ANTARA - The Indonesian National News Agency articles from October 2001

ANTARA - The Indonesian National News Agency archives from October 2001

WEDNESDAY'S HEADLINES IN INDONESIA'S MAJOR DAILIES.
October 31, 2001... UNIBANK FALLOUT RAISES CONCERN OVER BI ROLES The closure of publicly listed Unibank, which Bank Indonesia (BI) officials said was linked to heavy loan exposure to a former controlling owner, has renewed concern over the central bank's...

Editorial: THE FIRST 100 DAYS.
October 31, 2001... President Megawati Soekarnoputri's first 100 days in office is more noteworthy for things that did not take place, than for what did. For sure, many things happened during that period. Most notable of these was the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks...

SUNDAY'S HEADLINES IN MAJOR INDONESIAN DAILIES.
October 30, 2001... THOUSANDS PAKISTANI READY TO ENTER AFGHANISTAN Thousands of Pakistani rode in 100 buses, trucks, pick up and other kinds of vehicles on Saturday (Oct 27) are ready to entering Afghanistan territory to unity with Taliban fighters. -...

Editorial: SEEDS OF NATIONHOOD.
October 30, 2001... It could be blamed on the weekend, the fragile security situation or the myriad problems Indonesia is now facing. Whatever the reason, it is regrettable that the commemoration of the 1928 Youth Pledge, passed almost unoticed by the average...

Editorial: A USELESS WAR.
October 30, 2001... The United States has intensified its attacks on Kabul and Kandahar in Afghanistan, and again, these have claimed civilian lives, including those of children. Obviously, the targets were missed. The war has claimed many civilian lives,...

MONDAY'S HEADLINES OF INDONESIA'S MAJOR DAILES.
October 30, 2001... THE NATION COULD PERISH, MEGA WARNS Indonesia could perish if people keep undermining national unity and cohesion, President Megawati Soekarnoputri said on Sunday. - The Jakarta Post PRESIDENT LIKENS 'KKN' PERPETRATORS TO THIEVES...

CENTRAL BANK FREEZES UNI BANK.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Central bank, Bank Indonesia (BI), has frozen the private bank, Uni Bank, due to its worsening capital adequacy ratio and non-performing loans and for violating the limit in extending credit. BI sources said...

QUAKE ROCKS STRICKEN BENGKULU CITY.
October 30, 2001... Bengkulu, Bengkulu, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale jolted the quake-hit Indonesian city of Bengkulu at 5:31 a.m. Monday. There was no report on casualties and material losses, spokesman of the Jakarta...

PRESIDENT CRITICIZES GROWING REGIONALISM AMONG PROVINCES.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday criticized the growing feeling of regionalism among the country's provinces, calling it narrow-minded and exaggerated. "Whether we realize it or not, we...

INDON NGO TO HELP VICTIMS OF WAR IN AFGHANISTAN.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian non-governmental organization, Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C), is sending four doctors and a paramedic to Afghanistan. The MER-C team is slated to depart from the Halim Perdanakusuma...

GOV'T ENCOURAGES HOUSING SECTOR TO CONTINUE PROJECTS - VEEP.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz has said the government encourages the private housing sector to continue its projects which have given a positive impact on the country's economy. "The government...

INDONESIAN PLANE FLIES OUT OF AUSTRALIA AFTER WEEKEND MID-AIR SCARE.
October 30, 2001... Perth, Australia, Oct 29 (ANTARA/AFP) - A Garuda Indonesia 747-200 aircraft at the centre of a weekend mid-air incident left Perth for Bali Monday carrying 307 passengers. Flight GA727 had left Perth Sunday bound for Denpasar, but a...

GOLKAR PARTY COULD BE DISSOLVED IF FOUND GUILTY OF EMBEZZLEMENT - LAW EXPERT.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - If Golkar Party is found to have received and used Rp 40 billion from the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) during the 1999 general election, the former ruling party must be dissolved, a law expert said here Monday....

