Jakarta Post articles from June 2001

Jakarta Post archives from June 2001

Govt plans to merge Bank Mandiri with BII.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The government said on Thursday it planned to merge the country's largest bank, state-owned Bank Mandiri with publicly listed Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII), as part of efforts to consolidate the banking industry. ...

Drive against leaded gasoline uncertain.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Despite the government's promise to free Jakarta from leaded gasoline starting Sunday, Jakartans will still inhale the poisonous substance from vehicle exhausts as the drive to free the city from leaded fuel will not materialize...

Councillors off on foreign trip.
June 29, 2001... PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: The provincial legislature here has closed up shop for the time being, with all of the councillors having left the building. The legislature has been left vacant since Wednesday, when 73 councillors departed in...

Man gets nine years for Bandung bombing.
June 29, 2001... BANDUNG (JP): The Bandung District Court handed down on Thursday a nine-year jail term to 23-year-old Agus Kurniawan for his role in a bomb blast in Bandung which killed four people last Christmas Eve. "The defendant has been found guilty...

Corrupt practices rampant in state enterprises: Official.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): An official admitted on Thursday what many have long suspected: the practice of corruption, collusion and nepotism is rampant in state enterprises. Secretary of the Directorate General of State-owned companies of the...

Galang to become biotechnology hub.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Galang island, once a safe haven for Vietnamese refugees, is set to emulate Silicon Valley as a vital center for technology research. But unlike the Arizona-based research center, which focuses on information technology,...

Searching for bombs, police find 'shabu-shabu'and ecstasy pills.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): During a raid in search of bombs at a boardinghouse, police found on Thursday shabu-shabu (crystal menthaphetamine) and ecstasy pills instead. Police arrested two men at the boardinghouse on Jl. Surkarjo Wiryopranoto, Kebon...

Ex-brothel project to start soon.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Jakarta administration's plan to transform the former Kramat Tunggak brothel complex into an Islamic center will start soon with the laying of the foundation stone on Aug. 1, said a city councillor. Councillor Ali Imran...

Thieves mobbed in East Jakarta.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Two thieves who were caught red-handed stealing money amounting altogether to Rp 22,600 (US$2) at two separate locations in East Jakarta early on Thursday were severely beaten by local residents before being handed over to the...

Woman arrested for visa violation.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Immigration authorities apprehended a German woman on Thursday for allegedly violating the terms of her visa, an official said here. Magdalene Christine, who possessed a business visa, was caught in the act while handing...

Lawyers demand charges against policemen be dropped.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Defense lawyers for nine policemen being tried for the 1998 shooting of four student protesters, which triggered mass riots, demanded on Thursday that charges against them be dropped. Lawyer Hotma Sitompoel told a military...

Motorists oppose toll hike for expressways.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Several motorists opposed the planned increase of tolls on major toll roads to 30 percent, saying toll road operators should first improve their services. "It is not right if the toll road operators increase the tolls...

Is this hope real?
June 29, 2001... With the special session of the People's Consultative Assembly now only a month away, a glimpse of what the Indonesian political landscape might look like in the near future is slowly beginning to emerge. Assuming that nothing untoward...

Improving Indonesia-Aussie trade alliance.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Asia Pacific is currently considered as the world's most dynamic region of growth in trade and economic output. This dynamic growth, as noted by Ross Garnaut and Peter Drysdale (Asia Pacific Regionalism, 1995), reflects...

Beware of Philippines-style electricity crisis.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): In many ways Indonesian consumers are no different than consumers in other countries. From San Francisco to Jakarta it is a universal truth that no customers take pleasure in being asked to pay more. This is particularly true in...

Quashing corruption should be free from interference.
June 29, 2001... Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa will never be successful in fighting corruption without political support from the House of Representatives (DPR), the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the President, says coordinator of Indonesian...

Lakers' victory inspires Aspac, Bhinneka eyes bonus.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): LA Lakers' success in claiming its second victory in the NBA finals, defeating Philadelphia 76ers 4-1 earlier this month, has boosted the motivation of local club Aspac to retain its title in the Nuvo Kobatama league. Aspac...

