Edisi 13 Januari 2010 | International Bali Post

SKorea, US dismiss NKorea’s peace talks proposal

16 Pages Number 8 2nd Year e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hoteliers Complain about Loud Music PAGE 8

Cowell says he’s leaving ‘Idol’ for ‘X Factor’ PAGE 12

IBP/edi

The plan to build a plant museum must be halted because it against the regulation. The museum is constructed in the green belt area where no building allowed

Museum construction halted by green belt Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The plan of A.B.Gede Oka Dipa to build a plant museum on Hayam Wuruk, Denpasar, is facing some difficulties. Oka Dipa is finding difficulties in arranging the permit for the museum because the area is a green belt area where building is not allowed.

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The Housing and City Management Department had warning letter to the owner of the building which is Oka Dipa.

He was planning to copy the success of Kertalangu cultural village which is built in a green belt area.

However, the similar condition didn’t apply for the museum. On Tuesday, January 12th 2010, the construction of the plant museum was stopped by the authorized department.

A.A.Bagus Airawata, the head of Denpasar Housing and City Man-

agement Department, said that the building ha no permit and the owner also didn’t send the concept of the museum to the Mayor of Denpasar, IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra.

“They didn’t apply for the permit and it doesn’t allow by the

mayor,” he added. Airwata said that the department doesn’t have any objection if the permit is already available. In order to prevent any problem, the department halted the construction until the process of arranging permit is done.

He said that he saw 40 trucks unloading stones in the area. “When I saw the trucks, I predicted that it will be a huge building,” Airwata added.

For the meantime, the museum for plants can not constructed.(kmb12)

Within a Year, 365 Death Accidents Bali Post -

Cases of unnatural deaths due to accidents reached 365 cases or approximately 11.5 percent of the total deaths in the morgue of Sanglah Hospital. Most victims of these accidents suffered from severe injuries in the head (72.6 percent) and abdominal trauma (0.8 percent). “This can be interpreted

that most victims of the accident did not wear head protective headgear correctly and in accordance with the standards,” said the Head of Forensic Medical Installation of Sanglah Hospital, I.B. Putu Alit, not long ago.

Meanwhile, along the year 2009, there were 4 cases of suicidal death, 13 cases of murder and 24 cases of death from methanol poisoning.

The case of natural deaths accord-

ing Alit stayed to occupy the highest number in the morgue of Sanglah Hospital or approximately 71.95 percent.

Then, the death of natural causes were mostly caused by interference with the central nervous system (23.63 percent), disorders of the heart and blood vessels (21.8 percent), respiratory distress (20.9 percent) and death in the uterus (7.7

percent) . For the case of death in uterus occurred around 181. “Death in uterus is mainly caused by the eating pattern of mothers that consumed lots of fatty foods, less exercise and less control to the doctor,” said Alit. In addition to deaths from accidents and natural death, death on the way to the hospital or called Dead on Arrival (DOA) approximately reached15.15 percent. (san)

2

International

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Bali News Headless Corpse at Dreamland Beach Denpasar (Bali Post)—

IBP/eka

A customer chose toys in a shop in Denpasar on Tuesday, January 12th 2010. Most of the toys circulating in Indonesia are produced in China and the open of free market made Indonesian products can not compate with the others

Weak Supervision to Construction

DTRP Prepares Legal Instrument Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The emergence of criticism against the lack of Balinese architectural ornamentation on a number of buildings in Denpasar begins to receive responses from the ranks of Spatial Layout and the Housing Services (DTRP) of Denpasar City. Because the allegations against the crooked of Balinese ornaments beginning to ignore it were true.

“This is inseparable from the existence of legal instruments to conduct the enforcement. Therefore, in anticipating this problem, DTRP began to design legal rules to control the buildings ignoring Balinese ornaments,” said the Head of Denpasar City DTRP, Kadek Kusuma Diputra, when met in the Office of Denpasar Mayor, last Monday (Jan 11).

He said that the lack of reference or the legal instrument of the problem caused weak supervision.

Although there was Regional Legislation No. 5/2005 concerning with the Building Arrangement, it could not accommodate the enforcement measures. Moreover, the legislation remained to include the province. It was said the law was not clearly defined, about what kind of building, and what

meant by Balinese style building.

Due to weak conditions owned by the law made the DTRP dither. “If a building only containing one carving is said to have had Balinese style ornament, whereas it is minimal. If so, we can no longer take action since it was considered no violation,” confessed a former Head of Denpasar Civil Registry Services (Capil).

Reflecting on this weakness, his party would cope with the mayor regulation (Perwali). This Perwali would be discussed soon in order it could produce a more specific regulations about the building, both for the home (residence), shop, house-shop or hotel.

This regulation would be made clearer and more specialized. However, it would not uniform. “Creativity of the architect remains is

let be developed without ignoring its Balinese,” said the Head of Indonesian Association of Shooting and Hunting (Perbakin) of Denpasar.

To realize the Mayor Regulation on Spatial Layout, Kusuma Diputra would initiate by organizing a workshop. His party would also involve various parties, such as Building Expert Team (TABG), Indonesia Association of Architects (IAI), and the National Association of Indonesian Consultants (Inkindo) of Denpasar.

Earlier, observer of spatial layout, Putu Rumawan Salain, and legislator I Wayan Suadi Putra of Denpasar House assessed that many buildings in Denpasar stayed to ignore Balinese architectural ornaments whereas they were of wide choices and flexible. (kmb12)

The finding of a headless corpse shocked people around Dreamland Beach, Jimbaran. Waters Police took such headless corpse to the morgue of Sanglah Hospital at about 10:50 am Local time.

The Head of Forensic Medical Installation of Sanglah Hospital, I.B. Putu Alit, said that the man’s corpse was 164 cm tall. He wore Levis jeans of maroon color. “At this moment, we focus on the identification process of the corpse,” said Alit.

According to Alit, it would be very difficult to identify because of the victim’s teeth were gone as

well as fingerprints that could not be taken due to damaged by decay. “The only possible way is by conducting DNA tests,” said Alit.

From the results of external examination was found no signs of violence on the victim’s body. “Releasing of the head also occurred naturally due to decomposition and was found no traumatic injuries,” said Alit.

Allegedly, the victim dying between 1-3 months was found to have shown a lathering process.

From the results of post cranial index, it was known the corpse belonged to Mongoloid racial groups. Until Monday, the corpse was still placed in the morgue of Sanglah Hospital. (kmb24)

Budget of Collecting Fee in Badung

Cut Down at IDR 16 Billion Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The budget collecting fee (UP) in the Badung Regional Budget 2010 was eventually corrected. If the previous UP budget reached IDR 41 billion more, later was cut down at IDR 16 billion. Thus, the UP set up in this fiscal year became IDR 24 billion more. The Head of Badung Agency for Regional Development (Bappeda), Research, and Development of Badung, Kompyang R. Swandika revealed this after the meeting of Badung Budget Agency, Badung House, last Monday (Jan 11).

Kompyang said, the cutting down of the UP was the percentage reduction of the UP withdrawal from the tax realization that originally implemented maximum value of five percent to three percent.

He explained, the percentage reduction of UP denoted a direct policy of the Regent. Meanwhile, the withdrawal of UP in the circle of Badung Regency remained to belong to the authority of the Regent as set forth in Regent Regulation about the UP. Apart from the UP, corrections of the Badung Regional Budget also came from the profit-sharing income with the province on cigarette excise taxes and budget cuts to village apparatus access. This was caused by the post has already been programmed by the province. Total budget obtained from the cor-

rected one amounted to IDR 16.4 billion.

Furthermore, it was expressed; the corrected funds would be directed to the public interest like the post of education, health and infrastructure, especially roads. In addition, the budget was also directed to additional expenditure of grants, such as additional budget for the Regional AIDS Prevention Commission (KPAD), Committee of Electoral Supervision (Panwaslu), vertical institution and budget assistance for military programs in the rural development. “Obviously, the budget is intended for the benefits of the people,” Kompyang affirmed.

He added that balances of the budget calculation (Silpa) in 2010 only reached IDR 19 million.

Silpa with this amount showed the budget has been optimally utilized, especially as a stimulus of economic growth.

Meanwhile, the PDI-P faction claimed that reduction of Badung UP denoted the result of performance of its factions. The Head of the PDI-P faction of Badung, I Nyoman Prasta Giri said that his faction was not in vain to request legal consideration to the province that eventually resulted in the correction of UP budget for fiscal year 2010. “By cutting down the UP, it means the budget can be directed to the interests of the people,” he said. (ded)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z Chief Editor: ABG Satria Naradha z Managing Editor: Wirata,Palgunadi z Editors: Alit Purnata, Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Darmasunu, Daniel Fajry, Diah Dewi, Martinaya, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Sutiawan, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan, Tabanan: Surpi. Jakarta: Nikson, Suharto Olii, Indu P. Adi, Ahmadi Supriyanto, Achmad Nasrudin, Hardianto, Darmawan S. Sumardjo, Heru B Arifin, Asep Djamaluddin, Ade Irawan, Ipik Tanoyo. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani, Nur Haedin, Suyadnya. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publiser: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

The House and Regent Deny to Have Divided Budgetary Money Bangli (Bali Post)—

Emergence of the issue on the higher officials of Bangli (regent and the legislators) dividing the budgetary money 2010 was denied by the Regent and the local members of the House last Monday (Jan 11). Counteraction was executed after the rumors stating that allotment of social fund currently spread by the executives and legislatives were only rendered to those very same people.

Arnawa confirmed that during this time such Social Funds provided by him and the legislative has complied with the prevailing rules and laws.

Recipients of Social Funds (Bansos) have spread evenly. For the legislators, the allocation of recess was based on community proposals. On that account, his party did the same thing.

For example, his party has recently adopted a policy to help people who suffered from chronic diseases. Incidentally, there were a few people coming and applying for the assistance due to chronic illness. Within a week, those people had to get hemodialysis service at a cost of IDR 900 thousand for one time treatment. If not assisted, even the rich could become poor because of taking care of sick. It also has received approval from the House.

In fact, after running for several times, the residents finally complained because the information they received stated that there was no longer budget for such assistance in the Regional Budget of Bangli. It was based on the information presented by Regional Secretary I Wayan Suarka to these people. The attitude of Regional Secretary caused him dizzy. Ideally, the Regional Secretary made coordination with him first. Moreover, such information could lead to the resignation of the residents and finally died because of having no money for treatment.

“Now, I want a commitment from the House. Such budget had been already accommodated in the previous budget based on an agreement with the House,” he demanded. In the mean-

time, I Nyoman Gegel Wisnawa, the Head of the Bangli United Faction of Bangli House, also denied to have divided the money of Bangli Regional Budget. In one financial year, the recipient could only get one time recess.

Process of this recess was carried out through public input. The House only struggled for it in the budget.

