Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 9 August 2004

75 articles found

POST 1x43

POST 1x43 Indonesian soldiers -- the real 'survivors'

Mega delays returning home from Mecca

Mega delays returning home from Mecca Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was scheduled to arrive home on Sunday after performing a minor pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, has delayed returning to Jakarta until Monday for personal reasons, a presidential palace official said. The official said on Sunday that there was no specific reason for the delayed return, except that the President wanted to stay a bit longer in Jeddah.

'Corruptors should be given the death sentence'

'Corruptors should be given the death sentence' Despite appeals from local and international institutions, the Indonesian government executed Indian national Ayodhya Prasadh Chaubey, 67, last week, almost 10 years after he was sentenced to death for smuggling 12 kilograms of heroin into the country. Amid the debate over the draconian sentence, The Jakarta Post asked some residents their opinion on the issue. Andy Nababan, 28, is a lawyer at the Office of the State Minister of the Environment.

AirAsia to expand in Indonesia

AirAsia to expand in Indonesia KUTA, Bali: Malaysian low-cost airline AirAsia is planning to expand its flight service route network in Indonesia, a spokesman said. AirAsia will start on Aug. 27 a service between Kuala Lumpur and Medan, North Sumatra, AirAsia manager Shamsul Salim said here on Saturday, following the inauguration of the Denpasar to Kuala Lumpur route. The airline also intends to start more services to Palembang, South Sumatra, and Makassar, South Sulawesi, he said.

Competition in digital copier market gets tough

Competition in digital copier market gets tough Rudijanto, Contributor, Jakarta The latest trend in digital copiers offers users not only savings in space and costs but also time, thanks to their compatibility with other high-tech office equipment such as personal computers, printers, scanners and facsimiles. Employing state-of-the-art technology, the latest brands of digital copier can be used as multifunction machines that combine printer, scanner and fax functions into a single machine.

S. Sumatra sees rise in drug abusers

S. Sumatra sees rise in drug abusers PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The number of drug abusers in South Sumatra has increased markedly to 507 people last year, from a mere 228 in 2002, according to data from the local government. The 150 percent increase in the number of drug abusers has become a cause of concern to provincial officials.

Police to probe PLN on customer deposits

Police to probe PLN on customer deposits Abdul Khalik, Jakarta Police will begin to investigate this week the alleged misuse of trillions of rupiah of funds that customers deposited when they subscribed to state-owned electricity company PT PLN. National Police director of specific crimes Brig. Gen. Suharto said on Sunday that his officers were looking into the case, but had to ascertain the facts before questioning witnesses later in the week.

'Discriminatory' religion decree condemned

'Discriminatory' religion decree condemned Sari P. Setiogi, Jakarta Christian organizations have agreed on a plan to file a class action against the government for maintaining a joint decree on the construction of places of worship. They insisted that the decree, issued in 1969 by then religious affairs minister Mohammad Dahlan and home affairs minister Amir Machmud, went against human rights and principles of religious freedom.

Readership survey

Readership survey The Jakarta Post's readership survey is on pages 9-10 in today's issue. We hope that you will take the time to give us your input. --Editor

Operator calls for airport shuttle

Operator calls for airport shuttle JAKARTA: State airport operator PT Angkasa Pura II urged the government to realize the construction a 31.6 kilometer railway track to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport through the formation of a consortium. "Foreign and domestic investors can be involved in the project," Angkasa president director Eddie Haryoto said on Friday.

More democratic Indonesia opens up for modern business

More democratic Indonesia opens up for modern business Michael J. Webdell, Jakarta Indonesia, one of the newest democracies in the political world, is currently in the midst of its first-ever direct presidential election. It is an event as exciting as the world has ever seen because relatively few nations have made such a swift and peaceful transition. In just five year's time, Indonesia has demonstrated that it is adaptable and eager to participate as a leader of the modern world.

