After initially announcing that three different areas in South Bali would be closed to all vehicular traffic on New Years Eve (See: Leave Your Car at Home this New Year’s Eve),  the Bali police have relented and decided that, as in years past, a “car free zone” will apply only  on Jalan Legian and Jalan Pantai Kuta in the Kuta Beach area of Bali.

Those two busy roads in Kuta will be closed to all traffic from 4:00 pm on Monday, December 31, 2012 and reopen to traffic on the morning of January 1, 2013.

As reported by Kompas.com, cars with passengers wishing to access the center of Kuta will be diverted to the “Central Parkir” area on Jalan Iman Bonjol and other satellite parking areaz on the periphery of Kuta. From these parking areas, New Years revelers will then have to make their way to Kuta on foot.

After reconsidering the matter, police have decided not to introduce “car free area” in Nusa Dua and Renon, limiting the “car free” zone to Kuta alone.
Police have also set up supplemental security posts at 73 locations in South Bali that will be staffed by 212 police officers.

The Jakarta Post reports Gary Grimmer, CEO of Gaining Edge – a leading business event consultant to the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy, as saying that Indonesia must immediately set up a national convention and exhibition bureau.

Grimmer says the proposed national convention bureau is needed to coordinate the bidding process to secure a larger share of the international convention market.

Grimmer added: “We need to be working more closely together as an industry. We may also do some product development work, and we need to get out to the market with a strong brand. The single thing that we should do first is get a well-funded national convention and exhibition bureau.”

Grimmer’s comments were made in a focus group discussion held in Jakarta on developing a strategy for securing a lager share of the international meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition market (MICE).

He also pointed out how Indonesia is at a competitive disadvantage with other destinations in Southeast Asia, such as Thailand and Malaysia, that have well-established convention bureaus.

Explaining what is needed, Grimmer said: “Essentially, setting up a national bureau is a year-long process and there is a probably another year or two to develop the programs. In 2014, I think, Indonesia is still at a point when it is trying to develop its programs.”

Grimmer’s road map was endorsed by the Ministry’s MICE director, Rizki Handayani, who sees a national convention and exhibition bureau as urgent. 
“We need to have this kind of organization immediately otherwise we will not see growth in the future. We realize that it is not going to be an easy job because not many people understand the importance of MICE and its huge impact on the economy,” Rizki said. 


The national government wants to increase awareness of the MICE sector among autonomous tourism offices across the nation. The government has identified 16 destination suitable for a fast-track development of the MICE markets that include: Jakarta, Bali, Batam, Bintan, Medan, Padang, Palembang, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, Lombok, Balikpapan, Makassar and Manado.


Indonesia has put forth the name of its former Trade Minister currently serving as the Minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy, Mari Elka Pangestu, to assume the leadership of the World Trade Organization.

That post is up for grabs with the term expiration of Pascal Lamy in August 2013.

Pangestu has studied in Australia and hold a doctorate in international trade from the University of California.

Countries have until Monday, December 31, 2012 to place names for consideration as the next Director General of the WTO. The final announcement will be made on May 31, 2013 when the General Council of the WTO announces its selection.

As of Friday, December 28, 2012, 12 names have been placed into contention. In addition to Pangestu, eight other candidates have been put forth from Brazil, South Korean, Costa Rica, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico and New Zealand.

It is widely believed that the next WTO Director General will not be from Europe or the United States.

Three of the current nine candidates are women.

Pangestu is a well-respected technocrat and a voice for reform in the Indonesia cabinet. Ethnically Chinese, Pangestu served as Indonesia’s Trade Ministers for seven years before being shifted to the tourism post in October 2011.

On trade matters, Pangestu is seen as a global strategist who has supported the Doha Round of global trade talks over regional trade deals, such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership favored by the U.S.A.. She has been an outspoken in urging the U.S.A. to take a more global perspective in trade and grant more access to its agricultural markets.

At home, while serving as Indonesian Trade Minister, she clashed with other members of President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono’s cabinet in opposing their desire for intense protection of domestic markets.

Pangestu’s independent voice may play in her favor for the WTO appointment. Indonesia is widely criticized internationally for its trade inhibiting import-licensing rules.

Indonesia has offered to host a majort trade minster conference of the WTO to take place in Bali in December 2013.

It is expected that additional names will be put forth for the WTO’s top job before the deadline date of December 31, 2012.

