Jakarta Post articles from June 2002

Jakarta Post archives from June 2002

Bali's galleries promote local artists on global stage.
June 30, 2002... In Bali two different worlds coexist, Bali, the center of arts and culture and Bali, one of the world's foremost tourist destinations. It is obvious that the continuing construction of hotels, restaurants and other buildings has almost...

Indonesian Septi caps double win at Thamrin tennis event.
June 30, 2002... Septi Nindya Yutami shrugged off the jitters to win the girls' singles competition at the Thamrin Cup International Junior Tennis Championships here on Saturday. She beat Chan Yung Jan of Chinese Taipei 6-4, 7-5 in the finals at the...

Seeking a dining room with a view.
June 30, 2002... Eating outside the home is always an interesting experience. From the moment you walk through the door of a restaurant, are shown to your table and take that first taste of your meal, you are bombarded with impressions. Good or bad,...

Carrousel Dance Group -- From Russia with love.
June 30, 2002... Magnificent was the first word that crossed my mind as they performed the carrousel dance. The men made a circle, joined their hands together in the center of the stage, rotated faster and faster. The girls, in smaller circles, also spanned...

PDI-P councilors confused over Sutiyoso's nomination.
June 29, 2002... Several city councillors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said that they were livid over the decision of their chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri to endorse incumbent Governor Sutiyoso for the next city...

Observers suggest separate election for the regions.
June 29, 2002... Political observers are urging legislators to introduce a separate national and regional election system in the election bill. Adi Abidin of the Asia Foundation has proposed a three-tiered system with elections at the regency level be...

PDI Perjuangan opposes inquiry into Akbar scandal.
June 29, 2002... The largest and most influential party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) announced on Friday its rejection of a proposal to form a committee of inquiry (Pansus) into a Rp 40 billion financial scandal allegedly...

Islamic alliance 'could lead to anti-Megawati plot'.
June 29, 2002... A recent series of gatherings involving Muslim politicians could lead to the establishment of an Islamic alliance against President Megawati Soekarnoputri should she insist upon deterring the amendment process for the 1945 Constitution,...

Activists warn rights trial may ruin judiciary's image.
June 29, 2002... Human rights activists warned on Friday of another red mark against the country's judicial system should the ad hoc Human Rights Tribunal fail to hold a fair trial on the 1999 East Timor human rights abuses. Noted lawyer Todung Mulya...

Police blasted for failing to uphold press freedom.
June 29, 2002... Frequent cases of violence and intimidation against journalists by police personnel across the country reflects their serious lack of understanding of the freedom of the press, an activist says. "Recent abuses against journalists by...

'Argo Gede' train skids in Purwakarta.
June 29, 2002... PURWAKARTA, West Java: The executive Argo Gede train, heading for Jakarta from Bandung in West Java, skidded off the tracks near Cilame, Purwakarta regency at about 5:50 p.m. on Friday, blocking railway traffic in both direction. "The...

Maspion employees return to six-day work.
June 29, 2002... Workers of the Sidoarjo-based plastic goods producer PT Maspion went back to work on Friday, ending a week-long stand off with the management of the factory over working days. Thousands of workers entered the factory compound in Sidoarjo,...

An independent judiciary?
June 29, 2002... Agus Sutoto, the public prosecutor in a Rp 500 million (about US$ 58,139) bribery case, has demanded a four-year jail sentence for the accused, Jakarta High Curt Judge Faozatullo Zendrato. Agus claims Faozatullo was guilty of receiving bribes...

Why, Megawati? Why?
June 29, 2002... A few weeks back, when news was leaked that President Megawati's party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), reportedly had opted to support the reelection of incumbent Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, most people reacted...

Graft convict on the run, still not declared fugitive.
June 29, 2002... After a fruitless one-month search for corruption convict David Nusa Wijaya, the Attorney General's Office has still not declared him a fugitive. Office spokesman Barman Zahir said Friday that they would send a summons to his home in...

Semen Gresik can't help Semen Padang's debt woes.
June 29, 2002... State-owned cement maker PT Semen Gresik said on Friday that it could not provide funds to help repay the maturing debt of its fully-owned subsidiary PT Semen Padang. Semen Gresik president Satriyo was quoted by Detik.com on Friday as...

