Edisi 22 April 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 77 2st Year

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

Coral reef repair in Serangan should become example PAGE 8

Wash. woman drops rape lawsuit against Copperfield PAGE 12

BP/doc

The parents are waiting to pick up their children at school.

Police prevent the rape

Give away sketch and making ID Denpasar (Bali Post) -

Many efforts had been done by the police to catch the villain who raped and kidnap children of the elementary school in Bali. The police had spread the sketch of the suspect to all regencies in Bali and also had track down the suspect up to Java.

WEATHER FORECAST

Other efforts also had been done by the schools such as giving special ID for the parents who wanted to pick up their children at school.

The police also had placed notice in the strategic places. I Gede

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

24 - 33

Antara

JAKARTA

25 - 33

BANDUNG

21 - 29

YOGYAKARTA

23 - 32

SURABAYA

24 - 34

TAMPAK SIRING - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked authorities attending the three-day national working conference here to immediately implement its results.

“The presidential instruction that I am going to sign and issue should be implemented immediately and followed up at provincial and regional levels,” the president said before closing the meeting here on Wednesday.

President Yudhoyono then called on all parties attending the conference to jointly formulate

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small information received will be investigated thoroughly, for example the info about the license plate of the motorcycle used by the suspect. The numbers lead to at least 50 addresses.

Alit Widana, the head of Denpasar

President want national meeting outcomes implemented

CITY

SUNNY

Ganefo, the head of southern Denpasar precinct, said “the ID is given to the parents so if they don’t bring the ID, the person can not enter the school area or pick up anyone.”

Other effort is by conducted investigation from all directions. Any

Police Department, said that even tough the police have been conducted many efforts but the villain can not be arrested until now. “We will try harder to catch the bad guys. It is our duty to catch him,” he added.

On the other hand, the victim must also accompanied and given counseling to prevent them to have post traumatic after the incident.

The house of representative is also taking action by forming a special team to handle the problem.(jay)

and implement all things that have been discussed at the meeting.

“What we are going to formulate will be the instrument in the development and government management. Therefore let’s implement it and follow it up,” the president said.

The head of state also said that if there was a problem in the implementation of Tampak Siring meeting’s results, all parties should make a good coordination to overcome it.

“In the next five years there will be a measurement in the form of statistic, and therefore all governors should be able to use the national statistic figure as reference,” the president said.

Continued on page 6

BP/doc

Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is seen during the meting in Bali

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International

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Bali News Minister of Home Affairs:

Regional heads should manage their finance carefully Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Minister of Home Affairs, Gamawan Fauzi, called on the Regional Heads, in this case Governors and Regents throughout Indonesia, to manage the local finance carefully when met after the plenary meeting of the National Workshop at Tampaksiring Palace, Gianyar, last Tuesday (Apr 20). A call for caution in the implementation of Government Revenues and Expenditures was intended to avoid occurrence of similar cases as experienced by the Governor of North Sumatra, Samsul Arifin that has been declared the suspect by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), last Tuesday.

Reflecting on the case, Gamawan Fauzi expressed his concern. Up to last Tuesday afternoon, Samsul Fauzi who attended the National Workshop at Tampaksiring Palace was still visible.

“When I go to the toilet I saw him, but could not talk much,” he said, and he would report immediately to President SBY. From a number of monitoring at the venue of national workshop at Tampaksiring Palace, after the information about the status of Samsul Arifin was enhanced by KPK from enquiry to investigation, seemingly the presence of Samsul Arifin was hard to find. Many colleagues at the National Workshop were surprised to hear such stipulation. Samsul Arifin was made as a suspect by the KPK because he was alleged to misuse of regional bud-

gets of Langkat during the period of 2000-2007.

The process of enquiry toward the corruption allegation performed by KPK against Samsul Arifin started in 2009, after serving as governor of North Sumatra for a year. The Commission began made enquiry on the corruption allegation of Samsul on the use of regional budget. This case was originated from a public complaint to the KPK on last June 13, 2009. In the report, it was also included the audit results issued by the Audit Board of the RI (BPK) number: 26R/S/I/XXV/ 03 / 2009 dated March 16, 2009, with allegation of losses to the state reaching IDR 31 billion.

In the meantime, after the stipulation of Governor of North Sumatra as

the suspect the Minister of Home Affairs did not automatically deactivate Samsul Arifin from his current duties.

Obviously, deactivation would be done after his status became a defendant. As consequence, the deputy governor would automatically replace him.

Currently, there were two governors who had made a suspect in the case of corruption, namely the Governor of Riau Islands and the Governor of North Sumatra. Definitely, this would become an experience for colleagues of Governors and Regents regarding to the financial management of the Regional Budgets. Today, the scope of corruption is different from in the past. It has been wider, not only had something to do with the policy of enriching others. (kmb16)

Denpasar showered by rains, 13 points potentially stricken by flood Denpasar (Bali Post) -

The rainy season beginning to increase in April 2010 this month triggers a high intensity of rain in Denpasar. Although in the year 2009, Denpasar seemed to be free from floods, but this year the worries about floods will occur again. Moreover, the behavior of local people throwing garbage into the river remains to happen.

It was proven by the rain flushing Denpasar, last Tuesday (Apr 20) and it was never-ending and made the water at a number of areas particularly the road body stagnant. Such condition could be seen on some streets as on Jalan Gunung Agung, West Denpasar. The same condition also haunted the residents around the Jalan Pura Demak. The prone areas that previously flooded, last Tuesday remained safe from the threat of flood.

Denpasar Public Works, especially at that area, had made canal into the Tukad Mati or Dead River The data owned by Section Head

of Irrigation Development, Denpasar Public Works Ngurah Putra Sanjaya accompanied by the Head of Public Relations I Made Erwin Suryadarma mentioned there were at least 13 points of location throughout the four subdistricts being prone to flood. Due to raining, huge puddles of water occurred in several locations.

In the region of South Denpasar, the puddles of water ensued at the courtyard of Sanur community health center, Jalan Dewata, Jalan Tukad Batang Hari, Jalan Palapa XII, Jalan Tukad Yeh Aye, Jalan Tukad Pakerisan, and Jalan Pulau Roon. More than that, similar condition also occurred in West Denpasar as on Jalan Subur, Monang Maning and Jalan Gunung Agung.

In North Denpasar area, it occurred around Jalan Gatot Subroto, Jalan Nangka Utara and Jalan Sari Gading.

Meanwhile, in East Denpasar, the potential flood might occur at the Tangtu area.

“Floods formerly occurring at Kertha Pura Dalem and Jalan Pura Demak can now be resolved because it has been anticipated by the making of drainage and canal. Even, the potentials occurred at other locations. On average, it was caused by the overflow of garbage that piling up and clogging, while at other locations the gutters are narrowing and no drainage available,” said Ngurah Putra last Tuesday.

It was said, Jalan Tukad Batanghari indeed has not had any drainage and Jurang Sari Hamlet needed a canal.

“The creation of drainage system will be just programmed in 2011, while the repairing of gutters and canal will be proposed in the Budget Amendment,” he said. For supervision and monitoring of these floods, his party has deployed 6 trucks. Each truck contained 10 officers. They were responsible for transporting the waste in rivers. “As a matter of fact, the main cause of flooding is the garbage piling up and getting blocked,” he explained. (kmb12)

Within a day, two patients of rabies suspect die On last Tuesday (Apr 20), two patients of rabies suspect treated in Nusa Indah Room died. They respectively came from Tembuku, Bangli and Bebandem Karangasem. The suspect patient from Bangli, Ni Wayan Sriani, 30, according to the Secretary of Rabies Management Team of Sanglah Hospital, Ken Wirasandhi, the patient came on last Monday (Apr 19) around 10:00 am Local Time. She was then followed by Nengah Rai from Karangasem at 9:00 pm. Sriani came with complaints of paralysis at both legs, showed symptoms of phobia and fever. She had a history of being bitten by a dog about a month ago and had treated her wound at the nearest Community Health Center despite did not obtain the VAR. Meanwhile, Rai came to Sanglah Hospital with complaints of difficulty to breathe and swallow. She was bitten by a dog in the left calf for about two months ago.

According to Ken, Rai did not get wound treatment or VAR. Having been treated for several hours, Rai died at around 03:00 am, last Tuesday (Apr 20), while Sriani at 08.00 am. Her second sample had been taken for further examined whether she was positive to rabies or not. Meanwhile, the availability of VAR in Sanglah Hospital was still adequate. New bite cases

coming to Sanglah Hospital began to decline. “At the moment, the new bite cases ranged between 40-50 people and it could be estimated that for the follow-up VAR will also keep on declining. Possibility of this decrease is caused by every district has had the VAR stock,” said Ken. Regarding to the availability of VAR in Bali, the Head of Bali Health Services, Nyoman Sutedja, when contacted last Tuesday (Apr 20), from the 19,249 vials of VAR provided by Bali Health Services it left some 13,200 vials. And at the moment, three regencies lacked for the stock such as Bangli, Gianyar and Karangasem. “For these regencies running out of VAR stock, Bali Health Services is going to supply the stock until they could have satisfied their own VAR. Meanwhile, Karangasem Regency plans to provide it in next September because it should wait for the Budget Amendment,” said Sutedja.

It was continued, if the bite case remained high in Bali, the 13,200 vials of VAR left could only back-up the need of vaccine for 65 days. On that account, Sutedja expected the process of dog elimination and vaccination could become more effective and suggested the community to always bind and vaccinate their pet dog. (kmb24)

Ani Yudhoyono Visit the Craft Center in Gianyar Gianyar (Bali Post) –

Sidelines of accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the activities National Workshop for three days at the Palace Tampaksiring, Gianyar, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Tuesday (20 / 4) yesterday was taking the time to visit craft centers in the district of Gianyar. Starting from the weaving of the craft bonding, painting, handicrafts, and artisan of prada fan.

Visit First Lady was accompanied

by Mrs. Herawati Boediono accompanied Regent Gianyar Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Stanger and wife, Ibu Ayu Pastika, Star’s mother Puspayoga convey a sense of pride to all entrepreneurs craft which has conducted a number of innovations in developing populist industry. By making innovation on the existence craft equipment that is not the machine is expected to accelerate and provide added value. Hope, the future of the craftsmen can have high competi-

tiveness in the national and international.

The craft that visited the center Tuesday at 10:00 pm start Ikat Weaving craft company in Blahbatuh Putri Ayu, Galleries Dewa Putu historical paintings in the village of Batuan Sukawati Gianyar. In place of the painting this time, the First Lady also had the chance to see the craft of painting.

During his visit in the Painting Gallery, First Lady Ani had time to greet some tourists who visit. Even my mother could hand shake and conversation with a historical women. Of the hundreds of works of art Gallery framed painting on the wall, looks amazing expression see the beautiful work of art crafts in the district of Gianyar.

