Edisi 03 April 2017 | Internasional Bali Post

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

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

16 Pages Number 64 9th year

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Mystery surrounds Nobel prize handover as “intimate” Dylan gigs in Sweden

STOCKHOLM - Details of Bob Dylan’s receipt of his Nobel literature prize were being kept under close wraps on Saturday leaving those wanting to know more about it blowin’ in the wind.

It’s not that the times kept a-changin’, it was that no one would say what was happening.

The Swedish Academy, which hands out the Nobels, said on Wednesday Dylan will receive his diploma and medal while in Stockholm, but in a “small and intimate setting” according to Dylan’s wishes.

The prize-givers also said they planned to show up at one of Dylan’s performances -- on Saturday and Sunday in Stockholm and on April 9 in Lund. But that was it. A blackout. Probably until someone says it’s all over now.

The decision to give the bard the literature prize caused controversy that only deepened when Dylan was silent about the award for weeks afterwards. He then said he would be a no-show at the annual anquet in December.

“Getting ready for Dylan’s concerts in Stockholm this weekend,” Academy secretary Sara Danius said in a blog post on Friday.

Danius said earlier this week that the notoriously media-shy Dylan would not hold the traditional Nobel lecture this weekend, but that a taped version would probably be sent at a later point.

In order to receive 8 million Swedish crown ($903,000) prize, Dylan needs to give a lecture within six months from Dec. 10. It does not necessarily need not be delivered in Stockholm.

When British novelist Doris Lessing was awarded the Nobel literature prize in 2007, she composed a lecture and sent it to her Swedish publisher, who read it at a ceremony in the Swedish capital. (rtr)

Indonesian rescuers fear nearly 30 people buried in Java landslide

JAKARTA - Indonesian rescuers, joined by police and soldiers, found one body and continued to look for 28 other people feared to be buried after a landslide triggered by heavy rain on Indonesia’s Java island, a spokesman for the national disaster agency said.

Pamela Anderson

REUTERS/Ki Price/File photo

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

Actress Pamela Anderson plays down Assange romance rumours

STOCKHOLM - Actress Pamela Anderson was coy about a rumoured romance with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, saying his being holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London made dating “a little bit difficult”.

U.S. musician Bob Dylan performs during on day 2 of The Hop Festival in Paddock Wood, Kent on June 30th 2012.

Speaking to a Swedish television talk show, the former “Baywatch” actress and animal rights activist said she had probably spent more time with Assange than with any other man lately but would not be drawn on details.

British media have reported Anderson has been spotted visiting Assange at the central London embassy, where he took refuge in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations that he committed rape in 2010, which he denies.

In a clip of the interview which airs on Friday evening, Anderson

is asked whether their relationship was romantic and if they are dating. The 49-year-old actress laughs before saying: “Well, he’s imprisoned, that would make it a little bit difficult.”

She is then pressed further.

“Let’s see what happens when he’s free. But you know I spend probably more time with him than any other man socially, which is very odd,” Anderson said.

In a post on her pamelaandersonfoundation.org website on Thursday, Anderson referred to Assange as “one of my favorite people”.

The mud and debris from Saturday’s landslide in a village in the Ponorogo area of East Java had engulfed more than 20 houses after sliding 800 metres (875 yards) down a hillside, National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Some of the victims were believed to include a group harvesting a crop of ginger in fields around the village, he said. Seventeen people had been injured and were being treated at a community health centre.

Rescue efforts were hampered by people flocking to the area to see the landslide and

“He might be the most famous, most politicized refugee of our time. Famous for being persecuted.

Famous for being persecuted is not a position of power but a position of vulnerability. I am concerned,” she wrote.

“Julian is a human being who is extremely empathetic and cares deeply about the world. And because of his work. He has made some powerful enemies in a few countries - America especially by exposing them. Julian is trying to free the world by educating it. It is a romantic struggle—I love him for this.”

British media have printed photos of Anderson outside the embassy, with one picture showing her carrying takeaway food. (rtr)

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Monday, April 3, 2017

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Indonesia policemen and rescuers carry the body of a victim of a landslide triggered by heavy rain at Banaran village in Ponorogo, Indonesia’s East Java province, April 2, 2017.

causing traffic jams, he said earlier.

The local disaster mitigation agency had warned of the risk of a landslide due to recent rain, and some people had only returned to the village on Saturday after staying the night in a shelter, said the official.

Incessant rains Sunday halted the search for at least two dozen people missing after a landslide swept into a village on Indonesia’s main island of Java.

Four excavators working under cloudy skies dredged the mud, sand and rocks, pilling the debris up to 20 meters (66 feet) high.

Chief of staff of the local army, Lt. Col. Jemz Ratu Edo, said two bodies were discovered before the search was suspended due to heavy rain. One body had been found Saturday. The landslide hit some 23 houses and farmers harvesting ginger in Banaran village in East Java province’s Ponorogo district.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency, said 27 people were missing, while the local army chief, Lt. Col. Slamet Sarijanto, said that according to villagers, 38 people were buried by the landslide.

Rescuers from the disaster agency along with soldiers, police officers and volunteers are searching for the missing. Access to the site was hampering the effort.

The landslide — measuring 800 meters

(half a mile) long and 20 meters (66 feet) high, according to Nugroho — overturned vehicles, shattered and buried buildings, and left a massive scar on a hillside where lush vegetation had been torn away.

Seasonal rains cause frequent floods in Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago nation, where many of the country’s 256 million people live in mountainous areas or fertile, flood-prone plains near rivers.(rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http://globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http://radioglobalfmbali. com and http://ustream.tv/channel/globalfm-bali.

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Bali News

Local crops compete against those of outside Bali THROUGH the years, Bali faces challenges in the supply of local agricultural commodities. Moreover ahead of feast days, a variety of estate crops such as young coconut leaves and bananas are required.

High needs of product makes Bali still rely on agricultural supplies from outside Bali such as East Java, Central Java and NTB. In reality, almost every day many vehicles transporting plantation commodities such as coconut, young coconut leaf and bananas are coming and going through the entrance to Bali at Gilimanuk. These crop supplies compete against local products to meet market demand in Bali. Other than for the needs of Denpasar, Jembrana having the great potential of farms must also fight against the commodity from outside Bali. One of the triggers is the competitive price.

Not a few suppliers of agricultural products choose to take them from Java because the price is cheaper.

In addition, the availability of the commodities is relatively stable or not difficult to get.

“We almost deliver every day because Badung has high needs, especially during religious holidays,” said Asmadi, 30, a transport driver of crops from Banyuwangi when met at Negara Market.

According to him, many suppliers are keen to go to Bali to supply the crop needs during the holidays.

In addition, there is no prohibition (of inter-island delivery) and the price of crops from outside Bali also dares to compete against local products.

Head of the Jembrana Agriculture and Food Agency, I Ketut Wiratma, said that overall Jembrana can still meet the crop needs such as bananas and others ahead of the feast days. According to the latest data of the central statistics agency (BPS) and Jembrana agriculture and livestock agency in 2014, the banana commodity production reached 19,769.3 tons per year. It increased dramatically compared to previous years like in 2013 and 2012 reaching approximately 6,200 tons per year.

According to him, such number is sufficient to meet people’s needs. Moreover, it can supply to the regions outside Jembrana.

“Currently the market development is open.

Unavoidably, there are also productions from Java.

However, certainly it is enough to meet the needs, especially before the holidays,” said Wiratma.

In the meantime, at the entrance of Gilimanuk delivery of crops primarily young coconut leaf and banana commodity from outside the island occurred every day.

The Gilimanuk agricultural quarantine authority does not deny such occurrence. However, the delivery of produce does not include in special supervision.

“We still oversee but they do not get our specific attention,” said the Head of the Gilimanuk Agricultural Quarantine, Nyoman Budiarta, when confirmed on Friday (Apr. 1).

Commodities such as banana, young coconut leaf and coconut belong to the category of vegetables that do not include in the pest carrier animal or quarantine weeds. Although they do not become the focus of surveillance, the officers still oversee the delivery traffic of a wide range of agricultural commodities.

Thus, he did not know exactly regarding the number of production brought in to Bali every day.

In the meantime, coconut farmers lately start to leave the production of dried coconut. It happens due to low selling price and meeting market demand that tends to be stable, namely the demand for young coconut. The sales of young coconut and non-fleshed young coconut (klungah) increase. This business has been pursued by one of the farmers, Ni Nyoman Suami, 50, from Pulukan village, Mendoyo.

These farmers are now relying on their livelihood to the harvest of young coconut. It is no longer as ever before where they were waiting for the production of dried coconut.

She takes this measure because the price tends to drop. Besides, the coconut of daksina type tends to be rarely available, triggered by price consideration.

Young coconut, both those with and without flesh has higher economic value due to market demand.

Meanwhile, a coconut middleman, Suharto, 45, from Pekutatan, admitted that he and colleagues previously ran the business of mature coconut but now shifts to buy young coconut. In addition to the selling price of mature coconut dropped, today most farmers have switched to harvest young coconut. (kmb26)

IBP/wawan

Banana is one of the fruits that is needed by the HIndus in Bali to celebrate Galungan Day.

International

Significance of Galungan feast day series

DENPASAR - Galungan falling on Buda (Wednesday) Kliwon Dungulan is the eagerly awaited feast day by the Hindu communities in Indonesia. This feast day falls every 210 days as it is based on intersection of panca wara (five-day week) and sapta wara (seven-day week).

The series of celebrations to welcome Galungan has begun 25 days earlier namely on Tumpek Pengatag. On this day, Hindu followers perform a ritual to respect for plants so that they could bear fruits and lushly flower to be used in welcoming Galungan.

Next processions include the Penyekeban Galungan, Penyajaan Galungan and Penampahan Galungan. Penyekeban Galungan falls on Sunday (Redite Paing Dungulan) which is usually followed by a process of ‘ripening’ (penyekeban) fruits. Philosophically, Penyekeban Galungan can mean that humans should shrink the ego of their deeds, so that they can get closer to God. After this procession is Penyajaan Galungan falling on Monday (Soma Pon Dungulan). It is time for the Hindus to prepare various cakes to be used in the ritual oblation of Galungan. Philosophically, Penyajaan Galungan is interpreted as an attempt to make creation with sweet and useful characteristic for humans.

Moralized knowledge is an expected effect that occurs in harmony with the celebration of Penyajaan Galungan. When knowledge comes without morality, then the destruction of the world is at stake.

Meanwhile, Penampahan Galungan falling on Tuesday (Anggara Wage Dungulan) is a long-awaited day by the Hindus in Bali. Penampahan Galungan is celebrated by preparing very festive cooking.

Slaughtering a swine is a commonplace activity carried out. On this day, all members of the Hindu community will try to do their best in preparing delicacies to be eaten on the day of Galungan on the next day.

Philosophically, the celebration of Penampahan Galungan is actually put emphasis on the effort to eradicate the existing animal nature in human. Thus, on the celebration of Galungan humans could be freed from the animal nature. Swine is a symbol of laziness, so that slaughtering it then symbolizes that laziness can be eliminated.

Penampahan Galungan is also followed by natab byakala ritual in the afternoon for self-purification. The philosophical meaning of Penampahan Galungan is gradually replaced with literal meaning, namely slaughtering swine for the preparation of Galungan.

Ignorance about the significance of the celebration may probably have side impacts such as followed by drunkenness and so forth.

“Philosophically, the three series of Galungan feast day are actually a process of self-purification so that in the celebration of Galungan we truly celebrate the victory of dharma (truth) against adharma (untruth). If the philosophical meaning is set aside, we do not get goodness, but adharma will even go rampant in the life of community,” said Chairman of the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali, Prof. Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana.

Nevertheless, in this current globalization era, the philosophy of Galungan feast day series has undergone a shift in meaning. An academician, Dr. I.B. Radendra Suastama, believed that the shift in the meaning is influenced by the Hindu perspective in understanding the procession of Galungan and Kuningan.

It is inseparable from the growth of pragmatic, consumptive and instant mental attitude among the members of Hindu community today. Actually, the significance of each series of Galungan and Kuningan feast day is essentially philosophically profound.

Starting from the meaning of self-restraint, self-preparation to the essence of meaning against lust in human self to victory in the fight of dharma against adharma which is actually going on inside human self now tends to be more oriented in and focused on the aspects of celebration and hedonism.

“Self-indulgence of earthly desires is hued by capital hegemony wrapped in communal traditions on spiritual meanings. This phenomenon needs to be clarified so that it could be corresponding to the initial idea. To that end, it will require an ongoing communication and dissemination,” said Dr. I.B. Radendra. (win)

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Activities

International

Mojito Club at The Laneway Restaurant

If you’re looking for a new place to chill out with friends or to impress your better half, the creative mixologists at The Laneway promise to spice up your next evening out with the Mojito Club.

Offering a unique blend of relaxed

sophisticated nuanced with a touch of downright hedonism, the Mojito Club promises to treat you to an exciting selection of classic and Cuban inspired variations of the Latin favorite. Pamper your palate and let your spirit soar with Mojito

WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS EVERY SATURDAY Meditation class by Mangku Budi Dharma 14-16:30 Bona, Blahbatuh meet at Ubud Cocomarket at 13:00 Saturday Market Oldman’s Cafe Canggu, Batu Bolong Beach, pottery fresh produce, clothing Sand Beach Club and Restaurant, Sanur Every second Saturday Biasa Art Space, Jl. Raya Seminyak 24, Seminyak, Fresh produce, potted plants, meat pie, sshie, coffee and more.

Every Saturday 9AM-2PM OrganIc Farmer’s Market Pizza Bagus (Jl. Pengosekan), Ubud EVERY SUNDAY Soul to soul spirituall dialogue Anand Ashram, Ubud Jl Sri Wedari KM 3 Mantra chanting 6-6:30pm Navaraha Arati 6:30-6:45pm Meditation, Satsang and celebration 6:45-8:30pm www.ubudashram.org SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

Club specials that last throughout the evening to ensure that you don’t have to go home too early.

Overlooking the resort’s beautifully landscaped 35-metre rock pool, the restaurant and bar are open daily, serving breakfast in the morning and preparing exotic cocktails with Bali’s finest and freshest ingredients from the early afternoon. Please join us at the Pool Bar at 4pm for “Mojito Club” cocktails. For corporate lunches, relaxing afternoon cocktails by the pool, or intimate dinner parties with your loved ones, The Laneway Restaurant is the perfect place for any taste and occasion.The Laneway at Peppers Seminyak | Jl Pura Telaga Waja, Seminyak,Bali 80361 |Ph: +62 361 737 675 | E: thelaneway@ pepperseminyak.com

Monday, April 3, 2017

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Traveling

International

Bali News

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

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Balanced relations of human and nature

Kedonganan holds back mebuug-buugan tradition

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival 2017 HONG KONG - Dragon Boat Racing is serious business in Hong Kong. Chances of catching a race or a training session at the very least, is excellent in the summer months.

If you happen to miss the Dragon Boat Festival, there is another major racing event, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races which are sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association.

This is a three-day event jampacked with hot dragon boat action right on Victoria Harbour, also known as the Dragon Boat Carnival, and a Carnival it is.

These races along with the Stanley Dragon Boat Championships, is one of the top events in the global dragon boat-racing calendar.

International teams as well as local and company sponsored teams compete in one of the most prestigious of tournaments.

And it is not just about the racing, the Dragon Boat Carnival is one huge massive party in the waterfront with one of the world’s most gorgeous skylines as backdrop together with clowns, entertainers,

marching bands, lion dances!

And just as much part of the tradition is the San Miguel Beerfest tents, an event that grows bigger every year. There will be live music featuring some of the most popular bands in Hong Kong, singing and dancing.

All the action will be happening on the Hong Kong Island side this year. Look for the beer tents, game booths, food and kids zone along the waterfront and the Promenade Event Space near the Observation Wheel.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Tueng Ng Festival, is one of the favourites amongst the revelry of Chinese Festivals celebrated in the territory.

