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Mother of beheaded Indonesian forgives
killers
Christian girl was one of three slain;
suspected Islamic militants blamed. Haderita told the
court that she learned of her daughter’s death from a television
report. She said the three suspects had offered their apologies
when
she met them last month at
the National Police Headquarters. (MSNBC)
Take-over of Kinara FEZ by Aphrodite to be
celebrated tonight!
Daniel and Fred, are bringing the success formula they have with
Aphrodite (Club Rasuna) over to Kemang, the main expat residential
area in Jakarta. Tonight (Thursday, Dec 7) is their soft opening
and "FEZ by Aphrodite" is offering Free flow of Draught beer
for all and House pour for the ladies from 6 pm to 10 pm.
Human body parts found inside croc
Villagers discovered two human hands, a leg and a T-shirt inside a
500-kilogram (1,000-pound) crocodile they trapped and killed in
eastern Indonesia. When the villagers got over the shock of
finding human body parts inside its abdomen -- together with skull
fragments, strands of hair and a pair of shorts -- they cut the
beast into pieces and
divided up the meat.
Indonesia considering widening polygamy ban
after popular preacher takes second wife
Currently, men are only allowed to have a second wife if his first
is an invalid, terminally ill or infertile. The regulation,
however, is rarely enforced and most commentators say the practice
of polygamy is becoming more common.
Charismatic preacher and television personality, Aa Gym, who had a
strong female following and often
preached about family values, announced that he had taken a
second wife.
Politician's naked ambition exposes a
moral dilemma
 INDONESIA
is grappling with its first real political sex scandal, courtesy
of a widely circulating video of one of the country's most
powerful politicians in a hotel room with a popular singer.
Politicians have always paid lip service to
devout piety in this heavily Islamic nation. Many have
playboy reputations, but none has been caught on tape before.
Mr Zaini is also the head of Golkar's religious affairs committee,
which has responsibility for moral issues.
The singer, Maria Eva, has not been so coy. She has admitted
making the film but denied distributing it.
"Actually it is an old story. I know the recording of the
indecent scene was two years ago," Ms Eva said. (SMH)
Lawmaker summoned to explain sex tape
INDONESIA: Top Golkar official quits over
sex video
Indonesia gives Bali bombers last chance for
appeal (MSNBC)
Indonesia to reactivate spy network
- Indonesia will reactivate a grass-roots
domestic
spy network as part of its fight against terrorism, which
critics have seen as a return to the oppressive polices of the
Suharto era. The system was disbanded in 2000 by then president
Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid. (Yahoo)
Child trafficking 'on rise in Indonesia'
- A report said one woman was caught in Jakarta after having
sold 880 babies abroad. In another case one group admitted to selling more than
80 babies to foreigners, while a man in west Java had "exported"
about 300 babies overseas, the report said. UNICEF child
protection officer Anna-Karin Jatfors said sexual exploitation of
children was a "major and growing issue", with evidence of
criminal syndicates operating throughout
Indonesia, and Asia. (NineNSM)
Another tsunami
could hit Indonesia, experts say
The same big geologic fault, called a megathrust, that
caused the 2004 tsunami continues to run parallel to the
southeast, along the Indian Ocean coast of Sumatra, with the
potential to a affect areas to the south, the team at the
California Institute of Technology, the University of Southern
California and elsewhere reported. Pressure is building and it
could move
at any time, they
said. Offshore islands may shield Sumatra's city of Padang
somewhat, but in 1797 the tsunami was reported to have carried a
200-ton English ship into the town, they said. (The Star)
25,000 families still
homeless in tsunami-ravaged Aceh: Oxfam
(Reuters)
Tsunami parents forced to give up children
(Times Online)
POPULAR
BAR IN MEGA KUNINGAN LAUNCHES LADIES
NIGHT!
 Just one week after celebrating its one year existence, Cazbar is
throwing a new surprise into the Jakarta Nightlife. Ladies drink
for free from 18.00 till 24.00 on every Saturday. The sports bar upstairs shows LIVE
cricket on a big screen from 07.00AM onwards while serving an
excellent English breakfast. For more info, call 0811169234.
SA ambassador to Indonesia 'Sex pest' resigns from top job
The incidents took place when he was South Africa's ambassador
to Indonesia. He was found guilty on a battery of charges
that included stroking the buttocks of an employee, molesting a
staff member in a lift and
making suggestive motions
with his tongue to another. Norman Mashabane has resigned from his
post as political adviser to Limpopo premier Sello Moloto with
immediate effect. (iAfrica)
FROM
THE EDITOR:
 She
had tattoos all over her. Her legs, arms and neck were covered
with colorful ink injections. I could easily figure out there was
more of that under her black outfit. She wanted a job. 'I am
the only tattoo lady in Indonesia.', she said. Instead of showing
me her CV, she proudly showed me a folder map with tattoo
pictures. 'I can make all of these. I used to make
all of these, next to the Harley shop on Jalan Fatmawati, but we
went bankrupt:' She sadly looked at the fire spitting dragons and
flying angels. She slowly turned a page. 'But this is a bar. ' I
reminded her. She awoke from her memories and looked up. 'Do you
want to drink something? I asked her. Relieved, without consideration and in
one fraction of a second she said: 'YES. A beer please.' It
was ten O'clock in the morning. 'You are hired', I said. She did
not need a CV. She had character. Bars need character. She
grabbed the beer with a strong fist. She gulped half the glass
down in three large swallows. 'I just came from Bogor by bus....
Capek (=tired)... ', she explained. She
is now working in the One Tree Bar.
