Archive: 31 May 2005
98 articles found
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Higher salaries
Higher salaries and corruption From Kompas President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has announced plans to increase the salaries of civil servants and soldiers in an attempt to reduce corruption. In my view, it is more appropriate to raise salaries for the purpose of improving welfare rather than reducing graft, because even as we have gotten new presidents and higher salaries, corruption has continued to spread. When it comes to morality, corruption will prevail over salary increases.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
'Old town' vendors face relocation
'Old town' vendors face relocation Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta West Jakarta municipality has started relocating more than 1,500 street vendors in Glodok, West Jakarta, to nearby traditional markets as part of an effort to bring some order to the chaos of the old downtown area. "We are still persuading the vendors to gradually move to the nearby markets we have prepared," West Jakarta Mayor Fajar A Panjaitan said over the weekend.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Lippo rolls out commercial center
Lippo rolls out commercial center CIKARANG: Property developer PT Lippo Cikarang recently launched a commercial center near the Delta Silicon Industry in Cikarang, West Java. Called Delta Niaga Marketplace, the commercial center is designed to allow business people to take advantage of the industries that operate 24 hours in the area.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Govt to build tin smelter in Bangka to boost output
Govt to build tin smelter in Bangka to boost output The Jakarta Post, Jakarta In a bid to boost the country's domestic tin production and better control the problem of widespread illegal mining in the Bangka Belitung islands, the government plans to collaborate with a number of players in the sector to develop a new smelter in the area.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
An ASEAN deal for Myanmar
An ASEAN deal for Myanmar Thang D. Nguyen, Jakarta The word crisis in Chinese has two characters: The first means "danger," and the second "opportunity." This is how the issue of Myanmar's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should be dealt with, given Rangoon's obstinate posture on human rights, freedom and democracy.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
No problems on first day of exams
No problems on first day of exams The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The first day of National Examinations for 124,621 senior high school students in Jakarta ran on smoothly Monday, with schools receiving their examination materials on time. "This year's national examination is better prepared than last years," Jakarta deputy governor Fauzi Bowo said when visiting a number of schools, including state Senior High School SMK 27 and SMAN 68, both in Central Jakarta, on Monday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
'Other regions have yet to enjoy electricity'
'Other regions have yet to enjoy electricity' State power company PLN is asking residents of Java and Bali to conserve energy from May 23 to June 6 as it struggles to complete construction work on several power plants. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their thoughts on this energy-saving campaign. Singgih, 22, is a student at Paramadina University in South Jakarta. He lives with his parents in Ciledug, South Jakarta. I am majoring in IT so I spend most of my time in front of the computer.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Finding a balance between Japan and China
Finding a balance between Japan and China Makmur Keliat, Jakarta Why doesn't Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono visit Beijing after he visits Tokyo? One might answer this question by saying that going to Beijing would take longer and needs much more time to produce results. However, this argument is certainly open to debate. One can also raise the following question: Why did Susilo, then, visit the United States?
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI democratic
RI democratic consolidation From Bisnis Indonesia The deepening and expansion of democracy, or democratic consolidation, needs behavioral and institutional changes that reflect socioeconomic demands and democratic values in society. Studies of democratization have mentioned several factors contributing to such consolidation: the quality of civil society, the levels of consensus and nonconsensus among elite circles, the bureaucracy's capacity and effectiveness, and the rule of law.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Traps for embezzlers
Traps for embezzlers From Kompas Indonesia's economic downturn, with tens of millions of poor and unemployed people as well as the denudation of vast areas of forest, has resulted from corruption, among other things. The late Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia's most senior economist, once said that almost 30 percent of funds for national development vanished annually. Strangely, those involved in the embezzlement have never been punished.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Correction to article
Correction to article Regarding my opinion piece titled Media, defamation and judicial review: Comparison with Australia published in The Jakarta Post on May 12, I would like to correct a small error in the article. Referring to the 13th paragraph of the article, not all of section 299 of the Industrial Relations Act 1988 was declared invalid. Only section 299(1)(d)(ii) of the Act was declared invalid. I stated that in the draft of the article.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Stop human exports
Stop human exports From Koran Tempo The news carried by Koran Tempo labeling Indonesia as the world's largest human exporter is interesting and surprising -- especially the quantity of this human traffic -- from 75,000 to 1 million citizens sent overseas a year, including women and children as the most vulnerable groups. This trade in humans has become a lucrative business for entrepreneurs.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Rupiah Rates May 30
Rupiah Rates May 30 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 7,614.09 6,847.20 7,268.72 7,192.34 Brunei dollar 1 6,022.07 5,415.81 5,748.91 5,688.80 Canadian dollar 1 7,950.17 7,152.41 7,589.56 7,512.93 Swiss franc 1 8,104.36 7,290.50 7,736.75 7,657.99 Danish krone 1 1,683.07 1,513.78 1,606.73 1,590.08 Euro 1 12,526.69 11,269.70 11,958.50 11,837.76 Poundsterling 1 18,220.28 16,389.59 17,393.83 17,215.73 Hong Kong dollar 1 1,283.97 1,155.33 1,225.73 1,213.57...