Giving stylish presentations in digital era

Giving stylish presentations in digital era Rhenald Kasali, Contributor, Jakarta In 1998, as soon as I returned to Indonesia after spending six years studying in the United States, I was assigned to teach in the Master's Program for Management at the University of Indonesia. At the time, none of the lecturers used a projector and most of them were content with transparent sheets.

Myth about sandalwood broken

Myth about sandalwood broken Yemris Fointuna, London The myth that sandalwood (santalum album) can only be bred naturally and not scientifically has been proven otherwise. A recent study shows that valuable sandalwood (santalum album) trees can be cloned by applying the micropropagation method.

Asia's biggest

Asia's biggest gay party starts SINGAPORE: A three-day gay and lesbian festival that organizers have claimed is the largest in Asia got off to a rousing start in Singapore -- where homosexual acts are still illegal. At least 6,000 partygoers from across the region danced from Saturday night into the early hours of Sunday at the opening event of Nation.04, organizer and regional gay website Fridae.com said.

Public joins environmental campaign

Public joins environmental campaign Multa Fidrus, Tangerang In an effort to repair some of the damage along the heavily polluted Cisadane River, Tangerang Regent Ismet Iskandar has asked industrial firms to plant trees in the area through a "tree bank" set up by the regency's environmental management agency. Of 250 industrial firms that have promised to donate trees, only two have yet to do so. "We thank the industrial firms and businessmen for paying attention to the environment.

Jakarta 'lesehan' stalls offer more than 'gudeg'

Jakarta 'lesehan' stalls offer more than 'gudeg' Leony Aurora, Jakarta In the melting pot of Jakarta there is still a small corner where people turn a little bit Javanese, or at least those able to speak a few words of the language, as they step into the lesehan food stalls in Melawai, Blok M, South Jakarta. "Sampun, Mbak (I'm done, elder sister)," said a customer originally from eastern Indonesia to Istiqomah, a stall keeper. "Piro?

Indonesia's slow road to recovery

Indonesia's slow road to recovery UNSFIR, Jakarta Indonesia's 2004 National Human Development Report tracks the country's recovery following the financial crisis. It points out that Indonesia certainly made progress, and has now made up most of the ground lost after 1997. But economic growth is still slow, so regaining the former human development momentum will demand a new approach to public spending.

Sedimentation affects Jambi river

Sedimentation affects Jambi river Jon Afrizal, Jambi Excess sedimentation in the Batanghari River has increased at an alarming pace due to illegal logging up river in Jambi's forests, according to a local environmentalist group. The sedimentation is worrying because it has made the river so muddy that the local community can no longer use the water for daily needs. The extreme amount of sediment has also disrupted river transportation, preventing large boats from sailing into Jambi port.

Lampung activist demands revision of budget proposal

Lampung activist demands revision of budget proposal Oyos Saroso, Bandarlampung Activists have demanded that the local provincial council review the Lampung governor's proposed additional budget spending (ABT), as it provided opportunities for irregularities. Furthermore, the ABT, already given the green light by the Lampung Council's budget committee, shows that the local government has no sense of crisis, said activists of the Care for Transparency and Regional Autonomy Network (JMPTOD).

Bank Buyer Share price Increase

Bank Buyer Share price Increase BCA Farallon Capital Rp 1,775 300.0% Niaga CAHB* Rp 290 9.4% Danamon Temasek & Deutsche Bank Rp 2,650 120.5% BII Kookmin Bank & Temasek Rp 130 58.5% * Malaysia's Commerce Asset-Holding Berhad Source: PPA

1. SBY: 4 LINES, 10 COUNTS

1. SBY: 4 LINES, 10 COUNTS Susilo to lobby Golkar top leaders 2. AIRPORT: 4 LINES, 10 PTS Power glitch hits country's main airport 3. WAMENA: 2 LINWES, 21 COUNTS Police, military involved in Papua abuses: Komnas 4. FLONA: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS Hobbyists show off pets, plants at fair

Newmont pays $6.25m

Newmont pays $6.25m royalty to RI JAKARTA: Copper and gold miner PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara paid to the government US$6.25 million as a second quarterly royalty on the concentrate shipped from April to June 2004, the company said in a press release. The payment included $4.74 million for copper, $1.48 million for gold and $37,535 for silver, the firm said.

