Gandhi Memorial International School Robbed
Gandhi Memorial International School was robbed on Sunday evening (8/2) at approximately 8pm in the evening. The school in Jalan Tukad Penet in Renon was broken into by five men brandishing guns and knives. The men threatened the security guards and then stripped and bound the guards while the thieves stole millions of rupiah from the schools safe, as well as cameras and electronic equipment from the class rooms and offices. A spokesman for the police department said that the thieves were probably professionals as they de-activated the CCTV security system and had no problems breaking in to the safe containing the cash money. The case is still under investigation. (February 10th 2009, Bali Post)
Indonesia to Extradite Pedophile Suspects
Indonesia will extradite three pedophile suspects, including an Australian Roman Catholic priest accused of abusing young boys, officials said Friday (13/2). Benny Mamoto, the deputy head of Interpol Indonesia, said the men are among six foreigners who will be repatriated in coming weeks. Australian Charles Barnett, a priest accused of having sexual contact with six children between 1970 and 1994, was detained near the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, at the request of the Australian government. Barnett, 67, worked as an English teacher and ran a clothing business in Indonesia for 12 years before he was picked up last year, officials at Interpol said. He will be escorted by police on a flight to southern Australia on Friday, Mamoto said. A second pedophile suspect, Paul Callahan of Australia, will soon follow. A third, Christian Burger of Switzerland, will serve a 4-year prison sentence in France for pedophilia, Indonesian authorities said, without giving details. (February 13th 2009, AP)
Building Officers Demolish North Kuta Building Owned by an Australian
Radar Bali reports that Badung regency enforcement officials, perhaps in response to growing criticism of their seeming impotence in enforcing zoning laws, deployed in force to a house standing in the “no-build” green zone in Canggu, North Kuta, and completely demolished buildings believed to be “owned” by an Australian expatriate. The simple structure with thatched roofs said to resemble a local “warung” or food stall, came to the attention of local officials in December of last year when they delayed leveling the building against a promise from the owner that he would voluntarily remove the structure. Two months after issuing those promises, the building remained intact. What’s more, the owner of the building used the intervening two-month period to continue building on the site preserved under local zoning laws only for agricultural pursuits. The Chief of the Regency’s Enforcement Corps (Kasatpol Pamong Praja), I Wayan Adi Arnawa, said: “We granted tolerance because of the owner’s promise to self-demolish the structure, but he scoffed the law by continuing to add to the building. We were therefore forced to take strong action.” When asked by reporters about the many other buildings standing illegally in the green zone, Adi Arnawa, became somewhat evasive. Claiming that data was still being accumulated on illegal buildings in the green zone, he said his men could not unilaterally move against illegal structures. Explaining, “there are procedures that must be followed beginning from summons, education, written warnings and, finally, if they continue to violate the law, stern and decisive action.” (February 12th 2009, Balidiscovery.com)
Denpasar Officials Outlaw Popular Ogoh-Ogoh Parades on Nyepi Eve
Denpasar legislators have announced that they will ban traditional Ogoh Ogoh parades on the eve of Nyepi - Bali’s Official Day of Silence. The decision to forbid the raucous merriment which often accompanies the parading of giant paper mache floats through the streets of Denpasar was made given the close proximity of local legislative elections with Nyepi celebrations. Denpasar officials are asking that the people of Denpasar refrain from making “both large and small” ogoh-ogoh for this year’s celebrations of the Balinese New Year. Legislative elections in Bali are set to take place on April 9, 2009. Speaking to the press about the decision, Denpasar officials are calling on their Balinese colleagues to forgo the traditional ogoh-ogoh celebration in favor of the more precious task of ensuring the democratic elections process take place without incident. In the past, Ogoh-Ogoh rivalries between competing villages has resulted in street fights and small scale vandalism. The Chief of Public Relations and Protocol for the Denpasar Government, Erwin Suryadarma, told the press that the government is now circulating a letter to the traditional villages of Denpasar explaining the potentially unpopular decision. (February 14th 2009, Balidiscovery.com)
Indonesian Disaster Team Departs for Australia
The Indonesian Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team departed for Australia to help their Australian counterparts handle the Victoria wildfires in which more than 200 people are killed, said a senior official here on Friday (13/2). “Indonesian DVI team comprises of 267 experts in total,” the head of Indonesian DVI team Musaddeq Ishaq told reporters Friday. He said that the Australian government has offered so much help to the Indonesian DVI team since it was initially established in 2000.Australia also sent its DVI team to Indonesia to help investigate in numerous events such as the 2004 Aceh tsunami, 2006 massive earthquake in Yogyakarta and other disasters resulting from terrorism and negligence including the 2002 Bali bombing. “In return, Indonesia has to give our help to the Australian fire disaster handling,” he said. (February 13th 2009, Xinhua)
Powerful Earthquake Hits Indonesia, 42 Injured
Strong aftershocks continued to follow a powerful earthquake off eastern Indonesia that briefly triggered a tsunami warning Thursday, causing a stampede of residents to higher ground. Hundreds of buildings were damaged and at least 42 people injured some seriously. The U.S. Geological Survey said the shallow, 7.2-magnitude quake struck off Sulawesi Island’s coast at around 1:34 a.m. (1734 GMT; 2:34 p.m. Wednesday EST), shaking people from their sleep. Nearly 500 buildings were damaged, including several schools, hospitals and churches, he said. Of the 42 people receiving medical care, 10 suffered serious injuries. Thousands of others were seeking refuge in shelters. The quake briefly triggered a tsunami warning - delivered over mobile loudspeakers and by radio and television. It was lifted about an hour later after the threat of killer waves had passed. “We were so afraid,” said Damian Geruh, a Melonguane resident who described women screaming as they fled their homes. “We ran to a nearby hill. I saw others climbing trees.” (February 11th 2009, AP)
