Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 28 September 2004

81 articles found

If only Newmont

If only NewmontWith extraordinary swiftness the National Police are pursuing the alleged pollution case in Buyat Bay, North Sulawesi. Unswayed by initial dismissals from government officials about the reported pollution, police have conducted their own investigation and within weeks of the final...

RI maid 'forced to drink toilet water'

RI maid 'forced to drink toilet water'MALAYSIA: A 25-year-old Indonesian maid has accused her Malaysian employer of forcing her to eat excrement and drink from the toilet bowl in the latest case of alleged maid abuse in the country, police said on Monday.

[b]

After election euphoria, the pitfalls awaiting Susilo Harry Bhaskara The Jakarta Post2. Qodari -- Susilo's cabinet: Things to consider 2 x 30 Things Susilo must consider to form a highly credible cabinet Muhammad Qodari Jakarta

Dismissed Kasogi workers demand severance pay

Dismissed Kasogi workers demand severance payID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, SurabayaMore than 1,500 workers, who were dismissed by shoe firm PT Kasogi Internasional tbk last July, descended again on the East Java legislative council building in Surabaya on Monday, pressing ahead with their demand...

PDI-P not to hold special congress

PDI-P not to hold special congress JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) dismissed on Monday demands to hold a special congress to replace the party's leadership following its poor performance in this year's elections.

Car catches fire in South Jakarta

Car catches fire in South Jakarta JAKARTA: A sedan burst into flames several minutes after leaving Jakarta Police Headquarters on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta on Monday.No fatalities were reported in the incident, police said.

4-year sentence sought for drug user

4-year sentence sought for drug user JAKARTA: West Jakarta prosecutors asked the district court on Monday to sentence Muhammad Juhri, 36, to four years in prison for the possession of two ecstasy pills.Prosecutors also demanded the suspect be fined Rp 75 million (US$8,152).

Four officials eye mayoral posts

Four officials eye mayoral posts JAKARTA: Four senior administration officials will vie for the Central Jakarta and West Jakarta mayoral posts."A screening committee, chaired by City Secretary Ritola Tasmaya, has come up with four candidates.

RI shares end lower on weak rupiah, Asian markets

RI shares end lower on weak rupiah, Asian marketsDow Jones, Jakarta Indonesian shares ended lower Monday on swift profit-taking, with sentiment hurt by the weak rupiah and losses on most Asian markets, dealers said."We ran out of positive factors," said a trader with Paramitra Securities.

After election euphoria, the pitfalls awaiting Susilo

After election euphoria, the pitfalls awaiting SusiloHarry Bhaskara, Jakarta "Change" has been Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's campaign mantra, which brought him into the top position using the tiny and little-known Democratic Party as his springboard.

Torture of Aceh prisoners continues

Torture of Aceh prisoners continuesTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, JakartaA leading rights watchdog has called on the next Indonesian president to reopen cases of alleged abuse and torture against Acehnese prisoners, saying the military and police were using violence to extract baseless...

BII to hire UBS, Barclays for bond

BII to hire UBS, Barclays for bondJAKARTA: PT Bank Internasional Indonesia, the country's sixth- largest lender, plans to hire Barclays Plc and UBS AG to help it sell dollar-denominated bonds, bankers familiar with the situation said.

Investors to reclaim Cemex shares in SG

Investors to reclaim Cemex shares in SGRendi A. Witular, Jakarta Due to a projected boom in cement demand in the next couple of years, foreign and local investors have expressed their interest in acquiring the shares of Mexican cement giant Cemex SA in state-owned cement producer PT Semen Gresik...

U.S. faces dilemma in war on terror in Asia

U.S. faces dilemma in war on terror in AsiaP. Parameswaran, Agence France Presse/WashingtonIn the fight against terrorism in Asia, the United States faces a new dilemma: devising strategies against violent national armed groups in Asia with have potential to internationalize their operations.

Noodle scandal hits Maluku govt

Noodle scandal hits Maluku govtM. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post, AmbonA number of refugees in Wainitu subdistrict, Ambon, suffered from diarrhea and vomiting after eating expired instant noodles distributed by the government less than a week ago, a local councillor said on Monday.

Ex-councillors to be questioned

Ex-councillors to be questionedTheresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, BogorThe Bogor Prosecutor's Office will summon three former councillors as witnesses for questioning on Tuesday in connection with alleged graft involving around Rp 5.53 billion (US$607,692.31).The three former councillors are T.

