To commemorate Biodiversity Day 2013, environmental activist groups Walhi Bali, Yayasan Wisnu and Greenpeace Indonesia held a dialogue on Tuesday, during which it was also stated that some 13 beaches in Bali are polluted.

The purpose of the meeting was to highlight the damage that can be inflicted on the environment by insensitive infrastructure development that is designed to support Bali’s tourist industry. The destruction of mangroves, which threatens the livelihood of local communities, was cited as an example.

Chairman of Yayasan Wisnu, Made Suarnata, said Indonesia is the country with the third-largest biodiversity in the world, after Brazil and the Congo. Indonesia’s biological richness is extraordinary, he added. However, there are still inequalities in the utilization of natural resources. Local people have always been the victims.

Walhi Bali Chairman Wayan Gendo Suardana alleged that much of the forest and marine destruction was effectively sanctioned by the government through its Master Plan for the Acceleration of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI). He drew attention to mangrove destruction at Ngurah Rai Forest Park alleged to have been caused by construction of the Benoa to Nusa Dua toll road in coastal waters.

Whilst acknowledging that the road is designed to relieve traffic congestion and is an important infrastructural improvement to support the upcoming Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting at Nusa Dua, Suardana added that the MP3EI often emphasizes tourism at the expense of the fisheries and livestock sector.

He also referred to possible plans, not yet publicized, for the formation of a new island or for land reclamation in south Bali to provide harbour facilities for cruise ships.

Suardana added that some 102.47 kilometers of Bali’s total 438.8 km of beaches are threatened with coastal erosion at 140 specific points, and only around 64 km can be saved or restored. Erosion of this type has a big impact on local fisheries, he said.

He also stated that, based on local environmental protection agency data, some 13 beaches are polluted by garbage, including the beaches at Kuta, Sanur, Mertasari, Serangan, Benoa, Soka Tabanan, Nusa Dua and Lovina.

Source:

Bali Post: 13 Pantai di Bali Tercemar

Image: coastal care.org

SMAN 1, a Denpasar high school has reportedly built a yoga centre for lazy students according to its principal.

The centre was inaugurated on Tuesday by Denpasar Mayor Ida Bagus Rai Dharmawijaya Mantra with both students and teachers attending.

The principal of the school, Nyoman Purnajaya, said that the yoga centre was a part of improving students’ mental wellbeing and character.

“We will provide yoga movements to students who are lazy or have decreased performance,” he said.

Purnajaya hopes that through yoga exercises, students can increase awareness, gain the ability to control themselves and improve their focus.

Yoga, he said, is a global sport and the benefits of yoga are both physical and spiritual health.

Source:

Metro TV News: Yoga Centre di SMAN 1 Denpasar untuk Siswa Malas

Image: google.com

Following reports of violations at the polling station in the village of Bungkulan, Buleleng regency, voters go to the polls again today in a supervised vote to choose the next governor of Bali.

The chairman of the elections supervisory committee explained that there was a discrepancy of 100 votes against the number of registered voters in the original vote last week, forcing the ballot to be rerun.

“Voters present were 341 but the number of ballots was 441,” explained Chairman I Made Wena.

Nyoman Mardika of Integrity Bali, a local NGO monitoring the election, explained that there was an attempt at “toying with the legitimate voice of voters”.

“We received a lot of complaints from Sukrawan Puspayoga and his teammate. We also heard allegations about bribery and intimidation ahead of polling day,” he added.

Earlier reports of collusion between a supervisor and a local resident have been investigated and the result is that the poll will be held again today as Balinese voters are urged not to become complacent with corruption and voter fraud.

Today’s vote will be monitored closely by officials. As the final count last week resulted in a near tie, today’s result may be the decider between the two parties.

In addition to issuing recommendations for the re-vote, the Elections Supervisory Committee will also take the two alleged fraudsters to the police for violating the election laws.

Both suspects could be jailed from one month to one year, with a fine of up to Rp. 1 million.

Sources: okezone.com, KPU Bali Didesak Hitung Ulang Suara di Tingkat Kecamatan

Komaps.com: Satu Warga Coblos 100 Surat Suara di Pilgub Bali

Photo: alitarimbawa.deviantart.com

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) plans to increase the observation of flights from Malaysia to prevent the entry of drugs into Indonesia.

“The BNN is concerned that Malaysia is one of the main entry points when it comes to drugs found in Indonesia,” said Head of BNN Anang Iskandar at the third meeting of ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force in Pecatu on Monday.

