Edisi 16 Desember 2010 | International Bali Post

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

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The aftermath of an explosion outside a mosque in Iran’s southeastern city of Chabahr is seen in this still image taken from video December 15, 2010. The explosion killed dozens of people on Wednesday, the official IRNA news agency reported.

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2011, Immigration Office applies e-passport PAGE 8

REUTERS/Press TV via Reuters

‘King’s Speech,’ ‘Social Network’ lead Golden Globe nods

Suicide bombers kill at least 38 in southeast Iran Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran – Two suicide bombers blew themselves up near a mosque in southeastern Iran on Wednesday, killing at least 38 people at a Shiite mourning ceremony, state media reported.

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The attack took place outside the Imam Hussein Mosque in the port city of Chahbahar, near the border with Pakistan, the official IRNA news agency said.

The bombers targeted a group of worshippers at a mourning cer-

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emony a day before Ashoura, which commemorates the seventh century death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein, one of Shiite Islam’s most beloved saints. Southeastern Iran is home to an armed Sunni militant group,

Jundallah, or Soldiers of God, which has waged sporadic attacks to fight alleged discrimination against the area’s Sunni minority in overwhelmingly Shiite Iran.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the use of multiple suicide attackers to target Shiite worshippers is a tactic the group has employed in the past.

One of the attackers detonated a bomb outside the mosque and the

other struck from inside a crowd of worshippers, state TV reported.

Security forces shot one of them, but the bomber was still able to detonate the explosives, the report said, quoting deputy Interior Minister Ali Abdollahi. A third attacker was arrested, state TV said.

Forensic official Fariborz Ayati put the number of dead at 38 and said they included women and children, IRNA reported.

Continued on page 6

WikiLeaks: Singapore Lee says Myanmar ‘stupid’ Associated Press Writer

SINGAPORE – Singapore statesman Lee Kuan Yew called Myanmar’s junta leaders “stupid” and “dense” in conversations with U.S. diplomats, according to classified documents released this week by WikiLeaks.

The Singapore leader said dealing with Myanmar’s military regime was like “talking to dead people,” according to a confidential U.S. briefing on a 2007 conversation between Lee and U.S. Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Christensen released by WikiLeaks.

The 87-year-old Lee is known for

his outspoken and blunt assessments of world affairs, but avoids publicly insulting the leadership of foreign countries. Lee was prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and remains a senior adviser to his son, current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

A cable released by Wikileaks a couple of weeks earlier quotes Lee calling North Korea’s leaders “psychopathic types with a ‘flabby old chap’ for a leader who prances around stadiums seeking adulation.” The reference to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is from a cable citing a May 2009 conversation between Lee and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.

Lee has not commented on the

releases, while Singapore’s government has dismissed them as “gossip” and cautioned against taking them out of context.

In the most recently released cable, Lee said China had the most influence over Myanmar’s leadership of any foreign country and that Beijing was worried the country would “blow up” and thus threaten Chinese investments there.

“Lee expressed his scorn for the regime’s leadership,” the leaked cable said. “He said he had given up on them a decade ago, called them ‘dense’ and ‘stupid’ and said they had ‘mismanaged’ the country’s great natural resources.”

Continued on page 6

AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama, File

Lee Kuan Yew

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International

Thursday, December 16 , 2010

Bali News

Bali’s economy 2011 Specified by intervention of policy holder Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Bali’s economy 2011 is believed to grow over 6 percent, exceeding the target set in 2010 namely 5.66 percent. Nevertheless, direction of the growth will be determined by the intervention of the policy holders, namely government and related agencies.

An economic practitioner, Dr. Made Kembar Sri Budhi, said the policy makers had to be able to implement any program announced and focus on three aspects namely tourism, agriculture and small industry denoting the pillars of Bali’s economy. Growth in these three sectors overlapped one another and was independent without any interrelatedness.

“At the moment, the holder of the current policy was merely limited to a discourse and unable to realize every program launched.

For instance, it happened to the programs promoting the agricultural sector but failed to grow,” said Kembar Sri Budhi in Denpasar on Tuesday (Dec 14).

According to him, agriculture was the economic base that had to be supported by specific government policies. Developed countries like Japan, for instance, stayed to give special attention to the agricultural sector.

“The agricultural sector in Bali is still underdeveloped, whereas

this sector constitutes the economic fundamental of Bali. Reality of Bali’s agriculture is still very large.

It is our big homework in 2011, though these efforts are not easy,” he said while adding that the growth in tourism, agriculture and small industries should work together accordingly, but up to these days they stayed to stand alone. It indeed required a collective thought of investor, government and related community on how to develop the sector in order to grow together. “It will become the task of policy holder to grow the three pillars of Bali’s economic growth simultaneously,” he said.

The lecturer of Faculty of Economics in the Udayana University, Denpasar, also stated that smallscale industry, particularly local small handicraft industries, almost had no space to develop their business. Market access for their local products to malls and supermarkets was progressively getting closed.

“Government also needs to think about policies that can urge the

owners of hotels and supermarkets to absorb local products so that small-scale industries can grow in harmony with the growth of tourism,” he said.

Denpasar office head of Bank Indonesia, Jeffrey Kairupan, previously predicted that the economic growth of Bali in 2011 would slow down. This condition was influenced by the global economic situation estimated to go through stronger pressure next year. “Having experienced a significant increase in the post-crisis of global finance, the world economic curve will not rise next year but tends to be flat. Without a doubt, it will have a direct impact on Bali’s economy relying on tourism services and export,” he said.

Nevertheless, the economy of Bali was said by Jeffrey to still grow but not as firm as the economic growth in 2010. The slowing down economic growth of Bali next year would also be influenced by the purchasing power of tourists estimated to stagnate and so would

IBP/ist

Farming is one of the pillars of Bali economic. the export sector.

“In essence, how all components in this region to work hand in hand through solid coordination is the key to find the best solutions over the existing problems,” he said.

In the meantime, Central Bureau

of Statistics of Bali Province noted that the economic growth of Bali until the third quarter of 2010 against the second quarter 2010 (q-to-q) reached 2.65 percent. This growth was driven by all economic sectors beyond the agriculture. (par)

Preserving local fruits by Smoke-free area must be equipped with smoking room ‘Panca Rengga’ concept Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The issuance of Mayoral Regulation No. 25A/2010 regulating the freearea from cigarette smoke began to be addressed by a number of components of the community. Such Mayoral Regulation was considered very positive in achieving the better public health. However, the smoke-free areas should also be supported by the provision of other supporting facilities, such as smoking room.

A legislator of Commission D of Denpasar House, I Ketut Nuada, who met in his office on Tuesday (Dec 14) proposed that Mayoral Regulation concerning with smoke-free area had to be equipped with other facilities. For example, in the smoke-free area, government should also consider the space availability for smoking. Moreover, it did not prohibit smoking. “If it is intended to manage people who want to smoke, the smoke-free area should also

be provided with special space for smokers,” said people’s representative of North Denpasar.

His party pointed out that a number of smoke-free areas were always provided with space for smoking such as at Ngurah Rai Airport. Similarly, some places in Jakarta declared smoke-free area were also equipped with room for smokers. “This is intended to avoid silent smokers that can results in less good impact on the Mayoral Regulation itself,” he said.

Mayoral Regulation concerning smoke-free area was launched through the Denpasar Health Services on Friday (Dec 3). At this early stage, at least there were two areas made into smokefree area, namely schools and health centers, such as public health centers and hospitals.

Meanwhile, the Head of Denpasar Health Services, Luh Putu Sri Armini, said that implementation of smoke-free

areas would continue to be developed for other regions. The policy was to avoid the threats of smoking hazards threatening the human health. Ironically, the hazards of smoking did not only affect the smokers themselves, but also kindled negative effects on people around them, chiefly those exposed to cigarette smokes from a smoker.

It was said, the Mayoral Regulation basically did not prohibit people from smoking. However, it only regulated where people might smoke and might not. For instance, the area of health services should be free from cigarettes, but currently there were still found some people smoking in hospitals. Likewise, such a behavior happened in school.

For the learning process, it should be committed since early age. “Other regions will follow,” said Sri Armini.

Sri Armini further said that Mayoral Regulation had not imposed any sanctions yet, but appealed only. (kmb12)

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

In the tradition of preparing ritual or yajña oblation, the Hindus in Bali have been familiar with the concept of panca rengga. By implementing the concept of panca rengga, it is expected that local fruits will be more sustainable. In the concept, devotees have been shown five types of fruit that should be used in rituals, known as the panca rengga.

Ida Rsi Bhujangga Vaishnava Putra Sara Shri Satya Jyoti from Griya Bhuwana Dharma Santhi, Sesetan, said on Monday (Dec 13), that in the making of gebogan and pepranian offerings for example, there were five types of local fruits that had to be used. Firstly, it was the fruit of onceliving trees such as various kinds of bananas. Secondly, it consisted of scaly fruits such as pineapple and snakefruit. Thirdly, it included fruits originating from the flowers and developing into fruit. Quite a lot of fruits belonged to this category such as pomelo, mango, wani (Magnifera caesia), water apple, guava and so forth.

Fourthly, it comprised the fruits born from the stem like baccaurea, langsat, durian, jackfruit, kaliasem and so forth. Ultimately, the fruits belonged to fifth category came from the root (tuber) like yam bean, sabrang or cherry potato et cetera. “In the past time, there was a term that people went to market for purchasing panca. This refers to the meaning of purchasing fruits produced by Balinese local farmers, namely the panca rengga itself used to prepare the oblation ingredients. Today, the panca rengga concept seemed important to be implemented. By taking advantage of those fruits as ingredients of ritual oblation—in this regard used for filling gebogan—Balinese local fruits will remain sustainable. (08)

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International

Bali News

Thursday, December 16, 2010

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Sentral Parkir, Free From Sellers is Impossible The built sentral parkir (central parking) at Badung Market will be pelaspas (cleansing ceremony) on Wednesday (15/12) by Denpasar Markets Region Maintenance which means in near time the central parking can be used for Denpasar residents or Badung market visitors to park their vehicles there. Also, to avoid traffics Gajah Mada and Sulawesi Streets will be made free from parking. Besides that, there were suggestions to make the central parking free from sellers on cars, will it be?

Denpasar House of Representatives Commission B member, I Ketut Sugiata, at his office on Tuesday (14/12) stated that he hoped central parking will be used as its function as a parking space. For that, sellers on cars should be supervised, “We hope it will not be misused again.”

