Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 5 November 2005

94 articles found

RI bridge team into Senior Bowl final

RI bridge team into Senior Bowl final The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The national contract bridge team mounted a comeback in Thursday's semifinal against Denmark to reach the final of the Senior Bowl in Estoril, Portugal. The team trailed in the first three sessions and for part of the fourth before recovering for a 168.5-156 international match points victory, Bert Toar Polii from the Indonesian Contract Bridge Association said.

Ghandi school stages a piece of 'epic theater'

Ghandi school stages a piece of 'epic theater' Mario Koch, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Man and technology, technology and man -- this highly strained relationship is at the core of The Mobile Grave. Grade ten students of Gandhi Memorial International School, Kemayoran, North Jakarta, undertook a true challenge in staging Nigerian playwright Fred Kayondo's work in the school's auditorium on Friday.

Managing Jakarta's weather

Managing Jakarta's weather Edward McMillan, Jakarta As a city, Jakarta is unusually vulnerable to weather-related risks. Flooding invariably brings traffic to a juddering halt and paralyses the city. Hot temperatures promote smog, increase the incidence of heat stroke and push up air-conditioning bills. Mitigating these effects often isn't easy. Planting trees is one answer -- but where, in such a densely built-up city?

Sutiyoso keeps poor happy with cash

Sutiyoso keeps poor happy with cash Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Beaming, Yudhi, in his 30s, a scavenger from Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, emerged from Governor Sutiyoso's official residence on Thursday holding a white envelope with a Rp 50,000 (some US$5) banknote inside it. "It's really a surprise. I thought I would only get a free meal this year. What a happy Idul Fitri," said Yudhi, who was clad in a worn-out T-shirt and shorts.

Indonesia's mutual funds industry: Down but not out

Indonesia's mutual funds industry: Down but not out Martin Jenkins, Jakarta It has not been a good year for Indonesia's mutual funds industry. Still reeling from the Bank Global fiasco at the end of 2004, the industry has seen huge redemptions in 2005 as investors fled to safer havens on fears that mutual funds would continue to post negative returns.

People of S. Aceh seek higher ground

People of S. Aceh seek higher ground BANDA ACEH: Thousands of people in South Aceh regency were forced to leave their houses and seek higher ground on Thursday as days of heavy rain caused the water in local rivers to overflow and flood their houses. Sarif, an official with the local administration, said on Friday that thousands of houses in six districts of the regency were affected, but so far no casualties were reported.

Quality of drinking water declines

Quality of drinking water declines From Kompas For the past few months the quality of drinking water produced by the Jakarta Administration's water utility in cooperation with Lyonnais (a foreign company) has been highly unsatisfactory. The water is turbid, and the pressure is poor. But, sadly, the bills keep increasing. In fact, the company has increased the price twice this year, yet the quality of the water remains poor.

Hotels, villas in Puncak see poor bookings

Hotels, villas in Puncak see poor bookings Theresia Sufa The Jakarta Post/Bogor Unlike previous years, signs advertising vacancies still hung outside hotels and villas in the Puncak resort area, Bogor, on Tuesday, just two days before the post-fasting Idul Fitri celebration. Adjat, an employee of Vila Prabu Putragus on Jl. Raya Puncak, said no room bookings had been made at the villas. "The situation is different from last year, when all our rooms were booked out one month ahead of Lebaran.

Airlines 'should apply online system'

Airlines 'should apply online system' Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In an era where a country's development is increasingly measured by its bandwidth per capita, real-time connectivity is what consumers now demand. "I am a middle-class business traveler, without the privilege of a secretary to take care of my air tickets," said 28-year-old Ahmad Bardi, a processed-food exporter with a small manufacturing plant in Depok, some 20 kilometers south of Jakarta.

Purser and his love for Indonesia

Purser and his love for Indonesia Bambang M, Contributor, Yogyakarta The fact that Australian Warwick Purser loves Indonesia is not in doubt. To help Indonesia recover its reputation, which has, in a way, been tarnished by bombings in Jakarta and Bali, Purser, who has successfully introduced Indonesian handicrafts to the international market, launched a book titled Made in Indonesia: A Tribute to the Country's Craftspeople on Sept.

New judges to hear Probo case

New judges to hear Probo case The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Supreme Court has set up a new five-judge panel to handle the appeal case of businessman Probosutedjo amid allegations that the previous panel of three justices had received bribe money from latter, who is former president Soeharto's half-brother.

