Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 27 August 2005

96 articles found

1. Rupiah --- 3x11

1. Rupiah --- 3x11 Rupiah falls to record low of Rp 10,400 or No sign of relief for ailing rupiah or Rupiah gets another blow at week's end 2. Polio ---- 1x36 Govt optimistic over polio vaccination drive 3. Jaksa ---- 1x27 Little fanfare at Jalan Jaksa Fair 4. Mars ----- 1x24 Star gazers, its full Mars tonight!

Astra Agro revenue may drop 5%

Astra Agro revenue may drop 5% JAKARTA: Indonesian palm oil producer PT Astra Agro Lestari on Friday said its 2005 revenue may drop 5 percent year-on-year because of lower crude palm oil prices. The company forecast revenue at Rp 3.13 trillion (US$301 million) this year, down from Rp 3.3 trillion in 2004, said Julie Syaftari, the company's finance director.

Students study fine arts

Students study fine arts Dyah Hapsari, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Singapore International School The students tearing down the corridor are not late for class but eager to see where their artwork has been hung in the school's annual display. When all had arrived, the budding artists whose works had been selected as the most outstanding gave a floor talk to a group of around 400 students and parents.

Fighting the drug war from the demand side

Fighting the drug war from the demand side Robert PD, Jakarta Can any government in the world stop drug trafficking once and for all? The most logical answer is "No". Imagine this situation: Thousands of airplanes take off and land at thousands of destinations every day; thousands of merchant ships arrive in thousands of harbors every day.

Police looking for Chinese national

Police looking for Chinese national JAMBI, Jambi: Jambi Police are looking for Chen Chung, a People's Republic of China national, for allegedly exporting timber without the required documents.  Chen is the director of private company CV Sabda Kreasi.  The timber had been loaded into several containers but was confiscated by police a week ago from a vessel on the Batanghari River. The timber was to be sent to Singapore.  East Tanjungjabung regency police chief Adj. Sr. Comr.

People's regents

People's regents From Media Indonesia A number of provinces and regencies have already finished their direct elections for regional heads without court disputes, and some others are slated for inauguration later. The regional direct election has cost a lot of energy and funds in an effort to develop democracy, the first of their kind in 60 years after the nation's independence. Therefore, the elected heads of regencies are now called people's regents.

More Malaysians visit Bali

More Malaysians visit Bali DENPASAR, Bali: Malaysian tourists visiting Bali in the first quarter of the year totaled 15,621 people, a 66.1 percent increase from the same period last year, according to a report by Bank Indonesia. The increase was attributed to the rising number of Malaysian budget airlines operating between Bali and Malaysia.

Do-it-yourself tourism in Trowulan

Do-it-yourself tourism in Trowulan If you've been bumped in Borobudur, pressured at Prambanan and fleeced at both, don't despair. There's one place left where the splendid history of Java can be savored in solitude. The Jakarta Post contributor Duncan Graham reports from Trowulan. The problem with this story is that it's giving away secrets; fortunately readers of The Jakarta Post are discerning. I know you'll treat this information as exclusive and will only pass it on to the right people.

British invention in Indonesia

British invention in Indonesia Daisaku Ikeda, The Straits Times, Asia News Network/Singapore Sixty years have passed since the end of World War II, which came to a close with Japan's surrender on Aug. 15, 1945. Many of the young men of my generation were incited by Japan's militarist government to march proudly into battle and give their lives. War impressed itself on every aspect of our lives and one incident from that time is still vivid in my mind.

RI society is facing a crisis of confidence

RI society is facing a crisis of confidence Ardimas Sasdi, Jakarta Police raided a Jakarta-based educational institute last week and found that the institution had awarded bogus academic titles to well over 2,000 people. But the most bizarre aspect of this matter are the backgrounds of the recipients.

Free education an illusion

Free education an illusion From Kompas The government's statement that free education will be available for all this year remains nothing but an illusion, because in our experience, the residents of Cimanggis, Depok, West Java, are not getting any cost relief for our school-age children. In previous years, children less than six years old could enroll at an elementary school near our homes.

Stock prices at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 26, 2005:

Stock prices at the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Aug. 26, 2005: ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares Close Change Trading Volume ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abdi Bangsa Tbk 275 0 0 Ades Alfindo Tbk 1,470 10 79,500 Adhi Karya 530 -30 6,320,000 Adira Dinamika 2,125 -25 335,500 AGIS Tbk 85 -5 73,500 Akbar Indo Makmur 240 0 218,000 AKR Corporindo Tbk 1,230 -20 1,142,000 Alakasa Industrindo 165...

