"We want her to be not just the prettiest candidate on TV."

A senior legislator from PDI-P

about Mega's preparation for TV debate. More.....
 

Indonesian parties offer free circumcisions ahead of vote
The gifts show Megawati's "character," said a party activist. "She is concerned with the little people. That's why we support her." But critics have another word for Megawati's tactics. They say the Indonesian leader, who is up for re-election on July 5, is bribing the electorate. "I'll go to any rally as long as they give me money and T-shirts," Aanother said. "But it won't influence my choice. I've already decided to vote for Yudhoyono."

3 foreigners expelled from Aceh

Aceh Provincial Immigration Office has deported two Malaysians and an American for entering the restricted province of Aceh. Following the declaration of martial law, Aceh Immigration Office severely restricted foreigners from entering unless they had special permits from the martial law administrator and immigration office. (Xinhua)

On the picture: One Holland fan in BuGils celebrating victory

THE LATEST: 

Singapore probes power failure after Indonesian gas supplies disrupted

Electricity authorities in Singapore - which prides itself on its first-class infrastructure - were investigating on Wednesday why vital gas supplies from neighboring Indonesia were disrupted, triggering extensive power failures across the island overnight. The disruption, which plunged thousands of homes in this ultramodern city-state of 4 million people into darkness for two hours from 10 p.m., was the third in two years from the West Natuna gas field. Some comes from Natuna, about 500 kilometers (310 miles) to the northeast. The West Natuna gas coming in from Indonesia, that was disrupted. Power failures are rare in Singapore, and Tuesday's surprise caused some alarm and widespread irritation. People were trapped in elevators, the Straits Times newspaper reported Wednesday.  "Singapore is not a Third World country. We have every right to expect better," Daisy Sum - a Singapore resident forced to endure a cold shower by candlelight - was quoted by the paper as saying.  The three power plants affected by Tuesday's gas-supply failure had switched to alternative sources to restore the current, Choo said. Gas supply glitches from the West Natuna field have caused problems before. Last November, supplies were disrupted when one of the West Natuna pipelines leaked. Singapore generators were able to switch to other sources before the power failed. In August 2002, disruption of the Natuna gas flow tripped up seven plants, cutting off power to parts of Singapore for 90 minutes.

Indonesia and East Timor Sign Border Agreement

As a sign of steadily improving relations five years after 1,500 Timorese died in a bloody independence struggle. Both countries’ foreign ministers signed the pact on the sidelines of a South East Asian ministers’ meeting in Jakarta. The accord covers more than 90% of the border. Both sides said they hoped the rest would be mapped out soon. (The Scotsman)

Pertamina Drops Lawsuit Against ‘Jakarta Post’
"The [lawsuit] report has been withdrawn today because the two sides have made peace. Because The Jakarta Post has answered our demand,” Pertamina’s lawyer Lucas S.H. (Laksamana)

FROM THE EDITOR:  

Last Saturday the party in BuGils went on until 07.00 o'clock Sunday morning. The staff was exhausted and already earlier in the tournament some of them silently had hoped for a Latvia victory! (Note 'ayo Latvia!' on the head of Riri!). But fortunately Holland is still in the race and we will have it LIVE in BuGils Stadium tonight.

The kitchen will stay open until morning hours.

I received an interesting email from one of our regulars:

Dear Neil,

I trained the staff never to be more clever then the customers. I always tell them to pretend that you have no idea what the customer is talking about. I do that for two reasons. a) if a customer finds out that the girl is actually clever he will tell her that she is working in the wrong place and that she can do better than working in bar.  b) the customer will get this 'father like' feeling when he is asked to explain something simple. At the moment he starts explaining, ask him for another beer and he will always say 'yes'. If he is finished talking, look at him with respect and say: "Woow..." This customer will always come back.

Anyway, it is not as bad as this girl I once interviewed and who told me she just had received a master degree in Marketing. I said: 'Oh, that is interesting. So you know everything about the 4 P's of Marketing. She looked at me in total disbelief and answered: "Huh!? P's? What P's?"   -- Bartele
 

On the picture right: the staff supporting Holland in bright orange!

Below the BuGils Stadium 2004 with a capacity of 150 persons, proudly sponsored by Telkomsel and Bir Bintang. Also inside the bar is a large screen.

ELSEWHERE IN ASIA:

Kung-fu monks seek help from law

The warrior monks of China's Shaolin temple have applied to trademark their name in more than 80 countries. The monks, famed for their martial arts skills, want to stop their image being used to sell products across the world. (BBC)

- An Iranian woman claims to have given birth to a frog. A newspaper reports the frog is believed to have grown from a tadpole to an adult inside her and says that it has human physical characteristics. (The Age) -

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:    Extra mileage AND a snake? Cool!