Activist seeks probe into worker's death

Activist seeks probe into worker's death MEDAN: A labor activist demanded the Indonesian embassy in Kuala Lumpur investigate the death of a worker during a raid against illegal aliens in Kuala Lumpur recently. Renowned workers' rights campaigner Maya Manurung called the July 20 shooting of worker Yunus, deplorable. She said it had happened just as the two countries were working to amicably settle the problem of illegal Indonesian workers in Malaysia.

Education agency opens

Education agency opens hot line for parents JAKARTA: The Jakarta Elementary Education Agency has established a hot line to allow parents to log complaints about school fees and admission policies. Agency deputy head Maman Achdiat said the agency had received numerous complaints about school fees. However, he said it was difficult for the agency to check the complaints because school principals always denied allegations leveled against their schools by parents.

Unemployed people to get free training

Unemployed people to get free training JAKARTA: The Ministry of National Education is set to launch a free training program for over 7,000 unemployed youth in 2005. The ministry's director-general of schools, external education and youth affairs, Fasli Jalal, said over the weekend the drive was but one effort to reduce the growing unemployment rate in the country. "Under the scheme, which is financed by the World Bank, participants will be trained at accredited educational institutions.

Thugs threaten 'Matra' magazine

Thugs threaten 'Matra' magazine JAKARTA: Police officers were seen on Saturday guarding the office of Matra monthly magazine on Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta, after a group of thugs threatened to burn it down. Some 20 people claiming to be members of the Betawi Communications Forum and community organizations in Serang and Cibitung, Bekasi, had come to the office on Thursday to protest an article in the magazine's August edition about thugs in Tanah Abang textile market, Central Jakarta.

Thousands of migrant workers in Malaysia homeward bound

Thousands of migrant workers in Malaysia homeward bound Fadli, Tanjung Pinang, Riau While large-scale deportations are not due to take place until after Sept. 20, thousands of Indonesians working illegally in Malaysia have already started to leave. An official with the Tanjung Pinang Manpower and Social Welfare Agency said over the weekend that two large groups of migrants had arrived at the port since late July.

Going will be tough for RI shuttlers in early rounds of Olympics

Going will be tough for RI shuttlers in early rounds of Olympics Eva C. Komandjaja Jakarta The quest to bring home the gold from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games may prove to be even more difficult than expected, with Indonesia's shuttlers drawn against some tough early round opponents. The International Badminton Federation announced the results of the Olympic draw on Sunday.

Winds of change blow on S'pore's birthday

Winds of change blow on S'pore's birthday Karl Malakunas, Agence France-Presse, Singapore Singapore will celebrate its 39th birthday on Monday with the focus on the nation's second-ever leadership transition, but few locals expect major changes to the way this tightly controlled city-state is run. After 14 years as his deputy, Lee Hsien Loong, 52, will replace Goh Chok Tong, 63, as prime minister on Thursday in a well-scripted handover the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) has long planned for.

Newmont pays $6.25m royalty to RI

Newmont pays $6.25m royalty to RI JAKARTA: Copper and gold miner PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara paid to the government US$6.25 million as a second quarterly royalty on the concentrate shipped from April to June 2004, the company said in a press release. The payment included $4.74 million for copper, $1.48 million for gold and $37,535 for silver, the firm said.

FTA with China becoming complicated

FTA with China becoming complicated Zakki P. Hakim, Jakarta Local producers of stearic acid, long protected by the government, are now learning the bitter lesson that a free trade deal between ASEAN and China, signed three years ago, is threatening exports to the latter's huge market. New regulations on food safety announced by China last month will make things even worse, industry experts said.

Komnas HAM confirms serious rights abuses in Wasior, Wamena

Komnas HAM confirms serious rights abuses in Wasior, Wamena Fabiola Desy Unidjaja Jakarta The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has completed the report on its investigation into bloody incidents in the Papua towns of Wamena and Wasior, saying soldiers and police committed gross abuses in both cases.

