Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 7 February 2005

82 articles found

TV Program: Monday, January 7, 2005

TV Program: Monday, January 7, 2005 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon: Maya the Bee 7:30 Children Show 8:30 Music: Asyik Asyik 10:00 Talk Show 11:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 1:00 p.m. News: Berita Siang 1:30 Documentary 2:00 Music 3:00 English News Service 4:30 Documentary 5:00 TV Drama 7:00 News: Berita Nasional 7:30 TV Drama 9:00 News: Dunia Dalam Berita 9:30 Dangdut Music 10:30 Documentary TPI 5:30 a.m.

What really went wrong in Indonesia-Australia relations?

What really went wrong in Indonesia-Australia relations? S.P. SETH, Sidney The tsunami disaster has brought Indonesia closer to the world, particularly with rich developed countries able to help with their human and material resources. Australia, for instance, has committed about $A1billion (half as grants and rest as low interest loans) for reconstruction work over a period of time.

'Women don't want to get pregnant at a time like this'

'Women don't want to get pregnant at a time like this' In the aftermath of the Dec. 26 earthquake and tsunami, problems such as the safe delivery of babies and women's concerns over the possibility of becoming pregnant continue to arise. The United Nation's Population Fund (UNFPA) representative for Indonesia, Bernard Coquelin, talked to The Jakarta Post's Tony Hotland last week about reproductive health in tsunami- affected areas.

PKS boycotts interpellation motion

PKS boycotts interpellation motion Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) has dealt an interpellation motion against the government a major blow following the withdrawal of its support for the move that was being spearheaded by House of Representatives lawmakers from opposition parties. The motion could be lost if Vice President Jusuf Kalla's Golkar Party manages to persuade the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction to follow suit.

RSCM morgue runs out of cooling unit

RSCM morgue runs out of cooling unit The Jakarta Post Jakarta With a turnover of 400 bodies monthly, the fact that only three out of seven body refrigerators in Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's morgue in Central Jakarta, are working, could be problematic. "Only 13 bodies can be stored in the functioning units," said morgue administrator Mardyono. "If all seven units worked, we could handle 24 bodies." Each cooling unit is equipped with three or four cabinets to store bodies.

ITB scientist wins award

ITB scientist wins award JAKARTA: Bambang Riyanto Trilaksono, a lecturer and researcher at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), has won the 2004 Science and Technology Award from the Indonesian Toray Science Foundation (ITSF) for his research on robust signal procession. Bambang's new theory on robust signal control analysis and design beat two other candidates and earned him the award and Rp 60 million in cash.

Strange nation

Strange nation From Koran Tempo Our country is indeed a strange nation. Some in the political elite have claimed that supposed foreign aid we are receiving is often just lip service as no money actually goes into the state's coffers. They do not consider aid the hard work that foreign volunteers, who have come with all their equipment, are carrying out in the disaster area of Aceh.

Expert applauds new info ministry

Expert applauds new info ministry Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A communication expert has applauded the government's move to set up a ministry of communications and information, saying it would help simplify the chain the bureaucracy in establishing new electronic media.

JP/ /

JP/ / Susilo's 100 Days and the tsunami The 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 simply reaching for a checklist and seeing how many election promises have been kept and how many have fallen by the wayside.

Floods swamp 200 houses

Floods swamp 200 houses MANADO: Heavy rains and flooding over the last two weeks has affected approximately 200 houses in Manado, but no casualties were reported, according to the police on Saturday. First Insp. Korompis explained that the water began rising to dangerous levels on Thursday, and more rain increased the water level to over 1.5 meters in some neighborhoods as of Saturday.

JP/18/JAPAN

JP/18/JAPAN Tourist industry urged work hard to win back Japanese market Wahyoe Boediwardhana The Jakarta Post/Denpasar The Dec. 26 tsunami that struck Aceh and North Sumatra in Indonesia and other countries in Asia and Africa, including Thailand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, has had a dramatic impact on tourism in affected areas.

Dump operator vows better management

Dump operator vows better management BEKASI: The new operator of Jakarta's main waste treatment facility in Bantar Gebang, Bekasi, PT Patriot Bekasi Bangkit (PBB) told the Bekasi Council's Commission B on oversees economic affairs that it would gradually reform the waste treatment system.

