Edisi 13 April 2010 | International Bali Post

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Obama, world leaders work to stop nuclear spread AP

Nusa Penida faces shortage of fish PAGE 8

‘Titans’ clashes with ‘Date Night’ at box office PAGE 12

WEATHER FORECAST CITY

TEMPERATURE OC

DENPASAR

24 - 33

JAKARTA

25 - 33

BANDUNG

21 - 29

YOGYAKARTA

23 - 32

SURABAYA

24 - 34

SUNNY

BRIGHT/CLOUDY

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama and presidents, prime ministers and other top officials from 47 countries start work Monday on a battle plan to keep nuclear weapons out of terrorist hands. Confronting what he calls the “single biggest threat to U.S. security,” Obama is looking for global help in his goal of ensuring all nuclear materials worldwide are secured from theft or diversion within four years. On the eve of what would be the largest assembly of world leaders hosted by an American president since 1945 — the San Francisco conference to found the United Nations — Obama said nuclear materials in the hands of al-Qaida or another terrorist group “could change the security landscape in this country and around the world for years to come.” While sweeping or even bold new strategies were unlikely to emerge from the two-day gathering, Obama declared himself pleased with what he heard in warm-up meetings Sunday with the leaders of Kazakhstan, South Africa, India and Pakistan. “I feel very good at this stage in the degree of commitment and a sense of urgency that I have seen from the world leaders so far on this issue,” Obama said. “We think we can make enormous progress on this, and this then becomes part and parcel of the broader focus that we’ve had over the last sev-

AFP

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Continued on page 6

AFP

US President Barack Obama makes a statement during the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Support for Japan PM sinks below 30%

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eral weeks.” He was referring to what had gone before this, the fourth leg of his campaign to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The United States is the only country to use the weapons, two bombs dropped on Japan to force its surrender in World War II. The high-flown ambition, which the president admits will probably not be reality in his lifetime, began a year ago in Prague when he laid out plans for significant nuclear reductions and a nuclear-weaponsfree world. In the meantime, he has approved a new nuclear policy for the United States, promising last week to reduce America’s nuclear arsenal, refrain from nuclear tests and not use nuclear weapons against countries that do not have them. North Korea and Iran were not included in that pledge because they do not cooperate with other countries on nonproliferation standards. That was Tuesday, and two days later, on the anniversary of the Prague speech, Obama flew back to the Czech Republic capital where he and Russian President Dmitri Medvedev signed a new treaty that reduces each side’s deployed nuclear arsenal to 1,550 weapons.

AFP/File

Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama

TOKYO – Public support for Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has sunk below 30 percent, in part because of a simmering row with Washington over a US base, according to opinion polls released Monday. One poll found that half of the voters surveyed said Hatoyama should resign if he fails to hammer out a solution to the dispute over where the controversial base on the island of Okinawa should be relocated. The surveys were released as the centre-left leader headed to Wash-

ington for an international nuclear summit, where he said he hoped to raise the base issue in informal talks with US President Barack Obama. A poll by private broadcaster Nippon Television said the approval rating for Hatoyama’s seven-monthold government had fallen to to 28.6 percent, down 7.6 points from the previous month. Almost half of the more than 2,000 voters questioned by Nippon TV said Hatoyama should step down if he cannot find a solution to the row over where to relocate the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Another poll by TV Asahi

put support for Hatoyama’s cabinet at 28.5 percent, down 1.5 percent from last month. Hatoyama’s government has also come under attack over political donations scandals and its management of the economy, but most criticism has focused on the base row and the premier’s perceived dithering on the issue. Ties between Tokyo and Washington have been strained by the question of where to move the base, now located in an urban area on Okinawa where many residents complain of aircraft noise and other problems. Continued on page 6

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International

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Bali News Police capture the perpetrator of LPG illegal refueling Denpasar (Bali Post)—

A warehouse located at the territory of Muncan Hamlet, Kapal Village, Mengwi Badung, last Friday (Apr 9) afternoon was raided by police. The warehouse raid was executed because the place was allegedly used for the illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refueling. After followedup, the ranks of criminal detective unit of Badung Police could secure tens of LPG canisters alleged to be illegally refueled. Noted, there were eleven canisters of LPG containing 12 kilogram and 41 other canisters containing 3 kilogram secured by police. In addition to the evidence, the police also arrested the culprit namely Nyoman Seen, 30. Afterward, the investigators were still studying the case more profoundly and the evidence was seized at Headquarters of Badung Police for further process. According to information collected last Sunday (Apr 11) said the success of securing the tens of illegal refueling LPG canisters was due to information in the field. Police received information that at the scene was seen the car going in and out.

Obviously, the existence of the car was also suspicious. Not only that, the police also heard a handful of information saying the place was used for refueling the LPG. “Perpetrator moves the subsidized LPG canister into the non-subsidized canisters. Allegedly, such unlawful deeds had been done since long time ago. However, police still go into the case,” revealed a resource person at police station. The warehouse raid was conducted at 4:30 pm Local Time. Several members of Criminal Detective Unit pushed into the warehouse and managed to secure dozens of LPG canisters. Allegedly, the gas in those canis-

ters had been refueled illegally. Similarly, the perpetrator was secured. Besides the canisters, the officers also secured the 3 pieces of pipe that allegedly used as a means of shifting,” said a resource who refused to mention his name in the newspaper. Meanwhile, the Chief of Criminal Detective Unit of Badung Police I Ketut Soma Adnyana when asked for his confirmation last Sunday confirmed the raid. However, the Chief Soma stated the case was still in further investigation. “We are still performing further examination to the perpetrator. Now, he is being checked in the room by investigators,” he said. (kmb21)

Infected by dengue fever, Insisting on attending the TPA at hospital SEVERE! It’s the struggle that should be faced by Dentria Cahya Sudarsa to achieve her dream namely continuing the education to senior high school of SMAN 1 Denpasar. Although being in pain condition due to suffering from dengue fever, the student of grade IX at SMP Negeri 1 Denpasar did not want to miss this chance to obtain just one chair at the Bali’s favorite senior high school. Since last Saturday (Apr 10) until Sunday (Apr 11), she insisted on attending all stages of the academic potential test (TPA) at Prima Medika Hospital, Denpasar overseen by a supervisor. Insistence of Cahya Dentria Sudarsa categorized into intelligent student at her school to follow the TAP in the hospital could certainly be understandable. Unlike the national exam (UN), TPA did not recognize the terms of follow-up tests or exams for students who suffered from pain. Not attending the TPA automatically meant to have not passed the TPA or missed the opportunity to continue the education at favorite senior high school. With the right hand still suspended by infusion canister, Dentria looked strong to hold the pain in order she could answer the TPA questions. Similar to the imple-

mentation of the TPA at school, she was also given 120 minutes to answer the questions. “I insist on following the TPA at hospital because this is the only opportunity to get through the SMAN 1 Denpasar. I have confidence to pass the test though in a state of infusion. I have made sufficiently mature preparation,” Dentria firmly told reporters. According to her mother, Luh Mas Rusyati, she faithfully watched over her daughter joining the TPA in the condition diagnosed with dengue fever. Practically, her daughter was haunted by the feeling of anxiety whether she could follow the TPA or not. Luckily, her condition was getting better and the TPA committee of SMAN 1 Denpasar allowed Dentria to follow the TPA in hospital. “I had time to worry about my daughter whether she could not follow the TPA because of the dengue fever. Her desire to continue the education to SMAN 1 Denpasar is very strong. I could not help her following the TPA at the hospital. I am also grateful for the SMAN 1 Denpasar because it still provided an opportunity to my daughter to follow the TPA even though her health condition does not allow taking the test at school like other classmates,”

she said. Headmaster of SMAN 1 Denpasar, Made Tumbuh, justified that one student out of 924 participants of TPA at SMAN 1 Denpasar was forced to take the test in hospital. He said the TPA with the registration number 01-001-080-3 was decided to have the tests at Prima Medika Hospital Denpasar since last Monday (Apr 5). Given, her health condition was not too apprehensive so the parents asked for permission to the school in order her daughter could be allowed to take the TPA at hospital. “As long as there is permission from the doctor treating her and the girl herself is able to answer the tests, we can not prohibit the TPA participants taking the test at hospital,” he said. In addition, said Tumbuh, the test was the last chance for junior high school graduates to attend the PPDB selection at SMAN 1 Denpasar considering his party no longer accepted new students outside the TPA. “I highly appreciate to the motivation of TPA participants persistently fought for the seats at SMAN 1 Denpasar. The student had been preparing herself thoroughly, but her health condition forced her to follow the TPA in hospital,” he said. (ian)

Potency of coastal tourism untapped maximally Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Gianyar Regency has 20 km coastal area but its potential has been untapped maximally. This condition is related to the existence of a number of policies that block the growth of potential coasts recognized internationally. This matter was conveyed by I Ketut Djata, last Sunday (Apr 10). One of the potential beaches that have been untapped maximally is Keramas Beach, Blahbatuh, Gianyar. The beach is visited by many foreign tourists every day for sports activities like surfing. Even, in recent years many large-scale international events were held by the investor at the coastal area. However, with the blocking by green region planning policy, the development of such coastal area could not be done. Djata revealed that the community and the village had a de-

sire to increase the management of the coastal tourism potential. The measures of the Regent in carrying out a study toward the arrangement of green area around the region got positive appreciation. His party also regretted the existence of overlapping policy in the arrangement of green area. By performing a re-arrangement to the coastal policy, it may not mean to argue against the religious stipulation or Bhisama. The presence of the sanctums at coastal area should be well maintained. However, its radii needed to be readjusted. Previously, it was set along 2 km and this should be examined again in order the position would not be detrimental to the community itself. Even, it happened toward the development on the coastal boarder was very necessary to be restricted. This is to give space for the public use. (kmb16)

Prone to theft, Management of Tirta Empul builds hundreds of lockers Gianyar (Bali Post)—

