Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 10 January 2005

84 articles found

Papua ready to establish MRP

Papua ready to establish MRPNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, JayapuraThe central government will hand over the government regulation on the establishment of the Papuan People's Council (MRP) to the Papua administration on Monday, bringing the realization of the long-awaited council an inch...

Alternative energy for electricity

Alternative energy for electricityFrom Bisnis IndonesiaThe high world oil price will certainly raise the cost of power production by state electricity company (PLN), whose cost components are 25 percent composed of fuel oil.

Court cases in Aceh to proceed

Court cases in Aceh to proceed KENDARI, South East Sulawesi: Minister for Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin said that all legal cases currently in process in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam will continue even though documents and papers in the cases might have been swept away by the tsunami that...

Fear of eating seafood sweeps across Asia: Singapore report

Fear of eating seafood sweeps across Asia: Singapore reportDeutsche Presse-Agentur, SingaporeDemand for fish and seafood has plunged across Asia - as have prices - on unfounded fears that species in the Indian Ocean are feeding off bodies washed out to sea by the Dec.

Disaster command centers face mammoth tasks

Disaster command centers face mammoth tasksA'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Banda AcehLt. Col. Gandara has his hands full. He wanders around a hangar at an air force base in Medan, North Sumatra, where a disaster mitigation command center is located.

What of truth commission for East Timor?

What of truth commission for East Timor?Aboeprijadi Santoso, Amsterdam Indonesia has asked East Timor to initiate a joint-commission of truth and reconciliation to resolve the issue of the violence during and after the United Nations-organized vote in East Timor in 1999.

World responds to Aceh's pain

World responds to Aceh's painSudirman Nasir, Victoria, Australia The catastrophic Asian tsunami has not merely destroyed countless cities and villages and killed over one hundred and fifty thousand people, but has also stimulated a genuine spontaneous desire among people to help.

Australia to stay in Aceh

Australia to stay in Aceh AUSTRALIA: Australian troops and aid workers will remain in tsunami-stricken Indonesia for as long as they are needed, Prime Minister John Howard said in Sydney on Sunday.In a televised address to the nation, Howard said Australia was taking a leading role in the response...

Fair fuel price policy suggested

Fair fuel price policy suggestedFrom Koran TempoWith the planned fuel price increase shortly, I would like to suggest a fair fuel price policy by following the principle of price differentials.Higher fuel prices should be paid for the comfort of excessive fuel consumption by the high income group,...

Australians can be rightly proud of their government's generous

Australians can be rightly proud of their government's generous commitment to Indonesia's recovery from the tsunami. This is a new level of co-operation and goodwill between Australia and its closest neighbor. It also demonstrates how far relations between the two have improved in a very short time.

Draft bylaw seeks to punish polluters

Draft bylaw seeks to punish pollutersBambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post/JakartaThe Jakarta administration has submitted to the City Council a draft of a bylaw that seeks to reduce air pollution in the capital.

* Evidence seen as enough to charge Adiguna Page 2

* Evidence seen as enough to charge Adiguna Page 2 * NGOs reveal flaws in local election law Page 4 * Humanity beyond religion Page 6 * Jakarta's draft bylaw seeks to punish polluters Page 8 * Ferguson left red-faced as Exeter embarrass United Page 10 * World struggling with details of tsunami...

Candy as change

Candy as change This is in response to the letter from Wendy (of Freiburg, Germany) who complains of getting candy in lieu of Rp 100 change at Balinese stores (Cheating in Bali, The Jakarta Post, Dec. 16).

NGOs, KPUDs reveal flaws in regional election law

NGOs, KPUDs reveal flaws in regional election lawMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe first hearing of a judicial review by the Constitutional Court last week of several contentious articles of Law No.

Identifying the victims of disaster a scientific challenge, expert says

Identifying the victims of disaster a scientific challenge, expert saysChristian Fuerst, Deustche Presse Agentur/Insbruck, AustriaThe tsunami that devastated southern Asia poses a difficult problem for international forensic science in identifying the thousands of foreign victims who lost their...

On Australia's policy in Asia

On Australia's policy in Asia I refer to Reaz Abdullah's letter (Australia's policy in Asia, The Jakarta Post, Dec. 30, 2004).In a feeble attempt to purport that racism lies behind Australia's foreign policies, Abdullah's rhetoric is more than a little reminiscent of some of the hate-driven...