Rihanna Cancels Indonesia Concert Again
R&B star Rihanna has postponed a concert in Indonesia’s capital for the second time after pulling out of the recent Grammy awards and a Malaysian concert, according to organizers. Local promoter “Showmaster” said the William Morris Agency in Los Angeles had told them Thursday’s concert would be cancelled, promoter Troy Reza Warokka told AFP. “We spoke to Tony Goldring of William Morris Agency and he said the concert had to be canceled because of an assault case involving Rihanna’s boyfriend,” Warokka said. “He offered to reschedule but we don’t think we’ll take it up, not this year at least. This is her second postponement. Her fans are traumatized and we’ve spent so much money on production and promotional materials,” he added. The 20-year-old Barbados-born singer had pulled out of the Grammy Awards on Sunday and postponed a concert in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur amid rumors she was the victim of domestic assault at the hands of her boyfriend, singer-songwriter Chris Brown. Rihanna had cancelled a concert in the Indonesian capital in November last year on security concerns following the execution of three Islamist militants behind deadly 2002 bombings on Bali island. (February 11th 2009, Antara News)
Indonesia Population Growing at Alarming Rate
Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie said the pace of population growth in Indonesia has reached an alarming level. Speaking at the opening of a Family Planning National Working Meeting here on Thursday (12/2), the minister said if the government failed to do something about the population growth rate; the country would face a runaway population boom in the next 10 to 15 years. Aburizal said the average birth rate in 2006 was recorded at 2.6 babies per fertile woman and the figure had remained unchanged until 2007, while the population was increasing by an average of 2.6 million per year. He said the high population growth and birth rates in Indonesia were worsened by an uneven spread of the population. “If we fail to do something about it immediately, it will become a burden to all of us. Therefore, both men and women have to optimize the family planning program,” Aburizal said. (February 12th 2009, Antara News)
133 Chickens Culled for Suspected Bird Flu in Badung
Some 133 chickens believed to have caught bird flu or Avian Influenza (AI) were culled at a hamlet in Bali’s Badung district on Tuesday,(10/2) a local animal husbandry official said. The 133 chickens at Sibang hamlet, Jagapati village, Badung district, were slaughtered one by one, and then burned, Made Madra, head of Badung district’s animal husbandry, marine and fisheries office said. “It was done based on preliminary suspicion. We still have to get our suspicion confirmed by a laboratory test of samples of the chickens` blood in Jakarta,” he said. The measure was taken after tens of chickens belonging to Sibang residents died suddenly, he said. Coinciding with the chickens` death, Putu Pranayoga (19), a son of one of the chicken owners, was suffering from high fever, respiratory problems and influenza. Putu was put in the care of local paramedics and doctors who had already taken samples of his blood. In addition to the chicken cull, local animal husbandry officials also sprayed the back-yard chicken farms of Sibang residents with disinfectants. Earlier this year, a 21-year-old woman from Surabaya, East Java, died of suspected bird flu after showing symptoms of the disease.(February 10th 2009, Antara News)
TV & Radio May be Cut for Nyepi Day
The Bali Broadcasting Commission (KPID) has asked that all radio and television stations located in Bali shut down in deference to the celebration of Nyepi - Bali’s official day of silence on March 26, 2009. In a formal letter (No. 482/48/KPID) dated January 30, 2009, the KPID has called on Bali’s broadcasters to go off the air from 6 a.m. on March 26 until 6 a.m. on March 27, 2006. In announcing their request, the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the KPID in Bali called on Bali’s broadcasters to demonstrate their social solidarity and responsibility in marking the celebration of the Balinese New Year (Saka 1931) by going silent during the period set aside for reflection and meditation. One of the rules for Balinese Hindus honoring Nyepi stipulates abstinence from pleasure and entertainment activities during the stipulated 24-hour period. In previous years, the KPID only issued a suggestion to not broadcast during the Nyepi period, with many radio and TV stations continuing to operate. This year the KPID is issuing a formal request (short of a formal order) not to broadcast. Officials of KPID have said that they have no authority to punish or sanction broadcasters who ignore their requests, saying the public can judge for themselves the integrity and commitment of broadcasters’ commitment to Bali. Perhaps ominously suggesting some sort of future bureaucratic sanction for broadcasters who ignore their request, the KPID chairman said: “In turn, this fact will become a consideration of the KPID in the future in accordance with the duty and power granted to us.” (February 14th 2009, Balidiscovery.com)
Bali to Host International Yoga Festival
Bali is to host a one-week International Yoga Festival from March 3-10, 2009, Bali-India Foundation chairman Dr Somvir said here on Monday (16/2). He said the festival would involve hundreds of yoga instructors from various countries around the world. “Themed Yoga for Peace and Health, will be a follow up of Yoga Day program which has been intensified in the past two years,” Somvir said. He added that the series of activities would be held around Monument Perjuangan Rakyat Bali (Bali People’s Struggle Monument) at the Niti Mandala Renon area in Denpasar. Somvir said that during the one-week program, the yoga instructors would actively give yoga courses which were good for health. “During the festival, the yoga instructors from foreign countries will instruct and train the participants with patience,” Somvir said, adding that the participants and instructors from other countries would also hold a series of meeting to discuss various matters related to yoga’s worldwide development, and exchange information about the exercise. (February 16th 2009, Antara News)
