 Tensions
mount in Borneo oil rowThe
Indonesian government is to deploy
fighter planes and warships to disputed waters off the island
of Borneo, along its border with Malaysia. (BBC)
Malaysia asserts claim on eve of Indonesia talks
Anti-Malaysian
protests continue
-
Hundreds of people staged Anti-Malaysian protests
across the country on Tuesday with a burning of Malaysian flags in
Makassar, South Sulawesi, to protest a territorial dispute off the
Sulawesi coast. In Jakarta, hundreds of people, some supporters of
the Islamic-based United Development Party, staged a rally in
front of the Malaysian Embassy. In Jember, East Java, dozens of
students grouped under the Islamic Student Movement, also
conducted a rally, urging to be ready to make war if the
negotiations with Malaysia failed. (Jkt Post)
Indonesian jailed for
46 months in U.S. for forcing maid into slavery -
An
Indonesian woman was jailed for nearly four years on Monday for
forcing a maid from her home country into virtual slavery in the
US. U.S. District Judge put Trisanti behind bars for 46 months and
warned that she could face deportation upon her release after she
admitted a year ago to holding a young woman in involuntary
servitude.
Trisanti brought the victim to Los Angeles on a tourist visa in
1997 to work for her as a nanny and housekeeper for two years,
federal prosecutors said. But after the woman arrived, Trisanti
confiscated her passport, used threats and physical abuse to force
her to work 17 hours a day, seven days a week and eventually
stopped paying her during her three-year ordeal. In order to
control her servant, the abusive employer told the woman that if
the she tried to escape, she would be arrested and put in jail.
The terrified maid finally escaped in 2000, along with another
woman, when Trisanti was away on a trip to Indonesia. Trisanti
could have faced a maximum sentence of 20 years in jail and
US$250,000 fine. Trisanti's husband, Herri Nasution, was sentenced
last year to three years of probation. (Jakarta Post)
'No mercy' for illegal loggers in Indonesia: president (CNA)
FROM THE EDITOR:
There is one Dutch regular in BuGils who already for years asks me
the same question every single day: 'Do you have some business for
me?'
He sometimes calls me in the morning, as if he cannot wait with
his burning question until the evening. He is ok, although a bit
annoying after a few beers. The tricks are always the same. If the
staff takes his empty glass away, for sure he will complain that
the glass was not yet empty and he will demand a new beer. Or he
drinks a beer, leaves a centimeter in it and then complains that
the beer is not cold and wants a replacement. More then once he
called me to inform me that he had not received his well earned
BuGils Bucks the evening before. He does this for 5 years now, and
just now I start to like him. First I looked at him as an annoying
cheater always on the look for freebies; now I consider him
another colorful Bule Gila. A bar needs people like him.
When I published
the story about my planned trip
to Madura last week, this Dutchman was the first one to call me.
He wanted to join. First I thought it was because he just wanted
to go out of town, but later I realised he had read about the 18th
century antiques and a golden grail. Bloody Dutchman: He wanted to
join to do business.
To give you more idea of the profile of a Bule Gila, I will
describe a scene in the bar late last Sunday that involved the
Dutchman. There were some ten people around the bar.
A Customer wanted to give away a round of drinks to the people around him.
The Dutchman saw the mans' finger going up in the air, indicating
he wanted to order.
He then quickly finished his beer in two large gulps and lifted his empty glass high in the air.
The customer said: 'Bart, give the guy next to you a beer as
well'.
The Dutchman reacted, with a happy smile on his face: 'Thank you'.
While pointing at the Dutchman next to me,
I shouted to the royal customer in surprise: 'You want to give him a beer?!
Him!? Are you
sure!?'
The customer, shocked by my response, replied: 'I don't know him,
but... why not?'
The Dutchman, motionless, looked greedy at the movements of Risa who
was carefully tapping the beer.
I yelled over the bar: 'Because he never gives anything back! It is up to
you, but you will NOT get anything back! This guy next to me, only
takes but never gives! Never!''
Other customers looked astonished in my direction. The silent
Dutchman next to me showed a slight grin while collecting his free
beer.
I continued: 'This is for you all to know: This guy is Dutch, he
is stingy and is the most hated customer by all waitresses in
BuGils!'
'Betul! Betul!', shouted Risa in support. Widi looked
around the corner from the kitchen. 'Ada apa sih..? Oh si
Belanda gila ya....' (oh its that crazy Dutchman again...)
The Dutchman now started drinking his free beer, slowly, almost
carefully. His eyes stayed focused on the foam. All customers
looked at him, awaiting his reaction. But he didn't react. He had
managed to get another free Bintang. He was happy. After a few
moments of silence he slowly looked up to me and said: 'But
Bart..., you really don't have any business for me...?
--------xxx--------
Dear Readers, the Expat Property Newsletter will be
published again, starting next week. If you are looking for
property or you want to offer property, be sure you are on the
list. You can subscribe at
http://www.bartele.com
---xxx---
ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:
Widow, 104, loses her visa appeal
A 104-year-old Chinese woman who has lived in
Australia for 10 years has again been refused
a
permanent visa. (Yahoo)
Casino Company Buys 69-HH Stripper's Implant -
A former stripper once cleared of
battering a customer with her enormous breasts sold one of her
silicone implants on eBay to the same company that recently bought
a grilled cheese sandwich said to bear the image of the Virgin
Mary. (Yahoo)
Renovations Uncover Australian
Century-Old Murder Confession |