Recipient of the recess was not those very same villages. For example, if in this year it fell at Hamlet A, so in the following year it would fall at the Hamlet B because the House had different constituencies and depended on proposal of community. Entire implementation process and mechanism in the field entirely became the authority of the executive because the House was not as the executive or the technical team. (kmb17)

Certificate of Substitute Land Not Accomplished

Resident Seals SDN 1 Melinggih Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Building of teachers and VI grade classroom of primary school or SDN 1 Melinggih, Payangan, Gianyar, last Monday (Jan 11), was re-sealed. The sealing was for the second time within the past two years done by people who claimed the land. The action was carried out because the resident’s certificate of substitute land used for the school has not been accomplished.

The sealing done by the family of Wayan Janji once made the school’s authority surprised. At that time, the teachers and students were going to implement teaching and learning activities at the school. Suddenly, they were surprised on seeing the bar set up at the entrance of the classroom.

This matter has also been reported to the relevant institutions to take any measures so as not to disrupt the teaching and learning activities at the school.

Division Head of Kindergarten and Primary School, Gianyar Department of Educational and Sports Services, Wayan Suardana, when asked his confirmation, said that the sealing made the administration process disrupted.

However, the teaching and learning process of students at the school has run normally. “Tomorrow, timetable of the study will be arranged again so as not to disrupt the teaching and learning activities,” he explained.

While on responding to the sealing of the school building kindled by

the issue of land exchange, the Land Registry Services of Gianyar Regency directly inspected the location. Division Head of Development, Kadek Wisnu Wijaya, said the case has emerged since long time ago. Gianyar Regency, in this case, has made various efforts to find out a solution to resolve the land case. It included taking the landowner who sealed the school building to meet the provincial authority for discussing the issue.

three conclusions. They consisted of the school would be re-grouped, transferred and the addition of land.

However, at the end it remained to find deadlock.

Responding to this problem, Wisnu Wijaya attempted to make approach to the province in order to find out a solution, considering that the school has existed far before the stipulation for the new areas.

Came to the House

Regulation No.2 /1992

In fact, the making of certificate for substitute land found a problem with the Law No. 2/1992, stated that the school had the right to get the substitute land was that belonged to Inpres (Presidential Instruction), while SDN 1 Melinggih itself built in 1968 was not a school of Presidential Instruction. On that account, the land of about 0.20 ha belonging to local residents used as school buildings did not get the exchange.

Actually, before the construction of the school, the resident have obtained the land exchange for approximately 0.30 ha. However, up to now its certificate has not been completed yet. Due to uncertainty about the certificate of land exchange, resident performed the sealing toward the school building on his property.

To resolve the case, a meeting has been organized with related parties at Melinggih Village resulting in

In the meantime, about ten people belonging to customary apparatus of Celuk Village, Sukawati, Gianyar, last Monday, went to the office and the Gianyar Regent and Gianyar House. Their arrival was intended to denounce a land claims on which the building of SDN 1 Celuk was established, which is now being carried out lawsuit to court by local residents. The arrival of village apparatus was to ask the Regent and the House to help facilitate the land issue.

The Head of Village Advisory Council (Kerta Desa), Celuk Customary Village, Made Bagiada, after meeting with the Head and Deputy Head of Gianyar House, said in this case, Bali Province, Gianyar Regency, and Celuk Village was sued regarding to the land issues of 0.119 ha that has been controlled physically by building the SDN 1 Celuk in 1957. (kmb16)

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

3

Bad Weather

Fisher’s Family Lived by Loans Singaraja (Bali Pos)—

Bad weather condition happening since more than a week ago had an impact on fishing activities on the north coast of Buleleng. Hundreds of fishers scattering from Gerokgak to Tejakula Beach did not dare to sail due to typhoon causing very high waves.

A number of fishers met at coastal villages of Sangsit, last Monday (Jan 11), said the fishers at the area had to take a rest by force for not daring to look for fish to sea. Because, the waves in the ocean was very big until reaching more than four meters and the wind was blowing very hard. If forced to sea, they worried about an accident at sea. “The waves at the beach indeed stay to look calm, but in the middle it is huge. We have no other choices but take day-off. To support the family, we relied on the

remaining savings. If lacking for money, we should borrow to surrounding relatives,” the fisher said.

The fishers were pointing to black lines in the middle of the sea to prove that the weather at sea was in bad condition. “Have a look at the black line marking the strong winds at sea,” said a fisher.

Fishers at the coastal area of Buleleng, Tejakula and Seririt experienced the same condition.

They were forced to park their boats on the beach. Their leisure time was used to repair nets and create a new boat. Such extreme weather condition within the past few days also affected the fish unloading activities at the Seaport Landing Fish (PPI) of Sangsit.

Over the next few days, the PPI seemed quiet from the loading and unloading activities. (kmb15)

Tryout of the UN Starts on February 8, 2010 Engaging 106 Teachers to Prepare the Tests Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Bali Educational, Youth and Sport Services ensured that tryout or test in order to deal with the preparation of national exam (UN/UASBN) could take place from February 8, 2010 for the level of senior high schools and vocational high school, followed by secondary school on February 15, 2010 and primary school began February 22, 2010.

Approximately 63,500 participants of primary school, 56,950 participants of secondary school, 28,500 participants senior high school and 14,400 participants of vocational school would follow the implementation of the tryout.

The budget prepared for the tryout execution amounted to approximately IDR 3.9 billion. The Head of Educational, Youth and Sport of Bali Province I Wayan Suasta, accompanied by Division Head of Middle Education IGNK Widiartha, last Monday (Jan 11), said the matter.

He said the test conducted aimed at strengthening the same as in previous years, namely to prepare students to face the UN/UASBN. “In the upcoming UN/UASBN, we do not have graduation targets in quantity, but the implementation and expected results could be really qualified. We hope the implementation of the UN could run transparently, honestly and objectively. At the end, the results are expected to yield a quality education,” said Suasta.

In order to prepare students to face UN/UASBN, the learning motivation of students was expected to increase, so did the urge of parents and the school was very significant. “Through this preparatory test, the students are expected to be more ready for the UN/ UASBN,” added Suasta.

Meanwhile, there were about 106 teachers involved in the preparation of the exam questions. The questions were attempted to approach the UN matters. “Now the questions are being prepared by the author team,” he said.

He added that the subjects tested in the exam at senior high school level belonging to natural sciences program consisting of Bahasa Indonesian, English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. Meanwhile, for social sciences program, the subjects consisted of Bahasa Indonesia, English, Mathematics, Economics, Sociology and Geography.

Then, for language program, the subject comprised Bahasa Indonesia, English, Mathematics, Indonesian Literature, History of Culture/Anthropology, and other foreign languages such as Japanese, German and French. For vocational level, the subjects tested were Bahasa Indonesia, Mathematics and English. Then, for the level of secondary school, the subjects tested were Bahasa Indonesia, Mathematics, English and Sciences. At the end, for primary school, the subjects tested were Bahasa Indonesia, Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

In the meantime, the national exam or UN for the senior high school, according to the schedule, would be held on March 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26, 2010 and for vocational high school, the national exam would take place on March 22, 23, 24 and 25, 2010. Then, for secondary school, the national exam was scheduled to take place on March 29, 30, and 31 and April 1, 2010. Participants that did not pass in the main examination or continuation examination would be given the opportunity to attend the second examination. (08)

4

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

News

International

Iranian nuclear physicist killed in bombing AP

TEHRAN, Iran – A nuclear physics professor at Tehran University was killed Tuesday by a bombrigged motorcycle parked outside his home in Iran’s capital, state media reported.

Massoud Ali Mohammadi had just left his house on his way to work when the remote-controlled explosion went off, state-run Press TV said.

The blast shattered the windows of his home in northern Tehran’s Qeytariyeh neighborhood and left the pavement outAFP/Fars News/File Detained French lecturer Clotilde Reiss side smeared with blood and attends a hearing at a revolutionary strewn with debris. The court in Tehran in August semiofficial ISNA news agency quoted Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi as confirming the killing and saying no one has been arrested.

Neither report said whether the 50-year-old Mohammadi was connected to Iran’s nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at developing a nuclear weapons capability.

Iran denies having any intention to produce weapons and insists its nuclear work only has peaceful aims, such as energy production.

A government news Web site, Borna, described Mohammadi as a senior nuclear scientist but gave no other details.

The Web site of Iran’s state television declared the bombing a “terrorist act by counter revolutionaries and elements of arrogance,” a reference to the United States. Security forces are investigating, the report said.

The United States and its allies in Europe have been pushing Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program, a technology that can be used to make fuel for power plants but which also offers a possible pathway to weapons development.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday that the Obama administration has concluded that the best way to pressure Iran to come clean on its nuclear ambitions is to impose sanctions aimed at the country’s ruling elite.

“It is clear that there is a relatively small group of decision makers inside Iran,” Clinton told reporters traveling with her on the first leg of a nine-day trip across the Pacific. “They are in both political and commercial relationships, and if we can create a sanctions track that targets those who actually make the decisions, we think that is a smarter way to do sanctions. But all that is yet to be decided upon.”

AFP

A Yemeni security officer guards the entrance to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh’s office

Yemen forces kill 19 Shi’ite rebels, arrest 25 Reuters

SANAA (Reuters) – Yemeni forces killed 19 rebels in a military operation to rid a northern town of Shi’ite rebel hideouts, and arrested 25 more, the country’s security apparatus said.

Security forces mounted houseto-house sweeps in the old city of Saada, where rebels from the Houthi tribe had been taking refuge in homes, the security apparatus said on a government website.

It did not say if there were any civilian casualties.

The operation, dubbed “Blow to the Head,” was continuing against rebels who have fought Yemen’s government since 2004, complain-

ing of social, economic and religious marginalization. The government did not say when the sweeps began.

Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest nation, came to the foreground of U.S.-led efforts to battle militancy after a Yemen-based wing of al Qaeda said it was behind a failed December 25 plot to bomb a U.S. plane.

As well as its fight against the Shi’ite rebels, the Yemeni government also faces separatist sentiment

in the south and is fighting a resurgent al Qaeda in multiple provinces.

The Shi’ite revolt drew in Saudi Arabia after a cross-border rebel raid into the world’s biggest oil exporter in November.

The United States and Saudi Arabia fear al Qaeda will take advantage of Yemen’s instability to spread its operations to the neighboring kingdom and beyond. Yemen itself produces a small amount of oil.

Placed strategically on the Arabian Peninsula’s southern rim, Yemen has shrinking oil reserves and faces a water crisis. Its population of 23 million is expected to double in the next 20 years.

Malaysian Christians stand firm on use of ‘Allah’ AP

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Christian leaders in Malaysia refused Tuesday to stop using the word “Allah” for God despite attacks on churches in a religious crisis that has raised concerns about the erosion of minority rights in the Muslim-majority country.

Daniel Raut, a senior leader of the Borneo Evangelical Church — the largest Malay-speaking congregation in the country — said it will not drop the use of the word “Allah,” even though Christians fear for their safety.

“Since our forefathers become Christians in the 1920s, we have been using Allah even in our mother tongue,” said Raut, who is from the Lumbawang tribe in eastern Sarawak state. “We are quite fearful (for our safety) but we will

pray for protection and believe God will intervene in this matter.”

