Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 14 June 2004

73 articles found

Experts doubt efficacy of negative campaigning

Experts doubt efficacy of negative campaigningSari P. Setiogi, JakartaExperts have played down the impact of negative campaigning targeting candidates in the presidential election, saying it only stated the obvious about the contenders.

GIBT offers int'l degrees

GIBT offers int'l degrees JAKARTA: The Gandhi Institute of Business and Technology (GIBT) is offering three new international degrees from the Charles Sturt University (CSU), Australia.The degrees, in Business Studies, Information Technology and Marketing and Communications and can be completed in...

Wanted: Teachers to work in Tangerang

Wanted: Teachers to work in TangerangMulta Fidrus, TangerangTangerang regency is now in dire need of more teachers to fill positions that will be left vacant by about 3,000 teachers in the next three to five years, says a regency official.

EU China's top trade partner

EU China's top trade partnerAgence France-Presse, Beijing The European Union, boosted by its expansion eastward, became China's biggest trade partner in May, outstripping Japan and the United States, state press reported Saturday.Trade between the EU and China was valued at US$65.

Release of alleged hit man demanded

Release of alleged hit man demanded PALU, Central Sulawesi: The wife of a suspect being held in connection with the murder of prosecutor Ferry Silalahi demanded on Sunday the police release her husband, threatening legal action if they did not comply.

Indian Oil to invest in Africa, Mideast

Indian Oil to invest in Africa, MideastBANGALORE: State-run Indian Oil Corp. (IOC) announced on Friday investment plans for Africa and the Middle East, including a refinery in Nigeria.The company also plans to buy a stake in an Iranian petrochemical plant and raise imports from Iraq.

[b]Oil prices slip as

Oil prices slip as supply jitters ease, dollar dents metals 2. 2 x 24Mixed trading seen for Jakarta market this week 3. 1 x 28Taiwan trade mission in town

Community figures should guide election

Community figures should guide election The country's first direct presidential election is approaching, while Indonesian people are learning to practice democracy. The fate of the nation for the next five years and even further, therefore, is at stake.

Govt called to tighten immigration policy

Govt called to tighten immigration policyDewi Santoso, JakartaLabor activists are urging the government to tighten its policy on immigrant workers following findings that the country has become a safe haven for illegal foreign workers.

Jobs in key sectors drop, says BPS

Jobs in key sectors drop, says BPSZakki P. Hakim, JakartaThe number of jobs in key industries such as manufacturing, construction and trade has contracted significantly as an unfavorable labor environment has prompted companies to hire fewer workers and cancel investment plans, according to the...

Neighboring countries concerned over developments in Indonesia

Neighboring countries concerned over developments in IndonesiaHanys Salmi, Kuala Lumpur The current social-political developments in our giant neighbor Indonesia have become the focus of attention in the Southeast Asian region.

Local govts 'should be probed for corruption'

Local govts 'should be probed for corruption'Moch. N. Kurniawan, JakartaA political expert and an anticorruption activist said Saturday that heads of local government administrations may also be involved in the recent spate of corruption cases committed by local legislative members.

Bird's-eye view of pollution

Bird's-eye view of pollutionFrom RepublikaAs an Indonesian, I am saddened to learn that the Ancol coastal area is now so polluted that many fish have been killed from the red tide phenomenon or toxic waste and oil spills. I would like to share with readers what I, as a pilot, have seen from the sky.

KL extends prison terms of JI suspects

KL extends prison terms of JI suspectsMALAYSIA: The Malaysian government has extended by two years the imprisonment without trial of 10 suspected Islamic militants, including two Indonesians, a human rights group said on Sunday.

Sudirman to have wider sidewalk

Sudirman to have wider sidewalk JAKARTA: Head of the Jakarta Park Agency Sarwo Handayani said the city administration would build a four-meter-wide sidewalk along Jl. Sudirman next year."We will start the construction after we complete the work on the sidewalk on Jl.