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Japan to set up aid and trade plan for ASEAN amid China rift: report
Japan to set up aid and trade plan for ASEAN amid China rift: report Japan will set up a fund for Southeast Asia to seal trade agreements and provide aid to lesser developed parts in a bid to secure Tokyo's regional clout amid China's growing influence, a newspaper said on Monday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Australia, East Timor may split Sunrise gas revenues: Ramos-Horta
Australia, East Timor may split Sunrise gas revenues: Ramos-Horta Bloomberg, Sydney Australia and East Timor would share equally royalties from Woodside Petroleum Ltd.'s proposed S$3.7 billion Sunrise natural gas project under a draft accord reached this month, said Jose Ramos-Horta, East Timor's foreign minister. The proposed agreement could provide more than $7 billion in revenue to East Timor, Ramos-Horta said today in an opinion article in the Age newspaper.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Pertamina runs out of gas in unleaded fuel campaign
Pertamina runs out of gas in unleaded fuel campaign The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government campaign for the use of unleaded gasoline nationwide is facing a major obstacle as state oil and gas company Pertamina says the program targets are currently beyond its capacity. Pertamina marketing director Ari Soemarno admitted on Monday that the company would be unable to provide unleaded gasoline nationwide by the end of this year due to operational, procurement and funding constraints.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Suicide bombing suspected in Tentena attack
Suicide bombing suspected in Tentena attack Ruslan Sangadji and Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Palu/Jakarta The recent bomb attacks in Tentena in Central Sulawesi may have been the work of a suicide bomber as one victim identified as Iskandar was not known to locals, according to police, Christian and Muslim leaders.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Corby controversy I
Corby controversy I Though it is understandable for Australians to feel strongly about the predicament of one of their own stuck in a life-and- death situation in a foreign country, the public outrage has not only been astounding in its intensity but also shocking in the glimpses it has revealed of the depths of racism and xenophobia. Sympathy and support should never overwhelm respect for the Indonesian verdict and the process of appeals.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Government gets Rp 183b dividend from Antam
Government gets Rp 183b dividend from Antam Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government is set to receive Rp 183 billion (US$19.4 million) from state gold and nickel miner PT Aneka Tambang (Antam) after the company's shareholders decided on Monday to pay out a 35 percent dividend on last year's profit. The shareholders meeting decided to give final dividend of Rp 128.5 a share, in addition to another Rp 19.6 a share of interim dividends it paid in January.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
*Kutais use floating booths in RI's first local direct polls
*Kutais use floating booths in RI's first local direct polls Page 2 *Official warns of bad loans to SMEs Page 3 *Ex-BIN chief lobbies House over Munir probe Page 4 *Are jobs being created or lost under AFTA? Page 7 *Council spots failures in Sutiyoso report Page 8 *Ayu dreams of following in Yayuk's famous footsteps Page 10 *Mandiri records 70.2 percent drop in profit Page 13 *From abstract to figurative, painter reveals new identity Page 17 *Cartoonist Pramono sketches country's journey Page 20
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Asians win awards in antismoking drive
Asians win awards in antismoking drive Agence France-Presse, Manila On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday praised three Asian medical doctors for their efforts to stamp out smoking, an addiction that kills almost 5 million people a year. WHO honored health care professionals from Cambodia, Malaysia and South Korea for their contributions to the fight against tobacco and also praised government departments in Guam and China.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
(Another) Failure to protect
(Another) Failure to protect It was another black day for Indonesia as families and friends on Monday buried victims of Saturday's bombings in Tentena, Central Sulawesi. Feelings of sorrow and anger have again been stirred. Our condemnation is beyond expression. However, more than ever our grief is fueled by increasing frustration.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Corby controversy II
Corby controversy II While the public's sympathy is understandable, it is on the facts that the court has had to make its judgment. The legal process in Bali was unfamiliar and may have appeared even chaotic, given the free media access to the courtroom. However, that does not mean the Chief Justice, Linton Sirait, presides over a kangaroo court without proper legal process. Yet long before the sentence was handed down many concerned Australians had elevated Schappelle Corby to martyr status.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
BI drains Rp 2.2t from banking system
BI drains Rp 2.2t from banking system Bank Indonesia drained Rp 2.2 trillion (US$231.9 million) from the banking system by auctioning three-day debt to reduce the amount of funds available to local banks. The central bank sold the so-called Fine Tune Kontraksi securities at 3.625 percent through an auction that ended at 4 p.m., it said in a statement in Jakarta on Monday. The sale was to "absorb excess liquidity over the short-term," the bank said.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tentena bombings a blow to Muslim, Christian coexistence
Tentena bombings a blow to Muslim, Christian coexistence Bhimanto Suwastoyo, Agence France-Presse/Tentena Whether the work of shadowy Islamic extremists from outside the region or local agitators, a deadly bombing in the Central Sulawesi town of Tentena will unravel months of painstaking effort to reconcile warring Christians and Muslims there, community leaders say.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI, Vietnam agree to cooperate in combating terrorism, sea piracy