Nine churches have been attacked since Friday, with the assailants using firebombs and in one case, paint.

The unprecedented attacks have strained ties between Christians and the majority Malay Muslims, denting Malaysia’s image as a moderate Muslim-majority nation.

The attacks were triggered by a Dec. 31 High Court decision that overturned a government ban on the use of “Allah” by Roman Catholics in the Malay-language edition of their main newspaper, the Herald. The ban and the ruling also apply to Malaylanguage Bibles, 10,000 copies of which were recently seized by authorities because they translated God as Allah.

The government has condemned the attacks as the work of extremists, but also has appealed the ruling. Jamil

Khir Baharom, the Cabinet minister responsible for Islamic affairs, called on Christian leaders to drop the use of “Allah” to help ease tensions.

About 9 percent of Malaysia’s 28 million people are Christian, most of whom are indigenous tribespeople in the remote Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island. Muslims make up 60 percent of the population and most are ethnic Malays.

Raut was in court early Tuesday to support church member Jill Ireland, who sued the government in 2008 after airport authorities seized eight of her Christian compact discs with the word “Allah” printed on them.

The trial is set for March 15. The Borneo church also sued the government in 2007 after custom officials seized six cartons of Christian literature containing the word “Allah.”

AP

President of the Borneo Evangelical Church Daniel Raut speaks to media outside a courtroom in Kuala Lumpur.

International IMIGRATION Australian Consulate General Jalan Tantular 32 Renon Denpasar Phone: +62 361 241118 Fax: +62 361 221195 (General) +62 361 241120 (Immigration)

General Info

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

HOSPITAL Denpasar There are 4 major hospitals usually used by foreigners Denpasar General Hospital (RSUP Sanglah), Kasih Ibu Hospital, Rumah Sakit Wongaya and Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada.

HOSPITAL Bangli Bangli General Hospital Jl. Kesumayuda 27, Bangli Phone : +62 366 91521 Gianyar

Royal Danish & Norwegian Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 070 The Czech Republic Jalan Pengembak No. 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.286 465 France Consulate Agency Jalan Merta Sari Gang II No. 8 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.285 485 The Federal Republic of Germany Jalan Pantai Karang No 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.288 535 The Republic of Hungary Jalan By Pass No 219 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.287 701 Italian Consulate Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 005 Honorary Consulate of Mexico Jalan Mohamad Yamin 1 A, Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.223 266 Honorary Consulate of The Netherlands Jalan Raya Kuta 127, Bali Phone +62.361.761 506 Honorary Consulate of Spain Komplek Istana Kuta Galleria Blok Vallet 2 No 11. Jalan Patih Jelantik Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.769 286 USA Consulate Agency Jalan Hayam Wuruk No. 188 Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.222 426 Consulate General of Japan Jalan Raya Puputan No. 170 Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.227 628 Honorary Consulate of British Jalan Tirta Nadi No. 20 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.270 601 Swiss and Austria Consulate Jalan Patih Jelantik, Komplek Pertokoan Istana Galleria Phone +62.361.751 735 Honorary Consulate of Brazil Jalan Legian No. 186, Bali Phone +62.361.757 775 Honorary Consulate of Thailand Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 81, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.263 310 Embassy of India Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 42-44, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.241 978 Honorary Consulate of Sweden anf Finland Segara Village Hotel, Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.282 223 Honorary Consulate of Malaysia Alam Kulkul Boutique Resort, Jalan Pantai Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.752 520

RSUP Sanglah is the main provincial public hospital. Its facilities have improved since the emergency ward had been built in 1991. Difficult/critical cases would not become a problem anymore since it has complete equipments. It is located on Jl. Kesehatan Selatan 1 Sanglah Denpasar with : Phone : 227 911 – 15 Fax : 226 363 Kasih Ibu Hospital is a private hospital which caters for less serious cases such as diarrhea, intestinal disorders, anemia, asthma and minor accidents. Kasih Ibu is also equipped to care for pregnant women. This hospital is located on Jl. Teuku Umar 120 Denpasar.

Phone : 223 036 Fax : 268 690.

Rumah Sakit Wongaya (Public Hospital; Psychiatric Unit) Jl. Kartini, Denpasar.

Phone : 222 142.

Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada , (Private) Jl. Sudirman No 50, Denpasar Phone : 227 560, 234 824 In relating with health, Bali also has insurance and medical evacuation company, that is: AEA International - SOS Assistance Bali.

PT Abhaya Eka Astiti, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No. 24X, Kuta 80361.

Phone : 755 768 Fax : 755 768 One thing that should be noted by tourists here is that the Blood Bank in Bali normally carries no stock of Rhesus (Rh) Negative blood.

Badung Bali Medical Clinics There are some medical clinics that are well known by foreigners in Bali. Some of them are western owned and operated : Bali International Medical Center (BIMC) Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) provides excellent Primary Health Care & Emeregency Medical Services for tourists, traveler, and expatriate living in Bali.

Emeregency Room, Ambulance, Clinic Services, Insurance & Medical Evacuations also available. Open 24 hours Phone : 761 2631. Located Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.100X, Kuta, Bali 80361 - Indonesia. http://www.bimcbali.com International SOS Clinic Bali Opened in 1999, offers International SOS members and visitors to Bali comprehensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency medical service.

Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta 80361, Bali - Indonesia Phone : 720 100 Fax : 721 919 E-mail : info@sos-bali.com ttp ://www.sos-bali.com Bali Nusa Dua Emergency Clinic Jl Pratama No. 81 Phone : 771 324 Kuta Clinic Jl. Raya Kuta Phone : 753 268 Dental Clinic Dr Indra Guizot, Jl. Patimura 19, Denpasar Phone : 222 445, 234 375 DDS. Ritjie Rihartinah, Jl Pratama No. 81 Nusa Dua Phone : 771 324 Retno W. Agung, Jln. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.4A Br. Tamansari – Sanur Phone : 288 501

Clinic Mas Jl. Raya Mas, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974573 Toyo Clinic Jl. Pengosekan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 978078 Permata Bunda Clinic Jl. Patih Jelantik 50 X, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 942082 Ubud Clinic Jl Raya Ubud No.36 Campuhan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974911 Gianyar General Hospital Jl. Ciung Wanara 2, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 943049 Karangasem Karangasem General Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai, Karangasem Phone : +62 363 21001 Klungkung Klungkung General Hospital Jl. Flamboyan 40-4, Klungkung Phone : +62 366 21371 Negara Negara General Hospital Jl. Gelar, Negara Phone : +62 365 41006 Tabanan Laboratorium Clinic Jl. Gunung semeru No. 8, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 819260 Mengwi Clinic Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai 46, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 880550 Darma Kerti Hospital Jl. Teratai 16, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 812359 Tabanan General Hospital Jl. Pahlawan 14, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 811027 Singaraja Prodia Clinic Jl. RA Kartini 12, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 24-516 Singaraja Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai 30, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 22-573 Pet Clinics Kayumas: (0361) 226934 Sayang Binatang: (0361) 483121 Satwa Kertha Husada: (0361) 263018 Pantai Sindhu: (0361) 287518 Sidakarya: (0361) 724492 Pedungan: (0361) 720026

TAXIS Praja Taxi : (0361) 289090 Bali Taxi : (0361) 701111 Ngurah Rai Taxi : (0361) 724724 Pan Wirthi Taxi : (0361) 723366 Komotra Taxi : (0361) 758855

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

News

SKorea, US dismiss NKorea’s peace talks proposal AP

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea and the U.S. rejected North Korea’s proposal to start peace talks to formally end the Korean War, with Seoul saying Tuesday that can happen only after the North rejoins disarmament talks and reports progress in denuclearization.

The North said Monday that its return to six-nation negotiations on its nuclear weapons program hinges on building better relations with the United States by starting peace treaty talks. The North also called for the lifting of international sanctions against it.

On Tuesday, South Korea’s defense chief said he believes peace treaty talks can take place only after the nuclear talks are resumed and the North takes steps toward disarming its atomic programs.

“I think it’s an issue that we can probably move forward with after the six-party talks are reopened and there is progress in North Korea’s denuclearization process,” Defense Minister Kim Tae-young told reporters.

He said South Korea will continue to try to find what the North’s true intention is behind its peace talks proposal.

But Kim said his military is ready to deter any possible North Korean aggression, saying the North “many times in the past offered peace gestures with one hand while on the other committed provocations.”

U.S. State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley also brushed off the North’s call, saying it must first rejoin the six-party negotiations.

Crowley, speaking Monday in Washington, urged North Korea to return to the talks “and then we can begin to march down the list of issues that we have.”

Washington and Pyongyang have never had diplomatic relations because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, thus leaving the peninsula technically at war. North Korea, the U.S.-led United Nations Command and China signed a cease-fire, but South Korea never did.

Despite the rejection, the North’s top diplomat in Beijing on Tuesday repeated his country’s position that it will only resume the nuclear talks after international sanctions on it are lifted.

“If sanctions are lifted, the six-party talks can be held at once,” North Korean Ambassador to China Choe Jin Su said in a group interview in Beijing, according to Japan’s Kyodo News agency.

He also said the conclusion of a peace treaty will help promote denuclearization “at a rapid tempo,” Kyodo reported. “Here I would like to stress ‘at a rapid tempo,’” he said.

North Korea, which claims it was forced to develop atomic bombs to cope with U.S. threats, called for a peace treaty to be concluded this year, which it emphasized marks the 60th anniversary since the outbreak of the Korean War.

UK moves to ban controversial Islamist group AP

LONDON – Britain’s government says it will ban an Islamist group whose proposed protest march through a town known for honoring British soldiers drew national outrage.

Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Tuesday he would invoke counterterrorism laws to outlaw Islam4UK, a group led by hardline leader Anjem Choudary.

Choudary outraged Britons

earlier this year by suggesting his group would march through Wootton Bassett, known because its residents fill the town’s main street when soldiers’ bodies are driven through from a nearby air base.

The group had said the march would highlight Afghan civilian deaths at the hands of NATO-led forces.

But lawmakers called the move a distasteful publicity stunt and many called for Choudary’s group to be banned.

Israel angrily rejects Turkish leader’s charges AP

JERUSALEM – Israel has denounced Turkey’s latest criticism of the Jewish state.

Turkey’s prime minister on Monday called Israel a threat to peace and repeated his off-stated charge that Israel used disproportionate force against Palestinians during the Gaza war a year ago.

The Foreign Ministry says Israel has “the full right” to protect itself and “the Turks should be the

last to preach morality.”

Late Monday, Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Danny Ayalon, summoned the Turkish ambassador to criticize a Turkish television drama depicting Israeli security forces as kidnapping children and shooting old men.

As the meeting started, Ayalon told cameramen the ambassador was pointedly seated on a sofa lower than his own chair. He also noted there was no Turkish flag on display.

Chile opens Museum of Memory for dirty war victims AP

AP –

South Korean activists prepare to release huge balloons with some leaflets denouncing North Korean’s South Korea has been suspicious that its rival is using the issue as a distraction, while the U.S. has resisted signing a treaty while the North possesses nuclear weapons.

