Edisi 25 Agustus 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 161 2st Year

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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

An injured woman is carried to Medina hospital on August 24, 2010 as fighting rages in Mogadishu after Al Qaeda-inspired extremists launched an offensive which the government said was a declaration of war on the Somali people, leaving 29 civilians dead.

Islamist militants shot dead 30 people, including six members of parliament in a suicide attack on a Mogadishu hotel Tuesday, Somalia’s deputy prime minister said.

Foreign tourists to Bali up 12 percent PAGE 8

AFP PHOTO/Abdurashid ABDULLE

Mexican beauty crowned Miss Universe PAGE 12

Six MPs among 32 killed in Mogadishu hotel suicide attack Agence France-Presse MOGADISHU - Islamist militants shot dead 30 people, including six members of parliament in a suicide attack on a Mogadishu hotel Tuesday, Somalia’s deputy prime minister said.

The two militants from the Shebab insurgency disguised as government security forces then blew themselves up to avoid ar-

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rest after the attack on the hotel which was crowded with Somali officials.

“Thirty people died in this am-

bush. Six of them are members of the Somali parliament and four are Somali government civil servants,” Abdirahman Haji Adan Ibbi told reporters after the deadly rampage at Hotel Mona.

“The 20 others are innocent civilians who died in this horrible incident,” he added.

An official and witnesses told an

AFP reporter on the scene that two fighters from Shebab disguised as government security forces smuggled themselves into the hotel and sprayed gunfire on its occupants.

“They detonated the suicide vests they were wearing when our forces surrounded the hotel,” he said on condition of anonymity.

Continued on page 6

Philippine police admit blunders in deadly hostage ordeal Agence France-Presse

Kong’s government and people around the world who watched the shoot-out live on television, Manila police commander Leocadio Santiago admitted mistakes had been made.

“We saw some obvious shortcomings in terms of capability and tactics used, or the procedure employed and we are now going to investigate this,” Santiago said on local television.

MANILA - Philippine police conceded Tuesday they had made blunders ending a bus hijacking as outrage grew over the bloody assault that was played out on live television and left eight Hong Kong tourists dead.

Commandos fired dozens of bullets into the bus and smashed its windows with sledgehammers as they tried to storm it, but were then forced to wait outside help- Continued on page 6 lessly for over an hour as the hijacker used his captives as human shields.

Relatives of one of the eight The stand-off in Manila’s tourist district hostages killed in the hostage on Monday finally ended when police fired drama offer prayers in front of the tear gas into the bus and a sniper shot the hijacked bus in Manila on August gunman in the head, but by then eight of 24, 2010, a day after the bloody the tourists on board had been killed. assault.

Amid a storm of criticism from Hong

AFP PHOTO/TED ALJIBE

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International

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Bali News Bali could have drugs factory Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The spread of drugs in Bali is very worrying. Almost every day, the police officer arrest drug dealers or users. Seeing the condition, the deputy of Drug Preventing division in National Drug Reinforcement Agency (BNN), Brigjen Pol. Anan Iskandar, said that there is a possibility that there are drug factories in Bali.

Anan said that the possibility is because there were some big drug dealers arrested in Bali. Among them there were foreign citizen who are allegedly a part of international drug syndicate.

He also explained that the BNN already cooperate with the police to find out the where about of the fac-

tory if it is exist and to prevent the spread of drugs in Bali. “We already coordinate with the local police to immediately carry out investigation,” Anan added.

The government also has been carrying out the steps needed to prevent the spread of drugs. One of the steps is establishing anti-drug offic-

ers on each village and banjar so they can detect the spread of the drugs as early as possible.

There will be also anti-drug competition held in every village. Anan said that currently, 3.2 million people in Indonesia involve with drugs and it started to enter government department.(kmb21)

Issues on ABT draft in Denpasar regulation

PHRI requests the increase of ABT tax to be studied carefully Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The plan of Denpasar Municipality to determine the basic rate of underground water (ABT) and ABT tax scale was begun to be discussed by Special Committee III of Denpasar House. In the discussion, the committee had invited a number of community members to determine the basic tariff and taxes of ABT that would be stated in the draft of Mayoral Regulation. The discussion was held again by the committee last Monday (Aug 23) by inviting the party of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) as representative of hoteliers and restaurateurs in Denpasar.

In the meeting chaired by the Head of Special Committee III, Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa, accompanied by A.A. Susruta Ngurah Putra and Wayan Mariyana Wandhira was proposed in order the ABT tariff and tax would not rise up to 1,000 percent as defined by the province.

Moreover, alternative water sources that could be used by hoteliers and restaurateurs were inadequate. For example, the existence of Municipality Waterworks

(PDAM) up to this moment could not have met the demand of clean water for the hotels.

“As a matter of fact, we do not go against the rate increase, provided it has been in accordance with other expenses because everything has gone up today. Ideally, ABT tariff increases between 15 to 20 percent of the initial tariff namely IDR 7,500 per cubic meter,” said I.B. Sidharta, the representative of hoteliers in Sanur.

Sidhartha Putra pleaded that it did not matter if using the water supply of Municipality Waterworks. However, up to these days the water demand for the hotel could not have been fulfilled by PDAM. Not only that, PDAM also took advantage of the underground water to meet the water needs of the community. “We have no problem to use the water supply of PDAM if it is ready to meet our needs,” said Sidhartha who is also the Chairman of Sanur Development Foundation (YPS).

Meanwhile, the Treasurer of PHRI Bali, Rai Arya, disclosed the rate position of PDAM and ABT in Denpasar was quite high. In some regions such as Batam Island and Jakarta, the tariff was much lower.

Even, in Australia the water subscription offered was ready to drink, while the tariff was only IDR 14, 935 per cubic meter.

In response to this input, Kadek Agus Arya Wibawa revealed what delivered by PHRI would be followed up with the executive in the upcoming working meeting. As a Special Committee, his party would not like if the regional regulation and mayoral regulation on the ABT would incriminate the hoteliers where the current acquisition of regionally generated revenue (PAD) of Denpasar reached 60 percent denoting the contribution of this business. “We do not want if the basic tariff and tax rates of ABT will have a bad impact on the businesspeople,” explained Kadek Agus.

On the other hand, the members of Special Committee namely Mariyana Wandhira and Wayan Suadi Putra expected the issue should become a lesson for the PDAM. At the very least, the performance of PDAM should be increased to meet the water needs of businesspeople. (kmb12)

AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA

Tourists ride camels on a beach in Nusa Dua on the resort island of Bali on August 20, 2010.

Customer of bank BRI robbed Bali Post

DENPASAR - Married couples I Ketut Suardaya and Gusti Ayu Astini experienced a robbery incident, last Monday (Aug 23). The incident took place on Jalan Pulau Moyo, Denpasar, exactly in front of the Ads Wet Game.

Robbers took action on daylight and threatened the victim with a sword. Allegedly, perpetrators of the robbery were four men using two motorcycles.

Based on information collected at the scene, the action took place at 11:00 am Local Time. Previously, the couple living on Jalan Pierre Tendean Sudirman, Denpasar, made a transaction in Bank BRI located on Jalan Gajah Mada, Denpasar. They took money worth IDR 75 million. The money would be used for the cost of house construction in Jembrana.

Having withdrawn the money, the couple intended to drop in at the business site of their son (Wet Game Ads) on Jalan Pulau Moyo, Denpasar. They were driving a Suzuki Swift car. Once parked in front of the premises managed by their son, Agus Darma Saputra, 23, they were approached by two unknown men riding motorcycle. “My mother got out of the car. I saw my mother and perpetrator pulling the bag each other,” said Agus Darma when found at the scene.

Perpetrators using full face helmet and black jacket also pointed a gun at his mother. Meanwhile, his father was still inside the car. Her mother was under threat and could not do anything. “I attempted to help my mother. Since the perpetrator brought a sword and pointed at me, I could not do anything, either.

And, neither could the people around the scene,” he said.

Once successfully snatched her

purse, the perpetrators fled. The perpetrators were identified using Yamaha Jupiter motorcycle. However, its license plate could not be identified as it had been folded. Allegedly, the perpetrators were high profile criminals. “Perhaps, the perpetrators are already experienced. I saw the license plate of their motorcycles had already been folded.

Therefore, they could not be identified,” he explained.

Since those robbers successfully carried her purse containing mobile phone and cash worth IDR 500 thousand, Agus Darma attempted to chase them. However, there were tandem bikers attempting to hinder the velocity of his motor.

It was suspected that the robbery perpetrators consisted of four people. “Possibly, they (robbers—ed) belong to the same syndicate,” he concluded Fortunately, Agus Darma said the money worth IDR 75 million just withdrawn was not grabbed by the robber gang. The money was brought by his father and he happened to be still inside the car. Therefore, those robbers only managed to take the bag. “My parents came here (to the scene—red) as they wished to say goodbye to me because they would go straight to Jembrana,” he said.

After the incident, a number of police officers came to the scene to make investigation. Police immediately conducted crime scene examination, and several witnesses were asked for their testimony. However, police could not have succeeded in identifying the perpetrators. Spokesperson of Bali Police, Gde Sugianyar, when asked for his confirmation last Monday said the case was still under investigation. “We are still pursuing the perpetrators,” he concluded. (kmb21)

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Bali News

International

Hundreds of Travel Tour Agency Status in Bali “Blurry Unsure” Regional Tourism Agency Ready to Guide Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The joint team Bali Tourism Agency (Diparda) and Police Civil Service found 351 Travel Tour Agency (BPW) has unclear owner permit so its status is “blurry unsure” (saru gremeng) and the number was more than half of the number BPW registered before the regional autonomy until June 2010 which was 658 BPW units.

Head of Bali Diparda, Drs IB Kade Subhiksu, MM, stated there was no clear address, business change, moving address, not shown business permit and business closed caused BPW condition unsure, “After re-data for a month (1-30 July), actually many BPW changed their business to pharmacies, barbershop, shops, art shops, and more. And from the 658 BPW units only 216 units registered with clear owner status.”

Subhiksu asked the 658 BPW owners or managers who has permits and registered at Diparda Bali to show their legality also fill in the form given from 1st September to coming 15th October, “This is to know the real BPW condition which all this time has been registered at Diparda Bali.

The re-data result will be a support to do guidance, supervision

and controlling BPW later on. ”Based on this result, BPW that are not active reached 91 units, 341 units with unsure status, and 226 units still active. Meanwhile the 91 units its permit not active and 351 its permits are unsure. And the 216 has a clear permit, “To make their status clear, we from Diparda prepared to do guidance with the agreement of Regional Government Number 1 Year 2010, Head of Tourism, Postal, and Telecommunications Department Number KM.10/PW.102/MPPT-93 and Indonesia Republic Law Number 10 Year 2009.”

According to Subhiksu, Business Travel Services (UJPW), BPW branch and BPW agency who has register has an obligation to fulfill and rules to obey. Like giving protection to the tourists, using a licensed guide, using reg-

istered vehicles, involves in one UJPW association, obeys moral values, ethics and culture value that lives inside Bali and others, “UJPW not permitted using foreign workers without license, using underage workers, handovers TDU to other people without Governor permission and burdens tourist tours funds to the guiders.”