;JP;DAN;

;JP;DAN; ANPAf..r.. Rupiah-conversion-rates Rupiah Rates Aug. 26 JP/13/Conver Rupiah Rates Aug. 26 Bank notes rates TT rates Selling Buying Selling Buying Rp Rp Rp Rp Australian dollar 1 8,266.04 7,505.36 7,926.14 7,845.17 Brunei dollar 1 6,507.20 5,908.17 6,239.62 6,175.66 Canadian dollar 1 9,143.17 8,300.48 8,767.20 8,676.29 Swiss franc 1 8,667.46 7,870.04 8,311.06 8,226.36 Danish krone 1 1,797.91 1,631.55 1,723.98 1,705.41 Euro 1 13,401.94 12,166.87 12,850.85 12,719.82 Poundsterling 1 19,624.

Terror suspect's death unconfirmed

Terror suspect's death unconfirmed Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The National Police have denied a report that Indonesian terrorist suspect Umar Patek was killed last week by the Philippine army during a raid in the southern part of the country. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen.

Star gazers, it's full Mars tonight!

Star gazers, it's full Mars tonight! The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Star gazers, try your luck tonight. If you happen to be outdoors, look up to the eastern sky and -- if it is not cloudy or rainy -- you just might spot a bright red shining star that does not flicker. There you go, it is the red planet in a full circle.

JP/4/LABOR

JP/4/LABOR Judgeship hopefuls seek decent salary The Jakarta Post Jakarta Although the new labor court system will not be set up until next year, prospective candidates in line for judgeships in the courts, which will hear and adjudicate upon industrial relations disputes, have expressed concerns about the possibility of low salaries.

Fate of veterans' widows

Fate of veterans' widows From Kompas My mother is the widow of an independence war veteran who receives a government pension in Yogyakarta. For three years now, she has not been receiving what she is entitled to. According to local bank and pension officers, a widow only needs to support herself and is not entitled to a contribution towards to costs of living of her children. I wonder if this is right.

1. Labor (1x42)

1. Labor (1x42) Judgeship candidates fearful of low salaries 2. Church (3x18) Police investigate church closures, vow to take action 3. Umar (1x32) Terror suspect's death unconfirmed

Indofood's net profit nosedives 88 percent

Indofood's net profit nosedives 88 percent The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The world's largest instant noodle maker PT Indofood Sukses Makmur's net profit in the first semester nosedived by 88 percent to Rp 14.5 billion (US$1.4 million) from Rp 120.8 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Power bill, a guessing game

Power bill, a guessing game Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post/Medan It turns out that constant electricity blackouts are not the only thing that customers have had to suffer. In Medan city, electricity customers might not have been charged fairly since their monthly bills have been based only on estimates of usage.

Spinning top festival hoped to whip up tourism

Spinning top festival hoped to whip up tourism Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta They may have different names and shapes, but spinning tops, or gasing as they are called in Indonesian, always succeed in attracting the attention of children and adults alike. Now, top spinners from 21 regions across the country are gathering from Friday through Sunday at Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta to show off their expertise in making and spinning their own unique tops.

Australians in Indonesia receive government drugs email

Australians in Indonesia receive government drugs email Agence France-Presse, Sydney, Australia Thousands of Australians living in Indonesia have been sent an email from their government warning them against using or trafficking drugs, Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Friday. The unprecedented email, which was sent by the embassy in Jakarta to more than 3,000 citizens, follows a string of arrests of Australians on drug charges in Indonesia.

Nambo selected as site of new dump for Jakarta

Nambo selected as site of new dump for Jakarta Theresia Sufa and Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post/Bogor/Jakarta Nambo village in Bogor regency will become one of three planned dumps established to solve the garbage problem in Greater Jakarta, which includes Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

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RI society is facing a crisis of confidence Ardimas Sasdi Jakarta 2. Jamil -- "Imperial Manila" and the federalist dream 2 x 21 'Imperial Manila' and the federalist dream Jamil Maidan Flores Jakarta 3. Daily -- Use of pesticides: Abuse of life? 2 x 21 The use of pesticides: Is it an abuse of life? Nazrul Islam The Daily Star

Aceh urgently needs alternative economy: World Bank

Aceh urgently needs alternative economy: World Bank Fayen Wong, Reuters/Singapore Reconstruction and aid cash pouring into Indonesia's tsunami-hit Aceh province could put livelihoods at risk once the money dries up unless the economy is strengthened, a World Bank official said on Thursday. The Dec.