Act on money laundering: Howard

Act on money laundering: Howard Indonesia should open up its financial institutions to scrutiny as a way of cracking down on money laundering and earning the trust of foreign investors, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Sunday. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants Indonesia removed from an international list of countries that are not doing enough to stamp out money laundering.

KL to build tsunami warning system

KL to build tsunami warning system MALAYSIA: Malaysia will set up a tsunami warning system costing US$5 million by the end of this year, the government said on Sunday. American and Japanese maritime experts will help install the system around the coast of the northern peninsular, as well as Sabah and Sarawak state on Borneo island, Science and Technology Minister Jamaludin Jarjis was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

Road accident kills six

Road accident kills six DEMAK, Central Java: A truck crashed into a Colt pick up truck early on Sunday morning here, killing six and seriously injuring nine others. All the dead and injured were the passengers of the Colt pick up truck. They were workers hired to harvest paddy in the neighboring regency of Grobogan, also in Central Java. A similar case took place in Central Java on Nov.

Interfaith dialog vital for religious harmony

Interfaith dialog vital for religious harmony M. Ali, Manchester, UK I recently received from a friend a gift of a video tape of a meeting between Muslim and Christian religious experts in Indonesia. It was described as a "debate between two religions", with the subtitle, "Islam versus Christianity" as if it was a boxing match. My friend presented it to me as though it would provide interesting viewing. This, though, was not the case for me at all.

Affordable apartment market needs boost

Affordable apartment market needs boost The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Standing in front of a booth at a property exhibition, businessman Lucas was speaking with a marketing officer from an upmarket condominium group about adding a luxury apartment to his list of property assets. "This year, I am planning to buy another one," said Lucas, adding that he had already leased two apartments located strategically in the heart of Jakarta.

1. TKI: 1 LINE, 25 COUNTS

1. TKI: 1 LINE, 25 COUNTS SBY stands by unpaid workers 3. HOWARD: 4 LINES, 10 COUNTS PM Howard advises RI on financial transparency 4. STORM: 3 LINES, 14 COUNTS Storm forecast spooks Yogya residents 5. PRAM: 1 LINE, 28 COUNTS Pram still going strong at 80

Indonesia to sue Malaysian employers

Indonesia to sue Malaysian employers Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris said over the weekend that the government has hired Malaysian lawyers to sue Malaysian companies that are allegedly withholding the salaries of Indonesian workers.

Teens open up to peer counselors

Teens open up to peer counselors The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Unie, a senior at SMK 3 vocational high school in East Jakarta, carries out her task as a counselor on HIV/AIDS, reproduction health and sexually transmitted diseases, by involving her school mates in "girl talk". She said even girls she had never spoken to before responded to her openly. "They already know so much about kissing and sexual behavior," she told The Jakarta Post recently.

Development plan short on details

Development plan short on details Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The newly unveiled government five-year development plan raises more questions than answers, notably in the manufacturing sector, as not only does it contain targets that are ambitious, it is also lacking in steps to move from basic into more sophisticated manufacturing process.

Australian prime minister urges Indonesia to crack down on money

Australian prime minister urges Indonesia to crack down on money laundering Indonesia should open up its financial institutions to scrutiny as a way of cracking down on money laundering and earning the trust of foreign investors, Australian Prime Minister John Howard said on Sunday. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants Indonesia removed from an international list of countries that are not doing enough to stamp out money laundering.

Environmental agency suggests closure of laundry plants

Environmental agency suggests closure of laundry plants Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Residents of Sukabumi Selatan subdistrict in West Jakarta will likely win the battle against 51 illegal denim processing plants, which have been blamed for polluting the area. Head of the City Environment Management Body (BPLHD) Kosasih Wirahadikusumah said on Saturday that the closure of the plants still had to be officially endorsed by Governor Sutiyoso.

Water commands a price

Water commands a price The public furor over the 8.14 percent increase in tap water rates charged by PAM Jaya could scare off investors intending to submit bids for 91 infrastructure projects over the next few months following the Jan. 17 and Jan. 18 Infrastructure Summit in Jakarta.

