Convicted Bali Bomber Does Not Know Suicide Bombers
One of the ringleaders of the 2002 Bali bombings says he does not know the suicide bombers who carried out the latest terror attacks in Kuta and Jimbaran. The so-called "repentant" Bali bomber Ali Imron now in Bali jail has been shown pictures of the severed heads of the alleged bombers. "I don't know for sure. It could be Azahari's new recruits," he said, referring to fugitive Malaysian bomb expert Azahari Husin who is believed to be behind the attacks. Imron, the younger brother of death-row Bali bombers Amrozi and Mukhlas, helped police with the investigation into the 2002 bombings that killed 202 people, including 88 Australians. Unlike other members of the terror gang, he showed remorse during his trial and was sentenced to life in prison. Imron said he had little doubt Azahari and suicide bomb recruiter Noordin Top were behind the latest bombings, which killed 19 people as well as the three bombers. But he said he did not believe the fugitive bomb-maker triggered the bombs remotely by mobile phone, as he did in last year's suicide attack of the Australian embassy in Jakarta. "I estimate that the bombs were detonated by the perpetrators themselves," he told the Jawa Pos newspaper. (October 5, 2005, Jawa Pos)
Doctors Remove Bags of Shrapnel From Bali Victims
Surgeons at the Royal Darwin Hospital say they have removed shrapnel from survivors that would fill dozens of shopping bags. The bombings killed 22 people and injured more than 100 others. Dr. Len Notaras of the Royal Darwin Hospital says a large quantity of shrapnel has been removed from the bodies of survivors. 'It would be an inestimable amount at the present moment,' the doctor said. 'Suffice to say that several dozens of paper bags, large paper bags, shopping bags have been filled up with various aspects of the shrapnel that has been picked up and retained.' The shrapnel will be handed over to a joint Indonesian and Australian police team investigating Saturday night's apparent suicide bombings in two crowded tourist areas on the Indonesian resort island. (October 5th 2005, AP)
Indonesian Audit Reveals Graft in Bird Flu Vaccine Supply
An internal audit at Indonesia's agriculture ministry has found suspected corruption in the provision of vaccines to fight a bird flu outbreak. Zainal Baharuddin, inspector general at the ministry says the department recorded losses amounting to 73 million US dollars between 1999 and 2004.
Auditors suspect that four companies assigned to produce bird flu vaccines had produced doses of inferior quality to inflate profits with the complicity of senior officials at the ministry. The audit report also alleges corruption involving compensation for poultry farmers who culled infected chickens. (October 9th 2005, Denpost)
Japanese Expatriate Receives Bomb Threat
Japanese expatriate Yuhiki Yajima was threatened by a man claiming to have planted a bomb at his Renon home on Monday (17/10). Yuhiki’s maid Sri Yuni (26), received a phone call at 8 am from a man who spoke in Indonesian. “Good morning” he said. “There is a bomb in your house that will explode in 20 minutes.” The house was immediately evacuated and police authorities were called, however no explosive device was found. This is the latest in a string of bomb threats that have been made at various places on the island. Westin Hotel, Circle K, Ku De Ta, Bali Deli and Libbi supermarket have all received similar threats in the weeks following the Raja café, Jimbaran bombings. (October 18th 2005, Bali Post)
Indonesian Mother Blames Newmont Toxic Waste for Daughter's Death
An Indonesian mother told the pollution trial of the local unit of US mining giant Newmont that her baby died because of waste dumped by the company. Newmont Minahasa Raya, the Denver-based company's Indonesian subsidiary, and its president Richard Ness are on trial on charges of polluting Buyat Bay near a now-defunct company mine in North Sulawesi province. 'My daughter Andini, who was only five months old, died because of the contamination,' Stirman told judges as she wept clasping a photo of her girl, who died in July last year. Stirman said after the company began operations and dumped its waste into the sea, she herself had suffered various symptoms including headaches and cramps and doctors had been unable to diagnose her illness. Ness denied the girl's death was caused by his company's waste. Another witness, Marjan Ismail, said he also suffered symptoms similar to Stirman's. Villagers living near Newmont's Buyat Bay mine complained that waste pumped into the sea and the air was responsible for neurological and skin complaints. Newmont Minahasa Raya is charged with illegally and intentionally causing pollution and prosecutors have said Ness, who could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted, did nothing to stop it. Newmont, the world's biggest gold producer, has consistently denied the charges. A World Health Organisation-backed report found no evidence of pollution but government tests showed high levels of toxins. (October 14th 2005, AFX)
Three More Detained Over Bali Blasts