Govt calls for rapid review of Manulife ruling.
June 29, 2002... In a latest bid to appease international anger over a controversial bankruptcy ruling against the Indonesian unit of Canadian insurance giant Manulife Financial Corp., the government has urged the Supreme Court to rapidly review the ruling....

Dance your way through the holidays.
June 29, 2002... School holidays are here again and children wonder what fun and games they can look forward to during the month-long break. Fun is all very well, but recreation should also be educational, hence the many summer camps that crop up in...

Eurico facing life sentence for murder, torture.
June 28, 2002... Eurico Guterres, former commander of the pro-Jakarta Aitarak militia in East Timor, stood trial at the Central Jakarta District Court on charges of murder and torture in the attacks on East Timorese leaders before the 1999 ballot. The...

Megawati kills democracy: Experts.
June 28, 2002... Political experts criticized chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri dubbing her a "democracy killer" for defying her party's aspirations by supporting the reelection of Jakarta...

Xanana to arrive in Jakarta on July 2.
June 28, 2002... President Xanana Gusmao of the newly established state of East Timor is scheduled to arrive here on July 2 for a three-day state visit to Indonesia, the second country he will have visited after the former 27th province of Indonesia achieved...

Eating vegetables can reduce cancer risk.
June 28, 2002... Eating large portions of colorful fruits and vegetables, including dark green leafy vegetables, will help reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and age-related eye disease, according to a health expert. Regina Goralczyk, the...

Bus owners protest over bus seizure.
June 28, 2002... CIREBON: Hundreds of bus owners grouped under the West Java and Central Java Organization of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) demanded on Thursday the release of 117 buses currently impounded by the Jakarta office of the Ministry of...

Harun awaits President's OK for governorial bid.
June 28, 2002... With President Megawati Soekarnoputri's approval being the only remaining requirement that Harun Alrasyid has to obtain before he can run for the Jakarta governorship, the incumbent West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) governor expects his candidacy to...

A new Palestinian leader?
June 28, 2002... At least it can now be said that U.S. President George W. Bush has a plan to resolve the continuing conflict in the Middle East. A speech delivered by Bush last Monday, at first reading, does give the impression that the United States is...

Police, judiciary, mere weapons of harassment.
June 28, 2002... The recent bankruptcy ruling against financially sound PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (Manulife) by the Central Jakarta Commercial Court has left Indonesia's already severely tested business community shaking their heads in disbelief....

Protecting foreign maids.
June 28, 2002... I refer to two articles, titled 20 RI maids seek protection, published in The Jakarta Post on June 10, and Embassy told to act on maid abuse, published on June 11. It is extremely unfortunate that there have been cases of abuse involving...

U.S. casts cloud over start of International Criminal Court.
June 28, 2002... In the week before the International Criminal Court comes into formal existence, the United States has decided to pick a fight with it -- and potentially a damaging one. In the United Nations Security Council the U.S. has said that it is not...

East flood canal project depends on CGI loan.
June 28, 2002... The construction of the East Flood Canal might be postponed indefinitely as it is wholly dependent on a loan from the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), a group of foreign donors. Adi Sarwoko Soeronegoro, a water resource director at...

BP sued by local company.
June 28, 2002... JAKARTA: A local supplier company sued the British-American petroleum company BP at the South Jakarta District Court for allegedly suspending their contract unlawfully. PT Mestaco Swarnadwipa demanded the court announce that BP was...

Quake barely noticed in Jakarta.
June 28, 2002... An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale was felt in the capital on Thursday at 12:50 p.m., but there was no reports of casualties or damage. Employees in high-rise buildings could feel the tremor, but most Jakartans were...

'Work hard and you will survive in Jakarta'.
June 28, 2002... Life is not easy in Jakarta. But this doesn't necessarily mean that you won't survive. Some residents say they love the city as it provides job opportunities for those who really want to work. They, however, complain about the poor security...

RI kids due at World Cup final.
June 28, 2002... JAKARTA: Two Indonesian children will take part at the 2002 World Cup finals in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday by escorting players as part of the Player Escort Program. The program was jointly organized by fastfood chain McDonald's, soccer...

Indonesian Imron survives Thamrin Cup third round.
June 28, 2002... Al Imron overcame Wu Yi Ming of Chinese Taipei 7-5, 6-2 in the third round here on Thursday to become the only Indonesian in the quarterfinal round of the Boy's category in the Thamrin Cup International Junior Championships tennis...

