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Friday, March 18, 2011

16 Pages Number 703rd Year

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Foster grateful forGibson role in newmovie

Barong BangkungKeeps on PursuingIts ’Prey’

A senior hospital official in thecity told The Associated Press that30 people had been killed and atleast 80 wounded in the fightingsince Thursday night, and manymore of the injured couldn’t reachthe hospital. He spoke on condi-tion of anonymity for fear of offi-cial retaliation.

Gadhafi’s rapid advance on therebels appears to have spurred theUnited States to leave behind

Reuters

SANTIAGO – A magnitude 5.3earthquake rattled central Chile onWednesday, shaking buildings inthe capital Santiago, but there wereno reports of any damage or inju-ries, the government said.

The U.S. Geological Survey saidthe quake struck 45 miles north-northeast of the central Chilean portcity of Valparaiso, at a depth of 15.3miles. Reuters witnesses said build-ings swayed in Santiago, 75 milesmiles to the east.

“There are no reports of anydamage or injuries,” a spokes-woman for state emergency office AFP PHOTO/CLAUDIO POZO

Picture of boats lying on theground beaside the sea inDichato, 500 km south of

Santiago, taken on March 12,2011 hours after the placewas hit by tsunami wavesfrom Japan’s huge quakecausing some damages.

Magnitude 5.3 quake shakes Chile, no damage seenOnemi told Reuters.

Quake-prone Chile’s economyis still recovering from a massive8.8 magnitude earthquake a yearago, which hammered towns, in-frastructure and industries in south-central Chile and killed more than500 people.

AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti

Men, who used to work in Libya and fled the unrest in the country, carry their belongings as they walk during a sand stormin a refugee camp at the Tunisia-Libyan border, in Ras Ajdir, Tunisia, Tuesday, March 15, 2011. More than 250,000 migrantworkers have left Libya for neighboring countries, primarily Tunisia and Egypt, in the past three weeks.

Continued on page 6

Associated Press Writer

TOBRUK, Libya – Libya’s opposition battled to keep Moammar Gadhafi’s forces at thegateway to rebel-held territory on Thursday, hoping for help from the U.N. Security Councilbefore his tanks and troops break through the city of Ajdabiya.

weeks of doubts about a no-flyzone in Libya, and start pushing forbroader U.N. authorization for in-ternational air, sea and land forces.

The Obama administration andother supporters of action againstGadhafi were pushing for a Thurs-day vote on a draft resolution. Rus-sia and China have expresseddoubts about the U.N. and otheroutside powers getting involved.

By Thursday afternoon,

Gadhafi’s army had surroundedAjdabiya on three sides, leavingopen only the road north to thelarger rebel stronghold of Benghazi.

Charred vehicles, bullet-riddledpickup trucks and an overturnedtank littered the desert highwaywhere pro-Gadhafi forces hadfought up to the entrance ofAjdabiya, a city of 140,000. Gov-ernment troops were bringing in astream of truckloads of ammunition,

rockets and supplies.A rebel spokesman told The As-

sociated Press that Benghazi, 100miles (160 kilometers) to the northalong the Mediterranean coast, was“armed to the teeth” and the oppo-sition is ready to defend it.

More checkpoints were poppingup at intersections and on mainroads, manned by men in uniformarmed with Ak-47s and backed byanti-aircraft guns mounted onpickup trucks. A Benghazi residentwho did not want to be identifiedfor fear of reprisals said the city’syoung men were volunteering toundergo basic military training.

InternationalFriday, March 18, 20112

Bali News

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Chief Executive of the NationalCouncil on Climate Change, Prof.(Hon.) Rachmat Witoelar, said thatpressure against the food security wasprogressively severe considering theincrease in harvest failure to a vari-ety of agricultural commodities indifferent regions.

“Harvest failure does not onlythreaten the national food security butalso has a direct impact on farmersand perpetrators of agricultural busi-nesses so vulnerabilities in the eco-nomic and social sector are even get-ting higher,” said Rachmat Witoelarin Denpasar. He added, to maintainthe target of agricultural productionsuch as rice in the next 10 years wasprobably difficult to realize. Asidefrom being caused by less fertile soil,the extreme weather changes alsowere obstacles in achieving the pro-duction target.

“Endeavor to maintain the foodsecurity within 5 years ahead is noteasy. Other than the progressively di-minishing arable land, it is alsokindled by global climate changehaving an impact on the soil directlyor indirectly,” he said. Extremeweather was also recognized to dis-rupt the lives of coastal communities,especially fishermen. Strong windsaccompanied by rainy storms andhigh waves caused the fishermen beunable to go to sea. As consequence,they could not get daily earnings fortheir survival.

“Disruption in marine transporta-tion system does not only occur topassenger transport but also to logis-tic transport which resulted in the

Denpasar (Bali Post)—

Governor of Bali MangkuPastika calling for local companiesto contribute in the Bali regional de-velopment through public invest-ment reaped the support from aca-demicians. Provided, investors whowanted to invest their capital shouldbe subject to the prevailing rules.

“Anyone has the right to investin Bali, both children of the officialsand foreign investors. As long asthey comply with the rules and notabuse the position of parents whohappen to be a public official it doesnot matter,” said the Dean of theFaculty of Economics, WarmadewaUniversity (Unwar), I WayanArjana, in Denpasar, Wednesday(Mar 16). According to him, thepresence of investors would have apositive impact on the developmentand economic growth in Bali. Nev-ertheless, government had to be se-lective and supportive in providinginvestment licenses in Bali.

“Provision of tender must betransparent and give priority to qual-ity, regardless of status or position.There should be no partisanship andthey may not disregard the existingrules such as regulations on spatiallayout planning because of havinga special relation,” he said.

It was said that entrepreneurs andinvestors who happened to beofficial’s family should become aparagon for society by complyingwith all rules and regulations. Theexistence of investment would gen-erate multiplier effects including theincreased employment opportuni-ties, enhanced ability of publicspending and demand of domesticmarket.

“As a matter of fact, Bali abso-lutely needs investment in improv-ing the macro economy. But, gov-ernment must sort out the positiveand negative impacts of each invest-ment license issued,” he said.

Endeavor to encourage local in-vestors in the development of Baliwas also supported by the Dean ofthe Faculty of Economics, UdayanaUniversity, Prof. Dr. WayanRamantha. Even, as a stabilizer, gov-ernment was expected not only togenerate local investment, but alsoinvest in some sectors, particularlyin the agricultural sector remainingto be underestimated.

“In addition to generating localinvestors, government also needs tomake an investment such as provid-ing adequate infrastructure in the

Gianyar (Bali Post) –Due to the tsunami that happened

in Japan a week ago, the value ofGianyar export crafts threaten to goless. The worry was felt by crafts en-trepreneurs and cargo services whichsends it to the Sakura country.

Last Wednesday (16/3) a numberof Bali Post sources met some ofthem. According to the data, in 2010the export value of Gianyar to Japanwas third place after Europe, Brazil,

Climate change threatensClimate change threatensClimate change threatensClimate change threatensClimate change threatensfood security in Indonesiafood security in Indonesiafood security in Indonesiafood security in Indonesiafood security in IndonesiaDenpasar (Bali Post)—

Climate change indicated by the prolonged rainy season with high intensity results in negativeimpact on the agricultural and fishery sector. As consequence, the food security in Indonesia isgetting under threat leading to food crisis.

spike in prices at various locations,especially in small islands,” hesaid.

In essence, various problemsarising posed new challenges forthe ongoing development processin Indonesia. Therefore, paradigmsand approaches in the national de-velopment should be changed toanticipate the increasing impactsand to minimize the environmen-tal degradation and the occurrenceof climate change.

“Ultimately, the abundant natu-ral resources are taken advantageinstantly with the aim to bring inforeign exchange in relatively shorttime and generally lead to the uti-lization without added value. As aresult, it could only engender for-eign exchanges in short term andin quite low value,” he explained.

With the instant approach,many irresponsible activities oc-curred. The natural resourcesowned by Indonesia, both locatedin the ground, on the ground andwater bodies, had lived throughexploitation to move the wheels ofdevelopment. Environmentaldamage due to irresponsible de-velopment activities hadsynergized and become increas-ingly severe due to climatechanges. “Forest poses one of theassets owned by Indonesia in hugequantities. But, the use of forests,especially due to irresponsiblelogging, has become the biggestthreat within the past few de-cades,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Director of

Postgraduate Program of Environ-mental Sciences, Prof. MadeSudiana Mahendra, Ph.D. said theexcessive exploitation of naturehad destroyed the existing balanceof ecosystems. “The absence ofmedia absorbing rainwater due toforest exploitation caused the ris-ing waters of Lake Buyan. Addi-tionally, it included the silting ofthe lake,” he said.

Additionally, it did not includein the external challenges such asglobal warming. The accumulatedeffects would be doubled. “Gov-ernment must perform forest con-servation and land use should bein accordance with their properfunction,” he said.Many develop-ment measures in the region, as-sessed Sudiana Mahendra, did notcomply with spatial layout plan.Villa designation, cultivationtechnique that had not followedterracing pattern and agriculturalactivities directly at lakeside werealso the causes of environmentaldamage. “Regional Regulation onthe Regional Spatial Layout Plan(RTRW) is very supportive to pre-vent the environmental degrada-tion. Moreover, the plan of inves-tors to establish a tourism facil-i ty over the lake and on thelakeside will cause environmen-tal damage,” he said.

Sudiana Mahendra added thatpeople should continue to encour-age and oversee the government’spolicies on the spatial layout, es-pecially the allocation for tourismand agriculture. (par)

Craft Export Value to Japan ThreatenSouth Africa and India with valueUSD 4,282,212.03 from the wholeUSD 47,845,944.42. In January2011 Gianyar’s export value to Ja-pan USD 121,475.76 and in Feb-ruary 2011 USD 78,132.85, show-ing it’s still stable. “It’s not felt nowbut in the next month it might befelt,” Agus Bagus, a MarketingCargo in Gianyar stated.

Meanwhile Head of GianyarTrade and Industry Agency, Ir.