RI, Vietnam agree to cooperate in combating terrorism, sea piracy Reiner Simanjuntak, The Jakarta Post, Hanoi The governments of Indonesia and Vietnam agreed here on Monday to boost cooperation in preventing and combating transnational crimes, including terrorism and piracy on the seas. The agreement was reached during bilateral talks led by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Mandiri to expand lending to SMEs
Mandiri to expand lending to SMEs Despite reports of possible bad loans, state-owned Bank Mandiri, the nation's richest bank, is planning to channel some Rp 4.5 trillion (US$478 million) to micro and small businesses this year, from Rp 1.2 trillion last year. Mandiri director for small and medium businesses Sasmita said on Monday that the expansion was aimed at strengthening the bank's position in the sector, as well as helping revive the real economy.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Proximity, security drive residents to apartments
Proximity, security drive residents to apartments Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Driving outside the Taman Rasuna Apartment South Jakarta, Susan, 25, an employee of a foreign company on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta, nods her head to the beat of a hip-hop song playing on her car's stereo. "I just want to stop by to get some clothes for some clubbing tonight," she told The Jakarta Post before driving to a restaurant near her office, 15 minutes from her apartment.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Corby sentence
Corby sentence I have been ruminating on the Corby case for weeks, like an old cow, jaws firmly chewing; the flavor of it troubling me, and this is why. I lived in Bali for many years. Taking marijuana to Bali was like taking carved cats to Bali or batik to Java ... why would you as there is so much there? A lot of young tourists go to Bali to get a stash, hang out, smoke and watch the sunsets, and maybe get laid after a night at a club. Corby had been to Bali before, so she would know that.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
PT Pos Indonesia: Surviving rough seas
PT Pos Indonesia: Surviving rough seas Debbie A. Lubis, Contributor, Jakarta Over a decade ago, the postman was an eagerly awaited person. Most people relied on postmen to send packages, money or love letters. With the rapid growth in IT, the role of "Mister Postman" has subsequently faded away. At present, with just the click of a mouse or a few taps on your cell phone you can send a letter, a document or even money to any part of the world.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Ex-Bin chief lobbies House over Munir probe
Ex-Bin chief lobbies House over Munir probe Tony Hotland and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Former National Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Gen. (ret) A.M. Hendropriyono has further displayed his aversion to a fact- finding team set up by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to probe the death of human rights activist Munir, and equivocated as to whether he would fulfill a summons from the team.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Beware, money changing deception
Beware, money changing deception From Warta Kota The group Combating Counterfeit And Financial Crimes has called on the public to watch out for a new scam in the currency exchange. The scam works as follows: A group claims to possess money in Rp 100,000 denominations of the Sukarno-Hatta edition note as a result of the excess number of these banknotes printed in Australia at the turn of the millennium.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
From abstract to figurative, painter reveals new identity
From abstract to figurative, painter reveals new identity Yusuf Susilo Hartono, Contributor, Jakarta Unlike his father who was part of the early crop of painters bringing the realist-naturalist style to the country's fine art world, Sudaryono is a loyalist of the abstract genre.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. APBD -- 3 col, 3 lines 3 x 18
1. APBD -- 3 col, 3 lines 3 x 18 City Council gives Thumbs-down on Sutiyoso report 2. Tenant -- 3 col, 2 lines 2 x 24 Proximity, security drive residents to apartments 3. Kota -- 3 col, 1 line 1 x 32 'Old Town' vendors face relocation 4. Uan -- 3 col, 1 line 1 x 27 No problems on first day of exams
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Aussie outrage over Corby sparks fears of racism
Aussie outrage over Corby sparks fears of racism Michelle Nichols, Reuters/Canberra/JAKARTA Australia risks reviving Asian concerns that it is a racist nation because of a growing backlash over the 20-year jail sentence given to a young Australian woman by an Indonesian court.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Teach our children well
Teach our children well On May 16, junior high school students in Karangasem, Bali, had to take their 120-minute English language test. The last test page showed the following questions: Indonesia is a large archipelago (Correct). It lies between Asia and Australia continents, between Indonesia (How can it lie between itself?) and Pacific Ocean.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Officials warns of bad loans to SMEs
Officials warns of bad loans to SMEs Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The Office of State Minister of State Enterprises has indicated massive amounts of bad loans channeled last year by state banks to small and medium enterprises under the business partnership program. Suad Husnan, deputy state minister of state enterprises for the banking and financial sectors, said some 27 percent of a total Rp 866 billion (US$92.1 million) loans channeled by state banks had gone bad.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 30, 2005
Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on May 30, 2005 _______________________________________________________________________________ Shares Close Change Trading Volume ______________________________________________________________________________ Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,500 60 6,000 Adhi Karya 780 20 3,648,500 Adira Dinamika 2,100 0 0 AGIS Tbk 125 0 152,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 230 0 70,000 AKR Corporindo Tbk 1,150 0 1,018,500 Alakasa Industrindo 165 0 0 Alfa...