Power glitch hits Jakarta's airport

Power glitch hits Jakarta's airport The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A power failure hit the country's main airport, Soekarno-Hatta International in Cengkareng, west of Jakarta, on Sunday afternoon, leaving passengers waiting for their flights in the dark and without air-conditioning for over two hours.

Permata bidders must get equal treatment: Analysts

Permata bidders must get equal treatment: Analysts The Jakarta Post, Jakarta As overseas and domestic investors seem equally interested in acquiring a majority stake in Indonesia's seventh largest bank, Bank Permata, equal treatment then should be the key to ensure a fair competition between them to muster the best possible winner.

Indonesia struggles to fight poverty

Indonesia struggles to fight poverty Tony Hotland, Jakarta Suryatin, 44, carried two fat suitcases belonging to a passenger who was getting on a train at Gambir railway station. He said he needed to wait for at least one more passenger to hire him as a porter to get up to his average daily income of some Rp 30,000 (US$3.25).

Police investigating deaths of orangutans

Police investigating deaths of orangutans THAILAND: Police on Saturday were looking into the reported deaths of 41 orangutans at a private Thai zoo already under investigation for allegedly smuggling the animals from Indonesia. Police first raided Safari World last year because of accusations it was keeping protected species without a permit. They conducted another raid late last month to investigate claims the zoo had smuggled orangutans from Indonesia.

Health insurance patient rejected

Health insurance patient rejected From Kompas At 11 p.m. on June 12, I took my wife, who was about to give birth, to Mekar Sari Hospital, Bekasi, as referred by my family doctor, only to be told to return the next day, even though I was relying on my health insurance (Askes). Probably because of the third-class facilities covered by my Askes, we were told to go home because, according to hospital personnel, the patient could undergo stress if left too long before delivery.

More Buyat residents to come to Jakarta

More Buyat residents to come to Jakarta JAKARTA: Three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) will take seven more residents from Buyat Bay, Minahasa in North Sulawesi, to Jakarta, to show the government that the people there are suffering from a serious disease.

Indonesian banks outlook stable, says Moody's

Indonesian banks outlook stable, says Moody's The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The outlook for the debt and deposit ratings of Indonesian banks is stable at an average B2 and B3, respectively, international rating agency Moody's Investors Service said in its annual report. The average bank financial strength rating remains at E+, reflecting the system's still weak financial fundamentals.

Bank share prices after acquisition

Bank share prices after acquisition (as of June 22, 2004) -------------------------------------------------------- Bank Buyer Share price Increase --------------------------------------------------------- BCA Farallon Capital Rp 1,775 300.0% Niaga CAHB* Rp 290 9.4% Danamon Temasek & Deutsche Bank Rp 2,650 120.5% BII Kookmin Bank & Temasek Rp 130 58.5% --------------------------------------------------------- * Malaysia's Commerce Asset-Holding Berhad Source: PPA

Survivors set up forum to help others

Survivors set up forum to help others Leony Aurora , Jakarta "You don't know what it's like -- you've never been there", is the one-liner likely to be spoken by victims or running through their heads. On the basis of their first-hand experience of trauma, Marriott blast victims intend to help future victims of violence or bombings by establishing a foundation to be known as Forum Lima Delapan (F58) -- to represent Aug. 5, 2003, the day when JW Marriott hotel was bombed.

Flooding halts travel in Wanasari

Flooding halts travel in Wanasari PALU, Central Sulawesi: Flooding over the past few days in Wanasari subdistrict, Tojounauna regency, has damaged five bridges, public facilities such as schools, the subdistrict hall and many houses. The damage to the bridges has effectively cut travel between hamlets in Wanasari, as well as inter-subdistrict travel.

Opposition needed in democracy

Opposition needed in democracy In accordance with its democratic system, Indonesia is now heading for the presidential election runoff on Sept. 20. The system that has been adopted in many developed countries respects the existence of an opposition party, to check and balance the government. The notion that this system is against our state structure because it is from the west is a strange one, which sounds even more absurd coming from noted political leaders.

