Archive: 18 January 2005
91 articles found
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
IndoGas begins, RI opens door for investors
IndoGas begins, RI opens door for investors Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to boost more investment in the gas sector, the government will open wide all available business opportunities in the sector to foreign investors, including six major gas-related projects worth US$2.89 billion offered in the ongoing infrastructure summit here.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Soccer-Portugal football chiefs to aid fan rescued after tsunami
Soccer-Portugal football chiefs to aid fan rescued after tsunami LISBON: A seven-year-old tsunami victim rescued wearing a Portuguese national team jersey has been promised help by the Portuguese soccer federation, the body said on Monday. The boy, Martunis, was rescued from an isolated beach in Indonesia's Banda Aceh last Saturday having been spotted by a British television team after surviving for 19 days there.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Council wants travel budget cut
Council wants travel budget cut MATARAM, West Nusa Tenggara: Mataram city councillors have told the city administration its travel budget is too generous and have asked that it be cut. The Rp 1 billion budget should be cut to Rp 500 million (US$53,763), with the other Rp 500 million allocated for public programs, said councillor H. Wildan on Monday. Councillor H. Wildan said during a discussion on Monday that Rp 1 billion was enough to finance up to 300 trips.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Noordin Top's wife to be tried as terrorist
Noordin Top's wife to be tried as terrorist ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya The Police submitted on Monday the case files of terror suspect Munfiantun alias Fitri to the East Java Prosecutor's Office, and she is set for trial at the Bangil District Court in Pasuruan, East Java. Munfiantun, 28, is the second wife of key terror suspect Noordin Mohd. Top -- still at large -- and she faces a charge of deliberately harboring terrorists and forging terror-related documents.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta stock index gains, Gudang Garam falls
Jakarta stock index gains, Gudang Garam falls Naila Firdausi, Bloomberg, Jakarta Indonesia's key stock index rose, led by PT Bank Central Asia and PT Bank Danamon, on optimism the central bank will announce regulations to boost lending. PT Gudang Garam fell after industry figures showed the company's excise stamp purchases, a measure of future production, grew slower than other cigarette makers last year. The Jakarta Composite Index added 3.54, or 0.4 percent, to 1024.89 at the 4 p.m.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Infrastructure summit and RI's future
Infrastructure summit and RI's future Patrick Guntensperger, Jakarta There probably has never been a more apt time for a summit conference on Indonesia's infrastructure. A major concerted effort to address the shop-worn and inadequate infrastructure that characterizes Indonesia will have benefits that reach far beyond the people's needs for better surface transportation and delivery of public utilities and services.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Role of donors in reconstruction
Role of donors in reconstruction Piet Soeprijadi, Jakarta The scale of devastation that resulted from the earthquake and tsunami in many nations of the northern Indian Ocean, and especially in Aceh, were well beyond imagination. The sheer numbers lives lost has left much of the population in a state of deep personal anguish and psychological stress. Infrastructure, both physical and administrative, was destroyed or paralyzed.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
S&P cuts RP sovereign credit rating on fiscal deficit concerns
S&P cuts RP sovereign credit rating on fiscal deficit concerns Agence France-Presse, Manila Standard and Poor's on Monday cut the Philippines sovereign credit ratings, citing the government's failure to shore up its shaky public finances for a move that could make efforts to balance its accounts even more expensive and difficult. "The downgrades reflect the government's inadequate response to its fiscal problems," the international ratings agency said in a statement.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tsunami survivors suffer amputations
Tsunami survivors suffer amputations Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post/Medan Many tsunami victims have had to make an excruciatingly nasty decision; cut off a limb or die. Never in the 15 years of his life had Suwardi thought of such a choice. Not until the doctor at the Banda Aceh military Kesdam Hospital confronted him recently, and explained that the teenager's left leg had deteriorated beyond treatment and was decaying rapidly after being broken during the tsunami.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Govt prepares incentives for infrastructure investors
Govt prepares incentives for infrastructure investors Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government will soon issue a number of regulations that will provide incentives and legal certainty for investors in the infrastructure sector, according to senior officials. The proposed regulations cover, among others, incentives to lure billions of dollars of investment into toll roads, water sanitation facilities and seaports.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
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New partnership for infrastructure in Indonesia Jemal-ud-din Kassum Jakarta 2. Piet -- Donors must assist RI in managing reconstruction 1 x 30 Role of donors in reconstruction Piet Soeprijadi Jakarta
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
S'pore firm to supply water to RI
S'pore firm to supply water to RI SINGAPORE: An engineering group has bagged a deal to design, build and operate water processing facilities to supply Yogyakarta with clean water, Boustead Singapore said on Monday. The cost of the first phase is estimated at US$36 million, Boustead said, but did not include an estimate for the entire project.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/Mulkan Salmona
JP/Mulkan Salmona LET THE GAMES BEGIN: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right), cheered on by Kadin chairman Muhammad S. Hidayat (left), Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo (second from left), Coordinating Minister for the Economy Aburizal Bakrie (third from left) and Asia Inc. Forum chairman Timothy Ong, bangs a gong to officially open of the Indonesia Infrastructure Summit 2005.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Are animals more sensitive to tsunamis?