Anxiety of spiritual visitors to Tirta Empul Temple tourist attraction, Tampaksiring, Gianyar on the vulnerability to theft of goods while doing purificatory rite or melukat at the shower has now started to breathe with relief. Concern about the loss of the goods belonging to visitors has been resolved with the making of hundreds of lockers for visitors who would like to come for melukat. Head of Manukaya Customary Village, Made Mawi Arnata, in the midst of Dharma Shanti or socioreligious gathering of Telkom Bali employees admitted that before the existence of lockers built in the east of Wantilan Hall of Tirta Empul Temple, the loss of valuables often occurred at the area. Even, the amount was unmitigatedly reaching up to hundreds of millions. Dealing with this issue and for the convenience of visitors who wanted to have melukat rite, the management in this case the Manukaya Customary Village built lockers intended for visitors entrusting their goods such as clothing. Based on monitoring on last Sun-

day (Apr 11), myriad of Hindu devotees carried out purificatory rite from the morning. Some came personally, while others came in groups. With their own belief, they engaged themselves in eleven showers existing in the pond region of Tirta Empul Temple. With crowded people who would like to perform the rite, the scenery around the bathing place was very beautiful. There’s no items currently placed haphazardly. Goods like clothing and oblations have been provided with special place. Especially for the offerings have been provided with a place in the north of Wantilan Hall, while for goods such as clothing and other valuables were stored in a locker with an individual key. Since hundreds of devotees say prayers every day, the management provides approximately 600 lockers for the entrusted goods. Other than being locked, the lockers are also guarded by officers from the local customary village. Construction of hundreds of lockers had been done since seven months ago, and now is able to reduce inconvenience that may have been caused before the existence of these lockers. (kmb16)

z Founder : K.Nadha, z Chief Editor: ABG Satria Naradha z Managing Editor: Wirata,Palgunadi z Editors: Alit Purnata, Alit Susrini, Alit Sumertha, Darmasunu, Daniel Fajry, Diah Dewi, Mawa, Sri Hartini, Suana, Sueca, Sugiartha, Sutiawan, Wirya, Yudi Winanto zDenpasar: Dira Arsana, Giriana Saputra, Subagiadnya, Subrata, Suentra, Sumatika, Asmara Putra. Bangli: Pujawan, Buleleng: Adnyana, Gianyar: Agung Dharmada, Karangasem: Budana, Klungkung: Bali Putra Ariawan, Tabanan: Surpi. Jakarta: Nikson, Suharto Olii, Indu P. Adi, Ahmadi Supriyanto, Achmad Nasrudin, Hardianto, Darmawan S. Sumardjo, Heru B Arifin, Asep Djamaluddin, Ade Irawan, Ipik Tanoyo. NTB: Agus Talino, Syamsudin Karim, Izzul Khairi, Raka Akriyani, Nur Haedin, Suyadnya. Surabaya: Bambang Wilianto. z Development: Alit Purnata, Mas Ruscitadewi. z Office: Jalan Kepundung 67 A Denpasar 80232. Telephone (0361)225764, Facsimile: 227418, P.O.Box: 3010 Denpasar 80001. Bali Post Jakarta, Advertizing: Jl.Palmerah Barat 21F. Telp 021-5357602, Facsimile: 021-5357605 Jakarta Pusat. NTB: Jalam Bangau No. 15 Cakranegara Telp. (0370) 639543, Facsimile: (0370) 628257. Publiser: PT Bali Post

Bali News

International

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

House of civil servant burglarized by thief KARANGASEM—Bad luck afflicted the victim Nengah Suarta, 44, a civil servant in Karangasem. When his house located on Jalan Ayodya, Kertasari Hamlet, Padangkerta, Karangasem, was left empty because he with his wife went home to Singaraja, the house was burglarized by thief, last Saturday (Apr 10). A laptop and cash worth IDR 500, 000 in his wallet was totally taken away. Such house burglary case at daytime was reported by victim to the Karangasem Sector Police. Spokesperson of Karangasem Police IW Surata with permission from Chief of Karangasem Police, last Sunday (Apr 11) in Karangasem justified that police had received the report of the victim. Police were investigating the case, but the thief had not yet been

arrested. The thief burglarized the victim’s house by way of prying the window, then got into the home and devoured the contents. Indeed, the house was not guarded. At the time, the victim went to Singaraja at around 07:00 am Local Time. Meanwhile, two of his children

namely Agus Brahmantya Narwadi and Made Sidarta Purnama Putra went to school. Suarta told police that due to the case he suffered a loss worth IDR 7.5 million. He hoped the thieves could be confined, so in years to come local residents of Amlapura would be more secure. (013)

Negara (Denpost)—

were installed at the outskirts of beach with severe erosion that has threatened the homes and residents as well as other public facilities. Mislami added, other than himself, in the east of the dock, there were seven other homes under threat to be washed away by the waves. Meanwhile, the Subdivision Head of Early Warning of BPB, Budi Sunarso, said the condition of Candikusuma Beach had been destroyed and many homes of local residents were under threat to be washed away. On that account, the handling efforts should be taken promptly. In addition, his party also invited people to participate in per-

forming mitigation measures including the Jembrana Regency, Bali and Central Government. Previously, the Head of Jembrana Public Works, I Ketut Suwijana, said a letter posted to the Bali Regional Agency for the River Services has been responded. The team from the provincial government has come down to measure the location that would be installed with talud for wave barriers. The results of measuring had been submitted to the central government. And the talud proposed was along 800 meters from the dock and 400 meters to the east. (021)

IBP/Eka

The picture show a tourist is checking the sand using metal detector. Some of the tourists expect to find some valuable items underneath the sand.

Planned to be closed, To anticipate abrasion, residents Ungasan residents attack the of Candikusuma set wave barriers melasti road project

In order to anticipate the severe abrasion disaster that increasingly serious, Candikusuma residents, Melaya, was forced to conduct their handling. They had to set up their own wave barriers. Mislami, one of the local residents, last Sunday (Apr 11), said huge waves on the beach had already swept over his kitchen and he did not want to be homeless again. So, the installation of wave barriers made from plastic bag containing sea sand was carried out by people along with the officers of Disaster Management Agency (BPB). Those plastic bags

On the rise of fertilizer’s price, Farmers in Badung restless, the House proposes incentives Mangupura (Bali Post)—

The plan on the rise of the highest retail price (HET) of subsidized fertilizer makes farmers in Badung restless. The reason, farmers will depend on inorganic fertilizers as it is considered capable of increasing their production. But, on the other side, farmers encounter a dilemma, in which the price of grain never rises exceeding the increase of fertilizer’s price. A member of the Badung House, I Wayan Puspa Negara, said the plan to increase the retail price of subsidized fertilizer was in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture No. 23/Permentan/ SR/1/30/04/2010. The percentage of increase was unclear, as well as the socialization was very slow. This raised many questions as well as unrest

among the farmers, especially farmers making the fertilizer as one of the essential production elements, such as urea, and phonska fertilizer. Furthermore, he said the farmers were worried because the price of grain never rose surpassing the increase of fertilizer’s price. That meant farmers would always carry a heavier load more than now. “Farmers have started getting nervous because of such heavy burdens,” said a member of Commission B of the Badung House. For that purpose, Puspa asked the government to provide moral and material support to farmers especially in Badung Regency. Farmers had not only to get fertilizer but also an incentive for their hard work in producing and preserving the ecology and cultural preservation. “The increase of price must be

balanced with the increase in fertilizer subsidies, and specifically for farmers in Badung, I will try to suggest the House to provide additional subsidies on responding to the increase of fertilizer’s price in the budget amendment of 2010, while encouraging the executives to prepare a formula for giving incentives to farmers in Badung,” he said. Head of Badung Agricultural, Plantation and Forestry Services, I Gusti Agung Made, last Sunday (Apr 11) also said about the plan of price rise of fertilizer. However, he could not ensure when the increase would happen. “Obviously, the increase of fertilizer’s price would be much more burdensome to farmers. However, the Badung Regency Government will attempt to help farmers as much as possible,” he said. (ded)

Mangupura (Bali Post)—

The atmosphere at the project site of pemelastian—purificatory procession for ritual paraphernalia to water spring—road at Kelod Hamlet, Ungasan, heated, last Sunday (Apr 11). About a thousand of people from 14 hamlets at Ungasan thronged the project site. Those residents refused to halt the project becoming the intention of the land owner. Such complicated case began when the landowner Ketut Sudia reported the contractor of melasti road construction to Denpasar Metro Police last March. The project contractor was accused of committing a theft. This also triggered the desire of the owner to stop the project. Its climax ensued last Sunday where a dozen of burly men came to location of melasti road project and attempted to close the road project concerned. Of course, local residents protested since earlier there has been an agreement on the use of the land for melasti road between Ungasan

Customary Village and the land owner. Some residents who knew about the attempt of the project closure directly hit the kul-kul wooden bell persistently and made people come out to the project location. Tensions among the two blocks of mass could be avoided because the mass taken by the landowner have left the location. Mr. Kembar as the project foreman said on the day before the incident he received a threat from unknown people. Such stranger threatened him to immediately stop the project on progress. “However, since it was the decision of customary village we are allowed to continue. Local residents themselves wanted the project to be completed soon,” he said. Meanwhile, an apparatus of customary village, Wayan Karbin was still reluctant to give comment. He said there would be a meeting specifically discussing about the conflict. “After the meeting, we can provide new information,” he promised. (ded)

In six days, 2,000 Vials of VAR run out at Sanglah Hospital The persistently high dog bite case in Bali makes the demands of antirabies vaccine (VAR) is also high. This condition can be seen from the VAR stock at Sanglah Hospital provided by Bali Health Services amounting to 2,000 vials has run out in six days. Secretary of Rabies Management Team of Sanglah Hospital, Ken Wirasandhi, said the 2,000 vials were estimated to run out within a week if the dog bite case stayed high. Seen from the above data, the average of daily VAR demand at Sanglah Hospital reached more than 333 vials. “Likelihood of high VAR demand at Sanglah Hospital is caused by the unavailability of VAR at Regency Hospital,” said Ken Wirasandhi when contacted last Sunday (Apr 10).

As has been known, effective from April 2010, Sanglah Hospital no longer bought the VAR but obtained the supply from the Bali Health Services. According to Ken up to these days, the distribution of VAR from Bali Health Services ran smoothly. Sanglah Hospital first got VAR stock from Bali Health Services in early April amounting to 2,000 vials and immediately ran out within six days. “We’ve requested 1,000 vials and immediately came, so it has been available,” said Ken. Meanwhile, regarding to rabies suspect patients from Abang, Karangasem, Ni Wayan Giratri who died last Thursday (Apr 8), according to Ken based on the results of the search on the history of patients, allegedly she did not die from rabies. (kmb24)

4

News

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

International

Kyrgyzstan’s deposed president gathers supporters

AP

Kyrgyzstan’s deposed President Kurmanbek Bakiyev AP

TEYIT, Kyrgyzstan – Kyrgyzstan’s deposed president on Monday rallied supporters in his home village, testing his ability to mount resistance to the opposition forces that drove him out of the capital last week. As about 500 people gathered in a muddy field in Kurmanbek Bakiyev’s native village of Teyit, the deputy head of the self-declared interim government said in the capital that an operation to arrest Bakiyev was being organized. “Just let him try. If he does, much blood will be shed,” Bakiyev told reporters who asked him about the statement by Almazbek Atambayev. Atambayev did not give details about the arrest plans, but said “we do not want fresh bloodshed.” At least 81 people died in the capital last Wednesday when a confrontation between police and protesters exploded into gunfire and chaos. Protesters stormed government buildings and Bakiyev fled to his native southern region. He has refused to step down and the rally in Teyit brought an array of speakers who vowed their support and waved banners with slogans such as “Hands off the legitimate president.” There were no uniformed police in view at the rally, and the loyalty of

the country’s security forces remains a significant question. The stalemate has left Kyrgyzstan’s near-term stability in doubt. That worries the West because a U.S. air base in Kyrgyzstan is crucial in the military campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan. Atambayev, echoing previous statements by interim government leader Roza Otunbayeva, said the base’s status will be discussed with the United States and “we shall decide everything in a civilized way.” Many Kyrgyz oppose the base and Atambayev expressed deep ambivalence. “This base is our common cause to provide stability in Afghanistan,” he said. But then he launched into criticism of the United States for allegedly cutting deals with Bakiyev’s family for contracts at the base. Alleged corruption by members of the Bakiyev family, including enriching themselves through fuel contracts for the base, was one of the top issues that brought out protesters last week. “While trying to preserve the base, you lost the respect of the people,” Atambayev said of the United States. Bakiyev told The Associated Press in an interview on Sunday that he had not ordered police to fire at protesters in the capital. “My conscience is clear,” he said. He strongly urged the United Nations to send a peacekeeping force to Kyrgyzstan, arguing that the nation’s police and the military are too weak to keep the unrest from spreading. “The people of Kyrgyzstan are very afraid,” Bakiyev said. “They live in terror.” In taking power Thursday, the interim leaders said they controlled four of Kyrgyzstan’s seven regions. By Saturday they claimed to have expanded their control throughout the country. Kyrgyzstan’s society is strongly clan-based, but there are few signs that Bakiyev could muster any significant tribal support in the south to challenge the self-declared interim government. Some analysts say that a hike in utility prices and massive corruption has set many southerners against Bakiyev.