Wayan Suamba, MT, did not declinethe worries felt by these businesses asit is normal. Yet it has to be tackledfrom happening. What’s more onMonday (14/3) there was a documentstating two containers about to be sentto Japan. “We’re unsure of what theexport value condition to Japan wouldbe like but at least we know what’sgoing on right now so there should beways to mend it connecting to the situ-ation,” Suamba concluded. (kmb16)

Investors mustcomply with rules

field of agriculture. With the support,the agricultural sector will be im-proved automatically,” he said.

According to him, the support ofgovernment in improving the agri-cultural sector was not necessarilyin the form of direct support. By theprovision of supporting infrastruc-ture such as adequate ports of trans-portation, technology and industryin the field of agriculture would raisethe sector. Those facilities wouldimprove the growth of direct foreigninvestment and domestic investmentin agriculture.

“Factors on minimal investorsshowing their interest in the agricul-tural sector are caused by inadequatefacilities. On that account, investorshave to pay more than investing inthe tourism sector,” he said.

Agricultural sector, according toRamantha, had a great impact on themacro economy. Therefore, govern-ment was necessary to give incen-tive in the form of ease of invest-ment in agriculture. “To advance theagricultural sector, it is needed acomprehensive policy including theincentives to investors who are in-terested to invest in the sector,” hesaid.

Incentives could be in the formease of licensing, tax incentives andother incentives. In addition, the in-vestment sector had to be moredriven by designing policies thatwere pro-investment. “Until now,the agricultural sector remains to be-come the sector absorbing most la-bor. However, the largest labor-in-tensive sector does not growflourishingly. It is adequately con-cerned,” he explained.

Related to investment in Bali,Governor of Bali Made MangkuPastika expected the emergence ofnew investors who were the nativepeople to Bali, namely investors whoknew Bali for sure and loved Bali.Thus, their investment activitieswould not damage the environmentand nature of Bali. “Investors werenot necessarily from outside Bali,”he said.

With the investment, he said,would be able to increase the em-ployment, tax and welfare. However,he reminded that investment activ-ity was still obliged to pay attentionto environmental laws and not de-structive to the noble values and lo-cal knowledge of Bali. “Personally,I do hope the emergence of Bali lo-cal investors who thoroughly lovethe nature and environment of Bali,”he said. (par/kmb13)

3International Bali News Friday, March 18, 2011

Negara, DenPostPost to the book bombings which

one of them hit Utan Kayu Commu-nity complex caused Head of EastJakarta Police Criminal Research, Po-lice Commissioner Dodi Rahmawan’sleft hand injured, Jembrana Police areraising awareness and security in theBali’s entrance gate, Gilimanuk. Of-ficers also regional intelligent commu-nity (Kominda) came down operatingsweeping to all people, goods and ve-

Advisor Manager of HIS Manage-ment, Tatsuya Tanaka, accompanied byFinancial Controller I Wayan Pageh,Wednesday (Mar 16), explained thelatest situation on the data of foreigntourists visiting Bali that had decreasedby 50 percent. “On average, our agencycould bring in up to 3,000 Japanesetourists to Bali and for the services wehave worked with some 200 hotels inBali. Now, after the disaster our han-dling guests diminished by 50 percent,”he said.

So far, Japanese tourists had be-come the largest market handled by thistravel agency. It consisted of guestsfrom four major cities in Japan namelyTokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka.Of the four cities, Tokyo was the larg-est. However, his party stated that thosecities were categorized to be safe.

“The four cities belong to safe and

Denpasar (Bali Post) –Due to smuggling 1289 ecsta-

sies with weight 371,11 gram and2,68 net grams methamphet-amine, a Thai girl who works as astriptease dancer UemdueanSophawet alias Emmy was statedto have violated section 112 para-graph 2, 113 paragraph 2 and 115paragraph 2 Indonesian RepublicLaw No. 35 Year 2009 about nar-cotic drugs. Her eyes went wateryafter hearing her translator’s ex-planation that she’s threaten tospend the rest of her life in jail atDenpasar District Court lastWednesday (16/3).

In the trial led by JudgeIstiningsih Rahayu, Public Pros-ecutor Raka Arimbawa stated thecase started when accused metAlexander Vetipsky in adiscothèque at Thailand whereAlex straight away offered Emmyto deliver the drugs to Bali. Afterthat the items were given inEmmy’s apartment addressed at211 211 Kokmammung PakamBuri Ram, Thailand 31220, whichhappened last 15th December2010. The items were in packages

Denpasar (Bali Post)—The mushrooming development

of modern stores such asminimarkets, super markets, malls,hyper markets are feared to shift theexistence of traditional markets andshops owned by the community.Moreover, the products sold in mod-ern markets, particular in minimarketare not much different from thosesold in traditional shops. On that ac-count, it is required a decisive stanceto discipline the existence of mod-ern markets.

A member of Commission C ofDenpasar House, AA SusrutaNgurah Putra, who was met in hisoffice on Wednesday (Mar 16), saidthe emergence of networkedminimarkets in Denpasar threatenedthe local small businesses. In real-ity, the penetration of minimarketshad reached fairly small areas. Ac-cording to him, this condition neededgoverning by stronger regulations,such as Regional Regulation.

He judged the presence of May-oral Regulation No. 9/2009 concern-ing with the Re-arrangement andRestoration of Traditional Market,Shopping Center and Modern Stores,had not been adequate. It was provenby the emergence of many modernshops, especially minimarkets.

On the other hand, Chairman ofCommission B, Eko Supriadi, spe-cifically assessed the less equivocal-ness of civilian security guards(Tramtib) in taking action againstviolators of modern store business.He pointed out that stores that hadbeen sealed could open again a fewmoments later though they did not

Denpasar (Bali Post) –The National Lokakarya XI held

by Indonesian Agriculture UniversityCommunication Forum (FKPTPI) inInna Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur,was attended by the whole Indonesiaagriculture university students lastWednesday (16/3). In the middle ofthe event, General Secretary of theForum, great teacher of Solo’s SebelasMaret University, Prof. Dr. Ir. H.Suntoro Wongso Atmojo, M.S., clari-fied that agriculture is not just paddyfields with their dirty farmers coveredin mud but actually much wider thanthat and promising.

It was said many plantation andagriculture industries need promisinggraduates from agriculture universi-

Japanese tourist visitJapanese tourist visitJapanese tourist visitJapanese tourist visitJapanese tourist visitdrops by 50 percentdrops by 50 percentdrops by 50 percentdrops by 50 percentdrops by 50 percentDenpasar (Bali Post)—

Concerns of Bali tourism related to tragedy of the earthquake measuring 8.9 RS hitting Japanaccompanied with tsunami last week has become a reality. One of the largest travel agencies inBali specializing to handle Japanese market namely HIS Travel said the number of Japanesetourist visits to Bali dropped about 50 percent. Of course, it has made the shadows of concernsfor the development of Bali tourism today. Moreover, Japan is the largest contributor within thebig five of tourists visiting Bali after Australia.

normal category as they are very farfrom the epicenter of the quake particu-larly from the devastated towns. Prob-ably, it reaches 300 km,” he explained.Meanwhile, related to the dangers ofnuclear radiation, Japan side had triedto deal with such horrible situation. Hisparty convinced that Japanese commu-nities traveling abroad were declaredsafe because a pretty tight detection hadbeen carried out. But, most importantly,said Tanaka, cancellation of touriststraveling to Bali had been well in-formed to hotels in Bali.

Previously, the Indonesian Hotelsand Restaurants Association (PHRI) ofBali Chapter recorded some 1,298room nights should be canceled a dayafter the disaster. From March 12 to 13,there were 38 hotels declared to havereceived room cancellation. The high-est cancellation occurred in Kuta area

amounting to 1,151 room nights, andthen followed by Tuban (114), NusaDua (31) and Jimbaran (2).

Nevertheless, the mega-tsunami af-flicting the cherry blossom country didnot cause a massive exodus of tourists.PHRI have written to the entire stake-holders in Japan to convey its sympa-thy-related disasters that cost the livesof several thousands more. “In our fore-cast, the aftermath of Japan’s disastercan affect the macro condition of Balitourism because the number of Japa-nese tourists visiting Bali still occupiesthe top five,” he said.

According to him, the earthquakeand tsunami hitting the eastern andnorthern coast of Japan could affect theeconomic condition of Japan. As a re-sult, the recession in Japan could trig-ger a broad impact on the economy ofthe Asia-Pacific region. (par)

FKPTPI: AgricultureNot Just Paddy Fields

ties such as for palm and rubber plan-tation. He hoped the government willbe encouraging agriculture develop-ment so the people’s prosperity rises.

Udayana University (Unud) Rec-tor, Prof. Made Bakta, stated thatagriculture was the backbone inIndonsia’s construction develop-ment as most of its people works inthis sector. For that it needs moreattention as all this time their ap-preciation hasn’t been optimalwhen actually a profession like thisis truly grateful as it increasespeople’s prosperity. Yet the attrac-tions towards this study still lessand so it is these universities’ re-sponsibility to increase the studiesquality, its graduate’s quality and

open up those self-entrepreneurshipspirit. With that they will have agood main competence and alsocreating job fields.

Unud Dean of Agriculture Faculty,Prof. Dr. Ir. Made Sudana, agreed.Agriculture universities’ curriculumshave to be planned and perfected wellas by being an agriculture expert that’screative and idealistic, creating newinnovations, it is hoped the agricul-ture will be much desired by thepeople as there are many graduatesthat have become successful such asdeveloping fruits with no seeds, col-orful orchards and other products thathas high value. “We have to erase theimage that farmers are poor,” Sudanaconcluded. (08)

Post Book Bombings,Gilimanuk Secured Tightly

hicles that came in and out Bali.It took place in two locations last

Tuesday (15/3) evening led by Headof Jembrana Police GAPC IrfingJaya. For those entering waschecked on the Gilimanuk exit gatewhich was coordinated by Head ofGilimanuk Waters Police APCMade Prihejagat. Meanwhile thoseexiting were at Gelung Kori,Penginuman. Every person’s iden-tity, vehicles and its documents, all

the goods brought are raided andchecked.