For 11/5)

For 11/5) JP/6/EDIT01 Papuans need sincerity The 42 members of the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) were installed on Oct. 31, 2005, in Jayapura, capital of the easternmost province of Papua. But whether the assembly will be able to play the role it is supposed to play is another question. The controversy surrounding the formation of the assembly in recent weeks is reason enough to have reservations about the performance of the assembly.

India beefs up security for Idul Fitri

India beefs up security for Idul Fitri Neelesh Misra, Associated Press/New Delhi Authorities stepped up security across India on Friday as millions of Muslims celebrated the Idul Fitri festival nearly a week after triple bombings killed 60 people ahead of a major Hindu celebration.

Ba'asyir to serve full jail term, Tommy gets further time cut

Ba'asyir to serve full jail term, Tommy gets further time cut The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In an abrupt about-face, the government has decided not to grant convicted terrorist and Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir a sentence remission given to inmates in observance of Idul Fitri holiday. There was no explanation from government officials about why Ba'asyir was excluded from the list of 39,348 inmates who had their prison terms reduced.

Security up after al-Farouq's escape

Security up after al-Farouq's escape The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the government would increase security measures at home to prevent terrorists from launching new attacks in the country following the escape of Omar al-Farouq from a U.S. prison in Afghanistan. "Because he was arrested in Indonesia, there will certainly be implications for Indonesia," Susilo was quoted by state news agency Antara as saying on Friday.

Pos Indonesia braces for Rp100b in losses

Pos Indonesia braces for Rp100b in losses The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State postal service, PT Pos Indonesia, will likely close its books in the red this year, as rising operational costs -- and a recent trend of more people turning to electronic means for their communication needs -- are taking their toll on business.

Telkom will spend Rp 12b on capital next year

Telkom will spend Rp 12b on capital next year Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta State-owned PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), the nation's largest telecommunication company, plans to spend at least some Rp 12 trillion (US$1.19 billion) for next year's expansions and operations.

Jakarta to have more retail space by end of year

Jakarta to have more retail space by end of year Anissa S. Febrina, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta With several large retail construction projects nearing completion, Jakarta will see more shopping spaces by the end of 2005, a property consultant says. According to a report by Coldwell Banker Commercial (CBC), there will be more than 300,000 square meters (sqm) of new leasable retail spaces after five new malls in the capital are finished.

Toward a virtual caliphate

Toward a virtual caliphate Peter Mandaville Yale Center for the Study of Globalization Arlington, Virginia The recent Zawahiri- Zarqawi Letter -- purportedly a missive on strategy and tactics from al-Qaeda's to their man in Iraq -- once again raises the question of bin Laden's capacity to inspire and animate Islamist radicalism across borders and continents. All the more so when considered in light of the July bombings in London and renewed attacks in Bali, Indonesia.

Zebra dove farmers confident of bird flu measures

Zebra dove farmers confident of bird flu measures Evi Mariani The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Amid the bird flu scare in the country, bird farmers in Jakarta are confident in their approach for keeping their birds and families healthy. "Farm sanitation and plenty of sunlight" is their simple motto for protecting their birds and themselves from the deadly virus.

Muslims asked to help build brighter future

Muslims asked to help build brighter future Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta It has been a tough year for the country from natural disasters to currency crises to outbreaks of polio and bird flu. But a common theme of Idul Fitri sermons across the capital on Thursday was taking a positive outlook on life amid the daunting challenges the country faces.

City gets 15% in highway project

City gets 15% in highway project JAKARTA: Thanks to their initiative in fronting the idea to develop inner-city highways, city-owned developers PT Jakarta Propertindo and PT Pembangunan Jaya will obtain 15 percent shares in the ownership of the project worth Rp 23 trillion.

House Speaker joins calls for Susilo to shake up Cabinet

House Speaker joins calls for Susilo to shake up Cabinet Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta House Speaker Agung Laksono has joined the chorus of demands for President Susilo Bambang to reshuffle his Cabinet in order to improve his government's performance. "I am aware that the public demands for a Cabinet reshuffle are on the rise. People are pinning their hopes on the government and I would like to see this being responded to.

SBY's 1.8 million hectare disaster?