Keep your wits about you to ward off crime.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): If you look like a potential victim, carrying yourself like you are not paying attention to your surroundings, then chances are you will end up as one. "Criminals make a visual assessment or detailed reconnaissance before...

On a trip full of possibilities to Zanzibar.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): This reviewer has been to Zanzibar, an established bar that never seems to suffer from a lack of customers, several times in the past, but was intrigued by a minireview of the place in one of the magazines floating around the...

'Atlantis' makes for eye-popping entertainment.
June 29, 2001... Atlantis: The Lost Empire (***1/2 out of ****); Animated/Adventure, 90 minutes; Voice by Michael J. Fox, Jim Varney, Cree Summer, James Garner, Corey Burton, Leonard Nimoy; Directed by Gary Trousdale, Kirk Wise; A Walt Disney Pictures...

Timber firms slam govt's new reforestation ruling.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The country's timber companies have voiced criticism of the government's new policy of obliging them to make huge reforestation fund payments prior to the commencement of their operations, saying that the policy will bankrupt...

Stock quotations on JSX.
June 29, 2001... Stock prices on the Jakarta Stock Exchange (in rupiah) on June 28, 2001: Shares Close Change Trading Volume Ades Alfindo 1,475 -50 185,500 Adindo Foresta 115 0 99,500 AGIS 140 0 1,739,000 Alakasa 150 0 0 Alfa...

Economists warn govt over 2001 budget deficit.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Economists warned that the government might fail to maintain the 2001 budget deficit at a safe level of 3.7 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) due to problems in collecting higher tax revenue. Dradjat H. Wibowo of the...

Debt restructuring deal to earn Bakrie & Brothers Rp 4t.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed holding company PT Bakrie & Brothers said on Thursday the implementation of its US$1.08 billion debt restructuring deal would earn the company some Rp 4 trillion (about US$353 million) this year. "From this...

Bank Danamon to hold reverse stock split.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed PT Bank Danamon approved on Thursday management's plan to conduct a reverse stock split to avoid delisting by the Jakarta Stock Exchange. Bank Danamon president Arwin Rasyid said the reverse...

Pertamina issues warning to ExxonMobil Oil.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The president of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina, Baihaki Hakim, said he asked ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia Inc., a unit of American energy giant ExxonMobil Corp., to resume its work in Aceh, warning he would demand a...

Multinationals eye local cement firms.
June 29, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): A senior governmental official warned of multinational companies' possible domination of the country's cement industry, saying that such a situation could severely hurt the government's infrastructure development program. ...

IMF team to visit Jakarta soon: Minister.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): After six months delay, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) may finally send its special mission to Jakarta next month to review the country's economic reform program, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah...

Navy arrests mutineers on Malaysian tanker.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Navy arrested 10 alleged mutinying crew members who commandeered a Malaysian-flagged tanker, the MT Selayang, in Tanjung Berau waters off East Kalimantan on Wednesday, Antara reported. Balikpapan naval base...

Rift among police displayed over dual leadership.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro had reportedly cut short his minor haj pilgrimage and returned to the capital on Tuesday, after receiving news that there had been a near clash among his middle-ranking officers. ...

Law on state secrecy sought.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): What is a state secret or, to put it another way, what kind of information can be categorized as a state secret? In a discussion on Wednesday, observers found that such a term had yet to be properly defined in existing law...

Supreme Court holds Tommy's tax document.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Supreme Court's deputy chief justice for civil and administrative courts, Paulus Effendi Lotulung, said on Wednesday the court possessed the reportedly missing decision in a case involving a company belonging to fugitive...

Fewer students register for university entrance tests.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The local committee for the upcoming entrance exams for state universities (UMPTN) predicts a drop of 3,000 in the number of students who will join the test in the capital. Ridla Bakri from the entrance exams' local...

