Indonesian Political, Business & Finance News

Archive: 24 November 1999

68 articles found

Searching for a better management approach

Searching for a better management approach By James O'Hara JAKARTA (JP): The World Bank produced a development report in 1987 comparing the average levels of per capita income in developed industrialized countries and low-income developing countries. The report suggested that the average developing countries would take 80 years to catch up with current living standards of industrialized countries.

Military warns of rising separatist sentiment

Military warns of rising separatist sentiment JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Adm. Widodo A.S. indicated the seriousness of rising separatist sentiments across the country and warned the threat of national disintegration was a very real one.

Cipto Hospital needs bigger budget to cover operations

Cipto Hospital needs bigger budget to cover operations JAKARTA (JP): The yearly budget allocated by the government to the state Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital barely covers the hospital's expenses as the number of poor patients who need to be subsidized is increasing, a hospital executive said on Tuesday. Hermansyur Kartowisastro, the hospital's director, said the budget of approximately Rp 21 billion for the 1999/2000 fiscal year was not enough.

Taxi drivers here are not so bad!

Taxi drivers here are not so bad! I really feel that I have to respond to the article CABeat emptor -- driver beware which caught my eye in The Jakarta Post on Sunday, Nov. 21, 1999. Back in Jakarta, after an enforced absence of 15 months, I was struck by the somewhat extreme views expressed by your contributor. Please let me speak up for the taxi drivers of Jakarta.

Observers question govt's anticorruption commitment

Observers question govt's anticorruption commitment YOGYAKARTA (JP): Political observers here have questioned President Abdurrahman Wahid's commitment to eradicating corruption, alleging that the majority of his Cabinet lineup include individuals involved in graft practices during the New Order era.

Council accuses holding company of swindling

Council accuses holding company of swindling JAKARTA (JP): The City Council's Commission B for economic affairs revealed on Thursday that executives of PT Pembangunan Jaya, a holding company partly owned by the city administration, swindled Rp 3.3 billion (US$471,430) of its 1997 contribution to the city revenue. Commission B chairman M. Syarief Zulkarnaen announced the findings after a hearing with PT Pembangunan Jaya's executives, led by its president, Daryanto M Pratowo.

PT Freeport Indonesia eyes century of mining

PT Freeport Indonesia eyes century of mining TIMIKA, Irian Jaya (Reuters): A slump in world prices of copper and gold will hit PT Freeport Indonesia's bottom line this year but the firm still hopes to be mining in New Guinea when the new century dawns. In plush offices a stone's throw from virgin jungle, chief financial officer Steve Jones says Freeport should still be digging for metal in Indonesia's Irian Jaya province in 2050, based on ore reserves so far discovered.

The threat of piracy in SE Asia

The threat of piracy in SE Asia By Santo Darmosumarto Fifteen Indonesian pirates were reportedly arrested on Saturday off the coast of India. This article looks at piracy, a problem which Southeast Asian nations have been battling for years. JAKARTA (JP): In many countries, both the public and governments have failed to address the problem of piracy by either treating it as a rarely occurring criminal activity or a thing of the past.

Hammer throwers set for Jakarta

Hammer throwers set for Jakarta SEMARANG (JP): Four local hammer throwers -- Daniel Giyanto, Agus Darmawan, Lina and Kusmiyati -- will attend the Indonesia Open national track and field championship in Jakarta from Nov. 26 to Nov. 29. Daniel said he and his teammates would gauge their skills at the championships as part of their preparations for the 15th National Games (PON) in Surabaya next year.

Truck drivers protest levies

Truck drivers protest levies MAROS, South Sulawesi: Hundreds of truck drivers in Maros, 30 kilometers north of the provincial capital of Makassar, have complained about illegal levies allegedly demanded by police, who claimed to be carrying out routine operations. Drivers plying the Palopo-Makassar route said police requested between Rp 5,000 and Rp 15,000 every time they stopped and searched the trucks. "It's too much!

S'pore PM to lead trade mission to RI in January

S'pore PM to lead trade mission to RI in January JAKARTA (JP): Singapore's Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong will lead a large trade mission to Indonesia in January in a bid to boost trade relations between the neighboring countries. Indonesian Ambassador to Singapore Luhut Panjaitan said here on Tuesday that the Singaporean trade delegation would focus on tourism and labor-intensive industries.

