Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 12 April 2005

73 articles found

City, govt settle feud over new port development

City, govt settle feud over new port developmentDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, JakartaAfter a prolonged tug-of-war between the Jakarta administration and the central government over the development of the Jakarta New Port (JNP), the two have started talks on port development on the north coast...

1 x 40

1 x 40 Munir probe team tries to open lid on BIN JP/4/NIAS1 x 47 42 quake survivors in South Nias die in shelters JP/4/KAA3 x 15 Protests not banned during int'l summit JP/4/4PKB1 x 33 PKB still depends greatly on Gus Dur JP/2/DADE1 x 50 The perspectives of emergency relief and rebuilding

Earthquakes leave Nias children traumatized

Earthquakes leave Nias children traumatizedApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, MedanAfter his hometown on Nias island was shattered by an earthquake, life is no longer the same for seven-year-old Alui Zalukhu.He has been at the Pirngadi hospital in Medan for over a week, all alone.

Protests not banned during int'l summit

Protests not banned during int'l summitMuninggar Sri Saraswati and Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/BandungThe government said on Monday that activists would be allowed to stage peaceful protests or rival conferences to mark the golden jubilee of the Asian-African Summit later this...

The Asian-African Summit 2005: In search of possibilities

The Asian-African Summit 2005: In search of possibilitiesTeuku Faizasyah, Pretoria, South Africa The coming together of Asian and African leaders in Jakarta and Bandung for a summit on Apr. 22 and Apr. 23, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Asia-Africa Conference, is a good time to reflect...

Singapore economy slows in first quarter

Singapore economy slows in first quarterBernice Han, Agence France-Presse, Singapore Singapore's economic growth slowed in the first quarter to 2.4 percent, official figures showed on Monday, although economists said official full-year forecasts of 3.0-5.0 percent remain achievable.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 11, 2005

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 11, 2005 _____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ______________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades...

Fuel subsidy benefits well-to-do residents

Fuel subsidy benefits well-to-do residentsOyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post, BandarlampungAgus Sahlan, 30, a resident of Sribawono, East Lampung, was frustrated trying to arrange for his two nephews to receive free treatment at a hospital in Bandarlampung.

Govt disburses subsidy funds to Pertamina

Govt disburses subsidy funds to PertaminaThe Jakarta Post, JakartaThe current cashflow problems being experienced by state oil and gas company Pertamina will not disrupt national fuel supply as the government has started disbursing fuel subsidies.

Officer linked to illegal logging

Officer linked to illegal logging JAYAPURA, Papua: Papua Police have declared a detective a suspect in an illegal logging case, a day before he faces questioning.Spokesman for the police team sent to crack down on illegal logging in the province, Sr. Comr.

PAN's younger members cast doubt on newly-elected chairman

PAN's younger members cast doubt on newly-elected chairmanHera Diani and Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/SemarangThe younger generation of the National Mandate Party (PAN) expressed disappointment on Monday over the election of Soetrisno Bachir as the party's leader, saying the process was...

Arpeni sees smooth sailing for years to come

Arpeni sees smooth sailing for years to comeThe Jakarta Post, JakartaArmed with a recently issued presidential instruction forbidding foreign vessels to transport cargo domestically in Indonesian waters, local shipping giant Arpeni Pratama Ocean Line has ordered eight more ships to anticipate a...

South Pacific Island nations to attend Asian-African Summit

South Pacific Island nations to attend Asian-African SummitAdianto P. Simamora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The upcoming Asian-African Summit (AAS) will not be an exclusive meeting for Asian and African countries as most of the South Pacific Island nations (excluding Australia and New Zealand) have...

Financial facilities allocated for informal business sector

Financial facilities allocated for informal business sectorBambang Nurbianto The Jakarta Post/JakartaWith little fanfare, the city administration in March last year launched a program aimed at helping vendors and small traders.

