Edisi 24 Februari 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 38 2st Year

Darfur truce could pave way for peace

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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Buildings Which Exceed Coastal Limit Will Be Executed PAGE 8

Odeon bans ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in Britain, Ireland, Italy PAGE 12 AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana

Indonesian activists hold up defaced posters of Indonesian Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati during an anti corruption protest in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010. Boediono and Indrawati were accused to be involved in a 6.76 trillion rupiah (US$715 million) bank bailout scandal that allegedly benefited President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono re-election campaign, a claim he has denied.

Indonesian police arrest three in anti-terror raid WEATHER FORECAST CITY

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AFP

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AFP) – Indonesian police said Tuesday they had arrested three people after a major raid on a terrorist training facility in a remote region of Aceh province.

“We’ve arrested three people whom we suspect of taking part in training. They are strongly suspected of being part of the Jemaah

Islamiyah group. We’re still investigating,” Aceh police chief Aditya Warman told reporters.

More than 100 heavily armed

police took part in the raid just before midnight Monday in a forested part of Aceh Besar district, about 70 kilometres (40 miles) east of the provincial capital Banda Aceh, he said.

Warman said 50 militants were believed to be in the area conducting military-style training including the use of firearms. Only three were caught in the raid and rest escaped into the jungle, he said.

Police found rifles, Malaysian military uniforms and terrorist propaganda material including videos of the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali which killed more than 200 people, mainly Western tourists.

Al-Qaeda-linked regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah is blamed for that attack and others over the past decade.

Cruise line: 300 sick aboard ship in Caribbean AP

CHARLESTON, S.C. – A cruise line says about 300 guests have fallen ill with a stomach ailment aboard a cruise to the Caribbean that departed from South

Carolina.

Celebrity Cruise spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said Monday night that passengers aboard the Mercury began complaining a day earlier of upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea. Martinez said a

total of around 1,800 people are aboard. The ship left Charleston on Feb. 15.

She said the ship’s medical facilities were overwhelmed. Another doctor and nurse came aboard in St. Kitts in the British Virgin Islands.

The ship made four other stops in the Caribbean.

It’s not clear what pathogen was involved, but samples were being dropped off in Puerto Rico for testing. The ship was scheduled to return to Charleston Friday.

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International

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Bali News As for Findings Not Followed Up

Audit Agency Threatens to Process the Officials Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Audit Agency (BPK) asked the public officials whose financial management was in shambles and found to deviate, to immediately repair or follow-up. If the findings obtained from the examination results by Audit Agency were not followed up, regrettably the Audit Agency would forward the findings to law enforcement officers. Audit Agency provided a time limit to 60 days from the presentation of results to follow-up.

This matter was confirmed by a member of Audit Agency of the RI, Dr. H. Rizal Djalil when meeting with local government throughout Bali, NTB, NTT and Maluku at Sanur on last Monday (Feb 22).

The meeting of Audit Agency of the RI with a number of local government officials in Bali, NTB, NTT and Maluku took the theme to encourage the effectiveness for the settlement to follow-up the examination results of the Audit Agency of the RI in order to increase transparency and accountability in regional financial management.

Rizal Djalil said the follow-up of Audit Agency’s findings should be performed by the officials concerned. Position of Audit Agency related to the results of finding only reminded. Follow-up was not carried out by the Audit Agency, but by relevant authorities. If the findings was in the mayor, it was they who did the action plan. Similarly, if the finding took place at the governor, it was governor as the head of the region

which had to do the follow-up. “Our position is only to remind, while to help the solution was not allowed.

Audit Agency is not the boss of the officials in the region, position of Audit Agency serves as an external auditor,” said Rizal Djalil.

Rizal Djalil said many local officials did not care about the findings.

Findings of Audit Agency were often only used as a pillow, without follow-up. Luckily, he said, the officials in Bali were quite proactive proven by the findings where 71 percent of Audit Agency’s findings had been followed up. “Hopefully, this can be exemplified by officials of other regions,” he said.

Given, if it was not followed-up, regretfully the Audit Agency would forward the findings related to allegations of corruption crime or allegation of state’s loss. “Regretfully, Audit Agency should forward the findings to law enforcement. This refers to the Law No. 15/2006 which mentions implicitly the Audit Agency

is obliged to report the losses if there are indications of the state’s loss and criminal acts of corruption to law enforcement officers,” explained Rizal.

Audit Agency, he said, currently did a very persuasive action. The proof, Audit Agency came to conduct examination, after that it reminded relevant authorities to follow up the findings immediately. It had never searched for or made up the findings. When the rules were clear, Audit Agency was not possible to make findings. As a matter of honorariums received by council of provincial administration (Muspida) in each region, the rule has been clear, namely Presidential Decree No. 10/1986.

Meanwhile, Chief Representative of Audit Agency of Bali Branch, I Gede Kastawa, said up to December 2009, the Audit Agency of the Bali Representative has issued 1,982 findings. Of that amount, approximately 71 percent or 1,410 findings had been followed up. (kmb12)

Dealers of One Kg Marijuana Arrested Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Forces of Directorate of Drugs, Bali Police, last Sunday (Feb 2), managed to catch two suspects who alleged to be drug dealers belonging to marijuana type. The two suspects consisted of Arp, 23 and El M, 37, residents who lived at Jalan Uluwatu No. 24, South Kuta, Badung Regency. Allegedly, they belonged to the same syndicate.

Police could seize more than one kilogram of leaves, stems and seeds of dried marijuana from the suspect’s hand. Specifically, the defendant Arp proved to save 1,248.28 grams of marijuana, while the suspects El M brought 125.5 grams and 60-rolled marijuanas used up. “The two suspects have been arrested at Bali Police,”

said Spokesperson of Bali Police Gde Sugianyar, last Monday (Feb 22).

According to Gde Sugianyar, the arrest of two suspects was held at each room of their boarding house located on Jalan Uluwatu, South Kuta, Badung. The suspect Arp was arrested in the room No. 1, while El M in the room No. 4.

“They were arrested simultaneously, at 10:45 am Local time,” explained this former Chief of Balikpapan Resort Police to the media crew last Monday.

Prior to being arrested, the police first received information that both suspects often distributed marijuana. The police did investigation in the field, and the presence of the suspects managed to track. The room of the suspects

was raided and police found evidence of marijuana more than one kilogram. “The evidence was wrapped with rice paper and hidden under electricity pole near his boarding house and under used clothing,” he said.

The suspects and their evidence were immediately taken to Bali Police. Both suspects were still being intensively examined. Similarly, the case was currently developed, including where and to whom they have sold it. Police also traced the origin of the evidence and at how much the evidence was bought. “However, based on temporary examination results, the evidence was obtained from Jakarta,” he said accompanied by Directorate of Drugs, Bali Police, Kokot Indarto. (kmb21)

To Prevent Rabies, Government Asks Commitment of All Parties Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The emergence of rabies suspect case on one of the residents living on Jalan Gunung Batur, Denpasar, drew the attention of the ranks of Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Maritime Services (Disnakanlut) of Denpasar. The emergence of the case did not only make the Health Services confused, but also many ranks of Disnakanlut highlighted. Therefore, to prevent similar cases, it was required the commitment of all parties to eliminate or vaccinate the existing dogs.

This was confirmed by the Head of Disnakanlut Denpasar I Dewa Made Ngurah in his office, last Monday (Feb 22) on responding to the emergence of rabies suspect cases on Jalan Gunung Batur, Denpasar. Before afflicting the victims of humans, cases on dogs should be treated seriously first.

This is where the importance of commitment and sincerity of all parties required. “Disnakanlut is ready to do that,” he said.

The emergence of cases on Jalan Gunung Batur, said Dewa Ngurah, was a reminder for us to be more vigilant. At the very least, he said, the application of the Mayor’s Regulation No. 25/2009 about the handling of rabies had to be imple-

mented thoroughly by all circles, especially in the ranks of the local hamlet heads. The support and participation from the bottom line apparatus would realize the goal of the rabies-free Denpasar. “That means there must be a high commitment and intentions along with sincerity of all parties to eradicate rabies,” he said.

Given, if at an area there was one of the dogs infected by rabies, local people should extend great support to eradicate. Emerging cases should be promptly responded, so it would not escalate.

“Do not let wait for the victims of rabid dog bites,” he explained.

Various constraints at the scene were often faced by officers of Disnakanlut in performing dog elimination. In most cases, when the officers came to location they could only encountered few dogs.

“I hope there is a good coordination of all components of society to avoid the case of rabies appears again,” he said.

Dewa Ngurah observed the phenomenon in the field on the less balance of program launched by government with the response from local residents. If all components of society moved in unison, surely the cases of rabies could be handled and even eliminated. (kmb12)

Timothy Extradition Granted JUDGE assembly chaired by Daniel Palittin granted the extradition of Timothy Geoffrey Lee. The trial judges’ decision was held in Denpasar Court on last Monday (Feb 22).

Timothy having double citizenship, namely Australian and British citizenship, was requested by the Australian government for the extradition. Extradition petition addressed to the Indonesian government under the Diplomatic Note of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta No. P0SC/2009 dated August 20, 2009 submitted to the Minister of Justice and Human Rights through the letter of Director General of Legal Affairs and International Covenant No.773/PO/VIII/2009/ 59/R dated August 26, 2009.

Timothy was arrested in Bali since January 10, 2010 related to the Interpol report. Holder of British passport of number 70635006 and Australian passport of number

L3290678 was allegedly involved in drug case of cocaine weighing 1 kg in Australia.

According to prosecutor IBM Argita Candra, his party would immediately process the judge’s decision. After a decision of the judges, he would process it for submission to the Attorney General. Later, the Attorney General would make coordination with the Minister of Justice and Human Rights to follow up the Presidential Decree on the extradition. If the decree was issued, the Department of Foreign Affairs would resume it to Australia. “Extradition process will indeed take long time enough,” he said.

During the administrative process conducted, Timothy would be placed in Kerobokan Jailhouse and the detention period would be extended every 30 days. For the case of extradition, according to Candra Argita, there was no detention of time limit. (kmb)

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

Bali News

International

Batu Tumpeng Tourism Object

Damage Roads, Minimum Parking, and Prone to Thefts Klungkung District should have one more tourist attraction that can excavate the tourist arrivals to the Land of Serombotan. The object is Batu Tumpeng Beach, located in the Tojan Village, Klungkung exactly in the east of Watu Klotok Temple. The object has been visited by many foreign tourists from Japan, Korea, Australia, and France.

The potential development of this tourism object is very large.