According to Jaya, security checkhas been tighter all this time eitherthat’s in the harbor or in police sta-tions. Yet, such incident in Jakartaalerts Bali and so security inGilimanuk increased even tighter with70 personnel added. Jaya also suggeststhe public to be careful when receiv-ing a packet either from a personknown or worse unknown. (120)

Thai Striptease DancerThreaten Jailed for Life For Life

and Emmy was asked to swallowit one by one.

After 15 minutes of swallow-ing them, at the same day shewent to the Airport with Alex andwent by herself on a TG 431plane. Arriving in Ngurah RaiAirport the next day, 16th Decem-ber 2010, workers in the airportwere suspicious of Emmy’s be-havior. When her goods and herbody were checked, nothing wasfound. And then workers held herstomach as it’s curiously hard.“After x-rayed there were foreignor illegal items in it,” RakaArimbawa explained.

To take it out, workers thenbought her a fruit juice whichcaused her stomach aching andwent to the toilet. Not all weretaken out at once mixed with herdirt. At first 87 packs with each12 blue ecstasy tablets, later onanother packet of 168 tablets cameout. The third time, another twopackets with 64 tablets each. Lateron was a packet of 4 tablets andthe last one a packet of metham-phetamine. She was then broughtto Bali Police straight away. (015)

Decisive action requiredto restrict modern stores

have permission yet. “I think the ac-tion of the officers is not maximal,”he said.

Meanwhile, the Head of Denpasarcivilian security guards (Trantib) andpublic order officers (Satpol PP), IKetut Nick Natha Wibawa said hisparty had taken decisive actionagainst violations committed by em-ployers of minimarket. It was provenby dozens of illegal minimarkets hadbeen imposed with seal sanctionswithin the past few months. Not onlythat, if there were minimarkets re-opened within the period of sanc-tions, his party even sealed the build-ing used to operate their business.

However, Natha Wibawa admit-ted the act of some minimarket en-trepreneurs who played hide-and-seek with the officers. The seal af-fixed by the officer was not openedby the entrepreneurs, but they re-opened their business with the exist-ing attached seals. “Breaking the sealhas been categorized into commit-ting a crime. In this stage, it has be-come the authority of police,” saidNick Natha Wibawa.

This former Assistant I ofDenpasar Municipality alsoadded that city administration hadcurrently been drafting a MayoralInstruction in disciplining illegalminimarkets in Denpasar. The in-structions would involve relevantagencies, such as the Office of In-tegrated Licensing, Spatial Lay-out Plan and Housing Servicesand other related institutions. “Ithink it is just waiting for the ap-proval signature,” said NathaWibawa. (kmb12)

International4 Friday, March 18, 2011 News

Engineers were rushing againsttime to run in a power line off the maingrid to fire up the water pumps neededto cool two reactors and the spent fuelrods considered most at risk. WhileJapanese officials were scramblingwith a patchwork of fixes at the facil-ity, the top U.S. nuclear regulatorwarned that reactor No.4’s coolingpool for spent fuel rods may have rundry and another was leaking.

“There is no water in the spentfuel pool and we believe that radia-tion levels are extremely high,which could possibly impact theability to take corrective measures,”Gregory Jaczko, head of theNuclear Regulatory Commission,told a U.S. House Energy and Com-merce subcommittee hearing.

“It would be very difficult for

Agence France Presse

CHRISTCHURCH, NewZealand – Prince William expressedhis shock at the devastation in earth-quake-hit Christchurch Thursdayafter walking amid the rubble to in-spect the stricken New Zealand cityfirst hand. “It’s just so sad,” thePrince said as he surveyed teeteringbuildings in the city centre, whichwas razed in last month’s 6.3-mag-nitude tremor, adding “the scale ofit is unbelievable”.

The Prince, travelling without hisbride-to-be Kate Middleton, wasconfronted with the sight of officeblocks and shops that collapsedwhen the February 22 quake killedabout 180 people and flattenedmuch of the city. The trip to

AFP PHOTO / POOL

Britain Prince William visits Christchurch’s Cathedral on March 17,2011. Prince William expressed shock at the devastation in earthquake-hit Christchurch after walking amid the rubble of the stricken NewZealand city to see the damage first hand.

Prince William stunned atChristchurch quake damage

Christchurch, which has been rockedby constant aftershocks since theFebruary 22 quake, was the first stopon a five-day tour of disaster-hit ar-eas of New Zealand and Australia.

The 28-year-old displayed noneof the reserve normally associatedwith visiting royalty, acknowledgingthe emotional impact the city’s plighthad on him and offering heartfeltthanks to rescue workers and wordsof comfort to residents.

Christchurch resident James Sykessaid locals appreciated his presenceon a trip St James’ Palace has de-scribed as a way for the royals to showsupport to Australians and NewZealanders following a string of re-cent disasters. “I’m not what youwould call a royalist but I’m just gladthat someone in his shoes decided to

come down here,” Sykes said. “Itshows solidarity with the people.”

Appearing relaxed and in good spir-its after touching down at Christchurchairport, the Prince paused to hold anonlooker’s baby and smiled as onewoman yelled out: “Thank you somuch for coming to Christchurch.” Butthe mood became sombre when he ar-rived in the city centre, the area worsthit in the disaster.

He was guided into Christchurch’s“red zone”, which is still closed tothe public because of the danger fromdamaged buildings, including thecity’s landmark cathedral, reduced toa rubble-strewn shell in the quake. Itwas a stark contrast to the Prince’slast visit to Christchurch in 2005 dur-ing a rugby union tour by the Britishand Irish Lions.

Fears mount as Japan races to cool reactorsFears mount as Japan races to cool reactorsFears mount as Japan races to cool reactorsFears mount as Japan races to cool reactorsFears mount as Japan races to cool reactorsReuters

TOKYO – Operators of a quake-crippled nuclear plant in Japandumped water on overheating reactors on Thursday while the UnitedStates expressed growing alarm about leaking radiation and said itwas chartering aircraft to help Americans leave the country.

emergency workers to get near thereactors. The doses they could ex-perience would potentially be lethaldoses in a very short period of time.”The plant operator said it believedthe No.4 reactor spent fuel pool stillhad water as of Wednesday.

U.S. officials took pains not tocriticize the Japanese government,which has shown signs of being over-whelmed by the crisis, butWashington’s actions indicated a di-vide with the Japanese about the per-ilousness of the situation. “The worst-case scenario doesn’t bear mention-ing and the best-case scenario keepsgetting worse,” Perpetual Investmentssaid in a note on the crisis.

Japan said the United Stateswould fly a high-altitude drone overthe stricken complex to gauge the

situation, and had offered to sendnuclear experts. A State Departmentofficial said flights would be laid onfor Americans to leave and familyof embassy staff had been autho-rized to leave if they wanted.

Health experts said panic over ra-diation leaks from the Daiichi plant,around 240 km (150 miles) north ofTokyo, was diverting attention fromother life-threatening risks confront-ing survivors of last Friday’s 9.0magnitude earthquake and tsunami,such as cold weather, heavy snow inparts and access to fresh water.

AFP PHOTO / Go TAKAYAMA

Officials check a visitor at aradiation screening center in

Koriyama in Fukushima prefec-ture on March 17, 2011 some 60kms away from the Fukushima

nuclear facilities. Japanesemilitary helicopters dumped

tonnes of water onto the strickenFukushima nuclear power plant

northeast of Tokyo in a bid todouse fuel rods and prevent a

disastrous radiation release.

Reuters

MANAMA – Bahrain arrested atleast six opposition leaders onThursday, a day after its crackdownon protests by the Shi’ite Muslimmajority drew rare U.S. criticism andraised fears of a regional conflict.

Bahraini forces used tanks and he-licopters to drive protesters off thestreets and clear a camp that had be-come a symbol of their demand formore democratic rights in the Sunni-ruled kingdom. Three police and threeprotesters died in the crackdown.

The crackdown prompted sympa-

AP Photo/Vahid Salemi

A Bahraini Shiite cleric, chants slogans, during a protest against Saudiand Bahraini leaders in front of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, as Ira-nian police officers protect the Embassy, Iran, Thursday, March 17, 2011.

Bahrain arrests 6 oppositionleaders after crackdown

thy protests from Shi’ites across theregion, including in oil major SaudiArabia, and analysts said it might pro-voke a response from Iran, which sup-ports Shi’ite groups in Iraq and Leba-non. Oil was up over $1 on Thursdayas the Gulf tensions fueled fears offurther supply disruption while inves-tors weighed the impact on energydemand from quake-hit Japan. Capi-tal flight from Bahrain is starting topressure its currency and threaten itsposition as a Gulf financial center.

Most Western nations have urgedtheir citizens to leave Bahrain, and aspokesman said the British embassy

had organized charter flights toDubai for Brits without other options.Protesters are asking for the monar-chy to move to a parliamentary sys-tem where cabinet is made up ofelected officials, though some wanta republican system. Government isat present appointed by the king andparliament has few powers.

The opposition say the currentsystem is designed to water down theinfluence of Shi’ite Muslims, whosay they are discriminated against injobs, housing and politics. The gov-ernment denies this. Pearl round-about was a scene of devastation.

Activities Friday, March 18, 2011 5International

Temple CeremonyCalendar Event for March 8 through March 19, 2011

EVERY Temple and Shrine has a special date for it annualCeremony, or “ Odalan “, every 210 days according to Ba-linese calendar, including the smaller ancestral shrine whicheach family possesses. Because of this practically every fewdays a ceremony of festival of some kind takes place in someVillage in Bali. There are also times when the entire islandcelebrated the same Holiday, such as at Galungan, Kuningan,Nyepi day, Saraswati day, Tumpek Landep day, Pagerwesi day,Tumpek Wayang day etc.

