Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 28 July 2004

71 articles found

Abstention rate may skyrocket in runoff, observers worry

Abstention rate may skyrocket in runoff, observers worryKurniawan Hari, JakartaIf anything, the nation's first direct presidential election has ended in distinction: Some 32 million people did not exercise their voting rights.

Police seize 11,000 ecstasy pills in two weeks

Police seize 11,000 ecstasy pills in two weeksEvi Mariani Jakarta The Jakarta Police announced on Tuesday they had arrested 13 suspected drug dealers from four syndicates, and seized from them 11,291 ecstasy pills in a two-week operation."The evidence is estimated to be valued at Rp 1.

*Abstention rate may skyrocket in runoff, observers worry Page 2

*Abstention rate may skyrocket in runoff, observers worry Page 2 *Susilo, Megawati half-heartedly support press freedom Page 4 *More separatists tried in Ambon on charges of treason Page 5 *Which new President: Does it really matter? Page 6 *Jakarta to soon bid adieu to 'bajaj' Page 8 *S.

Volunteer firefighter program has failed: Chief

Volunteer firefighter program has failed: ChiefBambang Nurbianto, Jakarta The increasing number of fires in the city over the last three years, and lack of manpower, has prompted the Jakarta Fire Department to launch various programs, including training 3,000 youths from fire-prone subdistricts...

Jakarta needs broad sidewalks

Jakarta needs broad sidewalksFrom Koran Tempo To ensure that pedestrians in Jakarta can walk safely and comfortably, the administration must provide broader sidewalks across the capital. All ditches must also be covered to accommodate pedestrians.

Manado offers a cornucopia of tasty delights

Manado offers a cornucopia of tasty delightsTantri Yuliandini and Jongker Rumteh, Manado, North Sulawesi No one would ever associate Manado with the word "sleepy", and come Saturday night, the already lively provincial capital seemed to light up even more as people from faraway towns began to fill...

S. Asia battles with flood havoc

S. Asia battles with flood havocAgencies Dhaka/New DelhiThe death toll from floods ravaging South Asia soared to at least 1,120 on Tuesday as the World Food Program (WFP) warned Bangladesh was facing a "major humanitarian crisis" and India's prime minister took to the air to survey relief efforts...

Tree planting program launched

Tree planting program launchedBANDUNG: The State Minister for the Environment, Nabiel Makarim, kicked off on Tuesday what is being called a "Tree Bank Program" in Banjaran Wetan subdistrict, Bandung regency.

Arroyo must answer fraud charge: Court

Arroyo must answer fraud charge: CourtPHILIPPINES: The Philippine Supreme Court met on Tuesday as a special electoral tribunal and asked President Gloria Arroyo to answer charges of fraud filed by losing rival Fernando Poe.

Bomb suspect may get 10 years

Bomb suspect may get 10 yearsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Prosecutors sought a sentence of 10 years in prison for defendant Mohammad Ikhsan, alias Jhoni Hendrawan, alias Idris, who is charged with involvement in both the Bali bombings in 2002 and the Marriott bombing last year.

KAI to up services with special seats

KAI to up services with special seats JAKARTA: Starting Aug. 3, state railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will provide special seats for pregnant women, breast-feeding mothers, the elderly and handicapped passengers aboard electric commuter trains serving Greater Jakarta.

Inmates in Batam need relocation

Inmates in Batam need relocationBATAM, Riau Islands: Batam prison plans to relocate some 400 inmates to other prisons in Riau Islands province, but the plan has been delayed as the prison lacks the Rp 90 million (US$ 9,473) it says it needs to put it into effect.

25 percent of schools in disrepair

25 percent of schools in disrepairPALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Some 25 percent out of a total of 332 elementary schools in Palembang are in disrepair as a result of age and natural disasters.Sumayyah, the head of the Palembang municipal government's education office, said that the local government was...

Sumatran tiger in zoo dies of old age

Sumatran tiger in zoo dies of old ageMEDAN, North Sumatra: A Sumatran tiger that had lived in Medan Zoo for 15 years was found dead last week.The 15-year-old tiger, named Tele, died of old age and not because of lack of food, insisted Adios Gusri, the head of PD Pembangunan, the municipal company...

Kramat Jati market to be trade center

Kramat Jati market to be trade center JAKARTA: The Kramat Jati fruit and vegetable wholesale market in East Jakarta will be turned into an agricultural trade center, market operator Zainal Abidin was quoted as saying by Antara news agency on Tuesday.

Jakarta to soon bid adieu to noisy 'bajaj'

Jakarta to soon bid adieu to noisy 'bajaj' After transporting Jakartans for nearly three decades, bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicles) will begin disappearing from the city's streets in the next few days.