“Red Shirt” protesters ride towards a rally site on a motorbike in central Bangkok.

AFP

Thai PM says ‘terrorists’ behind deadly unrest AFP

BANGKOK (AFP) – Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Monday that “terrorists” were behind deadly civil unrest in Bangkok over the weekend that left 21 people dead and more than 800 injured. “From the overall picture we clearly found that terrorists used pro-democracy protesters to incite the unrest, hoping for total change in our country,” he said in a nationally televised address. “We have to differentiate innocent people from terrorists and then we can map out further measures,” he said, adding that peaceful protesters’ demands for democracy should be addressed through politics.Saturday’s violence erupted when troops tried to clear one of two sites in the centre of the city which have been occupied by the “Red Shirt” protesters for the past

month. As the clashes intensified gunshots echoed around the city and both sides accused the other of using live ammunition. Emergency services said two protesters were killed by gunshot wounds to the head. The authorities said assault rifles and grenades were used by some people among the demonstrators. “I didn’t think among protesters there would be people using heavy weapons such as M16 and AK47 assault rifles and grenades. The military also suffered heavy losses,” Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told reporters.

Suthep, who is in charge of security operations, denied there was any rift between Abhisit’s administration and the army, saying, “I can reassure you that there is no problem between the government and the military.” Tourists shaken after Bangkok bloodshed Seventeen civilians, including a Japanese cameraman, and four soldiers were killed Saturday after the army launched a crackdown on the supporters of fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra. Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said shadowy groups were inciting unrest. “Currently some rogue people are driving a wedge between the people and the military,” he said. “We have to take decisive action against these rogue people otherwise our country cannot survive.”

Investigators say no problems with Polish plane AP

WARSAW, Poland – Russian investigators say readings from flight recorders indicate that there were no technical problems with Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s Soviet-made plane that crashed, killing him and 95 other people. In footage broadcast on Poland’s TVN24 Monday, the investigators told Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin the pilot was warned of bad weather over the airport in Smolensk, western Russia, before the plane crashed while

approaching the airport on Saturday. Kaczynski’s body returned to Warsaw on Sunday. Forensic experts and families are working to identify other bodies — including the first lady’s — and say DNA tests will be necessary in many cases.

People place lighted candles and flowers for Polish President Lech Kaczynski who died in a plane accident

AP

International IMIGRATION Australian Consulate General Jalan Tantular 32 Renon Denpasar Phone: +62 361 241118 Fax: +62 361 221195 (General) +62 361 241120 (Immigration)

General Info

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

HOSPITAL Denpasar There are 4 major hospitals usually used by foreigners Denpasar General Hospital (RSUP Sanglah), Kasih Ibu Hospital, Rumah Sakit Wongaya and Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada.

HOSPITAL Bangli Bangli General Hospital Jl. Kesumayuda 27, Bangli Phone : +62 366 91521 Gianyar

Royal Danish & Norwegian Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 070 The Czech Republic Jalan Pengembak No. 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.286 465 France Consulate Agency Jalan Merta Sari Gang II No. 8 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.285 485 The Federal Republic of Germany Jalan Pantai Karang No 17 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.288 535 The Republic of Hungary Jalan By Pass No 219 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.287 701 Italian Consulate Jalan By Pass Ngurah Rai Jimbaran, Bali Phone +62.361.701 005 Honorary Consulate of Mexico Jalan Mohamad Yamin 1 A, Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.223 266 Honorary Consulate of The Netherlands Jalan Raya Kuta 127, Bali Phone +62.361.761 506 Honorary Consulate of Spain Komplek Istana Kuta Galleria Blok Vallet 2 No 11. Jalan Patih Jelantik Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.769 286 USA Consulate Agency Jalan Hayam Wuruk No. 188 Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.222 426 Consulate General of Japan Jalan Raya Puputan No. 170 Renon, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.227 628 Honorary Consulate of British Jalan Tirta Nadi No. 20 Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.270 601 Swiss and Austria Consulate Jalan Patih Jelantik, Komplek Pertokoan Istana Galleria Phone +62.361.751 735 Honorary Consulate of Brazil Jalan Legian No. 186, Bali Phone +62.361.757 775 Honorary Consulate of Thailand Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 81, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.263 310 Embassy of India Jalan Raya Puputan Renon 42-44, Denpasar, Bali Phone +62.361.241 978 Honorary Consulate of Sweden anf Finland Segara Village Hotel, Jalan Segara Ayu, Sanur, Bali Phone +62.361.282 223 Honorary Consulate of Malaysia Alam Kulkul Boutique Resort, Jalan Pantai Kuta, Bali Phone +62.361.752 520

RSUP Sanglah is the main provincial public hospital. Its facilities have improved since the emergency ward had been built in 1991. Difficult/critical cases would not become a problem anymore since it has complete equipments. It is located on Jl. Kesehatan Selatan 1 Sanglah Denpasar with : Phone : 227 911 – 15 Fax : 226 363 Kasih Ibu Hospital is a private hospital which caters for less serious cases such as diarrhea, intestinal disorders, anemia, asthma and minor accidents. Kasih Ibu is also equipped to care for pregnant women. This hospital is located on Jl. Teuku Umar 120 Denpasar. Phone : 223 036 Fax : 268 690. Rumah Sakit Wongaya (Public Hospital; Psychiatric Unit) Jl. Kartini, Denpasar. Phone : 222 142. Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada , (Private) Jl. Sudirman No 50, Denpasar Phone : 227 560, 234 824 In relating with health, Bali also has insurance and medical evacuation company, that is: AEA International - SOS Assistance Bali. PT Abhaya Eka Astiti, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No. 24X, Kuta 80361. Phone : 755 768 Fax : 755 768 One thing that should be noted by tourists here is that the Blood Bank in Bali normally carries no stock of Rhesus (Rh) Negative blood. Badung Bali Medical Clinics There are some medical clinics that are well known by foreigners in Bali. Some of them are western owned and operated : Bali International Medical Center (BIMC) Bali International Medical Centre (BIMC) provides excellent Primary Health Care & Emeregency Medical Services for tourists, traveler, and expatriate living in Bali. Emeregency Room, Ambulance, Clinic Services, Insurance & Medical Evacuations also available. Open 24 hours Phone : 761 2631. Located Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai No.100X, Kuta, Bali 80361 - Indonesia. http://www.bimcbali.com International SOS Clinic Bali Opened in 1999, offers International SOS members and visitors to Bali comprehensive primary health care and 24-hour emergency medical service. Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 505X, Kuta 80361, Bali - Indonesia Phone : 720 100 Fax : 721 919 E-mail : info@sos-bali.com ttp ://www.sos-bali.com Bali Nusa Dua Emergency Clinic Jl Pratama No. 81 Phone : 771 324 Kuta Clinic Jl. Raya Kuta Phone : 753 268 Dental Clinic Dr Indra Guizot, Jl. Patimura 19, Denpasar Phone : 222 445, 234 375 DDS. Ritjie Rihartinah, Jl Pratama No. 81 Nusa Dua Phone : 771 324 Retno W. Agung, Jln. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.4A Br. Tamansari – Sanur Phone : 288 501

Clinic Mas Jl. Raya Mas, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974573 Toyo Clinic Jl. Pengosekan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 978078 Permata Bunda Clinic Jl. Patih Jelantik 50 X, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 942082 Ubud Clinic Jl Raya Ubud No.36 Campuhan, Ubud Phone : +62 361 974911 Gianyar General Hospital Jl. Ciung Wanara 2, Gianyar Phone : +62 361 943049 Karangasem Karangasem General Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai, Karangasem Phone : +62 363 21001 Klungkung Klungkung General Hospital Jl. Flamboyan 40-4, Klungkung Phone : +62 366 21371 Negara Negara General Hospital Jl. Gelar, Negara Phone : +62 365 41006 Tabanan Laboratorium Clinic Jl. Gunung semeru No. 8, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 819260 Mengwi Clinic Jl. I Gusti Ngurah Rai 46, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 880550 Darma Kerti Hospital Jl. Teratai 16, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 812359 Tabanan General Hospital Jl. Pahlawan 14, Tabanan Phone : +62 361 811027 Singaraja Prodia Clinic Jl. RA Kartini 12, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 24-516 Singaraja Hospital Jl. Ngurah Rai 30, Singaraja Bali 0362 - 22-573 Pet Clinics Kayumas: (0361) 226934 Sayang Binatang: (0361) 483121 Satwa Kertha Husada: (0361) 263018 Pantai Sindhu: (0361) 287518 Sidakarya: (0361) 724492 Pedungan: (0361) 720026

TAXIS Praja Taxi : (0361) 289090 Bali Taxi : (0361) 701111 Ngurah Rai Taxi : (0361) 724724 Pan Wirthi Taxi : (0361) 723366 Komotra Taxi : (0361) 758855

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6

News

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Reports: landslide derails train in northern Italy AP

ROME – A train was hit and derailed by a landslide in northern Italy Monday, leaving seven people dead and about 20 injured, rescue officials and news reports said. The accident happened near the city of Merano, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) north of Venice. Sky Italia said there were seven dead. The ANSA news agency said some of the 20 people injured were in serious condition and had been taken to hospitals. Local rescue officials were not immediately available to confirm as they rushed to the scene. Florian Schrofenneger of the firefighters in nearby Bolzano told Sky Italia that a landslide had hit the train. He did not immediately know how many people were aboard the train.

The picture show firemen inspect the area where the train derailed in Italy

AP

Pakistan: 41 militants, 2 soldiers die in fighting AP

PARACHINAR, Pakistan – More than 100 militants armed with rockets and automatic weapons attacked two security checkpoints in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, sparking intense fighting that left at least 41 insurgents and two soldiers dead, officials said. The clashes were the latest violence in the Orakzai tribal region,

where the military launched an operation in March to rout Pakistani Taliban fighters who have fled there to escape other offensives. More than 300 suspected militants have been killed in three weeks of constant airstrikes and occasional ground clashes. The U.S. has applauded Pakistan’s push to go after militants in the volatile border area near Afghanistan. But American officials would like the country to do more to target those

Reuters –

A man stands amid the rubble of a government agriculture office in Khyber Agency

fighters who have been staging cross-border attacks against U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Security forces successfully repelled the attacks early Monday morning against checkpoints in the villages of Shireen Dara and Sangrana in Lower Orakzai, local administrator Samiullah Khan said. Three soldiers were wounded in the fighting, he said. “More then 100 militants attacked the security checkpoint in Shireen Dara,” Khan said. “They fought a gunbattle for two hours and fired several rockets.” After the battles subsided, authorities found the bodies of 15 dead militants around the two checkpoints, said two intelligence officials. Insurgents removed the bodies of at least 26 others who were killed, they said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Fighter jets destroyed three militant hide-outs in Sangram village in Orakzai on Sunday, killing 10 suspected insurgents, Khan said. A day earlier, similar strikes killed nearly 100 suspected militants in the Orakzai and Khyber tribal areas, according to officials. Government reports are almost impossible to independently verify because journalists are prohibited from traveling to the country’s semiautonomous tribal areas.