Achieving a peace treaty has been discussed at the six-nation disarmament talks and has been formally included in official statements, but has been based on the assumption that there would be progress in North Korea’s denuclearization.

Analysts, including, Yang Moo-jin of Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies say that the North this time is trying to bring the issue of a peace treaty to the forefront to dilute the issue of nuclear disarmament.

President Barack Obama’s special envoy, Stephen Bosworth, said following a landmark trip to Pyongyang last month that the a peace treaty can be discussed as part of the six-nation nuclear talks involving the two Koreas, the U.S., China, Russia and Japan. Bosworth also said the North had agreed on the need to resume the arms talks.

The North quit those talks last year

in anger over international condemnation of a long-range rocket launch. The country later conducted its second nuclear test, test-launched a series of ballistic missiles and restarted its plutonium-producing facility, inviting widespread condemnation and tighter U.N. sanctions.

Separately, South Korean activists unsuccessfully tried Tuesday to send thousands of leaflets by launching balloons to the North to urge it to improve human rights conditions and let residents know about a U.S. Christian missionary believed detained in the communist country. The balloons, however, collapsed before crossing the border amid strong winds blowing from North Korea.

Robert Park, a 28-year-old KoreanAmerican from Arizona, slipped into the North in late December to call international attention to the country’s alleged human rights abuses, according to South Korean activists. North Korea subsequently said it had detained an American for entering the country illegally but has not identified him.

SANTIAGO, Chile – Chile inaugurated the Museum of Memory on Monday to make sure the tens of thousands of people who were imprisoned, killed or disappeared during Gen. Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship are not forgotten.

President Michelle Bachelet, who was herself detained and tortured during Chile’s 19731990 military regime, said the museum sends a powerful signal of the country’s “desire to never again suffer a tragedy like the one we are remembering here.”

“A tragedy that from the first day brought together denial and concealment, and the pain of captivity or death,” Bachelet said at the opening of the $22 million Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile’s capital, Santiago.

The inauguration stirred angry memories days before Chile’s presidential runoff election in which the ruling centerleft coalition could lose power to the right for the first time since the restoration of democracy.

Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa, who is in charge of creating a similar museum in his homeland, was booed as he gave

his speech because of his support for conservative candidate Sebastian Pinera. Pinera’s presidential candidacy is backed by conservative parties, including two that at the time supported the dictatorship.

The museum contains wrenching testimonies, documents, letters, personal objects and art by prisoners, as well as the photos of the 1,197 people who disappeared during the crackdown by security forces on Pinochet’s opponents. Among the exhibits is a small metal bed that victims were tied to before receiving electrical shocks.

A commission established that 3,197 people died during the dictatorship, including those listed as missing. Another commission found that 30,000 people were imprisoned and/or tortured.

As of last Aug. 31, 769 members of the armed forces and some civilians had been charged in the killings and abuses, of whom 276 have been sentenced.

Pinochet died in December 2006.

“This is an act of reparation to the victims ... a homage to the detained/disappeared who have undergone a nonexistence,” said Marcia Scantlebury, who was responsible for organizing the exhibits.

Indonesia Today

International

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

7

Indonesian military’s ‘business empire’ poses threat: HRW Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesia’s military has failed to dismantle its “dangerous business empire” as ordered under a 2004 law designed to enhance civilian rule in the budding democracy, a human rights watchdog said Tuesday.

Promises of increased oversight

by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a market-friendly exgeneral, were “totally inadequate” and left the military unaccountable to government, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a report.

“It’s outrageous that despite the parliamentary directive the government has no plan to take over ownership or management of a single business,” HRW researcher and report author Lisa Misol said in a statement.

“Promising to monitor them more closely simply isn’t good enough.”

Despite a 2004 law ordering the military (TNI) to get out of the business sector by the end of 2009, the generals still control 23 foundations and over 1,000 cooperatives including ownership of 55 companies, the report says.

These interests had gross assets worth 350 million dollars in 2007 and turned a profit of 28.5 million dollars, according to official figures cited by the report.

Yudhoyono issued a decree on October 11 promising greater oversight, but HRW said the measures

merely entailed a partial restructuring of the business entities and required no divestment.

An inter-ministerial oversight team established on November 11 has no clear authority, lacks independence and is not required to report publicly, HRW said.

“Nor do the new measures address accountability for human rights violations and economic crimes associated with military business activities,” it added, citing examples including the killing of protesters by military personnel.

In 2007 in Pasuruan, East Java, HRW said navy personnel opened fire on villagers who were protesting over expropriations of land by the navy decades earlier, killing four.

The sailors were providing security for a state-owned company that had leased the land from the navy to operate a plantation.

“In other examples, the military has had a prominent role in large timber operations that have displaced communities from their ancestral lands and fuelled rampant illegal logging,” it said.

“Military units providing protection services to companies have

earned off-budget cash payments, raising serious corruption concerns...

The military also has been implicated in illegal businesses and extortion operations.”

A spokesman for Yudhoyono refused to comment on the HRW report and military press officers were unavailable.

HRW said money-making ventures by the military “contribute to crime and corruption, impede military professionalism and distort the function of the military itself”.

Former defence minister Jowono Sudarsono admitted last year that “rogue elements” of the military could be behind a spate of shootings targeting employees of US miner Freeport McMoRan in eastern Papua province.

Unidentified gunmen ambushed and killed an Australian mine worker and two Indonesians including a policeman in July near Freeport’s massive gold mine, which pays troops for protection.

Sudarsono rejected suggestions of direct military involvement and police have blamed poorly armed Papuan separatists, but the mine has long been linked to alleged human

Graphic on business interests of the Indonesian military, which turned a profit of 28.5 million dollars in 2007, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

rights abuses by the security forces.

During his tenure as defence minister from the time Yudhoyono took office in 2004 until last year, Sudarsono argued the military should be allowed to keep its smaller business interests to support soldiers’

families.

The task of bringing the Indonesian military fully under civilian control remains incomplete more than a decade after the collapse of General Suharto’s military-backed dictatorship.

Pertamina to expand RI wants local content in automotive products increased business operations in Australia, Malaysia Antara

Antara

JAKARTA - State oil company PT Pertamina is planning to expand its business operations abroad by building gas stations in Australia and Malaysia at a cost of Rp60 billion this year, a spokesman said.

“We hope, we can build two gas stations in Australia before the middle of this year,” the company’s commercial and marketing director, Hanung Budaya, said at the company’s headoffice here on Tuesday.

Hanung said Pertamina would set up gas stations in Australia after it had been running lubrication oil outlets in the country down-under.

“The opening of gas stations abroad will cost Rp60 billion and the expenditure has already been included in the company’s Work Plan and Budget for 2010 , and if the budget is sufficient for two gas stations, we will build two units abroad,” Hanung said. He said the company would acquire existing gas stations in Australia and Malaysia and run them under Pertamina’s trade mark.

“If we can do it in Malaysia this year we will try but if not, we will do it next year,” Hanung said.

According to Hanung, Pertamina would cooperate with Petronas to acquire land in Malaysia while the fuel oil to be sold there would be supplied from Malaysia.

“Based on consideration of geographic proximity and business efficiency, Pertamina will probably build the gas station in the Malaysian state of Sarawak,” Hanung said.

JAKARTA - Indonesia has asked Japan to extend technological help so that the country’s automotive industry could increase the local content of its products to 60 percent in the next five years.

“In the next five years we will make low-cost and green cars. I have asked for Japan’s technology to help increase the local content to 60 percent. I am glad they have pledged to study it,” Industry Minister MS Hidayat said when receiving a Japanese delegation at his office here on Monday.

He said he had also asked Japan to increase its investment in the steel, automotive and ship-building industries. “If Ko-

rea dares to invest US$5 billion in the steel industry, Japan should be able to invest more than US$6 billion,” he said.

On the occasion Hidayat emphasized the implementation of the Manufacturing Industry Development Center) covering 13 sub-sectors such as metal working, mold and dies, welding, export and investment promotion, small and medium businesses, automotive, textile, electronics, petro-and oleochemical.

“My main demand over the MIDEC is assistance for supporting industries. In the automotive industry components are made here to supply products for exports including assistance for human resources. In the steel and automotive industries, they are willing to discuss at a technical official level,” he said.

Government to offer two economic zones to investors soon Antara

JAKARTA - The government has named two special economic zones as economic development hubs it will offer to investors this year, a chief economic minister said.

“In 2010, there have been two zones which are ready to be offered soon,” Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa told the press after a meeting of the IndonesiaJapan Economic Forum 2010 here on Monday.

The two zones are among the six pilot projects developed as part of the government’s program to speed up the development of infrastructure facilities in the country, he said.

The six special economic corridors include Sumatra’s eastern coast, Java’s northern coast, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and

Papua, he said.

“We will speed up the development of the two zones which have extraordinary potentials,” he said.

The special economic corridors will be developed under a public private partnership (PPP) scheme. To get the program realized, the government will soon finalize licensing rules and revise presidential regulation concerning PPP to give legal certainty to investors, he said.

“The presidential regulation has been revised. Hopefully, the newly-revised presidential regulation will break barriers and give certainty about the PPP projects. The projects are part of the government’s program in the first 100 days in office,” he said. But he stopped short of revealing the two zones.

“I will announce them when the time comes,” he said.

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Internationa

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Bali Today Hoteliers Complain about Loud Music Bali Post

DENPASAR - The sound of music exceeding the hearing limit in Kuta tourist resort, again harvested a complaint. This time the complaints came from the hoteliers in Kuta. The noises of discotheque were judged to have disturbed the comfort of hotel guests.

The Head of the Executive Club, Gusti Kade Sutawa, in a meeting with the Badung Regent recently said, other than the music played too loudly, a number of discotheques even operated until in the morning.

It was considered to have disturbed the comfort of the surrounding community, including hotel guests.

Sutawa expressed, hoteliers often received complaints from inhouse guests due to loud sounds of disco music around the hotel. Even, such complaints afflicted many other hotel operators. “As a result, we also received a reprimand from the outside parties. On that account, we want this problem could be resolved wisely,” he said.

Furthermore, Sutawa put into question the attitude of Badung Regency toward the operational of discotheque. Because, according to him, the government has a number of policies governing the discotheque operation including the voice threshold allowed and not disturb the surrounding environment.

Responding to that matter, the

Regent of Badung A.A. Gde Agung affirmed that his party would immediately follow up the complaints. Regent Gde Agung also directly instructed the Head of Badung Civil Servant Police Unit (Satpol PP), I Wayan Adi Arnawa, to check it. “I instruct Satpol PP to check that matter. So that later, the existing discotheque meets the prevailing rules,” he said.

As has been known, the problem of loud music from discotheque in the Kuta area often kindled a problem. A problem on this loud music violating the specified threshold often appeared on the surface. Similarly, members of the Badung House often committed a raid to check the existence of a discotheque or bar that allegedly violated the threshold noise or hours of operation.

The Badung Regency authority has disciplined and reprimanded the discotheques or bars in violation.

