Edisi 22 Maret 2010 | International Bali Post

16 Pages Number 54 2st Year

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Monday, March 22, 2010

Anti-terror drill done by police and army PAGE 8

Court: Anna Nicole Smith gets none of oil fortune PAGE 12

BP/ist

The picture show a Kingfisher Airlines aircraft landed. Explosive materials was found in the cargo in one of the airplane

Explosive material found in Indian passenger plane NEW DELHI - A newspaper-wrapped package containing explosive material was found Sunday in the cargo hold of a passenger aircraft after it landed in the southern Indian state of Kerala, police said.

Police were investigating how the powder got on board the flight from Bangalore, India’s information technology hub, to Thiruvananthapuram,

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Airports across India have been on high alert since January after reports that al-Qaida-linked militants planned to hijack a plane. Security checks at Thiruvananthapuram airport were tightened further after the explosive material was found, with more checks of passengers and staff at the airport, police said.

Philippines hunts Indonesian training militants

WEATHER FORECAST

SUNNY

Kerala’s capital, despite stringent security measures.

“It was explosive material which is commonly used in firecrackers, but

can also be used to make a crude bomb,” city police commissioner Ajith Kumar said by telephone from Thiruvananthapuram.

The package was found by airline staff during a routine check of the Kingfisher Airlines aircraft after passengers disembarked at Thiruvananthapuram, Kumar said.

Associated Press Writer

MANILA, Philippines - Indonesian officials have asked Philippine authorities to track down an Indonesian fugitive wanted in connection with several beheadings who is now helping to train militants in an insurgency-wracked Philippine region, security officials said Sunday.

Sanusi, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, has been monitored in Mindanao’s marshy heartland, two Philippine intelligence officials said. He fled to the region after being accused of ordering militants in 2007 to behead three people in the eastern Indonesian town of Poso, where Islamist militants had launched a series

of bloody attacks on Christians and government workers.

An Indonesian Embassy official said his government has asked Philippine authorities to capture Sanusi, who was spotted at a mosque near southern Cotabato city during the holy month of Ramadan last fall.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media.

A senior Philippine military intelligence official said Sanusi has emerged as a key operative of Jemaah Islamiyah, a Southeast Asian terror group linked to alQaida. He is believed to have helped fund and organize religious and combat training for new Indonesian militant recruits in

Mindanao, where local guerrillas are fighting to create an independent Muslim state.

Sanusi has not been implicated in any attack in the Philippines and is not on any terrorist backlist because authorities are only just beginning to uncover his activities and the role he plays, according to the military intelligence official, who spoke on customary condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of his post.

Another government intelligence official said Sanusi has been trying to link up Filipino Muslim guerrillas with potential financial donors in the Middle East.

Philippine military spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos said troops were verifying Sanusi’s loca-

tion and background, adding that new militants have taken over for Jemaah Islamiyah colleagues who have been killed or captured in past offensives.

“They have had a lot of setbacks and new names are cropping up,” Burgos said.

There are at least two dozen Jemaah Islamiyah members in central Mindanao. At least another 25 Indonesian and Asian militants who belong to other underground groups have been given refuge mainly by the Abu Sayyaf extremist group on southern Jolo island and nearby Basilan province, according to the military. Abu Sayyaf is another Southeast Asian terror group linked to al-Qaida.

Continued on page 6

2

International

Monday, March 22, 2010

Bali News

Restaurant Employee Dies Due to Butchered and Robbed Perpetrator’s Identity Known by Police Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Residents who live around Jalan Setra Gandamayu, Tengkulun Hamlet, Tanjung Benoa, South Kuta, Badung, were made shocked by a robbery action accompanied by murder. Lumijah, 30, one of the local residents, was found dead lying in her room. Strong allegations, the victim who worked as a restaurant employee was first robbed and butchered to death by perpetrator.

Police claimed to have known the identity of perpetrator. However, its name and characteristics were not spelled out. Police argued that the case was still under investigation and the members of the South Kuta Criminal Detective have chased after the suspect. “We have known the identity of perpetrator,” said Chief of South Kuta Sector Police, Nanang Prihasmoko, last Friday (Mar 19).

According to Chief Nanang Prihasmoko, the robbery with sadistic homicide incident was just known at 11:00 am Local Time. Sister of the victim received the information that her elder sister (the victim) was found dead in her bed-

room. Quickly, her younger sister checked it. “The victim was found not alive. Her head was covered in blood,” he explained.

This case was then reported to South Kuta Sector Police. Chief Nanang Prihasmoko ordered his men to conduct the examination.

Identification team from Denpasar Metro Police was also deployed to the scene. After conducting crime scene investigation, the victim was known to suffer from injuries on her head. “We estimate the wound was caused by the hit of blunt material.

Possibly, she was beaten,” he said.

It was also known from the blood of the victim. Fresh blood was flowing from the ears and nose. “We have

not dared to make sure. Thus, we are still waiting for forensic result examination of Sanglah Hospital. With the forensic results, we will know how many times the victim was hit on head,” he told the media crew.

As for motive, strongly suspected the victim was robbed first.

Therefore, some jewelries and handphone (HP) of the victim vanished from its place. “We still continue to go into the case. Who knows, the perpetrator took the victim’s jewelry only to obscure the motive. For that, just wait the results of investigation,” he added and also mentioned that the identity of the perpetrator had been bagged. (kmb21)

Interfaith Institution Organizes a Meeting THE case on Nyepi holiday harassment committed in the status of the Facebook (FB) account belonging to Ibnu Rachal Farhansyah really seems unfinished. Young Hindu Alliance of Indonesia on last Friday (Mar 19) went to the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Bali Province.

They conveyed some points of attitude wishing to investigate the case thoroughly and Ibnu had to apologize publicly. Otherwise, then the case would be proceeded to the realm of law.

Addressing to this, the Head of Bali Religious Affairs, IGK Suthayasa, directly receiving the aspiration of the alliance said to have monitored the final development in the case of such social networking website. In order not to be biased and to finish it in peace, the Office of Religious Affairs held the first interfaith meeting, last Saturday (Mar 20) at the Secretariat of Interfaith Harmony Forum (FKAUB) of Bali on Jalan Teratai,

Denpasar.

“This meeting is intended to immediately formulate a query points from the community, both included in the mass media and young generation of the alliance. Basically, we capture two points of alternatives and should be discussed as good as possible, apart from preventing any bias growing everywhere,” Suthayasa firmed.

The two alternatives, according to him, namely the alternative I: opening the opportunity for apology provided Ibnu himself did it openly in front of the Hindu community, the print and electronic media. With this alternative, hopefully it could be facilitated for the sake of religious harmony in the future. Meanwhile, the second alternative was the legal process, if the first alternative was ignored or not done by Ibnu.

“We’re in the realm of the first alternative, by holding a dialogue and peacefully resolve within the framework of religious harmony. We were hoping the case would not

reach the realm of law. If it would become the last resort, it is no longer our realm,” asserted the Head of Bali Religious Affairs.

Objectively, Suthayasa added, seemingly Ibnu was first time passing through the Nyepi Day, last Tuesday (Mar 16). He clearly felt cramped, could not get out, found many rules and was not as free as the day before. Possibly, Ibnu was upset, but he was wrong to put a sense of irritation on social networking sites that had become public domain, until it resulted in the current problems. “Be careful with the virtual world like that because the whole world will know it,” he said.

Coordinator of the Young Hindu Alliance of Indonesia Wayan Suantika on that opportunity asked the entire Hindu society to be introspective and fully in self-control so as not to be provoked to carry out actions that could damage the unity and integration in the internal Hindus and interfaith relationship. (By Denpost)

BP/doc

The picture show people are fishing in Badung River. The people often throw their garbage to the river and it make the water polluted.

Cyber Crime Tracks Insulter of Nyepi Police Appeal Public not to be Provoked Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Since the Nyepi abuse case came into view performed through the account of Facebook (FB) by Ibnu Rachal Farhansyah on last Tuesday (Mar 16), police have moved to track the existence of Ibnu.

Spokesperson of Bali Police, Gde Sugianyar, last Friday (Mar 19) explained that his party had done an investigation to follow up the information pertaining to the account insulting the Hindus. “Until now, I have found no official reports received by Bali Police. However, since this case arose, we have to investigate the account status made people nervous,” he explained.

However, police asked the public not to be provoked by the text.

Obviously, the police would resolve the case with legislation in force including the Act on Information and Technology.

Sugianyar asserted, in addition to assign the criminal detective and intelligence apparatus, Bali Police also sent their Cyber Crime officers to track the FB account written

by Ibnu Rachal Farhansyah.

Indeed, the status had been deleted by the owner, but some other Facebook users already had a copy of it so it could be used later on as reference. If Ibnu Rachal could be found and caught, then he would be asked for information, what the objective and motivation to do so.

On that account, police requested that this matter should be settled wisely in accordance with the ap-

plicable rules of law. Police worried about the emergence of rival accounts of blaspheming Ibnu Rachal Farhansyah. Hence, officials also warned the public to stop doing that blasphemy case in order it would not widen to lead provocation.

When asked if the maker of FB account was in Bali, Sugianyar expressly said that his party was still making investigation, so police had not dared to ensure because Cyber Crime officers were still working.

Apparently, when found his party would conduct an examination in accordance with what had been written by Ibnu Rachal at Facebook.

Information obtained by DenPost, an intelligence officer was chasing the address of the Nyepi celebration insulter. Officials did not want a protracted case, so it could trigger any mass emotions.

Keep in mind, after the appearance of Facebook status abusing the Nyepi celebration by Ibnu Rachal Farhansyah, many community leaders and organizations such as the KRB, Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI), and Bali House gave responses. They responded with a wide range.

Results of DenPost search until 5:00 pm Local Time last Saturday, indicated several new accounts arising at Facebook with various subject matters. One of them entitled “Dismiss Ibnu Rachal Farhansyah from Bali” had a member of more than 35,000. (By Denpost)

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

Waiting on Vocational National Exam Materials Disdikpora Drop Them Off To Police Gianyar (Bali Post) —

The arrival schedule of Vocational High School’s (SMK) National Exam (UN) materials, originally planned to come together with the High School’s (SMA) exam materials, has changed. On Saturday (20 / 3) Gianyar Regency has just received the materials for High School National Exam. As for the SMK, it is expected to arrive on Sunday.

Head of Gianyar’s Office of Education, Youth, and Sports (Kadisdikpora) I Gusti Ngurah Wijana when contacted confirmed the schedule changes of SMK (Vocational School) Exam.

