jakarta on Wednesday for a two-day state visit and meet with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on the same day.

Armed pirates attack ship in RI waters

Armed pirates attack ship in RI watersSINGAPORE: Pirates armed with guns and knives boarded a diving support vessel off an Indonesian island and robbed crew members of cash and valuables before escaping, it was reported on Sunday.

Nine retail centers to enter overcrowd market

Nine retail centers to enter overcrowd marketDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Nine additional retail centers are to open in Jakarta this year, creating even greater competition in the already-packed retail market here, said a property consultant.

Wiranto must face the storm

Wiranto must face the stormPitan Daslani, Contributor, Jakarta pitand@singapore.com When Gen. (ret) Wiranto defeated Akbar Tandjung in the vote to become the Golkar Party's presidential candidate on April 21, I recalled the days when he could have taken over the national leadership without too much...

TV Today: Saturday, April 24, 2004

TV Today: Saturday, April 24, 2004TVRI 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria7:30 Religious Teachings8:00 Talk Show: Hembing10:00 Sports11:30 Battle of Wits12:00 p.m. Music1:00 News: Berita Siang2:00 Music3:00 English News Service4:30 Pak Odor's Show 5:00 Music6:00 TV Series...

;JP;

;JP; ANPAf..r.. Apartment-living-advantagePhoto caption checked EJKApartment living: Good security, privacy and convenienceJoseph Kirschke Contributor Jakarta In 1998, as mass rioting swept Jakarta, heralding the fall of strongman Soeharto, more than a few city residents -- particularly those...

Renew anticorruption fight

Renew anticorruption fight The prosecution has resumed investigations into illegal fundraising for the 2002 presidential campaigns and other corruption scandals, which it suspended prior to the April 15 general elections.

Wiranto's candidacy revives specter of Soeharto

Wiranto's candidacy revives specter of SoehartoEndy M. Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Cambridge, Massachusetts First Golkar won the April 5 general election. Now, the political machinery that kept dictator Soeharto in power for over 32 years has named Gen.

Clarification on Wiranto report

Clarification on Wiranto report On April 19, The Jakarta Post published a report titled Wiranto rights trial unlikely by Wahyoe Boediwardhana. The Prosecutor General of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, Dr.

JP/5/CAP

JP/5/CAPAntaraCAUGHT LEADER: Suspected Free Papua Movement (OPM) leader Manase Furima (right) is escorted by police on his arrival at Rendani airport in Manokwari regency, Papua. Manase, who arrived from the remote area of Babo on Saturday, had been nabbed by local villagers in the jungle.