Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 16 July 2005

91 articles found

AFC concerned by RI fan's death

AFC concerned by RI fan's death KUALA LUMPUR: Asian soccer's governing body has condemned Indonesian officials for allowing overcrowding at a stadium during a match, leading to the death of a young fan.

Rupiah Rates July 15

Rupiah Rates July 15 Banknote rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Australian dollar 1 7,745.90 6,991.81 7,407.07 7,330.51 Brunei dollar 1 6,103.48 5,508.22 5,836.49 5,775.06 Canadian dollar 1 8,527.71 7,696.12 8,154.67 8,068.94 Swiss franc 1 8,002.79 7,223.21 7,652.72 7,573.

Govt offers local parties for Aceh

Govt offers local parties for AcehThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Talks between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group appeared to be back on track on Friday, after negotiators reportedly overcame a deadlock over the rebels' future political role.

Correction:

Correction:In an article titled Inco given a month to decide on royalty payments published on July 15, we mistakenly stated that Inco's royalty was 0.015 percent per kilogram of nickel. It should have read US$0.015 per kilogram of nickel. -- Editor

Consortium favors Siemens technology for MRT project

Consortium favors Siemens technology for MRT projectDamar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The new consortium for the construction of the delayed mass rapid transit (MRT) project in the capital, Monorail Indonesia, has signed a memorandum of understanding over the use of German Siemens technology.

Election fraud found in Aru

Election fraud found in Aru AMBON, Maluku: An Aru Islands election-monitoring group claims it has found irregularities during the recent local election held on June 23. Among the findings, were that the names of some dead people and babies had been listed as eligible voters, said chief of the...

More suspects detained in BNI case

More suspects detained in BNI caseEva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Police said on Friday they had detained two more suspects in the 2002 embezzlement of Rp 1.7 trillion (US$182 million) from Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI).

How education can create a spirit of pluralism

How education can create a spirit of pluralismAlpha Amirrachman, Jakarta After a pause of superficial tranquility, the shocking string of attacks that rocked the country recently is evidence enough our society has not been able to fully escape from a culture of violence and division.

Development, mental models and corruption

Development, mental models and corruptionAwan Wibowo Laksono Poesoro and Indriyanto Seno Adji Jakarta Among its neighbors in Southeast Asia, Indonesia was among the first to espouse a growth-oriented development strategy initially introduced in Western economies.

House factions OK wage hike

House factions OK wage hikeTony Hotland, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta All 10 factions at the House of Representatives have unanimously supported the proposal to raise their take-home pay despite the over-stretched state budget and strong public criticism.

KPK indicts KPU official

KPK indicts KPU official JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) indicted on Friday Hamdani Amin, head of the General Elections Commission's (KPU) finance division, over a graft case.After prosecutors from the KPK filed the indictment the Central Jakarta District Court, which...

Death sentence for servants

Death sentence for servantsFrom RepublikaAn Indonesian migrant worker, Rohana, could face the death penalty for allegedly killing her employer in Singapore, according to a report on July 4. In March 2004, two other domestic servants, Juminem and Siti Aminah, were also charged with murder in that...

1. FLU: 2 X 20

1. FLU: 2 X 20 Govt suspects bird flu killed man, 2 girls 2. GAM: 2 X 18 Govt offers local parties for Aceh 3. BAHASA: 2 X 20 RI to remain open to expats: Official 4. GAMBLING: 1 X 28 Police hold internal gambling probe 5. CUTLINE: 1 x 36 Flood hits main thoroughfares in Jakarta

Parents, children flock to malls for school gear

Parents, children flock to malls for school gear BANJARMASIN, South Kalimantan: With the new school year only a few weeks away, parents and children have begun flooding shopping malls here in search of books and school uniforms.

Govt suspects bird flu killed man, two girls

Govt suspects bird flu killed man, two girlsAgencies, Jakarta The Ministry of Health said on Friday that bird flu may have caused the recent deaths of a man and his two daughters in Tangerang, Banten.And, the absence of a link between the three victims and diseased poultry has raised concern of...