Indonesian soldiers -- the real 'survivors'

Indonesian soldiers -- the real 'survivors' Rusman, Samarinda In the remote jungle of East Kalimantan, far away from "civilization", Indonesian soldiers are playing a game of survival. Hold it. This is not a war situation, nor another scene from the artificial wildlife adventure some of us may love to watch in the Survivor reality show. The soldiers are guarding the border that separate two neighboring countries, along with their Malaysian counterparts.

Megawati camp demands clampdown on pollsters

Megawati camp demands clampdown on pollsters JAKARTA: The Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi camp called on the General Elections Commission (KPU) on Sunday to closely monitor the activities of Washington-based International Foundation for Election System (IFES) and other independent pollsters. The Megawati-Hasyim campaign team made the demand after scores of independent pollsters published surveys predicting that Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his running mate Jusuf Kalla would win the Sept.

S'pore package for ladies golf winner

S'pore package for ladies golf winner JAKARTA: Golf Links Indonesia and Siemens launched the inaugural Jakarta Ladies Golf Series, with a Singapore holiday package being offered to the winner. The tournament comprises three events played under three different formats, with the opener already having taken place at Cengkareng Golf Club on June 14.

PLN signs contract with Alstom consortium

PLN signs contract with Alstom consortium The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State electricity firm PT PLN has signed a contract with a consortium comprising Japanese, Indonesian and American firms for the provision of boilers for the Tarahan power project in South Sumatra. Under the contract signed on June 26, the consortium, comprising Alstom Power Inc.

Speculation rife over Nurdin's health

Speculation rife over Nurdin's health Abdul Khalik Jakarta The police's failure to satisfactorily explain the health condition of a legislator embroiled in a sugar smuggling scandal has led to speculation that the police, in league with doctors, are helping to protect him. Lawyer Luhut M.

Jusuf Kalla lobbies top Golkar leaders

Jusuf Kalla lobbies top Golkar leaders The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Semarang/Yogyakarta At least 23, or more than two thirds of Golkar's 32 provincial leaders, met with vice presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla at a hotel in Jakarta on Sunday, to discuss possible coalition building in the Sept. 20 election. Kalla said the meeting was part of political communications aimed at drawing support for his candidacy in the upcoming election.

Leading ASEAN

Leading ASEAN The 37th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which falls on Aug. 8, comes at a critical juncture. The world has undergone drastic developments these past few years on both the political and economic fronts, and ASEAN countries, individually or collectively, must also adapt. On the economic front, the rapid rise of China is changing the face of international trade and investment.

* Thousands of migrant workers depart Malaysia early Page 2

* Thousands of migrant workers depart Malaysia early Page 2 * Survey finds more Indonesians practicing safe sex Page 4 * Myth about sandalwood scotched Page 5 * Indonesia's slow road to recovery Page 7 * A walk in Kemang no walk in the park Page 8 * Winds of change blow very softly in Singapore Page 12 * Agassi beats Roddick, to meet Hewitt in final Page 11 * Indonesian banks stable: Moody's Page 13 * Telecoms equipment vendors offer range of services Page 17

No power supply in Serpong?

No power supply in Serpong? From Republika I am an elementary school teacher and plan to move with my family to Lengkong Gudang Timur village in Serpong district, Tangerang, where we will build a small house of our own. On June 3, I sent an application for 1,300-VA electricity supply to state-owned power firm PLN's Serpong branch. On July 5, I received the reply that the area's supply was suspended because the local power station had reached 94 percent of its capacity.

Three rebels killed, 13 others arrested

Three rebels killed, 13 others arrested BANDA ACEH: Government troops shot dead three suspected rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and captured 13 others in the latest conflict in the restive province of Aceh, the military said on Sunday. The three were killed on Saturday during clashes between soldiers and GAM members, while thirteen other rebels were captured in four separate raids also on Saturday, Aceh military spokesman Lt. Col. Asep Sapari said.

