Edisi 06 Desember 2010 | International Bali Post

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Monday, December 6, 2010

Batukaru Temple: Abode of Lord Mahadev having cool atmosphere

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Firefighters enter an Internet cafe following an explosion, downtown of Kaili city in Miao-Dong Autonomous Prefecture of Qiandongnan, in southwest China’s Guizhou Province, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010.

An explosion caused by stored chemicals killed six people and injured 37 at the Internet cafe in southwest China.

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Australia readies for Oprah juggernaut

AP Photo

Death toll in China Internet cafe blast rises to seven

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Agence France Presse BEIJING - The death toll from a powerful explosion in an Internet cafe in southwest China has risen to seven, state media said Sunday, as officials ordered a nationwide safety inspection of entertainment venues. The blast — thought to have been caused by chemicals — ripped through the web cafe in Kaili city in Guizhou province late Saturday, injuring 37 people and reducing the building to ruins, the official Xinhua news agency said.

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The death toll reached seven after a woman died from severe burns on Sunday afternoon, it said.

The other injured people were still being treated in local hospitals. In response to the blast, the Ministry of Culture ordered relevant departments and bureaus to “take immediate concrete measures and carry

out nationwide safety inspections of cultural venues.”

The explosion was triggered by chemicals including sodium nitrite and aluminium chloride “illegally stored” next door to the Internet cafe, Xinhua said, citing local police.

Police have detained one person for “illegally possessing the chemi-

cals” while the cafe’s boss and manager have been taken into custody for questioning, the report said.

Nationwide inspections

China ordered a nationwide safety inspection of Internet cafes and other entertainment venues on Sunday after a powerful explosion in the southwest. The order from the Ministry of Culture came after the blast ripped through a web cafe in Kaili city in Guizhou province late Saturday night, reducing it to ruins and shattering windows in neighbouring buildings.

“Relevant departments and bureaus have been ordered to take immediate concrete measures and carry out nationwide safety inspec-

tions of cultural venues,” the ministry said on its website.

The explosion was triggered by chemicals including sodium nitrite and aluminium chloride “illegally stored” next door to the Internet cafe, the official Xinhua news agency said, citing local police. Of the injured, nine were seriously hurt.

Police have detained one person for “illegally possessing the chemicals” while the cafe’s boss and manager have been taken into custody for questioning, the report said. At least 45 people were inside the cafe at the time of the blast.

State television showed rescue workers pulling victims from the devastated building and rushing the injured to hospital.

Indonesian President Visits Bali Antara

JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is on a six-day working visit in Bali for a series of activities, including attending the annual Bali Democracy Forum (BDF).

The president, accompanied by Mrs Ani Yudhoyono, took off at Halim Perdana Kusuma airport here at 9.am Western Indonesia

Time (WIB) on Sunday.

On Monday, the president is scheduled to officially open a fish breeding center in Karang Asem district, while on Wednesday the head of state will attend the Bali Democracy Forum.

Initiated by Yudhoyono and held for the first time in Bali in December 2008, the forum will carry the theme: “Democracy for Peace

and Stability and will last from December 8 to 10, 2010.

South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak will act as co-chairman of the forum which will also be attended by the Sultan of Brunei Darussalam and the Timor Leste President.

The Bali Democracy Forum which will be held for the third time is expected to issue a chairman

statement which would serve as the guidelines for the implementation of its program in 2011. It will be carried out by the Institute for Peace and Democracy.

On the sidelines of the Bali Democracy Forum, President Yudhoyono is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with a number of heads of state, among others, of Australia, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand.

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International

Monday, December 6, 2010

Bali News Imbalanced impact of Bali tourism growth Cok Ace asks hotel to take advantage of CSR Denpasar (Bali Post)—

The impact of tourism growth, as acknowledged by the Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants (PHRI) of Bali Chapter Tjok Artha Ardana Sukawati, had not been able to prosper the community. Tourism development remaining to focus in Southern Bali region caused a social unrest in some tourist areas on the Island of the Gods. It is feared to result in a bad impact on the sector.

“Within the past three years, the development of Bali tourism is remarkable. However, it did not necessarily affect the economic improvement of the Bali’s community such as that of Karangasem. I am afraid of this imbalance will further lead to social jealousy,” said Cok Ace in the regional meeting of PHRI Denpasar in Sanur on Friday (Dec 3).

Cok Ace said the perpetrators of Bali tourism, particularly those in the field of hotel business, would be able to gradually reduce the impression of tourism belonging to a handful of people. Equality in the tourism sector having an impact on poverty reduction was expected to be undertaken by the elected caretakers of PHRI Denpasar.

“Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) owned by the company can be utilized to help the poor people residing in the nook and cranny of villages.

It is truly important so they can also enjoy the impact of tourism growth in Bali and at the same time it can avoid such social jealousy,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Mayor of Denpasar, IGN Jaya Negara, welcomed the establishment of the PHRI Denpasar. Existence of the representative would more synergize the tourism industry with the city government.

“We’ve made coordination in undertaking the development including the development in the tourism sector.

Moreover, with the establishment of PHRI Denpasar, of course, the coordination and synergy could be improved better,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the elected Chairman of PHRI Denpasar, Ida Bagus Sidharta Putra, said the emergence of accommodation in Denpasar became the challenge of its own to tourism business in Denpasar City. Until now, there had been about 8,000 hotel rooms in Denpasar. The PHRI Denpasar would make synergy with the government of Denpasar Municipality.

“Management of the hotel industry in Denpasar is not an easy matter. Various complex problems faced need resolving urgently. There are number of problems currently impeding the devel-

opment of industry and government of Denpasar,” he said.

To resolve the problems faced, according to the man newly elected as Chairman of the PHRI Denpasar, a synergy should be built together with the government. Prior to doing so, it might be consolidated internally where the numbers of PHRI Denpasar was quite a lot. The number of star hotel in Denpasar reached 36 units, while dozens or even hundreds of other hotels belonged to the budget or non-star hotels.

“As the hub of Bali’s administration, Denpasar has quite different tendency and tourism characteristics from Kuta or Nusa Dua,” he said while adding that city hotel was currently growing rapidly downtown Denpasar. Some chain hotels began to appear in numbers within the city. He hoped that Denpasar Municipality could deliver the authority for the issuance of permit of the accommodation business. As a hotel association, PHRI was expected to provide recommendations for the issuance of hotel permit. (par)

Agriculture no longer becomes main job for residents Semarapura (Bali Post)—

The challenge of agricultural sector in Bali is getting bigger.

Aside from the conversion of land function from planting paddy to flowers, the concerns on the diminishing interest of local residents to work in agricultural sector is also growing apparent. In Klungkung Regency, residents of a number of villages make the agricultural sector as their side job. It is no longer the main job. One of them is the Akah Village. The village inhabited by more than 1,250 families or 5,080 people are dominantly working as traders.

Chief of Akah (Administrative) Village, Wayan Swiarta and Chief of Akah Customary Village, Made Mangku Kasta, mentioned that trading sector was indeed a leading job for the most of their residents apart from deeply involved in carving handicraft such as that made of wood

and deer antlers, woven bamboo and silver works. “Even, the agricultural sector is considered a side job,” said Mangku Kasta, Friday (Dec 3).

Although the agricultural sector has become the basic livelihood of Bali residents, Mangku Kasta claimed it could not be enforced when people preferred to choose other professions considered to bring more economic value for their family. “As a proof, the current economic condition of our residents is pretty good,” said Mangku Kasta as confirmed by the Chief Swiarta.

Moreover, in development activities, both of administrative and customary, their residents were rarely charged with any contributions.

Swiarta exemplified the construction of one-stop- service village office spending around IDR 650 million. All funds were obtained from donors, aside from the assistance of Klungkung Regency amounting to

IDR 75 million and the allocation of village funds (ADD) worth IDR 43 million. “No single penny was charged to our community,” said Swiarta. The office of the village chief, in addition to be used for providing services of the village administration, was also intended for customary services, rural credit agency (LPD) and several other interests. The office was just inaugurated ritually by organizing exorcism rite in the form of mecaru and rishi gana on Saturday. Such a ritual was chaired by Ida Pedanda Gede Abah from Geria Akah.

In relation to the craft works, especially the carving of deer antlers, Swiarta said that its market share had reached outside Bali such as Lombok.

Similar progress was also experienced by wood carving, silver works and weaving works. “In essence, craft activities at our village have developed moderately well,” added Swiarta. (kmb20)

IBP/ist

The picture shows a Barong Ket performance

Picking up Barong Ket ahead of Galungan festivity Bangli (Bali Post)—

Thousands of residents of two regencies namely Bebalang Village in Bangli subdistrict and Kemuning Village in Klungkung Regency on Friday (Dec 3) thronged the area of Penataran Agung Temple of Bangli Royal Palace. The presence of two different communities had relation to the procession of picking up the deities in the form of barong ket sanctified effigy composed by AA Hartawan from Kawan Royal Palace of Bangli.

After completing the physical construction of those sanctified effigies, they were directly carried to each region for further implementation of Pasupati (bring to spiritual life ritual) and ngerehang rituals. The effigy Ida Bathara Ratu Mas Alit at Puseh Temple of Bebalang Hamlet, the Pasupati procession will be held at Hyang Tegal Dalem Lagaan Temple at Tegal Hamlet, Bebalang Village.

At night after the procession will be resumed with ngerehang procession or invocation of magical power at Senapati Dalem Temple of Bebalang customary hamlet.

Based on information of a local resident, in the ngerehang procession of the Ida Bathara Ratu Mas Alit sanctified effigy, the area with radius of 100 meters around the location would be sterilized.

All street lightings or lights around the location would be turned off as well. Similarly, within the same radius from the location would also be emptied from the presence of the community, both the supporting devotees and the people who would like to see the procession.

All sanctified effigies would be placed carefully at location and overseen from a distance. At the end, when a trance en masse occurred, the process of ngerehang ritual would come to an end.

Chief of Bebalang Customary Village, I Gusti Ngurah Wijaya, said that such a procession had been preceded by some mature preparations performed by village apparatus along with all levels of societal components. The budget required for the ritual was obtained from obligatory contribution of local community and from several donors. In the whole, it spent around IDR 200 million.

Admittedly, having performed the pasopati procession, it would be followed with ngerehang taking place at Senapati Temple of Bebalang Village. After completing the procession, another ritual would end the procession, namely pilgrimage of invoking five kinds of holy water to a number of springs in Bangli and Bali. (kmb17)

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

International

Bali News

Monday, December 6, 2010

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The Balinese perform traditional music.

Balinese traditional music attracts the tourists to come to Bali and often want to learn how to play it.