SBY's 1.8 million hectare disaster? We all remember Soeharto's disastrous 1 million hectare sawah (rice field) project in Central Kalimantan, the consequences of which still affect the province. Will President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) attach his name to an even bigger ecological, sociological, climatic and financial disaster and scandal with the 1.8 million hectare palm oil plantations project in the center of Kalimantan?

History of Sept. 30 events

History of Sept. 30 events I refer to the letter from Michael Hills published a few days ago in The Jakarta Post regarding the events that took place on Sept. 30 back in 1965. As I have mentioned earlier, history is always written by the victors and accordingly we have had to watch the movie that was shown every year on Sept. 30 up until 1997 depicting the events as seen by the winning side.

Documentary film emphasizes benevolence of Islam

Documentary film emphasizes benevolence of Islam M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In the wake of the terrorist attack on the twin towers on Sept. 11, blamed on a small number of jihadists, Muslims around the world suddenly took on the new duty of explaining to the world that Islam is a benevolent religion.

Two people die in train crash

Two people die in train crash The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A train from Bogor hit a van and a motorcycle while crossing a junction in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta on Friday, killing two people and injuring five others. Ninik, 46, the driver of the van, and another unidentified man on the motorcycle, died on the spot after the Pakuan Express, on its way to Kota station in West Jakarta, slammed into the van, which later hit the motorcycle.

From Suara Pembaruan

From Suara Pembaruan Since the Subversion Law was repealed, the security forces no longer have the power to take preemptive measures. Meanwhile, the terrorist actions continue. Actually, what we need is a legal system under which we can take preemptive measures, including repressive actions. There is much debate nowadays about how to make Indonesia a democratic country and at the same time uphold human rights.

Ads in Bekasi terminal

Ads in Bekasi terminal From Warta Kota The railway station in Bekasi is crowded with vendors occupying small kiosks where they trade their wares, and at the same time erect advertisements for well-known beverages. It is commonplace now to see these advertisements occupying public areas. The railway company seems to have benefited a lot from these ads.

S&P raises three firms' debt ratings

S&P raises three firms' debt ratings The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Global credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has raised its debt ratings for three Indonesian companies -- PT HM Sampoerna, PT Bank Mandiri and PT Bank Danamon -- citing a reduced risk in their ability to service their obligations. Sampoerna, Indonesia's second largest cigarette producer, had its debt ratings raised by two levels to "BB+" from a previous "BB-", S&P said in a statement released on Friday.

Wildlife groups urge unified force to save Borneo's orangutans

Wildlife groups urge unified force to save Borneo's orangutans Sebastien Blanc Agence France Presse/Pontianak Leading environmental and wildlife agencies called Friday for a united effort to protect the habitats of Borneo's orangutans whose survival is threatened by mass deforestation.

Shame on all

Shame on all How can anyone justify the beheading of three innocent schoolgirls? This inhuman act shames Indonesia, and if it was done by people using Islam as a justification it will bring shame on all Muslims. MIKE GABRIEL Woodford, Australia

Lin beats Gade, RI men shut out

Lin beats Gade, RI men shut out HONG KONG: World number one Lin Dan of China overcame the challenge of Denmark's Peter Gade in the men's singles at the US$250,000 Hong Kong Open on Friday, but Indonesian badminton players were conspicuous in their absence from the last eight lineup.

Getting better?

Getting better? When President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono came to New York, he told the Indonesian community that "things are getting better" in response to a question about anti-Christian violence. On Oct. 31, The Jakarta Post carried a story about three young Christian students being beheaded in Central Sulawesi and churches closed in Bekasi. Nothing is "getting better." The government only seems to worry about violence that affect tourism and not about violence that affects people.

Idul Fitri for solidarity and justice

Idul Fitri for solidarity and justice Muhamad Ali, Manoa, Hawaii In Ramadhan last year, our nation witnessed the inauguration of the first directly elected President, Vice President, and the appointed Cabinet, with great hopes that we could look forward to a better future. That Ramadhan was generally seen as a blessing for Indonesian politics. Most people seemed quite happy.

Holiday travel up on last year

Holiday travel up on last year YOGYAKARTA: Despite higher inflation following the fuel price increases, the number of holiday travelers during this year Idul Fitri rose by 4 percent compared to last year, Minister of Transportation Hatta Radjasa said on Friday. Meanwhile, the number of people traveling home for the holiday by third-class train increased by 170 percent, he added.