Legal uncertainty plays part in FDI decline: Theo.
June 28, 2002... Foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals for the first five months of the year has fallen by almost 60 percent over the same period recorded in 2001, failing to keep up with the recent steady signs of rising investor confidence. Data...

Oracle offers package for mid-sized businesses.
June 28, 2002... Oracle Corp. will expand its reach to cover medium-sized business in the Asia-Pacific region by preparing a new package that will enable mid- sized companies to implement key business flows of the Oracle E-Business Suite, such as Customer...

RI needs efficacious regulations: UPS.
June 28, 2002... Indonesia has the potential to attract more international courier businesses that will eventually boost the country's international trade. However, domestic hurdles remain high. The government, for instance, still imposes numerous...

Traditional art shows enjoy popularity.
June 28, 2002... A close observation of traditional art shows and programs on radio and television shows that there have been encouraging developments over the past five years. Now, according to Sapto Rahardjo of the Ethnic Music Broadcasting Production...

Rasdullah, governor for the poor.
June 28, 2002... He is an ordinary man, like many other Indonesians. Looking at his physical appearance, there is nothing really special about him. But some things do set him apart. While most of the other Jakarta gubernatorial candidates ride around in...

Alex Komang makes ideal bandit.
June 28, 2002... JAKARTA: There is a suspicion that the appointment of actor Alex Komang for the part of Medasing in Helmy Yahya's new TV drama Anak Perawan di Sarang Penyamun (Virgin in the Bandit's Lair) is not only because of the famed actor's acting...

Megawati 'should not betray the party's wishes'.
June 27, 2002... Dozens of supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) expressed their anger on Wednesday at party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's support for the reelection of Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso. The supporters,...

Throwing in the towel against Tommy?
June 27, 2002... The prosecution appeared to throw in the towel on Wednesday during the cross-examination of Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Supreme Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita. While Chief...

Megawati launches month-long national antidrug campaign.
June 27, 2002... Alarmed by the rising incidence of drug abuse, President Megawati Soekarnoputri launched on Wednesday a month-long national antidrug campaign, and urged judges to hand down the death sentence to drug traffickers. "To mark the beginning...

I met Syafiuddin, did not hire hitmen to murder him: Tommy.
June 27, 2002... Hutomo "Tommy" Mandala Putra, who is accused of masterminding the murder of Supreme Court Justice M. Syafiuddin Kartasasmita, admitted on Wednesday that he had privately met the judge but denied he had hired hitmen to kill him. "I...

Manulife seeks to go back in business soon.
June 27, 2002... PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (AJMI) would reopen its 73 branches Thursday, and sought to go back in business soon once the Commercial Court appointed a new independent receiver for the company which was declared bankrupt, according to...

President Megawati to meet Gus Dur at NU conference.
June 27, 2002... President Megawati Soekarnoputri is set to end her standoff with former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid when the two meet each other at the upcoming Nahdlatul Ulama national conference in Malang, East Java, next month. Megawati's...

AGO hunts for convicted banker.
June 27, 2002... JAKARTA: The Attorney General's Office is trying to locate the former director of the now-defunct private Bank Servitia, David Nusa Wijaya, who was sentenced to one year in prison for misusing Rp 25.6 billion in state liquidity support funds....

Two envoys present credentials.
June 27, 2002... JAKARTA: President Megawati Soekarnoputri received the credentials of new ambassadors from North Korea and Romania on Wednesday. In a ceremony at Merdeka Palace, North Korean Ambassador Jang Chang Chon and Romanian Ambassador Gheorghe...

Corrupt Indonesia.
June 27, 2002... I was a delegate at the UN prepcon 4 meeting held in Bali, Indonesia from May 27 to June 7, 2002 for the UN-World Summit on Sustainable Development. I arrived in Manado around 12:20 p.m. May 22 by Air Philippines from Davao City. I...

House approves government's plans to sell three banks.
June 27, 2002... The House of Representatives has approved "in principle" government plans to sell majority stakes in the publicly-listed Bank Niaga, Bank Danamon, and Lippo Bank this year. "In principle, we've agreed with the plans to sell Bank Niaga,...