Taking place on the 5th day of the 5th Lunar month, normally in May or June in our calendar, this event goes as far back as the 3rd century and is most well-known for its energetic and colorful dragon boat races, where teams of paddlers race the long narrow boats accompanied by the beat of the drum down to the finish line.

According to one popular legend, the Dragon Boat Festival has

its origins in the old man Qu Yuan, an official that was so dissilussioned with his country’s government that he drowned himself in protest by jumping in the river.

The locals rushed to the site, paddling on their boats and banging drums, gongs and everything they could find to scare away anything that might harm Qu Yuan in hopes to find and rescue him but they were not succesful. They also brought offerings of rice to calm the old man’s spirit.

The pilgrimage with the long boats, the drumming and the rice evolved into massive and colorful events and the dragon boat races and competitions that characterize the festival of today.

The Dragon Boat Festival is nowadays celebrated all over the world, for some a very entertaining and exciting festival, and for others, dragon boat racing is a fiercely competitive event.

And nowhere more so than in Hong Kong, which attracts hundreds of international teams and hosts a series of events and races throughout the summer months.

(IBP/net)

MANGUPURA - Kedonganan customary village held again the mebuug-buugan tradition coinciding with the Ngembak Geni on Wednesday (Mar. 29). Approximately 1,000 people from six hamlets participated in the tradition.

The mebuug-buugan tradition is meant to perform self-purification physically and psychically. Besides, it is also meant to maintain relation balance between of human and nature.

Committee chairman who is also Chief of Kedonganan customary youth club, I Made Gede Budiastra, said that the tradition has been eagerly awaited since the Japanese colonial era. Originally this tradition was implemented to coincide with the Nyepi feast day or new moon of Balinese ninth month because in the past people were still allowed to do activities on Nyepi. After that, this tradition has been suspended due to lacking of response from the public. However, it has been revived since the past two years.

He said that this year the Ke-

donganan customary village will register the tradition to district government so as to be legalized as the property of Kedonganan customary village. This measure is taken so that this tradition will not be claimed by other regions.

“Currently, it has been official in the Badung Culture Agency. The registration is made so that it can be recognized as the property of Kedonganan customary village,” he said.

He explained that mebuugbuugan is derived from the word buug meaning ‘soil’ or ‘sludge’ and bhu means ‘to exist’ or ‘the form.’

Mebuug-buugan means an activity involving soil or sludge. Initial procession of this tradition is that residents gather at Bale Agung and then head for the mangrove region to follow the tradition by smearing the body with mangrove mud.

After performing the mebuugbuugan tradition, all the participants walk around the village towards the Pemelastian Beach of Kedonganan to do pengelukatan or self-purificatory rite. (kmb23)

IBP/kmb

This waterfall having a height of up to 15 meters is a natural tourist attraction in Jembrana.

Ngembak Geni

Juwuk Manis waterfall visited by foreign and domestic travelers

NEGARA - On Ngembak Geni or the day after Nyepi, the people of Jembrana did not only throng the beach tourist attraction but also waterfalls in the mountain area.

IBP/kmb23

The mebuug-buugan tradition is meant to perform self-purification physically and psychically. Besides, it is also meant to maintain relation balance between of human and nature.

As seen, the coastal areas thronged by communities on Wednesday morning (Mar. 29) were the Baluk Rening (Negara subdistrict), Yeh Kuning Beach (Jembrana), Yehembang (Mendoyo), Gilimanuk Beach and several other beaches in Jembrana. Moreover, a visitor almost drowned on Yeh Kuning Beach but could be survived.

Meanwhile, from the observation, at Juwuk Manis waterfall tourist attraction, Manggissari village, Pekutatan, was not only visited by local travelers or community of Jembrana, but also by domestic travelers or those from outside Jembrana and so are travelers from Australia and the Philippines and other foreign travelers.

As observations at Juwuk Manis waterfall tourist attraction, visitors must go through 850 stairs and so must on the way back. “We should pass through 1,700 on the way to the waterfall and on the way back. Indeed, it is a new tourist attraction built by the government of Jembrana. The terrain is steep but very beautiful,” said a resident of Juwuk Manis.

Erdi S and Edi Bali from Negara who took their family to visit the Juwuk Manis waterfall said that it needs extra energy to get to and back from the waterfall. “The waterfall is fresh and has a quite high altitude so that it is good enough to be developed. However, it needs to be further arranged,” said Erdi S. He added that the Juwuk Manis waterfall needs to be equipped with a dressing room, gazebo as well as toilet.

Besides, security fence or railing stairs should also be increased because it has just newly half-installed.

“If this object is further developed, the road access

needs to be widened because it is very narrow to be passed through by passing vehicles, let alone the terrain is steep. Likewise the bushes along the way need to be cut down and arranged so that the road is not narrowed,” he advised.

Some foreign travelers, such as Kris from Australia, were deeply pleased to be able to visit the Juwuk Manis waterfall. So, her parents from Tabanan or Tanah Lot were willing to drive for visiting Juwuk Manis.

Likewise, some foreign travelers entirely consisting of women from the Philippines rode from Denpasar specifically to visit Juwuk Manis. This waterfall having a height of up to 15 meters is a natural tourist attraction in Jembrana. To reach this location, visitors can reach it through Pangyangan village located on the roadside of the Denpasar- Gilimanuk highway, about 50 km from Denpasar to the west.

From Pangyangan, the journey is resumed northward about 7 km to get to Juwuk Manis hamlet. After that, it will be continued with a walk through the plantation of residents by stepping down to the waterfall with newly constructed stairs made by the government of Jembrana.

In addition to the height and volume of water, the appeal of this waterfall is comfortable and pristine. On that account, it is suitable for those who love nature conservation and tourism adventure, including tracking, camping and the like.

Head of the Jembrana Tourism Office, Nengah Alit, said on Wednesday afternoon that the object is still managed by his agency. However, in the future it will be handed over to local village, while currently it is being prepared at legal protection for it. His agency will still make various arrangements for this tourist attraction, including building small gardens according to the concept of nature and a place to take selfie. (kmb)

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Bali News

Monday, April 3, 2017

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

International

Ahead of Galungan, price of grape sluggish

GRAPE growers at Dencarik village, Banjar, Buleleng, are incapable of smiling happily ahead of Galungan feast day. This happens because their harvest drops significantly. In addition, the selling price is also quite cheap.

A local farmer, Made Padma, said that selling price of grape in this harvest season at farmer level lies in the range of IDR 9,000 per kilogram. The price is quite cheap when compared to last year’s season reaching IDR 20,000 to IDR 25,000 per kilogram.

“The current price is quite cheap. We do not enjoy the impact of Galungan,” he explained.

In addition to the price, the volume of grape harvest this season also dropped about 60 percent. Besides, the quality is quite bad.

A lot of fruits have perished and fell off since they were green.

“Previously, we could harvest up to six times in a season. Now, three times have been maximal,” he said.

Emergence of such condition poses the impact of bad weather having lasted long enough. Responding to this, farmers have actually been intensifying the maintenance with regular spraying of pesticides. However, it did not help produce maximum results.

“The weather really does not support because it rains quite long time. As a result, fruits remaining green have perished and fell off,” said this farmer of Subak Culuk.

In the meantime, another farmer, Made Suka, stated that when faced with such a harvest result, he could not enjoy the advantages at all. The proceeds can only be used to cover the maintenance costs, reaching IDR 100,000 per 100 square meters. “Now, it is difficult to get profit. Some farmers also face harvest failure,” he added. (kmb45)

As French election race tightens, Macron defies National Front

IBP/kmb

The bamboo has been searched by people since a few days. These conditions make the bamboo merchants reap high profits because the sales of bamboo are selling well.

Ahead of Galungan, bamboo of penjor sells well

BANGLI - Ahead of Galungan falling on April 5, a number of ritual paraphernalia without exception for bamboo of penjor start to be hunted by residents. The bamboo has been searched by people since a few days. These conditions make the bamboo merchants reap high profits because the sales of bamboo are selling well.

IBP/kmb45

Grape growers at Dencarik village, Banjar, Buleleng, are incapable of smiling happily ahead of Galungan feast day.

A bamboo craftsman of Kayubihi village, Bangli, Mangku Gandri, said that the order of bamboo used for penjor material has been arriving since a few days ago. Due to large number of orders received, he becomes overwhelmed to meet the orders.

“Our orders have started coming since two weeks ago. However, many new orders are received from this week. This large number of orders makes me quite overwhelmed to meet them,” he said.

Gandri said that the bamboo orders come from Bangli including some other regions such as Karangasem, Denpasar, Gianyar, Badung and Buleleng.

“Thankfully, we can sell bamboo pretty much. Especially for bamboo as penjor material, I just sell every six months. When there are requests, like grandiose ritual, for example, I will prepare for it. Otherwise, I only sell regular bamboo commonly used to build houses et cetera,” he said.

He said that in once delivery to meet the order he can bring 700 pieces of bamboo. In addition to carrying to outside the region, he also sells directly in his place. “We sell each bamboo stem for penjor material for IDR 11,000 to IDR 12,000,” he said.

In the meantime, another merchant of bamboo for penjor material from Pande hamlet, Bangli, Kadek Sukadana, said that his bamboo orders have been arriving since 10 days ago. He added that villagers have crowded to arrive since a few days ago.

“Right now, buyers have started to crowd considering that Galungan celebration has been around the corner. They are averagely from Bangli,” he said. (kmb41)

Taken over by non-Hindus

Ranging from ritual raw materials to canang making

DENPASAR - Aside from bringing in raw materials from outside Bali, in the long run the making of ritual oblation, preparation of canang or oblation will be taken over by non-Hindu residents. The informal sector to meet the needs of the Hindu religious ceremony is performed by non-Hindu communities.

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Mrs. Tomy, 48, the owner of the Sumber Rejeki kiosk at Anyar Sari Market, said that she is now turning to sell young coconut leaf, sampian penjor paraphernalia and palm leaf. Young coconut leaf is brought in from Malang, while palm leaf from Madura and Sumba.

Meanwhile, the arrangement to make it

into sampian is worked on by local residents and those from outside Bali. “If we give an example to our colleagues from outside Bali, they will be able to make,” he said.

According to her, the pungent odor of palm leaves probably has caused many Balinese people to be unwilling to take the job of making the sampian. Almost half of the craftworkers

are from outside Bali. “In the past, many Balinese people made this oblation. Approximately since 2010, many people from outside Bali began to make it,” she said.

Not only that, some merchants of canang are not just Hindu residents. However, nonHindu residents also take the opportunity to sell this ritual oblation. (kmb42)

REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi attends an event marking the 69th anniversary of Martyrs’ Day at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in Yangon July 19, 2016.

Myanmar goes to polls for by-elections, in first vote since Suu Kyi swept to power

YANGON - Myanmar goes to the polls on Saturday for the first time since Aung San Suu Kyi’s party swept to power a year ago, in an early indication of views on her leadership amid increased fighting with armed ethnic groups and slower economic growth.

The by-elections will fill 19 vacant seats in the national and regional parliaments at a time when Suu Kyi is struggling to match the sky-high expectations that swept her National League for Democracy (NLD) to victory.

In a televised address earlier this week, Suu Kyi acknowledged the public’s frustration with the slow pace of reforms and development.

But she also reiterated her top priority of ending the ethnic conflicts that have kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war.

While the outcome of the byelections will not affect the balance of power within the parliament where the NLD enjoys a large majority, it offers a chance to gauge the popularity of the administration in a country where nationwide pub-

lic polls are not available.

Win Htein, one of the NLD’s top leaders, said the party faced language barriers and problems with armed groups in the Shan state districts being contested. Fighting in some of those areas has intensified in recent months.

“We are still improving in Shan state. The local people don’t understand Burmese, so we have to translate our policies into the Shan language,” he said.

Major rebel armies engaged in clashes with the military in areas including the Shan state have refused to actively participate in Suu Kyi’s peace process.

Several conflicts have reignited since Suu Kyi took office, displacing an estimated 160,000 more people, according to the United Nations.

Over two million voters, less than five percent of the country’s population, can vote in the byelections where seats in eight states and regions across the country are up for grabs.

“We still accept the NLD government after one year. They are governing smoothly,” said Victor Hla Sein, a 73-year-old from Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi is also facing international criticism for her government’s handling of a crisis in the Muslim-majority Rakhine region, where soldiers have blocked access for aid workers and are accused of raping and killing civilians.

The by-elections will fill seats largely vacated by incumbents who joined the government in ministerial posts. Some seats that were excluded from previous elections due to fighting with ethnic armed groups are also up for grabs.

The Union Election Commission is expected to announce official results late on Saturday. (rtr)

MARSEILLE - France’s centrist presidential contender Emmanuel Macron singled out the far-right National Front as his chief rival on Saturday, vowing to win the first round on April 23 as a new poll showed the election race getting tighter.

“The National Front, our main opponent, is attacking us on all sides. Never boo them. Fight them,” a defiant Macron told a rally in the southern city of Marseille.

“I want us to kick far from this campaign and from the country the party of hatred and contempt and all those who make us so ashamed.

We are going to be ahead in the first round and we’re going to beat them,” he said.

The presidential race is even closer than it was a week ago, an opinion poll indicated on Saturday.

First-round voting intentions for the frontrunners, Macron and National Front leader Marine Le Pen, showed both slipping one percentage point to 25 percent and 24 percent respectively.

Third-placed conservative Francois Fillon gained two points to 19 percent, while the far left’s JeanLuc Melenchon climbed one point to 15 percent, according to the survey by the BVA polling institute conducted on March 29-30.

Complicating predictions, 38 percent of people either could not say how they would vote, or may yet change their minds. That was down two percentage points from a week earlier, but showed the race remains wide open.

The poll showed independent Macron had solidified his voter

base, with 63 percent of those opting for him sure of their decision, up 8 points from a week ago and his highest certainty score since campaigning began in earnest in February.

However, Le Pen still had by far the most solid voter base, with an unchanged 81 percent of her voters certain to pick her.

FILLON STIRS “FAILING STATE” CONTROVERSY Shock election outcomes abroad including the U.S. presidential victory of Donald Trump and Britain’s Brexit referendum vote have fed expectations that Le Pen’s anti-euro, anti-immigration platform could sweep her to power in France.

The poll though, like others this year, showed Macron beating her with 60 percent of votes in the May 7 second round.

Fillon’s recovery from the lows that followed a fake work scandal surrounding his wife puts him within 5 points of Le Pen and 6 points of Macron, with some voters previously tempted to abstain deciding to go for him after all, BVA’s commentary said.

BVA put Melenchon’s climb since a strong performance in the first TV debate on March 20 partly down to more of his natural sympathisers deciding to vote.

It said official Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, who is in fifth place on 11.5 percent and also has hard left policies, could be vulnerable.

Le Pen was due to hold a meeting in Bordeaux on Sunday, but it was her two main rivals who made headlines on Saturday. (rtr)

REUTERS/Philippe Laurenson

Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, attends a campaign rally in Marseille, France, April 1, 2017.

12

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

Bali News

International

BUSINESS China downplays tensions with U.S. as Xi prepares to meet Trump

BEIJING/WASHINGTON - Beijing sought to play down tensions with the United States and put on a positive face on Friday as the U.S. administration slammed China on a range of business issues ahead of President Xi Jinping’s first meeting with President Donald Trump.

Trump set the tone for what could be a tense meeting at his Mar-a-Lago retreat next week by tweeting on Thursday that the United States could no longer tolerate massive trade deficits and job losses. Trump said the highly anticipated meeting, which is also expected to cover differences over North Korea and China’s strategic ambitions in the South China Sea, “will be a very difficult one.”

Ahead of the meeting, Trump signed executive orders on Friday aimed at identifying abuses that are causing massive U.S. trade deficits and clamping down on non-payment of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports, his top trade officials said.