Still, until now the sound of music in a number of discotheques was still considered to impair the convenience of surrounding environment. (ded)

http://static.panoramio.com

The photo shows one of the streets in Kuta area, the famous destination on Bali Island. The sound of music exceeding the hearing limit in Kuta tourist resort, again harvested a complaint.

This time the complaints came from the hoteliers in Kuta. The noises of discotheque were judged to have disturbed the comfort of hotel guests.

Siwaratri ritual to hold in Besakih Antara

DENPASAR – The ritual on “Siawaratri” day will be held in Besakih temple on January 14th and 15th 2010. Siwaratri is the day to reflect what we have done in the past. I Gusti Putu Yudi Arnawa, the head Human Welfare Biro in Bali’s Government, said that Bali’s Governor

Made Mangku Pastika will take part in the ritual.

He said that on Siwaratri day, the Hindus will look back on what they have done through “jagra” which means fasting for 36 hours. The Hindus also should not speak and sleep during the ritual.

Yudi Arnawa explained that the ritual will be led by 36 priests from

http://upload.wikimedia.org

The photo shows Balinese people pray at Besakih temple. The ritual on “Siwaratri” day will be held in Besakih temple on January 14th and 15th 2010. Siwaratri is the day to reflect what we have done in the past.

all around Bali. The Hindus must pray three times during the ritual. The first one is on Thursday, January 14th at 9 P.M; the second at midnight and the third is on Friday, January 15th 2010 at 5 A.M. Siwaratri day falls every 420 day, on the 14th day of the seventh full moon on Balinese calendar. The Hindus believe that the day is very important because on Siwaratri God may forgive the sins of the people.

I Ketut Sumadi, a lecturer in Denpasar Hindu Institute (IHDN), said that in Siwaratri day the Hindus must find the cause and the solution of their problems using the concept of “Karma Marga” or working hard and full with innovation.

“The people should control their desire and if not then they will become the slave of their passion. This is because they didn’t try to find the main purpose of life,” he added.

The ritual is also conducted to ask for safety to the God so the nation won’t suffer any disasters and other problems.

The other main thing of Siwaratri day is we must always realize that there is always a fight between Dewi Sampad (good) and Asuri Sampad (evil) within us. For that reason, the Hindus must avoid all sins by doing the right thing

Global crisis affect Bali’s export Antara

DENPASAR – The global crisis had affected the number of Bali’s export in 2009. Last year, the total Bali export decreased 9% compared to in 2008. I Gede Darmaja, the head of Bali Industrial and Trade Department, said that in 2009, the total export was $505.5 million while in 2008, the total was $543.8 million.

“The products that decrease in 2009 were handicrafts and textile. The handicrafts export decreased 16% and the textile decreased 12%,” he added The global economic crisis made the businessmen in Bali worried and they chose to reduce production and decreased the number of employ. The quality and price of Bali’s products also become a problem in the exports Darmaja said “the economic crisis made the ability to buy decline and it affected the number

of Bali’s export. The low quality of product also could affect the exports.” Most of the countries chose to fulfill their primary need such as food and health rather than imported secondary items.

The other face by the businessmen is the lack of support by the government. “The license and other permit is very difficult to be arrange, electricity, and capital where the interest for loan is still very high,” Darmaja added.

He thinks that if the government can not assist the businessmen in that area then they can urge the people to wear Indonesian products.

The department is not aiming high for the number of export in 2010. They are only targeting of 2.5% increase in exports compared to last year. In 2008, there 104 countries imported products from Bali but last year the number decreased only became 84 countries.

al

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Balinese Culture

Balinese Script: A Key to Open the Asset of Bali Except for oral tradition, Balinese community also has written traditions.

It is inseparable from the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in Indonesia during the ninth to tenth centuries.

At the time Devanagari and Pallawa script were widely used to perform written inscriptions immortalizing important events.

Thanks to these two scripts that implanted important basic in the origin of Balinese script. At a glance, Japanese scripts (Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji) have similarity to Balinese script in terms of its functions. Balinese script has three types involving the wreastra (to inscribe common words), swalalita (borrowing words from Old Javanese and Sanskrit), and modre (holy syllables). Departing from this similarity, Bali should be able to take a spirit to develop itself. If Japanese language can play important role in the regions most visited by its tourists, Bali ideally should be able to play the role at least at home.

JATA Ecotourism Handbook mentions some important points regarding to ecotourism namely the principle of treasuring and preserving irreplaceable nature and precious cultural assets (including language and script); and the guidelines including to value and respect cultural assets and historical sites and to try to communicate in the local

languages. On seeing these, language and script denote important cultural asset in ecotourism development.

A friend of the writer, an expert in Balinese language, once told that in Leiden, the lontars manuscript are stored in a very secure room. In order to see (read) it; one should pass through at least three security layers. Then, another point is an important lontar was once handed over to the former President Megawati by the Queen of the Netherlands in person. These indicate that how important assets the lontar manuscripts are. Have the Balinese given the same attention to theirs? Probably, only some have done it, while some others prefer to leave theirs obsolete at home without knowing what subject matter it contains.

As a tourist destination Bali has a great potential to introduce this asset to visitors. Moreover, script as a medium to record important thinking, ancient tradition and literary works is worth giving serious attention. The problem is that how to make the preservation go hand in hand with the ‘business.’ It needs a business touch packaging the leisure travel and study on the native language of the destination.

And more specifically, how to make the publication written in Balinese language and script that can attract others (beyond Balinese community) to know

and read it? Of course, it should feature something beneficial for them.

Up to these days, Balinese characters are only widely used in the writing of lontar (palm-leaf) manuscripts.

Meanwhile, for commercial book, magazine or publication for public consumption is almost unavailable.

Ideally, there are regular publications using the native language (basa Bali) and Balinese script (aksara Bali). By doing so, both can be used to express Balinese culture and accommodate the needs of modern community.

Through the media, both can feature relevant subject matter to modern living. On that account, the preservation will not stop at the competition of lontar inscription, writing of labels like the names of street in Denpasar, shop (along Jalan Gajah Mada), and board sign of government’s office, but keeps on meeting the demand of the users’ life.

In short, Balinese scripts (along with Balinese language) should be able to accommodate the needs of its users today. They are becoming both an icon of Balinese community and a medium to express the users’ mind, emotion and communication in wider context as other languages and scripts do. Therefore, they should go hand in hand with time and make them not be left behind by its users! (BTN/w punia)

Bali will enjoyed full coverage on Telkomsel’s mobile broadband IBP

DENPASAR - On this year, Bali will be one of 24 areas in Indonesia that can enjoy full coverage on Telkomsel’s mobile broadband. This full coverage means customers can use all the mobile lifestyle solutions that offered by Telkomsel.

According to CEO Telkomsel Sarwoto Atmosutarno the full coverage on Telkomsel’s mobile broadband will be ready soon and for this year only 24 cities that can enjoy it. Telkomsel invest around IDR13 trillions to develop the full coverage on 24 cities and develop infrastructures in order to give comfort to users. ‘’We allocate IDR13 trillions to expand the coverage area, increasing capacity and network quality, also implementing new service,’’ explained Sarwoto.

He elaborated on this year, cellular telecommunication industry will entering the transformation era, where basic service, like SMS and voice are moving to the advance information technology, such as internet service, video streaming,

Cooked Vegetables with Grated Coconut (Urap) Ingredients * 8 oz fresh green beans * 8 oz bean sprouts * 4 carrots * 1 can bamboo shoots * ½ small cabbage * 1 cup fresh grated coconut * 1 small onion, finely chopped * ½ tsp. chilli sauce (sambal ulek) * 1 tsp. salt * 2 Tbs. lime juice * ½ tsp. dried shrimp paste (terasi)

Directions Wash bean sprouts, pinching of any brown tail. Pour boiling water over bean sprouts, then rinse under cold water tap. Drain well.

String beans and cut diagonally or bite-size lengths and cook in lightly salted water until just tender. Beans should still be crisp to bite.

Scrub carrot and cut into thin strips, cook until tender.

Drain well.

Slice cabbage, discard the center stem. Blanch in boiling salted water for a minute or two, until tender but not limp. Drain and refresh with cold water.

Cut bamboo shoots into strips the same size as the beans.

Place fresh grated coconut into a bowl, add onion, chili sauce, salt, lime juice and the shrimp paste which has been grilled for a few minutes, or heated in a dry frying pan. Mix thoroughly together.

Sprinkle this grated coconut mixture over vegetables, reserving some to garnish the dish when served.

Put vegetables in a steamer and steam for 5-8 minutes.

Put the steamed vegetables to a serving dish/platter and sprinkle with reserved grated coconut mixture. Use as an accompaniment to a meal, or as a salad by itself. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Crispy Fried Tempe (Keripik Tempe) Ingredients * 600 gram tempe (fermented soybean cake ) - not tofu * 200 ml water * ½ tsp. slaked lime water * 100 gr. rice flour mixed with 25 gram cornstarch * vegetable oil Telkomsel

CEO Telkomsel Sarwoto Atmosutarno (right) accompanied by GM Corporate Communications Ricardo Indra giving the explanation about Telecomunication Cellular trend on 2010 on Tuesday, January 12, 2010. and others digital products. He predicted the industry will invest around US$2.2 billions, same like last year investment. The market is predicted increase around 10 to 11 percent. ‘’As the leader of Indonesia’s telecommunication industry, Telkomsel will continue to implement the 3G’s roadmap. We will do some trial on Long Term Evolution

(LTE) and focusing on mobile broadband services,’’ he stated.

Last year Telkomsel recording the significant growth on new users, around 17 millions new users. With that achievement, Telkomsel is now serve around 82 million customers and will be targeting 100 million users this year. The total of Telkomsel’s customers is equal to 50 percent of cellular users in Indonesia. (iah)

* Spice Paste Ingredients: * 4 candlenuts * 1 clove garlic * 1 tsp. coriander seeds * salt to taste * 1 cm fresh kencur

Directions Slice the tempe in thin 3½ x 5 cm squares. Set aside.

Mix the spice-paste together with the water and slaked lime water. Add the rice flour and cornstarch and blend till smooth.

Heat the oil in a wok, dip the tempe in the batter and deep-fry until it is golden brown and crisp.

Note: Make sure that the oil is not to hot, otherwise the batter and the tempe will not be done at the same time. (http://asiarecipe.com)

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Destinations

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

International

Canggu Beach CANGGU Beach is located 10 km western part of Denpasar Town and own beautiful beach with the black sand along the beach.

The big wave are easy to be found in this place and many surfer from local and foreign are love this place to experience

http://www.magicwave.org

http://images.google.co.id

International Bali Post Classifieds Contact us

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this water adventure. It is located in Canggu Village, Kerobokan, Denpasar Bali and very easy to locate and accessed by motorcycle. Restaurant and warung (cafe) are available in this place make the visitor more enjoyable to stay in this beach.