World told to keep momemtum for tsunami recovery

World told to keep momemtum for tsunami recoveryAgence France-Presse, United Nations Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, the UN special envoy for tsunami relief, urged the world on Thursday (Friday morning in Jakarta) to maintain the momentum for recovery in South Asian countries devastated by the...

War against corruption

War against corruption The Jakarta Post published on July 8 an interesting article Fighting graft, Susilo needs to fight against the odd. The writer seems unsure whether our President will succeed in fighting graft after many other post-Soeharto era presidents have failed.

The lesser of two evils?

The lesser of two evils? The use of words in the ongoing discussions between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government is exactly that.Everybody knows that trust is non-existent between the Acehnese and Jakarta -- and with good reason.

MAS pushes passenger growth in Indonesia

MAS pushes passenger growth in IndonesiaThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Eyeing higher revenues from Indonesians, Malaysia Airlines System (MAS) is intensifying its promotion and advertising here by, among others, organizing a travel fair in September that would provide numerous discounted travel packages.

Police hold internal gambling probe

Police hold internal gambling probeFadli and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post/Batam/Medan Police forces in the provinces have vowed to clean up their acts on Friday as the war against gambling intensifies.

Manado District Court to start Newmont alleged pollution trial

Manado District Court to start Newmont alleged pollution trial A pollution trial against an Indonesian unit of US mining giant Newmont and its top executive will start on August 5, a court official said on Thursday.

'Police can't wipe out gambling alone'

'Police can't wipe out gambling alone'Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta A criminologist urged the public and officials to help the police in their efforts to crack down on gambling rackets in Jakarta, asserting that the police alone could not accomplish the task.

JP/18/DEFEND

JP/18/DEFENDDefend your mail from spamArnawa Widagda, Contributor, Jakarta Today, junk mail comes in two varieties -- the hard-copy advertising rubbish and the more insidious on-line variety otherwise known as spam.

Awan Wibowo Laksono Poesoro

Awan Wibowo Laksono Poesoro and Indriyanto Seno Adji Jakarta2. Benyam -- Farmers are being pushed away from arable land 1 x 30 Farmers pushed off arable land Benyamin Lakitan Jakarta

Ford Foundation trying to build up philanthropic sector

Ford Foundation trying to build up philanthropic sector After working for the Ford Foundation here for nearly 31 years, Suzanne Siskel will return to the United States soon. She shared her experience with The Jakarta Post's Kornelius Purba in witnessing the country's journey and the result of the...

Working for multicultural America

Working for multicultural AmericaEvi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Having grown up as an Asian-American in the United States, Professor Evelyn Hu-deHart is now a seasoned American citizen in the area of discrimination.During her early years as a Chinese immigrant in the U.S.

Water crisis plagues NTT

Water crisis plagues NTTKUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) residents have begun feel the bite of a water crisis. On Thursday, thousands of residents in South Central Timor, Kupang, Alor and North Flores regencies began to face difficulties in getting water.

Government disburses Aceh refugee funds

Government disburses Aceh refugee funds BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Until July this year, the government has distributed meal allowances worth Rp 145.337 billion (US$15.1 million) for displaced persons in Aceh in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami disaster here in December last year.

~For Special Edition --- Apartment Living

~For Special Edition --- Apartment LivingJakarta apartment market upbeat under the shadow of oversupplyBy Rudijanto Contributor Jakarta Indonesian apartment market is expected to remain strong as apartment is still seen as a more profitable investment compared to the currently low bank deposit rate...

CNOOC seeks Unocal support, may raise bid to $19 billion

CNOOC seeks Unocal support, may raise bid to $19 billionBloomberg, Hong Kong Cnooc Ltd., China's third-largest oil producer, may raise its US$18.5 billion bid for Unocal Corp. by as much as 3 percent amid increasing opposition from U.S. lawmakers, people familiar with the plan said.

New lease on life sought for graveyard

New lease on life sought for graveyardThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta It's certainly a graveyard but is it a museum or a monument? Could it, perhaps, be a memorial park?Whatever name you give it, experts have agreed that Museum Taman Prasasti (Museum of Inscriptions), one of Jakarta's heritage sites,...