In fact, the SMA material’s arrival last Saturday also experienced a slight delay. In Gianyar, it was received at about 16:00 from the provincial office. “For the SMK’s UN, it is said to be delivered on Sunday morning,” he said.

For the High School UN materials which had arrived on Saturday, they have been distributed to each of the existing rayon in seven districts. The materials that

have been allocated according to the needs of schools in Gianyar were placed in each Mapolsek (Police Station). The reason behind it, besides that it has been done every year, is also to ensure the security and prevent leaks of the questions from the irresponsible parties. In Mapolsek, the exam questionnaires must never be left by officers. Through prior coordination with the Chief of Police, these questionnaires were placed in a room. “The police station, we think this place is the most secured to entrust a matter of state confidential documents,” he said.

Although already deposited in Mapolsek, Gianyar Kadisdikpora seems to doubt against the possibility of leaks about the UN questionnaires in Gianyar. Kadisdikpora insists that all security procedures have been done. Whenever there is an arrival of the material in the district, it has been directly distributed to rayon in seven districts with Police escort cars filled with full personnel. The implementation of the SMA / SMK National Exam in Gianyar this year will be followed by 2794 followed by high school students and 2527 vocational students. (kmb16)

The Tree Logging Case Residents of Budaga asked DKP Head to step Down Semarapura (Bali Post) —

Reaction to the tree logging in the area of Budaga, Klungkung keeps coming after the Head of Hygiene and Optics (DKP) Klungkung, Gusti Wiratmaja lamented the action of Budaga residents who had taken down trees without prior notice / permission. Meanwhile, a similar reaction is also shown by Budaga residents. They deplored behind the attitude of the DKP who considered to have not held routine control over the trees growth. ‘’Is it still considered feasible or not?

Will those trees endanger the environment or not?’’ asserted Ketut Warta a Budaga citizens not long ago.

His concern was proved, there are some trees that were in tilted position and potentially endanger the residents, left without attention. ‘’If DKP expects people not

to perform logging, DKP should be fully responsible for the trees.

Their negligence is proven by the left almost toppled trees. If there is a horrible event occurred, how are they going to take the responsibilities,’’said another citizen who also a local ‘Pecalang’, Ketut Swadana.

Warta said the DKP Head Gusti Wiratmaja should have headed down straight to the area to make a humane approach to resolve theissue. Socialize at the same time the rule that citizens are not allowed to cut down trees without permission. Because of all this lack of socialization, residents do not know exactly that they must ask permission first before cutting. ‘’After all, we did not carelessly log those trees. There were a few considerations, including the issues of safety, environment, and sanitation,’ said Warta as he men-

tioned that two of the considerations included was to rescue sidewalks and the road so they will not be damaged by the growing tree roots, and to save their shrines and temple from brunt of the wind and rain resulting from the trees. ‘ ‘In addition, we also wanted our environment to be more beautiful. Before cutting down the trees, we’ve done ‘cempaka’ tree planting as a substitute. Cempaka trees are certainly more beneficial for citizens,’’ he added.

Warta hopes that Head of DKP will go down and meet the people to resolve the issue. Despite the disputes, residents and government have the same goal, namely to a better environment.

Previously, Head of DKP, Gusti Wiratmaja lamented residents who were cutting down trees without notification / coordination. (kmb20)

Monday, March 22, 2010

3

Every 8 hours, criminal act occurred in Buleleng Singaraja, DenPost

Every 8 hours 28 minutes and 46 seconds, at least one crime occurred in the Panji Sakti District in the 2008. This condition declined in 2009 to one every 9 hours 46 minutes and 48 seconds.

While a drug case occurred every 33 days 15 hours in the year 2008 and declined in 2009 to 45 days 15 hours.

Thus seen from the data of 2008 and 2009, crime and drug cases in Buleleng have decreased. As stated in limited discussion among Buleleng citizens held daily by DenPost in the Buleleng Parliament’s press room on Saturday (20 / 3. Buleleng Police’s Head of Operations, Kompol Dewa Putu Arta, SH, MM represents the Buleleng Police Chief, AKBP Istiyono mentioned, the total crimes that occurred in the year 2008 were as many as 1033 cases with 726 cases have been resolved.

This number decreased to 895 cases in 2009 with 690 solved cases.

“When viewed from the existing total of crime cases, a decline in the act of crime from year 2008 to year 2009 is approximately 13.35 per cent,” he said. As for the case of drugs, for the year 2008 Buleleng Police handled 11 drug cases with 9 cases had been completed. In the 2009, 7 out of 8 cases drug abuse were completed. For the year 2010, 83 out of the 92 cases handled by Buleleng Police up to March 2010 were able to be solved. In addition to crime data revealed in Buleleng, Kompol Dewa Arta also highlighted the outstanding cases (indigenous, politics and religion) that occurred in the region of Buleleng.

Like traditional cases in Lemukih village, village expansion case in Tamblingan to become Tamblingan Indigenous Village, the village customary land disputes in Subuk, Pura Dalem Desa Kedis case, pros and cons of the leadership of Pastor at Santo Paulus Church, ownership case of shrine Ceng Hong Bio in the Port of Buleleng, seizure of water springs between Tejakula and Kintamani Village, bolsters rate case with the

individual land in Bebetin Village of Sawan, pros cons of Majapahit STIKES boards in Singaraja, and abuse cases of Sangsit and Giri Emas Village residents during pengerupukan Nyepi.

All cases were also notable as potential acts of crime if not handled properly. Dewa Arta realized that the police are also human beings so it is impossible to leave it to them alone. “We could not work alone, the roles of all of you here are hoped to bring Buleleng into a better direction. Activities such as this discussion are very good for me to absorb the information directly from the field. So if possible, such activities should be done every three months,” he said greeted by applause from participants in the discussion.

Activities of limited discussion yesterday presented 10 speakers who also becoming regular participants: Assistant III Secretariat Buleleng, Ir. Dewa Ketut Puspaka, MP representing the Executive, Vice Chairman of DPRD I Buleleng, Ir. Ni Luh Tiwik Ismarheningrum, M. Par, Dewa Putu Kompol Arta, SH, MM (Buleleng Police), Chairperson of the Associate Village Buleleng Pakraman: Made Rimbawa, BA, Chairman of KNPI who is also Chairman of Buleleng PHRI, Dewa Ketut Suardipa, President BEM Undiksha : Gustiana Mettaningrum, Dean of the Unipas Faculty of Law: I Nyoman Surata, SH, MH, Chairman of the NGO Gema Nusantara: Sanjaya Kiabeni Antonius, President of KJB (Buleleng Journalists Community): Wiratmaja, SH, Chairman of the Institute Prevent Crimes of Bali Province, Brigadier General (Ret.) Nyoman Gede Suweta and community leaders Prof.

Buleleng. Putu Jaya Negara. The limited discussion which took 3 hours was hosted by members of the PWI Buleleng Ngurah Aswibawan.

Some thoughts flow from each of the core community sources, revealing potential crimes in front of each narrator. The concept and the thought would be specially presented. (212)

Thieve Steals Laptop and Mobile Phone Gianyar (Bali Post) —

A mobile phone and a laptop owned by I Gusti Ngurah Dwipayana (23) who lives in Mulawarman road (south of Gianyar’s SMEA) were stolen by thief, on Friday night at around 20:30. The victim who is a student, on Saturday (20 / 3) reported the event to the Gianyar Police Station (Mapolres).

To the police, the victim claimed that the Acer branded laptop and the mobile phone were placed in the study room of his home. The thief is estimated to have managed to sweep-off these things because the front door of the house was not locked. When the event occurred, the only one at home was the victim’s mother, I Gusti Putu Riati (45), that was in the shower.

The victim, at the time, was going out of the house to a supermarket in the town of Gianyar.

After leaving his house for just over 30 minutes, victim suffered losses up to 9 million dollars.

Before the event, on Friday night (19 / 3) at around 20:30, the victim was out of the house to shop. When the victim went out, the front door and study room, where the laptop and mobile

phone were store, were unlocked.

His mother, I Gusti Putu Riati was in the shower. Therefore, thieves who had staked-out the house took the phone and laptop that were situated in the victim’s study room.

Under the permission of Gianyar Police Chief AKBP Drs. I Ketut Suardana, Head of Liaison Kompol I Gede Sujana was

confirming reports of the victim. Police have already gone down to the scene to conduct crime investigation.

The thief was estimated to have entered the victim’s house from the front door and take the goods from the unlocked study room. “Now the police are doing more investigation to gather information, “he explained. (kmb16)

4

News

Monday, March 22, 2010

International

French vote promises slap for Sarkozy Agence France Presse

PARIS – French voters came out Sunday expected to deal President Nicolas Sarkozy a stinging rebuke in regional elections that will be his last big national test before seeking re-election in 2012.

Polling opened at 8.00am (0700 GMT) and was to continue until 8.00pm. Last week’s first round vote, while marked by a low turnout, saw the French leader’s rightwing supporters win their lowest share of the vote in at least three decades and threatened to wipe them out in regional government.

Sarkozy, whose UMP party still has a comfortable majority in the national parliament, has insisted that the regional poll is not a verdict on central government, but he is expected to order a reshuffle in the next few days.

One report, in the pro-government daily Le Figaro, suggested that Prime Minister Francois Fillon would offer his government’s resignation on Monday but that Sarkozy would ask him to form a new, slightly modified cabinet.

The new ministerial line-up may offer clues as to whether Sarkozy plans to slow-down or alter his reform programme. He has spoken of a possible “pause” once he raises the retirement age and reforms some state sector pensions.

“Many of the political strategies of the coming years will be based on this, the last election” before the presidential vote in 2012, said Pascal Perrineau, head of a research in-

stitute at the elite Sciences-Po school in Paris.

“If the left takes all the regions, the president will be obliged to think of a political response,” Perrineau told AFP, explaining that last week many of Sarkozy’s working class supporters had abstained or voted far-right.

“He has to reconnect with a part of the popular vote that supported him in 2007. He has to send them signals on unemployment and on the cost of living for the working class.”

Meanwhile, the Socialist opposition has called on its supporters to turn out in greater numbers to secure their regional bastions and begin the fight back that could see their divided party mount a credible challenge in 2012.

Regional councils in 25 regions — 22 on the French mainland and three overseas territories — are up for grabs, the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe having already been won outright by the Socialists in the first round.

