Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 16 August 2004

75 articles found

'Indonesia is 59 but we haven't done anything meaningful'

'Indonesia is 59 but we haven't done anything meaningful' Indonesia will celebrate its 59 anniversary on Tuesday and many people nationwide are planning to welcome the anniversary by holding festivities around the special day.

Govt appoints 300,000 teachers

Govt appoints 300,000 teachers JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri has signed a decree appointing 300,000 new teachers as part of efforts to improve education in the country.Megawati announced the decree after receiving outstanding teachers, village heads, district heads, forest rangers and...

Attorney general under fire for lapsed travel bans

Attorney general under fire for lapsed travel bansAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government has failed to extend the travel bans on 10 suspects and convicts in the misuse of Bank Indonesia liquidity support funds, sparking concerns that the suspects will be able to evade justice by...

Lisa lifts RI to first medal

Lisa lifts RI to first medalAgencies Athens Raema Lisa Rumbewas made history on Sunday by becoming the first Indonesian woman to win a medal at consecutive Games, taking the silver with a 210.5 kg total and adding it to the 48 kg silver she won in Sydney.

RI teacher absenteeism 'third-highest' in world

RI teacher absenteeism 'third-highest' in worldDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Moonlighting teachers and the lack of toilets in many schools are among the reasons for alarming levels of the absence rate of elementary school teachers in Indonesia, a survey suggested.

Challenge of interfaith dialog in globalization era

Challenge of interfaith dialog in globalization eraBenny Susetyo Jakarta Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi of Malaysia has said that the world is now seriously in need of establishing an interfaith dialog in the struggle for peace and justice, and should not remain in a state of continuous...

First smoking, next apartments?

First smoking, next apartments?From Warta KotaJakarta Governor Sutiyoso's plan to issue a local regulation banning people from smoking in public places will surely be welcomed by most citizens in the capital as good health is indeed the right of everyone.

A conference of East Asian academics here next week will plonk

A conference of East Asian academics here next week will plonk Thailand in the middle of a fresh debate on the wisdom of 13 Asian countries converging in a new community. The discussions will show who continues to hold reservations about the idea, which evolved from Malaysia's initiative in the...

RI maids working in HK demand rights

RI maids working in HK demand rightsHONG KONG: Indonesian maids and their supporters marched to Indonesia's embassy in Hong Kong on Sunday, demanding the right to find jobs without having to hire costly private agencies.

Semsar back home for exhibition

Semsar back home for exhibitionTantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Semsar is back.For those unfamiliar with the name, Semsar Siahaan is considered one of today's foremost Indonesian artists. Not only because his work has received numerous awards from the international community, but also...

UI admission fee to be voluntarily

UI admission fee to be voluntarily JAKARTA: The University of Indonesia (UI) rector Usman Chatib Warsa said on Saturday the high admission fees for new students were voluntary."It's not true that the admission fee is obligatory for all students, regardless of whether they come from poor or rich...

2. Cycling (30) -24pts 3cols 1line (30x1)

2. Cycling (30) -24pts 3cols 1line (30x1) Women's race could go double-Dutch 3. Badminton (30) -24 pts 1cols 3lines (10x3) China's Gong shuttles into last 16

Golkar announces support for Megawati in runoff

Golkar announces support for Megawati in runoffKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Golkar Party made official on Sunday its support for presidential candidate Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi in the Sept. 20 runoff.

59th Independence Day and Indonesia's future

59th Independence Day and Indonesia's futureJusuf Wanandi, Jakarta After eight years of multiple crises encompassing all fields of life, and many pessimistic evaluations and assessments, including mine, it is about time to ask ourselves what lies ahead for us? Should we be more optimistic about the...

State university students pay less fees, but complain more

State university students pay less fees, but complain moreDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Lifestyle-wise, Hendra and Indri -- both students of the state- owned University of Indonesia (UI) -- pretty much follow the trends, and indulge in the same types of activities that their peers at...

