Suspected Bird Flu Sufferer Dies in Bandung Hospital
Arlan Tamrin (35) who was Indonesia’s 108th suspected bird flu sufferer died while being treated in an isolation room of Hasan Sadikin Hospital here Monday (7/1). Based on the latest diagnosis made by Hasan Sadikin Hospital, Arlan was suffering from acute pneumonia which prevented his body cells from absorbing oxygen. The suspicion that he had contracted bird flu was based on a report from his family that a number of chickens around his work place had suddenly died with symptoms associated with bird flu. Meanwhile, Hasan Sadikin Hospital on Sunday (Jan 6) admitted another suspected bird flu patient, identified as CP (24), a resident of Situ Burung, Majalaya sub district, Bandung district, who is currently receiving intensive treatment in a room specially reserved for suspected bird flu patients.(January 7th 2008, Antara News)
Bomber Escapes Indonesian Prison
A man jailed for 19 years for his role in a deadly 2002 bombing in Makassar in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi has escaped from prison. “He escaped along with another inmate yesterday morning,’’ said Imam Suyudi, who heads the Makassar detention centre. He declined to elaborate, saying the two men - Wirahadi and Marcus Huwae - fled from the Makassar state jail which shares the same complex but comes under the authority of another official who could not be reached. Wirahadi was sentenced in 2003 after a court found him guilty of blowing up a local outlet of an international fast food chain in Makassar the previous year that killed three. Huwae is serving a 15-year jail sentence for murder. Kompas reported that the two had escaped by climbing the outer walls of the prison using a rope. Another bomber, Yasmin, who was serving a 20-year term for his role in a 2004 bomb attack on a cafe in South Sulawesi that killed four, escaped from the same jail last year and remains on the loose. (January 7th 2008, Kompas)
Japanese Tourists Arrested for Purchasing Marijuana- Kuta Beach
Two Japanese tourists DK (27) and MK (26) have been arrested for purchasing and using marijuana on Kuta Beach on Tuesday (18/12). The pair who had only just arrived on the Island were arrested in possession of 4.2gr of the drug in the car park of the Hotel Sahid. During an interrogation they claimed that they had purchased the drug from a local surfing instructor on Kuta beach the previous day. (December 28th 2007, Bali Post)
Belgian Tourist Bitten by Cobra in Ubud
Belgian tourist Alexander (60) was bitten by a cobra at his hotel in Ubud on Tuesday (1/1). The man was escorted to Sanglah hospital by hotel staff at about 12.00, but later discharged himself from the facility. (January 2nd 2008, Denpost)
Twelve Fully Grown Turtles Rescued from Food Stall in Gianyar
Twelve fully grown sea turtles have been rescued from certain death at a food stall in Ketewel, Gianyar. Balinese water police received information that the turtles were being stored at the food stall, and were awaiting slaughter to be used in the popular local dish “lawar penyu”. Fortunately the police arrived to the restaurant to find the turtles still alive at 2pm on Friday (28/12). The man concerned with possessing the illegal livestock was Ketut Sumerta (47).Police had also received information regarding a boat that had been seen hauling in the turtles; however until now the police have been unable to locate the vessel. The turtles have since been returned to their natural habitat. (December 29th 2007, Denpost)
American Tourist Held at Ngurah Rai Airport with Skeleton in his Suitcase
An American tourist has been questioned at the Ngurah Rai International airport for attempting to bring a human skeleton out of the country in his suitcase. The bones were detected on x-ray at the security post at the airport check in counter. The man, who is a frequent visitor to Ubud, claimed that he bought the bones from a roving salesman for Rp. 50,000. The bones were confiscated from the traveler, who was then allowed to continue to board his flight. (December 29th 2007, Denpost)
529 New HIV Diagnosed in 2007 - Bali
The number of HIV cases in Bali continues to rise with 529 new reported cases of HIV diagnosed in the period from January 2007 until November 2007. This represents a steady rise on the past statistics of 373 cases in 2006, and 290 cases in 2005. The total reported cases for the past decade was 1,782, which means that 25% of these have occurred in the past 11 months. According to a spokesman from the health department, the reported figure of 373 (2006) for those suffering from HIV/AIDS is just the tip of the iceberg, and suspects that the true figures could be estimated at being closer to 4,000 HIV positive people. So far Bali has had 140 reported deaths from HIV/AIDS, 49 of those occurring in the past year. (December 29th 2007, Denpost)
Meteor Crater Draws Crowds to Gianyar