GOV'T URGED TO INTENSIFY DIPLOMATIC STEPS TO END U.S. ATTACK.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is expected to intensify diplomatic measures abroad in an effort to put an end to the US military strikes on Afghanistan, an ulema has said. "I am looking forward to the government's...

INDON GOV'T PLANS EARLY DISBURSEMENT OF LOANS TO COVER DEFICIT.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Finance Minister Boediono disclosed here Monday that the government would expedite the disbursement of foreign loans to cover budgetary deficit in case the privatization of state enterprises falls short...

SOLE CANDIDATE BACHTIAR EXPECTED TO MAKE INDON POLICE MORE COHESIVE - PRESIDENT.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Police is expected to improve its cohesiveness under Commissioner Gen Da'i Bachtiar's leadership, President Megawati Soekarnoputri was quoted by State Secretary Bambang Kesowo as saying here Monday....

RI SUPPORTS RUSSIA'S BID TO BECOME FULL WTO MEMBER.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia supports Russia's bid to obtain full membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the hope the status will make Russia more accessible to Indonesian products, a senior trade official said. ...

RI TO SWITCH EXPORT ORIENTATION TO NEW MARKETS : MINISTER.
October 30, 2001... Tuban, Bali, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia intends to switch its export orientation to other parts of the world in view of an expected decline in demand for its non-oil/non-gas commodities in its traditional markets in the U.S., Europe and...

MILY, POLICEMEN INVOLVED IN DESPATCH OF ILLEGAL WORKERS TO M'SIA, MINISTER SAYS.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Manpower and Transmigration Minister Jacob Nuwa Wea disclosed here Monday a number of military an police officers in Sumatra were involved in the despatch of illegal Indonesian workers to Malaysia. "Workers...

GOLKAR-SE SULAWESI OPPOSES PROPOSED EXTRAORDINARY CONGRESS.
October 30, 2001... Kendari, SE Sulawesi, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Golkar's Southeast Sulawesi provincial chapter has expressed opposition to a proposal made by some groups within the party to convene an extraordinary congress. The groups made the suggestion in...

4,500 E TIMORESE REFUGEES RETURN TO THEIR HOMELAND.
October 30, 2001... Kupang, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Some 4,500 East Timorese refugees have left the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara for East Timor since last June, surpassing the number that repatriated during the June registration. Spokesman for the...

BANK INDONESIA FREEZES UNIBANK.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Bank Indonesia (the central bank) on Monday froze the operations of privately-owned Unibank bank, citing the latter's deteriorating performance, including the swelling of its non-performing loans to 51 percent of...

RI TO BAN IMPORTS OF LIVESTOCK FROM US IF FOUND TO CARRY ANTHRAX.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will ban imports of livestock from the United States if it was found to be contaminated with anthrax virus now attacking that country, an agriculture ministry official said here on Monday. "So far...

PLN NEEDS US$ 300 MILLION FOR REPOWERING PROJECT.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - State-owned electricity company PLN needs at least 300 million US dollars in 2002 for the repowering of its 700-MW Muara Karang and 1000-MW Muara Tawar power plants, in anticipation of an electricity shortage in...

XANANA TO MEET TAVARES IN KUPANG.
October 30, 2001... Kupang, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - East Timor leader Xanana Gusmao plans to come here early next month to meet with former commander of pro-integration forces Joao da Silve Tavares, a military spokesman said here on Monday. Xanana would also...

GOVT IMPOSES TRAVEL BAN ON UNIBANK EXECUTIVES.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - The government has imposed an overseas travel ban on the executive board members of Bank Unibank following Bank Indonesia (the central bank)'s decision to freeze the bank on Monday. "Today the Finance Ministry...

JSX SUSPENDS UNIBANK SHARE TRADING.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) suspended the trading of Unibank shares on Monday in connection with the central bank's decision to freeze the bank. Although a formal announcement on the freezing of Unibank was...