Although tourists continue to flow into the place, Klungkung regency was not seriously working on the object. This can be seen from the damaged road which apparently is the only way to reach the place. Many holes are decorating the roads which are often flooded during the rain season. ‘’Yes, the government should have paid more attention because of its (Batu Tumpeng-red) strategic location,’’ said a public figure from around Batu Tumpeng, Ketut Weneh, on Sunday (21 / 2).

According to Weneh, the problem was not only about the roads, but also unavailability of parking spots which therefore interfering with the comfort of the visitors.

Moreover, the average tourists come with four-wheeled vehicles.

Hence, they are using a vacant land, which is also the parking lot of Batu Tumpeng Temple.

The 60-year-old tells us if the waves around the coast of Batu Tumpeng were in good condition, at least 25 tourists would surf on the beach. They usually come from Japan, Korea, Australia, and France. Tourists had deliberately come, even when the average of them were staying in Legian or

Kuta. Most of the tourists claimed to know the existence of the Batu Tumpeng Beach after being informed by friends.

Surfing the Waves

The tourists wanted to try out surfing on Batu Tumpeng Beach which is famous for its long scrolls. On other occasion, local tourists also come to visit.

According to them, although the beach is very good, they were unsatisfied for there are no available parking spaces. ‘’Not only that, the road conditions which are always inundated by water also became the object of their complaints,’’ Weneh asserted.

For the lack of parking spaces, there is no parking attendant there.

The condition has ever triggered criminal actions targeting the vehicles owned by tourists, such as the car break-in happened eight months ago. At that time, the perpetrators managed to steal the tourist belongings such as bags and mobile phones.

Head Office of Culture and Tourism (Disbudpar) Klungkung, Nengah Wijana, has not given much comment when asked about the development of Batu Tumpeng tourism object.

His reluctance to comment is a side effect of allegations of Parliament against him upon the slow tourism development in Klungkung. ‘’Wow, I honestly just feel lazy to comment. I’ll be alleged of ‘the man with no concrete action’,’’ he said. However, he admitted to have been coordinating residents about the Batu Tumpeng object. ‘’I’ve been coordinating with traditional villagers. However, I cannot comment more on anything,’’ he said.

Similarly, when asked the distribution of tourism to Regional Klungkung GDP and how many visits received by Klungkung every year, ‘’As for the exact number, I honestly do not know clearly.

If not mistaken, it is around IDR 1.3 billion,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, in relation to the increasing tourists in car breakins in Batu Tumpeng, police officers have taken action by routinely holding patrols. Patrols are conducted in various and random time. ‘’This is to avoid the perpetrators to get away by knowing our schedule,’’ said Head of Klungkung Police Partners Development Division, Kompol Dewa Gede Sugawa. (kmb20)

Within Two Months

Claim of JKBM Reaches IDR 6.7 Billion Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Within the two months since the Bali Mandara Health Insurance (JKBM) was launched in last January 2010 until February, the claims to JKBM reached IDR 6.798 billion. It was the total claim from Regional Hospitals throughout Bali and Sanglah Hospital. Meanwhile, the claim fund of community health center of the regency/city reached IDR 470 million. The biggest claim came from Tabanan Hospital amounting to IDR 1.799 billion, followed

by Sanglah Hospital IDR1.195 billion and Sanjiwani Hospital IDR 1.306 billion. Then for category of community health center, the largest claim came from Karangasem Regency worth IDR 208 million, followed by Buleleng Regency IDR 66.33 million, Klungkung Regency IDR 65.6 million and Bangli Regency IDR 60.03 million.

Head of Bali Health Services, Nyoman Sutedja when met last Monday (Feb 22) said that the funds available for JKBM was IDR 181.2 billion for one year, in which 26 percent was allocated for community health centers and 74 percent for hospitals. Of the total amount of fund, it has been allocated around IDR 11 billion for one month.

If looking at the data during the first two months of only IDR 6.7 billion, there would still have funds left over, though Sutedja did not deny that number was quite a lot. “We will see the progress first until the end of April. If a decline happens in claims, there may be funds left over so that the coverage of JKBM service standards can be improved,” said Sutedja.

The increased coverage of service standards in this case means the services that were not originally covered in JKBM would be

served later. Meanwhile, manual books on technical and operational guidelines of JKBM, according to Suteja, had been arranged and if already published they would be disseminated to all health services providing JKBM. Operational and technical guidelines would be reevaluated every three months.

To control JKBM services, Bali Health Services had trained at least 35 verifiers which would soon be placed in every hospital and clinic in Bali extending the JKBM services. At hospitals with a capacity of over 150 beds would be placed two verifiers. One verifier would be in charge in respective regency hospital. For regencies having more than 10 health centers would be assigned 2 verifiers and one verifier if under 10. “This team is independent and certainly serves to verify JKBM whether in accordance with the requirements or not,” said Sutedja. (kmb24)

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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Related to Discourse of Bali Govt to Have a Hotel Hotel Property of Greater Jakarta in Kuta Bankrupt OBESSION of Governor of Bali Made Mangku Pastika to have a hotel at luxury resort invited the pros and cons of the observers and practitioners of tourism, last Monday (Feb 22).

Tourism practitioner Nyoman Rutha Ady admitted to be surprised why the provincial government tried to compete with the private sector to do business in the hotel. “There’s no law prohibiting the government to have a hotel or manage an existing hotel business,” he said. However, he did not agree with the provincial government together with regency/ city governments to have a hotel or manage its business units because there was no guarantee for a better management than the private sector.

He mentioned innumerable hotels that went bankrupt or were sold because they were powerless in facing strong competition, including government-run hotel. “Indeed, the hotel business looks glamorous. However, there were countless hotels facing bankruptcy, ownership changed or did not strongly compete with the private sector,” he said.

They include Hotel Kuta Jaya belonging to the property of Greater Jakarta Government located at Kuta Beach has long gone bankrupt and been sold.

Meanwhile, a professor of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, Udayana University Prof. Dr. Nyoman Suparta in a separate location stated in terms of priority scale, the obsession of Governor of Bali to have a hotel was not appropriate. However, it would only be appropriate from the urgency of seeing Bali as tourist destination. From the scale of priorities, the development of agriculture in the broad sense should get serious attention.

Therefore, the efficiency of financial management could be directed to enlarge the agricultural sector budget in a broad sense. “Frankly speaking, the budget of agricultural sector remains low,” he said.

Shortage of budget caused the government capacity limited in this sector. Government has not helped the farmers when commodity prices fell at harvest season. This made farmers less excited about farming. He hoped the seriousness of government in working on the agricultural sector with a clear budget allocation and a

clear breakthrough.

Other sector that should require a helping hand of government was Bali cow breeding because most farmers kept cattle in Bali. The main problem was the quality decline of Bali cattle because of the purity of Bali cows diminished.

For that purpose, there must be a focus of research and continuation through the Livestock Research Center of Excellence for maintaining the genetic of cows. To produce good quality cows could not only be obtained through research. The role of government in the sector dominating the life of the people was highly necessary but was reluctant to be tilled by investors,” he said.

But he did not deny in terms of urgency, the provincial government needed to have a hotel for the purposes of education and regional income because Bali became the icon of Indonesian tourism.

In the meantime, Rutha Ady added there was no guarantee that the government was more professional than the private sector to manage the hotel.

Former Chairman of Badung Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) saw very few government-run hotels could develop. In fact, the existence of government-owned hotel from outside the region even undermined more portions of regional budget’s ‘cake.’ On the other hand, the budget was truly needed for the purposes of public interests such as education, health, agriculture increasingly left behind and alleviation of poverty.

Similar comment was conveyed by the Head of Commission I of Bali House, Made Arjaya. The reason, a number of hotels belonging to the Provincial Government of Greater Jakarta were unable to compete with the private sector. If government wanted to maintain its image in the community, it was necessary to notice two things, namely public services and infrastructure such as roads, water and electricity. “If public services are good and the road is smooth everywhere, people will be impressed with their government,” he said. The idea of Bali Provincial Government to establish a star hotel was triggered by the Governor Made Mangku Pastika in the morning coffee with the mass media leaders, last Sunday (Feb 14).

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

News

International

Latin American summit backs Argentina on Falklands AP

PLAYA DE CARMEN, Mexico – Latin American and Caribbean nations backed Argentina’s claim of sovereignty to the Falkland Islands on Monday in a growing dispute with Britain over plans to drill for oil off the islands in the Atlantic.

At the Rio Group summit of 32 countries hosted by Mexico, Argentina presented a statement quoting Mexican President Felipe Calderon as saying that “the heads of state represented here reaffirm their support for the legitimate rights of the republic of Argentina in the sovereignty dispute with Great Britain.”

Calderon did not speak directly about the matter. Britain and Argentina have long disputed sovereignty of the Falkland Islands — known as Las Malvinas in Latin America — and fought a war over them in 1982.

The issue had been relatively calm until a British oil exploration company recently announced drilling plans there.

Desire Petroleum PLC said Monday that it has started drilling for oil about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the disputed Falkland Islands, despite strong opposition from Argentina. The country claims the south Atlantic islands as its own and calls them Las Malvinas.

“The well is being drilled to an estimated target depth of circa 3,500 meters (11,500 feet),” the company said in a statement. “Drilling opera-

tions are expected to take approximately 30 days.”

The dispute over the Falklands dates back to the 19th century, when the islands were seized by the British. Argentina has sought their return ever since, invading in April 1982 and holding them until June, when British forces retook the territory.

Full diplomatic relations were restored in 1990 and both sides have since largely agreed to disagree on the issue of sovereignty. But anger over the issue still lingers and has been exacerbated by the prospect that Argentina could lose out on mineral wealth discovered offshore.

Argentine President Cristina Fernandez ruled out any plans to try to keep the British boats or rigs out.

“We do not believe in methods like blockades,” she told reporters.

One of the primary goals of the two-day summit being held in the Caribbean beach resort of Playa del Carmen is the formation of a new regional group that would include all nations in the Americas — except the United States and Canada.

A working summit document, a copy of which was obtained by The

AP

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez gestures during the opening ceremony of the Rio Group Summit

Associated Press, suggests diplomats are still working on a name for the organization, with the “Latin American and Caribbean Community” being one possibility. The group is expected to be established by 2011.

The summit meeting was

marked by a strong exchange of words between leftist Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Colombia’s conservative Alvaro Uribe, said a diplomat with firsthand knowledge of the situation.

The discussion centered on political differences that have led Venezu-

Madeira looks for 32 missing after island’s floods AP

AP

A policeman with a search dog looks for victims among landslide debris in Santo Antonio

FUNCHAL, Madeira Islands – Emergency crews in Madeira are looking for 32 people still missing four days after weekend landslides that claimed dozens of lives in the Portuguese island’s worst disaster in living memory.

Authorities have confirmed the flash foods killed at least 42 people.

Rescue teams with sniffer dogs, Navy divers and bulldozers are involved search operations Tuesday.