Separately, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, which is controlled by the White House, said Beijing’s industrial policies and financial support for industries such as steel and aluminum have resulted in over-production and a flood of exports that have distorted global markets and undermined competitive companies. Seeking to downplay the rift, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang reiterated a desire for cooperation on trade.

“With regard to the problems existing between China and the United States in trade relations, both sides should in a mutual respectful and mutual beneficial way find appropriate resolutions, and ensure the stable development of Sino-U.S. trade relations,” he told a daily news briefing.

The leaders of the world’s two largest economies are scheduled to meet next Thursday and Friday for the first time since Trump assumed office on Jan. 20. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the United States has “serious concerns” on the U.S. trade relationship with China.

“This isn’t a sit around and play

REUTERS/Agung Parameswara

A canang or offering, which contains flowers and money is seen on a beach during Melasti, a purification ceremony ahead of the Balinese Hindu holy day of Nyepi, in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia March 25, 2017.

Bali Bird Walk

REUTERS/Stringer

Residential buildings are seen among fog in Songyuan, Jilin province, China April 1, 2017. Picture taken April 1, 2017. patty-cake kind of conversation,” he told reporters. “They’re big issues.” Trump “wants to have a very good and respectful and healthy relationship, but he also wants to make sure that he tackles the challenges and the problems that are facing American workers,” Spicer said.

Speaking earlier at a briefing on the Xi-Trump meeting, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang acknowledged the trade imbalance, but said it was mostly due to differences in their two economic structures and noted that China had a trade deficit in services.

“China does not deliberately seek a trade surplus. We also have no intention of carrying out com-

petitive currency devaluation to stimulate exports. This is not our policy,” Zheng said.

CONCILIATORY TONE State news agency Xinhua also struck a conciliatory tone. “Of course, it would be naive to believe that the two sides can bridge their differences in a single diplomatic meeting,” it said in an English language commentary on Friday. “Yet as long as the two nations can maintain their good faith, which they have shown recently, to talk and to make concessions based on mutual respect, then no difference would be too difficult to iron out.”

Trump has frequently accused China of keeping its yuan currency artificially low against the

dollar to make Chinese exports cheaper, and “stealing” American manufacturing jobs. The yuan fell 6.5 percent last year in its biggest annual loss against the dollar since 1994, knocked by pressure from sluggish economic growth and a broadly strong U.S. currency .

Trump has resisted acting on a campaign promise to declare China a currency manipulator on his first day in office, but tensions have persisted over how his administration’s China policy would evolve.

While apprehensive about a trade war, the American business community in China has grown more vocal.

Fear of retaliation had once made business lobbies eschew more forceful U.S. trade policies

toward China, but such groups have increasingly urged the Trump administration to take targeted action to address market access imbalances.

Zheng said domestic consumption in China will increase as it pursues economic reforms, helping to raise demand for foreign goods and services, including those from the United States. “This also helps ameliorate the trade imbalance between China and the United States,” he said.

The trade imbalance could be resolved by improved cooperation, Zheng said, urging Washington to lift restrictions on civilian technology exports to China and create better conditions for Chinese investment in the United States.(rtr)

Located in the central highlands of Bali, Ubud is considered to be the cultural center of Bali. Surrounded by numerous rice paddies and ravines, this small town has grown popular due to tourists’ interest in Balinese arts and crafts, and yoga. Compared to the hedonistic Kuta and the luxurious Nusa Dua beaches, Ubud seems worlds away. Ubud is really rich with its nature beauty, not only for the culture, villages, but also for the animals which lives in it. Bali Bird Walks, founded by Victor Mason invites you to walk around the Ubud country-side to enjoy a variety of trails according to the cycle of the seasons.

Bali Bird Walk offers fun bird watching tours around the lush countryside of Ubud. It is easily one of the most well-established operators on the island offering tours of its kind. Set up by ornithologist Victor Mason in 1990, who is well-known for his books on exotic birds and butterflies in Bali, the walk takes you on a day out through some of the highland area’s most beautiful nature trails.

The insightful walks are great for adults and kids alike, and carry a mission of ‘conservation through education’.

Various walks are available, which include a 5km (approximately 3.5-hour) ramble through the Ubud environs, as well as tours

to far-flung regions all over the island, such as the mangrove forests on Bali’s south, the highlands of Mount Batukaru (with lunch stops at the scenic Jatiluwih rice terraces), and the forested lakesides of central Bali, with a stopover at the botanical gardens of Bedugul.

Through any Bali Bird Walk trail, you will get to learn about the diverse variety of tropical birds in the area.

Consider yourself lucky if you get to spot over a dozen species from the hundreds known. Endemic Bali bird species include the Java kingfisher, the bar-winged prinia, Java sparrow, scarlet-headed flowerpecker, the yellow-vented bulbul, a variety of egrets, and many other tropical birds with dazzling plumage. The butterflies are also a highlight, such as the Helena birdwing, the banded common sailer, and red lacewings fluttering among the foliage.

You’ll also come across exotic trees, medicinal plants and wildflowers. The prices for the guided walks start from USD 47, which includes lunch. Walks normally take up to four hours and, for birdwatching trails around the Ubud environs alone, are held every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The starting point is at Murni’s Warung on Jalan Campuhan, several minutes from the centre of Ubud. (IBP)

Monday, April 3, 2017

5

Forty Types of Medicine Prepared at Tamba Waras Temple

Various strange and mystical incidents occurred at this temple. However, not all people have the capability of experiencing them. Probably, only ‘selected’ people can experience this spiritual sensation. The Tamba Waras Temple or commonly known as the Tambo Waras holds its pujawali or festival every six months namely on Buda Umanis Perangbakat. At that time, many pilgrims come here to say prayers.

Nowadays, they are not only coming from Bali but also from outside Bali.

It is surely meant to invoke safety. There are two types of medicine provided here, one medicine to be drunk and another to be scrubbed at location of the pain. Actually, there are approximately 40 types of medicine made in this temple area. Location of the medicine making is called Bale Asep in the form of kitchen. One of the medicines produced at this temple is juuk linglang.

There is a mythical story accompanying the making of this medicine.

It is said that in 2005, when an ngenteg linggih ritual was held, there was an offering maker who encountered a juwuk linglang or tangerine.

It was then halved, strangely it exuded fire. This tangerine was then mixed with some elements of fruit, herbs and oils.

Besides, there is a medicine known as manik sekecap made from honey bees. The honey is not taken from anywhere but from the chamber shrine where the bees make their nests. Likewise, there is lungsir pancawarna or multicolored sea snail. People who suffer from diseases of the eye, this medicine can be invoked at the Batu Coblong spring shrine. Another shrine is called swine shrine where people can invoke medicine for their livestock. (kmb)

6

Monday, April 3, 2017

W

International

RLD

Colombia mudslide, flooding kill 254 in midnight deluge

MOCOA - Flooding and mudslides in the Colombian city of Mocoa sent torrents of water and debris crashing onto houses in the early hours of Saturday morning, killing 254 people, injuring hundreds and sending terrified residents, some in their pajamas, scrambling to evacuate.

Heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks onto buildings and roads in the capital of southwestern Putumayo province and immobilizing cars in several feet of mud.

“It was torrential rainstorm, it got really strong between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.,” said local resident Mario Usale, 42, who was looking for his father-in-law in the debris.

“My mother-in-law was also missing, but we found her alive two kilometers away. She has head injuries, but she was conscious.”

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos flew to Mocoa, population 345,000, to oversee rescue efforts on the city outskirts and speak with affected families.

“We will do everything possible to help them,” Santos said after confirming the death toll. “It breaks my heart.”

The army said in a statement that 254 people were

killed, 400 people had been injured and 200 were missing. More than 1,100 soldiers and police officers were called in to help dig people out in 17 affected neighborhoods.

Santos gave a lower death toll of 193 via Twitter.

Even in a country where heavy rains, a mountainous landscape and informal construction of homes combine to make mud and landslides a common occurrence, the scale of the Mocoa disaster was daunting compared to recent tragedies, like a 2015 landslide that killed nearly 80 people in Salgar, Antioquia. Colombia’s deadliest landslide, the 1985 Armero disaster, left more than 20,000 dead.

“It’s a big area,” Mocoa Mayor Jose Antonio Castro, who lost his house, told Caracol radio on Saturday.

“A big portion of the many houses were just taken by the avalanche.”

He said that people were warned ahead of time and many were able to get out, but several neighborhoods and two bridges had been destroyed.

Weather authorities said light rains were expected in the area on Saturday night and Sunday.

Photos posted on Twitter by the air force showed neighborhood streets filled with mud and damaged houses, while videos on social media showed residents searching for survivors in the debris and struggling to move through waist-high water during the night. (rtr)

REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A man looks at a destroyed area after heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks into buildings and roads in Mocoa, Colombia April 1, 2017.

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

11

Indonesia destroys 81 foreign ships for illegal fishing

REUTERS/Marco Bello TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Gaby Arellano, deputy of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), clashes with national guards during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas, Venezuela April 1, 2017.

Venezuela seeks to cool outrage over court power grab CARACAS - Venezuela’s progovernment Supreme Court revoked its takeover of the opposition-led Congress on Saturday after it drew international condemnation and protests against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

“This controversy is over,” Maduro said just after midnight at a specially convened state security committee.

The committee ordered the top court to reconsider Wednesday’s court ruling, which effectively nullified the legislature and brought accusations the ruling Socialist Party was creating a dictatorship.

The tribunal duly erased two controversial judgments and its president, Maikel Moreno, met with both foreign envoys and journalists to explain the decision, insisting there had never been any intention to strip the National Assembly of its powers.

Maduro, 54, who had faced dissent even within government ranks over the Supreme Court’s move, sought to cast developments as the achievement of a statesman resolving a power conflict beneath him. But foes said it was a hypocritical row-back by an unpopular government that overplayed its hand in a power grab.

“You can’t pretend to just normalize the nation after carrying out a ‘coup,’” said Julio Borges, leader of the legislature.

Borges publicly tore up the court rulings this week and refused to attend the overnight security committee, whose members include the heads of major institutions.

He led an open-air meeting of the National Assembly in a Caracas square on Saturday.

Having already shot down most congressional measures since the

opposition won control in 2015, the Supreme Court went further with its Wednesday decision. It said it was taking over the legislature’s role because it was in “contempt” of the law.

TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY

Although scores of dissidents have been detained during Maduro’s four-year rule and the National Assembly stripped of power anyway in practice, the court’s move was arguably the most explicitly anti-democratic measure.

It galvanized Venezuela’s demoralized and divided opposition coalition and sparked international condemnation and concern from the United Nations and European Union, as well as the United States and many neighboring countries.

The Supreme Court’s flip-flop may take the edge off protests but Maduro’s opponents at home and abroad will seek to maintain the pressure. They are furious that authorities thwarted a push for a referendum to recall Maduro last year and postponed local elections scheduled for 2016.

Now they are calling for next year’s presidential election to be brought forward and the delayed local polls to be held, confident the ruling Socialist Party would lose.

Hundreds of opposition supporters marched in Caracas on Saturday.

Police dispersed some with tear gas as residents banged pots and pans to support the demonstrators.

One opposition lawmaker said he was attacked three times by police using pepper spray. “Their violence does not stop us,” said Miguel Pizarro, of the Justice First party. (rtr)

JAKARTA — Indonesian authorities destroyed 81 foreign ships over the weekend after seizing the vessels for fishing illegally in the country’s waters.

The world’s largest archipelago nation has taken a tough stance against illegal fishing since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office in 2014. Authorities have sunk 317 foreign vessels since then, including the most recent.

The ships were blown up at sea in 12 locations around the archipelago on Saturday. The most destroyed in one area was 26 in Natuna on the edge of South China Sea and 10 in the nearby seaport of Tarempa. Most of the vessels were from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.

Indonesia was upholding its sovereignty and combating illegal fishing, said Susi Pudjiastuti, the minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries who witnessed the sinking of two ships in the port of Ambon in Maluku province.

“We hope Sino (the name of one of the ships) is the symbol of our victory against poaching after years of defeat, especially in eastern Indonesia,” Pudjiastuti said. She expressed hope that the action would deter poachers.

Pudjiastuti declared a fishing moratorium for foreign vessels immediately after taking office. “The state’s sovereignty has to be upheld.” (ap)

Minister provides Rp1.34 billion to help landslide victims in Ponorogo

PONOROGO - Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa has provided aid worth Rp1.34 billion to help victims of a landslide that hit Ponorogo District, East Java Province, on Saturday morning.

Minister Khofifah visited the victims and cecked a public kitchen set up to feed villagers displaced by the natural disaster, on Sunday morning.

According to data from an emergency command post, 28 people were missing and feared buried, three survived, and 32 homes were buried. At least 17 people were injured and rushed to a local health center following the landslide.

Of Rp1.34 billion, Rp420 million would be used to compensate families who lost relatives due to the landslide. Meanwhile, each injured victim would receive Rp5 million.

Incessant downpour since Friday evening triggered the landslide which occurred in Banaran village, Pulung Sub-district, Ponorogo District, on Saturday at around 6 a.m. local time.

The landslide hit when most of the people were harvesting ginger in the fields and other were still in their houses. Search and rescue efforts are going on to find more victims. (ant)

REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Indonesian Muslim protesters wave flags during a rally calling for the sacking of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for suspected blasphemy in Jakarta, Indonesia March 31, 2017.

Indonesia arrests Muslim leader for treason ahead of rally

JAKARTA - Indonesian police arrested five people, including a Muslim leader, for suspected treason on Friday, signalling a clampdown on hardline Islamist groups that have agitated against Jakarta’s Christian governor ahead of a mid-April election in the capital.

The arrests came just before thousands of Muslims gathered to demand the sacking of Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is on trial for blasphemy over accusations he insulted the Islamic holy book, the Koran.

Friday’s rally was the latest in a series that have tested religious and ethnic tolerance in Indonesia, a secular nation with the world’s largest Muslim population.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on the protesters to respect the legal process and said they would not be allowed to dictate the agenda.

“No matter how much pressure there is, we will not follow it. The government is firm against this kind of pressure,” Kalla said in an interview with Reuters, referring to the rallies. “Wait for the court’s final decision (on Purnama),” he said.

Purnama, who is running against a Muslim candidate in the April 19 election, is backed by President Joko Widodo’s ruling party. The sudden rise of fringe, hardline Muslim groups during the election campaign has raised questions about whether they are being used as political pawns and destabilising Indonesia.

The race to lead Jakarta is widely seen as a proxy battle for the presidency, which will likely be contested by Widodo and

retired general Prabowo Subianto, who is backing Purnama’s rival for the governorship of the capital. Police have moved to contain mass anti-Purnama protests led by hardline groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) by detaining organizers and blocking Islamist propaganda online.

The movement’s most prominent leader, Habib Rizeiq, was in January named a suspect amid allegations that he insulted the secular state ideology. He faces up to four years in prison if found guilty.

On Friday, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said that five people had been arrested, including Muhammad Al Khaththath, a leader of the Islamic People’s Forum (FUI), another hardline group that organised Friday’s rally. “We are charging them with conspiring to commit treason,” Yuwono told broadcaster TVOne. “There were several findings, including a plan to occupy the Indonesian parliament.” Thousands of protesters, clad in white and carrying anti-Purnama signs, gathered at Jakarta’s grand mosque as police and military personnel blocked off roads leading to the presidential palace.

An estimated 20,000 people from various groups were expected to attend, police said this week, far fewer than the numbers seen at previous rallies.

Purnama, Jakarta’s first ethnic Chinese Christian governor, remains popular for his efforts to cut red tape and ease the city’s chronic traffic congestion and flooding. However, he faces a tight race with rival Anies Baswedan, a former education minister. (rtr)

10

Monday, April 3, 2017

Destination

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

International

Konta beats Wozniacki in straight sets in Miami final

Johanna Konta of Great Britain poses for a Champion’s portrait at Fort Florida Lighthouse after her match against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark (not pictured) in the women’s singles championship of the 2017 Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.