IBP/doc

Foreigner Shoot Blindly Semarapura (Bali Post)

A violence involving a foreigner due to drinking happened at Jungutbatu, Nusa Penida. The owner of an accomodation was shooting unexpectedly causing a local guide Wayan Roy Prabowo (23) to have wounds at his right knee.

The Australian man is now being investigated only just the man’s name is still mysterious.

From information received last Friday (3/12) stated the action happened when victim (Wayan) was with foreign tourists at Main Sky Inn in Jungutbatu to drink. Maybe because of too much drinking, the guests who’s with victim were talking things that’s causing the owner offended.

When victim went home with his guests, owner was shooting unexpectedly with a gun and hit the victim. The action almost caused chaos remembering people around there were victim’s

colleagues who didn’t accept the owner’s attitude. Village officials and figures came down to location to prevent it so.

The case has been reported to Nusa Penida Police Station which then handed to Klungkung Police Headquarters. “All has been given to Klungkung Police. You can contact the Bina Mitra Section,” Head of Nusa Penida PoliceN AKP Made Sudartawan. Until now there hasn’t been any official reports of the case from Klungkung Police.” (Kmb20)

Ungasan in riot

Thousands of Residents Blocked Police Mangupura Bali Post

Thousands of Ungasan residents Friday (3/12) went to Melasti Street and blocked Bali Police officials that came to the area as the residents thought police were going to put police line over lands arrangement. Police then back off to aviod unwanted events over the problematic land. Village Head of Ungasan, I Ketut Marcin, stated the police came in 6 cars and suspected wanting to place police line to stop the arrangement. As this is the last resort over the village’s decision, it caused two pecalang (village security) Made Burna and I Wayan Dena, gave explanation to the police yet police kept demanding it and so argu-

ments happened which causese more residents coming by. Looking at it, the police then left yet apparently there was one police admitting will come back with stronger power, causing residents to not leave the area. The tense died down as sub district leader for S o u t h K u t a I Wa y a n Wi j a n a a n d Perbekel Ungasan I Wayan Sugita Putra informed they have coordinated with South Kuta Police to facilitate coordination with Bali Police. Wijana suggested the residents to not be provoked and will finish the problems together, “It is said that the Bali Police is ready to not send their troops and invites the village officials to discuss the problems after Galungan.” (Kmb25)

Failed to Meet Governor PJWB Dissapointed Denpasar (Bali Post)

Bali Tourism Services Association (PJWB) scheduled to have an audience with Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika at Governor Office last Friday (3/12). Yet the PJWB representatives fail to meet the first man in Bali and only met Head of Transport Agency I Made Santha, SE, MSi. This caused dissapointment and PJWB threats to go to the streets again if the Governor still does not meet them. Head of PJWB IGN Oka Sukranati stated, “We came here to see the Governor, why did we meet the Head of Transport Agency instead.”

Sukranita added he and his colleagues want the Governor to reply their suggestion as stated before, “If this week there’s still no answers from the Governor, we will go to the streets again.”

Meanwhile Made Santha clarified that he cannot reply to PJWB suggestion as it has its own rules,”We can only go through the pro-

vided corridors yet we will tell this problem to the Governor.”

As regulated, there are 2.550 taxi permits including 600 new ones. In the suggestion, it is asked these 600 new ones to be not given.

Connecting to that Santha can’t grant it, “The permits has been all reviewd yet as the government we can only compile the public’s aspiration.”

According to Santha, Bali has six official taxi providers and the 2.550 taxis are all permitted and official and if the 600 are all of a sudden taken out, it will cause social problems and violating policies, “At this time, we hold on to the valid regulations.”

Santha added, the Governor did not attend so because he is not in Bali and at first he pointed his second assistant I Ketut Wija but then Wija will be the keynote speaker in an event at Sanur, and so was given to Santha instead, “The Governor is outside Bali right now. So it does not mean he doesn’t want to meet PJWB.” (Kmb13)

Due to Mental Illness Two People Hanged Themselves Within 24 Hours Amlapura (Bali Post)-

A wasted death happened in Karangasem within 24 hours happening from Thursday (2/ 11) until Friday (3/11). The two victims were Made Arya Putra Darma Sastra (37) from Banjar Selat Kaja, Karangasem found hanging dead at Friday early morning arouns 2 am while the other a single man Made Geria (29) resident of Banjar Sindu, Sinduwati Village, Sidemen, Karangasem found the same way at Thursday afternoon.

Head of Karangasem Police Public Relation AKP IW Wirataseizin confirmed the situation. It is said the two were shameful of their mental illness/disturbance. Arya Putra was found first by his wife Ni Luh Darmini (35).

Witness said even though her husband was ill but he never acted wrong and seemed general.

Even at night her husband who use to work as a driver always sleep together at night. In the

early morning he was gone from her side and when checked, he hanged himself in another room.

Meanwhile, Made Geria was known to have a very serious mental illness. Victim was found by his mother Ni Luh Rrenji (50) hanging himself in his bedroom. It was said victim has done treatment three times at Bangli Mental Hospital and even though he’s not completely well yet he was never seen doing anything wrong and likes to stay at his own room more.

It is known there are around 700 people with mental illness and they are either given treatment by their family, badly abused like being tied or locked away from public, and located in an unsuitable place for them.

Generally they came from disadvantaged families so they could not treat their family member as it should be besides waiting for fate to come. (013)

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News

Monday, December 6, 2010

International

Rains leave rising death toll in Colombia, Venezuela Agence France Presse

BOGOTA - The toll from weeks of heavy rains across Colombia has risen to 174 people dead and over 1.5 million homeless, the Colombian Red Cross said Saturday. And in neighboring Venezuela to the east, driving rains have triggered flooding and caveins that have killed 34 people over the past week and left an estimated 73,000 people homeless nationwide, officials said.

In Colombia, 225 people have been injured and 19 were missing, Colombian Red Cross deputy director of operations Cesar Uruena told reporters. A total of 1,821 homes have been damaged or destroyed.

“We’ve never had this many people affected by the rainy season,” he added, noting that the punishing rains were hitting 95 percent of the country.

Some regions, including southwestern Valle del Cauca department, saw more than 12 hours of non-stop rain. More than a dozen mudslides blocked roads from Valle’s capital Cali to the Pacific port town of Buenaventura, strand-

ing hundreds of trucks and passenger vehicles.

In Roldanillo, another town in Valle, 200 families were evacuated after the Cauca River overflowed and destroyed thousands of hectares (acres) of crops.

A major canal ruptured in the northern department of Atlantico, flooding six villages and leaving at least 20,000 people homeless, officials said. Faced with the dire situation, President Juan Manuel Santos hastened his return home from the Ibero-American summit in Mar del Plata in Argentina.

Officials said Santos will travel directly to the port city of Baranquilla in Atlantico to meet with local authorities and help boost emergency measures for flood victims.

In the central-western Andean department of Tolima, authorities opened the gates of the Prado dam and declared a red alert for some 10 villages affected by the flooding.

Prado Mayor Jose Jael Florez urged the Tolima governor and relief agencies to ferry aid to those affected by the disaster, especially food, mattresses and canoes or boats.

An Israeli firefighter attempts to extinguish a blaze in the youth village (boarding school) of Yemin Orde, near the northern city of Haifa, Israel, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2010. Israeli firefighters could bring a deadly wildfire sweeping through precious northern woodlands since last week under control Sunday, a fire service spokesman said.

AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehi

Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite global aid Reuters

NATIONS RUSHING IN SUPPLIES

HAIFA, Israel – Israel struggled to contain a huge and deadly forest fire that raged on for a third day on Saturday, despite the efforts of firefighting planes from half a dozen countries. The worst inferno in Israel’s history has killed 41 people, forced 17,000 to flee their homes and destroyed some 10,000 acres of woodland near the port of Haifa.

By nightfall it had still not been brought under control.

AFP PHOTO/Manuel Hernandez

Residents stand next to a damaged construction on an isolated piece of land, due the overflowing of the Tachira River, in the municipality of Villa del Rosario, located in the eastern part of North Santander department, Colombia, in the border with Venezuela, on December 3, 2010.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said two people suspected of starting the blaze through negligence had been arrested. Israel Radio said the suspects were 16year-old boys from a village bordering on the Carmel region woodlands where the fire was focused.

Regional police commander Roni Atiya said he believed the blaze had spread from a campfire that was not properly extinguished.

“It looks as though this is the result of negligence,” said Atiya, adding

there was no evidence of any link to terrorism.

Foreign firefighting planes joined the battle to contain the blaze after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed for help because of a shortage of such aircraft in Israel. Planes and helicopters from the United States, Spain, Azerbaijan and Switzerland were expected to join those from Russia, Turkey, Greece, Britain, France and Cyprus, already dumping water on the flames.

Jordan, Egypt and Bulgaria were among other nations rushing in supplies such as flame retardant, fire trucks and crews, to help Israel cope with the conflagration. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also offered to send help, in a rare telephone conversation with Netanyahu. The two were not believed to have spoken since U.S.-sponsored peace negotiations stalled in September.

Abbas voiced condolences to Israel for those who died in the fire.

Most were prison cadet trainees on their way to evacuate 500 inmates from a penitentiary. Netanyahu said he would establish a fleet of firefighter aircraft, which he told Abbas would be made available to Israel’s Arab neighbors where necessary. Abbas also offered to send Israel several firetrucks, Israel said.

Assange hunt appears to have ‘political motivations’: lawyer Agence France Presse

LONDON - The pursuit of WikiLeaks’ founder Julian Assange appears to have “political motivations”, his lawyer told BBC television on Sunday. “I’m really rather worried by the political motivations that appear to be behind this,” Mark Stephens said during an interview.

His comments came after Swedish prosecutors issued an international arrest warrant for Assange — the elusive boss of whistleblowing website WikiLeaks — on sex assault allegations.

Assange broke cover on Friday to say in an online chat that he had boosted security after receiving death threats amid the storm that was unleashed by his site’s decision to publish 250,000 US diplomatic cables.

Over the past several days, WikiLeaks has published the first of the cables, creating an international firestorm as American diplomats’ private assessments of foreign leaders and politics has been publicly aired.

The release marked the third major publication of secret US files by WikiLeaks this year, after the site had published tens of thousands of American military files from the Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts.

The United States and other governments said the release of the documents were against their laws.

Meanwhile on Friday, Sweden said it had sent out a new international arrest warrant for Assange that included missing elements requested by the British police.

The Stockholm district court had ordered on November 18 an arrest

warrant for Assange for questioning on suspicions of “rape, sexual molestation and unlawful coercion” in Sweden in August. The court order authorised prosecutor Marianne Ny, who had requested Assange’s detention, to prepare an international arrest warrant for the hacker, who travels constantly.