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Romeo A. Reyes
Romeo A. Reyes Jakarta 2. Yomi -- Cool heads needed to solve Japan-China problems 1 x 30 Resolving Japan-China problems Takashi Shiraishi The Yomiuri Shimbun Asia News Network Tokyo
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Residents gear up for polio vaccinations
Residents gear up for polio vaccinations Damar Harsanto The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Over 700,000 babies across the capital will today be immunized against polio in the first-ever mass polio vaccination program in the city's history, relying heavily on the participation of local citizens in the nation's drive to stave off an outbreak of the disease.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
RI can be a great country
RI can be a great country I refer to the account in The Jakarta Post on May 21 of the presidential address on the occasion of National Awakening Day, wherein he urged the Indonesian people to "feel proud of themselves and do the best they can for the country". He further urged them to "remain confident in themselves" and expressed his confidence that Indonesia will one day be a developed country.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Vendors seek Council support
Vendors seek Council support JAKARTA: At least 20 street vendors who own stalls on Jl. Fachrudin and Jl. Wahid Hasyim in Central Jakarta went on Monday to the city council's commission B overseeing the economy to seek support against a plan by the Central Jakarta municipality to bulldoze their stalls.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Strong quake jolts western Aceh town
Strong quake jolts western Aceh town ACEH JAYA, Aceh: Another strong earthquake rocked the tsunami- devastated town of Calang, the capital of Aceh Jaya regency on Friday. The epicenter of the earthquake measuring 4.5 on the Richter scale was at sea some 86 kilometers northwest of Meulaboh, the capital of West Aceh regency. "Tsunami survivors still in temporary shelters panicked, as they remain traumatized from the events of Dec.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
International runners to take part in Jakarta 10K
International runners to take part in Jakarta 10K Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Runners from Kenya, Russia, Australia, Tanzania and Mexico will be among the participants in the 2005 Jakarta International 10K, to be held on June 26. The 2004 runner up in men's division, Sulle Martin of Tanzania, with a best time of 28 minutes and 15.60 seconds, will be challenged by rivals Mitei Enock (27:43.93), Moses Kigen of Kenya (27:48) and Teodore Vega of Mexico (27:37).