Tens of thousands of domestic tourists are descending on Bali over the current Christmas and New Years holiday.

From three days prior to Christmas until December 25th domestic arrivals at Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport totaled 28,585. On the third day prior to Christmas, 15,233 domestic tourists landed in Bali compared to 11,882 on the same day in 2011.

According to Bisnis.com, the number of airplanes landing on the third day before Christmas also increased by 11% over the previous year totaling 107 flights.

On Christmas day the number of flights totaled 106 carrying 13,282 passengers, an increase of 25% over 2011.

Until January 5, 2013 Bali will see a total of 76 additional flights landing during the holiday period.

The growing strength of Indonesia’s domestic market is demonstrated by the 192% increase in additional flights over the Christmas-New Year's period 2012-2013 as compared to the same holiday period last year.
 

After a pause of four years, Indonesia has announced plans to resume execution by putting 10 convicted felons before the firing squads in 2013.

The Jakarta Globe reports that 113 people were sentenced to death in 2012 and are now undergoing a mandatory appeal and review process that once exhausted will send a new crop of prisoners to linger on death row.

The 2012 crop of 113 people sentenced to death is comprised of 60 murderers, 51 narcotics violators and 2 terrorists.

The announcement to resume State-sanctioned killings comes at a time when Indonesia appears to be losing its appetite for the death sentence. Even President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has softened his stance on the use of the ultimate punishment available to the State, tempered, in part, by Indonesia’s appeals to foreign governments to reprieve Indonesians facsing death sentences overseas.

Yudhoyono, breaking a personal pledge to show no mercy to narcotic violators, commuted the death sentence of Marika Franola to life imprisonment in 2012. In making that decision, the President commented, 

“We must not wrongly punish people.”

Following that commutation, Franola was caught by prison authorities operating a drug ring from behind prison walls, causing the President's decision of mercy to suffer public ridicule.

Plans by the Attorney General to execute prisoners in 2012 were delayed by bureaucratic complications. But, Deputy Attorney General for General Crimes, Mahfud Mannan, told the press, “We’re targeting to execute 10 people next year.”

No one knows who are the 10 people slated to be executed in 2013, but various press reports say the two Australians members of the "Bali Nine" now facing the death penalty at Bali’s Kerobokan prison are not among those to be shot in 2013.

Related Article

[A Queue Most Moribund]

The National News Agency Antara reports that a business consortium, including multi-national companies, is planning to build a Formula 1 (F1) racecourse on a 100-hectare site in the southern regency of Badung.

Anthony Sarwono, a property investor and automotive enthusiast in Denpasar, said: “The concept has been in the wind for a long time. The circuit is planned to be built near the port of Benoa as part of a resort and marina complex.”

The F1 circuit is planned on reclaimed land on Serangan Island.

The press says that plan for the racecourse is still in the licensing and permit stage before the provincial government.

If approved, the first phase of the project will focus on the development of the resort and marina, with the F1 circuit to follow in a future phase of construction.

Sarwono told the press that Bali represents an excellent choice for the construction of an F1 circuit with Indonesian largely ignored by the F1 sport in the past.

“After Australia the F1 circuit moves to Sepang, Malaysia. Indonesia is just passed over. While, in fact, the world’s attention is focused on Asia because Europe no longer allows tobacco products as the main sponsor of international sporting events,” explained Sarwono.

Meanwhile, Nyoman Seniweca, a candidate to become chairman of the Indonesian Automotive Association (IMI), added that an international standard automotive sport facility in Bali would support the Island’s tourism industry, pointing to the success of the F1 event held each year in the republic of Singapore.

Nyoman admitted, however, whether or not a racecourse can be established in Bali was a matter entirely up to the desire and aspirations of the provincial government.

But, What About the Law?

An anti-smoking law passed for Bali in 2012 is in direct opposition to establish an F1 circuit supported by cigarette advertising. That law specifically prohibits advertising of cigarettes in public places with fines of Rp 50 million (US$5,100) and prison sentences of up to 6 months for those found in violation of the law.

Related Articles

[Ignorance of the Law or a Smoke Screen?]

[Smokers Days are Numbered in Bali]
 
[Smoke Gets in Your Eyes]

[Clearing the Air in Bali]
 

Citilink, the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia, will be ordering an initial 25 ATR 72-600s with an option on an additional 25 aircraft as part of a deal with the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer that will supply aircraft, foreign pilots and maintenance technicians.