The global police agency Interpol said Wednesday it had alerted member states to arrest the 39-year-old Australian on suspicion of rape on the basis of a Swedish arrest warrant.

But British reports said Thursday that police in Britain — where Assange could be hiding — could not arrest him because the Swedish warrant was incomplete. Sweden acknowledged the blunder and said it would issue a new warrant.

AP Photo/Keystone, Martial Trezzini, File

FILE - In this Nov. 4, 2010 file photo, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange speaks during a news conference at the Geneva press club, in Geneva, Switzerland. Assange is a former computer hacker who has embarrassed the U.S. government and foreign leaders with his online release of a huge trove of secret American diplomatic cables.

Activities

International

Monday, December 6, 2010

5

Quiksilver Gives Donations to Support Sea Turtle Preservation.

IBP

KUTA - Quiksilver gave a donation to support the conservation of Sea Turtles. The donation was given to the Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation (KBSTC), which will be used to preserve the existence of Sea Turtles in the area of Kuta Beach, Bali.

The amount of the donation Rp. 25,014,338,- was handed over to Mr. I Gusti Ngurah Tresna, as representatives from KBSTC, by Simon MacGregor, Quiksilver Marketing Executive SEA and Bruce Waterfield, Business Services Director, Coca Cola Bottling Indonesia. The handover ceremony was done at the office KBSTC in Kuta Beach area.

“This is a part of our awareness to support sea turtle conservation in Kuta Beach area. Quiksilver is very proud to have participated for several years, and we will continue the donations in the years to come,” said Simon MacGregor.

After the handover ceremony, the crowd was doing the Sea Turtle release at Kuta Beach led by Simon MacGregor and Bruce Waterfield, as well as Quiksilver and Coca Cola Balinusa region teams.

Temple Ceremony Calendar Event for December 1st through December 13th 2010 December 1st

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Bhatara Kawitan Pura Agung Bangli, downtown of Bangli - Pura Pasek Gelgel, Pedungan village, south of Denpasar - Pura Kertha, Banyuning village, downtown of Singaraja ( north Bali) - Pura Taman, Bubunan village, district of Seririt, Buleleng regency ( north Bali) December 2nd

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Puseh and Desa Silakarang village district of Sukawati village, Gianyar regency - Pura Dalem Pulasari Samprangan village, district of Blahbatuh, Gianyar regency - Pura Natih, banjar kaloh batuan village - Pura Dalem petitenget, Kerobokan village, district of Kuta, Badung regency December 3rd

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Dalem Puri, Besakih village, Karangasem regency - Pura Dalem Puri, Batuan village, Gianyar regency - Pura Dalem, Singakertha village, district of Ubud, Gianyar regency - Pura Dalem Agung, downtown of Bangli - Pura Dalem, Ketewel village, district of Sukawati, Gianyar regency - Pura Desa, Downtown of Denpasar - Pura Puncak Payogan, Kedewatan village, district of Ubud, Gianyar regency December 8th

Temple anniversary celebrations and full moon ceremony at : - Pura Merajan Agung, Batuyang village, district of

Sukawati, Gianyar regency - Pura Tanjungsari, Padangbai village, Karangasem regency.

December 8th Galungan

This is the most important holiday symbolizing the victory of Virtue (Dharma) upon Evil (Adharma). The holiday is specialized by the fitting of ‘penjor’, a tall bamboo pole splendidly decorated with woven young coconut leaves, fruit, cakes and flowers, on the right side of every house entrance. People are attired in their finest clothes and jewels this day.

December 11th

Temple ceremony on this day: - Segara Temple, Jembrana Regency - Dalem Gede Temple, Losan – Klungkung Regency December 12th

- Redite Wage Kuningan, Ulihan. Balinese do believe, this day is the return of all mighty spirit back to heaven after leaved a prosperity and longevity to the worshipers.

Temple ceremony on this day:

- Dalem Tegal Tamu Temple, Sekarmukti, Batubulan - Gianyar Regency - Kubayan Umagunung Temple, Sempidi – Badung Regency December 13th

Temple ceremony on this day: - Dasar Gelgel Temple, Gelgel – Klungkung Regency - Pasek Tohjiwa Temple, Sawah, Selemadeg – Tabanan Regency - Pemerajan Agung Temple, Benawah Kangin – Gianyar Regency - Panti Pasek Gelgel Temple, Pelapuhan, Busungbiu - Buleleng Regency - Kahyangan Tulus Temple, Apuan – Tabanan Regency

Balinese Temple Ceremony EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annual Ceremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Balinese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine which each family possesses. Because of this practically every few days a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in some Village in Bali. There are also times when the entire island celebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan, Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day, Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is considered its birth day and celebration always takes place on the same day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When new moon is used then the celebration always happens on new moon or full moon. The day of course can differ the religious celebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some temple celebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakih temple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and most of the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importance of the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed with pieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, decorations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold and Chinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the four corners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, white or black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped in the shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrellas soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, long flags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. In front of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles, decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, rice and other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are the girls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangements of all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Every visitor admires the grace with which the carry their load on their heads.

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Monday, December 6, 2010

News Snake bites two teachers during Santa’s Aussie visit Agence France Presse

TOPSHOTS/AFP PHOTO/ISSOUF SANOGO

Alassane Dramane Ouattara sings the national anthem during a ceremony in a hotel in Abidjan on December 4, 2010, where Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, leader of the New Forces movement that controls the north of the country, offered his resignation to Ouattara who immediately reappointed him to the post, in front of reporters.

Mbeki arrives to mediate I.Coast ‘two presidents’ standoff Agence France Presse

ABIDJAN - Ivory Coast looked for a way out of its bloody presidential standoff Sunday with former South African leader Thabo Mbeki arriving on an emergency mediation mission. Mbeki was dispatched by the African Union (AU) to help settle the crisis after longterm incumbent Laurent Gbagbo and his rival Alassane Ouattara each claimed the presidency after a disputed election.

An airport official said Mbeki landed in Abidjan about 9:00 am (0900 GMT) and was met by South African diplomats but no Ivorian officials. There were few details available of the schedule for his visit, in which he must seek a peaceful resolution to the deadlock between the two rivals which risks erupting into large-scale violence.

Gbagbo has defied international calls for him to cede power after the United Nations recognised Ouattara as the winner, raising fears of further violence in the country where at least 17 people have been killed since last week. The AU entrusted Mbeki “with an emergency mission to Cote d’Ivoire in order to find a legitimate and peaceful solution to the crisis,” it said after a meeting Saturday, referring to the country by its French name.

As Gbagbo’s allies hung the chain of office around his neck at a ceremony Saturday, ex-prime minister Alassane Ouattara swore himself in as president in a hand-

written letter. The bizarre standoff unfolded amid reports of more deadly violence and urgent calls from world powers for a peaceful resolution to the disputed election, meant to end a decade of conflict in the west African country.

UN-certified results from last Sunday’s run-off vote showed Ouattara as the winner, but Gbagbo’s high court allies overturned them by annulling allegedly rigged ballots in parts of the north, his rival’s stronghold. The United States, European Union and others have recognised Ouattara as Ivory Coast’s new president. The African Union also recognised the Independent Electoral Commission’s result that gave him victory, condemning any attempt to seize power by a “fait accompli”.

Such a move would further complicate “an already serious situation” and plunge the country into “a crisis of incalculable consequences,” it warned. But Gbagbo refused to step aside and told outsiders to mind their own

business.

“In recent days I have noted serious cases of interference,” he said at the presidential headquarters after being sworn in before a roomful of whooping, clapping supporters. “I am charged with defending our sovereignty and I will not negotiate on that,” he said. “I wish various people would pull themselves together.”

Ouattara countered by signing a handwritten oath of office and sending it in his “capacity as president” to the Constitutional Council, the court authorised to certify election results and declare the new president. Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, leader of the New Forces movement that controls the north, offered his resignation to Ouattara who immediately re-appointed him to the post, in front of reporters. The New Forces fought a brief civil war against forces loyal to Gbagbo in 2002 and 2003 that left the country split in two between north and south. Last Sunday’s run-off vote was meant to unify and stabilise the country.

SYDNEY - A potentially dangerous snake was a surprise guest when Santa Claus visited children in Australia’s remote Outback this week, biting two of their teachers as the youngsters received gifts. One teacher, who had travelled some 300 kilometres (185 miles) with a class of Aboriginal children to meet the train carrying Santa at a South Australian desert stop on Friday, was flown to hospital after being bitten on the foot.

A fellow teacher was then bitten on the finger as he caught the snake, thought to be a poisonous yellow-faced whip snake, for identification purposes. He declined treatment and later re-

leased it back into the wild.

Andy Kilcross, a general practitioner with the flying doctor service who was travelling on the Perth-bound train treated the first teacher at the scene and said she had been taken to hospital as a precautionary measure.

“You can’t tell just from looking at the snake what type it is, so they need to run some tests,” he told Australian news agency AAP. The incident happened on the third day of the Indian Pacific’s annual Christmas journey on the 4,352 kilometre route from Sydney to Perth — a special trip designed to raise awareness about the flying doctors service which tends to those living in remote and isolated parts of the country.

Russia crash landing kills Dagestan leader’s brother Reuters

MOSCOW – The brother of a Russian regional leader was one of two passengers killed in a crash landing at Moscow’s Domodedovo airport Saturday that also injured 82 people, the Investigations Committee said Sunday. The incident “lead to the death of two passengers, and 82 were hospitalized. Among the dead...(is) Gadzhimurad Magomedov,” a statement on the Investigations Committee website said.

Magomedov, 49, is the brother of the president of Russia’s Republic of Dagestan in the North Caucasus, a restive, mostly Muslim province on the Caspian Sea. Magomedov and the other victim’s bodies were flown to Dagestan’s capital Makhachkala, Sunday morning. Three of the passengers hospitalized after the plane ran off the runway during an emergency landing, remained

in serious condition, the Health Ministry reported on its website.

The Tupolev-154 airliner, operated by Dagestan Airlines and carrying 163 passengers and nine crew, crash landed nearly 30 minutes after taking off from Vnukovo airport when all three engines failed.

The Tu-154 plane was the same model that crashed in April killing Poland’s President Lech Kaczynski and 90 others, raising concerns over Russia’s aging aviation infrastructure. Russia has launched an investigation into the accident for violations of transport safety rules and are looking into possible causes including crew error and technical failure.