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Prayer in two languages
Prayer in two languages The recent arrest of a cleric in Malang who lead prayers in both Arabic and Indonesian shows that there is no tolerance of difference religious opinions in this country. Why should a man be charged with a criminal offense for merely praying unconventionally? By doing this, how could he have despoiled organized religion or contaminated the authenticity of the holy book when he has also recited the verses in their original language -- Arabic.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Ayu dreams of following in Yayuk's famous footsteps
Ayu dreams of following in Yayuk's famous footsteps Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Tipped as the possible successor to former world top 20 ranked Yayuk Basuki and current national number one Angelique "Angie" Widjaja, teenager Ayu Fani Damayanti has big dreams of emulating their success. Already a member of the Fed Cup team (she played singles in Indonesia's loss to Germany in April), the 16 year old is one of the nation's top players, ranking second behind the injured Angie.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
From Left to Right): Soediono Soemantri, President Director
From Left to Right): Soediono Soemantri, President Director PT Skypak Indonesia, TNT Indonesia Sales and Marketing Director Andry Adiwinarso and TNT Indonesia President Director Colin Moran
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Radical change in distribution system
Radical change in distribution system Robert Sanjaya, Contributor, Jakarta With the emergence of a global marketplace, businessmen everywhere are seeing a radical change in distribution systems, increasing the need for timely information management and higher consumer expectations. Meanwhile, unprecedented levels of competition are shortening the time-to-market and heralding an age of product and service customization.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Stop SMS gambling
Stop SMS gambling From Republika A betting game under the guise of an SMS quiz with prize money, which in Malaysia has been declared to be gambling, has absorbed a lot of funds from the public and it should be banned. The Indonesian Ulema Council should urge the government to prohibit gambling through SMS quizzes. It only pays a few million rupiah to several winners while the financiers scoop billions of rupiah.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Eradicate pornography
Eradicate pornography From Media Indonesia The sexual harassment by seven Jakarta high school girls against their younger peers and cellular phone flicks that depict bare-breasted school girls masturbating should arouse our deep concern. Many other such cases have certainly escaped the media's eye. The problem of morality and character among teenagers involves not only formal education but also the role of their families, social environment and personal associations.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Students in tsunami-ravaged Aceh sit their final exams
Students in tsunami-ravaged Aceh sit their final exams The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Jakarta With hundreds of schools still in ruins, many senior high school students put the devastation of the Dec. 26 tsunami behind them on Monday, turning up in Banda Aceh to take their national final examinations. At the SMU 1 senior high school in the city, a school only partially damaged by the waves, at least 378 students began the three days of examinations on Monday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
I and many other fair-minded, clear-thinking Australians are
I and many other fair-minded, clear-thinking Australians are very concerned for one of our citizens at the moment, Schapelle Corby. Schapelle has been the innocent victim of Australian baggage handler's drug smuggling enterprise. She has done no wrong but has been locked up in Kerobokan Prison for six months now and is nearing the end of her strength.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. INSIGHT: 1 X 36
1. INSIGHT: 1 X 36 Finding a balance between China and Japan 2. AGRO: 2 X 24 Indonesia offers $1.57b in agri-projects to Mideast 3. SMES: 1 X 32 Official warns of bad loans to SMEs 4. REAX: 1 X 40 Aussie outrage over Corby sparks fears of racism
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
TV Program: Wednesday, June 1, 2005
TV Program: Wednesday, June 1, 2005 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon: Tabaluga 8:30 Music: Asik-asik 10:00 Talk Show: Showbiz 11:30 Cultural Program: Rona Daerah 12:00 p.m.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Soediono Soemantri, President Dirctor of PT Skypack Indonesia
Soediono Soemantri, President Dirctor of PT Skypack Indonesia (left), Andry Adiwinarso (center), TNT Sales and Marketing Director and TNT Indonesia's President Dirctor Colin Moran pose with one of TNT's trucks.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Bird flu endemic to Indonesia: OIE
Bird flu endemic to Indonesia: OIE The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has declared Indonesia an endemic country for avian influenza, but the government is still determined to achieve its target of being free of bird flu by 2007, a minister says. "It is a sad decision for us considering that bird flu cases are on the decline, especially since last year," Minister of Agriculture Anton Apriyantono said on Monday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Public upbeat about mobile drivers' license service
Public upbeat about mobile drivers' license service Abdul Khalik The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Ardi walked out of a parked bus in Central Jakarta and shouted happily while waving his new driver's license in his left hand. "Unbelievable! I still cannot believe I was able to renew my driver's license for just Rp 85,000 and it was so fast.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Vietnamese dancers to perform here
Vietnamese dancers to perform here SURABAYA: A troupe of dancers from Vietnam are slated to display their talent during the Surabaya Arts Festival this year. The six dancers will perform dances created by noted French choreographer Regine Chopinot. It will be held on June 3 at the Balai Pemuda building in Surabaya. Additionally, the Arts Festival will also present the works of local choreographers such as Lusi and Wisnu, both of whom hail from East Java. -- Antara