Jakarta has facilities, but a tough place to live.
June 27, 2002... Despite its hustle and bustle of businesses, many Jakartans find that the city is tough and unfriendly. Some find that the city provides the facilities they need while others feel the city is too cruel to the poor. Some residents share their...

SBI rate down slightly to 15.11 percent.
June 27, 2002... The weighted average interest rate on one-month Bank Indonesia SBI promissory notes fell slightly to 15.11 percent at the Wednesday weekly auction, the central bank said. The benchmark interest rate was at 15.14 percent last week. ...

Telkom ordered to pay dividends.
June 27, 2002... The government said on Wednesday it would require all publicly listed state-owned companies, including telecommunication firm PT Telkom, to pay their annual dividend to the state coffers in accordance with the regulations, and warned of...

Courting China the Oracle way.
June 27, 2002... China is the envy of many fellow Asian countries for all the right reasons. Its size is simply staggering and with a population of over 1.2 billion, it is a market no one can ignore. It is small wonder that businesses are either opening...

Bali's pristine coral reefs under threat.
June 27, 2002... Bali Barat National Park is known as a home to thousands of varieties of flora and fauna, some are endangered and protected. But the park located between Jembrana and Buleleng regencies in northwest Bali also boasts beautiful coral reefs. ...

MPR considers revision of amended Constitution.
June 26, 2002... Three years after the first amendment to the 1945 Constitution, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) is now set to consider revising amendments agreed upon earlier to ensure consistency with the latest amendments. Secretary to the...

Judges grilled over controversial Manulife ruling.
June 26, 2002... Apparently bowing to pressure from Canada, the Jakarta High Court grilled three Commercial Court judges on Tuesday in connection with suspicions that they had allegedly accepted bribes to declare PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (AJMI)...

'Govt must quickly resolve Manulife fiasco'.
June 26, 2002... Experts warned the government not to ignore nor underestimate the effect the Manulife fiasco would have on legal uncertainty in the country, and predicted that the impact on the ailing economy would be severe. Chairman of the National...

Minister silent on political bill.
June 26, 2002... JAKARTA: Home minister Hari Sabarno refused on Tuesday to give an explanation on the background behind the drafting of the highly debated bills on political parties and election. "I will explain it during the deliberation of the bills,"...

Oil site found in Labuhan Batu.
June 26, 2002... With positive indications that there is oil in Labuhan Batu, North Sumatra, a giant U.S. oil firm hinted on Tuesday that it would start drilling in the regency early next year. "We have prepared some US$15 million to start drilling in...

The Mahathir Dilemma.
June 26, 2002... Quit while you're ahead. That's the best and wisest advice anyone could give to a long serving political leader like Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. That is also probably what was in Mahathir's mind when he announced his intention...

Toba Pulp Lestari moves production plant to China.
June 26, 2002... Tired of the long-standing dispute with local people and the local administration, PT Toba Pulp Lestari has moved its rayon production plant from North Sumatra to China, an official said on Tuesday. Toba Samosir deputy regent M.S....

Cabinet reshuffle isn't Mega's only alternative.
June 26, 2002... When President Megawati Soekarnoputri returned from her European trip on Saturday, she received encouraging news about her leadership: People are satisfied with her achievements and consider that she has performed better than other top...

PT Kanisatex workers protest.
June 26, 2002... BOGOR: Hundreds of workers from PT Kanisatex on Jl. Sabililah, Citeureup, Bogor regency, protested on Tuesday in front of the manpower agency. The workers were demanding raises and for the company to pay the money owed to them and the...

Train fares up more than 50 percent.
June 26, 2002... JAKARTA: The government will increase train fares in Greater Jakarta by more than 50 percent and apply a zoning system. The director general for land transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Iskandar Abubakar, told a news...

Hotel legal dispute drags on.
June 26, 2002... Despite pressure from the International Labor Organization for the rehiring of some dismissed workers, the Shangri-La Hotel management is insisting on awaiting the Supreme Court's decision on its appeal. "We will wait for the final court...

Pertamina to regain part of frozen funds at BoA.
June 26, 2002... State-owned oil and gas company Pertamina said on Tuesday a U.S. court had issued a ruling that would allow it to recover part of the some US$520 million currently frozen by Bank of America (BoA) at the request of power producer Karaha Bodas...

