LARGER BUDGET NEEDED TO STOP ACCIDENTS WITH AGING MILIY PLANES

Jakarta, May 22 (ANTARA) – The crash of a Hercules C-130 of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) in Magetan district, East Java, which killed about 100 military personnel and civilian passengers on Wednesday has prompted many quarters to urge the government to provide a special budget for the maintenance and rejuvenation of the Indonesian [...]

PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AVOID NEO-LIB IN FACE OF POLLS

Jakarta, May 21 (ANTARA) – These days the liberalism-based market mechanism has all of a sudden become the most ‘dreadful’ economic label for some quarters in Indonesia in the run-up to the upcoming July 8, 2009 presidential race.     Presidential aspirants are trying to convince the public that they are advocates of pro-people economy. This is [...]

GOVT TO FINISH CALCULATION OF NEWMONT DIVESTMENT

Jakarta, May 19 (ANTARA) – The government is resolved to finish calculating the value of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggra (NNT) assets this week so that an agreement can be reached with the giant mining firm on the price at which it is to acquire MNT shares this month. “The government team will [...]

RI’S ECONOMIC POLICIES UNLIKELY TO CHANGE NO MATTER WHO GOVERNS

Jakarta, May 18 (ANTARA) – Three presidential pairs-up will compete in the upcoming presidential polls, but observers say Indonesia’s economic policies will unlikely change significantly, no matter who wins the race and governs the country.

SOME OBSERVERS GIVE THUMBS DOWN TO BOEDIONO

Jakarta, May 14 (ANTARA) – Democratic Party (PD) chief patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) has reportedly decided to pick Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor Boediono as his running mate in the upcoming July 8 2009 presidential polls.      The PD presidential hopeful’s decision to run with Boediono, a true professional and technocrat, has sparked resistance from cadres [...]

PRO-YUDHOYONO PARTIES QUESTION HIS PLAN TO PICK BOEDIONO

Jakarta, May 12 (ANTARA) – Amid his efforts to approach the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and reports that he is going to pick Boediono as his running mate in the upcoming presidential race, Democratic Party (PD) chief patron Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) is facing a threat of reduced support from party cadres in [...]

WOC TO TRY SAVING LIVES OF COASTAL PEOPLE

Jakarta, May 11 (ANTARA) – The ongoing World Ocean Conference (WOC) in Manado, North Sulawesi, will formulate efforts to save not only the seas and marine resources but also the lives of people living in coastal areas.    “The adaptation and mitigation framework that the meeting will formulate is aimed at safeguarding not only the seas [...]

ICW, LAWMAKERS AT ODD OVER ANTI-GRAFT VALIDITY ISSUE

Jakarta, May 9 (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) says that lawmakers must have misinterpreted the law when they questioned the validity of decisions to be taken by the collective leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).   House’s Commission III for legal affairs in a meeting on Thursday with KPK asked the collective leadership [...]

SPECULATION ARISING ON PDIP-PD COALITION ATTEMPT

Jakarta, May 7 (ANTARA) – Speculations are now arising that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) and the Democratic Party (PD) are approaching each other to build a coalition, but leaders of both parties have denied it.    Public speculation arose following a visit to PDIP leader Megawati Soekarnoputri by Minister/State Secretary Hatta Rajasa on [...]

BANKS ORDERED TO CUT LENDING RATES

Jakarta, May 7 (ANTTARA) – Amid calls by businesses and economic observers for significant cuts in banks’ lending rates, the government ordered state-owned banks to lower the interest rates of their credits in order to stimulate the real sector. Acting Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Sri Mulyani Indrawati [...]