1. DISCOURSE: 1 X 42

1. DISCOURSE: 1 X 42 'Women don't want to get pregnant at time like this' 2. KOMINFO: 1 X 28 Expert applauds new info ministry 3. ECONOMY: 1 X 28 Development plan short on details 4. TURKY: 1 X 27 Turkish leader visits Aceh 5. COMMENT: 1 X 50 Ballot in hand, remember the perils over the horizon

Weatherman tells which way wind blows

Weatherman tells which way wind blows ID Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya The Surabaya Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) warned people against unnecessary travel by air or sea due to the predicted rough weather in February. "Extreme weather above East Java and eastern parts of Indonesia may occur in the second week of February," Eko Prasetyo, a staff member at the weather station, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

Eradicate illegal levies

Eradicate illegal levies From Warta Kota The eradication of illegal levies by the government should be simultaneously carried out in all public offices, from top to bottom, because however small the amount involved it is a harmful form of graft. An example of this is what is happening in Pedurenan subdistrict, Bantar Gebang district, Bekasi, West Java. Officials of the subdistrict's public protection section, with the support of subdistrict personnel, collect illegal levies each month.

'Disturbed' man kills niece

'Disturbed' man kills niece BEKASI: Asmat Sani Boim, 50, allegedly stabbed to death his own niece Sopyan, 39, on Friday morning over a trivial matter. In his statement to the West Bekasi police, Asmat said that Sopyan, who lived next door in Bintara subdistrict, had awakened him up at about 6:30 a.m. by knocking on the door of his house and asked him to turn on the water pump machine. The pump feeds water to both houses.

Residents fight illegal logging

Residents fight illegal logging JAMBI: Pancakarya residents in Limun district have their own way of fighting illegal loggers, by declaring 400 hectares of forest area as the village's restricted forest. "The people want to try and keep this forest free from the chainsaw's reach," said Akmal, one of the village's elders. He said that the residents had reported illegal logging in the area to local authorities, but nothing was done about it.

Millennium celebrates 'Imlek' with 'Yu Shang'

Millennium celebrates 'Imlek' with 'Yu Shang' Jim Read, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Have you ever experienced the thrill of tossing a pancake on Shrove Tuesday, wondering whether it will turn over exactly as planned, break in mid-air, or land back in the frying pan in a crumpled heap?

Total banking assets in C. Sulawesi increase

Total banking assets in C. Sulawesi increase Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu Customers' savings at state and private banks in Central Sulawesi increased by 21.1 percent to Rp 295 billion (US$32 million) in 2004, but fixed deposits dropped by 19 percent to Rp 124 billion, Bank Indonesia's province branch reported. Branch head J.

Graft cases mean Rp 267b losses

Graft cases mean Rp 267b losses SAMARINDA: The state has suffered at least Rp 267.4 billion (US$29.6 million) in losses from 15 graft cases in East Kalimantan in recent months, in which 21 people have been named suspects by local prosecutors. The biggest case, in which Berau Regent Masjuni had been named a suspect for allegedly misappropriating Rp 88 billion from the exclusive Forest Resource Provision Funds, was being handled directly by the Attorney General's Office.

Semarang's Chinese set to celebrate 'Imlek'

Semarang's Chinese set to celebrate 'Imlek' Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang Beads of sweat trickle down Hui Liam's face while he dusts the small statues in front of him with a brush. "I've been assigned to clean these gods statues this year," said Hui at the Tay Kak Sie Temple on Gang Lombok, Semarang, on Thursday.

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. It supports the government's policy not to let these children be taken out of Aceh until clear data about their families has been obtained. 2.

Dengue attacks 178 in N. Sulawesi

Dengue attacks 178 in N. Sulawesi MANADO: The North Sulawesi Health Office reported that the number of people known to have contracted dengue fever in North Sulawesi reached 178 in January alone. Five of them, children under the age of five, died. Of the 178 cases, 90 cases were detected in Manado, 65 case in Bitung, 11 cases in South Minahasa, seven cases in North Minahasa, four cases in Minahasa Induk and one case in Tomohon.