Gong Ruina sweeps into the last 16

Gong Ruina sweeps into the last 16 Chinese top seed Gong Ruina encountered few problems on her way to an 11-9, 11-4 first round victory over Singapore's Li Li in the Olympic women's singles badminton tournament here on Saturday.

RI teacher absenteeism 'third-highest' in world

RI teacher absenteeism 'third-highest' in worldDewi Santoso The Jakarta Post/JakartaMoonlighting teachers and the lack of toilets in many schools are among the reasons for alarming levels of the absence rate of elementary school teachers in Indonesia, a survey suggested.

1. 5COUNCIL (1x24)

1. 5COUNCIL (1x24) W. Sumatra holds graft brief 2. 5LISTRIK (2x16) Riau meets PLN heads over power crisis

RI independence and national memory

RI independence and national memoryThomas Hidya Tjaya, Jakarta Fifty-nine years ago on Aug. 17, 1945, Sukarno and Hatta proclaimed the independence of the Republic of Indonesia. They did so on behalf of the people of the country, who had the same deep desire for freedom.

Artists protest closure of Sobokarti

Artists protest closure of Sobokarti SEMARANG: Five septuagenarian gamelan artists held a performance as a form of protest on Saturday in front of the Sobokarti Art Center, the main performing arts venue in the city.

Jakartans in festive mood

Jakartans in festive moodBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Many Jakartans were busy beautifying their neighborhoods with red-and-white bunting and decorations, and preparing themselves for fun and games two days before the country's 59th Independence Day on Aug. 17.

Research event has surprise ending

Research event has surprise endingDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Youth Research Competition was brought to a surprising end on Saturday as research papers on social sciences dominated the awards.

Police leaves reporters in dark over big arrest

Police leaves reporters in dark over big arrestEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta A short messaging system (SMS) was received by many crime news reporters on the night of Aug. 10. It said Tanri Abeng's son, Emil, had been arrested in a room at the Grand Mahakam Hotel by Kebayoran Baru Police for...

Dili undecided on 'expert commission'

Dili undecided on 'expert commission'Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayudha met with his East Timorese counterpart Jose Ramos Horta here on Sunday to discuss human rights and the borders between the two countries.

Security beefed up prior to festival

Security beefed up prior to festival BANDA ACEH, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: The Aceh provincial police has deployed over 1,000 personnel to secure the week-long cultural festival here, which will be opened on Thursday by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Cycling to work

Cycling to work We should give a big salute and strong support to the Indonesian Mountain Biking Community (MTB Indonesia) in organizing "A Bike to Work Event" on Aug. 6 (The Jakarta Post of Aug. 7). Let us treat this as a starting point for Jakarta people who really care about worsening air...

Suspension of flights renews concern over Garuda's health

Suspension of flights renews concern over Garuda's healthTony Hotland The Jakarta Post/Jakarta When Garuda Indonesia recently halted its Jakarta-Amsterdam flights and cut back on the number of flights to Guangzhou, it raised questions about the health of the national flag carrier.

*Attorney general under fire for lapsed travel bans Page 2

*Attorney general under fire for lapsed travel bans Page 2 *PT Newmont to be summoned over Buyat pollution Page 4 *W. Sumatra holds graft brief Page 5 *59th Independence Day and Indonesia's future Page 6 *Authorities urged to enforce vehicle emission standards Page 8 *15 killed, dozens hurt in...

'Wayang Kancil' amuse Jakartans

'Wayang Kancil' amuse JakartansLeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Most children who visited the Puppet Museum in Kota, West Jakarta, on Saturday were already familiar with the clever mouse- deer, or kancil as it is locally known.

International aid

International aidThe caption for the photo titled Medical aid on Page 4 of Thursday's edition did not identify the woman next to Swedish Ambassador Lennart Linner. Melanie Alton, acting head of the Canadian Development Agency, along with Linner and representatives of the United Nations Children's...