According to him, the cooperation with one of Indonesia’s closest neighbouring countries will be increased due to the growing number of cases of drug smuggling coming from Malaysia.

Iskandar added that there have been many new modes in which narcotics are brought into the country, and that current methods of policing drug traffickers were becoming obsolete. He then went on to say that drug trafficking is a global problem, and cannot be solved completely. However, it can be reduced by cooperation between countries in the ASEAN region.

The meeting was also attended by representatives from Japan, South Korea and China, and focused on exchanging experiences related to methods of international drug syndicates. “We also discussed efforts to increase cooperation between ASEAN and partner countries in preventing and cutting off illicit drug trafficking at airports, seaports and borders,” he said.

Source:

Suara Kaya Online: BNN Amati Seluruh Penerbangan dari Malaysia

Image: www.tidalpush.com

BALI & JAKARTA NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT TUESDAY MAY 21 2013 The latest local news and entertainment information powered by the beat magazine LOCAL NEWS Schapelle Corby faces parole setbackConvicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby’s bid for parole may be encountering problems as the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) seems to be opposing it. >More Drugs syndicate task force meets in BaliA task force, created to co-ordinate the ASEAN countries in the fight against drug trafficking in the region, met in Jimbaran yesterday. >More British man found dead in Rote A British national was found dead in a hotel room in the island of Rote located south of Timor and is being flown to Bali for burial. >More Bike thief beaten up at Tanah Lot A junior high school student was apprehended and beaten by locals on Sunday afternoon, shortly after attempting to steal the motorbike of a market vendor at the busy Tanah Lot temple near Tabanan. >More LATESTS COMMENTS ON THE TBD AND BEATMAG.COM Surf Guy on Garuda Indonesia join Coca-Cola & Quiksilver Bali in beach clean-upAdam Rice on Questions raised over Dewa Ruci underpass ART Whose Canvas : Awan Yozeffani Every painter has their own ways to create masterpieces, including how they will share the story in each piece. >More STYLE SCOOP New Bambooku shop opensIf you’re sick of that cotton shirt of yours staying too moist and synthetic fabrics aren’t your style, you might want to check out Bambooku and their bamboo apparel and linens. >More WHATS ON TONIGHT BALI WHATS ON TONIGHT JAKARTA WHAT’S HOT TODAY?A-Club @4th floor Akasaka Soundblaze DJ Shissy-Bvlgary Resident DJs, sensual dancers from Jakarta Starts 10pm COMING EVENTS Wednesday May 22 Akasaka Music Club Soul of House Music DJ Ronny-Cyber DJ Team Jakarta & Rommy DJ Home DJs, sexy dancers Jakarta 10pm-12am 50% off draft beer, up until 20% off full bottle Starts 10pm Eikon Special Guest DJ Kettlechips (Aus) Happy hour 8pm-12amRyoshi House of Jazz Nita Aartsen (50k special event) Starts 9pm You’re receiving this newsletter because you are subscribed to The Beat Daily.Subscribe to The Beat Daily Unsubscribe to The Beat Daily Advertising enquiries: sales@beatmag.com www.beatmag.com Follow The Beat on Twitter | Join The Beat on Facebook 2012 Copyright The Beat Daily

The Beat Daily

A British national was found dead in a hotel room in the island of Rote located south of Timor and is being flown to Bali for burial.

The man identified as Robert Treficus Fane, 55, was discovered by his wife, Dewi, in Nembrala on the south side of Rote.

Local police believe that the man had died hours before he was discovered.

Authorities say the man and his wife had eaten at the Nembrala hotel and had been drinking beer whilst smoking. The wife reportedly went to sleep around 10pm, but woke up and saw the victim alive at 2am drinking and watching TV.

Officials are still reportedly trying to determine the cause of death, but there was no evidence of violence on the victim. The body was taken to Ba’a regional hospital.

The body was then taken by chartered plane to Kupang where it will then be flown to Bali for burial.

Source

JPNN: Turis Inggris Tewas Di Hotel

Image: maps.google.com

A task force, created to co-ordinate the ASEAN countries in the fight against drug trafficking in the region, met in Jimbaran yesterday.

The National Narcotics Agency (BNN) in co-operation with the ASEAN secretariat had previously collaborated to create the ASEAN Airport Interdiction Task Force (AAITF). The task force’s mandate is to take a regional approach at exposing drug syndicates, and to support the ASEAN leaders’ declaration for the region to eliminate drug trafficking by 2015.

