Indonesia Expat - Issue 183

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J A K A R TA • J AVA • B A L I • L O M B O K • K A L I M A N TA N • S U M AT R A • S U L AW E S I • W E S T PA P U A

W W W . I N D O N E S I A E X P A T. B I Z

Salaries Revealed: How Much You Can Expect to Earn in Indonesia What Foreign Business Owners Need to Know about Background Checks How to Get the Right Insurance in the Archipelago

LOBBYISTS PUSH TO KEEP TOBACCO BURNING IN THE CAPITAL

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FEATURE STORY What Kind of Salary Can A Foreigner Expect in Indonesia?

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BUSINESS FEATURE What Foreigners Need to Know about Background Checks in Indonesia

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BUSINESS PROFILE This Entrepreneur Shares His Profit with Bali Locals

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POLICY Tobacco Bill Lights Up Advocates in 2017

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LISTS An Expat’s Look into Bali’s Vibrant Weekend Market Scene

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TRAVEL Rebuilding Bima

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QUIRKS

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NEWS FROM THE ARCHIPELAGO

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SCAMS IN THE CITY Aura Explorers Abusing Girls

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INFO FOR EXPATS What Expats Need to Know about Insurance in Indonesia

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PORTRAIT The Reporter-Turned-Refugee

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VIEWPOINTS A Centre of Strength for Divorced Women in Bali

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WORTHY CAUSES Why Indonesia Should Care about Arts and Culture

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ANNOUNCEMENTS

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CLASSIFIEDS

Dear Readers,

Chief Editorial Advisor Leighton Cosseboom editor@indonesiaexpat.biz

Marketing Consultant Edo Frese edo@indonesiaexpat.biz

Editorial Assistant Caranissa Djatmiko letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

Sales & Advertising Dian Mardianingsih (Jakarta) Wahyu Atmaja (Bali) ads@indonesiaexpat.biz

Distribution & Admin Juni Setiawan admin@indonesiaexpat.biz

Finance Lini Verawaty finance@indonesiaexpat.biz

Contributors Nadya Joy Ador Stephanie Brookes Angela Jelita Heru Nainggolan Anita Surewicz Grace Susetyo Kenneth Yeung

Editorial Enquiries letters@indonesiaexpat.biz

Subscriptions subscriptions@indonesiaexpat.biz

Events events@indonesiaexpat.biz

Published by PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia Alamanda Tower 25th floor Jl. T.B Simatupang kav 23–24 Jakarta 12430 T: 021 2965 7821 F: 021 2965 7821 Office hours: 09.00–17.00 Monday–Friday Indonesia Expat is published bi-weekly by PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia. Opinions Expressed in this publication are those of the writers and the publisher does not accept any responsibility for any errors, ommisions, or complaints arising there from.

No parts of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part, in print or electronically without permission of the publisher. All trademarks, logos, brands and designs are copyright and fully reserved by PT. Koleksi Klasik Indonesia.

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It’s an interesting time to be in Indonesia. As more foreign investors start to take the archipelago seriously, the demand for Western-style culture, cuisine and services in places like Jakarta, Bali and Surabaya becomes greater. As the government realizes the earning potential of several emerging industries in the nation, the laws and regulations for building a business in these spaces become easier (or so they want you to think). As more affluent folks from overseas seek to retire on an exotic beach or perhaps overlooking a rice field, the property markets in places like Bali become more accommodating.

However, one thing to keep in mind – even amidst a rapidly changing Indonesian culture, economy and society – is that the archipelago tends to keep the best secrets for itself. For this reason, expats and foreign business owners need to recognize that they can’t do everything on their own in the country.

They’re going to need help from those who have already gone off the path.

In this issue, our editors take a closer look at a set of data showing the level of salary you can expect to earn in different sectors. We also cover a cosmetics entrepreneur in East Bali who shares his profits with the locals. Nadya Joy Gozon Ador dives into what expat entrepreneurs need to know about running background checks in the country and what foreigners should consider when it comes to insurance. Heru Nainggolan shines the light on what 2017 will bring from a controversial tobacco bill, while Anita Surewicz shares a bit about the top weekend bazaars for expats in Bali. Kenneth Yeung digs up scams involving people who claim to see your aura, and Angela Jelita is back with a story about an Afghani reporter-turned-refugee in Indonesia.

Enjoy the issue! from jakarta with love, Leighton Cosseboom

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WHAT KIND OF SALARY CAN A FOREIGNER EXPECT IN INDONESIA? It’s a common question that many soon-to-be expats bound for the archipelago ask: “How much money can I expect to earn in Indonesia?”

Image courtesy of www.thepresidentpost.com

“While there is no set rule of thumb for how much foreigners in the country earn in comparison to their Indonesian counterparts – or rather, how much they should earn based on their skills in the market – typically, it’s safe to say that they do make more.”

Image courtesy of codyphotography.us

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By Leighton Cosseboom If this is something you’re trying to answer by doing a bunch of different Google searches, I’ll go ahead and stop you by saying there is no magic source that can tell you exactly the kind of deal you can expect. However, there are some perks and caveats you should indeed study up on before getting on the plane and starting fresh in Indonesia.

The topic holds great public interest, as Indonesia’s president recently even suggested that some of the nation’s state-owned enterprises be run by experienced foreigners just so that locals can learn from them. While others welcomed the notion, this kicked up some controversy, with many seeing the suggestion as a big overstep.

So how do we get a baseline of knowledge as to how much you can expect to earn per month as an expat in Indonesia?

While there is no set rule of thumb for how much foreigners in the country earn in comparison to their Indonesian counterparts – or rather, how much they should earn based on their skills in the market – typically, it’s safe to say that they do make more.

Critics see this as unfair, but the reason for it is that (generally speaking) local companies value western education, training and work experience.

Kelly Services is a publicly traded global workforce solutions provider that manages employment opportunities for more than one million workers around the world. In recent years, the firm’s revenue reached US$5.6 billion. Based on its 2016 salary guide for Indonesia, the highest-paying industries in the archipelago right now are oil and gas, financial services, IT and e-commerce and infrastructure.

For this reason, higher salaries serve as an incentive to attract developed market talent to Indonesia.

Alternatively, if you’re working for a foreign-owned conglomerate in the country, you may be earning a competitive western wage regardless, as you have agreed to let that company transplant you to a place that is, in all likelihood, far away from home, be it temporary or permanent. Salaries and work opportunities in general also vary greatly depending on whether you have a college degree – and of course, depending on who you know.

The report covers other industries as well, but for the sake of brevity and focus, let’s just examine those four. Please note that these salary figures relate to base salaries and exclude bonuses, incentive schemes and stock options.

Oil and Gas

According to the report, if you are a business development manager at an oil and gas company, you can expect to earn somewhere between

Rp.50 million (US$3,750) and Rp.100 million (US$7,500) per month in salary. In Indonesia, this is considered a great income. Depending on the company, these jobs can belong to foreigners. In the West, this can be considered a pretty good salary as well, but in Indonesia, the cost of living is much cheaper, so ultimately, you’ll get to pad the walls of your savings account more easily. Alternatively, with that kind of take home, your lifestyle can be quite nice, pretty much anywhere in Indonesia.

If your job title is Offshore Installation Manager, you can expect to earn roughly the same wage as a business development manager. Drilling engineers, on the other hand, bring in a lower salary at a range of Rp.35 million (US$2,625) to Rp.70 million (US$5,250) per month. That level is consistent across the board for the engineers with the exception of the Senior Geologist Engineer, who makes Rp.70 million (US$5,250) to Rp.100 million (US$7,500). The Completion Engineer makes Rp.40 million ($3,000) to Rp.75 million (US$5,624).

The Health Safety Environment Manager at an oil and gas company in Indonesia can expect to make Rp.45 (US$3,374) million to Rp.75 million (US$5,624), while the Financial Analyst can pull in anywhere between Rp.10 million (US$749) and Rp.20 million (US$1,500).

There are many expats in Indonesia working in the oil and gas sector, and with salaries like these, we can see why.

Financial Services

Foreigners working in the financial services field in Indonesia have a range of spaces they can capitalize on. As the Finance Director or Chief Financial Officer for a big company in ‘commerce,’ ‘industry’ or ‘banking’, Kelly’s report says you can earn somewhere between Rp.120 million (US$9,000) and Rp.250 million (US$18,747) per month in Indonesia. Although it’s

unclear whether expats would actually hold these positions, my guess is that very few would have these jobs. Financial Controllers pull in between Rp.80 million (US$6,000) and Rp.110 million (US$8,249).

If you work as the director of an advisory practice, Kelly clocks the salary range at somewhere between Rp.100 million (US$7,500) and Rp.160 million (US$12,000) per month. These amounts are big by most expats’ standards in the archipelago (at least from the perspective of a mid-level media man like myself).

Coming back closer to planet Earth, a Head Product Control in the banking sector can earn between Rp.50 million (US$3,749) and Rp.90 million (US$6,749) per month. A Senior Finance Manager for a bank can earn Rp.45 million (US$3,374) and Rp.60 million (US$4,500). A mid-level treasury manager can pull in Rp.20 million (US$1,500) to Rp.35 million (US$2,624).

IT and E-Commerce

The IT and communications industry accounts for 2.7 percent of Indonesia’s US$900 billion GDP. While still nascent, the digital sector is seen as the likely engine of growth for the country. Of the estimated 75 million internet users in the country, 5.9 million have shopped online, according to a recent report from SingPost. Amazon is entering Indonesia this year and Alibaba has already acquired Lazada – one of the largest online retail players to date in Indonesia and Southeast Asia – for US$1 billion.

Image by Jeremy Beadle

Managers pocket salaries in the range of Rp.30 million (US$2,250) to Rp.60 million (US$4,500). The digital marketing head can earn Rp.25 million (US$1,875) to Rp.55 million (US$4,124). Most other team members earn less than that, says the report.

Infrastructure

Naturally, this is an industry that will see growth this year due to the president’s big infrastructure push. But the term ‘infrastructure’ can mean a lot of different things. In the context of this list, we will keep it limited to construction and engineering jobs.

Surprisingly, Kelly’s report doesn’t show us any really big salary figures for the construction space. This is probably because the top jobs are omitted from the list. That said, Project Managers in the engineering, procurement and construction space can earn Rp.45 million (US$3,374) to Rp.85 million (US$6,374) and a Project Manager for a high-rise building can earn Rp.30 million (US$2,250) to Rp.70 million (US$5,250) per month. Kelly clocks the Engineering Directors monthly take home between Rp.75 million (US$5,624) and Rp.125 million (US$9,374).

Please note this article is based on a 2016 report from Kelly Services. Salaries, especially for foreigners, in Indonesia can vary greatly, depending on the circumstances of your employment. In that respect, this report is not a crystal ball, and some jobs may not even be open to you as an expat. We trust the source, but it’s possible their information is not as accurate as yours.

There are many foreigners working in Indonesia’s e-commerce space. Rocket Internet is well known for parachuting expats into the ecosystem. Kelly’s report says a Country Manager (arguably the top spot, which could also use a moniker like CEO or Chief Strategy Officer) in the IT space can earn Rp.125 million (US$9,374) to Rp.250 million (US$18,750) per month.

For these reasons and more, if you want to add more knowledge to this article, or perhaps clarify something above that didn’t quite hit the mark, please let us know your insights in our web comments section or on social media.

The Operations General Manager for an e-commerce company can pull in Rp.60 million (US$4,500) to Rp.90 million (US$6,749). From there, the salaries tend to drop back down. Team Leaders and Sales

See the full report below: www.kellyservices.co.id/ID/Resource-Centre/Salary-Guide/

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What Foreigners Need to Know about Background Checks in Indonesia If you’re an expat in Indonesia running a startup, a mid-sized organization or a Fortune 500 corporation, it’s critical to be knowledgeable on how a comprehensive background checking or employee screening system set in place can help ensure you’re on top of the game managing your company’s risks and making the best employment decisions.

By Nadya Joy Ador It won’t be surprising to know that with Indonesia’s blooming economy and President Jokowi’s recent suggestion to have foreigners running some of the country’s state-owned enterprises, foreigners are now emboldened more than ever to come to the archipelago to work and earn a living – perhaps even run a business of their own.

It should also be noted that with the recent history of terrorism in the country’s capital and the ever-present reports of crimes across the nation, businesses in Indonesia are becoming more concerned with vetting candidates for potential extremist affiliations. The same can be said for people who commit other major crimes, or perhaps folks who have lied on their job application about their skills.

According to an article on the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia, there are no specific privacy or data protection requirements under Indonesian employment laws for employers who want to get their hands on criminal records, school records, employment or financial information. However, Indonesia has enacted laws relating to data privacy in a number of areas. Indonesian legal professionals often refer to Article 28G of the 1945 Constitution as a somewhat vague basis for more specific data privacy legislation. The article reads:

“Each person shall have the right to protection of their personal selves, families, respect, dignity and possessions under their control and shall have the right to security and protection from threat of fear for doing or for not doing something which constitutes a human right.”

While various companies may have different reasons for conducting background checks, the most vital part would be to ensure that candidates meet the full requirements of the position they apply for and that companies will make a return on investment.

Fortunately for foreign business owners as well as recruiters and human resource professionals, employee screening and background checking processes are readily available to help filter the qualified talents and leave out those who are not competent enough.