Subhiksu added, government can take of TDU UJPW if UJPW will not continue their business and doesn’t have an obligation to reregister one time in five years, not doing business for two years or not giving any report in four times in a row, clearly done a crime, clearly violated obligations and warnings from sections 11 and 12 Regional Government Number 1 year 2010 and clearly has violated laws connecting to business. (par)

IHDN Campus Raging, Students Refuse to Pay School Fee Denpasar (Bali Post) –

The stillness of Nation Hindu Dharma Institute (IHDN) Denpasar, last Monday (23/8) was a little raging due to the tens of its students involved in IHDN Denpasar Student Solidarity (SOLID) held an oration action in the IHDN Campus parking space at Ratna Street, Denpasar. They questioned the campus policy, especially from Head of Public Biro IHDN Praptini, who kept taking contribution for education coaching/school fee (SPP) from students who finished their script examination and only waiting for their certification.

The demo starts from 9 am wita. What’s more the demo is in the same time of the new students’ orientation program (ospek). So they were going around the circle that was made by the new students and it disturbed the ongoing orientation.

Some of the students brought posters which it says they

refuse to pay their SPP who have finished their script examination.Action Coordinator, Heri Iswanto, stated this school fee payment to students who had done their script examination is very out of control and burdens IHDN students.

Logically, they have done all their studies and don’t need to pay the SPP anymore. They also question the calendar, where the certification should’ve been done this 21st or 23rd of August, “The studies only until 8th semester. So what for we have to pay the next semester SPP.” They demanded to clarify what that additional SPP is for. Most of the students think it’s used to pay debts as much as IDR 5 Billion.Besides SPP, they also asked the orientation management that was taken care by Students Executive Board (BEM) now taken over by the institute. This is taking over is stopping students creativity.

At least nine (9) demands were asked which are stopping educa-

tion commercialisation, giving expressing guaranty, to have opinions, and organisation, refuse and give back for 9th Semester SPP who has done their script examination as much as IDR 400 thousand in June and IDR 600 thousand in July.

Decrease SPP payment, destroy wild picking in education instate, erase Work Experience (KKL) in IHDN Denpasar, give a transparent look of the institute’s finance, give also complete campus facility and organise also mutate Head of Public Biro Praptini. Praptini admitted can’t take decision now on these demands and as for the SPP it’s the law and not the campus or the rector wants, “The regulation said so.

As long as there’s no certification yet, so they are still students of the campus and has the obligation to pay SPP as usual.”

Praptini also added this will be talked with Rector Prof. Dr. I Made Titib as he got back from his culture art visit in India. (015)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

3

Squeezing Breast, Nine Years Jail Awaits Denpasar (Bali Post)-

Attention to all men who are ill-disciplined towards opposite sex. Moch Jaenuri (30) forced to sit as convict in Denpasar District Court on Monday (23/8) as he bravely squeezed breast of a teenager named Sekar (not real name).

The man works as garment worker was accused for violating Criminal Code section 289 with punishment of 9 years jail.

Trial then closed lead by Judge Leader putu Suika based on the information from Public Prosecutor Wayan Seroni where it stated the accused has done sexual abuse acts on victim on Thursday 29th April 2010 at Canggu Permai Estate, Krisnantara II Street Blok B no. 11, Canggu Village, North Kuta, Badung.

The incident happened when accused came to his workplace which’s also the victim’s house when victim finished taking shower and preparing herself up in her room, accused went

straight in to her room closed the door and hugged her waist from the back. Not only that, he then turned her face to face, took her to the bathroom and pushed her to the walls.

Accused then kissed her lips, cheek and neck forcedly also pulled up victim’s clothes including bra which then right breast was kissed and the left one was squeezed. Victim tried to get off yet wasn’t successful then victim slapped accused face and cause him to stop and left victim. This then was reported to the police by the victim.

After hearing prosecutor’s statement, it continued with witnesses’ statements, one of them is Fitria. In front of the judges, Fitria confirmed that accused came to the victim’s house often and they often joke about, “I think the accused acts were just joking about, but why is it reported.”

The next trial will be continued next week with the accused investigated. (015)

Solved Rabies, Disnak (Husbandry Department) Request Province to intervene Tabanan, DenPost

The problem of rabies that hit in Tabanan apparently related offices shakes make bitter. Tail, Animal Husbandry Department (standardized) local Tabanan, Bali Disnak requesting to intervene to help settle the case deadly, including the elimination simultaneously throughout Bali.

We need to be assisted provincial government offices. We can not get to do their own elimination, said Kadisnak (the chairman of husbandry department) Tabanan, Nyoman Rusmini, Monday (23 / 8) yesterday.

According to him, to suppress populations of wild dogs, the province should conduct a massive elimination. Because, if done one by one, most likely wild dogs from other districts that no action could escape to the elimination of other districts.

If not conducted large-scale elimination, dogs that roam will increase a lot, including the dogs that come from other regions, she said.

Although it does not explain in detail the efforts undertaken to overcome it, but Rusmini admitted parties do not make indiscriminate elimination. Therefore, elimination of the current conducted from the public on request.

Elimination only do we do if there is public demand. That’s why we do not arbitrarily elimination, she said.

The phenomenon of people who wild pet dog, according Rusmini, also became one of the obstacles. In fact, one who made it standard operating procedure for this is to give vaccinations to dogs.

Vaccination dogs we’ve always done, but there are also residents who wild pet dog.

This may also be our constraint field. And we also have frequent dissemination of rabies in each district, she said.

To note, the case of bites that occurred during the last two days has reached 31 cases in all districts as Tabanan. In fact, Rabies Centre Tabanan itself calculates the increase in deadly cases to 17 cases per day. (Dir)

4

News

Wednesday, August 25 , 2010

International

Plane crash in Nepal kills all 14 on board Agence France-Presse

KATHMANDU - A small plane headed for the Everest region crashed in bad weather near the Nepalese capital on Tuesday, killing all 14 people on board including four Americans, a Japanese and a British national.

The Agni Air plane was returning to Kathmandu after it was unable to land at Lukla, its intended destination in a popular trekking spot in eastern Nepal, government officials said.

Rescuers at the crash site described the scene as “horrific”, with the badly burned remains of the victims strewn over a field around 15 miles (25 kilometres) south of Kathmandu.

“Our teams have now reached the site and I can confirm that there are no survivors. All 14 people are dead,” said Bimlesh Lal Karna, head of rescue operations with the civil aviation authority.

“The scene is quite horrific. We are having to battle against hostile terrain and bad weather to recover the remains of the victims. We will bring them back to Kathmandu as soon as the weather permits.”

Local villagers said they saw the plane crash into the field next to a school and break up on impact. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

“There are small pieces of the

plane all over the field and you can see body parts. We are all so shocked,” villager Pratap Lama told the Kantipur radio station.

Relatives of some of the passengers gathered at the airport in Kathmandu to wait for news.

“My cousin is a trekking guide and he was flying up to take a group of tourists to Everest base camp,” Ganesh Rijal, 40, told AFP. “He got married recently and his wife is in deep shock. I have been waiting here for hours, but nobody has been able to tell me anything.”

August is the rainy season in Nepal and helicopters were initially unable to fly to the crash area due to poor visibility. Landslides — a frequent occurrence in Nepal during the monsoon — also hampered road access.

Thousands of travellers fly into Lukla, 140 kilometres (90 miles) northeast of Kathmandu, every year to access the stunning Himalayan range that forms Nepal’s northern border with Chinese-controlled Tibet.

The 550-metre-long (1,800 feet) sloping airstrip at Lukla, perched on

AFP PHOTO/Prakash MATHEMA

A man (C), seeking information of a relative who was aboard a crashed Air Agni flight, uses his mobile phone in front of the airline’s information counter at the Kathmandu airport in August 24, 2010.

a hillside 2,757 metres above sea level, is considered one of the most difficult landings in the world and there have been several major accidents there.

The last was in 2008 when a

Two Iraq judges killed in violence claimed by Al-Qaeda Agence France-Presse

BAGHDAD - Two Iraqi judges were killed last week, an official said Tuesday, in a spate of attacks claimed

by Al-Qaeda which says it was avenging death sentences being handed down to Sunnis in Shiite prisons.

The latest murders recall a series of attacks against judges across Iraq in 2004 and 2005, in the aftermath of the US-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.

An interior ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said one judge was killed in Utayfiyah, north Baghdad, by silenced pistol on August 17, while another was murdered a day later by a roadside bomb in Al-Amriyah, a western district in the capital.

He added that three others were wounded in Baghdad over a three-day period between August 17 and 19, including the head of the Iraqi Appeals Court Chief Judge Kamal Jabir Bandar, by roadside bombs and driveby shootings.

Also on August 17, four judges travelling from Baladruz, in Diyala province north of Baghdad, to the provincial capital Baquba were wounded by a bomb attack.

Meanwhile, in the restive northern city of Mosul, several judges travelling in two cars were hit by two

roadside bombs on August 17, though none of the vehicles’ passengers were wounded. When Iraqi security forces arrived at the scene to secure the area, a third roadside bomb went off, injuring four soldiers, a police official said.

The Islamic State of Iraq (ISI), AlQaeda’s Iraqi front, said in a statement posted on Islamist forums on Monday that they were behind the attacks, warning that “fighters will not remain idle as Sunni Muslims are sentenced to death and killed in Shiite prisons.”

The group claimed that so far it has targeted 12 judges, SITE said.

ISI had on Friday claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing, also on August 17, on a crowded Iraqi army recruitment centre in Baghdad that killed 59 people and wounded 100.

A surge of violence in the past two months has sparked concern that Iraqi forces are not yet ready to take over sole responsibility for the country’s security, as the US military prepares to declare an end to combat operations next week.

The US army on Tuesday said the number of American troops in Iraq has fallen below 50,000 — less than a third of the peak figure of around 170,000 during “the surge” of 2007, when Iraq was in the midst of a brutal sectarian war in which tens of thousands of people were killed.

According to Iraqi figures, disputed by the US, July was the deadliest month in Iraq since May 2008.

Twin Otter plane carrying 18 people crashed killing everyone on board.

The airport is used by climbers heading for the heights of Everest, though August is the low season for both mountaineering and trekking.

Tourism is a major foreign currency earner for impoverished Nepal and the number of visitors has increased since a civil war between Maoist guerrillas and the state ended in 2006.

Pakistan warns of new floods in south Agence France-Presse

HYDERABAD - Pakistan faces a critical risk of yet more flooding in the next three days in its fertile southern plains, officials warned on Tuesday, as a major river threatened to burst its banks.

The worst natural disaster in the country’s history has already affected 20 million people in nearly a month of flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rain, and left 1,500 dead by official count.

Five million people have been made homeless across the country but that figure could surge higher if the swollen Indus river, whose fast-moving waters are piling pressure on sagging embankments, continues to fill up.

“The next two to three days are very critical and we will have to strictly monitor the situation in the towns near the mouth of Indus river, which will have exceptionally high levels,” Sindh province irrigation minister Jam Saifullah Dharejo told AFP. He said thousands of irrigation officials had been deployed to strengthen river barriers at high-risk spots near the teeming city of Hyderabad, but a full moon this week would fasten water flows and increase the risk of flood.

“This is the worst flood in our history and it will take time to bring the situation back to normal,” Dharejo warned.