Meanwhile, a separate site, the group II mothers united ministers cabinet interrupted the husband did Congress, make visits to the region Tegallalang craft. One of these craft was in Kliki Prada Fan Kanginan, Tegalalang. (Kmb16)

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

Bali News

International

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Tourist Fainting after fed Drugs

Sarbagita buses aggravate the congestion at Dewa Ruci junctions

Victim Property Stolen

Bali Provincial Government has focused to prepare the Sarbagita transport. Route I is operated starting from Puputan Badung SquareJalan Sudirman -Sesetan - Bypass Ngurah Rai – Campus of Bukit Jimbaran and GWK, while the route II covers the route of Batubulan to Nusa Dua. The two routes take advantage of the crowded traffic of Bypass Ngurah Rai. A total of 20 buses have been prepared to carry passengers.

However, a fear emerges if the Sarbagita bus operation will add to traffic congestion at Dewa Ruci junctions. The complaint was revealed in the hearing with Commission III of Bali House with the Head of Bali Transportation Services Made Santha, last Tuesday (Apr 20) at Renon.

To anticipate the traffic jam, especially at Dewa Ruci junctions it would be designed a device for area traffic control system so that as soon as the Sarbagita bus left the traffic light area the green light would turned on. The Section Head of Tranquility and Order of Transportation Services in charge at location said the device required a budget worth IDR 5 billion. The device would be installed at strategic locations on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai, included at Dewa Ruci junctions.

This solution relieved the pessimistic attitude of the Head of Commission III of Bali House, Putu Agus Suradnyana, worrying the 20 Sarbagita buses prepared to pass through crowded traffic lane would exacerbate the traffic congestion, especially at Dewa

Denpasar (Bali Post) -

Neil P. Gundari (47), this British man is definitely not owning a good fate, Saturday (17 / 4) early days ago. This victim had cheated strangers. He fed the drug to pass out. Not only that, after the victim was helpless, he was also beaten and their possessions taken by the perpetrators escaped.

The event is definitely not happen in a house on Road Drupadi No. 108 F, Seminyak, Kuta, Badung, at 02.00 o’clock. Victim suddenly fainted after his drink was given the drug. ‘’Either they (victim and perpetrator-ed), friends, or how, we are still investigating the case,’’ said one police officers in Denpasar, Tuesday (20 / 4) yesterday.

After drinking a beverage, the victim was unconscious. Moments

that used to bring the perpetrators fled the property of the victim. Before his belongings taken away, the perpetrator also beat up a helpless victim. ‘’The entire victim’s belongings taken away,’’ he said.

Among other things, an iPhone, Blackberry, safety box, alarm stickers, USD 1 million in cash, 400 dollars, afteshaved, perfume, two shirts, two shoes, IPOD, Olympus camera, Apple laptop brands Compaq Max and two other pieces.

The reported total losses estimated to be victims of Rp 75 million.

However, cases of theft with violence were reported to the police station, Monday (19 / 4). Police has conducted crime scene and examination of witnesses. Until now, the perpetrators of the theft was not successfully tracked the police. ‘’The actors are still being chased. Members of buser been deployed in the field,’’ said the official said. (Kmb21)

Tourists rarely glimpsed at the Monument Semarapura (Bali Post) -

Since its founding in 1992, until now not Klungkung Monument Puputan never repaired. Not only were damaged in some parts, adjacent to the location of the monument as a tourist attraction that Kertagosa very rarely visited tourist, including domestic tourists (students).

In fact, there are monuments in dioramas depicting the history of Klungkung war. Ironically, it is these kinds of monuments often utilized as a bawdy place by the teenagers, both from and outside Klungkung.

A staff officer who is also a

monument of Culture and Tourism (Disbudpar) Klungkung, Nyoman Suda, Tuesday (20 / 4) states, during this she had never seen any renovations done on the monument.

He also confirms the absence of tourists who glanced at the existence of monuments these. In fact, situated adjacent to the tourist attraction, that Kertagosa starts bustling tourists visited, whether local, domestic or foreign. ‘’Maybe the teachers are not interested in taking their students to the monument. So also tour guides, no one has invited travelers to the monument.

Though they came to Kertagosa,’’

Junior Student Killed Collision Semarapura (Bali Post) -

Although cars are still a little spelled out, the number of road accident traffic in the region of Nusa Penida is also spelled out often. Like, Tuesday (20 / 4), traffic accidents occurred among motorcyclists in SDN Kutampi front lines, Nusa Penida.

Resulted in a junior high student, Made Kertayasa origin Pengaud Banjar, Suana, Nusa Penida, were killed. Two others, Wayan Aditya Mardika Putu Sulastra were severely injured and to be rushed to a hospital emergency room.

Klungkung.

When asked for confirmation, Kapolsektif Nusa Penida, the AKP. Made Sudartawan said the accident occurred at 11:00 pm. At that time, two bicycles both the motor speeding in the opposite direction. Type motorcycle Jupiter MX driving fatalities (Kertayasa-red) moving

from the direction of Suana toward Kutampi. From the opposite direction is also a speed shogun’s high motorcycle driven by Wayan Sulastra Putu bum Aditya Mardika. Somehow, the two motorcycles collided with each another. Makes both motorcycles and caromed into its riderasphalt. ‘’Because of injuries sustained hard enough, Kertayasa died.

Meanwhile, two other victims, and Mardika Sulastra been rushed to hospital Klungkung to receive intensive care,’’ pointed out as police chief mention, Kertayasa experiencing quite heavy division head injuries.

Sulastra fracture wounds on the right wrist, torn wounds on the cheek.

While Mardika suffered a broken thigh bone and tear on the cheek. ‘’They were similarly not use a helmet,’’ he added. (Kmb20)

pointed out Suda. Asked for confirmation of a separate place, Kadisbudpar Klungkung, Nengah Wijana mentioned, a series of anniversary that Puputan to this 101 (April 28), Klungkung regency plans to conduct repairs.

However, he said, the repairs done in stages, especially some parts made of wood such as dioramas and sculptures. ‘’I also see, there are about 40 percent of the parts in the monuments that need repaired. Indeed, a new improvement plan is the first time done,’’ I Wijana. (kmb20)

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

3

Ruci junctions.

According to the officers in charge at location, there was possibility at the time of serious traffic congestion, even though there was no Sarbagita bus, the green light could be set up green because it was controlled through a special room at the Transportation Services. With the device, it would no longer need any traffic policemen on the special paths because the device settings were controlled via a special room prepared in the Transportation Services. “It is enough for us to make coordination in the office with the police,” he said. Such device has been already in use in Singapore.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia it has been implemented in Jakarta, West Java and Solo and would be coming soon to be installed in Bali.

Santa recognized the installation of the device related to the Sarbagita project. On that account, he hoped the 20 buses could be prepared by the Ministry of Transportation and brought to Bali in the upcoming November. Of the 20 buses, 10 buses would belong to medium-sized with the seat capacity of 35 passengers. Meanwhile, the larger bus sized up to 50 passengers. It was expected that starting in 2011 all Sarbagita buses could be operated. Currently, the authority was completing the 24 halts at the routes to be traversed. At least, the complaints of lecturers and students about the scarcity of transport who will go to Campus at Bukit Jimbaran can be overcome. At the same time, there will be punctuality, service and comfort. (029)

4

News

Thursday, April 22, 2010

International

Baghdad election recount could start next week Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD – An Iraqi electoral official said Wednesday that a court-ordered recount of Baghdad votes from the inconclusive election could begin as early as next week, a process that could take away the narrow lead of election winner Ayad Allawi over the current prime minister.

A court ruled Monday in favor of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s demand for a recount of 2.5 million votes in Baghdad, handing the incumbent a small victory in his quest to change through the courts the results of the March 7 election for a new, 325-seat legislature.

Neither al-Maliki’s State of Law coalition or Iraqiya, his challenger Allawi’s bloc, has won enough seats to form a government. Both have been searching for coalition partners since last month’s election to obtain a parliamentary majority.

Allawi said Tuesday that he supports the recount, but that his coalition feared “the process of the recount could lead to a change in the results for the benefit of a specific group.” This was an implicit reference to al-Maliki’s bloc.

Election commissioner Sardar Abdul-Karim told The Associated Press the commission was cur-

rently drawing up plans for how the recount process would be conducted, and expected to submit its report in the next two days. “We don’t know yet when we will start, but we are planning to start the recount as early as next week.”

The recount will take place in Baghdad, but it was not clear how long it would take, he said. His office would do whatever it could to “have the process finished in a short period of time.”

Still unresolved are requests from al-Maliki for recounts in the provinces of Basra, Qadissiya, Anbar and Ninevah. Allawi has meanwhile said he was still waiting for a ruling on his own coalition’s request for recounts in the provinces of Najaf, Basra, Diwaniyah and Ninevah.

Allawi said he could not say what his party’s reaction would be if the Baghdad recount favored alMaliki until he sees how it is conduced and what is decided for the other provinces.

“Let’s see first how the process will be handled in regard to its transparency and we also need to know what’s the court decision about our complaints and contests,” he said.

There was a total of 70 seats up for grabs from Baghdad in the March 7 election. Al-Maliki’s State of Law won 26 and Iraqiya took 24.

AP Photo/Karim Kadim

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi is seen at his headquarters after speaking to the press in Baghdad, Iraq, Tuesday, April 20, 2010.

AP Photo/Scott Heppell

A Jet2.com Boeing 757 take off from Newcastle International Airport, England, Tuesday, April 20, 2010.The flight has been put on to rescue 229 stranded passengers from Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.

Airlines lose $1.7 billion, Germany opens airspace Associated Press Writer

BERLIN – Air controllers lifted all restrictions on German airspace on Wednesday, paving the way for more flights into one of Europe’s busiest airports. Airlines announced they had lost at least $1.7 billion and criticized government actions during the volcanic ash crisis.

Giovanni Bisignani, the head of the International Air Transport Association, called the economic fallout from the six-day travel shutdown “devastating” and urged European governments to examine ways to compensate airlines for lost revenues, as the U.S. government did following the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks.

Spain, meanwhile, has become a key emergency travel hub, arranging for hundreds of special flights to move over 40,000 people stranded by the travel disruptions.

Its airports and airspace have mostly remained open throughout the crisis.

German aviation agency Deutsche Flugsicherung said the improved weather situation allowed

it to completely reopen the country’s airspace, ending restrictions that had hobbled air travel and contributed to millions of travelers left stranded around the globe.

“Bremen, Hamburg, Hannover, Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich are open again,” said Axel Raab, a spokesman for German air traffic control, adding that airspace was expected to remain open for the rest of the day.

