Indonesian Teacher Burns Students in Lesson on Hell
An Indonesian teacher has been suspended after she allegedly burned her students with matches to make a point that hell is much hotter than match fire, a media report said Thursday. The teacher at a junior high school in the West Java city of Bandung lit matchsticks and placed the flames close to her students’ hands during an Islamic religious lesson Tuesday (25/8), the Detik.com news portal said. ‘She said hell was mostly occupied by women. That’s why we were targeted,’ Detik.com quoted one of the students, Siti Nurjanah, as saying. The teacher pressed the matchstick on the cheek of one of the students who blew the flame out because she was scared, the student reportedly said. School principal Erik Sudeni said the teacher had been suspended pending an internal investigation. Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim country with more than 85 percent of its 230 million people following Islam. (August 27th 2009, Indonesia News.Net)
Nine Killed After Ferry Sinks off of Bali
At least nine people were killed when a small ferry sank in poor weather off Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, police and a survivor said Thursday (27/8). Local police said that the ship, carrying 29 people, was probably hit by bad weather, although they did not rule out the possibility the ship was overloaded with cargo. The ship was traveling from Klungkung in east Bali to Nusa Penida Island which is located about 26 miles south-east of the island. Indonesia relies heavily on ferry services to connect the main islands in the archipelago, the worlds largest. But accidents are common, largely due to years of under-investment in infrastructure and a tendency to overload ferries. (August 27th 2009, Reuters)
Bali’s Lakes are Shrinking
According to Bisnis Bali, three of the four lakes found in Bali have lost between three and four meters of water depth that must be urgently addressed to avoid a future water crisis. “Anticipatory steps (needed) include controlling the use of sub-terrain water and conserving the surrounding environment,” explained Bali’s governor Made Mangku Pastika. Pastika told the press that the three lakes threatened by decreasing water levels are Lake Beratan, Lake Buyan in Tabanan, and Lake Batur in Bangli. The only Bali lake maintaining a constant water depth is Lake Tamblingan in Buleleng. Governor Pastika continued by warning that in order to control the use of sub-terrain water the government must increase the water tax retribution ten fold, as well as taking concrete steps to re-green jungle and critical water catchments areas. According to the governor, “all this needs the support and understanding of a public concerned with environmental protection and the conservation of valuable water resources.” Pastika added the cautionary note that Bali retains jungle cover on only 22% of its land surface, a figure far below the recommended level of 30%. Jungle cover in Bali covers a total of 130,686 hectares comprised of 95,766 hectares (73.28%) of protected jungle; 26,293 hectares (20.12%) of conserved jungle; and 8,626 hectares (6.60%) of productive jungle. The forestry service’s plans for 2009 call for the replanting and reclamation of 325 hectares of deforested land in Bali. (August 22nd 2009, www.balidiscovery.com)
Ubud Writers & Readers Festival Building Momentum
The 2009 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is little more than a month away as it gathers momentum towards the presentation of a rich array of panel sessions, readings, book launches, literary lunches, nighttime gatherings and workshops. This year’s theme “Suka Duka: Compassion and Solidarity” will beckon some of the finest writers from 23 countries to discuss the themes of religion, identity, the legacy of colonial brutality and the postcolonial voice, human rights, race and identity, exile, gender, censorship, literary expression, families and love. This year’s festival will introduce an inaugural keynote address, sponsored by the Australia-Indonesia Institute, launching four days of panel sessions, debates, readings and in-conversations with the world’s greatest exponents of their craft. This year’s festival will also pay special tribute to the Southeast Asian experience, gathering emerging and established writers from the region including Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Ng Yi Sheng, Amir Muhammad, NH Dini, Thant Myint-U, Shamini Flint, Wena Poon, Woon Tai Ho, Lee Su Kim and Dede Oetomo. From neighboring Australia, Julia Leigh, Tom Cho, Alison Lester, Sonya Hartnett, Michelle Cahill, Mungo McCallum and Antony Loewenstein are all slated to grace this year’s event which will be held from the 7th until the 11th of October. (August 24th 2009, www. balidiscovery.com)
Kuta Karnival 2009 Set for September 19-27, 2009
Back for the seventh year, Kuta Karnival returns featuring more than an entire week of food, music, sporting events and other attractions from September 19-27, 2009. Dubbed a “celebration of life,” guests staying or visiting Bali’s world famous Kuta Beach can witness or participate in surfing competitions, fun games, open-stage band performances, skateboard competitions, kite-flying contests, tradition art performances, food festivals, turtle release programs, martial art demonstrations, road races, free movies presentations, fishing fun and large street parades (August 24th 2009, www.balidiscovery.com)
Be Alert to Terror Threat in the October-November Period
Beritabali.com quoted Bali’s Chief of Police, General Sutisna, as warning hotels in Bali to be on guard for possible terrorist acts during the coming October - November period. The Chief’s timely warning reflects the high publicity value that another terror attack on the world famous holiday island would bring and the fact that past attacks have occurred during the October - November time slot. Speaking on August 18, 2009, General Sutisna reminded hotel managers to increase their security levels, both within hotels and the immediately surrounding areas. Perimeter defenses, according to Sutisna, can best be strengthened through close cooperation with Bali’s traditional villages and local civilian defense teams (Pecalang). The Chief of Police said he hoped the higher than normal occupancies being reported by the Bali tourism industry will not distract hoteliers from their overriding responsibility for safety and security. Bali tourism is currently booming with daily arrivals topping 7,200 tourists as compared to normal daily averages of 5,000 tourists at this time of year. (August 24th 2009, www.balidiscovery.com)
Sumatran Tiger Killed in Zoo, Carcass Stolen