Storm forecast spooks Yogya residents

Storm forecast spooks Yogya residents Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta The provincial government and residents along the southern coastal of Yogyakarta are preparing for the worst following an announcement by officials that a storm is heading for the area. Government officials are preparing emergency shelters in the areas expected to be affected, while residents and fishermen are preparing to take refuge in safer places.

BHP's Indonesian mine may be sold

BHP's Indonesian mine may be sold MUMBAI: Steel Authority of India Ltd., the nation's biggest steelmaker, may acquire a stake in an Indonesian coal mine operated by BHP Billiton Ltd. to ease shortage of the fuel that forced it to cut production in April. "The company is looking at various properties of BHP Billiton, including Indonesia, but no decision has been made as yet," Debjit Rath, company spokesman said in a telephone interview over the weekend from Delhi.

The price of clean air

The price of clean air After years of much talk and effectively no action at all, Jakarta's administrators seem at long last to have arrived at the realization that the problem of pollution in the Indonesian capital has reached the point where any further delay of action is no longer possible.

Residents eagerly await barongsai show

Residents eagerly await barongsai show The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A six-year-old boy stands on a partition trying to get a clear view of the performance of a Chinese traditional dance performed by women dancers at Pluit Mega mall, North Jakarta. "Mom, where's the barongsai?," Jason, the Chinese-Indonesian boy asked his mother last Saturday. Jason, a residence of Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang, Banten, was eagerly waiting for the barongsai show to start.

Kadin warned against colluding with state officials

Kadin warned against colluding with state officials Rendi A. Witular and Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta While the business community is still facing chronic government red tape in running their businesses here, Vice President Jusuf Kalla is urging them not to use is as an excuse to collude with government officials.

Australia to play Indonesia in tsunami relief match

Australia to play Indonesia in tsunami relief match Agence France-Presse, Sydney, Australia Australia will play Indonesia in a soccer friendly in March with the proceeds going to the victims of the Asian tsunami disaster, the Football Federation Australia said. The FFA said in a statement late Friday the match would take place in Perth on March 29.

SBY stands by unpaid workers

SBY stands by unpaid workers The Jakarta Post, Jakarta President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for equal treatment before the law for Malaysian employers who failed to pay the salaries of their Indonesian workers.

Police probe shooting between officers

Police probe shooting between officers Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Authorities are currently probing an alleged shooting incident between officers from the National Police headquarters and National Police internal affairs during a raid at a gambling house in Taman Palem, West Jakarta last week. Chief of National Police internal affairs division Insp. Gen.

UK-RI team studies quake epicenter

UK-RI team studies quake epicenter The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A joint British and Indonesian team is studying the seabed near the epicenter of the Dec. 26 earthquake off the western coast of northern Sumatra that triggered the deadly tsunami. The results of the study should provide important information about the earthquake and might help assess the likelihood of future tectonic activity in the area, according to a press statement from the British Embassy in Jakarta.

Traders protest against new mall

Traders protest against new mall PADANG: Some 7,000 members of the Padang Market Traders Association (KPP) held a protest against the Padang municipality's plan to build a shopping mall on the site of the Goan Hoat bus terminal, located near Pasar Raya market. The plan will likely have a serious impact on the traders, as it will block people's access to the market.

RI, Spore talk on extradition treaty

RI, Spore talk on extradition treaty JAKARTA: Indonesia and Singapore's governments are in talks on an extradition agreement between the two countries, Dino Djalal, an Indonesian presidential spokesman, told reporters in Jakarta on Friday. "President (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono is working toward efforts so that an extradition treaty can be signed soon," he said. "The technical team of both countries are now discussing very intensively." He didn't say when the treaty may be signed.

Tsunami amputees

Tsunami amputees In reference to an article on Jan. 18, as a one-legged man myself I can confirm that limb amputation is the most traumatic experience a person can have, but I would like to reassure those unfortunate victims of the tsunami that new life and hope is possible with artificial limbs. The pain of amputation is extreme for the first month, even given reasonable doses of morphine. In the second month wheelchairs are most desirable and crutches necessary.

