Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 20 September 2004

69 articles found

40 busway buses

40 busway buses to operate Monday JAKARTA: TransJakarta Busway Management announced that it would continue serving the public on election day on Monday, but reduced the fleet from 51 buses to 40 buses. The management head Irzal Z. Djamal, said on Sunday that the decision to reduce the number of buses was due to the decreasing demand from the public on election day. During the July 5 presidential election, the management recorded only 26,451 passengers.

'No candidate followed rules exactly'

'No candidate followed rules exactly' Among the foreign observers here for the runoff of Indonesia's first direct presidential election on Monday, the largest contingent consists of the 220 members of the European Union Election Observation Mission. The following are excerpts from an interview with its chief observer, Glyn Ford, who spoke to The Jakarta Post's M. Taufiqurrahman. Question: How significant is Indonesia's election to the world at large and especially to the European Union itself?

KPU launches computerized vote counting

KPU launches computerized vote counting M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta A new-and-improved computerized vote counting system was ready for the presidential election and would help to reduce vote- rigging in the poll, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Sunday. As in the legislative election and the first round of the presidential election, the computerized vote counting will provide the public with updates from polling stations nationwide.

Angie to take lengthy break for injury recovery

Angie to take lengthy break for injury recovery Eva C. Komandjaja The Jakarta Post/Nusa Dua, Bali Angelique Widjaja, whose Wismilak bid crashed in the quarterfinals, plans to take a lengthy rest to allow her nagging knee injury to recover. Angie said that the Honsel Korean Open, which starts on Sept. 27, would be her last tournament before she took a break. She will return to the scene for the January 2005 Australian Open.

Beyond the war on terror: Opportunity for Indonesia?

Beyond the war on terror: Opportunity for Indonesia? Daromir Rudnyckyj, Jakarta Three years have elapsed since U.S. President George W. Bush, perhaps somewhat presumptively, proclaimed a "war on terror." At the time the hasty rush to war distressed many, both within Indonesia and outside. Indeeed it is becoming obvious that little strategic planning went into determining how such a war might actually be won.

* Police hang up on text terror messages Page 2

* Police hang up on text terror messages Page 2 * KPU launches computerized vote counting Page 4 * 1,000 orangutans in N. Sumatra, Aceh disappear each year Page 5 * Beyond the war on terror Page 6 * Jakarta councillors told to put toil above money Page 8 * Hopkins knocks out De la Hoya Page 9 * Howard lashes rival for opposing strikes on SE Asia Page 11 * Govt to revalue troubled Dipasena's assets Page 13 * Rembrandt probably had lazy eye Page 18

Adam Tyson

Adam Tyson Toronto Aceh has always been an essential part of the vast Indonesian archipelago, being of great historical, economic and symbolic importance. Today this volatile region of Northern Sumatra is most commonly identified with the perpetual "low-intensity conflict" between the military and the unconventional separatist force known as the Free Aceh Movement (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka or GAM). The modern independence movement in Aceh began in 1976.

Siberut Island suffers as logging destroys ecology

Siberut Island suffers as logging destroys ecology Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post/Padang Two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), joined by Padang's North Siberut Alliance for the Preservation of Mentawai Culture (AMAPM), are urging the government to put a stop to logging activities on the island of Siberut, which is among the Mentawai Islands.

Competitive market benefits power consumers, but how?

Competitive market benefits power consumers, but how? Nengah Sudja Jakarta I do fully agree, in relation to David O'Brien's article entitled Competitive market benefits power consumers in this paper on Sept. 1. That piece says there is little appreciation for the fact that the production and delivery of electric power remains close to a crisis point and the current system will not stop the lights from going out.

Resource-rich Natuna still underdeveloped

Resource-rich Natuna still underdeveloped Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post/Natuna, Riau Islands As an emerging regency, Natuna has great potential for development. Located near Singapore, it groups some 272 islands and intersects with one of the world's busiest trade routes, the Strait of Malacca, with about 280 ships crossing through the region daily. The potential for tourism and fisheries is obvious.

Police hang up on text terror messages

Police hang up on text terror messages Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta "Sources with National Police Headquarters suspect that three vehicles loaded with explosives are on their way to Jakarta, targeting malls or places of worship tonight or tomorrow night. Police have tightened access to Jakarta. The suspected vehicles' registration numbers are D 183 KH, D 1631 TH and D 4187 TH.