Australia, New Zealand may miss E. Asian summit

Australia, New Zealand may miss E. Asian summitAustralia and New Zealand will not be allowed to attend an inaugural East Asian summit unless they sign a non-aggression pact with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN ministers decided on Monday.

Switzerland to provide $100m in loans

Switzerland to provide $100m in loansThe Swiss government signed on Monday a Memorandum of Understanding with its Indonesian counterpart to facilitate access to credit for small and medium enterprises in the country.

Conservation a priority for endangered Javan gibbon

Conservation a priority for endangered Javan gibbonJarot Arisona, Contributor, DepokThe Javan, or silvery, gibbon (Hylobates moloch) is one of the world's rarest primates.This lesser ape occurs nowhere but on Java, more precisely, in the western and central part of the island.

PKB still depends greatly on Gus Dur

PKB still depends greatly on Gus DurSuherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang/JakartaThe National Awakening Party (PKB) remains much dependent on its founder Abdurrahman "Dus Dur" Wahid, who has endorsed selected figures to compete for the party's top job in its congress, scheduled to begin this...

Australian heroes of humanity on Nias island

Australian heroes of humanity on Nias islandSudirman Nasir, Melbourne As an Indonesian currently studying in Australia, it was very hard not to weep reading about the deaths of nine young servicemen and women of the Australian Defense Force (ADF) who lost their lives while helping earthquake...

ASEAN FMs can't agree on Myanmar during retreat in Philippines

ASEAN FMs can't agree on Myanmar during retreat in PhilippinesJason Gutierrez, Agence France-Presse/Mactan, PhilippinesSoutheast Asian foreign ministers failed to reach a consensus Monday on the issue of Myanmar's ASEAN chairmanship next year but told the military-ruled state to push forward with...

Principals acknoledge shift in scholarship funds

Principals acknoledge shift in scholarship fundsBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, JakartaSeveral principals of city-run junior high schools admitted on Monday that they had used scholarship funds for other school purposes.

Taman Mini theme park urban forest for water birds

Taman Mini theme park urban forest for water birdsBambang Parlupi, JakartaTaman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) is one of Jakarta's "urban forests", with its unique location for water birds.The East Jakarta tourist destination offers its lakes and swamps as habitat for these water fowls, which feed on...

Puteh gets 10 years in jail for corruption

Puteh gets 10 years in jail for corruptionThe Jakarta Post, JakartaPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's anticorruption drive was given a boost on Monday with the conviction and 10-year jail sentence given to suspended Nanggroe Aceh Darrusalam governor Abdullah Puteh for the illegal mark-up of a...

TV Program: Tuesday, April 12, 2005

TV Program: Tuesday, April 12, 2005TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi7:00 Cartoon: Maya the Bee8:30 Music: Asik-asik10:00 Talk Show: Agribiz11:00 Documentary12:00 p.m.

Australia to invest US$2.5b in mining, agriculture sector

Australia to invest US$2.5b in mining, agriculture sectorUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, JakartaSeveral Australian companies have affirmed their plans to invest US$2.5 billion in Indonesia, mainly in the mining and agricultural sectors.

Slow disaster handling

Slow disaster handlingFrom RepublikaA recent magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra has claimed lives and caused material losses. According to the latest news, most settlements on Nias and Simeulue islands were leveled.

Semen Gresik books 30% profit raise

Semen Gresik books 30% profit raise JAKARTA: Indonesia's largest cement maker PT Semen Gresik recorded a 30 percent increase in its 2004 net profit from Rp 378 billion (US$39.79 million) a year earlier, its Chief Financial Officer Cholil Hasan said on Monday.

Minister denies barring foreign budget airlines

Minister denies barring foreign budget airlinesMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government has denied that it is restricting foreign budget airlines from flying to the four major cities in the country, asking the airlines to first make use of the landing rights for other cities...

