Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 25 February 2005

81 articles found

JP/ /

JP/ /Susilo's 100 Days and the tsunamiThe first hundred days of President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono's mandate have passed and the pundits, predictably, are pontificating.How does one assess the President's success or failure to achieve the expected results? The situation in Indonesia today precludes...

Again, fine for littering

Again, fine for litteringFrom Kompas It seems Jakarta's regional regulations on fines for littering in public places will be imposed again soon. The regulation has always existed -- but inadequate implementation means it has been less-than effective.

Proliga volleyball takes to the court next week

Proliga volleyball takes to the court next weekMoch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta After being postponed from mid-February due to the Dec. 26 tsunami, the 2005 Sampoerna Hijau Proliga volleyball competition will open begin next week.

Despite objections from the House of Representatives, the

Despite objections from the House of Representatives, the government will press ahead with its plan to increase domestic fuel prices, saying it is only trying to fulfill the fuel subsidy allocation as required by the 2005 state budget.

Stalled project irks councillors

Stalled project irks councillors TANGERANG: The Tangerang municipal council will ask an independent team to audit a stalled building project."We suspect irregularities in the project ... that could derail the administration's current 'year of quality' program," the council's deputy speaker, Arif...

JP/4/scene

JP/4/scene Court settles backlog of cases SERANG, Banten: Supreme Court chief Bagir Manan said on Thursday his office had managed to settle almost all of the outstanding cases that had piled up over the years. "Out of the backlog of more than 6,700 cases, we've managed to settle 6,200 in 2004.

Indonesian stock index falls from record high

Indonesian stock index falls from record highBloomberg, JakartaIndonesia's benchmark stock index fell for the first day in 10, failing to extend the longest winning streak in more than two years. PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia led the decline on concern competition may reduce the company's profit.

Timber barons protest illegal fees

Timber barons protest illegal feesJAYAPURA, Papua: Over 150 people claiming to be timber company employers staged a protest on Thursday in Jayapura, demanding the government put an end to rampant extortion against them.

Banten governor fumes over smoking ban at airport

Banten governor fumes over smoking ban at airportMulta Fidrus, The JakartaPost, TangerangSmoking bans may be for the good of all, but Banten Governor Djoko Munnandar is none too happy that no one asked him before plans were made for a smoke-free Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

JP/1/HEADING

JP/1/HEADING 1. FUEL: 2 LINES, 20 COUNTS Govt presses ahead with fuel price hike 2. ADIGUNA: 3 LINES, 14 COUNTS Adiguna murder trial begins; security tight 3. ADB: 1 LINE, 48 COUNTS Governance reform key to fighting corruption: ADB

Court settles backlog of cases

Court settles backlog of cases SERANG, Banten: Supreme Court chief Bagir Manan said on Thursday his office had managed to settle almost all of the outstanding cases that had piled up over the years."Out of the backlog of more than 6,700 cases, we've managed to settle 6,200 in 2004.

* Credit card fraud on the rise in Indonesia Page 2

* Credit card fraud on the rise in Indonesia Page 2 * Survey suggests PPP needs change in leadership Page 4 * Haze worsening in some parts of Sumatra Page 5 * Relocation of survivors needs heart and wisdom Page 6 * Banten protests smoking ban at Soekarno-Hatta airport Page 8 * Proliga volleyball...

Councillors to get Rp 15m monthly housing allowance

Councillors to get Rp 15m monthly housing allowanceBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, JakartaCity councillors now have every reason to smile.Governor Sutiyoso has set councillors' monthly housing allowance at Rp 20 million for leaders and Rp 15 million for members, tripling their income from the...

TV Today: Friday, February 25, 2005

TV Today: Friday, February 25, 2005 .TB.30" .90"TVRI .tb .30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi7:00 Cartoon: Maya The Bee8:30 Music: Asik-Asik 10:30 Religious Teachings1:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang1:30 Documentary2:00 Music3:00 English News Service4:30 Documentary5:00 Cartoon:...

House members nearly brawl over Cemex case

House members nearly brawl over Cemex caseRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, JakartaLawmakers nearly got into a brawl on Thursday after failing to agree on a plan to disclose alleged irregularities in the settlement process of a dispute between the government and Mexican cement giant Cemex SA...

Now for the action

Now for the action It has taken Indonesia many years, and an international scandal, for the country to finally wake up to the immensity of the looting that has been going on for decades in its lush tropical rain forests.