City proposes extra funding for construction projects

City proposes extra funding for construction projectsThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration has proposed an additional Rp 500 billion (US$55.55 million) for the 2004 city budget, increasing the total budget to Rp 12.8 trillion if the City Council grants its approval.

Bank Danamon net profit jumps by 79%

Bank Danamon net profit jumps by 79% Rendi A. Witular Jakarta Publicly listed Bank Danamon announced on Tuesday that its first half net profit as of the end of June jumped by 79 percent as compared to the same period last year, primarily on higher net interest income resulting from lending...

Lee Kuan Yew to stay in Singapore cabinet

Lee Kuan Yew to stay in Singapore cabinetPaul Holmes Reuters/SingaporeThe founding father of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, says he will remain in the cabinet in an advisory role when his son becomes prime minister on Aug.

1. GOLPUT: 3 LINES 14 COUNTS

1. GOLPUT: 3 LINES 14 COUNTS Abstention rate may skyrocket in runoff, observers worry 2. TERROR: 2 LINES, 25 COUNTS Indonesia's war on terrorism goes on, Mega assures the world 3. BLBI: 1 LINE, 30 COUNTS Six tycoons to have BLBI cases closed

Remittances from migrant workers up

Remittances from migrant workers upThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia's remittances from migrant workers employed overseas significantly increased in the first quarter of this year due to the reemergence of employment opportunities in a number of countries.

Defense against the Dark Arts

Defense against the Dark ArtsOng Hock Chuan, Jakarta Just suppose, for a moment, that you are the management of Newmont. And suppose that you have operated your mine in Minahasa in accordance with the strictest of environmental standards.

Susilo linked to the July 27 tragedy

Susilo linked to the July 27 tragedyThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Semarang/Yogyakarta While President Megawati Soekarnoputri again distanced herself from the tragedy of July 27, 1996 -- which identified her as then president Soeharto's political victim -- the eighth commemoration of the incident on...

Universitas Bina Nusantara offers international program for

Universitas Bina Nusantara offers international program for bright students Jakarta is not Perth or Melbourne. But the capital of Indonesia has a linkage with the two Australian cities - at least, in the field of education, as developed by Universitas Bina Nusantara (UBiNus).

Man killed in biggest robbery ever in Lampung

Man killed in biggest robbery ever in LampungOyos Saroso, Gunungsugih, Central Lampung Police personnel in South and Central Lampung regencies are still hunting a band of armed robbers that recently made off with Rp 2.5 billion (US$ 263,158) belonging to Bank Haga.

S'pore, Vietnam to boost economic ties

S'pore, Vietnam to boost economic ties SINGAPORE: Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Tan Dung, met here on Tuesday to explore new ways to boost economic ties between the two countries.

Court to hand down Pranowo verdict

Court to hand down Pranowo verdict JAKARTA: An ad hoc human rights court is set to deliver on Aug. 10 a verdict in the case of former Jakarta Military chief Maj. Gen. (ret) Pranowo, who has been charged with involvement in the 1984 Tanjung Priok shooting.

Soccer's problems team

Soccer's problems team The national soccer team's failure to reach the second round of the ongoing Asian Cup in China, as promised earlier by team manager Andi Darussalam Tabusala, has disappointed soccer fans across the country.

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.

Jambi villagers report continued intimidation in land dispute

Jambi villagers report continued intimidation in land disputeJon Afrizal, Jambi Villagers in the Jambi regency of West Tanjungjabung, who are fighting to reclaim what they say is their land taken by a rubber plantation firm, have complained about constant intimidation and arrests.

Miranda to push banks to adopt int'l standards

Miranda to push banks to adopt int'l standardsDadan Wijaksana, Jakarta Miranda Swaray Goeltom was sworn in on Tuesday by the Supreme Court as the central bank's new senior deputy governor, saying that pushing domestic banks to apply international best practices would be among her top priorities.

Which new President: Does it matter?

Which new President: Does it matter?Richard Robison, Jakarta When the new president is finally confirmed later in September, she or he will confront the immediate task of assembling enough power to rule effectively.

'Beating children is right violation'

'Beating children is right violation' Childhood should be the most precious time of a person's life. National Children's Day on July 23 was an opportunity for the state, parents and adults to pledge to protect and promote the rights of children.

Rupiah Rates July 27

Rupiah Rates July 27 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 6,851.28 6,135.37 6,528.22 6,458.21 Brunei dollar 1 5,592.80 5,009.00 5,329.07 5,272.57 Canadian dollar 1 7,229.86 6,475.53 6,888.94 6,816.27 Swiss franc 1 7,620.10 6,825.95 7,260.78 7,185.

New decrees on sugar seen as ineffective

New decrees on sugar seen as ineffectiveThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Newly issued presidential decrees on sugar are ineffective as they only address limited aspects of the real problem contained in the trade regulations for the commodity, observers have noted.