Sustainable benefits: New road to conservation

Sustainable benefits: New road to conservationHarry Surjadi, Contributor, Jayapura, PapuaThere has been a tug-of-war in understanding how people can make use of forest resources without harming the environment.

Nigeria praises RI for peaceful polls

Nigeria praises RI for peaceful pollsJAKARTA: The Federal Government and People of Nigeria congratulated Indonesia for the latter's success in conducting a peaceful presidential election last week."We in Nigeria rejoice and share with Indonesia on this momentous occasion.

Regents urge new govt to revise autonomy law

Regents urge new govt to revise autonomy lawThe Jakarta Post/JakartaThe next government has been told to revise the Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and Law No. 25/1999 on the fiscal balance between regional and central administrations to arrest the widening gap between rich and poor across the...

Indonesians make most of porous Philippine border

Indonesians make most of porous Philippine border Manny Mogato Reuters/Glan, PhilippinesFrom behind a pair of binoculars that have seen far better days, Amancio Wagwag searches the sea for intruders. There is no shortage of activity.

U.S. mission says polls peaceful

U.S. mission says polls peaceful JAKARTA: The U.S. Embassy's election observation team said on Monday Indonesia conducted the direct presidential election orderly and peacefully, without disruption to voter access to the Sept. 20 polls.

Embassy bombing:

Embassy bombing: Some questionsFrom RepublikaSeveral questions have arisen from my observation of the recent bombing incident at the Australian Embassy in Kuningan, Jakarta, regarding the suicide label, blast position, bombing motive, bomb-making and funding.

Laksamana at center of graft allegations

Laksamana at center of graft allegationsAbdul Khalik and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Attorney General's Office is looking into corruption allegations against State Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi, the attorney general said.

*Foreigners to be target of raids Page 2

*Foreigners to be target of raids Page 2 *House, government amend social security bill Page 4 *Next government urged to revise autonomy law Page 5 *After election euphoria, pitfalls await Susilo Page 6 *Working mothers wary of day care centers Page 8 *Singh wins third straight tournament Page 9...

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 27, 2004

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Sept. 27, 2004 ___________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo...

House, govt amend social security bill

House, govt amend social security billRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe House of Representatives and the government have made substantial changes to the much-criticized bill on national social security, which was due to be endorsed on Wednesday.

Susilo told to pick professionals

Susilo told to pick professionalsM. Taufiqurrahman and Puji Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/PekanbaruPresident in-waiting Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should dismiss calls for the inclusion of politicians in his cabinet and instead fill key posts with professionals to create an effective government,...

Cirebon Mayor broke election law: Panwaslu

Cirebon Mayor broke election law: PanwasluNana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, AmbonAfter a three-day investigation, the Cirebon Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) has ruled Cirebon Mayor Subardi violated election rules by campaigning for incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Java, Sumatra tops for osteoporosis

Java, Sumatra tops for osteoporosisDewi Santoso, The Jakarta Post, JakartaResidents of Sumatra and Java are the most at risk of developing osteoporosis, according to a survey carried out by the Ministry of Health's Research and Development Center.

Cycling can save time, money

Cycling can save time, moneyUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, JakartaOnce three office workers held a race to see who could reach home first using different kinds of vehicles.The first, who worked on Jl. Gatot Subroto, drove a car.

Law revisions should aim to reduce poverty: Regents

Law revisions should aim to reduce poverty: Regents The Jakarta Post/JakartaThe next government has been told to revise the Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and Law No. 25/1999 on the fiscal balance between regional and central administrations to arrest the widening gap between rich and poor...

Lessons from Brazil in tackling deforestation

Lessons from Brazil in tackling deforestationJosef Leitmann, Jakarta Brazil, like Indonesia, is confronted with serious deforestation of its tropical forests. Through years of debate and experimentation, the country has now developed several good practices and an action plan for combating...

OIC trade officials preparing for next WTO talks

OIC trade officials preparing for next WTO talksZakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Trade officials from the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) member countries started gathering here on Monday for a three-week course on global trade policy and the multilateral trading system.

RI absorbs only 30% of IDB's loan

RI absorbs only 30% of IDB's loanThe Jakarta Post, JakartaIndonesia has absorbed only 30 percent of loans extended by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) this year mainly due to problems related to regional autonomy, a senior official with the international institution said on Monday.