“We cannot say what it will look like in the next few days. If the volcano becomes active again, new closures might happen,” he said. “This is now a decision that was made based on meteorological data.”

The agency added that the concentration of volcano ash in the sky

“considerably decreased and will continue to dwindle because of the weather conditions.”

Passengers, many of whom were stranded for days, welcomed the news.

“It’s good for us at least,” Mats Tillander, a Swede at Frankfurt International Airport, who spent four days trapped in Texas, told AP Television News.

He discounted bickering between airlines and governments as to whether the airspace closings across Europe were a case of overkill.

“I don’t know what’s right and wrong,” he said. “If they should have done it earlier, I don’t know.”

Airlines lost $400 million each day during the first three days of grounding, Bisignani told a news conference Wednesday in Berlin. At one stage, 29 percent of global aviation and 1.2 million passengers a day were affected by the airspace closure ordered by European governments, who feared the risk that volcanic ash could pose to airplanes.

Mumbai attacks hotel set to reopen Agence France Presse

MUMBAI – One of the three luxury hotels in Mumbai that were stormed by Islamist militants nearly 18 months ago will finally welcome back guests this weekend, its owners said on Wednesday.

The Oberoi has been shut since the three-day siege in November 2008 that killed 166 and injured over 300, unlike the adjoining Trident and nearby Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, which both partially reopened soon afterwards.

“Every room was destroyed in the hotel. There were many explosions and many bullets,” president of Oberoi Hotels and Resorts Liam

Lambert said. “All the rooms were affected either by fire, water or smoke.”

The five-star, seafront hotel reopens on Saturday after renovations costing 35 million to 40 million dollars, he added.

Lambert told a news conference that the hotel has 37 bookings for next week and said he expected demand to pick up slowly, as the annual monsoon rains approach in June.

Before the attacks, the hotel pulled in revenue of about 36 million dollars in revenue a year, he said.

The cost of the repairs has mainly come from “Mr Oberoi’s pocket”, Lambert said, referring to the chairman of the Oberoi Group parent company, P.R.S Oberoi.

An interim insurance payment of 14 million dollars for loss of profit and reconstruction has also gone towards the revamp, he added. The total losses are still being assessed, he said.

A multi-faith religious service was held this week at the hotel, where little evidence remains of the carnage wrought by the heavilyarmed gunmen who attacked multiple targets across the city.

Thirty-five people were killed at The Oberoi and Trident, according to official figures.

The number of rooms has decreased by 50 to 287, with the addition of more suites, while three of the hotel’s restaurants have been renamed.

AFP/Sajjad Hussain

A pianist plays in the lobby of the Oberoi hotel in Mumbai on April 21.

The Oberoi, one of the three luxury hotels in Mumbai that were stormed

by Islamist militants nearly 18 months ago, will finally welcome back guests this weekend, its owners said on Wednesday.

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

General Info

Thursday, April 22, 2010

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

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

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

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

Phone : 223 036 Fax : 268 690.

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

Phone : 222 142.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

News

Poland’s presidential election set for June 20

Somali pirates seize ship with 21 Filipinos aboard

Agence France Presse

Associated Press Writer

WARSAW – Presidential elections in Poland to find a successor to Lech Kaczynski, who perished in an air crash, were set for June 20 on Wednesday by the country’s interim leader.

NAIROBI, Kenya – Four suspected Somali pirates carrying AK47s and a rocket-propelled grenade seized a bulk carrier with 21 crew on board Wednesday, the fourth ship pirates have seized in less than a week, officials said.

The Panamanian-flagged, Liberian-owned Voc Daisy was taken about 200 miles (300 kilometers) outside the corridor where international warships guard convoys of merchant vessels, said Cmdr.

John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU Naval Force.

The hijacking of the Voc Daisy follows an attack on three Thai fishing vessels Sunday. Pirates now hold 15 vessels and 326 crew, according to an Associated Press count.

The Voc Daisy, which had been heading from the United Arab Emirates toward the Suez Canal, was registered with security officials and raised an alarm before the four armed pirates stormed aboard. It was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden about 200 miles southeast of Oman.

The hijacking of the three Thai vessels Sunday was almost 600 miles (965 kilometers) outside the normal operation area for the EU Naval Force. Pirates have expanded their range south and east in response to an increase in patrols by European and American warships off the Somali shore.

The International Maritime Bureau said Wednesday that sea attacks worldwide fell by more than

“Bronislaw Komorowski has taken the decision to call elections for the president of the republic of Poland on June 20,” the parliamentary press service said in a statement.

All eyes are on Kaczynski’s identical twin Jaroslaw — who was prime minister in 2006-2007 in tandem with his presidential sibling.

The 60-year-old has been widely tipped to run, and his conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party is to take a decision on Saturday.

“In my view, Jaroslaw Kaczynski is the natural candidate,” Maks Kraczkowski, secretary of PiS’ political strategy council, told Poland’s PAP news agency. “But the decision lies with him,” he added.

Deeply unpopular after his time in office Jaroslaw Kaczynski has made no public statement about his future since his brother and several long-time political allies were killed in the April 10 crash in Russia.

Under the law, the names of would-be candidates must be presented to Poland’s electoral commission by Monday.

“I’m convinced that Jaroslaw Kaczynski will stand for president,” political scientist Stanislaw Mocek told AFP. “He will want in a sense to fulfil the political destiny of his late brother. And PiS doesn’t have any other candidate with enough clout,” he said.

Parliamentary speaker Komorowski, 57, became acting head of state after Lech Kaczynski, his wife Maria and scores of other top Polish political and military figures died when the presidential jet crashed near Smolensk, western Russia.

There were no survivors among the 96 people on board.

In a bitter irony, the plane was heading to ceremonies marking the 70th anniversary of a Soviet World War II massacre of thousands of Polish officers in the nearby Katyn forest.

National mourning has brought rare unity to Poland’s fractious political scene.

A regularly scheduled presidential election had been due

by October, with Komorowski already picked to run for Poland’s governing liberal Civic Platform (PO).

He was expected to beat Lech Kaczynski, a highly divisive figure at home and abroad whose popularity flagged after his first victory in 2005.

Poland’s deputy speaker of parliament and ex-defence minister, Jerzy Szmajdzinski, of the opposition ex-communist Democratic Left Alliance, also died in the crash. He had been due to stand in the autumn ballot.

Komorowski opted for June 20 after cross-party talks. It was the latest date possible, to give the parties who lost their candidates time to marshal their forces.

If no candidate receives over 50 percent of valid votes on June 20, a second run-off round must be held on July 4

(AFP/File/Michal Cizek)

Poland is planning presidential elections to find a successor to Lech Kaczynski, seen here in January 2010, who perished in an air crash.

Poland’s interim leader said the election will be held on June 20. between the top-ranked two.

Polls published Wednesday tipped Komorowski the clear front-runner.

The Rzeczpospolita broadsheet found he would get 49 percent of the first-round vote compared with Jaroslaw Kaczynki’s 26 percent, with both men outpacing all possible rivals across the political spectrum.

A poll in the tabloid Fakt showed Komorowski would win a second round easily with 55 percent against Kaczynski’s 32 percent.

“Politics is back in Poland and with it comes conflict, arguments and — let’s have no illusions — scandal-mongering battles,” wrote Wojciech Maziarski, chief editor of the Polish edition of Newsweek.

At least 11 workers sought after oil rig explosion Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS – At least 11 people were missing and seven injured after an explosion and fire at an oil drilling platform off the coast of Louisiana, the Coast Guard said Wednesday.

Most of the 126 people were believed to have escaped safely after the explosion at about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Mike O’Berry said.

It happened about 52 miles southeast of Venice on Louisiana’s tip.

The rig was still burning Wednesday morning and was listing about 10 degrees, O’Berry said.

“It’s burning pretty good and there’s no estimate on when the fire will be put out,” O’Berry said.

O’Berry said there were conflicting reports coming in but at least 11 — and possibly as many as 15 — were missing.

“We’re hoping everyone’s in a life raft,” he said.

Seven workers were airlifted to a Naval air station near New Orleans, then taken to hospitals. He said two of the seven were taken to a trauma center in Mobile, Ala., where there is a burn unit.

O’Berry said many workers who escaped the rig were being brought to land on a workboat while authorities searched the Gulf of Mexico for any signs of lifeboats.

The rig was drilling but was not in production, according to Greg Panegos, spokesman for its owner, Transocean Ltd., in Houston. The rig was under contract to BP.

a third in the first quarter this year thanks to a decline in pirate raids in the Gulf of Aden.

The number of attacks dipped by 34 percent to 67 in the January to March period, down from 102 incidents in the same period a year ago, the IMB’s piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur said. Eleven vessels were seized, with 194 crew members taken hostage including 12 who were injured, it said.

The IMB said pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden dropped to 17 from 41 a year ago, thanks to patrols by international navies and anti-piracy measures by merchant vessels. The east and south coasts of Somalia recorded 18 incidents, down from 21 a year ago.

IMB Director Capt. Pottengal Mukundan said there were cases where international navies in the Indian Ocean have disrupted suspected pirates, destroyed their boats and confiscated equipment.

“Such positive and robust action by the navies against mother ships, pirate skiffs and pirate action groups has been vital to keeping the attacks under control and must be sustained,” he added.

Last year, sea attacks worldwide surged 39 percent to a six-year high of 406 cases, with 49 vessels hijacked.

Analysts blame Somalia’s nearly 20 years of lawlessness for fueling piracy’s rise. The IMB said the attacks were opportunistic in nature, with pirates sometimes paid multimillion-dollar ransoms.

(AFP/File/Mohamed Dahir)

An armed Somali pirate is seen on a beach in northeastern Somalia in January 2010. Pirates have seized a Liberianowned bulk carrier with 21 Filipino crew in the Gulf of Aden, the European Union’s naval force in the region said in a statement.

President...

From page 1 He pointed out that if the national unemployment rate reached 6 percent, each region in that similar sector should have better score that the national figure.

“And if the national economic growth is 6.5 percent, make sure that in the regions it should be higher and better,” President Yudhoyono said.

In the company of Vice President Boediono, President Yudhoyono added that the implementation of Tampak Siring meeting’s results would be suc-

cessful if the people feel an improvement in their economy.

“The results of the meeting are the ways and measurements to measure the people’s welfare,” the head of state said, adding that the implementation of fair development should be done because Indonesia did not follow the liberal economic system.

He also encouraged all parties to remain optimistic in facing the challenges and take every opportunity to improve people’s welfare.

International

Indonesia Today

Thursday, April 22, 2010

7

Corruption fuelling terrorism in Indonesia: think tank Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesia has succeeded in dismantling a major new Al-Qaeda-style terrorist network but corruption and complacency threaten to unravel its gains against home grown extremists, a think tank said Tuesday.