Six tycoons to have their BLBI cases closed

Six tycoons to have their BLBI cases closedAbdul Khalik, Jakarta The Attorney General's Office (AGO) will soon issue orders to halt the investigations into six former bank owners accused of misusing bank bailout funds disbursed by the government via the central bank in the wake of the late 1990s...

BCA drops Permata plan, Danamon to seek approval

BCA drops Permata plan, Danamon to seek approvalRendi A. Witular, Jakarta Publicly listed Bank Central Asia (BCA), the country's second largest bank in terms of assets, has canceled plans to join bidding for a controlling stake in Bank Permata, a senior official said.

Mega seeks support for run-off

Mega seeks support for run-offFabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta Trailing behind her former coordinating minister for political and security affairs in both the July 5 election and opinion polls, Megawati Soekarnoputri is now intensifying political lobbying to win the Sept. 20 runoff election.

KFC outlet caught fire in Makassar

KFC outlet caught fire in MakassarMAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Fast food retailer Kentucky Fried Chicken's (KFC) outlet in Makassar was gutted by fire on Tuesday, but no fatalities were reported.An explosion was heard during the fire, causing panic among local residents and passersby in the area, but...

PSSI and Kolev 'likely to part'

PSSI and Kolev 'likely to part'Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) is undecided over Ivan Kolev, who failed to take the national team beyond the group stage at the ongoing Asian Cup in China.

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.

Log-filled police boat impounded

Log-filled police boat impoundedFadli, Karimun The Navy impounded a boat belonging to the Riau Police Cooperative and carrying more than 1,000 cubic meters of logs in Karimun regency, Riau province.The head of the Tanjung Balai Karimun Naval Base, Lt. Col.

Land document put halt to eviction

Land document put halt to eviction BEKASI: Public order officers and the police were stopped from tearing down a motorcycle shop in a Pondok Gede soccer field on Tuesday after the occupants showed them a land ownership document."The land belonged to the late Jemblem, our ancestor," said Merdeka, 54.

Power won't be connected if the facilities are unsafe

Power won't be connected if the facilities are unsafeFitri Wulandari and Leony Aurora, Jakarta New applicants for electricity connection in Greater Jakarta are required to have their electricity facilities certified by the National Committee for Safety of Electrical Installation (Konsuil), starting...

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.

17 more separatists stand trial in Ambon on charges of treason

17 more separatists stand trial in Ambon on charges of treasonM. Azis Tunny, Ambon Seventeen more activists of the Maluku Sovereignty Front (FKM) went on trial in the Ambon District Court on Tuesday on treason charges over a separatist rally in April that sparked renewed violence.

APEC told to secure transportation systems

APEC told to secure transportation systemsThe Jakarta Post, Nusa Dua, Bali Visiting U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta warned on Tuesday that transportation networks remained the main targets of terrorists and that countries had to work hard to protect them.

1. 5FARMER (2x28)

1. 5FARMER (2x28) Jambi villagers report continued intimidation in land dispute 2. 5LOG (1x32)JP/5/LOG1 x 40 Log-filled police boat impounded 3. 5robber (4X12)JP/5/ROBBERY4 x 12 Man killed in biggest robbery ever in Lampung JP/5/fkm2 x 37 More separatists stand trial in Ambon on charges of treason...

Jamsostek eyes informal workers

Jamsostek eyes informal workersThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Amid regional autonomy, state-owned PT Jamsostek has begun forging cooperation with regions to enlarge the coverage of the social security scheme not only for workers in the formal sector but also for those employed in the informal sector.

Indonesia's war on terrorism goes on, Mega assures the world

Indonesia's war on terrorism goes on, Mega assures the worldWahyoe Boediwardhana and Tiarma Siboro, Bali/Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri has said Indonesia has been more serious in fighting terrorism than other countries, despite a new ruling that has cast doubt on the convictions of the...

Bank Danamon net profit jumps by 79 percent

Bank Danamon net profit jumps by 79 percentRendi A. Witular, Jakarta Publicly listed Bank Danamon announced on Tuesday that its first half net profit as of the end of June jumped by 79 percent as compared to the same period last year, primarily on higher net interest income resulting from lending...

Bali to host F1 powerboat c'ship

Bali to host F1 powerboat c'shipMusthofid, Jakarta Bali will host the third series of the F1 2005 Powerboat World Championship after plans for the island to host the event this year were scrapped because of political tension in the country.The island was originally to host the event on Oct.

RI seeks clear schedule to end farm subsidies

RI seeks clear schedule to end farm subsidies The Indonesian government has sent a delegation, led by representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trade Directorate General of International Cooperation Pos M. Hutabarat, to the World Trade Organization (WTO) general council meeting in Geneva.

