Edisi 18 Maret 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 52 2st Year

Report: NKorean leader may not survive past 2013

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e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id online: http://www.internationalbalipost.com. http://epaper.internationalbalipost.com.

All quiet in Bali on Day of Silence PAGE 8

Jessica Simpson investigates standards of beauty PAGE 12 BP/doc

The picture shows a person pray on the beach. The Hindus in Bali celebrated Nyepi Day on Tuesday, March 16th 2010. Nyepi Day is the New Year of Bali where this year is Caka New Year 1932. All of the people in Bali were not allowed to go outside of their homes, turn of any lights, and work during Nyepi Day.

At Renon Customary Village

Pengerupukan Night without Ogoh-Ogoh WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

28 - 32

JAKARTA

25 - 32

BANDUNG

20 - 29

YOGYAKARTA

24 - 34

SURABAYA

26 - 34

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

RAIN

HOTLINE

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Denpasar (Bali Post) - Pengerupukan Night—the day before Nyepi, since a few years ago, had been ensured to be jazzed up with ogoh-ogoh or papier mâché demon parade carried by the members of local Sekaa Taruna or customary village youth club. Even, the peak of the festive Nyepi Day celebrated by Hindu devotees even occurred on the implementation of ogohogoh parade around the village.

After that, all daily activities would practically ceased in line with the implementation of the Brata Penyepian or abstinences comprising the amati geni (no fire), amati karya (doing no physical work), amati lelungan (no traveling), and amati lelanguan (no stirring pleasure). However, on Pengerupukan night, there was one customary village in Denpasar that did not observe ogoh-ogoh parade as other villages in Bali. Why did the village not carry out the ogoh-ogoh parade?

Lively ogoh-ogoh parade after the Tawur Kesanga rite at each customary village and customary hamlet was always waited by the surrounding community. Moreover, Sekaa Taruna in each hamlet since a few

days before Nyepi arrived had welcomed it by the making of ogoh-ogoh through mutual cooperation. As a result, the vibrancy before Nyepi Day and Caka New Year had been already felt far before the Nyepi arrived.

Peak of the joyousness was increasingly felt everywhere as the Pengerupukan night arrived. In each catus pata (central crossroad) of local village was held a ceremony began with a Tawur Kesanga rite called caru panca sata (village level) and eka sata (hamlet level). Meanwhile, at the household level was also conducted by performing the ceremony, addressed to Sang Bhutaraja and Sang Kalaraja with offering in the form of sega in all colors of nine portions.

Having performed the ceremony,

of scary figure graced the change of Caka New Year 1932 this year.

However, such conditions could not be found at Renon Customary Village. The village consisting of four hamlets had never felt the festivity of ogoh-ogoh since the emergence of ogoh-ogoh parade. “As a matter of fact, since the early emergence of ogoh-ogoh parade in Denpasar in the 1980s, all hamlets at Renon made ogoh-ogoh,” said the Head of Renon Customary Village, I Wayan Sutama, last Wednesday (Mar 17).

Only at the village the ogohogoh parade was not carried out.

The reason, at the village weirdness appeared after Melasti ceremony took place. Sutama told that by Pengerupukan procession held at two different places (temples) there were two villagers came to trance simultaneously. In the trance state both villagers stated not to perform ogoh-ogoh parade at the village.

without command all units of ogohogoh resembling the figure of bhutakala were carried by each youth club. This march took place from afternoon until midnight. Even, some ogoh-ogoh parades were also put into competition by the local customary village. This happened on the Pengerupukan Day, Monday (Mar 15) at Yang Batu Customary Village. Similarly, Denpasar City held a contest of ogoh-ogoh where the assessment had been underway since two weeks before Nyepi in their respective subdistrict. Six finalists in each subdistrict were competed again in the level of Denpasar City being centered at Catur Muka Statue area, Denpasar. At least 24 units of ogoh-ogoh in various forms Continued on page 6

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International

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Bali News

BP/Eka

OGOH-OGOH – The situation during ogoh-ogoh parade which was held on Catur Muka on Monday, March 15th 2010. The Hindus in Bali create ogoh-ogoh to scare the evil spirits so they won’t disturb the people during Nyepi Day. The parade is held one day before Nyepi or usually called Pengerupukan day.

Arrangement of Lokitasari Market Left Uncertain Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Since the Right Use for Building (HGB) of Lokitasari Market’s building terminated at the beginning of last May 2009, until now there has been no definite plans that can be done by Denpasar City government. In fact, a number of members of Denpasar House had previously proposed the arrangement of Lokitasari Market in the immediate time, after the HGB held by investor ended. Unfortunately, after ten months had passed, Denpasar City administration that now holds the management rights does not even have a clear concept to organize the market giving impression to be left uncertain.

Managing Director of PD Pasar Denpasar, I Made Westra, contacted last Wednesday (Mar 17) said the arrangement plan of Lokitasari Market would be pending while waiting for the completion of the central parking lot at Badung Market. “Arrangement of Lokitasari Market for this year is not scheduled,” he said.

The same opinion was also expressed by the Head of Commission C, Denpasar House, Kadek

Agus Arya Wibawa. This Secretary of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of Denpasar Branch admitted the budget allocated for Lokitasari Market in the 2010 Regional Budget was not available because the existing funds would be used for the construction of the central parking lot in the court of Badung Market. “For Lokitasari Market, perhaps it may be postponed,” he said.

Previously, the ranks of Denpasar House declared some suggestions for the utilization of these shopping complexes. One of them was by using some parts of the shopping center for the central parking lot. Apart from the non-existence of adequate parking lot, the route of Jalan Thamrin was also often used to go to the Denpasar/ Badung graveyard, especially when the surrounding residents held Ngaben ceremony. A number

of representatives of the people of Denpasar, said if there was Ngaben ceremony, some residents found difficulties in carrying Bade (coffin bade tower) because along Jalan Thamrin was filled by parking vehicles.

Meanwhile, as for the strength of building, it has certainly no problems. Because when tested, its strength was still pretty good. “The raw material in use was of the super quality, so until now it is still worth using,” said Westra.

Many kiosks Closed

A number of shop owners in the Lokitasari shopping complex, Denpasar, did not use their shop properly. The proof, some shops and stalls in the shopping complex are closed. It is estimated that more than a half of them are dormant.

Out of the three existing floors, only the third floor is still fully functioned for cinema. Meanwhile, the others are no longer active for trading activities.

Based on the results of the 2009 data collection, the number of shops on the first floor remaining active was only 6 out of 16 traders. The same thing happened to stalls on the first floor. Out of the 33 units available, only 7 traders that are still active, while the other 26 units are no longer active.

A similar scene occurs in the shops located on the second floor.

On this floor, there are 16 units, but only 7 units are still active. No different from the conditions of shops on the floor, out of the 56 stalls available, only 7 stalls are still selling. The remaining 49 traders are no longer active. (kmb12)

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, 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

International

Bali News

Thursday, March 18, 2010

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BP/Eka

The Hindus in Bali conduct Melasti ceremony. They carry the sacred items to the ocean to purify them before being use on Nyepi Day. The ocean is considered to be the end of all water in the earth.

Otonan: Real ‘Birthday’ Celebration for Companions Month by month has gone by and another year is coming. Time is so significant to humans when he performs action and writes down his story of life. When having arrived at certain point, he may need a short break for an introspection and commemoration of a beautiful moment in his lifetime. Yes, it’s commonly known as birthday, an annual celebration of the day on which one was born.

Etymologically, there may have been a common ‘misperception’ here where birthday in the Gregorian calendar should be celebrated on the same day as the word suggests and not the same date (should be birth date). On the contrary, otonan in the Balinese (Hindu) tradition is similar thing but of different context. This one is celebrated every 210 days on the same day based on Javano-Balinese wuku year. So, it can be said a real birthday. For example, if one was born on Wednesday (day) Kliwon (five-day week) Dungulan (one of thirty wukus), he will celebrate his otonan on the same day as above.

Another difference between the two is the dating system, particularly on the starting point of new date. If the Gregorian starts at 00:01, the wuku at the sunrise. Sometimes, there is also misunderstanding among some Balinese to determine the day of a baby that was born at dawn, let’s say on Wednesday Kliwon Dungulan at 04:00.

Based on Gregorian calendar, the day and date have belonged to the next (Thursday) and will become its ‘birth date’ later.

However, its otonan should not follow this calendar system, but as the baby was born at 04:00, it should belong to Wednesday (Buda) based on the wuku system.

This misdating may often inflict mistakes in determining his otonan day and its character does not accord with the

Hindu astrology. This then needs something like ritual adjustment in Hindu belief to the appropriate day through an exorcism rite as mentioned in palm-leaf manuscript that commonly used as reference like Wrehaspati Kalpa.

Otonan in Balinese tradition is actually a private and comprehensive ritual that only celebrated by the family internally.

By certain kinds of oblation, the ritual is intended for one’s inner and outer self along with his kanda empat or four companions that are believed to accompany him since birth to the end of lifetime and even the period after death.

They are expressed in personification as amniotic fluid, vernix cascosa, the afterbirth and the blood. In Hindu belief, the names of the four companions will change in keeping with the increasing age of the human self and so are the places where they indwell. The four will loyally keep the self in this world. If ‘spiritual’ communication and empowerment run well among the five, one will never feel fearful wherever he goes and can do healing. As loyal and eternal companions, too, they will accompany the self around the clock. By doing this, they will know every single deed of the self during its interaction with corporeal body. After death, on facing the court of Yama, no facts can be hidden or no lies can be told, as the four companions will deliver the true witness.

