"I'm heartened that the good folks of Indonesia see a different America now.

They see that when we find a Muslim child suffering

we weep just as equally as when we find another child that suffers..."

US President George Bush

Source: Bush: Tsunami Response Improves U.S. Image (Reuters)

At least 500 million cases of malaria occur each year - nearly 50% more than estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO), health experts say. They voiced particular concern over the situation in south and South East Asia. (BBC)

Competition swallowing up tsunami aid money in Aceh
The huge international aid effort promised for Aceh is in jeopardy, the Indonesian minister responsible for it has warned, because the operation lacks co-ordination and there is no agreed plan on how to spend the funds. (Sydney Morning Herald)

FROM THE EDITOR:

This Sunday I have the thankful task of leading 14 female BuGils employees on their staff outing. Our destination this time is Bali. Although I hope to enrich them with some cultural knowledge by taking them on trips to temples and shrines, they seem to be more interested in other entertainment. On Sunday evening they plan to go to Deja Vu. So if any reader of this newsletter wants to meet the BuGils girls (not a bad idea to make a kind of BuGils promotion out of this trip), you know where to find us. Another good change of meeting them will be between 16.00 and 17.00 in shopping areas and between 17.00 and 18.00 on Kuta Beach.

Every outing again there is always one dilemma that we face after arriving at our hotel: Who sleeps with whom? No, dear reader, it is not me who has the choice. My choice was clear from the moment I signed my contract five years ago: I have to sleep in one room with the only guy that goes along: our delivery boy Tukiran. He is 1.50 meter tall and he will do everything to irritate me immensely, like turning on dangdut music, making a mess of the toilet, complete with footprints on the seats, smoking kretek, etc. And you think I am lucky to go on a holiday with 14 girls? As soon as the bus stops in front of our hotel (which always turns out to be overbooked) the girls will storm the hotel and fight over rooms. It brings back memories from my schooldays when I was twelve. And then, after the first night, another problem will flare up. Every year some of the girls will abandon rooms because of ghost sightings. I, from my side, am convinced it has to do something with alcohol. They, however, will tell me -scared to dead- that they refuse to sleep in the particular rooms. I once threatened to deduct the fees we paid upfront for the rooms from their service charge.  The number of ghost sightings has declined ever since...

BuGils in the meanwhile will not close, but we will use some temporary staff to keep things going (we will be back on Tuesday afternoon). Also note that we have a fantastic expat band playing in BuGils this Saturday. The name of the band is SONGS FOR THE DEATH.

The style of Songs For The Death is 60's-00's pop rock, with traces of 60's blues. Cover the likes of the The Beatles, Pat Benatar, The Corrs, Joe Cocker, The Cult, Roxy Music, Peter Green, John Mayall, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Rolling Stones, The Small Faces, The Pretenders, The Police, and ZZ Top. Tonight in BuGils it will be fat Dony with his Jaya Pub Band again.

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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    One sample ad you can find in the lower part of this newsletter.

ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD:

3 siblings lived with dead parent for nearly a decade  -  Police in Japan questioned three siblings after it was discovered they had been living with the decomposed corpse of their father for nearly a decade, an official said.(Yahoo)

Man Charged With Rampage on Flight
A man denied alcohol during a United Airlines flight went on a rampage, breaking tray tables and other equipment. (Yahoo)

Dominican man dies after winning contest to drink the most tequila - The 21-year-old winner of a competition to drink the most tequila died Monday and three other contestants were gravely ill in the hospital, officials said. (AP)
 

Bad Balance Sheet or Poor Management?  -  Questions are being raised regarding the management of the oil and gas industry because the majority of revenues end up in the pockets of foreign contractors.  (Tempo)

The Three Letters
The Fact-Finding Team has found indications of Garuda executives’ involvement in the Munir case. Captain Rudy said nothing. But his style of choosing to occupy a chair behind the legislators, and leaving Indra alone in the hot seat, and then to face reporters’ alone, is already more than enough indication to explain what really happened.(Tempo)

Don't blame Indonesia
U.S. officials should carefully monitor the progress of the Bashir case. If the prosecution fails to make headway with witnesses, the US should reconsider making two detainees (Indonesian nationals Omar al-Faruq and Riduan Isamuddin) available to Indonesia for questioning. The US has a strong national security interest in seeing the Bashir conviction upheld and his sentence significantly stiffened. This interest might be secured simply by lending the Indonesians some technical expertise. If not, though, U.S. officials should seriously consider playing the aces at their disposal. (Washington Times)

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Friday at VIP at D's KEMANG 7.30 PM  BINGO! Chance to win line and house.

This Thursday BiG Dony and the Jaya Pub Band LIVE in BuGils, 21.00 onwards.

This Saturday Expat Band Songs for the Death LIVE in BuGils, 21.30 onwards.

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