The ATR 72 is a twin-engine turboprop airplane suitable for short-haul regional airliner with seating for 78 passengers.

Arif Wibowo, CEO of Citilink, told Aviationweek.com that the initial order of 25 ATR 72-600s would begin arriving in Indonesian in September 2013.

In 2013 a total of 5 aircraft will be delivered, with the remaining 20 aircraft coming on line through 2015.

Citilink has an option on additional 25 aircraft to be delivered between 2015 and 2017.

The decision by Citilink ends speculation that the Indonesian carrier might opt to purchase Bombardier Q400 to meet its need for short-haul aircraft.

As part of the deal Citilink will obtain foreign pilots provided by ATR for an initial 2-3 years of operation to provide time for the recruitment and training of local pilots.

The ATR 72-600s will operate from five hubs in Indonesia - Balikpapan, Batam, Jakarta, Lombok and Surabaya – serving 45 routes.

The Denpasar, Bali police have arrested a 35-year-old Japanese tourist, Watanabe Shinichi, during a visit to a local nightspot.

During a raid on Sunday, December 23, 2012 at six night spots in Bali that included the Boshe Night Club where Shinichi was discovered in a private VIP room with 0.72 gram of marijuana in his handbag.

As reported by Seputarbali.com, the Japanese was immediately arrested and placed into custody at police headquarters where he will be formally charged with drug possession.

The Meeting, Incentive, Conference and Exhibition (MICE) sector increased in Bali in 2012, according to data collated by the Indonesian Conference and Convention Association (INCCA).

As reported by Bisnis Bali, Ida Bagus Surakusuma, the chairman of INCCA Bali, said corporate meetings held in Bali in 2012 increased around 30% over 2011. INCCA also estimates incentive movements were up 10% in 2012 while conventions increased 7%.

Surakusuma (Lolec) said the 30% increase in corporate meeting have emanated from Indonesian companies and businesses based in the Asia-Pacific region, such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

The INCAA chairman also credited the important role played increased flight frequencies to improving MICE numbers in Bali. The advent of more flights and low cost airline connections have helps materialize the growing MICE market for Bali.

In fact, the relatively lower 10% rate of growth in the incentive market is due, according to Lolec, to the relatively high cost of direct flights to Bali from Europe the U.S.A. and the longer travel-time from these locales, rumors of terrorism and the lingering economic crisis in Europe.

He credited the 7% increase in the conference and convention market to the government’s active support of that sector.

Related Links

[Hot off the Press: The Bali MICE Guide]
 

Indonesian domestic travelers continue to dominate Bali arrivals over the Christmas and New Years Holidays 2012-2013 [See: Domestic Tourism Takes Flight]. 

Bisnis.com reports that a number of four-star hotels in Kuta were reporting occupancies of 100% over the holiday period, with the majority of guests constituted by domestic travelers.

The marketing director of Kuta Station Hotel, Candy Juliani, said, “The occupancy of the Kuta Station Hotel reached 100% with domestic tourists constituting 70% of the rooms sold.”

Meanwhile the Grand Istana Rama Hotel reports occupancy of 87% over the holiday period, increasing to 95% for the period December 27 until January 5.

Dinna Indah, marketing communications coordinator at the Grand Istana Rama, said that her hotel has an even share of domestic and international guests.

Wangi Duarma Putri, sales coordinator at the Hard Rock Hotel Bali, reported occupancy of 90% over the Christmas and New Years period, with 100% occupancy on both Christmas and New Years eves. Adding, domestic tourists dominate guests at the popular theme hotel.

The Harris Sunset Road Hotel reported slightly lower occupancy levels, recording 85% over Christmas day, a figure expected to increase to 95% on New Years eve.

The public relations manager of the Harris Sunset Road Hotel, Adinda Ashrinintya said peak occupancy was expected from December 29 unto; January 1st.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Grand Bali Beach Hotel in Sanur Beach was only projecting occupancy of 35% during the holiday period, according to Ayu Dewi Apriyanti, public relations manager of the hotel.
 

The number of visitors to West Bali’s iconic Tanah Lot Temple for the period January – November 2012 totaled 2.4 million people.