Truth commission urged for Papua

Truth commission urged for Papua JAKARTA: In a bid to help put closure to many of the human rights abuses in Papua, a working group for the troubled province called on the government to establish a local commission of truth and reconciliation.

Post-tsunami future starts to take shape

Post-tsunami future starts to take shapeJohn Aglionby, Guardian News Service/Banda Aceh Among the hundreds of small communities devastated by the December 26 tsunami was Nusa, Aceh. In a report from the village, John Aglionby describes progress on rebuilding lives.

Flooding worsens in south Bandung

Flooding worsens in south BandungThe Jakarta Post, Bandung/YogyakartaHeavy rain over the last two days has increased the area under water in south Bandung regency, with 18 out of 45 districts inundated on Thursday in what is said to be the worst flooding in the last 10 years.

Aceh aid part of Rotary Club centenary

Aceh aid part of Rotary Club centenary The Jakarta Post JakartaRotary Club members throughout Jakarta celebrated the club's international centennial with a charity event for tsunami-torn Aceh in Jakarta on Wednesday.

'Timay' the hippo moved to Solo

'Timay' the hippo moved to SoloIn a two-ton cage on board a truck, seven-year-old Timay has started his 12-hour journey on Wednesday from his home in Taman Safari Indonesia in Bogor to Satwa Taru Jurug zoo in Surakarta, Central Java.

1. GAM (45) - 48 pts 4 cols 2 lines (2x24)

1. GAM (45) - 48 pts 4 cols 2 lines (2x24)Govt opposes Aceh self-rule, agrees on GAM political partyorGovt opposes Aceh self-rule, allows GAM to contest poll 2. TNI (40) - 36 pts 4 cols 1line (1x28) Ryamizard flaunts achievements 3.

Govt opposes Aceh self-rule, may allow GAM to join poll

Govt opposes Aceh self-rule, may allow GAM to join pollMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government expects to reach a peace accord with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in June or July after two rounds of talks to settle 32 years of conflict in the province.

Coal output to reach 150 million tons in 2005

Coal output to reach 150 million tons in 2005Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, JakartaWith demand from domestic and overseas markets on the rise, the country's oil output for 2005 is expected increase by 18 percent from last year, to 150 million tons.

Correction-page19-TheArts

Correction-page19-TheArtsJP/19/CORRCorrectionIn the page 19 story headlined Lie Fhung's visions take wing in the Thursday, Feb. 24 edition of The Jakarta Post, the second paragraph reads: ... but there is a delicate subtlety that reminds one that she is among Indonesia's foremost ceramic artists,...

The Violent Face of Indonesia

The Violent Face of Indonesia Thang D. Nguyen Jakarta As 2004 came to an end, Western intelligence forces issued a warning of a potential terrorist attack in a Hilton hotel in Indonesia during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Fortunately, no terrorist attacks happened.

RP misses 2004 import target

RP misses 2004 import targetMANILA: Philippine imports rose 7.5 percent to US$40.3 billion in 2004, below the official growth target of 11 percent, the government said on Thursday.The National Statistics Office said earlier that exports rose 9.3 percent to $39.

Adiguna murder trial begins; security tight

Adiguna murder trial begins; security tightThe Jakarta Post, JakartaEscorted by 50 police officers, Adiguna Sutowo, the wealthy businessman charged with the New Year's day murder of a waiter over a Rp 150,000 (US$16) bar bill, entered the courtroom as a defendant for the first time at the Central...

Australia, East Timor to resume maritime boundary negotiations

Australia, East Timor to resume maritime boundary negotiationsAssociated Press, CanberraAustralia and East Timor will resume talks on how to share US$30 billion n seabed oil and gas royalties in March, five months after an acrimonious breakdown in the negotiations, government officials said on...

Respite for Aceh

Respite for AcehThere never was a good war or a bad peace. Despite the incremental pace of negotiations, the positive mood at the conclusion of a second round talks in Helsinki between the government and representatives of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) should be welcomed by all.

JP/04/PPP

JP/04/PPPPPP needs changes in leadership: SurveyThe Jakarta Post/Jakarta A day ahead of the national gathering of the United Development Party (PPP), a survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) revealed on Thursday that the popularity of the country's largest Islamic political party may...

Foreign investment in Indonesia

Foreign investment in Indonesia Minister of Trade Mari E. Pangestu's comments and concerns with regard to "out of control regional administrations' levies on foreign investors" (The Jakarta Post of Feb. 14) are to be commended.

