INDONESIAN LOCALS PERFORM RITUALS TO WELCOME NEW YEAR

Jakarta, Dec 29 (ANTARA) – While Christians were still enjoying their post-Christmas holidays, some Muslims in the country on Monday performed various rituals to welcome the Islamic New Year, 1 Muharram 1430 Hegira. Besides the Islamic New Year, Javanese also observed the Javanese New Year, 1 Suro, 1942 J, which both [...]

ELECTION BODY RACING AGAINST TIME FOR LOGISTICS PROCUREMENT

Jakarta, Dec 28 (ANTARA) – The government will hold a legislative election on April 9, 2009, but it seems that the General Election Commission (KPU) is racing against time in the remaining three months to prepare the election logistics. Even, the procurement of logistics has not yet been put [...]

PEOPLE THRONG INTERESTING PLACES ON X’MAS HOLIDAYS

Jakarta, Dec 26 (ANTARA) – After year-long hectic days, now is the time for a relaxation during this year-end holidays. People in many parts of the country like Java, Bali, Sumatra and Kalimantan are flocking at tourist destinations and other interesting places. Popular tourist destinations and cities are [...]

COURT’S DECISION MAY REDUCE WOMEN’S PARLIAMENTRY SEATS

Jakarta, Dec 25 (ANTARA) – The widely welcomed Constitutional Court (MK)’s ruling this week which annulled article 214 of law on election is feared to hamper the fulfillment of women’s 30 percent seat quota in parliament.
The Constitutional Court ruled on Tuesday that seats in the country’s legislatures would go to the candidates [...]

VIY 2008 TARGET ACHIEVED BUT HARD WORK LIES AHEAD

Jakarta, Dec 24 (ANTARA) – Indonesia may now crow about its success in achieving its Visit Indonesia Year 2008 (VIY 2008) target, but another challenge is waiting when it continues its VIY programs amid the global economic crisis in 2009. After achieving its VIY 2008 moderate target, set [...]

GLOOMY OUTLOOK OVERSHADOWS INDUSTRY IN 2009

Jakarta, Dec 23 (ANTARA) – The growth of the industrial sector, like other sectors in Indonesia, will slow down amid the global economic crisis in 2009, with the manufacturing industry likely to be affected most. The ministry of Industry has predicted that the economic meltdown will badly hit [...]

GOVT TO CUT TRANSPORTATION FARES

Jakarta, Dec. 22 (ANTARA) – Commuters and other public transportation users are likely to enjoy as a ‘gift’ a transportation fare cut at the end of this year, after the government announced on Sunday it was going to lower public transportation fares in the country by about 5.22 percent. [...]

HOUSE INITIATIVE TO END GOVT’S DUAL ROLE IN HAJJ BUSINESS?

Jakarta, Dec 17 (ANTARA) – Labeled as the worst-managed in Indonesia’s history, this year’s hajj pilgrimage has become the subject of a motion of at least 121 legislators for a parliamentary inquiry into the government’s performance in organizing the annual activity. The lawmakers proposed on Tuesday the establishment [...]

PARTICIPATION IN POLLS IS A RIGHT OR OBLIGATION?

Jakarta, Dec 14 (ANTARA) – Less than four months before the legislative election is held in Indonesia on April 9, 2009, one of the issues that have surfaced in public discourses is the ‘golput’ (deliberate non-voters or an acronym for ‘golongan putih’), a local term used to refer to a group [...]

GOVT MOVING AT SNAIL’S PACE TO DECIDE FUEL PRICES

Jakarta, Dec 13 (ANTARA) – After sky-rocketing from US$120 a barrel in May to US$147 in July, the world crude price fell to about US$40 a barrel this month, leaving the government confused about how to readjust domestic oil prices. When the crude price in the world market hovered at [...]