A spokesman for the Department of Environmental Affairs Mr.
Sudirman revealed that Bali produces approximately seven tons
of garbage every day, four tons being produced in Denpasar
and surrounding areas, the other three tons being produced
on the remainder of the Island. According to Mr. Sudirman
most of the plastic rubbish came from supermarket packaging
and goods. While a good deal of the plastic was being managed
by recycling plants, large portions were still not manageable
and take many decades to decompose. This massive waste production
causes major problems throughout the Island on the land, waterways,
and oceans and even in the air through burning the toxic waste.
Mr. Sudirman, along with the Governor and the Mayor of Bali
have launched a “Clean up Bali by 2015” program,
and they addressed the larger supermarkets such as the Tiara
Dewata chain to assist in achieving a cleaner environment.
(August 30th 2006, Bali Post)
Jakarta Criticised Over Cut in Bird Flu Funds
The World Bank chided Indonesia yesterday for planning to
decrease its budget for combating bird flu even though experts
are predicting a shortfall of more than $150m in the funding
deemed necessary to fight the virus in the world’s hardest-hit
nation. Indonesia has recorded a third of
the 141 fatalities from the H5N1 virus reported worldwide
in the past three years. It has also been criticised by international
experts for failing to conduct mass culls to eradicate the
disease in poultry - the virus is now endemic in birds across
most of the country. (August 25th 2006, Financial Times)
Gianyar Man Dies of Tetanus
Made Santa, a 66 year old man from Sukawati in the Gianyar
regency died of tetanus on Monday (28/8). The man had been
taken to Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar when his condition
became serious, however doctors were unable to treat the disease
and he died the following day. Dr. Sri Muliawan a senior Neurologist
at the hospital said that cases of tetanus were not so commonly
seen these days, however of those patients that were affected,
approximately fifty percent died from the disease. (August
30th 2006, Bali Post)
Bali Bombers Hunted on Jungle Island
Phillipine troops have stepped up the hunt for two suspected
Bali bombers believed to be hiding with al-Qa’ida-linked
extremists on a southern Philippine island, the military said
today. A 92-man unit from the elite Army Scout Rangers will
be sent to Jolo Island to augment forces tracking Jemaah Islamiyah
bomb experts Umar Patek and Dulmatin, military chief General
Hermogenes Esperon said. Patek and Dulmatin, wanted for the
October 2002 Bali bombings that left 202 people dead, are
believed to be hiding out in Jolo’s rugged jungle under
the direction of Abu Sayyaf militants led by Khadaffy Janajalani,
he said. Last week, Marines clashed with Abu Sayyaf guerillas,
leaving three soldiers dead and 31 wounded. Thirteen rebels
were killed, seven wounded and five were captured, the military
said. Filipino intelligence officials have said JI was building
up links with Abu Sayyaf, considered a terrorist organization
by the United States. Abu Sayyaf is also believed to have
ties with al-Qa’ida leader Osama bin Laden. (September
1st 2006, AFP)
Free Treatment for HIV/AIDS - Banyuwangi
Government hospitals in the Banyuwangi regency have pledged
to give free treatment to those suffering from HIV/AIDS a
spokesman from the HIV association (ODHA) said on Sunday (3/9).
The free treatment would also be extended to HIV positive
patients who suffered from AIDS related diseases such as tuberculosis,
certain cancers, pneumonia etc. Nurul Islam from the
Banyuwangi branch of the HIV association said that the move
to give treatment was necessary as most HIV positive patients
were in the lower socioeconomic group. (September 4th 2006,
Bali Post)
53 Villages in Bali Now Positive for Bird Flu
Fifty three villages in Bali have reported that they have
found domestic fowl infected with the H5N1 Bird Flu virus
a spokesman for the department of Veterinary Science at the
Udayana University said on Thursday (31/8). Data from the
University showed that the virus had been also detected in
domestic pigs, as well as birds. These figuresindicated that
about 30% of Bali’s rural areas had been affected by
the virus. Efforts are being made to conduct a mass vaccination
program for domestic birds and pigs on the Island. (September
1st 2006, Bali Post)
Indonesia’s Poor Increase by Almost 4 Million
The Bureau of Statistics has released figures which show that
the amount of Indonesians living below the poverty line has
increased to 39.05 million in comparison to 35.10 million
in February of 2005. This represents an increase of over 2%
over a 12 month period. The Bureau says that
the main reasons for the rise in the countries poor was the
increase in prices of basic food commodities such as rice,
noodles, sugar and eggs, as well as the rising cost of fuel
and electricity. (September 2nd 2006, Bali Post)
Jati Luwih Village in Bali to go on World Heritage List
Jati Luwih Village in the Tabanan regency has been selected
to be listed on the World Cultural Heritage list. The village
consists mostly of over 300 hectares of intricately terraced
rice paddies which produces over 1,500 tons of brown and white
rice per year. The grain is one of the most sought after in
the country for its high quality texture and taste. Jati Luwih
is situated 1,500 meters above sea level at it’s highest
point, and temperatures are considerably cooler there than
in the lowlands. The local population of 2,680 are exclusively
Balinese Hindus, and most buildings have been erected in classic
Balinese style. Ninety percent of the local people are employed
in the cultivation and production of rice. The area is also
home to several large spectacular Hindu temples. Jati Luwih
joins two other World Heritage listed sites in Indonesia,
Candi Borobudur and the Prambanan Temple in Central Java.