... gets maximum benefits with minimum charge Denpasar : +62 361 22-5764 Jakarta : +62 21 535-6271

Jl. Kepundung 67 A, e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id Jl. Palmerah Barat 21 F

r pe Su ve Sa

Hub:

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

11

BUSINESS China’s central bank moves to rein in lending Agence France-Presse

AP Photo/Richard Drew

Traders Richard Cohen, left, Brittany Wayne and Peter Tuchman work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. The US Federal Reserve turned a record profit of 45 billion dollars last year even as it plowed money into teetering banks to prevent a financial collapse, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

US Fed earned record 45 billion dollars in 2009 Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON - The US Federal Reserve turned a record profit of 45 billion dollars last year even as it plowed money into teetering banks to prevent a financial collapse, The Washington Post reported Tuesday.

The country’s central bank played a pivotal role in propping up the US economy in the midst of the sharpest recession since the Great Depression, spending billions of dollars on a highly controversial bailout of financial institutions.

The Fed’s unconventional moves led to a windfall for the government, the Post reported on its website, citing its calculations of figures it compiled from public documents.

It said the Fed will return 45 billion dollars to the US Treasury for 2009, the highest earnings in the 96-year history of the central bank. The largest previous refund was 34.6 billion dollars, in 2007.

The daily said the profits — earned in large part from the Fed’s aggressive bond-buying as it

aimed to push down interest rates and stimulate growth — were far higher than the expected profits of Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan combined.

The figures lend weight to claims by President Barack Obama’s administration that the Fed has been largely successful in its drastic intervention in the US economy and the protection of the American public.

“This shows that central banking is a great business to be in, especially in a crisis,” Vincent Reinhart, a former Fed official and current resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, told the Post.

“You buy assets that have a nice yield, and your cost of funds is very low. The difference is profit,” Reinhart added.

In addition to the bonds, the central bank also made money on its emergency loans to banks and financial firms, some of which repaid billions of dollars in loans and interest payments in 2009.

The newspaper reported that Fed chairman Ben Bernanke has received a modest raise for 2010, bringing the annual salary of one of the most powerful figures in the United States to just 199,700 dollars, with no bonus.

That is in stark contrast to the multi-million-dollar compensation received by several top bank executives, and as major US banks gear up to announce annual bonuses for top executives while bracing for a political firestorm over compensation practices that critics say fueled the global financial crisis.

BEIJING - China’s central bank on Tuesday raised the interest rate on its one-year treasury bills, which analyst said was an attempt to rein in continued aggressive lending by the nation’s banks.

It was the second time in a week that the People’s Bank of China has increased its own borrowing costs and came a day after state media reported banks extended 600 billion yuan (88 billion dollars) in loans in the first week of 2010.

Citigroup economists said in a research note that the move “suggests that authorities may be nervous about continued aggressive lending.”

“As a result, further liquidity drains are likely and may come with targeted mandatory bills and hikes in the reserve requirement,” it said.

The central bank on Tuesday sold 20 billion yuan worth of oneyear bills at a yield of 1.8434, a rise of eight basis points and the first hike since August.

Last Thursday, it raised the interest rate on its three-month trea-

sury bills.

The explosion in bank lending this month was larger than the combined 547.8 billion yuan in new loans given out in October and November and has “set off alarms” in Beijing, the Economic Information Daily reported Monday.

The central bank is expected to possibly implement a rise in the reserve requirement ratio — the amount banks must set aside in reserves — soon after the Chinese New Year in mid-February to rein in credit, it said.

That would be the first hike in the deposit reserve ratio for commercial banks since June 2008.

The move would work to fight inflation by requiring banks to hold on to more of their funds and lend less.

China’s consumer price index, a key gauge of inflation, rose in November after an almost year-long bout of deflation, stoking fears that Beijing could start tightening monetary policy in the coming months.

However, the Citi economists said they expected interest rates to stay on hold until later this year, noting that “inflation is still relatively low.”

Britain faces renewed recession risk: business group Agence France-Presse

LONDON - Britain, which is forecast to have exited recession during the final quarter of last year, faces a “serious risk” of renewed negative growth, the British Chamber of Commerce warned on Tuesday.

Economic data “support the view that the economy is on the brink of leaving recession, but they do not provide conclusive evidence of any robust and significant growth” in the last three months of 2009, the BCC said.

Official data due on January 26 is widely expected to reveal that Britain exited its longest recession on record during the fourth quarter of 2009.

“Unless the private sector is given the freedom to create jobs and wealth, the UK’s economic recovery will be slower than it should be, and we will face the serious risk of a double-dip recession,” BCC director general David Frost said in his organisation’s fourth quarter economic survey.

Frost said the BCC’s latest quarterly findings were “not as impressive as hoped” owing to a poor showing for the service

sector.

On a positive note, the data revealed “strong improvements in employment and exports within the manufacturing sector,” said Frost.

Britain has begun 2010 as the only top economy in recession after the eurozone, France, Germany, Japan and the United States last year each emerged from the deep downturn that was sparked by the global financial crisis.

The British economy, which is struggling with high unemployment and massive public debt caused by the financial crisis, has contracted for six quarters in a row — its longest recession since official records began in 1955.

Finance minister Alistair Darling recently admitted that Britain’s recession would be deeper than thought — with the economy predicted to have shrunk by 4.75 percent in 2009 compared to a previous estimate of 3.5 percent.

The economy is expected to grow 1.0-1.5 percent in 2010, according to Darling.

Management of the British economy is the key issue in a general election due no later that June, with the opposition Conservatives widely expected to oust the incumbent Labour government.

12

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Entertainment

Nicole Kidman Launches An Anti-Abuse Center ACTRESS Nicole Kidman continued her crusade against domestic violence by speaking at the opening of a new antiabuse center on Friday. The Moulin Rouge! star, who is a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Fund for Women, was on hand at the launch of the Family Violence Prevention Fund’s New International Center in San Francisco, California.

The center will give assistance to women who have suffered sexual or physical abuse. Kidman says, “There is no doubt that ending violence against women remains an urgent issue and belongs on center stage. Solutions require action and investment, and strong partnerships like the one we’re announcing today between UNIFEM and Family Violence Prevention Fund...”

“We’ve been able to approach governments around the world and we’ve been able to say, ‘We want you to acknowledge your laws, change your laws and to speak out strongly.’” The star appeared before lawmakers at the U.S. Congress in October to talk about violence against woman across the world, admitting that Hollywood “probably” played a role in contributing to acts of aggression.

Can Jerry Bruckheimer Pull Off ‘Bad Boys III’?

PRODUCER extraordinaire has mounted staggering productions, including the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. His biggest task might be mounting a third Bad Boys film. Not only did the first film make movie stars out of Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, but now even the director is a star. Bad Boys was Michael Bay’s first film. He came back for Bad Boys II but that was before another franchise got its hooks in him.

“It depends on his schedule,” Bruckheimer said. “We love Michael.

We’d like him to do it but he’s kind of swallowed up with Transformers.

Maybe the timing will work out right for it.” Gosh, it sounds like getting megastars Smith and Lawrence back will be the easy part. “They’re involved,” Bruckheimer confirmed.

For now, Bruckheimer is in the Johnny Depp business, with a fourth Pirates on the way, and Depp slated to play Tonto in a new Lone Ranger film. “Yeah, we’re still developing the screenplay. It’s moving along so hopefully after we get Pirates mounted, we can tell you some more about the Lone Ranger.”

Depp was happy to dress up as Captain Jack Sparrow again. In fact, he did it for appearances at Disney conventions to announce the film. Bruckheimer thinks he knows why everyone loves Johnny.

“I think it’s irreverence.

His kind of devil may care. He’s just got a wonderful attitude about himself and about Martin Lawrence the world and people love that.”

International

Cowell says he’s leaving ‘Idol’ for ‘X Factor’ SIMON Cowell, the acerbic Brit who has helped give “American Idol” some of its sharpest — and nastiest — moments, will leave the hit TV singing contest after this season. The cantankerous judge said Monday that “The X Factor,” a talent show he created and which is popular in Britain, will join Fox’s schedule next year. Cowell will be a judge on “The X Factor” and its executive producer. Cowell’s decision is the biggest threat yet to what has consistently been the country’s top-rated TV program and a true cultural force. This season, original host Paula Abdul has been replaced by Ellen DeGeneres.

But Cowell, with his caustic commentary, has long been seen as the big star of “Idol.” He said it would have been difficult for him to do both shows. While he makes a reported $36 million a year to be on “American Idol,” he owns “The X Factor” and could make much more if the show takes off. Ironically, “The X Factor” led to a lawsuit several years ago between Cowell and “American Idol” creator Simon Fuller, who alleged that Cowell copied the format for the British version of “The X Factor” from the original British “Idol.” The suit was settled amicably.

Cowell and top Fox executives made the announcement to reporters in Pasadena at a meeting of the Television Critics Association; they said they had reached an agreement only a few hours before. “I was offered a lot of money to stay on,” Cowell said. “But that wasn’t the reason behind it. I wanted to do something different. I wanted a new challenge.” But an even greater challenge is posed for Idol producers. Without the show’s biggest attraction and most critical judge, will “American Idol” lose steam and plunge even more in ratings? At least one analyst, Shari Anne Brill of Carat USA, said the “Idol” audience probably will decline next season.

“I think it’s that brand of sarcasm combined with professional know-how that makes Simon the audience magnet that he is,” she said. “I really believe the show revolves around him. He’s the linchpin of the show’s success. He has tremendous influence on how the audience votes. He’s interesting to listen to. He’s brutally honest.”

That said, even without Simon, she predicts the show “will still be a formidable player on Fox’s schedule.”

Kevin Reilly, Fox entertainment president, said Cowell’s departure from “Idol” isn’t necessarily a win for the network’s competitors. “I think it would be premature to be popping corks. Maybe they can say this gives us a little bit of wiggle room, but that’s a big maybe. On the

other hand, we’re not losing Simon Cowell, we’re potentially gaining another big headache for them in the fall,” Reilly said.

Cowell said there are many who want the job. But while everybody is talking about the judges, he added, “Fundamentally, the most important reason we do this is to find talent.” Asked about bringing in Abdul as a judge on “X Factor,” Cowell replied: “I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity, because I miss her.” But Victoria Beckham, a guest judge this season on “Idol,” won’t be joining his new show, Cowell said without explanation.

Sebastian Bach Slams Record Label Boss SEBASTIAN Bach Slams Record Label Bosses Former Skid Row rocker Sebastian Bach has lashed out at his first record label boss - insisting he’s outraged a track he recorded with Axl Rose was passed over in favor of an unknown band.

Bach confesses he started his own label, Get Off My Bach, because the music industry is so unstable even for the largest of rock icons. And he has blasted former Atlantic Records artists and repertoire (A&R) man Jason Flom for snubbing a collaboration with the Guns N’ Roses frontman - more than 20 years after Bach signed with the label.

He says, “We live in a world (where) Van Halen doesn’t have a record deal. I mean, Eddie Van Halen doesn’t have a f**king record deal. How can there be such a thing as rock and roll if Van Halen doesn’t have a record deal? ...The music industry’s so screwed up, I almost don’t wanna even rely on anybody but me. Even though I am doing another record, but it’s so cool to be in control of your music and be able to just get it out without asking anybody...”