Modern-day employers are more meticulous in learning about the candidates they are about to have a legal and professional relationship with. They are more empowered to ensure that a potential hire is not ‘hiding something from his past’ that might harm the organization or cause safety problems for other employees and clients.

Indonesia Expat sat down with Tina Nugraheni, Technology Division Head of the executive search company Monroe Consulting Group to know more about the fundamentals of conducting reference checks as part of the recruitment process that expats operating businesses in Indonesia need to know.

Nugraheni emphasized the need to conduct reference checks in every recruitment process. Employers, both foreign and local, should carry out these checks primarily “to ensure that they hire a qualified candidate, fully equipped with the necessary requirements for the employment.”

As with any country, crime is indeed a problem in Indonesia. This is particularly true in major urban business hubs like Jakarta, where a number of criminal offences have reportedly occurred in the workplace. While the figures are low, they still signify the importance of implementing background checks.

Many violent cases could be prevented if candidates with spotty criminal records could have been identified early on.

Background checks can also enable responsible employers to store relevant data on their employees so that they can be easily located or their next of kin can be reached in case of an emergency.

This is something that not all Indonesian companies are accustomed to doing, and one would be surprised that some of them do not even have records of their employees’ current residential addresses.

Human resource departments can ease their hiring processes by working closely with a background-checking firm in Jakarta where they can get information on shortlisted candidates. This way, candidates are more likely to provide accurate information, knowing that the stuff they are submitting will at some point be confirmed with a reference check.

Nugraheni explained that they “normally have the reference check done on the final step of the recruitment, when the client has agreed to proceed with the offering stage for the candidate. [This is] to keep the confidentiality of the process and minimize the risk of letting someone know that a candidate is on the job market, which could easily get back to the candidate’s current employer and put that candidate in jeopardy.”

Monroe’s technology division head advises employers to focus the background check on hearing from the candidate’s previous employers – and not the current one – who have had a direct working relationship as a manager, subordinate or a peer. This can help get a good 360 degree view on how the potential hire performed in their previous job. This also paints a picture of how they were accepted in the work place in terms of attitude.

Given the benefits of conducting a reference check, Nugraheni added, “[it] is a must for employers wanting to hire the people with the right attitude who are a suitable culture-fit with your current company.”

The recruitment specialist stressed that a reference check is cheap, considering that it only takes a few minutes to reach out to the candidate’s previous employers and get relevant information on how he previously performed – his strengths and weaknesses and how those are suitable for his next role in your company.

While employee screenings and reference checks in the US and other countries can often be done online, that is not the case in Indonesia. With record keeping often done manually and personal files not readily shared between government agencies or police departments in the country, many applicants find it easy to hide their ‘ugly’ stories from previous employments.

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Nadya Joy Ador is a Philippines-based journalist and editor for Content Collision. She routinely covers business, news, and human interest topics. For more information, please visit www.ContentCollision.co

In situations where an in-depth background investigation is needed for a high-profile position, it is recommended to hire the services of an Indonesia-based security company that can investigate the person or company in question and provide a credible report.

On whether or not a different set of background checking processes is conducted with vetting expats from various countries, Nugraheni told Indonesia Expat that no special cases have so far been requested of them and they follow the same standards for both locals and foreign talents.

Local and international employers are always concerned with their organization’s reputation, with highly regarded organizations generally attracting the most qualified employees. In the long run, background checks enable employers to safeguard their reputations by ensuring that their workplace is safe and secure and competitively staffed by qualified employees.

On the ground in Indonesia, with sophisticated online tools and data being scarce, background and reference checks tend to happen more on the person-toperson level, with brief phone calls and emails to previous employers serving as the norm.

“With record keeping often done manually and personal files not readily shared between government agencies or police departments in the country, many applicants find it easy to hide their ‘ugly’ stories from previous employments.”

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THIS ENTREPRENEUR SHARES HIS PROFIT WITH BALI LOCALS American expat Michael Lorenti Jr. is siphoning money from the booming cosmetics industry back into the pockets of locals in the East Bali village he now calls home.

American expat Michael Lorenti Jr. – the archipelago’s cosmetics and skincare space represents a chance to try new business models on for size.

Cut to a small village in East Bali, far removed from the traffic, high-rise buildings, boardrooms and pressed suits of Jakarta. Natural skincare company Sensatia Botanicals operates out of Jasri, Karangasem. Lorenti is one of those easy-going, feel-good entrepreneurs who is a long-time resident in the archipelago. Hailing from San Francisco in the US, Lorenti says his vision was to build a cosmetics company in paradise.

According to him, Sensatia sells natural skincare products that “induce sensory experiences.”

“I think Sensatia is ahead of the game in that we are producing good, solid natural products for a very reasonable price,” explains Lorenti. “When other monster companies are paying huge royalty fees for actresses and actors to be the ‘face’ of their products, Sensatia is just ticking always quietly, confident that the product speaks for itself.”

By Leighton Cosseboom Industry stakeholders will tell you that cosmetics and skincare in Indonesia are a big opportunity.

According to Boston Consulting Group, the cosmetics industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the nation and has consistently seen double-digit growth in recent years. It has been named as a priority and strategic sector by the government, as it employs roughly 75,000 people in terms of direct labour and 600,000 in terms of indirect labour.

Data from the Ministry of Industry suggests the export value of Indonesian cosmetic products in recent years reached US$818 million annually.

Meanwhile, the import value has exceeded US$441 million.

The opportunity to capitalize on the budding cosmetics trade in Jakarta would seem ripe for the picking, especially for someone who could bring international experience. But for some people – like

Sensatia Botanicals offers a variety of all-natural skincare products including soaps, body, face and bath products. The company sells its products online but also has store fronts in key locations around Bali, including Ubud’s central Monkey Forest area, Seminyak Village, Lippo Mall Kuta, Legian, Bali Collection in Nusa Dua and more. In Jakarta, you can find a Sensatia Botanicals store at Supermal Karawaci.

Sensatia’s products are not the cheap kind. A 300-gram container of seaside citrus sea salt scrub sells for Rp.220,000 (US$16.50) a pop. A 250-gram container of lemongrass and Mandarin body butter sells for Rp.280,000 (US$21).

Indonesia Plans to Export More Garments, Companies React In a bid to become the next global export leader, Indonesia is working on initiatives to become stronger on the list of the world’s top ten largest textile exporters.

Last year, the archipelago occupied the number ten global rank, with a total market share of 1.8 percent in textile and garment production and exports. The Industry Ministry was then motivated to climb into the top five by increasing the value of exported textiles

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and garments to US$75 billion by 2030.

This would hopefully contribute 5 percent to global exports.

In order for the nation to increase industrial competitiveness, it must focus on investments in technology, which could include software and equipment related to procurement, production, design, engineering and marketing. These things will be needed if the government wants the industry to succeed on a larger scale.

However, tech advances might first bring challenges before they can serve as solutions. Ankit Awasthi, Indonesian Country Head of Singapore-based ThreadSol revealed that Indonesia would need to work on managing the costs if it hopes to succeed.

“Indonesia will have to significantly work on its costing,” Awasthi said in a press release. “In the field of garment manufacturing, dealing with the waste of fabric is a major concern and we

Lorenti says the market outlook for the cosmetics industry in Indonesia is good.

According to him, it’s a good thing that Indonesia has implemented very strict regulations on products like Sensatia’s.

“Whether you are producing in Indonesia or importing into Indonesia, neither are very simple and both require quite a long process, as well as many different kinds of licensing,” explains Lorenti. “Actually the licensing process never seems to end [...]

This is very important in any country, but for some reason people come to Indonesia and think they can do anything they like.

The reality is quite the contrary. There are many rules to follow with many heavy penalties for not doing so. For example, many people don’t even realize that there is a serious penalty for distributing any cosmetic-type product without a proper BPOM registration number (POM NA).

The law states a fine of up to Rp.1 billion (US$75,000) and one year in jail can be given out.”

Cosmetics with a Conscience

At first glance, one would assume that Lorenti built Sensatia Botanicals to capitalize on the growing market trend and opportunity – ‘to make sky high stacks’, to put it in the right vernacular.

But after speaking to Lorenti for five minutes, it becomes abundantly clear that he has no intention of enriching himself.

Sensatia is what Lorenti calls a “profitsharing business,” meaning a large portion of the profit that comes in goes right back out to the locals of Karangasem. Lorenti explains: “The business is a means by which we can siphon a small bit of the world’s affluence into this little village the world has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew about.”

have come up with a technology to deal with it effectively.”

According to Awasthi, every factory in Indonesia should reach a point where its wastage will be reduced to less than 1 percent. ThreadSol’s enterprise software helps increase profits by saving on fabric costs.

Meanwhile, local textile company Sri Rejeki Isman is hopeful that there will be an increase in income in 2017, following its growth in production capacity last year. Sri Rejeki Isman is currently looking for new export markets in Europe.

“The business is a means by which we can siphon a small bit of the world’s affluence into this little village the world has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew about.”

According to Lorenti, the local employees who work for Sensatia can take comfort in knowing that 20 percent of the company’s profits will be dispersed back to them.

“What’s mine is yours and yours is mine,” says Lorenti. “I remember asking one of the boys how he spent his monthly wage.

I think it was the biggest profit share for them at that point. He said to me as a matter of normal procedure, he gave it to his mom to take care of. So you can physically see money being dispersed in every direction to friends and family come payday. It’s beautiful. So if you were to actually count how many people make a living through Sensatia, it would be quite a few.”

Sensatia claims to follow the lead of Yvon Chouinard, founder of outdoor sports clothing company Patagonia, whereby it participates in ‘One Percent For The Planet,’ an international organization whose members contribute at least 1 percent of their annual sales to environmental causes.

“I began to think about how we could apply this to our current state of affairs here in Indonesia, where in many places some of the most simple, basic human requirements cannot be achieved,” says Lorenti. “This year, Sensatia will be developing in more complete detail ‘One Percent for Indonesia,’ a nonprofit organization that will focus on humanitarian efforts helping to fulfil basic human needs.”

BPS Reveals Indonesia’s Economic Growth in 2016 The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recently reported that Indonesia’s economy grew by 5.02 percent last year.

BPS chairman Suhariyanto claimed that Indonesia’s economic growth was larger this time around than it was in 2015.

The industrial sector grew by more than 10 percent. Health services and social activities followed with 6.91 percent growth. In addition, public administration, defense and social security services grew by 6.67 percent, according to Suhariyanto.

“For [2016], Indonesia's economy grew by 5.02 percent. It was higher compared to 2015 at 4.88 percent, also higher compared to 2014. There are apparent signs of improvement,” Suhariyanto said as quoted by Tempo.

Based on the BPS report, the highest GDP growth in 2016 was none other than the information and communications sector at 9.57 percent.

Transportation and warehousing came in next at 7.85 percent.

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Heru Nainggolan is a Jakarta-based freelance writer and journalist that’s been covering a variety of issues since 2011.

Tobacco Bill Lights Up Advocates in 2017 The resurrection of a controversial tobacco bill has escalated the battle between pro-tobacco lobbyists and anti-tobacco activists in 2017.

Lily Sulistyowati, the health ministry’s director of noncommunicable diseases, believes that appointing the agriculture ministry to lead the discussion would be a huge mistake, as the bill would likely be passed into law.

Misbakhun criticized the health ministry’s stance, saying it only represented the anti-tobacco camp.

Instead, the ministry should take into consideration all perspectives, including those whose livelihoods depend on the tobacco industry.

“Don’t let the health ministry and the health minister force their wills to build opinions that threaten people who live and fight to stay alive [by working in] the tobacco industry,” he said.

By Heru Nainggolan PARLIAMENT aims to pass the bill into law this year and President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo is set to announce his stance on the issue by appointing one ministry as the leader of the discussion on the bill.

The bill has drawn controversy since its inception in 2012 as it is radically different from the 2010 tobacco control bill.

The bill was initially proposed by the House of Representatives’ Health Committee to set up tighter regulations for tobacco after a video of a smoking toddler in the country went viral. However, anti-tobacco stakeholders argue that the bill was submitted by the House’s Industrial Committee instead to promote the tobacco industry (the opposite of what was suggested in the beginning).

Subsequently, the bill was deemed by anti-tobacco activists to in fact protect the interest of the tobacco industry in Indonesia by annulling several key articles put forth by regulators. The bill would allow the industry to advertise and promote its products, but also omit the pictorial health warnings on cigarette packages in Indonesia.

A quick look at the bill will show that the provisions are dominated by legal language regarding tobacco production and the tobacco industry. Critics claim that health issues are in no way at the core of the bill, with only a minor provision on the protection of public health.

The National Commission on Tobacco Control (Komnas PT) said that the bill was deeply problematic, as it contradicted various laws and regulations on health in Indonesia.

“The bill should have been consistent with the Law on Health, which states that tobacco is an addictive and deadly substance,” Komnas PT legal and advocacy department member Muhamad Joni told Indonesia Expat. “How can a dangerous, addictive and carcinogenic substance like tobacco be allowed to be promoted?”