KPK determined to uncover graft in KPU

KPK determined to uncover graft in KPUTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, JakartaResponding to demands for a full inquiry after the arrest of a General Election Commission (KPU) official, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) seeks to uncover alleged graft practices within the commission.

RI, Malaysia to avoid repeat of gunboat incident

RI, Malaysia to avoid repeat of gunboat incidentMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, JakartaPresident Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have agreed to act to prevent a repeat of last week's incident in which naval ships from the two countries brushed...

Another Bojong escapee nabbed

Another Bojong escapee nabbed JAKARTA: Jajang Suparman, who escaped last week with six other detainees from Bojong Police detention center, was rearrested over the weekend in Garut, West Java, by a joint team from Depok Police and local police.

High costs discourage investment: Deiss

High costs discourage investment: DeissZakki P. Hakim and Riyadi Suparno, The Jakarta Post, JakartaHigh costs in the Indonesian economy remain the main barrier to attract foreign investment, including investors from Switzerland, according to visiting Swiss Minister of Economic Affairs Joseph Deiss.

Munir probe team tries to open lid on BIN

Munir probe team tries to open lid on BINTiarma Siboro and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government-sanctioned fact-finding team probing the murder of noted human rights campaigner Munir signed a protocol on Monday with the State Intelligence Agency (BIN) in a bid to enable...

Councillors kick up a dtink over Bekasi dump operation

Councillors kick up a dtink over Bekasi dump operationDamar Harsanto and Wahyuana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/BekasiResidents' complaints over the presence of Jakarta's dump Bantar Gebang in Bekasi are getting fiercer after its management was handed over to PT Patriot Bekasi Bangkit last August,...

1. COMMENTARY: 1 X 42

1. COMMENTARY: 1 X 42 Indonesian human rights: between image and reality 2. GAM: 3 X 16 Aceh rebel group criticizes peace talk facilitators 3. SUMMIT: 2 X 20 Australia, New Zealand may miss E. Asian summit

KPU secretary dies after lunch

KPU secretary dies after lunchJAMBI: A secretary to the Batanghari regency General Election Commission (KPUD) died on Sunday in mysterious circumstances shortly after eating lunch in a hotel in neighboring Muaro Jambi.

IBRAHIM

IBRAHIM Cimahi, West Java

BPK to file graft report in June

BPK to file graft report in June JAYAPURA, Papua: The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) promised on Monday to provide the House of Representatives in June with a report on alleged graft in the sale of two tankers belonging to state-owned oil firm Pertamina.

UGM reveals new admission scheme

UGM reveals new admission schemeSri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, YogyakartaYogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University (UGM) plans to introduce a new admission scheme for wealthy students this academic year, with fees reaching over Rp 80 million (US$8,888), in a bid to make the cross-subsidy system work...

Indonesian human rights: Between image and reality

Indonesian human rights: Between image and realityEndy M. Bayuni, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The trouble with praise or accolades is that when you get too much, you get too high. And at the ongoing 61st session of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Indonesia is getting plenty of praise,...

Police launch traffic center

Police launch traffic center JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police introduced on Monday a new Traffic Management Center to monitor traffic throughout the capital."This is part of our effort to modernize our services," city police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said.The Rp 2.3 billion center, on Jl.

Time for tough love

Time for tough loveThere are times when protocol and diplomatic doublespeak will not do, and there are times when soft persuasion and quiet engagement needs to be reinforced with strong words and benign intimidation.

Slow disaster handling

Slow disaster handling From RepublikaA recent magnitude 8.7 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra has claimed lives and caused material losses. According to the latest news, most settlements on Nias and Simeulue islands were leveled.

Open dumping system hazardous

Open dumping system hazardousFrom KompasThe recent landslide at the Leuwigajah municipal dump in Cimahi, West Java, buried several settlements, with 103 victims so far reported and 40 others missing.The slide was caused by a lack of response from the municipal administration to a study of the...

Fire victims request more aid

Fire victims request more aidFire victims in Utan Panjang district, Kemayoran in Central Jakarta, as seen in the photo, are in need of clothes and temporary shelters.Many of the fire victims have had to sleep in the alleys of the district as the eight temporary shelters were not enough to...

Aceh rebel group criticizes peace talk facilitators

Aceh rebel group criticizes peace talk facilitatorsJerry Norton, Reuters/JakartaThe military wing of rebels in Aceh province has lashed out at the group trying to facilitate a peace agreement between the separatists and the government on the eve of talks aimed at negotiating a settlement.

AGO probes Rp 1t graft case at Bank Mandiri

AGO probes Rp 1t graft case at Bank MandiriEva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, JakartaState-owned Bank Mandiri, the country's largest bank in terms of assets, is being investigated by the Attorney General's Office (AGO) over possible graft involving more than Rp 1 trillion (US$107 million) due to...

Removing anti-graft constraints

Removing anti-graft constraintsFrom Gatra Corruption in Indonesia has become a chronic disease, like a tumor that is spreading all over the body and is nearly incurable. Now the government has apparently become serious about dealing with these criminals and needs the support of law enforcers, state...

JP/1/head

JP/1/head April 12, 2005 1. Puteh (45) -- 65 pts 4 cols 2lines (2x16)Puteh gets 10 years in jail for graft 2. Pertamina (40) -- 36 pts 2 cols 3lines (3x12) Govt disburses subsidy funds to Pertamina 3. Mulyana (40) -- 36 pts 4 cols 1lines (1x28)KPK determined to uncover graft in KPU 4.

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 11, 2005

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 11, 2005 _____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ______________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades...

Workers protest unfair payment

Workers protest unfair paymentBATAM, Riau Islands: About 650 docksiders working for two shipping companies in Batam protested outside the city council on Monday, demanding the firms pay them the meal, overtime and transportation allowances they were entitled to.

Index falls; Gudang Garam, Bank Mandiri slump

Index falls; Gudang Garam, Bank Mandiri slumpBloomberg, JakartaIndonesia's key stock index fell, led by consumer-related shares such as PT Indofood Sukses Makmur and PT Gudang Garam, after the government said it might raise its budget deficit forecast this year because of higher fuel costs.

Jakarta water birds in peril

Jakarta water birds in perilBambang Parlupi, JakartaAlthough a metropolis, Jakarta has remained home to various species of exotic animals, notably water birds, which live near lakes, marshes, downstream areas and coasts.

Alleged Papua rebel shot dead

Alleged Papua rebel shot deadJAYAPURA, Papua: Police offices shot dead on Sunday evening an alleged member of Papua's rebel group, Toliniwamben Giri.Toliniwamben, 59, was killed during police a raid in Kota Mulia Lama, the capital of Puncak Jaya regency, about 750 kilometers west of Jayapura.

Removing anti-graft constraints

Removing anti-graft constraintsFrom GatraCorruption in Indonesia has become a chronic disease, like a tumor that is spreading all over the body and is nearly incurable. Now the government has apparently become serious about dealing with these criminals and needs the support of law enforcers, state...

A cup of cappuccino is never enough

A cup of cappuccino is never enoughArief T. Syam, Contributor, Jakarta The motto that "the customer is king" remains relevant to this day. For banks in particular, customers, especially VIPs, remain kings and deserve satisfactory services.

University students arrested on campus for drug trafficking

University students arrested on campus for drug traffickingAbdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, JakartaPolice have arrested four people, two of them students of the Indonesian Christian University, while trying to sell drugs on campus at the University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok on Friday, a police...

Merpati Airlines service

Merpati Airlines service As a frequent Merpati flyer to Bandar Lampung, I fully agree with Vatsala S. that Merpati's ground staff deserve praise and compliments ("Kudos to Merpati", The Jakarta Post dated April 6).

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 11, 2005:

Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on April 11, 2005: _____________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ______________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades...