Bomb explodes outside MI5 headquarters in Northern Ireland Reuters

BELFAST (Reuters) – Republican militants exploded a bomb in a hijacked taxi behind a British army barracks in Northern Ireland on Monday, minutes after the transfer of police and justice powers from London to Belfast was completed. The Real IRA, which last year killed two British soldiers at a barracks in the deadliest act of violence in Northern Ireland in more than a decade, claimed responsibility for the blast in a call to local media. Police said one elderly man was injured in the attack at the barracks in County Down, which houses the headquarters of Britain’s domestic spy agency MI5 in the province. Intelligence issues handled by MI5 will remain under British control despite Monday’s transfer. “The taxi driver got out (of the car) and shouted ‘It’s a bomb, it’s a bomb!’ and we were evacuating the area when it exploded,” a police spokeswoman said. The blast at 12:24 a.m. (7:24 p.m. ET) coincided with the latest stage in the Northern Ireland peace process — the handing over of powers to Belfast from London and a vote in the province’s assembly on Monday on a new justice minister. A leading assembly member and member of Northern Ireland’s Policing Board, which oversees the

Obama... From page 1 Medvedev also arrives Monday to sign a long-delayed agreement to dispose of tons of weapons-grade plutonium from Cold War-era nuclear weapons — the type of preventive action Obama wants the summit to inspire. Obama welcomes the assembled world leaders at a Washington convention center late Monday afternoon, but begins the day with a morning meeting with Jordan’s King Abdullah II, whose intelligence apparatus is deeply involved in the Afghan war. He then will sit down one-on-one with the leaders of Malaysia, Ukraine, Armenia and China. National Security Council spokesman Ben Rhodes said Obama would

work of the police, said the shifting of policing powers to local politicians for the first time in almost 40 years would prompt similar attacks. “We are going to have to expect more of this over the next period of time, the devolution of policing and justice was never going to be just straightforward and easy,” Basil McCrea of the Ulster Unionist party told Reuters. Northern Ireland Secretary of State Shaun Woodward condemned the car bomb attack. “The democratic transition (of justice powers) stands in stark contrast to the activity of a criminal few who will not accept the will of the majority of people of Northern Ireland. They have no support anywhere,” Woodward said in a statement. REDUCTION IN SUPPORT

There has been a series of attacks by dissident republicans in recent months as politicians edged toward an agreement on policing and justice, the last piece of the devolution process begun by a 1998 peace deal that ended three decades of violence. Analysts have predicted unrest will continue from the dissidents who do not believe in a political process to further their campaign for a united Ireland and police have assessed the risk of attack as severe. squeeze in a meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkey is a key NATO ally, and relations have been difficult recently, particularly over Iran. Rhodes said there were additional “pressing issues,” including normalization of relations between Turkey and Armenia. Throughout the two-day gathering, Iran will be a subtext as Obama works to gain support for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to shut down what the United States and many key allies assert is a nuclear weapons program. Iran says it only wants to build reactors to generate electricity. Support from Medvedev and Chinese President Hu Jintao, who sees Obama privately Monday, is critical, but neither is firmly committed to a new sanctions regime.

Support... From page 1 Hatoyama’s government has launched a review of a 2006 pact to move the base to a quieter coastal region of Okinawa, where locals also oppose it, and said it may be moved elsewhere in Japan or even outside the country. The United States has repeatedly urged Japan to stick to the original deal, saying it was the best solution to ease the burden for Okinawa while maintaining the defence of Japan and security in the region. Japanese media reports have said Obama did not agree to a formal meet-

ing with Hatoyama during his visit to Washington but the prime minister said he would have an informal meeting. “I think I’ll be able to discuss various issues with President Obama informally,” Hatoyama told reporters before leaving Japan. “I plan to tell him, let’s cooperate so that we’ll be able to reach a conclusion” on the issue by late May, Hatoyama’s self-imposed deadline. Okinawa, which saw some of the bloodiest battles of World War II, hosts more than half of the 47,000 US forces in Japan. Of the 85 US military facilities in the country, 33 are on Okinawa or tiny neighbouring islands.

International

Indonesia Today

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

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President: Islam, democracy, modernization can develop together Antara

JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Islam, democracy, and modernization can develop side by side to form a modern and democratic nation without abandoning religious values. “We in Indonesia have seen that Islam, democracy and modernization can grow together. There is no conflict between religious, spiritual and political obligations as citizens in pluralism and the capability to participate in the modern world,” the President said in his opening speech at the Sixth Assembly of the World Movement for Democ-

racy here Monday. Islam-based political parties in Indonesia are among the strong supporters of democracy, he said. “This moderate view of openness and tolerance in Indonesia and other communities in the world is a seed of harmonious life among civilizations in the 21st century,” he said.

At present, democracy in Indonesia continues to grow and the country enjoys the third best economic growth among G-20 member states, after China and India, according to the head of state. It showed that democracy and economic growth can happen at the same time, he said. The three-day meeting is being participated in by 625 people, including democracy activists, practitioners, and academics from 110 countries. The agenda will focus on ways to expand democracy movements within all cultures, as well as on ways to develop mutually supporting cross-cul-

Indonesian police escort arrested terror suspects (Chooded) after their transfer at Banda Aceh airport on April 12, 2010 from the Sumatran city of Medan following the arrests of six suspects the day before.

AFP PHOTO / SUPARTA

RI, China urged to renegotiate Tangguh Gas price Antara

JAKARTA - Oil and gas observer Pri Agung Rakhmanto urged the Indonesian government to renegotiate the price of the Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) price which had been agreed between the two countries. “It is not impossible for the government to renegotiate the price. It can do that during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao planned later this month. The price

both nations have agreed is low,” Rakhmanto said here on Sunday. Rakhmanto, who is director of ReforMiner, said that the government should be able to maximally utilize the Chinese prime minister‘s visit to renegotiate the price. He said that China was now intensifying its efforts to find energy supplies to generate its economy which has been growing well over the pat several years. “China is now in need of energy.

The government should take this opportunity to offer a review for the Tangguh gas price,” he said. Besides Tangguh, Indonesia could also make use of the Chinese leader‘s visit to obtain investment and oil exploration commitment from China, especially commitment for explorations in the country‘s eastern regions. It was known that the eastern regions of Indonesia keep big oil reserves and the government was seeking investors to tap the potentials.

Rupiah strengthens to nearly Rp9,000 per dollar Antara

JAKARTA - The rupiah strengthened to nearly Rp9,000 per US dollar, as investors continued to buy up the local currency in the Jakarta interbank spot market here, Monday.

The Indonesian currency traded Rp9,002 - Rp9,012 per US dollar, up 12 points from Rp9,020-Rp9,030 per US dollar. The market was still positive towards the rupiah and bolstered the local unit to approach the level of Rp9,000 per US dollar, Edwin Sinaga, a domes-

tic money market observer, said. “We expect the rupiah to reach the level of Rp9,000 per US dollar, as positive boost is still existing,” he said. The rupiah was expected to be stable at the range of between Rp9,000 and Rp9,050 per US dollar, he said.

tural relationships to advance democracy in all global regions, to advance the World Movement’s ongoing Defending Civil Society and Assessing Democracy Assistance projects, and to address the challenges to democracy in such areas as anti-corruption, freedom of expression, youth engagement, independent media, human rights, local governance, elections, political party development, women’s political participation, and ethnic and religious inclusion. WMD is a global network of democrats, including activists, practitioners,

academics, policy makers, and funders, who have come together to cooperate in the promotion of democracy. The Washington, DC-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) initiated the nongovernmental effort with the holding of a global Assembly in New Delhi, India, in February 1999 to strengthen democracy where it was weak, to reform and invigorate democracy even where it is longstanding, and to bolster pro-democracy groups in countries that have not yet entered into a process of democratic transition.

Indonesia hails new Australian asylum-seeker policy Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesia said Monday that Australia’s decision to stop processing asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka will be “positive” for the region’s fight against trafficking. Foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said the tough new policy, which has been condemned by rights watchdogs and refugee supporters, would have a direct impact on the movement of undocumented migrants around Southeast Asia. “It will have a positive impact on the region, not just one particular country... it could be Indonesia, Malaysia or Thailand,” he told AFP, referring to other countries with entrenched people trafficking syndicates. “This is definitely a clear message to those who try to smuggle migrants, that they are only offering false hopes because there’s nothing visible on the horizon,” he said. “For the network of smugglers,

they will now have to think twice about sending migrants to Australia.” Critics have called Australia’s move last week a knee-jerk reaction to political pressure over border security ahead of elections, but Faizasyah said Canberra gave it a lot of thought. “What Australia has done is a process of evaluation and discussion. They must have gone through discussions and a period of thinking this through,” he said, adding that the full impact would not be felt for “weeks or months”. He refused to speculate on how the hundreds of Afghan and Sri Lankan migrants in Indonesian detention centers would react to the news that they had no chance of being accepted as refugees in Australia. In the most high-profile case, about 200 ethnic Tamil Sri Lankans who were intercepted on their way to Australia in a boat in October are refusing to leave a Javanese port until they are allowed to resettle in Australia.

RI, China urged to renegotiate Tangguh Gas price Antara

JAKARTA - Oil and gas observer Pri Agung Rakhmanto urged the Indonesian government to renegotiate the price of the Tangguh liquefied natural gas (LNG) price which had been agreed between the two countries. “It is not impossible for the government to renegotiate the price. It can do that during the visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao planned later this month. The price both nations have agreed is low,” Rakhmanto said here on Sunday. Rakhmanto, who is director of ReforMiner, said that the government should be able to maximally utilize the Chinese prime minister‘s visit to re-

negotiate the price. He said that China was now intensifying its efforts to find energy supplies to generate its economy which has been growing well over the pat several years. “China is now in need of energy. The government should take this opportunity to offer a review for the Tangguh gas price,” he said. Besides Tangguh, Indonesia could also make use of the Chinese leader‘s visit to obtain investment and oil exploration commitment from China, especially commitment for explorations in the country‘s eastern regions. It was known that the eastern regions of Indonesia keep big oil reserves and the government was seeking investors to tap the potentials.