Authorities are checking whether bodies might be trapped in piles of debris or in submerged underground parking lots.

But officials suspect the missing may have been swept out to sea when torrents poured down the Atlantic island’s steep slopes.

Portugal is observing three days of mourning for the victims.

ela to suspend many of Colombia’s exports, and reached such a heated level that Chavez reportedly got up to leave the meeting before other leaders stepped in to calm the two, said the diplomat, who was not authorized to be quoted by name or country.

Indonesian police arrest three in anti-terror raid AFP

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (AFP) – Indonesian police said Tuesday they had arrested three people after a major raid on a terrorist training facility in a remote region of Aceh province.

“We’ve arrested three people whom we suspect of taking part in training. They are strongly suspected of being part of the Jemaah Islamiyah group. We’re still investigating,” Aceh police chief Aditya Warman told reporters.

More than 100 heavily armed police took part in the raid just before midnight Monday in a forested part of Aceh Besar district, about 70 kilometres (40 miles) east of the provincial capital Banda Aceh, he said.

Warman said 50 militants were believed to be in the area conducting military-style training including the use of firearms. Only three were caught in the raid and rest escaped into the jungle, he said.

Police found rifles, Malaysian military uniforms and terrorist propaganda material including videos of the 2002 bombings on the Indonesian resort island of Bali which killed more than 200 people, mainly Western tourists.

Al-Qaeda-linked regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah is blamed for that attack and others over the past decade.

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

General Info

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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

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

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

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

Phone : 223 036 Fax : 268 690.

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

Phone : 222 142.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

News Archaeologist sees proof for Bible in ancient wall AP

AP –

FILE - In this June 14, 2006 file photo, Sudanese women take part in a military exercise

Darfur truce could pave way for peace AP

CAIRO – Darfur’s leading rebel group and the government of Sudan have a bitter history of failed cease-fires and peace deals. But upcoming elections and dramatically improved ties with neighboring Chad have raised hopes that a truce to be signed Tuesday will finally put an end to seven years of devastating war.

Despite the ebbing of violence in the last year, the U.N. estimates that some 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have been displaced since ethnic African tribesman in the vast arid western Darfur region took up arms against the Arab-dominated central government.

The government and the rebel Justice and Equality Movement are to sign the truce agreement in Doha, Qatar, after a year of negotiations.

The upturn in relations between Sudan and Chad gave a major boost to the truce agreement because the two countries had once accused each other of supporting the other’s rebels.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir is also facing war crimes accusations abroad and an election in April, making him eager for some kind of breakthrough to improve his image abroad and at home.

The signing of the framework agreement will be attended by the U.S., the U.N. and Arab representatives as well as by the president of Chad.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Monday that the temporary cease-fire agreement is an important step toward reducing violence in Darfur. The end of the long-running animosity between Sudan and Chad — which sponsored the truce only days after declaring the end to its long proxy

war with Sudan — could be the deciding factor in this agreement’s longevity.

“I can’t deny that normal relations between the two countries will help,” Tahir al-Faki, a senior rebel member of JEM, said in a telephone interview before heading to Doha for the signing.

The deal provides for a temporary cease-fire that is to lead to political negotiations by March 15 on wealth sharing, compensation and political representation.

JEM is the most powerful rebel group, but not the only one. The splintering of the rebels into dozens of factions threatens to undermine any peace on the ground.

The dozens of rebel factions have coalesced into two main groups to unify their demands and negotiating position in the year-old negotations in Doha.

They were irked by the separate ceasefire with JEM. The Sudanese government, however, was quick to assure the rebels of its continuing commitment to a comprehensive agreement.

“We believe that Darfur can’t be solved bilaterally. We hope we can negotiate with the other groups to reach a final and comprehensive agreement,” said Amin Hassan Omar, the official leading the year-old negotiations. He hailed the truce with JEM as an “im-

portant breakthrough.”

JEM, whose leader, Khalil Ibrahim, was a government minister before he joined the Darfur rebellion, is already pressing the government to postpone elections so it can take part.

Sudanese government spokesman Rabie Abdel Attie said delaying elections was currently not on the table.

Al-Bashir, meanwhile, faces a tough international challenge. He is the first sitting head of state to be wanted by the Hague-based International Criminal Court, where he stands accused of war crimes committed in Darfur.

A settlement in Darfur would defuse criticism abroad and boost his legitimacy at home ahead of the elections.

Skirmishes in Darfur between JEM and government forces followed the announcement Saturday that a truce deal was to be signed. Al-Faki of JEM said his troops repelled a government attack over the weekend in western Darfur and seized government vehicles.

“On the political side we are negotiating. On the military side, we are not laying down our arms and we are very vigilant,” he said.

A major rebel group that launched the rebellion, the Sudan Liberation Movement, has shunned the peace talks. Although weakened by splintering, the group’s leader remains popular among Darfur’s refugee community.

JERUSALEM – An Israeli archaeologist said Monday that ancient fortifications recently excavated in Jerusalem date back 3,000 years to the time of King Solomon and support the biblical narrative about the era.

If the age of the wall is correct, the finding would be an indication that Jerusalem was home to a strong central government that had the resources and manpower needed to build massive fortifications in the 10th century B.C. That’s a key point of dispute among scholars, because it would match the Bible’s account that the Hebrew kings David and Solomon ruled from Jerusalem around that time.

While some Holy Land archaeologists support that version of history — including the archaeologist behind the dig, Eilat Mazar — others posit that David’s monarchy was largely mythical and that there was no strong government to speak of in that era.

Speaking to reporters at the site Monday, Mazar, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, called her find “the most significant construction we have from First Temple days in Israel.”

“It means that at that time, the 10th century, in Jerusalem there was a regime capable of carrying out such construction,” she said.

Based on what she believes to be the age of the fortifications and their location, she suggested it was built

by Solomon, David’s son, and mentioned in the Book of Kings.

The fortifications, including a

monumental gatehouse and a 77yard (70-meter) long section of an ancient wall, are located just outside the present-day walls of Jerusalem’s Old City, next to the holy compound known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary. According to the Old Testament, it was Solomon who built the first Jewish Temple on the site.

That temple was destroyed by Babylonians, rebuilt, renovated by King Herod 2,000 years ago and then destroyed again by Roman legions in 70 A.D. The compound now houses two important Islamic buildings, the golden-capped Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa mosque.

Archaeologists have excavated the fortifications in the past, first in the 1860s and most recently in the 1980s. But Mazar claimed her dig was the first complete excavation and the first to turn up strong evidence for the wall’s age: a large number of pottery shards, which archaeologists often use to figure out the age of findings.

Aren Maeir, an archaeology professor at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, said he has yet to see evidence that the fortifications are as old as Mazar claims. There are remains from the 10th century in Jerusalem, he said, but proof of a strong, centralized kingdom at that time remains “tenuous.”

While some see the biblical account of the kingdom of David and Solomon as accurate and others reject it entirely, Maeir said the truth was likely somewhere in the middle.

“There’s a kernel of historicity in the story of the kingdom of David,” he said.

AP –

Archeologist Eilat Mazar, center in red, who is leading the excavation of newly discovered fortifications

International

Indonesia Today

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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President summons some ministers Antara

AFP PHOTO / Bay ISMOYO

Indonesian Islamic militant Mohammed Jibril Abdurahman attends his trial at South Jakarta court on February 23, 2010. Jibril went on trial accused of helping to finance deadly attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta last year, charges that risk up to 15 years in jail. The July bombings killed seven people as well as two suicide bombers and marked the bloody end of a four-year hiatus in attacks attributed to late terror leader Noordin Mohammad Top and Al-Qaeda-linked regional network Jemaah Islamiyah.

‘Prince of Jihad’ on trial over Indonesia bombings Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - An Islamist blogger who called himself the “Prince of Jihad” went on trial on Tuesday over deadly suicide attacks on luxury hotels in the Indonesian capital Jakarta last year.

Dozens of women covered from head-to-toe in black chanted “God is greater” as online publisher Mohammed Jibril Abdurahman, 25, appeared in court charged with concealing information about terrorist crimes and falsifying documents.

The July bombings killed seven people as well as two suicide bombers and ended a four-year hiatus in attacks attributed to late terror leader Noordin Mohammad Top and AlQaeda-linked regional network Jemaah Islamiyah (JI).

Prosecutors allege Mohammed Jibril was a close associate of Malaysian-born Noordin, who allegedly masterminded the bombings as the leader of his own JI splinter group called “Al-Qaeda in the Malay Archipelago”.

In their indictment they say he flew to Saudi Arabia in September, 2008 with another member of the network to secure funds for the hotel attacks.

Before the trip, Mohammed Jibril allegedly wrote an e-mail to his brother in the Saudi city of Mecca telling him about a meeting he had had with Noordin a year before the July 17 attacks.

He wrote that the Malaysian extremist needed money from the “Arab

Mujahedeen”, prosecutors said.

“Long story. We chatted a lot in the car. I was surprised. He’s as usual. A lot of heavy tasks. Preacher N needs 100 million. Please pray that I’ll get their sympathies,” he wrote, according to prosecutors.

“You know the Arab Mujahedeen district in Mecca. One thing before they meet me is to look for Arab funding... Ah, mad big. Biggest after WTC. Secret, OK?” The email apparently referred to the World Trade Centre in New York, one of the targets of Al-Qaeda’s attacks on September 11, 2001. It did not specify a currency for the 100 million.

Police have said they are investigating whether any money for the attacks on the JW Marriott and RitzCarlton hotels came from Al-Qaeda, which has given financial backing to Noordin and JI in the past.

But prosecutors did not specify if money had reached Noordin and did not charge Mohammed Jibril with raising funds for a terrorist act.

They said his fund-raising efforts would be part of their case in order to gain the maximum 15-year sentence for the charge of concealing information about a terrorist attack.

“The evidence for channelling

funds is insufficient at this point, but we’ll try to prove it in this trial,” chief prosecutor Firmansyah told AFP. “We’ll prove he did go to Saudi, not only to carry out a minor pilgrimage, but also to solicit funds there.”

Prosecutors said Mohammed Jibril had “emotional ties” to Noordin, who was his “psychology” teacher at a religious school in Malaysia in 1998.

Indonesian police killed Noordin in September, putting an end to a campaign of bombings designed to bring down the mainly Muslim country’s democratic system and replace it with a Taliban-style regime.

Speaking to reporters outside the court, Mohammed Jibril, who is also the son of a radical cleric, dismissed the charges as “lies” but admitted he had met Noordin twice.

“This case has been engineered, part of a series of scenarios created by George Bush and his friends to make Islam an enemy. Obama knows about this matter but he doesn’t want to do anything because he’s blind,” he said.