Are animals more sensitive to tsunamis? Ian Sample, Guardian News Service, London Could animals have sensed the looming waves? Among the countless tales of human tragedy, anecdotes of animals behaving weirdly before the tsunami struck have been creeping into the news. In Thailand, elephants used to carry tourists around began wailing or broke free of their chains and made a break for higher ground, the news agency Reuters reported this week.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Govt issues regulation on power
Govt issues regulation on power Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta To give investors a legal basis for contracts in electricity projects, the government has issued a government regulation on the power sector. "We issued Government Regulation No. 3/2005, last night," said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro on the sidelines of the Indogas 2005 conference held here on Monday. The regulation supports Law No.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Boat the only way to reach Lamno
Boat the only way to reach Lamno With many roads along the west coast of Aceh still impassable, some fishermen (photo above) have turned their boats into passenger vessels to ferry people to Lamno from Banda Aceh. Traveling by sea to Lamno, on the west coast of the province, from Banda Aceh takes about four hours, compared to the two hours it used to take by automobile before the tsunami. It also costs more to travel by sea.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
New partnership for infrastructure in Indonesia
New partnership for infrastructure in Indonesia Jemal-ud-din Kassum, Jakarta The terrible tragedy in Aceh has shown us the power of people uniting to work together to overcome and rebuild. We should use this lesson to address another, less obvious crisis that is affecting the lives of many poor people in Indonesia: The growing shortage of quality infrastructure services. Over 40 percent of Indonesians do not have access to electricity.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Paris Club diplomacy mission accomplished: Hassan
Paris Club diplomacy mission accomplished: Hassan Ivy Susanti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on Monday that his team had accomplished its mission to negotiate debt relief in last week's Paris Club meeting as well as mobilizing support for grants and debt swaps. The team met with leaders from four countries of the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy prior to the forum.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Residents demand compensation for damage to mangrove seedlings
Residents demand compensation for damage to mangrove seedlings Puji Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Siak, Riau Hundreds of farmers in Bunsur village located on Padang Island, Riau province have since August been complaining about damage that has been done to millions of their mangrove seedlings. According to the farmers, the damage, which inflicted great loss upon them, was caused by an oil spill at a local oil refinery.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tsunami unlikely to have redrawn coastlines
Tsunami unlikely to have redrawn coastlines Emma Ross, Associated Press, Jakarta Aerial images of tsunami-battered coastlines suggest the world map may be changed forever, with chunks of land sinking into the sea. But did the quake and the killer wave it spawned really significantly reshape the Indian Ocean's outline? Scientists say probably not. Almost all the apparent land fragmentation is likely due to temporary flooding, experts say.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
ICRC adjusts its role to disaster needs in Aceh
ICRC adjusts its role to disaster needs in Aceh The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is one of a few international organizations which has had a long presence in Aceh. The Jakarta Post's Riyadi Suparno talked to the head of ICRC's sub-delegation for Aceh Amela Husagic and communications coordinator Martin Unternaehrer concerning ICRC's operation in Aceh before and after the tsunami. Question: What does your operation look like following the tsunamis?