The dedication or inauguration day of a Temple is consid-ered its birth day and celebration always takes place on thesame day if the wuku or 210 day calendar is used. When newmoon is used then the celebration always happens on new moonor full moon. The day of course can differ the religious cel-ebration of a temple lasts at least one full day with some templecelebrating for three days while the celebration of Besakihtemple, the Mother Temple, is never less than 7 days and mostof the time it lasts for 11 days, depending on the importanceof the occasion.

The celebration is very colorful. The shrine are dressed withpieces of cloths and sometimes with brocade, sailings, deco-rations of carved wood and sometimes painted with gold andChinese coins, very beautifully arranged, are hung in the fourcorners of the shrine. In front of shrine are placed red, whiteor black umbrellas depending which Gods are worshipped inthe shrines.

In front of important shrine one sees, besides these umbrel-las soars, tridents and other weapons, the “umbul-umbul”, longflags, all these are prerogatives or attributes of Holiness. Infront of the Temple gate put up “Penjor”, long bamboo poles,decorated beautifully ornaments of young coconut leaves, riceand other products of the land. Most beautiful to see are thegirls in their colorful attire, carrying offerings, arrangementsof all kinds fruits and colored cakes, to the Temple. Everyvisitor admires the grace with which the carry their load ontheir heads.

Balinese TempleCeremony

8 MarchAnggar Kasih Perangbakat

Bukit Buluh Gunaksa - KlungkungTirta Sudamala Bebalang - BangliPaibon Pasek Bendesa Sangsit - sawan -BulelengPasek Gelgel Pangi Dawan - KlungkungGunung Tengsong Lombok - NTBDalem Benawah Benawah - GianyarDalem Bitra Bitra - GianyarDalem Banyuning Banyuning Timur -BulelengDalem Pauman Batan Getas Titih DenpasarTengah Padang Tegalalang - GianyarMerajan Pasek Gelgel Desa Sande - PupuanTabananKawitan Tangkas Kori Agung Desa AdatPagan DenpasarHyangaluh/Jenggala Besakih - GianyarMerajan Pasek Lurah Tutuan Gunaksa -KlungkungMerajan Pasek Gelgel SelulungSelulungMerajan Pasek Subrata MedahanMerajan Pasek Munggu MungguPura Tengkulak Tulikup - GianyarPenataran Badung Ogang Village Sidemen -Karangasem

9 MarchBuda Umanis Perangbakat

Puri Agung Dalem Tarukan Tarukan PejengTampak Siring-GianyarRambut Siwi JembranaBatu Bolong Canggu - KutaPasek Marga Klaci Klaci - TabananAgung Pasek Dauh Waru JembranaRatu Pasek Sangsit Sawan - BulelengPasek Tangkas Darma Reyanggede TabananBanyuning Village Temple BanyuningBulelengSrijon TabananPasek Gelgel Lebah Pangkung Petemon

Tirta Anom Padang Sigi Sading - Tampak SiringDadi Agung Pasek Bendesa Dukuh ManuabaTegalalangPedarmaan Batursari Ngilis JeguPenebel TabananPuncak Mundi Nusa Penida

19 MarchPurnama Kedasa

Odalan Betara Turun Kabeh Besakih -KarangasemNgusaba in Bukit Jati Temple BangliBatur Kalanganyar BangliMasceti Pejeng Aji Tegalalang - GianyarDalem Tangsub Sukawati - GianyarPenambangan Badung Denpasar CityNgusaba in Lempuyab Madia TempleKarangasemNgusaba in Batur Temple BangliVillage Temple Singakerta UbudPasek Gelgel Tagtag Kukuh Marga TabananGaduh Ketapian Sumerta DenpasarPasek Bendesa Batur Tuak IlangTabananPasek Agung Tagtag Kelod Peguyangan -DenpasarAgung Pasek Bendesa Tonja Tonja - DenpasarPasek Gelgel Angsri Baturiti - TabananPasek Gelgel Bale Agung SubamiaBerabanDukuh Sari Belatung Bengkel TimpagKerambitanPusat Dukuh Sari Belatung RendangKarangasemPita Maha Palangkaraya KaltengCanda Peraba Komplek Polri JelambarJakarta BaratAgung Jagat Natha DenpasarPemerajan Agung Puri Petak GianyarDadia Agung Tangkas Kori AgungAbiansemal Badung

IBP

KEROBOKAN - 3V Rening Bay, located inNegara, Bali, is a new concept of beach front Re-sorts. It better defined as a family luxury destina-tion with a heart and a soul. Combining the edgeof modernity with the core of traditional and au-thentic Bali, 3V Rening Bay offers a unique expe-rience based on comfort, fun, and pleasure but alsoon respecting and enhancing the natural environ-ment as well as connecting and sharing with thelocal community. Describe Franck Girardot, Chair-man and CEO of Vivalavi Holding Group whichowned the 3V Rening Bay.

As multinational company that operates in Bali,this resort tries to maintain the beauty of Bali byapplying eco friendly furniture concept in its re-sort. To give and encourage eco friendly furnitureuse in this island, Franck said that Vivalavi Hold-ing Group held Furniture Design Competition asthe 3V Rening Bay’s corporate social responsibil-ity initiation. ‘’The furniture design competitionopens for the Indonesian design students to exer-cise their learning and project their talent into reallife experience,” he explained.

According to Franck it is in the heritage of In-donesia that working with the nature that gives thechallenge of the resort design. He would like the

3V Rening Bay Resort

Launched Furniture Design Competition 2011Indonesian students to show their creative talentsand 3V Rening Bay is keen to offer an opportunityfor the students to participate in this furniture de-sign competition to work with sustainability mate-rials but at the same time giving functional andinnovative design. ‘’One of our main purposes isto promote creativity and innovation. We want ourResort to show how modernity, creativity and de-sign can be used to protect and leverage the natu-ral beauty of the environment,” he further described.

The submitted designs will be selected by theProject Design Team and the 3 finalists in each cat-egory will then be judged by a team of Jury. Thejuries will review the student’s projects based on cre-ativity, ergonomic, design, eco concern, costing andfunction and determine the winner. Last submissionfor the competition will be June 30th, 2011 open onlyfor Indonesian full time or part time students.

The winning design in each category will be pro-duced as a prototype and promoted through a seriesof exhibitions in Jakarta, Bandung, Surabaya and Bali.It will be produced to be used as furniture in the Re-sorts. In addition, the winning designer will receiveIDR 2 millions in cash, while the remaining finalistswill receive IDR 1 millions in cash per project. Allthe designs are intellectual property of the studentsand they have exclusive statutory right to exercise con-trol over copying of the work. (kmb18)

Friday, March 18, 20116 News

Mexico’s National SecurityCouncil said in a statement Wednes-day that unmanned aircraft haveflown over Mexico on specific oc-casions, mainly along the borderwith the U.S., to gather informationat the request of the Mexican gov-ernment. The flights expand the U.S.role in the drug war, in which Ameri-cans already have been trainingMexican soldiers and police as wellas cooperating on other intelligence.

“When these operations are car-ried out, they are always done withthe authorization, oversight and su-pervision of national agencies, in-cluding the Mexican Air Force,” thecouncil said. It said Mexico always

Agence France Presse

LONDON – A former hospitaldirector who forced an Africanwoman to work 18 hours a day be-came the first person in Britain tobe convicted of “modern-day sla-very.” Saeeda Khan, 68, was or-dered to pay 49-year-oldMwanahamisi Mruke, who wastrafficked from Tanzania in 2006,25,000 pounds.

She was spared a prison sen-tence, but Judge Geoffrey Rivlinsaid this was due to her own illhealth and the fact she has two adultdisabled children. “You could eas-ily have afforded to pay her a rea-sonable sum by way of wages,” saidRivlin during sentencing atLondon’s Southwark Crown Court.

“You chose to give her virtuallynothing. “Your own behaviour wascallous and greedy,” the judgeadded. Mruke was initially paid 10pounds per week, but this allow-ance was stopped within a year.

Khan, who was found guilty oftrafficking a person into the UKfor exploitation, forbade Mrukefrom leaving the house in Harrow,north west London, and fed hertwo slices of bread a day. The courthad heard how Mruke was broughtto Britain after working at a hos-pital in Dar Es Salaam in Tanza-nia, which Khan owned.

Khan promised to pay Mruke

AP Photo/Bernandino Hernandez

Mexican army soldiers stand outside a home where gunmen killed an elderly woman and two ofher grandchildren in the Pacific resort city of Acapulco, Mexico Tuesday March 15, 2011.

AP: US spy drones flownAP: US spy drones flownAP: US spy drones flownAP: US spy drones flownAP: US spy drones flownover Mexico since 2009over Mexico since 2009over Mexico since 2009over Mexico since 2009over Mexico since 2009 Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY – U.S. Customs and Border Protection has been surreptitiously flying Preda-tor drones into Mexico for two years, helping Mexican authorities spy on suspected drug traffick-ers, The Associated Press has learned. The border security agency’s surveillance flights, approvedby Mexico but never announced by either country, predate occasional flights into Mexico by theU.S. Air Force’s $38 million Global Hawk drone that began last month.

defines the objectives, the informa-tion to be gathered and the specifictasks in which the drones will be usedand insisted the operations respectedMexican law, civil and human rights.

The drones “have been particu-larly useful in achieving various ob-jectives of combating crime and havesignificantly increased Mexican au-thorities’ capabilities and technologi-cal superiority in its fight againstcrime,” the council said.

The drones, which cost more than$10 million each, are equipped withcameras that can identify an objectthe size of a milk carton, provide real-time images to ground control opera-tors and can fly for more than 30

hours without having to refuel, ac-cording to the U.S. CongressionalResearch Service.

The Global Hawk drone opera-tions were first reported Wednesdayby The New York Times, which saidthey began last month under anagreement between President BarackObama and Mexico’s leader, FelipeCalderon. AP’s reporting found thatsimilar operations using a differentkind of drone have been going onsince 2009.

The flights were quickly criti-cized by some Mexican politicians,who have often been sensitive to theinvolvement of U.S. agencies onMexican soil.

‘Callous and greedy’woman convicted of slavery

50 pounds a week and said shewould only have to work six hoursa day. “I felt like a fool, I wastreated like a slave,” Mruke, whowas saving up to help her daugh-ter through college, said.

