Policemen stop work for soccer
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
;JP;
ANPai..r..
Sidelines
Policemen stop work for soccer
JP/13/SIDELINES
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