Pakistan’s chief meteorologist Arif Mehmood confirmed the risk remained high in the south, while waters had receded in hard-hit Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir provinces, leaving huge needs in their wake.

Millions who saw their homes wiped out are surviving on aid handouts and are in desperate need of food, shelter and clean drinking water, as concerns grow over potential cholera, typhoid and

hepatitis outbreaks.

Under fire President Asif Ali Zardari has warned his crippled nuclear-armed nation, a key United States ally in the fight against Islamic extremism, could take years to recover.

“Your guess is as good as mine, but three years is a minimum,” Zardari told reporters on Monday when asked how long it would take Pakistan to go through relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation.

“I don’t think Pakistan will ever fully recover but we will move on,” the president said, adding that the government — strongly criticised for its slow response — was working to protect people from similar disasters in future.

The UN estimates 4.8 million people have been made homeless.

Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from flood-threatened areas close to Hyderabad, a city of 2.5 million people on the lower reaches of the Indus, where at least 36 nearby villages have been swept away.

Three hundred miles (480 kilometres) from Hyderabad, authorities continued to battle to save Shahdadkot from the surging waters, after most the city’s 100,000 residents had been escorted to safety or made a hasty getaway.

Global aid pledges, which have been slow coming, have now topped 700 million dollars amid fears that losses as a result of the floods could reach 43 billion dollars.

On Tuesday the president’s office said the government planned to distribute 20,000 Pakistani rupees (234 US dollars) to each flood-affected family.

Pakistan officials are in talks with the International Monetary Fund in Washington amid reports Islamabad was asking the fund to ease the terms of a loan worth nearly 11 billion dollars.

Hotel Activities Bali Lifeguards Sport New Uniforms

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

International

5

Courtesy of Quiksilver and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia IBP

KUTA - On Friday morning August 21 during one of their training programs on Kuta Beach, South Bali’s Badung Lifeguard Department took a break to receive brand new uniforms, hats, and sunglasses courtesy of Quiksilver SEA and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI).

On hand to present the new apparel to the lifeguards and their captains were Quiksilver’s Surf Team Captain Tipi Jabrik (who is also CCAI’s CSR Ambassador), Advertising and Promotion Manager Ms Putu Purniati, and Tech Manager Sam Gosling, along with Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia’s Business Services Director Bruce Waterfield.

Receiving the goods on behalf of the 160 man strong Badung Life Department was Coordinator Made Suparka, who was extremely grateful for the new uniforms, saying “We are so very thankful to Quiksilver and CCAI for their support. Having these new uniforms means a lot to us, for now when we are out on the beach we can be even more proud of our jobs as lifeguards, and everybody on the beach knows exactly where we are because we have such great new uniforms!”

The Badung Lifeguard Department is made of up 7 posts; Kuta, Canggu, Dreamland, PadangPadang, Uluwatu, Club Med (Nusa Dua), and Nusa Dua, all of whom were represented at the presentation where they received 320 long-sleeved shirts, 320 short-sleeved shirts, 320 rashguard shirts, 320 hats, 640 pairs of boardshorts, 320 pairs of sunglasses, and 160 swimming trunks as part of the lifeguard support program that was initiated last year by Quiksilver and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia.

“Quiksilver is proud to be able to support the Badung lifeguards as we know what a challenging job they have and how important it is, not only for the safety of the tourists but for the local people as well. They need good quality equipment in order to perform at their best, and they are also showing a good example of how to be protected against the sun while at the beach. We plan to support them for many years to come,” said Ms Purniati from Quiksilver.

Bruce Waterfield from Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia had this to add, “This is a great addition to CCAI’s commitment to protecting and preserving Bali’s beaches. These lifeguards play a critical role each day in making Bali’s beaches safe, so any

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

help we can give them so they can do their jobs better is the right thing to do. In conjunction with our beach cleanup and turtle conservation programs, together with our support of the Indonesian Surfing Championship Tour, we pleased with the progress we are making to help out in the community and we are committed to keep doing it for a long time to come.”

The presentation took place in front of the Kuta Beach Lifeguard Headquarters on the beach near the Hard Rock Café at 9 am on Friday morning. After the lifeguards were gathered together on the beach, Tipi Jabrik welcomed them all and gave them an overview of the presentation and the program. Next, Bruce Waterfield of CCAI took over the microphone to say a few words to the men, and then it was on to Sam

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

Royal Danish & Norwegian Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 070

Consulate General of Japan Jalan Raya Puputan No. 170 Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.227 628

The Czech Republic Jalan Pengembak No. 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.286 465

Honorary Consulate of British Jalan Tirta Nadi No. 20 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.270 601

France Consulate Agency Jalan Merta Sari Gang II No. 8 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.285 485

Swiss and Austria Consulate Jalan Patih Jelantik, Komplek Pertokoan Istana Galleria Phone +62.361.751 735

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

Gosling and Ms Purniati from Quiksilver who symbolically presented the new uniforms.

To close out the morning’s presentation, Bruce Waterfield took the opportunity to present 13 new CocaCola surfboards to the group of very stoked Coca-Cola product retailers that had been called to the event to receive these special rewards for their loyalty and hard work on the beach.

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.

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

Honorary Consulate of Brazil Jalan Legian No. 186, Bali Phone +62.361.757 775

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.

Honorary Consulate of Thailand Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 81, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.263 310

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

Phone : 222 142.

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

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

6

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

News

Giant Chinese ‘Michelin baby’ startles doctors Agence France-Presse

BEIJING - Doctors in central China are puzzling over a 10-month-old baby boy who weighs 20 kilos (44 lbs) — about as much as a normal child of six years — but is otherwise healthy, state media reported.

The infant, whose name was not given, was brought to a children’s hospital in the Hunan provincial capital of Changsha earlier this month with a fever, the China News Service said.

Doctors were startled at the child’s enormous size, which his parents attributed to him spending his days either breastfeeding or sleeping.

A photo posted on Hunan news website rednet.cn showed an obese child sitting in a crib and playing with a toy as he smiled happily at the camera.

The website described him as a “Michelin baby”, after the familiar mascot of the Michelin tire company.

It said the child’s cheeks resembled “two plump cuts of meat, like a mouth filled with two small balloons,” while his arms and legs resembled “stacked hula hoops of fat”.

Doctors told the China News Service they could find no medical reason for his extreme size.

But they said the child embodies the country’s growing obesity problem, and warned parents to guard against excessive weight gain by their children, lest it lead to health problems.

Chinese waistlines are expanding rapidly as the nation develops, a problem blamed on richer diets and the increasingly sedentary lifestyles that come with growing affluence.

There are more than 60 million obese people in China, and another 200 million who are overweight, according to a Chinese health ministry statement last year that cited a 2004 nationwide survey.

Children are at special risk, according to previous reports that blame an education system in which students must spend long hours studying for high-stakes school exams, discouraging outdoor play.

KABUL – Afghan and international forces have killed about 40 Taliban fighters east of the Afghan capital Kabul as part of operations to provide security ahead of parliamentary elections next month, NATO said Tuesday.

One coalition soldier was also killed in fighting in the volatile south where the insurgency is most heavily entrenched, the coalition reported. It said the soldier was not an American, but offered no other information in accordance with procedure.

A total of 48 foreign troops have been killed in Afghanistan this month, including 30 Americans, according to a count

by The Associated Press.

Fighting in Kabul province began Friday, involving Afghan, U.S. and French troops and both air and ground assaults, the coalition said. Eight Taliban leaders were captured and a large quantity of explosives and other weapons destroyed, it said.

Troops were taking the fight to the insurgents in an area where they “used to feel pretty secure operating in,” Brig.

Gen. Steve Townsend, the U.S. deputy commander in eastern Afghanistan, was quoted as saying in a news release.

No information on coalition casualties in the operation was given. Insurgents have attacked government workers and threatened voters to derail Afghanistan’s electoral process. Despite heavy security for presidential polls last year, turnout was low and the result marred by allegations of widespread voter fraud.

Elections for 249 seats in the lower house of parliament are scheduled for Sept. 18.

Heavy fighting overnight was also reported in the southwestern provinces of Nimroz and Uruzgan, adjoining the

From page 1 The bold attack was the deadliest of its kind against high-ranking officials from the Western-backed transitional federal government since the Al Qaeda-inspired Shebab launched an offensive to conquer Mogadishu last year.

“They have no motive other than to terrorise the Somali people. This is a deplorable act in this holy month of Ramadan. It shows their brutality and lack of respect for humanity,” Information Minister Abdirahman Omar Osman Yarisow said in a statement.

Parliament speaker Sharif Hassan Sheikh Aden condemned the attack when he spoke to AFP from Nairobi.

“We condemn this terrorist attack against the Mona hotel, in which a large number of MPs were staying,” he said.

“This is the work of the Shebab, who are committed to disrupting the efforts of the transitional federal gov-

ernment (TFG) which is pacifying the country,” Sheikh Aden said.

“These terrorists acts will not stop.”

The African Union mission in Somalia (AMISOM), whose more than 6,000 troops deployed in Mogadishu protect the TFG and support its military operations against the insurgency also condemned the attack.

“It is unfortunate that those opposed to the peace process continue to kill innocent civilians even during the fasting month of Ramadan which is one of the key pillars of the Islamic faith which they claim to profess,” a statement said.

“Today’s attack on innocent civilians clearly demonstrates the cowardly and barbaric mindset of those opposed to the peace process and cannot be condoned,” Boubacar Gaoussou Diarra, special representative of the African Union Commission Chairman for Somalia, said.

Philippine...

From page 1

http://i.dailymail.co.uk

Doctors in central China are puzzling over a 10-month-old baby boy who weighs 20 kilos (44 lbs) — about as much as a normal child of six years — but is otherwise healthy, state media reported.

Troops kill 40 militants east of Afghan capital Associated Press Writer

Six...

insurgent strongholds of Helmand and Kandahar provinces.

Numerous Taliban were killed, but the Afghan police and army managed to avoid casualties, according to an army news release and Nimroz police chief Abdul Jabbar Pardali.

Also Tuesday, NATO said U.S. troops fired warning shots to disperse a protest in eastern Afghanistan over the arrest of a religious leader suspected of a rocket attack.

The alliance said no civilian injuries were reported from Monday’s demonstration, but Gen. Faqir Ahmad, the deputy police chief of Parwan province, said one civilian was killed by gunfire from an unknown source.

NATO said about 300 people surrounded a patrol and attacked vehicles with rocks and iron bars outside the main coalition air base at Bagram in Parwan province.

“After several attempts to stop the attack and disperse the crowd, coalition troops received small-arms fire directed at them,” NATO said in a news release. Coalition forces then fired the warning shots. Gen. Ahmad said the coalition firing enraged the crowd with some then using rocks and sticks to attack police and the head of the district government, Kabir Ahmad, who had tried to calm the situation. The deputy police chief said Ahmad and a police officer had serious but not life-threatening injuries.

The man arrested Monday by Afghan police was a Muslim teacher suspected of taking part in a rocket attack on a coalition patrol two weeks ago, Gen. Ahmad said. About 50 students from his religious school began the protest, which then attracted up to 2,000 villagers, he said.

Such protests among Afghan civilians often center on claims that U.S. or other international forces killed innocent civilians. NATO says some accusations are unfounded and accuses the Taliban and its sympathizers of inciting demonstrators.