Teamwork needed to maximize aid effort

Teamwork needed to maximize aid effortMartin Abbugao, Agence France-Presse/SingaporeClose coordination, strict accountability and sustained focus are needed to maximize the benefits of billions of dollars in aid for Asia's tsunami victims, relief experts and government leaders said.

Asia-Pacific corporate travel to surge

Asia-Pacific corporate travel to surgeCorporate travel in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to make up a third of the global market by 2007, with China, Japan and India leading the way, a travel specialist said in a published report on Saturday.

Credit card users set to rise 20% as banks ease procedures

Credit card users set to rise 20% as banks ease proceduresThe Jakarta Post, JakartaFor Turmini, a staff member at the finance ministry, having more than one credit card is no longer a luxury nowadays, it is a necessity, and many people seem to share her sentiments.

Police's services

Police's services In one of your articles recently there were complaints to the effect that the police are reluctant to follow up reports on criminal acts if we do not pay them some fees. Of course, they (the police public relations officers) would deny such allegations.

Creditors to talk debt moratorium

Creditors to talk debt moratoriumAmelie Herenstein, Agence France-Presse/ParisGovernment creditors in the Paris Club are this week to consider a debt moratorium for Sri Lanka and Indonesia, two of the countries worst affected by last month's tidal wave, although experts have questioned the...

Conditions in Aceh 'slightly improving'

Conditions in Aceh 'slightly improving'The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, JakartaTwo weeks after a quake-triggered tidal wave washed away many parts of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, the government claimed on Sunday a steady improvement in the condition of survivors and cities affected by the tsunamis.

Humanity beyond religion

Humanity beyond religionMuhamad Ali, Manoa, Hawai I do not known of any disaster more horrific or more touching than the earthquake and tsunami that hit Asia. Virtually everybody in the world is deeply touched and tearful.

No more brokers for military equipment

No more brokers for military equipmentFrom Bisnis IndonesiaIndonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto has said the TNI has no objection to the one-stop system of defense equipment buying under the Ministry of Defense and suggested the procurement involve no brokers or third...

E. Timor joins int'l aid for tsunami

E. Timor joins int'l aid for tsunami JAKARTA: East Timor President Xanana Gusmao slated to visit Indonesia later this month to hand over a donation from his people for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.In a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday, East Timor Minister of Foreign...

Hassan to Europe over debt relief

Hassan to Europe over debt relief INDONESIA: Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda will visit several European countries to seek clarity on international offers of a debt moratorium following the tsunami disaster.

PAN postpones congress

PAN postpones congress JAKARTA: The National Mandate Party's (PAN) second national congress has been rescheduled to April 7-10 to allow party members to focus on how they can assist relief efforts in tsunami-ravaged provinces of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra.

Court cases in

Court cases in Aceh to proceed KENDARI, South East Sulawesi: Minister for Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin said that all legal cases currently in process in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam will continue even though documents and papers in the cases might have been swept away by the tsunami that...

Corruption and democracy

Corruption and democracyFrom Koran Tempo President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared Dec. 9 Anticorruption Day for the purpose of waging a war against corruption. On several occasions he even said he would direct the corruption eradication movement himself.

Aceh refugees longing to return home

Aceh refugees longing to return homeDedy Ardiansyah, The Jakarta Post, Medan An 18-year-old girl named Evi is sitting alone on top of a plastic mat, while arranging several pieces of used clothes. She refused to talk, only mumbling a few unrecognizable words.

Draft bylaw seeks to punish polluters

Draft bylaw seeks to punish pollutersBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Jakarta administration has submitted to the City Council a draft of a bylaw that seeks to reduce air pollution in the capital.

CNOOC considers bid for Unocal

CNOOC considers bid for UnocalAssociated Press, New YorkChina's third biggest oil and natural gas company is considering making a bid for all or part of U.S. rival Unocal Corp., published reports said on Friday.

Asian monies fall against dollar, as U.S. interest rate up

Asian monies fall against dollar, as U.S. interest rate upAgence France-Presse, Hong KongAsian currencies ended the first week of 2005 lower against the dollar on expectations the U.S. Federal Reserve will continue on its path of raising interest rates.

Japan has key role in aiding tsunami victims

Japan has key role in aiding tsunami victimsThe Daily Yomiuri, Asia News Network, Tokyo Japan must play a leading role as an Asian power in helping aid and rehabilitate nations devastated by the recent earthquake- triggered Indian Ocean tsunami disaster.