Two expats deported for overstaying

Two expats deported for overstaying TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Immigration office has deported an expatriate identified as Chiou Ya Hui, a Taiwan national, and will shortly deport another, South Korean Jeong Seong Ki, for overstaying on their visas. Tangerang Immigration chief Dodi M. Wibowo said here on Tuesday that Ya Hui was deported to Tapai on Saturday on board an Eva Air flight from Soekarno-Hatta International airport. Seong Ki would be deported on Thursday.

Close the camps

Close the camps The visiting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Holbrooke, has spoken out, calling for rapid repatriation of all (East Timorese refugees) who wish to return to East Timor. This finally may prod the Indonesian authorities into controlling the militia mobs. Police in the camps do nothing to protect the people, and only in recent weeks have foreigners been able to get near them.

Politics will still affect rupiah: BI

Politics will still affect rupiah: BI JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin said on Tuesday the rupiah's exchange rate to the U.S. dollar next year would be influenced more by market sentiment on domestic social and political conditions rather than economic fundamentals.

Human rights court won't try past atrocities

Human rights court won't try past atrocities JAKARTA (JP): The government is working to establish a human rights court, but it will not be able to bring alleged perpetrators of past atrocities to justice, Minister of Law and Legislation Yusril Ihza Mahendra said on Tuesday.

New libraries for orphanages

New libraries for orphanages JAKARTA (JP): Forty-five girls in Putra Setia orphanage in Central Jakarta can now enjoy a collection of 500 titles of storybooks and literature in their small library. The books, along with bookshelves and boxes of powdered milk, were donated by milk producer PT Friesche Vlag Indonesia (FVI) in a ceremony here last weekend.

Cacuk appointed as IBRA senior vice chairman

Cacuk appointed as IBRA senior vice chairman JAKARTA (JP): The government has appointed a former president of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia as senior vice chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) in its continuing effort to restructure the agency. Finance minister Bambang Sudibyo said on Tuesday that Cacuk Sudarijanto's appointment was stipulated in a presidential decree issued on Monday.

Huge Asian budget deficits don't have to mean new taxes

Huge Asian budget deficits don't have to mean new taxes By James T. Areddy HONG KONG (Dow Jones): At first glance, record-sized Asian budget deficits would suggest a pressing need for higher taxes because less-than-stellar economic growth expected over the next few years will limit government revenue. Yet tax experts play down that possibility and predict governments will focus on a more-immediate desire to solidify economic recovery.

PwC publishes mining book

PwC publishes mining book JAKARTA (JP): International auditor PricwaterhouseCoopers published on Monday the results of its survey on the country's mining industry. The company said in a statement the Indonesian Mining Industry Survey 1999 was based on a study of the operations of 12 producing companies and 27 exploration companies. It said it intended to publish the mining report annually. (jsk)

Developing nations distrustful, feisty ahead of WTO trade talks

Developing nations distrustful, feisty ahead of WTO trade talks By Jean-Louis de la Vaissiere GENEVA (AFP): Several of the most determined developing countries are threatening to boycott the next round of WTO trade negotiations until they have felt more of the benefits from the last round of talks.

Minister says 40% of all water supplies contaminated

Minister says 40% of all water supplies contaminated JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Health Achmad Sujudi revealed on Tuesday that around 40 percent of all water supplies in urban areas across the country are contaminated by feces collie. This ghastly fact, which should alarm all city dwellers, was discovered after the ministry recently conducted extensive research on urban sanitation.

British Airways responds

British Airways responds We would like to reply to the letter that appeared in The Jakarta Post on Nov. 20, 1999, titled Home for the holidays from Mr. John T regarding British Airways service in Indonesia. Unfortunately, British Airways were forced to temporarily suspend direct services from Oct. 31, 1999, due to worsening passenger demand.

NU urges dialogs, human rights investigations

NU urges dialogs, human rights investigations KEDIRI, East Java (JP): The Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim organization proposed on Tuesday a way out for the problems the country is dealing with, most notably on the widespread threat of separatist movements. Kemas Madani, who chairs the commission deliberating recommendations to be brought to the government, said NU would insist the government cope with any threat of national separation through a dialog.

Government and IMF complete draft of new reform package

Government and IMF complete draft of new reform package JAKARTA (JP): The government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) technical team completed on Tuesday a draft of a new letter of intent (LoI), outlining a key economic strategy but remaining tentative on policy details, especially sensitive subsidy issues.