He and President Benigno Aquino promised to investigate all aspects of the 12-hour ordeal, which began when a disgruntled sacked policeman armed with an M-16 assault rifle hijacked a bus carrying 25 people, mostly Hong Kong tourists.

Hong Kong’s chief executive, Donald Tsang, expressed anger at the handling of the crisis and insisted he get answers.

“We demand that the Philippine authorities conduct a detailed and comprehensive investigation on the incident. They must provide a full account to us as soon as possible,” Tsang said.

Tsang also urged all Hong Kong tour groups in the Philippines to return home, and organised two chartered flights to take relatives of the hostages, as well as psychologists, doctors and social workers, to Manila.

Flags flew at half mast and the Hong Kong stock exchange observed a minute’s silence as the shocked territory mourned the victims, while media focused on the perceived ineptitude of the Philippine police in handling the crisis.

“The Philippine government....

I can’t accept this. Why did they do this to us?” one survivor identified as Mrs Leung told Hong Kong officials who flew to the Manila hospital, in comments shown on Cable News TV. The gunman “did not want to kill us.

He only shot us after the negotiations failed.”

Leung said her husband and two daughters aged 21 and 14 were killed in the shoot-out, while her 18-year-old son was in intensive care in Manila.

In comments echoed throughout the territory’s media, the Hong Kong Economic Journal criticised

the Philippine police for their inability to get into the bus after storming it.

“Their appalling professional standards and the lack of strategic planning made observers both angry and sad. This tragedy could have been avoided,” the paper said.

Aquino acknowledged in a predawn press conference that the tragedy highlighted many flaws in the ability of Philippine security forces to handle hostage situations.

“There are a lot of things (that) resulted in a tragedy. Obviously we should be improving,” said Aquino, who took office less than two months ago.

One of the problems he emphasised was the way the crisis played out through the media, with the gunman allowed to speak on radio and watch events live on the bus’s television, giving him insights into police actions.

But Aquino nevertheless insisted waiting more than 10 hours before storming the bus was the right course of action, because police believed until that point they could convince the gunman to surrender.

The gunman, former senior inspector Rolando Mendoza, hijacked the bus in a crazed attempt to clear himself of charges of extortion that led to him being discharged from the police force in 2008.

Mendoza, 55, had demanded that the ombudsman re-open an investigation into his case, which centred on accusations he tried to extort money from a man accused of drug trafficking.

Before being discharged, he was regarded as a model officer, once being named as among the top 10 policemen in

International

Indonesia Today

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

7

BI Governor against forming financial services authority Antara

AFP PHOTO / DAVID GANNON

Dancers perform on stage during a rehearsal for the piece “Terima Kost” (Room Exit) by Jakarta-based dancerchoreographer Jecko Siompo in Berlin on August 23, 2010. The piece that is touring for the first time in Europe, shows people hovering between two worlds; it’s about rural youth moving to Jakarta, where they sublet tiny apartments according to the producers. The show opens on August 23, 2010 as part of the international dance festival “Tanz im August” (Dance in August) taking place in Berlin from August 19, to September 3, 2010.

Police conduct ballistic tests on bank robbers’ weapons Antara

JAKARTA - Police are still conducting ballistic tests to determine the origin of the guns used in a recent bank robbery in Medan that left one police officer dead.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Security and Legal Affairs Djoko Suyanto said here on Monday confirmation about the guns used in the robbery would be made after the results of the tests were available.

“We cannot speak just based on assumptions,” he said after leading a coordination meeting.

He asked all parties to wait for the results of the tests as well as the police’s investigation.

“After the results of the ballistic tests and investigation are available, we will know accurately where the guns come from and who they belong to,” he said.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro had asked the National Defense Forces (TNI) earlier to have its personnel’s weapons checked following the discovery that some of the guns used by the robbers included ones used by TNI or police

members such as AK-47 and M16 assault rifles.

“We have not yet received reports so far about TNI weapons that were lost. Therefore, I asked the TNI to check its weapons,” Purnomo said.

He said he would also check if the guns used by the robbers were leftovers of the past conflict in Aceh.

Sixteen armed robbers raided a bank in Medan recently and made off with Rp1.5 billion in cash after killing a Mobile Brigade member stationed there to ensure security and wounding two bank security guards.

Several bank robberies have occurred recently in the country causing security concerns.

Surabaya zoo permit to be withdrawn soon Antara

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Forestry is processing the withdrawal of permit of the Surabaya Zoo, head of Information of the Ministry of Forestry Masyud said on Tuesday.

The zoo was established on July 30, 2002. The withdrawal was necessary in view of many problems such as long-time dispute between two managements, Stany Soebakir and Basuki Rekso Wibowo.

The dispute also affected the animals, which are now ignored, and started dying, unless something is done.

The dispute began in 2006 and culminated in 2009. Some efforts have been made to solve the conflict, but reconciliation had never been accomplish completely.

Now, the zoo was taken over and

managed by a Temporary Management Team, formed by the Ministry of Forestry on February 22, 2010 until the establishment of an official definitive management.

The temporary management is recruiting the manager and management members with professional, transparent, also trying to search the investor candidate to carry out the KBS. During the long management dispute (2008-2009) some 689 animals had perished, including 153 mammals, 193 birds, 113 reptiles, and 230 fishes. Meanwhile, in the temporary management period, since 2010, 26 animals died, including 21 birds, 2 reptiles, 1 cheetah, 1 tigers, and 1 lion because of inappropriate cages and due to their advance ages.

Surabaya Mayor Bambang DH supported the withdrawal of the per-

mit saying that it is the right step to solve the conflict in the management body.

“If the permit is withdrawn, what is the management further fighting for? The area will be returned to the local government and the animals will be taken care by the central government through the Natural Resources Body of the Ministry of Forestry.

Besides, to minimize the difference between the management that caused the dispute, he said that management must be willing to give their services for free.

No matter what steps government is and has taken, the Surabaya people, and even East Java people, need to be convinced that the favorite recreational area in Surabaya will be soon come back to life with a full team of healthy animals.

JAKARTA - Bank Indonesia Governor-elect Darmin Nasution expressed his disgreement with a plan to set up a Financial Service Authority (OJK) to prevent banking problems, saying it would separate the central bank from commercial banks.

“Economic growth could be disrupted and there would be no way to control inflation,” he said at a meeting on OJK at the House of Representatives (DPR) here on Monday.

He said the absence of daily information about individual banks as a result of the implementation of the new system would also make it impossible for the central bank to carry out its tasks as a lender of the last resort effectively.

Based on the experience of other countries, coordination between the central bank and agencies like OJK would be difficult to implement effectively during a crisis although it was stipulated in a law.

BI Deputy Governor Halim Alamsyah meanwhile said before deciding on a monetary policy such as increasing or lowering interest, stabilizing the exchange rate or liqudity conditions BI always had to monitor, second-bysecond, the conditions of financial markets, including liquidity and banking industry resilience.

“If access to banks cannot be assured second-by-second and permission has first to be obtained from OJK, it is feared the central bank could lose part of the information of significant in terms of banking,” he said.

Citing an example, he said, if volatility occurs in the financial sector, BI so far could take correct steps by tightening monetary conditions without having to consider the conditions of the banking industry.

However, under an OJK it was not impossible that some banks would collapse just because BI could not see the right conditions of the banks when a policy is taken, he said.

With an OJK in existence, monetary stabilization could indeed be carried out but it was also not impossible that unnecessary upheavals may occur, in addition to possible conflicts in banking and monetary policies.

“When the economy is growing fast and BI needs to take monetary contraction measures while the OJK is unwilling to promote credit expansion, who will have to decide which course of action will be followed,” he said.

Halim said it was possible for BI to do that but then OJK might tighten it because they saw the risk for some banks to be too high.

“Well, then there will be another policy conflict that is not supposed to happen,” he said.

Journalists to boycott police news Antara

JAYAPURA - Scores of journalists in Jayapura agreed to boycott news in relation to the Papua police, so that the relevant security authorities reveal the perpetrators behind the death of a Merauke journalist, Ardiansyah.

“So long as Ardi’s death is still a mystery, we will never handle the news from the Papua regional police, even when invited,” Cunding Levi, secretary of the Jayapura’s Independence Journalists Association (AJI) said in Jayapura Monday.

The boycott will be launched by scores of journalists of media in Papua, including those of the Cenderawasih Post, Bintang Papua, Pasific Post, and Business Papua, JUBI Tabloid, and Boda Post, as well as two local TV stations.

“We will never cover news from the police until the death of our colleague had become clear,” shouted scores of journalists in action in front of the regional police station.

The police of Papua, he pointed out, actually can provide a writ-

ten and official guarantee for the security of members of the press in Papua.

“If the periods in point 1 and 2 are still not met, we will launch a Class Action to the Papua regional police for their lack of professionalism,” he said.

Editor-in-chief of Cenderawasih Post Lucky Ireuw pointed out that the press is one of the most important pillars of democratic development and promotion, but if it is constantly being silenced, democracy will be dead eventually.

The journalists and other national media contributors also taking part in the boycott action include Kompas, SCTV, ANTV, TEMPO, TV ONE, RCTI, METRO TV, Sinar Harapan, and Suara Pembaruan.

Another case also a journalist was killed in communinal clashes recently.

SUN-TV journalist Ridwan Salamun was killed last Saturday while covering communical clashes between villagers from Banda Ely and Fiditan in Tual, Maluku. Ridwan suffered fatal injuries from a spear wound and a cut to his head.

8

Internationa

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Bali Today Foreign tourists to Bali up 12 percent Antara

DENPASAR - Foreign tourists visiting the Island of God, Bali, had increased 12 percent to 1.3 million in June 2010, compared with the same period in 2009, said Bali Tourism Observer Dewa Nyoman Putrawan.

Most of the foreign tourists come to Bali to seek calmness which they can’t get in their own country, he said here Tuesday.

The condition is indicated by the number of the foreign tourists staying at hotels or villas on riversides or slope which are mostly found in the rural areas.

Dewa mentioned that the tourist’s behavior has been changed since the 1980s. Foreign tourists used to stay at the holiday inn near the beach like Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua. Nowadays, they like to stay at the villas in the rural areas, which had changed the land function to the extent of 1,000 hectares every year.

I Wayan Munut is a pioneer of golf tour in Bali who built a hotel at Ayung River ravine in Kedewatan, 30 kilometers north of Denpasar and his idea is growing.

Many tourists, both local and foreign, like to stay at quiet and peaceful inns of ravines which had caused priced to soar, even more

expensive than in urban areas.

Dewa, who is experienced in guiding foreign tourists, remembered that the price of land at a ravine in the 1980s reached Rp175,000, 00 per hectare, but now it reached hundred of millions of rupiah per hectare.

Therefore, it is not surprising that foreign businessmen bought land in valleys and ravines then built hotels not only for the local people but also for promotion overseas, he said.

Seeking composure

He said foreign tourists coming to Bali are essentially seeking peace, as most of them are always too busy in their own countries.

Wealth is not the only reason for happiness, especially at this time of the many natural disasters, said Dewa.

The foreign tourist who came to Bali looking for tranquility, at this time prefer to stay at hotel or villas located at the river or on the slopes of the cliff in the rural areas.