Candidates busy day on eve of polling day

Candidates busy day on eve of polling day The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Blitar Presidential candidates Megawati Soekarnoputri and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono were all set Sunday after they both spent busy days on the eve of election runoff. Front-runner Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visited his mother's hometown in Blitar, Central Java, on Saturday and returned to Jakarta later on Sunday, while President Megawati Soekarnoputri toured the capital.

40 busway buses to operate Monday

40 busway buses to operate Monday JAKARTA: TransJakarta Busway Management announced that it would continue serving the public on election day on Monday, but reduced the fleet from 51 buses to 40 buses. The management head Irzal Z. Djamal, said on Sunday in a press release that the decision to reduce the number of buses was due to the decreasing demand from the public on election day. During the July 5 presidential election, the management recorded only 26,451 passengers.

Flooding hits Pontianak city

Flooding hits Pontianak city PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Some areas of Pontianak city in West Kalimantan were flooded on Saturday, following rainfall over the last few days. On Jl. Purnama the water was knee-deep. The heavy rainfall is a marked contrast to this year's prolonged dry season. -- Antara

Senior journalist Bisri dies at 52

Senior journalist Bisri dies at 52 JAKARTA: Senior journalist Bisri Hasanuddin, the English editor for state-owned Antara news agency, died of lung cancer on Sunday. He was survived by one wife and two children. Before joining the news agency, Bisri was also known as one of the pioneers of the state-owned television station TVRI and a member of the state secretarial staff. Bisri, who was buried at the Pondok Kelapa cemetery in East Jakarta, was detected to have lung cancer early this year.

Hu replaces Jiang to cap transition

Hu replaces Jiang to cap transition Benjamin Kang Lim, Reuters/Beijing Former president Jiang Zemin gave up the top job in China's military on Sunday, handing over his last post to Communist Party chief Hu Jintao to complete a historic leadership transition to a younger generation.

Six houses

Six houses razed by fire JAKARTA: Fire razed six houses, including a junkyard, on Jl. Saharjo, Tebet, South Jakarta, on Sunday at around 3 p.m. A firefighter from the South Jakarta Fire Brigade said that at least 10 fire trucks were deployed to put out the fire. "We received the information at around 3:10 p.m.," he said. No fatalities were reported in the fire but the junkyard owner Lukas suffered burns and was rushed to a nearby health clinic. His condition is not life-threatening.

Entertaining Pagulayan beats Tony in exhibition match

Entertaining Pagulayan beats Tony in exhibition match Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Bali World 9-ball pool champion Alex Pagulayan put on an entertaining display of his skills to beat National Games gold medalist Tony Cahaya Putra in one stop on his exhibition match tour here on Sunday. Pagulayan, who clinched the world championship title in Taiwan in July, beat Tony 3-2 at the Paradiso Bowling and Billiard Center in Kuta, one of the tourist hub's on the island.

1. ELECT: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS

1. ELECT: 1 LINE, 35 COUNTS Accept whoever wins election: Mega 2. CURTAIN: 2 LINES, 24 COUNTS Huge problems awaiting Indonesia's next president 3. TENNIS: 1 LINE, 32 COUNTS Kuznetsova claims Wismilak title 4. BEIJING: 2 LINES, 18 COUNTS Hu replaces Jiang to cap transition

Industrial waste kills shrimp farming

Industrial waste kills shrimp farming Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post/Tangerang Hundreds of shrimp farmers who manage some 2,000 hectares of shrimp ponds along the northern coast of Tangerang regency complained of industrial waste in Cisadane River destroyed their shrimp farms.

TV Program: Monday, September 20, 2004

TV Program: Monday, September 20, 2004 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 6:00 a.m. News: Berita Pagi 7:30 Children Show: Pentas Ceria 8:30 Music: Asyik Asyik 11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 12:00 p.m. Documentary 1:00 News: Berita Siang 3:00 English News Service 4:30 Documentary 6:30 Talk Show: Obrolan Wong Cilik 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 7:30 Music 8:00 TV Drama 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Dangdut Music 10:30 Comedy 11:00 Talk Show: Mimbar Indonesia TPI 5:30 a.m.