The left is already controls 20 regions in continental France, and could even wipe Sarkozy’s UMP off the map if it wins close run races in right-wing hold-outs Alsace and Corsica.

AFP PHOTO POOL PHILIPPE WOJAZER

French Simone Veil (R), an Auschwitz survivor and the first elected president of the European parliament, is congratulated by French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L) as she joined today the prestigious Academie Francaise, the guardian of the French language, on March 18, 2010 at the Institut de France (French prestigious Arts and Sciences Institution which includes five academies) in Paris.

In March 14’s first round, Sarkozy’s UMP trailed the Socialists with 26.3 to 29.5 percent of the national vote.

The left-leaning greens of Europe Ecologie scored 12.5 percent and then struck regional electoral

Volcano erupts in Iceland, hundreds evacuated Associated Press Writer

REYKJAVIK, Iceland – Authorities evacuated hundreds of people after a volcano erupted beside a glacier in southern Iceland, Iceland’s civil protection agency said Sunday.

The eruption occurred around 11:30 p.m. Saturday (1930 EDT) beside the Eyjafjallajokull glacier, the fifth largest in Iceland. No damage or injuries were immediately reported.

Authorities initally said the eruption was below the glacier. However,

scientists conducting an aerial survey in daylight located the eruption and it did not occur below ice, lessening the chances of flooding from a glacier melt.

“This is the best possible place for an eruption, as the area is not covered by ice,” said Tumi Gudumundsson, a geologist at the University of Iceland said in an interview with the national broadcaster, RUV. Scientists can see lava flows in the half-mile (1-kilometer) long fissure, and authorities are watching

AP

This frame grab from APTN shows the volcano near the Eyjafjallajoekull glacier

for further activity.

Fearing flooding, authorities evacuated some 450 people in the area 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of the capital, Reykjavik, as a precaution but no damage or injuries have been reported, said Vidir Reynisson, the department manager for the Icelandic Civil Protection Department.

A state of emergency has been declared in communities near the 100 square mile (160 kilometers) glacier. Three Red Cross centers were set up for evacuees in the village of Hella. The Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration has ordered aricraft to stay 120 nautical miles away from the volcano area, essentially closing it off.

Three flights from the U.S. — departing from Seattle, Washington; Orlando, Florida and Boston, Massachussetts — were diverted to Boston because of the volcano. All domestic flights were also canceled until further notice, the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service Reported.

A European volcanic island in the North Atlantic, Iceland is largely an arctic desert with mountains, glaciers and volcanoes and agricultural areas in the lowlands close to the coastline. The last time the volcano erupted was in the 1820s.

pacts with the Socialists for the second round, boosting their joint score well ahead of that of the mainstream right.

Meanwhile, the far-right National Front of Jean-Marie Le Pen did well enough to stay in the race in 12 main-

land regions, meaning much of its 11 percent of the vote will remain outside Sarkozy’s reach.

Observers will also be closely watching the turnout. Last week’s abstention rate of 53.5 percent was a record for a regional election.

UN chief visits Gaza, seeks end to blockade Associated Press Writer

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip – U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has entered the blockaded Gaza Strip, where 1.5 million people have been under lockdown by Israel and Egypt for nearly three years.

Ban has repeatedly called for an end to the blockade, imposed after the Islamic militant Hamas movement seized Gaza in 2007.

In a visit to a Gaza City neighborhood badly damaged during last year’s Israeli offensive, he promised residents appealing for an end to the blockade that “we stand with you.”

On Friday, Ban and other Mideast mediators called for the opening of Gaza’s borders.

In return, they want Hamas to recognize Israel, renounce violence and reconcile with its WesternAFP PHOTO/MOHAMMED ABED backed rival, Palestinian UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon (L) President Mahmoud tours the heavily destroyed Ezbet Abed Abbas, who controls the Rabbo area of the northern Gaza Strip West Bank.

Jabalia refugee camp on March 21, 2010.

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

Monday, March 22, 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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Monday, March 22, 2010

News With cheap food imports, Haiti can’t feed itself Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Pradeep Shrestha

Supporters gather to pay respect to former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in Katmandu, Nepal, Saturday, March 20, 2010.Nepal’s former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, who served five terms, led mass protests that ended the king’s authoritarian rule and was a key figure in peace negotiations with communist rebels, died Saturday. He was 86.

Thousands bid farewell to former Nepal PM Koirala

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – The earthquake not only smashed markets, collapsed warehouses and left more than 2.5 million people without enough to eat. It may also have shaken up the way the developing world gets food.

Decades of inexpensive imports — especially rice from the U.S. — punctuated with abundant aid in various crises have destroyed local agriculture and left impoverished countries such as Haiti unable to feed themselves.

While those policies have been criticized for years in aid worker circles, world leaders focused on fixing Haiti are admitting for the first time that loosening trade barriers has only exacerbated hunger in Haiti and elsewhere.

They’re led by former U.S. President Bill Clinton — now U.N. special envoy to Haiti — who publicly apologized this month for championing policies that destroyed Haiti’s rice production. Clinton in the mid-1990s encouraged the impoverished country to dramatically cut tariffs on imported U.S. rice.

“It may have been good for some of my farmers in Arkansas, but it has not worked. It was a mistake,” Clinton told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on March 10. “I had to live everyday with the consequences of the loss of capacity to produce a rice crop in Haiti to feed those people because of what I did; nobody else.”

Clinton and former President George W. Bush, who are spearheading U.S. fundraising for Haiti, arrive

Monday in Port-au-Prince. Then comes a key Haiti donors’ conference on March 31 at the United Nations in New York.

Those opportunities present the country with its best chance in decades to build long-term food production, and could provide a model for other developing countries struggling to feed themselves.

“A combination of food aid, but also cheap imports have ... resulted in a lack of investment in Haitian farming, and that has to be reversed,” U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes told The Associated Press. “That’s a global phenomenon, but Haiti’s a prime example.

I think this is where we should start.”

Haiti’s government is asking for $722 million for agriculture, part of an overall request of $11.5 billion.

That includes money to fix the estimated $31 million of quake damage to agriculture, but much more for future projects restoring Haiti’s dangerous and damaged watersheds, improving irrigation and infrastructure, and training farmers and providing them with better support.

Haitian President Rene Preval, an agronomist from the rice-growing Artibonite Valley, is also calling for food aid to be stopped in favor of agricultural investment.

Today Haiti depends on the outside world for nearly all of its sustenance.

The most current government needs assessment — based on numbers from 2005 — is that 51 percent of the food consumed in the country is imported, including 80 percent of all rice eaten.

Associated Press Writer

KATMANDU, Nepal – Politicians, diplomats and thousands of supporters lined up for hours at a public stadium Sunday in Nepal’s capital to pay respect to Girija Prasad Koirala, the former prime minister remembered for leading efforts to bring democracy to the Himalayan nation.

Koirala died Saturday at age 86. His body was taken to the Nepali Congress party headquarters before it arrived at the stadium in Katmandu on a truck covered with flowers and the party’s red and white flags. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal laid the national flag over the body.

“His contributions and fight for democracy will always be remembered in history. He was the pillar in the battle against autocracy in Nepal,” Nepal said.

Ministers, top politicians, officials and diplomats offered bouquets. The supporters numbering thousands lined up for hours to pay their homage.

“I am more sad today than the day I lost my parents. I have always remembered him as a fighter of democracy and he will remain the father of democracy,” said Kamala Sharma, 65, who was among those in line.

Koirola had heart and respiratory problems and had been hospitalized several times in recent months. He died at his daughter’s home.

Koirola — who served five terms as prime minister — was president of the Nepali Congress party and led the mass street demonstrations in 2006 that forced then-King Gyanendra to give up his authoritarian rule, reinstate parliament and appoint Koirala as caretaker prime minister. Soon after that, Koirala’s government stripped Gyanendra of all his powers and command of the army.

Gyanendra was dethroned and the centuries-old monarchy abolished in May 2008. Soon after that Koirala stepped down as prime minister to allow a new coalition government led by former communist rebels to take power.

Koirala was a key figure in the peace process that ended 10 years of communist insurgency with the Maoist rebels giving up their armed revolt and joining mainstream politics.

Koirala spent seven years in prison in the 1960s for fighting for democratic rule. After democracy was introduced in 1990, he became one of the most powerful forces in

the country’s tumultuous political scene.

In 1991, Koirala became prime minister of the first democratically elected government after a popular revolt ended absolute rule by the king.

Koirala was known as an autocrat on party loyalty who often quashed internal dissent with an iron fist.

His fourth term ended in 2001 with his government beset by the Maoist insurgency, a bribery scandal and recriminations over a palace massacre that wiped out much of the royal family.

His government wasn’t implicated in the killings — in which the king, queen and seven other royal family members died, apparently at the hands of the crown prince, who killed himself — but the massacre shocked and dismayed Nepal, and blame for security lapses fell on Koirala.

Koirala’s body was scheduled to be cremated later Sunday near Pashupatinath temple in Katmandu.

AP Photo/Jorge Saenz

Maria Carmelle Jean, center, sells rice and dry products at a downtown street market in Port-au-Prince, Saturday, March 20, 2010. Decades of cheap imports, especially rice from the U.S., punctuated with abundant aid in various crises, have destroyed local agriculture and left impoverished countries such as Haiti unable to feed themselves.

Philippines hunts...

From page 1 Among the Indonesian militants allied with the Abu Sayyaf were Umar Patek and Dulmatin, who recently returned to Indonesia after hiding for years in Mindanao. Indonesian police killed Dulmatin, one of Southeast Asia’s most-wanted terrorist suspects and a master bomb maker, in an Internet cafe near Jakarta on

March 9.

Patek and Dulmatin are suspected of helping plot the 2002 nightclub bombings that killed 202 people in Bali, Indonesia.

American troops have provided combat training, intelligence and weapons to the underfunded Philippine military for years to help combat the Abu Sayyaf, which is on U.S. and European terrorist lists, and its Asian militant allies.

International

Indonesia Today

Monday, March 22, 2010

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KPK detains former Jakarta administration official Antara

Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Friday detained former chief of the Jakarta administration‘s legal affairs bureau Journal Effendi Siahaan over an alleged graft case in the production of public service advertisement.

Journal was taken to the Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta aboard a prison car at around 08.15 after being grilled for nearly 10 hours.

He told the press that he was a victim of consiperacy by a handful of people who disliked him.