Jakarta councillors in talks to legalize gambling

Jakarta councillors in talks to legalize gamblingBambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Despite the tough measures being taken by police against gambling rackets in the capital, a team at the Jakarta City Council is still seeking a way to make gambling enterprises legal in restricted areas.

RI regrets Rice's decision to skip security forum

RI regrets Rice's decision to skip security forumIvy Susanti, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Indonesian government expressed regret that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's would not be present at the ASEAN meeting and Asia Regional Forum at the end of July.

Thaksin assumes emergency powers over Muslim south

Thaksin assumes emergency powers over Muslim southNopporn Wong-Anan, Reuters/Bangkok Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra assumed emergency powers on Friday after about 60 militants launched a dramatic attack on a town in the largely Muslim far south.

Be good; God is on television

Be good; God is on televisionM. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Tune in to virtually any local TV station during prime time these days and God-believing folk will find that the Supreme Being as they know Him has turned into a malevolent entity.

Roxy overpass to be built

Roxy overpass to be built JAKARTA: The Jakarta Transportation Agency has advised motorists to avoid Jl. Hasyim Ashari in Central Jakarta starting on Saturday since the traffic along the road will be obstructed following the beginning of the construction of Roxy overpass.

KPK urges reform in bureaucracy

KPK urges reform in bureaucracyRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) urged the government on Friday to speed up the reform drive in the country's bureaucracy to stop civil servants from charging illegal fees.

More corpses found after shipwreck

More corpses found after shipwreckNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, JayapuraFive more victims from a shipping accident in Merauke, Papua province were found on Thursday, bringing the total number of bodies discovered to 16. Head of the operations division at Merauke regental police, Comr.

City keeps vendors away from Senen

City keeps vendors away from Senen JAKARTA: Joint personnel from the Central Jakarta Public Order Office and Central Jakarta Police Precinct were deployed around Senen overpass to prevent evicted street vendors from returning to the location to resume business.

1. Tommy (4x12)

1. Tommy (4x12) Tommy gets monthly care in Jakarta for eye tumor or Tommy gets treated in Jakarta once a month 2. KPK (1x32) KPK urges reform in bureaucracy 3. BBM (1x36) Dozens arrested over fuel smuggling 4. DPR (1x27) House factions OK wage hike

City establishes drug task forces

City establishes drug task forcesThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta The city administration has established task forces in 10 districts in the capital to fight drugs.Jakarta Provincial Narcotics Body chairman Fauzi Bowo said on Friday the head of the districts in question would serve as the chairs of the...

Reporters on gambling bosses payroll

Reporters on gambling bosses payrollIndra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, SurabayaThe cell phone rings for the umpteenth time, but Rizal Hasan, an editor at the Suara Indonesia daily, refuses to answer it. Finally, he switches it off.

Vietnam, HK have confident consumers

Vietnam, HK have confident consumers HONG KONG: People in Vietnam and Hong Kong are the most upbeat about their economic prospects in the Asia-Pacific region while Filipinos are the gloomiest, a survey published on Friday found.Vietnam scored 92.

JP/18/BRIEFS

JP/18/BRIEFSMaya Resort & Spa, a favorite for Aussie couplesMaya Ubud Resort & Spa grabbed the Gold Category Award in the Best Resort Spa Overseas and Silver Category Award in Best Hotel/Resort in Southeast Asia based on Holidays for Couples Magazine Readers' Choice Awards 2005.

Tsunami aid for Aceh flowing smoothly: UN

Tsunami aid for Aceh flowing smoothly: UNReuters, Jakarta The United Nations said on Friday international aid was flowing smoothly to tsunami-hit areas of Aceh, denying reports of large numbers of containers languishing on Indonesian wharfs.

RI to remain open to expats: Official

RI to remain open to expats: OfficialRidwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Despite the new language proficiency test requirement, expatriates working in Indonesia should not fear of loosing their jobs because Indonesia will remain open to foreign workers and students, says a government...

Energy saving

Energy saving and intimacyFrom Koran TempoThe government's appeal for people to save energy to overcome the present fuel crisis will be supported by the public, as long as government officials set a good example.But there is one thing that could pose a problem in the future.