Huge problems await next president

Huge problems await next president The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Over 100 million people are expected to flock to hundreds of thousands of polling stations on Monday to cast their votes in the final round of the country's first-ever direct presidential election. While recognizing Monday's election as a significant milestone in the country's democratization process, experts nevertheless warned on Sunday against putting too much hope in the next president.

2 x 18

2 x 18 Padang court frees graft defendants JP/5/MONKEY 1 x 44 1,000 orangutans disappear each year: Survey JP/5/PROJECT 1 x 38 10,000 face eviction for water project JP/5/HPH 3 x 18 Siberut Island suffers as logging destroys ecology JP/5/PILOT 1 x 29 Japanese WWII pilot drops aid

Employees hospitalized with food poisoning

Employees hospitalized with food poisoning JAMBI: Over 100 employees of Matahari department store, here, were taken to local hospitals on Saturday after allegedly eating contaminated food. Jambi Police chief Sr. Comr. Bambang Sudarisman said the employees had complained of headaches and vomited after eating food at a ceremony to mark the Ascension Day of the Prophet Muhammad. The police are looking into the case, said Bambang. -- Antara

Waste travels to the islands

Waste travels to the islands Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta "It's a Nike! A doll! Thongs! Light bulbs!" These words did not come from excited children at a birthday party. Instead, they came from volunteers, who were quite surprised at what they found over the weekend on the west beach of Kotok island in Kepulauan Seribu (Thousand Islands) regency. Kotok island, with its relatively intact coral reef, is a favorite getaway for Jakarta divers.

Voters to be treated like kings at three polling stations

Voters to be treated like kings at three polling stations Indonesians who turn out to vote at three polling stations in Monday's presidential election will get free food, drink, entertainment and even door prizes, a report said Sunday. The incentives are on offer in a district in Jember in East Java province. Electors at the three stations will not only receive food and drink but will also be entertained by a live band, the state Antara news agency said.

World Muslim E-center launched

World Muslim E-center launched JAKARTA: The electronic center and gallery for Muslims were launched on Sunday in the basement of the Grand Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, to enable the country's Muslims to communicate interactively and exchange information with other Muslims worldwide.

Accept whoever wins poll: Mega

Accept whoever wins poll: Mega Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Surabaya Incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri has reiterated her call for a peaceful election and asked the nation to accept whoever was elected the next president in the vote on Monday. In a speech on the eve of the final round of presidential elections on Sunday, Megawati said all Indonesians were obligated to support the next president.

Regency court for Tangerang sought

Regency court for Tangerang sought TANGERANG: Tangerang Government Watch director Tony Wismantoro suggested on Saturday that Tangerang regency get its own prosecutor's office and court. "This is also in line with the separation of the Tangerang City Police into regency and municipal police offices," he told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

1,000 orangutans disappear each year: Survey

1,000 orangutans disappear each year: Survey Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post/Medan A survey by the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Program (SOCP) found at least 1,000 orangutans in North Sumatra and Aceh provinces are disappearing each year due to poaching and loss of habitat. According to the SOCP, there are only about 7,518 orangutans, 55 percent of them adult males, remaining in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, from tens of thousands of orangutans in the 1980s.

Howard lashes rival for opposing strikes on SE Asia

Howard lashes rival for opposing strikes on SE Asia Agencies, Canberra Prime Minister John Howard criticized on Sunday his election rival Mark Latham for ruling out pre-emptive strikes against terrorist targets in Southeast Asia if Australia were under direct threat.

Experts see strong interest in govt bonds

Experts see strong interest in govt bonds The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government said over the weekend it was planning to sell some Rp 2.5 trillion worth of sixth government domestic bonds on Sept. 28, in what an analyst said as timely, given the positive sentiment to be derived from Monday's election runoff. The upcoming issue is expected to draw healthy interests from investors, notably from domestic investors, according to Fauzi Ichsan, an analyst at Standard Chartered Bank .

Associated Press

Associated Press Kuala Lumpur Malaysia may resume poultry exports next week to Singapore, its biggest market, despite failing to eradicate bird flu from the northern state of Kelantan, a senior official said on Saturday. Live chickens, ducks and eggs would be shipped to Singapore only from the neighboring Malaysian states of Malacca and Johor, which have suffered no bird flu cases, said Hawari Hussein, director-general of the Malaysian veterinary department.