Environmental crime

Environmental crime The Jakarta Post's June 9 issue carried a story titled Environmental crime and graft: Evil twins written by Patrick Guntensperger. He effectively argued that crimes against the environment basically come down to a moral failure.

Pertamina denies corruption allegations

Pertamina denies corruption allegationsFitri Wulandari, Jakarta State oil and gas company PT Pertamina dismissed on Sunday allegations it had entertained a number of legislators on tours to Hong Kong and South Korea in order to gain their approvals for the planned sale of two giant oil tankers.

NU will suffer, whatever: Observers

NU will suffer, whatever: ObserversA. Junaidi, JakartaThe involvement of leading figures of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) in the presidential election would only hurt the organization, observers said.

Flame, Elektrik crowned Proliga champions

Flame, Elektrik crowned Proliga champions JAKARTA: The Surabaya Flame and Jakarta Elektrik emerged as the champions in the men's and women's division respectively at the Proliga 2004 volleyball championships here after winning their final matches on Saturday.

Linkin Park delivers powerful concert, despite travel warning

Linkin Park delivers powerful concert, despite travel warningM. Taufiqurrahman, JakartaTeen rock idols Linkin Park hypnotized over 25,000 of their fans in a stunning performance at Karnaval Beach in Ancol Dreamland Park, North Jakarta, on Sunday, ignoring the updated warning against travel to...

Domestic violence up: Activists

Domestic violence up: ActivistsA. Junaidi, JakartaThe National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) said on Saturday that the victimization of women was on the rise in recent years.Komnas Perempuan's deputy chairwoman Myra Diarsi said her commission had recorded over 6,000 cases...

BPK to review financial reports of SOEs

BPK to review financial reports of SOEsDadan Wijaksana, Jakarta The House of Representatives is expected to approve on Monday a draft law on state financial accountability, which requires all state-owned enterprises (SOEs) to submit their audited financial reports to the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

Artists fail to boost Wiranto's rally

Artists fail to boost Wiranto's rallyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Medan/Palu/YogyakartaBeautiful starlets did their best to liven up the only open-air rally of presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto in the capital on Sunday, but the venue, the country's main sports stadium, was left half-empty.

Govt opens selection of power market board members

Govt opens selection of power market board membersFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has began selection for officials for the newly launched power market regulatory body.

In The Jakarta Post, May 31, Harsh V. Pant asserts that

In The Jakarta Post, May 31, Harsh V. Pant asserts that "democracy will not reduce the threat of terrorism." He suggests that America's occupation of Iraq will spur terrorism. This may be true, but it does not substantiate his argument since the invasion of Iraq was never designed to bring...

3. BNI ---- 2x21

3. BNI ---- 2x21Govt urged to take action to help BNI regain assets

Ciliwung River

Ciliwung River The Jakarta Post published a photograph on June 9 of Ciliwung River in Dukuh Atas, South Jakarta, and quoted residents as saying the water emitted a putrid stench.Dukuh Atas residents are not the only sufferers.

Surakarta royals avoid succession talks

Surakarta royals avoid succession talksSri Wahyuni and Blontank Poer, Surakarta/YogyakartaThousands of people poured into Surakarta Palace to pay their last respects to traditional ruler Paku Buwono XII on Sunday while the royal family refrained from discussing the succession.

Poso convict quietly freed

Poso convict quietly freed PALU, Central Sulawesi: Provincial police are searching for a escaped convict who was allowed to leave the Palu prison on Saturday without a guard.The convict, Ipong, was sentenced to two and a half years jail in February by the Poso District Court for his role in a...

Midwife nabbed for allegedly supplying babies

Midwife nabbed for allegedly supplying babiesEvi Mariani, JakartaA hospital midwife in Grogol, West Jakarta, who allegedly supplied babies to a syndicate that sold them for adoption, was arrested by the police late on Friday.

Mixed trading seen for Jakarta market this week

Mixed trading seen for Jakarta market this weekAgence France-Presse, Jakarta Indonesian share prices are expected to trade mixed in this week in quiet business, dealers said on Friday."This week the market will tend to be quiet," said Suhendar Asoka, research analyst at Paramitra Alfa Securities.