Police have detained a further three men suspected of involvement in the October 1 triple suicide blasts in Bali. The men, from East Java and aged between 22 and 25, were caught after returning from prayers at a mosque in Buleleng Regency on the coast of north Bali. They were taken to the islands capital Denpasar for questioning at 1am Monday (17/10) under suspicion of having links to the bombing. The source identified the men as Abdul Ghofur alias Ghofu, Marsano alias Nono alias Sono, and Eko Priono alias Koko. Authorities across the country have been tightening surveillance as they comb areas believed to be sympathetic to Muslim extremists for suspects in the latest Bali bombings. (October 17th 2005, AP)
100% Increase in Dengue Fever Cases
According to the most recent data released by the department of health, the statistics for dengue fever have increased 100% on last years figures. According to the October report, 50,196 cases had been reported nationwide with 701 of those cases being fatal. Jakarta had the highest rate of the disease with 14,220 cases being reported so far. The department has warned that the disease could reach epidemic proportions in the January / February period when most cases are usually reported. (October 17th 2005, Bali Post)
Hardy’s Supermarket Goes 24/7
The Hardy’s supermarket chain started operating 24 hours a day on Saturday (14/10). A spokesman for the chain said that branches in Sanur, Sesetan, Batubulan, Singaraja, Panjer, Tabanan, Banguwangi and Singaraja would be open for business 24 hours a day, however braches in Karangasem, Negara and Gianyar would continue to operate from 6 am to 10 pm 7 days a week. Despite the extended opening hours, all branches would still be patrolled and guarded by both security officers and police patrols. (October 17th 2005, Denpost)
Angry Mob Attacks and Kills Government Official - Banguwangi
Beni Kushariawan, an official from the Department of Statistics in the Banguwangi region, was set upon by an angry mob on Monday (17/10). According to local witnesses the villagers became angry when they felt that the department was taking too long to process data which would make them eligible for government financial assistance. An angry mob of 400 people walked 4 km to the government office, shouting in protest as they marched. On arrival at the office a heated argument broke out between the mob and officials. The mob then set upon Mr. Kusharjawan beating him to death. (October 18th 2005, Bali Post)
Tsunami Warning System to Be Installed
A team of German and Indonesian scientists will set sail Tuesday (18/10) for Sumatra island to install a tsunami warning system in the region worst hit by last year's Asian killer wave. The system of sensors on the ocean floor and giant buoys on its surface will be able to notify coastal observation stations within 10 minutes of a tsunami-strength earthquake. The system transmits information about earthquake activity to the stations via satellite. They will then automatically alert local media and residents via mobile phone text message, e-mail and fax, said Idwan Suhardi, a scientist from Indonesia's ministry of research and technology. It will be operational in Sumatra by the end of the year, said Suhardi. The system will not only warn against tsunamis, but also other hazards such as volcanic eruptions and storms. The system will eventually be expanded to cover all of Indonesia, one of the most seismically active regions in the world. (October 10th 2005, AP)
Angry Locals Break Down Prison Gates, As Others Remember Their Loved Ones
Hundreds of protesters demanding death for the Bali bombers broke down the gates of a prison on the third anniversary of the nightclub attacks, amid rising anger following fresh terrorist strikes on the resort island this month. The 2002 attacks were blamed on the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah, which is also accused in the Oct. 1 triple suicide bombings that killed 20 people and wounded more than 100. Earlier, survivors and relatives of those killed in 2002 gathered at the site of the attacks in the heart of the island's tourist district Kuta to remember the dead and send a defiant message to terrorists. About 200 people turned out for the early morning service. Most came from Australia, which lost 88 citizens to the attacks. Eight Americans died. “It is important to keep remembering those we lost,'' said Australian Natalie Juniardi, whose husband, John, was among those killed. She was 3 months pregnant at the time, and now cares for that child and the couples' older one alone. “It is hard but we are still here. My kids keep me going and put a smile on my face, but after the last bombing it has been tough.'' Thousands more Balinese turned out for a larger prayer gathering later in the day, saying they wanted to restore the island's image as a tropical paradise. Courts have convicted 35 militants in the attacks, including three key players who were sentenced to death - Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Imam Samudra, and Ali Ghufron. The men had been kept at Kerobokan until Tuesday when authorities, worried about escalating protests calling for their immediate execution, transferred them to a notorious prison island off Java. (October 12th 2005, AP)