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Policemen arrested at drug party
Policemen arrested at drug party BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Ten police officers were apprehended by Lampung Police's crime and security team in a raid on a drug party at a cafe in Tulusrejo village, Pekalongan district in East Lampung on Monday. From the cafe, allegedly owned by a member of the East Lampung Police's internal affairs unit, the arrested officers were immediately taken to Lampung Police Headquarters for urine tests.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jakarta to host badminton tourney
Jakarta to host badminton tourney JAKARTA: The Jakarta chapter of the Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI Jakarta) will hold the 2nd Jakarta Open badminton tournament starting from June 20 to June 25. Local association chairman Icuk Sugiarto said on Monday that 401 shuttlers, including entrants from Vietnam and Sweden, were confirmed for the event from June 20-25. "We expect more shuttlers will apply to the tournament," he said.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Indonesia offers $1.57b in agri-projects to Mideast
Indonesia offers $1.57b in agri-projects to Mideast Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta A group of Middle East investors, spearheaded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), was offered 10 agricultural projects during a recent visit to Indonesia, the minister of agriculture said. The group will soon tour each of the project sites, which have a total value of about US$1.57 billion, Minister Anton Apriyantono said on Monday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
EMP to spend $195m to raise oil, gas output
EMP to spend $195m to raise oil, gas output Jakarta/Bloomberg PT Energi Mega Persada, Indonesia's second-largest listed oil and gas company, plans to spend US$195 million this year to develop three areas to increase output, the company's official said. Energi Mega will spend $104 million to develop the Kangean area that it acquired from BP Plc. last year, Energi Mega's President Director Christopher Newton said in an interview in Jakarta today.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Traps for embezzlers
Traps for embezzlers From Kompas Indonesia's economic downturn, with tens of millions of poor and unemployed people as well as the denudation of vast areas of forest, has resulted from corruption, among other things. The late Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, Indonesia's most senior economist, once said that almost 30 percent of funds for national development vanished annually. Strangely, those involved in the embezzlement have never been punished.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Thailand claims to have detained GAM rebels
Thailand claims to have detained GAM rebels Five heavily armed men arrested by Thai officials last month were members of a rebel group fighting for independence in the Indonesian province of Aceh, a senior Thai official said on Monday. The five Indonesians, caught with two M-16 rifles, three AK- 47s and 1,200 rounds of ammunition, were members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), whose three-decade rebellion in Indonesia's gas- rich Aceh province has killed at least 12,000 people.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Stop human exports
Stop human exports From Koran Tempo The news carried by Koran Tempo labeling Indonesia as the world's largest human exporter is interesting and surprising -- especially the quantity of this human traffic -- from 75,000 to 1 million citizens sent overseas a year, including women and children as the most vulnerable groups. This trade in humans has become a lucrative business for entrepreneurs.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Resolving Japan-China problems
Resolving Japan-China problems Takashi Shiraishi, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Asia News Network, Tokyo After the April 23 meeting in Jakarta between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Chinese President Hu Jintao, the storm of anti-Japanese demonstrations that had taken place in many urban centers in China last month appeared to have passed.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
BRI hopes to control UFJ-BRI Finance
BRI hopes to control UFJ-BRI Finance Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta State Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) plans to make a number of acquisitions this year, including increasing its share in multifinancing unit PT UFJ-BRI Finance to a majority stake. BRI vice president director I Wayan Alit Antara said the bank was in the process of obtaining shareholder approval for becoming the controlling stakeholder in UFJ-BRI Finance, which is jointly owned with a Japanese bank.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jambi Governor in hot water for reneging on promise
Jambi Governor in hot water for reneging on promise Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi Zulkifli Nurdin, the Jambi governor who is seeking reelection this year, is facing legal trouble over an unkept promise he made to residents. The case, which could affect his popularity ahead of the June 26 election, began two weeks ago when a local non-governmental organization filed a lawsuit against Zulkifli.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Not simply dispatching goods
Not simply dispatching goods Burhanuddin Abe, Contributor, Jakarta The domestic courier and logistics industry has shown rapid growth during the past several years, as evident in the mushrooming of new express companies and the increase in the presence of foreign players in the sector.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
JP/2/Heads
JP/2/Heads 1. KUTAI: 2 X 27 Kutais use floating booths in RI's first local direct polls 2. EXTREMIS: 2 X 28 Tentena bombing a blow to Muslim, Christian coexistence 3. UAN: 2 X 26 Students in tsunami-ravaged Aceh sit their final exams 4. SBY: 2 X 33 RI, Vietnam agree to cooperate in combating on terrorism, sea piracy
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Clinton praises recovery work in tsunami-hit Aceh