Pande admits ordering payment of Bank Bali funds.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Former deputy chairman of the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) Pande Nasorahona Lubis testified on Wednesday that he had ordered Bank Indonesia to disburse Rp 904 billion (US$82 million) of IBRA's funds to Bank Bali....

Voices from below the ground.
June 27, 2001... SYDNEY, Australia (JP): Last month at the National Art Gallery of Indonesia was an exhibition of young women's paintings. One of them was a quite beautiful and yet terrifying installation by a woman who was born and grew up in Aceh, Endang...

Textile Museum shines in shabby environs.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Imagine a luxury mansion located right in the heart of the Bronx. That is probably a perfect analogy for the Textile Museum located at Jl. Aipda K.S. Tubun No. 4 in Central Jakarta. If you go there drive slowly and keep a...

Indonesia Open badminton c'ships 'on as planned'.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) strongly denied a report from the Asian Badminton Confederation (ABC) saying that the US$170,000 Indonesia Open was being postponed until November. "The Indonesia Open will...

Table tennis association names SEA Games players.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Table Tennis Association (PTMSI) named its five men and five women players for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Four of the 10 players -- Deddy Da Costa, Ismu Harinto, Fauziah Yulianti and Rossy...

'Madame Dasima' not quite a tale of the times.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Supposedly, it tells of a dysfunctional family. Supposedly, it portrays women's position in a relationship and society. Supposedly, it is about betrayal, and the consequences of "falling in love with someone you are not supposed...

Major challenges lie ahead at the end of HIV/STD project.
June 27, 2001... DENPASAR, Bali (JP): With more than four million condoms distributed and at least 30,000 people educated in the basic knowledge of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV/AIDS in Bali alone, the five-year Indonesia HIV/AIDS and STD...

Sampoerna to buy back 28m shares from Panamas.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed cigarette producer PT Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna agreed on Wednesday to buy back its 28 million shares worth Rp 336 billion (US$29.5 million) from its subsidiary PT Perusahaan Dagang dan Industri...

Pertamina books Rp 3.74t net profit.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina booked a net profit of Rp 3.74 trillion (about US$328.21 million) in the nine-month 2000 fiscal year that ended on Dec. 31. This compared to the Rp 4.98 trillion profit earned in the...

Conoco starts gas deliveries.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP) Conoco Indonesia Inc. started Tuesday deliveries of natural gas to Singapore from its South Natuna Sea B Block, the company said Wednesday. Conoco Indonesia, a unit of Conoco Inc., it is the last of three operators to...

Lautan Luas revenue drops.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Chemical company PT Lautan Luas said that its net income for last year dropped to Rp 26 billion (US$2.3 million) from Rp 55.7 billion in 1999. "The primary cause of this reduction is the foreign exchange loss due to rupiah...

Government puts an end to decision-making role of FSPC.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The government ended on Wednesday the decision-making role of the Financial Sector Policy Committee (FSPC), Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah said. Burhanuddin said that the FSPC would return to its...

PT Indocement to divest its units to pay debts.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed cement producer PT Indocement Tunggal Prakarsa said on Wednesday it planned to divest itself of two subsidiaries to help meet debt payments totaling US$861 million. Indocement president Daniel Lavalle said...

PDI-P legislator named BKPM chief.
June 27, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Theo Thoemion, a legislator of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI P), has been named the new chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Coordinating Minister for the Economy Burhanuddin Abdullah said on...

Indonesia, Australia pave way for better ties.
June 26, 2001... CANBERRA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid and Prime Minister John Howard emerged from their historic summit meeting here on Tuesday officially putting behind them the diplomatic discord that has been disrupting ties between Indonesia and...

BI issues new ruling on money laundering.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Bank Indonesia has issued a new ruling to help curb money laundering activity, the central bank deputy governor Achjar Iljas said on Tuesday. Achjar said that the "know your customers" regulation provided guidelines for...

Semen Cibinong's $250m write-off plan OK'd.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Shareholders of publicly listed cement producer PT Semen Cibinong approved on Tuesday management plans to write off the company's controversial "missing" deposits worth over US$250 million, clearing the way for Swiss cement...