It's now or never for Megawati and her PDIP

It's now or never for Megawati and her PDIP ------------------------------------------------------------------- Megawati Soekarnoputri's name and positions are at stake. She is in the precarious position of losing both her presidential seat and the leadership of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).

TNI arrest GAM police chief

TNI arrest GAM police chief BANDA ACEH: The Indonesian Military (TNI) captured on Saturday Bantarisa Usaru, the Separatist Aceh Movement (GAM) police chief for Bireuen regency, during an operation in Krueng Simpo Mina village, 300 kilometers from Banda Aceh. "He is an important person in the GAM organizational structure. We arrested him on Saturday together with a home-made rifle," Let. Col. Asep Sapari, spokesman of the operations said in Lhokseumawe on Sunday.

Ground water near fishpond may not be safe

Ground water near fishpond may not be safe Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta People living near fishponds need to take care in using ground water as it may be polluted with bacteria and other micro- organisms from water used to clean fishponds, a study revealed. A field study carried out by the National University (Unas) at Prapat village in Pangandaran, West Java, reveals that ground water surrounding fishponds is highly polluted with organisms and coliform of bacteria.

RI students grab silvers, bronze medals

RI students grab silvers, bronze medals The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesian students grabbed two silvers and one bronze in the 16th Olympiad in Informatics that ended on Saturday in Athens, Greece. The event, which ran from Sept. 11 to Sept. 18, was attended by 300 students from 80 countries. The silvers went to David Santoso Anggakusuma of Tarakanita 2 private senior high school in Jakarta and Derianto Kusuma of Kanisius private senior high school, also in Jakarta.

Govt launches Hepatitis C Care Day

Govt launches Hepatitis C Care Day Dewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta With at least seven million people in the country infected with hepatitis C, increasing public awareness of the disease is one way to halt its transmission. Not many people know how hepatitis C spreads, or how the virus that causes the disease differs from hepatitis A and B viruses.

Registered voters drop by 103,000

Registered voters drop by 103,000 JAKARTA: Jakarta General Elections Commission (KPUD) Muhamad Taufik said on Sunday that the number of registered voters for Monday's presidential election declined by 103,528 to only 6,617,980, while the number of polling stations is reduced by 10 from 224,224 stations into 224,214. Taufik said the decreasing number was because many people have moved from the area where they had been registered before.

PPP members seek to oust Hamzah

PPP members seek to oust Hamzah JAKARTA: Discontent with the current party's leadership, some members of the United Development Party (PPP) are seeking to hold a special national meeting to replace incumbent chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also the incumbent vice president. "We are lobbying several chapters across the country for the special meeting as the current chairmanship fails to do good for the party," Chairulhadi M.

Event preparations sluggish: Mayor

Event preparations sluggish: Mayor BANDUNG: Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada acknowledged on Saturday that preparations for the Asia Africa Conference Golden Jubilee were far from complete, although the conference is only six months away. Evidence could be seen in unfinished projects, such as the extension of the tarmac of Husain Sastranegara airport, a tree- planting project and roadwork in the city, he said. The mayor blamed the sluggish preparations on low funds.

'Indonesia Sukses' quiz

'Indonesia Sukses' quiz From Koran Tempo We have often heard on the television that many elementary schools have collapsed because not enough funds are available for their proper maintenance. Many experts and government leaders have also complained on TV that there is not enough money to develop the country's education.

Senseless acts of violence

Senseless acts of violence I would like to express my profound sympathy for the people of Indonesia. The recent terrorist attack on the Australian Embassy, as well as the Bali bombing and the attack on the Marriott, were certainly carried out by people who do not represent the peaceful people of Indonesia. They have brought shame on upon a nation that does not deserve it.

Monday's runoff to boost rupiah, stock index

Monday's runoff to boost rupiah, stock index Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The rupiah and stock prices are set to benefit this week from the prevailing positive market sentiment, as hopes are high that the Monday's election runoff will proceed without violence, analysts said on Sunday. The country is gearing up for an historic moment on Sept.

Vote and be counted

Vote and be counted It's decision time. Today is the final round of the presidential election. For the first time since we declared independence in 1945, the people of this country have the opportunity to decide directly who will lead us for the next five years. If we believe the fate of the country depends to a large extent on its leaders, then this is an unprecedented opportunity for us to determine our own destiny, or at the very least, the direction in which the country will head.