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Acehnese fear loss of heritage, arts from tsunami
Acehnese fear loss of heritage, arts from tsunami Cindy Sui, Agence France-Presse, Banda Aceh, Aceh Having lost almost everything, the people of Banda Aceh -- the worst-hit city in the tsunami disaster -- say they fear they will lose their rich historical and cultural heritage as well. "There are no reports about this because nobody's thinking about buildings or arts," said Wiratmadinata, who worked as a reporter for Harian Serambi newspaper in Banda Aceh. "I care.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. Discourse (40) - 42 pts 7 cols 1line (1x45)
1. Discourse (40) - 42 pts 7 cols 1line (1x45) ICRC adjusts its role to disaster needs in Aceh 2. Analysis (60) - 48 pts 4cols 2lines (2x26) Tsunami elicits empathetic response from world leaders or Tsunami elicits empathetic response from leaders 3. FPI (45) - 36 pts 3 cols 2lines (2x21) FPI wins praise for collecting the dead 4. Unicef (25) - 28 pts 4cols 1line (1x32) Unicef to build 835 emergency schools 5.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Inco to boost output by 25% in 2009
Inco to boost output by 25% in 2009 Fabiola Desy Unidjaja The Jakarta Post/ Jakarta Publicly listed PT International Nickel Indonesia (Inco), a local subsidiary of the world's second largest nickel company Canada- based Inco Ltd., said it would boost its output by 25 percent in 2009 and set up the necessary infrastructure to support it.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Trouble in Temanggung
Trouble in Temanggung A'an Suryana, Jakarta Discontent in Temanggung regency, Central Java, culminated on Wednesday in a massive protest attended by about 10,000 people, demanding that Regent Totok Ary Prabowo step down for corruption and arrogance. The demonstration echoed actions in Kampar regency, Riau, last year, which led to the ouster of then Kampar regent Jefri Noer. Whether the Temanggung protest leads to the dismissal of Totok, however, remains to be seen.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
It's better to provide a fishing rod than fish'
It's better to provide a fishing rod than fish' Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta One of the fondest memories Anggun Cipta Sasmi has of her late grandmother and hometown Yogyakarta is of women sitting on the floor, drawing batik patterns and carefully painting them with brownish wax. "The scent of wax ...
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
[b]The private sector will be expected to provide a growing share
The private sector will be expected to provide a growing share of the financing for infrastructure development. ;JP; ANPAk..r.. A new partnership for infrastructure in Indonesia JP/7/WB A new partnership for infrastructure in Indonesia Jemal-ud-din Kassum Jakarta The terrible tragedy in Aceh has shown us the power of people uniting to work together to overcome and rebuild.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Amid the devastation, news of hope from home - a son is born Eds:
Amid the devastation, news of hope from home - a son is born Eds: RETRANSMITTING to correct Irwan Firdaus' byline.[ ---[ UNDATED: satellite phone.[ By IRWAN FIRDAUS= Associated Press Writer= BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AP) - Amid devastation, news of hope -- a son is born Irwan Firdaus Associated Press/Banda Aceh I've seen many tragedies in Indonesia, from the slayings of 1,500 people in East Timor in 1999 by Indonesian troops to battles between Christians and Muslims that killed nearly 10,000 in...
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
No proper debate in soccer subsidy
No proper debate in soccer subsidy The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several councillors have blown the whistle on a Rp 20 billion (US$2.22 million) allocation for the Jakarta soccer team (Persija) in the 2005 city budget. The councillors say the allocation is double the amount approved at the commission level. A member of the City Council's Commission A for legal and administrative affairs, Rois Hadayana Syaudie, said on Monday the commission only approved a Rp 10 billion subsidy for Persija.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Japan provides $146m grant to RI, promises more help
Japan provides $146m grant to RI, promises more help Adianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta, Jakarta The Japanese government has extended a 14.6 billion yen (about US$146 million) grant to Indonesia for the immediate purchase of emergency relief goods for Aceh as well as rehabilitation work in the affected areas.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
IBF names Taufik player of the year
IBF names Taufik player of the year The International Badminton Federation chose Taufik Hidayat on Monday as the recipient of its Eddy Choong Player of the Year award for 2004. The Athens gold medalist is only the second men's singles player and second Indonesian after doubles player Candra Wijaya in 2000 to gain the prestigious prize, named after the Malaysian badminton legend.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
KPK interviews adviser candidates
KPK interviews adviser candidates JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) interviewed on Monday a dozen candidates for its board of advisors, which will support the commission in carrying out its work. Senior lawyer Nono Anwar Makarim and sociologist Imam B. Prasodjo were among the panel of five experts who interviewed the candidates, including lawyer Andi Hamzah, a former member of the Civil Servants Wealth Audit Commission.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
FPI wins praise for collecting the dead