First Director of Denpasar Market Regional Meintanance, Ir. I Made Westra confirmed that these sellers on cars will not be placed at Sentral Parkir and as planned they will be placed at Gunung Agung Market which will be arranged next year 2011, “For sleers on cars, there is a plan to place them at Gunung Agung market.”

Connecting to the pemlaspasan ceremony before the project is totally completed Westra said it is because the good day is this day. If they have to wait completed, then the next good day will be in two months, “So if possible as soon as it can, so the pelaspas ceremony has to be done Wednesday.”

As known, the sentral parkir construction was taken care by Spatial Planning and Estate Agency for Denpasar City with fee IDR 5,8 Billion from the main 2010 Regional Budget and Expenses IDR 7,3 Billion which its realization came to IDR 5.816.900.000.

The project was done by Tunas Jaya Sanur Company with contract No. 650/781/DTRP 2010 which was won from 23 other companies.

Head of the Agency, Ir. I Made Kusuma Diputra, MT, stated the time taken to finish the project planned for 168 days starting Monday (6/7) until Monday (20/12). Sentral Parkir is built above 12.700 meters squared land with basement 1.820 meters squared while first floor 2.095,75 meters squared.

Sentral parkir is now possible to fit 80 vehicles unit on the first floor and 64 on the basement. The Denpasar residents responded and hoped that with this the crowded traffic at Gajah Mada and Sulawesi Streets will ease down. Moreover there are two sentral parkir in this city now that can be used. Gus Indra, a Denpasar resident stated, “If sentral parkir is already used, then we hope workers can take clear actions to those who violated in this center of Denpasar. We hope Gajah Mada will no longer be parking spaces.” (ara)

Women Care Forum Teased Law Games Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Cheerfulness colored Peduli Mitra Kasih Bali Forum short visit with the prisoners of children and women at Kerobokan Jail last Tuesday (14/12).

The visitation involving KPAID (ndonesian child protection commission) Bali, LPA, LBH (legal aid association for justice), LBH APIK (women’s LBH), Bali Sruti, PBHI (Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights) Bali and Women Cross Party Forum was to remember to be anti harshness on women, as it’s Human Rights Day and Mothers Day. In this visitation, the prisoners seemed to forget their sadness of being in jail. They were not worried to reveal their sadness with the hope that the forum members will look over their rights as prisoners also their rights as human in general.

“We are sure these women in the forum have something more in fighting for our chances such as our rights as a prisoner and togetherness in front of law,” Esti Juliani, a prisoner due to fraud.

Head of KPAID Bali dr. AA Sri Wahyuni, Sp.KJ, very hoped the prisoners in this jail will not give up in going through this life. The forum asked for the experiences that had happened to be something to learn to have a better life in the future, “And so don’t repeat the mistakes done for the second time.”

In this chance, the prisoners were also given short lessons on meditation

by Prof. Dr. LK. Suryani. A number of prisoners seemed happy to do it which was done for 30 minutes. Suparmi who got nicknamed Ratu Ekstasy (Ecstasy Queen) admitted to have got a new lesson in meditation even though in a short time.

Coordinator Luh Anggreni very hoped that this short visitation can mean a lot. Minimally in giving a better push to those prisoners who got frustrated. According to plan there will be anjangsana in Bali House of Representatives (DPRD)’s Wantilan.

Head of LPA, Masni, in this chance teased the unapplied equality for the prisoners in front of the law as to those who have more money can get a lighter punishment and those who don’t will get a huge punishment. (015)

IBP/doc

One of the building located on Bangkiangsidem riverbed.

Buleleng Government Stopped Construction on River Gorge Singaraja (Bali Post) -

A future accomodation and restaurant building planned to be placed on the river shore in Bangkiang Sidem, Ambengan Village, Sukasada, has been stopped by the Buleleng Government.

The interesting building placed on the roadside of Denpasar-Singaraja route has violated the regional regulations and has no permit.

What Bali Post knew, the building was said to be owned by Dewa Komang Indra former Buleleng House of Representatives (DPRD) candidate from Panji Village, Sukasada. The building is built by the west of Buleleng River (tukad) just next to the bridge that became a car wash arena.

The gorge was arranged well as in between levels of paddy fields (terasering) there has been a garden with a tent also tables and chairs.

Next to the bridge there’s a bale bengong (resting place) as high as the bridge’s height. If we pass the bridge we can see that this bale bengong seemed built in the middle

of the river.

The team from Buleleng Government had come down to see the areal and asked for this construction to stop as it has violated the regional rules. Even so the government did not take clear action such as breaking down the construction. Head of Buleleng Secretary, Drs. Putu Meles who came down to location last Tuesday (14/12) stated the location has violated the rover’s demarcation line.

The distance towards the line was 0 meter when actually Regional Spatial Planning (RTRW) Regulation section 50 paragraph (6) point d statted the distance should be 50

meters and in point a stated that if the slope has declivity minimal 45 percent, depth minimal 5 meter and upper bit minimal 11 meter, “According to the regulations that building has violated and we remind the owner to stop the construction. ”Meles added, from the checking results on the field, the building was planned to be functioned as a tourist facility such as restaurant, fishing pond, and tracking location as wide as 10 are (100 meters squares). From that land 3 are is still owned by the Ambengan Village with uncertain contract limit while the rest is owned by Ketut Sarjana and Ketut Sandira which is contracted for 25 years. (Kmb15)

Distributes Methamphetamine, Two Nigerian Footballers Threaten by Death Sentence Denpasar (Bali Post) –

Accused Austine Bosah Uchena alias Lala and Mechael Onyedika Onuorah, Nigerian residents, were suspected to be involved in methamphetamine smuggling had their trial in Denapsar District Court on Monday (13/12). The two accused with profession as footballers were convicted by Public Prosecutor Ketut Sujaya have violated sections 114 paragraph (2), 112 paragraph (2), 115 paragraph (1), 132 paragraph (1) of Law (UU) No. 35 year 2009 on narcotic with punishment death sentence.

In the trial led by Judge Istiningsih

Rahayu, the prosecutor stated the accused acts. The case started with the captured Baverly A. Fulace (separate accused) at Ngurah Rai airport. The Philippine resident was captured bringing methamphetamine inside a luggage weighing 2087, 70 gram gross or 1940, 85 netto.

From the checking on Baverly, it is known that the methamphetamine was planned to be given to Lala in Jakarta. Baverly was then brought to Jakarta precisely at Room 202 Kartika Chandra Hotel where in that place, as Joseph directed, accused will ask best friend Enny Malini alias Chika to take

the methamphetamine that is saved neatly in a luggage. At this room, Chika was found to swap the luggage with Baverly’s yet before they had a chance to move their clothes.

Still under police supervision, Chika then contacted Lala to meet her in front of ATM BCA Ruko Pinangsia, Lippo Karawaci, Tangerang and at that time Lala was accompanied with friend Michael.

They then together went to where accused Michael lives, Perumahan Batu Jimbar 57 Lippo Karawaci. At this place the two accused were then captured by police. (015)

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News

Thursday, December 16, 2010

International

Japan PM vows to find WWII dead on Iwo Jima AP

IOTO, Japan – In a rare visit to Iwo Jima, Japan’s prime minister offered prayers at two recently discovered mass graves and vowed to find remains of 12,000 fallen soldiers still missing on the remote island after some of World War II’s fiercest fighting.

Kneeling in a deep pit with dozens of remains spread out before him, Naoto Kan clasped his hands in prayer Tuesday and then helped searchers exhume a badly decayed set of bones swathed in a faded green body bag. Workers said it was one of more than 20 found on Tuesday alone.

“We will examine every grain of sand,” Kan said. “It is hard to imagine from the beauty of the island today what happened here 65 years ago.”

Kan said he had wanted to visit the island since the discovery in August of the mass graves.

Now known in Japan as Ioto — that was what the island was called by residents before the war — Iwo Jima was the site of one of the most fateful and iconic battles in the Pacific and helped turn the tide against the Japanese.

For many Americans, an Associated Press photo of U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman raising the flag atop Mount Suribachi has become one of the most lasting symbols of the war, and of American sacrifice and bravery. More medals of honor — 27, including nearly a third of all given to Marines during World War II — were awarded for valor on Iwo Jima than any other single campaign.

In Japan, however, Iwo Jima is seen by most as just one of many bloody defeats.

It has been generally ignored since the war, has been left largely untouched and is now uninhabited except for a few hun-

dred troops at a small Japanese military outpost. Kan is only the second prime minister to visit the island. Junichiro Koizumi was the first, five years ago.

But Kan’s government, inspired in part by the success in Japan of the 2006 Clint Eastwood movie “Letters from Iwo Jima” and concerned that time is running out, has made a strong effort to bring closure on Iwo Jima by stepping up the civilian-run mission to recover all of the Japanese dead.

That project began in July and took a big step forward in October, when two mass graves that may hold the remains of more than 2,000 Japanese soldiers were discovered by search teams.

Working off of documents provided by the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, the Japanese teams found sites listed as “enemy cemeteries” near a runway at the military outpost and at the foot of Suribachi.

Virtually all the 22,000 Japanese soldiers tasked with defending the rugged crag were killed in the battle, which claimed 6,821 American and 21,570 Japanese lives. Dozens of remains are recovered every year, but about 12,000 Japanese are still classified as missing in action and presumed killed on the island, along with 218 Americans.

The island, 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) south of Tokyo, was seen as key to the United States because it had an early warning radar station and three airfields used by Japanese fighter planes that posed a threat to U.S. bombing raids on Tokyo and Japan’s main islands.

The U.S. wanted the airfields for its fighter escort planes.

Fighting began on Feb. 19, 1945, but Iwo Jima was not declared secured until March 26. Japan surrendered in August of that year, after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

AFP

Policemen walk at Piazza del Popolo after clashes with youths during a protest to demand a change

Clashes as Berlusconi survives no-confidence vote AFP

ROME (AFP) – Rome was on Wednesday recovering from a night of violence that left 90 people injured and dozens arrested after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi survived a crucial no-confidence vote.

Berlusconi scraped through by just three votes, with 314 lawmakers voting in his favour, 311 against and two abstentions in the 630-seat lower house. Angry protesters banged on the metal blinds of shuttered shops in the centre of Rome as word spread that Berlusconi had survived the vote.

Some protesters set cars alight and hurled cobblestones and fireworks at police, sending tourists fleeing from the battle zones.