“Although I have to face the court, this is just a challenge. The fight will continue.”

He was arrested near Jakarta six weeks after the bombings.

Police also raided the office of his website, Arrahmah.com, a wellknown source of Islamist propaganda.

The website was still in operation on Tuesday.Mohammed Jibril also edited a publication called Jihadmagz which espoused “holy war” against the West.

JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on Tuesday afternoon summoned a number of ministers for a meeting at the State Guest House.

The ministers who were summoned included Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, State Minister of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Syarifuddin Hassan and Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik.

Besides, State Minister for Administrative Reform EE Mangindaan, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Darwin Nasution and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam were also invited.

The meeting was held in a closed-door room. The presence of the ministers was known to journalists from the police numbers of their cars parked at the Guest House yard.

Journalists wishing to cover the event were not allowed by security officers to approach the budiling because it was a closeddoor meeting. Until 11:45 am the meeting was still going on.

Earlier, on Monday evening, the President held a meeting with Democratic Party leaders in his Puri Cikeas private residence.

After the meeting Monday night, Democratic Party Associate Chairman Anas Urbaningrum said the meeting was initially planned with the leaders of parties in coalition, but it was later postponed.

He said Yudhoyono’s planned meeting with the leaders of political parties in the coalition members on Monday night was postponed at the request of several members of the coalition parties.

“Previously it was planned on Monday night but it was postponed because some coalition parties had proposed the postponement so that the meeting would be held later with more complete participants and each party would be more consolidated,” he said.

Anas said Yudhoyono, who is also chief patron of the Democratic Party, agreed the request of the coalition partners.

About when the meeting with coalition party leaders will be held, Anas said it was being rescheduled and no definite time had been made. “We are still waiting for the match schedule for the entire leadership of the coalition parties,” he said.

Meanwhile, when asked about an internal meeting of the Democratic Party at the residence of the President that night, Anas just said, the meeting was a regular consolidation meeting.

Some Democratic Party leaders were present at Cikeas Monday night, among others, party chairman Hadi Utomo, secretary general Amir Shamsuddin, Anas Urbaningrum and Department of Human Resources Chairman who is also Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng.

RI preparing six agreements ahead of Obama visit Antara

JAKARTA - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said that the government is preparing six agreements that would be discussed when US President Barack Obama visits Indonesia in March 2010.

“We will use the meeting maximally for our interests. There are six agreements now being prepared,” Hatta Rajasa said at his office on Tuesday.

Hatta said the agreements among others covered the areas of education and investment. Investment field will range from energy to the industrial sector.

“Investment will be made from the energy sector, industry, and others. The value will come later,” he said.

Regarding the development of investment in general, Hatta said that after the impact of the crisis some time ago, there has been an increasing trend in investment, not only in interest but also in realization.

“Japan has expressed a high interest, so we must make use of this momentum. Don’t forget we need Rp2,000 trillion,” he said.

Hatta said that he received a lot of trade and business delegations, including from China and Europe, who considered that Indonesia had became one of the countries of interest for investment.

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Internationa

Wednesday, February 24, 2009

Bali Today

http://www.tropicalisland.de

The photo shows tourists left the Nusa Penida Island to go back to Bali Island by boat. Yustisi Team of Klungkung Regency threatened to execute a number of buildings which indicate violation of coastal border area in Nusa Penida. The buildings had started to generate complaints from neighboring citizens. If no immediate action were taken, citizens concern that similar action will continue to increase along with the proliferation of development process in Nusa Penida.

Buildings Which Exceed Coastal Limit Will Be Executed Semarapura (Bali Post) —

Yustisi Team of Klungkung Regency threatened to execute a number of buildings which indicate violation of coastal border area in Nusa Penida. The buildings had started to generate complaints from neighboring citizens. If no immediate action were taken, citizens concern that similar action will continue to increase along with the proliferation of development process in Nusa Penida. ‘’Yes, I accepted citizen complaints directly and promised immediate action,’’ said Chairman of Klungkung Regency Yustisi Team, Tjok. Gede Agung on Monday.

Tjok. Agung who is also the Vice Regent of Klungkung mentioned in the report accepted, there were some indications of coastal border violation located in the region Suana, Lembongan, and Ceningan. In relation to the matter, Tjok. Agung called Head Office of Integrated Licensing Services (KPPT) Klungkung, Putu Suarta, and Chief of Pamong Praja Police Unit, Komang Darma Suyasa, to coordinate a visiting time for the location, following up on citizen complaints. ‘’In essence, we must imme-

diately come down,’’ he said. Tjok.

Agung claims he does not go easy on violations, but will still put forward the structured mechanism in taking action against it. Any violations will be dealt by giving advance warnings to the owner of the building. ‘’After the third ignored warning, we must execute building. We do not want the team to lose its ‘fangs’,’’ he said.

The accusation of the weak Yustisi Team emerges because violations are more pronounced in the tourism areas Klungkung’s mainland, such as: the Tegalbesar, Negari,

Banjarangkan, Sidayu and many other regions. ‘’Often, buildings suspected of violation were inspected by the Yustisi Team.

Until now, affirmative action has not been taken by Yustisi Team nor Klungkung regency. Their duties are limited in educating and reminding building owners to comply by completing their correct licensing process. So far, there has been no evidence that Yustisi Team dare to execute the buildings standing on the green belt area and violate the coastal as well as river borders. (kmb20)

Saraswati Holy Day in Bali How Balinese Eulogize Knowledge he knowledge is significant for life, but it cannot be misused.

The Balinese Hindu possess of specific way to eulogize knowledge. Every six month, according to Hindu’s calendar, the Balinese celebrates Saraswati Holy Day, the reveal of knowledge.

Saraswati Holy Day or also called with Piodalan Sang HyangAji Saraswati that be fell on Saturday (Saniscara Umanis Watu Gunung), which this year will fall on 27 February 2010. How lucky for you who are on a vacation in Bali to see the Balinese activities in eulogizing the knowledge as a process to be a judicious figure.

The praying will be centered in schools and also in Jagatnatha Temple, in the center of Denpasar city.

Saraswati means something possessed with flowing character, knowing resource and prudence.

The series of the Sarawati ritual will begin on Sunday with the succession of samadi (meditation) or praying.

On the pitch day of Saraswati, all books, lontar, or other holy documents will be attached with the offerings of banten saraswati, the proceed with praying to adore Goddess Saraswati, the God’s manifestation as the creator and protector of knowledge.

The adoration and all things related with brata saraswati (important things) are carried out in the morning or dawn but not passed daytime. If it does pass the day, we will only adore for worthless

letters not the divine power of Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati.

Before the adoration of Saraswati is executed and before passing daytime, it is not allowed to read or write mantra, aksara suci (holy letters), and any literatures. For those who actualize a full brata saraswati by conducting a meditation, yoga, samadi, are not allowed to read or write for 24 hours.

In learning any kind of knowledge should be based with the pure heart, full of homage service to Sang Hyang Aji Saraswati including maintaining our own library.

After the praying is over, when the sun is set, and into the night, many events will be held by the sekaa pesantian or krama banjar (villagers) such as reading the holy inscriptions, dharma tula (religious discussion), or dharma wacana (religious talkative).

The reading of mabebasan, makidung or mepapawosan is truly interesting, because the person who reads the books is not only able to inspire the meaning inside, but recite a melodious voice as well.

A day after Saraswati holyday is called Banyu Pinaruh, which is on Sunday Paing wuku Sinta. On that day, Hindus devotees will in crowds take a bath at the beach and also with kumkuman water (a scent flower water) and end with nunas (bid for) yellowish rice, which means that the knowledge will be settled inside our pure soul so it will useful for mankind’s life. (BTN/*)

To increase the welfare of woven craftsmen

Bali’s woven clothes being exhibited IBP

DENPASAR – The woven craftsmen in Bali getting attention from the industry players. To increase the welfare of woven craftsmen, Garuda Indonesia Airlines in cooperation with Cita Tenun Indonesia (CTI) held a woven clothes exhibition at Sanur Beach Hotel.

Mutia Hatta of Supervisory Body at CTI said the woven clothes were a kind of craft that very unique and interesting. That’s for the conservation of this woven clothes are very important. Moreover these clothes can be made into various kind of ready to wear products and accessories. ‘’CTI

want to increase the welfare of woven craftsmen and improve their skill so they can make high quality products,” stated the former minister of women empowerment.

According to Mutia Bali’s woven clothes already gain popularity among people in Indonesia and international society. But, she said, the colors and variation of products need to be improve so it will be able to penetrate international markets. She also mentioned the important of keeping basic materials continuity so the craftsmen not find difficulty on creating products.

Achirina the Director Human Resources of Garuda Airlines added since 2008, Garuda has been cooperate

with CTI to improve the welfare of woven craftsmen. Not only giving the fund support, but also teaching and guiding the craftsmen so they can create high quality products. ‘’This is Garuda efforts to help Bali’s woven clothes being recognized by national and international society,” said Achirina.

Through the helping that being done by Garuda, it is hoped that someday groups of woven craftsmen will be created. Until today, Achirina stated that Garuda Indonesia already helped some woven craftsmen from Klungkung and Karangasem. Garuda has been proactive in promoting the products to foreign tourists. (iah)

IBP/iah

The staff of one of the stand at Bali’s Woven Clothes and Acessories Exhibition serve his customers. The woven craftsmen in Bali getting attention from the industry players. To increase the welfare of woven craftsmen, Garuda Indonesia Airlines in cooperation with Cita Tenun Indonesia (CTI) held a woven clothes exhibition at Sanur Beach Hotel.

al

Wednesday, February 24, 2009

Balinese Culture Kenus Mebase Bali

Destruction of Reservoir at Madenan

Bad Precedent for the Bali Provincial Govt Bali Post

DENPASAR - Destruction of water reservoir at Madenan Village, Buleleng by a mob of Tejakula, last January 13 became bad precedent for the Provincial Government of Bali in years to come. Because, reservoir construction, procurement and installation of piping at Madenan and Kutuh Bangli worked on by PT Jasuka Bangun Pratama Bandung worth IDR 2.6 billion was financed by central government on the proposal of Buleleng Regency presented to the Governor of Bali.

Thus was revealed in the hearing of Commission III of Bali House with the Head of Bali Public Works Dewa Puniasa, last Monday (Feb 22) at Renon.

It was kindled by a problem in the middle of chaotic issue of Buleleng Regent and the local House having no permanent establishment. “Initially, it approved the project but ultimately re-

jected,” said a member of Commission III, Andi Mahayasa. It was indicated by a rejection letter of Customary Village supported by the letter of Buleleng Regent about the cancellation of water utilization project at Baong Kambing, Sukawana Bangli dated July 16, 2009. Whereas the reservoir of Madenan was built on the proposal of local community submitted to the Governor of Bali dated March 28, 2008. Such program was later included in the middle term investment program of Cipta Karya in 2008-2012 drafted by Buleleng Regency and approved by the Head of Buleleng House.