Govt deports 3 foreigners

Govt deports 3 foreignersJAYAPURA, Papua: The Jayapura Immigration Office has deported three foreigners for visa violations in the past week, an official said on Saturday.One is from Japan, another from Sri Lanka and the third from the People's Republic of China.

Plastic bags, cans fished out Cisadane

Plastic bags, cans fished out Cisadane BOGOR: Green volunteer group Eagle managed to collect some 40 bags of garbage from Cisadane River, mostly plastic bags and drink cans."We try to carry out such activities as often as we can," Eagle chairman Yoseph Supardi said on Saturday.

JP/1/FPI

JP/1/FPI Fachrul defends Wiranto at FPI meeting Gen. (ret) Fachrul Razi, a key figure of Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid's campaign team, briefed a meeting of the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) on Sunday despite efforts of the Wiranto camp to distance themselves from those considered as hardliners.

It's party all month in Jakarta

It's party all month in Jakarta Jakarta, an old city that bears many names in the past: Sunda Kalapa, Kalapa, Batavia and Jacatra, will celebrate its official 477th anniversary on June 22. The Jakarta administration is preparing a full month celebration to beautify and enliven the city.

Chinese fight open discrimination on Batam

Chinese fight open discrimination on BatamFadli, BatamA group of Chinese-Indonesians has opened on Batam a "complaint post" in the city, where ethnic Chinese can lodge complaints on the bureaucratic obstacles.

Fachrul Razi briefs FPI gathering

Fachrul Razi briefs FPI gatheringThe Jakarta Post, JakartaGen. (ret) Fachrul Razi, a key figure of the Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid campaign team, briefed a meeting of the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) on Sunday, despite efforts of the Wiranto camp to distance itself from those considered to be...

Farmers no longer fond of tobacco

Farmers no longer fond of tobaccoBOJONEGORO, East Java: Tobacco farmers in Bojonegoro, East Java province, have finally decided to cultivate other plants because the price of tobacco had declined so much in the past few years."A few years ago, selling tobacco was like selling gold.

Golkar's support for Wiranto is questioned

Golkar's support for Wiranto is questionedRidwan Max Sijabat and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After two weeks of the presidential campaign, Golkar leaders have urged party executives to show their support for their candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto and running mate Solahuddin Wahid.

No mention of the environment

No mention of the environment It seems to be true, World Environment Day came and went with barely peep from any of the five presidential candidates. At least, not that I heard. An article in The Jakarta Post on June 5 commented that environmentalists were "up in arms" that none of the parties were...

MONDAY

MONDAYMoney politics?From Media IndonesiaWithout understanding precisely what money politics actually means, I wonder if the distribution of money to supporters of a presidential candidate falls under this category? If I support candidate Z, for instance, and the campaign manager pays me Rp 20,000...

JP/1/FPI

JP/1/FPI Fachrul defends Wiranto at FPI meeting Gen. (ret) Fachrul Razi, a key figure of the Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid campaign team, briefed a meeting of the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI) on Sunday, despite efforts of the Wiranto camp to distance itself from those considered to be hard-liners.

'Good programs first, then fees'

'Good programs first, then fees'State television channel TVRI is mulling reinstating monthly license fees for TV owners in order to collect the funds it needs to become a public broadcaster in late 2005.

No panic needed at Mt Slamet

No panic needed at Mt SlametBANDUNG: The Directorate of Volcanology and Mitigation of Geological Disasters said that 3,428-meter Mount Slamet in Central Java province was still normal on Friday, despite reports to the contrary.

Open police trial seen as positive step

Open police trial seen as positive stepEvi Mariani, JakartaA transparent procedure carried out by the National Police recently in examining officers who allegedly violated the police ethics code has been praised as a positive step to enhance the force's performance, amid criticism that the police...