~For industrial estate --- August 29

~For industrial estate --- August 29 ;JP;CD; ANPAd..r.. Industrial-estate-business Industrial estate business begins to look up Signs of a revival in investor confidence has brought fresh hope to the country's many industrial estates, which have been in the doldrums since the crisis hit the country several years ago. Activities in many of the industrial estates, especially those located near Jakarta, have picked up.

Supplying Pertamina

Supplying Pertamina With economic growth of over 6 percent and a budget deficit of (in the worst case) of only 1 percent in 2005, Indonesia's macroeconomic picture appears very good. I find the ongoing pressure on the currency, in view of the latter, difficult to understand. Further, Indonesia is less dependent on oil imports than all other Asian countries with the exception of Brunei. Yet the currencies of these other countries remain firm against the dollar.

Police investigate church closures, vow to take action

Police investigate church closures, vow to take action Yuli Tri Suwarni, The Jakarta Post/Bandung Bandung Police in West Java, bowing to public pressure, are taking firm action against Muslim hard-liners blamed for closing dozens of neighborhood churches there. The police questioned on Friday suspect Muhammad Mu'min Al- Mubarak, the Anti-Apostasy Movement Alliance (AGAP) commander who led mobs to forcibly close more than 30 churches in Bandung and neighboring areas.

1. AMBON: 1 X 35

1. AMBON: 1 X 35 Police arrest more suspects in Ambon blast 2. ACEH: 2 X 21 Acehnese woman finds solace through sewing 3. ECONOMY: 1 X 40 Aceh urgently needs alternative economy: WB 4. SHABU: 2 X 18 Prosecutor arrested with 'shabu-shabu' 5. SPIN: 2 X 24 Spinning top festival hoped to whip up tourism

JP/5/BAWEAN

JP/5/BAWEAN Bawean Island women earn more money than in Malaysia Indra Harsaputra The Jakarta Post/Bawean (Part two of series of stories on Bawean Island) In less than five minutes, Ramlah, the owner of the Medan Selera cafe in Sangkapura district, Bawean, set out various Malay dishes for her customer, including tarik tea, tom yam soup and Cennai bread.

Flash flood kills two, injures nine

Flash flood kills two, injures nine Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post/Medan Two people perished and nine others were injured when flash floods on Wednesday night hit two villages in Central Tapanuli regency, some 400 kilometers southwest of Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. The disaster, which was caused by torrential rains, also destroyed hundreds of residents' homes and dozens of hectares of rice paddy in the villages of Utte Boang and Gabungan Hasang Barus in Sosor Gadong districts.

~For Industrial Estates -- August 29

~For Industrial Estates -- August 29 ;JP;CD; ANPAd..r.. Investment-licenses-tips Frequently Asked Questions on investing in Indonesia How do you set up a new Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) company in Indonesia? A Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) company should be incorporated as an Indonesian limited liability company (PT) and domiciled in Indonesia.

No school uniforms?

No school uniforms? From Kompas The decision by the minister of national education to abolish the obligation for school students to wear uniforms in order to eliminate the monopoly in uniform procurements was inappropriate. If this is carried out, various negative effects could arise from the wide economic disparities between students. There have already been reports of students committing suicide because of economic reasons.

Visiting players triumph in RI bowl tourney

Visiting players triumph in RI bowl tourney Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Zara Glover of England and Alex Liew of Malaysia have been named the winners of the third Indonesia Open Tenpin Bowling Championship in the women's and men's divisions respectively. Glover, who emerged as the 2005 World Games runner-up, thrashed local hopeful Putty Armein 220-151, while Alex defeated Wu Siu Hong of Hong Kong 245-210 in the finals on Friday.

Germany donates 32m euro for Aceh

Germany donates 32m euro for Aceh JAKARTA: Germany's Ministry of Finance, KFW Entwicklungsbank and the German Development Bank have signed three grant agreements worth 32 million euro to support the reconstruction of Aceh. A press statement from the German Embassy in Jakarta announced on Friday that one program is to help rebuild some 10,000 houses for victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.

RI opens emergency disaster hotline

RI opens emergency disaster hotline MALAYSIA: Indonesia's top envoy in Malaysia is setting up an emergency hotline between key officials in the two countries to cut bureaucracy in dealing with disasters such as the recent haze crisis, a report said on Friday.