“I was hoping I would receive asalary and improve my life. But myhopes were dashed, my strengthwas reduced and I became unwell.”Rivlin said Khan had told a “packof lies” during the trial and hadtaken advantage of her “naive andilliterate” victim.

Mruke told the court that shewould wake up at 6a.m. and thenclean, garden, cook and go forwalks with Khan’s sons before fi-nally being allowed to sleep on amattress in the kitchen at aroundmidnight. “I feel that justice shouldbe passed and others should learnfrom this. I feel terrible about her,”Mruke said.

Mruke’s plight only came tolight when she was allowed to visita doctor over her varicose veins.Mruke’s parents both died duringher three-year ordeal, but she wasallowed no contact with her fam-ily in Tanzania.

Earlier, prosecutor CarolineHaughey told Southwark CrownCourt: “From the moment of herarrival in England Mwanamisi wasmade to sleep, work and live inconditions that fall by any under-standing into that of slavery.”

Those already trained wereseeking more preparation to bebattle ready.

Rebel spokesman MustafaGheriani said that the governmenttried to hit Benghazi’s airport withan airstrike but missed. The RedCross said it was leaving Benghazibecause of deteriorating securityand moving to the city of Tobruk,further east.

Gheriani said by telephone fromBenghazi that the opposition was

Official: 30 killed...From page 1

hoping for a positive U.N. SecurityCouncil vote but “if not, we’ll relyon ourselves and do what we can.”

The U.S. wants the SecurityCouncil to approve planes, troopsor ships to stop attacks by Gadhafion the rebels, according to a diplo-mat familiar with closed-door ne-gotiations Wednesday.

The Obama administration saidit would not act without SecurityCouncil authorization, did not wantto put U.S. ground troops intoLibya, and insists on broad inter-national participation, especiallyby Arab states, the diplomat said.A resident told the AP that Ajdabiya

had been hit by hours of airstrikesbut it was not clear if the govern-ment or rebels, who say they haveat least three planes, are carryingthem out.

“Gadhafi troops have not in-vaded the city on foot until now,”said Moataz al-Ghariani, who livesin downtown Ajdabiya and is intouch with the rebels. “They areonly imposing a siege from threefronts: the western, the southernand the eastern. No one can leaveand no one can enter.” He said therebels were surrounding a unit ofGadhafi forces at the eastern gatesof the city.

Reuters

LONDON – One of the biggestand oldest lobsters ever caught inBritain has been saved from the potand will live out the rest of its longlife in an aquarium. The massivecrustacean measures close to onemetre (3 feet) in length and weighsmore than 4 kg (9 lb).

“He’s a fantastic specimen andby his size alone he has got to beat least 50 years old,” said Lind-say Holloway of the Blue Reefaquarium in Portsmouth, where thelobster now lives. “He is an amaz-ing creature and it’s quite anachievement to have reached such

Huge lobster savedfrom the pot

an impressive age,” he added.The lobster was caught in

around 14 feet of water by a com-passionate angler fishing for solein Bracklesham Bay, off the coastof West Sussex.

Lobsters are among the planet’soldest inhabitants with fossil re-mains found dating back more than100 million years. They are alsoextremely long-lived with somereaching ages of over 80 years.

The aquarium said the heavi-est recorded crustacean is an At-lantic lobster nicknamed Mikewho was caught in 1934 andtipped the scales at an awesome19 kg. (London newsroom)

Friday, March 18, 2011 7Indonesia TodayInternational

Antara

JAKARTA - Fourteen cars gotdamaged after being hit by toppledtrees following torrential rains andstrong winds that hit Indonesia‘scapital city, Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Some of the damaged vehicleswere found at Raden Saleh andPattimura roads, said Sarum, a localresident.

Sarum, a street vendor, said thetrees that the strong winds toppledat 01.30 PM local time were gener-ally old.

“The toppled trees hit three carswhich happened to pass the streetsand eleven other cars parked in thearea,” he said.

Meanwhile, Asep, driver of a

AFP PHOTO / ROMEO GACAD

A man looks at trees felled by strong wind during a heavy downpour that engulfed Jakarta on March 16,2011. The heavy downpour flooded some streets of the Indonesian capital, falled trees and collapsed trafficsigns causing massive traffic jam as Indonesia suffers from effects of extreme weather conditions.

An Indonesian human rightsgroup said however it had re-corded 56 cases in West Java prov-ince in which soldiers forcedAhmadiyah followers to convertto mainstream Islam.

The government denies therehave been any forced conversions,saying the military interventionwas to protect the Ahmadiyahfrom more violence.

“As long as their intention ispositive — that is to ensureAhmadiyah followers do not be-come the target of violence —then that’s not a human rights vio-lation,” said Justice and HumanRights Minister Patrialis Akbar.

“It’s not a harmful interven-tion,” Akbar told reporters.

But local rights groupImparsial disputed that, sayingsoldiers have entered mosques,gathered the sect followers and“forced them to repent and con-vert to Islam”.

There has been an internationaloutcry over the treatment ofAhmadis after an amateur videoshowed hundreds of Muslim fa-natics armed with machetes, sticksand rocks attacking Ahmadiyahfollowers, leaving three dead.

There is also criticism over adecree from some provincial ad-ministrations in the world’s mostpopulous Muslim country that

Antara

JAKARTA - Indonesia‘s foreignexchange reserves in the year endedMarch 10 rose to US$102.02 bil-lion on the back of the robust do-mestic economy, Bank IndonesiaGovernor Darmin Nasution said.

“I am optimistic that theeconomy will continue to pick upand the economic growth will be-come increasingly open as we arenow one step away from an invest-ment grade,” he said when open-ing a national coordination meet-ing of regional inflation controlteams here on Wednesday.

Also present at the meeting wasVice President Boediono.

Darmin said the heavy chal-lenge that might lie ahead wouldbe inflationary pressure particu-

Agence France-Presse

JAKARTA – A top Indonesiananti-terror official said Wednesdaythat regional militant group JemaahIslamiyah was behind a series of“book bombs” in the capital, one ofwhich injured four people.

The first bomb, hidden in a hol-lowed-out thick book, exploded onTuesday afternoon as police at-tempted to defuse it.

The package was addressed toUlil Abshar Abdalla, a well-knownliberal Muslim figure who espousespluralism and religious tolerance.

It came with a threatening letterurging Abdalla to write a preface tothe book which was entitled “They

Indonesia deniesIndonesia deniesIndonesia deniesIndonesia deniesIndonesia deniesforced religiousforced religiousforced religiousforced religiousforced religiousconversionsconversionsconversionsconversionsconversionsAgence France-Presse

JAKARTA – Indonesia admitted on Wednesday that soldiers hadbeen entering mosques of a minority Islamic sect but said they hadbeen protecting followers, escalating a debate about religious freedoms.

prohibited Ahmadis from display-ing signs identifying their mosquesand schools.

“We already checked and there’sno negative element, there’s nocoercion whatsoever,” DefenceMinister Purnomo Yusgiantorosaid.

Human Rights Watch has con-demned violence against the sectand urged President SusiloBambang Yudhoyono to sack hisreligious affairs minister for dis-crimination and to lift the ban onAhmadiyah practising in public.

Ahmadiyah, who differ fromorthodox Muslims because they donot believe Mohammed was thelast prophet, have been subjectedto regular abuse and persecutionsince their sect was slapped withrestrictions at the urging of main-stream Muslims in 2008.

Yudhoyono has condemned lastmonth’s attack on the sect but de-fended a 2008 law banning theAhmadiyah from spreading theirfaith, which is used by hardlinersto justify attacks on the sect.

Indonesia’s constitution guaran-tees freedom of religion but rightsgroups say violence against mi-norities including Christians andAhmadis has been escalating since2008. There have been cases ofChristians being beaten andchurches attacked.

RI’s forex reservesreach $102.02 billion

larly that caused by rising commod-ity prices and that intensive effortsmust be made to deal with it.

“The inflationary pressurecaused by disruption of food sup-ply will remain high. Unless theproblem is dealt with it can raisecommodity prices,” he said.

As the inflationary pressure wasvery much influenced by disrup-tion of food supply it could not bedealt with merely by means ofmonetary policy but also compre-hensive policy involving relevantparties, he said.

Looking ahead, the regionalteams of inflation control must notonly exchange information but alsoseek solution from the standpointof food supply, ranging from pro-duction, distribution, market struc-ture to mechanism, he said.

Terror group behind Indonesia‘book bombs’: official

Deserved to be Killed: Because oftheir Sins to Islam and Muslims.”

National Anti-Terror Agency(BNPT) chief Ansyaad Mbai toldAFP: “It’s the work of terror groupJemaah Islamiyah (JI) which hasbeen actively launching bomb at-tacks in this country.”

JI is a Southeast Asian extremistgroup inspired by Al-Qaeda, whichcarries out terror attacks todestablise governments in a bid tounite the region into a fundamental-ist Islamic state.

Police found two similar bombslater Tuesday in other parts of Jakarta.One was sent to the national narcot-ics agency office headed by GorisMere, a former top counter-terrorism

police official and the other sent to thehouse of chairman of a youthorganisation Pemuda Pancasila.

“Their target is more specificnow. All three bombs’ intended re-cipients were the group’s enemies.The group considered them to be anobstacle to their goal in establish-ing an Islamic caliphate,” Mbai said.

“Pancasila is our country’s ide-ology they strongly opposed. It’svery clear who were the players be-hind these incidents,” Mbai added.

Abdalla regularly spoke out againstIslamic extremism while Mere wasone of top police officials who havehunted down JI members since the2002 Bali bombing which killed 202people, mostly foreign tourists, he said

Falling trees in Jakarta hit 14 carsGrand Livina van, said he and histwo passengers escaped unhurtwhen a tree fell on their car whichwas seriously damaged.

“I just passed through an accessroad to Pattimura road. Inside the carwere me, my employer and herdaughter. But, we were all safe,” hesaid.

The toppled tree hit Asep‘s carand damaged the back part of theill-fated van, he said.