According to him, the mass demonstration was triggered by merely an offense because they thought some of their water sources were taken without the knowledge of local community figures. “Although it was only taken 7 liters per second, it should be discussed carefully and provide clear compensation for the

Tejakula Customary Village,” said Andi.

Member of Commission III, I.B. Birawa judged other than lacked of socialization for the project, the power of struggle of Madenan and Kutuh society was also weak. This condition caused the mass could perform the destruction easily. Eventually, the project became redundant.

Head of Bali Public Works, Dewa Puniasa did not reject the fact. Actually, the flow of the water springs at Linjong River was large enough namely 29.18 liter / second. It was only taken 7 liter/ second and operated for 6 hours / day to meet the needs of Madenan and Kutuh society Bangli. To clarify the issue, it was proposed to perform joint prayers at Ulun Danu Temple Batur. Besides, it was offered a program related to clean water service improvement. “If this offer is rejected, there is no choice but serving the Kutuh and Madenan society by water tanker,” he said. (029)

(Balinese Squid) Overview: If you are only accustomed to eating deep-fried squid, you’ll be surprised by the difference when it is cooked Balinese style. If squid is unavailable, replace with large cuttlefish or any other firm fish fillets such as snapper or sea bass.

Ingredients: 600 gr baby squid, cleaned and diced 1 tbsp freshly squeezed limejuice 1/3 tsp powdered black pepper 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp oil 5 shallots, peeled and sliced 2 large red chilies, seeded and sliced 1/2 cup spice paste for seafood 1 cup chicken stock 5 sprigs lemon basil, sliced Fried shallots and sprigs of lemon basil to garnish Preparation: Heat oil in wok, add shallots, chilies and squid and sauté for 2 minutes over high heat. Add seafood spice paste and continue to sauté for 1 more minute. Pour in chicken stock, add the sliced basil and bring to boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute. Season to taste and garnish with sprigs of lemon basil, fried shallots and serve with Coconut Rice. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

Nasi Kuning (Yellow Rice) Overview: Yellow, one of the four sacred colors makes this festive rice dish strikingly different from the normal, everyday steamed rice. The rice is cooked in lightly seasoned coconut milk and chicken stock for extra flavor, while the touch of oil in the coconut milk gives it a glistening appearance and keeps each grain separate.

Ingredients: 1½ cups long grain rice, washed and drained 2½ cups coconut milk ¾ cup chicken stock 1 salam leaf 1 pandan leaf 1 stalk lemon grass, bruised 2 tbsp turmeric water 2 cm laos cut in 4 lengthwise slices 1 tbsp salt Preparation: Combine all ingredients in rice cooker or heavy stockpot and simmer, covered until don.

Helpful hints: if your are not using a rice cooker, cook the rice over high heat until the liquid comes to the bowl, then lower heat and cook gently so that the coconut milk does not catch and burn on the bottom of the pan.

Remove the lemon grass and Laos before serving. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Destinations

International

Taman Sukasada Ujung Karangasem

http://gekvi.files.wordpress.com

TAMAN Sukasada or Sukasada Park is a beautiful park with big fish pond surrounds the old Karangasem Empire heritage building which is used by the Karangasem’s King for day relaxation or meeting place in their era. It is located in Ujung Countryside about 5 Km from Amlapura town. This park is originally met one pool only which is very Ghostlike and very secret called by Di Dirah and this pool at the period of I Gusti Gede Putu King (1849-1893) governance with his brother of Gde Oka (1849-1890) that the around of this pool is functioned as place of exile for the man who alleged to run the black magic (leak). At the period of I Gusti Bagus Jelantik governance which start to lead the Karangasem Kingdom in the year 1909, this pool area is extended and developed by some pools and also luxury building Bale Gili with European style (modern style), later then it is given the name called Taman Sukasada/ Sukasada Park Ujung Karangasem, that is estimate made in the year of twentieth.

This park is strategically located in the coastal side, south part of Karangasem town and founding a lot of wellspring around the area.

If seen from the history aspect, most of all omissions from Karangasem Empire both for Lombok Island and also exist in Bali, altogether area consisted by the pool and Gili building which is exist in the middle of pool like Mayura

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and Narmada Park which are existing in west part of Lombok Island. We can say that this Sukasada Park as a mascot of tourist destinations in east part of Bali because Sukasada Park has been recognized until foreign countries since twenty’s year and more famous again in the year of thirtieth when all foreign tourist start to pay a visit to Bali. King of Karangasem I Gusti Bagus Jelantik who is known as Anak Agung Anglurah Ketut Karangasem is a Statesman, Man of letters as well as an architect.

He has created a lot of building not even in the form of park but he also done some building which are exist in Puri Agung Karangasem (Karangasem Palace) like gateway which is looking like pagoda.

Location It is located in Ujung Countryside, south part of Karangasem regency or about 2, hours from Bali’s International Airport. From Denpasar Town, we have to take the highway of Ida Bagus Matra’s Street and go to the east part of Bali until arrive at Karangasem town. The journey will take about 2 hours and turn right to the south part of Karangasem town.

Taman Sukasada is right located in the costal side with beautiful old building and the right place to visit during your vacation in Bali. (www.balistarisland.com)

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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BUSINESS Posters calling for a nationwide strike on February 24, 2010 are stuck on a pole on February 22 in front of the Greek Parliament in Athens. Greece geared up for a nationwide strike on Wednesday called by unions to protest cuts as financial markets waited to see how Athens would finance itself out of a debt crisis shaking the European Union.

AFP PHOTO / LOUISA GOULIAMAKI

Greece braces for strike as investors worry Agence France-Presse

ATHENS - Debt-ridden Greece was bracing for a nationwide strike scheduled for Wednesday, called by unions to protest austerity measures, and was said to be facing a crucial market test with a bond issue this week.

Highlighting the country’s critical need for more financing, Greece on Monday said it had asked Abu Dhabi, the richest of the seven states making up the United Arab Emirates, to invest in a Greek development fund.

Under heavy pressure from its eurozone partners to bring order to its public finances, Greece’s Socialist government is weighing cuts to benefits, a rise in the retirement age and other measures that have sparked union resistance.

“The strike should be a big success and should paralyse the whole country,” Stathis Anestis, a leader of the powerful Greek General Confederation of Labour union, known as GSEE under its Greek acronym, told AFP on Monday.

The strike — the second major protest since Greece unveiled the measures — will mobilise thousands of workers, bringing ships, planes and trains to a standstill, as well as shutting down banks and newsrooms.

But despite the apparent anger, a majority of Greeks appears to support the government’s belt-tightening policies.

Sixty-four percent of those questioned said they considered the austerity measures “necessary,” while 32.5 percent thought they could be “less severe,” according to a poll published earlier this month in the To Vima newspaper.

Greece has vowed to reduce its budget deficit from an estimated 12.7 percent of GDP (gross domestic product) in 2009 to below the EU limit of 3.0 percent by 2012 and has warned major cuts in public spending will be needed.

Strike action will do little to calm investors, who have dragged down the value of the euro and boosted the risk premium on Greek bonds amid fears — discounted by most analysts — that the country could default on its debt.

A crucial test of market confidence in Greece could come as early as this week with the government attempting a multibillion-euro (dollar) bond issue, the Financial Times reported earlier, citing bankers in Athens.

Prime Minister George Papandreou added further urgency in an interview with the BBC’s “The Andrew Marr Programme” on Sunday in which he said Greece’s borrowing needs were only covered up until the middle of March.

Papandreou also said that Greece needed EU support “so that we can borrow at the same rate as other countries, not at high rates” that undermine the country’s reform efforts.

The yield on 10-year Greek bonds — the interest rate that Greece must pay on bonds it issues to borrow money in the markets — was at 6.411 percent during trading on Monday, compared

to 3.281 percent for German 10-year bonds.

A report in Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine citing German finance ministry sources on Saturday said the eurozone could aid Greece to the tune of “between 20 billion and 25 billion euros” (27 billion and 34 billion dollars).

A ministry spokesman dismissed the report as “speculation.”

The European Union has pledged political support for Greece and has hinted at more concrete financial assistance in the future but it has also imposed strict deadlines and monitoring for Greece’s deficit-cutting programme.

The Greek government meanwhile on Monday said Economy and Competition Minister Luka Katselis had sought the participation of Abu Dhabi in the Hellenic Development Fund during a weekend visit to the emirate.

“The ministry’s objective is for Abu Dhabi to take part in the capital of the Hellenic Development Fund with the European Investment Bank and other international financial organisations,” the ministry said in a statement.

In his interview with the BBC on Sunday, Papandreou said the government “wouldn’t rule out” selling its bonds to sovereign funds including from China and Russia.

Australia to resume free trade talks with China Agence France-Presse

SYDNEY - Australia will resume stalled free trade talks with its top trading partner China on Wednesday, officials said, ending a 14-month hiatus marked by a temporary plunge in relations.

Officials from both sides will meet for three days of talks in Canberra, restarting a process which stumbled on technical issues in December 2008 before diplomatic ties were rocked by an Australian mining executive’s arrest.

“It’s the 14th round, and it’s on this week between the 24th and the 26th in Canberra,” a trade spokeswoman told AFP. The easing of tariffs and Chinese concern about the impact of Australian imports on domestic prices were among sticking points when talks were last held in Beijing.

Two-way trade soared to 76 billion dollars (68 billion US) over the year to last June as rapidly industrialising China bought up Australian raw materials despite the global downturn.

“We see China as an opportunity, a huge opportunity too, in terms of its

essential inter-relationship with our economy, its dependence on our resources and energy,” Trade Minister Simon Crean told Indonesian television on Monday.

Australia, buoyed by its strong recovery from the downturn, is also pushing for free-trade agreements with Japan and China and is studying a further deal with India.

The country relied heavily on Asia as it became the only advanced economy to avoid recession during the downturn, with Japan, China, South Korea and India its top four export markets.

“I mean you look at, you look at the stimulus packages of Korea, Japan, India, China, ASEAN as a whole ... this is huge demand for our resources,” Crean said.

“And despite the fact that exports took a huge hit last year, in the global financial crisis, Australia is one of the very few countries to see growth in export volumes.”

Australia’s free-trade deal with the 10-nation ASEAN came into force last month, and it will start negotiating a trans-Pacific pact with the United States, New Zealand, Singapore, Chile, Brunei, Peru and Vietnam in March.

British bank Lloyds says boss gives up annual bonus Agence France-Presse

LONDON - Britain’s state-rescued Lloyds Banking Group announced Monday that its chief executive Eric Daniels would not take his annual bonus of 2.3 million pounds (2.6 million euros, 3.6 million dollars).