Prosecutor arrested with 'shabu shabu'

Prosecutor arrested with 'shabu shabu' Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Police arrested a prosecutor of the Cibinong Prosecutor's Office in Bogor at an apartment in Kuningan, South Jakarta, for alleged possession of 187 grams of shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) and 30 ecstasy pills. The police also found two guns and six bullets in the suspect's apartment. Jakarta Police drug squad chief Sr. Comr.

No school uniforms?

No school uniforms? From Kompas The decision by the minister of national education to abolish the obligation for school students to wear uniforms in order to eliminate the monopoly in uniform procurements was inappropriate. If this is carried out, various negative effects could arise from the wide economic disparities between students. There have already been reports of students committing suicide because of economic reasons.

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Fighting the drug war from the demand side Robert PD Jakarta 2. Yale -- Schooled for a house of Islam 1 x 30 Schooled for a house of Islam Noor Huda Ismail Yale Center for the Study of Globalization Jakarta

70 more foreign sex workers arrested

70 more foreign sex workers arrested Only two days after 68 foreign sex workers were arrested in several nightclubs, saunas and beauty salons, city police announced on Friday that they had arrested 70 more foreign sex workers. Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Firman Gani said the police also arrested four alleged pimps who had brought the women to the country and provided them with accommodation. "Together with previous arrests, we have detained around 180 foreign workers.

Police detain more suspects in Ambon blast

Police detain more suspects in Ambon blast M. Azis Tunny and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Ambon/Jakarta The police have arrested two more suspects in connection with Thursday's bomb blast at the Mardika Market in Ambon, and said they are linked to terrorist group Mujahidin Ambon.

Civil-society and the building of an ASEAN community

Civil-society and the building of an ASEAN community Alexander C. Chandra Jakarta The recent Roundtable Discussion on the Prospects and Challenges in the Building of an ASEAN Community, which was organized by the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), shed light on the importance of civil society in the making of an ASEAN Community.

The case for multiculturalism

The case for multiculturalism Maria Vamvakinou MP Jakarta Since the tragedy of the London bombings, many of the commentators debating the pros and cons of Australia's policy of multiculturalism have simply ignored reality. Critics focus their attacks on the Muslim community, yet at the same time, they often commend Australia's post war immigration policy. This is ironic given that many post war immigrants were treated with equal suspicion, my family included.

Offering kaleidoscope of paintings

Offering kaleidoscope of paintings Karen Stingemore and M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta In spite of improving professionalism among artists, which should mean better control over their working schedules, the holding of a theme-based exhibition of a single painter has proved to be an uphill struggle for an art gallery.

For Bawean people, pursuit of ringgit outweighs school

For Bawean people, pursuit of ringgit outweighs school As part of efforts to improve their livelihood, many Bawean people have left to neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore in order to find work. The Jakarta Post's Indra Harsaputra recently went to Bawean and its surrounding islands, including Gili Island, in order to look into how the phenomenon has affected the lives of the people of Bawean.

JP/INDONESIA

JP/INDONESIA Indonesian lawyer for Australian drugs charges model quits The Indonesian lawyer representing an Australian model held on drugs charges on the resort island of Bali said on Friday he quit the case because he could not meet her expectations. Muhammad Rifan said Michelle Leslie and her family had made demands which were impossible to meet under Indonesia's legal system. "I resigned because I am unable to meet the target set by my client and her family.

Indonesia secures $140m order from Adidas

Indonesia secures $140m order from Adidas Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post/Surabaya Increasing fuel and electricity prices for industry will not deter foreign companies from investing in the country, a minister says. Foreign companies that have secured US$140 million worth of orders from international sportswear brand Adidas for sports equipment and apparel are expected to open up factories in Indonesia.

Earthquake shakes Manado, no panic

Earthquake shakes Manado, no panic MANADO, North Sulawesi: An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale shook Manado city on Friday, meteorologists said. But no damage has been immediately reported. Manado Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) head Subardjo said the quake took place at around 1:30 p.m., with the epicenter located 30 kilometers deep in the Maluku Sea, or 150 kilometers east of Manado. Apart from Manado, the tremor was also felt in the towns of Tondano and Butung, he added.

On ban on Ahmadiyah

On ban on Ahmadiyah I read the article Govt mulls ban on Ahmadiyah due to 'permit violation' in your online edition of July 22. Reading the statement of Attorney General Abdul Rachman Saleh took me back centuries to the age of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. The excuse the attorney general is using is the exact same excuse the Meccans used to justify their opposition and persecution of the innocent, peace-loving and law-abiding Muslims.