Govt presses ahead with fuel price hike

Govt presses ahead with fuel price hikeThe Jakarta Post, JakartaDespite potential objections from the House of Representatives, the government will press ahead with its plan to increase domestic fuel prices, saying it is only trying to fulfill the fuel subsidy allocation as required by the 2005...

Annan recommends keeping UN mission in East Timor

Annan recommends keeping UN mission in East TimorEdith M. Lederer, Associated Press/United NationsUN Secretary-General Kofi Annan recommended that the United Nations keep a scaled-down mission in East Timor for an extra year, warning that a pullout in May as scheduled could affect the security and...

Ryamizard flaunts achievements

Ryamizard flaunts achievementsTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, JakartaIn an apparent attempt to lobby for the job as new Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, outgoing Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu invited retired and active Army officers for a gathering on Thursday to brief them on his...

Apexindo to pay off debt via bond issue

Apexindo to pay off debt via bond issue JAKARTA: Publicly listed drilling company PT Apexindo will offer Rp 750 billion (US$81.52 million) in bonds next month to pay its debts to several creditors.The five-year bonds would consist of Rp 600 billion in conventional bonds with a yield of between 11.

SBY tells journalists to learn

SBY tells journalists to learnThe Jakarta Post, JakartaPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met on Thursday two Indonesian journalists who had been released from captivity in Iraq at the gazebo in front of his office here.

'TNI banned from taking sides'

'TNI banned from taking sides'KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: A top military official has said that the Indonesian Military (TNI) will stay neutral ahead of the direct election of regional administration heads in East Nusa Tenggara province this year.

Loans and foreign control

Loans and foreign controlFrom Media IndonesiaIndonesia has become the focus of world attention following the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Aceh. One of the manifestations of sympathy is the debt moratorium approved by the Paris Club.

Survivors' relocation requires heart, wisdom

Survivors' relocation requires heart, wisdomTotok Amin Soefijanto, Boston, Massachusetts Machiavelli said: "It is better to be feared than to be loved." Using this principal, many politicians have ordered brutal and inhumane treatment of their opponents and critics, and even their own inner circle,...

Airbus paints upbeat outlook for Asia Pacific

Airbus paints upbeat outlook for Asia PacificThe Jakarta Post, JakartaThe Asia Pacific region will become the core market for the world's top aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, over the next five to ten years, replacing the European market as the company's top source of orders, an Airbus executive said...

Governance reform key to fighting corruption: ADB

Governance reform key to fighting corruption: ADBEndy M. Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Amid growing public discontent over the lack of progress in punishing those involved in corruption, a new study says that because corruption is largely systemic, or institutionalized, the key to solving the...

Citra Marga to issue Rp800b bonds

Citra Marga to issue Rp800b bonds JAKARTA: Leading private toll operator PT Citra Marga Nusaphala Persada plans to issue a total of Rp 800 billion (US$86.95 million) in bonds this year to refinance its debts and the development of a 12-kilometer toll road in Surabaya.

RP police arrests JI terror suspects

RP police arrests JI terror suspectsAgencies, ManilaPolice said on Thursday they thwarted planned attacks on an airport, malls, a church and U.S. troops with the arrests of three Jamaah Islamiyah members who allegedly came to the Philippines to train Muslim militants to make bombs.

Festival to screens local, international dance films

Festival to screens local, international dance filmsA. Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe term "dance film" is confusing for laymen and even film buffs -- is it a documentary film about dance or a dance that has been filmed?Jakartans can make up their own minds from dozens of dance films that...

PPP needs changes in leadership, LSI survey says

PPP needs changes in leadership, LSI survey saysThe Jakarta Post, JakartaA day ahead of the national gathering of the United Development Party (PPP), a survey by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) revealed on Thursday that the popularity of the country's largest Islamic political party may...

Detaching ourselves from the culture of violence

Detaching ourselves from the culture of violenceAlpha Amirrachman Jakarta From the pre-independence to post-Soeharto eras, violence has marred the history of this nation, perhaps prompting some to ask: Are we born violent? It would be shameful to answer "yes", but we might also argue that violence...

Gender issues and families

Gender issues and familiesFrom RepublikaA lot more women in Indonesia are joining the struggle related to gender issues and pursuing gender ideals in daily life, forcing some of them to abandon their domestic roles as mothers and housewives.

Ex-ministers 'richer for the experience'

Ex-ministers 'richer for the experience'Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, JakartaAnnouncing his personal wealth to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s office here on Thursday, former tourism and culture minister I Gede Ardika implied that life was good being a cabinet minister.