In essence, otonan is an immensely important celebration for the Hindus. It constitutes right moment to reorganize, encourage the relationship of human self with the four integrated companions as the otonan contains two dimensional aspects, both sekala (visible) and niskala (invisible). By this, it is also expected to promote harmony between the body with soul and finally reach eternal bliss here and after. (BTN/*)

Melasti and Pakelem Rites at Cilincing Beach Keep Harmony and Balance of Nature LAST Sunday Umanis, hundreds of Hindu devotees throughout Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabotabek) abundantly poured into Cilincing Beach. One day before the Tawur Agung Kesanga, hundreds of the Hindus solemnly performed Melasti procession and pakelem at the Cilincing Beach, North Jakarta. Melasti procession through which a series of Tawur Agung Kesanga (falling every Tilem / black moon of the ninth months in Balinese calendar) and Nyepi Day of the Caka New Year 1932, on the following day, the Hindus symbolically cleansed and maintained the harmony and balance of nature.

Melasti procession and pakelem ritual began at 11:00 am Local Time. After saying prayers at Pura Segara at Greater Jakarta led

by Mangku Lawa, the Hindus flocked to perform mulang pakelem or offerings consisting of buffalo, cows, geese, ducks, chickens, pigs and goats out to sea. The procession also attracted the attention of the local community.

After the mulang pakelem ritual, at around 16:00 pm came hundreds of Hindus across Jabodetabek who wanted to execute Melasti procession. The meaning of this procession was to cleanse the world and the universe from impurity or evil and to harmonize the nature and keep its balance. Similarly, the ceremony symbolized the pleading of Tirtha Amertha or grace of the Creator of this nature.

Related to the Nyepi on last Tuesday, millions of Hindu devotees in Bali were ensured to celebrate it solemnly. On that day, from the sunrise until the next sunrise, the Hindus celebrated Nyepi Day by keeping the body silent with four abstinences or observing what the so-called Catur Brata Penyepian, consisting of no lighting fire (cooking), no going out of the house, no working, and no traveling.

Ogoh-ogoh at Monas

Meanwhile, on the Pengerupukan Day (Monday afternoon), some ten units of ogohogoh were paraded at National Monument (Monas). This tradition has been held since a few years ago. Parading the ogoh-ogoh in the series of Tawur Agung Kesanga rites was an expressive-creative procession of the Hindu community in interpreting the Caka New Year.

Hindu devotees throughout Jabodetabek made ogoh-ogoh in the form of butha kala bang, kala ijo, kala dengen, kala lampah, kala ireng and other figures typifying the negative traits that had to be destroyed so as not to interfere with human life.

Procession of ogoh-ogoh parade contains two meanings namely expressing the religious values and sacred time space based on religious literature. The second is a creative work distributed through the expression of beauty and togetherness. This series also contains the ramya (noisy) concept expressed by the ogoh-ogoh parade and then followed by a bleganjur gamelan orchestra.

In the meantime, the sunia (quiet) concept is implemented on the next day as the peak for Hindu introspection. (grd)

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News

Thursday, March 18, 2010

International

Red-shirt protesters decamp to Thai PM’s residence Agence France Presse

BANGKOK – Red-shirted protesters on Wednesday decamped to the residence of Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva but their fourday rally in support of their deposed political hero appeared to be petering out.

Thousands of “Red Shirts”, loyal to fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, began moving across Bangkok from their rally ground near government offices to the affluent Sukhumvit district, most by truck, car and motorcycle.

The move came a day after the protesters pressed their demand for Abhisit to resign in a bizarre bloody spectacle, when they made a mass collection of 300 litres of their own blood that was symbolically spilled at his office gates. Related article: Thai protesters give blood Police said over 10,000 protesters remained on Wednesday, far down from the rally’s peak of more than 100,000 in attendance when it began at the weekend, and despite repeated calls by Red leaders and Thaksin himself for them to stay.

But even as numbers dwindled, protest leaders pleaded for patience and said success was within their grasp.

AFP

“We are near victory.... If we make a mistake now we will be defeated for a long time. We want a sustainable victory so please be patient,” Red Shirt leader Jatuporn Prompan urged the crowd on Wednesday before leaving for Abhisit’s empty and heavily secured residence.

The Reds are protesting against the perceived elitism and illegitimacy of the Abhisit government, which came to power via a December 2008 parliamentary vote after a controversial court ruling ousted Thaksin’s allies.

Last month another court decision confiscated 1.4 billion dollars from Thaksin, whose followers are largely from the poor rural north and fervently support the populist policies he introduced before being ousted in a 2006 coup. Related article: Key dates in Thaksin saga Abhisit has been staying with other key leaders at an army barracks in the capital’s northern outskirts since the rally began, and the protesters massed

A supporter of deposed Thai premier Thaksin Shinawatra carries a container of donated blood at the offices of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Democrat Party in Bangkok.

there briefly on Monday as he refused their demand to call snap elections.

On Wednesday he was due to fly to Thailand’s far south, where a sixyear separatist insurgency continues. The government enacted a strict Internal Security Act to monitor the Bangkok rally, deploying 50,000 soldiers and police across the city and surrounding provinces as it feared violence by saboteurs.

Some 900 policemen have been standing guard at Abhisit’s residence, which has been hit several times in recent weeks by protesters throwing bags of excrement at the walls. The premier has twice rejected the crowd’s demand to dissolve parliament, saying he must think of the country’s interests and not only those of the Reds.

A joint session of both houses of parliament was postponed on Tuesday due to the lack of a quorum, with some lawmakers fearing for their safety in the ongoing demonstrations, parliamentary officials said.

Police said with falling numbers of demonstrators, they expected the rally to end within a few days. Red Shirt leaders have been using their rally stage to appeal for more protesters to arrive from the provinces.

Thaksin, who lives in exile to avoid a two-year jail term for graft at home, has spoken to the crowd via video link each night, urging them to fight on.

Vietnam releases leading Bin Laden will never face US trial, be caught alive dissident from prison Agence France Presse

Associated Press Writer

HANOI, Vietnam – One of Vietnam’s leading democracy activists said Tuesday that he was released from prison because he has a brain tumor and suffered three strokes while in custody.

The Rev. Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly, 63, said communist authorities freed him Monday after he served just three years of an eight-year sentence because they did not want to be blamed if his health took a turn for the worse.

“They didn’t want to be responsible for the treatment of my tumor, which is complicated, and they wanted to improve their standing in the international community,” said Ly, speaking by phone from the main Catholic church in the central city of Hue. Vietnam has sent 16 democracy activists to jail in the last several months and has come under frequent international criticism for its human rights record.

Ly said he was released for one year’s medical probation, which can be extended at his family’s re-

quest. Vietnamese officials could not immediately be reached for comment.

A longtime human rights activist, Ly has been in and out of prison and house arrest for years, most recently for helping found a group called Bloc 8406, which promoted multiparty democracy.

In 2007, he was sentenced to eight years in prison and five years of house arrest for disseminating anti-government propaganda. During a dramatic trial, police muzzled him for shouting anti-communist slogans and accusing Vietnamese officials of practicing “the law of the jungle.”

“I will always consider myself a prisoner of conscience,” Ly said Tuesday. “I do not accept that sentence.”

Ly was taken to his hometown of Hue in an ambulance from the Ba Sao prison in the northern province of Ha Nam. Human rights groups welcomed Ly’s release but stressed that Vietnam is still holding many other democracy activists in prison.

“By releasing Father Ly, the Vietnamese government has not reversed its deplorable rights record,” said Sophie Richardson of New Yorkbased Human Rights Watch.

WASHINGTON – Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden will never face trial in the United States because he will not be captured alive, Attorney General Eric Holder told lawmakers on Tuesday.

During a heated exchange with Republican congressmen, Holder predicted that “we will be reading Miranda rights to the corpse of Osama bin Laden” rather than to the US public enemy number one in captivity.

“Let’s deal with reality,” the attorney general added.

Bin Laden “will never appear in an American courtroom.”

Holder reacted angrily to Republican critics who say the attorney general’s proposal to try terror suspects in US federal civilian courts would put Americans at risk.

“They have the same rights that a Charles Manson would have, any other kind of mass murderer,” he told a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing.

“The notion that a defendant in an Article III (civilian) court is somehow being treated in an inappropriate, special way — that he’s being coddled, is anything but the truth... These defendants charged with murder are treated just like any other murder defendant would be.”

Republican Representative John Culberson said Holder’s analogy to Manson, a convicted killer, showed President Barack Obama’s administration has a profound disconnect with an American public that wants the terror suspects to be tried as war criminals and not as criminal defendants.

“My constituents and I just have a deep-seeded and profound philosophical difference with the Obama administration, the Department of Justice, the leadership of this Congress,” the Texas Republican said.

“This is war, and in time of war, we as a nation have never given constitutional rights to foreign nationals, enemy soldiers, certainly captured overseas.”

The hearing came as the Obama administration’s plans to try the self-proclaimed mastermind of the September 11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and his alleged co-conspirators on trial in New York have been put on hold.

Mounting opposition from local politicians, including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, has led the White House to reconsider, and it is now looking at trying the men in a military tribunal.

AFP/Getty Images

US Attorney General Eric Holder

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

Thursday, March 18, 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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Thursday, March 18, 2010

News Woman, 92, charged in death of 98-year-old husband SYDNEY – Police in Australia have charged a 92-year-old woman with killing her 98-year-old husband.

Clare Tang is due to appear in court Tuesday on a murder charge after her husband was found dead in their apartment in downtown Sydney on Friday night.

New South Wales state police said in a statement that C.Y. Tang was found in the lounge room and that he had suffered head wounds. A

cause of death was still being determined.