Rival noodle-makers including Wings Group have cut prices to

Rival noodle-makers including Wings Group have cut prices to compete with Indofood, eroding sales growth, Bloomberg reported. The company's market share last year fell to 78 percent from about 88 percent in 2003. The company in June cut its target for full-year profit to match that of its earnings in 2004, which fell 37 percent.

GAM, BRR can work together, with mutual trust

GAM, BRR can work together, with mutual trust The chairman of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR), Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, talked with Tiarma Siboro on the impact of the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The following is an excerpt from the interview: Question: Following the signing of the deal, have there been any significant changes to your policies?

~Industrial Estate: Monday, August 29, 2005

~Industrial Estate: Monday, August 29, 2005 Photo A: Investing In Indonesia INDUSTRIAL PARK: An aerial view of an industrial estate in Cikarang, Bekasi. Many industrial estates begin to improve their infrastructure and facilities amid the revival of business confidence. Photo B: Courtesy of Lippo CIKARANG MOTORCYCLE PLANT: An employee of a motorcycle assembly plant, one of the tenants in the Lippo Cikarang Industrial Estate, is engaged in his work.

Museum society organizes tour

Museum society organizes tour JAKARTA: The Sahabat Museum society, a group of people interested in Jakarta's museums, is planning a tour of old Batavia bank buildings on Sunday. The tour will start at 7:30 a.m. at the Factorij Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij building, now known as the Bank Mandiri Museum, which houses a collection of banking equipment from the colonial era.

GAM and BRR can build mutual trust by any means

GAM and BRR can build mutual trust by any means The chairman of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency for Aceh and Nias (BRR), Kuntoro Mangkusubroto, talked with Tiarma Siboro on the impact of the signing of the peace agreement between the government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The following is an excerpt from the interview: Question: Following the signing of the deal, have there been any significant changes to your policies?

Bank Lippo acquisition approved

Bank Lippo acquisition approved The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Shareholders of publicly listed PT Bank Lippo have approved the acquisition of more than half of its shares by Khazanah Nasional, a Malaysian government investment holding arm. They approved the acquisition during an extraordinary meeting on Friday in Jakarta. Khazanah acquired Swissasia Global (SAG)'s 52.05 percent stake in Bank Lippo for about Rp 3.3 trillion (about US$320 million), or Rp 1,619.11 per share.

U.S. offers $1m for antitrafficking drive

U.S. offers $1m for antitrafficking drive JAKARTA: The United States pledged an additional US$1 million in aid on Friday to help Indonesia's fight against human trafficking. A letter of agreement concerning the assistance fund was signed by Charge d'Affairs of the United States Embassy W. Lewis Amselem and National Police chief Gen. Sutanto here on Friday. Under the agreement, the U.S. offers the aid to the Indonesian police and other justice sector agencies involved in law enforcement efforts.

Judgeship candidates fearful of low salaries

Judgeship candidates fearful of low salaries The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Although the new labor court system will not be set up until next year, prospective candidates in line for judgeships in the courts, which will hear and adjudicate upon industrial relations disputes, have expressed concerns about the possibility of low salaries.

Timy, Devota take second win

Timy, Devota take second win The Jakarta Post, Jakarta Ni Putu Timy and Devota Rahawarin struggled to take their second win at the LA Menthol Indonesian Open Beach Volleyball Championship here on Friday. Indonesia's No. 1 pair, winners in the preceding three legs in the series, were extended to three games in their 21-8, 19-21, 15-10 victory over Angel Bertha Kaize and Ninik Nuraida in the final of the four-leg Indonesia Open at the Senayan Plaza parking lot in central Jakarta.

Displaced Maluku families stuck in refugee camps

Displaced Maluku families stuck in refugee camps M. Azis Tunny, The Jakarta Post/Ambon There has not yet been any indication that the issue of internally displaced families in Maluku will be resolved before the target date for completion on Sept. 15, despite hundreds of billions of rupiah allocated to facilitate their return home.

Fate of veterans' widows

Fate of veterans' widows From Kompas My mother is the widow of an independence war veteran who receives a government pension in Yogyakarta. For three years now, she has not been receiving what she is entitled to. According to local bank and pension officers, a widow only needs to support herself and is not entitled to a contribution towards to costs of living of her children. I wonder if this is right.

~FOR INDUSTRIAL ESTATES -- August 29

~FOR INDUSTRIAL ESTATES -- August 29 ;JP;CD; ANPAd..r.. Investment-approval-trend Foreign investment starts coming back After years of slumping, foreign direct investment in Indonesia has started to gain ground amid an improved confidence in doing business in the country. Business activities have begun to increase, as seen in the sharp increase in the amount of money spent to set up new businesses during the first seven months of the year.