ADB sharply upgrades Asian growth projections

ADB sharply upgrades Asian growth projections MANILA (AFP): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) sharply upgraded this year's regional economic growth forecasts to 5.7 percent Tuesday on the back of a "far better than expected" rebound from crisis. The Manila-based bank boosted the original projection of 3.8 percent owing to strong recovery by the humbled economic tigers of South Korea and Southeast Asia and robust growth in China.

Bhinneka players ready for final four

Bhinneka players ready for final four SEMARANG (JP): The men's and women's basketball players from Bhinneka Sritex club are preparing for the final four of the 1999 A Mild Kobatama national basketball league, which will take place at the Senayan indoor stadium on Dec. 4 and Dec. 5. "We are ready to fight against our rivals," said Bhinneka assistant coach Hartono here on Tuesday. Bhinneka is trained by Chinese coach Li Shu-zhao.

Hun Sen 'opposes' ASEAN expansion

Hun Sen 'opposes' ASEAN expansion PHNOM PENH (AP): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen would be against allowing East Timor into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a magazine reported. Hun Sen told Asiaweek in an interview posted on the magazine's website that he feared the addition of an independent East Timor could dilute ASEAN and affects its values. He said that East Timorese leaders appear more inclined to align with Pacific countries than Southeast Asia.

Fire guts perfume factory

Fire guts perfume factory JAKARTA (JP): Fire gutted a house-cum-perfume factory on Jl. Taman Jati Petamburan in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta, on Monday afternoon. At least 10 fire trucks were deployed to the area. At 4:30 p.m., the firefighters, with the help of local residents, managed to put out the fire, which burned half of the L-shaped house and all of the eight perfume refinery tanks, along with 10 kilograms of eaglewood oil.

Government promises sugar import tariff in January

Government promises sugar import tariff in January JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Tuesday that a tariff on imported sugar would only be imposed after the post-fasting month holiday of Idul Fitri in January. Minister of Industry and Trade Yusuf Kalla said that while the government agreed in principle to impose the tariff to protect local farmers and producers, the interests of consumers must also be considered in such a decision.

Asia to dominate auto market

Asia to dominate auto market NEW DELHI (Reuters): The president of Ford Motor Company said on Tuesday the Asia-Pacific region would outstrip Europe and North America in auto production, cornering the lion's share of global growth and demand. "The global auto industry is expected to grow by 8.3 million units between now and 2006," Jacques Nasser, who runs the world's second largest car maker, told a news conference in the Indian capital.

China not ready to sign Spratlys code of conduct

China not ready to sign Spratlys code of conduct KUALA LUMPUR (Agencies): China said on Tuesday no agreement had been reached on a code of conduct over the disputed Spratly islands, but described such an agreement as "important", after talks here between Chinese and Malaysian leaders. "We regard the code of conduct as an important document between China and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations)," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao.

Students to honor their teachers

Students to honor their teachers JAKARTA (JP): School children will be ceremoniously called on for the first time to pay homage to their teachers' daily toil by attending a special service on National Teachers Day on Thursday in their respective schools. School kids across the country on Thursday morning will hold a flag-raising ceremony, usually reserved for national occasions, for their teachers.

Prosecutor urges one year sentence for former mayor

Prosecutor urges one year sentence for former mayor JAKARTA (JP): A prosecutor demanded the West Jakarta District Court on Tuesday sentence former West Jakarta mayor Sutardjianto to one year in jail for abusing his position to profit by Rp 2.6 billion (US$371,428.5) in a corruption case. "The defendant is guilty of receiving Rp 1 billion (US$ 147 million) from the witness Yanto Lukman," said prosecutor Rusli, in a hearing presided over by Judge Soeparno.

Windsurfer Oka qualifies for Olympics

Windsurfer Oka qualifies for Olympics JAKARTA (JP): Windsurfer Oka Sulaksana nailed down his ticket to the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney by finishing 35th in the golden fleet class of the World Championships in Noumea, New Caledonia, last week. Oka's qualification adds to the list of Indonesian athletes who will compete in the Olympics from Sept. 15 to Oct. 1, 2000.

ASEAN to review financial warning system

ASEAN to review financial warning system MANILA (AFP): Southeast Asian finance ministers are to review the progress of an regional financial warning system at a meeting here this week, a senior Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) official said Tuesday.

Pepper output to rise 2.3%

Pepper output to rise 2.3% JAKARTA (JP): World pepper production is projected to increase 2.3 percent to 217,164 tons next year from about 212,200 tons this year. The Jakarta-based International Pepper Community (IPC) said on Tuesday that the estimate was reached in a meeting between exporters and importers earlier this month in Sri Lanka. IPC said that although production would rise by 5,000 tons, the exportable quantity in 2000 would be about 3,000 tons less than this year.

