|
LATEST FROM CNN:
Blow to Indonesia terror trials
 Indonesia's
highest court has ruled a tough new anti-terror law used to
convict the Bali bombers is
unconstitutional. (cnn)
Court OKs Retroactive Law in Bali
Trials -
Constitutional Court ruled that tough anti-terror laws passed last
year could not be used retroactively, but made an
exception for militants convicted in the 2002 Bali bomb
attacks. (AP)
Ruling muddies Bali bomb verdicts (BBC)
Worker turns to black magic to keep her job
A Hong Kong family claim to have foiled a plot by their Indonesian
domestic helper to cast a black magic spell in a bid to stop them
sacking her. The family uncovered the scheme after accidentally
intercepting one of the helper Anna Kurnia's letters from her
husband in Indonesia, the Oriental Daily reported. The envelope
contained a small package of dried flowers and a note explaining
that a simple spell could help allay her fears that the family was
about to sack her. By putting the flowers in the family's drinks
and chanting a spell the employers would become gentle and almost
submissive to her, the husband explained, according to the report.
Fearing for their safety, the family members swiftly terminated
the contract with Kurnia, who has since returned to Indonesia, it
added. Black magic is still rife in south-east Asian countries
such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, where spells and curses
are cast to serve different purposes. (AFP)
 Loser
Wiranto to challenge presidential election count
The
result of presidential election this month has been thrown into
doubt with a decision by
losing candidate Wiranto to challenge the result in the
country's Constitutional Court. Just four days before official
declaration of the result, he announced that his team had found 15
separate "violations" of the election law in the conduct of the
July 5 poll. (SMH)
Indonesia to
get tough on miners
The government will order several foreign
mining firms, including Australian gold miner Newcrest, to
beef up environmental safeguards to protect endangered
native forests. The order comes as police and health officials say
they will investigate claims US gold mining giant Newmont polluted
a bay in North Sulawesi with mercury, leading to the deaths of
local people. (The Courier)
FROM THE
EDITOR:
 Bule
men are often considered ‘lucky’ in Indonesia for obvious
reasons. Women on the other hand have the advantage that they can
– if they plan carefully - drink for free almost every night in
one of the many different bars that offer Ladies Night. Every
single night there is a ‘ladies for free’ somewhere in Jakarta.
We, men, don’t have that but we have
Blok M. One
street with a lot of girls, music and bars where you can meet
other expats. No need to say that expat and Indonesian ‘non-ayam’
women don’t feel comfortable in that street (except for Sportsman
which doesn’t allow ‘ayam’) . Not fair, is it? Wouldn’t it
therefore be an idea to offer a Blok W to women? If
there is enough response I offer BuGils to you, women, for a one
night trial first. This is the idea: Only women are allowed to
come in, and behind the bar is a temporary staff of well built
Chippendales who will prepare the cocktails. Men are allowed to
come in, but only up to a maximum of 10 at a time. They are
allowed to pinch women and say: “Me love you longtime! You buy
me drink!” The ratio of man-wife should never exceed 1:15.
When for example two men leave the bar, two others can come in.
The curtains will be closed. Blok M upside down! I can imagine
only brave men will dare to go in that sea of hungry women!
Halfway the evening we will start a male fashion show and later in
the night the same thing but without the fashion.
Of course the ladies will pay for their drinks as that shifts out
already a large number of blok M girls. Men (the
limited 10) drink for free? Crazy idea? Maybe. But
until now it always have been the women worrying about their
husbands going out to Blok M or Kota. Now it will be the husbands
who should worry if his wife goes to Blok W! The
Blok W Bar will not take responsibility for any
clothes lost or physical abuse. And I will not be around on
that trial night, so the max of 10 men at a time go in on their
own risk and will be totally on their own. I am looking forward to
your response... -- Bartele
Fred, I might need your help here. Maybe
in a combined effort with Aphrodite? Lets see the response and
then discuss…Maybe we can start carefully and have Megawati as a
guest speaker or something…
The latest from Megawati:
President tells
children not to defy parents
Marking National
Children's Day here on Friday, Megawati advised children across
the country not to go against their parents.
"Your future depends on your
attitudes toward your parents.
Thus, do not ever try to defy them, especially your mothers..."
The President also cautioned the children that they have to study
hard and be good as the future of the nation is in their hands.
"Be diligent at your studies and do your homework every time it is
assigned to you by your teachers," she told the large crowd of
children at the Dunia Fantasi amusement park. (JKT Post)
ELSEWHERE
IN ASIA: Fans Fit for Funerals
When it comes to
paying last respects, an electric fan is better than a
customary flower wreath. Not only are small fans cheaper, but —
unlike wreaths — they don't add to the capital's massive garbage
output and can be used afterward by poor Buddhist monks. (AP)
ELSEWHERE IN
THE WORLD: Bigger
Breasts for Free: Join the Army
The U.S. Army has long lured recruits with the
slogan "Be
All You Can Be," but now soldiers and their families can
receive plastic surgery, including breast enlargements, on the
taxpayers' dime. (Yahoo)
|