Reasserting our will

Reasserting our will to resolve problemsFrom Media Indonesia While we do not yet possess complete facts about the recent bomb blast in front of the Australian Embassy in Kuningan and therefore cannot identify a plausible suspect, one thing is obvious -- our country is within the sphere of terrorism...

Riau faces rice shortage

Riau faces rice shortage PEKANBARU, Riau: A government official expressed concern on Monday over the low rice supply in Riau province.The province produces only 350,000 tons of rice annually, less than half of the needs of the Riau population at 650,000 tons of rice a year.

Amin wins 1st stage of Tour d'Indonesia

Amin wins 1st stage of Tour d'IndonesiaMusthofid, The Jakarta Post, Lembang, West Java Amin Suryana of Indonesia struck early in the opening stage of the Dji Sam Soe Tour d'Indonesia from Jakarta to Lembang on Monday, as race participants voiced concern over the sloppy handling of security along...

A protest against tourism

A protest against tourismBoudewijn Brands, Contributor, YogyakartaAt Cemeti Art House, Yogyakarta, an exhibition by a well-known Thai artist is currently running. What is there to protest against?Globalization, the negative impact of tourism, consumerism, random killing and bombing could all be...

House approves Merpati lifesaving plan

House approves Merpati lifesaving planRendi A. Witular, Jakarta The House of Representatives has given approval to the government to restructure troubled state-owned airline PT Merpati Nusantara Airlines in a bid to help prevent the country's second largest air carrier from collapsing.

Foreigners to be targeted in residency raids

Foreigners to be targeted in residency raidsBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, JakartaDozens of expatriates were shocked by the recent visit of officials of the Jakarta administration to their apartments at Taman Rasuna in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Things Susilo must consider to form a highly credible cabinet

Things Susilo must consider to form a highly credible cabinetMuhammad Qodari, Jakarta Victory for presidential candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is almost certain. According to a quick count method by credible institutions and electronically recorded vote counting by the General Elections...

;AFP;

;AFP; ANPAf..r.. Philippines-media lead Philippines to consider opening media to foreign ownership JP/15/MediaPhilippines to consider opening media to foreign ownership Agence France-Presse ManilaThe Philippine government is to consider opening newspapers, radio and television networks to foreign...

'One's honor is measured by keeping one's word'

'One's honor is measured by keeping one's word'Political analysts expressed doubt there will be significant changes in the city after learning that the new forces at the City Council -- the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Democratic Party -- failed to unite in the council speakership election.

PAN councillor retakes chair

PAN councillor retakes chair JAMBI, Jambi: Zulkifli Somad, a councillor of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, was reelected on Monday as the chairman of Jambi municipal council, defeating candidates from the Golkar Party and the Democratic Party.

Coalition seeks House top posts

Coalition seeks House top posts JAKARTA: After failing to help Megawati Soekarnoputri retain the presidency, a coalition of major parties in the House of Representatives is eying the House's leadership posts.

1. MEGA: 55 pt, 2 cols, 4 x 10

1. MEGA: 55 pt, 2 cols, 4 x 10 Mega issues decree on housing for ex-VVIPs 2. LAKSAMANA: 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 28 Laksamana at center of graft allegations 3. HASSAN: 32 pt, 2 cols, 2 x 16 RI seeks permanent seat on UN council 4. CYCLE: 30 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 36 Amin wins opening stage of Tour d'Indonesia

New president under new era of democracy

New president under new era of democracyGwynne Dyer, London Vote for "the prettiest candidate," said Indonesia's President Megawati Soekarnoputri as the election campaign got underway, and the voters took her at her word. On Sept.

Fire losses cost billions

Fire losses cost billions BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: A government official said on Sunday that a devastating fire at a Balikpapan school for disabled students had caused losses of billions of rupiah.The fire burned buildings, books, documents and teaching materials, including a Braille printing...

Saldi and his expectations of Susilo

Saldi and his expectations of SusiloSyofiardi Bachyul Jb, Contributor/PadangCorruption is rife in Indonesia and its eradication is highly dependent upon the country's president.Throughout the administration of President Megawati Soekarnoputri, only the regions seemed to be serious about eliminating...