Govt vacillates on Aceh split proposal

Govt vacillates on Aceh split proposal Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf has cautiously endorsed a proposal to split Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam into two provinces but stressed that this could only take place based on the recent peace agreement. He made the statement while receiving members of the Committee for the Establishment of Aceh Leuser Antara Province at his office in Jakarta on Friday.

;JP;CD;

;JP;CD; ANPAd..r.. Investment-approval-list Trend of Investment Realization Domestic Investment Projects Value (In billion Rp) 1990 253 2,398.6 1991 265 3,666.1 1992 225 5,067.4 1993 304 8,286.0 1994 582 12,786.9 1995 375 11,312.5 1996 450 18,609.7 1997 345 18,628.8 1998 296 16,512.5 1999 248 16,286.7 2000 300 22,038.0 2001 158 9,880.8 2002 103 12,029.3 2003 111 11,544.8 2004 126 15,228.7 2005 137 9,691.0* Foreign Investment Projects Value (In million US$) 1990 100 706.0 1991 149 1,059.7 1992...

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CHECKED Developers asked to provide spaces for SMEs To accelerate the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the government is urging the developers of industrial estates to provide spaces for small businesses in their properties. State Minister of Cooperatives and Small and Medium Enterprises Suryadharma Ali said SMEs made a vital contributions to manufacturing and should be given spaces at industrial estates. "SMEs play a vital role in supporting large manufacturing businesses.

Govt optimistic over polio vaccination drive

Govt optimistic over polio vaccination drive Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The government expressed optimism on Friday that it would be able to curb the country's first polio outbreak in a decade, which has infected 226 children nationwide. Minister of Health Siti Fadilah Supari said that after an intensive antipolio campaign that involved two world organizations and local ones, the government had scheduled the second round of the two-day immunization drive for Aug. 30 and Sept.

Susilo's economic policy

Susilo's economic policy President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's lack of resolute macroeconomic policy is a recipe for economic disaster on a magnitude similar to the hyperinflation of 1998. With Indonesia importing oil at inflated prices and selling at much lower price, we are practically importing inflation. Furthermore, this condition is aggravated by the government's inaction, which causes investors uncertainty and thereby further weakening the rupiah against the U.S. dollar.

Jalan Jaksa Fair less spirited than usual

Jalan Jaksa Fair less spirited than usual JP/R. Berto Wedhatama The popular annual festival held around Jl. Jaksa, a favorite place for budget tourists, brightened up the area for only a few hours on Friday. Owing to the obvious lack of preparation and promotion by the organizer, the Jakarta Tourism Agency, the one-day celebration was the least lively so far. Though, named the Jl. Jaksa Festival, the giant stage was placed at the T-junction of Jl. Jaksa and Jl.

Socio-cultural approaches in combating terrorism

Socio-cultural approaches in combating terrorism Aleksius Jemadu Bandung We have heard a lot about the futility of using military approaches in the fight against terrorism. Moreover, people are increasingly convinced that suicide bomb attacks would not stop even if the United States and the United Kingdom withdrew from Iraq and Afghanistan. There is a growing awareness that both Muslims and Christians can play an important role in moderating radical views within their respective communities.

OPEC Shipments to Fall 0.7 Percent in Four Weeks to Sept. 10

OPEC Shipments to Fall 0.7 Percent in Four Weeks to Sept. 10 Saijel Kishan, Bloomberg/London The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) is set to ship 0.7 percent less oil in the four weeks ending Sept. 10 than in the previous four weeks, the consulting company Oil Movements said, after crude prices reached a record US$68 a barrel this week.

JP/ /SUPPLEMENT

JP/ /SUPPLEMENT "Not fully recovered but much better now" The Indonesian Industrial Estate Association (HKI) has expressed concern over the slow growth of the country's industrial estates due to infrastructure and regulatory problems. The Jakarta Post's Tubagus Arie Rukmantara talked to HKI chairman Johannes Archiadi about the latest developments in the country's industrial estates. Question: How do you perceive the recent developments in industrial estates?

Burden of commuting

Burden of commuting According to Law No. 38/2004 on roads, evaluation and adjustment of road tolls is made once every two years based on the rate of inflation. This means that the increase in road tolls is legal as the words 'evaluation' and 'adjustment' in paragraph three of the law is meant to accommodate such increases. Even as the tolls get higher road users still have to endure poor service daily.