MIAMI - Late-blooming Johanna Konta won the biggest title of her career when she beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 in the women’s final at the Miami Open on Saturday.

British 10th seed Konta used an aggressive game plan to overcome Danish 12th seed Wozniacki on the Crandon Park hardcourt.

Konta stuck to her hard-hitting tactics, despite a few hiccups, before clinching victory with a perfectly-weighted lob that landed on the baseline for her second title of the year, after winning in Sydney in January.

“I couldn’t believe it was over because I was so focused, just trying on every single point,” Konta, who hit 33 winners, said in a courtside interview.

“Having opportunities like these to almost get a pat on the back for all that hard work is very rewarding.”

Wozniacki used all of her vaunted endurance to run tirelessly after every ball, but was undone by a weak serve. She was broken six times and won only 30 percent of her second serves, which Konta picked off relentlessly.

Konta, 25, is somewhat of a late bloomer. She was ranked 150th in the world at the end of 2014 and improved to 47th in 2015, but her

Circus Waterpark MANGUPURA - Circus Waterpark is a leisure park fit for the whole family, located on Jalan Kediri in Tuban, approximately 10 minutes away from Ngurah Rai International Airport. This park serves as a smaller and inexpensive alternative to the existing Waterbom Bali in Kuta, an approximate 1.5km north of this park. Circus Waterpark appeals to both adults and children – featuring various slides and a lazy river, as well as a dedicated kids’ area that offers a variety of fun activities such as fountains, water cannons, and mini train rides. Thrill seekers can opt for more exciting slides such as

the ‘speed slider’ and ‘wave slides’ among others.

Circus Waterpark’s main slides are the ‘speed slider’ which features four parallel and colourful slides, two ‘spiral slides’ offer a more conventional twirl before splashing down into the unique shaped pool, and the ‘wave slide’ features a bright yellow broad and bordered slide that provides a steep ascent before a dash back down into the pool. Those who just want to cruise along to the slow current may opt for the lazy river which encircles the lagoon-inspired pool. The open spaces and gardens feature ample sunlight, and the only shade is pro-

vided by the structures and gazebos available for rent. At the kids’ pool area, a giant bucket fills up to the rim and spills into the pool at an approximate 20-minute interval. The lawn and a children’s playground is suitable for kids under 10. Dining options at the Circus Waterpark include outlets from several national franchises. A mini store provides various light snacks and refreshments, as well as Circus Waterpark special merchandise, fashion items and accessories. Rental facilities include towel, lockers and gazebos.

A temporary tattoo corner, a foot reflexology spa and a candid photo service are also onsite. (IBP/net)

Hanyu still hasn’t found what he’s looking for

Gianyar Night Market GIANYAR - Gianyar Night Market is one of the interesting highlights to check out and stop by whenever you travel to the heart of the Gianyar regency’s capital, about a 10-kilometre drive southeast of the main Ubud hub.

This night market has grown into a top destination for hungry locals and curious international travellers from Ubud. Here they get to browse and sample a large variety of traditional snacks and cuisine from vendors who open up food stalls and tents along the town’s main strip of Jalan Ngurah Rai. Ngurah Rai is a normal street by day, but its southern side becomes a bustling market and a local food haven at around 17:00 every day.

Here you can satiate your crave

for Bali’s favourite ‘babi guling’, along with succulent roast chicken, ‘bakso’ meatball soup, chicken and lamb satays and various traditional Balinese and Indonesian snacks and desserts. The Gianyar Night Market is hard to miss and can be slightly chaotic with the traffic and parked scooters.

In contrast to the hot and bustling daytime city street scenes, you’ll enjoy a brilliant mini cityscape with the vendors’ many fluorescent lamps flickering from sundown. Although busier during the weekends, you can visit the Gianyar Night Market on any day of the week. Besides dominant food stalls, the market naturally brings together a variety of wares, from fruits, vegetables, snacks, toys and jewellery, to clothes, knock-off

biggest improvement came last year.

It has been barely eight months since she clinched her first career title by beating Venus Williams in the Stanford, California final, before adding in the city of her birth the Sydney International in January.

“I think the belief has been there since I was a little girl,” said Konta, who will rise to seventh on Monday.

“Everybody’s journey is different. I needed a little more time and a little more experience to accumulate the knowledge that I have and re-use it in my matches.

“I play smart tennis and calmer tennis I think. It just took time. On paper it looks like a quick turnaround but it’s been a long time coming.”

Asked how high she could go in the rankings, and whether a grand slam victory was in her sights, she said: “I think the belief has been there since I was a little girl. I’d like to be the best player in the world but there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then.” (rtr)

DVDs, DIY household tools, and Balinese Hindu ritual items such as flowers, incense and readymade canang offerings. Haggling is common, if not a must. The locals refer to the Gianyar Night Market as ‘Pasar Senggol Gianyar’ or ‘Pasar Malam Gianyar’. They love their babi guling as much as the snacks - known as ‘jaje pasar’ or ‘jaje Bali’ - including the favourite palm sugar-filled klepon or steamed glutinous balls, served with shredded coconuts or as takeaway in banana leaf wrappings.

Another evening treat are the nasi jingo: mini portions of rice with variations of chicken shreds with usually very, very spicy sambal on top. Meals start from USD 2 (IDR 25,000) per portion, while snacks from as low as IDR 5,000. (IBP/net)

HELSINKI - For all his brilliance and world record scores, there is one annoying riddle that Yuzuru Hanyu has yet crack.

Will he ever be able to win a major global competition by producing back-to-back flawless skates?

Sporting annuls will show that by the age of 22, the Japanese had won an Olympic gold medal and two world titles.

However, if fans read the small print, they will be reminded that on each occasion Hanyu triumphed by producing one spectacular performance while the other was anything but.

It is a pattern that started at the 2014 Sochi Games, when a breathtaking short skate was followed by two spills in the longer programme.

The sequence was reversed at the world championships a few weeks later in Saitama, where Hanyu had to make up ground in the free skate after producing a messy short programme.

Three years on and Hanyu is no closer to savouring that perfect performance at a championships.

Instead he had to rely on a dazzling free skate on Saturday, with world record scores, to lift him from fifth to the top of the podium.

But with the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 10 months away, Hanyu feels there is a limit to the amount of nerves he can tolerate.

“I feel it’s very difficult to put out two clean programmes in both the short and the free, and I still need to work on that,” Hanyu told reporters after edging out team mate Shoma Uno for the gold.

“Towards the Olympic season I think it’s important to skate clean both in the short and the free, these two programmes together.”

That may be easier said than done.

Even when Hanyu fails to win the top prize at the major global meets, he does not deviate from his usual script.

At the last two world championships he produced brilliant short skates only to suffer blowouts in the free -- handing victory to his coach Brian Orser’s other pupil, Javier Fernandez, on each occasion.

In Helsinki, however, it was the turn of short-skate leader Fernandez to suffer that feeling as he stumbled to fourth.

It was a result that proved one thing to the Spaniard.

“If Yuzu skates a clean short and a clean long, he will probably be unbeatable,” said Fernandez. (rtr)

REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu (C) of Japan, silver medallist Shoma Uno (L) of Japan and bronze medallist Jin Boyang of China attend the ceremony.

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Sp rt PSG takes 1st step toward defending treble by routing Monaco

LYON — Paris Saint-Germain took the first step toward defending its domestic treble by crushing its biggest rival Monaco 4-1 in the League Cup final on Saturday, with striker Edinson Cavani scoring twice to take his season’s tally to a career best 40.

PSG and Monaco are battling for the French title, with Monaco leading PSG by three points, and are involved in the French Cup. PSG lost and drew to Monaco in the league this season, but this emphatic win will give PSG momentum as it seeks to catch Monaco in the league.

“I’m happy for the trophy and for the fact we showed a rival (Monaco) that we could play well. It’s good for our motivation and our confidence,” PSG coach Unai Emery said. “If Monaco gives us the chance to close the gap, we will be ready. We’ll try and win every game.”

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi defended Emery after PSG’s shocking 6-1 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League three weeks ago, an embarrassing record defeat that sent the club spiraling out of the last 16 after winning the first leg 4-0. Al-Khelaifi, who was so upset at the time, was in upbeat mood after the Monaco game.

“We showed our true face today. We have great players, a great club, a great coach,” he said. “To win against Monaco is really special, and good for our minds. Now we have a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”

Monaco has been one of Europe’s best attacking teams, scoring a whopping 130 goals in all competitions, but this time poor defending allowed PSG to dictate a one-sided final. “Every competition is differ-

ent. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to play as well in the league because we lost this game,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said. “It’s a good experience for a lot of our players, who had never played in a final.”

Cavani, who has considerable experience of playing in big games, was quick to praise his teammates.

“We played with humility, consistency and a sense of sacrifice,” the Uruguay striker said.

He volleyed in PSG’s third goal after an exquisite pass from midfielder Marco Verratti to beat his previous best of 38 with Napoli in the 2012-13 season — just before he joined PSG for a French transfer record of 64 million euros ($68 million). He hit a clinical half-volley in the last minute from Angel Di Maria’s superb cross from the left.

Cavani also missed an open goal and had a firsthalf chance brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, but the striker has largely carried PSG with his goals and he has excelled since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left for MANCHESTER UNITED. Winger Julian Draxler opened the scoring for PSG in the fourth minute, collecting an unselfish pass from Di Maria for an easy tap in, and returned the favor when he set up Di Maria to make it 2-1 just before halftime.

Attacking midfielder Thomas Lemar gave Monaco hope when he scored the goal of the game in the 27th, a brilliant curling shot from the edge of the area that wrong-footed goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Monaco was missing top scorer Radamel Falcao through injury and key midfielder Fabinho through suspension. Fabinho’s absence was more keenly felt.

“We really weren’t expecting this,” Monaco midfielder Nabil Dirar said. “Perhaps we showed them too much respect, we let them play, they gained in confidence and we paid the price. “ (ap)

AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani

Paris Saint Germain’ players celebrate with their trophies after winning the League Cup final soccer match against Monaco, in Decines, near Lyon, central France, Saturday, April 1, 2017.

9

Dzeko double sees Roma beat Empoli 2-0 in Serie A

Reuters / Hannah McKay

Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in action with Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke.

Chelsea suffer shock loss as Spurs close in New life was pumped into the Premier League title race on Saturday after leaders Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to CRYSTAL PALACE, enabling Tottenham Hotspur to cut the gap at the top to seven points after their 2-0 win at Burnley. Liverpool won a feisty Merseyside derby against Everton 3-1 at Anfield to move into third place as CHELSEA’S pursuers were all given fresh hope after Antonio Conte’s side lost their first league match at Stamford Bridge since September.

The unlikely reverse, which Conte admitted made the title race “more interesting” for everyone, left Chelsea on 69 points with Spurs having moved on to 62 and Liverpool on to 59, though the Reds have played a game more than the top two. Such has been Chelsea’s dominance at the Bridge this season that once Cesc Fabregas had put them ahead after just five minutes, it all promised to be plain sailing towards an 11th straight home win in the league for the Blues.

Yet two splendid goals from Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke in the space of three minutes soon after changed the complexion of the game with Palace then defending stoically to earn the unlikeliest of wins.

Spurs had appeared to be labouring at Turf Moor without injured striker Harry Kane and they lost

Victor Wanyama and Harry Winks -- the latter to what appeared a serious ankle injury -- before the interval.

Yet Eric Dier and Son Heungmin struck in the second half to earn the points, leaving an encouraged Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino to declare: “It was important for us to be there if Chelsea failed -- and we are there. We’re there fighting for the PREMIER LEAGUE.” With Chelsea on Wednesday next facing Manchester City, who currently lie fourth on 57 points and who first face Arsenal on Sunday, it is little wonder that the Blues’ defeat has put a new spring in Pochettino’s step.

Juergen Klopp will feel invigorated too after becoming the first Liverpool manager to win his first three Merseyside derbies as his side won with goals from Sadio Mane, the inspired Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi. LIVERPOOLmade it 17 league matches unbeaten at Anfield against their city rivals after Mane’s brilliant early individual effort was answered by a first goal for EVERTONfrom Matthew Pennington.

The youngster, though, was bamboozled less than three minutes later by the skill of Coutinho, who curled a delightful shot into the corner before sealing his masterful display by putting in substitute Origi. (rtr)

MILAN — Edin Dzeko continued his astonishing season with a double to help Roma beat Empoli 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday. The goals took Dzeko’s tally to 33 for the season in all competitions. He is the league leading scorer with 23, one more than Torino’s Andrea Belotti.

Dzeko is just three off his best tally of 26 league goals for Wolfsburg in the 2008-09 season. There are eight Serie A matches remaining.

It is all a far cry from last season, when Dzeko managed just eight goals in 31 appearances in his first Serie A campaign.

Roma will hope he can deliver again when they play city rival Lazio in the second leg of their Italian Cup semifinal on Tuesday.

“We had an average match,” Dzeko said. “Maybe our minds were on the derby a bit but we did our bit and we got the three points.

“The cup match is such an important test. It will be difficult to overturn the 2-0 deficit, but we are a strong team.”

Dzeko scored his first early when Antonio Rudiger flicked on Leandro Paredes’ corner and it went in off Dzeko’s knee.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina forward doubled his tally in the second half. Mohamed Salah nodded down Diego Perotti’s cross and Dzeko swept it past Empoli goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who is on loan from Roma. Salah almost got on the scoresheet in the 70th but his header came off the crossbar. (ap)

AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

Roma’s Francesco Totti, right, replaces Edin Dzeko during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Empoli, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Saturday, April 1, 2017.

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune via AP

Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (31) celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Montreal Impact at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., Saturday, April 1, 2017.

Schweinsteiger scores in his MLS debut, Fire ties Impact 2-2

BRIDGEVIEW — Bastian Schweinsteiger capped his MLS debut with a brilliantly taken firsthalf goal to help the Chicago Fire snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw with Montreal Impact on Saturday. A World Cup winner with Germany, Schweinsteiger could hardly have made a better start for his new team after leaving MANCHESTER UNITED, where he had spent most of his time on the bench.

The 32-year-old put his name on the scorer’s list after just 17 minutes, climbing above the defense to connect with David Accam’s corner and head the ball into the net to give his side the early lead.

“I was not nervous, but I was looking forward to play football,” said Schweinsteiger, who played the full 90 minutes.

“Perfect cross from David and the header. It was a good feeling at first, but I’m a little bit sad and not so happy that we couldn’t win the game.”

Matteo Mancosu equalized for Montreal in the 61st minute then Chicago found themselves a man down after 71 minutes when Juninho was shown a second yellow card.

Montreal’s Víctor Cabrera was also sent off, in the 80th minute, to make it 10 on 10 and the visitors looked to have pinched the win

when Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla struck in the 90th minute.

But three minutes into stoppage time, Chicago scored again through Luis Solignac to earn a deserved share of the points.

“A debut with a goal is always

something that we all dream of,” Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said about Schweinsteiger. “You know, starting and opening the game how we did with his goal, I think it was an important thing for our team.” (ap)

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Sp rt PSG takes 1st step toward defending treble by routing Monaco

LYON — Paris Saint-Germain took the first step toward defending its domestic treble by crushing its biggest rival Monaco 4-1 in the League Cup final on Saturday, with striker Edinson Cavani scoring twice to take his season’s tally to a career best 40.

PSG and Monaco are battling for the French title, with Monaco leading PSG by three points, and are involved in the French Cup. PSG lost and drew to Monaco in the league this season, but this emphatic win will give PSG momentum as it seeks to catch Monaco in the league.

“I’m happy for the trophy and for the fact we showed a rival (Monaco) that we could play well. It’s good for our motivation and our confidence,” PSG coach Unai Emery said. “If Monaco gives us the chance to close the gap, we will be ready. We’ll try and win every game.”

PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi defended Emery after PSG’s shocking 6-1 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League three weeks ago, an embarrassing record defeat that sent the club spiraling out of the last 16 after winning the first leg 4-0. Al-Khelaifi, who was so upset at the time, was in upbeat mood after the Monaco game.

“We showed our true face today. We have great players, a great club, a great coach,” he said. “To win against Monaco is really special, and good for our minds. Now we have a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”

Monaco has been one of Europe’s best attacking teams, scoring a whopping 130 goals in all competitions, but this time poor defending allowed PSG to dictate a one-sided final. “Every competition is differ-

ent. It doesn’t mean we’re not going to play as well in the league because we lost this game,” Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim said. “It’s a good experience for a lot of our players, who had never played in a final.”

Cavani, who has considerable experience of playing in big games, was quick to praise his teammates.

“We played with humility, consistency and a sense of sacrifice,” the Uruguay striker said.

He volleyed in PSG’s third goal after an exquisite pass from midfielder Marco Verratti to beat his previous best of 38 with Napoli in the 2012-13 season — just before he joined PSG for a French transfer record of 64 million euros ($68 million). He hit a clinical half-volley in the last minute from Angel Di Maria’s superb cross from the left.

Cavani also missed an open goal and had a firsthalf chance brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, but the striker has largely carried PSG with his goals and he has excelled since Zlatan Ibrahimovic left for MANCHESTER UNITED. Winger Julian Draxler opened the scoring for PSG in the fourth minute, collecting an unselfish pass from Di Maria for an easy tap in, and returned the favor when he set up Di Maria to make it 2-1 just before halftime.

Attacking midfielder Thomas Lemar gave Monaco hope when he scored the goal of the game in the 27th, a brilliant curling shot from the edge of the area that wrong-footed goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. Monaco was missing top scorer Radamel Falcao through injury and key midfielder Fabinho through suspension. Fabinho’s absence was more keenly felt.

“We really weren’t expecting this,” Monaco midfielder Nabil Dirar said. “Perhaps we showed them too much respect, we let them play, they gained in confidence and we paid the price. “ (ap)

AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani

Paris Saint Germain’ players celebrate with their trophies after winning the League Cup final soccer match against Monaco, in Decines, near Lyon, central France, Saturday, April 1, 2017.

9

Dzeko double sees Roma beat Empoli 2-0 in Serie A

Reuters / Hannah McKay

Chelsea’s Gary Cahill in action with Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke.

Chelsea suffer shock loss as Spurs close in New life was pumped into the Premier League title race on Saturday after leaders Chelsea suffered a shock 2-1 defeat at home to CRYSTAL PALACE, enabling Tottenham Hotspur to cut the gap at the top to seven points after their 2-0 win at Burnley. Liverpool won a feisty Merseyside derby against Everton 3-1 at Anfield to move into third place as CHELSEA’S pursuers were all given fresh hope after Antonio Conte’s side lost their first league match at Stamford Bridge since September.

The unlikely reverse, which Conte admitted made the title race “more interesting” for everyone, left Chelsea on 69 points with Spurs having moved on to 62 and Liverpool on to 59, though the Reds have played a game more than the top two. Such has been Chelsea’s dominance at the Bridge this season that once Cesc Fabregas had put them ahead after just five minutes, it all promised to be plain sailing towards an 11th straight home win in the league for the Blues.

Yet two splendid goals from Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke in the space of three minutes soon after changed the complexion of the game with Palace then defending stoically to earn the unlikeliest of wins.

Spurs had appeared to be labouring at Turf Moor without injured striker Harry Kane and they lost

Victor Wanyama and Harry Winks -- the latter to what appeared a serious ankle injury -- before the interval.

Yet Eric Dier and Son Heungmin struck in the second half to earn the points, leaving an encouraged Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino to declare: “It was important for us to be there if Chelsea failed -- and we are there. We’re there fighting for the PREMIER LEAGUE.” With Chelsea on Wednesday next facing Manchester City, who currently lie fourth on 57 points and who first face Arsenal on Sunday, it is little wonder that the Blues’ defeat has put a new spring in Pochettino’s step.

Juergen Klopp will feel invigorated too after becoming the first Liverpool manager to win his first three Merseyside derbies as his side won with goals from Sadio Mane, the inspired Philippe Coutinho and Divock Origi. LIVERPOOLmade it 17 league matches unbeaten at Anfield against their city rivals after Mane’s brilliant early individual effort was answered by a first goal for EVERTONfrom Matthew Pennington.

The youngster, though, was bamboozled less than three minutes later by the skill of Coutinho, who curled a delightful shot into the corner before sealing his masterful display by putting in substitute Origi. (rtr)

MILAN — Edin Dzeko continued his astonishing season with a double to help Roma beat Empoli 2-0 in Serie A on Saturday. The goals took Dzeko’s tally to 33 for the season in all competitions. He is the league leading scorer with 23, one more than Torino’s Andrea Belotti.

Dzeko is just three off his best tally of 26 league goals for Wolfsburg in the 2008-09 season. There are eight Serie A matches remaining.

It is all a far cry from last season, when Dzeko managed just eight goals in 31 appearances in his first Serie A campaign.

Roma will hope he can deliver again when they play city rival Lazio in the second leg of their Italian Cup semifinal on Tuesday.

“We had an average match,” Dzeko said. “Maybe our minds were on the derby a bit but we did our bit and we got the three points.

“The cup match is such an important test. It will be difficult to overturn the 2-0 deficit, but we are a strong team.”

Dzeko scored his first early when Antonio Rudiger flicked on Leandro Paredes’ corner and it went in off Dzeko’s knee.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina forward doubled his tally in the second half. Mohamed Salah nodded down Diego Perotti’s cross and Dzeko swept it past Empoli goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski, who is on loan from Roma. Salah almost got on the scoresheet in the 70th but his header came off the crossbar. (ap)

AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino

Roma’s Francesco Totti, right, replaces Edin Dzeko during a Serie A soccer match between Roma and Empoli, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Saturday, April 1, 2017.

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune via AP

Chicago Fire midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (31) celebrates after scoring a goal in the first half of an MLS soccer game against the Montreal Impact at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Ill., Saturday, April 1, 2017.

Schweinsteiger scores in his MLS debut, Fire ties Impact 2-2

BRIDGEVIEW — Bastian Schweinsteiger capped his MLS debut with a brilliantly taken firsthalf goal to help the Chicago Fire snatch a dramatic 2-2 draw with Montreal Impact on Saturday. A World Cup winner with Germany, Schweinsteiger could hardly have made a better start for his new team after leaving MANCHESTER UNITED, where he had spent most of his time on the bench.

The 32-year-old put his name on the scorer’s list after just 17 minutes, climbing above the defense to connect with David Accam’s corner and head the ball into the net to give his side the early lead.

“I was not nervous, but I was looking forward to play football,” said Schweinsteiger, who played the full 90 minutes.

“Perfect cross from David and the header. It was a good feeling at first, but I’m a little bit sad and not so happy that we couldn’t win the game.”

Matteo Mancosu equalized for Montreal in the 61st minute then Chicago found themselves a man down after 71 minutes when Juninho was shown a second yellow card.

Montreal’s Víctor Cabrera was also sent off, in the 80th minute, to make it 10 on 10 and the visitors looked to have pinched the win

when Ballou Jean-Yves Tabla struck in the 90th minute.

But three minutes into stoppage time, Chicago scored again through Luis Solignac to earn a deserved share of the points.

“A debut with a goal is always

something that we all dream of,” Fire coach Veljko Paunovic said about Schweinsteiger. “You know, starting and opening the game how we did with his goal, I think it was an important thing for our team.” (ap)

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Destination

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

International

Konta beats Wozniacki in straight sets in Miami final

Johanna Konta of Great Britain poses for a Champion’s portrait at Fort Florida Lighthouse after her match against Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark (not pictured) in the women’s singles championship of the 2017 Miami Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center.

MIAMI - Late-blooming Johanna Konta won the biggest title of her career when she beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-4 6-3 in the women’s final at the Miami Open on Saturday.

British 10th seed Konta used an aggressive game plan to overcome Danish 12th seed Wozniacki on the Crandon Park hardcourt.

Konta stuck to her hard-hitting tactics, despite a few hiccups, before clinching victory with a perfectly-weighted lob that landed on the baseline for her second title of the year, after winning in Sydney in January.

“I couldn’t believe it was over because I was so focused, just trying on every single point,” Konta, who hit 33 winners, said in a courtside interview.

“Having opportunities like these to almost get a pat on the back for all that hard work is very rewarding.”

Wozniacki used all of her vaunted endurance to run tirelessly after every ball, but was undone by a weak serve. She was broken six times and won only 30 percent of her second serves, which Konta picked off relentlessly.

Konta, 25, is somewhat of a late bloomer. She was ranked 150th in the world at the end of 2014 and improved to 47th in 2015, but her

Circus Waterpark MANGUPURA - Circus Waterpark is a leisure park fit for the whole family, located on Jalan Kediri in Tuban, approximately 10 minutes away from Ngurah Rai International Airport. This park serves as a smaller and inexpensive alternative to the existing Waterbom Bali in Kuta, an approximate 1.5km north of this park. Circus Waterpark appeals to both adults and children – featuring various slides and a lazy river, as well as a dedicated kids’ area that offers a variety of fun activities such as fountains, water cannons, and mini train rides. Thrill seekers can opt for more exciting slides such as

the ‘speed slider’ and ‘wave slides’ among others.

Circus Waterpark’s main slides are the ‘speed slider’ which features four parallel and colourful slides, two ‘spiral slides’ offer a more conventional twirl before splashing down into the unique shaped pool, and the ‘wave slide’ features a bright yellow broad and bordered slide that provides a steep ascent before a dash back down into the pool. Those who just want to cruise along to the slow current may opt for the lazy river which encircles the lagoon-inspired pool. The open spaces and gardens feature ample sunlight, and the only shade is pro-

vided by the structures and gazebos available for rent. At the kids’ pool area, a giant bucket fills up to the rim and spills into the pool at an approximate 20-minute interval. The lawn and a children’s playground is suitable for kids under 10. Dining options at the Circus Waterpark include outlets from several national franchises. A mini store provides various light snacks and refreshments, as well as Circus Waterpark special merchandise, fashion items and accessories. Rental facilities include towel, lockers and gazebos.

A temporary tattoo corner, a foot reflexology spa and a candid photo service are also onsite. (IBP/net)

Hanyu still hasn’t found what he’s looking for

Gianyar Night Market GIANYAR - Gianyar Night Market is one of the interesting highlights to check out and stop by whenever you travel to the heart of the Gianyar regency’s capital, about a 10-kilometre drive southeast of the main Ubud hub.

This night market has grown into a top destination for hungry locals and curious international travellers from Ubud. Here they get to browse and sample a large variety of traditional snacks and cuisine from vendors who open up food stalls and tents along the town’s main strip of Jalan Ngurah Rai. Ngurah Rai is a normal street by day, but its southern side becomes a bustling market and a local food haven at around 17:00 every day.

Here you can satiate your crave

for Bali’s favourite ‘babi guling’, along with succulent roast chicken, ‘bakso’ meatball soup, chicken and lamb satays and various traditional Balinese and Indonesian snacks and desserts. The Gianyar Night Market is hard to miss and can be slightly chaotic with the traffic and parked scooters.

In contrast to the hot and bustling daytime city street scenes, you’ll enjoy a brilliant mini cityscape with the vendors’ many fluorescent lamps flickering from sundown. Although busier during the weekends, you can visit the Gianyar Night Market on any day of the week. Besides dominant food stalls, the market naturally brings together a variety of wares, from fruits, vegetables, snacks, toys and jewellery, to clothes, knock-off

biggest improvement came last year.

It has been barely eight months since she clinched her first career title by beating Venus Williams in the Stanford, California final, before adding in the city of her birth the Sydney International in January.

“I think the belief has been there since I was a little girl,” said Konta, who will rise to seventh on Monday.

“Everybody’s journey is different. I needed a little more time and a little more experience to accumulate the knowledge that I have and re-use it in my matches.

“I play smart tennis and calmer tennis I think. It just took time. On paper it looks like a quick turnaround but it’s been a long time coming.”

Asked how high she could go in the rankings, and whether a grand slam victory was in her sights, she said: “I think the belief has been there since I was a little girl. I’d like to be the best player in the world but there’s a lot of work to be done between now and then.” (rtr)

DVDs, DIY household tools, and Balinese Hindu ritual items such as flowers, incense and readymade canang offerings. Haggling is common, if not a must. The locals refer to the Gianyar Night Market as ‘Pasar Senggol Gianyar’ or ‘Pasar Malam Gianyar’. They love their babi guling as much as the snacks - known as ‘jaje pasar’ or ‘jaje Bali’ - including the favourite palm sugar-filled klepon or steamed glutinous balls, served with shredded coconuts or as takeaway in banana leaf wrappings.

Another evening treat are the nasi jingo: mini portions of rice with variations of chicken shreds with usually very, very spicy sambal on top. Meals start from USD 2 (IDR 25,000) per portion, while snacks from as low as IDR 5,000. (IBP/net)

HELSINKI - For all his brilliance and world record scores, there is one annoying riddle that Yuzuru Hanyu has yet crack.

Will he ever be able to win a major global competition by producing back-to-back flawless skates?

Sporting annuls will show that by the age of 22, the Japanese had won an Olympic gold medal and two world titles.

However, if fans read the small print, they will be reminded that on each occasion Hanyu triumphed by producing one spectacular performance while the other was anything but.

It is a pattern that started at the 2014 Sochi Games, when a breathtaking short skate was followed by two spills in the longer programme.

The sequence was reversed at the world championships a few weeks later in Saitama, where Hanyu had to make up ground in the free skate after producing a messy short programme.

Three years on and Hanyu is no closer to savouring that perfect performance at a championships.

Instead he had to rely on a dazzling free skate on Saturday, with world record scores, to lift him from fifth to the top of the podium.

But with the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 10 months away, Hanyu feels there is a limit to the amount of nerves he can tolerate.

“I feel it’s very difficult to put out two clean programmes in both the short and the free, and I still need to work on that,” Hanyu told reporters after edging out team mate Shoma Uno for the gold.

“Towards the Olympic season I think it’s important to skate clean both in the short and the free, these two programmes together.”

That may be easier said than done.

Even when Hanyu fails to win the top prize at the major global meets, he does not deviate from his usual script.

At the last two world championships he produced brilliant short skates only to suffer blowouts in the free -- handing victory to his coach Brian Orser’s other pupil, Javier Fernandez, on each occasion.

In Helsinki, however, it was the turn of short-skate leader Fernandez to suffer that feeling as he stumbled to fourth.

It was a result that proved one thing to the Spaniard.

“If Yuzu skates a clean short and a clean long, he will probably be unbeatable,” said Fernandez. (rtr)

REUTERS/Grigory Dukor

Gold medallist Yuzuru Hanyu (C) of Japan, silver medallist Shoma Uno (L) of Japan and bronze medallist Jin Boyang of China attend the ceremony.

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Monday, April 3, 2017

W

International

RLD

Colombia mudslide, flooding kill 254 in midnight deluge

MOCOA - Flooding and mudslides in the Colombian city of Mocoa sent torrents of water and debris crashing onto houses in the early hours of Saturday morning, killing 254 people, injuring hundreds and sending terrified residents, some in their pajamas, scrambling to evacuate.

Heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks onto buildings and roads in the capital of southwestern Putumayo province and immobilizing cars in several feet of mud.

“It was torrential rainstorm, it got really strong between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m.,” said local resident Mario Usale, 42, who was looking for his father-in-law in the debris.

“My mother-in-law was also missing, but we found her alive two kilometers away. She has head injuries, but she was conscious.”