(September 4th 2006, Bali Post)
We’ve no Nuke Plans: Australia Tells Indonesia
Australia yesterday assured neighbouring Indonesia that it
was not promoting an arms race by considering whether to enrich
uranium which can be used in nuclear weapons. Foreign Minister
Alexander Downer pledged that if Australia produced
enriched uranium in the future, it would never be used in
a nuclear arsenal. “I would have thought that international
security would be better served by enriched uranium coming
from a country as secure, as stable, as democratic and as
responsible as Australia,” Downer said. “There
isn’t any prospect any time in the future of an Australian
government of any particular complexion being elected which
wouldn’t be a true champion of the non-proliferation
regime.” He was responding to comments on national radio
by Dewi Anwar, an adviser to former Indonesian president B
J Habibi, who said that Australia had to reassure its neighbours
it did not wish to acquire nuclear weapons. She said Indonesia
would “probably be concerned about Australia doing uranium
enrichment until we get more details of it”, adding
that her country could consider uranium enrichment itself.
Australia, which holds the world’s largest known reserves
of uranium but does not use nuclear power, recently commissioned
an inquiry into nuclear power and uranium processing.
(September 4th 2006, AFP)
Teacher Faces Sentence for Bali Bomb Links
An Indonesian high school computer teacher who constructed
a website with suggestions for killing Westerners will today
become the first person sentenced over the bomb attacks in
Bali last October. Prosecutors have requested that Abdul Aziz
be jailed for 10 years. The man’s lawyer, Ketut Renata,
said his client was “ready for whatever the judge decides”.
Aziz’s case has been heard alongside those of three
alleged co-conspirators, Mohammad Cholily, Anif Solchanuddin
and Dwi Widianto, who were arrested in police sweeps at around
the time bombing mastermind Azahari bin Husin was killed in
a shootout in Malang, east Java, in November. However, all
four men have been charged only with general terrorism crimes,
in the absence of evidence linking them directly with the
attacks in Kuta and Jimbaran on October 1 that killed 23 people,
including four Australians. Of the four, Cholily has the closest
connection to last year’s attacks, having been arrested
in east Java shortly afterwards carrying bombs and electronic
detonation devices. He was given the equipment by Azahari
and ordered to take it to Jemaah Islamiah renegade Noordin
Mohammed Top. (September 5th 2006, The Australian)
Indonesia’s President Says Western Media is Anti-Moslem
The Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has accused
the western media of bias against Islam, saying it appeared
to value Muslim lives less than those of non-Muslims. Mr.
Yudhoyono has told a gathering of international journalists
on the resort island of Bali western media outlets display
less outrage when Muslims are killed in the Palestinian territories,
Iraq and Lebanon compared to the deaths of non-Muslims. Indonesia
has the world’s largest Muslim population, with approximately
88 percent following Islam. (September 3rd 2006, Radio Australia)
Violence Increasing in Timor-Leste, UN Refugee Agency Reports
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
is voicing alarm about rising violence in Timor-Leste, where
the agency today gave the Government 1,500 family-size tents,
plastic sheeting and other relief items to help people affected
by unrest earlier this year. “UNHCR is very concerned
at the recent escalation of violence in Dili - in and
around some displacement sites themselves - as well as within
communities,” agency spokesman Ron Redmond told reporters
in Geneva. “Burning and stoning of houses in the capital
has increased in recent days, as the city has returned to
a higher level of violence,” he said. “There appear
to be attempts by some elements to polarize communities according
to their place of origin.” While many people have returned
to their homes in recent weeks, the displaced population remains
large. According to current official estimates, there are
67,900 internally displaced persons in Dili while 78,000 people
are staying primarily with host families outside the capital.
Last week the Security Council approved a resolution creating
a new and expanded UN Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT).
Its mandate includes improving security, providing economic
assistance, and supporting next year’s presidential
and parliamentary elections. The mission’s
civilian component will include more than 1,600 police
personnel and up to 34 military liaison and staff officers
initially. (September 1st 2006, UN News)