Clare Tang was arrested at the scene.

Family friend George Tsoi said the couple were from Shanghai, China, and owned restaurants in Singapore. He said they had been married for about 70 years, and that Clare Tang appeared to love her husband deeply, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.

Australian leader polls below 50 percent for first time Agence France Presse

Foto/AP

In this undated photo released by Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service in Tokyo Thursday, March 11, 2010, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, foreground, visits Chilsong Electric Appliances Factory in Huichon, southern part of Chagang Province, North Korea.

Report: NKorean leader may not survive past 2013 Associated Press Writer

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Il may die within three years, a senior U.S. envoy said in Seoul last month, according to a report published Wednesday.

Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, a South Korean lawmaker and activists in a closed-door session that he doubted the 68-year-old leader would live beyond 2013, South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.

Campbell based his estimate on medical information, the report said, citing unidentified sources.

U.S. Embassy spokesman Aaron Tarver said he had no details. Park Sun-young, an opposition lawmaker who attended the Feb. 3 meeting, said Wednesday that she had no comment.

A state-run South Korean think

tank, the Korea Institute for National Unification, also said in a January report that Kim Jong Il probably wouldn’t survive past 2012. It cited no specific evidence for the estimate.

The report comes amid speculation that the autocratic Kim is preparing to hand power over to a son.

Kim Jong Il is believed to have suffered a stroke in 2008, and has appeared noticeably gaunt in public appearances over the last year.

His health is of keen interest because of concerns that his sudden death could trigger instability and a power struggle in the nucleararmed communist country.

Kim, who himself inherited

power in 1994 upon the death of his father, North Korean founder Kim Il Sung, has not publicly named any of his three sons to succeed him. However, he is said to favor his youngest son, the Swisseducated Kim Jong Un, believed to be in his mid-20s.

Little is known about the son.

U.S. officials were sent to question teachers at the Swiss school to find out more about him, the Chosun Ilbo report said, citing an unidentified participant in the meeting.

Campbell predicted the succession would be “totally different” from Kim Jong Il’s ascension to power after being groomed for the post for many years.

SYDNEY – Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s popularity has fallen to its lowest level since he took office more than two years ago despite a recent media blitz, a newspaper poll released Tuesday said.

The centre-left Labor leader’s personal approval rating dropped three percentage points to 48 percent over the past fortnight after he admitted to breaking some election promises and apologised for the slow pace of reform.

“For the first time, voter satisfaction with Rudd’s personal performance has dropped below 50 percent,” The Australian’s commentator Dennis Shanahan wrote in an accompanying analysis.

“His personal approval is now the lowest it has ever been as Labor leader, both as leader of the opposition since December 2006 and as prime minister since November 2007.”

Despite a flurry of media appearances around the country, dissatisfaction with the former diplomat was also at an all-time high, reaching 41 percent, according to the results of the March 12-14 telephone survey of 1,143 voters.

But the government would still retain power in an election, according to the poll which found that Labor held a 52-48 lead over the conservative coalition led by former

AFP/File

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd health minister Tony Abbott.

Rudd, who is expected to call an election to seek a second term in office later this year, said he was expecting a tough campaign.

“It’s going to be a hard-fought election, I accept that,” he told ABC Radio.

Abbott said the poll could reflect some nostalgia for the 11-year rule of the former conservative government led by John Howard, ousted

by Rudd in late 2007.

“The more they see of the current government the less they like it,” he told reporters.

Pengerupukan...

From page 1 Not only that, ogoh-ogoh made by Sekaa Taruna at each hamlet also showed peculiarities. “The ogoh-ogoh that would be paraded was like to live.

Some parts of the body moved by itself, so that it raised questions among the members of Sekaa Taruna,” explained Sutama.

As a result of these two events, the customary villagers came to agreement that all components of Renon would not hold the ogoh-ogoh parade.

“Long time after the incidents, we have tried to make ogoh-ogoh again, but similar peculiarity happened again.

The tongue of the ogoh-ogoh we made may protrude by its own. Conse-

quently, we were so scared and quickly dismantled it,” said Nyoman Olly Muliarta, one of the residents from Br. Kelod, Renon.

Sutama said, although the ogohogoh parade was not held, the Pengerupukan procession was still going on in accordance with the local traditions and the prevailing mechanism in general. Tawur Kesanga ceremony centered at central crossroad of Renon Village (Jalan-Jalan Tukad Balian—Jalan Tukad Aya) still took place as at other villages holding the Tawur panca sata. However, the Pengerupukan procession was only carried out by means of bamboo split drum, torches, and other equipments, except for ogoh-ogoh. (ara)

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, March 18, 2010

7

Police seize four terror suspect weapons in Aceh Antara

BANDA ACEH - Lhokseumawe police Tuesday evening seized four long and short-barrel guns and more than 1,000 bullets believed to have belonged to terrorists at two separate locations in Aceh Province.

AFP PHOTO / CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN

In this photograpah taken on March 16, 2010 Indonesian police personnel man an outpost overlooking a river in Lamno at Aceh Besar district in the western province of Aceh during a patrol in the area. Police continue search operation for militants following series of succesful raids in the Aceh Besar area.

President cites four main things to face global challenges Antara

JAKARTA - The world community should do four main things in facing global challenges, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at the opening of an international seminar to observe the first anniversary of the Defense University at the State Palace, the President said the international community should carry out four things to face global challenge because an open war was no longer triggered by ideological differences or expansionism. The president said an open war now could be triggered by nontraditional threats such as conflicts over control of energy and natural resources.

The seminar was themed “Indo-

nesia Toward 2025: Security and Geopolitical Threat with the Focus on Natural Resources, Economy, and Energy.”

The President said the first thing the world community should do was develop a new awareness and responsibility among all countries to build a pro-earth and planet lifestyle.

The second thing, he added, was mastery of technology in order to be able to overcome global problems including food, energy, and water issues which posed a non-traditional threat.

The third thing was meeting the need for more effective global cooperation and partnerships, and the fourth was finding peaceful solutions to existing conflicts, without resort to military or other forms of “hard power.”

As one a world leader, the Indone-

sian head of state called on the international community to build a better world civilization.

Yudhoyono also said that following the end of the cold war, terrorist attacks in the United States, and the global crisis, the world was heading toward a new power balance.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the international seminar was conducted to observe the first anniversary of the Defense University which was to prepare future leaders and modern defense experts capable to face future challenges.

“The importance of having a Defense University is to evolve new ideas and focus on national security in the context of global, regional, and national changes,” Purnomo said.

“Visit South Sulawesi 2012” program launched Antara

MAKASSAR - South Sulawesi’s culture and tourism office here on Wednesday officially launched a “Visit South Sulawesi 2012 Best Nature Asia” program. “Tourist resorts and their supporting facilities have been made ready to welcome domestic and foreign tourists during the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 program,” South Sulawesi Culture and Tourism Office chief Syuaib Mallombasi said here on Wednesday.

He said the program was officially launched on Wednesday to promote Makassar district and city’s tourism agenda, including a Butterfly Festival in the Bantimurung area in Maros district, Tanjung Bira Festival in Bulukumba, “Maudu Lompoa” in Takalar, Takabonerate Festival in Selayar, and “Lovely December” in

Tana Toraja.

Syuaib Mallombasi said the South Sulawesi Tourist Information Center in Dempasar, Bali, would be dedicated in April this year to promote the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 program.

South Sulawesi was also cooperating with three other major Indonesian cities, namely Denpasar, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta to promote the event.

Meanwhile, South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo said he would cooperate with various parties to develop the tourism sector in the province. “South Sulawesi should not be second to other provinces in Indonesia. I want to cooperate with various parties with a joint commitment to developing this province,” the governor said, expressing hope that the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 program would be a success.

South Sulawesi is one of the provinces in Indonesia which has a beautiful landscape, inhabited by three main ethnic groups with their own specific cultures which hopefully will be presented as a spectacular and unforgettable experience.

There are three big ethnic groups in South Sulawesi, namely Makassar, Bugis, and Toraja and each of them are well known for their friendliness and hospitality. If the Makassar and Bugis tribes are known as excellent seafarers and mainly live in the province’s south, the Toraja people are famed for their unique culture and mainly live in the province’s hinterland.

A number of traditional rituals, houses, and also ornaments which can still be seen in Tana Toraja - “the land of heavenly kings” - will make the district an important tourist destination.

The weapons were found following a tipoff from a member of a terror suspect who had surrendered to local police, Senior Commissioner Farid AS, spokesman of the Aceh Police, said here on Wednesday.

Muchtar (25), former secretary of ‘Dayah Mujahiddin’ at Blang Mangat village, who was on the police’s wanted person list, gave himself up to Lhokseumawe Police office on Tuesday evening.

Three Colt revolvers and one M16 gun as well as 1,064 bullets were later found in Paya Bakong and Blang Cruem areas, Lhokseumawe.

Aceh police supported by members of anti-terror special detachment (Densus) 88 have been pursu-

ing suspected terrorists in Indonesia’s most-western province over the past few weeks.

The Police have estimated that around 14 suspected terrorists are still hiding in the province having population of around 4.6 million.

Of the 14 wanted terror suspects, three were Acehnese while six of those who had been killed during police operations so far were also Acehnese.

National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri recently said the police had so far arrested 38 suspected terrorists including those nabbed in Jakarta and seven of them had been killed during operations.

Indonesia arrests 68 Afghan migrants Agence France-Presse

KUPANG - Indonesian police arrested 68 Afghan migrants after their boat ran into trouble en route to Australia, an official said Wednesday.