SUPREME COURT MAY REOPEN GOLKAR CASE ON NEW EVIDENCE.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Supreme Court Chairman Bagir Manan said here on Monday the case involving demands for the Golkar Party's dissolution could be reopened if there was strong evidence that the party had used National Logistics Agency's...

RI CONSIDERING FREE TRADE AREA WITH CHILE.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is studying prospects of establishing a free trade area with Chile in a bid to expand the country's export market to Latin America, an official of the Trade and Industry Ministry said here on Monday. ...

ANNUAL MPR SESSION SHOULD DECIDE ON THREE BASIC ISSUES, OBSERVER SAYS.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - A member of the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU), Mulyana W Kusumah, maintained here Monday that the upcoming annual session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) should decide on three basic...

VEEP CALLS ON IIFTIHAR TO WORK FOR WORLD PEACE.
October 30, 2001... Jakarta, October 29 (ANTARA) - Vice President Hamzah Haz has asked the International Islamic Forum for Science, Technology and Human Resources Development (IFTIHAR) to play a role in helping create world peace. This was stated by...

ALKHAIRAT ASKS U.S. TO STOP MILY AGGRESSION.
October 30, 2001... Palu, October 29 (ANTARA) - The Al-Khairat Islamic Organization in Central Sulawesi has asked the United States to stop its military aggression against Afghanistan as soon as possible. This is to prevent the possible emergence of a more...

ASITA MEMBERS URGED TO ADJUST TO ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY, INFORMATION.
October 30, 2001... Mataram, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - Culture and Tourism Minister I Gde Ardhika urged the Association of Indonesian Tour and Travel Agencies (ASITA) to encoruage its members to reposition their businesses in accordance with advances in technology and...

INVESTORS STILL RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE IN TRANSPORATION SECTOR : MINISTER.
October 30, 2001... Samarinda, Oct 29 (ANTARA) - A number of investors are still showing reluctance to operate in Indonesia's transportation sector because of the country's unstable security conditions, a minister said. After launching a national...

EDITORIAL: THE CENTRAL BANK SAGA.
October 30, 2001... The House of Representatives failed to select three new deputy governors of the central bank out of the nine candidates put forth early this year by Bank Indonesia Governor Sjahril Sabirin. This means that Bank Indonesia will have to do with...

EDITORIAL: QUIZZING BI'S PROFESSIONALISM.
October 30, 2001... Finally, another bank was frozen whereas four days earlier (October 26, 2001), Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Syahril Sabirin showed his optimism that no more bank would be liquidated till the end of this year, considering that banks which...

Editorial: THE POLICE AND "SHOCK THERAPY".
October 28, 2001... The recent spate of armed and often ruthless robberies in Jakarta has added to the public's concern about increasing crime in the country. Even without statistics, it is not difficult to perceive the rising trend, not only in quantitative but...

RECORD JAIL TERM FOR INDONESIAN ECSTASY SMUGGLER.
October 28, 2001... Hong Kong, Oct 27 (ANTARA/AFP) - An Indonesian woman has received a record jail term of 19 and a half years for attempting to smuggle 21 million Hong Kong dollars (2.7 million US) worth of Ecstasy pills into Hong Kong, a report said Saturday....

WOODEN SHIPS FOR A'LIA, SWEDEN LAUNCHED.
October 28, 2001... Makassar, S Sulawesi, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Two wooden boats ordered by Australia and Sweden from a boat producing company in Bontobahari village, South Sulawesi province, were launched from the Bontobahari pier on Thursday (Oct.25). Andi...

AIR FORCE TO BUILD RADAR STATION IN SOUTHEAST MALUKU.
October 28, 2001... Ambon, Maluku, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Air Force is looking for the most suitable spot in the western part of Southeast Maluku for the construction of a reconnaissance radar station to detect incursions by foreign aircraft into...

PPP MEMBERS HOLD BRIEF DEMO IN FRONT OF US EMBASSY.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Tens of members of the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) staged a peaceful and brief rally in front of the US Embassy on Jalan Merdeka Selatan on Saturday, calling on the US to stop its military attacks on...

