2005, Fuel Price to Rise 40 Percent
Vice President Jusuf Kalla has confirmed that the fuel price rise will not happen this year, but early next year, with the assumed increase of 40 percent. “We have to do this, as the government can no longer sustain the fuel subsidy,” he said. According to Kalla, the current government is still examining methods it will use in the fuel-price-rise policy. The decision also came as the world oil price also increased and once broke the level of USD 50 per barrel, making the subsidy soaring up to a record Rp. 70 trillion. (Bali Post December 1)
Visitors Still Ask About Bird Flu
The Bali government will issue a formal statement which states that since April up to date, there is no longer any bird flu disease in the island. The head of Bali Tourism Authority, Gede Nurjana, said the statement is necessary as a response to widespread concern on the matter among Japanese visitors. He also said that many industry players, such as those from bird parks or rafting managements, need the reassuring statement to be made. The statement will be formally issued by the Governor later on, he said. (Denpost December 3)
Amrozi, Imam Samudra May Get Mercy
The leader of the national court in Denpasar, Nengah Suriada, in a surprising move has pleaded for grasi (mercy) to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the fates of the death-sentenced bombers Amrozi and Imam Samudra. According to Suriada, the plea was made based on a law which states that even when a convict is sentenced to death, and the family does not plead for grasi, then it is compulsory for the head of the national court to plead for grasi. “We’re only pleading, but the decision remains with the President,” he said. (Denpost December 4)
Vehicle Carrying Money Rolls Over
A vehicle carrying money to Bank Indonesia, which belonged to PT Securicor, suddenly rolled over while traveling on Puputan Street. It was due to the heavy rain which made the streets slippery. Luckly the vehicle was empty as the money had been deposited. According to an eyewitness, the blue vehicle, which is similar to a Panzer, came from the East at a high speed. Due to the slippery road, the driver could not control the 2-ton vehicle and so it rolled over with the front facing to the East. Inside the vehicle were two Securicor employees and a policeman. The policemen suffered from a broken bone but the other two only had minor injury. (Nusa December 4)
No Free Parking, Mall Visitors Were Surprised
As the government starts implementing a parking system with prizes, local residents found that there is no such thing as free parking. Parking inside malls used to be free, but now car and motorbike owners were charged Rp. 1,000 and Rp. 500-slightly higher than the parking tariff outside. Many complained, but ended up paying anyway. According to spokesperson of PD Parkir I, the current tariffs come as a result of the agreement between his company and the malls. (Nusa December 8)
Again, AFP Helps Indonesian Police
The cooperation between the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Indonesian police (Polri) in fighting against terrorism still continues. Last Tuesday (December 7) Australia gave AUD 20 million to help fight against terrorism in Indonesia. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer met with Kapolri General Pol. Da’I Bachtiar at the police headquarter in Jakarta, the day after. In the meeting, both parties talked about efforts to bring to justice those responsible for the bombing in front of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta. Downer said that the fund is a part of a five-year planned package. (Bali Post December 8)
End of December, DSDP Planned for Kuta
The Denpasar Sewerage Development Program (DSDP) team will start digging and drilling in Kuta this December. Public fears that the work will affect the traffic flow in and around the area as some sides of the roads will be closed and some of the 3-metres roads in the area will be totally inaccessible. According to Project Coordinator Abdul Rokhim, although the concern is logical, his team will try to minimize the inconvenience, such as by working with the police and informing to public beforehand via radio stations, which areas they would work at before actually working there. (Nusa December 10)
Indonesia Most Corrupt in Asia
Indonesia has been named the most corrupt country in the Asian region. According to a research done by the Political and Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC), Indonesia received 9.88, slightly better than last year’s result of 9.91. The runner up is India (9.50), followed by China (9.11) and the Philippines (8.67). Relatively non-corrupt counties, according to the research result, are Singapore, Hongkong and Japan. The research was done involving 527 expatriates around Asia. They were asked to rate on the scale of 0 to 10-with 10 being the worst-on corruption levels they feel affecting the operation of their working places. (Nusa December 10)
Local Aircraft Audited
Several airline companies are suspected of maneuvering their ways into getting more income in return for the already low prices they set up for tickets. These include cutting off break periods for pilots, in order to get the plane flying sooner, and not changing malfunction parts of the planes but merely fixing it. “This is one of the reasons why we often have had plane accidents lately,” said an expert from the Bandung Institute of Technology, Dr Hisar M Pasaribu. Hisar’s comment came as the government has decided to audit several airline companies for the (proper) functionality status of the aircraft they own. The 11 companies include PT. Lion Air, PT. Batavia Air, PT. Bouraq Airlines, PT. Mandala Airlines, PT. Jatayu Airlines, PT. Adam Air, PT. Merpati Nusantara Airlines, PT. Star Air, PT. Dirgantara Air Service and PT. Trigana Air Service. (Nusa December 11)
Siamese Twins’ First Operation a Success
After being delayed for one week, the Siamese twins Dwipayanti-Dwipayani from Bali finally underwent a major operation in Dr Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya. Next, the operation to separate the stomachs will be done in January. The operation took two hours and a total of 42 doctors were involved in the process. The second operation will need to wait, as the doctors need to see the development of the twins following the first operation. (Nusa December 12)
Police Takes Precautions Against Bomb Threat
As the New Year is approaching, Bali will be crowded with local and foreign visitors, and the police must take precautions against terrorist threats during this time, a police officer said. In his explanation during a coordinated meeting, Kompol Kukuh Jalis explained that there are still many terrorists wandering around, especially in Java, Sumatra and Lombok, and that Bali is the communication and transportation spot for them. He said that all parties will be involved in safeguarding Bali during Christmas and New Year, including the national army (TNI), local governments, town and village leaders. (Denpost December 13)
More Escapes from LP Kerobokan
The incidents of escaping prisoners at the Kerobokan prison (LP Kerobokan) in Kuta, Badung, has become a major embarrassment for the Law Department and the HAM (human rights) Bali. Head of regional office (Kakanwil) Law and human rights Bali, I Gede Rata, said he is disappointed by the officers at LP Kerobokan, and has hinted that they will be sanctioned. (Bali Post December 13)