The Brussels-based International Crisis Group (ICG) also warned against calls for Indonesia to mimic Singapore’s harsh internal security measures with a new intelligence bill due for debate this year.

“The bottom line is that the government is taking terrorism seriously, but much more needs to be done for political will to translate into effective action,” the ICG said in a report entitled “Jihadi Surprise in Aceh”.

“The Indonesian police, at both local and national levels, deserve credit for their fast work. But no one should be complacent that the job is

over.”

Police have arrested 48 alleged terrorists and killed another eight, including Dulmatin, one of the region’s most wanted men and a key figure in the 2002 Bali bombings, since raiding a terrorist training camp in Aceh province, Sumatra island, in February.

The new group, dubbed “AlQaeda Indonesia in Aceh”, represented a “third wave” of jihadist extremism in the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, the ICG said.

Its members, several of whom are still on the run, were angry at the

perceived softness of regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah and critical of the tactics of faction leader Noordin Mohammed Top, who was killed last year.

But the death of leaders like Dulmatin and Noordin did not mean the threat had passed, the ICG said.

“Jihadi groups do not disappear after waves of arrests; they evolve and mutate, taking on new forms. The killing of a Noordin here or a Dulmatin there does not eliminate the ideology of salafi jihadism,” it said.

“In fact the perceived ‘martyrdom’ of a few leaders can give the movement new life. It is essential to understand far better how, why and among whom the ideology has taken root and spread in Indonesia.”

The government needed to reflect on a series of failures exposed by the extremists’ recent activities, includ-

ing poor intelligence and corruption.

“For all the progress that has been made in the last decade in understanding extremist networks and sharing information across the region about them, the ability to detect their activities remains weak,” it said.

“That Dulmatin, one of the region’s most wanted terrorists, could leave the Philippines, arrive in Indonesia and live in Jakarta for at least two years without anyone being the wiser suggests that there is still some way to go in improving basic information gathering and analysis.”

Dulmatin, a bomb-making expert and one of the masterminds of the 2002 Bali bombings which killed more than 200 people, had “no difficulty getting a fake local identification card and passport,” it said.

The Aceh group had also used “corrupt police contacts to buy sup-

posedly destroyed weapons... (illustrating) yet again how corruption becomes the lubricant for terrorist activities”.

At least 12 members of the group had criminal records, mostly for terrorism, but had been free to accept visits from other extremists and use multiple mobile phones while in jail.

Terrorists were also using forging syndicates “with ties to government departments”, the ICG said.

Despite such glaring failures, the ICG warned against extending arrest and detention powers to agencies other than the police.

“Indonesia’s much-vaunted ‘soft approach’ toward terrorism should not be discarded. It is far more appropriate than a harsher regime, and the last thing Indonesia needs is a Singapore-style Internal Security Act... “it said.

Twelve countries to attend ethnic language congress in Baubau Antara

AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

A crowd watches a four-month old hawksbill turtle swimming into deep water after a symbolic release ceremony by Thousand Islands National Marine Park and Coca-Cola company officials to commemorate the Earth Day in Pramuka island located north of Jakarta on April 20, 2010. Twenty baby hawksbill turtles and four four months old hawksbill turtles were released from the turtle conservation area.

The injured turtle will be rehabilitated in the turtle conservation center. The Hawksbill turtle, scientific name Erethmochelys Imbricata, are considered to be an endangered species.

Two arrested for keeping methamphetamine in Balikpapan Antara

BALIKPAPAN Two Balikpapan residents were arrested on Monday night and Tuesday after they were found to be in possession of “Shabu-Shabu” or methamphetamine, police said.

The suspects were only identified as HD (30), and AM (27). They were arrested at different places, Head of Balikpapan police’s detective unit, Adjunct Commissioner Markus Sanyoto said here Tuesday.

HD was captured at his home in Villa Damai housing complex, Gunung Bahagia hamlet, Balikpapan Selatan sub-district, on early Tuesday, after local residents told the police about a likely ShabuShabu party at HD’s house, he said.

During the raid, the police found 0.2 grams of Shabu-Shabu in the right-hand pocket of the suspect’s pants.

Meanwhile, AM was arrested on Monday evening in front the Arabian Sissha cafe. The police also

found a transparent plastic pack inside an envelope containing 0.3 grams of Shabu-Shabu, he said.

“The suspect had put the envelope inside his shirt’s pocket,” Sanyoto said adding that the case was under police investigation.

Indonesia is among a number of Asian countries being seriously threatened by drug smuggling syndicates.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) reported there were 3.6 million drug users in Indonesia in 2008.

BAUBAU - Some 12 countries have confirmed to attend an Ethnic Language International Congress in Southeast Sulawesi city of Baubau on July 8, 2010.

Local tourism and cultural office’s archaeological service spokesman Ali Arham said here on Wednesday that of 30 countries invited to attend the congress, 12 had confirmed participation.

“They have sent their confirmation to us by e-mail,” Ali Arham said, adding that the countries were among others the Netherlands, Australia, the United States, Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, and Papua New Guinea.

According to him, other countries expected to confirm their participation in the near future were among

others Germany, China, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.

He said that besides the foreign participants, a number of linguists from several universities in Indonesia would also attend the congress in Baubau. “In our estimation, around 400 people will participate in the congress, and therefore the Baubau city administration will do its best to host and make a success of the international event,” Arham said.

He said the objective of the ethnic language international congress was that the participants would discuss various issues related to ethnic languages and literature.

The result of the congress would then be reported to the government to make a policy to preserve and develop ethnic languages.

Tourism Australia Road Show underlines high level of visitor exchanges Antara

AKARTA - Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer has welcomed the visit by Tourism Australia, together with top Australian tourism providers, to Jakarta and Surabaya from April 16 to 19, 2010, in a Product Update Road show.

According to an Australian embassy media release, visitor numbers were at record levels with Indonesian visitors to Australia reaching an all time high in 2009, growing by 15 percent from the previous year, to 108 750 visitors.

Australian visitor numbers to Indonesia are also strong with the Aus-

tralian Bureau of Statistics recording 548 500 Australians departing Australia for Indonesia in 2009.

“The increasing numbers of visitors between Australia and Indonesia are evidence of the strong people-topeople connections and will no doubt have an important role in increasing knowledge and interest between our two countries,” Farmer said.

The increase in Indonesian visitors to Australia has been attributed to a range of factors, including the positive growth of the Indonesian economy and the good relations between Australia and Indonesia, with the number expected to grow significantly in 2010.

8

Internationa

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Bali Today President opens “Inacraft 2010” from Bali Antara

FOTO ANTARA/Yudhi Mahatma

Environment activist conduct coral reef transplantation at Pramuka Island. The efforts to repair the coral reefs in Serangan Island, Denpasar, Bali must become an example to the other areas.

Coral reef repair in Serangan should become example Antara

DENPASAR – The efforts to repair the coral reefs in Serangan Island, Denpasar, Bali must become an example to the other areas. Those reveal in the discussion conducted by the environmental NGO named Telapak, in Denpasar on Tuesday, April 21st 2010.

The discussion was held to commemorate the Indonesian Coral Day which falls on Thursday, April 24th 2010. The action to repair the coral reefs was done in several locations such as in Serangan, Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan and Bedalem village in Buleleng regency.

While in national level, the action to commemorate the Coral day will be done in several provinces such as in Thousands Island in Jakarta, Hari Island in South East Sulawesi, and Maratua Island in Eastern Kalimantan.

The action will involve organization and the locals in each area.

Hidayat Prayogo, a senior diver and one of the pioneers of the action, said that the negative campaign which is blaming other things such as the rules and the laws is out of date. They wanted the real action or alternatives.

In Les Island and Serangan Island, the NGO had educated the locals on the important of the coral reefs and it has been done since three years ago.

At first, the damage is very severe and it was up to 70% of the coastal area. The condition was because the locals used poison and bomb to catch fish. Even tough the production seemed a lot at first but it decline because the house or the environment where the fish life was destroyed.

The fish that they caught had bad quality. The fish fro aquarium can only live for three days and the death rate were up to 90%, especially when the fish arrive in Singapore where they export the fish.

The bag quality made the order decreased form time to time. The high death rate is because the fish is intoxicated by the poison and it also

could kill the coral reef. “The method to educate them is done in a persuasive manor. The result is really good because it can be felt directly by the locals. We also cooperate with the buyers of the products so the locals don’t confuse to sell their catch,” Hidayat said.

He added that the reclamation which is done in the late 1990’s had given many effects to the society in Serangan, one of them is environmental damage.

Hidayat said “actually, the people it self who destroy the environment to fulfill their needs. They are not able to find other source of income. We must keep providing them with alternative and evidences that environment also can be preserved and they also can fulfill their need at the same time.”

TAMPAK SIRING - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the 12th Jakarta International Handicraft Trade Fair (Inacraft 2010) at Tampak Siring Palace here on Wednesday.

On the occasion the head of state said the handicraft industry in Indonesia played a strategic role in the country’s economy because it had a big market opportunity and absorbed a great number of manpower.

“The important and strategic theme for the handicraft trade fair this year is from a smart village to a global market, because it is a strategic industry that can absorb a great number of manpower,” President Yudhoyono said.

According to the head of state, many parties had a profound interest in handicraft products because of their profitable sale prices and inspiration.

“I am optimistic that various handicraft products in the country can bridge cultural relations among nations around the world,” the president said.

Therefore, the head of state reminded the craftsmen to continue to develop their idea, creativity, and

improving the quality in the tight global market competition.

Global market, according to the president, would highly respect safe and environmentally-friendly products.

“Handicraft industry can really support the people’s economic power, and therefore we need to improve the design, quality, and packing system, and trademark,” the president said.

On the occasion the head of state also asked the craftsmen to have self-confidence following the implementation of Asean Free Trade Area and China-Asean Free Trade Agreement.

“Have self-confidence in the face of Asean Free Trade Area and China-Asean Free Trade Agreement, because the government will make an all-out effort to make a policy to strengthen the national economy,” the president said.

President Yudhoyono added that with the free trade area, Indonesia would be able to have wider opportunity in attracting as many investors as possible.

“We are tested to be able to come out of transitional period in the trade era because it is our role to build a profitable but fair world economic architecture,” he added.

Tornado buffets the coastal area of Buleleng

Fishermen scared to go to sea Bali Post

SINGARAJA - Since about a week ago, fishermen on the north coast of Buleleng have been afraid to go to sea and just parked their boats on the beach. This happened after the northern coast was buffeted by tornado accompanied by heavy rains and triggered larger waves.