Fires break out in Berbak National Park

Fires break out in Berbak National Park JAMBI, Jambi: Dozens of hot spots were detected by satellite on Saturday in Berbak National Park, here, signifying that areas of the national park were ablaze. However, no data was available on the scale of the fires. Frans Tandipau, secretary of the Forest Fire Management Center at Jambi provincial administration, said the center had deployed fire fighters to extinguish the fires.

Scope brings Web content to mobile devices

Scope brings Web content to mobile devices Zatni Arbi, Contributor/zatni@cbn.net.id When my cell phone operator Telkomsel introduced the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) over its cellular phone network, I did not jump straight into the habit of browsing the Internet using my cell phone. It was not because I could not read the text on my cell phone, as my beloved Nokia 6800 has a fairly crisp display with large characters.

Blast perpetrated by lone suicide bomber: police

Blast perpetrated by lone suicide bomber: police Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta All the body parts found at the bomb site outside the Australian Embassy in Jakarta belonged to one suicide bomber, a police general close to the investigation revealed on Sunday. The general, who declined to be named, also said the powerful bomb that killed at least 10 people and wounded over 180 others was detonated from inside the vehicle carrying it.

Kota Bunga's

Kota Bunga's elitism reeks From Media Indonesia As a customer of Kota Bunga in Cipanas, West Java, I was promised various facilities before buying a villa, including the use of a guesthouse twice, each time for three nights, while the villa is under construction. Three months ago, I made a request to use the guesthouse only to be rejected because it would be used by the company's executive directors and their families.

KPU launches computerized vote counting

KPU launches computerized vote counting M. Taufiqurrahman The Jakarta Post/Jakarta A new-and-improved computerized vote counting system was ready for the presidential election and would help to reduce vote- rigging in the poll, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced on Sunday. As in the legislative election and the first round of the presidential election, the computerized vote counting will provide the public with updates from polling stations nationwide.

Wismilak International

Wismilak International Results from the sixth day of the US$225,000 11th Wismilak International WTA event on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on Saturday (x denotes seeding): Semifinals Svetlana Kuznetsova (Rus x2) bt Nadia Petrova (Rus x4) 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-2. Marlene Weingartner (Ger) bt Maria Elena Camerin (Ita) 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Industry says luxury tax stymies electronics development

Industry says luxury tax stymies electronics development Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta If you think a 29-inch tube screen television or a camera cell phone with add-ons -- both selling for about Rp 3 million, (US$330) -- are luxuries then you're in agreement with the government. The state currently categorizes all televisions measuring more than 22 inches diagonally and new generation cell phones as goods subject to luxury tax.

Fake diplomas

Fake diplomas From Republika Surely, all of us want clean, smart and honest councillors, because they are the people's representatives. Thus, those who have used fake diplomas should be replaced as soon as possible. They don't deserve to be called councillors. How could they voice the people's inspiration as they, like corruptors, are liars. The difficulty lies in how to investigate such cases, considering that these bogus diplomas are approved and registered by education institutions.

'Hi-tech junk can be good business'

'Hi-tech junk can be good business' State-of-the-art electronic goods, including computers, television sets, DVD/VCD players and cell phones have become more affordable, with old models discarded for brand new ones. But, little thought is given to what happens to high-tech junk -- which may be harmful to humans and the environment -- if it is not disposed of properly. The Jakarta Post asked some residents for their opinion on the issue.

Malaysia's UMNO wins by-election

Malaysia's UMNO wins by-election MALAYSIA: Malaysia's ruling coalition retained its seat in a state government by-election held on Saturday, the official Bernama news agency said on Sunday. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's National Front coalition beat the independent candidate by a margin of 1,452 votes to retain the Ba'Kelalan seat in the eastern state of Sarawak on Borneo island, it said.

'Industries could pollute Citarum'

'Industries could pollute Citarum' BANDUNG: Some 3,000 industries located by the Citarum -- the biggest river in West Java and a major water source for Jakarta -- put it at risk of pollution. West Java Governor Danny Setiawan disclosed on Friday that the quality, as well as the water volume of Citarum river -- which runs through seven municipalities -- is declining, and its water level fluctuating irregularly.