Hotels, businesses gear up for Independence Day

Hotels, businesses gear up for Independence Day An atmosphere of national pride and tradition prevails not only in Jakarta thoroughfares and in residential areas, but also at major shopping malls, restaurants and hotels.In commemoration of Independence Day on Aug.

Government to unveil upbeat 2005 economic outlook

Government to unveil upbeat 2005 economic outlookDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government is to unveil the draft 2005 state budget on Monday, which outlines an optimistic economic growth outlook of 5.

RI seeks Malaysia's help to battle forest fires

RI seeks Malaysia's help to battle forest firesAgence France-Presse Kuala LumpurJakarta has renewed a call for Malaysia to stem the smuggling of illegal logs into the country as a spate of forest fires has caused a recurrence of smog in the region, officials and reports said on Sunday.

Islamic reformism from within

Islamic reformism from withinMuhamad Ali, Jakarta The New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof in his recent article, Islamic Reformism: Martyrs, Virgins and Grapes (Aug. 4), provides criticism of religious fundamentalism -- Christian, Jewish, but specifically Muslim fundamentalism -- and hoped...

Cement industry to fully revive next year: Semen Gresik CEO

Cement industry to fully revive next year: Semen Gresik CEO State-owned firm, PT Semen Gresik, the country's largest integrated cement producer, has projected that the cement industry will fully recover next year on the back of robust demand for property and an increase in infrastructure projects...

Corruption eradication moves ahead

Corruption eradication moves ahead From Koran TempoThe Megawati government's serious intention to eliminate corruption is indicated by the issuance of Presidential Decree No.59/2004 on the establishment of anticorruption courts.

Challenge of political Islam

Challenge of political IslamAmy Chew New Straits Times Kuala Lumpur Indonesia's former President Abdurrahman Wahid may have failed in his attempt to stand for elections but the ulama remains an influential figure as the country's presidential candidates seek his support in their bid for power.

Community against crime

Community against crimeFrom Suara KaryaThe public will praise successful attempts by the police to seize criminals. However, these days community members prefer to catch crooks and punish them physically on the spot.

14 die in crash on Jakarta road

14 die in crash on Jakarta road Fourteen people died in a crash on the Cikampek toll road in Jakarta at about 8 p.m. on Sunday. Two others were severely injured when a public bus traveling from the direction of Cikampek crashed into a Suzuki Carry minivan, causing another bus and a pickup truck to...

A festering wound

A festering wound It surely surprises no one that criticism by the U.S. State Department of the trial of those considered responsible for human rights violations in East Timor in 1999 has been met with a lack of sympathy in Jakarta.

W. Sumatra holds graft briefing

W. Sumatra holds graft briefingThe Jakarta Post, Padang/Semarang/Bandarlampung More than 200 councillors and executives in West Sumatra have attended a briefing on the law and regulations in government, the provincial prosecutor's office said on Saturday.

Sunparking and lost helmet

Sunparking and lost helmetFrom Bisnis IndonesiaOn Aug. 1, I visited ITC and Ambassador Mal in Kuningan, Jakarta, at 3:28. I parked my motorcycle in the parking lot managed by Sunparking, leaving my locked helmet and jacket on my motorcycles as there were no lockers around.

Market oversupplied by 2 million bpd: OPEC chief

Market oversupplied by 2 million bpd: OPEC chiefFitri Wulandari, Jakarta The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) said on Sunday that the soaring of oil prices to historic peaks was not caused by a shortage because the market already had an ample supply.

BOJ mulls ending monetary ease

BOJ mulls ending monetary ease TOKYO: The Bank of Japan's policy board discussed setting specific conditions for terminating its quantitative easing measures at its June 25 meeting, according to minutes released on Friday, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reports in its Saturday morning edition.

Independence, yes but economically -- not yet

Independence, yes but economically -- not yetT.Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta It was Thursday afternoon at around 3 p.m. and the sun was still shining brightly. A young man walked slowly along the road in a housing complex in Bintaro, Tangerang, pushing a cart loaded with red-and-white flags...