JP/4/umar

JP/4/umar Umar Patek's death not confirmed: Police Eva C. Komandjaja The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The National Police have denied a report that Indonesian terrorist suspect Umar Patek was killed last week by the Philippine army during a raid in the southern part of the country. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen.

Boosting education with taxes

Boosting education with taxes From Suara Karya The new tax reform bill stipulates that contributions for scholarships, research and other expenses for educational facilities are all tax deductible. As a student, I welcome this provision because it will increase the interest from companies in providing scholarships for students with high achievements or disadvantaged children.

International mechanism on protection of the right to freedom of

International mechanism on protection of the right to freedom of religion Uli Parulian Sihombing Jakarta This newspaper reported on Thursday Aug. 25, 2005 that 23 churches in Bandung, West Java were forced to close by hard-line Muslim groups. The Ahmadiyah worship facilities were destroyed in Parung Bogor and other cities also. On the other hand, the law enforcement officers failed to stop the closure or bring the violators to court.

Schooled for a house of Islam

Schooled for a house of Islam Noor Huda Ismail, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization, Jakarta The word that describes the goal of Islam -- creating a house of Islam -- is also the name of an Indonesian organization whose aim has been to turn the country into a house ruled by Allah's law, sharia. As a student in one of Indonesia's famous Islamic schools, I had a close encounter with the group, Darul Islam, and their philosophy.

Malaysia celebrates its 48th Anniversary of Independence

Malaysia celebrates its 48th Anniversary of Independence today. Malaysians all over the world are celebrating this joyous and auspicious occasion with pride and in the spirit of solidarity and unity. This pride and solidarity are indicated in the symbol for this year's commemoration of the Independence.

PGN clarifies

PGN clarifies PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (Persero) tbk (PGN) wishes to clarify the comments made by the General Manager of the Strategic Business Unit II, East Java Region, appearing in the article on Aug. 9 entitled PLN to share its nature gas allocation: Minister.

Megawatt smiles from children who lost limbs in tsunami

Megawatt smiles from children who lost limbs in tsunami Joann Loviglio Philadelphia For all their infectious giggling and megawatt smiles, it's hard to comprehend the horrors Tara Aulia and Hamdani have experienced at their tender ages. Tara, 7, and Hamdani, 11, survived the Dec. 26 Indian Ocean tsunami that ripped through their villages in Indonesia's Aceh province, but they each lost limbs, along with their homes and family members.

Deserted historical site of past glories

Deserted historical site of past glories Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post/Mojokerto, East Java Archeologists dream of turning Indonesia's biggest excavation site in Trowulan, East Java, into an education center and tourist destination as interesting as Borobudur and Prambanan.

Displaced Maluku families

Displaced Maluku families stuck in refugee camps Page 5 Timy, Devota take second win in beach volleyball c'ship Page 10 Do-it-yourself tourism at Trowulan historical site Page 18

Dependence on maids

Dependence on maids The story about the Indonesian maid who struck and shook a six-month-old girl in her care emphasizes the need to educate caregivers not only about the danger of shaking young children, but about ways to cope with crying and frustration. Shaking can injure children as old as 5 years of age. Even if the injuries are not life threatening, they can result in learning disabilities and other subtle forms of disability that are not immediately detected.

RP looking to Australian 'Coast Watch' model

RP looking to Australian 'Coast Watch' model Agence France-Presse, Manila Australia's "Coast Watch" system could serve as the Philippines' model for boosting maritime security, both countries said on Friday at the close of two-day defense cooperation talks. Officials cited the need to boost maritime security in the region, particularly to restrict travel by militants from other parts of Southeast Asia.

International mechanism on protection of the right to freedom of

International mechanism on protection of the right to freedom of religion Uli Parulian Sihombing Jakarta This newspaper reported on Thursday Aug. 25, 2005 that 23 churches in Bandung, West Java were forced to close by hard-line Muslim groups. The Ahmadiyah worship facilities were destroyed in Parung Bogor and other cities also. On the other hand, the law enforcement officers failed to stop the closure or bring the violators to court.

Five years sought for order officer

Five years sought for order officer JAKARTA: The prosecution urged the South Jakarta District Court on Thursday to sentence a public order officer to five years in jail for shooting Abdego Kaseh alias Jhon Albert, who later died in hospital. Defendant Chrisman Siregar stands accused of abuse of power involving the shooting of Abdego, who is a brother of prominent gang leader Hercules. The incident occurred when public order officers attempted on Feb.