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos flew to Mocoa, population 345,000, to oversee rescue efforts on the city outskirts and speak with affected families.

“We will do everything possible to help them,” Santos said after confirming the death toll. “It breaks my heart.”

The army said in a statement that 254 people were

killed, 400 people had been injured and 200 were missing. More than 1,100 soldiers and police officers were called in to help dig people out in 17 affected neighborhoods.

Santos gave a lower death toll of 193 via Twitter.

Even in a country where heavy rains, a mountainous landscape and informal construction of homes combine to make mud and landslides a common occurrence, the scale of the Mocoa disaster was daunting compared to recent tragedies, like a 2015 landslide that killed nearly 80 people in Salgar, Antioquia. Colombia’s deadliest landslide, the 1985 Armero disaster, left more than 20,000 dead.

“It’s a big area,” Mocoa Mayor Jose Antonio Castro, who lost his house, told Caracol radio on Saturday.

“A big portion of the many houses were just taken by the avalanche.”

He said that people were warned ahead of time and many were able to get out, but several neighborhoods and two bridges had been destroyed.

Weather authorities said light rains were expected in the area on Saturday night and Sunday.

Photos posted on Twitter by the air force showed neighborhood streets filled with mud and damaged houses, while videos on social media showed residents searching for survivors in the debris and struggling to move through waist-high water during the night. (rtr)

REUTERS/Jaime Saldarriaga TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

A man looks at a destroyed area after heavy rains caused several rivers to overflow, pushing sediment and rocks into buildings and roads in Mocoa, Colombia April 1, 2017.

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

11

Indonesia destroys 81 foreign ships for illegal fishing

REUTERS/Marco Bello TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Gaby Arellano, deputy of the Venezuelan coalition of opposition parties (MUD), clashes with national guards during a rally against Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro’s government in Caracas, Venezuela April 1, 2017.

Venezuela seeks to cool outrage over court power grab CARACAS - Venezuela’s progovernment Supreme Court revoked its takeover of the opposition-led Congress on Saturday after it drew international condemnation and protests against socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

“This controversy is over,” Maduro said just after midnight at a specially convened state security committee.

The committee ordered the top court to reconsider Wednesday’s court ruling, which effectively nullified the legislature and brought accusations the ruling Socialist Party was creating a dictatorship.

The tribunal duly erased two controversial judgments and its president, Maikel Moreno, met with both foreign envoys and journalists to explain the decision, insisting there had never been any intention to strip the National Assembly of its powers.

Maduro, 54, who had faced dissent even within government ranks over the Supreme Court’s move, sought to cast developments as the achievement of a statesman resolving a power conflict beneath him. But foes said it was a hypocritical row-back by an unpopular government that overplayed its hand in a power grab.

“You can’t pretend to just normalize the nation after carrying out a ‘coup,’” said Julio Borges, leader of the legislature.

Borges publicly tore up the court rulings this week and refused to attend the overnight security committee, whose members include the heads of major institutions.

He led an open-air meeting of the National Assembly in a Caracas square on Saturday.

Having already shot down most congressional measures since the

opposition won control in 2015, the Supreme Court went further with its Wednesday decision. It said it was taking over the legislature’s role because it was in “contempt” of the law.

TEAR GAS AND PEPPER SPRAY

Although scores of dissidents have been detained during Maduro’s four-year rule and the National Assembly stripped of power anyway in practice, the court’s move was arguably the most explicitly anti-democratic measure.

It galvanized Venezuela’s demoralized and divided opposition coalition and sparked international condemnation and concern from the United Nations and European Union, as well as the United States and many neighboring countries.

The Supreme Court’s flip-flop may take the edge off protests but Maduro’s opponents at home and abroad will seek to maintain the pressure. They are furious that authorities thwarted a push for a referendum to recall Maduro last year and postponed local elections scheduled for 2016.

Now they are calling for next year’s presidential election to be brought forward and the delayed local polls to be held, confident the ruling Socialist Party would lose.

Hundreds of opposition supporters marched in Caracas on Saturday.

Police dispersed some with tear gas as residents banged pots and pans to support the demonstrators.

One opposition lawmaker said he was attacked three times by police using pepper spray. “Their violence does not stop us,” said Miguel Pizarro, of the Justice First party. (rtr)

JAKARTA — Indonesian authorities destroyed 81 foreign ships over the weekend after seizing the vessels for fishing illegally in the country’s waters.

The world’s largest archipelago nation has taken a tough stance against illegal fishing since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office in 2014. Authorities have sunk 317 foreign vessels since then, including the most recent.

The ships were blown up at sea in 12 locations around the archipelago on Saturday. The most destroyed in one area was 26 in Natuna on the edge of South China Sea and 10 in the nearby seaport of Tarempa. Most of the vessels were from Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Thailand.

Indonesia was upholding its sovereignty and combating illegal fishing, said Susi Pudjiastuti, the minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries who witnessed the sinking of two ships in the port of Ambon in Maluku province.

“We hope Sino (the name of one of the ships) is the symbol of our victory against poaching after years of defeat, especially in eastern Indonesia,” Pudjiastuti said. She expressed hope that the action would deter poachers.

Pudjiastuti declared a fishing moratorium for foreign vessels immediately after taking office. “The state’s sovereignty has to be upheld.” (ap)

Minister provides Rp1.34 billion to help landslide victims in Ponorogo

PONOROGO - Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa has provided aid worth Rp1.34 billion to help victims of a landslide that hit Ponorogo District, East Java Province, on Saturday morning.

Minister Khofifah visited the victims and cecked a public kitchen set up to feed villagers displaced by the natural disaster, on Sunday morning.

According to data from an emergency command post, 28 people were missing and feared buried, three survived, and 32 homes were buried. At least 17 people were injured and rushed to a local health center following the landslide.

Of Rp1.34 billion, Rp420 million would be used to compensate families who lost relatives due to the landslide. Meanwhile, each injured victim would receive Rp5 million.

Incessant downpour since Friday evening triggered the landslide which occurred in Banaran village, Pulung Sub-district, Ponorogo District, on Saturday at around 6 a.m. local time.

The landslide hit when most of the people were harvesting ginger in the fields and other were still in their houses. Search and rescue efforts are going on to find more victims. (ant)

REUTERS/Darren Whiteside

Indonesian Muslim protesters wave flags during a rally calling for the sacking of Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama for suspected blasphemy in Jakarta, Indonesia March 31, 2017.

Indonesia arrests Muslim leader for treason ahead of rally

JAKARTA - Indonesian police arrested five people, including a Muslim leader, for suspected treason on Friday, signalling a clampdown on hardline Islamist groups that have agitated against Jakarta’s Christian governor ahead of a mid-April election in the capital.

The arrests came just before thousands of Muslims gathered to demand the sacking of Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, who is on trial for blasphemy over accusations he insulted the Islamic holy book, the Koran.

Friday’s rally was the latest in a series that have tested religious and ethnic tolerance in Indonesia, a secular nation with the world’s largest Muslim population.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla called on the protesters to respect the legal process and said they would not be allowed to dictate the agenda.

“No matter how much pressure there is, we will not follow it. The government is firm against this kind of pressure,” Kalla said in an interview with Reuters, referring to the rallies. “Wait for the court’s final decision (on Purnama),” he said.

Purnama, who is running against a Muslim candidate in the April 19 election, is backed by President Joko Widodo’s ruling party. The sudden rise of fringe, hardline Muslim groups during the election campaign has raised questions about whether they are being used as political pawns and destabilising Indonesia.

The race to lead Jakarta is widely seen as a proxy battle for the presidency, which will likely be contested by Widodo and

retired general Prabowo Subianto, who is backing Purnama’s rival for the governorship of the capital. Police have moved to contain mass anti-Purnama protests led by hardline groups like the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) by detaining organizers and blocking Islamist propaganda online.

The movement’s most prominent leader, Habib Rizeiq, was in January named a suspect amid allegations that he insulted the secular state ideology. He faces up to four years in prison if found guilty.

On Friday, Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono said that five people had been arrested, including Muhammad Al Khaththath, a leader of the Islamic People’s Forum (FUI), another hardline group that organised Friday’s rally. “We are charging them with conspiring to commit treason,” Yuwono told broadcaster TVOne. “There were several findings, including a plan to occupy the Indonesian parliament.” Thousands of protesters, clad in white and carrying anti-Purnama signs, gathered at Jakarta’s grand mosque as police and military personnel blocked off roads leading to the presidential palace.

An estimated 20,000 people from various groups were expected to attend, police said this week, far fewer than the numbers seen at previous rallies.

Purnama, Jakarta’s first ethnic Chinese Christian governor, remains popular for his efforts to cut red tape and ease the city’s chronic traffic congestion and flooding. However, he faces a tight race with rival Anies Baswedan, a former education minister. (rtr)

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International

Monday, April 3, 2017

Bali News

International

BUSINESS China downplays tensions with U.S. as Xi prepares to meet Trump

BEIJING/WASHINGTON - Beijing sought to play down tensions with the United States and put on a positive face on Friday as the U.S. administration slammed China on a range of business issues ahead of President Xi Jinping’s first meeting with President Donald Trump.

Trump set the tone for what could be a tense meeting at his Mar-a-Lago retreat next week by tweeting on Thursday that the United States could no longer tolerate massive trade deficits and job losses. Trump said the highly anticipated meeting, which is also expected to cover differences over North Korea and China’s strategic ambitions in the South China Sea, “will be a very difficult one.”

Ahead of the meeting, Trump signed executive orders on Friday aimed at identifying abuses that are causing massive U.S. trade deficits and clamping down on non-payment of anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties on imports, his top trade officials said.

Separately, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, which is controlled by the White House, said Beijing’s industrial policies and financial support for industries such as steel and aluminum have resulted in over-production and a flood of exports that have distorted global markets and undermined competitive companies. Seeking to downplay the rift, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang reiterated a desire for cooperation on trade.

“With regard to the problems existing between China and the United States in trade relations, both sides should in a mutual respectful and mutual beneficial way find appropriate resolutions, and ensure the stable development of Sino-U.S. trade relations,” he told a daily news briefing.

The leaders of the world’s two largest economies are scheduled to meet next Thursday and Friday for the first time since Trump assumed office on Jan. 20. White House spokesman Sean Spicer said the United States has “serious concerns” on the U.S. trade relationship with China.

“This isn’t a sit around and play

REUTERS/Agung Parameswara

A canang or offering, which contains flowers and money is seen on a beach during Melasti, a purification ceremony ahead of the Balinese Hindu holy day of Nyepi, in Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia March 25, 2017.

Bali Bird Walk

REUTERS/Stringer

Residential buildings are seen among fog in Songyuan, Jilin province, China April 1, 2017. Picture taken April 1, 2017. patty-cake kind of conversation,” he told reporters. “They’re big issues.” Trump “wants to have a very good and respectful and healthy relationship, but he also wants to make sure that he tackles the challenges and the problems that are facing American workers,” Spicer said.

Speaking earlier at a briefing on the Xi-Trump meeting, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang acknowledged the trade imbalance, but said it was mostly due to differences in their two economic structures and noted that China had a trade deficit in services.

“China does not deliberately seek a trade surplus. We also have no intention of carrying out com-

petitive currency devaluation to stimulate exports. This is not our policy,” Zheng said.

CONCILIATORY TONE State news agency Xinhua also struck a conciliatory tone. “Of course, it would be naive to believe that the two sides can bridge their differences in a single diplomatic meeting,” it said in an English language commentary on Friday. “Yet as long as the two nations can maintain their good faith, which they have shown recently, to talk and to make concessions based on mutual respect, then no difference would be too difficult to iron out.”

Trump has frequently accused China of keeping its yuan currency artificially low against the

dollar to make Chinese exports cheaper, and “stealing” American manufacturing jobs. The yuan fell 6.5 percent last year in its biggest annual loss against the dollar since 1994, knocked by pressure from sluggish economic growth and a broadly strong U.S. currency .

Trump has resisted acting on a campaign promise to declare China a currency manipulator on his first day in office, but tensions have persisted over how his administration’s China policy would evolve.

While apprehensive about a trade war, the American business community in China has grown more vocal.

Fear of retaliation had once made business lobbies eschew more forceful U.S. trade policies

toward China, but such groups have increasingly urged the Trump administration to take targeted action to address market access imbalances.

Zheng said domestic consumption in China will increase as it pursues economic reforms, helping to raise demand for foreign goods and services, including those from the United States. “This also helps ameliorate the trade imbalance between China and the United States,” he said.

The trade imbalance could be resolved by improved cooperation, Zheng said, urging Washington to lift restrictions on civilian technology exports to China and create better conditions for Chinese investment in the United States.(rtr)

Located in the central highlands of Bali, Ubud is considered to be the cultural center of Bali. Surrounded by numerous rice paddies and ravines, this small town has grown popular due to tourists’ interest in Balinese arts and crafts, and yoga. Compared to the hedonistic Kuta and the luxurious Nusa Dua beaches, Ubud seems worlds away. Ubud is really rich with its nature beauty, not only for the culture, villages, but also for the animals which lives in it. Bali Bird Walks, founded by Victor Mason invites you to walk around the Ubud country-side to enjoy a variety of trails according to the cycle of the seasons.

Bali Bird Walk offers fun bird watching tours around the lush countryside of Ubud. It is easily one of the most well-established operators on the island offering tours of its kind. Set up by ornithologist Victor Mason in 1990, who is well-known for his books on exotic birds and butterflies in Bali, the walk takes you on a day out through some of the highland area’s most beautiful nature trails.

The insightful walks are great for adults and kids alike, and carry a mission of ‘conservation through education’.

Various walks are available, which include a 5km (approximately 3.5-hour) ramble through the Ubud environs, as well as tours

to far-flung regions all over the island, such as the mangrove forests on Bali’s south, the highlands of Mount Batukaru (with lunch stops at the scenic Jatiluwih rice terraces), and the forested lakesides of central Bali, with a stopover at the botanical gardens of Bedugul.

Through any Bali Bird Walk trail, you will get to learn about the diverse variety of tropical birds in the area.

Consider yourself lucky if you get to spot over a dozen species from the hundreds known. Endemic Bali bird species include the Java kingfisher, the bar-winged prinia, Java sparrow, scarlet-headed flowerpecker, the yellow-vented bulbul, a variety of egrets, and many other tropical birds with dazzling plumage. The butterflies are also a highlight, such as the Helena birdwing, the banded common sailer, and red lacewings fluttering among the foliage.

You’ll also come across exotic trees, medicinal plants and wildflowers. The prices for the guided walks start from USD 47, which includes lunch. Walks normally take up to four hours and, for birdwatching trails around the Ubud environs alone, are held every Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The starting point is at Murni’s Warung on Jalan Campuhan, several minutes from the centre of Ubud. (IBP)

Monday, April 3, 2017

5

Forty Types of Medicine Prepared at Tamba Waras Temple

Various strange and mystical incidents occurred at this temple. However, not all people have the capability of experiencing them. Probably, only ‘selected’ people can experience this spiritual sensation. The Tamba Waras Temple or commonly known as the Tambo Waras holds its pujawali or festival every six months namely on Buda Umanis Perangbakat. At that time, many pilgrims come here to say prayers.

Nowadays, they are not only coming from Bali but also from outside Bali.

It is surely meant to invoke safety. There are two types of medicine provided here, one medicine to be drunk and another to be scrubbed at location of the pain. Actually, there are approximately 40 types of medicine made in this temple area. Location of the medicine making is called Bale Asep in the form of kitchen. One of the medicines produced at this temple is juuk linglang.

There is a mythical story accompanying the making of this medicine.

It is said that in 2005, when an ngenteg linggih ritual was held, there was an offering maker who encountered a juwuk linglang or tangerine.

It was then halved, strangely it exuded fire. This tangerine was then mixed with some elements of fruit, herbs and oils.