Riot police fired tear gas and could be seen striking some of the protesters with truncheons in running street fights. An AFP reporter saw one police officer draw his gun as he was dragged to the ground by protesters, before his colleagues pulled him clear.

Police dragged off several protest-

ers, some of whom had blood streaming down their faces.

Berlusconi’s current mandate runs until 2013. The Italian leader also said he would aim to widen his ruling coalition and the government to include former foes who voted for him.

Parliament speaker Gianfranco Fini, whose defection from the coalition led to the no-confidence vote, said Berlusconi had only won “a numerical victory”.

But he conceded that his Future and Freedom for Italy movement had suffered a “painful” defeat.

Earlier Tuesday, Berlusconi had won a confidence vote in the Senate by a large majority. At least 90 people were injured in the violence, including 50 security officers and 40 pro-

testers, officials said. Of the protesters injured, 22 needed hospital treatment, said medical sources.

Police said they arrested around 50 people on charges of violence, vandalism and use of illegal arms.

Pier Luigi Bersani, leader of the main leftist Democratic Party opposition, expressed his sympathy for the officers who had been assaulted and injured, while also declaring solidarity with those who had demonstrated peacefully.

Of Berlusconi’s victory, Bersani said: “Whether you have one vote more or one vote less, you are not in a position to guarantee the stability of the government.”

The clashes came after a peaceful march by tens of thousands of antiBerlusconi protesters through the centre of Rome. Organisers claimed around 100,000 had turned out in the capital. There were also protests in some of Italy’s biggest cities including Genoa, Milan, Naples and Turin.

Assange’s UK lawyer says half of bail cash raised Reuters

AP

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan bows at a mass grave site on Iwo Jima island Tuesday Dec. 14, 2010

LONDON – A lawyer for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said on Wednesday his backers had raised around half of the 200,000 pounds ($317,400) cash he needs to secure bail after he was accused of sex crimes in Sweden. Lawyer Mark Stephens said members of the public had asked to contribute to the fund to release the Australian, who has outraged U.S. authorities by orchestrating the release of thousands of secret diplomatic cables.

Assange was in a London jail after Swedish authorities appealed against a judge’s decision to free him on bail. Assange denies any wrong-doing. The appeal must be

heard by Thursday evening.

“We have to come up with 200,000 pounds in pound notes and that is difficult to come by,” lawyer Mark Stephens told BBC News. “We’ve got about half of that right now but of course people will understand that even wealthy people don’t keep that kind of money knocking around,” he added.

PROMINENT BACKERS

Prominent public figures including U.S. film-maker Michael Moore, Australian journalist John Pilger and British author Hanif Kureishi have pledged their support for Assange.

“I’m getting offers from the general public who are coming in and saying we really would like to contribute to this, Julian Assange

shouldn’t be in jail,” Stephens added.

He accused the Swedish authorities of being callous in not specifying whether the appeal hearing would be on Wednesday or Thursday, making Assange’s legal bills even higher. “Why is it that Swedish authorities are so dead set that Julian Assange spends Christmas in jail. Do they have the genes of Scrooge?,” Stephens said, referring to a cold-hearted character from Charles Dickens’s novel “A Christmas Carol.”

The conditions of Assange’s bail say he must stay at a country house in eastern England owned by a supporter, report to police daily and wear an electronic tag. The court has asked for a further 40,000 pounds in guarantees which would have to be paid were he to disappear.

Activities

International

Thursday, December 16, 2010

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Christmas in Sultan Hotel IBP

JAKARTA - To celebrate Christmas 2010 and New Year 2011, The Sultan Hotel Jakarta is preparing something special.

Their Kitchen Artists and Florist Team present a very special unique “Santa Claus” that made from thousand pieces of egg skin. The making process of “Santa Claus” is within 3 months.

Located in the center of the business district with easy access to Soekarno-Hatta International airport, The Sultan Hotel Jakarta which is beautifully set on 32 acres of sprawling gardens is Indonesia’s largest hotel with 1.104 guest rooms, 6 restaurants and 1 bar, 3 lounges as well as extensive meeting facilities. Complementing the greenery of the gardens are 12 tennis courts, 1 basket court, jogging track and 2 swimming pools. The complex is home to Executive Club, Jakarta’s first and longest running exclusive member-

ship club. Also featured, as an integral part of the complex, is the 256 Residence apartments buildings offering executive serviced in a resort setting. The Sultan Hotel Jakarta, “Hospitality at Its Royal Best”.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for December 18th through December 25th 2010 18. “Kuningan” believed as the ascending day of the ancestral holy spirits back to Heaven after spending time with their descendants during Galungan.

Throughout Bali. “Makotekan” ceremony “village purification”, Munggu village, district of Mengwi, Badung regency.

“Perang Jempana” rituals when the temples adherents carrying temple-effigies strike one another as to indicate that the ceremony as a whole has been properly done, at Pura Panti Timbrah, Paksebali village, district of Banjarangkan, Klungkung regency.

Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Taman Pule, Mas village, district of ubud, Gianyar regency. * Pura Ularan, Takmung village, district of Banjarangkan, Klungkung regency. * Pura Bukit Jati, Guliang Kawan village, Bangli regency. * Pura Dalem Tegal Jaya, Batubulan village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Dalem Guwang village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Jengengan Majapahit, Cemenggaon village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Sadha, Kapal village, district of Mengwi, Badung regency. * Pura Sakenan, Serangan Island, the municipality of Denpasar. * Pura Luhur Pakendungan, Tanah Lot Beach, district of Kediri, Tabanan regency. * Pura Dalem Sanding village, district of Tampaksiring, Gianyar regency.

19. “Pemendakan” Welcoming procession held started from Sakenan Temple to Denpasar, Serangan Island, south of Denpasar.

Temple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Dalem Pauman Bhujangga, Penatih village, east of Denpasar. * Pura Alas Arum, Batur village, district of

Kintamani, Bangli regency. * Pura Batuaji, Ubud Tengah village, west of Denpasar. * Pura Dalem Buleleng, downtown of Singaraja. * Pura Dalem Jagaraga village, district of Sawan, Buleleng regency.

21.T emple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Banua Besakih complex, district of Rendang, Karangasem regency. * Pura Dalem Semenggaon village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Desa Celuk village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Dewa Agung Klungkung, Ulah village, district of Sidemen, Karangasem regency. * Pura Gunung Rena, Sidemen village, Karangasem regency.

22.T emple anniversary celebrations at: * Pura Tanah Lot (well know as temple on the rock) Beraban village, district of Kediri, Tabanan regency. * Pura Bukcabe, Mas village, district of Ubud, Gianyar regency. * Pura Puseh Ganggang Canggi, Batuan village, district of Sukwati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Masceti Sanding village, district of Tampaksiring, Gianyar regency. * Pura Luhur Batur Pucangan, Buahan village, district of Penebel, Tabanan regency. * Pura Dalem Tarukan Cemenggaon village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency. * Pura Dalem Bangun Sakti, Kapal village district of Mengwi, Badung regency. * Pura Dang Kahyangan Penataran Agung Baturening, Mambal village, district of Abiansemal Badung regency.

25. Chritsmas

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

6

News

Thursday, December 16 , 2010

Kosovo leader implicated in organ trafficking: report STRASBOURG (AFP) – Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was one of the key players in the traffic of organs of Serb prisoners after the 1998-99 conflict there, according to allegations in a draft Council of Europe report.

The report, by Swiss Council of Europe deputy Dick Marty, accuses Thaci and other senior commanders of the ethnic Albanian guerrilla group the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) of having set up the traffic.

The draft report was published on the Council of Europe website on Tuesday and will be considered by its legal affairs committee on Thursday.

In Pristina, the government of Thaci dismissed the report as fabrications designed to smear the country’s leaders.

Marty wrote of substantial evidence that Serbians — and some Albanian Kosovars — had been secretly imprisoned by the KLA in northern Albania “and were subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, before ultimately disappearing.”

In the wake of the armed conflict, before international forces had time to re-establish law and order there, “organs were removed from some prisoners at a clinic in Albanian territory, near Fushe-Kruje...” he added.

Those organs were then “shipped out of Albania and sold to private overseas clinics as part of the international ‘black market’ of organtrafficking for transplantation.”

This was carried out by KLA leaders linked to organised crime, and “has continued, albeit in other forms, until today...” he wrote.

In this respect Marty cited an investigation by the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) into the Medicus clinic in Pristina.

EULEX said in October it had charged five people, including doctors and a former senior health ministry official, for trafficking in human organs, organised crime, unlawful medical activities and abusing official authority.

Marty specifically named Thaci, one of the KLA leaders during the conflict with Serb security forces in 1998-1999, in his report.

Thaci, he said, was “the boss” of the Drenica Group, a “small but inestimably powerful group of KLA personalities” who took control of organised crime in the region from at least 1998.

AFP

AFP/Getty Images/File – File photo of Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci

Mexico: Gas line leak likely caused hotel blast CANCUN, Mexico – Prosecutors say new evidence suggests a gasline leak probably caused the Nov. 14 explosion that killed five Canadian tourists and two Mexicans at a hotel on Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

The attorney general of the state where the hotel is located says investigators found an unauthorized extension of a gas line under the hotel lounge where the blast occurred.

Attorney General Francisco Alor says the line had apparently been damaged and leaked prior to the blast.

Officials had earlier said an accumulation of swamp or sewage gas may have fueled the blast.

Alor said Tuesday that those may have contributed, but the heating-gas line appears to be the main culprit and may have been set off by a spark from an electric switch or plug.

AP – People clamber on the rocky shore on Christmas Island during a rescue attempt as a boat breaks up in the background Wednesday, Dec. 15, 2010.

AF

Asylum seekers die as boat sinks off Australia SYDNEY – A wooden boat packed with dozens of asylum seekers smashed apart on jagged rocks in heavy seas off an Australian island Wednesday, flinging screaming women and children into churning whitewater and sending many people to their deaths.

Christmas Island residents on cliffs above watched in helpless horror as the boat broke apart with a crack, dumping passengers into monstrous waves that pounded them against the rocks. Rescue efforts were under way and officials said it was not immediately clear how many people were dead.

“While many details about this tragedy are still unconfirmed, I understand there have been a large number of fatalities and numerous injuries to those aboard the vessel, including women and children,” Western Australia state Premier Colin Barnett said in a statement.

At least 30 people were injured,

three critically, in the accident, said Joeley Pettit-Scott, a spokeswoman for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, which has sent teams of doctors to the island. Of the critical patients, two men have head injuries and one woman has blunt abdominal trauma, she said.

Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan said the vessel was a people smuggler’s boat, but it was not clear how many people were on board or where they were from. “A number of people have been rescued but sadly, some bodies have been retrieved,” Swan said.

Christmas Island is a remote Australian territory closer to Indonesia

than the Australian mainland and a frequent target of refugee hopefuls, who are housed in a detention center there. Australia is a prime destination for people from poor, often war-ravaged countries such as Afghanistan who want to start a new life.

Photos and videos taken by witnesses at the scene show the wooden boat crashing into the rocks and breaking apart. The images also show people floating in the water amid the wreckage. It is unclear if they are alive or dead. The boat was about 20 to 30 feet (6 to 9 meters) long, with a cabin covered by a sheet of fabric or plastic.

Suicide ...

quoted as saying by state TV. Iranian officials claim Jundallah, which has operated from bases in Pakistan, receives support from Western powers, including the United States. Washington denies any links to the group, and in November the State Department added Jundallah to a U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations.

In July, two suicide bombers blew themselves up at a mosque in the same province, Sistan-Baluchestan, killing at least 28 people. Jundallah said that attack was revenge for the execution of its leader, Abdulmalik Rigi, in June.

That strike in the provincial capital, Zahedan, also targeted Shiite wor-

shippers during a holiday, the birthday of Hussein, the prophet’s grandson.

The group has also targeted members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the country’s most powerful military force. In its deadliest attack, a suicide bomber hit a meeting between Guard commanders and Shiite and Sunni tribal leaders in the border town of Pishin in October 2009, killing 42 people, including 15 Guard members.

Drug traffickers and smugglers also are active along the barren frontier area of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan and have launched attacks on security forces.

From page 1 Mahmoud Mozaffar, a senior Iranian Red Crescent Society official, said emergency services had been put on alert over the past few days because of anonymous threats, according to another news agency, ISNA. The deputy interior minister blamed Sunni militants, an apparent reference to Jundallah. “Evidence and the kind of equipment used suggest that the terrorists were affiliated with extremist ... groups backed by the U.S. and intelligence services of some regional states,” Abdollahi was

From page 1

WikiLeaks...

Lee said India was engaging Myanmar’s leadership in a bid to minimize China’s influence, but that “India lacked China’s finer grasp of how Burma worked,” according to the cable.

Lee said a group of less ‘obtuse’ younger military officers could take control and share power with democracy activists, “although probably not with Aung San Suu Kyi, who was anathema to the military.

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, December 16, 2010

7

Australia to share Montara oil spill probe results with Indonesia Antara

JAKARTA - Two Australian Maritime Safety Agency (AMSA) officials have arrived here to share the results of the agency’s investigation on the Montara oil spill with the Indonesian government.

AFP PHOTO / PIKONG

Jailed US national Gregory Luke (R), 64, leaves the Praya town court room in Lombok on December 15, 2010 after he was sentenced to five months for blashemy. Luke was convicted of blasphemy after he pulled the plug on a mosque loudspeaker during a prayer reading. The August 22 incident in the middle of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan resulted for Luke, a retired Californian engineer needing a police escort from his home on Lombok island as a mob tore it to pieces around him.

Indonesia jails American man for blasphemy Agence France-Presse

PRAYA - An Indonesian court on Wednesday sentenced a US retiree to five months in jail for blasphemy for pulling the plug on a mosque’s loudspeaker during a prayer reading.

The August 22 incident during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan resulted in retired Californian engineer Gregory Luke, 64, needing a police escort from his home on Lombok island as a mob tore it to pieces around him.

“He was found guilty of committing blasphemy, carrying out an act of violence and hampering people in Kute village from doing their religious activities,” chief judge Suhartoyo told a court in Praya, Lombok.

Luke had previously denied pull-

ing the plug, but in a brief comment Wednesday said he was “satisfied” with the judges’ ruling.

The verdict was two months lighter than the jail term sought by prosecutors a day earlier. The Indonesian criminal code stipulates that an act of blasphemy carries a maximum five-year jail term.

Setting out mitigating circumstances, the judge said: “The defendant has never committed a crime before, acted politely during the trial and expressed regret for his act. He also participated in promoting tourism here.”

Luke, who runs a guesthouse for tourists on the islands, will get his freedom back in mid-February 2011.

Wearing a sarong, polo shirt and black Muslim hat, he said outside the

courtroom that he accepted the ruling.

“I’m quite satisfied with the judges’ decision,” he said with a smile. Luke has previously denied pulling the plug on the loudspeakers used to broadcast the call to prayer — a feature on most mosques in Indonesia.

In comments to local media, he has said he went to the mosque to ask for the volume to be turned down and was set upon by a group of local youths, who pushed him to the ground and pelted him with rocks.

A mob then chased him to his home and ransacked it as police looked on, apparently unable to intervene, he said. No one has been charged with any offence related to the mob attack on his house.

Jobs must be created for informal migrant workers Antara

SURABAYA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has urged regional leaders to create more job opportunities to reduce the number of informal Indonesian migrant workers.

“Let us create jobs at home to accommodate migrant workers,” President Yudhoyono said in his remarks during the launching of a Smallholder’s Business Credit (KUR) program for Indonesian migrant workers (TKI) here Wednesday.

The head of state said the government, however, could not stop its people choosing jobs and locations they want to.

“If we don’t want to see many of brother work overseas, we must create job opportunities in our regions.

If they want to work in Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, it’s their right of choosing their profession. The important thing is that we have to protect them, give them facilities, defend their rights and find a solution if they are in trouble,” the president said.

At least four million Indonesians are currently working overseas and 0.1 percent of them was facing problems, he said.

“However, we must not underestimate it although it’s just 0.1 percent. It should be handled properly.

Ambassadors and consuls general must be responsible for TKI in the countries of their jurisdiction. I don’t like ambassadors who don’t know much (about TKI),” he said.

The head of state also instructed

mayors and district heads to make sure that TKI get appropriate and adequate trainings before being sent overseas.

He also asked the regional leaders to check facilities and training standards of migrant workers suppliers in their regions.

“If the supplier companies are professional, there will be fewer problems to arise. Their services must be improved, because they don’t sent goods, but human beings who have heart, so there must be no negligence,” he said.

The KUR program providing credits up to Rp20 million per TKI, is aimed at help TKI in financing costs incurred during their overseas placement process. The program is supported by BRI, BNI and Mandiri bank.

“The AMSA officials will meet with Indonesian government representatives, including me, tomorrow to share the findings of their investigation into the Montara oil spill,” Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said here on Wednesday.

Freddy made the statement after a meeting with visiting Australian Infrastructure and Transportation Minister Anthony Lebanese.

Freddy expressed hope that AMSA’s findings would support Indonesia’s effort to obtain compensation for the environmental damage caused by the oil spill from the Montara oil field’s operator, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) Australasia.

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony Lebanese said Australia had conducted an open investigation into the Montara case some time ago and was willing to share its findings with tge Indonesian government.

“We will make sure that all data and findings from the investigation conducted by AMSA are made available to the Indonesian government,” Lebanese said.

Oil spilled from the Montara wellhead platform after an explosion on August 21, 2009 and the leak

continued over a period of time. By August 24, 2009, the oil slick resulting from the spill was estimated to be 14 km (9 mi) long and 30 m (100 ft) wide. On August 29, the slick was estimated to have reached a length of 180 km (110 mi) at a minimum, measured east to west, according to media reports in Australia.

The incident occurred about 690 kilometers west of Darwin in Australia‘s Northern Territory and 250 kilometers northwest of Truscott in western Australia. It was also located close to the Pulau Pasir atoll (Ashmore Reef) around which Indonesian traditional fishermen routinely catches fish and other marine biota.

By September 3, 2009, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) reported that the slick was 170 km (106 mi) from the coast of Western Australia, and moving closer to the shore. The slick was also reported to have spread over 6,000 km2 (2,300 sq mi) of ocean with evidence that the oil was killing marine life.

On November 3, 2009 (in total 74 days), the leak was stopped by pumping mud into the well and cementing the well bore finally “capping” the blowout, according to reports.

TNI detains Malaysian plane at Juanda Airport Antara

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) has detained a Malaysian aircraft numbered BAE 146-200 for having entered the country’s territory illegally.

The plane with 81 passengers on board including crew members landed illegally at Djuanda international airport in Surabaya from Dili, Timor Leste, at 12.45 hours, TNI spokesman Commodore Iskandar Sitompul said here on Tuesday.

When asked to confirm about the incident by ANTARA, Sitompul said of the 81 passengers six including a Malaysian official had departed to Malaysia aboard

a commercial plane.

“The plane and the other passengers meanwhile are still being held at the local immigration office waiting for security clearance from the Indonesian government and military,” he said.

Iskandar said the security clearance was issued by BAIS (military intelligence agency) and coordination was now still being made with the foreign ministry for it.

“It is hoped it could be issued tonight so that the plane could immediately be returned to Malaysia,” he said. Iskandar said the Malaysian aircraft had violated the country’s territory and sovereignty because it carried no official permit from the Indonesian authorities.

8

International

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Bali Today 2011, Immigration Office applies e-passport Bali Post

DENPASAR - The Immigration Office will implement an electronic passport or what the socalled e-passport. Some big cities like Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya will become a pilot project for the early stage of the program.

IBP/Doc

Tourists packed at Kuta beach. Some of the hotels in Bali’s tourism objects still waiting for reservation from tourists that want to spend the year end holiday in Bali.

Hotels in Bali wait for the New Year antara

Denpasar – The hotels in Bali are still waiting for reservation and guests who will enjoy their New Year holiday in the island. From the data gathered on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, the hotel occupancy rate is only 40% while for December 30, 2010 through January 2, 2011, most of the hotels are fully booked.

One hotel which has only 40% of occupancy rate is Maya Ubud Resort & Spa in Gunung Sari, Ubud, Gianyar. The Marketing Communications Manager of the hotel, Julita Candra, said “Until December 30, there is still plenty of room left but during the New Year we are 70% booked.

She explained that the luxurious hotel which has 108 rooms is often visited by guest during the year end holiday and there is great hope the occupancy rate during the holiday will be up to 80%. “We are quite optimist that the number of guests will keep increasing by the New Year. The lowest room price is $270 and the highest is $1,800 per night,” she added.