Bisnis.com quotes Ketut Yoya Adnyana, the manager of the Tanah Lot Temple complex,who  said that the total visitors for the first 11 months of 2011 reached 2.3 million

The current visitor numbers exceed a target of 1.75 million set by the complex manager. Explained Adnyanya, “We purposely set the target low in anticipation of a negative reaction to the increase in admission ticket price.”

Operators now expect to end the year with 2.5 million visitors to the picturesque ancient temple set on a rock a short distance from Bali’s coastline.
 
Related Article

[A Temple Most High]

The Ministry of Tourism and the Creative Economy reports that foreign tourist visitors to Indonesia through the end of November 2012 have reached 7.227 million, against a target for the year of 8 million.

The State News Agency Antara quotes the deputy minister of Tourism and the Creative Economy, Sapta Nirwandar, saying, “Until this point we have almost achieved 8 million foreign tourists, an increase of 5% over last year.”

Nirwandar sees no impediments to Indonesia achieving its 8 million targeted foreign visitors by December 31, 2012. That number, when achieved, will represent a new record number of visitors for Indonesia, earning an estimated $9 billion in foreign exchange for the country.

Sapta also pointed out that Indonesia has managed to achieve growth rates in tourism that surpass the international average rate of growth of 4%. He continued, saying that at the outset of 2012, many naysayers expressed misgivings that Indonesia would achieve 8 million visitors due to the continuing worldwide economic crisis.

In calculating the size of the Indonesian tourism economy, the Ministry estimates that 245 domestic tourist trips were also taken in 2012.

Proud of tourism’s achievements, Sapta praised tourism’s ability to create employment, generate national and regional tax revenue and encourages in new investment.

The Ministry estimates that indirect taxes from the tourism sector in 2012 earned Rp. 11.57 trillion (US$1.18 billion) and new investment in the tourism sector increased 1.47% over last year when investments totaled Rp. 120 trillion (US$12.2 billion).

Sapta projects that by 2024 Indonesia will welcome 20 million foreign tourists annually earning foreign exchange of US$20 billion for the nation.
 

Lured in by positive reports on Trip Advisor, boasts of the “Best Mexican Food in Bali,” and remarkably low prices - we recently visited the Taco Beach Mexican Grill located on Jalan Kunti No. 6, Seminyak, Bali.

in a single-story shop, the most glaring deficiency at Taco Beach Mexican Grill is space. Cognizant of this fact, the owner confided that he is exploring options to expand his restaurant’s size. Until more space is added, however, reservations for evenings or weekends are highly recommended.

Run by a husband and wife team, the restaurant offers a sraightforward range of Mexican specialties – each conforming to its management’s philosophy of using only the finest and freshest ingredients authentically presented to satisfy even the fussiest aficionado of Mexican food.

A commitment to slow food and authenticity means you’ll find no bottled salsa here. All sauces and salsas are, in fact, made from scratch. In this same tradition, they also grind their own corn used in the preparation of cornbread, pancakes, tamales and tortillas.

Fanatical about doing it right and doing it themselves, the folks at Taco Beach Mexican Griill also culture their own yoghurt and sour cream, produce some of the cheeses used in their recipes, churn their own butter and smoke the chipotle chilies used in their signature sauces.

The smokehouse for smoking chilies is also used in smoking fish, pork and chicken for tacos, burritos and salads.

Although adamant about authenticity, when a rare digressions from mainstream Mexican cusine occurs the results can be amazing. A case in point: Taco Beach’s signature “Babi Guling Carnitas Taco.” Drawing its inspiration from Bali’s famous suckling pig recipe – roasted pork, Balinese base sauce, avocado, sour cream and a corn tortilla combine is a dish that would have caused famed Bali anthropoligists Rose and Miguel Covarrubias to relocate to Seminyak from their Ubud home of an earlier era.

Appetizers start from Rp. 12,000 (US$1.25) for an Atomic Chile Popper – a battered and breaded roasted chili stuffed with mozzarella and delicately deep-fried.

A huge bowl of nachos served with an entire range of homemade sauces goes for just Rp. 35,000 (US$3.60). There’s a whole rage of tacos – using beef, prawns, fish, chicken - and even a tenderloin steak variation on that dish.