He said they plotted to bring him to justice after he refused to

take a bribe of Rp40 billion from Sauri Gading in the purchase of the West Jakarta municipal office.

“Sauri Gading tried to bribe me but I rejected the bribe totaling Rp40 billion. If I accepted the bribe I myself would receive Rp5 billion,” he said.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi confirmed that the commission had detained the former chief of the Jakarta administration‘s legal affairs bureau on graft charges.

The results of investigation conducted by the KPK suggested that Journal had allegedly received 10 percent of the project worth Rp5.6 billion. As a result, the state suffered Rp3.9 billion in losses.

Another landslide buries houses in Cianjur AFP PHOTO / ADEK BERRY

Muslim Indonesians from the Prosperous Justice Party carry a replica of the Aqso mosque during an antiIsrael rally in Jakarta on March 20, 2010. More than a thousand people in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim majority country, protested on March 20, on Israel’s aim to build settlements in East Jerusalem.

Israel’s plan to build more homes in annexed east Jerusalem prompted the Palestinians to call for a halt to peace talks.

PKS Sympathizers stage rally to defend Palestinians‘ rights Antara

Bandung, W Java - Thousands of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) sympathizers staged a rally here on Sunday in a show of support to free Al-Aqsa Mosque from Israeli occupation and defend Palestinians‘ rights.

They gathered at the West Java People‘s Struggle Monument on Jl Dipati Ukur from where they later marched to Bandung City Square via Jl Teuku Umar and Jl Dago or Jl Juanda.

In their rally, they were opposed to Israeli aggression against the Palestinians. They also raised funds from PKS sympathizers and passers-by to help the Palestinians.

The rally prompted the Bandung city policy to tighten security in a number of places.

Among the tightly-guarded roads were Jl. Ir. H. Juanda, Jl Merdeka and Jl Asia Afrika.

CIANJUR, W Java- A landslide hit Cimangu hamlet in Padajaya village, Cikalongkulon sub-district, West Java district of Cianjur on Saturday, burying four houses.

Tens of families rescued themselves to safe places, such as schools and mosques, some local residents told ANTARA. The landslide, which also threatened 52 other houses in the village, occurred following a few hours of heavy rainfall on Friday.

The prolonged torrential rainfall had made the village‘s cliff soil unstable. As a result, the landslide occurred on Saturday, destroying four houses, the local residents said.

Despite the absence of reported fatalities, lots of families were afraid of returning home.

Instead, they sheltered at school buildings and mosques or their relatives‘ houses. “We flee because we are so scared,” said Imam, a 30year-old resident.

The heavy rain still showered the Padajaya village area on Saturday so that the displaced families, whose houses were vulnerable to unpredictable landslides, kept staying at the temporary shelters.

For security reason, the

village‘s schools were also temporarily closed. Those fleeing their houses had lack of food stock and clothes so that they appealed for the government‘s and public help.

“We hope the government will soon help us. We really need food and clothes,” said Icih, a refugee.

This Saturday‘s landslide has reminded the Cianjur district‘s people of the March 11‘s deadly landslide.

At that time, the landslide that hit Ciawitali hamlet, Sukamekar village, Sukanagara sub-district, Cianjur district, destroyed five houses and killed 10 people.A survivor, Obih, lost his wife and his ten-year-old daughter.

Found alive under the mud of the landslide a day after the disaster happened, the 27-year-old Obih still thought that his daughter, Listi, was still watching TV inside his destroyed house.

Obih did not only lose his wife and daughter but also his two other family members. They were identified as Jujun, 55, Acih, 45, Pipit, 25, and Listi, 10.

Over the past few days, heavy rain kept showering various parts of West Java Province, including Bogor and Bandung, causing floods in some areas.

13-year old student arrested after shooting classmate MUSI Rawas, S Sumatra Police in Musi Rawas, South Sumatra province, arrested a 13-year student on Saturday after shooting his classmate during a fight.

Ranggut Inggrit (13) was shot in the left thigh by Anggar Nopan, both students of state junior high school SMPN 1 in

Bangun Rejo in the classroom during a school hour.

The incident began after Ranggut showing a home-made gun to Anggar who later tried to grab it after Ranggut refused to let him hold it leading to a fight that ended with the trigger pulled and the bullet hit Ranggut.

Upon hearing the fire the whole

class and the teacher were shocked, seeing the victim crying in pain. Ranggut was then taken to a hospital.

The school‘s vice principal confirmed the incident saying he was just outside the class when he heard the shot.When he checked the class he saw the victim crying in pain.

The victim‘s mother, Mr s

Sukaisih, said she only knew about the incident after the school informed her. She immediately left for the hospital in Lubuklinggau.

The Musi Rawas chief intelligence, Adjunct Commissioner Parulian Pardede said the police was now still questioning Anggar.

He said Anggar said the gun

belonged to his friend named Ahmad Edi an elementary school student of Bangung Rejo.

Ahmad Edi entrusted the gun to him who later brought it to school with a purpose of returning it to Ahmad.The police is still investigating the alleged owner of the gun

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Internationa

Monday, March 22, 2010

Bali Today Anti-terror drill done by police and army Antara

Bali – The anti-terror drill was still being conducted even tough the President of US, Barack Obama, postponed his trip to Indonesia. The drill was done by the Udayana Army and Bali Police Department.

The drill was done in Discovery Hotel in Kuta joined by over 300 personnel from both departments.

The army consists of infantry squad, cavalry, air division and others. While the police employed anti terror squad and K9 unit.

On the drill, the scenario was a hostage situation in the hotel. Several VVIP guest was held captive by terrorists inside the hotel compound. The terrorists were demanding several things but because the situations worsen, the authorities decided to save the hostages immediately.

The police and army cooperate to end the situation. In a matter of

minutes, the hostages can be saved and the terrorists were killed or arrested. The police also searched for explosive to anticipate any bombs planted by the terrorists.

The drill was done in real life condition so the guests who stay in the hotel can see the drill directly.

The staff of command in Udayana Army, Brigadir Jenderal TNI Agung Revulton, and other officers of the army and police department was watching the drill. Kapten Zaki Mustofa, the head of Air Operation in Udayana Army, said “the drill is a routine training. The similar training had been done in Ngurah Rai Airport.”

AFP PHOTO / SONNY TUMBELAKA

Indonesian army commandos take part in a security and rescue exercise at a hotel in Denpasar, on the resort island of Bali, on March 20, 2010, as part of security steps in preparation for the planned visit of US President Barack Obama. US President Barack Obama dramatically postponed his trip to Indonesia and Australia until June, so he can battle for a historic health reform bill that could shape his legacy.

Post Limited Discussion Residents of Tejakula Bali Not Optimal, Poverty Eradication in Karangasem Preserve Rare Art Amlapura (Bali Post)—

Citizens of Tejakula Village have the will and ways to seriously preserve rare art that developed in the village. One of them is by holding arts performances event that was held for three days after the Nyepi holiday on March 16 and ends at the end of last week. Moreover, the event of these performing arts will be held every year in an attempt to explore while preserving the existing art in the village.

Village Performing Arts Committee Chairman Nyoman Sutaya disclosed that Tejakula art performances will be held every year as an effort to explore the potential of art and preserve the rare existing art in the village of Tejakula.

According to him, in the current era of globalization, reform would certainly occur between the local populations with the new settlers. Automatically, cultural acculturation would happen, and if the local culture of Tejakula Village is not strong it will be displaced by others.

Art performances staged in the event are arts that were born in the village of Tejakula like gambelan art, dance, the puppet and the mask dance.

Tejakula’s Chief of Village Ketut Suardana says other than the idealistic goals, the art scene is also acting as a forum to give free entertainment for the local and the surrounding Tejakula residents to celebrate after Nyepi’s fasting. (ole)

Karangasem Regency located in the Easternmost of Bali has abundant potential of natural resources and human resources. Unfortunately, why do people stay poor? The questions came into view in the Bali Post roundtable discussion on the theme “Raising the Potential of Karangasem for Eradicating Poverty’’ at Radio SWIB Besakih, last Saturday (Mar 20).

Deputy Regent of Karangasem Regency I Gusti Lanang Rai, representative of Deputy Head of Karangasem House Loka Antara, Chairman of National Youth Committee (KNPI) of Karangasem Chapter Nyoman Jelos, representative of Karangasem people in the Bali House Ni Made Sumiati, acknowledged the development in Karangasem to be still underde-

veloped and to retain a lot of poor people compared to other regencies in Bali.

“The desire to tackle poverty in Karangasem has not indicated much result. Although the numbers declined from 40,272 to 35,921 poor households, beggars of Karangasem origin increased, as well as hospital beds were filled by the poor taking advantage of Bali Mandara Health Insurance (JKBM),” said Loka Antara.

Lanang Rai said, for five years serving as deputy regent, the leader in Karangasem has worked hard to reduce poverty in accordance with the vision and vision during the campaign. Although the poverty rate was down it was not yet optimal. There were many things that had to be undertaken so the better welfare of the com-

munity could be reached.

According to him, Karangasem, as the regent having many poor and underdeveloped villages needed encouraging in pursuing the progress in all areas. Poverty was caused by natural disasters of the eruption of Mount Agung in the 1960s.

“Since then, I feel how miserable the people of Karangasem were.

There was no help and the people themselves were struggling to independently back up. Unfortunately, the effort was hampered by various issues like water problems,” he said.

According to him, local economic development was a form of community development process because the local economic development was based on the utilization of local superior resources. (wirya)

al

Monday, March 22, 2010

Balinese Culture JUKUT ARES

SMEs Request Licensing to be Made Easier Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) currently touted by government is still considered only limited to discourse. The reason, concrete action to grow the fervor of these small businessmen still encounters many obstacles. One of them is the bureaucracy in dealing with SMEs’ permits complained by some practitioners of small business in Bali. Therefore, to encourage the development of small businesses, regency and city governments are required to facilitate the permit process for SMEs. Deputy Chairman of Bali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadinda), SMEs Division, Putu Suparthayuma, who met in Denpasar recently, revealed the licensing process for SMEs was still beating around the bush. Issues becoming the obstacle in promoting the smooth activity of SMEs were the existence of government policies obliging the SMEs to have an Environmental Management Effort-Environmental Monitoring Effort (UKL-UPL) permit to get the Trade Business Permit (SIUP). In fact, such SMEs were only engaged in the distribution of craft products that did

not generate any wastes. In addition, it required no much funding, approximately IDR 5 million. “Actually, it is the true obstacle faced

by SME perpetrators,” said a former member of Bali House.