Two locals into Asian junior girls' last 16

Two locals into Asian junior girls' last 16Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Two local junior girls reached the quarterfinals of the eighth Asian Junior Badminton Championship here, but Indonesia's two mixed doubles pairs went down at the same stage.

Gaining popularity a tough task for would-be governors

Gaining popularity a tough task for would-be governorsNethy Dharma Somba, The Jakarta Post, ManokwariA mother in her 30s jostled in the crowd, trying to get to the front. While she was scrambling to the front, she asked her colleague: "Where is Yorris?"Her colleague, also a mother in her 30s,...

Flood hits main thoroughfares in Jakarta

Flood hits main thoroughfares in JakartaThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Heavy, continuous rain on Friday has inundated some of the city's main thoroughfares and caused severe traffic congestion until late in the evening.

7 RI firms re-export Chinese shrimps: EU

7 RI firms re-export Chinese shrimps: EUThe Jakarta Post, Jakarta Almost one third of Indonesia's shrimp exports to Europe in 2003 and 2004 actually originated from China, whose shrimps were banned from the European market, an investigation by the European Commission's Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF)...

Poso weapons come from Ambon: BIN

Poso weapons come from Ambon: BINPALU, Central Sulawesi: Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Syamsir Siregar confirmed on Thursday that illegal weapons, currently circulating in the troubled regency of Poso, had come from a police arsenal in Ambon city, Maluku province.

Stop white powder hoaxes: Indonesia

Stop white powder hoaxes: Indonesia The Indonesian government is getting fed up with the seemingly endless deliveries of white powder to its representative offices in Australia, and has urged local police to be "more serious" in probing the matters, a senior official has said.

Abortion clinic beyond reach of law

Abortion clinic beyond reach of lawIndra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya After attending to a client Agung (not his real name), an employee at the office of an abortion clinic in Dukuh Kupang, Surabaya, begins checking off names on the list of reporters who regularly come to pick up hush...

JP/4/Cap2

JP/4/Cap2JP/Arief SuhardimanFUEL PROTEST: A student from the University of Indonesia Students Front (FAM UI) holds up a gasoline jerrycan while other student shout and wave banners in a protest against the current scarcity of fuel.

Single identity number launched

Single identity number launched JAKARTA (JP): State-owned insurance company PT Jamsostek signed an agreement on Friday with state-owned health insurance firm PT Askes and six banks to provide a single identity number facility for their customers as part of efforts to improve services.

Maiden operation of new airport delayed

Maiden operation of new airport delayed PADANG, West Sumatra: The maiden operation of a new international airport in Padang, West Sumatra, which was set for Friday, has been delayed indefinitely, a senior official at the state-run airport operator, PT Angkasa Pura II, said on Friday.

Bantul hen campaign aims high

Bantul hen campaign aims highSlamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post/Bantul As proud parents beamed on as their children received their report cards on Saturday, noisy hens clucked their approval.During the event at the elementary school near Samas beach in Bantul, Yogyakarta province, students lined up...

Susilo to open interfaith dialog

Susilo to open interfaith dialog INDONESIA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to open the Bali Interfaith Dialog on July 21 at the International Convention Center in Nusa Dua, foreign affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa says.

The men behind Zheng He's successful expedition

The men behind Zheng He's successful expeditionSuherdjoko, The Jakarta Post/Semarang When Zheng He sailed through Asia 600 years ago, 27,000 people were aboard his fleet of 253 ships.The crew included soldiers, sailors, doctors, weapon makers, agricultural experts, nutritionists, cooks, political...

Thousands besiege Ahmadiyah complex

Thousands besiege Ahmadiyah complexTheresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post/Bogor Some 10,000 people from the Indonesian Muslim Solidarity group attacked on Friday afternoon the compound of the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI).About 500 JAI followers were forced to leave the compound on Jl.

Thousands of people besiege Ahmadiyah complex

Thousands of people besiege Ahmadiyah complexTheresia Sufa The Jakarta Post/BogorSome 10,000 people from the Indonesian Muslim Solidarity group attacked on Friday afternoon the compound of the Ahmadiyah Indonesia Congregation (JAI). About 500 JAI followers were forced to leave the compound on Jl.