Shortly after the rainfall andstrong wind ended, a number ofJakarta city workers cleaned brokentrunks of the toppled trees from theroads, he said.

Over the past year, Indonesia hasbeen undergoing an extremeweather phenomenon, which partly

characterizes with heavy rains andwhirlwinds.

As the consequences of the tor-rential rains and whirlwinds, variousvulnerable parts of the country haveexperienced flash floods and land-slides.

On December 28, 2010, a land-slide, for instance, ripped off thefront porch of a house taking it alongdown the slope of a five-meter hillfollowing heavy rain in the GuaMaria cave area in Delik village,Semarang, Central Java.

In January 2011, the extremeweather conditions that had trig-gered high waves in the Sunda Straithad even caused several hundredtrucks stranded in Banten provinceover the past few days.

8 InternationaFriday, March 18, 2011

Bali Today

According to Disel , eventough the Governor will stillcarry out the spatial plan rule, thecommittee is still needed. “Thecommittee was formed due to theproblem in implementing the ruleon the real life condition. Thecommittee consist of the memberof Bali House of Representativehas the right to control the execu-tion of the rule,” he added.

Disel also said that the com-mittee is only analyzing and con-trolling the implementation ofthe rule and not for other reasonso he hoped everyone supportsthe work of the committee.” Heexplained that on the rule no 16in 2009 stated that every regency

On hearing the expressions,children then run helter-skelter re-gardless of the danger impeding infront them. There is a child jump-ing over the wall compound, run-ning into the house and then lockthe door, while some others climbup the trees nearby as they are soscared. Meanwhile, the barongbangkung (barong in the form ofhuge she-pig) does not want to loseits target and keeps on pursuingthem.

When the children are missingfrom its presence, this black barongis only grunting and occasionallyshowing off while luring the chil-dren to go out. In the meantime, itsgamelan music accompanimentnamed batel keeps on being playedso that the show becomes more at-tractive. If the barong bangkung of-ten chases the children, so thebarong bangkung is also hunted bymany organizers for a show.

Thus, the uniqueness of barongbangkung art show held during theperiod of Galungan to Kuninganfestivity. By and large, the barong

The vice-chairman of theBali Guide Association (HPIBali), Sangtu Subaya, has is-sued a reminder to driversbringing tourists around theisland o tours that they arenot permitted to accompanytour is t s on the i r v is i t s totourist objects and at trac-tions. Moreover, drivers arebeing generally discouragedfrom giving tourist informa-tion to their passengers.

As reported by Bisnis Bali,Subaya admitted that while itis impossible to prevent thefree exchange of informationbetween drivers and their pas-sengers inside a moving car,drivers who are not in posses-sion of a guide license arestrictly prohibited from ac-

Governor mustimplement thespatial plan ruleAntara

Denpasar – The special committee for analyzing the pro-vincial rules regarding the spatial planning choose to sup-port the decision of Bali Governor, Made Mangku Pastika.“The Governor can carry out the rule because it is the dutyof the head of the province,” the head of the committee, WayanDisel Astawa, said.

in Bali should arrange or revisethe spatial plan of their own thelatest three years after the rule wasestablished. However, the ruleonly can be applied after all stockholders agree on it.

Disel Astawa wanted everyoneto take a look on the process ofarranging the rule which makemany regencies complained. “Wefound out that during the processof making the rule, several headof regencies had file in their com-plaints through the Province De-velopment department but theydidn’t get any response. We wantto clear out the matter so we cre-ated the special committee,” headded.

Bali Tourist DriversReminded Not toDiscuss Passengers

companying their passengerswhen tour ing temples andother tourist attractions. In-s is t ing that dr ivers shouldnever purchase admiss iontickets for their passengers andremain near their vehicles inthe parking lot, Subaya under-lined that only guides licensedby the province are entitled toaccompany guests throughtourist objects and providedestination information.

While tourists hiring driv-ers are not obliged to hire tourguides, drivers attempting tofill that role are subject to ap-p rehens ion by po l i ce andtourism officials who regu-larly patrol tourist object onthe look out for unlicensedguides.

Barong Bangkung Keepson Pursuing Its ’Prey’

show is habitually performed for15 days starting from two daysprior to Galungan (penyajaan)until Manis Kuningan. In itsshow, the art of barong bangkungis really different from other tra-ditional Balinese performingarts. It does not require specialstage, but it performs the showfrom one house’s entrance to an-other commonly known asngelawang or gallivanting show.Virtually every single region inBali has an art tradition of barongbangkung. By performing thebarong bangkung, the Hinducommunity in Bali believes theywill be free from evil forces.Barong bangkung has function toneutralize (nyomya) the evilforces into good forces. Yet,there are also people organizingthe show just to please theirgrandchildren at the feast of thevictory of dharma (truth) againstadharma (untruth).

However, most people in theregion of Tabanan believe that byperforming barong bangkung

show, their pregnant she-pig cattlewill give birth to many piglets. Inthe region of Ubud Gianyar, thepresence of barong bangkung willbecome an interesting spectaclefor tourists. Meanwhile, in the re-gion of Badung and Denpasar, theart of barong bangkung is usuallydanced by adults . Then, atGulingan Village the barongbangkung is played by two gen-erations, namely children and theadults.

In the gal l ivant ing show,people do not only present thebarong bangkung, but also otherbarongs l ike barong macan(barong in the form of tiger),barong landung (tall Chinesecouple) and some others. Thesedays, the gallivanting show isalso commonly undertaken at ho-tels specifically intended fortourists. Bali Provincial Govern-ment through the annual Bali ArtsFestival (BAF) regularly orga-nizes the gallivanting show as aneffort to preserve the tradition.(BTN/015)

IBP/Doc

Barong Bangkung

Balinese Culture

Friday, March 18, 2011 9al

C.045 ibp

Cooked Vegetables withGrated Coconut(Urap)

Ingredients

* 8 oz freshgreen beans

* 8 oz beansprouts

* 4 carrots * 1 can bamboo

shoots * ½ small

cabbage * 1 cup fresh

grated coconut * 1 small onion, finely chopped * ½ tsp. chilli sauce (sambal ulek) * 1 tsp. salt * 2 Tbs. lime juice * ½ tsp. dried shrimp paste (terasi)

DirectionsWash bean sprouts, pinching of any brown tail. Pour

boiling water over bean sprouts, then rinse under coldwater tap. Drain well.

String beans and cut diagonally or bite-size lengthsand cook in lightly salted water until just tender. Beansshould still be crisp to bite.

Scrub carrot and cut into thin strips, cook until tender.Drain well.

Slice cabbage, discard the center stem. Blanch inboiling salted water for a minute or two, until tender butnot limp. Drain and refresh with cold water.

Cut bamboo shoots into strips the same size as thebeans.

Place fresh grated coconut into a bowl, add onion,chili sauce, salt, lime juice and the shrimp paste whichhas been grilled for a few minutes, or heated in a dryfrying pan. Mix thoroughly together.

Sprinkle this grated coconut mixture over vegetables,reserving some to garnish the dish when served.

Put vegetables in a steamer and steam for 5-8minutes.

Put the steamed vegetables to a serving dish/platterand sprinkle with reserved grated coconut mixture. Useas an accompaniment to a meal, or as a salad by itself.(http://asiarecipe.com)

DENPASAR – Indonesian Gov-ernment supported the effort byBali’s Government to reduce thetraffic problem in the island. Oneof them is by making alternativeroute especially in Ngurah Rai In-ternational Airport, Sanur, Kuta,and Nusa Dua.

Ahmad Hermanto Dardak, thevice General Work Minister, said“the effort must be done by all ele-ments in Bali.” Hermanto was inBali to open the Regional Consulta-tion for Eastern Indonesia by theGeneral Work Minister 2011.

IBP/Eka Adhiyasa

Traffic jam in the street of Denpasar often occur because the balance of vehicles and the size ofthe road no longer match.

Indonesian Government supportthe effort to reduce traffic

During the event, he explainedthat the traffic problem is currentlybeing analyzed by all related depart-ments in Bali. The analysis is aboutthe ring road which connectsDenpasar with Benoa and other trans-portation tools.

“There is great hope that the solu-tion can solve the traffic problem andit could lead to the economics devel-opment of the people in Bali,”Hermanto said. The funding of theproject is prepared from investors soit can be done immediately.

Bali Governor, Made Mangku

Pastika, said that the southern part ofBali especially in Denpasar andBadung, the traffic is very congested.“Nowadays, the time to travel in Baliis very hard to predict because thetraffic jam. In order to solve the prob-lem, ring roads connecting Denpasarwith Benoa and Nusa Dua is still be-ing analyze,” the governor said.

There is great hope that theproject can be carried out soon tosolve the problem face by the famoustourism destination in the world. Thetraffic problem should not affect thetourism in Bali.

Crispy Fried Tempe(Keripik Tempe)

Ingredients

* 600 gram tempe (fermented soybean cake) - not tofu * 200 ml water * ½ tsp. slaked lime water * 100 gr. rice flour mixed with 25 gram cornstarch * vegetable oil

* Spice Paste Ingredients: * 4 candlenuts * 1 clove garlic * 1 tsp. coriander seeds * salt to taste * 1 cm fresh kencur

DirectionsSlice the tempe in thin 3½ x 5 cm squares. Set aside.Mix the spice-paste together with the water and

slaked lime water. Add the rice flour and cornstarch andblend till smooth.

Heat the oil in a wok, dip the tempe in the batter anddeep-fry until it is golden brown and crisp.

Note: Make sure that the oil is not too hot, otherwisethe batter and the tempe will not be done at the sametime. (http://asiarecipe.com)

Friday, March 18, 201110 InternationalDestinations

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Penglipuran Village is a tradi-tional countryside owning uniquecharacteristic life, socializing andculture. It is located in Kubu Vil-lage, Bangli Sub district and BangliRegency. The natural nature andenvironments of countryside is des-ignating the pittance touch of mod-ernization influence. This country-side is supported by cool atmo-sphere because it is located on theheight land about 700 m above sealevel and according to history of allold doyens that this countryside istaken away from the wordPengeling Pura what its meaningremember to ancestor, but there isalso telling that the word ofPenglipur mean the entertainer. Itis said that at former empire era, allking often use this area as a placeto amuse themselves, because itsnature is beautiful and can give thepeacefulness and inspiration at thetime of experiencing a problem.