President's accountability a must: PDIP.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is pressing ahead with the original agenda of the People's Consultative Assembly special session, namely to ask President Abdurrahman Wahid to account for his...

Tension grips Pontianak as four die in clashes.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Tension continued to grip the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak on Tuesday, as Madurese refugees refused to be relocated following clashes with locals that claimed four lives. A team of negotiators sent by the local...

U.S. envoy visits Maluku.
June 26, 2001... AMBON, Maluku: United States consul general Robert A. Pollard held a briefing with civil emergency administrators in Maluku on Tuesday to discuss the province's security condition. The envoy met with Pattimura Military chief of staff Col....

Attorney General Lopa's moves create hope, skepticism.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The courageous moves of newly installed Attorney General Baharuddin Lopa in investigating powerful people suspected of graft has raised hope as well as skepticism about the government's efforts to uphold the law. Albert...

Govt rejects referendum in Irian Jaya.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The government turned down on Tuesday the Papuan Presidium Council's demand for a self-determination referendum in Irian Jaya, saying the troubled province remains part of Indonesia. Minister of Defense Mahfud M.D. said the...

Several urban children lack birth certificates.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Half of Indonesian children in urban areas do not possess birth certificates, an official said on Monday. In villages, the figure was even lower with around one third of the children not having the certificates, an executive...

Indonesia, UNTAET sign deal on peacekeeper murder probe.
June 26, 2001... KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): Indonesia and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) signed an agreement on Tuesday on an investigation into the killing of a UN Peacekeeping Force member in East Timor last...

Kidnappers seek international discussion on 'Free Papua'.
June 26, 2001... JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): An Irianese separatist group that has taken hostage two Belgian filmmakers is demanding President Abdurrahman Wahid bring the Irian Jaya issues before an international forum, a church official said on Tuesday. ...

Indonesia still committed to rights tribunal, challenges remain.
June 26, 2001... CANBERRA (JP): Top Indonesian officials here on Tuesday pleaded for international patience and understanding on the delicate domestic complexities involved in their efforts to bring the perpetrators of alleged human rights abuses in East...

More legislators reveal their wealth.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Amid the topsy-turvy of preparations for the upcoming special session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), a total of 13 members of the House of Representatives (DPR) and the MPR finally submitted forms on their wealth...

Bus drivers strike over rental fees.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of passengers were stranded again on Tuesday morning when over 680 bus drivers from the city's largest bus operator, PT Mayasari Bhakti, continued their strike on Tuesday. Two hundred of the company's drivers...

Councillors in conflict over parking operators.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): City councillors have recently been busy with attempts to pave the way for private parking operators to manage the city's off- street parking. City spokesman Muhayat said on Tuesday that he had heard that certain factions...

Cibinong Police arrest car thief.
June 26, 2001... BOGOR (JP): Cibinong police arrested a car thief suspect and confiscated two vans from his home in a village in Cibinong on Sunday, police said on Tuesday. Abdul Rohim, a suspected leader of a car thief syndicate, had allegedly been...

Female independence activist dies.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Independence movement activist, Sihwati Nawangwulan, who is also the wife of former Indonesian minister for foreign affairs and ambassador to the United Nations Ruslan Abdulgani, passed away here on Tuesday morning at the age of...

Former State Secretary questioned.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Attorney General's Office questioned former state secretary Moerdiono on Tuesday in relation to a corruption case involving the dredging of the Mahakam River in East Kalimantan, which inflicted Rp 39 billion (US$3.9 million)...

Activists claim police cells seriously overcrowded.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Activists from the Anti-Torture Network visited on Tuesday the headquarters of the city police and the West, North and East Jakarta police, and reported that their detention cells were seriously overcrowded. Prisoners are...

Suwondo may get three years for Bulog scam.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid's former masseur Muhammad Alip Agung Suwondo is facing a possible three-year jail term for his alleged role in the Bulog scandal. Prosecutor Nurlis Sembiring asked the North Jakarta District Court...