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Internationa

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Bali Today Nusa Penida faces shortage of fish Bali Post

SEMARAPURA - Fisherman of Nusa Penida, especially the fishermen at Karangsari Hamlet, Suana Village started had to tighten belts. They are now facing a shortage of fish where they could not expect much from the catch to supplement their income to meet daily needs. “Indeed, these months are not the season of fish. Therefore, fishermen have to be patient while waiting for the fish season comes,” said one of the Karangsari residents, Nyoman Suarta, last Sunday (Apr 11). According Suarta, the fish season would just come in August 2010. They had to wait for about four months. Nevertheless, Suarta said, it did not necessarily mean that local fishermen turned unemployed right away. They still came down to catch fish despite the consequences they got minimal catches. “During the fish season, fishermen can catch 1,000 fishes in once departure. However, beyond the season as this month, maximal catch ranges between 50100 fishes in once departure,” he said, while mentioning the local fishermen put to sea since 04.00 am until 09:00 am Local Time. Indeed, the price of fish beyond the season like this month became higher than that during the season. The price of tuna ranged between IDR 2,000 to IDR 3,000 each. “During the season, 5 fishes are worth IDR 1, 000,” he added. Operational costs of fishermen for once departure was averagely IDR 65,000 for fuel mixed with lubricant. Its usage would depend on the distance traveled by fisherman. If fishermen wanted to catch tuna, for the installation of nets, the fishermen needed 10

liters of fuel plus other operational costs. However, if they wanted to catch kokak or white-spotted Grouper, the mileage for net installation could spend up to 35 liters of fuel. Different from tuna, added Suarta, the selling price of white-spotted Grouper was even higher. Some were sold at IDR 16 thousand each, while others could reach IDR 35 thousand each. “It highly depends on the type. The most expensive is white-spotted Grouper of big eyes,” he said. Meanwhile, other than persisting on putting to sea, when facing the months beyond of fish season, the fishermen would preferred to help their wives cultivate seaweed. Or they might focus their activity on cattle breeding such as pigs and cows. Almost all heads of households (families) in Nusa Penida, especially Karangsari, Suana, have at least one cow or pig. “In addition, Karangsari residents also have a backup in the form of a teak tree. Indeed, today they are still of a medium-sized or costs IDR 2 million per plant. But, if they wait until 10 years from now, the price can be tripled each,” added Suarta. (kmb20)

http://www.indosmarin.com

Children help their parents that work as fishermen. Fisherman of Nusa Penida, especially the fishermen at Karangsari Hamlet, Suana Village started had to tighten belts. They are now facing a shortage of fish where they could not expect much from the catch to supplement their income to meet daily needs.

Choose diving packages carefully!

BTN/Doc

A group of tourists goes to Nusa Lembongan to go diving. Diving, as one of Bali’s marine tourism attractions, is being threatened due to the loss of attractiveness caused by the act of irresponsible middlemen or individual brokers.

Diving, as one of Bali’s marine tourism attractions, is being threatened due to the loss of attractiveness caused by the act of irresponsible middlemen or individual brokers. This is evident from the many complaints from its aficionados. This statement was made by the Head of Badung Government Tourism Office, I Made Subawa, when describing the potential of marine tourism in the region. According to Subawa, sales of diving packages in the South Badung region were fiercely competitive, driving individual brokers to sell the package far below its actual price. For example, the standard price per tank at USD 65 for 45 minutes for foreign tourists was sold at USD 30. As a consequence, the service of this package decreased from 45 minutes to some 10 minutes. Such activities, he said, could disrupt the image of tourism in general, and this could also be felt also by the surrounding communities. As such, the Badung Government Tourism Office would not keep silent – it responded by gathering the operators and making a deal.

Diving packages had to be sold in accordance with the normal price, so the quality of service would not diminish. “Should there be any diving operator employing an individual broker, the operator has agreed to close the business,” he said. “Apart from diving, there are other marine tourism attractions currently favored by tourists such as parasailing, banana boat, flying fish, water ski, wade board, dolphin-watching tours, fishing and snorkeling. Most tourists coming to Bali would feel that their holiday was not complete if they had not enjoyed one of these attractions,” he said. One of the important aspects of marine tourism, according to the Head of Badung Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Made Badra, are coral reefs. The coral reefs of Bali are part of the golden triangle with Bunaken (North Sulawesi) and Irian Jaya. To avoid damage to the coral reefs, the Badung government allocated a fund worth IDR 1.6 billion for their maintenance. As a result of this fund, the coral reefs in Badung are set to become even more attractive by 2015. (BTN/BB)

al

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Balinese Culture Raja Ampat open representative office in Bali Antara

DENPASAR – One of the famous marine tourism sites in the world, Raja Ampat in western Papua will open its representative office in Bali. There is great hope that the new office will make the tourism site visited by more tourists. Fitriyanti, the public relation of Raja Ampat tourism site, said “the tourism resort has many uniqueness. The tourists who dive in Raja Ampat will see a beautiful marine view under water. That is part of the reason why we open our office in Bali.” She said that the opening of the office will be done on Thursday, April 15th 2010 in Sanur. Abraham Attururi, the governor of western Papua also will attend the opening ceremony. In the opening ceremony, there will be a book review about Raja Ampat. “The book review entitled Bring Raja Ampat to the World, and several speakers also will speak in the event,” Fitriyanti added. Raja Ampat resort is located in Raja Ampat island in Raja Ampat regency in western Papua. The big islands located on Papua Island are Gam Island, Waigeo, Salawati, and

Batanta Island. From Sorong, the capital city of western Papua province, the resort can be reached by rented planed for 45 minutes. The visitors of Raja Ampat resort are mostly foreign tourists. The beautiful view under water

can be enjoyed almost all year long. By the divers’ community in the world, Raja Ampat is considered one of the most beautiful diving spot in the world. “Raja Ampat has coral reefs, fish, and other ecosystem which is very beautiful,” Fitriyanti said.

http://www.wallpaperweb.org

The photo shows the beautiful view of Raja Ampat, one of the famous diving sites in the world. One of the famous marine tourism sites in the world, Raja Ampat in western Papua will open its representative office in Bali. There is great hope that the new office will make the tourism site visited by more tourists.

Bebek Betutu

(Roast Duck in Banana Leaf) OVERVIEW: The rich flavor of duck is greatly enhanced by a host of pungent roots, herbs and seasonings in this dish, which is invariably a great favorite with visitors to Bali. The Balinese have great admiration for the duck and consider it to be a particularly strong animal as it is, like the turtle, the only one able to survive on land as water. INGREDIENTS: 1 whole duck, weigh about 2 kg (4 ½ lb) 18 shallots, peeled, cut in half, and sliced 6 cloves garlic, peeled, cut in half, & sliced 3 stalks lemon grass, finely sliced 5 fragrant lime leaves, finely sliced 6 candlenuts, chopped 5 cm (2 in), ginger, peeled and chopped 8 cm (3in) fresh turmeric, peeled, chopped 8 cm (3in) kencur root, peeled, chopped 1 tsp black peppercorns, crushed 5 bird’s-eye chilies, slices 1 tsp coriander seeds, crushed 2 tsp dried shrimp paste, roasted and coarsely crushed 1½ tbsp salt 3 tbsp oil Banana leaves, greaseproof paper or aluminum foil for wrapping PREPARATION: Wipe the duck dry and set aside. Combine all ingredients except banana leafs in a bowl and mix well. Rub the duck outside with this mixture and fill the center of the duck with the remainder. Close open duck with satay skewer. Wrap in several layers of banana leaves, greaseproof paper or foil and steam for 50 minutes. Transfer duck to a moderate oven and bake at 180o C (350o F) for 30 minutes. Remove banana leaves, cut duck meat up in small pieces and serve with stuffing. When cooked, the meat should be so tender that it falls off the bones. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Destinations

International

Kusamba Beach

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KUSAMBA Beach is one of the favorite places of interest in Bali which is famous with the beautiful beach. The boat line with the outrigger belong to the fisherman from countryside are decorating the black sand unfolding along the coastal. Nusa Penida Island is across view which is only occupied by 40.000 people. Kusamba own the marvelous view with the splashing wave from the ocean and it is surrounded the tropical atmosphere with soft sea breeze. Name of Kusamba is factually not far from the struggle history of Balinese in fight against the Dutch colonist. During the war against the Dutch in Kusamba on 23-24 May 1849, the Balinese hero had succeeds to make afraid the Dutch soldier and had killed the Dutch key man - Letnan General Michiel. We can see the fisherman are looking after the prawn seed, send the rice, legume, fruits and other materials to Nusa Penida twice a day. The fisherman from Kusamba with the big boat and five crews can

squire the material heavy as of 1,5 cargo ton to Nusa Penida. They can across the sea from Banjar Tri Buana, Banjar Bias Coastal and Kampung Island Coastal with 30 minutes until 2 hours time differences and it is depend to the type and transportation medium speed utilized. Beside of that, this boat can also squire the passengers who wish to enjoy the beautiful coral and the white sand coastal in the island cross of Bali . Segara Beach in Kusamba is especially for the Hindu ritual activities which are often conducted the activity of Nganyut in line with Ngaben Ceremony (Cremation Ceremony). We can also meet a fish market in this place which is usually held between 10 am until 4 pm. The strait between Bali and Nusa Penida Island is dwelt by a lot of fish, hence it is crowded by the white sail of fisherman boat decorates the sea around the Kusamba beach. At the west side of this coastal, especially in Banjar Batur, there are 40 families of fisherman as the traditional salt maker. (www.balistarisland.com)

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

11

BUSINESS Euro zone readies giant rescue package for Greece Reuters BRUSSELS - Euro zone finance ministers approved a giant 30-billion-euro ($40 billion) emergency aid mechanism for debt-plagued Greece on Sunday, but stressed Athens had not requested the plan be activated yet.

Together with at least 10 billion euros expected from the International Monetary Fund in the first year, it could add up to the biggest multilateral financial rescue ever attempted. “With today’s decision, Europe sends a very clear message that no one, any longer, can play with our common currency, no one can play with our common fate,” Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou said in a statement. The news drove the euro to its highest levels in nearly a month in early Asian trade on Monday, reaching $1.3665 from $1.3488 in New York on Friday. In a rare weekend telephone conference, finance ministers of the 16 nations that share the single European currency backed a detailed plan for Greece to borrow from eurozone governments and the IMF at significantly below market rates. IMF chief, Dominique StraussKahn, said the IMF was ready to provide help, possibly through a multiyear standby loan arrangement, and is set to hold talks with Greek, EU

and European Central Bank officials in Brussels on April 12. “The IMF stands ready to join the effort, including through a multiyear stand-by arrangement, to the extent needed and requested by the Greek authorities,” he said in a statement. He welcomed the euro zone’s financial package for Greece, calling it an important step that will also help safeguard financial stability in the euro area as a whole. A Greek Finance Ministry official said it was logical to expect the package would amount to significantly more than 40 billion euros over 3 years. Earlier in the day, he had said it could hit 80 billion euros, but later corrected this. If Greece obtains aid, the package could dwarf past IMF bailouts for Mexico and Argentina. The largest IMF commitment ever made to a country was the $47 billion arrangement for Mexico approved in April 2009 under a so-called flexible credit line; Mexico has not drawn from the credit line.