Information obtained on the coast of Buleleng, last Tuesday (Apr 20), told the tornado happened locally. The wind had just hit the coastal areas of the territory of Kalianget Village, Banjar subdistrict to the east until reaching the area of Ponjok Batu at Pacung Village, Tejakula. Such a wind indeed happened every year.

However, it usually occurred in October. “But now, we do not know it has occurred in April,” said Kadek Parwata, a fisherman from Anturan Village.

Parwata admitted he had no other choice but parked his boat on the beach for fear of going to sea. During the adverse weather condition as that time, a side job to be done was only to fix the damaged fishing tools. However, to support the needs of family

Parwata confessed he could not do much except for owing in cooperative or in a local village creditor or LPD. This difficult situation experienced by Parwata and other fishermen because there were no other side jobs beyond going to sea to catch fish.

“We also worry if the weather continues to deteriorate. We do not know what to give to families for daily need as we have no other job than relying on the sea,” explained Parwata with some colleagues at Anturan.

Since the fishermen of Anturan Village and its surrounding did not go to sea because of bad weather, the supply of fish to retail traders in traditional markets started to diminish. A number of traders admitted to find difficulties in obtaining fish supply.

Luckily, traders received a supply of fish from other areas that was not affected by the tornado. Currently the supply of fish came from the waters of Gerokgak, Kubutambahan and Tejakula. If the supply was not sufficient the traders admitted to get fish supplies from outside Buleleng region, such as from Jembrana and even Madura (East Java). (kmb15)

al

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Balinese Culture Balinese women:

In devotional services through the arts Beauty can stop everyone’s eyes flickering. Beauty of the kid song can lullaby a baby. Similarly, beauty also can toss the imagination, soothe the mind and draw people to get near. Bali has many sources of that beauty offering the charm of nature, culture or adventure.

By maintaining traditions inspired by Hinduism, Balinese people go on running in harmony with the time. In other words, they do not feel inferior because of inheriting those traditions. Beauty in the form of various dance movements has been introduced since early ages. On seeing a dance staged, a toddler may watch it attentively or its fingers move and move as if imitating the movement of the dance.

Virtually all customary villages in Bali have gamelan troupe. This troupe plays important role in expressing their entertainment arts and accompanying every ritual activity.

This existence gives opportunity to villagers from child to adult to express their artistic talent especially in dance, drama and gamelan arts.

Young girls under twelve or elementary school age have a chance to participate in performing Rejang Dance.

By wearing white and yellow costumes and floral decoration on head,

they dance beautifully accompanied by gamelan music. Rejang Dance is one of the sacred dances performed in relation to the organization of temple anniversary or odalan. Other than putting a basic love to their tradition, they also show devotional service or ngatur ayah through the arts.

When they grow older, right on entering secondary school, they join customary village youth club or Sekaa Taruna. Here, with their male friends and their brothers and sisters start to learn about organization.

Many things can be learned through this organization. Since it has affiliation to customary village, they can learn about the making of some simple oblation under guidance of senior oblation maker and various traditional arts. In Bali, this youth club actually play important role in preparing young generation to maintain their valuable cultural heritages or to prepare themselves for inheriting customary responsibility.

With their male counterpart, here the young girls also learn to play drama or more complex traditional arts. Popular genres of performance showed are pure entertainment and the one in combination with sacred dance. The latter usually features Calonarang. This magical drama in-

volves a combination of male and female players. In essence, this Calonarang drama highlights the endless fight between truth and untruth symbolizing by sanctified effigies or tapakan like Rangda and Barong. By and large, it is also associated with ritual events at local temple.

In the following stage, when woman gets married she will enter the new organization, namely customary village. Having learned much about ritual works, it is now the time to practice them in wider social life. They should attend some socio-religious activities when the events engage the members of customary village. At this stage, household mother can remain to show her devotional service through the arts other than social works. Through the arts, they may join the drama or individual psalmodic singing or pasantian.

How is about their private life? It is normal as others. They also have opportunity to build career in their profession. In modern life with heterogeneous professions as today, woman also works as men do. Traditions do not impede them to reach outstanding achievement in self-employee or office job. If they work at daytime, some social works will be held at the evening. (BTN/punia)

Lawar Ayam

(Green Bean Salad with Chicken) OVERVIEW: No big religious or private celebration would be held without serving this ritual dish. Only the eldest, and most experienced men are allowed to mix the many ingredients. Many versions incorporate raw pounded meat and fresh blood in the dressing. Chicken meat can be replaced with beef, pork, seafood, vegetables or young jackfruit.

INGREDIENTS: 3 cups blanched long bean cut in ½ cm slices ½ cups grated coconut, roasted 6 clove garlic, peeled, sliced and fried 6 - 8 shallots, peeled, sliced and fried 2 large red chilies, seeded and cut in fine strips 4 - 6 bird’s-eye chilies, finely sliced 3 tsp fried chili 2 tbsp chicken spice paste Fried shallots to garnish DRESSING: 250g boneless chicken, minced 2tbsp chicken spice paste 1tsp freshly squeezed limejuice 1tsp salt ½tsp black peppercorns, crushed Banana leaf cut in 30 cm (12 in) square PREPARATION: Combine beans, coconut, garlic, shallots, all the chilies and chicken spice paste in a large bowl and mix well.

To prepare the dressing, combine chicken mince with 2 tbsp of chicken spice paste and mix well. Place minced chicken lengthwise in center of banana leaf and roll up very tightly. Place banana leaf roll on aluminum foil and roll up again very tightly.

Turn sides simultaneously in opposite directions to tighten the roll. Steam roll for 20 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and banana leaf; break up with fork to its original minced form.

Combine mince chicken with bean mixture; season to taste with salt pepper and limejuice. Garnish with crispy fried shallot. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

9

10

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Destinations

International

Nusa Dua Bali NUSA Dua is an elite resort area with international five star hotels and resorts existing on the costal side in south part of Bali. It is located in Badung Regency and about 25 minutes drive from Bali’s International airport. Nusa Dua with 350 ha size is the sample luxury resort area and one of best tourism places in the world. In fact, the name of Nusa Dua is coming from two small islands located in the south part of Bali Island (Nusa mean the island and Dua mean two) that is dissociated with the white sand.

Nusa Dua Area is start built in year 1974,as a result from study of French consultant, SCETO ( Societe Centrale pour l’equpeent Touristique Ouetre-Mer) in the year 1970 and also feasibility study conducted by PCI (Pacific Consultants International) year 1971-1973 for financing of World Bank aid.

The Indonesian Government has delivered this area management to PT. BTDC (Bali Tourism Development Corporation) which existing under the law and regulation of Republic Indonesia Government no.27 year 1972, on 12 November 1972.

This area owns the most complete tourism facilities in Bali and Indonesia like five star hotels, luxury accommodations, villas, convention hall, shopping center and beautiful beaches.

The five star hotels exist in this area are Club Med, Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, The Westin Resort, The Laguna Resort, Melia Bali Villas and Spa, Inna Putri Bali Hotel, The Ayodya Resort, Kayu Manis Villa, Nikko Bali Resort and Spa, The Bale Villas and Novotel Nusa Dua. There are also the sports activities are available in this are like tennis court, squash and golf course. Each hotel is completed by five star restaurant facilities, bar, pub and beach activities. Nusa Dua is an ideal place for holiday in Bali. (www.balistarisland.com)

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Thursday, April 22, 2010

11

BUSINESS In this June 25, 2009 photo, an Indian beverage delivery man drives a dilapidated vehicle

Agence France-Presse

adorned with a hand-

ATHENS - European Union and IMF experts began 10 days of crucial talks here on Wednesday on details of rescue loans which Greece may request to avert default with its borrowing costs close to 8.0 percent.

Together with the European Central Bank, they opened talks with Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou on probable “financial assistance”.

Amid strong signs that Greece is getting ready to appeal for help, the finance ministry said: “The discussions concern a three-year programme of economic policies.”

This “can be supported with financial assistance from eurozone members and the International Monetary Fund should Greek authorities decide to request the activation of the mechanism,” it said in a statement.

That was a reference to a rescue package tortuously agreed within the EU and eurozone, and involving the IMF, but which still leaves many

painted Coca-Cola logo past a mural of a Pepsi bottle in the suburbs of New Delhi.

AFP PHOTO / FILES / TENGKU BAHAR

India’s water crisis lay bare by clash with US cola giants Agence France-Presse

NEW DELHI - A pollution fine for Coca-Cola and an order for PepsiCo to cut water use at factories in India have highlighted an intensifying conflict between big business and farmers over natural resources.

Last month, a report commissioned by the southern state of Kerala ordered Coca-Cola to pay 47 million dollars in compensation for polluting agricultural land and extracting too much groundwater at a bottling plant.

A similar report submitted at the same time instructed PepsiCo to cut groundwater use by two-thirds at its plant also in Kerala’s Palakkad district.

The twin investigations were ordered by the Kerala government after years of protests by farmers who say industrial projects like those run by the soft drinks giants leave just a small fraction of water for irrigating fields.

“Operating water-guzzling bottling plants in drought-hit areas where farmers do not have access to water is highly unethical and criminal,” said R. Ajayan, who is spearheading the campaign in Kerala.

A report by the World Bank released in March said about 60 percent of aquifers in India would be in a critical condition within 15 years if the trend of indiscriminate exploitation of ground water continued.

Farmers in Kerala close to the Coca-Cola plant, which was only open between 1999 and 2004, say the water table dropped drastically and a sludge containing toxic chemicals dumped by the unit seeped into their soil making it infertile.

Similar accusations have been levelled against Coca-Cola by farmers near bottling plants in the town of Varanasi and on the outskirts of the desert city Jaipur.

“They have ruined our fields com-

pletely. We wait and wait for water and what we extract is not even worth feeding the cattle,” said Raghav Govind, a farmer living near the Varanasi plant.

Coca-Cola closed its plant in Kerala after months of angry protests — led by the state’s powerful Communist and anti-American politicians.

Environmentalists say future clashes between farmers and industry will become increasingly fraught due to government failure to regulate the use of water, with the country’s annual consumption expected to almost double by 2050.

Water shortages are one of the biggest issues restricting new towns planned outside fast-growing cities such as the capital New Delhi.

“Fights over water will worsen if India does not define a clear policy on sharing,” said Ashima Roychoudhari, an environmentalist working for the government in New Delhi.

“There has to be a point where we have to start prioritising and rationing water to stop wastage and prevent conflicts.”

Farmers who are against industries such as the bottling plants say their opposition will not end until their demands are met. “We will not allow factories to take water when communities do not have enough water to sustain their lives. Agriculture is more important than making a fizzy drink,” said Nandlal Master, a community organiser in Varanasi.

Both companies deny all the allegations, which many observers see as politically motivated.