The group, which is 43-percent state owned after being bailed out with billions of pounds, revealed the news in a statement amid intense media speculation on the issue before LBG’s 2009 results on Friday.

Lloyds’ remuneration committee decided to award Daniels his full annual bonus but he waived it for the second year in a row, said the statement from Chairman Sir Win Bischoff.

“Mr Daniels has taken this action because he believes that the excellent progress the group is making ... is in danger of being obscured by the current debate on executive bonus awards in the banking sector,” Bischoff said.

The news comes after Barclays bank last week announced that its top executives had shunned their latest annual bonuses amid growing public outrage over pay.

The Financial Times meanwhile reported Monday that the boss of the Royal Bank of Scotland —

which is also state-rescued — would refuse his 2009 bonus.

RBS chief executive Stephen Hester will waive his right to a possible 1.6 million pounds (1.8 million euros, 2.5 million dollars), the bank is set to disclose on Thursday when it will also unveil its annual results.

“He will do whatever is necessary to secure the future of the bank,” the FT quoted one person close to Hester as saying. RBS is 84percent owned by the British government after a series of enormous state bailouts.

There is widespread public anger about the banking sector’s bonus culture, which some observers blame for encouraging excessive risk-taking and helping to tip the world economy into recession.

“2009 was a challenging year for the UK economy, our group and many of our customers,” added Lloyds Chairman Bischoff on Monday.

“In our case, as a retail and commercial bank, our overall allocation under the annual bonus schemes represents a very small percentage of revenues.”

Bischoff said that within the group as whole, annual bonuses would be paid in shares and would be subject to deferrals and “clawbacks” in line with principles worked out by the Group of 20 nations.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Entertainment

International

Rival costume designers hope to sew up Oscar

Comeback Whitney hits a flat note Down Under

LOS ANGELES - Because Oscar organizers are pulling out all the stops to promote the Academy Awards on March 7, they might consider billing the costume design category as a smackdown for the “Project Runway” set.

In what other race this year can you find a pair of two-time winners who have gone head-to-head on five previous occasions?

This year, they’re back again — each for an eighth time.

Sandy Powell, who took home Oscars for 1998’s “Shakespeare in Love” and 2004’s “The Aviator,” is nominated for “The Young Victoria,” in which her costumes chart the transition the young queen made from embattled princess to fledgling monarch.

Joining her once more in the nominees’ circle is Colleen Atwood, nominated for outfitting some of the most iconic actresses in the world in “Nine.” Atwood won Oscars for 2002’s “Chicago” and 2005’s “Memoirs of a Geisha.”

Turns out, though, theirs is a friendly rivalry.

“We laugh about it; we’re always up against each other, and we have enormous respect for each other,” Powell says.

In fact, on one of the rare occasions when Atwood was nominated (for 2007’s “Sweeney Todd”) and Powell wasn’t, Atwood dashed off a note to Powell, telling her how much she missed her on the red carpet.

One reason the two have earned so much Oscar attention, Powell theorizes, “is we’re lucky. We both work with the same directors regularly.”

Although Powell’s nomination this year came from collaborating with Jean-Marc Vallee for the first time, she has worked most closely in recent years with Martin Scorsese. She designed the 1950sera costumes for his current box office champ “Shutter Island” and is about to begin work on his next project, “The Invention of Hugo Cabret.”

“Nine” marks the third time Atwood has worked with Rob Marshall, and she also frequently joins forces with Tim Burton — the upcoming “Alice in Wonderland” is their latest film together.

Come Oscar Night, the two designers will be part of a group that also includes four-time nominee Janet Patterson for “Bright Star” and Oscar rookies Catherine Leterrier for “Coco Before Chanel” and Monique Prudhomme for “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”

Powell and Atwood’s name recognition aside, it’s a relatively equal playing field because none

SYDNEY - Disappointed fans stormed out of Whitney Houston’s first Australian concert in 12 years, reports said Tuesday, as the ageing diva failed to hit her famous high notes and struggled for breath.

of the films in the category is riding the coattails of a prospective best picture winner.

Adding interest to the race is the fact that in several of the films, the costumes, far from being mere window dressing, provide a veritable subtext.

“Coco,” for example, looks at the early life of fashion designer Coco Chanel, played by Audrey Tautou, subtly pointing out the influences that would later find expression in Chanel’s work as a groundbreaking innovator of haute couture. The film, which harkens back to a classic like 1939’s “The Women,” even concludes with a full-fledged fashion show.

Similarly, in Jane Campion’s “Bright Star,” John Keats’ love interest Fanny Brawne, played by Abbie Cornish, is herself something of a home-taught fashionista who stitches her own outfits, setting herself apart from the crowd.

Even “Nine,” which swirls around Daniel Day-Lewis’ film director Guido Contini, offers a shout-out to designers, with Judi Dench playing a costume designer on whom Guido leans for advice.

Although there are no obvious markers to suggest which way the Academy might lean, Powell did earn the corresponding BAFTA on Sunday. Although she had won one BAFTA, for 1998’s “Velvet Goldmine,” Powell had become accustomed to leaving the BAFTAs empty-handed. Nominations for “Gangs” and “Aviator” did not yield any hardware.

The BAFTA choice isn’t necessarily predictive of the Academy’s, though, because two of the Oscarnominated films, “Nine” and “Parnassus,” weren’t included, with the BAFTA list instead filled out by “An Education” and “A Single Man.” But in a kind of dress rehearsal for the Oscars, Powell and Atwood will go up against each other Thursday night, when the Costume Designers Guild holds its 12th annual awards at the Beverly Hilton. They are nominated in the period film category with “Coco,” Ann Roth for “Julie & Julia” and Jenny Beavan for “Sherlock Holmes.”

Powell, who will be flying in from London for the event, also is to receive a life time achievement award, which Atwood received in 2006.

Neither Powell nor Atwood has entered the territory of costume designer record-holder Edith Head.

Hollywood’s doyenne of design was nominated 35 times and won on eight occasions, including her final Oscar for 1973’s “The Sting.”

But Powell says that with familiarity, the awards process has become easier.

“She couldn’t entertain a dead rat, to be honest,” one fan told local media outside Monday night’s Brisbane concert.

Houston, 46, only managed two songs before taking an extended break and relied heavily on her backup singers, reviewers said, with some remarking she seemed disoriented and unable to remember the names of her band members.

The star was seen coughing frequently, and paused as she was about to hit the epic high note of her signature tune “I Will Always Love You” to towel herself down

and take a sip of water. But promoter Andrew McManus hit back at suggestions she was suffering poor health.

“It was not a train wreck,” McManus said. “She was hitting most of the notes, yes her throat was a little croaky.

“Her health is fine but she’s also not 22 years of age anymore.”

McManus agreed Houston was out of breath in a “couple of songs” and probably wasn’t “up to scratch of the Whitney of 20 years ago”.

“But I don’t apologise for that, she had a red-hot go.”

Houston, who has sold more

than 170 million albums worldwide, suffered a major career setback after admitting drug use during an abusive relationship with exhusband Bobby Brown.

The Australian concerts are part of her comeback “Nothing But Love” tour which kicked off at the end of last year.

Some fans said they would be demanding their money back.

“She was not fit to perform,” wrote one on the Courier Mail newspaper’s website. “She seemed to be on another planet and the concert was laughable.” US pop icon Britney Spears attracted the ire of Australian fans in November, with concert-goers reportedly walking out of her show because she was lip-synching.

Odeon bans ‘Alice in Wonderland’ in Britain, Ireland, Italy LONDON - Cinema group Odeon has said it will boycott Disney’s new 3D film “Alice In Wonderland” at its cinemas in Britain, Ireland and Italy in protest at plans for an early release date on DVD. The company took the decision Monday after Disney said it would release the eagerly-awaited Tim Burton fantasy adventure on DVD 12 weeks after its big-screen debut, instead of the usual 17 weeks.

It is the latest rebellion against the entertainment giant’s plans to push forward the film’s DVD release. Earlier this month, the Netherlands’ four big cinema houses decided not to screen the movie in protest.

Odeon & UCI Cinema Group said in a statement it had “invested considerable sums” in technology to show 3D films which media giant Disney’s proposals could undermine.

Disney’s proposal “undermines the investment made and will inevitably set a new benchmark, leading to a 12-week window becoming rapidly standard in (Britain) for the majority of film titles.”

It could lead to a reduction in cinema attendance that would “threaten the continued existence of many cinemas, especially the smaller and medium sized cinemas,” said Odeon.

The cinema group said it would be showing the film in its Spanish, German, Portuguese and Austrian cinemas — “where Disney has indicated that it plans to observe the normal DVD release window.”

Odeon is Britain’s biggest cinema chain with more than 100 venues. “Alice in Wonderland”, starring Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and

Helena Bonham Carter has its world premiere in London on Thursday.

Its British release will be on March 5, and cinema chain Cineworld said it planned to show the film after reaching an agreement with Disney.

Bob Chapek, president of distribution for the Walt Disney Studios

has previously said the DVD proposal was in the best interest of cinema owners.

“We remain committed to theatrical windows, with the need for exceptions to accommodate a shortened timeframe on a case-by-case basis, such as with Disney’s Alice in Wonderland,” he said.

Life Style

International

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

13

‘World’s best restaurant’ elBulli to become non-profit foundation Agence France-Presse

AP Photo/Alastair Grant

Designer Paul Smith waves to the crowd after his runway showing of his Autumn/Winter 2010 collection at London Fashion Week in London, Monday, Feb. 22, 2010.

English aristocrats punk up at Paul Smith’s London show Agence France-Presse

LONDON - Flat caps, floral prints and riding jackets brought a little bit of English country life to London on Monday in Paul Smith’s latest collection inspired by a single tweed jacket from the 1950s.

Known for twisting classic styles, Smith’s autumn/winter 2010 range at London Fashion Week focused on Britain’s horse-riding, dog-loving aristocracy and their often rebellious children. It all began with a jacket Smith found at Portobello Road second-hand clothes market in west London, which had a label inside showing it had been tailor-made for an upper-class woman in 1951.

“I based the entire collection on my imagination of that jacket,” Smith told AFP before the show, set amid the old-school glamour of Claridges hotel.

“It started off quite aristocratic and quite upper-class and very much about the countryside, but then it’s gone off into the naughty debutante daughter, who is up in London every weekend and parties like mad.

“She often borrows her mum’s or her granny’s rather elegant clothes but mixes them in a way that’s very young.” The result was a beautiful mixture of pretty rose-print lilac dresses punked up with thick leather belts, a peach blouse tucked into turquoise see-through trousers, and a Barbour waterproof jacket over purple tights and orange boots.