C. Java villages in tense standoff

C. Java villages in tense standoff SEMARANG: About 500 residents of Karangsari village in Kendal have fled their homes, saying they fear reprisals from Bandengan residents, who saw three of their neighbors killed and 17 others injured on Sunday in a grenade blast. A group of Bandengan villagers vandalized and torched on Monday night two fishing boats belonging to Karangsari people. The action was provoked by the action of First Sgt.

Locals disregard patent rights

Locals disregard patent rights BANDUNG: About 90 percent of applicants for the Intellectual Opulent Patent Right (HAKI) in the country are foreigners, HAKI directorate general Zen Umar Purba said recently. "Most of the copyrights have been applied for various products of medical technology, health and pharmacy," Zen said. He urged Indonesians to comply with the protection rights. "Indonesian people are not aware in this area," he said.

WB eyes infrastructure as priority for E. Timor

WB eyes infrastructure as priority for E. Timor SINGAPORE (AFP): Some US$70 million is expected to be channeled into rebuilding East Timor's infrastructure next year, when pledges from donor countries of the World Bank come through, the bank said Tuesday. The $70 million is part of a $300 million trust fund the World Bank hopes to raise for East Timor at a consultative meeting on Dec. 17 in Tokyo, said Lucy Oh, spokesperson for the bank's Joint Assessment Mission to East Timor.

Officer questioned over Zarina's 'outing' at disco

Officer questioned over Zarina's 'outing' at disco JAKARTA (JP): The head of city police detention center, Maj. Sumartono, was questioned on Saturday over alleged drug- trafficking suspect Zarina Mirasfur's absence from the detention center on Nov. 15 to go to a discotheque, a police source said on Tuesday.

Where to go in Bandung for Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999

Where to go in Bandung for Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999 Performances * Musical Comedy Drama: Teu Kawin-Kawin, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, Jl. Baranang Siang 1, Kosambi (Phone: 022 433562), 8 p.m., Nov. 27-28. * Sundanese Traditional Performance, Longser, at Gedung Kesenian Rumentang Siang, 8 p.m., Nov. 30. * Pantomime: Jemek Supardi performs Benik, at CCF - French Cultural Center, - French Cultural Center, Jl. Purnawarman 32, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 25. * Concert: Ensemble Matheus, at CCF, 7:30 p.m.

Fishermen jailed for smuggling illegals

Fishermen jailed for smuggling illegals PERTH, Australia (AFP): Another group of Indonesian fishermen were jailed by an Australian court Tuesday under tough new laws designed to discourage human-trafficking. The captain of a small ferry boat, Usman Kadir, 27, and two crew members, Afit Umbu, 19, and Erasmus Ur, 29, pleaded guilty in the Broome magistrate's court, in the far north of Western Australia state, to bringing three non-citizens into Australia last month.

FDI to Philippines up 42%

FDI to Philippines up 42% MANILA (AFP): Net foreign direct investment (FDI) in the Philippines hit US$1.1 billion in the first seven months of 1999, a 42 percent increase from the same period last year, the presidential palace said here Tuesday. Presidential spokesman Fernando Barican said in a statement that foreign direct investment in the first seven months hit $569 million while portfolio investments amounted to $453 million.

Photo A: JIFFest

Photo A: JIFFest JIFFest's committee Japanese film Perfect Blue, directed by Satoshi Kon, is about a complicated entertainment business in Japan involving young stars. The film will be screened at TIM 21 on Nov. 24 and Nov. 25 as part of the first Jakarta International Film Festival.

Conversion Rates

Conversion Rates Bank Indonesia's conversion rates on Nov. 23, 1999: Bank notes rates Buying Selling Rp Rp U.S.

Power to women

Power to women Women activists have long questioned the wisdom of having a state minister of women's affairs in the Cabinet. Many view the office as serving an ornamental role rather than representing a genuine fight to end gender discrimination and promote equality. Successive women who occupied the post in the past rarely departed from symbolic gestures of showing the government's care toward women and to their advancement in this male-dominated society.

Military accused of war crimes

Military accused of war crimes JAKARTA (JP): The military killing, raping and torture of civilians in Aceh this past decade amounted to "war crimes" committed on the orders of the top leadership, according to a finding of an independent inquiry. The Independent Inquiry into the Violence in Aceh made public its finding on Tuesday, calling on the government to question all the military top brass involved in crafting the military policy in Aceh since 1989.