EU-IMF open Athens talks on any debt rescue for Greece

“Based on scientific evaluation, our Palakkad plant operations have not been shown to be the cause of local watershed issues,” Coca-Cola said in a statement about its closed unit.

PepsiCo said its plant was a model factory and one of the most water efficient examples of its type.

Kerala’s minister for water, N.K Premchandran, who heads the panel that issued the damning reports, vowed to pressure the conmpanies to act — though the fines are not legally binding as they have not been imposed by the courts.

“In the case of Coca-Cola, they will have to allocate compensation to the farmers, and PepsiCo should install water meters at their bottling plant to check their daily consumption,” he said.

“Granting agricultural land for the Coca-Cola plant was a mistake. At that point we did not want to miss the industrialisation bus, but now we have to protect the environment,” he told AFP. Premchandran said the government would not order the PepsiCo plant to shut down as it employed more than 3,500 people.

Experts focusing on industrial policy and foreign investment said Indian states often create the problem by hosting lavish trade fairs to attract big companies and offering them concessions to set up businesses.

“It is not the multinational company that decides to open a unit near a farm.

The government allocates them land,” said a senior official at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry who declined to be named.

aspects uncertain.

Among these are the precise terms, conditions, interest rates which would apply if and when Greece asks for help to avert partial default on debt falling due by the end of May. Greece needs about 10 billion euros within the next few weeks and about 30 billion euros in total for the rest of the year to pay current bills including some pensions, and help it enact massive budget cutbacks and structural reforms imposed by the EU. The Ta Nea newspaper here noted on Wednesday that “the final countdown” to Greece appealing for EU-IMF loans has begun.

Citing sources in Brussels, the daily said that the Greek government was unlikely to call for assistance before crucial regional elections in Germany on May 9 but that the appeal would probably be made on May 15.

An issue of 10-year Greek bonds totalling 8.5 billion euros expires on May 19, and must be redeemed if the government is to avoid a hugely damaging partial default.

Airlines lost 1.7 billion dollars from ash chaos: IATA Agence France-Presse

BERLIN - Airlines have lost around 1.7 billion dollars after a “week without revenue” because of the chaos caused by volcanic ash, the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said Wednesday.

At the height of the upheaval on Saturday and Sunday, carriers were losing 400 million dollars per day, Giovanni Bisignani told reporters in Berlin, calling an earlier estimate of 200 million dollars per day “conservative.”

The sector has also been left to pick up additional costs like providing accommodation to stranded customers, food and alternative modes of transport to get them home, Bisignani said.

“We’ve seen a week without revenue but that has not stopped the costs,” he said.

He said that in Europe “governments must take their responsibility” and help the carriers, calling the firms victims of “an act of God, completely out of the power of the airlines.”

He said however that the situation was different from the

aftermath of the attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, when airlines were bailed out by governments.

After 9/11, “it took a long time to recover because it was an issue of confidence,” Bisignani said, saying he hoped that the chaos of the past week was a “parenthesis.”

European air travel was slowly returning to normal on Wednesday after volcanic ash drifting from an eruption in Iceland prompted a shutdown last week that left millions of passengers stranded and hit the economy.

The chief executive of Lufthansa, Europe’s biggest airline by passenger numbers, said that the firm had no estimate on how much the stoppage had cost the firm but that it was “not marginal.”

“We don’t need a bailout, we don’t need an umbrella” but as an industry “we’ll have to make up our mind” on whether we want state aid or not, Wolfgang Mayrhuber told the same event in the German capital.

Asked how fast he thought the sector would recover, Mayrhuber said: “(The) volcano will not change the desire and need to travel.”

12

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Entertainment

International

Wash. woman drops rape lawsuit against Copperfield Associated Press Writer

SEATTLE – A woman who accused David Copperfield of luring her to his private island in the Bahamas and raping her — and who was later charged with fabricating sexual assault claims against another man — dropped her federal lawsuit against the magician Tuesday.

Attorneys for model and waitress Lacey Carroll announced her decision in a news release — just days after a federal judge ruled that Copperfield’s attorneys would be allowed to question her under oath this week.

“It has never been about money,” Carroll said in the statement. “I just wanted him held accountable for what he did.”

The Associated Press does not typically name people who may be victims of sexual assault, but in this case, Carroll’s lawyers identified her in the news release with her consent.

Carroll claimed Copperfield pulled her out of the crowd during a show in Kennewick, in southeastern Washington. She was later invited to visit his island in July 2007. The trip was supposed to lead to possible modeling gigs doing promotional brochures or other materials for Copperfield, she claimed, but Copperfield forced her to perform sex acts instead.

The FBI and federal prosecutors spent more than two years investigating the allegations and even searched Copperfield’s Las Vegas warehouse but closed the case early this year without filing criminal charges and

without explaining the decision.

Carroll filed her civil lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Seattle seeking damages from Copperfield last July.

“Carroll’s lawsuit was nothing but a pathetic attempt to extort Mr. Copperfield for money with malicious and false allegations,” said Copperfield’s Seattle attorney, Angelo Calfo. “There was no settlement. Mr. Copperfield would not and did not pay Carroll a dime to drop her lawsuit.”

Calfo said his client’s view of the case was vindicated when Carroll was charged with making a false sexual assault claim against another man in Bellevue, Wash., late last year.

In that case, police said, Carroll reported she was sexually assaulted by a man who was a customer at the restaurant where she worked. She told police she may have been drugged and woke up in a hotel room to find the man on top of her.

As Carroll left the hotel room and began telling hotel staff she had been taken advantage of, the man called police and reported he was being extorted, according to Bellevue Police Department records. Carroll had left the room and made up the story after he refused to pay her $2,000 for sex, he said.

A woman who was with the pair earlier in the night said Carroll had been sexually aggressive with the man, and hotel surveillance video showed them hugging and kissing in the lobby, police said.

Carroll asked U.S. District Judge John Coughenour to delay her deposition in the civil case until the Bellevue criminal matter is resolved and until she received certain documents from the FBI. She argued that she might be forced to give statements in violation of her 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination, and she needed the documents to refresh her memory.

Last week the judge declined, and said the deposition would take place as scheduled on Thursday. Carroll has pleaded not guilty to charges of prostitution and filing a false police report in the Bellevue case.

FILE - In this Sept. 27, 2006 file photo, U.S. illusionist David Copperfield arrives for a news conference in Vienna, Austria. A woman who accused David Copperfield of luring her to his private island in the Bahamas and raping her — and who was later charged with fabricating sexual assault claims against another man — dropped her federal lawsuit against the magician Tuesday, Aril 20, 2010.

MGM’s uncertain future stops work on new 007 film Canada on another movie, was quoted by British media as saying: LONDON – Work on “I have every confidence the latest James Bond in Barbara and Michael’s movie has been suspended decision and look forindefinitely because of ward to production redebt-ridden MGM studio’s suming as quickly as posuncertain future, the British sible.” production company beThe MGM studio is hind the project said Tueshome to famous franday. chises including James Producers Barbara Bond and the Pink PanBroccoli and Michael Wilther, but has been strugson of London-based EON gling under huge debts.

Productions said work on At the end of last the movie — working title month MGM was given a “Bond 23” — could not new extension until May continue amid doubts over AFP/File/Jewel Samad 14 to repay some 3.7 bilthe future of the Metro Daniel Craig lion dollars in debt. The Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) studio had said earlier in March that it had studio.

“Due to the continuing uncertainty sur- received several offers to buy the company.

Craig has starred in two Bond movies so rounding the future of MGM and the failure to close a sale of the studio, we have suspended far: “Casino Royale” and “Quantum of Sodevelopment on ‘Bond 23’ indefinitely,” they lace.” He follows actors including Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan said in a company statement.

“We do not know when development will in the longest-running movie franchise in resume and do not have a date for the release film history.

The new 007 movie had been set for reof Bond 23,” they added.

Bond star Daniel Craig, on location in lease in 2011 or 2012.

Agence France Presse

AP Photo/Lilli Strauss, File

‘Toy Story’ producer Pixar opens Vancouver studio Agence France Presse

VANCOUVER, Canada – Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and The Incredibles are coming to Canada as the Disney-owned Pixar Animation announced Tuesday the launch of a Vancouver studio.

While no financial details were released, Pixar Canada?s initial plan is to produce 20 to 25 minutes of short films annually to be distributed worldwide on the Disney Channel, the Internet and theme parks, among other outlets.

Pixar Canada general manager Amir Nasrabadi said the company?s goal was to employ 75 people by 2012. The studio is currently operating out of a 5,000-square-foot office in downtown Vancouver and is in negotiations to move up to a 20,000 to 25,000 square foot space in future.

Nasrabadi said he wasn?t sure if the studio would eventually produce full-length animated feature films.

Pixar, which was purchased in 2006 by the Walt Disney Company for a reported 7.4 billion dollars (US), has won 24 Academy Awards over the years for such blockbusters as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and Cars, among others.

It will release Toy Story 3 in July and Cars 2 in the summer of 2011. Pixar Canada plans to begin production of its first animation offering beginning in August.

AFP/Getty Images/File/Ethan Miller

A Buzz Lightyear character. Buzz Lightyear, Nemo and The Incredibles are coming to Canada as the Disney-owned Pixar Animation announced Tuesday the launch of a Vancouver studio.

Life Style

International

Thursday, April 22, 2010

13

EBay founder launches online Hawaii news service Associated Press Writer

Farmer Wu Yulu, 48, pumps air to a wheel of a cart pulled by his walking robot near his home in a village at the outskirts of Beijing April 14, 2010.

REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

China’s “robot dad” aims to show inventions to world Reuters

SHANGHAI – Wu Yulu, a 49 year old farmer from the outskirts of Beijing, has become a household name in China for his homemade robots. Now, the creations that he calls his children are about to gain international renown.

Made from scrap materials including wire and screws, Wu has invented over 47 robots which can pour tea, offer smokers a light and paint pictures.

Wu, who received no education after primary school, has become a hero in Chinese media for his whirring, ticking and talking inventions, and now foreign media have taken an interest in him ahead of his appearance at the Shanghai World Expo which runs from May to October.

“I am a little famous now,” Wu

told Reuters. “I have been doing this for over than twenty years but I feel that each year more people discover my inventions.”

“At the Expo I can receive everyone’s recognition. I am representative of all farmers, this is something very glorious.”

Wu said financing his automaton hobby was a huge burden on his family. Since he started building robots in 1986, Wu has burned down his house and prompted his wife to threaten di-

vorce after he spent all his money financing his tinkering passion.

Born into a family of farmers, Wu invented tools in his Mawu village to help farm more effectively such as changing his bicycle into a seeding machine. His latest project is a robot that can give massages.