Part 1 of 2: Lessons from E. Asian Financial Cooperation

Part 1 of 2: Lessons from E. Asian Financial CooperationMakmur Keliat, Jakarta There are two official documents we could refer to in tracing the idea of financial cooperation in Southeast and East Asia.

Musicians rejoice at return of jazz festival

Musicians rejoice at return of jazz festivalM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe prayers of Indonesian jazz musicians for a major scale musical event has finally been answered with the return of an international jazz festival in the capital, after a very long absence of such an event.

E. Asia Summit's birthing pains

E. Asia Summit's birthing pains Eric Teo Chu Cheow The Straits Times Asia News Network Singapore At last October's meeting of ASEAN heads of government in Vientiane, Laos, it was announced that an East Asian Summit will be launched by Malaysia (as host of the next ASEAN Summit) towards the end of...

Alpha Amirrachman

Alpha Amirrachman Jakarta2. sIMON -- Schools can help end conflict 1 X 30 Schools can help end conflict Simon Marcus Gower Jakarta

Aceh aid part of Rotary centenary

Aceh aid part of Rotary centenaryThe Jakarta Post, JakartaRotary Club members throughout Jakarta celebrated the club's international centennial with a charity event for tsunami-torn Aceh in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Election work continues despite judicial review

Election work continues despite judicial reviewTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government's preparations for the country's first ever regional elections continues despite the ongoing judicial review process of Law No. 32/2004 on elections.Minister of Home Affairs M.

Dengue, diarrhea kill 57 people

Dengue, diarrhea kill 57 peopleKUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Dengue and diarrheal diseases have killed at least 57 people and affected some 3,100 other residents in East Nusa Tenggara province since January, an official said on Thursday.

CRC buys Lippo Karawaci stake

CRC buys Lippo Karawaci stakeThe Jakarta Post, JakartaChina Resources Holdings (CRC Group) has reported to the Capital Market Supervisory Agency (Bapepam) its purchase of a 15.44 percent stake in property developer PT Lippo Karawaci (LK) for Rp 680 billion (about US$73 million).

An example of moral accountability

An example of moral accountabilityKurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The room is simply furnished with a couple of desks and a cabinet but no computer. A framed poster on the wall reads "World Health Day: Safe Motherhood. Pregnancy is special -- Let's make it safe".

Accommodating

Accommodating thousands of children From Republika Following the report in The Jakarta Post on Jan. 3 that there is fear about the future of the child survivors of the tsunami disaster in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, the central executive board of Hidayatullah would like to state as follows: 1.

Rupiah Rates Feb.24, 2005

Rupiah Rates Feb.24, 2005 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 7,690.09 6,897.71 7,332.34 7,255.24 Brunei dollar 1 5,997.79 5,379.89 5,718.76 5,658.74 Canadian dollar 1 7,829.12 7,025.18 7,464.90 7,389.32 Swiss franc 1 8,402.79 7,535.27 8,011.88 7,925.

West Jakarta to build more roads

West Jakarta to build more roads JAKARTA: The West Jakarta Public Works Agency will soon begin construction of a tunnel beneath the Pesanggrahan toll road in Arjuna, and an overpass above the Meruya-Tangerang toll road.

1. PPP (3x18)

1. PPP (3x18) PPP needs change in leadership, survey says 2. Maruf (2x24) Election work continues despite judicial review 3. JWG (2x24) Govt, Australia talk educational standards 4. KPK (1x32) Ex-ministers richer for the experience

Shareholders approve NISP's stake sale

Shareholders approve NISP's stake saleLeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, JakartaShareholders of Indonesia's NISP bank have approved the sale of a 28.5 percent of stake to the Overseas-Chinese Banking Corporation Ltd. (OCBC), making the Singapore-based company the majority shareholder.

RPX clarifies

RPX clarifies Thank you for the article titled Courier firms opens Cibitung Warehouse on Feb. 17.We would like to highlight an error in your article that mentioned "... PT Repex Wahana as a subsidiary of a U.S. based RPX Group". PT Repex Wahana (RPX Group) is not a subsidiary or a U.S.

Haj pilgrimage for

Haj pilgrimage for Islamic bodiesFrom Koran Tempo The Religious Affairs Ministry's Director General for Haj Affairs, Tulus, has stated that the operational improvements of the haj should be realized by amending the Haj Pilgrimage Law of 1999.