The impact of complicated licensing process afflicting SMEs has resulted in the pending demand of handicraft products in the importing country. “Government should not only show lip service in encouraging the development of small businesses in the region, including the Denpasar City claiming to have given a good public service to the community,” he said.

Meanwhile, not long ago Denpasar City government has launched its commitment to generate small and medium businesses. This was done by providing for free licensing process to perpetrators of SMEs with capital below IDR 50 million. This policy was set by the mayor by issuing a regulation (mayor regulation) about the exemption of TDP-SIUP levy for small and medium business in Denpasar.

The Mayor Regulation No: 8/ 2010 or Levy Exemption of SIUP license services and / or Company Registration (TDP) has been enacted as of January 28, 2009. “The

regulation aimed to encourage and facilitate the SMEs in improving their businesses,” the mayor IB Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra said in Denpasar when met in his office recently.

The thought of Denpasar Mayor seemed very reasonable. Given, the main obstacles often faced by small and medium businessmen were particularly in the matter of capital. The lack of funds owned by businessmen made the small business hard to enhance and develop their business. “If want to borrow capital in the bank, they obviously collide with the completeness of document. Therefore, as government, we must bridge the expectations of these small businesses to have complete administrative requirements, chiefly in terms of licensing,” said Rai Mantra.

Rai Mantra also added the licensing exemption in the matter of SIUP and TDP included the application of new SIUP and TDP, modification or replacement of SIUP and the damaged or lost TDP as well as the legalization SIUP and TDP. However, for the time being, the exemption only applied to businessmen having initial balance less than IDR 50 million and personal property. (kmb12)

(Chicken Soup with Banana Stems) OVERVIEW: The tender center of young banana palms is used for this dish in Bali, these can be replaced by round cabbage, although this needs to be salted for only 10 minutes.

INGREDIENTS: 600 gr (1¼ lb) young banana palm stem 6 tbsp salt ½ cup basic spice paste 1.5 lt (6 cups) duck stock 2 salam leaves 1 stalk lemongrass, bruised salt to taste ½ tbsp black peppercorn, crushed fried shallots to garnish PREPARATION: Peel off hard outside layers of the banana stem, cut in half lengthwise and place flat side on carving board.

With a sharp knife cut in thin slices. Sprinkle a flat tray with salt, place sliced banana stem on it and sprinkle generously with salt again. Marinade for 45 minutes.

Place slices on top of each and press by hand to extract the juice. Repeat process until stems are very dry and soft. Rinse stems thoroughly under running water. Strain and dry well. Combine duck stock and spice paste and bring to boil. Add salam leaves and lemongrass. Simmer for 5 minutes then add shredded banana stem and bring back to boil. Simmer for one hour until stems are soft, but still crunchy. If using cabbage, the cooking time will be much shorter. Season to taste with salt and pepper and garnish with fried shallots.

BE PASIH MEPANGGANG (Marinated Grilled Fish) OVERVIEW: The fragrance of seasoned fresh fish sizzling over charcoal is almost irresistible.

INGREDIENTS: 1 kg (2 lb) whole snapper, cleaned 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper crushed 1 cup seafood spice paste Oil to brush fish PREPARATION: With a sharp knife cut four slits about 2 cm (3/4 in) deep on both sides of the fish. This allows the seasoning to penetrate better and the fish to cook more evenly.

Season outside with lime juice salt and pepper. Fill the inside of the fish with seafood spice paste. If possible, leave the fish to marinate for several hours to improve the flavor.

Brush outside of fish with a little seafood spice paste and oil, place on charcoal grill and cook over medium heat. Turne fish frequently and continue to brush with seafood spice paste and oil. Serve with Sambal Tomat, Sambal Matah and white rice.

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Destinations

Monday, March 22, 2010

International

Bedugul Tourism Area BEATIFUL botanical garden at bedugul baliBedugul is the name a small village, located on a high plateau in the center of the island, 18 km north of Denpasar and 1400 meters above sea level, is known for its excellent golf course. As it’s location in the main road connecting the north and south of Bali.

It is the perfect place to stop for a night on an island tour. Air cold and fog are the natural place. Bedugul also a center of horticulture. We will find plenty of fruits and vegetables.

A pine forest seems to create freshness in the air. Here located 3 of 4 lakes in Bali, Beratan, Buyan and Tamblingan.

Bratan, the largest of the three is the perfect place for water sports like para sailing, navigation engine, jet skiing, water skiing, canoeing, etc. A beautiful view is the Ulun Danu temple to which sems out of the lake. bedugul torism area - botanical gardenIn this area also located Bedugul Botanical Garden or Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bedugul. The botanical garden was opened in 1959 and owns 154.5 acres of land located Tabanan regency, the northwest part of Bali. It is close to the beautiful lake called Lake Beratan and Ulun Danu Temple.

Now days have more than 1187 kinds of plants and numerous flora. In this area, there are orchid garden as a collection of 320 types of orchids Bali, Java, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Sulawesi and Irian Jaya. We can only meet the rose garden as a collection of various shifted from green to rust color.

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Monday, March 22, 2010

11

BUSINESS China warns US against yuan sanctions Agence France Presse

BEIJING – China warned Sunday it may retaliate if the United States imposes trade sanctions and other penalties over its exchange rate policy, state media reported.

“We will not turn a blind eye,” People’s Daily quoted Commerce Minister Chen Deming as saying in response to a US threat to impose sanctions on China if the US Treasury department deems it to be a currency manipulator.

Chen also again denied the yuan was undervalued and accused the United States of “politicising” the currency issue.

His remarks at a closed-door economic forum in Beijing follow US lawmakers’ demand that US President Barack Obama label China a currency manipulator, a move that could trigger tough penalties. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has to decide on the issue next month.

Beijing has effectively pegged the yuan to the US dollar since mid-2008, which critics say keeps the currency’s value artificially low, making its exports cheaper and thus more competitive on overseas markets.

China, the world’s biggest exporter, has repeatedly defended its exchange rate policy as necessary for the survival of Chinese manufacturers and supporting jobs growth in the economy.

(AFP/Frederic J. Brown)

China warned Sunday it may retaliate if the United States imposes trade sanctions and other penalties over its exchange rate policy, state media reported Premier Wen Jiabao said last Sun- balance, trade frictions and other conday China would not be bullied into cerned trade issues,” a ministry statechanging its exchange rate policy. ment said.

“We are opposed to the practice Criticism over its forex policy has of engaging in mutual finger-point- risen as China’s trade surplus and foring among countries or taking strong eign exchange reserves have skyrockmeasures to force other countries to eted. appreciate their currencies,” he told In 2005, international pressure led reporters at the end of China’s annual China to adopt a managed float of the session of parliament. yuan, which led to a 21 percent increase Amid the growing trade tensions in its value against the dollar by 2008, between China and the US, Beijing when the global financial crisis struck. said Friday Vice Commerce MinisSince then, China has effectively ter Zhong Shan will visit Washing- pegged the yuan to the dollar, a move ton from March 24 to 26. that has helped its exporters weather Zhong will meet US lawmakers and the global crisis, but also triggered a officials at the US Commerce and Trea- fresh round of foreign pressure. sury departments as well as at the US China said this month the exchange Trade Representative’s Office. rate policy was temporary and would “This visit is an effort to consult and be withdrawn “sooner or later” along exchange views on the Sino-US trade with other stimulus measures.

GM Daewoo to recall 58,000 vehicles in S.Korea: government Agence France Presse

SEOUL – GM Daewoo, the South Korean subsidiary of US car giant General Motors, Sunday recalled more than 58,000 vehicles because of defects, in the latest blow to Asia’s crisis-hit auto industry.

The recall affects vehicles sold in South Korea but will be expanded to include those sold abroad, according to GM Daewoo, the country’s third largest carmaker. It gave no immediate idea of the size of the foreign recall, or which countries would be affected.

“GM Daewoo Auto and Technology has reported that it will recall 58,696 vehicles that it has made and sold in Winstrom, Lacetti Premiere and Damas models due to manufacturing defects,” Seoul’s ministry of land, transport and maritime affairs said in a statement.

The recall will affect 45,957 Winstorm sport-utility vehicles, 12,604 Lacetti Premiere sedans and 135 Damas microvans, the ministry said.

Defective steering wheels were found in Winstorm models sold from 2006 to 2007 while flawed fuel hoses were discovered in Lacetti Premiere cars sold from 2009 to early 2010.

Damas vans sold in 2009 were found to have been manufactured with insufficient fire safety measures, it said.

The affected 58,696 vehicles were

sold in South Korea, a DM Daewoo spokesman told AFP, adding that the recall would spread to vehicles sold overseas.

“A recall will be announced in other countries, where the models were exported, but we have yet to get you the exact figure,” the spokesman said.

GM Daewoo sells the Winstorm and the Lacetti Premiere models as Chevrolet Captiva and Chevrolet Cruze models worldwide.

The GM Daewoo move follows a series of recalls by South Korea’s top automaker Hyundai Motor over safety worries in cars sold in the United States.

Hyundai announced on March 2 it was recalling 515 Tucson sport utility vehicles in the US due to potentially defective airbags.

It was the firm’s second such announcement in a week, after it said on February 24 it would recall 47,300 of its latest Sonata sedans in the US and the domestic market due to a possible door lock problem.

Recalls have become a sensitive issue after Japan’s auto giant Toyota was forced to fix millions of vehicles worldwide.

Toyota president Akio Toyoda apologised to consumers in China early this month days after he said sorry to angry US lawmakers in Washington for faulty accelerator pedals amid allegations they were responsible for more than 30 deaths.

British Airways and union claim advantage in strike Agence France Presse

LONDON – British Airways said Sunday it was reinstating some flights on the second day of a strike after more cabin crew than expected turned up for work, but the union claimed it held the upper hand.

BA said it would operate eight long-haul flights and 18 short-haul flights which it had earlier expected to cancel.

But the Unite union said half of BA’s 250 planes had been grounded on the first day of the action.

The union said 80 percent of its 12,000 cabin crew members walked out on the first day Saturday of the three-day strike. It said it had turned BA’s flagship Terminal 5 into a “ghost town”.

But BA said 1,157 cabin crew had turned up for work at London’s

Heathrow and Gatwick airports, accounting for 97 percent of crew on duty at Gatwick and just over half the scheduled staff at Heathrow.

As a result it was reinstating flights on Sunday to destinations such as Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Cape Town, as well as shorter European flights.