“Just to paint a picture for everybody, Jason Flom signed Skid Row and a million other bands... But the fans should know that Jason Flom passed on me, Sebastian Bach, with Axl Rose on a record and then he put out Steel Panther. I just want people to realize that this same guy who says no to Sebastian Bach and Axl Rose together on record - ‘No. No, thanks.’ - he says yes to a bunch of f**king goofs, clowns, comedy guys.

He says yes to them.”

Life Style

International

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

13

Egypt tombs suggest pyramids not built by slaves Reuters -

CAIRO – New tombs found in Giza support the view that the Great Pyramids were built by free workers and not slaves, as widely believed, Egypt’s chief archaeologist said on Sunday. Films and media have long depicted slaves toiling away in the desert to build the mammoth pyramids only to meet a miserable death at the end of their efforts.

Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP

“These tombs were built beside the king’s pyramid, which indicates that these people were not by any means slaves,” Zahi Hawass, the chief archaeologist heading the Egyptian excavation team, said in a statement. “If they were slaves, they would not have been able to build their tombs beside their king’s.”

He said the collection of workers’ tombs, some of which were found in the 1990s, were among the most significant finds in the 20th and 21st centuries. They belonged to workers who

built the pyramids of Khufu and Khafre. Hawass had earlier found graffiti on the walls from workers calling themselves “friends of Khufu” — another sign that they were not slaves. The tombs, on the Giza plateau on the western edge of Cairo, are 4,510 years old and lie at the entrance of a one-km (half mile)long necropolis.

Hawass said evidence had been found showing that farmers in the Delta and Upper Egypt had sent 21 buffalo and 23 sheep to the plateau

every day to feed the builders, believed to number around 10,000 — or about a tenth of Greek historian Herodotus’s estimate of 100,000.

These farmers were exempted from paying taxes to the government of ancient Egypt — evidence that he said underscored the fact they were participating in a national project.

The first discovery of workers’ tombs in 1990 came about accidentally when a horse stumbled on a brick structure 10 meters (yards) away from the burial area.

Prehistoric building found in modern Israeli city Associated Press Writer

JERUSALEM – Archaeologists have uncovered remains of an 8,000year-old prehistoric building as well as ancient flint tools in the modern city of Tel Aviv, Israel’s Antiquities Authority announced Monday. The building is the earliest structure ever found in Tel Aviv and changes what archaeologists previously believed about the area in ancient times.

“This discovery is both important and surprising to researchers of the pe-

riod,” said Ayelet Dayan, the archaeologist who led the excavation. “For the first time we have encountered evidence of a permanent habitation that existed in the Tel Aviv region 8,000 years ago,” she said. The threeroom structure is believed to be have been built in the Neolithic period — when humans went from a nomadic existence of hunting and gathering to living in permanent settlements and engaging in agriculture.

The remains were found near the Ayalon river which Dayan said prob-

ably influenced the ancient dwellers’ decision to settle. Pottery shards found at the site helped archaeologists date the building. Ancient artifacts including flint tools and hippopotamus bones from between 13,000 and 100,000 years ago were found nearby.

Tel Aviv, Israel’s financial and cultural center on the Mediterranean, was built on barren sand dunes a mere 100 years ago. The ancient remains were uncovered during construction in the affluent Ramat Aviv neighborhood.

Yoav Arbel of Israel’s Antiquities Authority holds pieces of stone artifacts at the excavation site of the Neolithic period in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jan. 11, 2010.

Israel’s Antiquities Authority say the remains of a prehistoric building as well as ancient flint tools have been discovered in the modern city of Tel Aviv.

AP Photo/Ariel Schalit

Doug Hines, owner and designer for TrueCompanion, unveils Roxxxy, a prototype of what Hines said is the world’s first female sex robot complete with artificial intelligence and equipped to carry a conversation at the 2010 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo at the Sands Expo and Convention Center January 9, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The AVN expo is the largest adult entertainment trade show in North America, drawing about 20,000 attendees and featuring close to 200 vendors. The show runs through January 10.

Sex robot focuses on appealing to the mind Associated Press Writer -

LAS VEGAS – A New Jersey company says it has developed “the world’s first sex robot,” a lifesize rubber doll that’s designed to engage the owner with conversation rather than lifelike movement. At a demonstration at the Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas on Saturday, the darkhaired, negligee-clad robot said “I love holding hands with you” when it sensed that its creator touched its hand.

Another action, this one unprintable, elicited a different vocal response from Roxxxy the robot. The level of sophistication demonstrated was not beyond that of a child’s talking toy, but Roxxxy has a lot more brains than that — there’s a laptop connected to cables coming out of its back.

It has touch sensors at strategic locations and can sense when it’s being moved. But it can’t move on its own, not even to turn its head or move its lips. The sound comes out of an internal loudspeaker.

Douglas Hines, founder of Lincoln Park, N.J.-based True Companion LLC, said Roxxxy can carry on simple conversations.

The real aim, he said, is to make the doll someone the owner can talk to and relate to. “Sex only goes so far — then you want to be able to talk to the person,” Hines said.

The phrases that were demonstrated were prerecorded, but the robot will also be able to synthesize phrases out of prerecorded words and sounds, Hines said. The laptop will receive updates over the Internet to expand the robot’s capabilities and vocabulary. Since Hines is a soccer fan, it can al-

ready discuss Manchester United, he said. It snores, too.

Owners will also be able to select different personalities for Roxxxy, from “Wild Wendy” to “Frigid Farrah,” Hines said. He’s charging somewhere from $7,000 to $9,000 for the robot, including the laptop, and expects to start shipping in a few months. A Japanese company, Honey Dolls, makes life-size sex dolls that can play recorded sounds, but Roxxxy’s sensors and speech capabilities appear to be more sophisticated. Hines’ goals are certainly more farreaching.

An engineer, Hines said he was inspired to create the robot after a friend died in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. That got him thinking about preserving his friend’s personality, to give his children a chance to interact with him as they’re growing up. Looking around for commercial applications for artificial personalities, he initially thought he might create a home health care aide for the elderly.

“But there was tremendous regulatory and bureaucratic paperwork to get through. We were stuck,” Hines said. “So I looked at other markets.” The broader goal of the company is still to take artificial personalities into the mainstream, beyond sex toys, Hines said. “The sex robot thing is marketing — it’s really about making a companion,” he said. In a 2007 book, “Love and Sex with Robots,” British chess player and artificial intelligence expert David Levy argues that robots will become significant sexual partners for humans, answering needs that other people are unable or unwilling to satisfy.

14

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Sport

International

Tennis-Dominant Williams sends ominous warning to rivals Reuters -

SYDNEY - Serena Williams started her 2010 season in the same devastating fashion in which she ended 2009, thrashing Spain’s Marie Jose Martinez Sanchez 6-1 6-2 in the second round of the Sydney International on Tuesday.

Playing her first match since beating older sister Venus in the final of last year’s Tour Championship, Williams showed why she remains the woman to beat at this month’s Australian Open with a powerful display.

The world number one was not at her absolute best after a two-month break and struggled with the scorching temperatures at the Olympic tennis centre, but could not have been happier with her form leading into the first grand slam of the year. “I felt all right. Obviously I don’t feel my best, but that’s what the game is all about, taking it one match at a time and just doing the best that you can,” she told reporters.

“My goal is to do well, obviously, but I can’t put too much pressure on myself. If I play the best I can play, I’ve always said I’m very difficult to beat.” Russia’s Dinara Safina, who lost last year’s Australian Open final to Williams, also opened her new season with a win but had to work much harder before toppling Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Safina spent the off season recovering from a back complaint and the early signs were not good when she lost the first five games of the match as the mercury hovered above 35 degrees Celsius. But just when the world number two looked to be in trouble, she rebounded and seized control of the contest. “It was a little bit of slow start, but it was a winning start,” Safina said.

“It’s not easy to play against her. She’s a top 10 player and she plays very smart. It was my first match of the year. I think I was just finding my game... but once it clicked, it went all the way.” Russia’s defending champion Elena Dementieva beat Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchokova 6-2 4-6 6-2 while Victoria Azarenka of Belarus defeated Kimiko Date Krumm of Japan 6-1 5-7 7-5, leaving four of the original eight seeds in the women’s draw.

AFP PHOTO / Greg WOOD

Serena Williams of the US shows her delight at winning a game during her match against Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of Spain at the Sydney International tennis tournament on January 12, 2010. Williams won in straight sets 6-1, 6-2.

Hawks swoop late to beat Celtics again Khan Could Stick with Me Reuters -

BOSTON - Joe Johnson scored 36 points to lift the Atlanta Hawks to a second win over a depleted Boston Celtics in four days with a 102-96 triumph on Monday. Johnson led a comeback effort with 12 points in the fourth when the Hawks finally nudged ahead

Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks drives past Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden on January 11, 2010 in Boston, Massachusetts. The Hawks defeated the Celtics 102-96.

after trailing for most of the contest, including a 14 point deficit in the third quarter.

Atlanta guard Jamal Crawford added 17 off the bench including the game’s final six points, breaking a 9696 tie at 2:14 to play with two free throws before adding a lay-up and late jumper to pull away from a subdued Celtics. “An emotional game,” Hawks center Al Horford told reporters. “We kept on fighting, kept on scrapping and this is big for us on the road, to be able to come back and beat a team like this.”

Rajon Rondo recorded 26 points and seven assists and Paul Pierce put up 19 and eight rebounds for the Celtics (26-10), who lost to the Hawks for the third time this season — they fell 93-85 to Atlanta (24-13) on Friday. Boston shot 55 percent from the field including 10-for-20 in threepointers but were plagued by 16 turnovers and failed to convert any big plays in the final moments.

The Celtics were again without defensive leader Kevin Garnett, missing his sixth straight game with a knee injury. Offseason acquisition Rasheed Wallace, who had been starting in place of Garnett, also skipped the contest because of a sore left foot. Without two key players, Boston’s cause was also hampered by the ejection of coach Doc Rivers for arguing a call midway through the third quarter.

“It was just a terrible situation whether it was justified or not,” said Boston veteran Ray Allen, who had 16 points. “After that, the game did change.” With the win, Atlanta pulled within one game of the Orlando Magic for the Southeast Division lead.

London -

Frank Warren hopes WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan does not develop “amnesia” and stays loyal to the man who has stood by him since turning professional. The Bolton fighter shot to fame six years ago when he just lost out on a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Athens as a 17-year-old. Khan, 23, then turned professional and Warren has promoted all 23 of his fights since.

Many thought Khan’s career had come to an early end when he was knocked out by Breidis Prescott in the first round of his fight with the Colombian in 2008.

Warren stood by him, though, and guided the fighter to his first world title when he beat Ukrainian Andreas Kotelnik to pick up the WBA belt last July. Khan, like fellow British boxers David Haye and Ricky Hatton, has now established his own promotions company Khan Promotions.

When asked whether the emergence of that company could put Warren’s relationship with the Bolton fighter in danger, the 57-year-old said: “Look, whatever’s going to happen is going to happen. You just hope that people don’t suffer from amnesia, that’s all I can say. “I have delivered all I said I was going to do. When he turned pro I said I’d look after him and I’d make sure he wins a world title and I’ve done that.

Now he could become a legend. Can he do it? I don’t know. Will he do it with me? I think I’m pretty good at what I do and he’s pretty good at what he does.”

Warren hopes Khan does not follow the path of former world featherweight champion Naseem Hamed, whose career suffered a dramatic slide shortly after splitting with the promoter. Warren said: “Naseem Hamed was very good at what he did and I was good at what I did but, when he left me, it didn’t work out for him and he went from being a very popular fighter to a man who was booed out of the ring and he regrets that and I hope that Amir doesn’t get fazed by all these things.

“You have to remember 14 months ago he (Khan) was on the floor after being knocked out by an opponent they picked - the trainer lasted for one fight - so

we’ll see what happens. You can be very short term in this business and say, ‘this is what I want and this is what somebody has told me’. But do you want a career? That’s what it’s all about. Do you want a career and at the end of it do you want to come out of it with all your marbles intact and with some money in the bank, and that’s what he has got to look at.” Khan is due to make the second defence of his title against Argentinian Marcos Maidana.

Details for the fight will be confirmed next week after it went to purse bids but Warren is confident Khan will be able to successfully defend his title when a date and location are set. “We couldn’t agree terms (for the fight) and we’ll see what happens next week with it,” Warren added. “It’s a tough fight for him but he’s capable. Over the last 12 months he’s turned into a different fighter.”

Frank Warren hopes WBA light-welterweight champion Amir Khan does not develop “amnesia” and stays loyal to the man who has stood by him since turning professional

Sport

International

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

15

Lacklustre Ivory Coast thwarted by neighbours Reuters -

CABINDA - Pre-tournament favourites Ivory Coast were held to a goalless draw by neighbours Burkina Faso in Monday’s only African Nations Cup Group B game. Ghana were left without an opponent for the scheduled second match after Togo pulled out of the competition following the deadly attack on their team bus last Friday.

Ivory Coast, Africa’s leading contenders at this year’s World Cup in South Africa, enjoyed most of the posession but Bakary Kone failed to convert three clear chances and Didier Drogba was far from his brilliant best.

There was a minute’s silence before kickoff in memory of the Togo assistant coach and the press officer, who were killed in an attack on their bus by a separatist group.

Togo left Cabinda on Sunday, pulling out of the tournament and leaving Ghana without an opponent for Monday’s second game in Group B scheduled for 1830GMT. Security was reinforced around the Chiazi National stadium with police officers searching cars in front of the entrance and a police helicopter with armed officers on board circled above the area before kickoff. Ivory Coast got off to a good start and were denied a third-minute

penalty when Drogba was brought down in the box.

A Kone 20-metre drive then went just over the bar as Burkina Faso struggled in the Chiazi National Stadium. Yaya Toure’s header was cleared off his line by a defender shortly before the half hour with Kone again being denied by Burkina keeper Daouda Diakite on the stroke of halftime.

Marseille striker Kone missed the target 10 minutes into the second half with a fine shot from just outside the box.

Burkina Faso improved after the break while the pitch and Ivory Coast deteriorated.

Moumouni Dagano forced Boubacar Barry to make a spectacular dive with a powerful 40-metre free kick and Kone then missed the open goal after being perfectly set up by Gervinho in the 69th minute. He was immediately replaced by Abdul Kader Keita.

AFP PHOTO / ISSOUF SANOGO

Ivory Coast (Elephants) football team striker and team captain Didier Drogba (L) duels for the ball with Burkina Faso’s Mamadou Kere on January 11, 2010 in Cabinda during their Africa Cup of Nations football match.

Angola says two attackers arrested; Togo out of Cup

Happy Mancini still angry that Man City conceded a goal

Reuters -

Reuters -

CABINDA, Angola - Angola said on Monday it had arrested two people suspected of taking part in an attack on a bus carrying the Togo national soccer team to the African Nations Cup in which two delegation members were killed. It said it wanted its neighbours and France to clamp down on the rebels who have claimed responsibility for the attack in Cabinda, a heavily militarised oil-producing province geographically cut off from northern Angola.

Provincial prosecutor Antonio Nito said the two suspects belonged to the Front for the Liberation of the Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC) — the small remnant of a group that has been fighting for independence from Angola for over 30 years. Friday’s attack took place shortly after the Togo team’s bus crossed into Cabinda from the Republic of Congo. The team were brought home by their government on Sunday together with the bodies of their assistant coach and media officer to begin three days of mourning, as Africa’s biggest soccer event got under way.

Togo’s sports minister and several players had said they hoped the tournament schedule could be changed to let the team return later and honour their dead colleagues by playing. But the Confederation of African Football said this was impossible. “They are disqualified,” CAF co-ordinator Yaouba Amoa told reporters. Togo had been due to play Ghana in Cabinda on Monday.

The attack has acutely embarrassed the Angolan government, which had declared the FLEC dead and spent $1 billion preparing for the Nations Cup to showcase a gradual recovery from decades of civil war that only ended in 2002. Antonio Bento Bembe, an exrebel who is now a minister in charge of

LONDON - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini savoured his team’s onesided 4-1 Premier League victory over Blackburn Rovers on Monday — then said he was angry because they had conceded a goal.

It was City’s fourth straight success since Mancini took over from Mark Hughes three weeks ago and followed a 2-0 win over Stoke City and 3-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league and a 1-0 win at Middlesbrough in the FA Cup. After praising hat-trick hero Carlos Tevez, scorer Micah Richards and the rest of his team, Mancini told ESPN: “It was a good night for us, but the team must concentrate for 90 minutes and I am angry because we conceded a goal, it was a gift. “It’s important that we concentrate all the time. I was angry because it was a gift, but for me we played very well, we must continue to play well and not concede any goals.”

The victory lifted City into fourth place and a Champions League spot, taking them

AFP PHOTO / STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

The chief executive officer of the 2010 World Cup Organizing Committtee-South Africa, Danny Jordan, gives a press conference on January 12, 2010 in Johannesburg.

Cabinda affairs and policy on the FLEC, told Reuters the government “will do all we can to finish them off”. In an interview, he said Angola guaranteed there would be no more attacks during the Nations Cup, and that oil firms operating in Cabinda were safe, but that other countries must help.

Experts say the FLEC is divided and may have as few as 200 fighters, largely confined to remote northern Cabinda. But its leadership, based in France, says it will launch more attacks. “We want an international arrest warrant to be issued to capture those responsible for fuelling this attack,” Bento Bembe said.

He urged France to arrest N’Zita Tiago, the Paris-based FLEC president. The minister also called for help from Cabinda’s neighbours — the Republic of Congo, to the north, where he said one of the attackers came from, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), whose territory separates the Cabinda enclave from Angola proper, to the south.

to 38 points from 20 matches, trailing Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal but Mancini said the league table was unimportant now. “Now we don’t watch the table, we’ll watch the table in two months, now it’s not important,” he said. Tevez, who joined City from rivals Manchester United at the start of the season and will face them when City meet United in the League Cup semi-final later this month, had a memorable match.

He scored his first Premier League hattrick and took his tally for the season to 15 goals — with 10 coming in his last seven league matches. “He was fantastic,” said Mancini, who also raved about Richards’ stunning goal which came after he ran 70 metres from the edge of his own penalty area before laying the ball off to Benjani Mwaruwari who shot against a post.

However Richards kept running and was first to the rebound, cracking the ball past goalkeeper Paul Robinson. “It’s one of the best I scored, I just kept going and got lucky this time,” Richards said.

Manchester City’s Brazilian forward Robinho (L) talks to Manchester City’s Italian manager Roberto Mancini during the English Premier League football match against Blackburn Rovers at The City of Manchester stadium, Manchester, north-west England on January 11, 2010.

AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES

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Sport

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Lorenzo gets new team manager

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher returned to the cockpit of a racing car on Tuesday morning when he began a three-day testing programme with GP2 machinery

Schumacher kicks off Jerez test SEVEN-time world champion Michael Schumacher returned to the cockpit of a racing car on Tuesday morning when he began a three-day testing programme with GP2 machinery. The German took to the Jerez track early in the morning and completed the first few laps at the wheel of the development car used by the GP2 Series ahead of the 2010 season.

During the test, the Mercedes GP driver will focus on evaluating a number of suspension configurations in order to define new set-up solutions for the race weekends this year. The test will also

be used to evaluate updated components, including a new clutch, to be introduced later this year.

It is the first time Schumacher drives a single-seater since he tried to make a comeback to F1

last year to replace the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari. At the time, Schumacher was unable to race because of problems with his neck following a bike crash earlier in the year.

Rossi sticking to two wheels for now VALENTINO Rossi says he has no plans to switch to four wheels in the near future, and reckons he will be too old to race cars seriously when he retires from MotoGP. The 30-year-old Italian has taken part in some rallies in the past and also tested for the Ferrari Formula 1 team.

He admits he would like to continue competing in rallies eventually, but only when his MotoGP career is over. “There are not many changes in a man’s body between 22 and 34 so I still have some time left,” Rossi was quoted as saying

by Reuters on Monday.

“I would consider shifting to cars, probably rallying, after that before I finally decide to take it easy.” He added: “When I finish with bikes, I might want Valentino Rossi says he has no plans to switch to four to see some seasons in rallying. I know wheels in the near future, and reckons he will be too old to F1 would’ve been easier but by the time race cars seriously when he retires from MotoGP I finish MotoGP, I will be too old for F1.”

YAMAHA has announced that Dutchman Wilco Zeelenberg will become Jorge Lorenzo’s team manager at the Japanese squad from this year. Zeelenberg joins the MotoGP squad from the Japanese manufacturer’s World Supersport team, where he won the world championship in 2009 with Cal Crutchlow.

A former racer, Zeelenberg joined Yamaha Motor Europe as a test rider and technical coordinator in 2008. “I would like to congratulate Wilco on his appointment and wish him every success in his new challenge,” said team boss Lin Jarvis. “I am confident that the team and Jorge will benefit from Wilco’s long experience as a rider, a Yamaha racing technician and more recently as a successful Team Manager.”

“We look forward to integrating him into the Fiat Yamaha Team working alongside Davide Brivio, both Team Managers being under the supervision of Team Director Masahiko Nakajima.” Zeelenberg added: “After nine years working for Yamaha I am very proud to be joining the official Yamaha MotoGP team. It’s a big reward and I am very excited about this new challenge. Jorge is a fantastic rider and I cannot wait to start working with him and the crew.”

“The team is already a well-oiled machine and I am thrilled to be fitting into it. It’s clear that there are four main contenders for the title and Jorge is one of those four. I am a very competitive person, I will do everything I can in the team to create the right atmosphere and fight for the championship title.”

Yamaha has announced that Dutchman Wilco Zeelenberg will become Jorge Lorenzo’s team manager at the Japanese squad from this year