Teamwork vital to push tourism growth: Official

Teamwork vital to push tourism growth: Official JAKARTA (JP): The city tourist agency on Tuesday called all related sectors in the industry to join hands together to boost the number of tourists coming to the capital. "We must act. We can start by working together," head of the agency, Tjetjep Suparman, said while attending a welcome greeting campaign for tourists at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport.

Tubagus Angke water project

Tubagus Angke water project JAKARTA (JP): French water management firm PT Pam Lyonnaise Jaya (Palyja) signed a cooperation agreement with three local contractors on Tuesday to expand the water pipeline on Jl. Tubagus Angke in West Jakarta. The three contractors -- PT Lepen Kencana Utama, PT Promits and PT Marlaneo -- will begin work on the four-kilometer pipeline in January 2001, the company said in a statement.

Fun, fearless female films at JIFFest

Fun, fearless female films at JIFFest By Dini Djalal JAKARTA (JP): All you need is love, right? Not according to two thought-provoking films screened at this week's Jakarta Film Festival, The Personal and The Last Malay Woman. The films try to refute tired cliches in answering the age-old quandary: what do men and women want from each other? Unfortunately, one cliche is at times replaced by another.

RI and Kuwait to boost ties

RI and Kuwait to boost ties JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid (right) is escorted by Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah after the two held talks on Tuesday in Kuwait City on improving ties between the two countries. During his visit, Abdurrahman held talks with the Kuwaiti Emir and Prime Minister Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah. Abdurrahman expressed optimism about Kuwaiti government and business community interest in investment in Indonesia.

Shotokan master to appoint successor

Shotokan master to appoint successor JAKARTA (JP): Sensei (master) Kanazawa, the world's Shotokan guru from Japan, is scheduled to appoint his successors at the seventh world Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIP) championship at the Sheraton Convention Center in Bali in April 2000. The chairman of Indonesian Karate-Do (Inkado), E. Tando, said on Tuesday that Kanazawa, also the SKIP chairman, would display his new movements at the championship's martial arts events.

Brittleness of nationalism

Brittleness of nationalism From Rakyat Merdeka Our founding fathers would be lost in sad contemplation if they heard about the demands of some Indonesians who want independence. Those who fought audaciously to liberate this country, to maintain the unity of the nation, would feel betrayed because their struggle had been in vain. The people who created the national language and coined the slogan Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (unity in diversity) are being deserted by the younger generation.

Jazz Merah Putih in Karawaci

Jazz Merah Putih in Karawaci JAKARTA (JP): The giant business and amusement center Lippo Karawaci in Tangerang, in cooperation with Ireng Maulana & Associates, is to present the second Jazz Merah Putih concert at Taman Sari cultural park in Lippo Karawaci business and residential area on Saturday.

Wie Wie upbeat on drag race party hopes

Wie Wie upbeat on drag race party hopes JAKARTA (JP): Wie Wie Rianto of the Jakarta Firna Racing Team was optimist on Monday that he would beat Canada's Robert Paul at the Sentul Drag Race Millennium Party to be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Sentul International Circuit in Bogor. "I lost to Paul with a very slight difference in points in the overall national drag race championships, but I will prepare myself better and I'm sure I can beat him," Wie Wie said.

Protected building owners face inquiry over damages

Protected building owners face inquiry over damages JAKARTA (JP): The City Council will question executives of the firm which owns a protected building in Central Jakarta about plans to renovate the structure and the effort to locate items which had been missing from the building.

Beadsworth wins elimination one race finals

Beadsworth wins elimination one race finals By Lukman Natanagara LANGKAWI, Malaysia (JP): Skipper Andy Beadsworth of England won the delayed elimination one finals by defeating Swedish Magnus Holmberg in the Malaysia Challenge sailing championships on Tuesday. Beadsworth, world ranked 17, surprisingly beat world number four Holmberg 2-1. Holmberg had Beadsworth slightly ahead but upwind of him as they both sailed toward the line.

Reforestation fees to reach Rp 1.22t

Reforestation fees to reach Rp 1.22t JAKARTA (JP): State revenues from the forestry and plantation sectors are estimated to reach Rp 1.83 trillion (US$261.9 million) in the fiscal year 2000. Minister of Forestry and Plantation Nur Mahmudi Ismail said on Tuesday that the revenue target would be derived from reforestation fees, royalties, levies and other service fees.