“I want to make more useful robots to help humans, I’ve also designed a robot which can help chop the meat when cooking,” he said.

His brightly colored metal figures, with painted human features and clothes have already been shown in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.

“It is possible I am able to visit the UK soon,” Wu said, adding that no date has been fixed but it was in the pipeline.

Study: Brain games don’t make you smarter Associated Press Writer

LONDON – People playing computer games to train their brains might as well be playing Super Mario, new research suggests.

In a six-week study, experts found people who played online games designed to improve their cognitive skills didn’t get any smarter.

Researchers recruited participants from viewers of the BBC’s science show “Bang Goes the Theory.” More than 8,600 people aged 18 to 60 were asked to play online brain games designed by the researchers to improve their memory, reasoning and other skills for at least 10 minutes a day, three times a week.

They were compared to more than 2,700 people who didn’t play any brain games, but spent a similar amount of time surfing the Internet and answering general

knowledge questions. All participants were given a sort of I.Q. test before and after the experiment.

Researchers said the people who did the brain training didn’t do any better on the test after six weeks than people who had simply been on the Internet. On some sections of the test, the people who surfed the Net scored higher than those playing the games.

The study was paid for by the BBC and published online Tuesday by the journal Nature.

“If you’re (playing these games) because they’re fun, that’s absolutely fine,” said Adrian Owen, assistant director of the Cognition and Brain Sciences unit at Britain’s Medical Research Council, the study’s lead author. “But if you’re expecting (these games) to improve your I.Q., our data suggests this isn’t the case,” he said during a press briefing on Tuesday.

One maker of brain games said

the BBC study did not apply to its products. Steve Aldrich, CEO of Posit Science, said the company’s games, some of which were funded in part by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, have been proven to boost brain power.

“Their conclusion would be like saying, ‘I cannot run a mile in under 4 minutes and therefore it is impossible to do so,” Aldrich said in a statement.

Posit Science has published research in journals including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences showing their games improved memory in older people.

Computer games available online and marketed by companies like Nintendo that supposedly enhance memory, reasoning and other cognitive skills are played by millions of people worldwide, though few studies have examined if the games work.

HONOLULU – The entrepreneur who created a virtual marketplace that connects sellers and buyers worldwide is launching an online news site where people will pay to exchange ideas and discuss issues affecting their communities.

Pierre Omidyar, the founder and chairman of eBay Inc., is entering the news business with a new online service in Hawaii. By charging a $19.99a-month membership, Omidyar hopes to accomplish what newspapers and other media organizations nationwide have long struggled with — having readers pay for content and making local news profitable.

“It’s really critical to help find a new way to do journalism that connects with ordinary citizens in a better way,” Omidyar said in an interview Tuesday. “I think that is what’s been lacking. Because the industry has been preoccupied with its own decline, it hasn’t had the opportunity to reinvent itself.

“As a new startup, we have the opportunity to reinvent that and bring journalism back into the center of conversation.”

Civilbeat.com is expected to go live Wednesday with the official launch scheduled for May 4. It promises to provide in-depth reporting and analysis, and be a civic plaza for island residents. “Reporterhosts” will post articles, interact with readers, provide frequent updates and host discussions.

“Journalism plays a central role in the way democracy works, especially in this country. And our democracy doesn’t work when journalism doesn’t work,” Omidyar said. “As I saw the decline in the industry, I really became concerned especially with our local communities not just here in Hawaii, but nationwide.”

Omidyar decided more than two years ago to launch a news service to cover local civic affairs, including the state, city, education, land and money.

“It’s very important for me that we demonstrate that we can do this

sustainably,” he said.

The site will feature a “topic page” for each issue. On the page, readers can find links to stories, history and background information.

The other unique aspect will be the discussion section. Unlike traditional newspaper online comment sections that are often marred by hateful, obscene, racist or mindless commentary posted by anonymous readers, Civil Beat members will be identified and no anonymous comments will be allowed.

“We’ll have a billing relationship with them and so we know who they are,” Omidyar said.

Gerald Kato, chair at the University of Hawaii School of Communications, said newspaper subscribers are coveted because they are considered to be older, wealthier and better educated. But many have been turned off by what Kato describes as “crazies,” who participate in unmoderated comment sections.

“They’re trying to flip that around. They want all these highend people that would gravitate toward a newspaper, but want to filter out all the crazies,” Kato said.

“The filtering mechanism would be, you pay to play.”

Omidyar said he’s hoping to encourage a “higher level of conversation.”

“I think the quality of conversation is going to be something which really creates a sense of value for people,” he said, especially for people who are concerned about issues in their community and want meaningful discussions and debate.

The unassuming Honolulu billionaire who wears blue jeans and flip-flops to work is bankrolling the operation, but declined to say how much he’s invested so far. He’s rented out a spacious, 4,000-squarefoot office located a few miles outside east of downtown Honolulu and hired about a dozen people.

The editor is veteran newspaperman John Temple, who served as editor, president and publisher of the Rocky Mountain News, which ceased publications in February 2009.

IBP/ist

The picture of EBay website

14

Sport

Thursday, April 22, 2010

AFP PHOTO / Filippo MONTEFORTE

Inter Milan’s Brazilian defender Maicon (R) scores against Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League first leg semifinal Inter Milan vs Barcelona football match on April 20, 2010 at San Siro stadium in Milan.

Dazzling Inter stun Barca to take semi-final lead Agence France Presse

MILAN – Inter Milan produced a stunning performance to beat holders Barcelona 3-1 in the Champions League semi-final, first leg at the San Siro.

Goals from Wesley Sneijder, Maicon and Diego Milito extinguished Pedro’s opener for Barca and sent the nerazzuri faithful into raptures ahead of next week’s second leg at the Camp Nou. It was a tactical masterclass from Jose Mourinho as his team wiped out memories of the footballing lessons Barca gave them in the group stages back in September and November.

The Portuguese boss said even if his team don’t reach the final in Madrid, he will be satisfied.

“It gives me great pride to say that we could go to Madrid to play the final or we will come home from Barcelona with our heads held high,” he said on Tuesday.

“Obviously we’d be happy if we go to Madrid and if not we’d be disappointed but we know that we’ve done everything.

“When I arrived at Inter we had trouble just qualifying from the group stages, we didn’t do well in this competition and had a fear of winning and people said we couldn’t play in Europe.

“But now we’ve beaten the best team in the world and now Inter are a great Champions League team.

“If we don’t win it this year, we’ll win it next year or in two years time. We’ll be in semi-finals and finals, we’ve changed.”

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was magnanimous in defeat and refused to blame the team’s 14-hour coach journey to get here for the loss.

“This can happen, especially

when you’re playing in the semifinal of the Champions League and against Inter Milan,” he said.

“Of course it’s not ideal losing like this but we can still do it.

“The result is not good, we gave away too many balls, we can do better. This wasn’t our best game and Inter don’t make it easy for you to play.

“I know they’re tired but I’m not a medical expert and I can’t say how much the journey affected them.”

Mourinho picked an attacking line-up with three forwards plus playmaker Sneijder in midfield and from the off they demonstrated a willingness to take on the champions.

It was they who created the first clear-cut chance on 18 minutes as Samuel Eto’o curled a left-footer from outside the area that Victor Valdes failed to hold but Diego Milito fired the rebound straight across the face of goal.

Inter were looking relaxed and confident but a minute later they fell behind through some dreadful defending.

Former Inter left-back Maxwell ran far too easily down the left past three non-challenges, reaching the byline where he pulled the ball back and with Inter’s defenders preoccupied by Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the centre, Pedro came in off the right flank to drill the ball home from 15 yards.

The hosts kept going about their task, though, and Sneijder slid a lovely pass to Milito in the inside left channel but again he dragged his shot just past the far post.

Yet on the half hour mark Inter got the equaliser they deserved as Maicon played Eto’o down the

right, he pulled the ball back into the middle and Milito took it off Goran Pandev’s foot but then fed it on to the unmarked Sneijder at the back post for a right-footed finish inside Valdes’s near upright.

In that first half Barca had enjoyed almost 65 percent of the possession - but Inter were showing that their coach’s assertion after the pair met in the group stages that you can play well without the ball, certainly rang true.

Mourinho had also said before kick-off that Barca were as good as they were back then but that Inter were much improved and their display bore that out.

Inter’s first half had been impressive but they started the second at a canter with Pandev shedding off three players in midfield and then playing Milito behind the backline, the Argentine pulling the ball back for the charging Maicon to prod home his second goal in successive games, just three minutes in.

Messi finally woke up and got his first shot off on 53 minutes but Julio Cesar parried it and the Brazilian stopper had to be alert moments later to block a close-range Sergio Busquets header from a corner, although the Spaniard should have scored.

But Barca could not handle Inter’s attacking flair and on 61 minutes Eto’o crossed from the right and Sneijder’s poor header bounced up for Milito, arriving at the back post, to nod home.

Barca took total possession of the ball in the closing stages and Inter survived one scramble in the box as Lucio blocked Gerard Pique’s prod from a tight angle on the line.

International

Fergie backs Moyes for Scots succession at United Agence France Presse

MANCHESTER – Alex Ferguson is reported to have annointed David Moyes as his chosen successor as manager of Manchester United in a snub to Jose Mourinho’s aspirations of stepping into the Old Trafford hotseat.

A flurry of reports this week have claimed that Ferguson, who turns 69 on December 31, has told United’s board that he will retire at the end of next season.

Mourinho, who is on the verge of taking Inter Milan to the Champions League final after Tuesday’s (AFP/File/Olly Greenwood) 3-1 semi-final first leg win over David Moyes Barcelona, is the bookmakers favourite to take over.

According to The Sun however, Ferguson believes that his fellow Scot Moyes, who is widely admired for his achievements at Everton on a tight budget, would be a better choice for United.

Ferguson has often said that he is fond of Mourinho and the Portuguese’s phenomenal record in charge of FC Porto, Chelsea and now Inter undoubtedly makes him an extremely strong candidate for a job he may have been talking about when he spoke recently of his desire to return to England.

But United directors including Sir Bobby Charlton reportedly harbour reservations related to Mourinho’s ability to generate controversy, which may bolster the chances of Moyes being asked to take over.

At 46, Moyes is a similar age to Ferguson when he took over at Old Trafford in 1986 and is cut from similar cloth. As a fellow Glaswegian, he also combines an apparently abrasive public persona with an ability to coax the best out of players drawn from a broad range of cultures and backgrounds.

Ferguson may be contemplating retirement, but he still has his eye on United’s long-term future and the Scot believes he has a promising crop of young players in the club’s title-winning reserve team.

Coached by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Warren Joyce, the United second string secured the trophy for the first time in four years after Liverpool lost to Everton on Tuesday evening.

