Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 18 June 2004

85 articles found

Soccer fan shot dead in robbery

Soccer fan shot dead in robberyEvi Mariani, Jakarta A 24-year-old man, Tarmudi, was killed early on Thursday morning after buying coffee at a stall near his house to stay awake for the Euro 2004 soccer match between Portugal and Russia.

Schools and education first

Schools and education firstFrom RepublikaOver the past few years, a lot of school buildings have collapsed, been demolished to make way commercial developments or fallen into disrepair. Such conditions will adversely affect the interest of both students and teachers in the education process.

Mega visits Ali Sadikin

Mega visits Ali Sadikin JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri paid a courtesy call to former Jakarta governor and public figure Ali Sadikin at his residence on Thursday.A presidential aide said the visit was not scheduled and caused the one-hour delay of a function at the State Palace, where...

PLN plans to build 12 hydropower plants

PLN plans to build 12 hydropower plantsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta State electricity firm PT PLN is planning to build 12 hydropower plants across the nation to meet the growing demand for electricity.The 12 include nine with a total generation capacity of 447 megawatts (MW), to be funded by the Japan...

Concern over environment needed

Concern over environment neededFrom RepublikaThe problems associated with waste disposal in Indonesia, with over 200 million people, are clearly enormous. The government should give serious thought to the waste issue in order to find the best possible solutions.

Teachers continue strike in Muna

Teachers continue strike in Muna KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A massive teacher strike in Muna regency here has entered its 11th day on Thursday, with little resolution in sight.The teacher strike has disrupted education in the various levels of schools in the regency, from elementary to senior...

India is really looking towards the East now

India is really looking towards the East nowPranay Gupte, The Straits Times, Asia News Network, Singapore "We always said, 'Look East', but then we would go West," Jairam Ramesh was saying in his small ground-floor office here over the weekend.

Indonesian wisdom has global value

Indonesian wisdom has global value Perhaps the greatest travesty in our small history as the dominant life force on this beautiful world would be if we did not grasp how the ending of the Cold War provided the potential to begin a new awareness of how humans can best work as a group, defined as the...

Govt sets price for Bukit Asam

Govt sets price for Bukit Asam JAKARTA: The Indonesian government has set an initial price of between Rp 650 and Rp 750 a share for its planned secondary offering of a 12.4 percent stake in PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam.

Workers protest KDI's closure

Workers protest KDI's closure SURABAYA: Some 1,000 workers of PT Kyung Dong Indonesia (KDI) marched to the East Java legislative council on Thursday to protest the company's closure due to financial difficulties.

Farmers protest against police

Farmers protest against policeWahyuana, Bekasi Buni Bhakti villagers in Babelan district demanded on Thursday that Bekasi Police release two villagers, Bahrol Alam and Holili, who have been under arrest since Saturday for hijacked five tanker trucks belonging to state oil company Pertamina.

ASEAN lags behind on human rights: Hassan

ASEAN lags behind on human rights: HassanAdianto P. Simamora, Jakarta In spite of its impressive economic growth and giant strides in reducing poverty in previous decades, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is far behind other regions of the world in establishing a regional human...

Ban on Megawati has little effect

Ban on Megawati has little effectThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta A ban imposed on incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi from holding further outdoor rallies in Bali will not affect their campaign on the island.

Tangerang fights against red tape for foreign workers

Tangerang fights against red tape for foreign workersMulta Fidrus, Tangerang The Tangerang regental manpower agency will file a judicial review at the Supreme Court to fight a ministerial decree stripping it of the power to issue work permits to foreigners.

Philippine tourist arrivals up 31.4%

Philippine tourist arrivals up 31.4% MANILA: Tourist arrivals in the Philippines rose 31.4 percent to nearly one million in the five months to May, keeping the government's full-year target of 2.5 million visitors on track, the tourism department said on Thursday.

Historical sites to be immortalized

Historical sites to be immortalized JAKARTA: The tourism agency in cooperation with 100 artists from the Ancol Art Market are to capture well-known city landmarks and historical buildings on canvas.The program, called "Jakarta on the Spot", is set to coincide with the city's official 477th...

Police submit Cimanggis dossiers

Police submit Cimanggis dossiers JAKARTA: After around four months of investigation and questioning, the Jakarta Police submitted on Wednesday dossiers of nine suspects in an explosion in Cimanggis."The dossiers were submitted to the Depok Prosecutor's Office," the city police spokesman Sr. Comr.