A red riding coat with equestrian scenes on the inside lining and a bright yellow jacket with matching corset underneath were both worn with tight black trousers, and many models sported traditional farmers’ tweed flat caps.

MADRID - The famed elBulli, the Spanish restaurant repeatedly crowned the world’s best, is to become a non-profit foundation from 2014, its avant-garde chef Ferran Adria announced Monday.

The Michelin three-star restaurant will become a “foundation for all avant-garde gastronomy lovers.., a breeding ground for new ideas and for new talents,” he told a news conference at a culinary fair in the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela.

The private foundation will grant between 20 and 25 scholarships annually for chefs and other industry professionals and one of its longterm aims will be to compile an “exhaustive and detailed” encyclopedia of contemporary cuisine, he added.

“We want it to be a think-tank of gastronomic creativity,” said Adria, who is known for his trailblazing approach to cooking which uses hitech methods to “deconstruct” and rebuild ingredients in surprising ways.

The foundation’s gastronomic creations will be available for tasting every year from 2014 “by a certain number of customers”.

“The creation of this foundation is another step forward, certainly very significant, in our aim for constant evolution and permanent commitment to creativity,” he said. elBulli, on Spain’s northeastern Catalan coast, last year came top of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for the fourth year in a row following a poll of more than 800 chefs, restaurant critics and industry insiders for Britain’s Restaurant Magazine.

Gourmets the world over reserved months in advance for a table in the establishment, where about 30 avant-garde dishes are available on a menu for a price of about 200 euros (270 dollars).

But in a surprise announcement last month, Adria, 47, said that the establishment would close for two years from 2012, citing fatigue and

a need to plan for the future.

In an interview with AFP earlier this month, he said his restaurant and cooking workshop had been losing a half million euros a year but he said his primary motivation for the hiatus was to maintain the creative spark.

“We are not closing because we are stressed,” he said in a reference to a string of top French chefs such as Joel Robuchon and Olivier Roellinger who closed their threestar eateries in recent years to focus on simpler dining.

Under Spanish law, a non-profit foundation can receive tax breaks and accept grants.

He said the foundation will continue to make the avant-garde cuisine which he is famous for but it could branch out into other areas like traditional cuisine, cocktails and even breakfasts.

“This is a meal that is traditionally ignored by restaurants but which I am very passionate about,” he told AFP. Adria, who joined the kitchen staff of elBulli in 1984, and British chef Heston Blumenthal of The Fat Duck outside London, have since the late 1990s rocked the world of gastronomy by using science to “deconstruct” and rebuild food, both astonishing diners and delighting reviewers.

Taste-bud treats on the elBulli menu have included oyster meringue, hot ice cream, frothy truffle cappuccino and ravioli made from squid and freeze-dried foie gras, while vegetables are turned into lollipops or whipped foams.

Adria’s creations both astonished diners and delighted reviewers, although some critics have dismissed him as elitist and pretentious. He has also had to respond to accusations that the chemicals he uses make his creations unhealthy.

“Criticism is inevitable and I am fine with it as long as they are respectful even if they are negative.

When you do something avant-garde you already know that you become a target,” said Adria.

Milan fashion show to launch with tightened schedule Agence France-Presse

MILAN - After New York and London, Milan picks up the thread of the international fashion circuit Wednesday with a tighter schedule for the main shows to meet the needs of buyers and journalists.

Several thousand buyers from around 40 countries are expected in Milan as well as 2,000 journalists.

Many of them will then move on to the Paris shows, which stretches over nine days, from March 2 to 10.

The tighter-than-usual event comes after fashion maven Anna

Wintour, editor of the American Vogue magazine, put Italian noses out of joint this month when it emerged that she could only spare three days for Milan, rather than the full week.

“No one, even if she is called Anna Wintour, can allow themselves to make or unmake our fashion calendar,” Letizia Moratti, the mayor of Milan, told Italian reporters, calling for a united front against such pressure.

Wintour, who served as the inspiration for the book and subsequent film “The Devil Wears Prada” which

features the fearsome head of a fashion magazine, is regarded by many as the most influential person in the industry.

Mario Boselli, president of the Italian National Fashion Chamber (CNMI), also said that designers should keep in mind their own strength and not give in to pressure from the “foreign press”.

But the main fashion shows have nevertheless been reorganised over four days.

This year, young Italian stylists will open the Milan fashion week with a show bringing together sev-

eral newcomers who won their place on the catwalk in a competition.

Young designers who have broken through in recent years will also feature.

Thursday will include shows by Dolce&Gabbana, Fendi and Prada, while the highlight of Friday’s shows will be from Gianfranco Ferre, Versace and Jil Sander.

Bottega Veneta, Max Mara, Armani and Gucci will follow Saturday, with Marni, Roberto Cavalli and Missoni giving their shows on Sunday.

While there will be other shows

on Monday, none of the big names will take part.

The Milan show will feature some 200 collections from Italian and foreign designers, featuring ready-towear women’s clothing for the autumn season.

While many designers will stage the traditional catwalk shows, others have chosen to present their collections in showrooms or by appointment.

In this rather more economic proposition, the clothes and accessories are presented much as they would be in a shop.

14

Wednesday, February 24 2010

Sport

International

Ice dancers rescue Canada’s battered pride AFP

AP –

Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace (3) drives on Los Angeles Clippers forward Drew Gooden (0)

Clippers beat Bobcats 98-94 AP

LOS ANGELES – Rasual Butler scored 20 points and Chris Kaman had 18 points and 13 rebounds in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 98-94 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Monday night.

The Clippers, coming off a 9989 win over Sacramento on Saturday improved to 2-5 under interim coach Kim Hughes.

Baron Davis was back in uniform for Los Angeles, getting 10 points and 10 assists after missing two games because of a sore lower back. Drew Gooden and Travis Outlaw both made their debuts for the Clippers after joining them in separate trades with Washington and Houston before last Thursday’s deadline. Gooden, the first player off the bench, had 10 points and nine rebounds in 28 minutes.

Gerald Wallace had 32 points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats, and Boris Diaw had 20 points. But, Stephen Jackson was 1 for 16 overall with seven points in 39 minutes before fouling out with 2:08 remaining and the score tied at 87.

During one 44-second stretch of the second quarter, Los Angeles had five players on floor who weren’t even with the team last season — Gooden, Outlaw, Butler, Craig Smith and point guard Steve Blake, who was acquired from Houston last Tuesday. Hughes, trying to incorporate a more up-tempo style with the Clippers, didn’t get any fastbreak points by his offense the entire game.

Jackson, the team’s leading scorer in 10 of the previous 12 games, had scored 30 or more

points in eight of the last 25 contests — including a franchise-record 43 on Jan. 12 against Houston. It was the first time the league’s 11th leading scorer failed to reach double digits in 46 games since the Bobcats acquired him in a four-player trade with Golden State on Nov. 16.

The Bobcats are 3-6 this month, after going 12-4 in January to put themselves in contention for their first playoff berth in the franchise’s six-year history. They slipped into a tie with Milwaukee in the race for the eighth and final seed at 27-28, following the Bucks’ 83-67 win at New York.

Charlotte coach Larry Brown had to improvise considerably without the services of 7-footers DeSagana Diop (sprained right knee) and Tyson Chandler (sore left ankle). Nazr Mohammed, plagued recently by back spasms, missed his first game after playing 12 scoreless minutes with five rebounds in Saturday’s 93-88 loss at Milwaukee.

Center Theo Ratliff made his first start in three games since joining the Bobcats last Thursday in a trade with San Antonio, and his fourth start in 24 games this season overall, scoring 10 points in 31 minutes. Tyrus Thomas, who recorded his first career doubledouble in the previous game, had only 10 points and four rebounds in his third game with Charlotte following last week’s trade with Chicago.

The Clippers led by as many as 13

before the Bobcats narrowed the gap to 53-50 by halftime.

Jackson, coming off a 35-point effort against the Bucks in which he was 14 for 25 from the field, missed his first eight shots while Los Angeles built a 52-43 lead on Kaman’s 16 footer with 3:18 left in the second quarter.

NOTES: Hughes got his first chance to match wits with Larry Brown, his former coach with the Denver Nuggets. “One of my best memories of Kim is that he used to struggle from the free-throw line and tell me it was because he saw people in the stands moving,” Brown said, referring to Hughes’ dismal .333 free-throw percentage in five NBA seasons (62 for 186). “But he was a really, really underrated defender and he had a good feel for the game.” ... Mohammed’s injury left F Boris Diaw as the only Bobcats player to appear in all 55 games. “Nazr said he’s going to get on the bike. This might be his Tour de France. I don’t know,” Brown joked.

“He wants to be dressed, just in case, because we don’t have the bodies.” ...

This game began a stretch of four in a row at Staples Center in which the visiting team used to be coached by Brown — including Wednesday’s Clippers-Detroit contest. The Lakers host Philadelphia on Friday and Denver on Sunday. The Bobcats are Brown’s ninth team in 26 seasons as an NBA head coach, including the Clippers.

VANCOUVER (AFP) – Canada’s Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir won the Olympic Games ice dancing gold to help rescue national pride which was so badly bruised by the country’s hockey team’s shock defeat to America 24 hours earlier.

Virtue and Moir delivered Canada’s first title in the discipline on Monday, beating Meryl Davis and Charlie White of the US into second spot with world champions Oksana Domnina and Maxim Shabalin of Russia winning bronze after the free dance final.

The result meant Russia failed to take the ice dance gold for just the third time since it was first introduced at the Games in 1976. “It’s just perfect. You couldn’t write up a better story for the two of us,” said Moir.

Virtue added: “We couldn’t have asked for a better week for us in Vancouver. It’s been quite a journey - a bit rocky.”

Meanwhile, Austria, Germany and Norway added more gold to their treasure chests on Monday.

Austria’s invincible ski-jumpers soared to a convincing win in the team event for a record-tying fifth consecutive title at major competitions.

Such was their dominance that they scored 1107.9 points — the highest in Olympic team history — to Germany’s 1035.8 and Norway’s 1030.2.

Young gun Gregor Schlierenzauer just managed to stay on his skis in the final jump of the day to lead the ‘Eagles’ to victory.

“For me, this has been a perfect first Olympics,” said the 20-year-old, had already picked up individual bronze on both the normal and the large hill.

Germany surged to the top of the medal table alongside the United States with its seventh gold, courtesy of their women’s cross-country team who clinched the sprint title ahead of favourites Sweden and third placed Russia.

The winning pair of Evi Sachenbacher-Stehle and Claudia

Nystad sneaked home in a time of 18min 3.7sec, just 0.6sec ahead of the Swedes.

Norway’s Petter Northug pulled off a stunning final leg to lead his country to gold in the men’s team sprint, with Germany second and Russia third.