The airline’s general director, Mirza Omariev, told Ekho Moskvy radio that the plane went through repairs in 2009 and all equipment had been serviced. Pictures showed the aircraft broken into three pieces, having slid off the runway and through trees.

AP Photo

In this photo taken on a cell phone by one of the eyewitnesses a Tupolev Tu-154 passenger jet belonging to Dagestan Airlines is seen after an emergency landing on Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at Moscow Domodedovo aiport.

International

Indonesia Today

Monday, December 6, 2010

7

Tax ration to GDP reaches 15.7 percent Antara

JAKARTA - The ratio of tax receipts to the domestic gross products (GDP) has reached 15,7 percent, Taxation Director General Mochmad Tjiptardjo said.

AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

In this photograph taken December 2, 2010, a colourful variety of fish swims over the coral bed at Pink Beach off Komodo island. The marine ecosystem of Komodo National Park in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province has more than 1,000 fish species and 250 varieties of reef-building corals thriving in the the current-swept sea bed and open water surrounding nature reserve. Indonesia is a vast archipelago of 17,000 island located in the marine rich Coral Triangle.

Four global retailers seek to stake in Indonesian retailer Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA - Indonesian retailer Matahari Putra Prima said Thursday four global retailers, including South Korea’s Lotte Shopping, were interested in buying a majority stake in its hypermarket business.

Matahari, which is controlled by the Lippo Group, one of country’s biggest conglomerates, said the four companies were interested in expanding the hypermart business.

Matahari did not identify the other three suitors.

Dow Jones Newswires quoted a

source as saying Matahari had shortlisted Lotte Shopping, the United States’ Wal-Mart and France’s Casino Guichard-Perrachon for the purchase. The report did not identify a fourth candidate.

Lotte Shopping said Tuesday that it would join the final bid to acquire Matahari in a bid to boost its presence overseas.

Analysts said foreign retailers wanted to enter the retail market in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, due to the country’s solid economic prospects.

“Indonesia has a huge, growing population and also huge domestic

demands,” Dongsuh Securities researcher Ryan Suwarno said.

“Hypermarkets are for middle- to lower-income type of consumers, which make up the largest segments here. Those hypermarkets are always crowded despite their locations,” he said.

Matahari operates 51 hypermarkets and dozens of supermarkets and pharmacy outlets across Indonesia.

Indonesia, whose economy is forecast to grow by six percent this year, was largely unaffected by the recent global financial crisis due to its huge domestic demand.

Foreign tourists again flock to Mt. Bromo Antara

PROBOLINGGO - A number of foreign tourists were seen staying at some hotels around the Mount Bromo resort areas in Probolinggo district, East Java, on Saturday.

Adi Suyanto, a Cemara Indah Hotel’s staff member, said the international tourists were interested in seeing the volcano’s eruptions from Cemorolawang hamlet in Ngadisari village.

“Lots of foreign tourists had previously canceled their trips to Mount Bromo’s tourism areas due to the eruptions.”

“But, since Friday night, we have received emails from our foreign visitors confirming their comings,” he said.

Among the tourists who had confirmed that they would stay at his

hotel were those of Thailand and Japan, he said.

The Thai and Japanese tourists had earlier postponed their visits following the increase of Mount Bromo’s danger status up to “watch out” on Nov 23, he said.

As a result, 43 rooms available at his hotel were mostly vacant for 10 days, except some which were occupied by journalists who were assigned to cover the smoldering volcano, he said.

“Since Saturday night, fifty percent of our hotel rooms have been occupied,” said Adi Suyanto, who looked busy to serve a group of Chinese tourists.

Li Ning of China said she was so eager to see the Mount Bromo’s eruptions. “If allowed, I want to go to the sand sea,” said the 25-year-old tourist.

Li Ning arrived at the Cemara Indah hotel with six other Chinese tourists on Saturday evening. “We are staying here for two days,” she said. Indonesia has been undergoing dangerous eruptions of its four active volcanoes over the past two months. The first volcano is Mount Sinabung in Brastagi, Kabanjahe district, North Sumatra.

The second volcano is Mount Merapi on the border of Yogyakarta and Central Java provinces, which erupted on October 26 and November 5, and killed at least 259 people.

The third is Mount Bromo in East Java. This volcano is part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, whose height is 2,392 meters above sea level. It sits in the middle of a vast plain called the sand sea.

And the fourth is Anak Krakatau in the Sunda Strait, Banten province.

“So far the calculation of the tax ratio to the GDP did not include receipts from regional and natural resource taxes. If all are calculated, the ratio of total tax receipts to the gross domestic products would reach 15.7 percent,” the director general said when he popularized taxation in Ciawi, West Jave, over the weekend.

Mochamad Tjiptardjo said that various quarters had so far considered that Indonesia had been behind neighboring countries in terms of tax receipts.

“A comparison must be made apple-to-apple. They (neighboring countries) include regional taxes while Indonesia so far has only calculated national tax receipts,” the director general said.

He said that the national tax ratio in the last several years had been going up and down. The tax ratio in 2009 reached 11.9 percent, while in 2010 it was 12.1 percent and in the previous years it was

recorded at 13 percent.

The director general said that the tax ratio in 2011 and in the following years would move dynamically. After all, it will include taxes on land and buildings (PBB) as well as on obtaining titles of land and building (BPHTB).

“The ratio of tax receipts to GDP will continue to drop if tax receipts only include national taxes, but if regional and natural resources taxes are also calculated, the ratio will reach 15.7 percent,” he said.

He said with that figure, Indonesia’s tax ratio to the GDP was not far different from those of other neighboring countries in Southeast Asia. Regarding tax incentives to boost businesses, Tjiptardjo said the government was providing a number of facilities such as tax allowance and acceleration of write-off.

“The government is also studying the possibility of providing taxholidays,” he said.

Fadli planned ‘Mumbaistyle’ terror attack Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesian terror suspect Fadli Sadama who was recently nabbed by the Malaysian police had allegedly planned to plot a ‘Mumbai style’ terror attack in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, a police officer said.

“Fadli had planned to mount an attack in Pekanbaru like the terrorist raid in Mumbai, India, some time ago” the National Antiterror Agency’s (BNPT) Director Petrus Golosse said.

Speaking to newsmen here Saturday, Golosse also accused the 28-year-old terror suspect of planning a robbery in Medan, North Sumatra’s provincial capital, along with Tony Togar.

Togar himself was captured by Indonesian police in Siantar city, North Sumatra, for his alleged involvement in the first bombing of the JW Marriott hotel, Jakarta, in 2003, he said.

“Fadli is also suspected of planning a terror attack in the Mount Anak Krakatau area with foreign tourists as his main target,” he said.

Fadli Sadama alias Fernando

alias Said was recently caught in Malaysia and subsequently extradited to Indonesia.

He reportedly arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday at 5.30 PM abroad a Malaysian Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur, an informed source said.

Fadli was caught in October 2010 by the special branch of the Malaysian Police (PDRM), which is a unit specially assigned to deal with terror problems and domestic security.

The arrest was made as a result of cooperation between the Indonesian and Malaysian police forces. Fadli carried two handguns when caught. The pistols bought in Malaysia would be brought to Indonesia.

Fadli was released from the Tanjung Gusta jail in Medan, North Sumatra, in July 2010 where he had been jailed in connection with his involvement in the Bank Lippo robbery in Medan in 2003.

He had used the loot to finance the JW Marriot I bombing in 2003 by a militant group led by the late Azhari and Noordin M Top.

8

Internationa

Monday, December 6, 2010

Bali Today Minister of Culture and Tourism:

Tourism generates IDR 65 trillion Bali Post

DENPASAR - Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik stated that until the end of 2010 the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia would exceed 6.75 million or 7 million. As a result, the revenue of tourism foreign exchange was estimated to reach USD 7 billion, or about IDR 65 trillion. “We are optimistic that at the end of this year the number of foreign tourist visit will exceed 6.75 million or reaches up to 7 million. Thus, the tourism activities generate about USD 7 billion,” said Minister of Culture on Friday (Dec 3).

According to Wacik, at the end of this year, right during the peak season, the government together with the tourism industry struggled hard to attract more foreign tourists visit as many as possible so that the impact on the target achievement was quite large. Several scheduled activities at this yearend would also poise the decline in foreign tourists visiting Yogyakarta due to the eruption of Mount Merapi.

Merapi eruption disaster, according to Minister of Culture and Tourism, had no effect on the national tourism. Foreign tourists entering through the Adi Sucipto Airport in Yogyakarta reaching about 4,000 foreign tourists every month was estimated to undergo a decline in the period of October-November 2010.

In the cultural field, said Wacik,

Minister of Culture and Tourism would organize more cultural events next year as a means to build the character of the nation. “To make the culture of each region grow sustainably, I have asked local governments to provide adequate budget for the arts,” said the Minister of Culture and Tourism.

The minister revealed that cultural and tourism development continued to put priority on the culture as the spirit of civilization with the tourism business based on the character of local culture. Additionally, it was also intended to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship in penetrating the international markets. For that purpose, it was required a variety of cultural products supported by corporate and accepted by society at large. (son)

ABG 2010 torch handed to Muscat organizers in Bali Antara

DENPASAR - A torch carrying the flame to ignite a cauldron marking the opening of the 2010 Asian Beach Games (ABG)) in Muscat, Oman, next December 8, was handed to a delegation of the event’s Omani organizers at a ceremony here Saturday.

Indonesian Youth and Sports Minister Andi Malarangeng presented the torch - lighted at an eternal fire source at Mrapen hamlet in Central Java - to two representatives of the Muscat ABG Organizing Committee, Mohamed Al Fairuz and Said Al Asmi, who would transport it further to their country.

The ceremony took place in the compound of Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika’s official residence in the presence also of Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) chairWoman Rita Soebowo, Bali Governor I Made

Mangku Pastika, KONI Bali chapter chairman Made Nariana and a number of invitees.

After it was lighted at Mrapen, the torch was taken to Bali where it had been kept over the past three days.

KONI Chairwoman Rita Soebowo said the torch’s handover to the Muscat ABG Organizing Committee representatives marked a milestone in Indonesian and the ABG’s sports history.

Based on a decision taken at an Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) meeting in 2004 in Beijing, China, ABG tournaments that are held on a biennial basis will always be opened with the lighting of a cauldron with a flame from Mrapen regardless of where the games are organized.

The flame would also always be taken to Bali before being carried to the country hosting the ABG.