Jamsostek to increase compensation

Jamsostek to increase compensationRidwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta State-owned social security company PT Jamsostek is to raise by at least 10 percent compensation for workers who experience work- related accidents.

'I'll sell the TV, I don't care'

'I'll sell the TV, I don't care' State television station TVRI seems determined to reinstate monthly license fees for TV owners, which would range in cost between Rp 3,000 (about 30 US cents) and Rp 12,000, depending on the amount of power being used in a house.

Hamzah provides free health services

Hamzah provides free health services PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: As part of the presidential campaign, the campaign team of Hamzah Haz and Gen. (ret) Agum Gumelar is set to provide free health services for residents in three regencies in the South Sumatra province here.

Rupiah drop still under control, says BI chief

Rupiah drop still under control, says BI chiefTony Hotland, Jakarta The current depreciation in the rupiah against the U.S. dollar would not have a severe impact on the economy as it is still manageable, Bank Indonesia Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah said on Thursday.

Woman or unbeliever for president?

Woman or unbeliever for president?From Media Indonesia Recent newspaper and TV reports have made me feel uncomfortable as a housewife and a Muslim to know that some clerics are still so narrow-minded that they view the gender issue in such a simplistic way.

Riau govt seeks Rp 2-3t budget

Riau govt seeks Rp 2-3t budget PEKANBARU, Riau: The Riau provincial government will propose a budget of between Rp 2 trillion and 3 trillion to the central government for 2005 to allow the province to build and improve infrastructure.

Ministry accused of controlling KPI

Ministry accused of controlling KPI JAKARTA: Legislators Effendi Choirie and Djoko Susilo accused on Thursday the communications minister of trying to control the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI).

Laksamana gives go-ahead to Pertamina tanker sale

Laksamana gives go-ahead to Pertamina tanker saleFitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State oil and gas firm PT Pertamina may go ahead with the controversial sale of its two giant tankers, said State Minister of State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi.

Smuggling into Indonesia from neighboring countries still rife

Smuggling into Indonesia from neighboring countries still rifeHanys Salmi, Kuala Lumpur The recent discovery at Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port of more than 55,000 metric tons of illegally imported sugar reminds us of the need to streamline the Indonesian import-export system, especially as regards...

Several parties secure more seats in legislative council

Several parties secure more seats in legislative council The Constitutional Court granted on Thursday one seat in the regental legislature for the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), the Pancasila Patriot Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB), and...

Respected institutions prone to internal conflict: Observers

Respected institutions prone to internal conflict: ObserversTiarma Siboro, Jakarta A noted historian warned on Thursday that the country was prone to collapse due to the absence of credible institutions or forces that could hold it together.

Powell to attend ASEAN meetings after U.S.-EU, NATO summits

Powell to attend ASEAN meetings after U.S.-EU, NATO summitsAgence France-Presse, Washington U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell will attend annual Southeast Asian security talks early next month in Indonesia despite a travel warning from his own department.

* Internal rift won't break Nahdlatul Ulama Page 2

* Internal rift won't break Nahdlatul Ulama Page 2 * KPK starts prosecuting first corruption case Page 4 * Bukit Lawang tourist resort to be reopened soon Page 5 * Smuggling of goods into Indonesia still rife Page 6 * Farmers arrested for hijacking Pertamina trucks Page 8 * Philippine election row...

Tambourine players support Megawati

Tambourine players support Megawati MAGELANG, Central Java: A group of tambourine players in Magelang declared their support on Thursday for presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi.

House, government slash Medical Council members to seven

House, government slash Medical Council members to sevenDewi Santoso, Jakarta The House of Representatives and the government have agreed to slash the number of members of the planned Medical Council from the original 25 to seven, and to recruit a public figure to the body.

Bank Central Asia mulls Bank Permata stake buy

Bank Central Asia mulls Bank Permata stake buy Dow Jones, Jakarta PT Bank Central Asia said Thursday it is considering to take part in the bidding for the government's stake in state-owned PT Bank Permata.

Back to local names

Back to local namesFrom KompasThe use of foreign names for real estate complexes was severely criticized by linguists and those concerned about the national language around 1995, and as a result developers changed a lot of English names to Indonesian.

Entertainment venues ready for school holiday rush

Entertainment venues ready for school holiday rushLeony Aurora, Jakarta Entertainment venues in the capital are gearing up to welcome the school holiday with special programs, although most involve higher ticket prices.