The rights-based approach ensures basic service provision

The rights-based approach ensures basic service provision UNSFIR, Jakarta The government in Indonesia has in the past organized public services with a centralized command structure that distributed national resources according to central priorities.

Susilo and the July 27 incident

Susilo and the July 27 incident From Warta Kota The July 27, 1996, incident, in which executives and members of the former Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) became victims of an attack on the party's headquarters on Jl. Diponegoro, Jakarta, is a dark episode in Indonesian politics. After being ignored for several years, families of the victims and a variety of non-governmental organizations have been striving hard to have the matter dealt with transparently.

Police, military involved in Papua abuses: Komnas

Police, military involved in Papua abuses: Komnas Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has completed the report on its investigation into bloody incidents in the Papua towns of Wamena and Wasior, saying soldiers and police committed gross abuses in both cases.

RI shuttlers meet tough competition

RI shuttlers meet tough competition Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta The quest to bring home the gold from the 2004 Athens Olympic Games may prove to be even more difficult than expected, with Indonesia's shuttlers drawn against some tough early round opponents. The International Badminton Federation announced the results of the Olympic draw on Sunday.

Speculation rife over Nurdin Halid's health

Speculation rife over Nurdin Halid's health Abdul Khalik, Jakarta The police's failure to satisfactorily explain the health condition of a legislator embroiled in a sugar smuggling scandal has led to speculation that the police, in league with doctors, are helping to protect him. Lawyer Luhut M.

Governors' neutrality questioned

Governors' neutrality questioned M. Taufiqurrahman and Nethy Dharma Somba, Jakarta/Jayapura Despite the assertion by the country's 32 governors that they will stay neutral in the runoff election, an analyst expressed doubts on Sunday that the pledge would have a significant impact on the fairness of the poll.

Singaporeans wonder whether new leader signals new era

Singaporeans wonder whether new leader signals new era Agencies, Singapore As Singaporeans prepare for this week's handover of power to a new prime minister, many are wondering whether their future leader's rule will echo that of his authoritarian father - the founder of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew. On Thursday, Lee Hsien Loong, 52, will take over from Goh Chok Tong, who has led Singapore since 1990, when the elder Lee stepped down.

More govt agencies get duty-free status

More govt agencies get duty-free status The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government has exempted 11 agencies under the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries from import duties and excise taxes. The head of the Legal and Public Relations Bureau at the Ministry of Finance, Maurin Sitorus, said the exemptions were aimed at assisting research and development programs within the agencies.

Workers protest Manpower Law

Workers protest Manpower Law SURABAYA: Some 1,500 workers staged a protest at the East Java governor's office here on Saturday, demanding that the government and legislators revoke Manpower Law No. 13/2003. Agus Haryanto, coordinator of the Indonesian Workers Union Congress, said the law did not side with workers, so it should be revoked. In particular, Agus said, one article allowed employers to outsource projects to contract workers, which meant a company could employ fewer permanent workers.

Kabelvision

Kabelvision to show Olympics live in Jakarta Musthofid, Jakarta Due to the local TV stations' lack of interest in airing the Olympics, Kabelvision, a cable TV broadcaster, has stepped into the vacuum and made a deal with the Kuala Lumpur-based Asia- Pacific Broadcast Union (ABU) for the rights to the program.

Big-time drug syndicates remain out of reach

Big-time drug syndicates remain out of reach The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite nationwide campaigns against illegal drugs, including the handing down of death sentences to traffickers, the number of drug addicts is on the rise. Data from the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) shows the number of drug addicts stood at 3.6 percent of Indonesia's 200 million population, a sharp increase from only 1 percent in 2002.

More people practicing safe sex: Survey

More people practicing safe sex: Survey Sari P. Setiogi, Jakarta More Indonesians have begun to practice safe sex, with the use of condoms by sexually active people on the rise, according to a survey. The use of condoms with both regular and nonregular sexual partners increased to 40 percent and 84 percent, respectively, among young people last year, from 34 percent and 75 percent in 2002, according to a survey by DKT Indonesia, a non-governmental organization dealing with reproductive health.