The houses exist in this country-side from north to the south is lookvery beautiful in particular the Ba-linese traditional entrance gate

Penglipuran Villagewhich are made similar each other.When we step down to this village,we will meet the Balinese houses areoriented northeastwards to MountAgung which is located in north-eastof Bali Island. The structure of housebuilding between one house and oth-ers are equal in particular to condi-tion, form, size and function from thebuilding except building of familybed room is freeform. The familytemple building is places the samedirection to the Agung Mount,kitchen is located in upstate from thelawn and the building of BaleSakaenem is the six beamed build-ing which its function for ceremonyplace. The place for look after thelivestock and the place to plant as-sorted vegetable are referred as nonirrigated dry field which is calledTeba. Its Construction material ismade from wood except family resi-dence. It is predominated by sub-stance from bamboo because aroundthis countryside is bamboo producer.

The countryside is lead by a leaderwhich is Bendesa or Kelian orPenyarikan or Patengan and he/she isassisted by Sinoman. The social sys-tem is recognized by the 12 group

terms that are number 1 until 12 asmember of Pemerincik that is com-missioned member converse theproblem or plan and its result is sub-mitted to the member. They are verytrusting of 12 groups and have rep-resented the tradition in heritage

away back. The Consanguinity Sys-tem in this countryside is Patrilinialsystem that is according to father lin-eage. This countryside religion leaderis called as Jero Bayan which is con-sisted of 3 Jero Bayans that is a JeroBayan Mucuk and 2 people of Jero

Bayan Nyoman. The specific culturalpotential like pattern of building ar-chitecture remains to be traditional,the beautiful nature and environmentwith cool atmosphere, hence thiscountryside is the ideal place to visitduring your vacation in Bali.

Friday, March 18, 2011 11

BUSINESS

Reuters

WASHINGTON – Producerprices surged in February at theirfastest pace in 1-1/2 years, datashowed on Wednesday, a day afterthe Federal Reserve said it had awatchful eye on inflation pressuresit expects to subside.

In another reminder on Wednes-day of headwinds facing theeconomy, the government saidgroundbreaking for new homesposted the biggest drop in 27 yearsin February and permits for futurebuilding reached a record low.

Economists said the jump in foodand energy costs that drove the U.S.producer price index higher lastmonth would likely steal from otherspending and slow growth.

“I don’t believe that this is a gen-eral rise in prices across the board,it’s not the stuff of an inflationaryspiral, but you are starting to havesome pricing pressures,” said BrianLevitt, an economist atOppenheimerFunds in New York.

The data and the escalatingnuclear emergency in Japan sentU.S. stocks tumbling more than 2percent at one point, in a third suc-cessive day of selling. Investorswere still trying to come to gripswith what impact the devastatingearthquake and tsunami in Japancould have on the global economy.

Economists believe the U.S.economy should be able to with-stand the shock from the oil pricespike and any spillover effects fromthe devastation in Japan. Bondprices rose for a third straight day,sending benchmark yields to a freshthree-month low. The dollar neareda record low against the yen.

The PPI, which measures pricesreceived by farms, factories and re-fineries, jumped 1.6 percent lastmonth, the largest increase sinceJune 2009, the Labor Departmentsaid. The gain was more than doubleeconomists’ expectations.

In the 12 months to February,producer prices were up 5.6 per-cent, the biggest rise since March2010.

Economists said given the loftylevel of U.S. unemployment andlack of wage-driven price pressures,they did not expect the strong pro-ducer price rises to pass through toconsumers on a large scale.

“You are seeing inflation on thegoods side, you don’t see it on theservice side. This is a serviceeconomy and inflation will bedriven more by wages and to this

As Japan has been ravaged byan earthquake, tsunami andnuclear emergency, economistshave appeared confident theworld’s third largest economy willbounce back and that damage tothe global economy will be lim-ited.

Many, l ike NarimanBehravesh, an economist at US-based IHS, predict a “large, but— probably — temporary impacton the Japanese economy,” and a“small impact on the rest of theworld.”

Using previous catastropheslike the 1995 Kobe earthquake asa reference, they expect quake-struck businesses to eventually re-open.

Meanwhile tens of billions ofdollars will be spent rebuildinghomes, factories and infrastruc-ture, sparking a recovery boom.

That process, they hope, willbe replicated in Japan’s links withthe world.

“Japan’s most important trad-ing partners — Australia, China— will see both the most impor-tant near-term drag, and the larg-est medium-term benefit,” saidSociete Generale’s MichalaMarcussen.

The prospect of quick eco-nomic recovery will be little con-solation for the millions whoselives have been turned upsidedown by the disaster, but will of-fer some solace for those across

Agence France-Presse

WASHINGTON – Japan’sdevastating earthquake and tsu-nami last week have resulted ininsured losses of between $12 and$25 billion, risk assessment firmEQECAT said Wednesday.

EQECAT said the epic magni-tude-9.0 quake that struck JapanFriday and the ensuing massivetsunami were piling up “signifi-cant losses” to the insurance in-dustry.

“EQECAT estimates total in-sured losses at $12-$25 billion,”the company said.

“This loss estimate encom-passes the effects of earthquakeshaking, ensuing tsunami andfires, and losses to automobiles,marine, life, and personal acci-dent insurance lines,” it said.

But the loss estimates did notinclude the developing nuclear

Japan crisis spells jitters for global economyJapan crisis spells jitters for global economyJapan crisis spells jitters for global economyJapan crisis spells jitters for global economyJapan crisis spells jitters for global economyAgence France-Presse

WASHINGTON – Experts are cautiously optimistic that the still-brittle global economy canabsorb the shock of Japan’s triple disaster, but major risks still loom as the crisis unfolds.

the globe who are already worriedby high unemployment and risingprices.

But as the crisis rumbles on,there are increasing warningsabout how spillovers could be feltby consumers and economiesacross the globe, even without acatastrophic nuclear meltdown.

The most immediate problemsare being felt in the manufactur-ing sector.

Japan has long ceased to be theworld’s factory — surpassed byChina, Indonesia and a host ofother emerging countries — butit is still a crucial part of the glo-bal supply chain for everythingfrom cars and computer parts.

With 11 nuclear plants shut-tered and blackouts predicted un-til the end of April, a slowdownin Japanese production couldquickly turn into a manufacturingbottleneck.

“People will be surprised byhow fast prices will rise,” JesseToprak, an auto analyst withTrueCar.com told AFP.

Toprak predicted that shutteredproduction could push up the costof Japanese cars by around $1,000dollars for some US-sold modelsby next week, as dealers cut dis-counts in the face dwindling sup-ply.

Meanwhile production on non-Japanese cars could be slowed bya parts shortage.

“Most vehicles that are made

the United States have at least onecomponent if not more that comesfrom Japan,” he said.

Rising oil prices are seen as an-other conduit for the crisis spread-ing.

Although crude costs havefluctuated in recent days as trad-ers weighted lower short-term de-mand in Japan, a protractednuclear crisis could raise demandfor oil.

On Wednesday oil prices roseby 80 cents a barrel in New Yorkand $2.10 in London, althoughtension in the Middle East andNorth Africa also played a role.

“An oil price shock wouldlower (global) growth substan-tially, but probably not cause anoutright recession,” said analystsat Swiss Re.

Policymakers, still chastenedby the recent economic downturn,are also focused on preventingfallout in the financial markets —a now familiar conduit for crises.

Japan’s central bank haspumped $62 bil l ion into theeconomy, while the Federal Re-serve continued to unfurl a $600billion in stimulus spending de-spite a rosier economic outlook athome.

When the yen hit a post-warhigh against the dollar onWednesday, speculation ragedthat central banks could interveneto stop a crippling rise in the priceof Japan’s exports.

Insured losses at $12-25 billioncrisis as Japan raced to prevent acatastrophe at quake-strickennuclear plants.

“These estimates do not ac-count for losses associated withthe current nuclear emergency atpower plants in the region,” thefirm said.

EQECAT estimated that be-tween $2.0 to $4.0 billion of theinsured losses was expected to beborne by the government’s JapanEarthquake Reinsurance Pool, re-ducing the total losses to non-lifeproperty insurers in Japan.

The most powerful earthquaketo hit Japan since record keepingbegan triggered a huge tsunamithat swept away cars, structuresand ships along the eastern coast,and impacted coastal towns acrossthe Pacific as far away as North-ern California.

The prefectures where theground motion was the strongest,

measuring a magnitude of 6.0 onthe Japan MeteorologicalAgency’s seismic intensity scale,are Chiba (northern) and Ibaraki,Tochigi, Fukushima, Miyagi andIwate (southern), the risk model-ing firm noted.

But prefectures with signifi-cant observations of 5.0-magni-tude shaking include Tokyo,Kanagawa, Saitama, Niigata,Yamagata, and Aita.

“This distinction is important— the most severe damage toproperty and assets will be in theareas with JMA 6, but the areasof JMA 5 are expected to havescattered pockets of damagethroughout the region,” the firmsaid.

The largest share of the insuredloss will be covered by the propertyinsurance market, which providesearthquake insurance to individualsand businesses in Japan, it said.

Inflation pressure bubbles,home building dives

point wages are reasonable,” saidLevitt. “But on Main Street, you willcertainly feel the shock whether it isat the gas pump or the supermarket.”

A report on Thursday is expectedto show the core Consumer Price In-dex increased just 0.1 percent in Feb-ruary, according to a Reuters survey,slowing from the prior month’s 0.2percent gain, which was the largestin more than a year.

The report on home building fromthe Commerce Department painted ableak picture for a market lumberedby a vast backlog of unsold inven-tory.

Housing starts tumbled 22.5 per-cent last month to an annual rate of479,000 units, just shy of a record lowset in April 2009 and way beloweconomists’ expectations for 570,000units.