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. Unfortunately, every time a flood occurs it is heavy rain that is blamed. The reality is, however, that nobody can decide how much or how little rain will fall.

Netherlands to offer 200 full scholarships

Netherlands to offer 200 full scholarships The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Dutch government will grant up to 200 full scholarships this year to Indonesian professionals to take post-graduate studies at various universities in the Netherlands, according to an official.

China refuses to set time-table on forex

China refuses to set time-table on forex Reuters, London Chinese authorities on Saturday again declined to set out a time- table to make their currency more flexible on the world's money markets and said they had not come under international pressure to revalue the yuan. Major nations and especially the United States have repeatedly urged China to allow its currency to rise and the Chinese foreign exchange regime was also in focus at the Group of Seven meeting.

Rebuilding Aceh anew

Rebuilding Aceh anew It's been weeks since the devastating earthquake and tsunami, but the pain is still there. The tears might have dried. The dust might have settled. People living on another continent might have already forgotten it, but not the Acehnese. It will take a long time to recover. For the Acehnese, it will never be the same. The wound is too deep. There will be scars. All of a sudden we are facing this grief. We are devastated, and we have to think carefully about how to move on.

Govt 'undermining' Aceh, Papua autonomy

Govt 'undermining' Aceh, Papua autonomy Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is altering the rules on how regional elections should be carried out in the resource-rich provinces of Aceh and Papua, a move which some say undermines the special autonomy status of the two regions and the independency of the election process. The changes are seen in the final draft of the government regulation on direct regional elections, a copy of which was obtained by The Jakarta Post.

Lockheed Martin withdraws bid

Lockheed Martin withdraws bid TAIWAN: U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its bid to supply Taiwan with an early-warning radar system as the island was reconsidering the controversial arms deal, leading defense journal Jane's Defense Weekly said.

Export skilled workers, minister says

Export skilled workers, minister says Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Fahmi Idris has called on labor exporters to follow in the footsteps of the Binawan Group, which has begun exporting trained professionals.

Online plan needs substance to keep it from sinking

Online plan needs substance to keep it from sinking Fei Li China Daily/Asia News Network Beijing When the Government Online Initiative was launched in 1999 with great fanfare, hopes were high that the project would lead to a more efficient information flow and interaction between the government and public. During the past six years, the number of government websites has boomed.

Japan's army shows its human face

Japan's army shows its human face Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh Lt. Kimura and his fellow field doctors braced for another busy day, with some 50 patients already forming a queue in front of the medical center that the Japanese Self Defense Force (JSDF) has set up in an open field in Banda Aceh's south western subdistrict of Lam Ara.

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. It supports the government's policy not to let these children be taken out of Aceh until clear data about their families has been obtained. 2.

1. BOOM -- 2 x 27

1. BOOM -- 2 x 27 New tsunami concern: A baby boom in refugee camps Chris Brummitt Associated Press/Banda Aceh With the birth of her first child just one month away, Wadiana Wahab worries about the world her baby will enter. She mainly eats rice and instant noodles and has no money for a crib, diapers or baby clothes. And while she expects to deliver at a hospital, she will likely return to the sweltering tent she calls home, where the stench of human waste hangs in the air.

JP/17/DUCKS

JP/17/DUCKS Locals turn Soge Sanden, Muneng into 'duck villages' Slamet Susanto The Jakarta Post/Bantul, Yogyakarta "Quack! Quack! Quack! Quack!" That is the sound one will almost certainly hear every time they pass a village on the coastal area of Samas Beach in Bantul regency, Yogyakarta, especially in the hamlets of Soge Sanden and Muneng in Srigading village, some 30 kilometers south of the city.

1. MILLEN -- 2 x 21

1. MILLEN -- 2 x 21 Millennium celebrates 'Imlek' with 'Yu Shang' 2. LUNAR -- 1 x 15 Gong Xi Fa Cai! 3. CHICK -- 2 x 21 Vietnamese divided on 'Tet' chicken tradition

Lita looks at life from both sides now

Lita looks at life from both sides now Bruce Emond, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta When memory fails her about her days on the international tennis circuit, Lita Liem Sugiarto finds the answers she needs in two small notebooks. Within their covers, in tiny, precise handwriting, are listed all of the tournaments she played in, her win-loss record and the prize money she took home. Some names -- Billie Jean King, Margaret Court, Virginia Wade -- are familiar to tennis fans.