He said that there are changes

in the behavior of foreign tourists. In 1980, the international community who enjoyed Bali prefers to stay in the hotel which located in Kuta, Sanur and Nusa Dua, currently that case does not happened any more.

Recently, the production land in Bali has change the function of villas building. The land use change occurred in Bali about a thousand hectares per year.

I Wayan Munut as a pioneer of hotel development at Ayung river ravine, 30 km northern Denpasar said the same thing.

The rich local and foreign tourists choose a vacation and stays in the valleys because of the silent and quiet environment. Thus caused the land prices in that area more expensive compared to the previous condition.

Bali which is called a paradise island by the international community was able to serve the quiet atmosphere, so that the numbers of foreign tourist who flew directly to Bali increased.

Community - Based Conservation in Bali It is generally accepted that each nation of the world, have their own history, which depends on the local situation and condition, as proved by their archeological and historical remains. In this connection, Indonesia for example, has so many interesting monuments, which could be found nearly in the whole of the archipelago namely in Sumatera, Java, Bali, Sulawesi and Eastern Indonesian Island. Among them are belonged to prehistoric and historic period, which consist of movable and immovable monuments, and made of tangible and intangible material. Based on the function when the monuments were discovered, our monuments could be classified into two groups namely the dead monuments, which were not used any more by local people. The second one is the living monuments, which until now is still used for religious purpose by the local people as seen in Bali.

It is a matter of facts that only a very few of our monuments have been removed to the government museum to protect them from further deterioration. The facts mean that most of them are still in its original places, standing alone struggle against all kind of dangers, which are coming from en-

vironment and human activities.

Indonesian governments are aware to protect our archaeological remains, because of its values for: 1). Reconstructing our national from the very early time covering the live of our ancestors; 2). Increasing and strengthening our cultural identity as the basic foundation for our development plans facing the forthcoming modern world; 3). Increasing cultural appreciation and responsibility for the young generations through the education systems; 4). Supporting cultural tourism and cultural diplomacy to build up a peaceful world based on cultural understanding.

It should be very easy to understand that not any nations would like to lose their national cultural roots and so it is a national task to protect the archaeological heritage. This important task is not only because of its value as mentioned above, but actually also due to a number of factors which could damage the monuments, namely: 1). The very old age of the monuments; 2). The natural effect such as climate, humidity, etc; 3). Human activities e.g. graffiti, vandalism, illegal excavation etc; 4).

Modernization, industrialization and development project; 5). Tourism fa-

cilities etc Now it should be very clear that any archaeological protection trough preservation and conservation should be regarded: 1). To protect the monuments as a national cultural property bearing national pride; 2).

To protect the archeological environment for keeping the beauty and the attractions of the monuments as a unity of ecosystems; 3). To keep the cultural values of the monuments in their people mind forever.

Facing the problem of archeological protections in Indonesia, the Dutch have issued Monuments Ordinance (Monumenten Ordonnantie, Stb. No. 238, 1931), which is not suitable any more for us, and then recently our government have declared the new one called Law Concerning Items of Cultural Property (Undangundang No.5, 1992 tentang Benda Cagar Budaya). In our modern world today, not any nations would like to sacrifice their culture, because it is very natural to have the national spirit, which have been built through a very long history. Each nation should regard their national spirit as the very important power for today and facing the future. (BTN)

http://laurentiadewi.com

Tourists crowded at Dreamland beach on Bali Island. Foreign tourists visiting the Island of God, Bali, had increased 12 percent to 1.3 million in June 2010, compared with the same period in 2009, said Bali Tourism Observer Dewa Nyoman Putrawan.

Travel agencies crowded in Denpasar and Badung

Causing unfair competition Bali Post

DENPASAR - Existence of the travel agency business (BPW) focused on the tourism area of Denpasar and Badung Regency is alleged to kindle unfair competition among the travel agency business people. Proven, the Bali Government Tourism Office (Diparda) managed to capture 45 illegal travel agencies operating predominantly within these two tourism regions from January to June 2010.

“Based on the fact in the field, most travel agency business services (UJPW) were more focused in the area of Denpasar and Badung. I think the proximity of these regions have kindled unfair competition among the travel agencies,” said the Head of Bali Government Tourism Office, I.B. Kade Subhiksu in Denpasar, last Monday (Aug 23).

Even, based on the results of data review to the UJPW to determine the carrying capacity of Bali tourism, 658 units of travel agencies were recorded. Subhiksu said that his party did not find any travel agencies operating in Klungkung and Jembrana Regency. “With the existence of Regional Regulation No. 1/ 2010, many travel agencies recently found to have no operating permit that resulted in unfair competition can be mitigated,” he said.

According to him, based on the Regional Regulation, UJPW operating in Bali without licenses could be imposed with fines of IDR 50 million or a minimally IDR 30 million

with corporal punishment of six months in jail. Meanwhile, related to the development of tourist arrivals in Bali during the period of January-July 2010, I.B. Kade Subhiksu said to have reached 1,393,806 people or grew by 12.20 percent compared to the same period previously.

“With the award of the Best Leisure Destination in Asia Pacific this year acquired by Bali, the image of Bali tourism will be increasingly taken up,” he said. Explained, the foreign exchange revenue of Visa on Arrival (VoA) denoting the state’s non-tax income that was not paid directly to the national treasury in 2009 reached IDR 293 billion with the contribution of Bali amounted to 41 percent nationally.

In the meantime, Division Head of Tourism Marketing, Bali Government Tourism Office, Nyoman Wardawan, explained that the increase in the level of tourist arrivals in Bali was supported by several factors namely the economy of the market share that had started to get better, state’s policies providing convenience to its citizens wishing to visit Indonesia and ease of accessibility.

“In addition to supporting factor, there are several factors resulting in negative impact on the growth of tourism in Bali. They are the economic condition that does not get recovered yet, conflict between countries, issue on rabies as well as the issue saying that Bali is less safe and less comfortable,” he explained. (par)

al

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Balinese Culture 1,160 people participate on ”Nyapu Leger” ceremony Antara

SEMARAPURA – At least 1,160 people will take part in the “Nyapu Leger” ceremony which will be held in Klungkung Regency.

The “Nyapu Leger” is the ceremony to purify the children who was born on “Tumpek Wayang” day.

The Hindus consider “Tumpek Wayang” is a bad day to have a baby so the child who was born on that day must be given special ceremony. Jero Mangku Sunarta, one of the committee of the ceremony, said “the participant who register on Klungkung Hindu Association (PHDI) are not coming from Bali only but also from other area such as Jakarta, Surabaya, and Lombok.

It is very surprising.”

He said that the ceremony will start on September 4th 2010 with the “melukat” or cleansing ceremony using water from 25 springs all around Bali. “The participants also must bring water from holy source in their area. There are participants who bring water from Gangga River in India,” Jero Mangku Sumerta added.

The committee already closed the register for new participants because it was already exciding the expectation. The committee worried that the large number of participants will make it difficult to carry out the ceremony properly.

While the head of the committee, I Ketut Ardana, said that the high

number of participants because the cost is very expensive if someone wants to carry out the ceremony themselves.

“Each person must prepare at least 15 million rupiah if they want to carry out the ceremony themselves but if the ceremony is being carried out as a mass ceremony like now, each person only have to pay 200,000 rupiah,” he added.

The ceremony will be led by a priest who is also a puppet master, Sire Empu Dharma Komala from Gria Galiran in Klungkung.

Ardana said, “During the ceremony, there will be also puppet performance which will be held on Catua Pata Klungkung in Gajah Mada Street.”

Wajik

(Rice Flour Cake with Palm Sugar) Overview: There are a couple of variations on this popular cake,

Balinese people doing the Sapu Leger procession. At least 1,160 people will take part in the “Nyapu Leger” ceremony which will be held in Klungkung Regency. The “Nyapu Leger” is the ceremony to purify the children who was born on “Tumpek Wayang” day.

which can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.

It is normally served at room temperature, but can also be served warm topped with coconut milk. Another variations are to add ripe diced jackfruits (or substitute with sultanas) after the rice is partially cooked.

Ingredients: 1 cup glutinous white rice 1 cup water 1 pandan leaf ½ cup palm sugar syrup ¼ cup thick coconut milk Pinch of salt http://4.bp.blogspot.com/

Preparation: Rinse rice very well under running water for 2 minutes and soak for 4 hours. Rinse again until water becomes clear. Place rice, 1 cup of water and pandan leaf in rice cooker or steamer and cook for approx 20 minutes, or until liquid has evaporated.

Add palm sugar syrup, coconut milk and salt, and steam for 15 minutes. Spread rice evenly 2.5 cm thick on tray and allow to cool to room temperature. Wet a sharp knife with warm and cut into even squares to serve.

Helpful hint: to speed up the soaking process, pour boiling water over the rice and let stand for 1 hour. Drain, then add another lot of boiling water and soak for another 30 minutes. If you are using a steamer to cook the rice, line the bottom with a wet cloth to prevent the rice grains from falling through. (www.baliguide.com/balifood) C.045 ibp

9

10

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Destinations

International

Uluwatu Temple IBP

http://image05.webshots.com

One of the famous sites that always visit by tourists when holidaying to Bali is Uluwatu.

Uluwatu Temple is a Hindu temple set on the cliff bank in south part of Bali Peninsula. It is one of Sad Kahyangan Temple in Bali (six big groups of Bali Temples), located in Pecatu Village, Sub district of South Kuta, and Badung Regency or about 25 Km southerly part of Denpasar town. It is situated on the coral reef sordid to sea about 80 meters above the sea level. It is featured by a small dry forest which is mostly called

by Alas Kekeran (interdict forest) which is belong to the temple and dwelt by a lot of monkeys and other animal. Name of Uluwatu was come from the word Ulu meaning the head and Watu meaning stone. Therefore Uluwatu Temple mean the temple built in tip of coral reef.

In the right and left of temple building or Pelinggih Ida Bagus Ratu Jurit located in complex of Uluwatu Temple, there are two stone mangers that look like a boat. When both of it are united, hence it’s look similar to sarcophagus, the famous stone from megalithic era culture. There is archaeology omission coming from 16 centuries in firm of arch or winged entrance gate. Winged entrance gate is one of the scarce archaeology omissions. Winged entrance gate that is existing in Uluwatu Temple (a period of its making) can be com-

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pared with the same one located in mosque complex in Sendangduwur Village, Lamongan, East Java. The period of its making is relevant with the year Candrasengkala found at this inscription. Candrasengkala founded in the mosque is written by the wording Gunaning Salira Tirta Hayu meaning year 1483 Saka or 1561 Masehi.

If the sarcophagus that existing in Dalem Jurit complex area represents the artifact, hence Uluwatu Temple represents the place sanctified since era of megalithic culture (About 500 S.M). In papyrus of Usana Bali mentioned that Mpu Kuturan (The Hindu Priest who spread out the Hinduism in Bali) had built a lot of temple in this island and one of them Uluwatu Temple.

Implicit at papyrus Padma Bhuwana that Uluwatu Temple draw in the direction that is located in Southwest functioning to worship the Rudra God, one of the god in nine god (Dewata Nawa Sanga). Rudra God is the Deity Siwa as Pemralina or return to provenance.