JP/18/AUSSIE

JP/18/AUSSIE Int'l students almost on par with Australian students The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In response to claims that universities in Australia were dropping standards to favor foreign students, some Australian researchers conducted a comparative study that disproved the earlier claims. Results of the comparative study will be released at the AIEC conference by Alan Olsen, Dr Zena Burgess and Dr Raj Sharma, Australian publication Campus Review reported in October.

JP/7/IGOR3

JP/7/IGOR3 Igor O'Neill, Jakarta Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Oct. 7 announced the government's plan to spend Rp 150 billion (US$15 million) to buy 10 million coal stoves as a part of the government efforts to diversify energy resources and to reduce the costly subsidy for kerosene.

Bomb jolts Ambon; one found in Poso

Bomb jolts Ambon; one found in Poso Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post/Poso, Central Sulawesi A bomb blast jolted Ambon early on Thursday as Muslims prepared to celebrate Idul Fitri, and later in the afternoon, some hundreds of kilometers away, residents in Poso found a homemade bomb in what apparently was renewed efforts by terrorists to reignite sectarian conflict in the two religiously divided areas. AFP reported that the blast in Ambon occurred at around 3.30 a.m.

Inflation, an elusive concept to most people

Inflation, an elusive concept to most people Endy M. Bayuni, Jakarta When the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) announced the latest inflation figures on Tuesday, most government officials and some economists professed surprise and shock. While many had predicted that inflation, which is officially defined as the rate of increase in the consumer price index, would be high in the wake of the massive hikes in domestic fuel prices at the start of October, no one had foreseen that it would reach 8.

Quality of drinking water declines

Quality of drinking water declines From Kompas For the past few months the quality of drinking water produced by the Jakarta Administration's water utility in cooperation with Lyonnais (a foreign company) has been highly unsatisfactory. The water is turbid, and the pressure is poor. But, sadly, the bills keep increasing. In fact, the company has increased the price twice this year, yet the quality of the water remains poor.

Ex-strongman Soeharto admitted to hospital

Ex-strongman Soeharto admitted to hospital The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former president Soeharto was admitted to the Pertamina Hospital in South Jakarta on Friday suffering from an identified illness. The RCTI television broadcaster said the former strongman was admitted to the hospital at about 4:30 p.m. Friday but it was not clear what he was suffering from.

Salaries should be increased

Salaries should be increased From Warta Kota In the wake of the fuel price increases, the regional minimum wage, as well as the salaries of civil servants, military and police officers should all be increased. In fact, the government's policy to increase fuel prices by over 100 percent needs to be reviewed; at least they should rethink the amount of the increase. It was just too high.

Acehnese tsunami survivors celebrate Idul Fitri in tents, remember victims

Acehnese tsunami survivors celebrate Idul Fitri in tents, remember victims Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post/Banda Aceh Many still living in tents, the Acehnese celebrated their first Idul Fitri almost a year after the tsunami devastated Aceh and parts of North Sumatra. The time was also a time for many to quietly remember the loved ones, relatives and friends not present at festivities this year.

'It's the prayer and the visits that matter'

'It's the prayer and the visits that matter' The post-fasting Idul Fitri celebration, known here as lebaran, has been somewhat subdued this year as people come to terms with higher prices for basic necessities following the Oct. 1 fuel price rises. The Jakarta Post asked some Jakarta people what Idul Fitri means to them against this backdrop. Badri, 40, is a driver of a city bus plying the route between Kota in West Jakarta and Lebak Bulus, South Jakarta.

EU ambassador foresees more investment in Southeast Asia

EU ambassador foresees more investment in Southeast Asia Deutsche Presse-Agentur, Bangkok A possible free trade agreement (FTA) between the European Union and Southeast Asia along with the governments' recent moves to liberalize their economies could lead to a boost in sadly lagging EU investments in the region, an EU official said on Friday.

FPI forces Kemang eateries to close during Idul Fitri

FPI forces Kemang eateries to close during Idul Fitri Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta While many Jakarta residents were looking for places to eat out on the first day of Idul Fitri on Thursday, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) forced restaurants and cafes in Kemang, South Jakarta, to close. Izzi Pizza outlet in the area, for instance, had to close at 2 p.m. after a member of FPI called them up requesting that the outlet close immediately. "A member of the FPI came to the outlet.