Aid fund control crucial

Aid fund control crucial From Koran Tempo The 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. Their immature way of perceiving problems and assuming responsibility has become a major constraint and source of irregularities, besides the inherent weakness of the nation's monitoring system.

Aid fund control crucial

Aid fund control crucial From Koran Tempo The 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. Their immature way of perceiving problems and assuming responsibility has become a major constraint and source of irregularities, besides the inherent weakness of the nation's monitoring system.

Susilo to attend 'Imlek' celebration

Susilo to attend 'Imlek' celebration JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is slated to attend the National Celebration of the Chinese New Year (Imlek), which will be held on Feb. 13 at the Sudirman Hall, South Jakarta. The celebration will be modest, considering that Indonesia is still mourning over several national disasters that have recently struck the nation, notably the tsunami disaster in Aceh, said a member of organizing committee Sugeng Santoso Imam.

* Storm forecast spooks Yogyakarta residents Page 2

* Storm forecast spooks Yogyakarta residents Page 2 * Govt 'undermining' Aceh, Papua autonomy Page 4 * Semarang's ethnic Chinese set to celebrate 'Imlek' Page 5 * Japan can bridge gap between Islam, West Page 7 * Police probe gunfire between officers at gambling den Page 8 * Carter leads Nets over Pistons 107-85 Page 9 * Saudi calls for int'l center to fight terrorism Page 11 * Kadin warned against colluding with state officials Page 13 * Get a wireless router for your home network Page 17

Capital is a coward, it will not go where it is not welcomed: OPIC

Capital is a coward, it will not go where it is not welcomed: OPIC The United States government owned Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) works in over 150 developing countries, providing political risk insurance and financing to U.S. corporation overseas. In Indonesia, the agency has supported over 100 projects worth US$2 billion of investment since 1974 in various sectors including power, oil and gas, telecommunication, manufacturing, financial services and agriculture.

Turkish leader makes first tsunami zone stop

Turkish leader makes first tsunami zone stop Irwan Firdaus Associated Press/Banda Aceh, Indonesia Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan (photo, right) speaks with an Acehnese child at a clinic run by the Turkish Red Crescent near the tsunami-hit city of Banda Aceh.

Faqih allowed to move to Medan

Faqih allowed to move to Medan JAKARTA: Farid Faqih, a relief worker now in police custody for allegedly stealing an aid shipment in tsunami-stricken Aceh province, has been transferred to a hospital in Medan, North Sumatra, to get better medical treatment for injuries sustained in an assault by soldiers, his lawyer said on Saturday.

'Smokers are not criminals'

'Smokers are not criminals' The Jakarta City Council has endorsed a new bylaw that bans smokers from lighting up in most public offices and requires building managers to provide smoking areas. The Jakarta Post asked a few people to comment on the new ruling. Henry Simarmata, 30, works with a legal aid foundation in Matraman, East Jakarta.

Wary residents prepare offerings to Mount Merapi

Wary residents prepare offerings to Mount Merapi Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta Residents living on the slopes of Mount Merapi, located on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java, have stepped up their vigilance following rumors that eruptions are imminent, despite its status still being determined as "active, but normal". Over the past few days, residents living near the volcano have prepared offerings, a tradition believed to be able to prevent eruptions.

Japan can bridge gap between Islam and West

Japan can bridge gap between Islam and West Kosugi Yasushi, a professor of Islamic affairs and globalization at the Graduate School of Asian and African Studies at Kyoto University, Japan, spoke recently with The Jakarta Post's Muhammad Nafik about a possible role for Japan in bridging the gap between Islam and the West. The following is an excerpt of that interview. Question: You have said that Japan can bridge the misunderstandings between the Islamic world and the West.

Acehnese youngsters take shelter in 'pesantren'

Acehnese youngsters take shelter in 'pesantren' Fadli, The Jakarta Post, Aceh Besar Weeks after the tsunami struck, 16-year-old Nazarullah still could not forget the sight of his mother being swept away by the tidal wave right before his eyes. The former student of an Islamic high school in Aceh Jaya regency now sits quietly among other displaced children at Dayah (pesantren, an Islamic boarding school) Mahyal Ulum, also in Aceh Besar regency.