The bill is said to contradict efforts by Indonesia to protect the public from the dangers of tobacco at large. The country is already way behind other nations when it comes to tobacco control. What is more, tobacco stands as one of the largest and most important economic pillars of the country. Indonesia is the only country in the Asia Pacific region that has yet to ratify the international Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

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“The tobacco bill is a cunning way for the tobacco industry to increase its production to at least 500 billion cigarettes every year. The ones who will fall victims as new smokers are children.”

“Most countries in the world have agreed on FCTC, which stands as the single most powerful instrument to protect public health. Full implementation of FCTC will be the single best preventive law,” said Jihane Tawilah, World Health Organization representative to Indonesia.

Jokowi has asserted that he would not ratify the convention just to follow a trend. He added that the government would look at all perspectives, including health risks, the future of Indonesian youth, the livelihoods of tobacco farmers and those of workers involved in cigarette manufacturing before making a final decision.

Indonesia’s unwillingness to sign the FCTC has resulted in loose cigarette control in general. As a result, more than two-thirds of adult males are smokers in Indonesia and nearly 4 million children between the ages of ten and 14 pick up smoking every year, leading to around 200,000 deaths from tobacco-related illnesses annually.

For citizens, the economic losses caused by smoking, including medical expenses, physical disability, premature death and reduced working hours, meanwhile reach US$18 billion every year.

The health ministry’s disease control director-general Muhammad Subuh said that the health cost from cigarette-related diseases was five times more than the tax income from the tobacco industry. Because of this, he questioned the logic behind the House’s decision to include the tobacco bill in the priority list for 2017. The health ministry has unsurprisingly rejected the bill.

Mukhamad Misbakhun, a member of the working committee on the tobacco bill, said the rejection from the health ministry did not matter, as it was likely that it would not be appointed by the president to lead the discussion of the bill in the House of Representatives.

He said that the bill mostly regulated the tobacco industry and the welfare of tobacco farmers in the country, and thus it should either be the agriculture ministry or the industry ministry that should lead the bill’s discussion.

Misbakhun further urged the health ministry to be wise in deciding its stance on the tobacco bill, as he claimed that the ministry’s budget came from tax income from the tobacco industry. Another politician who proposed the bill, Teuku Taufiqulhadi, said there would be many consequences if the government rejected the bill. This could include the decline of state revenue from the tobacco industry and the increase in tobacco imports, which ultimately could lead to the demise of local tobacco farmers.

“The welfare of the country’s tobacco farmers will worsen,” he added. “Banning the discussion of the tobacco bill will lead to a legal void on tobacco farmers’ protection. [So] it has to be regulated.”

However, as for concerns about public health impacts from smoking, Taufiqulhadi said that there should be regulations to control cigarettes.

Indonesian Consumers Foundation Chairman Tulus Abadi believes that the reasoning behind the bill, which is to protect tobacco formers, is unfounded.

Abadi says the real enemy of tobacco farmers is the tobacco industry itself, as mechanization of cigarette production has driven small farmers out of business in Indonesia for years.

“How can the tobacco bill protect tobacco farmers when the bill was designed by the tobacco industry?” he said. “The tobacco bill is a cunning way for the tobacco industry to increase its production to at least 500 billion cigarettes every year. The ones who will fall victims as new smokers are children.”

Currently, Indonesians smoke 300 billion cigarettes in a year. Only China and India exceed this number.

With increasing tobacco production and consumption, poor Indonesians will become even poorer, Abadi said. A survey conducted in low-income populations showed that cigarettes come second after the staple food product rice on the list of household monthly consumables.

“Poverty will escalate as it is proven that cigarette consumption has impoverished the people of Indonesia, according to the Central Statistics Agency,” Abadi added.

Ultimately, the tobacco bill would further loosen the already weak tobacco control laws in Indonesia, a country which has been dubbed as the tobacco industry’s playground.

“The tobacco bill is a very embarrassing catastrophe in terms of international relations because when 90 percent of countries in the world have seriously reduced and controlled cigarette consumption, Indonesia wants to push for a regulation that is the other way around,” Abadi concluded.

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An Expat’s Look into Bali’s Vibrant Weekend Market Scene

By Anita Surewicz Bali’s weekend market scene has really taken off over the past few years with boutique bazaars popping up all over the island. Whether you’re after the latest fashion and top-quality organic produce, or merely wishing to soak up the welcoming community vibe, here are four markets bound to make your end of the week a little bit brighter.

Samadi Sunday Organic Market

Samadi Sunday Organic Market in Canggu is all about supporting local producers and artisans, while fostering a sense of camaraderie in the community.

From vegetables, fruit, spices, nuts, bread, seafood, jamu and cheese to natural beauty products, jewellry and vintage clothes, Samadi is all about promoting handmade goods and sustainable practices.

“All products sold, if edible and grown, are organic.

Crafted products must contain at least 80 percent organic ingredients, and all items must be made by the vendors themselves,” says Andrea Drottholm, the co-owner of Samadi Bali, a wellness centre behind the colourful bazaar.

The market, which runs from 9 am to 2 pm on Sundays, attracts around 20 vendors each week.

The venture has been growing steadily since first opening to the public two and a half years ago.

“We started off begging the farmers to join. It was a risk for them to do so, as the market took a while to get going,” says Drottholm. “We now have a waiting list of people wanting to join us, and the vendors who have been with us from the very beginning have stood by us and seen the market grow alongside their own ventures.”

The Samadi experience is about a lot more than just filling one’s bags. The centre is a spot where the Canggu community can gather over a healthy brunch at Samadi Bali Cafe, listen to live music, take part in a yoga class or simply chat with like-minded people.

This sense of community also extends to the vendors.

“Many of the smaller farmers who can’t make it to the market have started collaborating with each other,” says Drottholm. “For instance, some vendors usually bring not only their produce along but also the produce grown by other farmers, making it possible for everyone to make a living from what they grow.”

While Drottholm says that the vendors themselves hold a responsibility to follow the rules of the market, this is currently largely based on the honour system.

“It would be great if there was an actual organization that could give a certification to the farmers who grow produce organically. This would give the ‘real’ organic farmers a stronger voice, and they would not have to compete with others whose produce is not organic,” she says. “It’s the right of the consumers to know that the produce they are purchasing has been grown organically, and the right of the farmers, who grow their produce in a sustainable way, to have their hard work acknowledged.”

According to Andrea, Bali’s Sunday market scene has become so popular over the past few years because people are becoming increasingly more interested in the origins of what they consume. “At the beginning, it was like a lottery every Sunday to see if we had enough customers to ensure that the vendors were happy. It has been such a pleasure to see the farmers

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Samadi Sunday Organic Market

bring more and more produce to the market as the demand grows,” she says. “We need to stand by organic farmers and keep buying local in order to preserve Bali from overdevelopment. We cannot afford to keep buying food covered in pesticides and grown from GMO seeds.”

Saturday Farmers’ Market at Moksa Restaurant

I Made Janur Yasa, the co-founder of Moksa Restaurant, and the attached Saturday Farmers’ Market, which only opened its doors in September of 2016, says that his vision behind the venture has been not only to provide a space for local growers to market their produce but to teach the community about permaculture – the development of a sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

The market takes place each Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm, currently with just around eight vendors.

Some of the goods on offer include seasonal fruit and vegetables, jamu (traditional herbal tonic), nuts,

honey, coconut products and coffee. And while the market is still in its infancy, Yasa is optimistic about the future. “We intend to keep growing and cultivating our farmers’ market with things like live music, specialty foods and children’s activities.”

The market is an extension of the Moksa Restaurant, just outside Ubud, which specializes in raw and plant-based organic cuisine. Best of all, the restaurant sources all its produce from an adjacent permaculture garden. Just like the restaurateurs, Yasa says that all the market’s vendors are committed to following organic and sustainable practices when it comes to growing their produce, which, of course, benefits market goers.

“It is a wonderful thing to be able to buy directly from farmers. Selecting ripe fruit and vegetables on a lawn under tree canopies, next to a big garden, is a world away from your typical supermarket experience.”

Those wishing to learn more about permaculture and sustainable living can also join one of Moksa’s plantbased cooking classes.

Love Anchor

Love Anchor comes alive each Saturday and Sunday at 11 am and keeps food and bargain lovers entertained until sundown. If it is fresh and trendy, you will probably find it here – Love Anchor specializes in hip clothing, handcrafted jewellery, handmade organic cosmetics and vintage trinkets.

Better still, after shopping up a storm, market goers can feast on delicious local treats or a slice of pizza, before grabbing a cold beer while they listen to top tunes from resident and guest DJs.

Samadi Sunday Organic Market

Joseph Askins, who set up Love Anchor with his wife Erni in February of 2016, says that the idea for the boutique market was born after a visit to the Chatuchack Weekend Market in Bangkok.

“Erni had been involved in retail and fashion for more than a decade in Bali so had great contacts and respect of some really strong Bali based brands,” Askins says, adding that the duo based Love Anchor on the bazaars that were all the rage at the Glastonbury Festival, Brick Lane and Brixton in the early 2000s.

Set around an open-air joglo complex in the centre of Canggu’s popular Batu Bolong Street, the flea market includes around 50 retailers and food outlets, as well as a bar complete with pool tables.

“Small markets, such as ours, are great for hanging out with friends and shopping outdoors in an intimate, ever-changing environment,” Askins says.

“For example, we have new vendors every week, so the food and shopping never gets boring, and you don’t need to walk for miles in the heat to find that special item.”

For more information please visit www.loveanchorcanggu.com

Sanur Sunday Market

Sri Obrien, the organizer of the Sanur Sunday Market, sees the growing popularity of bazaars on the island as a backlash against commercialism. “I think more than anything, people enjoy the social aspect of the markets, a chance to relax on the grass or beach with friends and family and also the opportunity to support small artisans and producers rather than large retail brands,” she says. “We try to support and encourage homemade, small family businesses and eco-conscious products as much as possible.”

Sanur Sunday Market

The market, which is held at the Mercure Resort Sanur on the last Sunday of each month from 10 am until 6 pm, features around 60 stalls, about 20 of which focus on Indonesian and Western cuisine (think nasi goreng alongside German wurst). The kiosks stock a variety of goodies including fashion, crafts, home wares, bags and children’s clothing. To sweeten the deal, there is also live music from 3 pm to 5 pm.

The market is a community-oriented affair, meaning that residents of the area are likely to bump into familiar faces. Located on a grassy area, just metres from the beach, the market is also a perfect spot for a family day out. Parents can rest easy as their little ones are entertained by a range of activities from bouncy castles and face painting to arts and crafts.

“The idea was to create a regular community event in Sanur, somewhere families and friends could get together and hang out for the day,” Obrien says.

“The market offers a safe space where kids can run around, and we have activities to keep them occupied, and parents can relax, eat, listen to music and, of course, shop.”

In addition, market goers can join a yoga class at the nearby Power of Now Oasis or use the Sahadewa Swimming Pool and Mercure Resort Kids Club facilities for Rp.50,000 per family.

The market supports a different charity each month, such as the Bali Life Foundation or Bali Pink Ribbon, in order to give back to the less fortunate in the community.

Sanur Sunday Market is currently closed for the rainy season and will reopen in March.

For more information please visit www.facebook.com/ SanurSundayMarket

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Grace Susetyo is a Jakarta-based freelance journalist. Having recently completed a Master of Development Studies, Grace’s research focused on indigenous identity and social capital in West Papua.

AN EXPAT’S PERSPECTIVE ON RESILIENCE IN THE FACE OF DISASTER

REBUILDING BIMA

After encountering generous and passionate locals in the historical royal city of Bima in October of 2016, Grace Susetyo was shocked to learn about the flash floods that paralyzed the area’s economy and displaced 100,000 survivors in late December.

In early February, she caught up with locals in Bima on the current state of their post-flood revival.

By Grace Susetyo My memories of Bima in eastern Sumbawa consisted of generous hospitality, delightful palaces and mosques brimming with historical epics, attending momentous folk festivities, and long road trips by beautiful coastlines in the company of spirited young locals dedicated to perpetuating creative cultural spaces and caring for the environment.

“That room you stayed in doesn’t exist anymore.

It drowned under a two-metre flood of mud and garbage,” said local journalist Akhyar M Nur on December 23, 2016. In October, Akhyar took me in on short notice the night I arrived in Bima.

Akhyar’s family, including his elderly mother and young niece, was evacuated to the highlands until the last week of January. In early February, Akhyar said that repairs to his family home remain in progress, along with a total of 1,105 damaged houses in Bima. Sixty of these houses went completely missing as they floated away with currents. Potable water supply in the west part of Bima city remains difficult, parts of town still experience electricity blackouts, roads are damaged and five bridges are either inoperable or missing.

Asi Mbojo

parts of town, which add to the challenge of repairing damaged infrastructure.

Important cultural heritage sites were not exempt from the December flood’s impact. The manicured gardens of the Asi Mbojo Museum – at the old Royal Palace of the Bima Sultanate – were badly flooded and the gates collapsed. Fortunately, due to the palace’s elevation, none of the museum’s collection of royal heirlooms were touched by floodwaters.