Orchid traders keep ecosystem balanced

Orchid traders keep ecosystem balancedIta Nurita Wanggai proudly displays an ugly but beautiful, rare orchid."My late husband was the first who introduced this rare orchid. He named it anggrek kribo, meaning frizzy or curly orchid. The petals are just like our wavy hair," she said.

Port closes as cargo boat sinks

Port closes as cargo boat sinks KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Ippi Port in the town of Ende on Flores island was temporarily closed on Monday after a boat sank while being laded with cargo, officials said.

RI motorcycle sales up 32%

RI motorcycle sales up 32%JAKARTA: Indonesia's motorcycle sales rose 32 percent in August from the same month a year earlier, according to PT Astra International, Indonesia's biggest auto distributor.Total sales of motorcycles, including scooters and sports bikes, last month rose to 356,327 units...

ASF to expand loans next year to Rp 8t

ASF to expand loans next year to Rp 8tThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Financing firm PT Astra Sedaya Finance (ASF) expects to disburse loans of up to Rp 8 trillion (US$879.12 million) next year, a rise of 10 to 15 percent from this year's target, thanks to a higher automobile sales projection.

1. INSIGHT: 1 LINE, 49 COUNTS

1. INSIGHT: 1 LINE, 49 COUNTS PDI-P needs new paradigm, tools for 2009 elections 2. COUNCIL: 2 LINES, 15 COUNTS Proposed economic council meets with skeptical response 3. PRIVATE: 1 LINE, 40 COUNTS House approves Merpati lifesaving plan 4. TERROR: 1 LINE, 32 COUNTS U.S.

Proposed economic council meets with skeptical response

Proposed economic council meets with skeptical responseDadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe planned establishment of the National Economic Council (NEC), a powerful U.S.-style advisory body that would directly report and be responsible to the president, raises more questions than answers,...

PDI-P needs new paradigm, tools for 2009 elections

PDI-P needs new paradigm, tools for 2009 electionsMochtar Buchori, Jakarta While the official vote-count may still be ongoing, it is almost certain that the Megawati Soekarnoputri-Hasyim Muzadi pair has lost the presidential race, and Gen.

Departure tax

Departure taxFrom RepublikaThe government must postpone its plan to scrap the imposition of Rp 1 million departure tax on people going abroad and weigh the plan again very carefully.If the government abolishes this tax, it will lose about Rp 1.

Rachman rotates chief prosecutors in regions

Rachman rotates chief prosecutors in regionsAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, JakartaAttorney General M.A. Rachman rotated on Monday 10 provincial chief prosecutors across the country and swore in 16 new officials at the Attorney General's Office, including two deputies and three directors.

Bomb maker trials commence

Bomb maker trials commenceTheresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, BogorThe Cibinong District Court began on Monday the trial against Oman Rochman, alias Aman Abdurrahman, a teacher of Islam, for allegedly masterminding a terrorist attack and giving orders to make bombs.

Working mothers wary of day care centers

Working mothers wary of day care centersAccording to data from the Jakarta branch of the Central Statistics Agency, the number of working women in Jakarta is 1,041,366, or about 31.5 percent of the 3,379,202 working people.

Mediator sought for media disputes

Mediator sought for media disputesMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, JakartaDozens of members of journalist associations rallied on Monday outside the Supreme Court here to demand that the court sanction the Press Council as a mediation body for disputes involving the media.

Bank Niaga to launch rights issue next year

Bank Niaga to launch rights issue next yearThe Jakarta Post, JakartaThe publicly listed Bank Niaga may have to delay its planned rights issue until the first quarter of next year on fears that the market may not be able to fully absorb the huge issue under current conditions.

Indonesians make most of porous Philippine border

Indonesians make most of porous Philippine borderManny Mogato, Reuters/Glan, PhilippinesFrom behind a pair of binoculars that have seen far better days, Amancio Wagwag searches the sea for intruders.There is no shortage of activity.

U.S. asks for release of Newmont staff

U.S. asks for release of Newmont staffAbdul Khalik and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, JakartaAmerican Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce held talks with President Megawati Soekarnoputri and the police on Monday as Washington aired concerns over the detention of five executives of United...

Trial begins for environmentally friendly fuel

Trial begins for environmentally friendly fuelSari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) began on Monday a trial for a biodiesel fuel, as part of the government's efforts to promote environmentally friendly energy.