They were sailing from Makassar, Sulawesi island, when their wooden boat met rough seas and they were forced to seek refuge on small Raijua island, local district chief Thobias Uly told AFP. “We arrested them Tuesday after a tip-off from local residents,” he said, adding that the migrants were all men.

“We’ll coordinate with the immigration office and the International Organisation for Migration to send them to a detention centre.”

The boat captain and crew managed to escape, he said.

Indonesia is a popular route for undocumented migrants hoping to reach Australia.

Pakistani embassy holding art exhibition Antara

JAKARTA - The Pakistani Embassy in Jakarta in cooperation with the Ciputat Gallery opened a week-long Indonesia-Pakistan art exhibition on Tuesday.

The art exhibition which is taking place at the Pakistani embassy until March 22 displays tens of paintings carrying different themes.

The paintings are the works of Indonesian painters such as Saman, Budi, Irasam, Luthfi, Hidayat Ambo, Koempoel, Fardolli Fadli Very Apriyatno, H. Ling, Iwan Suhaya and Sania Gilang Hati as well as Pakistani painter Ayesha M. Khan.

“This exhibition has a positive impact on Indonesia-Pakistan relations,” Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo said in his opening address.

The governor said noted Pakistani painter Ayesha M. Khan’s participation in the exhibition could help promote Indonesian culture through his paintings.

Pakistani Ambassador to Indonesia Sanaullah in his address said the exhibition was a humble attempt to weave a new dimension in the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Indonesia and the culturally robust relations in the ASEAN region.

“We will soon be introducing Pakistan’s diverse culture, enriched by centuries of old pagan, Gandhara, Buddhist and Islamic civilizations to Jakarta, a leading center of art in the region.” he said.

In this context, he said he intended to make an offer to the ambassadors of ASEAN member states through the ASEAN Secretariat for a joint show of photographs and a food festival.

8

Internationa

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Bali Today All quiet in Bali on Day of Silence Antara

DENPASAR - All human activity on Bali island came to a standstill to avoid making any sound on Tuesday in observance of the Hindu New Year or locally known as Nyepi.

Usually crowded with thousands of domestic and foreign tourists who had come for a vacation, Bali island on Tuesday was enveloped in an atmosphere of total quiet as all people honored the Hindu holy day by staying at home for 24 hours to stop working, turn off lamps at night, refrain from traveling and making noises.

On Nyepi day, all public places such as tourist spots and markets are closed to respect the

Bali Post/iah

What is the Meaning of Nyepi?

This week, the Balinese Hindu community celebrated another New Year. They celebrated it with a religious ceremony. March 15 sees a Tawur Agung Kesanga (a ceremony to celebrate the end of the Çaka year, which is designed to sacrificially cleanse the universe and all within it). Hari Raya Nyepi follows this the next day.

Nyepi fell on Tuesday 16 March; for 24 hours (6:00 AM – 6:00 AM), Hindu people stayed quietly at home. They are not allowed to go out in the streets, light fires or switch on the lights; they should not engage in entertainment nor make a noise that might disturb others.

During that time they are also forbidden to cook any meals.

Nyepi is preceded by two ceremonies. The first is Melasti, a ceremony praising the power and glory of God through the parading of symbolic effigies, which are believed to emanate holiness, which vibrates through the cosmos, eliminating negative characteristics in society and nature. The second is Tawur Kesanga, one of the Bhuta Yadnya ceremonies, which are conducted to purify the universe, ritually and spiritually.

Nyepi marks the beginning of the Çaka New Year. The purpose is to purify ourselves so that as we enter the New Year we will be re-born,

cleansed of all wrongdoings committed in the previous year. According to the Bhagawad Gita (a Hindu holy scripture), in the life of humankind there are two opposing tendencies: towards the good and towards the bad. Kedewaan, tending towards the good literally means ‘having qualities like the deities’ where people try to be good and honest and over time come closer to God. Keraksasaan, tending towards the bad means ‘having demon-like qualities’ where people work against dharma (truth) and grow further and further away from God. How do such tendencies arise in human beings? According to Hinduism, human beings were created through the joining of Purusa (soul) and Pradana (matter). When soul and matter met they resulted in human beings born with Chitta (positive characteristics) and Klesa (negative characteristics).

There are five sorts of Klesa or negative characteristics (a bit like the western concept of the seven deadly sins): Awidia (stupidity), Asmita (egoism and arrogance), Raga (desire), Dwesa (anger and revenge), and Abhiniwesa (fear).

Ironically, the most frightening thing in life is, in fact, death, and yet it is the one thing that is certain. Timorous people always feel threatened; because they are afraid of death, they

attack everything that threatens their life. Thus, human beings will suffer if they are under the power of Klesa.

If, however, Chitta can control Klesa, it can transform it into a power to support Chitta. Human beings will then be encouraged to act and behave well.

Thus, Nyepi is a ceremony to remind people to keep Klesa away and to cultivate the characteristics of Chitta.

holy day of the Hindu religion.

Absolute stillness reined at all famous locations on Bali Island such as Denpasar city, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Marga subdistrict, Tabanan district, Gianyar district, Karangasem district and the eastern side of Bali. Only nature’s sounds were heard in those places.

Bali provincial authorities also closed down Ngurah Rai international airport and four seaports for the next 24 hours or up till Wednesday (March 17).

Normally serving 180 airThe photo shows the street in planes per day, Ngurah Rai airport Mekar Buana, Badung during was closed to all domestic flights from and to Denpasar. An excepthe celebration of Nyepi. All tion was only made for internahuman activity on Bali island tional transits, technical landings came to a standstill to avoid and emergency landings. making any sound on TuesForeign tourists in Bali day in observance of the during the Day of Silence were Hindu New Year or locally only allowed to engage in some activities inside their hotels. known as Nyepi. called Ngerupuk It is one of the most exciting days for the Balinese but most terrifying for the bad spirits since it is the time to scare the demons away. At dusk,

all kinds of noises are made; fire and torches are lit; and thousands of ogoh-ogohs, gruesome figures such as the above, are paraded through Balinese villages and towns. (*)

The Meaning of the Çaka New Year

The Hindu religion calculates years according to the Çaka calendar. By this calendar, the current year is 1931, ending on 15 March 2010. New Year’s Day is known as Nyepi. This is a day on which everyone is encouraged to engage in quiet reflection and meditation because the coming of the New Year (1932) has a special meaning for Hindus.

In the days of the Hindu kings in Bali, every Saka New Year brought a re-evaluation of self and environment. Those aspects, which are already positive and appropriate, should not, of course, be tampered with. However, if there are theoretical or practical aspects of life that are obsolete, they need to be replaced with systems more relevant to today. If these adjustments are not made, this will lessen the meaning of the ceremonies themselves.

The Balinese New Year’s Eve is

AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA

Balinese Hindu devotees carry effigies called “ogoh-ogoh” symbolising evil in Denpasar in Indonesia’s resort island of Bali on March 15, 2010, as part of a traditional celebration ahead of the Day of Silence or locally known as “Nyepi.” Hindu devotees in Indonesia and around the world will celebrate the “Day of Silence” on March 16.

al

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Balinese Culture

Ngurah Rai to be closed during Obama visit Antara

DENPASAR – If the President of USA, Barack Obama visits Bali on March 21st through 22nd 2010, Ngurah Rai Airport will be closed for 1 hour especially if he uses Air Force One. Dimyati, the Assistant Manager of PR in Ngurah Rai Airport, said “before Air Force One land, we will stop all activities in the airport for 30 minutes and after it land for another 30 minutes.”

Until this very moment, there is no certain news whether Obama will visit Bali or not. The only confirmation received is that Obama will come to Indonesia for official visit on March 21st 2010 and then go to Australia.

The standard procedures for se-

curity during the visit of a president are a national air space is closed from all of flight activities during the visit. The closing is done before the president land and shortly after. The other procedure is giving notice to airmen to all commercials and military operators.

“Usually there is a team from Indonesian Government that decided this matter. We are ready conducting any decision that they make but currently we didn’t receive any confirmation about the visit of Obama,” Dimyati added.

During his visit in Indonesia, Air Force One will receive special protection from Indonesia and also the President special squad from USA. According to the security procedures from the US secret service, several days before

Air Force One land in certain location, a plane called Globemaster III will land first.

In the plane there are several equipments such as two special vehicles, secret service team, and others.

It will secure the area before the president land.

Djoko Santoso, the head of Indonesian Army, said that the army is ready to secure the area during Obama visit.

“The proper steps had been done to support the police department to preserve the security level,” he added.

According to the rules, the security during the visit of President to Indonesia becomes the responsibility of the army. Drills and trainings has been done by the police and army to secure the visit of Obama.

After Nyepi, Ngurah Rai start operate normally Antara

KUTA – Ngurah Rai International Airport was started to operate on Wednesday, March 17th 2010 after being closed for 24 hours during Nyepi day. The Hindus in Bali celebrated Nyepi Day, the Caka New Year 1932 on Tuesday, March 16th 2010.

The normal operation of the airport was started on 6 am local time.

Dimyati, the Assistant Manager of PR in Ngurah Rai Airport, said “at 6 am, all the activities in Ngurah Rai Airport return to normal. There was slight delay on the first flight because people only allowed going outside after five o’clock.”

Stores and offices in the area were also started to open as usual. All crews and staffs including pilots had arrived in the airport at 6 to prepare

their flights. In the departure terminal, tourists already queue since early in the morning.

“There are no reports of emergency landing or any other problems during Nyepi day. We always prepare our officers on guard even on holiday like Nyepi,” Dimyati added. All procedures to handle emergency are situation already being mastered by all personnel.