Asi Mbojo houses an expensive collection of delicate gold and silver crown jewels, weaponry, vintage royal utensils, royal apparel and paintings. The Bima Sultanate traces its origins to 17th-century colonial ties under South Sulawesi’s Gowa-Tallo Sultanate, which brought Islam and a distinctive maritime civilization to Bima. At the height of its glory, the Bima Sultanate’s territorial claims ranged from the Komodos, Flores, Sumba, Solor and parts of Timor. Asi Mbojo still exhibits the room in which President Sukarno spent nights in 1933 and 1950. The people of Bima have mixed feelings about the first president due to his broken promise to grant the Sultanate of Bima special territorial status after the region voluntarily integrated its sovereignty into Indonesia in 1945.

Other cultural heritage sites affected by Bima’s floods in December include the new palace Asi Bou, the royal cemetery of Tolobali and the historical prayer house Langgar Melayu Kuno.

Khusnul “Imey” Hatimah of Bima Regency’s Office of Tourism said that damage was reported and surveyed on December 26 and 27, but only repairs for Asi Mbojo’s garden and gates have been budgeted for. Imey said she has complained to the government about the current lack of urgency in response to the flood’s impacts on Bima’s other cultural heritage sites. “And [the government] would reason, ‘It’s just mud.’ They don’t seem to get that mud does eat away at heritage sites and heirlooms,” said Imey, who holds a master’s degree in museology.

In early February, Imey added that one of the reasons for this lack of urgency is because repairing damaged infrastructure and public utilities remains a higher priority. Much of Bima’s resources are currently allocated 16

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“Bima is still traumatized,” said Imey. “When we see a little rain, we start packing our things and preparing to evacuate for fear of another flood.”

On the bright side, the floods have had a way of uniting the people and government of Bima to help out one another. Bima Regent Indah Dhamayanti Putri continues to spend her days meeting flood survivors to deliver aid and listen to their aspirations, braving rains and urgent pages in the middle of the night. Farmers in the highlands donated truckloads of vegetables to the aid of starving urbanites. Youth communities, healthcare professionals and educators coordinate their own time and resources to help those in need. to normalizing rivers and irrigation systems, mud and garbage cleanups, restoring roads, rebuilding missing bridges and repairing damaged residential areas.

However, Imey said that the government has promised to dispatch repairs for cultural heritage sites once infrastructure repairs are out of the way.

Until early January, Asi Mbojo welcomed 150 evacuees to take refuge on its terraces as they waited for floodwaters at home to subside and safe conditions to start cleanups and repairs. Other cultural heritage sites that turned into evacuation sites included Masjid Sultan Salahuddin, which took in 500 evacuees, and Langgar Kuno Melayu in Kampung Melayu, which took in 50.

“The worst thing about being stuck in an evacuation camp is when you can’t leave to buy food in the middle of the night due to the strong currents flooding the streets,” said cultural activist Rojil “Rizal” Afrizal. Rizal said the City of Bima did not have a proper disaster response system, so able locals like himself had to initiate their own independent disaster response teams ( posko swadaya), distributing food and medicine.

As Bima’s emergency status ended on January 19, so did the activities of most posko. Economic activities have currently resumed as normal. However, Bima continues to deal with heavy rains and smaller floods in different

“I am proud to see the revival of human values demonstrated in the people of Bima’s aid to one another as fellow human beings overcoming this challenge together,” said Imey.

In the face of disaster, the people of Bima have not forgotten whom history has made them: a selfless, giving people united in a courageous vision to rebuild dignity out of humility. The physical sights of the beautiful Bima I came to know in October of 2016 may have changed, but not the spirit of the people that made me fall in love with the city.

While there is as yet no certainty on the fate of affected cultural sites, Bima appears to put its people first as it embarks on mending public infrastructures back to sustainability. Perhaps that spells hope to encounter a new, revived city in the future, but one still brimming with its ancient drive for resilience.

The Indonesian Red Crescent is currently still actively providing post-flood aid in Bima. Donations can be made to Bank Syariah Mandiri account number 7015.119.537 in the name of Bulan Sabit Merah Indonesia. For updates, follow www.facebook.com/ IndonesianRedCrescent or Instagram @mabesbsmi.

Cops Discover Illegal Marriage between Two Indonesian Women Indonesia does not honour same-sex marriages and recognizes only the union between a man and a woman.

Police are currently investigating the allegedly illegal marriage between two female Indonesian migrant workers, identified only by their first names Farel and Salmah.

Reports show that the two women managed to officially get married in Indonesia after returning from Malaysia.

The illegal union was uncovered when Farel, the partner who was usually disguised as the husband, gave birth in Tanjungbalai, North Sumatra, which is the home village of her spouse.

Locals were shocked to find a newborn baby dumped on Jl. Sei Kenagan, a stone’s throw away from the wife’s house. With growing suspicion that the abandoned baby was Farel’s, residents confronted the couple.

Daman Wuri, a resident of the village and neighbour to the couple, told The Jakarta Post that they were never

suspicious of the couple getting married. Farel introduced himself (herself) as a widower with a child.

A spokesperson from the Tanjungbalai Police said Farel admitted that she was the baby’s mother and confessed to dumping the baby for fear that people would discover her secret.

The couple, who both worked in Malaysia as migrant workers, got married on November 30 last year.

Farel went back to Malaysia a couple of days after their wedding and only came back a week before she gave birth.

During the investigation, Salmah told authorities that she was not aware her ‘husband’ was a woman and that she had not been intimate with Farel, even after the wedding.

Salmah denies deliberately entering into a same-sex marriage, purporting that had she known Farel was a women, she never would have married her.

Sukamiskin Prison under Probe over Reports of Inmates Going Shopping The legal affairs representative pointed out the problem of permits for outside medical treatment being misused by inmates. Medical facilities inside the prison are not enough to provide proper treatment for some illnesses, hence prison staff provide the permits, allowing the inmates to visit doctors of their personal choosing.

A report on inmates misusing these medical appointment permits was published in Tempo early this month.

Rachmat Yasin, Anggoro Widjojo and Romi Herton were all convicted of corruption but were issued ‘permits’ that they used to go out in public to visit relatives and, yes, go shopping.

Other reports on prison protocol irregularities other than violations of medical permits include drug smuggling and cell privileges. In November of 2010, reports spread when high-profile inmate Gayus Tambunan, who was imprisoned for embezzlement, was seen watching a tennis tournament in Bali.

Golkar Party’s Bambang Soesatyo, Chairman of Commission III, noted how it has become common practice to have inmates violating regulations in the Indonesian prison system. Soesatyo was quick to point out that solving the problem will have to start with the guards and a stricter, better enforcement of the security protocols by the prison staff.

After receiving reports about some prisoners of the Bandung-based Sukamiskin penitentiary enjoying special privileges such as passes for medical checkups outside the facility, the House of Representatives' Commission III on law and human rights has ordered for the prison’s security to be strengthened.

Overseeing legal affairs for Commission III, Mulfachri Harahap said loopholes in the prison system are the result of the security protocols being weak in general. Harahap mentioned recent reports of Sukamiskin prison inmates being seen in public.

The commission chairman stressed that the prison’s general director should pay more attention to the issue, while Harahap said the irregularities may be the result of the prison guards’ low wages, making them vulnerable to inmates bribing them in exchange for special privileges.

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NEWS FROM THE

ARCHIPELAGO Riau Ramps Up on Fight against Forest Fires

French Companies to Help Develop Smart Cities

As part of the effort to enhance an Indonesia-France partnership, French companies are helping the government establish ‘smart cities’ across the country.

The Riau province administration is stepping up its vigilance against the high risk of forest fires in the region that comes as a result of the extended dry season. A special 1,000-member team has been deployed to help prevent the perennial destructive haze caused by local practices of clearing and burning forest lands.

One thousand five hundred personnel from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the military, police and other concerned organizations gathered in Pekanbaru late last week to help ensure the region was prepared.

Tiger Skin Traders Sentenced to Four Years Each in Prison

Riau Governor Arsyad Juliandi Rachman was quoted

by The Jakarta Post as saying he was confident that the vigilance of “all elements of the forest fire mitigation – law enforcers, the government and other officers – will need to work together to fight against perpetrators. [We] are very serious about this. No one should attempt to burn the forest.”

After being on trial for selling Sumatran tiger skins, defendants Joko Sujarwanto bin Hadi and Muzainul Achyar bin Muhaimi were each sentenced to a four-year imprisonment on February 7, at the Rengat District Court in Riau.

The Riau leader explained the gathering also served as a warning to individuals and businesses alike that slash-andburn practices on new forest areas will not be tolerated in the region. He added that preventive measures should be widely implemented and undertaken as soon as possible.

They have no excuse not to act promptly, as they have been well provided with all the necessary tools and facilities.

BNPB head Willem Rampangilei reminded companies in the forestry and plantation industry to be aware of how they can contribute to forest fire prevention. He stressed that the forest area which needs monitoring is large, and with a limited budget and staff, working together is key to the success of the operation.

The panel of judges found the two men guilty of violating Article 21, Clauses 2 and 4 of Law No. 5/1990 that related to the conservation of natural resources and ecosystems.

The judging panel was comprised of Agus Akhyudi, Omori Sitorus and Immanuel Sirait. The judges ordered for each of the defendants to pay a fine of Rp.100 million (US$7,500). Failure to pay the fines will mean an additional month in jail, Akhyudi explained.

Bin Muhaimi and Bin Hadi were found trying to sell a Sumatran tiger skin for Rp.80 million (US$6,000).

They were caught in a joint entrapment operation by personnel (going undercover as potential buyers) from the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s law enforcement unit, Jambi’s Natural Resources Conservation Agency and the Riau Police.

Air Force Investigates ‘Mysterious’ Helicopter A helicopter that costs US$55 million arrived at East Jakarta’s Halim Airport, apparently for President Jokowi.

The chopper’s arrival comes as a surprise, considering Jokowi in fact rejected the proposal made to buy it. For this reason, officials are confused about how it ended up in Indonesia.

Indonesia’s Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu said he will launch an investigation to find out more about the mysterious helicopter, with the Air Force chief of staff liaising with investigators.

“I have delegated [the investigation] to the Air Force chief of staff, wait for him to make the move,” Ryamizard said at the Presidential Palace on February 7, as quoted by Jakarta Globe.

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At the Indonesian-French City of Tomorrow Roadshow, sustainable urban development company representatives visited Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and Palembang and shared their knowledge and expertise. They also spoke about the opportunities they can provide to help transform the archipelago.

Trade counselor Rachid Boulaouine of Business France told the media early last week that the City of Tomorrow Roadshow opened opportunities for them to “discuss and share our knowledge and expertise with the mayor of each city we visited,” keeping in mind the perennial problems that the country is faced with in terms of city planning and organization.

The “smart cities” programme aims to encourage the French-Indonesian business partnership to invest in sustainable tech projects and activities that will boost urban hubs into becoming smart cities of the future. Infrastructure issues like mobility and parking are at the forefront of the discussion.

Lauren Peeters of Tractebel added that the concept of the ‘smart city’ is new in Indonesia, and they are proposing to bring best practices to the country from previous projects they have been executed in Europe.

The City of Tomorrow Roadshow has so far reaped positive reception from all the cities it has visited in Indonesia. The respective city leaders shared their individual plans on how they can better contribute to transforming their cities faster, aiming to attract more investors and to develop partnerships with foreign companies.

Ryamizard also said as reported by Antara , “The helicopter was once ordered for the president, but he cancelled the order, saying it was too expensive.

[Dirgantara Indonesia, Indonesia’s own aircraft manufacturer] can make a helicopter like this, so why not have PTDI do it? That was what the president wanted.”

The minister asked journalists and the public to not blow the case out of proportion, saying he shared the defense budget with all appropriate parties and there should be no problem.

In November of 2015, the Indonesian Air Force ordered three AW-101 helicopters for certain VIP transport. The president ended the deal in the following month, saying costs were just too high.

Recently, however, the Air Force asked to buy the same type of helicopter, citing it not for presidential purposes but instead for military search and rescue efforts.

Kenneth Yeung is a Jakarta-based editor

AURA EXPLORERS ABUSING GIRLS Is negative energy preventing you from achieving your goals or passing a test? Do you want to be more attractive and successful? Then perhaps you need your aura cleansed – for a fee, of course.

By Kenneth Yeung The parapsychology of auras and chakras is hot stuff in Indonesia. For those who subscribe to that which cannot be explained by science, an aura is an electromagnetic energy field or ‘life force’ that surrounds each human. Self-styled ‘natural healers’ claim aura emanates from the body’s chakras – its centres of spiritual power. An aura is generally invisible, except to people who pretend they can see such hokum.

Positive thinking is wonderful. Making a list of goals and visualizing success is great – provided you’re aware that focus and hard work are essential ingredients. Trouble starts when charlatans claim they can see a negative aura thwarting your success in work, romance or even school.

Child Abuse When children are raised in superstitious societies that believe in black magic and auras, they become easy prey for scammers and degenerates.

Amrin Supriyanto (58), a dukun (shaman) from Dayu village near Blitar in Central Java, told girls and young women he had the power to cleanse negative auras.

In May of 2016, he met a 17-year-old high school girl seeking supernatural help to pass her exams and find a good boyfriend. Amrin said she was afflicted by a bad aura because she had lost her virginity to her previous boyfriend.

Two days later, the dukun invited the girl to his house for a late-night cleansing ritual. He instructed her to bring special flowers for his magic and a pen to write down a spell. She also brought along two female friends, both aged 15. They were told to stay in the house, while Amrin led the older girl into a nearby forest.