Mega issues decree on housing for ex-VVIPs

Mega issues decree on housing for ex-VVIPsFabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, JakartaPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri signed on Monday a decree that set the maximum price of a residence for former VVIPs at Rp 20 billion (US$2.22 million).The decree, which implements Law No.

RI seeks permanent seat on UN council

RI seeks permanent seat on UN councilIvy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, JakartaIndonesia's success in promoting democracy and peace both at home and internationally has bolstered its confidence in pursuing a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

TV Program: Tuesday, September 28, 2004

TV Program: Tuesday, September 28, 2004TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi7:30 Children Show8:30 Music: Asik-asik10:00 Talk Show: Agribiz11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 12:00 p.m.

Fire razes pine forest in Gowa regency

Fire razes pine forest in Gowa regencyAndi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, MalinoA fire, which activists believe was deliberately set, continued to burn a path of destruction through a protected pine forest on Monday near the resort town of Malino in Gowa, South Sulawesi.

Kostrad chief to retire

Kostrad chief to retire JAKARTA: Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu will take over the command baton of the Army's Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) from Lt. Gen. Bibit Waluyo on Tuesday.While failing to disclose the reason for the transfer of command, Kostrad spokesman Lt. Col.

New govt told to revise autonomy law

New govt told to revise autonomy lawThe Jakarta Post, JakartaThe next government has been told to revise the Law No. 22/1999 on regional autonomy and Law No. 25/1999 on the fiscal balance between regional and central administrations to arrest the widening gap between rich and poor across the...

Bill bans independents from local ledership elections

Bill bans independents from local ledership electionsKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe House of Representatives and the government finished on Monday deliberating the bill amending the current autonomy legislation, with the final version of the new bill maintaining the ban on...

Laos faces big test at helm of ASEAN

Laos faces big test at helm of ASEANReuters, VientianeBarking orders to his men, the foreman explains the sudden need for haste in sleepy Vientiane."This is a very special event and we have to be finished by next month," he says as a new fountain takes shape in the heart of the Lao capital where...

'Ojek' driver brings in alleged murderer

'Ojek' driver brings in alleged murderer TANGERANG: An unidentified ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver turned over to the police late on Sunday a man who allegedly killed someone in the parking lot of the Tirta Mas swimming pool in the Modern Land housing estate in Cikokol, Tangerang.

Two councillors admit bribery in election

Two councillors admit bribery in electionDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, JakartaTen days after councillors of the Democratic Party faction strongly denied allegations of money politics in the election for council speaker, two of them reportedly handed over the money they had received to vote for...

Reasserting our will

Reasserting our will to resolve problemsFrom Media Indonesia While we do not yet possess complete facts about the recent bomb blast in front of the Australian Embassy in Kuningan and therefore cannot identify a plausible suspect, one thing is obvious -- our country is within the sphere of terrorism...

Robbers steal 4kg of gold

Robbers steal 4kg of gold PEKANBARU, Riau: A gang of robbers broke into Arif Jewelry in Kandis, Bengkalis regency, on Sunday afternoon, and took four kilograms of gold and Rp 130 million (US$13,829) in cash.No fatalities were reported in the armed robbery.

1 x 32

1 x 32 House amends social security bill 2 x 21 Rachman rotates chief prosecutors in regions JP/4/bio3 x 15 Trial begins for environmentally friendly fuel JP/4/PRESS1 x 36 Mediator sought for media disputes JP/4/OSTE1 x 37 Java, Sumatra tops for osteoporosis

Some tips for the next president

Some tips for the next president The manual count by the General Elections Commission is still underway, and it will be a few more days before the official election result is announced to the public. But, the announcement of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the 6th president of the Republic of Indonesia...

Scuffles break out at job expo

Scuffles break out at job expoScuffles broke out, women fainted and a door was smashed on the first day of a job expo in Bekasi on Monday, when up to 7,000 people vied for 2,000 vacancies.Long queues outside the Bekasi Youth Sports Stadium meant scuffles broke out among the estimated 7,000 job...

Antiterror squad: Necessity or project-driven

Antiterror squad: Necessity or project-drivenImanuddin Razak, JakartaJakartans had just commemorated the 1st anniversary of the JW Marriott Hotel blast in Kuningan business and residential area in South Jakarta last month, when the capital was shaken by another similarly motivated bomb blast near...