Good governance and investment

Good governance and investmentJoe C. Bartlett, Jakarta Economic growth and job creation depends heavily on high levels of investment. One of the major disappointments of Indonesia's economic recovery is that the government's success in re-establishing macro-economic stability has not generated the...

Chung Hee-seok wins Makassar Open Men's Future 2004

Chung Hee-seok wins Makassar Open Men's Future 2004 MAKASSAR: South Korean Chung Hee-seok emerged the winner in the singles division at the Makassar Open Men's Future 2004 tennis tournament after defeating host player Suwandi 7-6, 6-3 in the final round held on Sunday.

Feeling uneasy on Serpong freeway

Feeling uneasy on Serpong freewayFrom Media IndonesiaAs a resident of Serpong in Tangerang, I go to work in Jakarta mostly via the Ulujami-Serpong freeway. On my way home, I often feel scared because the toll road is not illuminated at night.

TV Program: Monday, August 16, 2004

TV Program: Monday, August 16, 2004TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria8:30 Music: Asyik Asyik11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 11:30 Doing Business12:00 p.m. Documentary 1:00 News: Berita Siang3:00 English News Service4:00 Children Drama7:00 News: Berita...

14 die in crash

14 die in crash on Jakarta roadFourteen people died in a crash on the Cikampek toll road in Jakarta at about 8 p.m. on Sunday. Two others were severely injured when a public bus traveling from the direction of Cikampek crashed into a Suzuki Carry minivan, causing another bus and a pickup truck to...

Riau to call on firms over renewed haze

Riau to call on firms over renewed haze PEKANBARU, Riau: The Riau Environmental Impact Management Agency (Bapedalda Riau) is to summon executives of several plantation companies and concessionaires over the return of haze to the province.

Wahyuana

Wahyuana The Jakarta Post/BekasiAs part of police reform, the Bekasi Police will establish two new police posts this month, adopting the koban concept, which originated in Japan."This project encourages closer relations between the police and the community. We plan to have nine more koban next year.

Authorities urged to enforce vehicle emission standards

Authorities urged to enforce vehicle emission standardsUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Notorious as the second most polluted city in the world after Mexico City, Jakarta could have improved its air quality significantly and protected residents' health if the city had enforced emission...

Constitutional Court controversy

Constitutional Court controversyFrom Koran TempoThe Constitutional Court's decision to declare unconstitutional Law No.16/2003 on antiterrorism, as it conflicts with a new provision in the recently amended Constitution, is certainly controversial.

Textile center exports training skills

Textile center exports training skillsTheresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor The International Garment Training Center (IGTC) in Bogor, West Java, has agreed to help develop a similar training facility in Honduras and Vietnam.

Govt claims farming sector fully recovered

Govt claims farming sector fully recoveredZakki P. Hakim and Johannes Simbolon, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite the lingering effects of the economic crisis, the nation's farming industry has grown over the past four years at a faster rate than during the previous decade's economic boom,...

Loyal, outspoken, loved: Mochtar's friends remember

Loyal, outspoken, loved: Mochtar's friends rememberA. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta To the young people today, especially young reporters, the name of Mochtar Lubis does not carry much currency. This towering figure in Indonesia's journalism is indeed more appreciated abroad than in his own...

Susilo-Kalla barred from palace ceremony

Susilo-Kalla barred from palace ceremony MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla expressed regret on Sunday that he and his presidential running mate, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, had been barred from attending the Independence Day celebration at the State Palace.

Bus driver arrested for fatal accident

Bus driver arrested for fatal accident JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police arrested a Mayasari Bhakti public bus driver on Saturday afternoon for his involvement in a traffic accident in May on the Wiyoto Wiyono toll road near Rawamangun, East Jakarta.Jakarta Police traffic chief Comr.

Minaret collapse in Jeneponto kills two

Minaret collapse in Jeneponto kills two MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Two people were killed and two others seriously injured in Bontang subdistrict, Jeneponto regency, on Sunday when a minaret collapsed and fell on them.