Residents in Sukawati village in Gianyar regency, around 20 kilometers north of Denpasar, reported the appearance of a mysterious crater in the middle of a paddy field Wednesday (2/2). The hole was allegedly caused by a falling meteorite fragment. One meter wide and around 30 centimeters deep, the cavity has turned into a large puddle in the heavy rains that have showered the area since New Year’s Eve. “Residents heard an extremely loud gun-like explosion Tuesday evening around 1 a.m. At the same time, a number of residents saw a bright object falling from the sky,” Made Tekek Arimbawa, a neighborhood leader, told reporters. Sukawati police Chief Comr. Ida Bagus Bedanajati said pieces of rock were found in the alleged meteorite crater. “The rocks we found resembled pumice but didn’t float - it sank in water,” he said. The police had secured the area with a police line. Bali is home to many mystic beliefs where odd and supernatural occurrences like flying fire balls are not unheard of. Bandung Flight and Space Institute sun and space researcher Thomas Djamaludin said Wednesday he believed the unidentified object was a meteoric fragment. He said he suspected a larger fragment had created the hole as it was impossible for small fragments to create the loud noise heard by residents. (January 3rd 2007, Denpost)
Earthquake Rattles Nusa Dua - 5 on Richter Scale
An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale shook Nusa Dua and the surrounding areas at 00.32hrs on Thursday (3/1). A spokesman from the Department of Meteorology, Sutrisno, said the center of the quake was some 100km West of Nusa Dua. He said there was no danger of Tsunami as the quake was not strong enough to cause such a phenomena. Sutrisno also said the people of Bali should remain on alert for bad weather throughout the coming month, as he predicted heavy rains which would especially affect those in hilly areas that could be at risk of landslides. (January 4th 2008, Bali Post)
28 Arrested in E Timor over Possible Human Trafficking
UN and East Timorese police have arrested 28 foreign nationals as part of investigations into illegal immigration and possible human trafficking in East Timor. Officers raided two bars in the East Timorese capital Dili on Wednesday (2/2), the UN mission said in a statement. At one bar, eight females suspected of involvement in sex work were arrested “for identification purposes, in connection with investigations into illegal immigration and possible human trafficking,” it said. At a second bar, 13 women and seven men, all foreign nationals, were arrested “for identification purposes related to investigations into the trafficking of women.” A UN official said the mission was not at liberty to say where the 28 people were from as police were still trying to confirm all of their identities. A US State Department 2007 report said that the half-island nation was a destination country for women trafficked from China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand. East Timor is one of the world’s poorest nations. (January 3rd 2008, AFP)
Over 10,000 Accident Victims Admitted to Sanglah in 2007
Sanglah, Bali’s largest public hospital, has recorded a record 10,874 accident cases treated in the year of 2007. 93.7 % of these accidents were motor vehicle (motorbike) accidents, only 2% were workplace accidents, and 4% because of household accidents. 0.3% of patients treated were as a result of criminal activities. According to the head of Sanglah Hospital Dr Kuning Atmadjaja an alarming 47.2% of those involved in motor vehicle accidents were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Despite the increase in accidents treated at the hospital, deaths resulting from accidents had actually fallen over the past three years. In 2007 there were 177 reported deaths. In 2006 there were 240, and in 2005 337. (January 3rd 2008, Bali Post)
Indonesia Mud Volcano Breaches Barrier, Sparks Panic
A mud volcano that forced more than 15,000 people to abandon their homes on the Indonesian island of Java in 2006 has breached the barriers built to contain it, causing further damage, police said. Residents in Porong in East Java province fled from their homes in panic late on Thursday when hot, foul-smelling mud began to flow into the area, covering the nearby railway tracks and a main road. “At least 10 vehicles were buried by one-metre (yard) deep mud, including mine,” said Andi Yudianto, a local traffic police chief. The newly affected area is about 20 km (12 miles) from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city. But thousands of homes and factories in an area four times the size of Monaco have been submerged by the hot mud since it first started to erupt in May 2006. The government has tried several schemes to halt the flow, including dropping giant concrete balls into the crater, but the hot mud continues to spurt out. Ahmad Zulkarnain, a spokesman for a government body managing the mudflow, said it had been unable to reinforce the 10-metre thick and 5-metre high dyke built to contain the mudflow because there had been no agreement on compensation with the owner of the land where the defenses are situated. (January 7th 2008, Reuters).