IBP/Doc

Watukaru Temple

Batukaru Temple:

Abode of Lord Mahadev having cool atmosphere Along with the Galungan festivity on the upcoming Wednesday (Dec 8), a series of ritual in relation to piodalan or temple anniversary of Batukaru Temple has kicked off to take place. As scheduled, on Buda (Wednesday) Kliwon Dungulan afternoon, it will be conducted the picking up ceremony of the deity at the Utama Mandala or innermost courtyard of the local temple. Afterward, it will be resumed with a series of anniversary ceremony whose peak falls on Thursday (Dec 9) or coincides with the Umanis Galungan. Anniversary of the temple located at Wongaya Gede Village, Penebel, Tabanan, will end on Sunday (Dec 13). How is the history of this temple?

Batukaru Temple is one of the temples under category of Sad Kahyangan or six temple of the world. Administratively, location of the temple is at Wongaya Gede Village, Penebel. It lies on the elevation of 700 meters above sea level and surrounded by a dense forest causing the cool temperate at the surrounding areas of the temple. This temple serves as a sanctum to worship the Supreme God in His manifestation as the Lord Mahadev. In some palm-leaf manuscripts, the Batukaru Temple is also mentioned as the abode of Hyang Tumuwuh.

The temple anniversary taking place every six months or at every 210 days and during which the ritual is held for up to three days.

However, Hindu devotees usually have come to say prayers to the

temple having cool ambience one day before the summit of the temple anniversary or right on Galungan festivity.

This temple is supported and maintained by several customary villages, such as the Wongaya Gede (four hamlets consisting of Bendul, Wongaya Kaja, Wongaya Kelod, and Wongaya Kangin), Keloncing, Bengkel, Sandan, Amplas, Batukambing, Tengkudak, Penganggahan and Denuma. All customary villagers had set to make preparation by performing devotional services for the ceremonies from Sunday (Dec 5).

Like the other temples in Bali, the Batukaru Temple also has uniqueness in the implementation of the ceremony. In addition, there are also various distinctive ceremonies such as marebu kulak, maider kidung, makenakkenakan, mategak gede, and at the end of the temple anniversary is performed the nyanjan ritual and mapaice sarin tahun marked with the provision of a stalk of rice to all devotees.

This temple remains to have another uniqueness that cannot be encountered in other temples. One of them is the prohibition to take children whose teeth have not fallen out. Indeed, this matter is not in accordance with the existing scriptures, but local people believe and until now no one dare to break the tradition, especially the supporting devotees of the temple.

History of the temple

Up to these days, it has not been

obtained any exact information about when and who established the Batukaru Temple. Written sources about the founding of the temple are very limited. Therefore, to determine when the founding of the temple only uses some unwritten sources, such as the existence of statues, temples, and ancient sculptures found in the temples.

Ketut Soebandi in his book entitled Sejarah Pembangunan Purapura di Bali (History on the Development of Temples in Bali) mentions the history on the establishment of the temples are written in a number of chronicles such as the Chronicle of Pasek, Usana Bali, Chronicle of Pasek Tohjiwa as well as Chronicle of Buleleng. Meanwhile, other sources also mention about the existence of Batukaru Temple such as the palm-leaf manuscript of Gajah Mada Purana, Padma Bhuwana, Kusuma Dewa, Sang Kulputih, Chronicle of Pasek Kayu Selem, Widhisastra as well as other sacred literary sources.

By observing various findings and relics existing in the temple, it can be concluded that the temple is originated from the ancient period namely from the tenth to twelfth centuries. Armed with such background sources, the development of Batukaru Temple can be ensured that it was undertaken in the eleventh century. “The existing epigraphic data provide clues that the Batukaru temple was built during the reign of King Cri Masuli-Masula ruling in Bali,” writes the late Ketut Soebandi in his book. (ara)

al

Monday, December 6, 2010

Balinese Culture

Garuda Indonesia sets its 2010 load factor at 85 percent Antara

DENPASAR - The Denpasar office of Garuda Indonesia has sets itself 85 pct load factor target by the end of 2010.

“We are optimistic that the load factor up to the end of this year would reach 85 pct,” General Manager (GM) of Garuda Indonesia’s Denpasar office Jubi Prasetyo said at Pan Pacific Nirwana Resort, Tabanan regency, Bali, on Thursday.

He said at the Garuda Frequent Flyer (GFF) Platinum Golf Gathering that the Balinese people have a high confidence in flying by Garuda Indonesia.

This is proven by an increase in GFF in Bali which has reached 15,000 people.

“Last year it was only 12,500 people, there has been an increase by 2,500 GFF holders,” Jubi said.

By way of this GFF Platinum golf, he said, Garuda is getting increasingly intimate with its customers.

With regard to the recent confusion in the airline company’s flight schedules, it would not affect confidence in Garuda.

“We are lucky that the Denpasar office of Garuda did not suffer too serious disruptions. And we believe that with the existing system, Garuda Indonesia’s flight operations would even become better,” Jubi said.

One of the GFF Platinum holders, Erwin Siregar, said that he always fled by Garuda wherever he went.

LAWAR AYAM

(Green Bean Salad with Chicken) OVERVIEW: No big religious or private celebration would be held without serving this ritual dish. Only the eldest, and most experienced men are allowed to mix the many ingredients. Many versions incorporate raw pounded meat and fresh blood in the dressing. Chicken meat can be replaced with beef, pork, seafood, vegetables or young jackfruit.

BisnisBali/Komang Widagda

Members of Garuda Frequent Flyer (GFF) Platinum Golf Gathering.

INGREDIENTS: 3 cups blanched long bean cut in ½ cm slices ½ cups grated coconut, roasted 6 clove garlic, peeled, sliced and fried 6 - 8 shallots, peeled, sliced and fried 2 large red chilies, seeded and cut in fine strips 4 - 6 bird’s-eye chilies, finely sliced 3 tsp fried chili 2 tbsp chicken spice paste Fried shallots to garnish DRESSING: 250g boneless chicken, minced 2tbsp chicken spice paste 1tsp freshly squeezed limejuice 1tsp salt ½tsp black peppercorns, crushed Banana leaf cut in 30 cm (12 in) square PREPARATION: Combine beans, coconut, garlic, shallots, all the chilies and chicken spice paste in a large bowl and mix well.

To prepare the dressing, combine chicken mince with 2 tbsp of chicken spice paste and mix well. Place minced chicken lengthwise in center of banana leaf and roll up very tightly. Place banana leaf roll on aluminum foil and roll up again very tightly. Turn sides simultaneously in opposite directions to tighten the roll.

Steam roll for 20 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and banana leaf; break up with fork to its original minced form.

C.045 ibp

Combine mince chicken with bean mixture; season to taste with salt pepper and limejuice. Garnish with crispy fried shallot. (www.baliguide.com/balifood)

9

10

Monday, December 6, 2010

Destinations

International

Elephant Cave IBP

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Harga Termurah Kwalitas Terjamin Jln. Buana Raya 88X, Padangsambian - Denpasar

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Welcome to Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) which is located in west side of Bedulu countryside, Blah Batuh Sub district and Gianyar Regency. It is about 27 km from Denpasar town.

This cave is built at crevasse edge from the federation of 2 rills that is called Pangkung River, where the irrigation is mixed with Petanu River flow. The federation area of two rivers is called Campuhan/Mixture. It owns the magical energy on the basis of Rwabineda Concept/two different matters on this basic concept hence Gua Gajah (Elephant Cave) is intentionally built among two rivers.

The word of Gua Gajah is anticipated coming from the word of Lwa Gajah, the name of Buddhist Temple or hermitage for Buddhist monk.

The Gua Gajah’s name is written on Negarakeertagama papyrus which is compiled by Mpu Prapanca on 1365 M. Lwa or Lwah/loh mean the river and it reflect to the meaning that the hermitage is located at Gajah River or in Air Gajah. In the year inscrip-

tion 944 Saka, it is mentioned with the name of ‘ser ring Air Gajah’ that is meaning the Subak leader in Air Gajah. The word has mentioned that the hermitage of Lwa Gajah is located in Subak Air Gajah.

There is a relief which is almost looking like the form of mountain on the entrance of this cave. It was carved many designed on the relief like grove with the stick, close leaf, animal for example forest pig, tortoise and specters. The cave mouth is decorated by the bas-relief with the eye turn around to the right or west side. There is an article letter of Kediri type from the early of 11 century was written on the wall left side or east side. There is a pool (Patirthaan) as a place to take the holy Tirtha water for Hindu ceremony which is located in the middle of the cave courtyard. This Holy Pool is previously piled up by land and it has been found on 1954

by Krijgsman from the Ancient Department. The Holy pool is equipped by the statue douche which is parallel arranged in two groups.

Jl. Kepundung 67 A, e-mail: info_ibp@balipost.co.id Jl. Palmerah Barat 21 F

Monday, December 6, 2010

11

BUSINESS South Korean lawmakers call US trade deal ‘humiliating’ Agence France-Presse

SEOUL - A sweeping free trade agreement with the United States looks set for a rough ride through the South Korean legislature after opposition parties branded it a “humiliating and treacherous” deal.

But the ruling Grand National Party with a majority 172 seats in the 299-seat parliament welcomed it as a “win-win deal” and pledged to try its best to ratify the trade bill.

Trade negotiators from the two countries finalized the details of the FTA in Washington on Friday after a three-year stalemate on auto tariffs.

Under the renegotiated agreement, the US will be allowed to keep its 2.5 percent tariff on cars for five years, while South Korea would immediately cut its present eight percent tariff in half.

South Korea will also ease car safety and environmental standards so that each US automaker will be allowed to export 25,000 cars per year — four times the current level — which meet only US safety requirements, rather than the more stringent South Korean ones.

In return, South Korea will be allowed to extend by two years a 25 percent tariff on frozen pork imported from the US, Trade Minister Kim Jong-Hoon told reporters Sunday.

South Korean imports of the meat from the US were worth about 160

million dollars last year.

Kim said the new agreement is “a by-product that equally reflected each side’s interests” but admitted a concession was needed in the disputed auto tariff to help clear the passage of the deal in Washington.

“We took the US concerns into account... considering a certain platform was needed to clear political barriers in the US to push ahead with the FTA deal (because of the) difficult situation of the US auto industry,” he said.

But opposition party lawmakers in Seoul were left fuming at what they said was a “humiliating” agreement with too many concessions for Washington and too little in return for Seoul.

“We have been hit by the North with cannons and now we’re being hit by the US with the economy,” said Park Jie-Won, floor leader of the Democratic Party, referring to last month’s artillery assault by Pyongyang on a border island, which killed four South Koreans.

The new agreement is a “humiliating and treacherous deal that pre-

vents South Korea’s access to the US auto market, which should be a key pillar of the FTA,” the party said in a statement.

Park said he would organise a national campaign to oppose the deal and pledged to block the bill in the National Assembly.