Jukut Belimbing (Star Fruit Leaves in Sweet Sauce) Star fruits trees grow in many Balinese gardens, a convenient source of leaves for vegetable dishes. The leaves are crunchy with a slightly bitter tang. If not available substitute with spinach leaves.

INGREDIENTS: 400 gr star fruit leaves, washed ½ cup basic spice paste 2 cups coconut milk 2 salam leaves 300 gr beef rump, minced 30 cm square of banana leaf ½ tsp salt ¼ tsp black peppercorn, crushed PREPARATION: Bring 3 liters (12 cups) of lightly salted water to the boil in a stockpot. Add star fruit leaves. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Drain leaves, and then cools to room temperatures in ice water. Drain and dry well.

Place half of the spice paste into saucepan and sauté for 2 minutes. Add coconut milk and salam leaf, reduce heat and simmer until sauce thickens. Season minced beef with the remaining spice paste. Place on banana leaf and roll up very tightly into the shape of a sausage.

Steam for 15 minutes. Allow to cool, open banana leaf and break meat into its original minced consistency. Mix the coconut milk and mince beer well and add star fruit leaves and mix again. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve at room temperature with steamed rice. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

Rujak Buleleng: Flavor of Assorted Fruits and Tubers Lazing under hot weather may inspire you to get snack or something light to eat. Or even something that can encourage the spirit of the day. How about tasting rujak? Rujak is assorted fresh fruits served with tamarind sauces. Here is a special rujak known as Rujak Buleleng (a region in northern Bali) that can be easily find in downtown Denpasar. It combines various fruits and tubers having tasteless, sweet and sour flavor.

Its ingredients consist of some slices of ripe guava (cubically), ripe mango, ambarella (kedondong), pineapple, cucumber, yam bean, sweet potato, and nearly ripe papaya (grated). Meanwhile, its spices are made from ½ tsp grilled shrimp paste, 1 tsp tamarind paste, 1 tbsp palm sugar, 1 red chili and salt (to taste).

These spices are ground finely on stone mortar and added with some water until the sauce look nice. Finally, mix well all ingredients and the sauces. Have a nice rujak while enjoy the holiday! (BTN/punia)

9

10

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Destinations

International

Tirta Empul - Tampak Siring Temple

http://tourtaxiubud.files.wordpress.com

TIRTA Empul Temple or Tampak Siring Temple is a holy spring water temple located in Tampak Siring Village, Gianyar regency and it is about 39 km eastwards from Denpasar town.

It is set in the dale and encircled by the hill. In the west side of this temple, there is an Indonesian President palace which has been found by the first president. The name of Tirta Empul is loaded in a inscription which is kept at Sakenan Temple, Manukaya village, Sub district of Tampak Siring, about 3 km from Tirta Empul Temple. In this inscription, the Tirta Empul is named by the Tirta Ri Air Hampul and then the name has changed into Tirta Hampul and finally become the Tirta Empul. Tirta Ri air hampul is meaning the water emerge or the holy pool (Petirthan) which is the water emerge from the land.

The wellspring emerges from the land is believed that it is the infinite creation. According to the history, that, that this water source is arranged and sanctified by king Indrajayasinghawarmadewa in the year 882 Saka (960 M). He has given the name with Tirta ri air hampul. The data is loaded in the inscription that is located at Sakenan Temple. Besides of the above epigraphy data, in Tirta Empul Temple is also found the archaeology omission like Colossus Yoni, Arca Lion, Tepasana and Tirta Empul Pool. According to papyrus of Usana Bali narrated that Tirta Empul is created

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by Bhatara Indra (Sun Deity) when bearing arms against the king where his palace is located in Bedahulu Countryside. He is known as a very miraculous king, which he can lose or show suddenly, therefore he is named by Mayadenawa. Because of its miracle, he becomes the arrogance and expressing himself as a god. The Mayadenawa King owns the assistant (Patih) which is called Kalawong. They prohibit the people to do the Yadnya (praying to the god) so that is often happened the natural disaster, disease epidemic, agriculture fail and finally miserable life society. Finally Betara Indra (one of Hindu God) gives battle against the kings that happened in Tampak Siring and then the Mayadenawa is gone to the wall and disappear. King Mayadenawa has also created poisonous pools which can the team of Bathara Indra die and faint after drinking this water.

Then Bathara Indra stick the weapon of Umbulumbul and finally the water is emerging so that called by Tirta Empul and then it is passed to the dead and faint soldier that made them back to live. Therefore at the moment this pool water is sanctified by the Hindu society in Bali and they believe that this water source can heal various of diseases, hence every day this place is a lot of visited by Hindu people to do the ritual and sanctify them self . This place has been opened for public and as a famous tourist destination in Bali. (www.balistarisland.com)

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Thursday, March 18, 2010

11

BUSINESS ADB chief sees strong Asian recovery in 2010 Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - Economies in developing Asia will show further strong growth in 2010, despite risks of a possible slowdown in the Chinese economy, the head of the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.

The Manila-based bank “will likely further revise upward regional growth forecasts” when it releases its Outlook 2010 report next month, said president Haruhiko Kuroda at a Tokyo press conference.

“ADB’s growth forecasts show that we are amid a V-shaped recovery,” he said, adding that estimates for China and India would likely be upgraded.

The ADB in December raised its 2010 growth outlook for the region to 6.6 percent from the 6.4 percent rate it had predicted three months earlier.

The outlook includes the 44 developing member economies of the ADB. Kuroda said that, after the global downturn, some positive trends in the most advanced economies — the United States, Europe and Japan — had “helped the economic recovery in developing

Asia”.

Huge stimulus spending by Asian governments also “really initiated and then gave traction to the region’s economic recovery”, Kuroda said.

But he warned of risks to the global recovery, such as a possible Greek debt default or a slowdown of the Chinese economy.

“There is concern that the large increases in bank lending in 2009 may be creating asset bubbles, particularly as prices continue to soar” in China, he said.

China has injected almost 600 billion dollars in stimulus measures.

And Kuroda urged Asian nations not to end their stimulus measures too quickly, saying: “Premature policy exits could jeopardise a return to sustainable growth.”

But he added: “On the other hand, holding on too long could cause distortions or an unsustainable fiscal deficit.”

AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS

People shop at a crowded store in a busy shopping district in Beijing on March 17, 2010. Economies in developing Asia will show further strong growth in 2010, despite risks of a possible slowdown in the Chinese economy, the head of the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.

Bank of Japan frees up cash, keeps rate near zero Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - Japan’s central bank doubled the amount of cash it will make available to banks Wednesday while keeping interest rates at a record low as it tries to kickstart a stuttering economic recovery.

Under government pressure to help fight deflation, the Bank of Japan said it would extend emergency steps taken in December by boosting its short-term loan facility to 20 trillion yen (220 billion dollars).

The facility offers three-month loans at 0.1 percent against collateral such as government bonds and corporate debt. However, markets had been expecting the loan duration to be extended to at least six months.

The move aims to bring a decline in longer-term interest rates — at which companies and individuals borrow to invest in new capital or to buy homes — to boost spending.

The bank’s decision, announced after a two-day policy meeting, came as Asia’s biggest economy struggles to sustain a firm recovery in the face of falling consumer prices and weak private demand.

Japan’s economy last year emerged from its worst post-war recession thanks to rebounding exports, much of it to booming China, and on the back of government pump-prim-

AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

Governor Masaaki Shirakawa of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) smiles during his annual press conference at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo on March 17, 2010. ing measures at home.

But the recovery has been slower than expected. The government last week said gross domestic product grew at an annualised 3.8 percent in the fourth quarter, less than the 4.6 percent previously estimated.

The BoJ on Wednesday held its benchmark interest rate unchanged at an ultra-low 0.1 percent, a level it has kept since December 2008, the height of the global financial market meltdown.

In its economic assessment, the

bank said: “Japan’s economy is picking up mainly due to various policy measures taken at home and abroad, although there is not yet sufficient momentum to support a self-sustaining recovery in domestic private demand.”

Sticking with its earlier view, the BoJ said it “recognises that it is a critical challenge for Japan’s economy to overcome deflation and return to a sustainable growth path with price stability.”

“The bank will continue to aim to maintain the extremely accommodative environment.”

Tokyo has been raising pressure on the bank to do more to beat deflation, which hurts corporate profits and depresses economic activity as consumers delay spending, hoping for further price drops.

Japan has been grappling with deflation since the late 1990s when an asset bubble burst, ending years of booming growth. An ageing population that is reluctant to spend has also added to the deflationary pressure.

In a fresh nudge to the bank, Finance Minister Naoto Kan told a parliamentary session on Tuesday that he hoped the BoJ would “make efforts to combat deflation”, in comments cited by Dow Jones Newswires.

Earlier this month the outspoken minister signalled he wants deflation to end by late 2010, earlier than the bank’s own forecast of no earlier than 2012.

Haruhiko Kuroda, president of the Asian Development Bank, warned on Wednesday that “con-

sumer prices, the GDP deflators, have been declining in so many months and years. This is a unique situation in Japan.”

He warned that the BoJ must make “further effort to eliminate, eradicate this deflationary trend from the Japanese economy”.

South Korea, Turkey to launch free trade talks Agence France-Presse

SEOUL - South Korea said Wednesday it would soon launch talks with Turkey on a free trade pact, with ministers from both sides set to meet this week to discuss a timetable.

“The government, at a recent meeting of economy-related ministers, made a final decision to launch free trade negotiations with Turkey,” Deputy Minister of Trade Ahn HoYoung told a briefing.

Ahn said Trade Minister Kim Jong-Hoon is visiting Turkey to meet his counterpart Zafer Caglayan on Friday to discuss a timetable for the negotiations and other pending issues.