Govt sees solution to Croatian ship dispute

Govt sees solution to Croatian ship dispute The Jakarta Post, Jakarta The government expects to be able to quickly resolve an ongoing diplomatic spat over the detention of a Croatian ship for allegedly transporting illegally-logged timber. Minister of Foreign Affairs spokesman Marty Natalegawa said on Friday that foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda had been in intensive talks with Croatian Ambassador to Indonesia Aleksandar Broz to seek ways to resolve the case.

West Bengal chief minister seeks Indonesian investment

West Bengal chief minister seeks Indonesian investment The chief minister of West Bengal in India, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, visited Jakarta from Aug. 24 to Aug. 26 to promote his province in Indonesia and to seek Indonesian investments. Bhattacharjee spoke to The Jakarta Post's Veeramalla Anjaiah on many issues relating to West Bengal, which has 80 million people and is ruled by a communist government. The following are excerpts from the interview.

Incremental tax reform

Incremental tax reform JP/6/ED29 Incremental tax reform The new package of tax reforms the government will propose to the House of Representatives next month addresses many of the deeply rooted concerns of taxpayers over the uncertainty of tax law enforcement and their demand for equality with tax officials before the law.

Jakarta needs more trees

Jakarta needs more trees Your correspondent Robert Kelly makes some pertinent points in his article entitled Rolling back Jakarta's unhealthy urban desert(The Jakarta Post, Aug. 6). The green areas that still exist in greater Jakarta really need to be maintained whether they are part of existing parks e.g. Taman Mini or tree lined streets such as those in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

'Fight fuel smuggling and hoarding'

'Fight fuel smuggling and hoarding' The steady increase in fuel prices has prompted some experts to call for the scrapping of the fuel subsidy. The Jakarta Post interviewed a number of residents to obtain their views on the debate over the merits of the subsidy. Tiara Aryanto, 28, is an IT consultant at a bank. She lives in Central Jakarta: I agree with cutting the fuel subsidy because citizens should be able to be self-supporting.

Greek emigre Filipos: A sculptor of souls

Greek emigre Filipos: A sculptor of souls Noreen M. Flores, Contributor/Jakarta It has been said: "East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet." But they do. They have, for instance, met in the person and in the art of Filippos, and lived there in perfect harmony. Filippos is a sculptor born, raised and educated in Greece, who has chosen to live his life and pursue his art in Bali.

Lawyer for drugs charges model quits

Lawyer for drugs charges model quits DENPASAR, Bali: The Indonesian lawyer representing an Australian model held on drugs charges on the resort island of Bali said on Friday he quit the case because he could not meet her expectations. Muhammad Rifan said Michelle Leslie and her family had made demands which were impossible to meet under Indonesia's legal system. "I resigned because I am unable to meet the target set by my client and her family.

Number of thugs down, number of bad cops up

Number of thugs down, number of bad cops up This is the fourth article on thuggery, which the Jakarta administration, police and military have vowed to eradicate in the city. Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta The intensive crackdown on thuggery and lawlessness over the past month has apparently brought back the feeling of security to some residents, particularly those living in crime-prone areas.

Govt's decentralization could affect ratings: S and P

Govt's decentralization could affect ratings: S and P Indonesia's move to quickly decentralize government could affect its sovereign ratings as few incentives for fiscal prudence exist at provincial and local levels, ratings agency Standard and Poor's said on Friday. Due to a lack of stringent controls on provincial access to debt financing, imprudent borrowing and the accumulation of debt by provinces could emerge as risks, the agency said in a statement.

Acehnese woman finds solace through sewing

Acehnese woman finds solace through sewing Nani Afrida, The Jakarta Post/Meulaboh Kartini rocks her daughter, Rafi Karanda (4 months old), to sleep in a miniature cloth hammock hanging from the door. After she is sure that Rafi is asleep, she begins sewing. "I sew in this studio in order to temporarily get away from the tent. Sewing in the studio helps ease my trauma," she said. The 30-year-old mother has good reasons for being traumatized.

Asia-Pacific states told cooperate on int'l labor migration

Asia-Pacific states told cooperate on int'l labor migration Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post/Bangkok Participants at a regional seminar on international migration called on Friday for improved regional cooperation and the mainstreaming of international migration in national policy development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Rupiah dealth another blow at week's end

Rupiah dealth another blow at week's end Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta It was definitely not a "Thank God, it's Friday" week's end for Indonesia as the rupiah suffered another blow with the market seeing the currency close at Rp 10,400 against the U.S. dollar, the lowest since January 2002.