Not to be missed on a first or susequent visit are the chicken mole negro taco – celebrating the Mexican ability to combine sweet, spicy and chocolate in a main course dish

Taco Beach’s range of burritos also spoils diners for choice. Worthy of note is their 7-layer breakfast burrito featuring scrambled eggs, refried beans, Spanish rice, sour cream, bacon, pico de gallo and hot sauce. There’s even a vegetarian burrito option.

Main courses range from Rp. 25,000 (US$2.50) to Rp. 55,000 (US$5.70).

Neglect those areas "south of the border" and make room for dessert, which could be a slice of Margarita-lime cheese cake (Rp. 15,000) or deep fried apple pie taquito (Rp. 15,000).

Open daily from 12:00 noon until 10:00 pm.

Taco Beach Mexican Grill – Not to be missed!

Tell them Senor Jack sent you!


Taco Beach Mexican Grill
Jalan Kunti #6
Seminyak
Telephone ++62-(0)361-854 6262

[Email] 

[Taco Beach Mexican Grill] 

A yearlong effort by Bali’s main general hospital – Rumah Sakit Sanglah to obtain certification from Joint Commission International (JCI) have yet to meet with success.

Internationally recognized since 1994, JCI is represented in more than 90 countries providing health care organizations, governments, and international advocates rigorous standards of care to achieve peak performance. JCI provide international accreditation, education and advisory services.

The JCI review covers all clinical and managerial functions of acute care hospitals.

A team from JCI has just concluded a week survey of Sanglah General Hospital concluding that Bali main hospital still falls sort in areas that preclude full accreditation.

As reported by Radar Bali, the chief director of Sanglah General Hospital, dr. Wayan Sutarga admitted his hospital's failure to meet JCI standards, including the quality of the building, the hospitals ability to control infection and the fit out of bathroom facilities. JCI also requires that bathtubs in the hospital must be replaced with showers.

According to Dr. Sutarga, of the 1,218 separate standards of service from JCI, only 36 remain unfulfilled by Sanglah General Hospital. Of the remaining 36 unmet standards,  24 criteria are non-medical in nature with the remaining 12 of a medical nature. In the words of Dr. Sutarga, “it can be said that the Sanglah General Hospital has met the predicate of ‘almost excellent.’"

A repeat visit by JCI will be carried out in three month’s time to determine if all the necessary conditions are in place and have been met to allow accreditation at that time.

 

The newly installed chief of police for Bali, Inspector General Arif Wachyunadi, is committed to continue the programs and policies of his predecessor, General Budi Gunawan, in order to maintain law and order on the island.

Quoted by the National News Agency Antara, General Wachyunadi said” “The police have a working plan already in place. The essence is that we will continue to build on what has been established in the past.”

Inspector General Arif Wachyunadi was formally installed as Bali’s chief of police at a ceremony on December 26, 2012.

Wachyunadi’s last posting was as the expert staff of the National Chief of Police in Jakarta.

The new chief of police told the press that he would monitor the criminality index in Bali as a priority during his assignment in Bali.

Arif Wachyunadi also said that a priority of tenure as Bali top cop will be the prevention of terrorism.

Three Automatic Teller Machines (ATM) operated by Bank BCA, Bank Permata and Bank Danamon located at the Tiara Gatsu Supermarket in Dalung, North Kuta have been robbed by thieves of approximately US$88,340.

The theft, in which robbers usd an electrical arc welding machines to gain access to the machines, occurred at around midnight on Friday, December 29, 2012.

As reported by Kompas.com, all three ATM machines suffered heavy damage when the thieves used an electrical arc-welding machine to cut into the machines.

Police said the security guards at the Supermarket were asleep at the time of the theft.

Police are considering the professionals were involved in the theft and are interviewing 5 witnesses from the security team and management of the supermarket.

A subsequent report in The Bali Post places preliminary estimates on the amount stolen as Rp. 365,900,000 (US$37,340) from the Bank Danamon ATM; approximately Rp. 300,000,000 (US$30,600) from the Bank BCA ATM; around Rp. 200,000,000 (US$20,400) from the Bank Permata ATM.
 

Reacting to reports published by The Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA) reveaking the salary levels among various provincial and regional heads in Indonesia, the spokesman of the provincial government of Bali has issued a clarification on the actual salary paid to Bali’s governor and deputy governor, insisting they were not paid “hundreds” of million in salaries each month.

As reported by NusaBali, the FITRA report said that the regent and vice regents of Badung in Bali were among Indonesia’s best-paid regional officials, receiving a monthly salary of Rp. 129,596,905 (US$13,225) and Rp.122,876,905 (US$12,540) per month, respectively.