Trade amounted to about three

billion dollars in 2009 with South Korean exports worth 2.66 billion dollars and imports 430 million dollars, Ahn added.

South Korea has been actively pushing for free trade agreements worldwide to bolster its export-dominated economy.

It already has agreements with Chile, Singapore, India, the European Free Trade Association and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

A free trade pact was signed with the European Union in October 2009 and awaits ratification.

A deal signed with the United States in 2007 also needs ratification, with members of the US Congress complaining about imbalances in the auto trade.

12

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Entertainment

International

Jessica Simpson investigates standards of beauty Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Singer and sometimes actress Jessica Simpson has paid the price of beauty, and now she’s examining people’s obsession with looking good.

She made headlines last year when photos of her performing suggested she might have gained a few pounds. That sparked a national debate on TV news channels, talk shows and in print asking if Simpson was, indeed, fat.

The 29-year-old has decided to turn the tables on questions about how she looked. The result is a new show called, “Jessica Simpson’s The Price of Beauty.” The show premiered Monday and will air weekly on VH1. Simpson travels the globe with two friends, hair stylist Ken Paves and former assistant Cacee Cobb, to examine people’s efforts to measure up to their society’s standard of beauty.

The goal is to empower women to accept themselves and ultimately understand that no one, not even celebrities, are perfect.

Paves points out that despite the scrutiny on her weight, Simpson continued performing and doing her job.

“Imagine if the whole world is talking about you,” Paves said. “She still followed through, never stopped and nobody ever said, ‘That’s a strong girl, that’s a brave girl.’ I was disappointed.” It wasn’t always easy, Simpson said.

“You can’t walk anywhere without thinking, ‘I wonder if they think I’m fat .... I wonder if they’ve read that story,” Simpson said. “I couldn’t help it. And I think that once I realized it wasn’t going to stop, I had to find a way to accept it, and I had to find a way to use it.”

On “Price of Beauty,” Simpson and her friends meet a woman in Thailand who burned herself permanently from bleaching her skin lighter. They talk with a former Paris model who starved herself to under 100 pounds to be thin.

Viewers witness a deeper side to Simpson than they saw on her former MTV reality show “Newlyweds” with then-husband Nick Lachey.

“I’m very vulnerable on the show.

I’m very open. I don’t have anything to hide,” Simpson said. “I want people to know I am just a normal girl that faces normal issues just like everyone else.”

But the show is not all life lessons and sadness. There are lighter moments, too, when Simpson and her pals try to immerse themselves in local culture.

“In Mumbai, we drank cow urine because it detoxes you and it’s good for your skin,” Simpson said. “I puked that up like all over the place.”

Paves got a Brazilian wax when the three visited Brazil.

“I was screaming, cussing, kicking,” he said. “I was in tears, red and raw, I couldn’t walk.”

Simpson said she’s taking a break from music now to focus on the show, which she hopes will get picked up for another season. Next, she plans to start a foundation for girls to help with self-esteem. She wants to empower young women to accept themselves and ultimately understand that no one, not even celebrities, are perfect.

“I don’t look like the girl on the cover of the magazine,” Simpson said. “I do not look like my covers.

My covers! They airbrush me.

AFP/Getty Images/File/Evan Agostini

Jessica Simpson

Winfrey due in Philadelphia for defamation trial find a new head of the academy for the school. ...

Dorm parents are gone, (Mzamane) is gone.”

The statement suggests Mzamane had a role in the PHILADELPHIA – Talk show host and media magnate Oprah Winfrey is expected to spend two mistreatment of the students, “which clearly would weeks defending herself at trial in a defamation case tend to ‘blacken’ plaintiff’s reputation or injure her linked to the sex-abuse scandal at her girls school in in her profession,” U.S. District Judge Eduardo Robreno wrote in a 128-page opinion issued MonSouth Africa.

A federal judge this week refused to dismiss the day.

Winfrey was in South Africa on Tuesday visiting suit filed by Winfrey’s ex-headmistress, paving the the Oprah Winfrey Leaderway for a March 29 trial in ship Academy for Girls, near Philadelphia.

Johannesburg, according to The billionaire talk show her production company, host, as a named defendant, Harpo Productions. She must be in court and has reopened the $40 million arranged her TV production school for impoverished girls schedule to do so, her lawamid great fanfare in January yers said in a recent court fil2007 and recruited ing. She also appears likely Mzamane, a Lesotho native, to be called as a witness. from a private school in After the abuse comPhiladelphia. plaints surfaced in 2007, Winfrey’s lawyers sought Winfrey said she had “lost to dismiss the suit on grounds confidence” in headmistress the remarks she made at an Nomvuyo Mzamane and was Oct. 20, 2007 meeting with “cleaning house from top to parents and at a Nov. 5, 2007 bottom.” A dormitory matron press conference reflected who worked under Mzamane only her opinions. was later charged in South But Robreno said a lisAfrica with abusing six stutener could infer she based dents. the comments on facts The judge found that AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File Winfrey made both FILE - In this Nov. 1, 2009 file photo, Oprah gleaned from the school’s inMzamane and the dormitory Winfrey arrives at the premiere of the film ternal investigation. Forbes parents appear “culpable” by ‘Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sap- magazine listed Winfrey’s net worth last year at $2.7 billion. telling parents, “I’m going to phire,’ at AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles.

Associated Press Writer

MTV

Madrid will host the host the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony on November 7, organisers said Tuesday.

Madrid lands 2010 MTV European music awards Agence France Presse

MADRID – Madrid will host the host the 2010 MTV Europe Music Awards ceremony on November 7, organisers said Tuesday.

It will be the second time the annual event has been held in Spain after Barcelona in 2002.

The ceremony, which has a potential global television audience of over 600 million people, will be held at Spain’s new Caja Magic sports complex whose main stadium seats 12,500 people.

Madrid was selected because of “its vibrant and thriving music scene” and the fact that MTV, a unit of US entertainment firm Viacom, is

celebrating its 10th anniversary of its Spanish operations, organisers said in a statement.

Rhythm and blues superstar Beyonce scooped up three wins for best female artist, best song for “Halo” and best video for her number one smash “Single Ladies” at the MTV Europe Music Awards held in Berlin last year.

The awards ceremony has been held each year since 1994. Past performers at the event include Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Madonna and U2.

Past host cities include Copenhagen in 2006, Liverpool in 2008, Lisbon in 2005, Rome in 2004 and Paris in 1996.

Life Style

International

Thursday, March 18, 2010

13

Study: Mini clip is safer than heart-valve surgery Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA – Many Americans with leaky heart valves soon might be able to get them fixed without open-heart surgery. A study showed that a tiny clip implanted through an artery was safer and nearly as effective as surgery, doctors reported Sunday.

The device is already on sale in Europe, and its maker, Abbott Laboratories, hopes to win approval to sell it in the United States next year.

Elizabeth Taylor reportedly got one last fall — the 77-year-old actress told fans about it on Twitter.

About 8 million people in the U.S. and Europe have leaky mitral valves — the valve between the heart’s left upper and lower chambers. Not all are so bad they need treatment, but the worst cases can lead to heart failure over time.

In the study, six times more people who had surgery suffered complications during the next month than those who got Abbott’s MitraClip. Deaths, strokes and

blood transfusions were less common with the device. The clip was not dramatically less effective than surgery after one year.

Doctors called the study a watershed — the first big test of repairing or replacing heart valves through arteries rather than drastic surgery.

The MitraClip is only for the mitral valve. Other devices for other heart valves are in late-stage testing, and many doctors believe they will transform how these conditions are treated in the near future.

“We have opened the door for a new therapeutic option for patients,” said Dr. Ted Feldman of NorthShore University Health System in Evanston, Ill.

AP Photo/Abbott Laboratories

This undated photo illustration made available by Abbott Laboratories shows the MitraClip mounted on the end of a catheter. The clip, a fabriccovered clothespin, inserted through a blood vessel in the groin, clips the two flaps of the mitral valve together and keeps in the heart’s main pumping chamber from backing up into the smaller upper chamber.

He led the new study and gave results Sunday at an American College of Cardiology conference. The study was sponsored by Evalve Inc., which developed the device. Evalve was sold last year to North Chicago, Ill.-based Abbott, and Feldman consults for the firm. Some surgeons were not convinced the device is close to surgery’s effectiveness, and said patients need to be studied for more than one year.

“It’s a partial victory for the device,” Dr. James McClurken, a surgeon at Temple University in Philadelphia, said of the result.

McClurken also is the conference chairman.

The study used an outdated method of surgery that minimizes its true benefit, said Dr. J. Scott Millikan, a surgeon at the Billings Clinic in Montana.

“Clearly this is a very exciting technology,” but the study’s leaders “set the bar for success way too low” for the device, he said.

The mitral valve is like a saloon door that opens to let blood flow into the heart’s main pumping chamber.

When the flaps of the door don’t swing completely shut, blood flows back into an upper chamber of the heart.

Medicines can ease symptoms but do not keep the valve problem from getting worse. Bad cases are treated with open-heart surgery: Doctors partly stitch the flaps together in the middle, allowing blood to flow on either side but keeping them aligned during each heartbeat.

The MitraClip imitates those stitches. With the patient under general anesthesia, doctors push a tube into a blood vessel in the groin and guide it into the heart. The device, a fabric-covered metal clothespin, is mounted on the end of the tube and clips the two flaps of the valve together.

AP Photo/Elaine Thompson

FILE - In this Oct. 13, 2009, file photo, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Scoville displays part of the Facebook page, and an enlarged profile photo, of fugitive Maxi Sopo in Seattle. The Feds are on Facebook.

And MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter, too.

When tweets can make you a jailbird Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – Maxi Sopo was having so much fun “living in paradise” in Mexico that he posted about it on Facebook so all his friends could follow his adventures.

Others were watching, too: A federal prosecutor in Seattle, where Sopo was wanted on bank fraud charges.

Tracking Sopo through his public “friends” list, the prosecutor found his address and had Mexican authorities arrest him. Instead of sipping pina coladas, Sopo is awaiting extradition to the U.S. Sopo learned the hard way: The Feds are on Facebook. And MySpace, LinkedIn and Twitter, too. Law enforcement agents are following the rest of the Internet world into popular social-networking services, even going undercover with false online profiles to communicate with suspects and gather private information, according to an internal Justice Department document that surfaced in a lawsuit.

The document shows that U.S.

agents are logging on surreptitiously to exchange messages with suspects, identify a target’s friends or relatives and browse private information such as postings, personal photographs and video clips.

Among the purposes: Investigators can check suspects’ alibis by comparing stories told to police with tweets sent at the same time about their whereabouts. Online photos from a suspicious spending spree — people posing with jewelry, guns or fancy cars — can link suspects or their friends to crime.

The Justice document also reminds government attorneys taking cases to trial that the public sections of social networks are a “valuable source” of information on defense witnesses. “Knowledge is power,” says the paper. “Research all witnesses on social networking sites.”

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based civil liberties group, obtained the 33page document when it sued the Justice Department and five other agencies in federal court.

Scientists go ‘gaga’ to find creatures beneath 600 feet of ice Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON – In a surprising discovery about where higher life can thrive, scientists for the first time found a shrimp-like creature and a jellyfish frolicking beneath a massive Antarctic ice sheet.

Six hundred feet below the ice where no light shines, scientists had figured nothing much more than a few microbes could exist.

That’s why a NASA team was surprised when they lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet in Antarctica. A curious shrimp-like creature came swimming by and then parked itself on the camera’s cable. Scientists also pulled up a tentacle they believe came from a footlong jellyfish.

“We were operating on the presumption that nothing’s there,” said NASA ice scientist Robert Bindschadler, who will be presenting the initial findings and a video at an American Geophysical Union meeting Wednesday. “It was a shrimp you’d enjoy having on your plate.”

“We were just gaga over it,” he said of the 3-inch-long, orange critter starring in their two-minute video. Technically, it’s not a shrimp. It’s a Lyssianasid amphipod, which is distantly related to shrimp.

The video is likely to inspire experts to rethink what they know about life in harsh environments. And it has scientists musing that if shrimp-like creatures can frolic below 600 feet of Antarctic ice in subfreezing dark water, what about other hostile places?

What about Europa, a frozen moon of

Jupiter?

“They are looking at the equivalent of a drop of water in a swimming pool that you would expect nothing to be living in and they found not one animal but two,” said biologist Stacy Kim of the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories in California, who joined the NASA team later. “We have no idea what’s going on down there.”

Microbiologist Cynan EllisEvans of the British Antarctic Survey called the finding intriguing.

“This is a first for the sub-glacial environment with that level of sophistication,” Ellis-Evans said.

He said there have been findings somewhat similar, showing complex life in retreating ice shelves, but nothing quite directly under the ice like this.

AP Photo/NASA

This video frame grab image provided by NASA, taken in Dec. 2009, shows a Lyssianasid amphipod, which is related to a shrimp, where a NASA team lowered a video camera to get the first long look at the underbelly of an ice sheet and a curious shrimp-like creature came swimming by and then even parked itself on the cable attached to the camera.

14

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Sport

International

Sharpshooting Suns rout reeling Minnesota 152-114 Agence France Presse

PHOENIX – It’s an NBA law of physics: Put the highest-scoring team in the league against arguably the worst defense and watch the scoreboard light up like the Fourth of July.

Jason Richardson scored 27 points and Amare Stoudemire 25, then sat with the rest of the Phoenix starters while the Suns’ reserves finished off a 152-114 rout of Minnesota on Monday night in the highest-scoring game by an NBA team this season.

Lou Amundson matched his career high with 20 points as Phoenix sent the Timberwolves to their 10th straight loss and 16th in the last 17 games.

The Suns, with eight players in double figures, shot 56 percent from the field and 15 of 31 from 3-point range to win their ninth in 12 games.

“We’re just trying to gear up for the last 15 games,” Phoenix coach Alvin Gentry said, “have a pace that we’re comfortable with.”

Corey Brewer scored 21 for the Timberwolves, who set a franchise record for most points allowed in a game.

“Well, that’s certainly what happens when you don’t play any defense,” Timberwolves coach Kurt Rambis said.

Phoenix pulled alone into sixth place in the tight scramble for playoff positioning in the West. The Suns trail No. 5 Oklahoma City by a half-game and No. 4 Utah by 1 1/2 games. It

was a perfect night to rest the starters in preparation for Friday night’s home game against the Jazz.

“And you know that will be a physical game,” Gentry said. This one certainly wasn’t.

“It was a lot of fun,” Stoudemire said. “It was so much fun when the starters were able to rest there in the fourth. We’ll take that.”

Richardson, who scored 15 in the first quarter, matched his season high with six 3-pointers. Steve Nash had 13 points and 14 assists, nine of them in the opening period.

The game matched two of the bottom three teams in terms of points allowed this season. The difference was the Suns have a lot more scorers than woeful Minnesota does.

“We weren’t making that effort.

They were playing a lot harder than we were,” Rambis said.

“With a team that is in synch the way that they’re in, they understand how to move the basketball, the know where their options and their outlet passes are. They’re just too good.”

It was not the first time this kind of thing happened to Minnesota. The Timberwolves had matched a franchise record by giving up 146 points in a 41-point loss to Golden State last Nov. 9.

“It’s just embarrassing to let a

team score that many points and still lose by that many points,” Minnesota’s Ryan Gomes said.

The Suns overwhelmed the Timberwolves’ ever-shaky defense to take a 79-61 halftime lead. It was the second-most points scored in a half in the NBA this season, eclipsed only by the 80-point second half for Milwaukee against Golden State on Nov. 14.

Phoenix hadn’t scored this many in a half since getting 80 in the second half in its 154-point game at Golden State almost exactly a year ago, on March 15, 2009.

The Suns shot 67 percent in the first half (33 of 49), led by Richardson’s 21 points, including 5 of 6 3-pointers. Nash had 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting and 11 assists in the first half.

Richardson made two 3s and Nash one in the final two minutes of the half as the Suns twice built a 20-point lead before Jonny Flynn’s baseline jumper at the buzzer made it 79-61. The lead reached 29 in the third quarter and a whopping 41 in the fourth.

Leandro Barbosa returned to the Suns after undergoing surgery to remove a cyst in his right wrist and missing 23 games. He had seven points in 16 minutes.

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic (2), of Slovenia, gets a shot off over Minnesota Timberwolves’ Al Jefferson in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, March 16, 2010, in Phoenix.

Federer toppled

by Baghdatis in Indian Wells

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, returns a shot to Marcos

Agence France Press

Baghdatis, of Cyprus, during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, Calif., Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

INDIAN WELLS, California – For once, Roger Federer couldn’t find a way to get the win. The world number one — playing his first tournament since winning his 16th Grand Slam title at the Australian Open — was philosophical on Wednesday after falling to Marcos Baghdatis in the third round of the Indian Wells Masters 1000, squandering three match points in the process.

“I think it wasn’t the worst match,” Federer said. “I did many good things tonight but also many bad things. It’s just a question of not letting that happen too often.”

Federer had been slated to play the Dubai Open in February, but withdrew with a lung infection.

“I just couldn’t find the way to

win,” said Federer. “I was maybe one shot away. That’s how much it takes sometimes from winning or losing.

“I think as the tournament would have gone forward I would have found my groove more and more, and who knows what would have happened?”It was a decent match, but maybe wrong choices at the wrong time for me. Maybe going for too much, maybe playing too passively. That’s not something you can really work on. That comes through playing matches, and that’s what I need.”

Federer was already looking forward to the Masters 1000 in Miami and beyond. “I will definitely play a lot of practice sets, that’s for sure, until then,” he said. “But the season is long. There’s no need to panic here.”

Sport

International

Thursday, March 18, 2010

15

Sevilla rue Palop howler as CSKA progress Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO/IAN KINGTON

Chelsea’s Ivory Coast footballer Didier Drogba (R) is sent off by referee Wolfgang Stark (L) for a challenge on Inter Milan’s Brazilian player Thiago Motta during their UEFA Champions League Second Round, Second Leg football match at Stamford Bridge in London, England on March 16, 2010.

Mourinho warns Abramovich as Inter beat Chelsea Agence France Presse

LONDON – Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho has warned Roman Abramovich that Chelsea may never win the Champions League after the former Blues boss returned to dump his old club out of the competition.

Mourinho masterminded Inter’s 10 victory in the last 16 second leg at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday which clinched a 3-1 aggregate success and left Chelsea owner Abramovich still waiting to fulfil his dream of winning Europe’s elite club event.

Ever since he was sacked by Abramovich in September 2007 following a lengthy power struggle with the Russian billionaire, Mourinho must have dreamed of the moment he would exact his revenge.

Thanks to his inspired game-plan, Inter’s resolute defending and a superb goal from Samuel Eto’o, Mourinho was able to prove his point and deny his former employer the trophy he prizes most.

Mourinho resisted the temptation to gloat too much but he made it clear there is no guarantee Chelsea will ever win such a demanding competition.

