The Bali Advertiser would like to retract and correct a report
in our last issue regarding an elephant attack in Bali.
The attack that took place was NOT at the Elephant Safari
Park at Taro, but was in fact at a small elephant camp/rafting
company in Klungkung which has a small amount of elephants.
The Bali Advertiser apologizes to Bali Adventure Tours and
the Elephant Safari Park, Taro for this mistake and would
like to stress that there have been no accidents or attacks
by elephants at the Elephant Safari Park, Taro elephant facility.
The Editor
Melbourne Woman Arrested in Bali on Drugs Charges
A 35-year-old Melbourne woman Michelle Couldron has been arrested
in Bali, accused of possessing 0.2 grams of methamphetamine.
Michelle Condon who was staying at a small hotel in Poppies
II has travelled to and from Bali over the past five years.
But last Thursday (16/11) the 35-year-old Melbourne woman
was stopped by police on a street near popular Kuta beach
and arrested for possessing 0.2 grams of methamphetamine,
an offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years’
prison. Today, at a press conference in Bali, police alleged
she had purchased the unused drug for less than $30. Police
say they are awaiting the results of a urine test. (November
25th 2006, Jawa Pos)
Indonesia Continues Religion ID – Muslim Scholar Dissents
Indonesia’s House of Representatives and government
have agreed to continue listing one’s religion on identity
cards. Members of different faiths have criticized the agreement
as a violation of fundamental human rights and myopic political
opportunism. On 16 November, the House announced the deal
in the context of wider parliamentary debate on a civil registry
bill. Indicating one’s faith on identity cards has long
been a source of discrimination against followers of religions
different from the six faiths recognized by Jakarta: Islam,
Catholicism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism.
The Muslim scholar, Buddhy Munawar Rachman of Paramadhina
University, said this was a violation “of the freedom
of each citizen to embrace or not to embrace religion”.
He continued: “Politicians are well aware that religions
constitute the single most important attribute by which the
people identify themselves and they play the religion card
to garner as much support as possible. ”But this encourages
division, since people then start thinking of themselves as
“part of a larger community built on the foundation
of religion rather than citizenship” of a nation. Catholic
priest, Fr Antonius Benny Susetyo, secretary of the Commission
for Interfaith Affairs of the Indonesian Bishops’ Council,
was also critical. He accused politicians of pursuing immediate
self-interest rather than the good of the nation. He said
the political use of religion led to exalting its trivial
aspects rather than the essential issues, like greater charity
and piety. (November 20th 2006, Spero News)
Australian Teacher in Jakarta Court on Sex Charges
An Australian teacher has faced an Indonesian court over allegations
he forced Jakarta children to have sex. Peter William Smith,
48, appeared briefly in the South Jakarta District Court,
where a four-page indictment alleging abuse dating back three
years was presented. Smith’s lawyer Sangap Sidauruk
said his client would not contest the formal wording of the
indictment. “We do not see any formal matters to be
submitted and that’s why we aren’t going to submit
an exception,” he said. Sidauruk said Smith “never”
forced or threatened the children. “If it’s about
threatening, if it’s about forcing ... he never did
that,” he said. Under Indonesian law, anyone found guilty
of forcing or persuading a child to commit a sexual act, or
allowing such an act to happen, could face a maximum 15 years’
imprisonment. Smith was employed as anEnglish teacher for
the Indonesian Australian Language Foundation in Jakarta when
he was arrested on August 5. The hearing will resume next
Wednesday, when several of Smith’s alleged victims are
expected to testify. (November 21st 2006, AFP)
Aussie Tourism to Bali ad Unveiled
Balinese tour operators have turned the tables on Australia
with a new internet ad demanding to know: “Aussie, where
the Bali are ya?!” The Indonesian resort island took
a massive economic hit when Australian arrivals plunged following
the 2002 and 2005 Bali bombings. But they’re not taking
the trend lying down, producing their own version of Australia’s
high-profile “Where the Bloody Hell are You?”
tourism campaign. “Hey look! The Japanese are surfing
your bloody waves,” Ketut, the rotund Balinese tour
guide says on the ad, which has reached email inboxes in Australia
and all over the world. “The Italians are drinking your
bloody beer,” he goads in a thick Indonesian accent,
as a large group swill beer and dance around. “The Germans
are laughing in your bloody pool bars.” Dressed in lederhosen,
of course. “Aussie, where the Bali are ya?!” Ketut’s
toothy grin has also attracted a flood of viewers on the YouTube
website, where the ad has been posted. Creator Brett Morgan
said Bali suffered a terrible economic blow as a result of
the bombings and the ad was about spreading the good news
Bali remains a fantastic, fun holiday destination. But he
said at just $3000, the ad came in well under what Tourism
Australia paid for the original, featuring bronzed Aussie
model Lara Bingle asking the world: “So where the bloody
hell are you?” “It’s a lot cheaper than
the $180 million on the other campaign,” Morgan told
Australia’s Channel 10. Australia’s Tourism Minister
Fran Bailey agrees.“I certainly think the Balinese got
a very good bargain,” she told the network. “It’s
a lot of fun and very cheeky. ” Morgan said he hoped
the ad would help encourage Australians to head back to Bali.
“All we see in Australia is bad news from Bali. Bali
is portrayed always as bad news. What we’re trying to
do is portray some good news,” he told Ten. (November
14th 2006 AP)
Films on East Timor and Aceh Banned in Jakarta
Indonesia’s Government has banned Jakarta’s International
Film Festival from screening four films which explore the
history of conflict in East Timor and Aceh. Official censors
declared that the films have the potential to “disturb
security”. After 29 years of fighting there is now peace
in Aceh and local elections will be held next month. It was
seven years ago that East Timor voted for independence from
Indonesia. Indonesia still regards the history of those conflicts
as sensitive enough to impose a ban on the screening of three
films about East Timor and one about Aceh at the Jakarta International
Film Festival in December. A letter from the Indonesian Censorship
Board to festival organisers said the documentaries could
disturb security and order in the otherwise ‘conducive’
situation in the Aceh province and East Timor. Organisers
could be jailed for five years if the banned films are shown.
(November 21st 2006, ABC News)
Euro MEPs Warn Indonesia Over Shariah Law
Indonesia’s international relations could be hit if
it adopts Islamic Shariah law – which is being introduced
in one province - a European Parliament delegation said yesterday.
Hartmut Nassauer, head of the delegation of eight MEPs, said
non-governmental organizations had raised concerns about Shariah
law, which was being gradually introduced in Aceh province.
Nassauer said a religious legal system must not influence
the state legal code. “According to our conception of
most fundamental human rights, the liberty of faith is one
of the most important ones. It includes the right to live
without faith and consequently you do not have to obey a faith
which is not yours,” he said. Nassauer said restrictions
on women introduced under Shariah were “not acceptable”.
“From our point of view it’s not acceptable to
forbid women to leave the house alone after eight o’clock
in the evening,” he said, citing one example delegates
heard about. However, the German MEP noted that Indonesia’s
main Muslim organization had expressed opposition to the introduction
of Shariah law. “It was good to hear from representatives
from Nahdlatul Ulama, for example, that this important and
largest Muslim organization, not only of Indonesia but of
the world, is obviously against the implementing of Shariah
law,” he said. The Indonesian government allowed Aceh
to implement Islamic law in 2001 as part of limited self-rule
to pacify demands for independence. Aceh has so far only partially
implemented Shariah, enforcing Muslim dress codes and obligations
such as daily five-time prayers, fasting and alms-giving.
More than 90 per cent of Indonesia’s 220 million people
are Muslims but most follow a moderate version of Islam. (November
25th 2006, AFP)