Clinton praises recovery work in tsunami-hit Aceh Agencies, Banda Aceh, Aceh Former U.S. President Bill Clinton on Monday praised Indonesia's efforts to rebuild tsunami-hit Aceh but urged that solid foundations for economic growth be put in place, the official in charge of reconstruction said. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, who heads the Aceh Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency, said Clinton told officials not to just focus on reconstruction, but to build a diversified economy.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Council spots failures in Sutiyoso report
Council spots failures in Sutiyoso report Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Factions in the City Council Monday have given a thumbs-down to Governor Sutiyoso's accountability speech, saying that his administration had failed to reach its 2004 targets and that it was trying to cover up its failures. The Prosperous Justice Party faction, the largest faction with 18 representatives in the 75-member City Council, suggested that Sutiyoso's growth claim in his speech was misleading.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Kutais use floating booths in RI's first local direct polls
Kutais use floating booths in RI's first local direct polls Rusman and A'an Suryana, The Jakarta Post, Kutai Kartanegara Thousands of residents living in remote areas of Kutai Kartanegara regency in East Kalimantan may be unable to vote in local elections on Wednesday due to extensive flooding.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Spirit upbeat in Kutai ahead of direct local elections
Spirit upbeat in Kutai ahead of direct local elections Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Kutai Kartanegara Heavy rain did not dampen Sudrajat's spirits during a campaign drive of a regental candidate in Kutai Kartanegara. His shirt bearing the picture of his favored candidate was wet due to the rain, but he was unperturbed. He kept dancing along with thousands of others participating in the campaign held in Tenggarong, the capital of Kutai Kartanegara regency.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
House to meet Myanmar activists
House to meet Myanmar activists JAKARTA: The House of Representatives Commission I on foreign affairs is scheduled to hold a discussion with two Myanmarese pro-democracy activists on Tuesday evening about the latest political developments in the country. Commission member Djoko Susilo said on Monday the meeting would also seek to press the Indonesian government to oppose Myanmar's chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Polio vaccination campaign to start as more cases confirmed
Polio vaccination campaign to start as more cases confirmed Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Jakarta Just a day before the start of a mass polio vaccination campaign, the Ministry of Health reported on Monday two more cases of the crippling virus, bringing the number of sufferers to 16. "The two newly confirmed cases came from samples taken from Lebak regency and Tamansari village in Bogor regency (both in West Java)," Moh.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. APBD -- 3 col, 3 lines 3 x 18
1. APBD -- 3 col, 3 lines 3 x 18 City Council gives Thumbs-down on Sutiyoso report 2. Tenant -- 3 col, 2 lines 2 x 24 Proximity, security drive residents to apartments 3. Kota -- 3 col, 1 line 1 x 32 'Old Town' vendors face relocation 4. Uan -- 3 col, 1 line 1 x 27 No problems on first day of exams
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Public hail license renewal service
Public hail license renewal service Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ardi walked out of a parked bus in Central Jakarta and shouted happily while waving his new driver's license in his left hand. "Unbelievable! I still cannot believe I was able to renew my driver's license for just Rp 85,000 and it was so fast. This is the first time in my life I have dealt with the police and it did not take the whole day," the 40-year-old ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver told The Jakarta Post.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Are jobs being created or lost in AFTA?
Are jobs being created or lost in AFTA? Romeo A. Reyes, Jakarta The ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) has been virtually established four years earlier than originally targeted. The average tariff for ASEAN six is now down to 1.5 percent from 12.8 percent when the CEPT agreement was signed in 1992. Tariff on 65 percent of products in the inclusion list has been removed altogether. ASEAN six has committed to remove tariff on all products in the inclusion list by 2010.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
New police chief installed
New police chief installed BATAM, Riau Islands: Riau Islands Police chief Brig. Gen. S. Damanhuri installed on Monday Adj. Sr. Comr. Eko Hadi Sutedjo as chief of Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) police, replacing Sr. Comr. Andayono. "Batam, Rempang and Galang are big islands and have dynamic populations. As industrial islands, we need good security to prevent acts of terrorism," Damanhuri told The Jakarta Post.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Philip Morris wraps up Sampoerna deal
Philip Morris wraps up Sampoerna deal Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta U.S. tobacco giant Philip Morris has officially sealed its 98 percent control over Indonesia's second largest cigarette maker by sales PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna, with the completion on Monday of a Rp 26.9 trillion (US$2.8 billion) payment for its purchase of the shares.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Tire output up as car sales rise
Tire output up as car sales rise Fitri Wulandari, Dow Jones/Jakarta Indonesia's tire makers are stepping up production to meet rising demand from its booming automobile sector. Tire makers are forecast to produce 40 million car tires in 2005, an increase of 13 percent from the 35.3 million units produced in 2004, said A.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Mandiri records 70.2% drop in profits
Mandiri records 70.2% drop in profits Primastuti Handayani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Troubled Bank Mandiri, which has been the center of probes into alleged massive lending scandals, recorded a 70.2 percent fall in this year's first-quarter profit due to the rising cost of bad loans as well as a decline in government bond sales.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Teach our children well