About 300 metres inside the jungle, they reached a huge tree and the ritual began. First, Amrin removed the victim’s clothes ‘to cleanse her’ of impure thoughts and actions. Once naked, she was told to write down and recite a spell. Amrin then had sex with her, saying this was how he can ‘restore’ her virginity. The victim was ordered to go home and continue reciting the mantra whenever naked.

In the following days, the two 15-year-olds revisited Amrin’s house and were also taken into the forest and molested. The abuse was uncovered after the parents of one girl discovered her naked and chanting a spell.

Tearfully, she recounted what had happened. Amrin was arrested four days later. He denied there was any abuse, insisting the girls had consented to physical contact.

Police said there were other victims, ranging from young schoolgirls to married women, but most were too embarrassed to come forward.

Such cases are not uncommon in Blitar. In late June of 2016, Budi Setyawan alias Wawan (40) was arrested there for molesting and stealing from a 13-year-old girl.

Police said Wawan approached the girl in a park, telling her she had a negative aura caused by witchcraft. He took her to Penataran Hindu temple complex to perform a

cleansing ritual. Alone in a quiet area, he molested the girl ‘to release a genie’ from her body. Next, he said her gold necklace was cursed, so she should give it to him.

Wawan was arrested after the girl’s parents went to the police. Under recently amended legislation, penalties for child abuse in Indonesia include a mandatory minimum ten-year jail sentence and the possibility of chemical castration.

Beauty Treatment In Sleman, Yogyakarta province, a charlatan named Rahmad Santoso (36) claimed he could ‘open auras and chakras’ to bring beauty and good fortune. Instead, he just enacted his sexual fantasies with gullible women.

His day job involved peddling beauty products, marketed as medicines. When he met young female customers, he boasted of having magical powers to make them more attractive to men.

Any woman who consented to his treatment was taken to a remote beach in Gunung Kidul area. Rahmad ordered his victims to undress so he could locate their auras. He would then get naked himself and instruct the woman to bend over. He would mount her, mutter incantations and prayers before completing the ritual by ejaculating liberally over her back and buttocks.

He charged Rp.8 million to Rp.100 million for this treatment, depending on the wealth of each customer.

Rahmad was arrested in June of 2016 after one woman complained. He confessed to duping at least six women aged between 20 and 28. He said other customers declined the sex ritual, so he sold them invisible genies, ‘magic’ stones and amulets for Rp.5 million apiece.

Blackmailers In Jakarta, a 42-year-old man posed as a young woman on Facebook and befriended dozens of girls aged ten to 15. He claimed they had negative auras that could be cleansed only if they sent him photos of their breasts and genitals.

At least ten girls sent their nude photos. The man threatened to release the images unless the girls engaged in sex chats and sent him nude videos. He met one of the girls for sex on seven occasions before being arrested in September of 2016.

In the North Sumatra capital of Medan, a ‘healer’ extorted at least 20 women after convincing them to send him naked photos of themselves. Yohan (31) trawled for victims on social media and told them they were suffering from a negative aura, which could be removed if they sent him nude selfies. “Nudity makes it easier to see the aura,” he explained.

One of the victims, Yenny (20), said she sent nude photos because Yohan hypnotized her over the phone. He soon threatened to release the photos unless she paid him.

Yenny transferred four payments totalling Rp.736,000 before confiding in her brother, who caught Yohan and handed him to police. An investigation revealed he had victims from Sumatra, Kalimantan and Jakarta.

Rice Cure In Riau province, a conman named Arman (32) claimed he could diagnose diseases by looking at people’s auras.

If they wanted to get better, they had to give him money, supposedly for charitable purposes.

In July of 2016, Anton Wijaya (23) brought his ailing parents to Arman for treatment. The healer said dark auras were causing their sickness, and the only cure was to donate sacks of rice to the poor. But he insisted on receiving money, rather than rice.

The ritual was repeated over three months but Anton’s parents did not get better. Having given the ‘healer’ a total of Rp.70 million, Anton became suspicious and discovered no rice had been purchased. Police arrested Arman in October of 2016. He confessed to his crime but maintained he could see auras.

If you are suffering at work, from a disease or having no luck in romance, a positive outlook is crucial for any remedy. Never trust anyone who claims they can see a bad aura in you hold you back from doing the most practical solution of seeking the advice of a professional instead.

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What Expats Need to Know about Insurance in Indonesia For expats accustomed to the extensive insurance coverage they had back in their countries of origin, finding the right insurance for themselves, their family and their property in Indonesia can be a big challenge. Here are the basics on insurance in Indonesia that expats need to be aware of.

Insuring Household Staff

Household staff can easily be insured by the presence of the national health insurance plan in the country known as BPJS. While not mandatory, expats and Indonesians alike normally cover the basic medical expenses of their household staff, which includes your cook, driver and maids. By custom, they expect to get reimbursed for all medical expenses, hospital and out-patient costs and financial help for maternity care expenses.

Expats sometimes choose not to get insurance for their household staff but instead set a capped amount for these medical expenses that they will offer to cover them in the span of a year’s employment. This will normally be the equivalent of one month’s salary.

In an article titled “Insurance in Indonesia,” Expat Web Site Association Jakarta suggests having household staff members submit a medical exam report that clears them of TB and other communicable diseases prior to their employment. This will help ensure they are not burdened with high medical bills for sickly household employees. Since this is a pre-employment requirement, they expect the employer expat to pay for these medical examinations.

By Nadya Joy Ador First things first. If an expat is here for work, they must have three different types of insurance: BPJS Employment, BPJS Health and a social security programme in employment outside working hours (before this was Jamsostek or a foreign comparable plan). Until last year, the government didn’t really enforce this rule well. But starting now, officials say, if an expat wants to get an extended license to work (IMTA), they need to tick these three boxes. Usually, your employer should be able to handle these items via a third party agency. However, if you’re here for the long haul, you may want to consider other types of insurance as well.

The disparity between the quality of insurance in Indonesia and that which many expats are used to is vast. This means what may have been an obvious provision from one’s home country may not always be readily provided in Indonesia.

Additionally, trust remains a key element that foreigners need to consider when choosing an insurance company in Indonesia. If you can, always find a trusted company from your home country that provides similar policy structures and claims proceedings to transact with on your insurance needs in Indonesia. In most business dealings, it’s an important rule of thumb to deal only with companies (and people) that make you feel comfortable – and the same holds true for insurance shopping in Indonesia.

Insurance policies in Indonesia are often worded in both Bahasa Indonesia and English.

Joint Venture General Insurance

Expats should find several ‘joint venture general insurance’ companies in Indonesia that are affiliated with reputable American, European and Japanese insurance providers. Experts recommend foreigners to go with a well-known insurance company from their home country, as they will most likely provide the same coverage, premiums and claims procedures.

Most of the joint venture general insurance companies also provide medical insurance, while all of them offer insurance for personal liability, life, travelling, motor vehicles, household and homeowner.

They also provide easy-to-understand terms.

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The disparity between the quality of insurance in Indonesia and that which many expats are used to is vast. This means what may have been an obvious provision from one’s home country may not always be readily provided in Indonesia.

Home Country Insurance

Foreigners need to be well informed about what coverage their home country insurance provides during their stay outside the country, on business trips and during their travels to and from other assigned country posts.

They should ask whether their homeowner’s policy will have them covered (or not) regardless of their country of their place of residence. Find out about the claims procedures to prevent suffering from unnecessary worries related to complications that may arise from working with overseas-based companies that don’t always have representatives who will investigate locally.

Insurance specialists recommend expats to locally obtain insurance protection for their properties, their cars, their household, their household staff and their personal liability. More often than not, medical insurance policies from the home country of the expat are able to provide sufficient coverage.

Insuring Employees

Multinational companies in Indonesia almost always have insurance policies for their employees, which are normally group life, health and personal accidents policies. Large companies normally use these kinds of attractive insurance coverage packages as selling points so that competent local talents will seek employment with these firms.

If you would like to have an internal insurance scheme, you may also seek the services of a trusted joint venture general insurance firm. Some government insurance providers cover healthcare, old age, accident and death. Premium payments are normally shared between the company and the employee. This insurance setup has been mandated as obligatory for businesses employing more than ten workers and serving a payroll of over Rp.10 million (US$750) every month.

In addition, expats are expected, while not required, to extend their generosity to the immediate family members of their household staff. They may seek financial assistance in the form of loans for their medical needs. It is recommended to deal with these instances on a case-by-case basis.

Crimes against Expatriates

Clearly, being an expat does not exempt you from any of the country’s political turmoil, violence or crime.

Although foreigners are not looked at as prime targets more so than anyone else, they are generally thought of as being rich. This is evident by the fact that household robbery is the most common crime against expats, normally perpetrated by some ex-household staff member.

Companies should acquire adequate coverage to safeguard foreign properties that have been the target of increasing cases of vandalism and destruction over the past few years. These cases have been attributed to many years of perceived inequality between expat professionals and business owners and their local counterparts.

Personal Liability

Foreigners living in Indonesia must purchase coverage for their personal liability. With the Indonesian judicial system being a monstrous nightmare for expatriates, insurance specialists advise every foreigner to buy a personal liability policy in Indonesia with a joint venture insurance company despite their worldwide coverage from their policy in their home country. Make sure to have this job relegated to a reputable insurance company that will guarantee that your claim is promptly paid or disputed on your behalf.

Investment Assets

As an expat working in Indonesia, you can have your income invested in an insurance plan that can help you save money, whether it is for an emergency fund, your retirement or your kids’ education. Protecting yourself, your family and your properties in your home country is just as important as protecting your household staff, your assets and your achievements in your new life in Indonesia.

Angela is a freelance journalist and founder of Clean Up Jakarta Day. Outside the office she climbs mountains and dives oceans, all the while picking up litter.

The Reporter-Turned-Refugee A journalist’s job is to tell a story. It’s neither a profession that pays the highest salary nor one that earns the most respect. Those who choose this path, however, are usually incredibly passionate and willing to take risks to share the truth. But what happens when you take a journalist who is a minority, place him in a war-torn country and ask him to report on extremist groups? He becomes a target. This is exactly what happened to 30-year-old Hasib (not his real name), a Hazara from Afghanistan, who is currently living as a refugee in one of the wettest cities in the world, Bogor.

“Where would you feel comfortable?” Hasib asks me sincerely.

I look around and see a rusty metal chair. In front of it sits a small coffee table. “This looks good,” I say as I point to the chair. “But where will you sit?” I ask him.

He says that it’s absolutely no problem and rushes off to fetch another chair from his landlord’s front porch.

Once I settle down, I take a moment to look around.

Hasib’s concrete-clad confines are small and dimly lit, and there’s no escape from the damp Bogor air. But his situation has done nothing to dampen his spirits.

Hasib asks me if I have eaten and insists he prepare some food. I accept, understanding the Afghani custom – very similar to Indonesia’s – of always offering something to eat and drink to guests that grace your home.

Hasib brings out a pre-cooked meal of kidney beans in a tomato and spice sauce and puts it in a pan on the stove to heat up. He sits down in front of me as I begin asking him questions about his life.

“How much rent do you pay here?”

“Rp.600,000 [US$45] per month,” he answers.

“It’s the cheapest I could find and my landlord is very kind to me.”

As the aromatic smell of the beans begins to fill the room, Hasib tells me about his former life as a journalist back in Afghanistan. During his time at the Daily Outlook Afghanistan, his office and colleagues were attacked by extremist groups over allegations of blasphemy. The bureau was shut down. He later worked at The Daily Afghanistan Express.

“How do you survive without earning a salary?” I ask.

“Through donations from my friends and colleagues back home. I save money by eating once a day; sometimes I go hungry.”

I look down at my plate and am deeply moved that Hasib has shared some of his treasured food rations with me.

By Angela Jelita Hasib meets me on his street outside of a small warung. He welcomes me and leads me down a small gang that ends at a dark-looking house.

He takes me down the side of the house, through a narrow path that opens up to a small back area, with a dark bedroom, a corner with a sink and a stove, and an outside area where the bathroom sits. The back quarter is surrounded by chicken wire and overlooks a rice field.

Like all asylum seekers who first arrive in Indonesia, Hasib reported himself to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jakarta. “I felt safe for the first time in a long time,” he tells me.

It took the UNHCR two years to grant Hasib refugee status, which is now valid for one-and-a-half years.

Refugees are not allowed to work or attend school in Indonesia while waiting to be resettled in a third country. If their case is rejected by the UNHCR, they must return to where they came from.

“Through donations from my friends and colleagues back home. I save money by eating once a day; sometimes I go hungry.”

“My colleagues in The Daily Afghanistan Express fled; some are still missing while others have been sent to prison. I am not sure whether they are alive or have been persecuted,” he tells me. Hasib, having written countless articles about extremist groups responsible for the attacks, became a target.

Hasib excuses himself to switch off the stove as the beans are cooked. He prepares a plate each, served with some Afghani bread. “Please, I hope you like it,” he says. The beans are delicious, with a kick from the chilli they’re cooked in.” Hasib gives me some homemade yoghurt to control the spice. We continue our discussion.

“Why did you come to Indonesia?”