Thieves killed a female Sumatran tiger (phantera tigris Sumatrae) at the Taman Rimba Zoo here in Jambi early on Saturday (22/8) and stole the animal’s body. Jambi police chief Commissioner Posma Lubis said the thieves killed Shela, the tiger, and took away her body at around 3am leaving the animal’s intestines. He said five people had been questioned as witnesses including the head of the city’s animal husbandry service, Hanif Lubis, the head of the zoo, Adrianis and zoo keepers Widodo, M Nasir and Madikwan. Commissioner Lubis said he believed the thieves wereprofessional because he saw no sign of damages on the cage. Sumatran tigers which are protected have indeed been targeted by collectors who stuff the carcasses and sell them to collectors at a high price. “These people are professionals and have an international network,” he said. (August 23rd 2009, Antara News)
Bali Bombings Mastermind Set to Escape Trial Due to Lack of Evidence
The suspected mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, may escape trial in the case with US officials saying that military prosecutors lack the evidence to charge Hambali. News.com.au quoted senior US officials, as saying that military prosecutors don’t have enough evidence to prove Indonesian terror suspect’s role in the bombings of the Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar on October 12, 2002. The news is set to disappoint relatives of those who perished in the deadliest terrorist. It follows the execution in Indonesia last year of the three bombers, Imam Samudra and brothers Amrozi and Mukhlas. Although Hambali will remain in custody for his involvement in other terrorist attacks across the archipelago, US officials say it is unlikely the 45-year-old will be charged over his role in the Bali bombings. “As it stands now, the case against Hambali on Bali is weak. But the investigation has not stopped. It is ongoing,” he said. Despite the lack of evidence, there is a near universal consensus among experts, intelligence analysts and government officials that Hambali was involved in the twin blasts in the Kuta tourist strip. The report quoted former Office of National Assessments Indonesia analyst Ken Ward, as saying while Hambali was probably not involved in the operational planning, he was believed to have contributed 30,500 dollars to fund the crime. (August 29th 2009, Indonesia News.net)
Jakarta Bombers ‘Planned Bigger Attack’
Indonesian investigators say they have evidence Islamist militants were planning a “bigger” attack than July’s deadly hotel bombings in the capital Jakarta, the national police chief has said. Bambang Hendarso Danuri told the national parliament’s security committee that police had uncovered documents indicating “there would be an event bigger than the events in other places,” referring to past terror attacks. Mr. Danuri appeared to link the plot to Mohammed Syahrir, a fugitive acolyte of suspected terrorism mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top, who was a technician for national airline Garuda Indonesia. The police chief did not elaborate and did not say if the plot involved the national airline or aircraft. Two suicide bombers killed seven people in coordinated attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in the Indonesian capital on July 17, the first major terror attack in the country in nearly four years. Malaysian-born Noordin, who heads a violent splinter faction of the radical Jemaah Islamiyah movement, which he has dubbed “Al Qaeda in the Malay Archipelago”, is accused of masterminding a string of attacks in Indonesia. The 41-year-old allegedly received Al Qaeda backing for an attack on the Marriott in 2003, which killed 12 people, and is accused of masterminding attacks on the Australian embassy in 2004 and tourist restaurants in Bali in 2005. (September 1st 2009, AFP)
Female Student Who Killed Robber not to be Prosecuted
A female student of state Medan University (Unimed) identified as Arti Kurniati (19) who killed a man who was trying to rob her mother’s golden bracelet had not acted against the law, police said. The attempted robbery happened on Sunday (23/8) Teratai St., Simpang Pemda, Medan Selayang, when Arti Kurniati and her mother Delviana Smbiring were on the way home from Subuh (dawn) prayers. Kurniati, who is trained in martial arts, grappled with the robber and was able to lock him in her arms while the man was holding a gun. The robber tried to free himself from Arti’s stranglehold while firing his gun several times without, however, hitting her. People nearby who heard Delviana Sembiring`s screams were believed to have helped Kurniati beat the robber to death. Police who immediately came to the scene also found the robber’s revolver at the spot and determined that the girl had acted in self defense. (August 22nd 2009, Antara News)
Powerful Earthquake Shakes Indonesia; 35 Dead
A powerful earthquake killed at least 35 people and forced thousands to flee homes and offices in Indonesia on Wednesday (2/9), government agencies said. The 7.0 magnitude quake, recorded by the US Geological Survey, shook buildings in the capital Jakarta and flattened homes in villages closer to the epicentre in West Java. Tremors were felt as far away as Bali. Government officials said about 1,300 houses were damaged although local television reports put the number at 3,500. At least 35 people were killed and more than 300 people injured, they said. More than 40 people were missing after the quake triggered a landslide in the district of Cianjur, about 100km south of Jakarta, an official at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said. Priyadi Kardono, another official, said the death toll could be much higher as scores of houses and office buildings had collapsed or suffered severe damage. It was proving difficult to contact some of the affected areas. “Communications with the coastal areas were completely cut, so we don’t know the conditions there,” he said. “No reports have come from those areas, although we assume those were the most affected ones. It’s possible the death toll could grow higher.” The Health Ministry said it was sending medical teams to the affected areas in West Java. State news agency Antara reported that villagers were clearing away the rubble from collapsed buildings to try to find survivors and bodies. “Many houses are flattened to the ground,” said Edi Sapuan in Margamukti village, not far from Tasikmalaya. “Only the wooden houses remain standing. Many villagers are injured, covered in blood.” “We ran as soon as the quake hit. Then five minutes later my house collapsed,” Edi told Reuters. (September 3rd 2009, Reuters)