FPI wins praise for collecting the dead Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh Dozens of members of the Islam Defenders Front (FPI) moved swiftly out of the pickup trucks as they arrived at the mosque in Ajun residential area in tsunami-battered Banda Aceh. A brief prayer started their work on Sunday to locate and remove the corpses around the area and to clean up the mosque.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Medan airport overwhelmed
Medan airport overwhelmed Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra Ing-Ing, an employee of China Southern Airlines, recalled that she and her two colleagues from the Chinese Embassy in Jakarta, had to negotiate with and beg an operations manager at Medan's Polonia airport here before they were about to fly aid to Aceh recently.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Aceh disaster management a 'test' to lure investors
Aceh disaster management a 'test' to lure investors Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government's ability to handle unprecedented relief operations and channel donations from the international community to tsunami victims in Aceh will be a crucial test for convincing potential investors to put their money in the country.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Malaysia to charge toxic waste importer
Malaysia to charge toxic waste importer KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will charge a company which allegedly imported thousands of tonnes of toxic industrial waste illegally from Taiwan last year, a report said on Monday. The Department of Environment has sufficient evidence to press charges against Synenviro Sdn Bhd, based in southern Johor state, Deputy Environment Minister S. Sothinathan was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
PGN's project to be finished in 2009
PGN's project to be finished in 2009 JAKARTA: State-owned gas distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) plans to complete the construction of a pipeline from Kalimantan to densely populated Java in 2009, a year earlier than schedule. President of the publicly listed company WMP Simanjuntak said on Monday that it had secured a grant from the Asian Development Bank for a more thorough feasibility study, which it was expected would be finished in the third quarter of this year.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Quake rattles Lampung residents
Quake rattles Lampung residents BANDAR LAMPUNG: Residents of coastal areas were still rattled on Monday after an earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale shook the city late on Saturday. Residents were frightened that more earthquakes would trigger tidal waves. -- Antara
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Alertness to foreign aid
Alertness to foreign aid From Media Indonesia With the entry of foreign military forces to provide aid, it is appropriate for the government and the Indonesian Military (TNI) to remain alert to the possibility of the foreign side or the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) benefiting from the situation. If the foreign supplies sent to Aceh are not subject to prior inspection, some of them may contain arms for GAM. So, ways should be sought to prevent any harmful use of this opportunity.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
The risk of being poor?
The risk of being poor? A horrific picture was shown on TV of a fishing village in West Aceh devastated by the tsunami. The landscape was flat; only one building stuck out, the village mosque. What did the picture tell me? The mosque is the strongest building in the area, as it is the most precious property that the villagers have. The rest of the buildings including the homes used cheaper materials, and therefore, were not as strong.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tsunami elicits empathetic response from world leaders
Tsunami elicits empathetic response from world leaders Harry Bhaskara, Jakarta As soon as Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono became president on Oct. 20, 2004, people saddled him with an absurd hope: that his promised changes would be realized within his first 100 days of office. Topping his list of promises was the curbing of corruption. But now, with the tsunami disaster, people will more than likely forget this absurdity come Jan. 28, when the 100 days falls due.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI coach Withe looks for better luck next time
RI coach Withe looks for better luck next time Agence France-Presse, Singapore As Singapore celebrated its Tiger Cup victory, Indonesia coach Peter Withe said he would cast the net wide in search of new talent in the wake of the loss. "You have to accept defeat as well as victory," said the former England international who coached Thailand to two Tiger Cup wins. "Not even Brazil can win all the time.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Idrus saves hundreds of lives in Aceh
Idrus saves hundreds of lives in Aceh Andi Hajarmurni, Contributor, Banda Aceh, Aceh He would never think twice before deciding to help victims of a disaster or a conflict anywhere he is assigned. For Idrus Paturusi, the coordinator of the medical team assigned by the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) to deal with survivors of the natural disaster that hit Aceh, time is as valuable as a human life. Being late, just a few seconds, may mean a life lost.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
New ruling seen as crucial to curb corruption cases
New ruling seen as crucial to curb corruption cases Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government's plan to lay down a comprehensive anticorruption ruling is vital given the poor performance of law enforcers in curbing widespread corruption in the country, according to a law expert.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
No more suspicions