Abstension not the best way

Abstension not the best wayFrom Media Indonesia Reports have been increasing about a possible surge in the number of abstainers in the second round of the presidential election on Sept. 20. One of the reasons is that many members of the political elite are disappointed with the results of the first...

Malaysia, S'pore to boost security in strait

Malaysia, S'pore to boost security in straitAgence France-Presse Putrajaya, MalaysiaMalaysia and Singapore on Tuesday agreed to increase cooperation to fight terrorism and improve maritime security, particularly in the pirate-infested Malacca Strait amid signs of improving bilateral ties.

Bond issue draws healthy response from investors

Bond issue draws healthy response from investorsDadan Wijaksana, Jakarta The government sold Rp 3.5 trillion (some US$385 million) worth of bonds on Tuesday, almost twice the size of the initially planned issue due to a robust response from investors.

Consumer confidence strengthens on peaceful election

Consumer confidence strengthens on peaceful electionThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta People's confidence in the economy strengthened markedly in June thanks to a peaceful campaign period during the run-up to the July 5 presidential election, Danareksa Research Institute (DRI) said in its latest consumer...

Soccer's problems team

Soccer's problems teamThe national soccer team's failure to reach the second round of the ongoing Asian Cup in China, as promised earlier by team manager Andi Darussalam Tabusala, has disappointed soccer fans across the country.

Presidential candidates to woo undecided voters

Presidential candidates to woo undecided votersA. Junaidi, Jakarta Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri have their work cut out for them in wooing undecided voters whose first picks fell by the wayside in the July 5 election, analysts say.

Textile companies in Bandung to be relocated away from river

Textile companies in Bandung to be relocated away from riverYuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung The government plans to relocate hundreds of textile companies in Bandung regency, West Java, to an integrated industrial area in Cipeundeuy, Cikalong Wetan, in an effort to stop waste from being dumped into the...

Japanese ship lost in Strait of Malacca

Japanese ship lost in Strait of Malacca JAKARTA: A Japanese national reported a missing ship in the Strait of Malacca to the National Police on Tuesday, a year after he filed the same report with the Riau Police.Noboru Izhiziwa, the executive vice president of Japan-based Kashin Co. Ltd.

The Indonesian government has sent a delegation, led by

The Indonesian government has sent a delegation, led by representative from the Ministry of Industry and Trade Directorate General of International Cooperation Pos M. Hutabarat, to the World Trade Organization (WTO) general council meeting in Geneva.

JAKARTA: In observance of the country's 59th Independence Day

JAKARTA: In observance of the country's 59th Independence Day on Aug. 17, the National Brotherhood Foundation is to organize a national symposium on reform and Indonesia's future.Chairman of the symposium's organizing committee Marzuki Darusman said here on Tuesday the national meeting on Aug.

Activists split over HIV/AIDS program

Activists split over HIV/AIDS programDewi Santoso, Jakarta A 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.

Illegal levies at Gambir station

Illegal levies at Gambir stationFrom TrustEvery weekend I catch the Parahyangan train to Bandung from Jakarta's Gambir station. I get the impression that management of the station -- particularly that dealing with executive and business classes -- has become increasingly messy.

Police begin probe into election VCD

Police begin probe into election VCD PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A joint team comprising officers from the National Police and the Central Java Police arrived here on Tuesday to begin an investigation into the circulation of video compact discs (VCDs) of a police meeting that was held ahead of the...

Ba'asyir to remain in police custody

Ba'asyir to remain in police custodyAbdul Khalik, Jakarta National Police announced on Tuesday that they would continue to detain Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir despite the Constitutional Court ruling that Law No.

The World Bank Clarifies

The World Bank Clarifies In the July 22 edition of The Jakarta Post, your correspondents write I "dismissed" a demand for debt relief saying "that under no circumstances did Indonesia deserve such debt relief". Under no circumstances, would I make such a statement.

Susilo, Mega hazy on press freedom

Susilo, Mega hazy on press freedomSari P. Setiogi, Jakarta Campaign workers for the two remaining presidential candidates, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Megawati Soekarnoputri, expressed on Tuesday what appeared to be only lackluster support for press freedom.

Losing with Bank Mandiri

Losing with Bank Mandiri I have been banking with Bank Mandiri for 11 years, six years in Denpasar (Exim) and five years in Jember, East Java. Recently I have been changing 100 dollar bills (all C.B. series) and have been receiving Rp 8,800 to Rp 8,900, some times Rp 9,100 to Rp 9,300.

Mega, Hasyim receive support from NU youth organizations

Mega, Hasyim receive support from NU youth organizationsTiarma Siboro, Jakarta Leaders of youth organizations affiliated to the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), threw their support behind Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi on Tuesday, boosting their chances in the...