Besides, there is a medicine known as manik sekecap made from honey bees. The honey is not taken from anywhere but from the chamber shrine where the bees make their nests. Likewise, there is lungsir pancawarna or multicolored sea snail. People who suffer from diseases of the eye, this medicine can be invoked at the Batu Coblong spring shrine. Another shrine is called swine shrine where people can invoke medicine for their livestock. (kmb)

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Bali News

Monday, April 3, 2017

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

International

Ahead of Galungan, price of grape sluggish

GRAPE growers at Dencarik village, Banjar, Buleleng, are incapable of smiling happily ahead of Galungan feast day. This happens because their harvest drops significantly. In addition, the selling price is also quite cheap.

A local farmer, Made Padma, said that selling price of grape in this harvest season at farmer level lies in the range of IDR 9,000 per kilogram. The price is quite cheap when compared to last year’s season reaching IDR 20,000 to IDR 25,000 per kilogram.

“The current price is quite cheap. We do not enjoy the impact of Galungan,” he explained.

In addition to the price, the volume of grape harvest this season also dropped about 60 percent. Besides, the quality is quite bad.

A lot of fruits have perished and fell off since they were green.

“Previously, we could harvest up to six times in a season. Now, three times have been maximal,” he said.

Emergence of such condition poses the impact of bad weather having lasted long enough. Responding to this, farmers have actually been intensifying the maintenance with regular spraying of pesticides. However, it did not help produce maximum results.

“The weather really does not support because it rains quite long time. As a result, fruits remaining green have perished and fell off,” said this farmer of Subak Culuk.

In the meantime, another farmer, Made Suka, stated that when faced with such a harvest result, he could not enjoy the advantages at all. The proceeds can only be used to cover the maintenance costs, reaching IDR 100,000 per 100 square meters. “Now, it is difficult to get profit. Some farmers also face harvest failure,” he added. (kmb45)

As French election race tightens, Macron defies National Front

IBP/kmb

The bamboo has been searched by people since a few days. These conditions make the bamboo merchants reap high profits because the sales of bamboo are selling well.

Ahead of Galungan, bamboo of penjor sells well

BANGLI - Ahead of Galungan falling on April 5, a number of ritual paraphernalia without exception for bamboo of penjor start to be hunted by residents. The bamboo has been searched by people since a few days. These conditions make the bamboo merchants reap high profits because the sales of bamboo are selling well.

IBP/kmb45

Grape growers at Dencarik village, Banjar, Buleleng, are incapable of smiling happily ahead of Galungan feast day.

A bamboo craftsman of Kayubihi village, Bangli, Mangku Gandri, said that the order of bamboo used for penjor material has been arriving since a few days ago. Due to large number of orders received, he becomes overwhelmed to meet the orders.

“Our orders have started coming since two weeks ago. However, many new orders are received from this week. This large number of orders makes me quite overwhelmed to meet them,” he said.

Gandri said that the bamboo orders come from Bangli including some other regions such as Karangasem, Denpasar, Gianyar, Badung and Buleleng.

“Thankfully, we can sell bamboo pretty much. Especially for bamboo as penjor material, I just sell every six months. When there are requests, like grandiose ritual, for example, I will prepare for it. Otherwise, I only sell regular bamboo commonly used to build houses et cetera,” he said.

He said that in once delivery to meet the order he can bring 700 pieces of bamboo. In addition to carrying to outside the region, he also sells directly in his place. “We sell each bamboo stem for penjor material for IDR 11,000 to IDR 12,000,” he said.

In the meantime, another merchant of bamboo for penjor material from Pande hamlet, Bangli, Kadek Sukadana, said that his bamboo orders have been arriving since 10 days ago. He added that villagers have crowded to arrive since a few days ago.

“Right now, buyers have started to crowd considering that Galungan celebration has been around the corner. They are averagely from Bangli,” he said. (kmb41)

Taken over by non-Hindus

Ranging from ritual raw materials to canang making

DENPASAR - Aside from bringing in raw materials from outside Bali, in the long run the making of ritual oblation, preparation of canang or oblation will be taken over by non-Hindu residents. The informal sector to meet the needs of the Hindu religious ceremony is performed by non-Hindu communities.

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Mrs. Tomy, 48, the owner of the Sumber Rejeki kiosk at Anyar Sari Market, said that she is now turning to sell young coconut leaf, sampian penjor paraphernalia and palm leaf. Young coconut leaf is brought in from Malang, while palm leaf from Madura and Sumba.

Meanwhile, the arrangement to make it

into sampian is worked on by local residents and those from outside Bali. “If we give an example to our colleagues from outside Bali, they will be able to make,” he said.

According to her, the pungent odor of palm leaves probably has caused many Balinese people to be unwilling to take the job of making the sampian. Almost half of the craftworkers

are from outside Bali. “In the past, many Balinese people made this oblation. Approximately since 2010, many people from outside Bali began to make it,” she said.

Not only that, some merchants of canang are not just Hindu residents. However, nonHindu residents also take the opportunity to sell this ritual oblation. (kmb42)

REUTERS/Soe Zeya Tun/File Photo

Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi attends an event marking the 69th anniversary of Martyrs’ Day at the Martyrs’ Mausoleum in Yangon July 19, 2016.

Myanmar goes to polls for by-elections, in first vote since Suu Kyi swept to power

YANGON - Myanmar goes to the polls on Saturday for the first time since Aung San Suu Kyi’s party swept to power a year ago, in an early indication of views on her leadership amid increased fighting with armed ethnic groups and slower economic growth.

The by-elections will fill 19 vacant seats in the national and regional parliaments at a time when Suu Kyi is struggling to match the sky-high expectations that swept her National League for Democracy (NLD) to victory.

In a televised address earlier this week, Suu Kyi acknowledged the public’s frustration with the slow pace of reforms and development.

But she also reiterated her top priority of ending the ethnic conflicts that have kept Myanmar in a state of near-perpetual civil war.

While the outcome of the byelections will not affect the balance of power within the parliament where the NLD enjoys a large majority, it offers a chance to gauge the popularity of the administration in a country where nationwide pub-

lic polls are not available.

Win Htein, one of the NLD’s top leaders, said the party faced language barriers and problems with armed groups in the Shan state districts being contested. Fighting in some of those areas has intensified in recent months.

“We are still improving in Shan state. The local people don’t understand Burmese, so we have to translate our policies into the Shan language,” he said.

Major rebel armies engaged in clashes with the military in areas including the Shan state have refused to actively participate in Suu Kyi’s peace process.

Several conflicts have reignited since Suu Kyi took office, displacing an estimated 160,000 more people, according to the United Nations.

Over two million voters, less than five percent of the country’s population, can vote in the byelections where seats in eight states and regions across the country are up for grabs.

“We still accept the NLD government after one year. They are governing smoothly,” said Victor Hla Sein, a 73-year-old from Myanmar’s commercial hub Yangon.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Suu Kyi is also facing international criticism for her government’s handling of a crisis in the Muslim-majority Rakhine region, where soldiers have blocked access for aid workers and are accused of raping and killing civilians.

The by-elections will fill seats largely vacated by incumbents who joined the government in ministerial posts. Some seats that were excluded from previous elections due to fighting with ethnic armed groups are also up for grabs.

The Union Election Commission is expected to announce official results late on Saturday. (rtr)

MARSEILLE - France’s centrist presidential contender Emmanuel Macron singled out the far-right National Front as his chief rival on Saturday, vowing to win the first round on April 23 as a new poll showed the election race getting tighter.

“The National Front, our main opponent, is attacking us on all sides. Never boo them. Fight them,” a defiant Macron told a rally in the southern city of Marseille.

“I want us to kick far from this campaign and from the country the party of hatred and contempt and all those who make us so ashamed.

We are going to be ahead in the first round and we’re going to beat them,” he said.

The presidential race is even closer than it was a week ago, an opinion poll indicated on Saturday.

First-round voting intentions for the frontrunners, Macron and National Front leader Marine Le Pen, showed both slipping one percentage point to 25 percent and 24 percent respectively.

Third-placed conservative Francois Fillon gained two points to 19 percent, while the far left’s JeanLuc Melenchon climbed one point to 15 percent, according to the survey by the BVA polling institute conducted on March 29-30.

Complicating predictions, 38 percent of people either could not say how they would vote, or may yet change their minds. That was down two percentage points from a week earlier, but showed the race remains wide open.

The poll showed independent Macron had solidified his voter

base, with 63 percent of those opting for him sure of their decision, up 8 points from a week ago and his highest certainty score since campaigning began in earnest in February.

However, Le Pen still had by far the most solid voter base, with an unchanged 81 percent of her voters certain to pick her.

FILLON STIRS “FAILING STATE” CONTROVERSY Shock election outcomes abroad including the U.S. presidential victory of Donald Trump and Britain’s Brexit referendum vote have fed expectations that Le Pen’s anti-euro, anti-immigration platform could sweep her to power in France.

The poll though, like others this year, showed Macron beating her with 60 percent of votes in the May 7 second round.

Fillon’s recovery from the lows that followed a fake work scandal surrounding his wife puts him within 5 points of Le Pen and 6 points of Macron, with some voters previously tempted to abstain deciding to go for him after all, BVA’s commentary said.

BVA put Melenchon’s climb since a strong performance in the first TV debate on March 20 partly down to more of his natural sympathisers deciding to vote.

It said official Socialist candidate Benoit Hamon, who is in fifth place on 11.5 percent and also has hard left policies, could be vulnerable.

Le Pen was due to hold a meeting in Bordeaux on Sunday, but it was her two main rivals who made headlines on Saturday. (rtr)

REUTERS/Philippe Laurenson

Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, attends a campaign rally in Marseille, France, April 1, 2017.

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Traveling

International

Bali News

International

Monday, April 3, 2017

3

Balanced relations of human and nature

Kedonganan holds back mebuug-buugan tradition

Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival 2017 HONG KONG - Dragon Boat Racing is serious business in Hong Kong. Chances of catching a race or a training session at the very least, is excellent in the summer months.

If you happen to miss the Dragon Boat Festival, there is another major racing event, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races which are sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association.

This is a three-day event jampacked with hot dragon boat action right on Victoria Harbour, also known as the Dragon Boat Carnival, and a Carnival it is.

These races along with the Stanley Dragon Boat Championships, is one of the top events in the global dragon boat-racing calendar.

International teams as well as local and company sponsored teams compete in one of the most prestigious of tournaments.

And it is not just about the racing, the Dragon Boat Carnival is one huge massive party in the waterfront with one of the world’s most gorgeous skylines as backdrop together with clowns, entertainers,

marching bands, lion dances!

And just as much part of the tradition is the San Miguel Beerfest tents, an event that grows bigger every year. There will be live music featuring some of the most popular bands in Hong Kong, singing and dancing.

All the action will be happening on the Hong Kong Island side this year. Look for the beer tents, game booths, food and kids zone along the waterfront and the Promenade Event Space near the Observation Wheel.

The Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival, also known as the Tueng Ng Festival, is one of the favourites amongst the revelry of Chinese Festivals celebrated in the territory.

Taking place on the 5th day of the 5th Lunar month, normally in May or June in our calendar, this event goes as far back as the 3rd century and is most well-known for its energetic and colorful dragon boat races, where teams of paddlers race the long narrow boats accompanied by the beat of the drum down to the finish line.

According to one popular legend, the Dragon Boat Festival has

its origins in the old man Qu Yuan, an official that was so dissilussioned with his country’s government that he drowned himself in protest by jumping in the river.

The locals rushed to the site, paddling on their boats and banging drums, gongs and everything they could find to scare away anything that might harm Qu Yuan in hopes to find and rescue him but they were not succesful. They also brought offerings of rice to calm the old man’s spirit.

The pilgrimage with the long boats, the drumming and the rice evolved into massive and colorful events and the dragon boat races and competitions that characterize the festival of today.

The Dragon Boat Festival is nowadays celebrated all over the world, for some a very entertaining and exciting festival, and for others, dragon boat racing is a fiercely competitive event.

And nowhere more so than in Hong Kong, which attracts hundreds of international teams and hosts a series of events and races throughout the summer months.

(IBP/net)

MANGUPURA - Kedonganan customary village held again the mebuug-buugan tradition coinciding with the Ngembak Geni on Wednesday (Mar. 29). Approximately 1,000 people from six hamlets participated in the tradition.

The mebuug-buugan tradition is meant to perform self-purification physically and psychically. Besides, it is also meant to maintain relation balance between of human and nature.

Committee chairman who is also Chief of Kedonganan customary youth club, I Made Gede Budiastra, said that the tradition has been eagerly awaited since the Japanese colonial era. Originally this tradition was implemented to coincide with the Nyepi feast day or new moon of Balinese ninth month because in the past people were still allowed to do activities on Nyepi. After that, this tradition has been suspended due to lacking of response from the public. However, it has been revived since the past two years.

He said that this year the Ke-

donganan customary village will register the tradition to district government so as to be legalized as the property of Kedonganan customary village. This measure is taken so that this tradition will not be claimed by other regions.

“Currently, it has been official in the Badung Culture Agency. The registration is made so that it can be recognized as the property of Kedonganan customary village,” he said.

He explained that mebuugbuugan is derived from the word buug meaning ‘soil’ or ‘sludge’ and bhu means ‘to exist’ or ‘the form.’

Mebuug-buugan means an activity involving soil or sludge. Initial procession of this tradition is that residents gather at Bale Agung and then head for the mangrove region to follow the tradition by smearing the body with mangrove mud.

After performing the mebuugbuugan tradition, all the participants walk around the village towards the Pemelastian Beach of Kedonganan to do pengelukatan or self-purificatory rite. (kmb23)

IBP/kmb

This waterfall having a height of up to 15 meters is a natural tourist attraction in Jembrana.

Ngembak Geni

Juwuk Manis waterfall visited by foreign and domestic travelers

NEGARA - On Ngembak Geni or the day after Nyepi, the people of Jembrana did not only throng the beach tourist attraction but also waterfalls in the mountain area.

IBP/kmb23

The mebuug-buugan tradition is meant to perform self-purification physically and psychically. Besides, it is also meant to maintain relation balance between of human and nature.

As seen, the coastal areas thronged by communities on Wednesday morning (Mar. 29) were the Baluk Rening (Negara subdistrict), Yeh Kuning Beach (Jembrana), Yehembang (Mendoyo), Gilimanuk Beach and several other beaches in Jembrana. Moreover, a visitor almost drowned on Yeh Kuning Beach but could be survived.

Meanwhile, from the observation, at Juwuk Manis waterfall tourist attraction, Manggissari village, Pekutatan, was not only visited by local travelers or community of Jembrana, but also by domestic travelers or those from outside Jembrana and so are travelers from Australia and the Philippines and other foreign travelers.

As observations at Juwuk Manis waterfall tourist attraction, visitors must go through 850 stairs and so must on the way back. “We should pass through 1,700 on the way to the waterfall and on the way back. Indeed, it is a new tourist attraction built by the government of Jembrana. The terrain is steep but very beautiful,” said a resident of Juwuk Manis.

Erdi S and Edi Bali from Negara who took their family to visit the Juwuk Manis waterfall said that it needs extra energy to get to and back from the waterfall. “The waterfall is fresh and has a quite high altitude so that it is good enough to be developed. However, it needs to be further arranged,” said Erdi S. He added that the Juwuk Manis waterfall needs to be equipped with a dressing room, gazebo as well as toilet.

Besides, security fence or railing stairs should also be increased because it has just newly half-installed.

“If this object is further developed, the road access

needs to be widened because it is very narrow to be passed through by passing vehicles, let alone the terrain is steep. Likewise the bushes along the way need to be cut down and arranged so that the road is not narrowed,” he advised.

Some foreign travelers, such as Kris from Australia, were deeply pleased to be able to visit the Juwuk Manis waterfall. So, her parents from Tabanan or Tanah Lot were willing to drive for visiting Juwuk Manis.