A walk in Kemang no walk in the park

A walk in Kemang no walk in the park Evi Mariani, Jakarta Undecided about which cafe to go to, Matheus, 33, and his two friends got out of their taxi and walked along Jl. Kemang Raya in South Jakarta for more than a kilometer on a Saturday night. At one point as the three friends made their way along the narrow and uneven sidewalk, their way was completely blocked by a parked car.

Govt moves to solve street vendor issue

Govt moves to solve street vendor issue BOGOR: Bogor city secretary Deddy S Hamdan has expressed a hope that the administration could find the best possible solution to dealing with sidewalk vendors, as it had established a joint committee to draw up a policy on the issue.

TV Program: Monday, August 9, 2004

TV Program: Monday, August 9, 2004 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Children Show: Pentas Ceria 8:30 Music: Asyik Asyik 10:00 Dialogue 11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 11:30 Doing Business 12:00 p.m. Documentary 1:00 News: Berita Siang 3:00 English News Service 4:00 Children Drama 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 8:00 TV Drama 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Jazz 10:30 Music 11:00 Talk Show: Mimbar Indonesia TPI 5:30 a.m.

Women may be at higher risk of endometriosis

Women may be at higher risk of endometriosis Dewi Santoso, Jakarta Female air travellers and flight attendants are advised to avoid traveling by air for longer than five hours at a time while having their periods, as flying may increase their risk of developing endometriosis, a disease that often results in infertility. "The higher they fly, the more air pressure.

Apology from 'TPI'

Apology from 'TPI' From Kompas In response to the letter of Putu BK in regards the mystery program Gentayangan aired by TPI (Kompas, July 10), we apologize for the live broadcast of the Hindu shrine, Pura Masceti in Gianyar, Bali, which entailed protests from the Balinese and Hindu communities.

Asian Cup successful, loss in final regrettable: China press

Asian Cup successful, loss in final regrettable: China press Agence France Presse, Beijing The Chinese state press Sunday lavished praise on the nation's hosting of the just ended Asian Cup and squarely blamed the home side's devastating 3-1 championship game loss to rivals Japan on poor refereeing. Most dailies carried blurry front page pictures of Japan's Koji Nakata apparently using his hand to punch in Japan's winning second goal in Saturday night's hard fought final.

Looking for common values, a community driven ASEAN

Looking for common values, a community driven ASEAN Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Jakarta A group of people with a common characteristic, or interests living together within a larger society. That is Merriam Webster's definition of "community". After four decades of cooperation, at least four Declarations, two Concords, two Treaties, one Protocol, a Vision Statement and countless agreements, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) now says it wants to establish itself into a "community".

Telecom equipment vendors offer range of services

Telecom equipment vendors offer range of services Zatni Arbi, Columnist, Jakarta In the banking industry, the concept of outsourcing has largely been accepted. Smaller banks do not have the capital to invest in their own Disaster Recovery Center (DRC), for example, and they simply outsource this mandatory function to a third party. The outsourcing provider then achieves economies of scale by offering the same service to other, similar institutions, so that it can offer attractive pricing.

Feeling uneasy on Serpong freeway

Feeling uneasy on Serpong freeway From Media Indonesia As 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. Apart from the lighting along Jalan Ulujami, the whole section from Ranji to Serpong is without lights, making the road very dark and making me feel insecure. Once my car stalled on the dark freeway, which made me wary of robbery.

Government to go ahead with Jatigede dam project

Government to go ahead with Jatigede dam project Yuli Tri Suwarni and Nana Rukmana, Bandung/Indramayu Despite being controversial, the government will go ahead with plans to build Jatigede dam. Sumedang regent Don Murdono has revealed that construction of the large, Rp 2.1 trillion (US$ 221 million) dam will commence in the near future, despite mounting protests. "There has been debate among the public.