Mother of three jailed for producing drugs

Mother of three jailed for producing drugs JAKARTA (JP): The Central Jakarta District Court sentenced a mother of three on Tuesday to eight years in jail for producing ecstasy pills in the woman's second drug-related conviction in less than 18 months. Presiding judge Musa Simatupang told the court that Maya Tulenan, 37, was "guilty of violating Article 60 of the 1997 Law on Psychotropic Substances". After the trial closed, Maya collapsed as she was being led from the courtroom.

7,000 RP police to guard ASEAN meet

7,000 RP police to guard ASEAN meet MANILA (Reuters): The Philippines said on Tuesday it would deploy more than 7,000 police and soldiers to safeguard leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) at their summit in Manila this weekend. Philippine National Police chief Panfilo Lacson said his office had received "very raw reports about demonstrations (and) possible terroristic acts" to disrupt the summit on Sunday.

Room for improvement at Shah Jahan

Room for improvement at Shah Jahan JAKARTA (JP): "It's funny but Indian people themselves rarely eat here," said the waiter handing out menus at the Shah Jahan restaurant in the Hotel Sahid Jaya. The ever-droll Winnardi thought this was "probably because they get enough Indian food at home". For Epicurus, however, it was a worrying sign. Earlier we had been greeted at the entrance to the restaurant by a waitress wearing a sari, and seated promptly and politely in a seat by the window.

Timah scraps plan to buy KPC shares

Timah scraps plan to buy KPC shares JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed state mining company PT Tambang Timah announced on Monday it had dropped its plan to buy shares in coal mining company PT Kaltim Prima Coal (KPC), citing the high price of the shares as the reason. Timah president Erry Riyana Hardjapemakas said that aside from price consideration, Timah dropped the acquisition plan because the East Kalimantan provincial administration was also interested in buying the shares.

Holbrooke reserves judgment on RI's E. Timor agreement

Holbrooke reserves judgment on RI's E. Timor agreement AILEU, East Timor (Reuters): Washington's ambassador to the United Nations said on Tuesday the United States would be watching closely to see if Indonesia honored an agreement over joint patrols near the border between East and West Timor. Richard Holbrooke was speaking at the end of a brief visit to Timor island, on a day when he met independence leader Xanana Gusmao and was saluted by his Falintil guerrilla fighters.

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999

Where to go in Surabaya, for Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1999 Performances * Classical Piano Concert from Germany by Roswitha Lohmer, in the Balai Adika Ballroom of Hotel Majapahit - Mandarin Oriental Surabaya, at Jl. Tunjungan 65 (Phone: 031 5454333), 7 p.m., Nov. 24. * Drama of The Crucible by Arthur Miller, in the Balai Adika Ballroom of Hotel Majapahit, 7 p.m., Nov. 26. * Teater: Art, a work of Yasmina Reza, at Uditorium Petra University, Jl. Siwalan Kerto no. 121 - 131, 7:30 p.m., Nov. 29.

Eye bank gets 4,407 corneas from abroad

Eye bank gets 4,407 corneas from abroad BOGOR (JP): Indonesia Central Eye Bank (BMIP) have received a total of 4,407 corneas from various donor countries so far, BMIP chairwoman Siti Maimunah Alamsyah Ratu Perwiranegara said on Tuesday.

Stock quotations on JSX

Stock quotations on JSX Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on Nov. 23, 1999: Shares Close Change Trading Volume -------------------------------------------------------------- Ades Alfindo 1,200 75 1,257,000 AHAP Insurance 550 0 0 Alakasa Industrindo 600 -225 189,000 Alter Abadi 500 25 3,457,000 Alumindo Light Metal 1,175 0 12,500 Aneka Kimia Raya 775 -250 3,505,500 Aneka Tambang (Persero) 1,400 -25 365,000 Anwar Sierad 325 -50 659,000 APAC Centertex Corp.

Oil prices ease in Asian markets

Oil prices ease in Asian markets SINGAPORE (Reuters): Oil prices slipped in Asia amid profit- taking on Tuesday after surging to nine-year highs in London and New York, traders said. January New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) crude futures were at US$26.83 by 0804 GMT, down 24 cents from the New York close on Monday, where the contract had ended at $27.07. U.S.

Japanese animation films grow in popularity

Japanese animation films grow in popularity By Gotot Prakosa JAKARTA (JP): The world has acknowledged that Japanese animation films are already on par with American ones in terms of their storyline management and production techniques. Now the animation world knows of the "Japanese style", which is a technique in reducing the number of pictures in forming a meaningful movement.