Likewise, some foreign travelers entirely consisting of women from the Philippines rode from Denpasar specifically to visit Juwuk Manis. This waterfall having a height of up to 15 meters is a natural tourist attraction in Jembrana. To reach this location, visitors can reach it through Pangyangan village located on the roadside of the Denpasar- Gilimanuk highway, about 50 km from Denpasar to the west.

From Pangyangan, the journey is resumed northward about 7 km to get to Juwuk Manis hamlet. After that, it will be continued with a walk through the plantation of residents by stepping down to the waterfall with newly constructed stairs made by the government of Jembrana.

In addition to the height and volume of water, the appeal of this waterfall is comfortable and pristine. On that account, it is suitable for those who love nature conservation and tourism adventure, including tracking, camping and the like.

Head of the Jembrana Tourism Office, Nengah Alit, said on Wednesday afternoon that the object is still managed by his agency. However, in the future it will be handed over to local village, while currently it is being prepared at legal protection for it. His agency will still make various arrangements for this tourist attraction, including building small gardens according to the concept of nature and a place to take selfie. (kmb)

2

Monday, April 3, 2017

Bali News

Local crops compete against those of outside Bali THROUGH the years, Bali faces challenges in the supply of local agricultural commodities. Moreover ahead of feast days, a variety of estate crops such as young coconut leaves and bananas are required.

High needs of product makes Bali still rely on agricultural supplies from outside Bali such as East Java, Central Java and NTB. In reality, almost every day many vehicles transporting plantation commodities such as coconut, young coconut leaf and bananas are coming and going through the entrance to Bali at Gilimanuk. These crop supplies compete against local products to meet market demand in Bali. Other than for the needs of Denpasar, Jembrana having the great potential of farms must also fight against the commodity from outside Bali. One of the triggers is the competitive price.

Not a few suppliers of agricultural products choose to take them from Java because the price is cheaper.

In addition, the availability of the commodities is relatively stable or not difficult to get.

“We almost deliver every day because Badung has high needs, especially during religious holidays,” said Asmadi, 30, a transport driver of crops from Banyuwangi when met at Negara Market.

According to him, many suppliers are keen to go to Bali to supply the crop needs during the holidays.

In addition, there is no prohibition (of inter-island delivery) and the price of crops from outside Bali also dares to compete against local products.

Head of the Jembrana Agriculture and Food Agency, I Ketut Wiratma, said that overall Jembrana can still meet the crop needs such as bananas and others ahead of the feast days. According to the latest data of the central statistics agency (BPS) and Jembrana agriculture and livestock agency in 2014, the banana commodity production reached 19,769.3 tons per year. It increased dramatically compared to previous years like in 2013 and 2012 reaching approximately 6,200 tons per year.

According to him, such number is sufficient to meet people’s needs. Moreover, it can supply to the regions outside Jembrana.

“Currently the market development is open.

Unavoidably, there are also productions from Java.

However, certainly it is enough to meet the needs, especially before the holidays,” said Wiratma.

In the meantime, at the entrance of Gilimanuk delivery of crops primarily young coconut leaf and banana commodity from outside the island occurred every day.

The Gilimanuk agricultural quarantine authority does not deny such occurrence. However, the delivery of produce does not include in special supervision.

“We still oversee but they do not get our specific attention,” said the Head of the Gilimanuk Agricultural Quarantine, Nyoman Budiarta, when confirmed on Friday (Apr. 1).

Commodities such as banana, young coconut leaf and coconut belong to the category of vegetables that do not include in the pest carrier animal or quarantine weeds. Although they do not become the focus of surveillance, the officers still oversee the delivery traffic of a wide range of agricultural commodities.

Thus, he did not know exactly regarding the number of production brought in to Bali every day.

In the meantime, coconut farmers lately start to leave the production of dried coconut. It happens due to low selling price and meeting market demand that tends to be stable, namely the demand for young coconut. The sales of young coconut and non-fleshed young coconut (klungah) increase. This business has been pursued by one of the farmers, Ni Nyoman Suami, 50, from Pulukan village, Mendoyo.

These farmers are now relying on their livelihood to the harvest of young coconut. It is no longer as ever before where they were waiting for the production of dried coconut.

She takes this measure because the price tends to drop. Besides, the coconut of daksina type tends to be rarely available, triggered by price consideration.

Young coconut, both those with and without flesh has higher economic value due to market demand.

Meanwhile, a coconut middleman, Suharto, 45, from Pekutatan, admitted that he and colleagues previously ran the business of mature coconut but now shifts to buy young coconut. In addition to the selling price of mature coconut dropped, today most farmers have switched to harvest young coconut. (kmb26)

IBP/wawan

Banana is one of the fruits that is needed by the HIndus in Bali to celebrate Galungan Day.

International

Significance of Galungan feast day series

DENPASAR - Galungan falling on Buda (Wednesday) Kliwon Dungulan is the eagerly awaited feast day by the Hindu communities in Indonesia. This feast day falls every 210 days as it is based on intersection of panca wara (five-day week) and sapta wara (seven-day week).

The series of celebrations to welcome Galungan has begun 25 days earlier namely on Tumpek Pengatag. On this day, Hindu followers perform a ritual to respect for plants so that they could bear fruits and lushly flower to be used in welcoming Galungan.

Next processions include the Penyekeban Galungan, Penyajaan Galungan and Penampahan Galungan. Penyekeban Galungan falls on Sunday (Redite Paing Dungulan) which is usually followed by a process of ‘ripening’ (penyekeban) fruits. Philosophically, Penyekeban Galungan can mean that humans should shrink the ego of their deeds, so that they can get closer to God. After this procession is Penyajaan Galungan falling on Monday (Soma Pon Dungulan). It is time for the Hindus to prepare various cakes to be used in the ritual oblation of Galungan. Philosophically, Penyajaan Galungan is interpreted as an attempt to make creation with sweet and useful characteristic for humans.

Moralized knowledge is an expected effect that occurs in harmony with the celebration of Penyajaan Galungan. When knowledge comes without morality, then the destruction of the world is at stake.

Meanwhile, Penampahan Galungan falling on Tuesday (Anggara Wage Dungulan) is a long-awaited day by the Hindus in Bali. Penampahan Galungan is celebrated by preparing very festive cooking.

Slaughtering a swine is a commonplace activity carried out. On this day, all members of the Hindu community will try to do their best in preparing delicacies to be eaten on the day of Galungan on the next day.

Philosophically, the celebration of Penampahan Galungan is actually put emphasis on the effort to eradicate the existing animal nature in human. Thus, on the celebration of Galungan humans could be freed from the animal nature. Swine is a symbol of laziness, so that slaughtering it then symbolizes that laziness can be eliminated.

Penampahan Galungan is also followed by natab byakala ritual in the afternoon for self-purification. The philosophical meaning of Penampahan Galungan is gradually replaced with literal meaning, namely slaughtering swine for the preparation of Galungan.

Ignorance about the significance of the celebration may probably have side impacts such as followed by drunkenness and so forth.

“Philosophically, the three series of Galungan feast day are actually a process of self-purification so that in the celebration of Galungan we truly celebrate the victory of dharma (truth) against adharma (untruth). If the philosophical meaning is set aside, we do not get goodness, but adharma will even go rampant in the life of community,” said Chairman of the Hindu Dharma Council of Indonesia (PHDI) of Bali, Prof. Dr. I Gusti Ngurah Sudiana.

Nevertheless, in this current globalization era, the philosophy of Galungan feast day series has undergone a shift in meaning. An academician, Dr. I.B. Radendra Suastama, believed that the shift in the meaning is influenced by the Hindu perspective in understanding the procession of Galungan and Kuningan.

It is inseparable from the growth of pragmatic, consumptive and instant mental attitude among the members of Hindu community today. Actually, the significance of each series of Galungan and Kuningan feast day is essentially philosophically profound.

Starting from the meaning of self-restraint, self-preparation to the essence of meaning against lust in human self to victory in the fight of dharma against adharma which is actually going on inside human self now tends to be more oriented in and focused on the aspects of celebration and hedonism.

“Self-indulgence of earthly desires is hued by capital hegemony wrapped in communal traditions on spiritual meanings. This phenomenon needs to be clarified so that it could be corresponding to the initial idea. To that end, it will require an ongoing communication and dissemination,” said Dr. I.B. Radendra. (win)

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WEEKLY EVENTS and FARMERS MARKETS EVERY SATURDAY Meditation class by Mangku Budi Dharma 14-16:30 Bona, Blahbatuh meet at Ubud Cocomarket at 13:00 Saturday Market Oldman’s Cafe Canggu, Batu Bolong Beach, pottery fresh produce, clothing Sand Beach Club and Restaurant, Sanur Every second Saturday Biasa Art Space, Jl. Raya Seminyak 24, Seminyak, Fresh produce, potted plants, meat pie, sshie, coffee and more.

Every Saturday 9AM-2PM OrganIc Farmer’s Market Pizza Bagus (Jl. Pengosekan), Ubud EVERY SUNDAY Soul to soul spirituall dialogue Anand Ashram, Ubud Jl Sri Wedari KM 3 Mantra chanting 6-6:30pm Navaraha Arati 6:30-6:45pm Meditation, Satsang and celebration 6:45-8:30pm www.ubudashram.org SUNDAY MARKETS 10AM 1PM Sunday Market at Batu Jimbar Jl. Danau Tablingan , Sanur 10AM-4PM The Sands Beach Club and Restaurant Sunday MArket Jl. Danau Tamblingan, No 27, Sanur 9:30AM-1PM Sunday Market @ Warung Sopa Jl. Sugriwas no36, Padang Tegal, Ubud 9AM-2PM Samadi Sunday Market Jalan. Padang Linjong 39, Canggu, 9AM-2PM Wednesday and Sunday Ubud Organik Market Jl. Raya Pengosekan across from Zens Hotel Tebesaya, Ubud 12PM-10PM Sunday Food Festival & Bazaar Byrdhouse Beach Club, Sanur 10AM-6PM, Mercure,last sunday of every month, jl. ,Mertasari, Sanur, fashion food and and kids activities The Coffee Spot, Jalan Peigenet 888X,Seminyak, last Sunday of every month, garage sale clothing, books, and hand-made jewellery

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Monday, April 3, 2017

15

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Monday, April 3, 2017

Mystery surrounds Nobel prize handover as “intimate” Dylan gigs in Sweden

STOCKHOLM - Details of Bob Dylan’s receipt of his Nobel literature prize were being kept under close wraps on Saturday leaving those wanting to know more about it blowin’ in the wind.

It’s not that the times kept a-changin’, it was that no one would say what was happening.

The Swedish Academy, which hands out the Nobels, said on Wednesday Dylan will receive his diploma and medal while in Stockholm, but in a “small and intimate setting” according to Dylan’s wishes.

The prize-givers also said they planned to show up at one of Dylan’s performances -- on Saturday and Sunday in Stockholm and on April 9 in Lund. But that was it. A blackout. Probably until someone says it’s all over now.

The decision to give the bard the literature prize caused controversy that only deepened when Dylan was silent about the award for weeks afterwards. He then said he would be a no-show at the annual anquet in December.

“Getting ready for Dylan’s concerts in Stockholm this weekend,” Academy secretary Sara Danius said in a blog post on Friday.

Danius said earlier this week that the notoriously media-shy Dylan would not hold the traditional Nobel lecture this weekend, but that a taped version would probably be sent at a later point.

In order to receive 8 million Swedish crown ($903,000) prize, Dylan needs to give a lecture within six months from Dec. 10. It does not necessarily need not be delivered in Stockholm.

When British novelist Doris Lessing was awarded the Nobel literature prize in 2007, she composed a lecture and sent it to her Swedish publisher, who read it at a ceremony in the Swedish capital. (rtr)

Indonesian rescuers fear nearly 30 people buried in Java landslide

JAKARTA - Indonesian rescuers, joined by police and soldiers, found one body and continued to look for 28 other people feared to be buried after a landslide triggered by heavy rain on Indonesia’s Java island, a spokesman for the national disaster agency said.

Pamela Anderson

REUTERS/Ki Price/File photo

REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo

Actress Pamela Anderson plays down Assange romance rumours

STOCKHOLM - Actress Pamela Anderson was coy about a rumoured romance with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, saying his being holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London made dating “a little bit difficult”.

U.S. musician Bob Dylan performs during on day 2 of The Hop Festival in Paddock Wood, Kent on June 30th 2012.

Speaking to a Swedish television talk show, the former “Baywatch” actress and animal rights activist said she had probably spent more time with Assange than with any other man lately but would not be drawn on details.

British media have reported Anderson has been spotted visiting Assange at the central London embassy, where he took refuge in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations that he committed rape in 2010, which he denies.

In a clip of the interview which airs on Friday evening, Anderson

is asked whether their relationship was romantic and if they are dating. The 49-year-old actress laughs before saying: “Well, he’s imprisoned, that would make it a little bit difficult.”

She is then pressed further.

“Let’s see what happens when he’s free. But you know I spend probably more time with him than any other man socially, which is very odd,” Anderson said.

In a post on her pamelaandersonfoundation.org website on Thursday, Anderson referred to Assange as “one of my favorite people”.

The mud and debris from Saturday’s landslide in a village in the Ponorogo area of East Java had engulfed more than 20 houses after sliding 800 metres (875 yards) down a hillside, National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.

Some of the victims were believed to include a group harvesting a crop of ginger in fields around the village, he said. Seventeen people had been injured and were being treated at a community health centre.

Rescue efforts were hampered by people flocking to the area to see the landslide and

“He might be the most famous, most politicized refugee of our time. Famous for being persecuted.

Famous for being persecuted is not a position of power but a position of vulnerability. I am concerned,” she wrote.

“Julian is a human being who is extremely empathetic and cares deeply about the world. And because of his work. He has made some powerful enemies in a few countries - America especially by exposing them. Julian is trying to free the world by educating it. It is a romantic struggle—I love him for this.”

British media have printed photos of Anderson outside the embassy, with one picture showing her carrying takeaway food. (rtr)

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Monday, April 3, 2017

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Indonesia policemen and rescuers carry the body of a victim of a landslide triggered by heavy rain at Banaran village in Ponorogo, Indonesia’s East Java province, April 2, 2017.

causing traffic jams, he said earlier.

The local disaster mitigation agency had warned of the risk of a landslide due to recent rain, and some people had only returned to the village on Saturday after staying the night in a shelter, said the official.

Incessant rains Sunday halted the search for at least two dozen people missing after a landslide swept into a village on Indonesia’s main island of Java.

Four excavators working under cloudy skies dredged the mud, sand and rocks, pilling the debris up to 20 meters (66 feet) high.

Chief of staff of the local army, Lt. Col. Jemz Ratu Edo, said two bodies were discovered before the search was suspended due to heavy rain. One body had been found Saturday. The landslide hit some 23 houses and farmers harvesting ginger in Banaran village in East Java province’s Ponorogo district.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman for Indonesia’s Disaster Mitigation Agency, said 27 people were missing, while the local army chief, Lt. Col. Slamet Sarijanto, said that according to villagers, 38 people were buried by the landslide.

Rescuers from the disaster agency along with soldiers, police officers and volunteers are searching for the missing. Access to the site was hampering the effort.

The landslide — measuring 800 meters

(half a mile) long and 20 meters (66 feet) high, according to Nugroho — overturned vehicles, shattered and buried buildings, and left a massive scar on a hillside where lush vegetation had been torn away.

Seasonal rains cause frequent floods in Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelago nation, where many of the country’s 256 million people live in mountainous areas or fertile, flood-prone plains near rivers.(rtr) News can also be heard in “Bali Image” at Global Radio FM 96.5 from 9.30 until 10.00 am. Listen to Global Radio FM at http://globalfmbali.listen2myradio.com or live video streaming at http://radioglobalfmbali. com and http://ustream.tv/channel/globalfm-bali.