Ferguson particularly highlighted the contribution of Northern Ireland Under-21 midfielders Oliver Norwood and Corry Evans.

South Africa marks 50-day countdown to World Cup Associated Press Writer

KIMBERLEY, South Africa – Chief local organizer Danny Jordaan marked the 50-day countdown to the World Cup on Wednesday, saying the tournament was one of South Africa’s “most important defining moments.”

Jordaan said hosting soccer’s showcase tournament was one of a series of “significant moments that have shaped the country we live in today,” comparing it to Nelson Mandela’s release from prison in 1990, and South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.

Jordaan was in Kimberley, in the country’s Northern Cape province, with South African President Jacob Zuma to mark the 50-day countdown to Africa’s first World Cup. A series of celebrations are planned at the Galeshewe Stadium on Wednesday, 50 days before the host nation kicks off the

2010 tournament against Mexico on June 11 at Soweto’s Soccer City Stadium.

Jordaan said South Africa will defy the skeptics who thought the country was incapable of hosting the tournament because of its high rate of violent crime and erratic transport system.

“The world has heard so many stories about us (since 1994), sometimes more negative than positive,” Jordaan said. “But this World Cup gives all South Africans the opportunity the show the world who we really are 16 years into our democracy.”

Zuma has said the country was “more than ready” to host soccer’s biggest event.

Jordaan said the 10 World Cup stadiums were ready, and the needed infrastructure was in place.

He also said tickets “were selling fast” despite worries over empty stadiums when organizers put 500,000 unsold tickets on sale on April 15.

Sport

International

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Lakers beat Thunder 95-92 to take 2-0 series lead

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia , seen here in January 2010, returned to the Barcelona Open for the first time since 2002 with an openinground 6-4, 46, 6-2 defeat of Turk Marsel Ilhan on Tuesday.

Agence France Presse

LOS ANGELES – Kobe Bryant had been waiting for a breakout game, the kind of high-scoring effort he’s made his reputation on. He got it just in time. Playing with a broken finger, sore knee and bum ankle, Bryant scored 39 points, carrying the Lakers in the fourth quarter when they lost the lead three times, and Los Angeles beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 95-92 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.

“What did Mark Twain say? Rumors of my demise or whatever,” said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who predicted before the game that Bryant would strongly return to form.

Bryant was 13 of 15 from the free throw line, but just 12 of 28 from the floor in front of his dad Joe, who sat next to the Lakers’ bench.

“My free throws felt good,” Bryant said. “I put in a lot, a lot of work over the last month fine-tuning my stroke and trying to get it back to being consistent.”

Beforehand, Jackson said he wanted Bryant to shoot better or take fewer shots. The NBA finals MVP made just 30 percent of his shots over his previous five games, having missed four of the final five of the regular season and hearing all the doubters.

“After 13 years, you’d think they’d know better,” Bryant said.

Bryant ran off eight straight points the first time the Lakers fell behind by one, with the referees turning a 3-pointer into a 2-pointer that put them back in front by three.

“He made the tough shots. He got to the free throw line and that’s what great players do,” said Kevin Durant, who led the Thunder with 32 points but had eight turnovers.

Russell Westbrook added 19, making all eight of his free throws.

The Thunder packed the paint and disrupted Lakers’ big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who had combined for 32 points and 25 rebounds in Game 1.

This time, Gasol had 25 points and 12 rebounds, and Bynum six points and 10 boards for the defending champions, who failed to sustain their strong start for the second straight game.

“That was about as well as we can play and we came up a little short,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said. “Two games in a row we gave the effort defensively. We’re still trying to figure out how to win these close games.”

Game 3 is Thursday in Oklahoma City. The Lakers are 39-1 all-time when winning the first two games of a best-of-seven series.

“That place is going to be rocking and rolling,” Bryant said. “The last time we were there they did a number on us.”

The Thunder’s defense kept them

in the game, with 17 blocked shots.

Serge Ibaka had seven, with six other players getting at least one.

“Our effort was phenomenal, how hard we played on the defensive end,” Durant said. “A lot of people didn’t even think we could play with these guys.”

Bryant scored 15 points in the fourth, but sent the crowd into an anguished groan when he missed the first of two free throws with 15 seconds left. He made the second to keep Los Angeles ahead 94-92.

Durant missed a 3-pointer and Gasol got fouled, but he also missed the first with 7 seconds left, keeping the Thunder’s hopes alive. Gasol hit the second, and then Jeff Green, who

had 12 points, missed a 3-pointer as time expired.

“We were right there,” Green said. “We haven’t had our best offensive game or defensive game, still allowing second-chance points, but we’re still there when it comes to the last few minutes.”

The Thunder led three times, but Bryant twice brought the Lakers back, the last time tying the game at 88 on two free throws. The game was decided at the line over the final 2:20, with the Thunder forced to foul while missing from the perimeter.

The Lakers shot 37 percent, a stat Jackson called “horrendous.” “We still have to shoot much better to beat them in Oklahoma,” he said.

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images/AFP

Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers shoots over Jeff Green #22 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game Two of the Western Conference Quarterfinals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2010 at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

The Lakers won 95-92.

15

AFP/File/Paul Crock

Tennis ace Hewitt makes winning Barcelona return Agence France Presse

BARCELONA, Spain – Lleyton Hewitt returned to the Barcelona Open for the first time since 2002 with an opening-round 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 defeat of Turk Marsel Ilhan on Tuesday.

But two more seeds were sent out on the clay on Day Two, with Frenchman Jeremy Chardy upsetting Spanish number 14 Albert Montanes 6-3, 7-6 (7/1) and 92nd ranked home qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver defeating Argentine number 10 Juan Monaco 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.

Simone Bolelli secured an upset when 2004 winner and ninth seed Tommy Robredo had to quit with a back injury to give his Italian opponent a 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 3-1 win.

Spanish number 16 Feliciano Lopez had the same luck when he beat Oleksandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 3-0 as the Ukranian could not finish.

Second seed Robin Soderling made a spectacular clay season debut, coming back from a break down in each set to beat Juan Ignacio Chela 7-5, 7-5.

It was a day of drama off-court as Rafael Nadal detailed his reasons for withdrawing as a precaution from one of the events which is closest to his Spanish heart and where he has won the last five editions.

“It’s been a tough year,” said the world number three, who expressed his disappointment at being forced to let down his home club and public.

“My goal is to remain healthy and fit,” said a player well acquainted with injury absences due to the delicate state of his knees.

Nadal said that three straight weeks of elite clay events - Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome were too much in too short a period, another knock at the ATP calendar which he has long complained is helping to cause player

injuries and burnout.

“I’m being as cautious as possible, I want to have as long a career as possible,” said Nadal, who lost his only match in Barcelona in 2003.

“Tennis isn’t like football, you don’t know how many matches you will play.” He is expected to return for Rome next week.

The 12th-seeded Hewitt went missing for eight years at the Real Club de Tenis, where he challenged as world number one for a place in the 2002 final but lost his semi to eventual champion Gaston Gaudio.

In the intervening years, the former Wimbledon and US Open winner played sparingly on the spring European clay, due partly to his natural disposition for hardcourts and also later due to injuries which have included two hip surgeries.

But Hewitt showed no ill effects as he began his European clay season with the goal of doing well in the run-up to Roland Garros next month.

The Australian fired ten aces and broke six times against Ilhan, who could be the key to a possible upset of Britain in a do-or-die Davis Cup playoff in July for his nation.

Hewitt saved four of the five break points he faced in a victory lasting just under two hours to move into a second-round contest against Argentine Educaro Schwank.

The Australian will next face Argentine Eduardo Schwank Wednesday.

“It’s good to get through the first match here,” said Hewitt. “I’ve played Schwank before on grass at Queen’s but I expect he’ll be much tougher to play against on clay here.”

The 29-year-old Aussie, who underwent right hip surgery on January 29, is playing in his second tournament back after Houston, where he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Juan Ignacio Chela.

Hewitt’s win marked only his sixth of an abbreviated season against three losses.

16

Thursday, April 22, 2010

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

Sport

Barrichello not expecting big leap soon Rubens Barrichello says he is not expecting his Williams team to be able to make a sudden leap forward following a discreet start to the 2010 season. The team from Grove is currently seventh in the standings, having score only six points in the first four races of the year.

AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS

Williams-Cosworth driver Rubens Barrichello of Brazil drives during the second qualifying session of Formula One’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 16, 2010.

Hamilton praises race stewards LEWIS Hamilton has praised the role played by the FIA stewards during the first four races of this season, saying they are the best he has experienced in his Formula 1 career.

Hamilton has been criticized for some robust racing this season but has yet to be given more than a reprimand by the stewards.

Former drivers have been members of the stewarding panel since the beginning of the season.

Speaking at a press conference

after taking part in a Vodafone promotion at the Kyalami circuit outside Johannesburg in South Africa on Tuesday, Hamilton said: “I think the FIA and their racing stewards this year, they’ve been the best that I’ve probably experienced in Formula 1.

“It’s difficult (for the stewards) in Formula 1; we’re all there to race, to have a good time; we’re not to there to mess around.

“For sure we’re all pushing the

boundaries and rules are rules, but I think this year it’s been a lot more fair and definitely more consistent and more racing has been (the result).

“Us drivers are now not afraid to have a real battle with someone, without the worry of risking a penalty and I think that’s fantastic. “(The stewards) are doing a fantastic job and I think that’s what’s also contributing to such great racing so far (this season),” Hamilton concluded.

AFP PHOTO / PHILIPPE LOPEZ

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain gestures during a press conference at the track of Formula One’s Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 15, 2010. After the heat and tropical storms of Sepang, the much cooler Chinese conditions are to produce a whole new level of challenges for the teams and their tires — and a good chance of more unexpected incidents and outcomes.

Barrichello says Williams has understood how to solve some of its issues, but reckon it is unlikely the team will be able to take a very quick step forward.

He is confident, however, that the development push will help Williams be more competitive as the season progresses.

“We know how to address some of the problems,” Barrichello said. “I don’t think we’ll find a second all of a sudden, but the thing that I know for sure is that this car is like this and they will be develop the car until the very last moment.

He added: “I think we will have to work make the top six in qualifying. The race is a different matter. You need reliability, different things. To get into the

top six all the time we need to find half a second.”

Barrichello says he is pleased to see the team is listening to his suggestions, and agrees that both parties are unhappy with the results so far.

“We have a good harmony between driver and team and the great thing is that I can quite clearly say that I’m not happy with the result, because the team is not happy either,” he added.

“We just need to keep on moving.

“Unfortunately, even with all my experience, new things happen and you keep learning, and that’s how life goes.

“The team is prepared to listen to me, which is great. The team is really relaying on my calls and I’m feeling great on that.”