Two Killed in Night Club Fight on New Years Eve - Kuta
Two men were killed in a scuffle that broke out in front of a night club in Kuta on New Years Eve (31/12). According to eye witnesses the two men appeared to be security guards at the Dee Jay night club, at Kuta Center, Jln Dewi Sartika. The men were challenged by a group of thugs who tried to enter the establishment without paying an entrance fee. The men Ketut Mustiada alias Budi (45), and Wayan Suparta alias Kayun (45) were taken to Sanglah emergency room but were pronounced dead on arrival. A third man is still in a critical condition in Sanglah’s intensive care unit. (January 2nd 2007, Denpost)
Suharto’s Health Worsens
Former Indonesian dictator Suharto’s health appeared to be worsening Tuesday (8/1), with signs of internal bleeding and fluid building up in his lungs, the chief presidential doctor said. The 86-year-old was suffering from anemia, a dangerously low heart rate and swollen internal organs when he was admitted to Pertamina Hospital in critical condition Friday (4/1). He responded well to a blood transfusion and dialysis treatment, but on Tuesday (8/1), Suharto’s condition deteriorated, Dr. Subiandono told a press conference. Suharto has been accused of overseeing a brutal purge of more than half a million left-wing opponents at the outset of his 32-year reign. Though he has also faced charges of embezzling state funds, he has evaded prosecution. Suharto has been in and out of the hospital in recent years for strokes and intestinal bleeding, causing him to suffer permanent brain damage and some speech loss that has kept him out of court. But he gave a rare media interview in November after winning a defamation lawsuit against Time magazine, which published allegations that Suharto and his family had amassed up to $15 billion in stolen state funds. Transparency International has said the Suharto family robbed the nation of more than twice that amount. In the interview with Gatra news magazine, Suharto vowed to donate most of the $106 million in damages he won from Time to the poor. The publication is appealing the Supreme Court decision. (January 8th 2008, Reuters)
Australia Helps Flood, Landslide Victims in Indonesia
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer on Monday (7/1) announced the Australian government would provide around Rp. 824 million to support the Indonesian government’s relief efforts for victims of the extensive flooding and landslides in Central & East Java. “Australia’s contribution through the Indonesian Red Cross will provide 19 medical teams, medical supplies and a number of water treatment units,” Australian Embassy media release quoted Farmer as saying on Monday. It said Australia was in close contact with the Indonesian government and other humanitarian agencies and stood ready to consider further assistance if requested. (January 8th 2008, Antara News)
Some 29,048 Hectares of Paddy Fields in Central Java Flooded
At least 29,048 hectares of paddies in 17 districts in Central Java have been under flood waters since late December 2007 causing farmers to suffer enormous losses, a provincial legislator said. The figure would increase if the floods had not subsided by Monday (Jan 7), he said. The inundated rice fields were located in the districts of Pati, Kudus, Jepara, Blora, Pekalongan, Tegal, Pemalang, Cilacap, Banyumas, Purbalingga, Demak, Grobogan, Klaten, Sukoharjo, Karanganyar, Sragen, and Wonogiri. Other food crops that were also flooded were maize (870ha), soybean (428ha), peanut (52ha), chilli (8ha), vegetables (5ha). The recent landslide disaster in Karanganyar had also damaged 1.6ha of paddy fields.(January 8th 2008, Antara News)