1. CORRUPT: 4 LINES, 10 COUNTS

1. CORRUPT: 4 LINES, 10 COUNTS State loses Rp 22t to corruptors in 2 years 2. FAIR: 1 LINE, 32 COUNTS Fair expected to rake in Rp 250 billion 3. MEGA: 1 LINE, 28 COUNTS Neighbors proud of Megawati, but...

Fair expected to rake in Rp 250b

Fair expected to rake in Rp 250bDamar Harsanto, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri inaugurated on Thursday evening the month-long Jakarta Fair 2004 at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

Fires destroy hundreds of hectares

Fires destroy hundreds of hectares JAMBI: Hundreds of hectares of plantations in Jambi province, including palm oil plantation, had been burned since early June this year, causing huge monetary losses for local residents and plantation companies working in the area.

Land compensation stalls roadwork

Land compensation stalls roadwork TANGERANG: Construction of the 800-meter-long Ciputat overpass has been delayed by six months because the owners of the land needed for the project are demanding more money.

Kalla fends off attack from government agency

Kalla fends off attack from government agencyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Jusuf Kalla, the running mate for the presidential frontrunner, was unperturbed by report released this week by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), which states that his family's company, PT Hadji Kalla, offered high-risk investment...

Wiranto biggest vote buyer in campaign: NGOs

Wiranto biggest vote buyer in campaign: NGOsM. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta Corruption watchdogs say Gen. (ret) Wiranto tops the list of presidential candidates who have practiced vote buying in their campaigns, while President Megawati Soekarnoputri was deemed the most prone to misuse state facilities.

PKS asks members not to campaign for candidates

PKS asks members not to campaign for candidatesM. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta Amid uncertainty over which candidate to support, a Muslim-based party has urged its members to refrain from taking part in presidential campaigns.

PDI-P whines about lack of campaign funds

PDI-P whines about lack of campaign fundsFabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta Less money from the disappointed business community and a lack of donations by aspiring legislators were to blame for the shortage of campaign finances for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), party officials...

City to get auction market for basic goods

City to get auction market for basic goodsDamar Harsanto, Jakarta In a bid to maintain supplies and prices of basic commodities during peak seasons, the city administration and the Jakarta Chamber of Commerce and Industry will establish an auction market to link producers with potential buyers.

More graft revealed in legislative councils

More graft revealed in legislative councilsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The reverberations created by last month's conviction of almost all of North Sumatra's councillors in a collective graft trial are now being felt in other local jurisdictions across Indonesia, with a number of similar corruption...

Papuans live in fear, Wiranto is told

Papuans live in fear, Wiranto is told JAYAPURA: Better education, health services and better income is what Papuans need, presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto was told when campaigning in Jayapura on Thursday.

Legislators agree to discuss bill on Kyoto Protocol

Legislators agree to discuss bill on Kyoto ProtocolKurniawan Hari, Jakarta The House of Representatives agreed on Thursday to discuss a bill on the Kyoto Protocol, paving the way for the country to ratify the international environmental treaty.

Container truck collapse kills one

Container truck collapse kills oneTheresia Sufa, Bogor A public minivan driver, Miin, 28, was killed while two others, Lean and Nursan, were injured after a container truck fell on three parked minivans on Jl. Narogong, Cileungsi, on Thursday at around 5:30 a.m.

Govt to merge Indofarma with Kimia Farma

Govt to merge Indofarma with Kimia FarmaThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government said it would push ahead with plans to merge ailing state pharmaceutical company PT Indofarma with the healthier PT Kimia Farma and follow up with selling the shares in the combined entity.

Manado Police probe Rp 2.5b bank scandal

Manado Police probe Rp 2.5b bank scandal MANADO, North Sulawesi: Police said on Thursday they had identified a suspect in a Rp 2.5 billion (US$277,777) graft scam at the Manado branch of Danamon Bank.The police identified the suspect only as HM, alias Hendrik, 30, who is the business manager at the...

State loses Rp 22 trillion to corruptors in 2 years

State loses Rp 22 trillion to corruptors in 2 yearsAbdul Khalik and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta The state has lost some Rp 22 trillion (US$2.35 billion) in 1,198 corruption cases investigated from January 2002 to April 2004, the Attorney General's Office says.