Delta Tirta, BNI Jakarta take honors

Delta Tirta, BNI Jakarta take honorsSURABAYA: Highly favored Delta Tirta and BNI Jakarta took the men's and women's titles respectively at the Indonesia Open Beach Volleyball 2004 in Sidoarjo, East Java, on Sunday.

Govt shifting focus to building relocation centers

Govt shifting focus to building relocation centers In the aftermath of the tsunami, the government has been the target of criticism for its slow response and for various mishaps. The Jakarta Post's Riyadi Suparno and Aan Suryana interviewed Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab who...

;JP;REN;

;JP;REN; ANPAf..r.. Brief-BAT-Pall-Mall BAT to merge with Pall Mall JP/14/brief BAT to merge with Pall Mall JAKARTA: Publicly listed cigarette and tobacco company PT BAT Indonesia, a local unit of U.S.-based British American Tobacco Inc.

Kudos to TNI

Kudos to TNI The Indonesian Military (TNI) must be one of the few institutions whose work and contributions to the emergency relief effort in disaster-stricken areas in Aceh and North Sumatra has not been fully appreciated.

Homeless survivor wants to go home

Homeless survivor wants to go homeAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, JakartaLying on a bed in one of the rooms of MMC Hospital in South Jakarta, Tuti Herawaty, 50, could not hold back her tears when asked about her plans after she is discharged from the hospital.

Ministry winds up Jakarta Bay probe

Ministry winds up Jakarta Bay probe JAKARTA: The Office of the State Minister for the Environment says its investigation into pollution that damage coral reefs and mangrove forests in Thousand Islands is almost complete."Our investigation is nearly final.

Japan delegation visits Jakarta

Japan delegation visits Jakarta INDONESIA: The secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan, Tsutomu Takebe, is heading a delegation to Jakarta for a two-day visit from Sunday to Monday.

;JP;REN;

;JP;REN; ANPAf..r.. Brief-BAT-Pall-Mall BAT to merge with Pall Mall JP/14/brief BAT to merge with Pall Mall JAKARTA: Publicly listed cigarette and tobacco company PT BAT Indonesia, a local unit of U.S.-based British American Tobacco Inc.

Fauzul caught between uncle and savior

Fauzul caught between uncle and saviorFauzul Kabir clings to his uncle, Sofyan. This five-year old child has become the center of a dispute between Sofyan and his neighbor Saudah who found and saved him.

Uncle and savior claim right to Fauzul

Uncle and savior claim right to Fauzul or Fauzul caught between uncle and savior Fauzul Kabir (photo above) clings to his uncle, Sofyan. This five-year old child has become the center of a dispute between Sofyan and his neighbor Saudah who found and saved him.

EU: The halo effect

EU: The halo effectGwynne Dyer, London "The Islamic world, the Islamic extremists, even bin Laden, rejoice for the entrance of Turkey into the European Union. This is their Trojan horse," warned Libyan Moammar Gadafy on Dec. 17.

Thai island paradise lost devastated by tsunami

Thai island paradise lost devastated by tsunamiEd Cropley, Reuters/Koh Phi Phi, ThailandIt's more like a scene from Apocalypse Now than The Beach.Once the paradise-isle backdrop for the Leonardo DiCaprio backpacker movie, Koh Phi Phi now looks like a war zone.

World struggling with details of tsunami response

World struggling with details of tsunami responsePeter Mackler, Agence France-Presse/ColomboTwo weeks after the world's worst tsunami wreaked havoc in South Asia, the international community is still struggling with its response to a crisis that broke with biblical spread and ferocity.

Foreign volunteers granted VoA

Foreign volunteers granted VoAJAKARTA: Foreign volunteers entering the country to assist in humanitarian work in tsunami-hit areas will be entitled to visa- on-arrival (VoA) facilities, according to a minister.

Sutiyoso wants street fund-raising to stop

Sutiyoso wants street fund-raising to stop JAKARTA: Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso called on Saturday Jakarta residents to stop activities on streets to raise donations for victims of the earthquake and tsunami tragedy in Aceh and North Sumatra provinces as it caused traffic jams, while the funds raised...

PDI-P vows to keep role as critic

PDI-P vows to keep role as criticKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) has vowed to maintain its critical stance towards the government, saying it is ready to stand alone if other factions refuse to...

Aceh's pain in exchange for trust

Aceh's pain in exchange for trust"How can we trust you with our donations?" said a woman in Boston Common Park on New Year's Eve. Such a question put us, Indonesian students who were distributing the flyers about the disaster in Aceh on that night, into short silence.