“I know that Roman is a very intelligent person. And because of this he is not the same person he was one year, three years or five years ago,” Mourinho said.

“Probably when he arrived in football he thought it would be easier to do it. It is not easy. The team that wins will have small details that make the difference.

“Roman knows very well how to read, understand and analyse the game.

For sure he knows his team lost to a team that deserved to win. Because he is a man of fair play I am sure he accepts that.”

Although Mourinho could have been forgiven for taking a very public satisfaction from eliminating his old club, the Portuguese coach insisted it was only Inter’s progress to the last eight that pleased him.

“I’m happy because I won. I am not happy my ex-players lost, because Roman lost or because the fans go home unhappy,” Mourinho said.

“It is a very important victory for me as a coach but it is not the victory of my life. It was hard to prepare myself to come here as an enemy.

“I exchanged some text messages with John Terry before the game and I told him someone will go home happy and someone sad. “My people will always be my people. But I was the enemy. And the enemy won. That’s life.

“Somebody asked if I would still be special if I didn’t win. Now I can say I am not so special to the Chelsea supporters who will probably never forgive me.”

For Mourinho there was more satisfaction in a job well done. His decision to play Eto’o and Goran Pandev as wide attackers to take advantage of Chelsea’s full-backs worked perfectly and Inter were rarely in danger of surrendering their first leg advantage.

The decisive moment came in the 79th minute when Eto’o sprinted onto Wesley Sneijder’s superb pass, held off right-back Branislav Ivanovic and drove his shot past Ross Turnbull.

Mourinho’s fist-pumping celebration told its own story and Chelsea’s

frustration at their earliest exit from the competition since 2006 - and their first home European defeat for 22 matches - boiled over when Didier Drogba was sent off for a nasty stamp on Thiago Motta.

While Mourinho returned to Italy well and truely vindicated, Blues boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he has to deliver success in the Premier League to make amends for his European failure.

Brought to the Bridge for his impressive achievements in the Champions League, Ancelotti could have done without such an early exit and now he must focus on ending Manchester United’s three-year reign as English champions.

“We are near the top of the league but I’m sure there will be more pressure on the next games. This is normal,” he said.

“I have been involved in this sport for a lot of years, I know very well the facts. I will do my best to do a good job for Chelsea.

“We have to be strong and control our emotions. Maybe this defeat could be very good motivation for the next weeks.

“I know what the expectations are in this environment and it is normal a manager will come under more pressure if he loses a few matches.

“We were in three competitions, now we are only in two and we are disappointed by that. But our objective now is to go on and win the FA Cup and Premier League.

MADRID – A costly goalkeeping blunder from Sevilla captain Andres Palop helped CSKA Moscow qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time with a 2-1 win here on Tuesday.

The Russians march on to uncharted waters at the expense of Sevilla having secured a 3-2 aggregate victory.

With the last 16 tie level at 2-2 Palop allowed Japan international midfielder Keisuke Honda’s long-range free-kick to creep in on 55 minutes and Sevilla could not find the two goals they needed as they joined Spanish counterparts Real Madrid in exiting the competition.

Tomas Necid shot CSKA into a 39th minute lead only for Argentine Diego Perotti to equalise two minutes later and level the tie 2-2 on aggregate.

Palop then underestimated the ferocity of 23-year-old Honda’s free-kick which forced its way in and proved the decisive moment in the tie.

CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky basked in the glory of the victory and praised his side. “We knew what to expect from them after the first leg,” he said. “Having taken the lead we knew they were capable of scoring at any time.

“With the match at 2-2 on aggregate we did well to prevent them from getting another goal. We defended really well. I am happy that despite Sevilla getting back on level terms we didn’t allow them to take the initiative and we controlled the match after we scored our second goal.”

His Sevilla counterpart Manolo Jimenez took all the blame. “It is a bad result and I ask for our supporters to pardon us for that,” he said.

Beckham set to leave hospital: doctor Agence France Presse

HELSINKI – Footballer David Beckham is doing well after an operation at a Finnish hospital to fix his ruptured Achilles tendon and will leave with his wife Victoria on Wednesday afternoon, his surgeon said.

“He is leaving today, but as is probably wise, he is not saying what time or where he is going,” orthopaedic surgeon Sakari Orava told AFP. “I saw him this morning and we said our goodbyes.”

The former England captain twisted his left ankle during the final minutes of AC Milan’s 1-0 Serie A win against Chievo on Sunday and limped off the field before being stretchered away in pain and in tears.

He flew to Finland for surgery on Monday, and while Beckham himself called the operation a “success”, the injury rules the 34-year-old out of the World Cup, which kicks off in South

Africa on June 11.

Beckham’s wife Victoria, a former member of the Spice Girls group, arrived at the south-western Finnish city of Turku Tuesday to be with her husband, and the pair would leave on a private plane some time in the afternoon, Orava said.

Beckham’s leg is expected to be in a cast for three to four weeks and in a support for around the same length of time, but the on-loan LA Galaxy midfielder already began practicing to walk with crutches Tuesday, Orava said.

“It went well. The practice continues today, and every day there will be more,” Orava said, adding he had worked with a physiotherapist until late Tuesday to put together a “good programme” of practice for the days to come. “(This morning) the bandages were changed, the wound is clean and everything is as it should be,” Orava said.

AP Photo/Antonio Calanni

AC Milan’s English soccer star David Beckham leaves the pitch after being injured during the Serie A soccer match between AC Milan and Chievo at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, March 14, 2010. David Beckham hobbled off with an apparent torn left Achilles’ tendon injury in the closing minutes of AC Milan’s 1-0 win over Chievo Verona on Sunday, putting his status for the World Cup at risk.

16

Thursday, March 18, 2010

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Sport

Ducati: Rossi’s test pace ominous

AFP PHOTO / FRED DUFOUR

McLaren Mercedes’ British driver Jenson Button drives at the Bahrain international circuit on March 14, 2010 in Manama, during the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

Button says confidence remains intact World champion Jenson Button says his confidence remains intact despite being outpaced by McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the season-opening race in Bahrain. Hamilton qualified in fourth, four places ahead of Button, and finished on the podium while his team-mate crossed the finish line over 20 seconds behind in eighth place.

Button reckons he just needs to work with his car’s balance to get it to suit his style, but denies his confidence took a hit in Bahrain.

“Not at all,” he said when asked if his confidence was dented.

“Lewis is an exceptional driver but most of the grid are.

“Going into any team with a driver who has been there for a while they have experience of working with that team.

“I don’t believe in any way that he was quicker in qualifying because the team know the way he works and what have you. Everything is 100 per cent equal in top teams these days, which is great.

“I’ve just got to find something in the balance which suits my driving style more and sitting with the engineers now, they have been re-

ally listening to what I have to say and throwing ideas around. So it has been really useful.”

Button did admit, however, that he needed to improve his pace in qualifying if he is to match Hamilton.

“I didn’t think going into qualifying that he would go fourth and I would go eighth,” he added. “I thought it would be very close.

Lewis did a better job and he was quicker in qualifying. So that’s an area I really want to work on with the car.

“I wasn’t pleased with the car that I had in qualifying so there are areas that I really need to improve with this car.”

The world champion said the team had been very encouraged by the pace of the car in race trim fol-

lowing a difficult qualifying.

“The good thing is the pace of the car. After qualifying the whole team was disappointed. Not necessarily the positions we were in, but more the time difference to the front row.

“But I think the race showed that we have a car better than we saw in qualifying. We know that it is one lap that we struggle with at the moment. I think maybe with a different layout it would have been a little bit better.”

And Button is adamant that he can take a step forward in the next race in Australia.

“I am happy with the way the weekend has gone. I would rather have got more points but that didn’t happen. I go to the next race confident that we can take a step more.”

SEPANG - Ducati Corse general manager Filippo Preziosi has admitted that main rival Valentino Rossi’s form in testing so far has been ‘scary’, but thinks the world champion is just pushing harder than usual pre-season.

Rossi has been quickest on all four test days held so far, all of which were at Sepang last month - in contrast to recent years when Casey Stoner tended to lead the way for Ducati during the winter.

“Obviously, if you consider that over four days of testing Valentino led the way four times, which is something that Casey usually does, then the situation is undoubtedly a bit scary,” said Preziosi in an interview with Motosprint.

“Usually Valentino is quick most of all in the race, but if he starts to be this quick in winter testing already...

“Anyway, to see the world champion rider leading on the world champion bike, then it doesn’t seem like big news. That’s nothing new, really.

“However, I think Valentino is already in qualifying mode. I see him aggressive and focused, so I expect him to attack more in testing too.”

Preziosi thinks the tables could turn in the final test in Qatar later this week given Stoner’s usual form at the Losail track, where he has won for the last three years. “In Qatar Casey is like Valentino at Mugello,” he said.

Ducati hopes that Nicky Hayden will be able to join Stoner in challenging Yamaha at the front this year.

In the last test Hayden showed his best form since joining the squad, despite discomfort from recent arm surgery. Preziosi believes the 2010 Ducati, with its change to a ‘big bang’ engine, will allow Hayden to be a consistent frontrunner again.

“The important thing is that Hayden has started to set good lap times, and most of all in a consistent way,” he said.

“The situation is even more encouraging if you think that he still had problems with his arms. In the last session, at Sepang, he did a stint of six or seven laps consistently in the 2m01.5s bracket. He was among the quickest riders.

“This is the time when Nicky is going at his quickest since joining us. He had already started to improve in the second half of 2009, but now he’s managed to do another small step forward.

“He is very methodical: he reasons over things, he explains the situation precisely, and he never gives up. It’s one of his biggest strengths.”