In this papyrus also mention that Uluwatu Temple is the Kahyangan World worshiped by entire Hindu people. Since this area is opened for public, it is visited by many people from all over the world because it has beautiful panorama with spectacular sunset and stunning view of Indian Ocean and deep the cliff bank.

It is the perfect to visit in Bali.

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

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

11

BUSINESS German deficit doubled in early 2010 Agence France-Presse

FRANKFURT - Germany’s public deficit doubled in the first half of the year from the same period in 2009 despite strong growth but is still close to EU limits, official data showed on Tuesday.

The biggest European economy recorded a public deficit of 42.8 billion euros (54 billion dollars) in the six-month period, up from 18.7 billion in the first half of 2009, the Destatis statistics office said in a statement.

At constant prices, that represents 3.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), it added, above the European Union’s Stability and Growth Pact limit of 3.0 percent.

“With some time lag, the impact of the economic and financial crisis and of the relevant govern-

ment measures taken to support the economy and the financial markets is clearly reflected now in the budgets of the central, state and local government as well as the social security funds,” Destatis said.

Like many countries, Germany ran up its deficit with stimulus measures approved last year that were aimed at battling its worst economic recession since World War II. Destatis confirmed meanwhile that the economy expanded by 2.2 percent in the second quarter of

2010 from the previous threemonth period, the strongest rate of growth since east and west Germany were reunited in late 1990.

Officials in Berlin plan to bring the deficit back below 3.0 percent of output by 2012 with help from an austerity plan that aims to save 80 billion euros by 2014.

Germany has been criticised by some EU leaders for focusing on reducing the deficit however while others within the 16-nation eurozone struggle to generate sustained economic growth.

AP Photo/Chuck Cook

The Transocean Development Driller II works on drilling a relief well at the site of the Deepwater Horizon oil wellhead on the Gulf of Mexico near the coast of Louisiana Friday, Aug. 20, 2010.

OPEC facing dilemma France’s Carrefour getting over oil prices out of Malaysia: minister Agence France-Presse

KUALA LUMPUR - French retail giant Carrefour plans to sell its business in Malaysia, a minister said, amid speculation the firm will also offload its Singapore and Thai stores and exit Southeast Asia altogether.

“We heard that Carrefour is considering divesting. It is for the purpose of rationalisation of their overseas business,” deputy trade minister Mukhriz Mahathir told AFP late Monday.

“They want to sell their business (in Malaysia),” he said, adding that “other hypermarkets are keen to take over” Carrefour’s 23 stores in the country.

“There are many suitors,” he said.

Low Ngai Yuen, Carrefour’s marketing and communications director,

declined to respond to the comments.

Yeah Kim Leng, group chief economist with financial research firm RAM Holdings, said Carrefour’s impending departure from Southeast Asia had been well flagged.

“The news has been around for some time. It is an open secret that Carrefour wants to pull out from Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. They have put feelers out to the industry on their plan,” he said.

Yeah said Carrefour wanted to consolidate its business and move its resources to the booming Indian market.

“It is not surprising for them to move to India. The middle class segment is a large expanding group,” he said.

The New Straits Times newspaper last month reported that Carrefour

had put a tag of 1.0 billion dollars collectively on its business in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Yeah said the growth of the hypermarket industry in Malaysia was not spectacular compared to the opportunities presented by the fast-growing Indian market but that it remained profitable.

“The hypermarket industry in Malaysia is dynamic and very competitive,” he said.

“Given the growth potential in the region, we will likely see other players buying Carrefour.

Players that exit will be able to find suitors.”

Other players in the Malaysian market who are possible buyers of the Carrefour outlets include Britain’s Tesco, Japan’s Jusco, and Giant, which is owned by the Dairy Farm group.

This file photo taken on July 7, 2010 shows Malaysian shoppers leaving the French supermarket Carrefour in Kuala Lumpur.

French retail giant Carrefour plans to sell its business in Malaysia, a minister said on August 23, 2010, amid speculation the firm will also offload its Singapore and Thai stores and exit Southeast Asia altogether.

AFP PHOTO / FILES / Saeed KHAN

Agence France-Presse

LONDON - OPEC is happy with oil prices at the current level of 70-80 dollars per barrel but this will hamper the global economic recovery and energy demand, consultancy CGES warned on Monday.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose 12 member nations pump about 40 percent of the world’s crude, meets periodically to set output levels with a view to maintaining revenues and investment levels.

“At present, OPEC is in a position to keep oil prices where it would like to see them but this comes at a cost,” the Centre for Global Energy Studies (CGES) said in a monthly market report on Monday.

“The cost is that the global economy will recover more slowly and the oil market will not grow as fast as it would have done with more moderate prices.”

Traders are fearful that the oil market could be derailed by faltering global economic growth in the second half of 2010.

“Oil demand is rising with economic recovery but fears are growing that the economic rebound is losing momentum in the developed countries,” the influential research group said.

The market has gyrated around the 70-80 dollar level for some time as traders have reacted to data on the outlook

for the global economic recovery.

“Since early October 2009, benchmark crude oil prices have been trading in a range between 70 and 80 dollars per barrel, showing no sign of breaking decisively in either direction and receiving few signals from market fundamentals,” the report said.

“As a result, prices have fluctuated with news and sentiment about the robustness of the global economic recovery and what it might mean for future oil demand.”

CGES said current price levels allowed oil producing nations to continue investing in new energy infrastructure.

“Oil prices between 70 and 80 dollars are comfortable for the oil-producing countries and also for the oil industry, which is able to pursue the complex new projects that are needed to offset decline in older fields,” it said.

“This level of prices has also proved acceptable to the governments of major oil-consuming countries, as high oil prices help them in their pursuit of environmental objectives.”

However, it added: “The one group that high oil prices do not suit is the oil consumers themselves, the individuals and businesses that have to buy energy in order to heat homes, run appliances and vehicles and fuel industrial processes.”

The next formal meeting of OPEC to discuss output levels is due on October 14 in Vienna.

12

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Entertainment

International

Mexican beauty crowned Miss Universe Agence France Presse

LAS VEGAS - Mexico’s Jimena Navarrete was crowned Miss Universe Monday night in an upset victory that stunned a pageant world which had predicted a winner to emerge from Ireland, Venezuela or the United States. The 22-year-old from Guadalajara, resplendent in a flowing ruby-red evening gown, has been modeling since she was 15, but nothing could quite prepare her for her moment of glory.

“I did feel surprised, I just went blank,” the brunette beauty said of her crowning achievement. “There was nothing going through my mind.

I was in a state of shock.”

Beyond the diamond-encrusted tiara affixed to her head when the announcers declared she had triumphed over runner-up Miss Jamaica, Yendi Phillipps, Navarrete receives a oneyear scholarship to the New York Film Academy, and a year’s supply of shoes, dresses and hair products.

Her coronation — which earned her a congratulatory message on Twitter from Mexican President Felipe Calderon — ends the reign of outgoing Miss Universe 2009 Stefania Fernandez of Venezuela. Had this year’s Miss Venezuela Marelisa Gibson, 21, taken the title, it would have been a three-year sweep for the

South American nation.

But Gibson was ousted in the early going — along with Miss USA Rima Fakih, 24, as the field of 83 was pared down to 15. The two-hour finale was devoid of the political drama that has erupted in past years at this event, although there had been potential for controversy when Fakih, the first American Muslim to become Miss USA, disappointed many Islamic leaders on Saturday by saying she opposes construction of a proposed mosque near Ground Zero in New York city.

“I totally agree with President (Barack) Obama with the statement on constitutional rights of freedom of religion,” she told Inside Edition, the US tabloid TV show.

“I also agree that it shouldn’t be so close to the World Trade Center (site).

We should be more concerned with the tragedy than religion.” The plans for an Islamic community center, which includes a mosque, about two blocks from the site of the September 11, 2001 attacks has stirred passions and controversy less than three months before key US elections.

Real estate titan Donald Trump, owner of the Miss Universe Organization, has come out against the mosque plans. The finalists were largely able to steer clear of controversy in the competition’s Q & A. Judge Evan Lysacek, an Olympic gold medalist skater, asked Navarrete for her views on what to do about the problem of children using the Internet without proper supervision.

She responded vaguely but, evidently, adequately. “I do believe that the Internet is an indispensable, necessary tool for the present time,” said Navarrete, the first Mexican winner of the contest since 1991. “We must be sure to teach them the values that we learned as a family.”

Miss Ukraine Anna Poslavska, 23, said she favors full-body scanners in airports “if that helps to save

The Beat It jacket from Bad Tour (L) and other memorabilia of the late US pop superstar Michael Jackson are displayed at the Julien’s Auctions official exhibition in Tokyo on August 24, 2010. The exhibition will be held until September 6, 2010 before being auctioned in Macau in October.

AFP PHOTO/Kazuhiro NOGI

Michael Jackson items on show in Tokyo before Macau auction Agence France Presse

TOKYO - Crystal-studded gloves and socks, a set of Jackson 5 jumpsuits and other items from Michael Jackson’s career went on display in Tokyo on Tuesday ahead of their auction in Macau later this year. The exhibition features more than 60 items from the late “King of Pop” that will go under the hammer — along with other western pop and Hollywood memorabilia — in the glitzy gambling resort near Hong Kong in October.

“It’s the best collection of Michael Jackson items that we’ve ever assembled, and all come to us from his family and from friends he gave them to,” said Darren Julien, chief executive of USbased Julien’s Auctions.

The items include a right-hand black crystalstudded glove, a jacket Jackson wore during filming of a 1984 Pepsi commercial in which he suffered serious burns in an accident, and white cotton socks encrusted with clear crystals. Also on display is an orange shirt he wore for the 1992 “Jam” video session with basketball legend Michael Jordan and a complete set of red-and-

gold jumpsuits he and his siblings — collectively the Jackson 5 — sported in the 1970s.

The exhibition continues in Tokyo until September 6 before travelling to Santiago, Chile. It then heads to Macau for the auction of 115 items on October 9 at the former Portuguese colony’s Ponte 16 gaming resort.

The auction, also to include items from Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, Princess Diana and other celebrities, will be the first of its kind in Asia and is expected to fetch over two million dollars, says Julien’s Auctions. Fans and collectors can participate in real time at www.julienslive.com provided they register before hand.

“What’s really great for the Japanese people is that it’s in Macau. For the actual auction, they fly to Macau and they bid in US dollars, which is a good exchange for the yen,” the chief executive said. The yen has been trading at a 15-year high against the dollar recently.

A beaded white glove worn by Michael Jackson sold for 192,000 dollars in a Las Vegas auction on June 27, the first anniversary of the star’s death.

AP Photo/Isaac Brekken

Miss Mexico Jimena Navarrete is crowned Miss Universe 2010 by Stefania Fernandez during the Miss Universe pageant, Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 in Las Vegas.

the lives of people,” while 19-yearold Miss Australia Jesinta Campbell believes governments have no place in telling citizens whether to wear religious garb.

Phillipps said she opposes the death

penalty, drawing scattered boos in the Events Center at the Mandalay Bay Hotel-Casino. “We have no right to control the destiny of another person,” Miss Jamaica said. “Only one person can do that, and that’s God.”