Ali ready to lead PBB

Ali ready to lead PBB JAKARTA: Politician Ali Muchtar said on Saturday that he was ready to take up the chairmanship of the Muslim-based party Crescent Star Party (PBB). The party needed young blood in order to spur change within party, said Ali Muchtar, who is also a PBB House legislator, during his visit to Banda Aceh. Besides Ali, there are several other names that are expected to contest the party's leadership at the party's congress in Surabaya on Feb. 20 and 24.

U.S. hopes to boost ties with SE Asia despite Myanmar thorn

U.S. hopes to boost ties with SE Asia despite Myanmar thorn P. Parameswaran, Agence France-Presse/Washington The United States is determined to strengthen political and trade ties with Southeast Asia even as it takes a tougher line on Myanmar under new Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, officials say. This year, it could resume full military ties with Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, and clinch its second free trade deal in the region with Thailand, some analysts predict.

Turkish leader visit Aceh

Turkish leader visit Aceh Irwan Firdaus, Associated Press/Banda Aceh, Indonesia Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged his country's help on Sunday in rebuilding schools, orphanages and hospitals as he toured Indonesia's tsunami-ravaged Aceh province.

Businesses brace for smoking ban

Businesses brace for smoking ban Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Hotels, malls and restaurants in Jakarta said on Sunday they were ready to comply with a bylaw banning smoking in all enclosed public places. The City Council endorsed last Friday a bylaw on air pollution that bans smoking in public places and requires managements of public places to designate specific areas for smokers.

Maya, reporter turns volunteer

Maya, reporter turns volunteer Andi Hajramurni, Contributor, Banda Aceh There was not the slightest trace of fear or repugnance on the face of Mismayal Khaerat, 31, a reporter and a member of one of the Search-and-Rescue (SAR) teams from South Sulawesi, when she pulled out corpses from the ruins left by the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Aceh province on Dec. 26.

Sutiyoso dreams of a garden city

Sutiyoso dreams of a garden city Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The names of several areas of Jakarta evoke a pretty picture of the city -- Kebon Jeruk (orange garden) in West Jakarta, Kebon Kacang (peanut garden) in Central Jakarta and Kebon Nanas (pineapple garden) in East Jakarta -- though reality offers a less appealing view. However, the administration has set about making the capital more attractive through inviting residents to plant their yards with fruit trees.

AWAir cancels flights to S'pore from Jakarta

AWAir cancels flights to S'pore from Jakarta Soraya Permatasari, Bloomberg/Jakarta AirAsia Bhd., Southeast Asia's largest discount airline, said its PT AWAir International venture canceled all flights to Singapore from Jakarta because Singapore regulators held up permission for it to land there. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has not indicated when the landing rights will be issued, AirAsia said in a statement on Saturday.

Pramoedya still going strong at 80

Pramoedya still going strong at 80 Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta "I don't know what to say," novelist Pramoedya Ananta Toer, overwhelmed by the moment, finally uttered at his 80th birthday party with family and friends on Sunday afternoon. After giving a brief thank you to all the people who came to his birthday, he sat down and wiped the tears from his eyes. The frail writer has to walk with the aid of a stick. He also has difficulty hearing.

New Criminal Code could still threaten free press

New Criminal Code could still threaten free press Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In what looks like a return to the New Order bullying of the press, the government's draft of the new Criminal Code contains numerous articles that could threaten press freedom. The draft, which was completed last month and handed to the President before it is debated by the House of Representatives, contains no fewer than 49 articles that critics say endanger press freedom.

Seminar on Italian Textile Finishing Technology

Seminar on Italian Textile Finishing Technology The Italian Trade Commission in Jakarta and the Italian Association of Textile Machinery (ACIMIT), in cooperation with the Indonesian Textile Association (API), will hold a seminar on the latest Italian textile technology at the Sheraton Hotel, Bandung on Feb. 23. Italian textile industry expert, Dr.