Remember the 'starring girl' from Cazbar that freaked me out more
then once? Shareholders and customers alike wondered why I had not
fired her, as she was an emotionless creature that not only worked
slow, but also made lots of mistakes. Other staff ignored her. My
theory, that everybody will fit in any position as long as you
give them time and confidence, was tested to the utmost. A few
times she had approached me with fear in her eyes. 'You gonna
fire, ain't you? Just tell me. I am out, ain't I?' Even for my
standards, it was almost too much. But by continuously denying
this and telling her she should not worry, she started to gain
confidence. And then, at a moment when I was sitting with one
Cazbar regular at a table drinking a beer, she suddenly stood in
front of me. I had to look twice, as I was not sure it was her.
'I just wanna say hi. I am going to this catering job with the
Hash'. Before I could say anything, she had already gone. 'Who
was that beauty!?' asked the regular. I was perplexed. 'That
girl? That girl was the girl you told me to get rid of as she was
useless...' , I said slowly. 'What!!???', the regular was
in disbelief. It was true. But she had had an unbelievable
metamorphose. She was dressed in a tight jeans, a
fashionable sweater on top of it, hanging (too) loosely over her
shoulder. Her hair had been re-styled, some large
earrings were giving it a remarkable touch. It was the first time
I saw her wearing make-up. Not too much, but just enough.
New shoes revealed higher heels. THIS was a
lady. In the days that followed she was the talk of the bar. I
received SMS messages from visitors, congratulating me with my
'new' staff member. The other girls behind the bar were a bit jokingly in the beginning,
but they soon realised the jokes were not appreciated by the
customers. They suddenly had competition. And the waitress
herself? She silently enjoyed all the commotion and positive
comments; it all added to her confidence. Her walk is now daring. She
does not stare at me anymore; it is me staring at her...
We
have a similar case in the Eastern Promise. There is this girl
that Lens hired. She is very shy and does not speak English (yet).
I noticed her once when she totally blacked out. A
loud expat, who probably just spent three months on an oil rig,
slammed his fist on the bar, asking for a tripple Jack D.
'Jack siapa?', she asked with a soft trembling voice and in
total confusion, to the hilarity of customers. I felt pity for the
girl, but I am sure she will get over it.
I am writing this newsletter while sitting at the bar in Eastern
Promise. The shy girl is standing in front of me, preparing a hot
chocolate. I show her the December page of our Bar Calendar 2007.
She is the model for that month. I can see that see is proud. She
shows a flaw but proud smile. She murmurs that the picture is
ugly, but I can see she loves it. She stares at it for seconds.
Then I ask my hot chocolate. The way she puts the cup in front of
me is firm. Much firmer then before... She is happy... I am happy.
Hope to see you all on the opening party of the One Tree in Blok M
tomorrow. For some reason it was difficult to get sponsors for
this little bar (because it is in Blok M?), but we nevertheless
offer free beer the whole night. Read the story below
of an expat lady, on a night out in the Blok. It is not that bad
down there!
Bartele
THIS FRIDAY:
THE OPENING OF ONE TREE in BLOK M
========================
The last 'EP Quiz
Night' of the year is this Thursday! Team GoBlock M
(previous winners) will begin the quiz at 8pm in
our garden and shall include a 'festive season' round! So far 8
teams have confirmed so be quick to book your team's table (max 4
per team). Call Lens at 081380630700 for more info. This event is
sponsored by IIIM
(International Investment and Insurance Management)
In EASTERN PROMISE
THIS FRIDAY: Rolling Stones LIVE ! and
THIS SATURDAY: Expat Band: SONGS FOR THE DEAF !
With a variety of songs from the
sixties right through to the naughties, featuring covers of such
famous names as: The Corrs, The Pretenders, Pat Benatar, Tina
Turner, Brian Adams, Robbie Williams, Free, ZZ Top, The Stones,
AC/DC, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and many more, Songs For The
Deaf will keep us all rocking and dancing 'till the early hours.
In BuGils this Saturday: DORA
on her Crazy Piano
========================
The
2nd Kopaja Pub Crawl
this Saturday
For anyone who wants to join, come t o
the One Tree in Blok M a t around 18.00. The trip in the orange bus
will continue around 20.00 to the Cazbar, to check out the Ladies
Night there. After this visit we ride the Kopaja Bis again, to
sing together with Ibu Dora on her Crazy Piano in BuGils. We will
end the night in Eastern Promise where Wouter will give a
performance with his band in the beer garden. A great night out!
Let me know if you are in. No extra costs involved. All around
Happy Hours prices. For more info, sms Bartele at 0811169234
Also at midnight this Saturday
- at the end of the pub crawl - we organize the first ever
EP Beer Pong Competition!
What that is? Come and find
out! You won't regret it! You won't forget it! Hosts are
'Beer Pong Athletes' Dan and John!!
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:
 Flatulent
passenger grounds airline flight - It maybe one problem
airline security officials never envisioned -- a passenger
lighting matches in flight to mask odours
from her flatulence. (Yahoo)
 Taxman
gives Danish sperm bank a headache - One of the world's
largest sperm banks, Denmark's Cryos, said it feared recent
changes to tax laws requiring donors to declare income from their
contributions would put
their anonymity at risk and
lead to a fall in donations. (AFP)
|
ed
by the ‘Cendana Prince’—is the legal owner of a bank account worth
almost Rp1.3 trillion. The Tax Directorate froze the money in the
account in 2001 for Timor’s failure to pay taxes amounting to Rp3
trillion. Why does the government keep losing these cases? (tempo)
Dear anonymous writer, thank you for your
contribution to the expat newsletter. In return you can return to
the Blok and receive a whole night of free drinks in the One Tree
Bar (next to Oscars). Bart