George Michael admits driving under influence of drugs Agence France Presse

LONDON - British pop singer George Michael pleaded guilty in a London court on Tuesday to driving under the influence of cannabis when he crashed his car into a shop last month, and could face jail. The 47-year-old “Careless Whisper” star also admitted possessing cannabis cigarettes when he appeared at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court.

Dressed in a black suit over a black jumper, he was greeted by a scrum of photographers as he arrived for the appearance. In court, he spoke only to give his plea and confirm his real name of Georgios Panayiotou.

District Judge Robin McPhee gave the singer an interim six-month driving ban, and said he would be sentenced on September 14 after the court considers his case.

He will remain on bail until that date.

“I make it clear the options in respect of sentence remain open, including the power to imprison,” the judge told him.

“It is a serious matter. Your driving was extremely poor and there was an accident. There is also a conviction from three years ago.”

In the latest incident, he was arrested after his Range Rover car crashed into a photography shop in north London in the early hours of Sunday, July 4.

The court heard Tuesday how police found him slumped at the wheel with the engine still running. Officers roused him and said he appeared “spaced out”.

In June 2007, Michael was given a two-year driving ban after pleading guilty to driving while unfit. On that occasion, he claimed he was tired and had been taking prescription drugs. The singer, who first found fame in 1980s pop group Wham!, has fought a long battle with drugs.

British singer George Michael leaves Highbury Corner Magistrates Court in north London, Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010.

Singer George Michael has pleaded guilty in a London court to two drug offenses.

AP Photo/Sang Tan

Life Style

International

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

13

Ancient ghost festival thrives in modern Singapore Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO/HO/Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment (SHFPE)

This handout illustration from Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment received on August 24, 2010 shows the “super bus”, due to be tested in the coming months in the western part of Beijing, travelling on rails and straddling two lanes of traffic, allowing cars to drive under its passenger compartment, which holds up to 1,400 people.

Solution to Beijing’s traffic woes? The elevated ‘super bus’ Agence France Presse

BEIJING - China’s capital Beijing, recently named along with Mexico City as having the worst traffic jams in the world, is looking for solutions. One could be the elevated “super bus”. The bus, due to be tested in the coming months in the western part of the city, travels on rails and straddles two lanes of traffic, allowing cars to drive under its passenger compartment, which holds up to 1,400 people.

“We’re going to start laying down test tracks along a sixkilometre (four-mile) stretch towards the end of the year,” Song Youzhou, the chief executive of design firm Shenzhen Hashi Future Parking Equipment, told AFP on Tuesday.

“From the second half of 2011, we’re planning to test the bus with passengers on board,” he said, noting that after a full year of trial runs, authorities would make a decision on whether to use the bus on a wide scale. Song said Hashi was in talks with three Chinese carmakers to produce the eco-friendly bus, which runs on both electricity and solar power.

Authorities hope eventually to

install 180 kilometres of “straddle bus” lines including a route to the capital’s international airport, Song told the official Global Times. Song said the “super bus” could ease traffic congestion by up to 30 percent, as it does not take up actual road space, but special tracks would have to be put down, elevated bus stops built and new traffic signals developed.

Only small and medium-sized vehicles will be able to pass under the bus, meaning drivers will have to be extra-vigilant. An alarm would sound if an oversized vehicle attempted to pass, the report said. Song said the bus had to be tested with car drivers in real-time situations to detect any possible problems.

According to government data, Beijing is on track to have five million cars on its roads by year’s end.

The four million mark was passed in December.

The head of the Beijing Transportation Research Centre, Guo Jifu, warned this week that traffic in the capital could slow to under 15 kilometres an hour on average if further measures were not taken to limit the number of cars. Private cars are currently kept off Beijing’s roads for one day per week depending on licence plate numbers.

Beijing’s air is among the most polluted in the world, and the problem is getting worse amid high demand for private vehicles from its increasingly affluent residents.

SINGAPORE - As the dry-ice machine emitted a gust of mist, two female singers in glittering, formfitting dresses belted out a line from an old Hokkien song atop a makeshift stage. Wreathed by smoke, they wove in and out of view as they performed a song and dance routine in front of a 400-strong audience under the shadow of high-rise public flats just 10 minutes’ drive from Singapore’s banking district.

The otherworldly ambience at the recent show in a car park was appropriate — it’s now the middle of the Hungry Ghost Festival in Singapore, a rich, cosmopolitan city with a deeply entrenched Chinese heritage. Amid skyscrapers and high tech trappings of modernity, superstition persists and comes to the fore in the seventh lunar month, when the gates of the underworld are believed to be open and spirits roam the mortal realm.

Investment decisions grind to a crawl, particularly in the property market, and elaborate altars stacked with food offerings for the spirits are found across the island of five million people. Fake paper money and effigies representing material wealth such as bungalows and luxury cars

are also burnt throughout the month in the belief that they will provide succour for wandering spirits.

“Most Chinese buyers don’t like to make purchases or move into homes during the hungry ghost month,” said Chua Yang Liang, property consultancy Jones Lang Lasalle’s head of research for Southeast Asia and Singapore. “It’s no good for the family or person to make such life-changing decisions during the hungry ghost month.”

Data provided by Jones Lang LaSalle showed a dive in private residential sales during the hungry ghost festivals in August 2008 and 2009 compared to July. “I think the social taboo still carries on,” Chua said.

The festival, lasting from August 10 to September 7 this year, also impacts marriage rates, which plummet because ethnic Chinese, who comprise 74 percent of the local population, believe it is an inauspicious month.

Taoist high priest Chung Kwang Tong said he asks followers to do more good deeds for the living and the dead during the period. “Helping extends to even the spiritual world, to give offerings to them and also to try to help them in whatever form we can like performing rituals.”

AFP PHOTO/ROSLAN RAHMAN

This photo taken on August 19, 2010 shows two female singers performing a song to the residents at the housing estate in Singapore.

Acclaimed Israeli winery sets sights on the wider world Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANA

Eli Gilbert Ben-Zaken the founder of the Domaine du Castel winery poses in next to this barrels located in Ramat Raziel village in Jerusalem Mountains July 27, 2010. The wines produced at Domaine Du Castel near Jerusalem have turned the world of Kosher wine on its head, winning accolades from around the world, and now this small, familyowned winery has set its sights on the broader market.

RAMAT RAZIEL, Israel - The wines produced at Domaine Du Castel near Jerusalem have turned the world of Kosher wine on its head, winning accolades from around the world, and now this small, familyowned winery has set its sights on the broader market.

A long climb through the winding hills to the southwest of Jerusalem leads to the vineyards of Tzuba, a nearby kibbutz where most of the winery’s grapes are grown. Since before dawn, workers have been picking white Chardonnay grapes.

A few hundred metres (yards) away stands an ancient wine press.

More than 2,000 years old, its presence is a testimony to the long-held tradition of winemaking in this region that dates back to biblical times.

“When the Romans conquered Judaea, they adopted the local viticulture knowhow. This whole area was a productive area which produced very high quality wines,” explains Domaine Du Castel’s 65-year-old owner, Eli Ben Zaken. Although the tradition of wine-making here goes back millennia, it is only relatively recently that the Judaean Hills have won international recognition.

Traditionally, the Golan Heights and the Galilee to the north have been considered as the best regions for wine in Israel. But since the mid 90s, the

Judaean Hills have carved out their own niche in the international wine market, with Castel now recognised as one of the 365 best vintages in the world, according to France’s prestigious Bettane & Desseauve guide.

The small, winery has come a long way since 1988 when Ben Zaken planted his first vines on a hilltop next to his house in Ramat Raziel, a moshav, or collective village, some 17 kilometres (10 miles) from Jerusalem.

A self-taught vinegrower who set up his first press inside an old stable, Ben Zaken says he fell into the profession completely by chance.

14

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Sport

International

Tevez at the double as City beat Liverpool Agence France Presse

MANCHESTER - Carlos Tevez scored twice as Manchester City overpowered Liverpool 3-0 at Eastlands here on Monday. James Milner, on his City debut, set up his former Aston Villa team-mate Gareth Barry to side-foot in the first goal in the 13th minute. And the Argentina striker got on the end of Micah Richards’s header seven minutes into the second half.

Liverpool — without Javier Mascherano amid reports the Argentina international was on his way to Barcelona — saw captain Steven Gerrard hit the post with a powerful shot. And in the ensuing scramble City goalkeeper Joe Hart made a fine double save to deny both David Ngog and Fernando Torres.

Tevez made the game safe from the penalty spot after Adam Johnson was brought down by Martin Skrtel. City manager Roberto Mancini said it was too soon to call his expensively-assembled side title contenders.

“I don’t know this,” the Italian said. “I think it’s important to improve game after game, we need to gel. We need the time to become a strong squad.” Defeat left Liverpool with just one point from two games after their intitial draw with Arsenal but manager Roy Hodgson pleaded for a sense of perspective about the results.

“We are only two matches into the season,” he said. “We had Arsenal in

the first game which we had to play with 10 men (after Joe Cole’s sending-off) and then a strong Manchester City side.

“It’s a bit premature to start discussing how big the match is,” former Fulham manager Hodgson added.

“Hopefully in the next 36 games we can take some points.” City’s win came as their billionaire owner Sheikh Mansour visited the ground for the first time since buying the club two years ago and he was treated to a stunning performance from his side.

It would have been much worse for Liverpool had City, with Adam Johnson in sensational form, taken half the chances they created.

City fans hoping for a glimpse of 25million-pound striker Mario Balotelli were left disappointed as he looked on from the sidelines as he recovered from a knee-cartilage injury that forced him to miss training on Sunday.

Johnson started the move that led to City’s opener with a delightful pass to Milner. He squared to an unmarked Barry, who moved from Villa to Eastlands last year for 12 million

pounds, to score from 10 yards, the England midfielder’s third Premier League goal for City.

Liverpool were subdued and clearly missed Mascherano’s influence in midfield as Tevez burst into the danger area before firing into the side netting.

They were no better after the break and two goals in the space of 16 minutes from Tevez sealed the worst night of Hodgson’s spell in charge so far.

Liverpool’s defence was again all at sea as Tevez scrambled the ball over the line from close range after a powerful header by Richards. The visitors were clearly shell-shocked.

Gerrard tried to rally his side but even the Liverpool captain could not ride to the rescue on this occasion. City’s battling qualities were highlighted in the 58th minute when, after Gerrard had been denied by the woodwork, Ngog had a shot saved by Hart before Torres had a follow up effort charged down.

Liverpool’s wretched night was complete when Skrtel brought down manof-the-match Johnson in the box and Tevez beat Pepe Reina from the spot.

Evra to appeal French World Cup ban Agence France Presse

PARIS - French skipper Patrice Evra is to appeal the fivematch ban he was handed by a discipinary commission for coleading a training strike during an abortive World Cup, his lawyer said Monday. “To this day, Mr Patrice Evra has not received notification of the decision by the Federal Disciplinary Commission (of the French Football Federation) on August 17 banning him from the French team for five matches,” Jean-Yves Foucard said.

He added that the reasoning behind the ban had not been explained to the Manchester United player and decried varying individual punishment for a collective misdeed.

“Mr Patrice Evra has decided to appeal in that nothing untoward can be ascribed to him on an individual basis given that the responsability for the said events on the (team) bus at Knysna is to all evidence collective,” said Foucard.