Ubud is famous for its art and culture and many tourists who want tranquility often chose this area for their holiday Meanwhile, Kuta is crowded by the younger tourists who want to enjoy the night life in Bali. Most of the hotels in Kuta are already fully booked except for the hotels in southern part of the beach such as Risata Bali Resort & Spa which is located in Wana Segara street. There is still room available before December 30.

According to Phoenix Sutanto, the Sales & Marketing Manager Risata Hotel, the hotel has 138 rooms with the lowest price is 600,000 rupiah. “For the New Year holiday, there will be extra charge up to 450,000 rupiah and all rooms will be fully booked,” he added.

While in Sanur area, the hotels are also fully booked, most of them by groups of tourists. In addition to the domestic tourists, most of the tourists are coming from Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand.

Head of Legal and Human Rights Office of Bali Region, Taswen Tarib, explained the use of electronic passport would set to be tested in the upcoming 2011.

Subsequently, Bali as a tourist destination would undertake the implementation of e-passport effective in April 2011.

“Implementation of e-passport in Bali cannot be undertaken simultaneously in early 2011. Probably, in January the equipment of e-passport will just be installed,” said Taswen Tarib, Tuesday (Dec 14).

It was said that Bali as the gateway had been familiar with epassport equipment since long time ago. Ngurah Rai International Airport as the point of entry and exit of foreigners had been equipped with e-passport reader because a number of countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand whose citizen came to Indonesia used e-passports.

Nevertheless, Taswen Tarib was unable to make sure when exactly the application of e-pass-

port commenced. Pilot project in a number of cities had not been operating yet. As a matter of fact, implementation of e-passport had a number of advantages over ordinary one. E-passport had a security chip storing the electronic data of the passport owner.

“This program will reduce the risk of falsification against the passport or data of the passport holder. However, apparently there will be some obstacles in the implementation of e-passport,” he said.

According to him, the population system in Indonesia would become one of the obstacles in the implementation of e-passport. Epassport would contain complete data of the passport holder with a single ID like that of other countries. This would become one of the obstacles in the implementation of e-passport. “Yet, we do not know in details how actually the e-passport looks like,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Human Rights Affairs, Patrialis Akbar,

previously had describe that epassport would just begin to be enforced as a trial in 2011. For the initial stage, the community was allowed to choose either e-passport or ordinary passport. The government hoped the overall implementation of e-passports could be realized in 2015.

Patrialis added that general implementation in 2015 was in accordance with the recommendation of the international civil aviation organization (ICAO). If within the period Indonesia could not have imposed the rule, the citizens of Indonesia would not be permitted to enter another country because the rule had been accepted internationally.

Up to these days, the government had not also determined how much the tariff of e-passport production was. His party remained to calculate the cost and the technology in use. Patrialis mentioned that the price had not been determined because the technology was relatively expensive. (par)

Bali Airport Arrival Hall Expanding by 66% Denpasar - PT Angkasa Pura I (API), the managers of Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport, are in the process of expanding the Visa-onArrival hall from its current 900 square meters to 1,500 square meters at a cost of Rp. 4 billion (US$444,445).

The larger arrival hall will be in operation before the end of December 2010. API’s manager in Bali, Heru Legowo, told NusaBali that the larger arrival hall will help reduce bottlenecks of waiting visitors occasioned when several planes arrive in close time proximity.

The peak hours when lines are said to be at their worst occur between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm when arrivals from Singapore, China, Hong Kong and Australia converge on Bali’s sole air gateway.

Legowo said that in addition to a larger arrival hall passengers will also be given free mineral water and amplified music to reduce the stress of waiting in line.

No mention, however, was made in the article of adding more immigration officials to speed the processing time through visa-immigration lines.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com

People making pasport in the immigration office. The Immigration Office will implement an electronic passport or what the so-called e-passport. Some big cities like Jakarta, Bandung and Surabaya will become a pilot project for the early stage of the program.

International

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Balinese Culture

Community-based Tourism:A New Source of Hope for Prosperity Pie of tourism does not always taste sweet. Those getting involved in person or indirectly may taste so. However, the remaining does not enjoy any impact of the increase of tourist visit to Bali. Probably, it is actually a matter of imbalance on development policy.

By and large, development in general is ideally intended to improve people’s prosperity. Its proceedings should be distributed and could be enjoyed evenly. Otherwise, the imbalance can trigger social envy. If unresolved immediately, this may turn into protracted problem. It is not surprising if community then proposed the removal of Denpasar City and the airport to other region in order the new region could also drive a better economic growth. Meanwhile, another protested that its region was just used as stopover of cruise passenger. After landing, guests spent holidays or had excursion to other neighboring destination. It is considered, the region was merely taken advantage for ‘urinating’ and guests spent no single penny.

Various attempts have indeed been undertaken by local government to gradually diminish such imbalance. One of them is by launching tourism village in regencies. By this initiative, guests are driven to explore local village to

know more about their uniqueness.

They were expected to not only have a sightseeing tour but also take advantage of local accommodation facilities. The program denotes one of the community involvements in tourism or better known as community-based tourism.

Additionally, guests will have more convenient time to explore the splendor of the village and get in closer touch with the local community. This will enable local people to provide everything required by guests during their stay at the village. They are starting from unique tradition, beauty of nature, challenging adventure to delicious and country-style culinary. Of course, these would enrich their personal experience as one of the objectives of traveling.

Simantri or integrated farming system initiated by Governor Pastika is another program that also expected to empty out into agricultural-based tourism. Basically, it is commenced by empowering farmers through the implementation of eco-friendly facilities of rice productions. At the end, it also wants to achieve prosperity, quality health and better environment.

Last but not least, government should also map the great potential retained by each region and make a policy in such a way that each re-

gion is included in particular tour package. Basically each region has unique and attractive potentials like arts, livelihood, tools, tourist destinations, customs and other treasures. Besides, government can lead new investment to less developed regions and establish inter-regency cooperation in distributing job opportunities. In reality, there are some regencies undergoing rapid growth in handicraft industry and informal sector enterprises, while others have abundant unemployment. Local labor force should be given priority to fill in the opportunities as they are supporters of local culture and responsible for its conservation.

Bali has a great potential of pristine destination. This should be managed and preserved accordingly for its sustainability. When this can be achieved, people will have more job opportunities without leaving agriculture or other previous job.

Conversely, tourists will have a wide choice of destination and attraction to visit. Hopefully, such development could be supported by all components of community, so the ‘social envy’ could be gradually diminished without moving the ‘existing infrastructure’ but discovering each local potential and how to get a share of the opportunities.

(BTN/punia)

Bebek Betutu (Roast Duck In Banana Leaf) OVERVIEW: The rich flavor of duck is greatly enhanced by a host of pungent roots, herbs and seasonings in this dish, which is invariably a great favorite with visitors to Bali.

The Balinese have great admiration for the duck and consider it to be a particularly strong animal as it is, like the turtle, the only one able to survive on land as water.

INGREDIENTS: 1 whole duck, weigh about 2 kg (4 ½ lb) 18 shallots, peeled, cut in half, and sliced 6 cloves garlic, peeled, cut in half, & sliced 3 stalks lemon grass, finely sliced 5 fragrant lime leaves, finely sliced 6 candlenuts, chopped 5 cm (2 in), ginger, peeled and chopped 8 cm (3in) fresh turmeric, peeled, chopped 8 cm (3in) kencur root, peeled, chopped 1 tsp black peppercorns, crushed 5 bird’s-eye chilies, slices 1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed 2 tsp dried shrimp paste, roasted and coarsely crushed 1½ tbsp salt 3 tbsp oil Banana leaves, greaseproof paper or aluminum foil for wrapping PREPARATION: Wipe the duck dry and set aside. Combine all ingredients except banana leafs in a bowl and mix well.

Rub the duck outside with this mixture and fill the center of the duck with the remainder.

Close open duck with satay skewer. Wrap in several layers of banana leaves, greaseproof paper or foil and steam for 50 minutes. Transfer duck to a moderate oven and bake at 180o C (350o F) for 30 minutes.

Remove banana leaves, cut duck meat up in small pieces and serve with stuffing. When cooked, the meat should be so tender that it falls off the bones. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

C.045 ibp

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Destinations

International

West Bali National Park IBP

West Bali National Park is nature conservation with pure ecosystem managed by zone system for multiple research purpose involving the education, tourism and recreation.

It is one of the national park located west side of Bali Island with beautiful panoramic, unique nature ecosystem and fresh atmosphere. West Bali National Park or most the local people call Taman National Bali Barat is one of the tourist destinations in Negara Regency and many visited by tourists.

It is situated in west side of Bali Island and close to Gilimanuk Port or about 4 hours drive away from Bali’s International Airport. Some of the Bali West National Park Area located in Grokgak sub district, Singaraja Regency and some of the area located in Melaya Sub district, Jembrana Regency. It is very easy to locate it from Denpasar direction to follow the main road go to Gilimanuk Port or Singaraja town to Gilimanuk Port.

According to Republic Indone-

sia Forestry Minister decision written on the official letter no 493/KptsII/1995 that West Bali National Park own 19.002,89 ha which is consisted of 15.587,89 ha land and 3.415 ha ocean. The conservation effort toward the ecosystem at this park goes to three objective activities as follows: 1. To protect the ecosystem those support the life 2. Pickling the variety of flora and fauna including the habitat 3. Exploiting everlastingly the nature resources including the ecosystem West Bali National Park area is a green are spread out along the main road Denpasar – Gilimanuk – Singaraja about 150 kilometers. Topographic of this park own constant gradation between mount, hill, valley, bay and sea. The mountain area is involving up to 71% from the total park area as protected forest with multifarious faunas like deer, forest pig, lion, birth etc. meanwhile the flat area is about 29% located in north part of main road Gilimanuk

– Singaraja until Java Sea. If we look from the conception, this area is a Giri/Gunung or mounts which is completed by the forest (Wanagiri). According to Kidung Utama Tantri script there is a word mention Ning Wana Ukir which gives the direction that the Wana Giri philosophy is well written to describe the total of this world.

West Bali National Park own high potential of flora and fauna those are consisted of 14 variety of protected floras involving Sawo Kecik (Manilkara Kauki), Sono Keling (Dalbergia Latifolia). From the fauna, Jalak Bali Birth (Leucopsar Rothscildi) is one of the endemic fauna in Bali Island there are pure habitat found in this park along to Prapat Agung and surrounding area. Other faunas can be found at this park involving cow, deer, mouse deer, venison, wild cat, grey and black monkeys.