A US motorist found a slithery surprise not covered in his rental car agreement when a ball python stuck its head out from between his legs. "He was completely in shock," said Madison, Wisconsin, police officer Laura Walker. "I mean, he said he was lucky he didn't crash the car." When Walker arrived to help, the 60cm constrictor was coiled around the seat's base. (SMH)

Bank Central Asia May Enter Permata Bidding Contest

"Permata is probably the last large bank that's up for sale and it would be foolish of us not to consider it,'' said Bank Central's president commissioner Eugene Galbraith. "We are quite positive on the Indonesian economy. We are beyond the rough times.'' (Bloomberg)

Pertamina Clarifies Tanker Tender Bids (JakNews)

Snake Oil Flows Fast as Poll Gets Closer (Van Zorge)

Election Jitters Stall Indonesia's Economy (Asia Times)
 

Parties Offer Cash Before Vote

Walking past open sewers and crowded tenements, the campaign organizer for Megawati pointed to a glistening white and beige mosque, boasting that her party spent $1,600 to renovate it. It has also handed out rice, instant noodles and fish in this impoverished north Jakarta neighborhood. The gifts show Megawati's "character," said the party activist. "She is concerned with the little people. That's why we support her." (Yahoo)

Bajaj bid to replace 15000 Indon 3-wheelers

India`s largest three-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto  has kicked off talks with the government in Indonesia for replacing 15,000 over 20-year old `Bajajs` plying the roads of Jakarta.  This move attains significance at a time when the Jakarta Transportation Agency is encouraging three-wheeler operators in the city to replace their vehicles with a new four-wheeler `Kancil` to control vehicular pollution. (My Irish)

 
Post-Majapahit?

July 5, 2004 will forever be remembered in the history of Indonesia. It is the date for the Republic’s first-ever direct presidential and vice-presidential elections, and a major step on the road to meaningful democracy. Read TEMPO’s in-depth profiles of all the participants, their campaign teams, and the road that lead to this historic occasion.  (TEMPO)

Ex-BRI Bosses Hit With Long Jail Terms

Two former Bank Rakyat Indonesia branch heads were found guilty of stealing Rp 216 billion in state funds and sentenced to 16 years and six years in prison respectively. Deden was fined Rp 1 billion and ordered to repay the state Rp 30 billion. Agus was fined Rp 200 million and must repay the state Rp 2 billion. (JakNews)

FROM A READER:

Dear Meneer Bartele,

--------

For the latest Expat Property Newsletter. click here:
http://www.bartele.com/assets/Propertynl/rumah0620042.htm

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ADVENTURE INDONESIA operating CULTURAL, WILDLIFE, ADVENTURE tours packages and OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES for : Family Holidays, Honeymooners, Individual and Corporate, such as : Orangutan and Komodo Dragon Tours, Toraja Highland Tour, Baliem Valley Irian Jaya, Borobudur, Cross Borneo, Mahakam River Cruise, Ujungkulon and Cracatoa Volcano Camp, Mountain & Jungle Trek, Company Outing, Corporate Outbound Training.

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• 2 Master Bedrooms with double king size beds
• 1 Bedroom with bunk bed
• 3 Extra pull out beds
• 3 Private Bathrooms with outside Balinese showers (hot & cold water)
• A large natural stone terrace with surrounding wooden deck
• Fully Equipped Kitchen (stove, microwave, oven, large refrigerator)
• A 46” flat screen television with DVD player (no antenna / satellite connection available)
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Tanjung Lesung is located on the West Coast of Java, at the legendary Sunda Straits. The 180-km car journey from Jakarta usually takes about three hours from central Jakarta. Of the two alternative routes, the inland road through Serang, Pandeglang and Labuan is preferable as, especially during weekends, the coastal road through Cilegeon, Anyer and Carita can be congested.

Roberts Furniture at Jalan Wijaya Kusuma No. D.4, Jakarta 12430. Tel. 021-7512223. A great selection of both original and reproduction furniture at the best prices.

PREVIOUS EDITIONS:

Anti-trafficking drive targets men using brothels
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun28nl2004.htm

BuGils Cook Shows Value as Shaman
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun25nl2004.htm

Jakarta Bar Lets Customers Choose its Staff
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun21nl2004.htm

Expat Manager Battles Complaining Customers
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun18nl2004.htm

The Origin of Bule Gila or BuGil
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun16nl2004.htm

Expat Considers Using Rain Doctors Risky
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun14nl2004.htm

Indonesia's shameful export
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun09nl2004.htm

Bar Manager in Ambassador Role for one Night
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun07nl2004.htm

Rupiah falls sharply vs dollar, breaks 9,500 level
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/Jun02nl2004.htm

Does Jakarta Need More Shopping Malls?
http://www.bartele.com/newsletters/May25nl2004.htm

SILADEN RESORT & SPA

www.siladen.com
Tlp/fax: 0431 856820
ADVENTURE INDONESIA - Jakarta Office:
Wisma 31, Jalan Kemang Raya No.31
advindo@cbn.net.id
Tlp/fax: 62-21-7182250, 7182256 /Fax.7180438

FOR SALE: