Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 July 2004

77 articles found

1. Niaga (1x30)

1. Niaga (1x30) Niaga reports 42% profit hike 2. Market (1x28) Rupiah, stocks fall following bomb blast 3. Pln (2x20) U.S. set to end textile quota

Batam to soon launch raids on unwed couples living together

Batam to soon launch raids on unwed couples living togetherFadli, Batam The Batam municipal government will soon launch a raid against unmarried couples living together.The plan will be executed in August this year, following the recent order by Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir, said Rayanis Aminah, the...

Jogja Bird Walk has nature lovers chirping with joy

Jogja Bird Walk has nature lovers chirping with joyBambang Muryanto, Contributor, Yogyakarta A group of 50 people braved a cold Sunday morning recently to spot birds as part of the Jogja Bird Walk (JBW) on the slopes of Mt. Merapi here.

RI, U.S., sign deal on air services

RI, U.S., sign deal on air servicesWahyoe Boediwardhana and Tony Hotland, Denpasar/Jakarta Indonesia and the United States signed on Monday an open-skies aviation agreement between both countries, which removes all restrictions on air services to, from and beyond each other's territory.

Jakarta to build commercial port in Ancol

Jakarta to build commercial port in AncolDamar Harsanto, Jakarta Following the high-budget monorail, Jakarta will soon construct a multipurpose commercial port, projected to cost US$500 million, in East Ancol, North Jakarta, as part of a controversial waterfront project.

Activists differ over harm reduction program

Activists differ over harm reduction programDewi Santoso JakartaA controversial harm reduction program that was introduced by the government on Friday has split opinion among activists over how effective it will be in containing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Abstention mars democracy

Abstention mars democracyFrom Koran Tempo The rising number of people, currently estimated at 34 percent, refusing to exercise their right to vote in the presidential election, or the golput group as they are locally called, is a political phenomenon worthy of note.

Artist Guh S. Mana on an endless voyage of discovery

Artist Guh S. Mana on an endless voyage of discoveryEmmy Fitri, Surakarta, Central Java Contrary to Picasso's famous statement, "I do not search, I find," Guh S. Mana keeps on a continual search even when it seems he has found what he is looking for.

Minister honors Physics Olympiad winners

Minister honors Physics Olympiad winnersP.C. Naommy, Jakarta Minister of National Education Malik Fadjar presented on Monday a total of Rp 30 million (US$3,226) to five students who won medals and citations at the 35th International Physics Olympiad in South Korea.

EU prolongs ban on imports of Asian poultry

EU prolongs ban on imports of Asian poultry The European Commission decided on Monday to prolong until Dec. 15 a ban on imports of chicken products and pet birds from several Asian countries hit by avian flu.

Oh upbeat taekwondo team can win medal

Oh upbeat taekwondo team can win medalEva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta Indonesia's taekwondo athletes for the upcoming Olympics, Juana Wangsa Putri and Satriyo Rahadani, stand a good chance of winning a medal, says coach Oh Ill Nam.

Ragunan Zoo may get new name

Ragunan Zoo may get new name JAKARTA: The management of Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta is considering changing the zoo's name to the National Animal Park, the director of the Schmutzer Primate Center, Willie Smith, told the city's Beritajakarta.com news portal on Monday.

'Firecracker' lights up vote count

'Firecracker' lights up vote countKurniawan Hari and Evi Mariani, Jakarta An explosion halted the finalizing of the presidential election vote count by the General Elections Commission (KPU) for several hours on Monday afternoon.

Niaga reports 42% profit hike

Niaga reports 42% profit hikeThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Publicly listed Bank Niaga, the nation's ninth largest bank in term of assets, reported on Monday a 42 percent increase in its first-half unaudited net profit as compared to the same period last year, due mostly to a strong showing in its...

JP/7/LET

JP/7/LETDisappointed in PangandaranFrom KompasSome time ago, I went to Pangandaran beach with some friends. Unfortunately, the trip was spoiled by the bad conduct of a motorized vessel provider. We were told that for Rp 20,000 per person we could tour the Pangandaran waters, and for another Rp...

City to buy extinguishers for fire-prone subdistricts

City to buy extinguishers for fire-prone subdistrictsDamar Harsanto and Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta Two major fires in the city in the last two weeks, which left more than 2,500 people homeless, have prompted Governor Sutiyoso to press ahead with his plan to equip each subdistrict with industrial...

[b]

New DPR: New broom or the same old crowd? Stephen Sherlock Jakarta2. Gaduh -- "ASEAN model" inadequate to bring about AEC 1 x 30 ASEAN model inadequate for AEC Arya B. Gaduh Jakarta

'Eradicate poverty to protect children'

'Eradicate poverty to protect children' Sectarian conflicts, terrorist attacks, street crimes and other forms of violence have the greatest effect on children, the silent victims who have to find a way to deal with the traumatic experience.

The minimum charge is Rp 40,000 for minimum electricity

The minimum charge is Rp 40,000 for minimum electricity voltage of 450 volt-amperes (VA). The highest inspection fee is Rp 60,000 for customers who use electricity at 2,200 VA. Customers will pay a one-off inspection fee, valid for 10 years.

Cigarette butt sparks big fire

Cigarette butt sparks big fire JAKARTA: Smoking is indeed a dangerous habit, as the caretaker of a toys warehouse in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta found out on Sunday evening.The caretaker, who had been smoking, threw his smoldering cigarette butt to the ground, not realizing that turpentine had been...

Part 2 of 2

Part 2 of 2 When will investors give RI a break Sisira Jayasuriya and Chris Manning Canberra 2. Bonda -- The Jenkins-Soga saga and Indonesia 1 x 48 The Jenkins-Soga saga and Indonesian diplomacy Bondan Winarno Jakarta 3.

School bodies to produce reports

School bodies to produce reportsLeony Aurora , Jakarta The Jakarta Middle and Higher Education Agency has set a deadline of Aug. 21 for state senior high schools and vocational schools to discuss and draw up their financial reports for the academic year 2004/2005.

Rupiah Rates July 26

Rupiah Rates July 26 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,827.40 6,110.80 6,503.30 6,434.67 Brunei dollar 1 5,568.14 4,984.32 5,303.82 5,248.49 Canadian dollar 1 7,261.91 6,500.83 6,917.19 6,845.37 Swiss franc 1 7,581.87 6,788.71 7,221.96 7,148.

ASEAN model inadequate for AEC

ASEAN model inadequate for AECArya B. Gaduh, Jakarta In reading Romeo Reyes' description of The ASEAN model of economic integration (The Jakarta Post, July 19-20), it is hard not to become skeptical over the issue.

Monorail project to be redesigned

Monorail project to be redesignedDamar Harsanto, Jakarta Developer PT Jakarta Monorail will alter the monorail route following several snags in the development of the project, which was launched on June 14 in a ceremony officiated by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

PwC unit challenges KPPU ruling

PwC unit challenges KPPU rulingTony Hotland JakartaAccounting firm Hadi Sutanto and Associates, the local unit of U.S.-based PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc), challenged last month's ruling by the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) against the firm.

Police deny endorsing Megawati

Police deny endorsing MegawatiAbdul Khalik and Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta Police admitted on Monday that a video compact disc (VCD) recording of a police meeting in Banyumas, Central Java, was genuine but denied accusations that they had sided with Megawati Soekarnoputri in the July 5 presidential...

Hail to democracy

Hail to democracy Monday's explosion at the General Elections Commission (KPU) office aside, there was not a lot of excitement to mark the announcement of the official results of the July 5 presidential election.

Wooing car lovers with promises of comfort, luxury

Wooing car lovers with promises of comfort, luxuryRudijanto, Contributor/Jakarta Toyota's recent announcement that it is to introduce a new car called the International Multipurpose Vehicle (IMV) has created great curiosity in the domestic automotive market, even though the company has yet to...

Former generals visit Abilio

Former generals visit Abilio JAKARTA: In a show of support, 12 retired generals paid a visit on Monday to former East Timor governor Abilio Soares, who is serving a three-year jail term in Cipinang prison in East Jakarta."He (Abilio) is not alone as we stand behind him.

JP/7/LET

JP/7/LETDisappointed in PangandaranFrom KompasSome time ago, I went to Pangandaran beach with some friends. Unfortunately, the trip was spoiled by the bad conduct of a motorized vessel provider. We were told that for Rp 20,000 per person we could tour the Pangandaran waters, and for another Rp...

Arranger gets 11 years in Bank Mandiri scandal

Arranger gets 11 years in Bank Mandiri scandalSari P. Setiogi, Jakarta The Central Jakarta District Court found on Monday the last defendant in the Bank Mandiri loan scandal, Yosef Tjahjadjaja, guilty of stealing Rp 6.4 billion (US$763,000) in state funds and sentenced him to 11 years in prison.

3-in-1 still confusing

3-in-1 still confusingFrom KompasAt 4:30 p.m. on June 9, I was ticketed by the police on Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. The police said that though I had entered Jl. Sudirman before 4 p.m., when it was already 4 p.m.

Prosecutors demand 2 years for 'Tempo' journalists

Prosecutors demand 2 years for 'Tempo' journalistsEvi Mariani, Jakarta Prosecutors demanded on Monday that the court hand down two-year prison sentences to Tempo journalist Ahmad Taufik and editor Tengku Iskandar Ali for inciting public unrest and defaming businessman Tomy Winata.

Maid found dead in employer's house

Maid found dead in employer's house BEKASI: The body of Santi, 18, was found in her bedroom on Sunday evening, in the house where she worked as a maid in Kranji housing complex, Bintara district, Bekasi.

Rights probe into church attack urged

Rights probe into church attack urged PALU, Central Sulawesi: Around 100 protesters grouped in the Cross-religious Forum for Central Sulawesi, staged a rally here on Monday to demand that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) probe a recent church shooting.

Public still dissatisfied with airport service quality

Public still dissatisfied with airport service qualityMulta Fidrus, Tangerang The Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II's 100-day service improvement program is apparently unsatisfactory, at least for some passengers.

Revote boycott puts Al-Zaytun in hot seat

Revote boycott puts Al-Zaytun in hot seatNana Rukmana, Indramayu The Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) said on Monday it was investigating a boycott of a presidential election revote at the Al-Zaytun Islamic boarding school in Indramayu regency, West Java.

Susilo, Mega to vie for presidency

Susilo, Mega to vie for presidencyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The General Elections Commission (KPU) declared on Monday that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his former boss, Megawati Soekarnoputri, will fight for the presidency in September.

Powerful quake shakes Sumatra

Powerful quake shakes Sumatra JAKARTA: Thousands of residents were forced to flee their homes in panic as a powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale shook Sumatra island, the National Meteorological and Geophysics Agency (BMG) said on Monday.

Malaysia to proceed with controversial Bakun dam project

Malaysia to proceed with controversial Bakun dam projectAgence Fraance-Presse Kuala Lumpur Malaysia will proceed with its controversial plan to build the 4.5 billion ringgit (US$1.2 billion) Bakun dam in the jungles of Borneo but the existing project will have to be restructured first, deputy prime...

Disappointed by Civil

Disappointed by Civil Code translation I have just bought The Indonesian Civil Code, an English translation of the Indonesian Civil Code, published by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama (June, 2004).To my amazement, I have found the following mistakes in the first few pages:* "... is not dependent to" ...

Disappointed by Civil Code translation

Disappointed by Civil Code translation I have just bought The Indonesian Civil Code, an English translation of the Indonesian Civil Code, published by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama (June, 2004).To my amazement, I have found the following mistakes in the first few pages:* "... is not dependent to" ...

New DPR: A new broom or just the same old crowd?

New DPR: A new broom or just the same old crowd?Stephen Sherlock, Jakarta In this long interregnum between the election of the new House of Representatives (DPR) in April and its swearing in at the end of September, it seems timely to raise the question of how clean and effective the new...

Parents complain over school fees

Parents complain over school fees BEKASI: Despite the Bekasi administration's warning to schools not to impose excessive fees on new students, some parents have complained about exorbitant admission fees and compulsory book purchases.

Mega urged to form commission to resolve land disputes

Mega urged to form commission to resolve land disputesFabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) asked the government on Monday to set up a commission to deal with thousands of long-standing and sometimes violent land disputes nationwide.

Dodgy beef on sale in Medan

Dodgy beef on sale in Medan MEDAN, North Sumatra: Tons of illegally imported beef continue to be sold every day in traditional markets across North Sumatra province, vendors said here on Monday.They added that the illegally imported meat was sold covertly to avoid detection by the authorities.

Public housing

Public housingFrom Koran TempoI suggest the Jakarta governor build inexpensive houses for residents. And I would hope that the requirements for buying such a house would be simple because the houses are intended for the poor.

Gus Dur rejects amicable settlement

Gus Dur rejects amicable settlement JAKARTA: Former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid turned down a judge's suggestion on Monday that he settle his dispute with the General Elections Commission (KPU) out of court.

Public morality bill awaits govt approval

Public morality bill awaits govt approval JAKARTA: The House of Representatives responded on Monday to a suggestion by the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) secretary- general, Din Syamsuddin, that the national legislature was slow to act in tackling what he claimed was an increasing tendency toward...

Bank pays for 9 students' first year of college

Bank pays for 9 students' first year of collegeTheresia Sufa, Bogor Nine students, whose high grades saw them accepted into the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) for the new academic year but who could not afford the fees, have received financial aid from Bank Danamon for their first year of...

*Jakarta to build US$500m commercial port in Ancol Page 2

*Jakarta to build US$500m commercial port in Ancol Page 2 *WB projects abuse laborers: Study Page 4 *Revote boycott puts Al-Zaytun in hot seat Page 5 *New DPR: New broom or the same old crowd? Page 6 *City to buy extinguishers for fire-prone subdistricts Page 8 *Isinbayeva sets vault world record,...

Rupiah falls follwoing explosion

Rupiah falls follwoing explosionThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The rupiah and stock index fell on Monday in a knee-jerk reaction to a small explosion at the office of the General Elections Commission (KPU).Despite no injuries being reported, the blast, which the police said caused only a little damage,...

Malaysia sees sustainable growth

Malaysia sees sustainable growthKUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia should be able to grow its economy at an annualized rate of around seven percent a quarter putting the country on course to become a developed nation by 2020, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Monday.

1. PORT: 2 LINES, 20 COUNTS

1. PORT: 2 LINES, 20 COUNTS Jakarta to build US$500m commercial port in Ancol 2. TERROR: 1 LINE, 28 COUNTS 'Many laws' can net terror suspects 3. IPB: 2 LINES, 21 COUNTS Bank pays for 9 students' first year of college 4. BRI: 1 LINE, 40 COUNTS Arranger gets 11 years in Bank Mandiri scandal

Police told to use Criminal Code against Bali suspects

Police told to use Criminal Code against Bali suspectsAbdul Khalik and Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta People implicated in the Bali bombings can still be brought to justice under the Criminal Code and an emergency law issued in 1951, a noted legal expert says.

Malaysia's Proton seeks to revive exports

Malaysia's Proton seeks to revive exportsEileen Ng Agence France-Presse Tanjung malim, Malaysia Malaysian national carmaker Proton's new 1.52-billion-ringgit (US$400 million) manufacturing plant was given the thumbs up from Britain's top vehicle agency on Monday, paving the way for the firm to ship...

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, July 27, 2004

Where to go in Bandung for Tuesday, July 27, 2004 Performances* Poetry Reading, Teater Terbuka Balai Pengelolaan Taman Budaya, Jl. Bukit Dago Selatan No. 53 A (Tel. 022 2504912), 7:30 p.m., July 31. * Concert Musik Cinta Mukti-Mukti, CCF (French Cultural Center), Jl. Purnawarman 32 (Tel.

Seeing eye of children

Seeing eye of children Not that I'm a suspicious person, but Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's recent gathering in Jakarta for 100 street children to watch Spider-Man 2 could not have been geared toward anything but a public relations boost for the presidential candidate.

Part 2 of 2

Part 2 of 2When will investors give Indonesia a breakSisira Jayasuriya and Chris Manning, Canberra Why then is Indonesia still ignored by foreign and domestic investors alike, whereas other comparable countries are seen as much more attractive investment locations.

U.S. set to end textile quota

U.S. set to end textile quota The United States government has given notice that all shipments of textiles and apparel exported in 2004 but arriving in the U.S. next year will still be required to satisfy the current administrative requirements, a senior official at the Ministry of Industry and...

The Jenkins-Soga saga and Indonesia

The Jenkins-Soga saga and IndonesiaBondan Winarno, Jakarta Hitomi Soga -- together with her husband, Charles Robert Jenkins, and their two daughters, Belinda and Mika -- were finally reunited in Jakarta on July 9, 2004, after being separated for 21 months.

Public still dissatisfied with airport service

Public still dissatisfied with airport serviceMulta Fidrus TangerangThe Soekarno-Hatta International Airport operator PT Angkasa Pura (AP) II's 100-day service improvement program is apparently unsatisfactory, at least for some passengers.

Five local teams to join Tour d'Indonesia

Five local teams to join Tour d'Indonesia JAKARTA : It was confirmed on Monday that five local cycling teams would take part in the first Tour d'Indonesia, which will be from Jakarta to Denpasar, Bali, from Sept. 27 to Oct. 6.

Bahorok resort reopens after 8 months

Bahorok resort reopens after 8 monthsApriadi Gunawan, Medan The Bukit Lawang tourist area in Bahorok district, North Sumatra, has reopened to the public after being closed for eight months following a flash flood in December that left over 180 people dead and 80 missing.

PwC unit challenges KPPU ruling

PwC unit challenges KPPU rulingTony Hotland, Jakarta Accounting firm Hadi Sutanto and Associates, the local unit of U.S.-based PricewaterhouseCoopers (Pwc), challenged last month's ruling by the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) against the firm.

Japan extends grant assistance

Japan extends grant assistance JAKARTA: The government of Japan extended grant aid worth US$47.4 million to Indonesia on Monday.The grants are to help fund four projects related respectively to the counterterrorism effort, the provision of safe drinking water, power supply system improvements and...

Styles unite in Bandung artists exhibit

Styles unite in Bandung artists exhibitCarla Bianpoen, Contributor/Jakarta An exhibition opened at Bentara Budaya on July 21, called Pameran Gambar Tujuh Seniman Bandung. One would tend to translate Gambar as "Drawing", and in fact the host at Bentara Budaya did so.

Voters explain why they abstained in July 5 election

Voters explain why they abstained in July 5 electionTiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta The final results of the presidential election announced on Monday show that the number of people who did not use their right to vote on July 5 increased to 32,044,063, or about 20.

Level of mercury at Buyat Bay still safe: Minister

Level of mercury at Buyat Bay still safe: MinisterThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Manado State Minister of the Environment Nabiel Makarim says the amount of mercury in Buyat Bay in Minahasa, North Sulawesi, where mining company PT Newmont Minahasa Raya dumps its tailings, is within safety limits.

Vote-count objections

Vote-count objections Doubts were raised during the plenary session of the General Elections Commission (KPU) over the manual count of the July 5 presidential election. The Amien Rais-Siswono Yudohusodo and Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid camps questioned the difference between the number of actual...

Govt warns of more unsafe bridges

Govt warns of more unsafe bridgesWahyoe Boediwardhana and Nana Rukmana, Bali/Cirebon Only three trucks at a time are allowed to pass each of around 30 bridges along Java's northern coast highway following the collapse of Cipunegara Bridge in the West Java town of Subang on Friday, a minister says.

Customers to pay fee for routine electrical inspection

Customers to pay fee for routine electrical inspectionFitri Wulandari, Jakarta Households in the Greater Jakarta area will have to pay a fee of Rp 40,000 to Rp 60,000 (about US$6.65), starting next month, for a routine check on their domestic electrical supply to help maintain safety, an official...

EU prolongs ban on imports of Asian poultry

EU prolongs ban on imports of Asian poultryThe European Commission decided on Monday to prolong until Dec. 15 a ban on imports of chicken products and pet birds from several Asian countries hit by avian flu.

Australia, KL explore free trade deal

Australia, KL explore free trade dealReuters Melbourne Australia and Malaysia agreed on Monday to start preliminary talks on a free trade agreement, part of a push by Canberra for a regional trade deal with the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

WB projects abuse laborers: Study

WB projects abuse laborers: StudyRidwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta A recent study conducted by the Asian Labor Network on International Financial Institution (ALNI) has shown that a number of ongoing projects financed by the World Bank in Bali, infringe on core labor standards.

Govt to auction smuggled sugar

Govt to auction smuggled sugarFabiola Desy Unidjaja and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri finally issued on Monday a government decree that allows some 73,000 tons of illegal sugar, belonging to the Confederation of Primary Cooperatives Association (Inkud), to be auctioned.