Prison medics trained in HIV/AIDS treatment

Prison medics trained in HIV/AIDS treatment Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Concerned by the rising number of inmates testing positive for HIV, the Pelita Ilmu Foundation (YPI) held on Saturday a workshop for prison medical workers on treating people living with the virus.

Kuznetsova claims Wismilak title

Kuznetsova claims Wismilak title Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Nusa Dua, Bali Second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova claimed the singles title at the US$225,000 Wismilak International Tennis tournament after overpowering unseeded Marlene Weingartner of Germany 6-1, 6-4 in the final, while the top seeded pair, Anastasia Myskina/Ai Sugiyama won the doubles on Sunday.

Councillors must work first, demand salary later

Councillors must work first, demand salary later Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The City Council should put public interests first before demanding higher salaries and better facilities, residents say. "The time is not right to propose higher salaries.

Indonesia, democracy and the Islamic world

Indonesia, democracy and the Islamic world Jonathan Power, London The two big wings of Islam-Turkey in the West and Indonesia in the East -- are reforming and changing at a lightening pace, confounding those who only measure Islam by its seemingly stagnant middle ground. Next week Indonesia goes to the polls for its final round in a presidential election that so far has been largely free, courteous and non-violent.

The brand illusion -- What's stopping Indonesian brands from

The brand illusion -- What's stopping Indonesian brands from competing globally Michael J. Webdell Jakarta Nike, Samsung, Tommy Hilfiger, Guess, Sony: These are just a few brands popular to people across the world. In shopping malls from Jakarta to London, and New York to Seoul, they are symbols of a lifestyle consumers pay premium to be part of.

Govt to revalue Dipasena assets

Govt to revalue Dipasena assets The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government will appoint an independent appraiser to revalue troubled assets of PT Dipasena Citra Darmaja, Southeast Asia's largest shrimp-farming company, before offering them to investors for sale or in a bid to seek working capital.

Japanese WW II pilot drops aid

Japanese WW II pilot drops aid Antara, Banggai Regency A Japanese pilot from the World War II era, who was saved by locals during the war 60 years ago, dispatched an aid package to Tangeban subdistrict, some 60 kilometers north of Luwuk, the capital of Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi province.

Padang court frees graft defendants

Padang court frees graft defendants Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post/Padang The Padang district court exonerated on Saturday four defendants accused of involvement in a high-profile Rp 7.6 billion (US$808,510) graft case in Mentawai Islands regency. The four are: regental administration secretary Ridwan Siritubui, administration treasurer Rika Hasnita, chief of finances at the administration D. Lubis and former treasurer Ardi.

Sept. 22 : vote counting wraps up at village level

Sept. 22 : vote counting wraps up at village level Sept. 24 : vote counting completed at district level Sept. 27 : vote counting completes at regency level Oct. 1 : provincial KPUD wraps up vote counting Oct. 2 - Oct. 4 : national votes aggregation by the KPU Oct. 5 : announcement of manual vote counting result Oct. 6 - Oct. 15 : hearing at the Constitutional Court should there be any disputes Oct. 20 : president elect sworn in

PDI-P drops proposal on military

PDI-P drops proposal on military Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) withdrew on Friday its proposal to insert an article into the military bill being deliberated by the House of Representatives banning newly retired military personnel from politics. PDI-P legislator Amris Hasan said his faction had accepted the Indonesian Military (TNI)'s argument that the bill should deal only with active military personnel.

Vulgar TV after 10

Vulgar TV after 10 From Republika Today's TV programs, particularly those after 10 p.m., are still loaded with sexual behavior and problems presented in a vulgar way, such as reality shows about promiscuous women and female students seeking money, the use of aphrodisiacs, the life of prostitutes and other indecent fragments.

Taiwan's DPP wants ties with RI political parties

Taiwan's DPP wants ties with RI political parties The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) wants to establish party-to-party relations with Indonesia's political parties, a DPP leader said in Jakarta. "We are neighbors of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Among them, Indonesia is an important country for Taiwan.

10,000 face eviction for water project

10,000 face eviction for water project Oyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung Bandarlampung municipal administration is planning to demolish some 5,000 stilt houses in Lampung Bay, in line with its plan to implement the so-termed Waterfront City Project.