Bird flu may stall Asian growth: ADB

Bird flu may stall Asian growth: ADB Francisco Alcuaz Jr., Bloomberg/Manila A bird flu pandemic could stall Asian economic growth next year and the global economy may shrink as investment and consumption fall, the Asian Development Bank said. The bank suggested two scenarios. In the first, the psychological impact of the pandemic is short-lived, hurting demand for only two quarters and reducing Asia's 2006 gross domestic product by 2.3 percentage points.

JP/18/ZATNI2

JP/18/ZATNI2 Portable backup device for digital photos Zatni Arbi Contributor/Jakarta Imagine you are on a two-day mountain-climbing trip to a location famous for its exotic views. Or a week-long trip to scenic West Sumatra. You have in your pocket a digital camera complete with two fully-charged, spare batteries. You have also bought a 2GB SD card. How many pictures will you be able to take during that trip?

Stronger legal ground needed in anti-graft campaign

Stronger legal ground needed in anti-graft campaign Ardimas Sasdi, The Jakarta Post The alleged bribery scandal at the Supreme Court is not only embarrassing, but also disturbing. The case has strengthened the already strong public perception that no institution in the country is unaffected by the virus of corruption. That corruption is rampant is already public knowledge.

Heading to new monetary crisis?

Heading to new monetary crisis? From Kompas The government is off limits while the Ministry of Communications and Information, sending short messages to the general public, is not logical either. One of the messages that reached my cellular phone, which further emphasizes the rich-poor dichotomy, reads: "Please help control subsidy distribution to the poor". Would it not be far more appropriate to control the flow of bribes in the Supreme Court (MA), whose investigations are now in doubt?

Tight security as Iraq Shiites celebrate Idul Fitri

Tight security as Iraq Shiites celebrate Idul Fitri Carlos Hamann, Agence France-Presse/Baghdad Iraq's majority Shiite Muslims celebrated on Friday the first day of the Idul Fitri holiday as authorities maintained tight security fearing an increase in insurgent attacks. The holiday marks the end of the Ramadhan month of dawn-to- dusk fasting, which has since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq been characterized by an increase in attacks.

1. Analys --- 1x40

1. Analys --- 1x40 Inflation, an elusive concept to most people 2. Propert -- 3x15 Jakarta to have more retail space by end of year 3. Terror --- 1x28 Escaped militant poses security threat 4. Prison ---- 2x27 CIA built secret global prison system after 9/11 attacks: Report

1. Cabinet (3x18)

1. Cabinet (3x18) House Speaker joins calls for Susilo to shake up Cabinet 2. Attack (2x27) 21 named suspects in attack on Bali police station 3. Probo (1x27) New judges to hear Probo case 4. UMR (1x49) Labor unions bow to employers over wage hikes

RP economy on the mend: Govt

RP economy on the mend: Govt MANILA: The Philippine economy is on its way to recovery as the political crisis swirling around President Gloria Arroyo is bottoming out, her spokesman Ignacio Bunye said on Friday. "There is no way (to go) but up. Political uncertainties have started to bottom out," Bunye said, expressing "no doubt" that the Philippines would post the 5.3 percent economic growth targeted for this year.

Forgive convicted Australians

Forgive convicted Australians Indonesia should have mercy on the nine Australians arrested for attempting to traffic heroin from Bali to Australia. These young people have made a mistake in their lives and now they face the consequences of their deed. However, these young lives should be spared. God forgives humans for our sins and mistakes, and I think the Indonesian judiciary needs to bear this in mind.

RI men sentenced for counterfeiting

RI men sentenced for counterfeiting USA: Two Indonesian citizens accused of leading a multimillion- dollar money-laundering ring that produced counterfeit cigarette papers were sentenced on Tuesday to 15 months in prison. U.S. District Judge Avern Cohn also ordered that Anand Nanawani, 27, and Jaipai Singh, 29, serve two years probation after completing their prison terms. The U.S. government will begin deportation proceedings afterward, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said.

Indonesian doctor awarded by Japan

Indonesian doctor awarded by Japan INDONESIA: Indonesian neurologist Satyanegara has been awarded with the Order of The Rising Sun (Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon) from the Japanese government for his efforts in promoting ties between Indonesia and Japan, especially in the medical field, the Japanese embassy in Jakarta has said. "He's helped build friendships between Indonesia and Japan.