AGO NOT TO DETAIN RAHARDI.
October 28, 2001... Medan, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Attorney General MA Rahman said here on Saturday his office would not detain Rahardi Ramelan, a suspect in the alleged misappropriation of Rp54.6 billion in National Logistics Agency (Bulog) non-budgetary funds. ...

10 IMMIGRANTS FLEE FROM BATAM QUARANTINE FACILITY.
October 28, 2001... Batam, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - During the last two months, ten detainees, comprising seven Afghan immigrants and three Malaysian nationals, fled the Batam immigration service's quarantine facility. They ran away after breaking down certain...

THAI COMPANY INTERESTED IN POWER GENERATING BUSINESS IN S KALIMANTAN.
October 28, 2001... Banjarmasin, S. Kalimantan, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Banpu, a Thai company operating in South Kalimantan's mining sector, has evinced interest in investing in the province's electricity sector as well, a company spokesman said here Saturday. ...

E TIMOR WANTS SPEEDY COMPLETION OF REFUGEES' REPATRIATION.
October 28, 2001... Motamasin, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - East Timor Foreign Minister Ramos Horta has reportedly asked Indonesia to speed up the settlement of the question of East Timorese refugees in East Nusa Tenggara (West Timor). He made the request at a meeting...

RESULTS OF E TIMORESE REFUGEES' REGISTRATION YET TO REACH MINISTER.
October 28, 2001... Kupang, E Nusatenggara, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Yusuf Kalla said here on Saturday he had so far not received the results of last June's registration of East Timorese refugees in East Nusa Tenggara (West...

E JAVA TAEKWONDO ATHLETES TO TAKE PART IN WORLD C'SHIP.
October 28, 2001... Surabaya, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Four East Java taekwondo athletes are scheduled to take part in the World Taekwondo Championship in Seoul, South Korea, from November 1 to 7. The four are Satrio Rahardani, Ika Dian safitri, Margaretha and...

MINISTER : INDONESIA SHOULD BE PART OF NEW WORLD.
October 28, 2001... Bandar Lampung, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia should become part of the new world gearing up for a peaceful, just and prosperous life in the wake of the...

AKBAR NEED NOT RESIGN AS HOUSE SPEAKER, SAYS AMIEN.
October 28, 2001... Yogyakarta, Oct 27 (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Amien Rais said House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar Tandjung does not need to give up his job while being investigated in connection with the Bulog financial...

Editorial: OPENING THE EYES OF THE U.S.
October 28, 2001... To the US, the world is all its own. It does not care about other voices, even though they are for its own sake. Calls from all Moslem countries, including from Indonesia, asking it to stop its military attacks on Afghanistan before the...

AKBAR TANDJUNG SAYS HE HAS YET TO RECEIVE SUMMONS ON BULOG SCANDAL.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung has said that until noon Friday, he has not received any summons from the Attorney General's Office on when he will be questioned over the embezzlement of funds from...

MEGAWATI TELLS POLICE NOT TO HESITATE IN DOING TASKS.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri has urged the country's policemen not to hesitate in carrying out their tasks, particularly in stopping violence. "If (you are) forced to use your equipment, follow...

OIC SHOULD PRESS U.S. TO STOP ATTACKS ON AFGHANISTAN BEFORE RAMADHAN.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Vice President Hamzah Haz has called on Islamic countries grouped in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to press the United States and its allies to stop military strikes on Afghanistan before...

SILKAIR OPENS SINGAPORE-PALEMBANG ROUTE.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Silkair, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines (SIA), in coordination with Indonesia's Mandala Airlines, will start serving the Singapore-Palembang, South Sumatra route on Oct 28. A press release issued by Silkair...

INDONESIA TO RESUME PARTICIPATION IN INT'L TRAVEL MARTS, MINISTER SAYS.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will again participate in international travel marts to boost promotions and perk up its tourism industry which has been hit by the Sept 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, Tourism Minister I Gede...