The firepower in the Greek package, even if held in reserve, may reassure investors and make them more willing to continue buying Greek bonds. But big uncertainties remain over the longer-term prospects for reducing Greece’s debt mountain, which have dented confidence in the euro. The Greek official said the government would decide within a few days whether to ask for the aid, depending on whether market interest rates subside. European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said the 3-year euro zone loans would carry an interest rate of about 5 percent — well below current market rates of about 7.3 percent. That responds to Greece’s appeal to be able to borrow at rates closer to its peers in the currency area. Assistance for subsequent years would be decided later. “If the mechanism had to be activated, it would not be a violation of the no-bailout clause (in the European Union treaty) since the loans are

repayable and contain no element of subsidy,” Jean-Claude Juncker, chairman of the Eurogroup of finance ministers, told a Brussels news conference. A German government official welcomed the agreement, which he said should enable Greece to do its fiscal “homework” on deficit reduction without market distraction. “It should contribute to a calming of the markets so that Greece can take care of its homework in peace and quiet.” Rehn said all euro zone countries would pay proportionately to their share in the ECB’s capital, making Germany by far the biggest lender, followed by France and Italy. Talks on coordination with the IMF will begin on Monday, he said. The agreement was urgently awaited because Athens is due to auction short-term debt on Tuesday after investors last week sent Greek borrowing costs spiraling due to fears of a possible default and doubts over the EU safety net. Papandreou made clear in a newspaper interview that detailing the rescue plan was a last-ditch effort to deter speculation against his country. “The question remains whether this mechanism will convince mar-

IATA chief says more airline mergers a must Reuters

TOKYO - Further mergers among airlines are essential in order to cut costs and improve competitiveness in an industry seen sustaining combined losses of $2.8 billion this year, the head of airline industry body IATA said on Monday. “Mergers and consolidation is a must ... No other industry is so fragmented, so we have to consolidate in order to build more efficiency,” Giovanni Bisignani, director-general of the International Air Transport Association, told a few reporters. He called for regulatory support for barrier-free mergers across borders, explaining that different legal frameworks have hindered extensive global industry consolidation, involving, for example, U.S. and European airlines. “I’m raising the agenda of freedom on consolidation because we cannot do the same thing (as in Europe, where some cross-border mergers have been helped by unified legal frameworks) between an American and a European carrier.” Asked about a possible merger between United Airlines and US Airways, he said he would not comment on individual deals.

“There are many conversations going on. Everyone is dating, but I make no comments on dating,” Bisignani said. He is visiting Japan to meet transport minister Seiji Maehara later on Monday. The industry body chief said he will ask the minister to improve the cost competitiveness and infrastructure of Japan’s Narita and Haneda international airports.

“You are located in a wonderful part of the world, with China in front of you,” Bisignani continued. “That is the only opportunity that you have. Take advantage of this area of the world where traffic is still growing.” IATA said on March 30 that airlines were climbing out of recession with strong rises in passenger travel and cargo in February. Passenger de-

mand that month was up 9.5 percent from a year earlier, while supply increased by only 1.9 percent. IATA, which comprises about 230 airlines, including United Airlines and US Airways, forecast last month that carriers would lose a combined $2.8 billion this year after a $9.4 billion loss last year, but should post a combined profit in 2011.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

Airplanes belonging to US Airways and United Airlines stand parked at their gates and taxi on the tarmac at Ronald Reagan National Airport April 8, 2010 in Washington, DC. Further mergers among airlines are essential in order to cut costs and improve competitiveness in an industry seen sustaining combined losses of $2.8 billion this year, the head of airline industry body IATA said on Monday.

kets just like a gun on the table. If it does not convince them, it is a mechanism that it is there to be used,” he told the Sunday edition of To Vima. But Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou told reporters after Sunday’s decision that Greece hoped to be able to continue to borrow smoothly on financial markets. Skepticism over Greece’s ability to manage its 300 billion euro ($400 billion) debt pile, more than its 240 billion euro annual economic output, grew last week. Investors dumped Greek stocks and bonds, and ratings agency Fitch downgraded Athens’s debt by two notches on Friday. Fitch lowered Greece’s credit rating to BBB-, the lowest investment grade just above junk, saying a deepening recession and rising debt service costs would make it harder for Athens to meet its budget deficit reduction target. The government has imposed tough austerity measures to meet a pledge to cut the public deficit by four percentage points of gross domestic product to 8.7 percent this year. Juncker said data provided by Greece showed the fiscal consolidation programme were encouraging and showed Athens was on track to reach this year’s target. Rehn said Greece would not be asked for further cuts this year, but would have to take more deficit-cutting steps, notably on pensions, in following years. Strong public opposition to any bailout for Greece in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy and main paymaster, had fueled market doubts about the availability of any rescue. Germany, the Netherlands and Austria argued that any emergency loans should be at current market rates to avoid moral hazard that would ensue if profligate countries were rewarded. However, euro zone officials broke the deadlock on Friday, based on the IMF pricing formula with adjustments, Rehn said. The euro, which has been dragged down by concerns over Greece and possible contagion with other weak Mediterranean euro zone economies, rebounded slightly on news of Friday’s technical agreement among deputy finance ministers and central bankers. The risk premium that investors charge to hold Greek debt rather than benchmark 10-year German bonds narrowed to just over 400 basis points after hitting a record 454 on Thursday. However, any durable reduction in the spread will depend on the credibility of the EU rescue plan and markets’ assessment of how likely it is to be invoked. Greece needs to borrow about 11 billion euros by the end of May to refinance maturing debt and interest charges. Its overall 2010 borrowing requirement is 53 billion euros.

12

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Entertainment

International

One for Amy: Lefty claims his third green jacket Associated Press Writer

AUGUSTA, Ga. – As Phil Mickelson strolled up to the 18th green, his third green jacket locked up, he wondered if his wife would be waiting for him. She’d been there the first two times he won the Masters, but he would’ve understood if she decided to skip this victory celebration. Yet there she was, waiting with an embrace they’ll remember for a lifetime. “I normally don’t shed tears over wins,” Mickelson said, his eyes watering. “When Amy and I hugged off 18, that was a very emotional moment for us. I’ll cherish every moment of this week.” Eleven months ago, Amy Mickelson was diagnosed with breast cancer. While the prognosis is good, she’s worn down physically. It’s tough to get out among the crowds at a place such as Augusta National. “She didn’t feel well and she doesn’t have energy,” her husband said. “To have her here and share this moment and share the joy of winning on 18, and to share this with my kids, is something that we’ll look back on the rest of our lives.” So, a tournament that started with the focus on a guy who committed serial adultery, ended with a victory celebration that was much more family friendly. This has been a trying year for Mickelson, who not only dealt with his wife’s illness, but his mother’s, too. She also is battling

breast cancer. Not surprising that he’s been distracted from the game he plays for a living. Lefty arrived at Augusta National without a top five finish all year. But he’s always felt as comfortable at this course as any other, winning his first major here in 2004, then another two years later. When his family arrived — Amy, their three kids and his mother — Mickelson knew this might be the week he started playing like himself again. He opened with a 5-under 67. He closed with two more 67s on the weekend. Mickelson played with that same bravado and confidence that has always been his trademark — and often his undoing. He certainly could’ve gone either way at the par-5 13th hole, where he followed a clutch birdie putt in Amen Corner that gave him the outright lead by pushing his drive into the trees along the right side of the fairway. Most golfers would have played it safe, punched out into the fairway to give themselves at least a shot at birdie and no worse than par. Not Mickelson. He saw an opening between the trees and decided to go for the green — 207 yards away — with a 6-iron. “I had a good lie in the pine needles,” Mickelson explained. “I was going to have to go through that gap if I laid up or went for the green. I was going to have to hit a decent shot.

AP Photo/Chris O’Meara

Phil Mickelson talks to his wife Amy after winning the Masters golf tournament in Augusta, Ga., Sunday, April 11, 2010.

AP Photo/20th Century Fox, Myles Aronowitz, File

In this file publicity image released by 20th Century Fox, Tina Fey, left, and Steve Carell are shown in a scene from, ‘Date Night.’ The No. 1 spot at the weekend box office is too close to call between Steve Carell and Tina Fey’s comedy ‘Date Night’ and the action tale ‘Clash of the Titans.’

‘Titans’ clashes with ‘Date Night’ at box office Steve Carell and Tina Fey are in a box-office clash with the gods of Mount Olympus. No. 1 bragging rights for the weekend were too close to call Sunday, with 20th Century Fox estimating a $27.1 million debut for Carell and Fey’s comedy “Date Night” and Warner Bros. reporting the action tale “Clash of the Titans” at $26.9 million. Rankings will be sorted out Monday when studios release final numbers, which can vary by $1 million or more for some films compared with Sunday estimates. Warner executives said they tracked “Clash of the Titans” as No. 1 for a second straight weekend, with “Date Night” trailing by about $1 million. “I’m not complaining about it,” said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner. “They’re certainly entitled to their own projection, and we’ll see. Maybe they’re right and we’re wrong. Monday will tell.” Photo finishes are rare for the No. 1 spot at the box office, where one movie usually is the clear winner. Weekend projections include fairly hard figures for Friday and Saturday but estimates for how much a movie will take in on Sunday. Studios base those estimates on such factors as how similar movies performed in past weekends. Studios sometimes

grumble that competitors inflate their Sunday numbers to make a debut look stronger. “You can’t do that,” said Bert Livingston, a 20th Century Fox distribution executive. “What you do is you look up history, you come up with your best-guess scenario. The number is the number. Whatever it is, if it ends up being No. 1 or 5 or 6, we just estimate our numbers.” Winning the top spot at the box office is a valuable marketing edge, allowing a studio to proclaim its release as the No. 1 movie in advertising through the following weekend. Even if rankings change on Monday, it’s often the Sunday figures that linger in the minds of movie fans, who may not bother to check out the final numbers a day later.

Jennifer Lopez: ‘I Have So Much Respect For Single Moms’ JENNIFER Lopez was really acting in her new movie “The BackUp Plan” because she could never imagine herself as a single mom. The actress/singer plays an unlucky-inlove single, who decides to have a child alone - and then falls for Mr. Right - in the romantic comedy. She admits playing a mom-to-be was easy because she could still remember what it was like to be pregnant in real life, but she couldn’t imagine having kids without a partner, like her character. She tells WENN, “If I hadn’t met (husband)

Marc (Anthony) I wouldn’t have kids. It’s just too hard. I have so much respect for single moms or those women who find themselves a single mother. To choose to be a single mother is so courageous to me. It is such a hard job to raise a child and to be everything to that child without a partner. It is just admirable and brave. I don’t know if I could do it on my own.” Meanhile Lopez has urged stressed-out mothers to pamper themselves at least once a week to stop parenthood from driving them

crazy. The singer/actress juggles her responsibilities as a mom to twoyear-old twins Max and Emme with her busy career, but insists she wouldn’t be able to balance the two if she didn’t take some time to herself to indulge in her favorite hobby. She tells Redbook magazine, “We (mothers) tend to give away a lot. We take care of a lot of people, and we can’t forget to take care of ourselves. If that means once a week you’re going to go off without the kids... and just go shoe shopping well, that’s me, because I love shoes

- or get a facial even if your sister thinks that’s selfish, or join a Zumba (dance aerobics) class, or take a painting class, or whatever, you’ve just got to do it. It’s just two hours a week, for heaven’s sake.” “I’m not different from any other mom who feels the need to go out there and work to provide the best for their kids. I ask myself, ‘What would make me the best me to my kids?’ And that’s being a happy, healthy individual who has a sense of fulfillment and can give them everything they need.”

“That’s why everyone wants to be No. 1 on Sunday, because with the Internet, by Monday, it’s kind of old news,” said Paul Dergarabedian, box-office analyst for Hollywood.com. “Date Night” casts Carell and Fey as a married couple whose attempt to spice up their romantic life leads to misadventure after thugs mistake them for blackmailers. Clash of the Titans” features Sam Worthington as a warrior caught in a battle between men and the gods in ancient Greece. The movie raised its 10-day total to $110.5 million. Running a close No. 3 was DreamWorks Animation’s “How to Train Your Dragon,” which took in $25.4 million, lifting its 17day total to $133.9 million.