Democracy bites in Indonesia

Democracy bites in Indonesia This is Indonesia's year of voting frequently. That in itself is extraordinary. Since 1955 Indonesians have enjoyed only three genuinely competitive, democratic elections.The so-called "festivals of democracy" which punctuated decades of authoritarian rule under the...

* All candidates involved in money politics: TI Page 2

* All candidates involved in money politics: TI Page 2 * Local govts asked to be probed for corruption Page 4 * Lame duck legislators plan Rp 1b for tour Page 5 * Pedestrian walkways are the soul of Jakarta Page 6 * 82% of firms do not treat waste Page 8 * Suicide bomber kills 12 Iraqis in Baghdad...

Research group finds further damage to Leuser

Research group finds further damage to LeuserApriadi Gunawan, Medan, North SumatraAn independent forestry research group in Medan shared on Saturday its findings that the development of a road connecting Karo and Langkat regencies was environmentally damaging to Mount Leuser National Park.

Consumption of tea low in Indonesia, expert says

Consumption of tea low in Indonesia, expert saysYuli Tri Suwarni, BandungIndonesia is one of the biggest producers of tea in the world, but ironically, the consumption of tea here is still low.Agus Wisma, an employee of the marketing division of state-owned tea plantation company PT Perkebunan...

82 percent of firms do not treat waste

82 percent of firms do not treat wasteMulta Fidrus, TangerangSome 82 percent of 1,061 of industrial firms in Tangerang municipality do not have waste treatment facilities as required by law. Therefore, most of them do not process their waste effectively.

Part 1 of 2: ASEAN: A single market and production base

Part 1 of 2: ASEAN: A single market and production baseRomeo A. Reyes, Jakarta At their Bali Summit of October 2003, ASEAN Leaders declared the establishment of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) as one of the three pillars of a broader ASEAN Community.

Govt urged to take action to help BNI regain assets

Govt urged to take action to help BNI regain assetsAbdul Khalik, JakartaGovernment institutions need to make a concerted effort to recover state bank BNI's Rp 1.3 billion (US$125 billion) in assets, which remain in the hands of those who stole the money.

Central control revived in Autonomy Law revision

Central control revived in Autonomy Law revisionKurniawan Hari, JakartaResidents in West Sumatra had to spend more in paying various taxes following the endorsement of a bylaw in 2002 by the local administration which was desperately looking for other sources of income for the province.

Japanese firms credit foreign demand for recovery

Japanese firms credit foreign demand for recoveryAgence France-Presse, TokyoMost major Japanese firms credit their own cost-cutting and overseas demand for the country's economic recovery, while government reforms have done little to help, according to a poll in the Asahi Shimbun Sunday.

Kuningan develops 'superior' fruit

Kuningan develops 'superior' fruit BOGOR: Kuningan regency in West Java has teamed up with the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) to develop a center for research and the cultivation of "superior" fruit.

'Good programs first, then fees'

'Good programs first, then fees'State television channel TVRI is mulling reinstating monthly license fees for TV owners in order to collect the funds it needs to become a public broadcaster in late 2005.

Rental boots keep shoppers' feet clean and dry

Rental boots keep shoppers' feet clean and dry Leony Aurora, Jakarta During the rainy season, shoppers at traditional markets are sure to get their shoes -- and possibly, trousers -- muddy, but customers at Kramatjati Wholesale Market, East Jakarta, can shop worry-free.

Bagong dances on to rhythm of love

Bagong dances on to rhythm of loveBona Beding, Contributor, JakartaThe maestro isn't as light on his feet as he was say ten, or even five years ago, but his love for the arts is stronger than ever.Bagong Kussudiardjo is a seasoned choreographer who has kept Javanese dance alive by bringing to it a...

TV Program: Monday, June 14, 2004

TV Program: Monday, June 14, 2004TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria8:30 Music: Asyik Asyik10:00 Dialogue11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 11:30 Doing Business12:00 p.m.