According to the National News Agency Antara, the Fitra survey of wages also said the monthly salary of Bali’s governor is Rp. 176,660,994 (US$18,025) and the Deputy-governor is Rp. 163,220,994 (US$16,655).

Wishing to correct the information supplied in the FITRA report,  a formal announcement from the office of the Governor of Bali on Monday, December 17, 2012, clarified the salaries paid to Bali’s governor Made Mangku Pastika and his deputy-governor Anak Agung Ngurah Puspayoga.

In making that announcement, Ketut Teneng, head of the public relations Bureau of the governor’s office, said, “We are announcing the wage levels of the governor and deputy-governor because their official salaries is not in the hundreds of millions.

The data released by Teneng to the press stated that the governor’s salary for December 2012 was in the gross amount of Rp. 9,602,908 (US$980) while the gross salary of the deputy governor totaled Rp. 7,592,593 (US$775).

The Governor’s Salary

The governor’s gross salary of Rp. 9,602,908 (US$980) is comprised of:

• Based salary and family allowance of Rp. 3,360,000
• Position and structural allowance of Rp. 5,400,000
• Rice allowance Rp. 174,150
• Payroll tax Rp. 601,508
• Miscellaneous Rp. 67,250

The governor’s salary is charged with a number of deductions, such as taxes, rice charges and employee contributions that leave a total of Rp. 8,598,200 (US$877.36) as take home pay.

The Deputy Governor’s Salary

The deputy-governor’s salary of Rp. 7,592,593 (US$775) is comprised of:

•  Based salary and family allowance of Rp. 2,688,000
• Position and structural allowance of Rp. 4,320,000
• Rice allowance Rp. 174,150
• Payroll tax Rp. 356,633
• Miscekkabeous Rp. 53,810

After various deductions the take home pay of the deputy governor is Rp. 6,913,400 (US$705).
 

The image of the police in Bali suffered another blow with the arrest of a member of the Water Police on Thursday night, December 27, 2012. Angry local citizens on Pandawa Beach, South Kuta, apprehended Mario Pareira who they suspect was involved in the smuggling of 22 protected green turtles into Bali.

The turtles have been removed to the Bali Conservation Center (BKSDA) while the policeman is now at  headquarters undergoing questioning.

A member of the Kutuh Village association, Wayan Mardina, precipitated the arrest. Mardina was checking a local CCTV camera when he saw a man on a motorbike traveling up and down the beach. When approached by the villager, the man on the motorbike identified himself as a member of the Water Police. Moreover, Mario Pareira told Mardina that he was investigating a case of turtle smuggling.

Suspicious of the explanation given by the officer, Mardina escorted the policeman back to meet head of the Kutuh village, Nyoman Mesir, and a local community enforcement officer.

After questioning, Pareira was eventually allowed to go on his way.

Wayan Mardiana, however, remained unsatisfied with the story offered by the policeman and continued to keep the stretch of beach under surveillance. As a result, he discovered 22 green turtles hidden on the eastern corner of the beach. Local villagers were shocked at the discovery and moved the turtles to the village hall for safekeeping.

Several hours later, Mario Pareira returned to the scene with an Isuzu Van driven by a freelance driver. Pursued by angry villagers, he tried to flee but the gate to the beach had been closed by members of the village security team (pacalang).

After his detention by local citizens, Pariera was handed to the local police precinct that later sent the man to police headquarters in Denpasar.

Villagers report that earlier in the day they saw two small boats landed at Pandawa Beach and off-load the turtles. Suspicions are now focused on Pariera, who is believed to have smuggled the turtles.
 

Supporters of Anand Krishna say that the National Committee on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) have sent a letter to the chairman of the Indonesian Supreme Court, the Attorney General's Office and Police Headquarters requesting that any plans to arrest the spiritual and secular leader be indefinitely delayed.

As reported by Nusa Bali, the letter from Komnas HAM urged the Supreme Court and the Attorney General to delay the execution of the order calling for Krishna’s arrest to begin serving a 2.5 year sentence for sexual molestation. The delay requested by Komnas HAM is to allow Krishna the opportunity to demonstrate to the court the many legal flaws in the Supreme Court decision that overruled his complete exoneration by the lower courts.