Jun Byung-Hun, another party leader, called the result “tragic,” urging President Lee Myung-Bak to apologise to the public and reopen negotiations.

“We urge him to immediately fire Trade Minister Kim who failed in the negotiations,” he said.

Kwon Sun-Taik, floor leader of the Liberty Forward Party, said the negotiators “cheated the public” by reneging on a pledge not to cave in to Washington’s demands.

“The concession they garnered in the livestock products was not even a major, fundamental one, so it was a deal that failed to meet national interests,” he said.

Past attempts by the ruling party to push through an earlier FTA deal led to violent clashes with opposition party lawmakers involving fistfights.

Ireland facing tough annual budget to secure bailout Agence France-Presse

DUBLIN - Crisis-hit Ireland, buckling under huge debts, will this week launch its 2011 budget to slash spending and lift taxation, as part of ongoing efforts to secure a huge EU/ IMF international rescue package.

Irish Finance Minister Brian Lenihan is due on Tuesday to address the Dail, or lower house of parliament, and is expected to unveil savings of about six billion euros (eight billion dollars).

Tuesday’s statement will be the first in a series of budgets to implement a combined fiscal correction of 15 billion euros over the next four years.

Lenihan is seeking to slash Ireland’s public deficit from about 32 percent of GDP this year — a record high for the eurozone — to below the target deficit of 3.0 percent by 2015.

The former Celtic Tiger nation wants to win a huge rescue package of up to 85 billion euros (113 billion dollars) from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund to help fix its devastating debt crisis.

After Tuesday’s budget, lawmak-

ers will hold a vote over the measures — but the outcome of this is shrouded in uncertainty, analysts said.

“The recent Irish rescue package was dependent upon the passing of the budget through parliament,” said Investec economist Philip Shaw.

He added: “Current thinking is that it will pass, either via the necessary independents backing the bill, or by the main opposition party, Fine Gael, abstaining. However, there remains an air of uncertainty.”

Ireland’s governing Fianna Fail/ Green party coalition, led by Prime Minister Brian Cowen, is nursing a slender parliamentary majority of just two after losing a recent by-election.

As a condition for the huge bailout, the EU/IMF has said that Dublin needed to “rigorously implement the budget for 2011 and the fiscal consolidation measures announced afterwards”.

Dublin, savaged by bank bailouts, a property market meltdown and recession-ravaged tax revenues, unveiled a four-year strategy last month to slash a huge deficit and save 15 billion euros by 2014.

That represents a huge amount for a country with a population of almost 4.5 million people.

Unpopular Cowen, a member of the Fianna Fail party, has promised to hold a general election in the new year — as soon as parliament passes his tough budgetary measures.

His personal and party support has slumped to record lows following the EU-IMF bailout deal, a recent poll showed.

The Red C survey for The Irish Sun newspaper, the first conducted since the bailout was unveiled one week ago, shows that Cowen’s personal rating is just eight percent.

His centrist Fianna Fail party has also plummeted to 13 percent compared to the 42 percent backing it received in the 2007 general election.

Last month, the government presented a series of tax rises and cuts to public sector pay, pensions and social welfare in a bid to slash a huge deficit by 2014.

Cowen has vowed to keep Ireland’s prized low rate of corporation tax, but has pledged to overhaul income and sales levies over the next four years.

Republicans block tax cuts for only middle class Agence France-Presse

WA S H I N G TO N President Barack Obama’s Republican foes in the Senate have blocked a move to let Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans expire, rejecting in the process Democrats’ efforts to extend those breaks just for the middle class.

Obama said he was “very disappointed” at the vote.

“It makes no sense to hold tax cuts for the middle class hostage to permanent tax cuts for the wealthiest two percent of Americans,” he added.

In a rare weekend session that followed days of stormy debate, the 100-member Senate on Saturday fell short of the 60 votes necessary to approve the Democratic proposal of renewing low tax rates only for individuals earning up to 200,000 dollars and for families with 250,000 dollars or less of income.

The measure, backed by the White House, would have let rates on higher earners rise at the beginning of next year to where they were before cuts enacted by former president George W. Bush’s administration in 2001 and 2003.

Republicans blocked the legislation on a procedural vote, complaining the measure failed to extend low tax rates for wealthier Americans. They want all of the tax cuts — including those that directly benefit the top earners — to be extended instead.

They also rejected another Democratic proposal to extend the tax cuts for annual incomes of up to one million dollars. A handful of Democrats voted against the two measures.

“With so much at stake, today’s votes cannot be the end of the discussion,” Obama said in a statement.

“It is absolutely essential to our hardworking middle class families and to our economy to make sure that t h e i r t a x e s d o n ’t g o u p o n January 1.”

Democratic leaders claimed that Republicans’ plan

to alleviate taxes for the rich would cost 700 billion dollars over 10 years, as the United States stares down an already abysmal deficit.

“It’s also a bit contradictory to say you care about deficit reduction but not when it comes to tax breaks for the wealthiest people,” Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer told Republicans.

His Republican colleague Charles Grassley shot back: “The bottom line is this: Stop the tax hikes!”

The White House has already set the table for a final compromise, indicating it will accept a temporary extension of the tax cuts for the wealthiest earners.

According to The New York Times, the White House and congressional leaders are now discussing a deal to extend the reduced tax rates at all income levels, at least temporarily, perhaps for two years.

But with some Democratic lawmakers increasingly angry at what they see as sustaining former president Bush’s economic policies, the prospects of a compromise remained uncertain, the newspaper said.

On Thursday, the House of Representatives adopted an extension of the tax cuts for the middle class but the text had few chances of getting adopted by the Senate.

In a last-ditch appeal for the Democratic plan, Vice President Joe Biden said earlier that if lawmakers failed to pass the bill, the earnings of millions of middle-class families will be significantly reduced starting January 1.

“That’s the last thing we should let happen,” Biden continued in a weekly radio address he delivered instead of Obama, who visited US troops in Afghanistan on Friday.

“After a decade, in which they lost ground, middle class families can ill-afford a tax hike — and our economy can’t afford the hit it will take if middle class families have less money to spend.”

12

Monday, December 6, 2010

Entertainment

International

Australia readies for Oprah juggernaut Agence France Presse

SYDNEY - When US talkshow supremo Oprah Winfrey films her show Down Under this month, Karen Ferrazzo will celebrate by hosting a barbecue in her honour, complete with ‘Oprah’-inspired snacks.

Ferrazzo, 36, is not expecting the megastar to descend on her home in Melbourne’s leafy north for the event — but the mother of two is fully expecting to get caught up in the ‘Oprah fever’ hitting the nation.

“Because we didn’t win tickets (to Oprah’s two Sydney shows) we decided the next best thing was to celebrate and be part of the festivities the ‘Australian’ way,” Ferrazzo told AFP. “There will be Aussie wines and beers and plenty of love for Oprah on the day.” Oprah’s announcement that she would film her hugely popular show in Australia has created excitement around the country, with hordes of fans beyond the 12,000 who won tickets expected to descend on Sydney’s Opera House for the December 14 shows — the first ever shot outside the United States.

The famous sail-shaped monument will temporarily become the

‘Oprah House’, nearby streets will be blocked off and special buses brought in to transport the thousands of fans expected to try to catch a glimpse of the star. Nearby, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will reportedly be adorned with a giant ‘O’ in honour of the American host whose show is viewed by 40 million people in the US every week and airs in more than 140 countries.

Australian tourism operators are jostling for the attention of Oprah’s producers while one former national tourism minister has hailed the visit as a “godsend” to the embattled industry.

Australia paid 2.3 million US dollars to lure the 56-year-old Down Under, and Tourism Australia man-

aging director Andrew McEvoy believes the publicity will result in her fans visiting to see the showcased beaches, vineyards and Outback for themselves. McEvoy said Oprah Winfrey Show viewers were typically women aged between 25 and 54 with above average incomes.

“In the US, she rates better with people who earn more than 75-grand a year and even better better with people who earn more than 90grand,” McEvoy told the National Press Club last week.”They’re the people making travel decisions. And in our industry, they are gold.”

Oprah-talk even enlivened national parliament in Canberra last month, with the Australian Tourism Minister Martin Ferguson branding the visit a major coup.

“The tourism industry at the moment is very challenged by the strength of the Australian dollar,” he said in reference to the currency, which has hit record post-float highs this year, briefly reaching parity with the US dollar.

Polish-born French director Roman Polanski smiles on video link after receiving the European director award for “The Ghost Writer” on December 4, 2010 at the 23rd European Film Awards in Tallinn.

AFP PHOTO / RAIGO PAJULA

Roman Polanski wins best European picture award Asssociated Press Writer

TALLINN, Estonia – Roman Polanski’s “The Ghost Writer,” a story of a journalist hired to write the memoirs of a British prime minister, has won the prize for best film at the European Film Awards. Polanski, who was awarded the Silver Bear for best director at the Berlin Film Festival, also took five other key prizes at the ceremony held in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, late Saturday.

Nominated in seven categories, the movie won the best director prize, best actor for Ewan McGregor, and best screenwriter went jointly to Robert Harris and Polanski.

“You have awarded a truly European venture. This is too much ... thank you very much,” Polanski said in an acceptance speech through a Skype connection from an unknown location.

“I wish to thank — before anything — this wonderful crew I had, a truly European crew.”

It was not the first time that the Polish-born

director has received recognition from the European Film Academy. The 77-year-old Oscar winning director of movies like “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Chinatown” was honored with a lifetime achievement award in 2006 in Warsaw, Poland.

In Tallinn, French composer Alexandre Desplat was awarded for best composer while his compatriot film editor Herve de Luze won the production designer prize for Polanski’s movie, which was mainly shot in Germany.

“The Ghost Writer,” about the memoirs of a politician, played by Pierce Brosnan, is loosely based on former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Its production was a tangled tale for Polanski. As he was finishing the movie in September 2009 Polanski was taken into custody at Zurich airport by Swiss police at the request of U.S. authorities to face prosecution in a 1977 child sex case. He had to finish editing the film while in Swiss prison before being released on house arrest.

AFP PHOTO / Robyn Beck

(FILES) In a file picture taken on October 26, 2010 Oprah Winfrey accepts the Minerva Award at the Women’s Conference 2010 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California. When US talkshow supremo Oprah Winfrey films her show Down Under in December 2010, Karen Ferrazzo will celebrate by hosting a barbecue in her honour, complete with ‘Oprah’-inspired snacks.

Katy Perry supreme as ‘Divas’ salutes troops Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO – Katy Perry loves a man in a uniform. The pop superstar met dozens of service members while working on the special “VH1 Divas Salute the Troops” this weekend near San Diego. “There was a kid who I met backstage who was rather chatty, but adorable,” Perry recalled. “He was really sweet.