Palyja responds to bonus demands

Palyja responds to bonus demands We refer to the article entitled When strangers call for THR published in the Sunday, Oct. 30 edition of The Jakarta Post on page 1. In order not to lead to any misperceptions among Palyja's customers, we would like to address several points as follows: * Palyja's management has given Idul Fitri bonuses (THR) in accordance with the prevailing regulations, and therefore no one is allowed to ask for extra gifts from customers.

Escaped militant poses security threat

Escaped militant poses security threat Niniek Karmini, Associated Press/Jakarta A suspected top al-Qaeda operative who escaped from a U.S.-run detention facility in Afghanistan poses a serious threat to Southeast Asian security, anti-terror officials said on Wednesday. Some said Washington failed to tell them Omar al-Farouq was free.

Festivities galore

Festivities galore On the eve of Idul Fitri, the celebratory spirit was in the air as huge groups of people paraded around towns marking the end of a month of fasting for Muslims. On Thursday, many people enjoyed the holiday, some praying and visiting family members, relatives, neighbors, while others were asking and offering forgiveness for any wrongdoings.

Anthropologists uncover jawbone of another ancient "Hobbit" on Indonesian island

Anthropologists uncover jawbone of another ancient "Hobbit" on Indonesian island Joseph B. Verrengia, Associated Press/Denver Scientists digging in a remote Indonesian cave have uncovered a jaw bone that they say adds more evidence that a tiny prehistoric Hobbit-like species once existed. The jaw is from the ninth individual believed to have lived as recently as 12,000 years ago.

Salaries should be increased

Salaries should be increased From Warta Kota In the wake of the fuel price increases, the regional minimum wage, as well as the salaries of civil servants, military and police officers should all be increased. In fact, the government's policy to increase fuel prices by over 100 percent needs to be reviewed; at least they should rethink the amount of the increase. It was just too high.

;cd;

;cd; 1. SERMONS: 3 X 15 Muslims asked to help build a brighter future 2. SOEHARTO: 2 X 18 Ex-strongman Soeharto admitted to hospital 3. FPI: 2 X 24 FPI forces Kemang eateries to close during Idul Fitri 4. BAASYIR: 2 X 24 Ba'asyir to serve full term, Tommy gets further time cut

MA-gate should prompt total judicial probe

MA-gate should prompt total judicial probe From Republika The revelation about the bribes of Rp 6 billion paid to members of the Supreme Court (MA), involving the appeal in a Rp 100 billion corruption case allegedly perpetrated by conglomerate boss Probosutejo, can be used as important momentum. Moreover, he also admitted having spent Rp 10 billion in order to get off lightly in the district court and the high court.

Police to monitor influx of Idul Fitri travelers

Police to monitor influx of Idul Fitri travelers Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Jakarta Police will deploy thousands of officers to several bus and railway stations, the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Tanjung Priok port to monitor incoming travelers several days after Idul Fitri. City Police chief of operations Sr. Comr. Komang Udayana said on Friday that, aside from directing heavy traffic, the police would concentrate on monitoring the arrival of newcomers to the city.

How laws work

How laws work This is in response to the debate about death penalties for drug offenders and distribution of money to the poor. The only laws that work in Indonesia are the simple ones. Giving money to the poor, after the higher prices, is extremely complicated and will never work. It will only provoke violence, crime and corruption. Death penalties for selling, buying or using drugs are simple and work perfectly, people are found guilty everyday and thrown in jail for as long as possible.

EMILIANA DEWI

EMILIANA DEWI Jakarta

RI woman and Rp 500 m

RI woman and Rp 500 m It is very interesting to read the articles in The Jakarta Post about this trial-and-error plan. We, Indonesians, are always making "breakthroughs", which is actually positive in the sense that a rule is made to fit our own culture. Women are not commodities, so that even their freedom is tradable. This is not our culture. Is this one of the prospective businesses to tackle the multi-dimensional crisis in our country? Please mate, no. SEVERIN MEO GOA Adelaide, Australia

Labor unions bow to employers over wage hikes

Labor unions bow to employers over wage hikes Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Despite pro-labor legislation, workers had to bow down to employers' pressure in determining the hike in the 2006 monthly minimum wages in the wake of economic difficulties and the alarmingly high level of unemployment. The Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) has recommended a maximum increase of 17.9 percent in the provincial minimum wage (UMR) to match the national inflation rate.