No more suspicions From Koran Tempo The recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated Aceh and claimed hundreds of thousands of human lives have aroused great national concern and deep international sympathy, shown by many countries that have provided aid to relieve the victims' suffering. However, in the case of foreign assistance, many circles at home are suspicious that the presence of thousands of soldiers indicates a likely political agenda.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Fair fuel price policy suggested
Fair fuel price policy suggested From Koran Tempo With 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, whereas low income people should not bear the burden of fuel price increase.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
VW, Proton to make cheap car: Report
VW, Proton to make cheap car: Report MUNICH: German automotive concern Volkswagen is planning to produce a small cheap car for the Southeast Asian market together with the Proton company in Malaysia, the weekly magazine Focus reported, citing VW chief executive Bernd Pischetsrieder. In its latest issue, the magazine cited Pischetsrieder as saying the plans are to develop a car that would cost just 2,300 euros (US$3,013) to manufacture.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Governor to mediate in Temanggung dispute
Governor to mediate in Temanggung dispute SEMARANG: Central Java Governor Mardiyanto said on Monday he would mediate in the dispute between Temanggung Regent Totok Ari Prabowo and 77 regency officials who issued a motion of no- confidence against the regent. The outcome of the mediation process will be presented to the Ministry of Home Affairs for study before an action is taken in the matter, the governor said.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Council may OK test for vehicular emissions
Council may OK test for vehicular emissions Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several members of the City Council's Commission D were puffing away on cigarettes when an activist from the Coalition for Clean Air said indoor pollution produced by, among other things, cigarettes posed a greater health risk than outdoor pollution. The smoking councillors were temporarily nonplussed, but were able to recover sufficiently to puff away through the rest of the meeting.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Volunteer 'Mother' helps Acehnese in Bandung
Volunteer 'Mother' helps Acehnese in Bandung Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung Djusmindar, 46, has chosen not to return to her home in Buah Batu, Bandung, since the deadly tsunamis swept through Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam and North Sumatra on Dec. 26. Instead, the Acehnese mother of two is staying at the Acehnese Students Command Post on Jl. Cicendo 9, Bandung, where she is "Mother" to Acehnese students who have worked hard to collect aid for tsunami victims. "I haven't done much.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Guarantee facilities to be provided for investors
Guarantee facilities to be provided for investors Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is mulling the provision of guarantee facilities to help mitigate the risks for investors in developing the country's infrastructure, in particular the power and toll road sectors -- a move aimed at reducing uncertainty.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Actions speak louder than words
Actions speak louder than words Ong Hock Chuan, Jakarta The Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Government has an excellent opportunity to convince the international financial community that it means business in the two-day Infrastructure Summit that begun yesterday. Virtually the Who's Who of the financial world are in town and there is no better audience to propagate the news that Indonesia is back in business.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
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Trouble in Temanggung A'an Suryana Jakarta 2. Ong -- Actions speak louder than words 1 x 30 Actions speak louder than words Ong Hock Chuan Jakarta 3. Pat -- Infrastructure summit, tsunamis and Indonesia's future 1 x 30 Infrastructure summit and RI's future Patrick Guntensperger Jakarta
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Inco to boost output by 25% in 2009
Inco to boost output by 25% in 2009 Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Publicly listed PT International Nickel Indonesia (Inco), a local subsidiary of the world's second largest nickel company Canada- based Inco Ltd., said it would boost its output by 25 percent in 2009 and set up the necessary infrastructure to support it.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
ASEAN troops in RI's tsunami-hit Aceh to remain: Malaysia
ASEAN troops in RI's tsunami-hit Aceh to remain: Malaysia Agence France-Presse, Kuala Lumpur ASEAN troops carrying out relief work in Indonesia's tsunami- battered Aceh province will be allowed to remain indefinitely, Malaysian Defense Minister Najib Razak said on Monday. "The representative of (Indonesia's military chief) Gen.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Southeast Asia's next 'tsunami'
Southeast Asia's next 'tsunami' More than 160,000 people perished in the massive earthquake and towering waves that devastated countries around the Indian Ocean last month. Up to 100,000 more could die, according to health experts, if urgent steps were not taken in the stricken areas. This time, the agents of death would be almost invisible to the eye. They would spread unseen, claiming their victims through stealth. The next catastrophe, say the experts, could be malaria.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
*Tsunami responses show leaders' true colors Page 2
*Tsunami responses show leaders' true colors Page 2 *Tsunami victims face amputations Page 4 *Medan Airport overwhelmed Page 5 *New partnerships for infrastructure in Indonesia Page 7 *Council may OK test for vehicular emissions Page 8 *Moya only loser among top seeds at Aussie Open Page 10 *ASEAN troops in tsunami-hit Aceh to remain: Malaysia Page 11 *IndoGas kicked out, govt opens door for investors Page 13 *Review of tsunami reef damage to take months Page 17