Aid fund control crucial

Aid fund control crucialFrom Koran TempoThe distrust in some circles over the utilization of aid funds for the reconstruction of post-tsunami Aceh and North Sumatra is inseparable from the short-term orientation of most Indonesian officials and the lack of supervision.

Police begin quizzing Cimahi dump management officials

Police begin quizzing Cimahi dump management officialsYuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, BandungThe Cimahi Police have started questioning officials in charge of the Leuwigajah dump in south Cimahi, where mountains of garbage collapsed on Monday killing 67 people.

Schools can help end conflict

Schools can help end conflictSimon Marcus Gower Jakarta It is truly sad that the youth of Jakarta seems so often to be engaged in violent conflict. Adolescents in their school uniforms may still be seen running amok on the streets of Jakarta as they enter into, what appears to be, nothing short of...

Govt goes ahead with regional elections

Govt goes ahead with regional electionsTony Hotland The Jakarta Post/JakartaThe government's preparations for the country's first regional elections continues despite the ongoing judicial review process of Law No. 32/2004 on regional elections.Minister of Home Affairs M.

Correction-Page20-captions

Correction-Page20-captionsJP/20/CORRCorrectionTwo of the captions on page 20 of The Jakarta Post dated Feb. 24 were misspelled. The name of the Algerian Ambassador to Indonesia should be spelled "Hamza Yahia-Cherif", and the correct spelling of the name of the recently deceased writer should be...

Indofood, Nestle form joint venture

Indofood, Nestle form joint venturePT Indofood Sukses Makmur, the world's largest instant noodle producer, announced on Thursday the forming of a joint venture firm with Switzerland-based food giant Nestle S.A., in a bid to expand the operation of the two companies locally and abroad.

Envoys read poems to console tsunami victims

Envoys read poems to console tsunami victimsJP/18/EnvoyEnvoys read poems to console tsunami victimsM. Taufiqurrahman The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In the aftermath of the tsunami that swept across Aceh and North Sumatra, countries around the world have contributed much to ease the suffering of survivors.

IPB says no tuition hike

IPB says no tuition hike BOGOR: Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Rector Ahmad Ansori Mattjik said on Wednesday the university would not increase tuition from the current Rp 750,000 per semester for new students.

Council sets up ethics watch

Council sets up ethics watchThe Jakarta Post, JakartaThe City Council inaugurated on Thursday its newly established Ethics Committee, a body created to improve the conduct and discipline of councillors.

Haze thickens in Sumatra, delays forestry minister

Haze thickens in Sumatra, delays forestry ministerThe Jakarta Post, Medan/Jambi/PekanbaruHaze thickened on Thursday in several parts of Sumatra, causing flight delays and school shutdowns. The flight delays affected many people, including the Minister of Forestry M.S.

JP/17/AUCT

JP/17/AUCTBachelor auction romantic way to raise fundsEvi Mariani The Jakarta Post/JakartaThe hottest bachelor at the charity auction was Alexander Jovanovic, 43, an Aussie with a pair of hazel-colored eyes, 180 centimeters in height, sexy streaks of gray hair in his wavy, dark hair and charm that...

Sony's sorry after sales service

Sony's sorry after sales service On Nov. 20, 2004 I bought a SONY VAIO VGN-S28GP laptop computer from a registered dealer in Singapore. The purchase price included an amount for an "international warranty", which it turns out is not valid in Indonesia anyway (rip-off).On Jan.

Leniency spoils pupils

Leniency spoils pupils I would like to comment on the article 'National Plus schools require close monitoring on Jan. 26. Two years ago, I was a teacher at an elementary National Plus school located in Tangerang, owned by a large conglomerate company.

'Is Sutiyoso serious about fighting graft?'

'Is Sutiyoso serious about fighting graft?'While the Jakarta administration's ongoing campaign aims to promote the capital as the "service city", a survey conducted by Transparency International Indonesia (TII) has ranked it as the nation's most corrupt city.

Flooding is a commonplace problem for the people of Jakarta

Flooding is a commonplace problem for the people of Jakarta and other flood-prone areas across the country, such as Lampung, South Sumatra and Kalimantan. Almost every year, Jakarta and these areas are inundated during the wet season.

Council questions hypermarkets

Council questions hypermarkets JAKARTA: In response to a protest by the Association of Indonesian Traditional Market Traders over the presence of hypermarkets in the capital, the City Council plans to meet with city administrators.