Foucard went on to state that the appeal would “allow Mr Laurent Blanc, the national coach, to select Mr Patrice Evra if he so wishes as the appeal is suspensive” under federation rules.

However, a federation legal department spokesman told AFP: “The lawyer has it all wrong. The decision was sent

AFP PHOTO FILES / FRANCK FIFE

(FILES) A picture taken on June 20, 2010 shows France’s coach Raymond Domenech speaking with captain Patrice Evra (R) on the pitch where the team was supposed to be training at the Fields of Dreams stadium in Knysna during the 2010 World Cup football tournament. out today and the reasons behind the punishment will be there and the disciplinary body has moreover decided to lift the suspensive element - this appeal is not suspensive.” The federation’s commission banned Evra and three other ringleaders of the training ground strike after finding that he had not proprerly carried out his duties as skipper.

Evra was one of four players sanctioned for the training strike

which followed the sending home of Nicolas Anelka after his dressing room tirade against former coach Raymond Domenech at half time during the defeat to Mexico.

Anelka was banned for 18 matches - effectively ending his France career - Franck Ribery was handed a three-game ban, while Jeremy Toulalan will serve a onegame suspension. Another player, Eric Abidal, escaped a ban altogether.

Blanc himself said Sunday he was surprised at the varying length of the bans for what he deemed a “collective act” and he called on the Commission to “explain to me if they had clear and precise criteria” behind their ruling.

On the subject of Anelka, Blanc said: “I would like someone to explain to me why 18 matches, and why not 19 or 20 - it needs explaining.”

After the bans were first announced Blanc had said: “It’s obviously not an ideal situation for French football, which will need all its top players when the qualifying games for Euro 2012 begin.”

Earlier Monday, France’s former World Cup-winning coach Aime Jacquet called for the lifting of the bans, co-signing a letter sent by the players’ union UNFP to the Federation (FFF to that effect.

The latter blasted the sanctions as “unjust and disproportionate” and estimated that the punishment “pours oil on the fire without reason.”

AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES.

Manchester City’s Argentinian forward Carlos Tevez (C grounded) scores his teams second goal during the English Premier League football match against Liverpool at The City of Manchester stadium, Manchester, north-west England on August 23, 2010.

Panucci announces retirement Agence France Presse

ROME – Former Italy international Christian Panucci has announced his retirement from football at the age of 37. In a glorious 20year career the right back, who could also play in the middle of defence, represented AC Milan, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Chelsea, amongst other teams.

He won the Champions League with both Milan and Madrid and lifted titles in Italy and Spain. “I had other offers from the United States but I don’t have the same desire as before, it’s right to say enough,” he told Sky Sport 24.

Panucci reserved special thanks for England coach Fabio Capello, with whom he worked at Milan,

Madrid and AS Roma. “Being the first Italian at Real Madrid and having won the Champions League was one of the best moments,” he added about his three years in Spain.

However, one man against whom Panucci still bares a grudge is World Cup winning coach Marcello Lippi. Despite representing Italy over a 14-year period, Panucci was not selected by Lippi for the 2006 World Cup. The pair had fallen out when Lippi was coach and Panucci player at Inter.

“I spoke badly about him when I was a player so go figure what I’d say now I’ve finished. I wouldn’t go to dinner with him,” he said. Following eight seasons at Roma, Panucci, who began his career with Genao, spent his last season at Parma.

(AFP/File/Alberto Pizzoli)

AS Roma’s defender Christian Panucci, seen here in 2008, has announced his retirement from football at the age of 37.

Sport

International

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

15

Denmark’s Wozniacki wins Rogers Cup Agence France Presse

MONTREAL - Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki easily beat Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-2 on Monday in the final of the rain-hit WTA Rogers Cup, one of the last tune-up events for the US Open.

The 20-year-old Wozniacki defeated the Russian in a Monday championship game which was pushed back a day after heavy rains washed out play over the weekend.

The second-seeded Wozniacki started the day by defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the semi-finals.

Zvonareva, the eighth seed, also advanced earlier in the day when Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka pulled out of their semi-final match in the second set because of a blister on her foot.

Wozniacki is ranked second in the world and will likely be the top seed when the US Open starts August 31. Wozniacki earned 350,000 dollars for her third title of 2010.

She also won at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida and in her home city of Copenhagen. She is seeking her first Grand Slam title.

“It was tough for all of us waiting out the rain for two days,” said Zvonareva, a Wimbledon finalist.

“It was difficult for me. It was a dif-

ferent court, different conditions. I tried my best but it wasn’t enough against Caroline.”

Leading 5-3 in the first set, Wozniacki was down 0-40. But she then won five consecutive points to close the set. After breaking serve for a 5-2 lead in the second, Wozniacki clinched it with four consecutive points on her serve, executed a fist pump and then shook hands at the net with her opponent.

In the semi-final, trainers worked on Azarenka’s blister for several minutes. She got up and tried to walk, but immediately returned to her chair. She said the blister would not keep her out of the US Open. “I don’t see how I got a blister after sitting on my (rear end) for two days,” said Azarenka.

(AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Paul Chiasson)

Caroline Wozniacki from Denmark holds up the trophy after beating Vera Zvonareva from Russia in the final at the Rogers Cup tennis tournament Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 in Montreal.

China’s chances slim at worlds without Yao Agence France Presse

IBP/ist

Yao Ming

BEIJING - Without NBA superstar Yao Ming, China has largely written off its chances at this year’s world basketball championships, saying their goal is to prepare their younger players for the London Olympics. China finds itself in Group C in the tournament which opens Saturday in Turkey, facing tough teams from Greece and Russia as well as the hosts, Puerto Rico and Ivory Coast.

“We have some young guys that have some skill and talent, but just a lack of experience of it all is going to cause some failures,” Team China’s American coach Robert Donewald told state media.

“But my guys play hard, my guys compete and we’ve got good chemistry ... we got to get some experience under our belt and (the world championships) is a fun way and great way to start off.” With Yao anchoring the team, China only advanced to the second round in the 2006 world championships in Japan. At the 2004 and 2008 Olympics, they finished eighth both times, their best result in a world-class tournament.

But without the injured 7ft 6in Houston Rockets centre, China will be hard-pressed to duplicate such results despite boasting Washington Wizards power forward Yi Jianlian and former NBA centre Wang Zhizhi.

“For sure with Yao not here we lose a big guy inside, but we’ve still got to keep playing. We need some other guys to try to step up,” the 22-year-old Yi said. “This

is the chance for the new guys to join the team and help the team.”

Following a disappointing second-place to Iran in front of a home crowd — and without Yao — at the 2009 Asian Basketball Championships, the country’s basketball association fired head coach Guo Shiqiang and brought in Donewald to take over the team through the 2012 Summer Games in London.

Donewald has insisted he is focusing his efforts on London — where many are hoping for a Yao return to the national side — while downplaying expectations in Turkey.

Winless in their last five warm-up matches, China have lived up to those expectations, losing to the United States and Serbia by wide margins and falling to Puerto Rico 9276 in a New York exhibition on August 15.

To advance to the second round, China must win at least two games, with victories over the Ivory Coast and Puerto Rico seen as the easiest way forward.

With a bench largely made up of players still under 20 years of age and an ageing Wang who is past his prime, Donewald will look to Yi to both take up the scoring burden and anchor the team’s defence.

“It’s going to be very good for Yi Jianlian because now instead of Yao being the face of the team, Yi Jianlian is the face of this team this summer,” said Donewald, who also coaches the Yao-owned Shanghai Sharks.

“He is obviously one of our most talented players, or most talented player, but we need to make sure we are moving the basketball because the defence is going to key in on Yi Jianlian,” he added.

16

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

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

Sport

Rossi aiming to put ‘bad’ races to rest Valentino Rossi’s upward recovery from a broken leg hit something of a roadblock in the form of an off-pace fifth last time out at Brno, and the Italian heads to this weekend’s Indianapolis round looking to re-energise his route back to the top of MotoGP.

AFP PHOTO /JOE KLAMAR

Italy’s Valentino Rossi competes in MotoGp event during the Czech Grand Prix in Brno on August 15, 2010. Spain’s Jorge Lorenzo won ahead of compatriot Dani Pedrosa and Australia’s Casey Stoner.

Williams to bring in new wing WILLIAMS has confirmed that it will run a new front and rear wing in the Belgian Grand Prix this weekend. The team will be looking to build on an impressive run of form in the races leading up the summer break, which included a brace of top five finishes for Rubens Barrichello in Valencia and at Silverstone.

With the changes made to the car, the team heads to Spa in buoyant mood and will hope to celebrate Barrichello’s 300th race in style.

“Spa is a fantastic circuit and a definite challenge for the engineers and drivers,” technical director Sam Michael said. “Sectors one and three require low drag, while sector two requires maximum downforce, so a well compromised set-up is crucial for getting a quick lap time.

“Spa is a real driver’s circuit and one of the greatest layouts we have on the calendar. We will have new front and rear wings, plus some mechanical changes for the FW32 for this race. We’re also looking forward to celebrating Rubens’ 300 Grand Prix in Belgium, an impressive achievement!”

Barrichello’s 300th race comes at the scene of his maiden pole position with the Brazilian becoming the first driver to reach the milestone.

“Spa is a great racing circuit,” he said. “I took my first pole there and have won at Spa while racing in the

lower categories so I’m looking forward to it. It’s always a challenging track and I imagine it will be even more so now we are carrying full tanks.

“It can be quite tricky in terms of car set-up because it’s so long, and you need to have a car fast enough to take on corners like La Source and Eau Rouge. It really all depends on the aero efficiency of the car as to what your lap time is. Drivers tend

to go for quite different downforce levels at Spa so there’s always opportunities chance to overtake.

“This race will be my 300th in Formula One. I feel very privileged to have been in the sport for such a long time and it feels great to reach this milestone. I still think I am at the top of my game and plan to continue being competitive long past my 300th GP!”

IBP/ist

Rubens Barrichello

Indianapolis is the first of Rossi’s last eight races as a Yamaha MotoGP rider, and is the track where he sustained his most recent DNF - crashing out while battling team-mate Jorge Lorenzo for victory in 2009 (pictured).

Rossi will be aiming to banish those memories with at least a repeat his podium form during the first American round of the season, at Laguna Seca, where he finished third in only his second race back after breaking his leg. Rossi took a memorable win at the inaugural Indianapolis MotoGP in 2008, during a race that was shortened due to a battering from Hurricane Ike. “Indianapolis is a special place, an amazing track and as always it’s fun to race in America. I have great memories from 2008 when I won in the hurricane, even if it’s not something I want to repeat!” said Rossi.

“This year we arrive in a different situation to last year, fifth in the championship and not at 100% in physical condition, but I am feeling stronger all the time. Brno was disappointing but the test helped us to understand what went wrong and so we are hopeful that we can be back on good form in Indy.” Team manager Davide Brivio admitted that a successful weekend is just what The Doctor needs.

“We go to Indy, where we had a bad race last year, coming from not such a good race in Brno so we really need a good result this weekend!” he said. “The test after Brno was useful however and we hope to be in good shape this weekend.

“It’s always a pleasure to go racing in such an amazing place and we just need to keep working to put Valentino in the best possible position to start fighting for victories again as soon as possible.”