In a bizarre incident, a man in the North of Bali has claimed that a cow seduced him after he was caught having sex with it. Gusti Ngurah Alit was caught by a neighbor in the rice paddy fields of Yeh Embang village in Jembrana. The 18-year-old man was standing naked while holding the back of the cow according to village chief Embang Ida Bagus Legawa. Alit said that the cow appeared to him as a beautiful woman. “She called my name and seduced me, so I had sex with her,” Alit said. According to traditional law, the young man must partake in a marriage ceremony with the cow in order to appease the female spirit that apparently possessed the cow.
Australia Commends Polri`s Capability in Fighting People Smuggling
An Australian Federal Police (AFP) representative has commended the Indonesian police (Polri)`s capability in fighting people smuggling in West Nusatenggara (NTB). “We salute Polri`s efforts in combating people smuggling in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB),” AFP Indonesia Manager, Commander Bruce Giles said here on Thursday (17/6). Giles made the remark at a function to dedicate a Computer Based Training (CBT) Laboratory and Special Task Force Office (Satgassus) for People Smuggling Control in NTB. The CBT laboratory which has been in operation at West Nusa Tenggara Police office is the fifth in Indonesia, the four others being at the Polri Headquarters, Cenral Java Police office, Bali Police office, and East Nusa Tenggara Police office. All of them were installed under a CLEC (Jakarta Center for Law Enforcement Cooperation) program. The Special Task Force Office (Satgassus) for People Smuggling Control is the 12th in 12 provincial police offices namely in Aceh, North Sumatra, Riau Islands, Lampung, Banteng, Metro Jakarta, West Java, East Java, Bali, North Sulawesi, NTB, and NTT. The construction of the building and the CBT laboratory facility was funded by Australian Federal Police. Giles said since the People Smuggling Satgassus was established in NTB in 2007, Polri had been able to arrest and prosecute many parties who facilitated the smuggling of Afghan people to Australia.
Indonesian Man Arrested for Killing Tiger in Zoo
Indonesian police have arrested a man who allegedly poisoned and skinned a critically endangered Sumatran tiger in a state-owned zoo, an official said Monday (20/6). Akmamul Mukminin, 24, was detained last week and could face up to five years in jail and a fine of 100 million rupiah (11,000 dollars) for killing a protected animal, conservation official Didi Wuryanto said. The suspect allegedly killed the tiger, named Shella, in August in Taman Rimbo zoo, Jambi province, by placing poisoned bait in its enclosure after closing hours. He then allegedly skinned it on the zoo grounds, aided by two accomplices. Wuryanto said the arrest sent a message to poachers that Indonesia was serious about protecting its tiger population. Conservationists estimate there are fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers left in the wild, due to habitat loss and poaching. “Legal action like this is very important to give a deterrent to the criminals. They must know that we’re serious about enforcing the law,” he said. One of the accomplices has been sentenced to three years and ten months in jail for the crime. Wuryanto said police were still hunting a third suspect.
Saudi Man Charged over Jakarta Bombings
Indonesian prosecutors on Monday sought nine years prison for a Saudi man who allegedly helped to finance twin suicide bomb attacks on luxury hotels in Jakarta last year that killed seven people. Al Khelaiw Ali Abdullah, 54, has been charged with providing “assistance and facilities” to Islamists led by late terror mastermind Noordin Mohammed Top, who was killed by police two months after the July 17 attacks. Abdullah looked pale and shocked as the sentencing request was read out to the court. He denies any knowledge of the attacks on the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels and says he came to Indonesia to start a computer business. Money he lent to an Indonesian associate was meant to set up an internet cafe, he says. But prosecutors said he gave 54 million rupiah ($A6,800) to Iwan, a friend of key cell leader Syaifuddin Jaelani, who was also killed by police after the attacks. Iwan then gave 2.4 million rupiah to Jaelani to help with the bomb plot.Noordin allegedly told one of the suicide bombers to prepare for death after the money arrived from the Middle East. Abdullah has previously admitted to meeting Jaelani, the alleged operational commander of the hotel attacks who was killed in October, but denied giving him any money or knowing anything about the bomb plot. He was arrested in Jakarta shortly after the attacks.
Papuan Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 17
The death toll after a series of earthquakes in eastern Indonesia has risen to at least 17, an Indonesia official said Monday. (21/6) More than 4,600 people have been left homeless, with many still living in shelters. A massive 7.0-magnitude tremor struck beneath the ocean floor off the northern coast of Papua province last Wednesday (16/6). It was followed by a series of strong aftershocks, the highest measuring 6.4. Thirteen people died when a landslide triggered by the quake buried their van, according to Priyadi Kardono, the spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency. A five-month-old baby died when his family was crushed by rubble, Kardono said.
Indonesia Pop Star / Actresses Detained Over Sex-Tape scandal
Police say they have detained a popular Indonesian singer over a sex-tape scandal. Pop star Nazril Irham, better known as Ariel, could face jail time if found guilty of violating the country’s strict anti-pornography law. Two separate videos allegedly showing the 28-year-old in bed - in each, with a different celebrity girlfriend - started circulating on the Internet in early June. The scandal topped newscasts for weeks and dominated chatter on social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. National police deputy spokesman Brig. Gen. Zainuri Lubis said the singer turned himself Tuesday (15/6) after he was named a suspect in the case. Authorities have until Wednesday morning to determine if there is enough evidence to charge him.