As well as using non-striking staff, the airline is offering travellers seats on planes leased from other carriers, including budget airline Ryanair.

In a video message late Saturday, BA chief executive Willie Walsh said the contingency plans had worked “better than expected”.

“We’ve had a great turnout at Gatwick — incredible, every single cabin crew rostered to fly today has come to work and we’ve had about 50 percent of our cabin

crew arrive at Heathrow, so they are voting with their feet,” he said.

He added: “I really do deeply regret that people’s travel plans have been disrupted, but it’s great to see people sticking with BA and people backing BA and with their support we will definitely get through this.”

The union however has dismissed BA’s claims and even accused it of operating empty planes as a face-saving measure.

Unite claimed planes were stacking up on the ground on Saturday, turning Heathrow into a giant parking lot of BA aircraft with 85 at a standstill.

More than 1,000 flights were set to be cancelled in the initial phase of the action — the first by BA cabin crew for 13 years — with a second walkout to follow for four days from March 27, targeting the busy Easter holiday period.

(AFP/File/Emmanuel Dunand)

A Lacetti model from US-Korean car manufacturer GM-Daewoo is presented at the press day of the 2002 Seoul Motor Show. GM Daewoo, the South Korean subsidiary of US car giant General Motors, Sunday recalled more than 58,000 vehicles because of defects, in the latest blow to Asia’s crisis-hit auto industry.

12

Entertainment

Monday, March 22, 2010

International

Court: Anna Nicole Smith gets none of oil fortune Associated Press Writer

SAN FRANCISCO – The elderly Texas billionaire who married Anna Nicole Smith in the last year of his life never intended to leave the former stripper any portion of his vast fortune, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a Houston jury that said J. Howard Marshall was mentally fit and under no undue pressure when he wrote a will leaving nearly all of his $1.6 billion estate to his son E. Pierce Marshall and nothing to Smith.

The ruling was the latest development in the bitter 15-year legal battle.

Smith said the elder Marshall promised her more than $300 million, even though there was no written documentation.

The fight between Smith and E. Pierce Marshall started in a sleepy Houston probate court and stretched all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court while outliving its two combatants. It may reach the high court again.

Kent Richland, a lawyer for Smith’s estate vowed to appeal the latest ruling, possibly to the Supreme Court on dif-

ferent issues than those it first considered.

“It really is a unique decision,” Richland said. “We have to take it farther.” Pierce’s widow and two sons said they hoped the legal battle was close to ending.

“Our only wish would be that Pierce were here to see his vindication,” the family said in a prepared statement.

The decision — if it holds up — is bad news for Smith’s ex-boyfriend Larry Birkhead and their 3-year-old daughter Dannielynn. The child was named Smith’s heir in 2008 after she died of a drug overdose at 39 at a Florida hotel. Birkhead and attorney Howard K. Stern were placed in charge of Smith’s estate. Neither returned calls seeking comment.

Stern and two other people have pleaded not guilty to charges of con-

German celebrity magazine admits fake interviews

Jason Kempin/Getty Images/AFP

Alicia Keys and Beyonce Knowles perform at Madison Square Garden on March 17, 2010 in New York City.

spiring to provide thousands of prescription pills to the former model before her death.

The convoluted dispute over J. Howard Marshall’s money has its roots in a Houston strip club where he met Smith. The two were wed in 1994 when he was 89 and she 26. Marshall died the next year and his will left his estate to his son.

Smith challenged the will in a Houston probate court, alleging the billionaire’s son illegally coerced his father to exclude the former Playboy model from sharing the estate. She alleged that her husband promised to leave her more than $300 million above the $7 million in cash and gifts showered on her during their 14-month marriage.

While the probate case was pending in Houston, Smith filed for bankruptcy in Los Angeles, alleging in federal court filings that her husband promised her a large share of the estate.

In late 2000, the bankruptcy court awarded Smith $474.75 million, which a federal district court judge reduced to $89.5 million in 2002.

AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta,File

FILE - In this Feb. 28, 2006 file photo, Anna Nicole Smith leaves the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. A federal appeals court says Anna Nicole Smith’s estate will receive none of the more than $300 million that she claimed her late billionaire husband had promised her. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is the latest stop in the 15-year legal battle over the $1.6 billion estate that oil magnate J. Howard Marshall left after his 1995 death at age 90.

‘A dad like any other,’ son says of drug lord Escobar

Agence France Presse

Agence France Presse

BERLIN – German celebrity gossip magazine Neon admitted Friday it had published five made-up interviews since 2004 with stars such as Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and Snoop Doggy Dog. In a message published on its Internet site, Neon said it “apologised to its readers and the artists concerned” for the fictitious articles and stressed it had fired the journalist responsible.

The scandal came to light in January when Beyonce’s management team queried an interview published in the magazine by freelance reporter Ingo Mocek.

When the Neon team confronted Mocek, “he was not able to verify certain statements, particularly the statements regarding a marriage contract of Ms. Knowles,” the magazine statement said.

The interview claimed that Beyonce and husband Jay-Z had a secret two-year marriage contract, prompting rumors on celebrity blogs and websites that the couples were soon to split.

“We assume that the interview did not take place as claimed by Ingo Mocek,” the magazine said, adding it had terminated its relationship with the journalist.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico– Pablo Escobar may have been the world’s top drug lord and blamed for 15,000 murders, but to his son, he was “a dad like any other” who read stories and sang him to sleep.

“When I had the chance to talk with my dad about his behavior... I felt between a rock and a hard place because I wasn’t about to turn him in... it was like living with two different people,” Juan Pablo Escobar said in an interview at Mexico’s Guadalajara Film Festival.

Escobar, 32, presented the documentary “Sins of my Father” about

his life and the notorious legacy his father left.

In it, he atones for his father’s crimes and begs forgiveness to the sons of two politicians his father ordered killed in the 1980s.

Fearing for his safety, Juan Pablo Escobar changed his name to Sebastian Marroquin after his father was killed by police in the northern Colombian city of Medellin in late 1993. The following year, he fled to Argentina where he now lives with his wife, mother and sister.

Escobar said he rejected several proposal for documentaries before Argentine filmmaker Nicolas Entel came along with his project.

AFP/Red Creek/File

Undated picture of Colombian child Sebastian Marroquin, formerly Juan Pablo Escobar, with his father Pablo Escobar, the leader of the Medellin cartel, killed by the Colombian police in 1993. Marroquin, who has lived in Argentina for the past 16 years under a new identity, attended the launch of the documentary film “Los Pecados de Mi padre” (My Father’s Sins) at the Guadalajara film festival.

“One way or another, the other documentaries wanted to glorify gangsterism and take advantage of history to turn a profit,” he told AFP. “Nicolas’s project was different, but it took him six months to convince me.”

In “Sins of My Father,” Marroquin talks about his childhood spent with the “Cocaine Czar,” but also recounts meeting the sons of slain politicians Rodrigo Lara Bonilla and Luis Carlos Galan.

“Both meetings were very intense. I couldn’t believe they had agreed to see me,” Escobar said.

“The fact is both sides came away with a feeling of relief, of liberation. We realized that forgiveness is the only way of achieving peace in Colombia, which doesn’t imply giving up on justice.”

Despite his notorious exploits as the head of the Medellin drug cartel and his vast fortune — he was considered one of the richest men in the world during the 1990s — the elder Escobar was an ordinary family man at home, “a dad like any other,” according to his son.

The younger Escobar said his father imparted life values that put him on the right path.

Upon learning of his father’s death, he publicly threatened his killers but retracted his words 10 minutes later.

Life Style

International

In this Nov. 26, 2009 photo, orange-colored ringed rice coral, or montipora patula, is seen in waters off Waimanalo, Hawaii. Ringed rice coral is among 82 coral species the federal government is considering listing as endangered or threatened.

AP Photo/Keoki Stender

Demise of coral, salamander show impact of Web Associated Press Writer

DOHA, Qatar – The Internet has emerged as one of the greatest threats fueling the illegal wildlife trade, making it easier to buy everything from live baby lions to wine made from tiger bones, conservationists said Sunday.

The Web’s impact was made clear at the meeting of the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES. A vote Sunday was scheduled on a proposal to ban the sale of the Kaiser’s spotted newt which the World Wildlife Fund says has been devastated by the Internet trade.

The United States and Sweden, meanwhile are proposing to regulate the trade in red and pink coral which is crafted into expensive jewelry and sold extensively on the Web. “This is one of the biggest challenges facing CITES,” said Paul Todd, campaign manager for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

“The Internet is becoming the dominant factor overall in the global trade in protected species,” he said. “There will come a time when country to country trade of large

shipments between big buyers and big sellers in different countries is a thing of the past.”

The IFW has done several surveys of illegal trade on the Web and found that thousands of species are sold on auction sites, classified ads and chat rooms, mostly in the United States but also Europe, China, Russia and Australia. Most of what is traded is illegal African ivory but the group has also found exotic birds along with rare products such as tiger-bone wine and pelts from protected species like polar bears and leopards.

A separate 2009 survey by the group Campaign Against the Cruelty to Animals targeted the Internet trade in Ecuador, finding offers to sell live capuchin monkeys, lion cubs and ocelots.

“As the Internet knows no borders, it causes several new problems regarding the enforcement of the

protection of endangered species,” the group said in its report.

The newt is a textbook example of what can happen to one species through trade on the Web. According to a study by the WWF, the black and brown salamander with white spots is coveted in the pet trade.

Number only around 1,000, about 200 annually are being traded over the years, mostly through a Web site that was operated out Ukraine.

“The Internet itself isn’t the threat, but it’s another way to market the product,” said Ernie Cooper, who spearhead the investigation into the newt for TRAFFIC Canada. “The Kaiser’s spotted newt, for example, is expensive and most people are not willing to pay $300 for a salamander.

But through the power of the Internet, tapping into global market, you can find buyers.”

The red and pink coral, which consist of 32 species, are harvested in deep Mediterranean waters and turned into expensive jewelry either in Italy or in cheaper locals like Taiwan and China, according to the marine conservation group SeaWeb.

Monday, March 22, 2010

13

Lebanon’s liquid treasure is just trickling away Agence France Presse

AMSHEET, Lebanon – Rose Hatem’s home overlooks the Mediterranean and is just a short distance from one of Lebanon’s longest rivers.

But twice a week the 60-year-old has to buy water for her daily needs.