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Asian power firms' outlook stable despite high fuel prices: Moody's
Asian power firms' outlook stable despite high fuel prices: Moody's Agence France-Presse, Singapore The outlook for Asian power ulities will remain stable in the next 12 months despite recent fuel price increases, Moody's Investors Service said on Monday. Sustainable growth in consumption, supportive regulatory environments and utilities' steady financial profiles were offsetting concerns over fuel prices, large capital requirements and risks linked to overseas expansion, it said.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Samsidar dreams of making pilgrimage for dead brother
Samsidar dreams of making pilgrimage for dead brother Brian Murphy, Associated Pressm, Banda Aceh, Aceh The fisherman had waited all his life for this moment -- when he would put away his old nets for a while and join the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. His sister threw him a party with balloons and special spicy rice. The gifts included a new Koran and guests started calling 50-year-old Mat Saleh by the honorific haji, reserved for those who have made the holy trip to Mecca.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Palm oil futures decline 1.3 percent
Palm oil futures decline 1.3 percent Bloomberg, Kuala Lumpur Palm oil futures in Malaysia, the world's biggest exporter of the edible oil, fell as prices of rival soybeans had the largest decline in three months on Friday after demand from U.S. processors fell unexpectedly in December. "A sharp drop in soybean price in the U.S. is prompting the decline in palm oil," said Ferdi Gunawan, a marketing officer at PT Salim Oil Grains, a Jakarta-based palm oil producer.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
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". This violation must be treated the same as running a red light or a stop sign. This rule states a vehicle may not enter the intersection unless the space in front is sufficient to make sure the intersection is not blocked.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Daihatsu will expand 2005 output
Daihatsu will expand 2005 output Naoko Fujimura, Bloomberg, Tokyo Daihatsu Motor Co., Japan's second-biggest maker of vehicles with engines smaller than 0.66 liter, said it will expand global production by 5.8 percent this year to 1.11 million units to meet increasing overseas demand. The maker of Mira minicars will expand overseas production by a quarter to 274,000 units this year, expanding in Indonesia and Malaysia.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Floods in southern Sumatra lay waste to crops
Floods in southern Sumatra lay waste to crops Muhammad Uzair and Oyos Saroso, The Jakarta Post, Palembang/Lampung Flooding in Lampung and South Sumatra provinces in the past week have claimed at least three lives, cut traffic and washed away thousands hectares of rice fields in the area, which would likely lead to a serious rice shortfall in the region.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Lions Club feeds some 700 orphans
Lions Club feeds some 700 orphans JAKARTA: Lions Club Jakarta Cendana in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, gathered and fed on Monday around 700 orphans from around a dozen of orphanages across the city at the Paramount restaurant in Gondangdia, Central Jakarta. Maria Gunawan, president of the club, said the activity was part of their annual programs to serve society and help disadvantaged children in Jakarta.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI envoy to chair UN rights body
RI envoy to chair UN rights body Indonesia's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva, Makarim Wibisono, was appointed on Monday to chair the UN's top human rights body through 2005. A meeting of diplomats from the 53 member states in the UN Commission on Human Rights elected Makarim by acclamation. The different regional groups in the UN -- in this case Asia -- traditionally take their turn every year to chair the commission and nominate a candidate for the post.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia to make suggestions to UN on global forestry
Indonesia to make suggestions to UN on global forestry The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Indonesia is compiling recommendations on sustainable forest management to submit to the United Nation Forum on Forest (UNFF), which will convene in New York in May for its fifth annual meeting.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/4/PERPU
JP/4/PERPU New ruling seen as crucial to curb corruption Muninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government's plan to lay down a comprehensive anticorruption ruling is vital given the poor performance of law enforcers in curbing widespread corruption in the country, according to a law expert.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Alertness to foreign aid
Alertness to foreign aid From Media Indonesia With the entry of foreign military forces to provide aid, it is appropriate for the government and the Indonesian Military (TNI) to remain alert to the possibility of the foreign side or the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM) benefiting from the situation. If the foreign supplies sent to Aceh are not subject to prior inspection, some of them may contain arms for GAM. So, ways should be sought to prevent any harmful use of this opportunity.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Local promoter sought for Chrisjon fight
