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Indonesia Joins Condemnation Of Denmark’s
Muhammad Cartoons
One of the cartoons depicts Muhammad wearing a turban
shaped like a bomb, implying he is a terrorist. Another shows him
telling suicide bombers to stop because paradise has run out of
virgins. Under Islam, any realistic depiction or caricature of the
Prophet is deemed blasphemous. The current
furore over
the Danish cartoons has not prompted any noticeable
increase in security at the
Danish
Embassy in Jakarta. (Laksamana)
LATEST :
Muslim protesters barge
into Danish Embassy
JAKARTA (AP): Muslims
barged into a high-rise building housing the Danish Embassy on
Friday to protest the publication of caricatures of the Prophet
Muhammad, and then tore down and burned the country's white and
red flag. The rowdy protest by about 70 people was one of the
first in the world's most populous Muslim nation against the 12
cartoons, which first appeared in September in a Danish newspaper.
They were reprinted in several other European newspapers this week
ina gesture of press freedom. "We are not terrorists, we are not
anarchists but we are against those people who blaspheme Islam,"
one of the protesters shouted outside the building, which also
houses several other foreign missions in Jakarta. They pelted the
building with eggs, pushed their way past security guards and
milled around in the lobby before leaving of their own accord
after five minutes. They then tore the embassy's flag down from
outside the building and lit it on fire on thepavement. (JKT POST)
Eden 'blasphemy' in Indonesia
Police named three artists, a photographer, a
prominent art curator and a sixth person suspects in
an obscenity and blasphemy case based on an Adam and Eve
pictorial exhibited at the central bank museum in Jakarta, local
news reports said Friday. Late last year FPI leaders also reported
filed complaints against Miss Indonesia and Miss Transvestite for
insulting Muslims in the country. (Bangkok Post)
Indonesia wins one in war
on corruption
Indonesia has scored a major victory in the war on corruption
after the return to the country of a crooked banker. This could
improve Jakarta's international image and help with the capture of
numerous other white-collar criminals who have fled the
country. (Asia Times)
FROM THE EDITOR:
 'What?
You only hear good things about Bart? You wanna hear the
real story behind the man named Bartele?' Huib (alias Mr Tong
in the book Bule Gila) wanted revenge. For a few years I
had used him as my 'fool' for the BuGils bar stories in
this newsletter and now he finally had the chance to hit back. The
reporter, a young New Zealand guy, suddenly looked more alert.
Huib's hands spoke louder than his mouth. 'I will tell you about
Bart!', while pointing at me. 'Do you know how many women HE
has made PREGNANT in the last five years!?' Now even I
was shocked. The reporter grappled for his pencil with one hand
and for his little notebook with the other. Huib crossed his arms
and fell relaxed back in his chair. 'Pregnant...?!', the
reporter stumbled. Huib nodded non-stop while looking me
straight in the eyes with a victory look. 'Ok. Huib. What do you
want from me? A discount on the bills that you didn't pay yet?'.
The reporter started making notes. 'No', said a resolute Huib.
'Well, come on! What do you want! This guy is gonna believe you,
and my reputation is on the line!' I panicked. He certainly had me
cornered. 'In the name of my wife, you promise me that you never
put me in your newsletter again, unless it is very positive'.
'Deal'. I responded promptly. The New Zealand guy disappointedly
scratched his notes and started to concentrate on his beers again.
Huib stood up and went back to the bar. 'Well done, Huib',
I heard him say to himself.
Just a day earlier there was a huge article about me in this Dutch
newspaper. The newspaper had asked for a picture of me 'in
action'. That certainly brought some confusion and I actually had
to go behind the bar to pretend that that was my normal thing to
do. The article was all positive and they were talking about
the two bars and the 'stroopwafel factory' as if it was a
million dollar c ompany.
How to explain to them that the whole 'factory' stops operating as
soon as the bakers' grandmother dies for the fifth time? Or that
the waffle supply stops if the delivery boy's wife needs his motor
to go the 'arisan'? Impossible. I didn't explain it. Only to make
my mother proud. She received a hundred calls from family and
friends. 'Your son is doing well!'
The girl working in Cazbar still stares at me. (read
editorial of 15/12) From all corners of the bar. Yesterday
she gave me the wrong wine, so I asked for a new one. In confusion
she stood there with the wine in her hand. 'What should I do with
this one?', she asked me. 'I don't know. You drink it', I
said, not paying any further attention while she slowly moved away
from my table, in heavy thoughts. The bar was reasonably full with
people and I could feel she was glazing at me again. From behind
the bar she stood on her toes, trying to catch my eye through the
wall of large westerners. Again I tried not to look but now I
heard her shy voice calling me. 'Bart! Bart!'. I had no
choice. A few bule's looked up as well. From behind the bar the
poor girl lifted the glass of wine that I had rejected moments
earlier. 'Cheers!', she shyly whispered from a distance. The
bule's looked from her to me. I realised that my nod was not
friendly, but hey, what to do? After two months she still has no
idea what a 'steak' is, let alone the meaning of medium or
well done. Shareholders questioned me about her. I
should get more experienced girls. I agree. Too many headaches
already. But that girl.... She will never find another job. She is
still 'rare' or 'setangah masak', like Widi years
earlier...
I left Cazbar and went to BuGils. It was quiet for a Thursday
evening. 'The head of Mr.Heineken has disappeared!' It was Widi
shouting from a distance while I approached the terrace. 'The
Iceland people took it with them !',
added Henny. It was a sad sight to see Mr.Heineken without his
head. He had stood there for six years and had it all seen
happening. He was flown in from Holland just before the opening
and had never missed a day. 'What are you smiling at!' drunk
customers would shout at him, not realizing it was a wooden model.
He had been kidnapped once, but was returned by some oil people
after paying a ransom of beer. Now his head was gone. 'Put a
picture of Huib's face on top of Mr Heineken's body! ', said Henny
with a big smile. Great idea. All the girls shouted. I felt
relieved. BuGils is a good place to end the evening. The are all
so 'well done'.....
On the picture: Mr. Heineken, still with head,
adored by the BuGils Staff.
On the picture left: Huib, relieved not to
become subject of newsletters stories again. Never trust a Dutch
barman, Huib. I'm gonna make you famous.
EVENTS:
THE HELICON PROMO PARTY
- On Thursday February the 16th there will be FREE FLOW of BEER
(from 6pm until 9pm) in BuGils Cafe, kindly sponsored by Financial
Partners International.
This Saturday LIVE Music in BuGils. Starting at 21.00. Free
entrance.
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:
I'm here for my prescription, and 6,000 cookies -The Dutch
city of Groningen looks set to open the Netherlands' first
pharmacy totally dedicated to providing high quality
cannabis for pain relief at
affordable prices. (Yahoo)
Jakarta’s Best Bar Awards 2006
It's that time of the year again when Java Jakarta Kini's
intrepid drinkers venture forth into the myriad of bars, clubs
and pubs to bring you the best in which to enjoy yourself for
2006.
Whether it's a quiet pint of Guinness to shed a homesick tear
into or a full-on meltdown of the senses at Jakarta's hottest
clubs you'll find most of the info you would possibly need to
know in the next few pages.
Click Here To Vote your BEST BAR
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