“I have been buying in water since I moved here 14 years ago,” Hatem told AFP in the picturesque village of Amsheet, north of the Lebanese capital Beirut. “In the summer, when demand is high, I’m often left without a drop.”

Hers is a story repeated across Lebanon, one of the rare countries in the Middle East considered relatively rich in water. But many people still have to buy it because of a lack of a proper supply network and effective conservation.

Experts warn that unless Lebanon takes proper measures to protect its precious water resources, little will be left for future generations as the population, which currently stands at four million, increases.

Fadi Comair, who heads hydraulic and electrical resources at the energy and water ministry, said that unless the problem is addressed — and

quickly — Lebanon could even run dry within four years.

“There is no miracle solution,” he said. “We need to build dams, artificial lakes, a new network and work hand in hand with the private sector.

“If you take into account population increase and climate change, we have enough water to last us another four years, until 2015,” Comair said.

It is a warning that hits home hard where it hurts the most.

“As we celebrate World Water Day on Monday we must reflect on the fact that Lebanon should be exporting this resource rather than sitting by and watching it slowly diminish,” said Antoine Issa, head of the local council in Amsheet.

“This is a blessing and we have no idea how to preserve it.”

The tiny country bordering Syria and Israel has no fewer than 40 major streams, 2,000 springs and numerous waterfalls that form each year with the melting snow. But the 1975-1990 civil war and years of political unrest have relegated the water issue to the backburner. Water rights are also a constant source of dispute between Lebanon and Israel, where the resource is even more scarce.

AFP/File/Joseph Eid

A man points to polluted water flowing into a river in Kfarshima, a southern suburb of Beirut, on March 16. Experts warn that unless Lebanon takes proper measures to protect its precious water resources, little will be left for future generations as the population, which currently stands at four million, increases.

Palm’s phone sales slump and its stock dives Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File

FILE - In This March 8, 2010 file photo, a customer uses a Palm Pre Plus at Best Buy in Mountain View, Calif. Palm Inc. reports quarterly financial results Thursday, March 18.

NEW YORK – Palm Inc. reported sales figures Thursday that showed it’s having a difficult time getting consumers to pay attention to its phones in a market dominated by iPhones and BlackBerrys. The company’s shares plunged in after-hours trading.

The company shipped 960,000 smart phones to stores and distributors in the quarter that ended Feb. 26, 23 percent more than in the previous quarter. However, the number of phones that were actually bought by consumers was 408,000, down 29 percent from the previous quarter. By comparison, Apple sold 8.7 million iPhones in its most recent quarter.

“Our recent under performance has been very disappointing, but the potential for Palm remains strong,” Palm

CEO Jon Rubinstein said in a statement. Palm reported a loss of $22 million, or 13 cents per share, for the quarter, its fiscal third. But that was mitigated by an accounting effect brought about by the recent drop in Palm’s stock price. Excluding that effect, the loss was $102.8 million, or 61 cents per share.

In the same period a year ago Palm lost $98 million, or 89 cents per share.

Revenue was $350 million, up from $91 million a year ago, when Palm was waiting to release its newest phones.

The latest revenue figure was above Palm’s own forecast, issued less than a month ago, for $285 million to $310 million. Chief Financial Officer Doug Jeffries said that Palm was able to deliver several shipments early, just before the end of the quarter. Palm recognizes most of its revenue when

phones hit distributors, not when the devices are sold to consumers.

Jeffries said Palm now expects sales in the current quarter to be less than $150 million, partly because carriers now have big stocks of phones to sell off.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were on average expecting sales of $305 million in the current quarter.

Palm shares closed Thursday at $5.65, up 28 cents. After Jeffries revealed the revenue forecast in a conference call, the shares fell 74 cents, or 13 percent, to $4.91 in after-hours trading.

If the shares stay at that level in Friday trading, they will set a new 52-week low.

The shares have traded as high as $18.09 in the past year.

Palm was a pioneer in the smart phone business, but it lagged as BlackBerry maker Research in Motion

Ltd. gobbled up the corporate market and Apple Inc.’s iPhone charmed consumers. More recently, Google Inc.’s Android software for smart phones has gained traction at Palm’s expense.

Palm revamped its portfolio last year by introducing a new phone operating system, webOS. It’s the basis for a new line of phones, led by the Pre, that have won critical praise but haven’t turned the company’s fortunes around.

Analysts have suggested that Palm, which is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is now too small of a player in the phone market and could be acquired. Potential buyers might eye its software and patents. But they also could be dissuaded by the time it would take to get webOS running on their phones.

14

Sport

Monday, March 22, 2010

International

Ljubicic drops Nadal to book final against Roddick Agence France Presse

INDIAN WELLS, California – At 31, Ivan Ljubicic says he’s playing better than ever, and he showed it Saturday with a victory over Rafael Nadal for a berth in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 final.

“It was great, great match,” former world number three Ljubicic said of his 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/1) triumph over the world number three. “Probably the best I’ve ever played in my career.”

It came one day after his 31st birthday, and Ljubicic more than kept pace with 23-year-old Nadal, the defending champion who was playing his first tournament since a knee injury forced him out of the Australian Open.

Ljubicic displayed the form that saw him rise to number three in 2006, especially in a third-set tiebreaker that he called “absolutely perfect.”

“I knew I had to be aggressive,” said Ljubicic, who gave leap of celebration when his forehand winner landed on match point. “I knew I had to go for my shots, but I didn’t expect that everything would go in.

But it did happen.”

Ljubicic denied Nadal a shot at a third title in four years. More importantly he gave himself another shot at a Masters 1000 title, something that eluded him when he reached the finals in three of the prestigious events in 2005 and 2006.

“I hope this one, it’s going to be finally the victory,” said Ljubicic, whose path to the final included a fourth-round victory over world number two Novak Djokovic.

In Sunday’s final he’ll face seventh-seeded American Andy Roddick, a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 winner over sixth-seeded Swede Robin Soderling.

US Open runner-up Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark and former world number one Jelena Jankovic of Serbia will play for the women’s title on Sunday.

Ljubicic, now ranked 26th in the world, halted a five-match skid against Nadal that included defeats last year in the quarter-finals of Masters 1000 events in Monte Carlo and Shanghai. He fired 17 aces - taking his total for the tournament to 66. But he said aces were just part of the story on his serve.

“I was not going for the biggest serves all the time,” he said. “I knew that slow serve to his backhand would give him a lot of trouble, and that’s exactly what happened.”

The two had traded breaks to open the third set, Nadal missing with two forehands to give up the first game and Ljubicic double-faulting on break point to surrender the next.

Ljubicic admitted he was nervous to start the third, but there was no sign of it by the time he took a 2-1 lead in the tiebreaker with a 222 kilometres per hour (138 mph) ace.

A backhand winner put him 3-1 up, and three Nadal miscues saw the Spaniard in a 6-1 hole that Ljubicic gave him no chance to climb out of.

Ljubicic had looked sluggish as he surrendered breaks in the first and last

games of the opening set and said he struggled with the unexpected wind.

“I just felt like if I find the rhythm of the return then I can have the match, and that’s exactly what happened.”

After saving four break points in the sixth game of the second set, Ljubicic seemed energized, and he got the break he needed to extend the match when Nadal double-faulted on break point in the ninth game.

Roddick and Soderling both fought frustration as momentum shifted in their battle.

Roddick broke his racquet on the ground after dropping his serve in the eighth game of the second set, leaving Soderling to serve for the set at 53. The Swede made the most of it with a love game, then the two traded breaks early in the third before Roddick earned the decisive break for a 4-2 lead that he never relinquished.

Roddick said he was conscious of Soderling’s pressure on his serve, but he was able to apply the same to the Swede.

“I knew I was returning real well, so I thought this might be the rare occasion where that would be the thing that won it for me,” Roddick said.

Even after he won the second set, Soderling said he didn’t feel he was playing great. “He played a little bit better than me,” Soderling said. “I think he served a little bit better, and then I made a few more unforced errors. That’s about it.”

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Ivan Ljubicic, of Croatia, reacts after defeating Rafael Nadal, of Spain, during their match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 20, 2010, in Indian Wells, Calif.

Pierce leads Celtics past streaking Mavericks Inter stalemate opens door for Milan Reuters

AFP/Getty Images/File/Elsa

Paul Pierce scored 29 points, Rajon Rondo added 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Boston Celtics extended their win streak to four games with a 102-93 victory over the Dallas Mavericks

DALLAS – The Boston Celtics derailed the Dallas Mavericks’ bid to move into second place in the Western Conference with a 102-93 victory on Saturday.

Paul Pierce scored 29 points for the Atlantic Division leading Celtics, who won their fourth successive game, while Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas, the Southwest Division’s top team, with 28 points.

Pierce had 17 points in the second half, when the Celtics shot a torrid 68.8 per cent.

“He’s starting to get his confidence,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said of Pierce. “I got on him in a timeout because I thought he was looking to pass too much.

“I told him to just be aggressive, just be who you are, and he was that.”

Pierce’s three-pointer with 1:44 to play turned a one-point Boston lead into a more comfortable four-point cushion.

He then stole a pass from Nowitzki and fed Rajon Rondo for a fast-break layup to put

away the Mavericks, who had won 14 of their previous 15 games. Rondo finished with 20 points and Ray Allen had 21 for Boston.

“Rondo was really key down the stretch,” Mavericks center Brendan Haywood said. “He made a lot of plays for their team. I think they really fed off his energy.”

Dallas trailed by only a point at the half, but let Boston open up a nine-point lead on an Allen three-pointer in the third quarter.

“We were playing from behind for most of the night,” Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle said. “That made it tough.

You’ve got to be able to get some stops. We didn’t get stops.

That was our undoing.”

A win would have lifted the Mavericks past Denver into second place behind the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference.

The Nuggets lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 102-97 and maintained a half-game lead over the Mavericks in the conference standings.

Agence France Presse

ROME – Inter Milan, fresh from reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, were held to a 1-1 draw by Palermo on Saturday, a result which paves the way for AC Milan to take charge of the title race.

Milan, who have endured a miserable week which saw both David Beckham and Alessandro Nesta limping out of contention, can take top spot for the first time this season if they defeat Napoli on Sunday.

Jose Mourinho’s Inter once had a comfortable 10-point lead over their city rivals and had led the table since midOctober.

But the form they showed in midweek, when Inter knocked M o u r i n h o ’s f o r m e r c l u b Chelsea out of the Champions League, deserted them again on Saturday, just as last week when they slumped to a shock

3-1 loss at Catania.