“This is the third meeting (of the task force); the last two were held in Bangkok,” BNN chairman, Sam Iskandar told media on Monday afternoon.

“The goal is, via cooperation, to prevent illicit drug trafficking in the region, either through airports, ports or borders.”

The task force aims to share intelligence gained in each country to combat drug trafficking through international boundaries.

“It is important for member states to maintain a commitment to the success of this cooperation as well as share and learn about the approach or experience of each in terms of the implementation of interdiction operations in each jurisdiction,” he added.

Source:

Jaring News: Putus Jaringan Sindikat Narkoba, AAITF Digelar di Bali

Photo: 2012-4p2.wiki.hci.edu.sg

Convicted Australian drug smuggler Schapelle Corby’s bid for parole may be encountering  problems as the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) seems to be opposing it.

National Narcotics Agency official Benny Mamoto yesterday told Australia’s Nine Network he had sent a letter to the Indonesia’s Minister for Justice and Human Rights saying that his organisation was against the parole idea.

In March, the Australian government guaranteed that if Corby were granted early release from prison, it would ensure the conditions of her parole would not be violated. Although her sentence would otherwise have been completed in 2017, hopes were voiced that she might be released from custody early, on condition that she serve the remainder of her sentence in Bali.

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University Indonesia expert Jeff Lewis told Channel Nine that BNN support would normally be regarded as crucial to the success of a parole appeal to the Justice Ministry.

Corby was sentenced to 20 years jail for smuggling four kilograms of marijuana into Indonesia in 2004. She has maintained her innocence.

Her prison term was reduced by five years after she was granted clemency last year.

Source:

Tvnz onenews: Schapelle Corby faces parole setback

Image: Wikipedia.com

A junior high school student was apprehended and beaten by locals on Sunday afternoon, shortly after attempting to steal the motorbike of a market vendor at the busy Tanah Lot temple near Tabanan.

Identified by police as AF, the junior high school student from Lumajang, East Java, had approached market vendor Made Sigit Friyanta, and asked for a cigarette. Busy, Friyanta declined, but shortly afterwards the boy was seen jumping onto the victim’s motorcycle, a white Yamaha Mio, which was parked not far from his stall.

Seeing that the bike had disappeared, Friyanta shouted for help, and immediately a number of other traders chased the boy down, and successfully caught up with him around two kilometres from the Tanah Lot entrance gate.

Eye witnesses reported seeing the boy beaten by the angry mob. “After we caught him, the perpetrator had to apologise. However, residents hurried to attack him,” said Friyanta.

As a result of the beating, the alleged thief suffered a number of injuries to the face before police arrived on the scene. The teenager was then escorted to Kediri police station.

When questioned, the young boy was reportedly abusive and uncooperative with authorities, suggesting that he may have been drunk or under the influence of a narcotic substance. After several hours of interrogation, the perpetrator was still ranting incoherently.

However, it been ascertained that the boy apparently came to Bali on a school trip, but so far it has not been possible to contact the group with which he travelled.

According to Tabanan Police Chief Eko Kurniawan, Kediri Police are still trying to track down the travel agency that arranged the trip. “The perpetrator is still being difficult under questioning, and we are still trying to contact his family,” said Eko.

Source:

Bali Post: Gasak Motor di Tanah Lot Siswa SMP Diamuk Massa

Image: farm8.staticflickr.com

Udayana University academic Prof. Nyoman Darma Putra has proposed that the toll road from Benoa to Nusa Dua, currently under construction, be named after the artist I Wayan Lotring, who lived from 1898 to 1983.

Lotring was a significant figure in the development of art and culture in Bali. Born in Kuta, he became a professor of dance and Balinese percussion instruments, educating both local artists and those from abroad, Darma Putra said on Saturday.

“As Bali is a tourist area with so many visitors passing through, the naming of highways after important cultural figures will generate a sense of pride in those figures,” Darma Putra said.

The Benoa toll road linking Ngurah Rai Airport and Nusa Dua is routed over coastal waters and passes some picturesque scenery. It is scheduled to open to traffic sometime in June.

Besides I Wayan Lotring, other names considered for the toll road were Soekarno-Hatta, I Gusti Ngurah Rai, I Gusti Patih Jelantik, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad (a 20th century painter) and Made Mangku Pastika, the incumbent governor who, as Bali police chief, was a key figure in hunting down and capturing the October 2002 Bali bombers.

Source:

Kompas: Nama seniman diusulkan jadi nama jalan tol Bali

Image: balicarcare.blogspot.com