“I had no choice,” he answers honestly. “I fled from Afghanistan to Pakistan where I stayed for 16 months, but the situation there was also terrible. Innocent women, some of whom were family members, and a small girl I knew by the name of Tabasom Shukria, were beheaded. I believe they were after me for the articles I had written against Lashkari Jhangvi, an extremist group in Pakistan.”

Hasib goes on, “The only thing I knew about Indonesia before coming here was the stories of refugees drowning in boats out at sea. I covered these stories while I was a journalist. I never dreamt I would end up a refugee out at sea as well.”

In the chaos of war, Hasib hastily reached out to an agent to help him seek asylum in another country.

He handed over a large sum of money and followed instructions, boarding a plane to Dubai. It was here that he learned he would be seeking refuge in Indonesia. He flew from Dubai to Malaysia, where he got on a boat and crossed the Straits of Malacca to Sumatra, eventually boarding the last plane he would fly in two-and-a-half years, from Medan to Jakarta.

“I live a hermit’s life,” Hasib says while smiling. “I sit where you’re sitting and listen to music while reading or writing poetry. I also teach the women of the Indonesian Women Support Group Center voluntarily.

Sometimes I get called to help with interpretations.”

When asked what his life feels like to him, he answers, “like a bad nightmare.” Hasib believes people don’t view refugees as human beings. “I’m broken. I often get splitting headaches, chest pain and fevers, but I can’t afford healthcare,” he shares.

Hasib only hears from his family back home sporadically. “I don’t even know if my family are alive.” He has two sisters and three bothers living as refugees in Pakistan, a country nearly as dangerous as Afghanistan.

Hasib, like approximately 14,000 other refugees in Indonesia, lives day to day, waiting patiently in limbo to be resettled in the United States, New Zealand, Australia or Canada. “If Indonesia would resettle me, I would be extremely happy,” he smiles. Sadly for Hasib and his fellow refugee friends, Indonesia has not signed the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and will not resettle refuge-seekers.

I ask, “What will you do if and when you are resettled?”

“I will continue to be a journalist,” he says. “I’ll dedicate my work to humanity. I will never forget the people of Indonesia; people are kind here.”

Hasib’s story is one of suffering, having been on the run for most of his life. But even through the sadness in his eyes, warmth exudes. Although his stories are heartbreaking, he still smiles, laughs and shares kindness with others.

Hasib would like to convey the following messages to authorities around the world: “I plead for humanitarian assistance. I plead for you to open your arms to refugees and asylum seekers.

Please don’t ignore us. We are innocent people.

I plead that you spend a moment to feel what it is like to live in our shoes. I beg for empathy.” issue 183 Indonesia expat

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Stephanie is a professional travel writer and co-author of ‘Indonesia Hidden Heritage’.

A Centre of Strength for Divorced Women in Bali Ni Komang Sariadi is the founder of Pusat Kegiatan Perempuan Women’s Centre (PKP) located just outside Ubud, Bali. PKP is a community where Balinese women can go for support if they have left a marriage. It is a nurturing and safe place for divorcees who seek comfort and support.

By Stephanie Brookes BALI is known for its patriarchal society, and if you are a woman fleeing a marriage, you are often ostracized. You are seen as bringing shame on yourself, your village and your immediate family.

It is customary for children to stay with the father, with access sometimes denied for several years to the mother.

This was the case for Sariadi, who is a divorcee of 13 years. When I visited the PKP Centre, she outlined the challenges faced in Bali when you leave your husband. In her case, among these challenges is the fact that she has not seen her daughter in three years.

According to Sariadi, after marrying in Bali, you must move to your husband’s village. But where do you go when you seek a divorce? If you return to your original village, people will regard you with disdain. Other women will fear you and think that you will take their husbands. Men often view you as promiscuous. In short, she explained, it is very uncomfortable to return.

Nevertheless, Sariadi was kind enough to share the tale about her divorce in Bali with Indonesia Expat, along with the story behind the women’s centre known as PKP. Why did you build the PKP Centre?

I needed a safe place to live. I also needed a place of my own, a place where my daughter could visit.

A female divorcee has a hard life in Bali. You must face the community and society. The first three years were the hardest. I had to leave my daughter with my ex-husband’s family.

However, I am a determined woman and I made a commitment to turn my pain into something positive.

I decided to get an education, studying in Denpasar.

Here, I met many women with different issues. I met women unable to bear children who were ousted from their marriage and women hit with economic issues after deciding to divorce. So I had to do something.

I decided to create a place of harmony – and the PKP Centre was formed.

How did the PKP Centre get built?

Well, this is my biggest dream come true. I networked with people, and in the last three years, I have received overwhelming support and love from everyone – from all over the world.

What were you involved in before PKP? I am the director of the Sari Hati Foundation, a school for mentally disabled Balinese children. A man from Israel and a Swiss lady started the foundation. I became a teacher for Sari Hati, and the biggest benefit was for myself. I learned a lot from the children – how to make myself happy no matter how rich or poor I was, or whatever my situation was. Only you can control your happiness. My early training taught me to believe in the five K’s: kebersamaan (togetherness), kepedulian (caring), kerukunan (harmony), kepercayaan (trust) and kasih sayang (love).

I embraced the 5 Ks from a very deep place inside me.

Every day I kept learning and used this philosophy to strengthen myself within. I also learned to embrace the three E’s: everyone is a teacher, every place is a school and every moment is a lesson.

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With the three E’s, I broadened my horizons and learned more about myself. Above all, I developed an understanding of other people. Lastly, because things come in threes, I maintain the three P’s – passion, patience and perseverance – and apply them to my life. For me, life is one continuous momentum of learning and working.

Can you tell me about PKP’s programme?

We run English and computer classes for women and children plus yoga sessions and a support group. We love to dance and look after our health. Luckily for us, a dynamic jazzercise teacher offers fitness classes.

We teach our members how to cook healthy food and how to cut down on oil and sugar and eliminate MSG. We also conduct a very successful littering awareness programme, telling communities why, when and how to care for the environment.

What is the most exciting event you have held?

The first year anniversary celebration of PKP in February of 2016 was by far the most exciting, with more than 200 people attending. We decorated the trees with little stories. Some were personal stories told by Centre women, and some explained Balinese tradition and village rules. We wrote Centre accomplishments on the branches. The concept was that the trees could talk.

Tell me about the catering business.

We established a Facebook site, and orders started to flow in. As I mentioned, we cook healthy, clean food without MSG or excess oil. We do the cooking here on site and deliver. For our first year anniversary, we had 25 woven baskets lined with banana leaves hanging off a long pole on pieces of string. The baskets were overflowing with steamed rice, grilled eggplant, tofu curry, tempeh dishes, several types of cassava dishes and desserts. Everyone loved the dishes, our homemade sauces and accompaniments. We catered without using plastic – and the word spread like wildfire.

Tell me about the PKP documentary.

After I left my husband’s village, I moved to Denpasar and enrolled in study. I had to make a new life. I met many Westerners. My Hungarian friend was keen to make a documentary about the Centre. After seeing that documentary, many expat friends and associates have helped me and donated equipment and helped set up some of the programmes. It's a beautiful thing.

How does the sewing circle work?

We teach people to sew. We get donations of secondhand clothing and make items like aprons, reusable shopping bags and children’s clothing. The sewing circle is pretty much self-sustaining. We make clothes from recycled material. We love donations.

How has the PKP changed over time?

In the beginning, we were a Centre associated with problems, but now we have moved forward.

We are a Centre for all women. Young people have come to hear about us and join our activities. PKP is now for everyone wanting to embrace self-esteem, empowerment, courage and a healthy mind and body.

We work together to tackle issues.

For more information about how to donate or get involved with PKP Women’s Centre, please contact Ni Komang Sariadi at saripollenjegeg@gmail.com or call +62 852 38799001.

Donations are welcomed at the centre: books, computers, educational supplies, used clothing, new material, dry goods and financial donations.

Why Indonesia Should Care about Arts and Culture

The Responsibility of Firefighters in Indonesia

As we see a growing interest in arts and culture in Indonesia, creative institutions are now working harder to come up with programmes and activities to support these things. But don’t expect the government to get too involved just yet.

Adam Pushkin (right) discussing sustainable fashion in the UK

ArtJog 2013, Taman Budaya Yog yakarta

Nirwan Dewanto

UK–ID Festival opening night

By Caranissa Djatmiko Before Indonesia established the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) in 2015, private institutions had long been responsible for driving the nation’s creative surge. Local arts activities tended to be organized by nongovernmental cultural spaces or institutions associated with foreign embassies, such as @america, the Italian Cultural Institute, Goethe-Institut, Institut Français d’Indonésie and the British Council.

These organizations aim to promote the local arts and culture scene through activities like festivals, workshops, and research and artist residency. Through such programmes, they deliver the important message that arts and culture should move beyond the generic function of entertainment or commercial purposes. Instead, they should operate with the responsibility of shaping society and representing issues that are relevant in our time.

British Council Indonesia, for example, is among those that have worked to organize interesting arts programmes. It has not only worked to unearth the archipelago’s creative potential in fields like fashion, photography, digital culture and even disability arts, but it has also figured out how to help artists exchange ideas.

When I met British Council Indonesia’s Director of Arts and Creative Industry Adam Pushkin back in November, he revealed that organizing arts programmes is indeed about forging relationships between artists and organizers. According to the British expat, collaborations can effectively lead to new and unexpected possibilities, as they might enhance both the artists’ skills and creative industry on a larger scale.

Pushkin also notes that art in general serves as a powerful medium in bringing about change, especially in a nation like Indonesia which, according to him, is still working on its true identity.

“When Jokowi came to power two years ago, there was a sense of creative tension [rising in Indonesia]. There were lots of debates going on about the balance between economic progress, communities, environmental protection, the traditional Indonesian values in comparison to those coming from the West, gender and sexuality, religion – those are all ultimately about a country that’s still arguing about what kind of a country it’s going to be in the 21st century. And art is the best way of having those sorts of arguments because it is where people can think about different perspectives.”

Pushkin is not the only one who is aware of the role that art plays in Indonesia. Komunitas Salihara is one of the capital city’s most iconic cultural centres. Programme Director

Nirwan Dewanto thinks that art cannot be separated from its social function. Komunitas Salihara has continued to show people that there are ways to learn about arts and culture in intellectual yet exciting ways, such as joining philosophy, writing and acting classes, as well as watching dance and theatre.

“We believe that great art shows and activities are those that can be educational – those that are able to expand the horizon and [provoke] social creativity,” the poet and cultural critic said in an interview with Indonesia Expat. “Good art activities are those that can give more weight to democracy, tolerance and openness.”

But despite the accomplishments made by Komunitas Salihara, British Council Indonesia and creative institutions alike, the Indonesian creative culture is still confronted with a number of challenges, particularly when it comes to funding.

Komunitas Salihara is considered more fortunate than the rest when it comes to obtaining sponsorships, mainly due to building partnerships with a number of institutions and maintaining its reputation on a global scale. That said, Dewanto finds that arts funding remains a huge problem in Indonesia for many organizations.

“To give an illustration, a reputable theatre community in Indonesia would have to rehearse for one year with [at least] 15 players and crew to make a new production. There would be budget for rehearsals, costumes, stage design, as well as transportation and remuneration fee required altogether.

Can you imagine how much would that cost?”

With the establishment of Bekraf, it surely appeared as if the government was demonstrating a real effort in improving the nation’s creative sector. Since its inception, Bekraf aims to support the creative industry by focusing on 16 sectors, which include performing arts, fashion, film and culinary. Last year it even provided a total budget of Rp.1 trillion (around US$75 million) through its programme Creative Funding to further prove its determination. However, the agency reportedly focused more on allocating its budget to startups, fashion, craft and culinary businesses, as they contributed to economic growth more than other sectors.

This eventually left arts organizations with limited opportunities, as they continue to struggle without having strong finances. A lack of proper funding prevents arts organizations across the archipelago from fulfilling their missions. Yet it is the people’s job to make sure that they will still make it anyway.

While local forest fire squad Tim Cegah Api battles blazes and saves lives, it also tries to secure the future of forests in Indonesia.

By Caranissa Djatmiko The issues of haze and forest fires have been troubling Indonesia for years, with hundreds and thousands of locals suffering from lung and respiratory illnesses as a result. From the perspective of Nilus Kasmi, the problem has to stop. The man who is originally from the Dayak tribe in Riau no longer wants to see his wife and kids struggling to breathe, and is therefore determined to do something about it.

“Fires are a crisis that have taken away our forest, eradicated the flora and fauna it protects and threatened local culture,” Kasmi said. “My kids and thousands of children across Kalimantan, Sumatra and Papua have trouble breathing every year.”

Disturbed by this reality, Kasmi decided to join the hundreds of other members of Tim Cegah Api, who all share the same concern of how to finally have clean air to breathe in their homes. Last September, the forest fire squad completed its first duty by putting out fires in several areas across Riau. The region is well known as one that is prone to forest fires, with more than 97,000 local victims suffering from respiratory infections.

The success that Tim Cegah Api has seen so far in combatting forest fires has emboldened the group. However, the team is currently facing the challenge of being short on equipment and facilities. After years of working as firefighters, they are now in need of new work equipment such as boots, head harnesses and fire extinguishers.