Beside of the above animals, a couple of reptiles and other 60 rash of births also can be found. The condition of coral reef at this park is highly varied with unique com-

International Bali Post Classifieds BALI CENTRAL CANOPY

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bination and multifarious of habitats. In year 1998, it was recorded 110 kinds of coral including 22

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

11

BUSINESS Japan business sentiment hit by strong yen Agence France-Presse

TOKYO - Japanese business confidence has weakened for the first time in nearly two years, the Bank of Japan said Wednesday, as the economy has been hit by a soaring yen and global economic uncertainty.

The closely-watched quarterly Tankan survey showed sentiment worsening — albeit not as fast as expected — as global and domestic economic woes have sapped corporate optimism, particularly among exporters.

In the survey, the confidence index for large manufacturers dropped to “five” from “eight” in September — the first fall in seven quarters but slightly better than market expectations of a reading of “three”.

The index measures the percentage of firms that say conditions are good minus those that say conditions are bad — meaning that any figure above zero indicates general, if cautious, optimism in the corporate sector.

Japan, which heavily relies on exports of cars, electronics and machines, has been battered by a strong yen, which makes its goods less competitive abroad and erodes companies’ overseas profits when repa-

triated.

The yen has touched 15-year highs against the dollar in recent weeks and traded at 83.81 to the greenback in Tokyo on Wednesday morning.

Economic growth in the JulySeptember quarter this year was last week revised up to an annualised 4.5 percent, but government ministers warned growth would be “substantially lower” in the fourth quarter.

The Tankan — which surveys a

total of more than 11,000 companies — also found that sentiment among large non-manufacturers fell to “one” from “two” in the previous survey, but it beat the expected score of “zero”.

Looking ahead, the latest Tankan survey said the forecast among big manufacturers for the March survey is for “minus two”, suggesting that companies expect conditions to worsen in the months ahead.

The latest Tankan survey reflected “deep-rooted caution about the yen’s appreciation and the overseas economy,” Naoki Murakami, chief economist at the Monex online brokerage house, told AFP. But the fact that the index re-

mained in positive territory showed that “in reality, the business climate has not deteriorated to the level that had been feared by the corporate sector”, Murakami said.

After the recent expiry of eco-car subsidies, “business conditions in the auto sector have worsened, but improvement was seen in industries related to capital investments, such as steel, metal and machinery,” he said.

The Bank of Japan looks at Tankan surveys when it sets monetary policy. It will hold a board meeting next Monday and Tuesday — but analysts believed the result was not bad enough to spur more monetary easing.

Bubble fears as Taipei property prices hit record Agence France-Presse

TAIPEI - When 35-year-old Yu Chang-che made a record-breaking offer on an apartment on the fifth floor of The Palace, a gated community in downtown Taipei, he set off a wave of complaints across Taiwan.

Yu, the son of a well-known property investor, agreed to pay 280 million Taiwan dollars (nine million US) for the 450-squaremetre (4,800-square-foot) unit, a historic high that raised eyebrows around the island.

“Many people wouldn’t be able to buy so much as the bathroom in such a luxury home even if they spent their entire life savings,” said Lai Shyh-bao, a legislator of the ruling Kuomintang party.

The deal ended up on the front pages of major newspapers and became a hot topic on the 24-hour news channels as fears mounted it would set off new cycles of speculation. In the end, Yu backed

out of the transaction.

In the wake of the global financial crisis, Taiwan’s property market has soared, sparking fears that prices will spiral out of the reach of the average buyer — and generate a damaging property bubble.

At the end of October, the average price of property in Taipei city was 4,614 US dollars per square metre, according to data from property agency Taiwan Realty.

This is up 15 percent from a year earlier, and makes Taipei the fifth-most expensive Asian city, behind Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore and Seoul, and ahead of Shanghai and Beijing, according to the agency.

“No one expected an upturn such as this,” said Chen Yu-cheng, a broker at National Realty, another Taipei-based property agency.

Analysts say the rally has been spurred by low interest rates amid ample liquidity worldwide aimed

at rescuing struggling economies.

Finally, the property market has been helped by a significant reduction in tension with Beijing after the China-friendly politician Ma Ying-jeou was elected president in 2008.

Tallies released by the government in August indicate that the house price-to-income ratio — the ratio of the median market home price to the median annual household income — hit 11.5, up from 9.9 at the end of 2008.

In other words, even if an average Taiwan family spends nothing on food or clothes or anything else, it will still take more than a decade for them to be able to buy a home.

Skyrocketing housing prices have emerged as a key public complaint, and the central bank has raised interest rates twice while tightening credit for housing loans this year, but so far too little effect.

“The bubbles have been there for

Jobless misery in Philippines despite economic growth Agence France-Presse MANILA - More than one in four adults in the Philippines are jobless or are looking for more work despite strong economic growth this year, the government said Wednesday.

The October unemployment rate stood at 7.1 percent, unchanged from a year earlier but up slightly from July’s 6.9 percent, according to the latest quarterly report from the National Statistics Office.

The rate of underemployment — people working less than 40 hours a week and looking for fuller employ-

ment — jumped to 19.6 percent in October, from 19.4 percent a year earlier and 17.9 percent in July.

The weak employment numbers came despite the economy growing 7.5 percent in the first three quarters of the year.

Economic Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga acknowledged the government was struggling to weaken the stubbornly high unemployment rate and said it may get worse as more people seek work after seeing the economy on the upswing.

The official figures also understate the employment problems in the Phil-

ippines, where a third of the population lives on a dollar a day or less.

Although 61.2 million of the Philippines’ 95 million people are aged 15 and over, the statistics agency said just 39.3 million could be considered part of the labour force, with many others not even looking for work.

The October data also showed that one in three members of the Filipino workforce were unskilled.Foreign business leaders in the Philippines say that to cut widespread poverty, annual economic growth must reach 9-10 percent and overseas investments need to rise more than 40-fold to 75 billion dollars.

AFP PHOTO/PATRICK LIN

The photo taken on December 7, 2010 shows huge property commercial signs attached on a wall of a building located near the Taipei 101, once the world’s tallest skyscraper. a while and are getting bigger and bigger,” said Chang Chin-er, a specialist in land economics at National Chengchi University in Taipei.

Unlike the academics, land developers say the present prices remain at reasonable levels, arguing that the risk of a sharp correction is low — at least within the next year.

“If you take the price-to-income ratio into consideration, Taipei’s realty prices still fall within reasonable levels,” said Frank Chung, the chairman of Huaku Development Co. Chung remains bullish, citing the continued US attempts at quantitative easing measures which have been further driving up liquidity heading for emerging markets, including Taiwan.

Still, the private think-tank Taiwan Institute of Economic Research strikes a cautious note, say-

ing short-term speculative trading, seen as one indicator of bubbles, has made up more than 20 percent of total transactions.

“The risk of bubbles bursting may be even more pronounced next year if the government takes no fresh measures to rein in prices,” said Liu Pei-chen, a researcher at the think tank.

Also setting off alarm bells at the think tank is the fact that the total amount of the island’s outstanding housing loans now account for more than 40 percent the island’s gross domestic product, she said.

Chengchi University’s Chang estimated Taipei’s property prices are already 43 percent higher than they should be, given average incomes and the current demand for rented homes.

“The bigger the bubbles, the greater damage they may wreak to the economy once they burst,” he said.

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

Entertainment

International

‘King’s Speech,’ ‘Social Network’ lead Golden Globe nods Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES - “The King’s Speech,” a British historical drama about George VI’s stammer, led with seven nominations for the Golden Globe awards Tuesday, while Facebook film “The Social Network” scored six nods. Starring Colin Firth and Helena Bonham-Carter, the British movie was nominated for best picture, director, actor, screenplay, score and supporting actor and actress.

The “Social Network” won nominations for best picture, best director, best actor for Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, as well as best supporting actor and best screenplay. The Golden Globe winners will be announced at a star-studded show on January 16, in what is traditionally seen as the run-up to the Academy Awards on February 27.

For best foreign language film, Mexican-Spanish production “Biutiful” will vie with “The Concert” from France, Russia’s “The Edge”, Italy’s “I am Love” and “In a better world” from Denmark. Also nominated for best drama for the Golden Globes, organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, were ballet-themed thriller “Black Swan,” “Inception” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and “The Fighter” about a young boxer.

Best actor nominees for the

drama category also included James Franco for Danny Boyle’s latest movie “127 hours, Ryan Gosling for “Blue Valentine” and Mark Wahlberg in “The Fighter.”

Best drama actress nods went to Halle Berry in “Franky and Alice,” Nicole Kidman in “Rabbit Hole,” Jennifer Lawrence in “Winter’s Bone,” Natalie Portman in “Black Swan” and Michell Williams in “Blue Valentine.” In the comedy and musical category, US actor Johnny Depp earned two best actor nods, one for his turn in “Alice and Wonderland,” and another in “The Tourist.”

“The King’s Speech,” directed by Tom Hooper, tells the tale of how George VI — thrust onto the throne after his father’s death and older brother Edward VIII’s abdication — overcomes a debilitating stammer.

The film only recently opened in the United States to an extremely modest box office of barely 350,000 dollars on

AP Photo/Columbia Pictures, Merrick Morton

In this publicity image released by Columbia Pictures, Jesse Eisenberg, left, and Joseph Mazzello are shown in a scene from “The Social Network.” The film was nominated for a Golden Globe award for best picture, Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010. The Golden Globe awards will air live Jan. 16 on NBC.

its opening weekend, and is not released in Britain until January. But nominations from the film include best actor for British heart-throb Firth, while Bonham-Carter is among nominees for best supporting actress.

Winner for Best Actress in a Leading Role Sandra Bullock gives her acceptance speech at the 82nd Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California in March 2010.

AFP/File/Gabriel Bouys

Oprah, Sandra Bullock, Halle Berry to present Oscars Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES – Oprah Winfrey, Sandra Bullock and Halle Berry will be among presenters handing out the awards at next year’s Oscars show in February, organizer said Monday. The 2010 best actor Oscar winner Jeff Bridges and 1993 best supporting actress winner Marisa Tomei will also be presenting at the 83rd Academy Awards show on February 27.

Actor James Franco — star of Danny Boyle’s latest movie “127 Hours” — and

“Love and Other Drugs” actress Anne Hathaway will co-host the 2011 Oscars ceremony at Hollywood’s Kodak Theater.

Berry won best actress in 2002, while Bridges and Bullock won in 2010 for their leading roles in “Crazy Heart” and “The Blind Side,” respectively.