Cipinang inmates granted remissions

Cipinang inmates granted remissions JAKARTA: Inmates serving jail terms at Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta were granted sentence remissions on Friday on the occasion of Idul Fitri. The total number of inmates to receive remissions was 1,503. Remissions varied, ranging from 15 days to one-and-a-half months. Sixty-eight inmates who received the remissions could also take a breath of fresh air outside the jail bars since the remissions cut their remaining term.

Private schools must respect Indonesian system

Private schools must respect Indonesian system Pieter Van Der Vienhart, Tilburg, Netherlands Indonesian newspapers often feature articles, promotionals and advertorial materials touting the considerable number of private schools that are either now operational or opening up in Jakarta.

Ragunan zoo regains visitors

Ragunan zoo regains visitors The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor After it was closed in September after 19 of its birds were infected by bird flu virus, Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta began to see visitors returning again during Idul Fitri on Thursday and Friday. On each of the days, over 10,000 visitors visited the zoo. "I came here because the government has guaranteed that the zoo is free of bird flu.

From Kalimantan to Malang via Birmingham

From Kalimantan to Malang via Birmingham Duncan Graham, Contributor/Malang The life of a missionary kid (they call themselves MKs) is so dramatically different from the upbringing of most children that there is even an Indonesian webpage devoted to the experience. Sample: MKs fly before they can walk. They speak two languages but can't spell in either. They have passports but no driver's licenses. When watching National Geographic TV specials they recognize someone.

Nurse under scrutiny for bird flu symptoms

Nurse under scrutiny for bird flu symptoms The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Staff at the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital in North Jakarta are closely observing a nurse with avian influenza- like symptoms after she took care of a patient thought to have the virus who recently died.

Police told to put a stop to racism

Police told to put a stop to racism JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered a police crackdown on people who are increasingly using their cellular phones to send racist text messages, his spokesman said. According to earlier media reports, there have been a growing number of SMS messages encouraging violence against Chinese- Indonesians. The messages say the ethnic Chinese are to blame for the country's economic problems.

Supreme Court

Supreme Court trading RI women? We refer to the news item Want to marry RI woman? Pay Rp 500m in deposit (The Jakarta Post, Oct. 10, page 2). We are outraged and disturbed when reading the subject article. How dare the Indonesian Supreme Court view Indonesian women as objects and treats them as a commodity!

Will this century belong to China and India?

Will this century belong to China and India? Zou Hanru, China Daily/Asia News Network, Beijing Together, they are home to one-third of the world's population. Both have thousands of years of history. Both opened up their economy in the past quarter of a century. Both have been growing rapidly, one at a spectacular 9 per cent plus, the other at nearly 6 per cent.

Inquisition in Indonesia

Inquisition in Indonesia Civilians rampaging like wild elephants in the jungle, trampling on the rights of the people; making kangaroo court judgments on what people can think or say or do; condemning the populace if they don't conform to narrow self-righteous mind think; issuing dictums, or fatwas (religious instruction), demanding that all must obey or face their wrath. This is identical to the Inquisition of the Dark Ages and the suppression of free thought by communist regimes.

Vietnam-China ties

Vietnam-China ties The 3-day visit to Vietnam by Chinese President Hu Jintao confirms that Vietnam and China attach importance to beefing up their friendly and comprehensive cooperation ties under the principle of 'long-term stability, future orientation, good- neighborly friendship and all-round cooperation. The opening of air, sea, road and rail routes has created favorable conditions for the visit as well as the trade and economic exchange between the two countries, among their localities...

RI woman and Rp 500 m

RI woman and Rp 500 m It is very interesting to read the articles in The Jakarta Post about this trial-and-error plan. We, Indonesians, are always making "breakthroughs", which is actually positive in the sense that a rule is made to fit our own culture. Women are not commodities, so that even their freedom is tradable. This is not our culture. Is this one of the prospective businesses to tackle the multi-dimensional crisis in our country? Please mate, no. SEVERIN MEO GOA Adelaide, Australia

Breast cancer a beast to watch out for

Breast cancer a beast to watch out for Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The recent headlines on the demise of the Malaysian first lady, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, raised breast cancer awareness in the region. Endon discovered she had cancer in 2002 following a checkup after her twin sister Noraini was earlier diagnosed with the disease. Noraini died in 2003.

Business as usual?

Business as usual? After the celebration of Idul Fitri, business as usual is the last thing we want. Fitri refers to a state of being cleansed, a life begun anew with a clean slate after a month of fasting and trying not to give in to worldly desires.