For those who wish to help Tim Cegah Api continue its mission, please make your donation by visiting www.kitabisa.com/ cegahapi

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Intercontinental Celebrates British Tradition with New Jimbaran High Tea The Intercontinental Jakarta hotel recently introduced Jimbaran High Tea, an afternoon when guests are invited to gather for tea and snacks. The classic British ritual can be traced back to the early 1800s when Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford was irritated by the normal schedule of eating twice a day: breakfast early in the morning and dinner late in the evening. So she came up with an idea of scheduling time to take tea and snacks every afternoon, and what initially was a private ceremony turned out to be a classic tradition that is now celebrated worldwide.

Bali Hotels Association Holds Blood Drive as New CSR Programme The Bali Hotels Association (BHA) aims to support and facilitate the development of community, education and environmental issues in Bali. The association has overseen various kinds of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes that encourage their members to participate in activities that promote the importance of bringing about change.

At the Intercontinental Jakarta, Jimbaran High tea offers a selection of TWG tea, coffee blends, choux pastries, eclairs and other light bites. The sweet indulgence costs Rp.165,000 and is available for two people. Jimbaran high Tea is available until March 31.

One of the most recent initiatives that BHA conducted was a blood drive in cooperation with the Red Cross Society. The large number of blood bags that were collected from members of the association were then donated directly to the society.

“We successfully organized a total of eight blood drives throughout 2016, hosted by our members. Participation from associate hotels and their employees was overwhelming and resulted in the collection of 638 blood bags for the Red Cross Society,” said Virginie Tutin Sandstrom, BHA Director of Community Relations and Charity.

For the past five years, BHA has organized more than 30 blood drives and contributed as many as 2,000 blood bags to hospital patients.

INA Holds New Seminar on Transfer Pricing On February 9, Indonesian Benelux Chamber of Commerce (INA) and KPMG Indonesia held a seminar called ‘Indonesia Transfer Pricing.’

The seminar mainly discussed aspects in business and industry covering such issues as rules and regulations on transfer pricing.

Since it was issued in 2010, transfer pricing has attracted the focus of taxpayers and local tax authorities. Under the transfer pricing regulations, Indonesian taxpayers are

required to reveal details on their relatedparty transactions in annual tax returns in order to prove that the transfer pricing documentation is available.

Indonesia Transfer Pricing took place at the JS Luwansa Hotel and Convention Center.

The seminar invited speakers like Iwan HOO (Partner, Head of Transfer Pricing at KPMG Advisory Indonesia) and Representative from Directorate General of Taxation Indonesia.

Tutor Time Indonesia Supports Education for Over 300 Underprivileged Kids “We are delighted to have held a spectacular fundraising event. It’s such a great opportunity for our children and parents to have some fun while raising awareness for such a worthy cause,” said Mrs. Melania Hamdan, Foundation Head of Tutor Time Indonesia in a statement.

Last month, leading early childhood education centre Tutor Time Indonesia donated all of its proceeds from the programme ‘Care to Share’ to the Red Nose Foundation. More than 12,000 families participated in the fundraising, which was aimed at facilitating the education of hundreds of underprivileged children in Cilincing, Jakarta.

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Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort Embraces the Month of Romance

Care to Share 2016 has successfully raised Rp.382 million to help foster education and circus programmes at the North Jakarta Community Centre for Children in Cilincing for the next 12 months. It also worked to support educational development for a number of poor children across the capital city by providing them with supplies and assigning passionate educators to guide them.

This February, Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort shows couples a way to fall in love all over again through a series of romantic treats. The resort promises lovebirds will enjoy their special moments on Valentine’s Day and for the rest of the month.

For starters, they are invited to experience a romantic dinner under the stars at MoonLite Kitchen and Bar. Before dining, guests may also enjoy the beautiful sunset view while overlooking the Seminyak beach from the rooftop. The dinner includes a set menu and a glass of sparkling wine and is available for Rp.695,000.

Apart from MoonLite, Orchid Restaurant is also serving a romantic dinner but with a different setting. This time guests are invited to enjoy dining by the pool with the sound of the sea waves to further set the mood. The set menu is available for Rp.596,000.

Anantara Seminyak also offers a great spa where guests can indulge in a 60-minute Balinese massage, followed by a 30-minute body scrub and bomb bath experience. This one is available at Rp.2,300,000 per couple. Two glasses of sparkling wine and chocolate fondue are also included.

For more information and reservations please call +62 361 737 773 or send an email to seminyak@anantara.com

* Answers in the next edition!

C RO S S WO R D Across

DOWN

1. Sculpture with slightly raised figures (3-6) 8. Type of window (5) 9. US President – county with bridges (7) 10. Designedly compatible (8) 11. 1863 film with Lemmon and Maclaine (4,2,5) 13. Ordinary (6) 14. Fitted up – pictures may be (6) 16. Dutch cheese (4) 17. Italian island (8) 18. See 11 20. Large antelope (5)

1. Separating wall in ship (8) 2. Buying and selling of benefices, etc. (6) 3. They may be made to meet! (4) 4. Having some responsibility – not vocal (12) 5. All just as it should be (4,3,5) 6. Successor to Empire (12) 7. Where evergreens are grown (6,6) 12. Slope (8) 15. Belvedere (6) 18. South American carnivore (4)

ANSWERS OF ISSUE 182 ACROSS—1. Abject 4. Knight 8. Locum 9. Amateur 10. Radiant 11. Annul 12. Waterfall 17. Latin 19. Awkward 21. Warpath 22. Aisle 23. Rather 24. Peanut DOWN—1. Allure 2. Jackdaw 3. Comma 5. Niagara 6. Glean 7. Turtle 9. Aftermath 13. Tonnage 14. Liaison 15. Flower 16. Advert 18. Tarot 20. Knave

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JAKARTA Networking

the stage. The dance genres that audiences will get to see throughout E-Motions include contemporary jazz, broadway jazz, pop ballet, ladies style and more. GAoD was conceived by a local professional dancer and choreographer Gianti Giadi who has travelled all around the world, partaking in multiple dance showcases and has been involved in a series of local art projects. For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/ gigiartofdanceindonesia

Jakarta Business Networkers Every Tuesday and Thursday Make the right connections and grow your business over breakfast.

At Jakarta Business Networkers ( JBN), all attendees are encouraged to help others by exchang ing referrals and introducing them to their target audience. JBN is all about helping you grow your business. Promote your business, personal brand or portfolio each week to the rest of the attendees and explain to the group the type of referrals you would like to receive.

J BN professiona l net work i ng sessions are from 7–8.30am every Tuesday at Sapori Deli, Fairmont Jakarta, and Thursday at Mercantile Athletic Club, WTC, Sudirman.

RSVP: info@jbnetworkers.com Arts & Culture

Teater Koma’s Opera Ikan Asin 2 – 5 March 2017 Teater Koma will be celebrating its 40 th anniversary this year. To mark its glory as one of the most successful theatre companies in the archipelago, Teater Koma will be restaging Opera Ikan Asin in March. This will be the first time for the theatre company to bring the production back to the stage since 1983 and its members could not have been more excited to present a more updated version of the play to the audience. Opera Ikan Asin will take place at Ciputra Artpreneur.

For more information please visit www.teaterkoma.org.

Gigi Art of Dance’s E-Motions: To A Better Home 26 February 2016 One of Indonesia’s most successful dance studios, Gigi Art of Dance (GAoD) is back with its annual dance musical E-Motions. This year, GAoD will be taking on t he t heme of ‘home,’ and t he dance musical will see hundreds of students, ranging from kids to adults bringing their talents to

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Indonesia expat issue 183

Gazing at the Other: Orientalism, Dance Bodies and Myths about the Exotic Self 4 – 28 February 2017 This exhibition explores an array of archival materials that portray t he complex it y of or ient a l i st history in dance. The materials in the exhibition were collected f rom v a r iou s ic on ic a r t a nd cultural spaces from around the globe, which include New York Performing Arts Library, The Eye Museum (Amsterdam), Dansmuseet (Stockholm) and Gaumont Pathé ( Paris). The collection is also sourced from local cultural sites like the National Archive of the Republic of Indonesia and the National Library of Republic of Indonesia ( Jakarta) and Indonesia Visual Art Archive (Yogyakarta).

Gazing at the Other is curated by Helly Minarti who completed her doctorate degree at the University of Roehampton in London. She previously worked as the head of programme at the Jakarta Arts Council and has curated numerous festivals and cultural exchanges since 2004. The exhibition was initially commissioned by Asia Culture Theatre in Gwang ju, South Korea in 2015. For more information, please visit http:// salihara.org.

Beautyfest Asia 18 – 19 March 2017 Get ready for the archipelago’s greatest makeup event because Beautyfest Asia is coming to the capital city in March. Beauty and makeup enthusiasts will get the chance to meet inf luencers and experts from all around the globe, i nclud i ng Aust ra l ia’s fa mous v-logger Tina Yong, Thailand theatrical artist Perypie, Hollywood makeup artist Archangela Chelsea and more. Participants will also get to join a beauty class, talk show, beauty awards, beauty gala show and beaut y brand exhibition.

Beautyfest Asia will take place at Ciputra Artpreneur. For more information, please visit www. ciputraartpreneur.com/beauty_ fest_asia_2017_in_english.html.

Culinary

Intercontinental Jakarta’s Feast January – February 2016 This year, Intercontinental Jakarta Midplaza is kicking off with a bunch of delicious treats. In January, the upscale hotel is inviting guests to try two special culinary offerings.

First, wine lovers will be happy to find the hotel’s exclusive promotion of a fine selection of Chilean wines.

Chile is known for its colourful w inema k ing histor y and is therefore one of the world’s largest exporters of New World wines.

Customers will receive a 23 percent discount on every wine bottle that is purchased at all of the hotel’s restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, Intercontinental Jakarta’s second culinary treat is all about a fancy dinner. The Ruffino Wine Dinner is an opportunity for connoisseurs to gather for a sophisticated evening of wining and dining, while also enjoying the elegant ambience of Scusa. The dinner involves a fivecourse menu that is specifically curated by Executive Chef Jocelyn Argaud. The dinner will take place on Friday, January 20. For more information please visit w w w. jakarta.intercontinental.com Intercontinental’s Jimbaran High Tea February - March 2017 The Intercontinental Jakarta hotel recently introduced Jimbaran High Tea, an afternoon where guests are invited to gather and take tea and snack. The classic British ritual can be traced back to early 1800s where Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford was irritated by the normal schedule of eating twice a day: breakfast early in the morning and dinner late in the evening. She then came up with an idea of scheduling time to take tea and snack every afternoon and what initially was a private ceremony turned out to be a classic tradition that is celebrated worldwide. At the Intercontinental Jakarta, Jimbaran High tea offers a selection of TWG tea, coffee blend, choux pastries, eclairs and other light bites. The sweet indulgence costs Rp.165,000 and is available for two people.

Jimbaran high Tea is available until March 31.

Pullman Jakarta’s Romantic Month February 2017 To celebrate the romantic month of Februar y, Pullman Jakarta Indonesia invites guests to couple up for a sumptuous dinner for Valentine’s Day at the hotel’s poolside or the Sana Sini restaurant.

At Sana Sini, guests can feed their Heart’s Day appetites with an allencompassing menu that includes pan-seared foie gras, Lobster Cheese Katsu Roll, Singapore Chilli Crab and oxtail meatball soup. Next, they can head on to the dessert stations for Pink Macaroon Tower, Pink Marshmallow Lollipop and Pink Chocolate Fountain with strawberry skewers acrylic stand.

Pullman’s romantic dinner by the pool and under the stars will give couples the chance to enjoy a five-course menu made even more special with a bottle of sparkling wine, rose petals, chocolates and a chance to win a staycation at S of itel Ba l i Nusa Dua – l ive music complements the intimate celebration. Aside from the dinner, Pullman offers the Time for Love by giving lovebirds special treatment for a minimum stay of two nights.

Time for Love includes breakfast, either served directly to the room or at the hotel’s restaurant, one bottle of champagne upon arrival, one romantic gift (flowers and sweets) and late check-out so guests can make the most of their stays. For more information please visit www. pullmanhotels.com/gb/indonesia/ index.shtml

morning talks this February. The event is open to members of the non-prof it organization and is held on Thursday mornings where participants can engage with one another over tea, coffee and snacks.

Rumahku is held to introduce potential members of HIS and those who take an interest in the programmes it offers. Guests are welcome to suggest topics and speakers that would like be a part of the Rumahku Committee to arrange events and write newsletters accord i ngly. T he event cost s Rp.50,000 (for IHS members) and Rp.75,000 (for non-members).

For more information, visit www. heritagejkt.org/lectures/rumahku

BALI Arts & Culture

Music

Featuring an array of creative acts like music, healing arts, gastronomy, symposium and other performances, the festival is organized to challenge perspectives and find solutions for a better world. The topics that will be discussed in Ancient Futures include decentralization (air), art as activism (fire), flow (water), earthing (earth), as well as resonation and harmonics (akasha). Departing from these topics, participants will be asked to help envision and reshape a new era of wellbeing, peace and welfare.

For more information, please visit www.newearthfestival.com Culinary Ju-Ma-Na Restaurant’s New Spanish Dish 16–18 February 2016

Java Jazz Festival 3 – 5 March 2017

Bali Spirit Festival 19 – 26 March 2017

After successfully organizing the archipelago’s largest jazz festival for the past 12 years, Java Jazz is finally back this March. For the 13th anniversar y, the festival will be bringing an array of local and international jazz musicians.

