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Indonesia's
business climate in Total mess
While President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono goes about telling the
world just how wonderfully suited his country is for foreign
investment, yet another multinational fights out its case in
the Indonesian courts against an investor-unfriendly
bankruptcy law. (Asia Time)
Indonesia jails 'may be too soft'
INDONESIAN prisons may be
a fertile recruiting and training ground for al-Qaeda-linked
militants, blamed for a string of bomb attacks in recent years,
because jailers are too soft on them, an international think-tank
said today. (news.com.au)
Indonesia transport plane crashes, 15 killed (CTV)
Gam 'may drop independence goal' (BBC)
SBY Orders Arrest of
Illegal Logging Bosses
“The profits are vast as local
communities only receive around $10 for each cubic meter of merbau
felled on their land, while the same logs fetch as much as $270
per cubic meter in China,” said the report. It said a network of
middlemen and brokers was responsible for arranging shipment of
the illegal logs from Indonesia to China. “These
powerful syndicates pay around $200,000 per shipment in bribes
to ensure the contraband logs are not intercepted in Indonesian
waters, as Indonesia currently bans the export of logs.”
Below the new design of Taman Ria, at the moment under
construction.
FROM THE EDITOR:
 BuGils
is the only place left standing in the ruins of Taman Ria. All
around our little cafe demolition is taking place and opposite
BuGils a large rotten ship is sinking deeper and deeper in the
lake. Every night people ask me: When will the BuGils walls fall?
To be honest, I have no idea. Taman Ria is having a conflict with
the developer. And the developer with the government. And
everybody with everybody. They all want a slice of the cake.
Taman Ria cannot provide me with drawings as the developer does
not want to give these to them. And the developer doesn't want to
give them to me with the excuse that the design is not yet final.
My shareholders find it hard to understand that I cannot tell them
what is going to happen. They are talking about taking a lawyer. I
explained that the parties involved are powerful and to win a case
against them you need to spend a lot of money to bribe judges.
Besides that, the walls are still standing and BuGils is busier
then ever before! Taman Ria promised us that BuGils can stay until
the contract ends - years from now. Of course they say we can
stay, so they receive our rent as long as possible. The developer
says we can stay but maybe in an other part of the building. Will
they pay for the new outfitting? "Ha, ha, Mister Bart! Mister
Bart lucu! (funny).' And then more serious: 'Of course we
will not pay for that'. So we just carry on, the sword
of Damocles above our head.
 I
am looking around for another location, in case things do go
wrong. I found a spot, beautiful located in the business district.
I actually started negotiating already, but the owner of the place
is rich and powerful and to make clear to them that they are
asking too much is falling on deaf ears. Take it or leave it.
Shareholders are again worried that at the new location the same
problems might happen. What is the value of a contract in
Indonesia?
picture right: Widi, already for 5 years happy
with her BuGils contract
It is stressing. Last night when I walked away from BuGils through
piles of stones and rubble, I looked over the lake that was
slightly lighted by the moon. It was late already but behind me in
the bar I still could hear the many customers drinking and
singing. It had been a good night again. The Australian who showed
me long scratches on his arm when I asked why his girlfriend was
not with him. An ambassador who tried to escape Johns' camera
(Jakarta24 magazine), jumped up and down behind some ladies he was
talking to. The BuGils shareholder who urged me to let the
regulars pay their outstanding as soon as possible, in case we had
to close business. When I reminded him of his own bill, he
silently moved away to a corner on the terrace. An angry Brit
asking why Widi gave the number of his girlfriend to an American
oil tycoon. 'Why did your girlfriend give it to Widi in the
first place?' I asked. 'You've got a point there', he said after a
second of silence and left. BuGils, five years of fun, could it be
over soon? And if BuGils went down, what was I supposed to do? I
saw rats jumping from the sinking ship in the water. Baking
stroopwafels the rest of my life?
 I
was staring in the dark water. 'Don't do it Bart! Don't jump!' I
suddenly hear the shareholder shouting behind me from a dark
corner of the terrace. "We will find a new spot!" I smiled and
walked away from BuGils and the lake to the taxi's. When I came
home my little daughter woke up when I cheeked through her door.
With sleepy eyes she looked up. 'Papa habis minum bir, yah?'
(drinking beer again) was her instant reaction. I smiled. 'No.
papa makan stroopwafel' , I said and with an understanding
'ooh...' she turned around and went to sleep again. At least one
who doesn't think I am funny. -- Bartele
Below: The new Taman Ria design viewed from the lake.
BuGils is currently located inside the main lobby.
Friday at VIP at
D's KEMANG 7.30 PM
BINGO! Chance to win line and house.
Tonight LIVE music in BuGils:
Jessy Rock & Blues Band
Tomorrow night QUIZ night in
BuGils. For more info call Wouter at 08128044004
This Saturday BiG Dony and the Jaya Pub Band LIVE in
BuGils, 21.00 onwards
Having a Party at Home? Call the Party Express!
ELSEWHERE IN THE ASIA:
Airlines won't fly her, now woman, 104, ordered
out
 A
104-year-old woman denied an Australian visa could be held in
detention until she dies, warns barrister Julian Burnside QC.
more (SMH)
Masked Man Pays $910,000 for Lucky License Plate
A mysterious man in a mask drove off with
the most expensive vehicle license plate sold in Hong Kong
since 1997, shelling out HK$7.1 million (US$910,000) at a weekend
auction.
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Apple
laptop is 'greatest gadget'