He was 19. He had such a good heart. He said, ‘Yes, ma’am’ to me. ‘Yes ma’am!’ I was like, ‘O.K.! Yes, sir!’”

A VH1 publicist estimated an audience of 27,000 attended the nearly three-hour taping of the concert Friday night at the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar. The show, which airs Sunday night, features a bounty of what the network has dubbed “divas” — female or female-lead musical acts, including established stars such as Heart, Paramore and Sugarland, as well as hot newcomers Grace Potter and The Nocturnals, Keri Hilson and Nicki Minaj.

But if one diva emerged supreme, it was Perry, who both opened and closed the show, and performed solo or with others on a halfdozen songs __ twice that of anyone else in the lineup. “I really had to live up to the definition of a ‘diva’ in all senses of the word,” Perry joked. “So, I had to be very difficult today, and late,” she continued, adding that she was really neither.

Perry went on to reference Beyonce’s song “Diva,” then proceeded to lose the lyric.

“Blaaah! Obviously I’m not Beyonce,” Perry laughed. “She is the true diva.”

Onstage, Perry pulled out the stops — and the costumes — with the opening number featuring Perry, Hilson and Sugarland’s Jennifer Nettles in WAC uniforms for a cover of The Andrews Sisters’ ’40s classic “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”

Perry closed the show with her current smash “Firework,” which concluded, appropriately, with a fireworks display. For that finale, Perry wore a cherry-red beaded gown with thigh-high slit that looked as if it was borrowed from Jessica Rabbit’s closet. “You know me, I love vintage,” Perry explained. “I love pinup girls. So, I tried to recreate that. I think any Army guy has a soft spot for a girl that can be painted on their plane.”

Perry, 26, and her new husband, actor Russell Brand, will be spending their first holiday season together as husband and wife.

“What do I want for Christmas? Well, I think what is appropriate now is, I hope the troops come home very safely,” she replied, then delivered a message to service members.

Katy Perry

Life Style

International

Monday, December 6, 2010

13

Nepal’s gentle giants do battle on the polo field Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO / DERRICK CEYRAC

(FILES) In a file picture taken on June 21, 2005 a wine taster spits after drinking a glass of Spanish wine at the 13th international Vinexpo wine fair in Bordeaux.

Wine buffs take ‘Golden Spitter’ test Agence France Presse

PARIS - At first sight a spittoon can be intimidating. Offputting even. But a wine taster worth his salt must set aside the fear of ridicule — and dribbling — to master the art of spitting with style. For the past four years the French Independent Winegrowers Fair, which took place last week in Paris, has staged a “Golden Spitter” test to spread best practice among wine buffs, with a zest of humour.

“To taste properly, it’s true you have to spit — even if the word is unpleasant,” said the fair’s president Xavier de Volontat.

Lined up on the hundreds of exhibitor tables, the organisers have placed little buckets “so that people don’t have to bend down to spit — at the risk of getting it all over their shirt or pants.” The biggest risk — naturally — is that “it runs down your chin,” said Volontat, himself a

winegrower from southwestern Corbieres.

Fourteen candidates line up to take the “Golden Spitter” test — all men except one, and most under the age of 40. First a general knowledge wine quiz and some smells to identify. Then the top five contenders proceed to the spittoon, where they are asked to emulate a “model spit”, demonstrated by a jury member.

“I didn’t practise. Perhaps I

should have. But I taste wine regularly,” said 21-year-old Florent Kvot from the eastern city of Metz.

The technique is simple: a slight pinch of the lips, barely parted, and a sharp movement to propel out the stream as cleanly as possible.

One of the jury members, professional wine taster Michel Bettane who compiles an annual wine guide based on thousands of samples, says the spitting champions of Jerez in the far south of Spain hold the crown in his view.

“The length and precision of the stream are just unbelievable. They aim at a spot almost two metres away — it’s truly impressive.” Bettane doesn’t hold his own spitting style in high regard. “It’s not much to look at”.

MEGHAULY AIRSTRIP, Nepal - On a remote jungle airfield in southern Nepal, the tension is rising as the finals of one of the world’s most eccentric sporting events goes into extra time at a nailbiting five-all. Within minutes, a giant elephant rumbles towards one end of the field and a cheer goes up from the crowd as a tiny white ball shoots between the goalposts, winning the game for the team from Switzerland.

This is elephant polo, a game that was dreamt up almost 30 years ago over drinks at a Swiss ski resort and now attracts adventureseekers from all over the world to Nepal, where the world championships are held every year.

The game, loosely based on horse polo, involves two teams of four players sitting astride elephants driven by mahouts, or trainers, who drive them on using oral commands and pressure from their feet.

Players carry sticks up to 96 inches (2.5 metres) long to hit the

ball towards the opposing goal, with each game comprising two 10-minute chukkas. The umpire sits on the biggest elephant, a huge, long-tusked bull, giving him a bird’s-eye view of the game.

The sport attracts players of all ages and nationalities, with this year’s world championships won by a team led by 71-year-old Scotsman James Manclark, a keen horse polo player who invented the elephant version. He came up with the idea in St Moritz over a drink with Jim Edwards, a pioneer of eco-tourism in Nepal who ran a resort called Tiger Tops deep inside the jungle that used elephants to take guests on safari.

Shortly after their encounter, Manclark sent his friend a telegram that read simply: “Arriving April 1 with long sticks. Have elephants ready.” “He didn’t know whether I was being serious or not. But I arrived, with the sticks and two small footballs, ready to play,” Manclark told AFP on the sidelines of the 29th world tournament, which ended on Saturday.

AFP PHOTO/Prakash MATHEMA

(FILES) In a file picture taken on December 3, 2010 elephant polo players from Team EFG Switzerland (In Red) and Sepoys UAE (In Blue) vie for the ball during the final of The 29th International Elephant Polo Competition at Meghauly Forest in Chitwan District, some 200Kms from Kathmandu.

Australian Outback could soon get Internet though TV aerial Agence France Presse

SYDNEY - The humble old rooftop TV aerial could bring superfast Internet to even the most remote shack in the Australian Outback and help solve the problem of how to connect isolated communities across the globe. Researchers in Australia from the government science agency CSIRO have developed new technology which could achieve connection speeds to compete with the best:

AFP PHOTO / CSIRO Science Image / Geoff Ambler

through the tangled piece of metal already attached to most roofs.

“The basic premise is if you get good high quality analogue television you should be able to get reliable highspeed communications,” project leader Ian Oppermann said.

Australia’s sheer size makes universal Internet access a huge challenge, with many millions of square kilometres stretching through deserts and mountains from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and from tropics to snow.

This undated CSIRO Science Image handout photo illustrates how the first half of CSIRO’s Ngara rural wireless broadband technology allows several users to upload material at the same time without compromising the data rate of 12 Mbps each.

In some places the population is so sparse, Oppermann says they calculate the “nanopeople” per square kilometre.

The Australian government has the National Broadband Network (NBN) in the works which aims to connect 93 percent of the country to high speed Internet via a fibre optic network.

But that still leaves seven per cent without what is becoming, increasingly, a basic human right.

The NBN promises speeds of 100 megabits per second, but the new project team reckon they can match that and connect remote Australia through the spectrum once used for their TV sets.

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Monday, December 6, 2010

Sport

International

Gunners on top as Chelsea miss out Agence France Presse

AFP PHOTO/ DOMINIQUE FAGET/ ANDER GILLENEA

A combination of two pictures taken on December 4, 2010 shows (FromL) Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo and FC Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi celebrating after scoring two goals each against respectively Valencia and Osasuna during their Spanish league football match.

Travel-sick Barca stay top, Ronaldo lifts Real gloom

LONDON - Arsenal went top of the Premier League by a point after Samir Nasri scored twice in a 2-1 victory over London rivals Fulham on Saturday.

English champions Chelsea, who would also have gone above Manchester United had they won, drew 1-1 at home to Everton after Jermaine Beckford, who began his career at Stamford Bridge, equalised four minutes from time to cancel out Didier Drogba’s first-half penalty.

United had to endure a frustrating afternoon after their match away to Blackpool was postponed because of a frozen pitch.

At the other end of the table, Wolves dropped to the bottom on goal difference following a 3-0 loss away to Blackburn Rovers, who bounced back in style after a 7-1 loss to United.

Saturday’s other top-flight matches saw 10-man Manchester City see off Bolton 10 while Birmingham drew 1-1 with Tottenham and Wigan shared the points with Stoke in a 2-2 draw. “We once again have shown fantastic quality and spirit,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports.

“Credit to Nastri as well, he got two outstanding goals. He’s just been voted French player of the year and that gives you more confidence. “Apart from that, it’s a combination of skill, intelligence and calm - that’s what you need to score in the box.”

But disappointed Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “Our performance was not good, the second half was poor.

“We didn’t play our football, just long ball.

It was difficult to understand why this hap-

pened. My team has to play better.”

However, it was a different story for Ancelotti’s fellow Italian Roberto Mancini after a victory for his Manchester City side left them just three points behind Arsenal.

“We deserved this, we had a lot of chances.

At this moment Bolton is one of the best teams in England and to win against them is very important.”

Drogba gave Chelsea the lead three minutes before half-time from the penalty spot after Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard was yellow-carded for bringing down Nicolas Anelka. But they were made to pay for not scoring again when substitute Beckford nodded in from close range after Australia international Tim Cahill had headed on Leighton Baines’s cross.

Arsenal took a 14th-minute lead when midfielder Nasri, played in by Russia’s Andrey Arshavin, sold two dummies before shooting high into the net. However, Fulham were level on the half-hour mark.

Laurent Koscielny and Sebastian Squillaci collided, allowing United States international Clint Dempsey to play in Diomansy Kamara, who curled in from 12 yards out.

But Nasri restored Arsenal’s lead 15 minutes from time with a superb second goal, beating a defender and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, once a Gunners target, before shooting home following a layoff from Robin van Persie. Carlos Tevez gave City a fourth-minute lead against Bolton in the fourth minute after latching on to Yaya Toure’s through ball.

But the hosts had to play the last 11 minutes at Eastlands with 10 men after Aleksandar Kolarov was sent-off for a second yellow card.

Agence France Presse

MADRID - Barcelona shrugged off a hastily-arranged five-hour train and coach journey to clinch a 3-0 win at Osasuna on Saturday to stay top of the Spanish first division, two points clear of Real Madrid who beat 10-man Valencia 2-0.