They opened the scoring against Palermo when Argentine striker Diego Milito converted an 11th-minute penalty after Lucio had been fouled.

But Palermo, who are an impressive fourth place in the table and chasing a Champions League place, levelled when Uruguayan star Edinson Cavani, set up by Fabrizio Miccoli beat Inter keeper Julio Cesar with a smart drive in the 24th minute.

Inter pressed hard for the winner but Palermo defended well and in depth to ensure a point. “Once again we showed that we can be strong even when we are not winning,” said Cesar.

“We are always looking to score, but we came up against a team who are having a great season and always defend very well.”

Palermo coach Delio Rossi praised his young team.

Sport

International

Monday, March 22, 2010

15

Chelsea stars begin life ‘on borrowed time’ Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO / PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU

Real Madrid’s Argentinian forward Gonzalo Higuain (L) vies with Sporting Gijon’s defender Alberto Botia during their Spanish League football match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 20, 2010.

Real fight back to pile pressure on Barcelona Agence France Presse

MADRID – Real Madrid secured their ninth straight victory after coming from behind to beat Sporting Gijon 3-1 on Saturday and open up a three-point gap on bitter rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

The home side were the better team in the first half but lacked the killer touch in front of goal with Gonzalo Higuain missing two excellent chances.

After the break, Sporting went ahead against the run of play through David Barral, but the goal injected some much-needed urgency into Real.

Rafael Van der Vaart brought Real level, although replays suggested he controlled the ball with his hand, and then Xabi Alonso headed them into the lead. Higuain got on the scoresheet to finish off the threat from Sporting.

“We had a bad start and it wasn’t until the second half that we improved but we lacked the creativity to break down Sporting,” said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini.

“You can’t play all games well and while we scored three goals we can’t be happy with the way we played.

“This was a game which gave us a warning as we have to start matches with a greater rhythm.

Sporting defended very well and on the counter-attack were very dangerous.”

Sporting coach Manolo Preciado

refused to make a big issue of the possible handball by Van der Vaart.

“If there was (a handball) then that would have had some influence on the result. I’m not going to talk about the referee, they do what is possible and at times they can make mistakes,” he said. The onus is now on Barcelona who must beat Zaragoza on Sunday to remain level on points with Real.

The champions have not been playing at their best and it is largely thanks to Lionel Messi, who has scored eight of their last ten goals, that they are still locked in a tight tussle with Real.

Coach Pep Guardiola, though, has emphasised the importance of the team as a whole playing well from now until the end of the season.

“When I talk about the team I am not trying to downplay Messi at all.

There is no doubt that Leo is very important to us because he is the best player in the world, and he is like Michael Jordan was to basketball,” said the coach.

“The aim is that he is involved as much as possible in the game and that he gets the ball in dangerous areas as that is where he likes to be.

“He is the first to press and win balls and this is contagious for the rest of the players. We can do something special this year but we need to be all at our best.”

Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez’s future was left hanging in the balance following his side’s 2-0 defeat

by Espanyol.

The Andalusian team have now gone four matches without victory in the league as well as crashing out of the Champions League against CSKA Moscow.

Espanyol went ahead through their first attack with Pablo Osvaldo heading home a Javi Marquez cross.

Sevilla then lost two important creative players in Jesus Navas and Diego Capel to injury.

Osvaldo finished off a wellworked move on the hour mark to double Espanyol’s lead and there was no way back for Sevilla.

“I feel strong and I’m able to deal with this situation,” said Sevilla coach Jimenez.

A surprise 2-0 defeat for Deportivo La Coruna against Valladolid allowed Athletic Bilbao, who drew 2-2 with Getafe, to move above them into a Europa League place.

BLACKBURN, England – Chelsea’s Champions League exit at the hands of Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan on Tuesday inevitably led to questions being asked about the future of Carlo Ancelotti and his well-paid players.

Owner Roman Abramovich helped fuel such speculation by making a rare visit to the club’s Surrey training ground to address the Italian and an expensively-assembled squad many critics former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit included - insist requires a comprehensive overhaul in the summer.

But Ancelotti was adamant that the importance of Sunday’s trip to Blackburn Rovers was the only item on the agenda as the Blues attempt to get the better of Manchester United and Arsenal in a three-way fight for the Premier League title.

“Roman spoke with me and with the players,” Ancelotti said. “He came to support us because he knows football and he knows that we are involved in important competitions again. So I think his presence was very good.

“We didn’t speak about the future, about the changes for next season, because it’s not the right time to speak about this. I said we have important games in the next week and we have to stay focused: all the players and all the club.”

Did that mean, therefore, that the Russian was prepared to write off the Inter reverse? Ancelotti was certainly hoping so.

“He was disappointed and he is the owner of a club that is out of the Champions League,” he said. “Everyone was disappointed about the last game.”

With United’s clash with Liverpool likely to be as competitive as usual, Chelsea’s coach believes a good result at Ewood Park could be very significant.

“We have a very important trophy

again to pursue,” said Ancelotti, who may be able to welcome back goalkeeper Petr Cech following three weeks out with a calf injury.

“We are in the semi-finals of the FA Cup and, maybe, two points behind Manchester United but with a game in hand.

“So our destiny is in our own hands.

If we win every game, we can do the double. That’s very difficult, but we can try to do this. That’s very important, to think about this. Only five teams, I think, have won a double in 140 years in England. It’s not easy, but we can think about this and do our best.

That’s our aim.”

Blackburn defender Michel Salgado was also thinking about the future, with the 34-year-old former Real Madrid man confident Sam Allardyce’s squad could improve enough to qualify for Europe in two seasons’ time.

“We are heading the right way,” he said. “If we work hard, why not Europe after next season? We have tough games ahead and the most important thing is to get safe first. Two more wins probably, then we will have the confidence to get more and more.

“That can help the future. Maybe not this season for Europe because it is far away but for the next season if we play with the same squad and maybe improve.”

Rovers no longer possess the financial muscle they enjoyed in the 1990s when Jack Walker bank-rolled their Premier League title success in 1995 and Salgado admitted some of his team-mates could soon be tempted to bigger clubs.

“You have six teams who are two steps ahead of us with regards money,” he said.

“We have many very good young players who are growing up and need the advice of the old players. We have three or four ready to play in big teams.”

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

Chelsea’s Didier Drogba, centre, and Frank Lampard, right, react during their Champions League last 16 second leg soccer match against Inter Milan at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge Stadium in London, Tuesday, March 16, 2010.

16

Monday, March 22, 2010

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

Sport

Klitschko knocks out Chambers to retain titles Reuters

DUESSELDORF, Germany – World heavyweight champion Vladimir Klitschko landed a left-hand knockout punch five seconds from the end of the fight to beat challenger Eddie Chambers and retain his WBO, IBO and IBF belts on Saturday.

AP Photo/Martin Meissner

IBF, IBO and WBO World Champion Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine, left, celebrates after knocking out Eddie Chambers from the US, right, in the last round of the heavy weight title fight at the Esprit Arena in Duesseldorf, western Germany, Saturday March 20, 2010. Around 50,000 spectators watched the championship fight at the soccer stadium in Duesseldorf.

Hamilton: Red Bull has big advantage LEWIS Hamilton reckons Red Bull has a ‘ridiculous’ margin of superiority over its rivals based on its performance in Bahrain.

The McLaren driver said Red Bull had the most downforce of any team in 2009, and that it has maintained its advantage into the new season.

Sebastian Vettel took pole for Red Bull at Sakhir and was set to win the race until his engine lost power and he dropped to fourth.

“The Red Bull is ridiculously faster than anyone else’s car,” Hamilton told the British media. “It’s insane. The downforce they had on their car last year was at some points just about double what we had.

“Even at the end of the year they had so much more than us, even though we had won a couple of grands prix.

“They have both got the fastest car by quite a big step. They should be quite a lot further ahead in general.”

Although Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was able to pressure Vettel even before his problems at Sakhir, Hamilton does not think even Ferrari is a match for Red Bull on raw speed.

“Fernando I think was very quick in the race and they are obviously a little bit closer, but it’s a good half

second [deficit],” said Hamilton.

The Briton rates his McLaren team as being in a battle with Mercedes right behind the leaders.

“We are kind of on the same level as Mercedes I would say,” Hamilton

said.

“We just did maybe a better job at the weekend but it’s a battle between us and Mercedes to see who can step up and improve faster and do a better job.”

AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth

British Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton is seen at the unveiling of the new Mclaren MP4-12C Automotive at the Mclaren Technology Centre in Woking, England, Thursday, March 18, 2010. Manufacturing of the car will begin in spring 2011, and the car will cost between 125,000- 175,000 Pounds (190,000270,000 US Dollars

Ukrainian Klitschko, 33, rattled the 27-year-old American in the second round but had to wait until just before the end of the 12th to stage a dramatic finale and knock him out in front of 51,000 fans at Duesseldorf’s soccer stadium.

Chambers tumbled into the ropes with the referee ending the bout as Klitschko improved his record to 54 wins from 57 fights.

“I have to give him credit. Chambers is very fast and super strong,” Klitschko said. “He does not have much punching power but could have probably outboxed me if I had got tired,” added the beaming Ukrainian in a ringside interview. “But that did not happen.”

Both boxers started off cautiously with Klitschko well aware of “Fast Eddie” Chambers’ speed and the American wanting to avoid the Ukrainian’s reach.

Klitschko, at 1.99 meters some 14 centimeters taller and 16 kilos heavier than Chambers, used his jab to wear down an opponent who kept moving around the ring.

BIG PUNCHES

It did not take long, though, for the 1996 Olympic champion to hurt Chambers with a series of punish-

ing right-hand punches in the second round that rattled his confidence.

Klitschko, with brother Vitaly — the WBC heavyweight champion — in his corner, landed another big right in the third but Chambers bravely battled on while never really staking a strong claim for the titles.

Chambers, with 18 knockouts in his 35 wins, landed few big punches and none powerful enough to hurt Klitschko.

The American looked more interested in avoiding the Ukrainian’s knockout punch that had already claimed 47 victims.

A brief break in the ninth round to change a glove gave Chambers some time to recover but Klitschko looked fitter and stronger throughout, landing the knockout blow five seconds from the bell to inflict Chambers’ second defeat in 37 fights.

Having popped open a local beer bottle and sprayed his team to celebrate the win, Klitschko said he knew throughout the fight his time would come.

“By round six his game plan was out the window,” he said. “I had promised a knock out.”