Bank Mandiri begins talks with investors on pulp mill sale

Bank Mandiri begins talks with investors on pulp mill sale Dow Jones, Singapore Bank Mandiri, Indonesia's biggest lender, has begun talks with the family behind the US$14 billion Asia Pulp and Paper default and other potential investors over buying a Kalimantan pulp mill at the center of a dispute between J.P. Morgan and a Singapore- listed company, the Financial Times reported on its Website on Friday. J.P. Morgan and United Fiber System Ltd.

Ads in Bekasi terminal

Ads in Bekasi terminal From Warta Kota The railway station in Bekasi is crowded with vendors occupying small kiosks where they trade their wares, and at the same time erect advertisements for well-known beverages. It is commonplace now to see these advertisements occupying public areas. The railway company seems to have benefited a lot from these ads.

From Suara Pembaruan

From Suara Pembaruan Since the Subversion Law was repealed, the security forces no longer have the power to take preemptive measures. Meanwhile, the terrorist actions continue. Actually, what we need is a legal system under which we can take preemptive measures, including repressive actions. There is much debate nowadays about how to make Indonesia a democratic country and at the same time uphold human rights.

JP/18/ZATNI1

JP/18/ZATNI1 USB 'OTG': Let's do away with the PC Zatni Arbi Contributor/Jakarta I got an interesting gift during one of my recent trips: A 40 GB external USB hard disk. That was a heck of storage capacity for me, as I do not usually store video and music files. For comparison, My IBM ThinkPad T40 has a mere 30 GB hard disk.

Head P.8

Head P.8 1. Secure -- 3 x 18 Police to monitor influx of Idul Fitri travelers 2. Open 1 x 32 Sutiyoso keeps poor happy with cash 3. Rekreasi -- 1 x 27 Ragunan Zoo regains visitors 4. Accident -- 1 x 30 Two people die in train crash 5. Speak 1 x 40 'It's the prayers and the visits that matter'

People-profile-Suroyo

People-profile-Suroyo JP/24/W00 JP/24/SUROYO Suroyo, Yogyakarta's 'Gazelle bike king' Bambang Muryanto Contributor/Yogyakarta Following the government's decision to raise fuel prices by an average of almost 100 percent on Oct. 1, many people are thinking of returning to bicycles. However, H. Suroyo, a silver handicrafts businessmen in Yogyakarta's Kotagede, has never parted with his bike, regardless of fuel prices. He has dozens of old Gazelle bikes made between 1950 and 1960 in his collection.

21 named suspects in attack on Bali police station

21 named suspects in attack on Bali police station I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post/Denpasar The Karangasem Police in Bali named on Friday 21 people as suspects in Wednesday's attack and burning of the Rendang Police station that left four people injured, including a police officer.

Prisoners demand execution of bombers

Prisoners demand execution of bombers JAKARTA: Fellow inmates at a tightly guarded Indonesian prison despise the three Bali bombers and are calling for their immediate execution, officials said on Friday. Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Gufron and Imam Samudra - sentenced to death for their roles in the 2002 nightclub bombings that killed 202 people - were transferred from a prison in Bali to the more secure Batu jail on Nusakambangan island last month.

Sumitomo to invest $39m in Indonesia

Sumitomo to invest $39m in Indonesia TOKYO: Sumitomo Forestry Co., a Japanese lumber company, said it will invest US$39 million to build a particle board plant in Indonesia. The plant, scheduled to start operations in October 2007, will have annual output of 128,000 cubic meters. The Tokyo-based company announced the new plant in a statement distributed at the Tokyo Stock Exchange. -- Bloomberg

Soccer team back from Australia

Soccer team back from Australia JAKARTA: The national under-23 soccer team returned home on Thursday night after monthlong training in Perth, Australia, for this month's Southeast Asian Games. The team, who will rest for several days before resuming training, lost 2-4 in their last friendly against a local Perth team on Wednesday, according to coach Edi Harto. However, the team defeated Floreat 5-0 the week before.

Good deeds during Ramadhan

Good deeds during Ramadhan ? It is amazing to see that recently another hardliner Muslim group targeting shops and restaurants during this Ramadhan period. ? As I understand that they are supposed to be fasting and when they are fasting they are supposed to do good deeds during this season. ? Anyway, Indonesia -- as it promotes democracy and will abolish corruption -- failed to act in allowing those people to do what they have done.