Lionel Messi scored a second-half brace with his 14th and 15th league goals of the season after creating the 25th minute opener for Pedro Rodriguez as Barcelona built on Monday’s 5-0 Clasico drubbing of Real by notching their eighth consecutive league win.

Real bounced back from that mauling, their first defeat under Jose Mourinho, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring his 15th and 16th goals of the season on 72 and 86 minutes as Madrid made it a perfect seven home wins in the league.

Valencia had their moments but midfielder David Albelda was sent off after 64 minutes for a second booking and Ronaldo made them pay.

Barcelona were buoyant after their Real rout five days ago but saw their Osasuna preparations turn into a nightmare when the Spanish Football Federation reversed their initial decision to postpone the match to Sunday after an air traffic controllers strike, which had paralysed the country, prevented Barca from flying. That forced the Catalan giants to undertake a five-hour overland journey that saw kick-off delayed by 50 minutes.

“We don’t mind travelling. Last season we did 14 hours on a coach to play a Champions League match because UEFA said they wouldn’t postpone the match. However, the Spanish federation told us that if our flight didn’t go they would postpone the (Osasuna) match,” said Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola.

“To play against Osasuna, a team that were unbeaten in 12 games, we wanted to compete as best as we could and coming in on one day was

not the best way to do that.” Guardiola fielded the same starting XI that crushed Real 5-0 in Monday night’s Clasico and the visitors turned in a polished display despite the difficult circumstances.

With 25 minutes gone the goal arrived with Messi feeding a pin-point pass to World Cup winner Pedro who arrived on cue to dispatch a fine finish into the corner.

Barcelona were not as slick in the second half but got the second goal they wanted on 64 minutes when Villa fed Messi who sprinted away from his marker before sliding in a neat finish. Eight minutes from time Messi was fouled in the penalty area and the Argentine picked himself up to convert the spot-kick for his 15th goal of the season.

Ronaldo stays one goal ahead of Messi in the goalscoring charts after scoring both goals in the victory over Valencia. Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain was out injured and Mourinho opted for Ronaldo, who shrugged off an ankle injury, as a lone striker leaving French forward Karim Benzema on the substitutes bench.

Ronaldo hit the post on the stroke of half-time and went close in the second half but got his reward on 72 minutes slotting in the opener with Valencia reeling from the dismissal of Albelda eight minutes earlier for a second booking.

Portuguese star Ronaldo scored a super second with several step overs and a thumping drive into the corner on 86 minutes to wrap up the game. In other matches, Atletico Madrid’s poor form continued with a 2-0 loss at Levante.

AP Photo/Akira Suemori

Arsenal’s Samir Nasri, right, and Fulham’s Matthew Briggs vie for the ball during their English Premier League soccer match at the Emirates stadium in London, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010.

Sport

International

Monday, December 6, 2010

15

Love, Wolves dismantle reeling Cavaliers, 129-95 Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS – It was hard to imagine the Cleveland Cavaliers sinking much lower than they did Thursday night, when LeBron James came into his old home and delivered a cold-blooded performance that tore apart the team and the town. A 36-point loss to the lowly Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night? That just might qualify.

If LeBron didn’t put the Cavs at rock bottom, Kevin Love and the Wolves just did. Love had 28 points and 19 rebounds and the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a six-game losing streak with a 129-95 victory over Cleveland on Saturday night, two nights after the Cavs were thrashed by James.

Like LeBron in his homecoming Thursday night, Love did all his damage in three quarters and the Timberwolves hit a franchise-record 18 3-pointers to blow out the Cavaliers despite missing leading scorer Michael Beasley. Antawn Jamison had 17 points and Ramon Sessions added 18 for the Cavs, who had no energy or drive against a team that was playing on the second night of a back-to-back and entered the game

tied for the fewest wins in the NBA. “I think it’s time to look in the mirror and just say we’re playing bad basketball,” Jamison said. “It’s not who we’re playing, it’s us. And it’s going to get out of hand if we don’t find a way to solve the problem and start playing the right way.”

Wolves rookie Wes Johnson scored a career-high 20 points and Wayne Ellington added 16 for Minnesota, which shot 59 percent from the field and 69 percent (18 for 26) from 3-point range. “Those kinds of numbers are crazy numbers,” coach Kurt Rambis said.

Cleveland starting forwards J.J. Hickson and Joey Graham stayed back at the team hotel because of illness, and the Wolves devoured the Cavs on the glass all night long. The Cavs shot 38.6 percent and were outrebounded 46-29 by the Timberwolves (5-15), who led by 31 points after three quarters. “Effort, execution, determination, pride, heart, everything,” Cavs coach Byron Scott said in listing what was wrong.

The Cavs have lost their last three games by a combined 81 points, including a 118-90 destruction at the hands of their former King on Thursday night in Cleveland.

AFP PHOTO / ANDREJ ISAKOVIC

France’s Arnaud Clement (L) and France’s Micheal Llodra jubilate after winning against Serbia’s Victor Troicki and Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic during the doubles Davis Cup tennis match finals between Serbia and France, at Belgrade Arena on December 4 , 2010. France won 6/3,7/6,6/4,6/4.

Comeback kings Clement, Llodra put France in charge Agence France Presse

BELGRADE - Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra came back from two sets down to stun Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki 3-6, 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-4 and give France a 2-1 lead over Serbia in the Davis Cup final on Saturday.

AP Photo/Paul Battaglia

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Antawn Jamison, right, shoots over Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love (42) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, in Minneapolis. Jamison had 17 points on the night as Minnesota won 129-95.

Serbia, desperate to win a first title, were in cruise control before the veteran French pair battled back, chipping away at their rivals’ confidence and the patience of a demanding home crowd to clinch a dramatic 4hr 33min battle at the Belgrade Arena.

“If they can win a match like that, they can win any match in the Davis Cup,” said France captain Guy Forget. Nine-time champions France had looked to be down and out when they were down 3-4, 15-40 in the fourth set, with Clement furious that a fan had shouted out while he was in his service action.

But he was inspired after that testing moment and the Serbian pair wilted, with their last opportunity coming when they had two break points in the eighth game of the decider that they were unable to convert.

The final will be decided in the singles on Sunday when Gael

Monfils takes on world number three Novak Djokovic, while the final rubber is due to see Gilles Simon against Janko Tipsarevic.

With honours even after Friday’s opening singles, the doubles clash took on added importance, although Serb coach Bogdan Obradovic resisted the temptation of using top player Djokovic.

Clement and Llodra, who won the Wimbledon doubles title in 2007, started as slight favourites but they immediately had their backs to the wall as Clement dropped serve in the fourth game, opening with a double fault and punching a volley long on break point.

Clement and Llodra had a point to break back at 3-5 down but a huge serve from Zimonjic pinned them back and two points later another big serve gave the Serbs the opening set 6-3. The French picked up their game going into the second set but failed to convert two break points at 3-2 ahead

on the Zimonjic serve before having to stave off two break points themselves five games later on Llodra’s serve.

Serbia drew level at 5-5 and then profited from a sloppy service game from Clement, who gifted the break with a weak double fault.

Troicki served to put Serbia two sets up but failed to do so and there was uproar when he ran over to complain to the referee that a French fan had shouted during play in an effort to distract him.

That incensed the home crowd, who attempted to retaliate when Llodra was serving at the start of the tie-break.

Whether that worked or not was hard to tell, but the Serbs comfortably took the breaker 7-3 to go ahead two sets to love. France bounced back in the third set thanks to a break in the second game as they launched their memorable comeback.

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

Monday, December 6, 2010

Sport

Soto keeps lightweight crown with narrow decision Agence France Presse ANAHEIM, California - Humberto Soto outlasted Mexican compatriot Urbano Antillon to win a 12-round unanimous decision on Saturday and keep his World Boxing Council lightweight crown with a 10th victory in a row. Judges awarded Soto the triumph by two scores of 114-113 and a third of 115-112. Soto improved to 54-7 with two drawn and 7-1 in world title bouts while Antillon fell to 28-2 by losing his first world title fight.

“It was a great fight. Both of us gave our hearts out,” Soto said. “I knew he was coming at me all night.

I knew he was going to take everything I had. That’s why I had to keep working.”

Antillon, 28, had a point taken in the fifth round for a low blow or he might have earned a draw. “I don’t feel defeated at all,” Antillon said. “I gave my all.” Former world super featherweight champion Soto, 30, made his third successful defense of a title he claimed last March with a unanimous decision over US southpaw David Diaz.

Both fighters began at a torrid pace, with Antillon instigating a head butt before locking Soto’s left arm and hurling him to the canvas two minutes into the fight. Thirty

seconds later, Antillon was warned for a low blow.

But Soto answered with right uppercuts late in round one and early in the second round, serving notice he would not be intimidated even as Antillon came inside repeatedly, exchanging flurries to try to get the champion off-balance. Soto broke the pattern late in the fourth round, unleashing a torrent of straight punches.

Antillon was given a second warning for low blows in the fourth and referee Ray Corona took a point from him in the fifth for another low blow.

An accidental head butt was called in the sixth but Antillon responded to suffering a cut on his right eyelid by starting to back up Soto with repeated left hooks and body shots as well as a hammering right hand.

Soto answered in the seventh with a punishing response, denying the challenger any momentum by landing 25 punches in the final minute as the fight settled into a toeto-toe slugfest.

“Sometimes you just have to fight,” Soto said. “The corner told me just go fight back and that’s what I did.” Antillon threw Soto down again 30 seconds into the 10th round and continued to press the attack inside, but Soto staggered the challenger in the final seconds of the 10th with a series of left hooks and uppercuts that took a toll.

Each fighter appeared exhausted and in jeopardy in the 11th, but both began the final round with a hug, then exchanged fatigued flurries to the final bell.

Sordo on verge of Mini deal IBP/ist

CITROEN refugee Dani Sordo is expected to sign for Mini’s World Rally Championship squad before the end of the year, this week’s AUTOSPORT magazine reveals.

Prodrive confirmed that the Spaniard had taken part in a two-day test with the Mini Countryman WRC in Sardinia this week, but the company’s managing director Richard Taylor denied that any deal had been done.

However, AUTOSPORT understands that Sordo will be confirmed imminently to drive alongside Kris Meeke for 2011.

Sordo, who tested for one day on asphalt and one on gravel, said: “I tested the car and that’s all for the

moment. The car felt good, nice; it’s not bad for the start.

“I remember the [Citroen] DS3 was not at the top when I first started. There is some work needed in every area, but it’s early and there is time.

“The Prodrive team is very motivated and David [Lapworth, Prodrive’s technical director] has a lot of experience. I need to understand the car more, but for the start, it’s good.”

IBP/ist

Dani Sordo

Humberto Soto