3 x 19

3 x 19More graft revealed in legislative councils JP/5/BEAT2 x 26District head slammed for beating Pandegelang student JP/5/DPRD1 x 43 W. Java regental councillors refuse payments

District head slammed for beating Pandeglang student

District head slammed for beating Pandeglang studentThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Cadasari district head in Pandeglang regency, Banten, Oya Suryadilaga, has been caught up in an ugly incident at a local elementary school, where he reportedly slapped a student.Pandeglang Regent H.

RI faces dumping charges

RI faces dumping charges The government is seeking to resolve a trade dispute with South Korea, which has accused Indonesian exporters of wood-free paper products of dumping practices, director general of international cooperation at the Ministry of Industry and Trade Pos M. Hutabarat said.

ASEM summit on track: Vietnam

ASEM summit on track: Vietnam VIETNAM: Vietnam said it is pushing ahead with preparations for a Europe-Asia meeting in October that is beset with doubts because of European opposition to the attendance of military-ruled Myanmar.

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, JakartaArrest order sough for GAM leaders A Swedish prosecutor on Thursday asked a court to detain two exiled leaders of Indonesia's Aceh rebel movement who are accused by the Indonesian government of staging assassinations, bombings and kidnappings.

6. MK ------ 2x20

6. MK ------ 2x20 Several parties secure more legislative seats or Parties gain more seats due to KPU bungle

Campaign fund needs auditing

Campaign fund needs auditingFrom Koran Tempo In the ongoing presidential campaign, candidates compete with one another via the print and electronic media, and also by putting up banners and posters.As the public has become more critical than before, curiosity and suspicion have arisen over the...

A challenge to the Governor

A challenge to the Governor A very interesting article from Zatni Arbi appeared in The Jakarta Post on Sunday, June 13, about traffic irregularities, which are mostly caused by motorcycle riders. It is one hundred percent correct.

Dozens of low-cost airlines set for takeoff in Asia

Dozens of low-cost airlines set for takeoff in Asia Associated Press Singapore Asia is set for explosive growth in the low-cost airline business with dozens of new entrants taking to the skies and governments racing to liberalize their airspace, a leading aviation analyst said on Thursday.

KPK begins prosecution of first case

KPK begins prosecution of first caseMuninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) announced on Thursday it had began the prosecution of an corruption case worth over Rp 10 billion, the first since its establishment six months ago.

U.S. troops unncessary: Navy Chief

U.S. troops unncessary: Navy ChiefTiarma Siboro, Jakarta Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to form a joint task force to combat crimes and terrorist threats in the Strait of Malacca, with the Indonesian Navy chief expecting their efforts would make a United States presence unnecessary...

N. Sumatra to reopen resort town

N. Sumatra to reopen resort townApriadi Gunawan, Medan The North Sumatra provincial government and Langkat regency administration have agreed with the people's demand to get the Bukit Lawang tourist resort reopened following a massive flash flood last year that killed over 180 people.

The arrest of GAM leaders

The arrest of GAM leaders The Swedish prosecutor's office ordered the arrest of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders Hasan Tiro, Zaini Abdullah and Malik Mahmud on Tuesday (June 15). This should soon end the long war in Aceh, where much of our energy has been spent.

U.S. move against Alex demanded

U.S. move against Alex demanded JAKARTA: Indonesia is compiling legal documents on Maluku separatist leader Alex Manuputty, to forward to the United States, with the expectation that he would be included on its wanted list.

Stop promiscuity

Stop promiscuity among teenagersFrom Koran TempoThe level of promiscuity among teenagers in the West Java capital of Bandung is worrying, and is resulting in a rising number of cases of pre-marital sex being reported to the counseling agency of the provincial family planning association.

'Titiek' and search for a market-friendly president

'Titiek' and search for a market-friendly presidentKornelius Purba Siti Hedijati "Titiek" Herijadi, the second daughter of former president Soeharto, kept a smile on her face when a keynote speaker mentioned her father's failure to control the greed of his six children and their cronies.

West Java regental councillors refuse payments

West Java regental councillors refuse paymentsNana Rukmana, Indramayu, West Java Councillors in the Indramayu and Majalengka regencies have refused billions of rupiah in end-of-term honorariums, saying the big payouts would be better allocated to running the elections and developing education and...

Indonesian students see beyond myths of Italy

Indonesian students see beyond myths of ItalyFabio Scarpello, Contributor, Jakarta Vitri has watched various Discovery Channel programs on Italy, loves the country and thinks that "Italy has it all -- history, nature, food".

