Indonesian currency was under attack of speculator and reach the all time low level of nearly Rp 4,000. The government then decided to ask of technical assistance help from IMF and World Bank. This act slightly strenghten Rupiah to Rp 3,500 level, still higher compare to normal Rp 2,500. Check out our coming issues.
editor's
letter
This weekly (but updated frequently with big issues) newsletter intended to provide the current issues in Indonesian political situation. The sixth edition review the currency turmoil in Indonesia and continuing expose of East Timor Development. If you have interest on Indonesia, stay tuned and check out our coming editions. See our back issue on our archive.
If you encounter something interesting in Indonesia that you think is worthy of the indonesia weekly, please send email to editor.
The indonesia weekly is published informally by Center of Indonesian Political Studies.
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indonesia weekly
Fifth Edition - October 1997
special coverage: currency turmoil
rupiah tumbles down
The rupiah has depreciated almost 45% since mid July, reaching a record low of 3,900 to the U.S. dollar on mid-October. Currently, the rupiah almost stabilize at 3,500 level due to sporadic Bank of Indonesia intervention. The rupiah turmoil will downgrade the ability of Indonesian to buy foreign products therefore import will be reduced dramatically, but fortunately the turmoil will boost the Indonesian export to other countries. However, the employment in Indonesia also hit by 40,000 layoff.The currency attack on Southeast Asian countries apparently a new type of western colonization to force the dependance of developing countries to Western economics.
terrorism from australia
Out of publicity, an armed and dangerous Australian terrorist, named Jeffrey, was tracking down in Indonesia. He accussed by Indonesian military of teaching East Timorese rebels how to make bombs intended for terrorist attacks in Indonesia. The terrorist operation was dicovered last month after one of the bombs accidentally exploded in their home bomb factory in central Java. The act of terrorist in Indonesia might be related to several Indonesian riots during last months. Currently, seven people from the group already seized and two East Timorese youth who possess 20 home-made bombs intended to be used to blow up targets in the East Timorese capital of Dili, as well as ammunition for automatic weapons.
clandestine chase school teacher
East Timorese clandestine was acting up again by chasing and killing two innocent East Timorese school teachers (2-Oct) in Baucau. The two teachers, Jacinto da Piadade (31) dan Julio Pereira (31) shot by two armed clandestine. Jacinto was dead and Julio Pereira survived. The Indonesian police still searching the shooter, apparently equipped by foreign-supplied ammunition. On 29 September, two local villager also tortured and killed by East Timorese clandestine in Venilale.
oil tanker in east timor
Since September 1997, BHP Australia will built Rp 150 million tanker in Liquica, East Timor to support the oil production in Timor Gap. The construction will employ 1,000 indigenous East Timorese people in the three years project. Timor gap is considered as the giant oil accummulation in the world with promising oil discovery.
east timor electricity
All of the East Timorese district already supplied with adequate electricity. However, only 45% of remote village still need to be upgraded, due to enormous expansion of small industry during last twenty years. Sadly, most of the East Timorese still reluctance to pay their electricity bill, although the bill was lowered by government subsidy. A new power plant will be built soon in ) Iralalaro, Los Palos (Lautem district), to support the electricity shortage.
education support
The non-profit organization to support children education (GN-OTA) led by Mrs. Halimah Trihatmojo on 8 October 1997 handed out education support for 19,003 East Timorese student.
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