Prashant Gangtani, the Son of Krishna, said in a press release: “We wish to express our appreciation to the Komnas HAM for their written recommendation. This letter confirms the indications of human rights violations against Anand Krishna. We salute Komnas HAM for their courage to spotlight the irregularities and legal flaws during the course of the trial and the resulting legal decisions – clearly show violations of the law and human rights.”

The Jakarta High Court, in a decision later appealed by prosecutors who obtained a 2.5-year sentence from the Supreme Court, found Krishna innocent. The innocent verdict, according to Krishna’s defenders, was final under Indonesian law and, as a metter of law, not subject to further judicial review.

Following a pattern of anomalies and legal inconsistencies that have permeated the course of Krishna’s prolonged trial, the written appeal filed with the Supreme Court by public prosecutor Martha Berliana contained 10 pages of “cut-and-paste”  erroneous legal citations dealing with copyright law, completely non-germane to the case against Krishna. In filing her appeal of Krishna's innocent verdict, Berliana also manipulated the court record of evidence, changing the identity of expert witness statements.

These mistakes, however, remained undiscovered by the Supreme Court judges who reviewed the case and ruled in favor of Beliana's desire to overturn the innocent verdict and order the jailing of Krishna.

In a further twist, Agung Yamanie, the presiding Supreme Court Judge who ruled against Krishna, has become the first  High Court judge to be dishonorably fired from his post after it was found that he had manipulated and failed his administrative responsibilities in other decisions issued by the Court.

Another Supreme Court judge involved in the ruling against Krishna, Zaharuddin Utama, is currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (KPK) in connection with bribes he allegedly received while sitting on the bench.

Krishna has been resident in Bali following the Supreme Court ruling, where he has taken refuge, vowing that he was prepared to forfeit  his life in the struggle against for justice against  what he views as an illegal ruling by the courts.

Prior to the letter issued by Komnas HAM in support of Anand Krishna, government prosecutors had issued three warning letters demanding that the spiritual leader report to prison to begin serving his jail sentence. It believed that the police and prosecutors were be preparing to forcibly take Krishna into custody.

Krishna’s supporters are hopeful that the letter just issued by the Komnas HAM will forestall any jail term while the case undergoes a thorough judicial review.

Related Articles

[The Coming Showdown]

[A Struggle for Justice]

[The Strange Case of Anand Krishna]
 

The Sydney Morning Herald has run an investigative article by Michael Bachelard examining how Australian motorcycle gangs are establishing business links in Bali.

Visiting the Heavy Duty Bar on Jalan Patih Jelantik, Bachelard cites the bar in a warning, sounded by Australian police, that Australian “bikie gangs” are establishing a business presence in Bali.

The article lists an Australian outlaw motorcycle gang member from Perth as part owner of the Bar - a man whose name card carries the moniker of Adam “Vigilante” Abbott. The article also carries a picture of a tattooed Abbot posing with an R5 Automatic rifle, although it is not clear when or where the picture was taken.

Bachelard claims Abbott is “a patched member of Australia's biggest 'one per cent’ gang, the 'Rebels,' which is the target of a new Australian police crackdown called 'Taskforce Attero'.”

The “one percenter” label purportedly stems from its members' desire to decisively set themselves apart from “99% of bikers” who are judged to be law-abiding citizens.

The Sydney Morning Herald report says Abbott purchased the bar from a fellow West Australian bikie, Howard “Howie” Wignall,” who is a member of the notorious “Coffin Cheaters” gang.

The article also sttes that both Wignall and Abbott “have a penchant for guns and have served time in jail.”

Whatever links Wignall and Abbott enjoy with the “Coffin Cheaters” and “The Rebels,” Bachelard says signs of incursions by other bikie gangs into Bali are not difficult to uncover. Among other gangs thought to be active or seeking to set up house in Bali are the Bandidos, The Finks” and “Rack Machine.”

35-year-old Abbot, also known as Adam Schamotta, is a convicted felon once sentenced to a two-year and nine-month prison term for bank fraud and theft. Listed in Australia court records as a man with a "passion for expensive firearms," he was once banned for five years from permission to hold gun licenses in Australia.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald article, Wignall also has a long criminal record with 55 convictions that include drug possession and supply, and a 13-month sentence for trying to bribe a police officer in a narcotics case. In proceedings before the Australian Federal Court in 2009 Wignall was described by disgraced Australian businessman Tim Johnston as “a stand over man” who had intimidated and coerced him into paying $11 million dollars to a creditor.