Danareksa turns to Lin Che Wei

Danareksa turns to Lin Che WeiUrip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Noted analyst Lin Che Wei, who was inaugurated on Friday as president director of PT Danareksa, has laid out plans for the firm's future, including developing the state investment firm into a "one-stop investment house.

JSX down o profit taking in Indosat, Lippo

JSX down o profit taking in Indosat, LippoDow Jones, Jakarta Indonesian shares ended lower on Friday on profit-taking in Indonesian Satellite and Bank Lippo after the main index gained over the past four sessions, dealers said.

Ex-gov. interrogated in Rp 33b graft case

Ex-gov. interrogated in Rp 33b graft caseBANDUNG: After three summonses and three no-shows, former West Java governor Nuriana turned up on Thursday at West Java Prosecutor's Office for questioning in connection to a corruption case.

1. Insight -- 1x40

1. Insight -- 1x40 A road toward national reconciliation 2. Euro ---- 2x24 Euro gaining more prominence, but still way behind dollar ========= Euro's importance to Indonesia 3. Thaksin -- 2x24 Thaksin assumes emergency powers over Muslim south

~For Special Edition --- Apartment Living

~For Special Edition --- Apartment Living Apartment is still much on demandDebbie A. Lubis Contributor The Jakarta PostApartment business is still a lucrative venture today as living in an apartment has become an integral part of the fast- paced modern life in the city.

1. Discourse -- 48 pts 7 cols 1lines (1x45)

1. Discourse -- 48 pts 7 cols 1lines (1x45) Ford Foundation trying to build up philanthropic sector2. Munir -- 36 pts 3 cols 2lines (2x24)Susilo urged to speed up probe into Munir's murder 3. Parung -- 36 pts 4 cols 1line (1x32) Thousands besiege Ahmadiyah complex 4.

A road toward national reconciliation

A road toward national reconciliationMochtar Buchori, Jakarta As the world commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Srbenica massacre this month, many people in the former Yugoslavia were still trying to heal the wounds of war, restore damaged relationships and reconcile their differences.

'I always pray before getting into a taxi'

'I always pray before getting into a taxi' A woman reported to the police last week that she had been robbed by three men inside a taxi owned by a reputable taxi company. The news has renewed concerns over safety for taxi passengers.

RI remains

RI remains anti-foreigner This is a reply to your article Investors or retired people? published in The Jakarta Post on June 9. After reading the indignant reaction to a suggestion that Indonesia let elderly foreigners retire in Indonesia, I think there may be some short-sightedness when looking at...

Lampung lottery dealers face tough times

Lampung lottery dealers face tough timesOyos Saroso H.N., The Jakarta Post/Bandarlampung Agus, 22 (not a real name), has been in a rather somber mood for the past three days, especially upon reading the newspaper about the major crackdown on gambling being carried out by police.

Indo-U.S. relations headed for a grand transformation?

Indo-U.S. relations headed for a grand transformation?Ashley J. Tellis Yale Center for the Study of Globalization Washington The forthcoming visit of India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the United States will provide an opportunity to test the vitality of the U.S.-Indian relationship.

Pilots here must beware of many natural hazards

Pilots here must beware of many natural hazardsSlobodoan Lekic, Associated Press/Sunda Straits A wisp of vapor floats innocuously above a small island.Is it an ordinary cloud? Or is it the engine-choking ash that sometimes rises from the volcano smoldering below?An approaching pilot has to make a...

Tommy gets treated in Jakarta once a month

Tommy gets treated in Jakarta once a monthMuninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Nusa Kambangan In theory, the "official residence" of convicted murderer Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the son of former president Soeharto, is in the Batu penitentiary on Nusakambangan prison island.

Reinvention via risk management

Reinvention via risk managementDavid O'Brien Jakarta I read with interest David Finneren's article Assessing business performance in The Jakarta Post of July 11, 2005. The benefits of triple bottom line reporting in the developed world are still being debated with many believing it is better...