Medco pays $150m debts to UOB

Medco pays $150m debts to UOBLeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, JakartaCashing in on the sales of interests in several of its oil blocks, publicly-listed oil and gas company PT Medco Energi Internasional has paid US$150 million dollars of its debt to the United Overseas Bank (UOB).

1. Disco --- 1x42

1. Disco --- 1x42 Govt shifting focus to building relocation centers 2. Command --- 2x20 Disaster command centers face mammoth task 3. Refugee -- 1x32 Homeless survivor wants to return to Aceh 4. Adiguna -- 2x22 Evidence sufficient to charge Adiguna, legal expert says 5.

God's grace, good governance and our reputation

God's grace, good governance and our reputationEndy M. Bayuni, Jakarta The Baiturrahman Grand Mosque stood tall amidst the rubble in Banda Aceh. The main mosque in Meulaboh, a town on the western coast of Aceh, was also among the very few buildings still left standing.

PDIP celebrates 32nd anniversary

PDIP celebrates 32nd anniversaryJAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will commemorate its 32nd anniversary in a ceremony here on Monday, led by party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.

'It's no mission impossible for us to win in Sinapore'

'It's no mission impossible for us to win in Sinapore'Indonesia was left reeling after its shock 1-3 loss to Singapore in the first leg of the Tiger Cup final at home on Saturday. National team coach Peter Withe tells The Jakarta Post's Moh. N.

Govt should keep aid for Aceh, not for state budget: Analyst

Govt should keep aid for Aceh, not for state budget: AnalystUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government must prioritize the use of grants and debt relief from donor countries for the rebuilding of tsunami-stricken Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, instead of using them to help bolster the...

City to tighten regulation on taxi operation

City to tighten regulation on taxi operationThe Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Jakarta administration is planning to tighten the regulation on taxi operations in the capital in order to improve the level of service provided by operators to their customers amid the increasing number of taxis operating...

I disagree with civilians using guns'

I disagree with civilians using guns'The fatal shooting of trainee waiter Yohannes Berchmans Haerudy Natong, alias Rudy, at the Fluid Club in Hilton Hotel, Central Jakarta in the wee hours of Jan. 1, once again reignited discussion of the issue of civilians possessing firearms.

Govt reschedules sugar imports

Govt reschedules sugar imports JAKARTA: The Ministry of Trade has revised its white sugar import permits, giving more time to appointed companies to ship in the sweet commodity, a senior official said on Friday.

Kia Motors Corp. names new CEO

Kia Motors Corp. names new CEO JAKARTA: Kia Motors Corporation, South Korea's second-largest automaker, announced on Friday that it has appointed Kim Ik-hwan, a vice president of the company, to the position of president.

Mitsubishi to supply Peugeot, Nissan

Mitsubishi to supply Peugeot, Nissan TOKYO: Troubled Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi Motors has inked deals to supply its autos to Japan's Nissan Motor and French automaker PSA Peugeot Citroen from 2006, a news report said on Sunday.

Many survivors may not have gotten aid: NGOs

Many survivors may not have gotten aid: NGOsThe Jakarta Post, Banda AcehConcerns remained on Sunday that an unknown number of tsunami survivors in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam have either not received any aid or have not enough aid, including many in the provincial capital city, two weeks after the...

Bring order to streets

Bring order to streetsFrom KompasSeveral governments have come to power following the end of the New Order in 1998, but none of their programs have included bringing order to our roads, which should be part of the present government's 100-day drive.

On Australia's policy in Asia

On Australia's policy in Asia I refer to Reaz Abdullah's letter (Australia's policy in Asia, The Jakarta Post, Dec. 30, 2004).In a feeble attempt to purport that racism lies behind Australia's foreign policies, Abdullah's rhetoric is more than a little reminiscent of some of the hate-driven...

Top chess players take on machines

Top chess players take on machines National chess begins its 2005 program with an unprecedented man vs. computer matchup, to be staged in Jakarta on Monday and Tuesday.The matchup will pit four human players against four computerized chess programs, the Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi)...

Alternative energy for electricity

Alternative energy for electricityFrom Bisnis IndonesiaThe high world oil price will certainly raise the cost of power production by state electricity company (PLN), whose cost components are 25 percent composed of fuel oil.