Canada’s Olympic plans haven’t panned out as expected but team bosses defended their controversial “Own the Podium” campaign.

Before the Games started, Canada vowed to dazzle the world and walk away with the most medals but with seven days to go they lag behind.

“I think we’d be living in a fool’s paradise to say we could catch the Americans and win. We’re not throwing in the towel. You never do that in a fight,” said Canadian Olympic Committee chief executive Chris Rudge.

Canadians needed something to cheer about after their National Hockey League-studded ice hockey team crashed to a shock 5-3 loss to arch-rival the United States on Sunday.

“A Super Sunday, except for Team Canada fans,” groaned the Vancouver Sun newspaper while the Globe and Mail called it “Black Sunday, on ice”.

The Vancouver Province simply said “Damn Yankees”.

It was the USA’s first Olympic victory over Canada in 50 years and condemned the hosts to a perilous future in the tournament.

The US, who lost the gold medal game at the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics to their North American neighbours, received a bye into the quarter-finals while Canada must now play in the eight-team qualifying round on Tuesday against Germany.

US hockey general manager Brian Burke warned his young team against complacency.

“They don’t hand out any medals for finishing first in preliminary round play,” he said. “If we don’t crank it up, this all goes for nothing.”

In the women’s hockey tournament, it was business as usual with Canada and the US both cruising into the gold medal match.

AFP –

Gold medallists, Canada’s Tessa Virtue (right) and Scott Moir

Sport

International

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

15

Guerrero gives up IBF belt to be with ill wife AFP

GILROY, California (AFP) – Robert Guerrero has vacated his International Boxing Federation super featherweight title to be with his wife, Casey, as she battles leukemia.

Guerrero announced his decision on Tuesday, a week after he was forced to drop out of a proposed bout with Michael Katsidis.

Casey Guerrero is in hospital as she recovers from a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy.

Guerrero, who owns a record of 25-1-1 with 17 knockouts, won a featherweight title before his wife was diagnosed with the disease in 2007.

He vacated that title in 2008 to move up to super featherweight, and claimed the IBF title last August with a 12-round unanimous decision over South African Malcolm Klassen in Houston.

The Guerreros, whose hometown is just south of the San Francisco Bay Area, have two small children.

AFP –

Australia named Bernard Tomic (pictured in January), 17, as their youngest ever Davis Cup player

Tomic named Australia’s youngest Davis Cup player AFP

SYDNEY (AFP) – Australia named Bernard Tomic, 17, as their youngest ever Davis Cup player on Tuesday, shrugging off last month’s Australian Open rant and his ongoing feud with Lleyton Hewitt.

Tomic, called up after injuries to Hewitt and Chris Guccione, will be 17 years and 135 days old for the Asia Oceania Group One clash against Taiwan at Melbourne Park, beating John Alexander’s 1968 record by 42 days.

“This is a crucial tie for us,” said Australia’s Davis Cup captain John Fitzgerald. “(Taiwan) has some talented young players and as we have seen before, anything can happen in Davis Cup.” Wildcard Tomic, currently ranked

210, took world number 14 Marin Cilic to five sets in the Australian Open’s second round before complaining bitterly about the 2:10 am finish, earning a dressing-down from officials.

Father and coach John Tomic reportedly threatened to shift his son to Croatia, during a row with the Australian Open’s tournament director Craig Tilley after the controversial match.

The teen has also argued openly with Hewitt, who said Tomic was not quali-

fied for Davis Cup tennis after he reportedly snubbed a practice match with the former world number one at Wimbledon last year.

Fitzgerald said he believed there was a “good balance of experience and youth” in the four-man side, which includes world number 75 Peter Luczak, Davis Cup veteran Carsten Ball and doubles specialist Paul Hanley.

The first-round contest takes place between March 5 and 7 at Melbourne’s Margaret Court arena.

Hawks swoop for rare victory over Jazz in Utah Reuters

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) – Atlanta’s Joe Johnson produced a big-time performance in the fourth quarter to steer the Hawks to a 105100 win over the injury-hit Jazz on Monday, their first victory in Utah since 1993.

The Hawks’ All-Star guard scored 11 of his game-high 28 points in the last quarter, including a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:28 remaining.

“I thought we were very composed tonight,” Johnson told reporters. “In the fourth quarter when we did get down we were able to not get rattled and make a run of our own and kind of close the game out.”

Winners of 17 of their last 19 games entering the contest, Utah

(36-20) played without starting point guard Deron Williams (bruised right quad) and forward Andrei Kirilenko (back) but managed to compete all the way in a tightly contested affair.

Paul Millsap had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead seven players in double-figures scoring for the Jazz, who led by six with under nine minutes to play.

After Johnson gave the Hawks (35-20) a two-point lead with his late three-pointer, he then sank a 15-foot shot to push the advantage to four with 37 seconds left and tacked on two free throws.

Josh Smith recorded 18 points and nine rebounds while Jamal Crawford put up 17 points off the bench for Atlanta which swept its season-series with the Jazz and snapped a 15-game losing streak in Utah.

In the process, the Hawks rebounded from a disappointing loss to the Golden State Warriors one night earlier when they squandered an 18-point lead in the second half.

The Jazz overcame a 25-point deficit to defeat the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday in a game Williams exited due to his leg injury before returning to lead the rally. With the All-Star unavailable against Atlanta, Utah put together a complete team effort.

Carlos Boozer recorded 12 points and 10 rebounds and reserve Kyle Korver had 13 but the Jazz missed a chance to tie the Denver Nuggets for first place in the Northwest Division.

“We can’t make excuses,” Millsap said. “(injuries) just gives other guys the opportunity to step up. For the most part we did a good job, but we just didn’t come out with the win.”

AFP/Scanpix/File –

Robert Guerrero, pictured in 200

16

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

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

Tevez to return for Chelsea clash: agent AFP

LONDON (AFP) – Carlos Tevez is aiming to be back in England in time for Manchester City’s trip to Chelsea on Saturday, the Argentina striker’s representative said on Monday.

Carlos Tevez

Tevez is currently in Argentina, spending time with his family following the premature birth of his baby daughter, and, according to City manager Roberto Mancini, has ignored the club’s requests for him to return.

But Kia Joorabchian, the forward’s long-time adviser, insisted the club had been kept fully abreast of developments.

“When your child is in intensive care, it is a very serious matter,” Joorabchian said. “When these things happen you have to deal with them and obviously he is having to go through a very difficult period.

“The signs are very positive in terms of his daughter’s recovery and we are all hoping this is the case.

“He was determined to get back for the Liverpool game (on Sunday) but unfortunately the situation didn’t get much better.

“However, she has got better over the weekend and Carlos hopes things will get better, for his daughter’s sake and because he wants to get back and play.”

Joorabchian added: “Carlos has been keeping the club informed on a daily basis. He is also training daily with the national team of Argentina out there and spending one and a half to two hours there.

“He is a professional. He understands that side of it.”

Tevez’s absence means Mancini has Emmanuel Adebayor as his only match-fit senior striker and the Italian vented his frustration in the wake of Sunday’s goalless stalemate with Liverpool.

“We have an important week and we do not have the depth so it is not good,” Mancini complained. “I have ordered him to come back but he has ignored us.”

Tevez to return for Chelsea clash: agent AFP

LONDON (AFP) – Carlos Tevez is aiming to be back in England in time for Manchester City’s trip to Chelsea on Saturday, the Argentina striker’s representative said on Monday.

Tevez is currently in Argentina, spending time with his family following the premature birth of his baby daughter, and, according to City manager Roberto Mancini, has ignored the club’s requests for him to return.

But Kia Joorabchian, the forward’s long-time adviser, insisted the club had been kept fully abreast of developments.

“When your child is in intensive care, it is a very serious matter,” Joorabchian said. “When these things happen you have to deal with them and obviously he is having to go through a very difficult period.

“The signs are very positive in terms of his daughter’s recovery and we are all hoping this is the case.

“He was determined to get back for the Liverpool game (on Sunday) but unfortunately the situation didn’t get much better.

“However, she has got better over the weekend and Carlos hopes things will get better, for his daughter’s sake and because he wants to get back and play.”

Joorabchian added: “Carlos has been keeping the club informed on a daily basis. He is also training daily with the national team of Argentina out there and spending one and a half to two hours there.

“He is a professional. He understands that side of it.” Tevez’s absence means Mancini has Emmanuel Adebayor as his only match-fit senior striker and the

Italian vented his frustration in the wake of Sunday’s goalless stalemate with Liverpool.

“We have an important week and we do not have the depth so it is not good,” Mancini complained. “I have ordered him to come back but he has ignored us.”

AFP/File

Carlos Tevez

Sport

Brazil’s Ronaldo to retire next year AFP

SAO PAULO (AFP) – Double World Cup winner Ronaldo said on Monday he would retire from professional football at the end of next year but still had hopes of appearing for Brazil in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa in June.

The 33-year-old three-times world footballer of the year widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time - told a media conference in Sao Paolo he was finally calling time on his illustrious but injury-hit career.

Currently playing for Corinthians in Sao Paolo, the player known as ‘El Fenomeno’ during his prime said he had agreed with the club to play until the end of 2011.

“I’ve renewed for another two years and they will be the last of my career. I want to give my all. I hope to have fun and end with some big wins,” he said, according to the G1 news website.

That could include a final appearance for Brazil in the June 11July 11 World Cup in South Africa, said Ronaldo, who scored 62 goals in 97 appearances for Brazil.

“We’ll see. I still have a chance to go (to South Africa). For the next one (in Brazil in 2014), it’s impossible. It’s so far away and time is passing - including for me,” he said.

The former Barcelona, Real

Madrid, AC Milan and Inter striker helped Brazil to victory in the 1994 and 2002 World Cup, shrugging off injury to end the latter tournament as top World Cup scorer of all time with 15 goals.

He last played for his country in the 1-0 defeat to France in the quarter-final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He scored his last goal for Brazil four days earlier in the 3-0 win over Ghana.

Ronaldo’s stellar career was overshadowed by injury and fitness issues. He was sidelined while playing for Inter by a knee injury in 1999 only to damage the same knee in his comeback for the club in February 2000, effectively keeping him out of action until March 2002.

Ronaldo was a favourite with fans at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium during a prolific spell with Real Madrid, helping them to the Spanish title in 2003, his debut season. That year he also scored a hattrick in the Champions League quarter-final, second leg win over Manchester United. But injuries and his failure to control his weight led to his departure in 2007 for AC MIlan.

In February 2008 he ruptured a tendon in his right knee playing for the club against Livorno, an injury that ended his career with the Italian club and triggered his return to Brazil where he signed for Corinthians last year after a long battle to regain form..