HOUSE SHOULD PASS BILL ON MONEY LAUNDERING BY JUNE NEXT YEAR, OFFICIAL SAYS.
October 28, 2001... Surabaya, E Java, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - The deliberation at the House of Representatives (DPR) on the anti-money laundering bill should be completed by June next year to prevent Indonesia from being blacklisted again, a central bank official...

JAPANESE INVESTORS WANT TO DO BUSINESS IN BATAM.
October 28, 2001... Batam, Riau, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Although the global economic recession has prompted some foreign companies at the Batamindo industrial estate to close down, Batam island has succeeded in attracting 70 Japanese investors, Batam Authority...

PDIP FACTION NOT TO RESIST DEMANDS FOR HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO PROBE AKBAR.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA)- The Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) will not try to block demands for the formation of a special House committee to investigate Akbar Tanjung's alleged...

AGO ALSO PLANNING TO SUMMON HABIBIE, WIRANTO OVER BULOG SCAM.
October 28, 2001... Medan, N Sumatra, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) plans to summon former president BJ Habibie and former armed forces commander retired General Wiranto in connection with the Bulog non-budgetary funds case, Attorney...

INDONESIA TO PROPOSE PRODUCTION CUT AT OPEC MEETING.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Indonesia will likely ask for a production cut to members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in its extraordinary meeting scheduled on November 14, a senior official said here on Friday. ...

NTT TO HOST E TIMOR RECONCILIATION MEETING AT GRASSROOTS LEVEL.
October 28, 2001... Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Oct 26 (ANTARA) - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) will facilitate a reconciliation meeting among East...

WAHID URGES PKB TO STRIVE TO WIN NEXT ELECTIONS.
October 28, 2001... Bandung, W Java, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Former president Abdurrahman Wahid urged all ranks in the National Awakening Party (PKB) here on Friday to work hard to meet the 2004 general elections. The task is heavy because PKB has to strive to win...

SMEs REMINDED TO OBTAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Chairman of the National Agency for Export Development (NAFED) Gusmardi Bustami reminded national businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to register their products for intellectual property...

FREEPORT TOLD TO USE ITS TAILING FOR CONSTRUCTIVE PURPOSES.
October 28, 2001... Jayapura, Irian Jaya, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - PT Freeport Indonesia, the giant American mining company in Tembagapura, Mimika regency, Irian Jaya, has been asked to pay serious attention to the disposal of its tailing as the waste material has...

VEEP ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, October 26 (ANTARA) - Vice President Hamzah Haz said that in the past the Indonesian industrial development was not export-oriented but was, instead, geared to export substitution. Addressing the opening of the fifth National...

DEFENSE MINISTRY TO PROVIDE JOHNY LUMINTANG WITH LEGAL ASSISTANCE.
October 28, 2001... Magelang, C Java, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Defense will provide legal assistance to former Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Johny Lumintang who has been accused of violating human rights in East Timor by a US...

KUWAIT ASSISTS BANDUNG'S "PASUPATI" PROJECT.
October 28, 2001... Bandung, W Java, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - Kuwaiti Ambassador to Indonesia Zamal Mubaroq said on Friday he expected the Kuwaiti-assisted "Pasupati" flyover and bridge project in Bandung to be truly beneficial for the people here. "Our government...

MORE THAN 20,900 FLOOD VICTIMS IN C JAVA TAKE REFUGE.
October 28, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - More than 20,900 residents of the Central Java town of Kebumen on Friday evening remained stranded in refugee camps because their villages were still inundated since last Wednesday. Many of them took refuge at...

STUDENTS DEMONSTRATE AT U.S. CONSULATE IN S'BAYA.
October 28, 2001... Surabaya, E Java, October 26 (ANTARA) - Over 50 students of the Surabaya November 10 Institute of Technology (ITS) coordinated by the Indonesian Moslem Students Action Front (KAMMI) demonstrated before the U.S. Consulate General building here...