Peggy does her bit with children.
June 26, 2002... JAKARTA: Sunday is no holiday for actress and presenter Peggy Melati Sukma. Just several hours after completing a live show for RCTI's Angin Malam (Night's Breeze) talk show early on Sunday, she could be found at Puri Indah Mal shopping...

Choreographer looks for lost scenery.
June 26, 2002... Having spent most of her life in big cities, Singaporean choreographer Angela Liong felt as if she had found a long-lost but loving memory when she saw noted choreographer-cum-dancer Miroto's Banjarmili studio. Built right on a...

Hospitals reject Manulife policies.
June 25, 2002... Hospitals have decided to reject PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (AJMI) health insurance policies following the bankruptcy ruling on the company, leaving some 200,000 policyholders in uncertainty. Hospitals fear that the ongoing...

Megawati urges efforts to develop religious pluralism.
June 25, 2002... President Megawati Soekarnoputri has called on the nation to maintain religious pluralism and tolerance, rather than exploiting religious differences to stoke sectarian violence. Addressing more than 300 religious leaders, experts and...

Illegal migrant workers struggle for employment.
June 25, 2002... The prolonged economic crisis over the past five years has forced many Indonesian workers to seek employment abroad, mainly in neighboring Malaysia. Many job seekers have followed the existing legitimate procedures to find employment...

'Development in the city a success? Nonsense'.
June 25, 2002... There are numerous problems facing Jakarta, which just celebrated its 475th anniversary. Among these problems are poor public services, a public transportation system that barely seems to work and a feeling among residents that their lives...

Harun violates regulation on gubernatorial candidacy.
June 25, 2002... The incumbent West Nusa Tenggara Governor, Harun Alrasyid, who earlier registered as a gubernatorial candidate, violated election regulations by not submitting presidential approval on Monday, which was the closing date for registration. ...

Afghan refugees return home.
June 25, 2002... BOGOR: A total of 166 Afghan refugees, who had been living in three shelters in Bogor, have returned to Afghanistan with the improving situation in that country following the establishment of a new government. The head of the Bogor...

Bowling requires govt support.
June 25, 2002... CIREBON, West Java: The absence of proper practice facilities and a system to develop athletes has prevented Indonesia from producing world- class bowlers, a former top national bowler says. Hari Pratomo, who won the silver medal in...

DPR to expedite amendment of contentious bankruptcy law.
June 25, 2002... The House of Representatives, which is already saddled with the enormous job of completing the debates on dozens of "crucial" bills, may speed up debates on the amendment of the controversial bankruptcy law recently proposed by the...

Government moves to tackle huge domestic debt.
June 25, 2002... The government has stepped up its efforts to make its huge domestic debt more manageable by putting in place policies designed to reduce the debt burden on the state budget, a move analysts noted as "a good initial step" towards avoiding...

Antidumping duties planned for flour.
June 25, 2002... Minister of Industry and Trade Rini Soewandi unveiled on Monday plans to impose antidumping duties on imported wheat flour from Australia, the European Union (EU) and United Arab Emirates (UAE). "After considering input from several...

Satellite demand to pick soon.
June 25, 2002... Demand for commercial satellites in Asian-Pacific markets is expected to pick up as telecommunications operators in the region seek to expand their infrastructure to meet surging Internet usage, according to Arianespace, the French-based...

Ernst & Young warns of IT security threat.
June 25, 2002... British-based business consultant Ernst & Young advised Indonesian companies to implement plans to anticipate and handle computer viruses and worms, warning that such disturbances could seriously harm their businesses. The consultant...

IMF wants reform of Commercial Court.
June 24, 2002... The International Monetary Fund has stepped into the public debate over the Commercial Court's bankruptcy ruling on PT Asuransi Jiwa Manulife Indonesia (AJMI), saying the case should serve as a trigger point for Indonesia to speed up reforms...

Megawati rated highly despite govt's failures: Survey.
June 24, 2002... President Megawati Soekarnoputri has performed better than all other national political leaders currently in office, even as her government is deemed to be failing in delivering the goods, according to a recently published survey. More...

Mega to open Bali Arts Festival.
June 24, 2002... DENPASAR, Bali: President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to open the annual Bali Arts Festival here on Monday afternoon. The opening was supposed to take place on Saturday, but was delayed pending the return of Megawati from her...