While Australian Police would not go on record with the Sydney Morning Herald, lacking “hard evidence” of criminal wrongdoing by the gangs, the article does go on to says “gangs are believed to be exploring criminal opportunities in Indonesia including money laundering, the drug trade and smuggling.”

The Australian Federal Police reportedly sponsored a meeting in early 2012 in Bali under the title "Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Forum" to share views with their Indonesian law enforcement counterparts on the threat posed by the advent of motorcycle gangs in Bali and the rest of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, a ranking Kuta police officer, I Gede Putu Dedy Ujiana, dismisses any threat, saying, "We haven't really noticed any criminal activities."

That the bikie gangs are on the rise in Bali, however, is undeniable. The Bandidos held a “Bali Bike Week” in 2010 attended by hundreds of gang members who participated in outdoor music festivals replete with “bands, DJs, dancing girls and drinking by hundreds of leather-clad men.”

An Indonesian member of the organizing committee for the week-long festival and a member of Bandidos MC, Hari Wiguna, was taped on a video claiming 600 participants from Europe, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia raised funds for local orphanages, cleaned beaches and planted trees during their stay.

The Sydney Morning Herald says both Adam Abbott and Howard Wignall failed to respond to requests for comments on the article.

Bachelard  goes on to describe the growing network of local and international gangs and gangsters in Bali nightlife.

The article concludes by quoting an unnamed source who warns: “"Soon enough the Coffin Cheaters and Bandidos will clash on Kuta Legian over access to market and territory. The local police are completely unprepared. They have no idea where this could go, and they don't want to admit they have a potential problem."

Read the Entire Article 

[Sydney Morning Herald: Australian gangs are setting up shop and recruiting in Bali, writes Michael Bachelard]

After a very successful inaugural event in November 2011, the Bali Wine Auction returns for its 2nd edition to be held at The Astor Ballroom of The St. Regis Bali Resort in Nusa Dua.

The event established by Bill Busch and Henny Santoso of Lotus Food Distribution and generously supported by colleagues in the Bali wine distribution sector, The St. Regis Bali and members of the Bali Hotels Association (BHA) generates funds administered by the BHA for wine education programs for workers in Indonesia’s hospitality sector.

The event begins on Sunday, January 20th at 3:00 pm with a one-hour “brown-bag” blind wine tasting of 6 wines followed from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm with an auction of 25 lots of wine and wine merchandise.

A website will be launched in the first week of January listing the auction items where on-line bids can be placed.

Jack Daniels of Bali Discovery Events returns this year to serve as the auctioneer.

A limited 150 tickets are available for this event at a cost of Rp. 300,000 each (US$30) that covers the cost of the one-hour wine tasting with tapas selections, admission to the auction floor, an auction catalog and the chance to win a lucky draw of a wine cooler.

Tickets While They Last 

Tickets are expected to sell out quick and tickets can be reserved on a first come first served basis to [Email Bali Wine Auction] 

Indonesia is taking steps to secure a larger share of the “gray” travel market. Pensioners and senior citizen travelers over the age of 60 has been projected by the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO) to be one-third of the world’s population by 2025, with the highest concentration of older citizens concentrated in Japan, Holland, France, German and Italia.

NusaBali recently quoted the head of tourism for the province of Bali, Ida Bagus Subhisku, saying: “Several operators in Bali have created packages for older traveler, but this has been on and off. Meanwhile for long-staying senior citizens, there is the problem that we still lack comprehensive regulations and lack of supporting infrastructure for this market segment – still lacking greatly from what we would like to see.”

Subhisku said that the province is making preparations to make Bali an attractive destination for gray travelers. “One (of these steps) is the formation of a special body called the Bali Retirement Tourism Authority (BRTA).” said Subhisku.

The BRTA was formally established under Gubernatorial Decree No. 2 of 2012 in order to meet the needs of gray travelers bridging programs between the government, the business sector, local host communities and the travelers. “The authority will guarantee the well-being and safety of senior visitors via coordinated regulations with the agencies and ministries concerned – such as health, investment, immigration and finance,” explained Subhisku.

Subhisku said the government is targeting for 10,000 senior citizens to resident in Bali by the year 2020.