Brazilian Man runs Amok in Kuta Killing One, Injuring Three
A Brazilian tourist Gulherme Guedo (24) ran amok in the streets of Kuta in the early hours of Thursday (18/9) morning killing one woman and injuring three others as he drove a stolen van through the streets of Legian and Kuta. According to a police spokesman the man was in a state of extreme intoxication after leaving a night club in the Kuta district. After he stole the van he drove at high speeds through the Kuta streets, ignoring stop signs and driving in a disorderly manner, running in to whoever was in his path. The fist victim was a 24 year old girl Waliati, whom he struck and killed. He then proceeded to hit three other motorcyclists, all of whom received serious injuries. Guedo was brought to a halt when the van he was driving struck a pole. He was then arrested by local police. (September 19th 2008, Bali Post)
Turbulence Injures 11 on China Airlines Bali flight
At least 11 people were hurt, some suffering broken necks and other fractures, after a plane operated by China Airlines hit turbulence near the Indonesian island of Bali on Saturday (20/9), an official said. The Boeing 747-400 was hit by turbulence about 30 minutes before landing at Bali’s international airport in Denpasar, airport spokesman M. Dimyati said by telephone. The plane, carrying 338 passengers and 19 crew, was traveling from Taipei to the resort island when the incident happened. A senior official at Indonesia’s health ministry in Jakarta said the injuries included broken necks and other fractures. “At least 11 people were injured including six who are seriously injured,” Rustam Pakaya, head of the health ministry’s crisis centre, said. The airport spokesman said the injured had been taken to Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar. (September 20th 2008, Reuters)
Jailed Bali Bombers to Have Sentences Shortened
Up to nine inmates involved in the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 are expected to have months taken off their sentences when the end of Ramadan is celebrated next week. Three years to the day after two bombs killed twenty people in two restaurants in Bali, four convicted terrorists linked to those attacks will have one month shaved off their sentences. Mohammad Cholily is currently serving 18 years while Anif Solchanudin has been jailed for 15 years for their roles in planning the bombings. Lesser involved accomplices Dwi Widiyarto and Abdul Aziz are serving 8 years each. Five other terrorists jailed in connection with the 2002 Bali bombings will each have two months knocked off their prison terms when Idul Fitri is celebrated next Wednesday (2/10). The men who masterminded those attacks, Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Imam Samudra and Ali Gufron are awaiting execution in Central Java. (September 26th 2008, ABC News)
RI Shuts Down U.S. Medical Laboratory
The U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit number 2 (Namru-2) laboratory in Jakarta will be temporarily shut down because it offers “little benefit” to Indonesia, Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said Thursday (25/9). Siti, Indonesia’s senior-most medical official, said she staunchly opposed the medical lab and called for its closure, arguing that it did not benefit national interests and even compromised national security. Siti said the lab refused to share all of its findings with the host country. Indonesia and the U.S. ceased negotiations on the future of the lab in June after officials and legislators proved unable to agree whether the lab, active since 1970, should continue its operations in Indonesia. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said the temporary closure of the lab was not contentious as negotiations between the two sides were ongoing. “As long as we are still negotiating a new umbrella agreement for Namru, the termination of activities is no problem,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah told The Jakarta Post by phone from New York. (September 16th 2008, Jakarta Post)
Asylum Seeking Papuans Want to “Go Home”
A Papuan citizen who sought political asylum in Australia, Hana Gobay, said the desire to go home to her hometown in Merauke, because she missed her family and because of empty promises of her group leader Herman Wainggai. “The promises he made to us have never come true, then I decided to go home to see my family,” said Hana at Frans Kaisepo Airport, Biak, Wednesday (24/9). Meanwhile Yubel Kareni admitted he was also happy returning home in Serui, Yapen Waropen District, with the help of the Indonesian foreign ministry. “I thank the Indonesian government who had helped me return to my family, Yubei said. Before continuing the trip to Merauke by Merpati airplane, Indonesian Consul in Melbourne Jahar Gultom wished Yubel Kareni success after arrival back in Serui.(September 26th 2008, Antara News)
Bali Governor Reminded to Prioritize `Love Bali Spirit`
Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika and Deputy Governor AAN Puspayoga had been reminded here Thursday (25/9) by the Bali Provincial Legislative Assembly (DPRD) to prioritize the `Love Bali Spirit` and Bali`s environmental conservation. “Do not sacrifice the environment just to get higher locally generated revenues,” said spokesman for the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle House Faction Gede Kusuma Putra in a hearing with the DPRD. Putra also pointed out that a harmonious relationship among the people, the people with God and the people with the environment in Bali, is one whole unity like stated in Balinese philosophy “Tri Hita Karana” (Three in Harmony). “Let us keep the harmony intact between all these components avoiding environmental disasters,” Putra said. (September 26th 2008, Antara News)
Transportation Minister Calls for Control of Motorcycle Growth
Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal stressed the need for control of motorcycle growth in Indonesia on Thursday (25/9). “This growth must be controlled not only by cutting its production but through regulatory measures,” he said after seeing off 3,200 motorcyclists participating in a “Travelling Home for Free” organized by insurance company PT Jasa Rahardja. Several parties have urged for control of growth of motorcycle ownership in the country in view of their large contribution to road accidents. Based on data from the national police headquarters around 62 percent of accidents that claimed the lives of 30,000 people involved motorcycles. As a result, PT Jasa Rahardja spokesman Nasir Hakam said, total compensation the company had paid until July 2008 reached more than Rp. 400 billion and almost 70 percent of it went to victims of motorcycle accidents. The minister said there must be a regulatory process in which old motorcycles are replaced by new ones. He also underlined the importance of the community to understand that motorcycles were not designed for long-distance travel. “Cyclists must have adequate skills for riding motorcycles and a discipline in following traffic regulations such as wearing helmets wherever they go,” he said. The minister said there was indeed a need to provide a special lane for motorcyclists. It is estimated around 2.5 million motorcyclists will travel to their home villages for Idul Fitri holiday celebrations this year rising by 18 percent from last year.(September 25th 2008, Antara News)
Greenpeace Ship Visits Indonesia to Promote Forest Conservation
A Greenpeace ship, the Esperanza, will arrive in Indonesia on October 6th to promote forest and climate conservation as part of the environmentalist organization’s `Forest for Climate` campaign, a spokesperson said. The Esperanza would arrive in Jayapura, Papua, on October 6th and remain until Nov 15th to spotlight the need to defend the last remaining natural forests in Indonesia, according to Greenpeace media campaigner Nabiha Shahab in an e-mail to Antara on Saturday (27/9). “The last natural forests are to be found in a belt that stretches from South East Asia through Papua New Guinea to the Solomon Islands in the Pacific,” she said. The natural forests consist of tropical rain, mangrove, coastal and peat land forests that are home to many kinds of plants and animals non-existent in other parts of the world. These forests also held hundreds of original cultures and traditions. “Indonesia’s forests are shrinking at a very fast rate. Deforestation destroys people, cultures, and biodiversity. It also accounts for about 20 percent of the world’s gas emission which eventually causes climate change,” said Rustar Maitar, spokesperson for Southeast Asia Greenpeace Forest Campaign. The campaign director of Southeast Asia Greenpeace, Shailendra Yashwant, said Esperanza`s visit to Indonesia was meant to urge the government to implement a moratorium soon on all forms of forest conversion, including industrial deforestation, expansion of oil palm plantations, and other activities which can cause deforestation Esperanza is the biggest ship in Greenpeace fleet. Launched in February 2002, it is 72m long and can cruise at a maximum speed of 16 knots. On its journey to Indonesia, the ship will have Madeline Habib as captain. (September 27th 2008, Antara News)
ProFauna Helps Uncovering Illegal Parrot Trade Syndicate in Bali
A pet shop suspected of trading in illegal wildlife was dramatically raided by SPORC, the Indonesian Ranger Quick Response Unit, in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA) of Bali, and ProFauna Indonesia, at the Satria animal market in Bali, on 3 September 2008. The raid, which was led by SPORC team coordinator, Budi Adnyana, and an official of the National Civil Service Investigator (PPNS) of BKSDA Bali, I.D.N Gede Yoga, snared an animal trader (TW, 19) caught red-handed selling a protected species, Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus), which led to the arrest of the suspect. Results from monitoring the animal markets of Bali, Java, and Sumatera Islands (2007) demonstrate that the illegal parrot trade in the Satria animal market, Bali was at high levels. About 500 parrots are smuggled to the market each year. Amongst the many species of the protected parrots being traded are the sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Cacatua galerita), black-capped Lory (Lorius lory) and Eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus). (September 27th 2008, 24/7 News)