Interestingly, this year the festival will be taking on the theme of Betawi, known as the culture of native Jakartans. The three-day festival will take place at Jakarta International Expo ( JIEXPO), Kemayoran Jakarta. International artists include Nik West, Bebel Gi lberto, Serg io Mendes and A nt h o ny S t r o n g. Fo r t i c k et reservation and more information please visit www.javajazzfestival. com.

The Bali Spirit Festival is a global celebration of yoga, dance, music and well-being. Set on the beautiful island of Bali, the festival will invite performing arts enthusiasts and spirituality seekers from all around the world to gather and send each other positive energy. The five-day festival will include an array of inspirational workshops with yoga, martial arts, African dance, ecstatic dance, crystal bowl sound healing, breath work and meditation. The Bali Spirit Festival will take place at Bhanuswari Resort and Spa. For more information, visit www. balispiritfestival.com

Ju-Ma-Na Restaurant presents an exclusive Spanish culinary experience with Michelin Star Chef Diego Campos. The gastronomic dining experience features a fivecourse set menu dinner, a tapas menu and a private cooking class w ith Chef Diego. Chef Diego Campos’s courses will showcase modern Spanish cuisine w it h traditional inf luences. The fivecourse dinner features an appetizer of pears in cava and red wine. Open to all, the set dinner from 18.30 – 22.30 is priced at US$120++ per person, while the tapas menu is priced at US$55++ per person.

Private afternoon cooking classes are priced at US$95++ per person.

Please visit www.banyantree.com/ en/ap-indonesia-ungasan-bali/ ju-ma-na-bar

Movie Inspirations by Cineclassic Piano Trio 21 February 2017 The Embassy of Italy in Jakarta and the Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) Jakarta proudly present ‘Movie Inspirations,’ a music concert by Cineclassic Piano Trio: Rocco Malagoli (violin) Matteo Montanari (cello) and Yoanita Kartadihardja (piano). The concert will take place at the auditorium of IIC Jakarta.

For reser vat ion plea se ema i l event@itacultjkt.or.id. For more information, please visit www. iicjakarta.esteri.it/iic_jakarta/en Education

Indonesian Heritage Society’s Morning Talk Series November 2016 – February 2017 The Indonesian Heritage Society (HIS) returns with Rumahku

Paradiso Ubud Art Exhibition 1–28 February 2017 Paradiso U bud is celebrating Bali’s talented artists this month by organizing an art exhibition that features local painter Ade Satria. Satria is originally from Bandung and has been painting since an early age. He went on to become a painter, curator as well as a professional restorer of ancient paintings. On this occasion, the exhibition is showcasing his skills in depicting Bali and the richness of its culture and people. The art exhibition will take place at Paradiso Ubud. For more information, please visit www.paradisoubud.com Ancient Futures: NewEarth Festival 5–9 April 2017 Ancient Futures: NewEarth Festival is a space for visionaries, change makers and thought leaders to connect and lead their own initiatives that will make a positive impact.

Ubud Food Festival 12 – 14 May 2017 The Ubud Food Festival (UFF) is back this year with the theme ‘ Eve r y F l avou r I s A S t or y ’.

Returning for the third time this year, UFF will be presenting the archipelago’s most celebrated chefs, restaurateurs, professional food enthusiast and food addicts alike.

The festival will also be welcoming a series of local and international culinary experts, including Tasia and Gracia Seger from Australia; the jungle chef Charles Toto and raw food specialist Arif Springs from Indonesia. the festival will bring an array of Asian flavours to some of Seminyak and Sanur’s most exotic dining destinations. For more information please visit www. ubudfoodfestival.com.

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JAKARTA Automotive Rental Car Indonesia : A lphard , Vellf ire , Camr y , Pajero , Fortuner , Innova , Avanza , Xenia , Elf , Hi Ace , etc. For Daily ( With Driver ) , Monthly and Yearly ( With / Without Driver ) Contact CBP rent car : Mobile & WA: +6281286410203. Email: cbprentcar@yahoo.com. Serving You All Indonesia.Immediately Contact Us. Vehicle reservations 4 days before the use of.

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Original owners. 47,753 km, 180 million. Tel: +6281280555316 (WA) Jobs Available I am based in US and am looking for a NodeJS developer for a project work. This can convert into a full time requirement. Please email me your resume, skype id and contact number and we can take it from there. Contact Raj Thakkar : rthakkar2005@gmail.com The International Wellbeing Center, Jakarta's premier counseling and coach i ng center, i s cu r rent ly recruiting experienced Expat Counselors and Psycho-Therapist.

KITAS provided. Please email info@internationalwellbeingcenter. com for more information or to submit an application.

Full Time and Part Time vacancies are now available for experienced English language instructors for corporate courses around Jakarta.

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Automotive

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Indonesia expat issue 183

Learn self defense & be healthy: Shotokan Karate-Do International Federation (SKIFI), world largest karate school (in over 150 countries) now open at Wisma Aldiron, Jl. Jend Gatot Subroto Kav. 72, Jakarta opens new classes for all grades.

Tues & Thur: Black Belt (6–7:30pm) Wednesday : all grades (6-7:30pm) info@skifi.org, www.skifi.org (Call: +628118287333)

Bahasa Indonesia Private Tutor Available for Foreign Beginners.

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Property

Modern family home in quiet, resort style complex in Pondok Labu, South Jakarta. 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, designer kitchen, open plan kitchen/living/dining, kids play/study area, 2 carports, staff quarters. Perfect for family with young kids. Located 10 mins from CITOS and One Bell Park Mall.

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HAVE SOMETHING TO SELL?

Personal classifieds | Commercial classifieds

Looking for something to buy? Looking for staff? Selling property? Or need a place to live?

Why not place your classified ad with Indonesia Expat! Your classified will be placed once for 2 weeks online and once in our printed version which has a circulation of 16.500 copies bi-weekly.

Property listings are considered as Commercial.

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For Sale For sale: CD collection, approx 200 titles: classical, contemporary classical, jazz, blues. All in good condition. Worth around $2,000, selling for $200 (about $1 each). Will not separate, price not negotiable. Be quick, it is a bargain. Email to cd@ my-sales.tk for further information.

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BALI

Looking for Work

Jobs Available

English speaking Aussie male seeking part time employment.

Experience in surf board manufactur ing, Const r uction Business Management, please emai : carmenandglenncarmody@live. com

Preschool in Seminyak is looking for experienced asst. Teachers & Accounting. Please send your CV to: assistme01@gmail.com Looking for private teacher for home schooling 2 boys (8/10 years). Using online system provided. Motivated, prepare, keep on track. Requires teaching skills and experience. Full time, permanent position. Excellent salary package. Please contact : +6281337252257 or email : anne. williams52@gmail.com.

Looking for part-time secretary / light bookkeeping, 2 hours, 3 days weekly. Pick your 3 days from Tuesday to Friday. Requirements: Prof icient in english. Windows 10, E xcel a nd out look . S end C V a nd photo to: v a l son s @ balivillasukapadi.com (not for full timer ).

Wu Wei Wisdom Sanctuary ‘the World’s First Wisdom Sanctuary’, located in a beauti ful nature jungle setting in Tengkulak Kaja, a short 10 minutes drive from cent ra l U bud, now open for: Manager, Concierge/ Customer Service, Receptionist, Boutique sales assistant, Housekeeping.

Minimum Education: Diploma, SMK. Minimum Experience: 3 years in a 5* or 4* Hotel/ Resort.

Fluent English. Please email your CV to (info@homeyouare.com) or contact our wisdom steward Rahde on +6281236926031.

AquaMarine Diving (Seminyak).

E-mail Responder. You: Hardworking. Competent typist. Baliresident. Like dogs. Required: Native English-speaker, Microsoft Suite. Preferred: Dive/Tourism background. 5.5days/wk, 8hrs/ day, 1yr+, Not Working Holiday, KITAS. Application e-mail, CV, expected salary, available start date: (HRD@AquaMarineDiving.com).

No Skype interviews.

Need a colleague as “Reservation & Marketing” for villas. Happy personality, minimum 3 years ex per ience i n t he sa me f ield including OTAs, has sales skill & eye detail, creative and has excellent correspondence skill in English.

Competitive salary plus bonus system is offered. (nooysilviana@ yahoo.com).

Looking for Private teacher for homeschool i ng 2 boy s (8/10 y e a r s) u s i n g o n l i n e s y s t e m prov ided. Mot ivate, prepare, keep on track. Requires teaching skills and experience.Full time, permanent position. Excellent salary package. 0813 3725 2257 or (anne.williams52@gmail.com).

Seeking Visual Merchandiser, organized, book-keeping skills, and able to coordinate renovation and maintenance team. Contact ( jobs@thaikila.com).

Looking for a hairdresser for spa in seminyak. Able to speak english.

Send your CV to : hanan@amospa. com

Female looking for part time job as data entry, personal assistant job. Speaking and written English.

I f pos sible work f rom home.

Based in Bukit Jimbaran. Email: flowsbloom@yahoo.com or contact : +628123815292 Website designer, photographer, photo editor, looking for future pr oje c t s . C a n b e t emp or a r y or long term. Portfolio: w w w. elemntsdesign.com, or email : image@elemnydesign.com Property Villa & Residence in Sanue for rent daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, available 1,2 & 3 bedrooms. Fully furnished, hot & cold water, cable tv, swimming pool, parking lot, free wifi, 5 minute to the beach & international school. Please call +6281238735174 or email : putubaliisland@yahoo.com House for rent in Nusa Dua, Rp. 65 million / year or Rp. 5.5 million / month. Furnished 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, kitchen, living room, gardens, car park, AC, hot water, 10 minutes to Nusa Dua / Jimbaran beach. Please contact : +62812399 7560 or (ayu.setutia@yahoo.com) Ruko for sale / rent. Jalan nakula kuta. Very good location. 2nd floor.

Fiber optic Internet. 1 phone line.

Good for investment or store / business. Please contact direct owner : +6287861688777 or email : info@property168.com House for sale. Land 150m2, building type 55m2. 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, empty space available.

Small garden. garage, open kitchen.

Urgent sale. Please call +62812389 5551.

Land for sale 23.75 are in Bukit Ungasan. Ocean view and Banyan tree resorts. Road access and surrounding by villas complex.

Water and electricity access. Price Rp. 300 million/are (nego). Call +62813802626.

House for sale in Bukit Ungasan.

Close to Pandawa beach and Dreamland. Cluster and secured complex. 100 sqm land, 45sqm building. 2 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms, livingroom, kitchen. Furnished or unfurnished. Garage, 2,200VA electricity. Price Rp. 800 million (nego). Please text only +62812381 5292.

1BR pool garden villa, Pecatu Indah Resort, near Dreamland beach & golf course. Daily / weekly/monthly. Wifi included.

Fully furnished. 1 kingbed & 1 sofabed. Supermarket & restaurants nearby. Safe & green surrounding.

Whatsapp/call +6285238316487. (niqnikbali@gmail.com).

For sale , New house, 2 bedrms with ensuits , laundry and storage room, 16 foot high ceilings with exposed roof beams, open plan kitchen dining lounge room, fully furnished with entertainment area and pool, off street parking, US$110,000.

Email: (balihomes@outlook.com).

House for rent in Buk it area, short term or long term, 2 floor, 1 bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, fully furnished, nice view with sharing swimming pool. Please contact: +62811398039 or +6281338319191.

Others I would like to find a Nutritionist to help me, I have a condition called "leaky gut". It can be easy to find a Nutritionist online and make an appointment, only to be disappointed upon arrival at the clinic. It is difficult to explain my condition, especially when I don't quite understand it myself. I am hoping to find a recommendation from someone who has met and been treated by a Nutritionist. From: Paul Cook - ennerdale61@gmail.com For sale: Golf themed club & Ball, pen & ink holder silver very old, comes in original wooden box sms for email so I can send photo +62877 49067242. Rp. 2,5 mill or flat screen tv used full or part payment.

For sales, Asian antiques from all over asia ( Japan, China, Khmer, Thai, Indonesia, etc). Cabinet, statue paintings, textile, Buddha statue, etc. Private collection, bought when travelling. No reproduction. Contact +6281338634748.

A n nua l Cha r it y Di n ner i n celebration of the National Day of Wales—The St. David's Society will be hosting a dinner at Negev Gastronomy and Art. Saturday, 4 March 2017, 6:30 PM cocktails and 7:30 PM Dinner. The cost is 650,000 net for a 5 course meal and 2 cocktails. Drinks packages available on request. Please contact Heather Powell at stdavidsindonesia@gmail. com for reservations and for more information.

Services P r i v at e t utor i n g for B a h a s a Indonesia & English. Home office.

Please call : +6287861739179 Professional massage for westerner, I come to you, please call Ana : +6281237465788 Casa Felice providing 3D visual interior and exterior design services for residential houses, apartments a nd of f ices, Plea se cont act : +628113201888 or +628814602912

MANADO Property

​B ungalow for sale. Land 16,631 m 2 , bu i ld i ng 24 4 m 2 , Bit u ng Ti mur - Manado , Ha k mi li k certificate , please contact ​Melly (+6281380800958)

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