TV Program: Tuesday, July 19, 2005

TV Program: Tuesday, July 19, 2005TVRI .TB.30" .90" 5:00 a.m. Religious Teachings6:00 News: Berita Pagi7:00 Cartoon8:30 Music: Asik-asik10:00 Talk Show: Agribiz11:00 News: Berita Nusantara12:00 p.m. Pop Songs1:00 News: Berita Siang1:30 Animal Documentary2:00 Singing Contest: Konteswara 3:00 English...

STT reaffirms investment commitments in Indosat

STT reaffirms investment commitments in IndosatRendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Singapore Technologies Telemedia Pte Ltd. (STT) reiterated on Friday its long-term commitment in Indonesia, vowing to continue to develop its networks here via PT Indosat, the nation's second-largest...

Fuel money to be disbursed in NTT

Fuel money to be disbursed in NTT KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: The central government will soon disburse funds worth Rp 229 billion (US$23.8 million) to 888 subdistricts across East Nusa Tenggara, a provincial government spokesman announced on Friday.

Govt leaves two options for solving fuel problem

Govt leaves two options for solving fuel problemRendi A. Witular and Urip Hudiono, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta As the clock continues to tick and the cost of subsidizing fuel soars, exacerbated by a jump in domestic fuel consumption, the government remains undecided on which option it will take to...

Ford launches Focus, targeting sedan market

Ford launches Focus, targeting sedan marketThe Jakarta Post JakartaAfter concentrating on marketing sports utility vehicles (SUVs) over the past five years, PT Ford Motor Indonesia (FMI) is targeting the sedan segment by launching the all-new Ford Focus.

Susilo urged to speed up probe into Munir's murder

Susilo urged to speed up probe into Munir's murderTiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Rights activists on Friday urged the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to speed up the investigation into the murder of the country's top rights campaigner Munir.

Energy saving

Energy saving and intimacyFrom Koran TempoThe government's appeal for people to save energy to overcome the present fuel crisis will be supported by the public, as long as government officials set a good example.But there is one thing that could pose a problem in the future.

Dozens arrested over fuel smuggling

Dozens arrested over fuel smugglingEva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The National Police announced on Friday they had discovered fuel smuggling cases in Central Java and East Nusa Tenggara during the past 30 days, with dozens of suspects arrested for the crime.

Star Air back in business

Star Air back in businessLeony Aurora, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta After 45 days on the ground, low-cost carrier Star Air returned to the skies on Friday, while other airlines were forced to cut back their operations due to the soaring prices of aviation fuel.

Telkom beats

Telkom beats SEC deadlineJAKARTA: PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia, the nation's biggest telephone company, met the deadline to file its 2004 accounts to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday.

*Thousands of people besiege Ahmadiyah complex Page 2

*Thousands of people besiege Ahmadiyah complex Page 2 *Tommy given 'medical leave' every month Page 4 *Lampung lottery agents face tough time Page 5 *How does education create spirit of pluralism? Page 6 *Consortium favors Siemens technology for MRT project Page 8 *Big names move up to challenge...

~Apartments offer privacy, security, comfort living

~Apartments offer privacy, security, comfort living T. Sima Gunawan Contributor Jakarta Seeing a young woman returning home at midnight or at dawn, many people might frown upon her, wondering what she has done and have a negative feeling about her.

RI's recovery boosts ASEAN's attractiveness

RI's recovery boosts ASEAN's attractivenessRiyadi Suparno, The Jakarta Post/Kuala Lumpur Being the largest ASEAN member country, Indonesia's economic recovery would boost the attractiveness of the region as a trade partner and an investment destination, experts said here on Friday.

The lesser of two evils?

The lesser of two evils? The use of words in the ongoing discussions between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government is exactly that.Everybody knows that trust is non-existent between the Acehnese and Jakarta -- and with good reason.

Departure tax must be cut

Departure tax must be cutFrom Media IndonesiaAt the end of 2004, the government said it was considering lowering the departure tax, but no action was ever taken.The departure tax should be cut because the air fares for some foreign destinations, especially neighboring countries like Malaysia and...