Residents storm police station over shooting.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Residents of the Johar Baru district in Central Jakarta stormed the compound of the local police station on Tuesday, following the fatal shooting of a local man by police. The residents were armed with sharp weapons and...

Interdepartmental team to studytoll increase.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The government will establish an interdepartmental team to study a possible 30 percent increase in tolls on major toll roads this year, according to Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Erna Witoelar. Erna...

Cleaning up dirty money.
June 26, 2001... Indonesia, which has so far been ranked among the most corrupt countries in the world, has now gained notoriety as a suspected conduit for money laundering. This is defined as the processing, through the banking system, of the proceeds of...

On BII Visa Card.
June 26, 2001... We are referring to our customer's complaint BII Visa Card in The Jakarta Post, June 18, 2001. Through this letter we would like to state that we have settled the case directly with Mr. Jaya Wijaya. We also would like to thank him...

Rose is Rose.
June 26, 2001... Reading Give me back my hot spot in The Jakarta Post, June 23, 2001, I would now like to give my comment. I was first attracted to The Jakarta Post because of its crossword puzzles, which then were not as complicated as they have become....

Reports reflect a changed Australia.
June 26, 2001... WOLLONGONG, Australia (JP): The positive reaction of the Australian press to the visit of President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) demonstrates an ever-maturing level of sensitivity, insight and analysis into the complex bilateral relationship...

Indonesia reigns at Merlion Cup.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The national rowing team being prepared for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games won the overall title at the Merlion Cup in Singapore, bringing home seven of eight gold medals at stake over the weekend. "We failed...

Indonesia coaches to check strength of soccer rivals.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): National soccer coach Benny Dolo and his assistant Mundari Karya left for a one-day trip to Kuala Lumpur to observe Malaysia's and Thailand's teams perform in the qualifying round of the Merdeka Cup tournament on Tuesday...

PRSI to hold polo event.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Swimming Federation (PRSI) will organize a water polo tournament to scout new talent and to prepare for the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. "We set up two teams, composed of players being groomed for...

Hendrawan, Tony get cash bonuses.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Hendrawan and Tony Gunawan received cash bonuses from the East Java administration for their success at the World Championships in Seville, Spain, earlier this month. Hendrawan became the fifth Indonesian to take the men's...

National chess c'ship in Bali.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Chess Association (Percasi) will hold its national championships in Denpasar, Bali, from July 9 to July 19, with the knock-out format being used in the men's senior division. "We will use a knock-out format in...

PSSI-McDonald's futsal team in Balikpapan.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI)-McDonald's Indonesia futsal team will hold a coaching clinic in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, to help promote the new sport. "We hope East Kalimantan, particularly Balikpapan, will...

Fung to be nominated as assistant coach.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): The Badminton Association of Indonesia (PBSI) will be nominating Fung Permadi, a shuttler who is ranked number 17 in the world, who is currently playing for Chinese Taipei, as an assistant coach in its training center in...

Nureyev the star comes down to earth.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Put it down to a touch of exaggeration derived from nostalgia and love when one of the commentators in Nureyev: The Last Ten Years, a film which is part of the current exhibit of memorabilia of the late dancer at the National...

In search of institutes of higher education.
June 26, 2001... SURABAYA (JP): After having long been dubbed the city of Indamardi (industry, trade, maritime and education), Surabaya today is striving to be just as popular for its tertiary education. For many Indonesians, the country's second largest...

Light still shining bright on Cahaya Kota restaurant.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): Cahaya Kota, established in 1942 under the name Tueng Kong, is one of the oldest Cantonese restaurants in town. It used to occupy a plot of land in the Menteng Raya area, right on the spot where the Pak Tani statue now...

Drug therapy essential in treating lupus.
June 26, 2001... JAKARTA (JP): "Rita" was an active young woman who woke up one morning complaining of painful joints. She felt better after seeing a rheumatologist, but a few days later an awful rash developed on her face and she had a mouth ulcer. Her...