1. Ambalat -- 1x40

1. Ambalat -- 1x40 RI, Malaysia to avoid repeat of gunboat incident 2. PAN ---- 2x26 PAN's younger members cast doubt on newly-elected chairman 3. MANDIRI -- 2x21 AGO probes Rp 1t graft case at Bank Mandiri

Asia Foundation spurs Asians to help fellow Asians

Asia Foundation spurs Asians to help fellow AsiansHarry Bhaskara, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami has affected people in different places in different ways. In the United States, it prompted Americans to turn to the Asia Foundation as a halfway house to channel their...

Old mortar shells found in Bogor

Old mortar shells found in Bogor BOGOR: Construction workers at the Pesona Alam housing complex in Cisarua, West Java, uncovered two mortar shells dating back to the Dutch colonial era.Agus, 35, and Hamdan, 17, were digging in the area when they struck the shells.

The perspectives of emergency relief and rebuilding

The perspectives of emergency relief and rebuildingAti Nurbaiti, The Jakarta Post, MeulabohThere is still a lot of help coming into this coastal town, even while some emergency teams rushed to Nias following the latest major earthquake late last month.

Direct flight to star between Denpasar, Auckland: Minister

Direct flight to star between Denpasar, Auckland: MinisterRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, JakartaIndonesia and New Zealand have agreed to initiate a direct flight service between the two nations, with the first route to commence soon between Denpasar and Auckland, the largest city and center of...

Major makeover for Orchard Road

Major makeover for Orchard RoadBernice Han, Agence France-Presse/SingaporeSingapore's famous shopping Orchard Road strip is set to undergo a makeover worth nearly US$1 billion as part of the city-state's efforts to become one of the world's premier retail havens.

42 quake survivors in South Nias die in shelters

42 quake survivors in South Nias die in sheltersApriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, MedanAt least 42 quake victims in South Nias regency reportedly died in emergency shelters due to a lack of medical attention and food aid, an official claimed on Monday.

RI refuses entry to UN experts probing violence

RI refuses entry to UN experts probing violenceChris Brummitt, Associated Press/JakartaIndonesia will deny entry visas for three legal experts tasked by the United Nations to investigate why Jakarta failed to punish any military officers over the violence that accompanied East Timor's independence...

Bombing suspect goes on trial

Bombing suspect goes on trial MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Agung Abdul Hamid, a principal suspect in a bomb attack on a McDonald's outlet and car showroom three years ago, went on trial on Monday in Makassar.

China Oilfield wins $98m contract in RI

China Oilfield wins $98m contract in RI BEIJING: China Oilfield Services Ltd., which helps companies drill for oil and gas, said it won a US$98.4 million service contract to drill wells in oil fields southeast of Sumatra in Indonesia.

Rupiah Rates April 11

Rupiah Rates April 11 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 7,717.00 6,942.60 7,368.19 7,291.27 Brunei dollar 1 6,033.55 5,428.55 5,760.83 5,701.19 Canadian dollar 1 8,145.98 7,328.39 7,777.78 7,696.44 Swiss franc 1 8,345.85 7,508.76 7,968.62 7,885.

Technical aspects of the Ambalat negotiations

Technical aspects of the Ambalat negotiationsI Made Andi Arsana, Jakarta It seems that people have begun to lose interest in the dispute between Indonesia and Malaysia over the offshore Ambalat oil block, but with neither country likely to back down the issue can be expected to rear its head from...

Sampoerna awards 34 scholarships

Sampoerna awards 34 scholarships JAKARTA: The Sampoerna Foundation has awarded scholarships to 34 Indonesian students to pursue their master's degrees in business and management for the 2006 academic year.

Govt wants to utilize non-bank funds

Govt wants to utilize non-bank fundsUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, JakartaThe government wants to tap into the more than Rp 200 trillion (US$21.5 billion) worth of resources that non-banking financial institutions (NBFI) in the country manage, to help finance long- term investments, including...