State of alert on Mount Semeru

State of alert on Mount SemeruIman Dwianto Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Carrying a sack of dry grass, a local resident passes a zalacca palm plantation in the foothills of erupting Mount Semeru in Lumajang regency, East Java province.

Riau meets PLN heads over power crisis

Riau meets PLN heads over power crisisPuji Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Pekanbaru Riau Governor Rusli Zainal met top executives of state-owned electricity company PT PLN on Friday night in Jakarta, hoping that the company would help it end the province's electricity crisis.

Jusuf Kalla and the Chinese

Jusuf Kalla and the ChineseIvan Wibowo Jakarta From the names on the two presidential tickets in the Sept. 20 election runoff -- Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi -- South Sulawesi businessman Kalla's is the most controversial for Chinese- Indonesians.

C. Java paddies suffer severe drought

C. Java paddies suffer severe drought SEMARANG, Central Java: A severe drought has affected 14,399 hectares (ha) of paddy fields in Central Java, and more paddies are feared to be affected if rain does not fall soon.

A splendid dining journey through Bali

A splendid dining journey through Bali Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar Dining in a romantic, serene garden surrounded by water lily and lotus ponds or in a beachfront open-air pavilion overlooking the great rolling waves of the Indian Ocean could be a perfect escape from your hectic...

Kwitang Church now a heritage site

Kwitang Church now a heritage site JAKARTA: The Indonesian Kwitang Christian Church was officially declared a heritage building by Central Jakarta Mayor Hosea Petra Lumbun on its 75th anniversary on Saturday.

America in two minds about China?

America in two minds about China? Tom Plate The Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore The China question has not yet surfaced in the United States presidential election. Perhaps this is just as well. U.S. campaigns are blunt instruments at best for the mastication of complex issues.

To be a nation

To be a nation Another Independence Day approaches, and Indonesians across the country engage in customary flag-waving and community celebrations. Such is the routine of this annual event -- the 59th in Indonesia's history -- that most take it for granted.

Fire razes homes of 400

Fire razes homes of 400 JAKARTA: At least 440 residents from Petamburan subdistrict, Central Jakarta, lost their homes to a fire that hit the densely populated area at about 10:30 a.m. on Sunday.No reports on fatalities were available, said Petamburan police officer Chief Sgt.

UN urged to probe Wamena 'rights abuse'

UN urged to probe Wamena 'rights abuse' JAKARTA: Two humanitarian organizations in Papua have demanded the United Nations to investigate alleged violations of human rights in the prosecution of two Papuans being held by Wamena Police in connection with a burglary case.

1. LISA: 60 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 12

1. LISA: 60 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 12 Lisa lifts RI to first medal Lisa wins RI's first medalLisa gives RI first medal 2. GOLKAR: 36 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 24 Golkar announces support for Megawati in runoff 3. TEACHER: 36 pt, 6 cols, 1 x 47 RI teacher absenteeism 'third-highest' in world 4.

Nova Widianto/Vita Marissa (Ina x8) bt Robert Blair/Natalie Munt

Nova Widianto/Vita Marissa (Ina x8) bt Robert Blair/Natalie Munt (Gbr) 15-8, 15-12

JCI seen little changed this week

JCI seen little changed this weekAgence France-Presse Jakarta Jakarta share prices are likely to drift in a narrow range with few investors willing to take fresh positions ahead of the Independence Day holiday and with concerns over oil prices continuing to weigh on sentiment, dealers saidFor the...

Newmont to be summoned over Buyat Bay pollution

Newmont to be summoned over Buyat Bay pollutionAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Following up their findings that Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi, is highly polluted, police are moving to question top management of PT Newmont Minahasa Raya to determine the source of the contamination.

Heroism, fun and joy all mixed together

Heroism, fun and joy all mixed togetherSudibyo M. Wiradji, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta A heroic, but festive atmosphere has developed in most of the country's residential areas over the past few days, as the nation has been gearing up to celebrate Independence Day on Aug. 17.