Policemen stop work for soccer
The Indonesian passion for soccer apparently has even affected the police who are meant to be securing the preparatory committee (PrepCom) meeting on sustainable development in Bali.
Not even policemen on duty could resist the temptation to watch the soccer games, especially when the match was being shown live from the World Cup in South Korea and Japan.
Police, passers-by and journalists huddled in front of a satellite television set on the back of the van of television station RCTI to watch the latest matches. -- JP
;JP; ANPai..r.. Sidelines Policemen stop work for soccer JP/13/SIDELINES
Ministers show disdain to NGOs
Different ministers, different temperaments and different ways of handling the public, as two of Indonesia's coordinating ministers showed.
Coordinating Minister for the Economy Dorodjatun Kuntjoro- Jakti kept his cool when a member of the Indonesian Indigenous People group warned him not to take anymore loans from foreign creditors in an open dialog with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Wednesday.
The minister was seen nodding amicably as the person continued his frustrated rant directed at the government. The NGO spokesperson claimed that Indonesia had treated indigenous people unfairly.
"Don't just nod, write this down!" he angrily ordered the minister, who calmly claimed that everything was being stored inside his head.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla blew his top when NGO members raised their voices in protest of what he was saying in a different dialog.
"You talk about being democratic, you are the ones that are being undemocratic," he said angrily. -- JP
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Govt criticized for exploiting guards
The presence of Balinese traditional village guards or pecalang has captured the attention of most delegates attending the current UN meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali.
Everything appeared to be running smoothly until Wednesday morning when hundreds of NGO members staged a big rally at the resort complex, which apparently provoked dozens of pecalang to the brink of an ugly, violent clash with the demonstrators.
Anak Agung Arya Wedakarna from the Bali Hindu Youth Association blamed the Indonesian government for involving pecalang as the security team to safeguard this UN-sponsored meeting.
"It is part of the politicization process of Balinese traditional community members," charged Arya.
Pecalang guards are closely linked to the traditional village of Banjar and now operate throughout Bali.
"They do not belong to any political party or other institutions, only Banjar," he said.
Each pecalang member was directly elected by the entire village community.
According to Balinese traditional rules, pecalang are obliged to protect and to defend their respective village regardless of the situation.
"We assume that there is a systematic effort to ruin the image of pecalang. We, the Balinese people, never had any intention to disturb the meeting." -- JP