Teach our children well On May 16, junior high school students in Karangasem, Bali, had to take their 120-minute English language test. The last test page showed the following questions: Indonesia is a large archipelago (Correct). It lies between Asia and Australia continents, between Indonesia (How can it lie between itself?) and Pacific Ocean.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Security on table as EU join Aceh peace talks
Security on table as EU join Aceh peace talks Agencies, Helsinki Security issues and foreign monitoring were on the table as European Union observers on Monday joined Indonesian government officials and Aceh separatists on their fifth day of peace talks in Helsinki, mediators said.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
1. APBD -- 3 col, 3 lines 3 x 18
1. APBD -- 3 col, 3 lines 3 x 18 City Council gives Thumbs-down on Sutiyoso report 2. Tenant -- 3 col, 2 lines 2 x 24 Proximity, security drive residents to apartments 3. Kota -- 3 col, 1 line 1 x 32 'Old Town' vendors face relocation 4. Uan -- 3 col, 1 line 1 x 27 No problems on first day of exams
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Projects proposed to Middle-East financial bodies
Projects proposed to Middle-East financial bodies Activities Locations Cost 1. Rehabilitation of On-Farm irrigation system on Jatiluhur irrigation scheme Loc. West Java Cost $50 million 2. Farm Pond development to mitigate drought disaster in paddy field for secondary crops of Northern coastal area of Java loc. Banten, (West, Central and East) Java cost $80 million 3. Development and rehabilitation of village irrigation loc.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Cartoonist Pramono sketches country's journey
Cartoonist Pramono sketches country's journey Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post The only sign that he still has high hopes for a better future here is that he remains faithful to what he has been doing since his early days -- drawing political cartoons that reflect the ailments suffered by this "sick country." According to award-winning cartoonist Pramono R.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Eradicate pornography
Eradicate pornography From Media Indonesia The sexual harassment by seven Jakarta high school girls against their younger peers and cellular phone flicks that depict bare-breasted school girls masturbating should arouse our deep concern. Many other such cases have certainly escaped the media's eye. The problem of morality and character among teenagers involves not only formal education but also the role of their families, social environment and personal associations.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Barratier out to promote French cinema
Barratier out to promote French cinema French director Christophe Barratier, who won several awards for his first feature film Les Choristes (The Chorus), acknowledged that in Indonesia the audience awareness of French films was "very poor". "So when Jakarta's French Embassy invited me to attend the opening of the French Film Festival, I said OK, why not," he said at the Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) Arts Center in Jakarta Friday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Bandung Internet shops close for fear of software piracy raids
Bandung Internet shops close for fear of software piracy raids Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post, Bandung It was about 10 a.m. and Hidayat, 32, looked nervous after talking to a friend on the telephone. He rushed into a room filled with 16 personal computers and announced that everyone had to leave. Hidayat quickly escorted the confused customers out of his warung (shop) Internet, better known as a warnet, on Jl. Surapati in Bandung.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Public gears up for polio vaccinations
Public gears up for polio vaccinations Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Over 700,000 babies across the capital will today be immunized against polio in the first-ever mass polio vaccination program in the city's history, relying heavily on the participation of local citizens in the nation's drive to stave off an outbreak of the disease.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Senior councillor return graft money
Senior councillor return graft money JAMBI: Rustam Effendi, a former councillor in East Tanjungjabung regency, has recently returned Rp 130 million (US$13,829) in state funds that he allegedly embezzled, but the Jambi Prosecutor's Office remains adamant that he will still be tried for corruption. "Despite the fact that he has returned some of the money, the alleged crime already took place," said Warsa Susanta, a deputy chief of Jambi Prosecutor's Office, on Saturday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Jambi faces water shortage
Jambi faces water shortage JAMBI, Jambi: Water company PDAM Tirta Mayang has not supplied water to four of the city's 10 districts for three days. Some 400,000 residents have been affected by the shortage, forcing them draw water from wells on the outskirts of the city. "We have to find clean drinking water on the city's outskirts because we can't afford to buy bottled mineral water," Rahman, a resident, said on Monday.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
SIA boosts flights to Beijing
SIA boosts flights to Beijing SINGAPORE: Singapore Airlines (SIA) will fly three times daily between the city-state and Beijing starting June 1, a 50 percent hike in capacity from the current twice-daily flights, the national carrier said on Monday. The boost "provides business and leisure travellers with more choices of flight times," the SIA statement said. The third flight will depart Singapore at 1650 hours and arrive in Beijing's Capital International Airport at 2250 hours the same night.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
TV Program: Tuesday, May 31, 2005
TV Program: Tuesday, May 31, 2005 TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings 6:00 News: Berita Pagi 7:00 Cartoon: Tabaluga 8:30 Music: Asik-asik 10:00 Talk Show: Agribiz 11:00 News: Berita Nusantara 12:00 p.m.
Tue, 31 May 2005, 00:00 WIB
Drought begins to affect C. Java
Drought begins to affect C. Java DEMAK, Central Java: Drought-like conditions have been reported in Demak regency, Central Java in the past few weeks, sparking fear of an imminent harvest failure. Sutikno, a farmer in Waru subdistrict here, said he had hoped to harvest his rice next month, but without rain, he would suffer harvest failure.