GOVT TO STOP ANNUAL BUDGET FOR REFUGEES NEXT YEAR.
October 28, 2001... Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Oct 26 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will stop providing an annual budget of Rp1.5 trillion for refugees in the country next year, a cabinet minister said here. Instead, the government would focus on three...

PRESIDENT TO ALLOW PROBE ON HOUSE SPEAKER.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - President Megawati Soekarnoputri has signed a letter allowing the Attorney General's Office to question House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung as a witness in the Bulog scandal. "This morning, Madame...

PRESIDENT TO FLY TO BRUNEI TO ATTEND ASEAN SUMMIT.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri will depart for Brunei Darussalam on Nov 4 to attend the ASEAN Summit. State Secretary Bambang Kesowo told newsmen here Thursday that the president is slated to...

GOLKAR LAWMAKERS HAIL PRESIDENT'S PERMISSION TO EXAMINE AKBAR.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Golkar legislators at the House of Representatives (DPR) indicated here Thursday that they appreciate President Megawati Soekarnoputri's permission for the Attorney General's Office to question Golkar chairman,...

PAN NOT TO OPPOSE FORMING OF SPECIAL INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE, AMIEN RAIS SAYS.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman, Amien Rais, said Thursday his party, through the Reform faction of the House of Representatives, would not oppose the forming of the Bulog Special Investigation Committee II,...

FOREIGN ATHLETES CONFIRM PARTICIPATION IN ASAHAN WHITEWATER FESTIVAL.
October 26, 2001... Medan, N Sumatra, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Foreign participants have given their confirmation to join the Asahan Whitewater Festival (AWF) to be held in Indonesia's North Sumatra province on Nov 8-12. The foreign participants who have confirmed...

3 KILLED, 13 INJURED IN TRAIN CRASH IN BANTEN.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Three people were killed and 13 others were injured in a train crash in Cijero Lebak village, Rangkas Bitung district in Indonesia's Banten province early on Thursday. Among those killed were the train engineer...

MEGAWATI SLAMS FRUITLESS FOREST REGREENING CEREMONIES.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Indonesian President Megawati Soekarnoputri has criticized the myriad of forest regreening ceremonies which have ended in failure. "I have been invited to plant a tree, then water it. However, one year later,...

JAPAN'S OSAKA GAS FOUNDATION EXTENDS RP 1 BILLION AID TO ACEH.
October 26, 2001... Medan, N Sumatra, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Japan's Osaka Gas Foundation of International Cultural Exchange (OGFICE) has extended a Rp 1 billion aid for educational development in Indonesia's Nangroe Aceh Darussalam province, Japanese consul here,...

GOV'T TO RESPOND TO DEMAND FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE, MPR CHAIRMAN SAYS.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) chairman, Amien Rais, on Thursday reiterated that the government should respond positively to the people's demand for good governance. The government should make significant...

AGO TO QUESTION AKBAR AFTER RECEIPT OF PRESIDENTIAL PERMISSION.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) will question Akbar Tandjung over the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) non-budgetary funds scandal as soon as it has received the required presidential permission, an AGO official...

MINISTER YUSRIL MET, TALKED WITH SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON.
October 26, 2001... New York, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Justice and Human Rights Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra during a recent visit to Washington D.C. met and held talks with a number of senior U.S. government officials. According to information obtained by Antara...

DORODJATUN TO LEAD STATE ENTERPRISES' PRIVATIZATION TEAM.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti will lead an inter-ministerial team to speed up privatization of state-owned companies, Finance Minister Boediono announced here Thursday. ...

BNI INTRESTED IN BUYING BCA SHARES.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Managing Director of state-owned "Bank Negara Indonesia" (BNI) Syaefuddin Hasan said Thursday BNI was interested in buying the shares of Bank Central Asia (BCA). "We have good corporate capability. So we...

PROBING OVER AKBAR TANDJUNG WILL NOT IMPACT GOLKAR PERFORMANCE.
October 26, 2001... Jakarta, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - A Golkar executive, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who early this year was named a suspect in a corruption case, said the president's approval to investigate the alleged involvement of Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung in the...