Local promoter sought for Chrisjon fight Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Local promoters are being called upon to ensure that the mandatory title defense of World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Chrisjon takes place at home. The opportunity is open until Friday, when his scheduled bout with American Derrick Gainer will go before a bidding forum in Miami, Florida, WBA Indonesia representative Tourino Tidar told The Jakarta Post here on Monday.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Malaysian govt urges firms to learn from Indian model
Malaysian govt urges firms to learn from Indian model Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur Malaysia is keen to build on its economic relationship with India, and its small- and medium-sized companies could learn much from their Indian counterparts, the Malaysian government said on Monday. Malaysia cannot afford to ignore India, "a stirring economic giant whose time has come," Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi wrote in a speech for the first Malaysia-India Economic Conference 2005 in Kuala Lumpur.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Singapore trade hits historic high in 2004 but growth to ease in 2005
Singapore trade hits historic high in 2004 but growth to ease in 2005 Agence France-Presse/Singapore Singapore's key non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose 17 percent in 2004 and total trade reached a historic high but growth will moderate this year, the city-state's trade agency said on Monday. Total trade rose 22 percent to a record S$580 billion (US$345 billion) in 2004 thanks to the strong economic recovery in the United States, Japan and European Union and robust global electronics demand.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
TV Program: Tuesday, January 18, 2005
TV Program: Tuesday, January 18, 2005 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon: Maya the Bee 8:30 Music: Asik-asik 10:00 Talk Show: Agribiz 11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 12:00 p.m.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI still has major problems in industrial relations
RI still has major problems in industrial relations Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Despite a strong legal basis, Indonesia is still facing major hurdles in developing harmonious industrial relations between employers and workers, says a government official.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Adiguna's case
Adiguna's case While our brothers and sisters in Aceh were experiencing a great calamity, some of us were indulging in convivial merrymaking at luxury hotels on New Year's Eve. After all, it is one's own right to fulfill his/her need for entertainment in spite of our solidarity for the people of Aceh. Adiguna Sutowo and his friends' attitude toward the cashier at the Hilton Hotel's Fluid Club on New Year's Eve has clearly shown the insolently arrogant behavior of high class society.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Semen Gresik 2004 Cement Sales Rise 11%
Semen Gresik 2004 Cement Sales Rise 11% Bloomberg Jakarta PT Semen Gresik, Indonesia's biggest cement maker by volume, said cement sales rose 11 percent to 15.64 million metric tons last year from 14.03 million tons a year earlier. Domestic sales in 2004 rose 12 percent to 13.4 million tons, while exports gained 8.7 percent to 2.23 million tons, the Gresik, East Java-based cement maker said in a statement today on its Web site.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan.17, 2005
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Jan.17, 2005 ____________________________________________________________________________ Share Close Change Trading Volume _____________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 235 10 40,000 Ades Alfindo Tbk 2,300 -25 5,500 Adhi Karya 880 50 85,885,000 Adira Dinamika 2,700 0 0 AGIS Tbk 95 -5 364,000 Akbar Indo Makmur 160 0 0 AKR Corporindo Tbk 1,130 0 867,500 Alakasa Industrindo 165 0 0 Alfa...
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Legislators seek clarification over vice presidential decree
Legislators seek clarification over vice presidential decree Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Several members of the House of Representatives have demanded that the legislature summon President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to clarify the controversial issuance of a vice presidential decree on the Aceh relief operations. The lawmakers submitted a petition to House Speaker Agung Laksono on Monday for the House to summon the President.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
'Govt should expand the busway'
'Govt should expand the busway' The busway, stretching from Blok M in South Jakarta to Kota in West Jakarta, celebrated its first anniversary on Jan. 15. The Jakarta Post talked to residents on whether they use the busway. Wahyudi, 29, a resident of Kebayoran Lama Utara subdistrict in South Jakarta, works for a private company on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta. I rely on the busway for daily transportation to the office.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tsunami survivors suffer amputations
Tsunami survivors suffer amputations Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan Many tsunami victims have had to make an excruciatingly nasty decision; cut off a limb or die. Never in the 15 years of his life had Suwardi thought of such a choice. Not until the doctor at the Banda Aceh military Kesdam Hospital confronted him recently, and explained that the teenager's left leg had deteriorated beyond treatment and was decaying rapidly after being broken during the tsunami.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
UNICEF to build 835 emergency schools