Winfrey was nominated for an Oscar for her supporting role in the 1985 film “The Color Purple,” recently served as the voice of Eudora in “The Princess and the Frog” and was executive producer of 2010 best picture nominee “Precious.”

By contrast “The Social Network,” about how computer whizz kid Zuckerberg developed Facebook from his early days at Harvard, has been a blockbuster around the world, and made over 22 million dollars on

its opening weekend.

The movie, tipped to do well at the Oscars as well as the Globes, also features pop star Justin Timberlake as Napster founder Sean Parker, Zuckerberg’s mentor.

Scarlett Johansson, Ryan Reynolds call it quits Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES - Hollywood A-listers Scarlett Johansson and Ryan Reynolds are calling it quits: after two years of marriage, they have gone separate ways, they said Tuesday in a statement cited by People magazine.

The American Johansson, 26, famous for roles in films such as “Lost in Translation” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” and her killer curves, had said in press reports that being apart from Canadian star Reynolds due to filming schedules was hard on a relationship.

“After long and careful consideration on both our parts, we’ve decided to end our marriage,” the couple said. “We entered our relationship with love and it’s with love and kindness we leave it. While privacy isn’t expected, it’s certainly appreciated.”

“The couple quietly split six months ago, and Johansson initiated the move. The actress began apartment-hunting in New York City and is currently in Jamaica with some girlfriends,” the magazine said citing an unnamed source. Johansson is a New Yorker.

In case he’s crushed, he shouldn’t have too hard a time finding a date: Reynolds, 34, was just named People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” two weeks ago. Known for films such as “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” the Canadian actor is starring in an upcoming silver screen version of the comic classic “Green Lantern.” Before his relationship with Johansson, Reynolds was engaged to Canadian singer Alanis Morissette.

Scarlett Johansson

IBP/ist

Life Style

International

Thursday, December 16, 2010

13

Soyuz crew ready for space station mission Associated Press Writer

China’s Shaolin Temple plans to open branch in Taiwan Agence France Presse

TAIPEI - The Shaolin Monastery, an icon of Chinese kung fu, plans to open a branch in Taiwan, cashing in on the fast warming ties between the island and the mainland, a tourism operator said Wednesday. The monastery in central China’s Henan province has authorised Liu Cheng-chih, who heads a foundation that promotes tourism between the two sides, to build the Taiwanese branch.

“We’ve been authorised by the Shaolin Monastery to set up a branch in (the central county of) Miaoli,” Liu told AFP. The complex will stretch over 30 hectares (81 acres) and may cost up to one billion Taiwan dollars (33 million US), he said.

“The branch will help spread the

legacy of Shaolin Monastery that for hundreds of years has become an important element of the Chinese culture,” Liu said.

Construction is due to be completed in 2014, but monks from the Monastery may start teaching martial arts within eight months using

existing facilities at the venue. Taiwan branch will eventually provide programmes such as Chinese Zen Buddhism and Shaolin medicine, he said.

Liu said the investment plan would not have been possible if tensions between Taiwan and China had remained high and exchange of visits by people from the two sides restricted.

Ties between the former crossStrait rivals, split in 1949 at the end of a civil war, have improved markedly since Ma Ying-jeou of the China-friendly Kuomintang party came to power in 2008 on promises of ramping up trade and allowing in more Chinese tourists.

plate of glass. The crew is kept in strict isolation in the days ahead of the launch to avoid exposure to infection.

International space operations are set to enter a new phase next year while the U.S. shuttle fleet is mothballed. Two more shuttle missions are planned, after which the Soyuz will be the only vehicle available to transport crews to the orbiting laboratory. Some observers believe that Russia may seek to exploit the temporary Soyuz dominance to charge higher fees for carrying U.S. astronauts.

The White House wants NASA focused on next-generation rockets and spacecraft that could carry astronauts to asteroids and Mars, and to rely on private business to develop craft capable of ferrying cargo and crew to the space station.

Last week, Space Exploration Technologies Inc. conducted a second test launch of its Dragon capsule, and safely guided it back to Earth for the first time.

BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan – A three-person crew put aside lastminute jitters about their craft as they underwent final preparations for Wednesday’s launch for a fivemonth stint at the International Space Station.

Russia’s Dmitry Kondratyev, NASA astronaut Catherine Coleman and the European Space Agency’s Paolo Nespoli of Italy have received the final official clearance for the launch from the Russian-leased Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan onboard the Russianmade Soyuz TMA-20 at 1909 GMT (2:09 p.m. EST).

Speaking ahead of the launch, Kondratyev shrugged off worries about the re-entry module of their Soyuz craft, which was hastily replaced earlier this month after it was damaged during unloading at the Baikonur.

“All the procedures needed to check the integrity of the ship have been completed, and all those have shown positive results,” Kondratyev said at a final news conference ahead of the launch. “We have absolutely no doubts about the reliability of the craft and that the flight will take place as planned.”

The coming year is set to see an intense burst of activity at the station, with the arrival of several cargo craft delivered by the U.S., Russian, European and Japanese space agencies.

The three astronauts will be at the space station in April to mark the 50th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s mission, the first human flight into space.

“As the crew that is AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky onboard the International The Russian Soyuz TMA-20 space ship that Space Station on this very will carry new crew to the International special day, we won’t be Space Station, ISS, is installed at the walking on the pages of launch pad at the Russian leased Baikonur history, we’ll be floating,” cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Monday, Dec. Coleman told reporters 13, 2010. Start of the new Soyuz mission from behind a protective is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 15.

Scientist says he found Japan fish thought extinct Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Kyoto University via Kyodo News

In this undated photo released by Kyoto University via Kyodo News, a specimen of endangered Japanese salmon species is on display. A science professor says a Japanese salmon species thought to have gone extinct 70 years ago lives in a lake near Mount Fuji.

TOKYO – A Japanese salmon species thought to be extinct for 70 years is alive and well in a lake near Mount Fuji, a science professor said Wednesday. The black kokanee, or “kunimasu” in Japanese, was thought to have died out in 1940, when a hydroelectric project made its native lake in northern Akita Prefecture more acidic.

Before then, 100,000 eggs were reportedly transported to Lake Saiko but the species was still thought to have died off. But Tetsuji Nakabo, a

professor at Kyoto University, said his team of researchers found the species in Lake Saiko, about 310 miles (500 kilometers) south of the native lake.

“I was really surprised. This is a very interesting fish — it’s a treasure. We have to protect it and not let it disappear again,” he said.

He posed for pictures and video with a specimen that was dark olive with black spots on its back. The kunimasu grow to about a foot (30 centimers) in length.

Nakabo said the lake had sufficent kunimasu for the species

to survive if the current environment is maintained, though he said in interviews he hoped fishermen would not catch it. Lake Saiko is in a region popular with tourists for its Fuji views and hot spring baths.

The salmon is still listed as extinct in the public records of the Environment Ministry. Yobukaze Naniwa, an official at the ministry, said Nakabo’s claim would be investigated before records are due to be updated in 2012. Other species, including shellfish and plants, have also been discovered in Japan after being declared extinct, Naniwa said.

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Sport

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Tevez back at City training — report Agence France Presse

LONDON - Want-away Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez returned to the club’s training ground on Tuesday as scheduled, Britain’s Press Association reported. Tevez was due to take part in a training session on Tuesday following a four-day break in Tenerife.

The Argentina striker sat out the weekend victory against West Ham, which emphasised City’s title credentials, as he was banned.

But following the win, it was revealed Tevez had handed in a written transfer request - which has been rejected by the club. It is understood he is unlikely to travel to Turin on Wednesday with the squad ahead of the Europa League match against Juventus.

Manager Roberto Mancini apparently made that decision before the weekend, knowing the game was a dead rubber, with City and Lech Poznan already through to the next stage of the tournament and Juventus eliminated. City do not have a Premier League match until next Monday when they face Everton at Eastlands.

International

Spain’s golden generation taste World Cup glory Agence France Presse

MADRID - The year 2010 will forever be remembered as the time when Spain’s golden generation lifted the World Cup for the first time in history with their 1-0 extra-time final win over the Netherlands in Johannesburg seeing them become the eighth country to capture football’s ultimate prize.

After waiting 44 years to win a major trophy, Spain made it two in as many years, following up their Euro 2008 success with World Cup glory in South Africa after Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta scored the winner deep in extra-time to spark wild fiestas on July 11.

“I still can barely believe that I got the chance to score the winning goal,” said Iniesta. “Spain deserved to win this World Cup and it is something to treasure, to enjoy, to be proud of.” Spain had started the finals with a 1-0 group loss against Switzerland, but Vicente del Bosque’s side came back to win the tournament and make history by becoming the first European team to win the trophy on a different continent.

Scoring the winning goal capped a fine season for Iniesta, one of the players short-listed for the Ballon D’Or, as Barcelona retained the league title in May and Real turned to super coach Jose Mourinho to try and end their dominance.

Barcelona beat arch rivals Real in both Clasicos (1-0 and 2-0) and Argentine Lionel Messi scored 34

league goals to win the Pichichi award for the league’s top-scorer.

Barcelona notched a league record 99 points to take the title on the final day of the season and Real’s ‘Galacticos’ ended up empty-handed despite setting a best-ever points tally of 96.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the world’s most expensive player at 94 million euros, had a fine debut season, however, it was in vain with Real also crashing out of the Champions League at the last 16 stage to Lyon in early March.

Barcelona reached the Champions League semi-finals but lost 3-2 on aggregate to Mourinho’s Inter Milan side who defended doggedly at Nou Camp to knock out the holders.

Atletico Madrid were Spain’s surprise victors in Europe winning the inaugural Europa League by beating Fulham in the final.

Mourinho was a hero for Real Madrid fans who feared Barcelona winning the Champions League final at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium and, with Manuel Pellegrini’s days numbered, Real lured the Portuguese coach, who had raised his

profile with a league, cup and Champions League treble for Inter, to the Spanish capital to steal the headlines ahead of the World Cup. Spain went into the tournament as one of the favourites and finally lived up to their billing with David Villa top-scoring with five goals en route to the final where Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0.

Spain beat Portugal, Paraguay, Germany and the Netherlands without conceding a goal to become world champions for the first time and their style of play mirrored that of Barcelona with the ‘Tiqui Taca’, or one and two-touch play, dominating possession.Before the World Cup, Barcelona had struck a deal to bring Villa to the club paying Valencia 40 million euros for his services although they could not tempt Arsenal to part with Cesc Fabregas.