ASEAN bodybuilding c'ships starts in Bali

ASEAN bodybuilding c'ships starts in BaliWahyoe Boediwardhana, Jimbaran, Bali Forty-three bodybuilders from six countries are set to compete on Friday in the 7th South East Asian (ASEAN) Bodybuilding Championship in Jimbaran, Bali.

RI hopes FTA will boost export to China

RI hopes FTA will boost export to ChinaZakki P. Hakim, Jakarta The government said on Thursday that Indonesian exports to China could double in three years following the gradual implementation of a free trade agreement (FTA).

'Toxic' plant to handle waste

'Toxic' plant to handle waste TANGERANG: Executives of textile producer PT Argo Pantes promised Tangerang councillors that the company would no longer discharge toxic waste into the Cisadane river without proper treatment, and that it would heed the calls for better conditions for its workers.

BCA mulls buying stake in Bank Permata

BCA mulls buying stake in Bank PermataDow Jones, Jakarta PT Bank Central Asia said Thursday it is considering to take part in the bidding for the government's stake in state-owned PT Bank Permata."We are now preparing a study to buy the Bank Permata stake," said BCA spokeswoman Lena Setiawati told...

Neighbors proud of Megawati, but...

Neighbors proud of Megawati, but...Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta This is the first in a series of stories on the five presidential candidates in the eyes of their neighbors. Several residents of the Kebagusan area in South Jakarta say they are proud to be neighbors of President Megawati Soekarnoputri...

Use of condoms drops to 0.9%

Use of condoms drops to 0.9% JAKARTA: A recent survey revealed that only 0.9 percent of males who are involved in family planning programs use condoms consistently.The survey, conducted between 2002 and 2003, found that 60 percent of around 40 million married couples in 26 provinces use any form of...

Astra raises stake in UT to 53%

Astra raises stake in UT to 53% JAKARTA: PT Astra International, Indonesia's leading automaker and distributor, on Thursday said it had increased its shareholding in heavy equipment unit PT United Tractors (UT) to 53 percent from 49 percent.Astra said it bought an additional 52.

Many countries depend on Philippine workers

Many countries depend on Philippine workersMichael L. Tan, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Asia News Network, Manila Let's imagine the entire world waking up one day to discover Filipinos have disappeared. I'm talking here about the six or seven million Filipinos currently working overseas in countries...

India is really looking towards the East now

India is really looking towards the East now Pranay Gupte The Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore "We always said, 'Look East', but then we would go West," Jairam Ramesh was saying in his small ground-floor office here over the weekend.

Asian airliners were also targets in original Sept. 11 plan: Repots

Asian airliners were also targets in original Sept. 11 plan: RepotsRohan Sullivan, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur The mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks originally conceived a two-part plan that included hijacking airliners in Southeast Asia and blowing them up in mid-air as planes crashed...

TV Today: Friday, June 18, 2004

TV Today: Friday, June 18, 2004 .TB.30" .90"TVRI .tb .30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi6:30 Talk Show: Saran dan Pendapat7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria8:30 Music: Asik-Asik 10:30 Religious Teachings12:30 p.m.

Vietnam says

Vietnam says ASEM summit on track VIETNAM: Vietnam said it is pushing ahead with preparations for a Europe-Asia meeting in October that is beset with doubts because of European opposition to the attendance of military-ruled Myanmar.

Da'i hails study on graft by police

Da'i hails study on graft by police JAKARTA: National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar praised on Thursday a study of police corruption, saying it would help the police eradicate the crime.The study, conducted by Police Staff College (PTIK) students a few months ago, found corruption was widespread...

Australia moves to renew ties with Kopassus: Hill

Australia moves to renew ties with Kopassus: HillAgence France-Presse, Sydney, Australia Australia is moving towards renewing cooperation with Indonesia's Kopassus special forces, which have been accused of widespread human rights abuses, Defense Minister Robert Hill said on Thursday.

1. Market 4x12

1. Market 4x12 Tokyo, HK stock prices fall, other Asian mixed 2. Sigapore 1x36Singapore opens up bank sector further3. BCA 1x40BCA mulls buying stake in Bank Permata4. Furniture 1x40U.S. may up tariffs on Chinese furniture 5. Fly 1x30 More low-cost airlines to fly in Asia

1. buffy 2x18

1. buffy 2x18 Scholars lecturing on 'Buffy' -- seriously 2. EDUC 2x24 Indonesian students see beyond myths of Italy