UNICEF to build 835 emergency schools Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Aceh In cooperation with a group of international and domestic non- governmental organizations, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) started on Monday the construction of emergency schools at or near several internally displaced persons camps across Aceh. A representative in Aceh, Purwanta Iskandar, said that the schools were expected to open on Jan. 26.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Govt rolls out red carpet for investors
Govt rolls out red carpet for investors Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono promised foreign investors on Monday a much better investment climate as the government aims to lure a whopping US$120 billion in new investment for the development of roads, power plants and other crucial infrastructure facilities over the next five years.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
N. Sumatra plantations produce generations of poor workers
N. Sumatra plantations produce generations of poor workers Ridwan Max Sijabat The Jakarta Post/Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra North Sumatra has long been known for its large oil palm, cocoa and rubber plantations, but they have contributed little to the local people's welfare over the centuries. Bedjo Kirnadi, a 47-year-old worker of state-owned PT Perkebunan Nusantara IV (PTPN IV), raised his eyebrows when asked what changes he had seen during his 24 years at the palm oil plantation.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Two bankers busted for robbery
Two bankers busted for robbery Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Police said on Monday they arrested over the weekend three robbery suspects, two of them employees of state bank BNI and Bank Indonesia. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said officers from the Depok Police arrested on Friday MDN, an employee of BNI's Kramat branch in Central Jakarta, SN, an employee of Bank Indonesia, and businessman HD in front of the Pesona Kayangan housing complex.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Reformists ready to show Mega the door
Reformists ready to show Mega the door M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Branding themselves a movement to reform the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), prominent members of the party joined forces on Monday to bring an end to the domination of incumbent leader Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Aceh rebel offer worth pondering
Aceh rebel offer worth pondering The offer by the Aceh separatists for a ceasefire with the Indonesian army in the wake of the tsunami disaster in northern Sumatra was cynical. It was a shameless and manipulative device aimed almost entirely at gaining attention and sympathy for the illegal and dangerous Free Aceh Movement known as GAM. But the ceasefire offer is also a great idea that the authorities in Jakarta should have thought of.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Singapore's NODX up 8 percent
Singapore's NODX up 8 percent SINGAPORE: Key non-oil domestic exports (NODX) rose 8 percent in December to S$11.3 billion (US$6.8 billion), powered by electronics, the government said on Monday. That followed a 16.5 percent gain in November. Exports grew a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent in December from the previous month, reversing November's 9.1 percent decline, said International Enterprise Singapore.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Short circuit at House causes scare
Short circuit at House causes scare JAKARTA: Thick smoke billowing from a room on the ground floor of the House of Representatives sparked a panic among officials there on Monday. Nugroho, a security guard, said the incident occurred at about 7:15 a.m., just one day before House leaders hold a consultative meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to discuss post- tsunami issues in Aceh. House secretary-general Faisal Djamal said the smoke resulted from a short circuit in the building.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tsunami-hit Asia appeals for tourists, but hesitations linger
Tsunami-hit Asia appeals for tourists, but hesitations linger Eds: RESTORES dropped word "you" in graf 2; MINOR edits.[ AP Photos[ By CHRISTOPHER BODEEN= Associated Press Writer= SINGAPORE (AP) - Tsunami-hit Asia appeals to hesitant tourists to return Christopher Bodeen Associated Press/Singapore Tsunami-wracked Asia has a new appeal to would-be helpers: Take a vacation. "If you have not planned a visit, please consider booking a trip.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
Adjie and Reza officially divorced
Adjie and Reza officially divorced JAKARTA: Actress Reza Artamevia and House of Representatives member Adjie Massaid officially divorced on Monday after the South Jakarta Islamic Court accepted the divorce petition filed by the former. The court decided that based on the previous agreement between Adjie and Reza, Adjie will maintain custody of their two daughters Zahwa and Aaliya, while Reza may come to visit the two anytime she wishes to.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
30 ex-councillors quizzed over graft
30 ex-councillors quizzed over graft JAMBI: The Jambi Prosecutor's Office is gathering evidence in a Rp 3.6 billion corruption case in Tebo regency allegedly involving 30 former Tebo council members. Nudi D. Siburian of the Jambi Prosecutor's Office said on Monday that in addition to collecting data, prosecutors would soon question more witnesses over the case, including former lawmakers on the budget commission.
Tue, 18 Jan 2005, 00:00 WIB
BMG warns of bad weather
BMG warns of bad weather JAKARTA: The Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) warned on Monday of possible storms in the next two or three days in parts of Indonesia. BMG spokesman Ahmad Zakir said heavy winds were expected in the Sunda Straits, Java Sea, the northern part of the Thousand Islands, along Java's southern coast and along the west coast of South Sulawesi. "Those traveling by sea should take this into consideration," he said.