President: Make Bali Festival Forum to Develop Creativity
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the public and regional government of Bali to make the annual Bali Cultural Festival a forum to develop creativity and innovation. “Make the festival not only a mere arts gathering but a forum for cultural dialogues that are enlightening and educational,” he said at the opening of the 32nd Bali Cultural Festival here on Saturday (12/6) evening. He said in its efforts to maintain its uniqueness in the current era of globalization Indonesia was faced with a problem of modernization which is not always in line with local traditions and could result in loss of cultural identity. “Certainly we must not be carried away by global currents which often move without limits. We must continue to safeguard our national identity and cultures, Indonesian culture that has unique character and spirit,” he said. The month-long annual festival is also participated in by foreign arts troupes such as from Japan, the US, Canada, France and India.
Sanur Village Festival 2010 Set for August
Following four consecutive successful celebrations, the annual Sanur Village Festival is set to take place on August 4 - 8, 2010 at Segara Ayu beach and Inna Grand Bali Beach Sanur. “Saha Nuhur” is this year’s theme for the festival, which literally means “the passion to visit a certain place”. This is how the name of “Sanur” originally came about. “With its popularity we believe that the Sanur Village Festival will attract more visitors than ever to the island of Bali this year. And I am personally very happy with the enthusiasm of all committee members in making this activity bigger and better every year.” Ida Bagus Sidharta Putra MBA, chairman of the Sanur Village Festival, said.
Australian Rae Michelle Cook stabbed in Bali burglary
An Australia woman living in Bali was stabbed during an attempted robbery of her villa on Tuesday (22/6). Rae Michelle Cook, 48, was in surgery after being hit over the head with a stick and stabbed in the hand when a youth broke into her home. The suspect, a 19-year-old, was arrested hiding nearby. It is believed he panicked after being confronted by Ms Cook. South Denpasar police Chief Captain Gede Genefo said the suspect believed there was nobody home and his intention was to rob the villa. The suspect jumped over the villa wall after watching the victim’s daughter leave.
Tiga Mojang Statue Bought by Balinese Governor
The Tiga Mojang statue taken down by the Bekasi administration has been bought by the Bali Governor for the island of Bali, Bekasi police Chief Sr. Comr. Imam Sugianto said on Sunday (20/6). “It has been bought by the Bali Governor. I have no idea when is he going to take it from here,” Imam said, referring to Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika. The 17-meter-tall carved steel “Tiga Mojang” (“Three Girls”) statue, by Bandung-based Bali-born artist Nyoman Nuarta, depicts three Sundanese women in traditional attire, who appear to be joined together by a giant sarong. The statue was located at the Harapan Indah residential complex in Bekasi, which falls under the jurisdiction of the West Java provincial administration. The copper-and-brass statue took a year and at least 50 people to build, and cost developers Rp 2.4 billion ($260,000). But after objections by hard-line groups, who claimed the statue was neither in line with Islam’s values nor representative of West Java, Bekasi Mayor Mochtar Mohammad ordered the complex’s developer, PT Hasanah Damai Putra, to take it down.
Sea Turtles at Kuta Beach Will Have a Brighter Future
Who would guess amongst the hundreds of thousands of residents and tourists that work and play at Kuta Beach that sea turtles continue to use this same stretch of sand as their nesting grounds? Worldwide, six of seven species of sea turtles that swim the world’s oceans are threatened or endangered largely at the hand of humans. Sadly they also face many dangers as they travel the seas from accidental capture, poaching and the loss of nesting sites due to coastal development and beach pollution. In Bali, the Olive Ridley species in particular, has been coming to the Kuta Beach area for centuries to lay their eggs. While Kuta Beach develops to be the most popular beach on the island, sea turtle populations have been declining for the past 7 years. With so much “un-natural” traffic on the beach, it was carefully decided by ProFauna group that upon finding nesting sites, the eggs should be relocated to a hatchery to improve their chance of survival. From 2002 to 2009, a few dedicated individuals led by Agung Ngurah Tresna of Kuta Beach security and I Wayan Wiradnyana from ProFauna Indonesia, have been relocating the eggs to a humble hatchery facility, a small concrete sand bunker. As eggs hatch at the end of their two-month incubation period, the baby turtles are returned to the ocean the same day. Recognizing the efforts above and the need for support, Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia (CCAI) has offered a helping hand. Teaming up with Quiksilver, its partner in doing the Bali Beach Clean-Up program, we have built a permanent hatchery facility, the Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation or KBSTC. The new construction is expected to help prevent the animals from extinction. In the shape of a giant turtle, the construction is accompanied by information boards to bring awareness of the sea turtles history and future. “In 2008, 1947 sea turtle eggs have been hatched and the numbers doubled to be 4054 in 2009. Up to May this year we have recorded more than 5000 eggs successfully laid in the KBSTC. This is a fantastic initial result,” said Peter Kelly, President Director of CCAI. “In addition to the Bali Beach Clean-Up program and the KBSTC, we also roll out Water for life program to provide clean water access to severe drought areas in Northern Bali. All these initiatives go hand-in-hand with the objective of the Bali government to make the resort island an eco-responsible tourist destination,” Peter added. Paul Hutson, South East Asia Director of Quiksilver shares similar remark about the KBSTC development. “Since mid 2008, CCAI and Quiksilver Indonesia have been active in cleaning major beaches in Bali. We are positive that cleaning beaches is part of encouraging sea turtles to return and nest at Kuta Beach.” The KBSTC is hoping to release over 12 thousand baby sea turtles by end of 2010. The KBSTC conveniently located at the beachside front of Inna Kuta Beach Hotel and has received support from local Balinese authorities, ProFauna Indonesia and Bali Forestry. The KBSTC is open to the public free of charge to enable everyone to participate and experience the joy of saving these turtles.