Credit card holders

Credit card holders 7.5 millionTotal transaction Rp 30 trillionTransaction average per credit card holder Rp 10 million - Rp 12 millionSource: Visa International Ltd. & The Indonesian Association of Credit Card Issuers (AKKI)

Aceh refugees longing to return home

Aceh refugees longing to return homeDedy Ardiansyah, The Jakarta Post, Medan An 18-year-old girl, Evi, is sitting alone on top of a plastic mat, while arranging several pieces of used clothing. She refused to talk, only mumbling a few unrecognizable words.

Schumi mourns bodyguard killed in tsunami

Schumi mourns bodyguard killed in tsunamiSeven-time world Formula One champion Michael Schumacher, who has donated US$10 million to the victims of last week's Asian tsunamis, revealed on Wednesday that one of his bodyguards died in the tragedy.

Boas likely to be fit for Singapore

Boas likely to be fit for SingaporeFans of talented national team player Boas Salossa can breathe a sigh of relief after his injury from Saturday's Tiger Cup final is not considered serious.Boas suffered a twisted ankle in a tackle with a Singapore player in the 27th minute of Indonesia's 1-3...

Lesser graft must be unveiled

Lesser graft must be unveiledFrom Koran TempoThe disclosure of alleged corruption in the purchase of Scorpion tanks means considerable progress in the unveiling of cases that were formerly seen as untouchable, but the flow of funds in such cases should also be traced.

Evidence sufficient to charge Adiguna, legal expert says

Evidence sufficient to charge Adiguna, legal expert saysAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, JakartaWith the discovery of the gun allegedly used in the shooting death Yohannes Berchmans Haerudy Natong alias Rudy at the Hilton Hotel in Central Jakarta, police have all evidence and witnesses they need to...

Corruption and democracy

Corruption and democracyFrom Koran Tempo President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono declared Dec. 9 Anticorruption Day for the purpose of waging a war against corruption. On several occasions he even said he would direct the corruption eradication movement himself.

Tsunami brings in investors not driving them away

Tsunami brings in investors not driving them awayZakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe devastating Dec. 26 quake and tsunami in Aceh and parts of North Sumatra, apparently did not deter global investors from examining prospects in the country.

UN chief witnesses Acehnese resilience

UN chief witnesses Acehnese resilienceCorrection: In the story on this page on Saturday titled UN chief witnesses Acehnese resilience we quoted managing director of the International Monetary Fund Rodrigo de Rato as saying that the IMF was studying a request from the Indonesian government for...

Rethinking benefit of Indonesia's sand exports

Rethinking benefit of Indonesia's sand exportsYohanes Yansen, Batam For three decades or more, great volumes of sand have been dug up in the Riau Islands and sold at dirt-cheap prices to foreigners. Environmental damage from mining sand is immense.

President's official car park?

President's official car park?From KompasOn Nov. 15, I parked my car outside of Klub Bimasena (health/sports center) in South Jakarta, near the gate of the club, which shares the same complex with Hotel Dharmawangsa.

Disaster command centers face mammoth tasks

Disaster command centers face mammoth tasksA'an Suryana The Jakarta Post/Banda AcehLt. Col. Gandara is busy. He wanders around a hangar at an air force base in Medan, North Sumatra, where a disaster mitigation command center is located.

Driving in Jakarta

Driving in Jakarta Regarding The Jakarta Post's article --Driving in Jakarta to slow to snail's pace by 2020 on Dec. 17 -- I take the liberty to send my opinion as follows:The cheap partial solution to traffic in Jakarta is to enforce the "intersection blocking rule".

Indonesia lacks clear plan for agricultural sector

Indonesia lacks clear plan for agricultural sectorFitri Wulandari, Dow Jones/JakartaIndonesia's new administration has promised sweeping changes in the country's agriculture sector, but the government is yet to spell out clearly how it would turn that into action, raising concerns that eventually...

Disaster management

Disaster management We wish to express our deepest empathy and heart-felt compassion for the victims of the earthquake and the killer- tsunami.Residing in Indonesia, The Jakarta Post has been the only authentic source of news for English readers.

KPK to investigate Monsanto bribery case

KPK to investigate Monsanto bribery caseMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, JakartaJAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it was ready to investigate a bribery case involving U.S.-based Monsanto Co., one of the world's leading developers of genetically modified crops.

Women called on to help women victims

Women called on to help women victimsSari P. Setiogi, The Jakarta Post, JakartaActivists are calling on women across the country to help ease the suffering of women and child victims of the quake-triggered tsunamis in Aceh and North Sumatra.