Mourinho brought in German internationals Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil on the back of a successful World Cup, however, the newlook Real flopped in his first game in charge with a 0-0 draw at Real Mallorca in late August.

IBP/ist

Carlos Tevez

Spain finish year top of FIFA rankings Agence France Presse

PARIS - World Cup winners Spain will finish the year as FIFA’s world number one, following up their triumph in South Africa with a perfect start to their Euro 2012 qualification campaign.

The team they beat in the final in Soccer City, Johannesburg, the Netherlands, are in second place with resurgent Germany in third. South American rivals Brazil and Argentina are fourth and fifth with England in sixth.

FIFA WORLD TOP 10 1. Spain

6. England

2. Netherlands

7. Uruguay

3. Germany (+1)

8. Portugal

4. Brazil (-1)

9. Egypt (+1)

5. Argentina

10. Croatia (-1)

AFP PHOTO / PEDRO UGARTE

Spain’s goalkeeper Iker Casillas (top) pulls off a save as Spain’s defender Carles Puyol falls and Netherlands’ striker Robin van Persie (R) looks on during the 2010 World Cup football final at Soccer City stadium in Soweto, suburban Johannesburg on July 11, 2010.

Sport

International

Thursday, December 16, 2010

15

Rafa, Roger blockbuster still a blast Agence France Presse

PARIS - Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer dominated men’s tennis again in 2010, their epic rivalry cranked up to new heights and making fools of those who had unwisely written off the two men as spent forces. In a sporting year which had more than a hint of Spanish fiesta about it, Nadal reeled off the French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open to become only the seventh man in history to complete the career Grand Slam.

At 24, he was also the youngest. He captured a cleansweep of the three spring-time claycourt Masters events on his way to a fifth Roland Garros title. Nadal finished the year as world number one, but the start of 2010 saw the popular Spaniard in the depths of despair.

He relinquished his Australian Open title when he was forced to retire injured against Andy Murray in the quarter-finals and the alarm bells began to ring.

Nadal was about to slip to three in the world, but it was his injuryravaged knees which were causing more concern. The Spaniard retreated to Mallorca for two months, returning for the back-toback US hardcourt Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami where he made the semi-finals.

Nadal wasn’t going to leave with a whimper and the ensuing

European claycourt season saw the Spanish whirlwind blow away his rivals, winning in Monte Carlo, Rome and Madrid before breezing through the French Open without dropping a set. By the end of 2010, Nadal had a 71-10 winning record, with his Grand Slam count up to nine.

“I think it was a very emotional season,” said Nadal. “I am very happy for everything and just want to say thank you very much to all the people that supported me when I had the difficult moments and when I was winning.”

Federer, five years older than his great Spanish rival, took his career Grand Slam total to 16 with victory in Australia, but then saw Nadal inherit his Roland Garros and Wimbledon titles. The great Swiss endured a slump after Melbourne, going without a title until Cincinnati in August, suffer-

ing a shock quarter-final defeat to Tomas Berdych in the Wimbledon quarter-finals along the way.

But a fifth World Tour Finals trophy in London in November gave Federer renewed hope for 2011, a confidence boosted by having defeated Nadal in the final. He had lost his previous six meetings with Nadal, and he remains on the wrong end of an 8-14 career record against the Spaniard.

“I have no plans at all about stopping, quitting, whatever you want to call it,” said the rejuvenated, 29-year-old Federer, who now has 66 career titles.

“I hope I can play for many more years to come. I enjoy it and take pleasure out of travelling the world, playing against the best and challenging myself.” Nadal predicts his great rivalry with Federer will continue, as will the mutual respect.

AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY

Rafael Nadal from Spain celebrating after winning against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during the Men’s Singles Final at US Open 2010 match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York September 13, 2010.

Anthony scores 35, Nuggets beat Magic 111-94 Associated Press Writer

DENVER – Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points and the Denver Nuggets pulled away in the final five minutes to beat the Orlando Magic 11194 despite J.J. Redick’s career-high 29 points. With Denver leading 92-91, Arron Afflalo’s 3-pointer jump-started the Nuggets on a 19-3 run to close out the game.

Anthony hit 14 of 21 shots from the floor and pulled down 11 rebounds.

Nene had 10 points and 10 boards for the Nuggets, who were coming off a 1-3 trip and improved to an NBA-best 11-1 at home.

Anthony’s three-point play put Denver on top 98-91 moments before Nene and Dwight Howard drew a double-technical for shoving each other under the Magic’s basket. Anthony added a rim-rattler of a dunk that sent the satisfied fans streaming to the exits with two minutes left and his free throw with 1:34 left capped his night. Howard had 21 points and 14 rebounds for Orlando.

Ty Lawson started at the point for Denver with Chauncey Billups out after aggravating his sprained right wrist at Toronto last week and he scored 16 points and dished out six assists. Redick’s point total was two more than his previous career high set Nov. 1, 2009, against Toronto.

One day after denying an ESPN report that he had told the Nuggets he’d only accept a trade to the New York Knicks, Anthony was greeted with cheers as he scored 20 first-half points.

But there were three young fans who loudly chanted “Let’s trade `Melo!” and “You can go to New York!” while Anthony was at the free-throw line completing a three-point play in the first quarter. (They also chanted, “Put in Tebow!” later in the half).

Rumors about Anthony’s destination have swirled since the summer when he was offered a three-year, $65 million extension that’s collecting dust without his signature.

Anthony’s three-point play was the highlight of a 12-3 run the Nuggets used to take a 61-51 lead in the closing seconds of the first half, but his baseline violation allowed the Magic to pull to 61-55 at the break when Marcin Gortat’s put-back hung on the rim and then fell through the hoop as the buzzer sounded.

The Magic started the second half on a 9-0 run and the Nuggets didn’t score until Sheldon Williams’ jumper with 7:10 left in the third quarter.

With Denver leading 82-78 early in the fourth quarter, Redick sank a 3-pointer and was fouled by J.R. Smith, whose argument also drew a technical. Redick sank the technical free throw, then the bonus to complete a five-point trip. Redick was 6 of 9 from beyond the arc.

Wolfsburg interested in Bayern’s van Bommel Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Jack Dempsey

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) shoots against the Denver Nuggets during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2010, in Denver.

BERLIN – Bundesliga side Wolfsburg want to sign Bayern Munich captain and Holland midfielder Mark van Bommel during January’s winter break, according to German daily Bild on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old Dutchman is under contract at Bayern until June 2011, but extension talks with the German champions have produced no results so far and Wolfsburg want to lure the Dutchman away, according to Bild’s sources.

Wolfsburg need a defensive midfielder to bolster their team in the middle of the park and van Bommel would be a good option, according to Wolves manager Dieter Hoeness.

“We always want players who have an edge to them,” Hoeness told Bild. “As for van Bommel, I would be happy to have someone like him in the team.” Van Bommel, who played in the World Cup final defeat to Spain in July, has won 67 caps for the Netherlands and has said he wants to play at the highest level until at least Euro 2012, which will be held in the Ukraine and Poland.

According to Bild, Wolfsburg have already tried to lure Bayern midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Schalke’s Jermaine Jones, but van Bommel is their new target during January’s winter break. “Wolfsburg has a good team,” van Bommel told Bild. “Of course, there is much speculation about transfers at the moment, but I don’t want to contribute to that.”

Under ex-England coach Steve McClaren, 2007 German champions Wolfsburg are 14th in the German league and three points from the relegation zone.

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Thursday, December 16, 2010

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

Sport

Ferrari still pushing for three-car teams Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo says he will continue to push for top teams to be allowed to run three cars, and for the testing limits to be relaxed. Di Montezemolo has been strongly critical of the current rules on both topics in recent years. During a dinner with the Italian press yesterday, he said his belief that permitting three-car teams would have been better for Formula 1 than allowing the new teams to join this season had not changed.

IBP/ist

Ferraris on track at the team’s World Finals event.

Webber calls for Newey knighthood MARK Webber believes that Red Bull’s chief technical officer Adrian Newey should be considered for a knighthood in recognition for his achievements in motorsport.

The 51-year-old Englishman oversaw the development of a constructors’ championship-winning car for the seventh time in his career in 2010, while Sebastian Vettel went on to secure a 14th title derived from involvement with a Newey-designed car. Speaking on a live phone-in with BBC Radio 5 Live, Webber said: “If anyone should be knighted, and there

are plenty of special people out there, but Adrian won’t be far off eventually.

“He is a genius, his ability to understand what the car needs aerodynamically is his biggest strength and that’s what makes his cars go quickly.

“It’s similar to a guy who designs aeroplanes or yachts. He’s sensational in understanding what the car needs to generate downforce, which creates lap time, which creates victories.

Webber added that he didn’t think

it would have been possible for Red Bull to scoop both titles in 2010 without Newey’s input: “Adrian is a big, big member of our team and his genius in designing F1 cars is well known.

“He has got a phenomenal record and has won over 100 grands prix.

He has won titles for three different teams and wherever he has gone generally it has worked out. Sometimes it takes time obviously, you don’t just wave a wand over a car when you first arrive. It took four years with us at Red Bull.”

IBP/ist

Mark Webber, Adrian Newey, and Sebastian Vettel in 2010

“The small teams? Honestly, I feel it would be better to have the opportunity of running a third car rather than seeing cars that would struggle even in GP2,” said di Montezemolo. “It’s an idea we will put forward again strongly for the future.” He also believes the current ban on in-season testing is unhealthy for the sport. “Then we must unblock this absurd limitation on testing,” he said.

“Formula 1 is the only sport in which there is no chance to train. It is like asking Real Madrid, Milan or Inter to play with smooth-soled boots in the rain or not to warm-up before a Champions League game.”

Di Montezemolo was critical of the new generation of circuits too, echoing FIA president Jean Todt’s recent suggestion that future new tracks need to prioritise overtaking possibilities.

“On the subject of the new circuits, I have to say it would be better if more thought was given to the races with an increase in overtaking opportunities with less effort going into beautiful architecture,” he said.

But he felt that the FIA’s recent decision to end the team orders ban showed that the governing body was moving in the right direction under Todt. “Fortunately, the rule banning team orders has been abolished, which was well and truly a hypocritical rule,” said di Montezemolo. “It has always been part of the sport and those who race for Ferrari are perfectly aware of the fact.

“The FIA, under the guidance of Jean Todt, is working well and this decision confirms that trend.”