Life Style

International

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

13

Alaska eagle survives plunge after mating dance Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – An acrobatic display of passion proved too much for a pair of eagles engaged in a mating dance over Alaska’s Prince William Sound. The female bird is recovering from an injured wing and other injuries sustained when the couple slammed beak-first into a hard snowbank in what her rescuers believe was an aerial courting ritual gone awry. The male eagle died in the impact, which left the birds buried upside down at least two feet in the snow in the town of Valdez.

AP Photo/Bob Benda

This Sunday, April 4, 2010 picture provided by Bob Benda, a bird rescuer and biology professor at Prince William Sound Community College, shows a female eagle who fell into the snow in Valdez, Alaska. An acrobatic display of passion proved too much for a pair of eagles engaged in a mating dance in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. The surviving female bird is recovering from injuries sustained when the winged couple slammed beak first into a hard snowbank in what her rescuers believe was an aerial courting ritual gone awry. The male died in the impact.

It’s mating season for eagles, who perform an elaborate ritual where they clasp talons and spiral toward the ground. This pair probably got caught up in the throes of the moment, said Bob Benda, a bird rescuer and biology professor at Prince William Sound Community College who was among those responding to the Easter Sunday crash. “They just lose track of what they’re doing and don’t know how close they are to the ground,” he said. “It’s raging hormones or something.” But most eagles fling themselves back to reality instead of diving through a crunchy layer of snow. In this case, the male landed next to the female. If the talons had been locked, they were now separated, possibly thrust apart by the velocity of the landing. Benda said he thought both eagles had died but then noticed the female was breathing. He helped ar-

range the eagle’s transfer to the Anchorage-based Bird Treatment and Learning Center, where she is slowly emerging from shock. “She is less dazed and confused every day,” said Cindy Palmatier, the center’s rehabilitation director. “She had this inward stare the first couple days.” Judging by the bird’s initial condition, Benda is amazed it’s still among the living. The eagle had no broken bones, but she was severely traumatized, almost in a zombie state. The day being Easter, Benda took the bird home and figured he would keep her warm and comfortable in a crate in his heated garage until the end came. The next morning, she was still breathing and moving a wing, and by that night, she was being flown to Anchorage. “I didn’t see how she could survive, but now I’m so happy she did,” Benda said. At the rehabilitation cen-

ter Friday, the eagle’s head swiveled back and forth as she checked out some visitors. A few days earlier, she would have paid no attention to them, said Palmatier, who believes her patient suffered head trauma. The bird also showed no interest in food, but now is eating salmon and caribou meat. And she’s been taken off pain medications. But her left wing visibly droops and Palmatier said if there is significant ligament damage, there’s a chance the eagle might not be able to fly again. But it’s too early to tell and there’s at least a month at the center still to come. Ultimately, Palmatier hopes the eagle can be released back to the wild in Valdez. She’s not too worried about any psychological effects from the loss of the bird’s partner. “I like to say they may mate for life, but they mourn for a moment,” Palmatier said. “They get over it pretty quick.”

Calif. gray whale-watchers fear dip in population Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Gazing past the rolling whitecaps in the middle of San Diego’s whale-watching season, boat captain Bill Reese was dismayed by what he wasn’t seeing. “Where are the whales?” said Reese. “Where are the whales?” Long held as an environmental success story after being taken off the endangered list in 1994, California gray whales draw legions of fans into boats or atop cliffs to watch the leviathans lumber down the coast to spawning grounds in Baja. But whale-watching skippers became alarmed after sightings dropped from 25 a day in good years to five a day this season. Such anecdotal evidence has left conservationists and state officials worried about the whale’s future, especially now. The federal government’s monitoring of the mammals has fallen off in recent years. And the International Whaling Commission in June will consider allowing 1,400 gray whales to be hunted over the next decade. The decision will rely on a report that says the population is flourishing — a study critics say is spotty and outdated. “If you count 2,500 animals, all you really know rock solid for sure is there are more than 2,500. Beyond that you’re using models and assumptions,” said Stanford University marine biology professor Steve Palumbi. “The problem comes when you say,

‘We do know how many whales there are and we’re going to start making unalterable management decisions on that basis.’” The study draws on annual population estimates dating from 1967, but in the past decade only three census counts have been released, the most recent in 2006. Since than, the estimated number of calves has plunged from more than 1,000 in 2006 to 312 in 2009. In addition, the species suffered a die-off of several thousand whales in 2000. “You can’t set specific quotas for 10 years based on 2006 data,” said Sara Wan, a California Gray Whale Coalition member who is also a state coastal commissioner. “It’s irresponsible.” In January, the California Coastal Commission pressed the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for an updated gray whale study. The count is done but the analysis won’t be finished until long after the whaling commission’s decision. NOAA scientists say their population estimates are reliable because the numbers have remained relatively consistent over time. They say the drop in calf numbers may reflect nature thinning out the herd. The population is still more than double what it was in the 1960s and has been fairly stable of the past couple decades, said Paul Wade, one of the study’s co-authors and a member of the commission’s scientific committee. “If it truly does go into an important decline, it’s not going

to happen overnight. We’re going to see it,” he said. The gray whale’s success has created a complex dynamic for NOAA researchers, who recently have focused on more threatened, less charismatic whales such as the North Atlantic Right whales, whose population may be as low as 30. Over the years, scientists have been able to do a great amount of research on gray whales because they are so accessible and popular with the public. Any indication of trouble galvanizes countless fans. “Gray whales are our pets, they’re in our backyard,” said David Rugh, a NOAA biologist who oversaw gray whale counts for years. “Of course we have a concern about them going through so many environments from Mexico to the Arctic but there are other species out there that we’re also concerned about.” Gray whales migrate thousands of miles each fall from Alaska to Baja, then back north between February and May. They spend summers in the Bering Sea and Arctic. Biologists sit in a little stand on California’s central coast, counting adult whales as they swim south. Calves are counted as the whales make the return trip north. The counts are used to extrapolate overall population and monitor reproduction. When gray whales were listed as endangered in 1970, an estimated 12,000 remained. A moratorium on commercial hunting and close monitoring helped the population rebound to more than 20,000.

AP Photo/Western Alliance for Nature, Larry Wan

This undated image provided by the Western Alliance for Nature shows a gray whale surfacing in San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico. Long held as an environmental success story after being taken off the endangered list in 1994, California gray whales draw legions of fans into boats or atop cliffs to watch the leviathans lumber down the coast to spawning grounds in Baja.

Deemed recovered, the whales only needed to be monitored every five years, instead of annually, and there was no longer dedicated funding for the whale, which cost about $170,000 a season to count. The 2006 count yielded about 2,500 whales, leading researchers to cal-

culate about 20,000 whales total. The most recent calf count of 2009, however, revealed the fewest since 2001. “These are troubling numbers,” said Randy Reeves, chair of the Cetacean specialist group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

14

Sport

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

International

United title challenge slipping away: Ferguson Agence France - Presse

BLACKBURN, England – Sir Alex Ferguson admits Manchester United’s hopes of securing a record-breaking fourth successive Premier League title are slipping away after their goalless draw at Blackburn. Sunday’s result left United one point behind leaders Chelsea, having played a game more than the Blues, who will open up a four-point gap if they beat Bolton at home on Tuesday. Ferguson’s side travel to neighbours Manchester City next weekend and have just four matches to overhaul Chelsea, forcing their manager to all but concede the title. It has been a miserable week for Ferguson and United, who bowed out of the Champions League against Bayern Munich on Wednesday. To make matters worse England captain Rio Ferdinand picked up a groin strain and is a doubt for the trip to Eastlands, while Ryan Giggs is battling a hamstring problem and Wayne Rooney is undergoing intensive treatment on his troublesome ankle. Ferguson said: “The title is slipping away when you don’t get a result in a game like this. We are now a point behind Chelsea and they have a game in hand which would take it to four points. It’s a big gap. “We created plenty of chances and had enough opportunities to take them and we should have done better. “It was a disappointing

result, there is no doubt about that. This is a fantastic result for Chelsea. They have a home game against Bolton on Tuesday which they will be fancied to win, of course. We have a derby game against Manchester City next week. It’s a derby game that takes away the business of chasing the League. It is a different kind of game. It will be entertaining in terms of the pride of the supporters.” “We were a little unlucky with that injury to Rio Ferdinand with ten minutes to go. That left us virtually down to ten men. We also had John O’Shea getting injured and Ryan Giggs picking up a hamstring injury in the first half.” There were few chances for either side in a lacklustre encounter, but the few that were created fell to United. Antonio Valencia wasted a golden opportunity when he ran onto Dimitar Berbatov’s pass and shot straight at Rovers keeper Paul Robinson. Then Berbatov failed to beat Robinson from close range in the closing stages.

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce was delighted with the way his side frustrated the champions and his good friend Ferguson. He said: “The defensive performance as a team was outstanding. “This home record is looking magnificent now. We’ve had all the big teams here and they’ve not managed to beat us. It just shows how much we’ve grown in stature. I thought Manchester United would tire after their exploits in the Champions League. I thought they would push on because they had to go for the win and this would leave some gaps for us. They had some half chances, but no clear-cut ones. The basis of any successful team is clean sheets. Chances haven’t been created regularly and we’ve not had the skill to convert them, so we’ve had to rely heavily on clean sheets. That’s 12 now for the season. It shows we’ve come a long way. A good bit of damage has been done to United’s chances now. There’s no doubt, listening to Sir Alex before this and him saying that they had to win every game.”

(AFP/File/Paul Ellis)

Sir Alex Ferguson, pictured, has admitted Manchester United’s hopes of securing a record-breaking fourth successive Premier League title are slipping away after their goalless draw at Blackburn.

Roma break Inter’s six-month Serie A stranglehold Agence France - Presse

(AFP/Christophe Simon)

AS Roma’s Captain forward Francesco Totti celebrates after his team defeated Atalanta to take the lead of the Italian Serie A football championship at Olimpico stadium in Rome. Roma won 2-1.

ROME – Inter Milan’s six-month stranglehold on the Serie A title race was broken on Sunday when Roma deposed them as league leaders. Roma snatched pole position with a 2-1 win over a stubborn Atalanta, which opened a one-point lead over Jose Mourinho’s Inter with five matches left. First-half goals from Mirko Vucinic and Marco Cassetti gave Roma a 2-0 lead, but they were made to sweat after a Simone Tiribocchi strike in the 53rd minute. AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Catania and now trail Roma by four points, having come back from 2-0 down thanks to a Marco Borriello brace in the second half. “We were dominating but instead of closing out the match we made life difficult for ourselves by gifting them a goal,” said Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, whose side come up against Lazio next weekend when Inter host Juventus. “Before, winning the scudetto depended on others but now it’s in our own hands. We are coming up against an in-form Lazio - it’s going to be a cracker.” Following Ranieri’s

call to seize the day after Inter’s 2-2 draw at Fiorentina on Saturday, Roma took command from the opening whistle at the Stadio Olimpico against an Atalanta side fighting for Serie A survival. The Bergamo side, third-from-bottom, gifted Roma the lead on 12 minutes when goalkeeper Andrea Consigli allowed Vucinic’s 25-yard effort to squirm through his grasp. A quarter of an hour later the Giallorossi doubled their lead when Francesco Totti sent over an inviting centre and right-back Cassetti, who had sprinted into the box seconds earlier, buried a header from six yards. Ranieri sent Luca Toni on for the impressive Vucinic at half-time but the home side seemed to relax and within eight minutes of the restart Tiribocchi was left in space on the edge of the box and the striker calmly placed his finish into the far corner to halve the deficit. Toni spooned Totti’s pass over the bar on 70 minutes, but Jaime Valdes was causing Roma all sorts of problems as Atalanta pressed for an equaliser. Julio Sergio had to save bravely from Tiribocchi after another fine run and pass from Valdes as Roma

clung on for the three potentially crucial points. Catania shocked Milan at the San Siro with an enterprising first-half display. Argentine Maxi Lopez shot home on 12 minutes before crossing for Adrian Ricchiuti to head home two minutes from the interval. Borriello led the fightback with a 48th-minute header from a Clarence Seedorf centre and a fine turn-andshot on 80 minutes, but a point may not be enough for Milan in the final reckoning. “I’m not conceding anything. After that second half I’m even more optimistic,” said Brazilian coach Leonardo. On Saturday Inter, who had been top since October 3, dropped two precious points in a 2-2 draw at Fiorentina. A goal eight minutes from time from Per Kroldrup earned the Viola a deserved point after Inter had come from behind to snatch the lead in the second half. “After going ahead we gifted Fiorentina a second goal but these things happen in football — you’re often most vulnerable after scoring,” said Inter sporting director Marco Branca, who spoke as coach Jose Mourinho is boycotting the Italian press.

Sport

International

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

15

Chela shocks Querrey to end ATP victory drought Agence France - Presse

HOUSTON, Texas – Juan Ignacio Chela won his first ATP title in more than three years Sunday as he toppled third-seeded American Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships. The unseeded Argentinian turned up the heat in the second set as he pulled away from Querrey for his fifth ATP title and his first since he beat Carlos Moya for the crown in Acapulco in March 2007. Chela sealed the victory when Querrey belted a service return over the line. Querrey, ranked 25th in the world, hit 19 winners to just two for Chela in the opening set. By the end of the second frame, however, Chela was swinging freely and matching Querrey winner for winner. The victory will push Chela up some 30 places in the world rankings to around number 50 when

the new rankings are released on Monday. The 30-year-old veteran, a former number 15, was last in the top 50 in July of 2008. Querrey was Chela’s fourth straight seeded victim here. He upset seventh seed Eduardo Schwank in the second round, number four and and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt in the quarter-finals, and number six Horacio Zeballos in the semi-finals.

Juan Ignacio Chela, pictured in March 2010, won his first ATP title in more than three years Sunday as he toppled third-seeded American Sam Querrey 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 at the US Men’s Clay Court Championships. (AFP/Getty Images/Clive Brunskill)

Wozniacki wins second straight Ponte Vedra title Agence France - Presse

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki erased a 4-1 second-set deficit to defeat Olga Govortsova 62, 7-5 Sunday and win this WTA Tour green clay tournament for the second straight year. The world number two from Denmark took her winning streak here to 10 matches as she denied the unseeded Belarussian a first WTA singles title. Govortsova had a chance to even the match at a set apiece with a set point at 5-4 in the second, but her attempt to volley into an invitingly open court instead found the net. That game lasted 22 points, and she lost it on one of her eight double faults. “I think that broke her a little bit,” Wozniacki said. “At 5-all I had the advantage that point.” Govortsova agreed. “I got a little tired after that,” she said. Wozniacki said that allowed her to be a bit more aggressive. “I believed that I could go for it a little more when I had my opportunity,” Wozniacki said. “It was important for me that I was the one opening the court and I was the one dictating the points.” Wozniacki, 19, claimed her seventh WTA title and her first of this year. She was runner-up to Jelena Jankovic at the prestigious Indian Wells hardcourt tournament in March. “I know I belong,” said Wozniacki, who made a scintillating run to the US Open final last year. “I’ve got to believe I can do it and if someone wants to beat me they have to play very well.”

Suns use 3-point barrage to beat Rockets 116-106 Associated Press Writer

(AFP/File/William West)

Top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki, pictured in January 2010, erased a 4-1 second-set deficit to defeat Olga Govortsova 6-2, 7-5 Sunday and win this WTA Tour green clay tournament for the second straight year.

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Suns were 3 1/2 minutes away from what would have been a brutal loss. Then, as has happened so often, the 3-pointers started falling. Amare Stoudemire had 35 points and 13 rebounds and the Suns made four 3s in a row to pull away for a 116-106 victory over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Against the Suns, Rockets coach Rick Adelman said, “You’re rolling the dice.” “If you try to take away the 3s, then you’ve got Stoudemire rolling down the middle and we don’t have anybody to stop him,” he said. “And they didn’t make them until the last 3 minutes.” Channing Frye made two of the 3s and Steve Nash and Jason Richardson had one apiece in a 14-0 run after the Rockets took a 102-100 lead with 3:23 left. “They had a hard time on the screen and roll,” Stoudemire said. “When I rolled to the basket, they were sucking in and Steve was doing a great job of finding open guys.” The victory moved Phoenix

into a tie with Utah and Denver for the third playoff spot in the West, a half-game behind No. 2 Dallas, with two to play. The Suns’ final two games are at home against Denver on Tuesday and at Utah on Wednesday. Nash had 23 points and 11 assists for the Suns, winners of 12 of their last 14. Luis Scola scored 20 of his 30 points in the second half for the Rockets, who rallied from a 14-point third-quarter deficit. Aaron Brooks added 22 points, including 6 of 9 3-pointers, and Chase Budinger had 19 for Houston. “You can just look look at the West and see — that team is a quality team and they’re not going to make the playoffs,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said about the Rockets. “They’re a real quality team. They’re hard to play. Every game we’ve played them this year it’s been like a roller coaster.” And the Suns won all four. Nash limped off after taking a shot to the leg with 23 seconds to go, drawing a technical foul as he left the court. He said he was not hurt. “It’s not even worth talking about,” he said.

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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Sport

Dovizioso thrilled with Honda’s progress Doha -

AFP PHOTO/MARWAN NAAMANI

Nine-time Italian world champion Valentino Rossi of Fiat Yamaha team jubialtes after winning the MotoGP final race at the Losail International Circuit in Doha on April 11, 2010.

Rossi wins in Qatar as Stoner crashes Doha -

Valentino Rossi leads in QatarValentino Rossi made the perfect start to his world championship title defence with a consummate victory in the opening round of the 2010 season at Qatar, as Ducati rival Casey Stoner crashed out of the lead early on. Rossi’s Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo finished second after a dramatic late surge, while Andrea Dovizioso beat a revitalised Nicky Hayden to third place by 0.011s. The grand prix always looked like it was heading in Stoner’s direction. The Australian dominated much of practice and took pole, and was leading when he lost the front end of his GP10. Stoner dropped to third at the start behind a fast-starting Dani Pedrosa and Rossi. But he forced his way past Rossi at Turn 4 on lap two, then passed Pedrosa into Turn 1 a lap later. He was beginning to establish a comfortable lead when inexplicably, his bike was in the gravel, and after just six laps, his race was over. By this time Rossi had got past Pedrosa, whose first lap form deserted him as he dropped down the order, and found himself gifted a lead he perhaps hadn’t expected to come so easily. His race wasn’t wrapped up yet though as Pedrosa’s team-mate Andrea Dovisioso provided a mid-race challenge to the world champion. The extraordinary straightline speed of the Honda even allowed the tall Italian to take the lead on the straight on lap 17, but Rossi got straight back by under braking for Turn 1. That was the warning Rossi needed and he in-

fused some extra pace around the back of the circuit to break his pursuer’s spirit. In the wheel tracks of the Honda was a revitalised Hayden, who rode superbly and looked on for a podium on the Ducati, until Lorenzo’s penultimate lap charge, which saw the Spaniard rocket past both the American and a surprised Dovizioso in two separate, ruthless manouvres. Hayden gave it his everything to get back in to a podium position on the last lap, in unquestionably his most competitive race since 2008, and actually got past Dovi around the back of the track. Pedrosa eventually faded to seventh ahead of Colin Edwards, who overtook Loris Capirossi midway through the Italian’s 300th race. Rookie Hiroshi Aoyama finished tenth. Marco Simoncelli was 11th for Gresini after a last lap tangle with Suzuki newboy Alvaro Bautista who crashed as a result. Hector Barbera was the immediate beneficiary, 12th for Aspar on the team’s MotoGP debut, while Marco Melandri was the last finisher. “These 25 points are like gold for

our championship, especially at this track,” said Rossi. “It’s a great, great start, because I haven’t won here since 2006. I think I deserve this victory. I worked very well with the team and we improved the bike step by step.” Despite Stoner’s accident, Rossi did not have an easy race, with Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso pushing him hard for victory. He had earlier been concerned that he had not been able to fend off Dani Pedrosa and Stoner for long enough having got into the lead on lap one. “I knew the start was very important and I made a fantastic start, but I was not faster by enough to stay in front, and I was worried about our speed, because our bike is not fast enough,” said Rossi. “I expect to be closer to Ducati and Honda. But we were ready for the battle. I lost time with Dani unfortunately. I was not very far behind, but it was going to be difficult to chase Casey. Fortunately he made a mistake. From that moment I expected an easier race, but I started to slide too much and I was not able to take enough advantage over Andrea and Nicky [Hayden].”

Andrea Dovizioso praised Honda’s efforts to turn its form around after he claimed a podium finish in the season opener at Losail - despite his team having been off the pace in testing. Honda appeared to be some way adrift of Ducati and Yamaha during the preseason build-up, and was not among the frontrunners in practice in Qatar either. But Dovizioso had a highly competitive race, challenging Valentino Rossi for the lead for a while, and finishing only 1.8 seconds behind the winner in third. He pointed out that 12 months ago he had been nearly half a minute adrift at the end of the Qatar race and down in fifth, so hopes this weekend’s result will set the tone for a better second season in the factory Honda line-up. “It’s a really good result and really important for us, because last year we did not finish so well,” said Dovizioso. “Now we are just 1.8s behind. This is a consequence of all the hard work from Honda, all the people in the team and those working hard at home. This is so important for the start of the season, and I hope it’s just the start.” He rued small errors that allowed Rossi to make a break, and Jorge Lorenzo to beat him to second. “In some places I lost too much and I could recover a little bit on the straight,” Dovizioso said.

“I made a small mistake, and at the same time Valentino decided to push 100 per cent. I couldn’t catch Valentino again. The last two laps, Jorge also overtook me because at Turn 10 I had a little problem and lost a lot - Nicky [Hayden] and Jorge overtook me at corner 12. I couldn’t keep the second position to the finish, but the podium is a good start.” Dovizioso eventually reclaimed third by beating Hayden’s Ducati over the line by just 0.011s. “I tried to overtake Nicky on the inside, so Nicky didn’t make the perfect exit, and our bike was a little bit faster than the Ducati,” Dovizioso explained. “We are on the same level on acceleration, but my bike was working a bit better and I could get the podium.”

AFP PHOTO/MARWAN NAAMANI

Italian Andrea Dovizioso of Repsol Honda Team races during the 2010 MotoGP free qualification parctice at the Losail International Circuit in Doha on April 10, 2010.