Lame duck Legislators plan Rp 1b for tour

Lame duck Legislators plan Rp 1b for tourOyos Saroso H.N., BandarlampungNearing the end of their tenures in two months, Lampung legislative councillors are planning to go on comparative study tours to various regions in the country, deemed by many as a vacation or a way to earn extra money before...

Export may exceed forecast on Japan's stronger economy

Export may exceed forecast on Japan's stronger economyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Japan's better-than-expected economic growth, marked by the upward revision of its first quarter growth, has sparked hopes that Indonesia's non-oil and gas exports may rise higher than earlier projected.

Increase in oil prices may prompt smuggling

Increase in oil prices may prompt smugglingThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Batam/Surabaya/KupangState oil and gas company Pertamina has warned of a possible rise in the smuggling of fuel out of the country as the recent increase in oil prices has widened the price gap between fuel sold domestically and...

Prudent ruling at last

Prudent ruling at last The Supreme Court, as widely expected, duly overturned the Jakarta Commercial Court's bankruptcy ruling of April 23 against the Indonesian subsidiary of British insurance company Prudential PLC, asserting that the case had been mishandled.

checked by Rich

checked by Rich JP/Mulan SalmonaPLAZA SENAYAN: Like other malls in Jakarta, Plaza Senayan, located near the Senayan sport complex in Central Jakarta (above) not only offers shopping venues but also entertainment facilities for visitors.

Robbery attempt turns into chase

Robbery attempt turns into chaseEvi Mariani, JakartaA robbery attempt in Cikarang, Bekasi regency, on Saturday afternoon turned into a drama that killed one of the robbers and seriously injured a local who was hit by two bullets, Bekasi Police reported on Sunday.On Saturday afternoon at 5:30 p.m.

1. EURO: 40 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 14

1. EURO: 40 pt, 2 cols, 3 x 14Spain restores established order in Group A 2. GOLKAR: 55 pt, 4 cols, 2 x 24Golkar's 'all-out' support for Wiranto is questioned3. POLICE: 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 33Open police trial seen as positive step 4. FPI: 32 pt, 3 cols, 1 x 28Fachrul Razi defends Wiranto

Pulo Gebang bus terminal needs another Rp 200 billion

Pulo Gebang bus terminal needs another Rp 200 billionDamar Harsanto, JakartaThe Jakarta administration estimated that it would need another Rp 200 billion (US$21.3 million) to complete the long-delayed construction of the Pulo Gebang bus terminal in East Jakarta.

Military backgrounds, female candidates hot election topics

Military backgrounds, female candidates hot election topicsThomas Hidya Tjaya, Jakarta There has been much talk about who will win the presidential election and at least two major issues have been raised regarding the suitability of the candidates.The first is antimilitarism.

Apple farm victim of Bromo

Apple farm victim of BromoMALANG, East Java: Hundreds of hectares of an apple plantation in Poncokusumo district, Malang were adversely affected by the Bromo eruption last Tuesday.Kartono, an apple farmer in the district, said that the ash that was spewed out by the volcano, which contains sulfur,...

All candidates involved in money politics: TI

All candidates involved in money politics: TIMoch. N. Kurniawan, JakartaTransparency International (TI) Indonesia alleges that all five presidential candidates have been involved in some form of vote- buying, known as money politics, during their electoral campaigns.

Taiwan trade mission in town

Taiwan trade mission in townThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta A trade mission from Taiwan is currently in Jakarta to cement further relations with the local business community.The Taipei Economic and Trade Office in Jakarta said in a statement that the mission, the largest from Taiwan to visit Indonesia in...

France, China sign Airbus, satellite deals during vice premier's visit

France, China sign Airbus, satellite deals during vice premier's visit Marc Burleigh Agence France-Presse Paris France and China signed billions of dollars' worth of trade contracts Friday during a visit to Paris by Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan, cementing ties that have grown noticeably closer...

FOR Marketing Perspective -- June 15

FOR Marketing Perspective -- June 15 checkedSweet mix of shopping and entertainment Rudijanto Contributor Jakarta So popular are Jakarta's malls that no one dares to predict what would happen if they closed for a month.