Permits for future building hit517,000 units, the lowest on recordsdating to 1960.

While the collapse in constructionled some economists to trim eco-nomic growth estimates for the firstquarter, many saw the decline merelyas a correction after a hefty Januaryincrease.

“We still expect that the strength-ening economic recovery will sparkconsumer demand, leading residen-tial construction to pick up this year,”said Celia Chen, a senior director atMoody’s Analytics in West Chester,Pennsylvania.

“Given their low inventories,builders will need to construct morehomes to satisfy demand once itramps up.”

A separate report showed applica-tions for home loans dipped lastweek, suggesting still stunted demandahead of the spring selling season.

The increase in wholesale priceswas broad-based.

Energy prices surged 3.3 percent— the biggest advance since January2010 and an increase that built onJanuary’s 1.8 percent rise. Gasolineprices rose 3.7 percent to account formore than 40 percent of the overallgain in energy costs.

Food prices jumped 3.9 percent,the biggest increase since 1974, andsome economists blamed the increaseon bad weather.

Stripping out volatile food and en-ergy costs, core producer prices rose0.2 percent last month, matching ex-pectations and easing after a 0.5 per-cent rise in January.

The core PPI was lifted by a 1.0percent increase in apparel, whichwas the biggest rise since 1990, whilepassenger cars rose 0.6 percent.

Entertainment InternationalFriday, March 18, 201112

The film follows a depressed toycompany executive who picks up ahand puppet beaver and uses it to sepa-rate himself from the negative aspectsof his personality that are destroyinghis family and career. Foster directedthe movie and plays Gibson’s wife.

“I can’t imagine anybody elsedoing it. He has such a deep, strug-gling soul that really understood thepart of the movie that’s about a manin a spiritual crisis,” Foster said on

Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK – Lady Gaga andher wild no-holds-barred wardrobehas created a fashion revolution —and for that she’ll get this year’s styleicon award from the Council of Fash-ion Designers of America. CFDApresident Diane von Furstenberg andexecutive director Steven Kolb an-nounced the nominees and honoreesfor the annual industry awards at areception Wednesday evening at theDVF studio.

The other major prize to beawarded at the June 6 ceremony,for lifetime achievement, will goto Marc Jacobs, considered by in-siders to be the most influentialAmerican designer working now.Living up to that hype, Jacobs wasalso nominated in the competitivewomenswear designer of the yearcategory against Alexander Wang,and the design duo LazaroHernandez and Jack McColloughof Proenza Schouler.

Jacobs, in his late 40s, is oneof the youngest designers to behonored with the Geoffrey BeeneLifetime Achievement Award.Von Furstenberg said she had al-ready received an e-mail from himjoking that he’d like the awardreduced to a “half-lifetime award.”

“I told him that I’m much olderthan him and I’m still kicking,”von Furstenberg told the crowd,which included Vera Wang, AnnaWintour, Zac Posen, and Ashley

Associated Press Writer

JOHANNESBURG – The lawyerof Haiti’s Jean-Bertrand Aristidesays actor Danny Glover has arrivedin South Africa to escort the exiledformer president home.

Miami lawyer Ira Kurzban flew toJohannesburg Wednesday on thesame mission amid unexplained de-lays as the United States called forAristide to put off his departure untilSunday’s disputed presidential runoffin his homeland. Kurzban says thestar of the “Lethal Weapon” actionmovies arrived Thursday morning.

Aristide has been in exile seven

Associated Press Writer

MINNEAPOLIS – GarrisonKeillor plans to keep spinning talesof Lake Wobegon’s Norwegianbachelor farmers for at least acouple more years, but the host andcreator of public radio’s “A Prai-rie Home Companion” is droppingmore hints that his retirement maybe on the horizon.

In an interview posted Wednes-day on the AARP Bulletin’swebsite, the 68-year-old Keillorsaid he plans to retire in the springof 2013. But Keillor said he firsthas to find his replacement. “I’mpushing forward, and also I’m indenial. It’s an interesting time oflife,” Keillor told the publication.

Keillor told The AssociatedPress in a follow-up e-mail

Foster grateful forFoster grateful forFoster grateful forFoster grateful forFoster grateful forGibson role in new movieGibson role in new movieGibson role in new movieGibson role in new movieGibson role in new movieAssociated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas – Jodie Foster premiered the quirky but dark movie“The Beaver” at the South by Southwest Film Festival on Wednesdaynight, saying she’s grateful for the performance by troubled actor andfriend Mel Gibson.

the red carpet before the screening.Gibson, who recently was sen-

tenced to 36 months of probation andordered to attend 52 weeks of domes-tic violence counseling after pleadingno contest to a misdemeanor chargeof spousal battery on former girlfriendOksana Grigorieva, did not attend thepremiere. The battery charge was an-other blow to Gibson’s reputation,which took a major hit after his 2006arrest for drunken driving. A deputy’sreport leaked to the celebrity websiteTMZ revealed the action star had usedanti-Semitic and sexist slurs. Foster,who has remained a steadfast friendof Gibson, acknowledged the batterycharge made release of the film tricky.

“There were all sorts of things thatwere beyond our control,” she toldthe audience after the movie, “It’s

been difficult. In the last six monthsthere hasn’t been any real audience(for the film). I think we all made thewise decision we should keep thefilm in some ways private and underwraps until we were ready to release.”

Foster said she has no regrets abouthaving Gibson in the movie. “I feelincredibly grateful to have Mel’s per-formance in this movie and I wouldn’tchange anything. For anybody who’sever worked with Mel Gibson, he’sthe most beloved actor probably in thefilm business, at least of the ones I’veworked with,” Foster said.

“Obviously all sorts of stuff hap-pened after the film finished thatthrew our release into a crazy pat-tern, but I certainly have no regretsabout him being in the film or hisperformance.”

“The Beaver” is only the secondmajor film that Gibson has starredin since 2002. It is scheduled to openin select theaters May 6. JoiningFoster at the premiere were actorAnton Yelchin, who plays Foster’sson, and writer Kyle Killen.AP Photo/JackPlunkett

Jodie Foster walks the redcarpet before a screening of hernew film ‘The Beaver’ at theSXSW Film Festival in Austin,Texas on Wednesday, March 16,2011. Foster directed and starsin the movie.

Gaga, Jacobs, Olsens amongthe top fashion talent

and Mary-Kate Olsen.The Olsens were nominated in the

womenswear category for emergingtalent for their collection The Row,as were Prabal Gurung and JosephAltuzarra. Alexander Wang, PhillipLim and Robert Geller will competein the up-and-coming menswear de-signer category, and AlejandroIngelmo, Eddie Borgo, PamellaLove and Jason Wu in accessories.In addition to the statuette, win-ners named as new talent also re-ceive a financial prize from crys-tal company Swarovski.

AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, file

FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2010 filephoto, Lady Gaga is seen back-stage after accepting the awardfor Video of the Year for ‘Bad Ro-mance’ at the MTV Video MusicAwards in Los Angeles.

Danny Glover in South Africa for Aristideyears. Aides say he fears that eitherof the two right-wing candidates run-ning for president might reverse thedecision to allow his return onceelected.

Glover is among U.S. celebritiesand politicians including Jesse Jack-son and entertainer Harry Belafontewho have been pushing for Aristide’sreturn.

FILE - In this photo taken Friday,Feb. 4, 2011 file photo US actor

Danny Glover gestures as hearrives at Rome’s main train

station. AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito, File

Garrison Keillor says retirement looms in 2013

AP Photo/Janet Hostetter, file

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2009 file photo,radio show host Garrison Keillor re-sumes work in his Prairie Home Pro-ductions office in St. Paul, Minn.

Wednesday that he’ll be 70 in thespring of 2013, “and that seems likea nice round number.”

“The reason to retire is to try toavoid embarrassment; you ought todo it before people are dropping bighints. You want to be the first tocome up with the idea. You don’twant to wait until you trip and falloff the stage,” Keillor told the AP.

For the first time this season, “APrairie Home Companion” had aguest host on Jan. 15, when singerand fiddler Sara Watkins of theband Nickel Creek hosted the showfrom St. Paul’s Fitzgerald Theater,with Keillor appearing as a featuredguest. Keillor said at the time thathe had never gotten to see the showhimself and wanted “to stand in theback of the hall and watch for a fewminutes.”

International Friday, March 18, 2011 13Science

American Catherine Colemanand Italian Paolo Nespoli pried offthe lid of the robot’s packing box, asthough they were opening a coffin.TV cameras showed lots of foaminside, but no robot. “It’s like un-earthing a mummy,” radioed a pay-load controller at Marshall SpaceFlight Center in Huntsville, Ala.

“Well, at least the mummy wouldbe here,” Coleman replied. “We justhave an empty box where Robonaut

Associated Press Writer

JOHANNESBURG – Scientistssay they have discovered the first fos-sil of a dinosaur in Angola, and thatit’s a new creature, heralding a re-search renaissance in a countryslowly emerging from decades of war.

A paper published Wednesday in

Associated Press Writer

LONDON – An experimentaltreatment improved symptoms ofParkinson’s disease in a mid-stagetest, echoing results of an earlierpilot study.

The new research is the first toshow positive results in a test ofgene therapy against a sham op-eration in about three dozen U.S.Parkinson’s patients.

After six months, those who gotthe gene therapy scored 23 percentbetter on a standard test to mea-sure motor skills while those whogot the sham operation did about13 percent better.

“Gene therapy is no longer justa theory,” said Michael Kaplitt, aneurosurgeon at New York-Presby-terian Hospital and Weill CornellMedical Center, and one of thestudy authors. “We are gettingmuch closer to a reality where thistreatment can be offered to pa-tients.” Kaplitt said the results mightspur similar treatments for otherbrain disorders like Alzheimer’s,epilepsy and depression.

Kaplitt and colleagues testedthe gene therapy on 16 peoplewhile 21 others received a sham

In this undated photo supplied bythe PaleoAngola Project, re-searcher Octávio Mateus analy-ses part of a fossilized dinosaur.A paper published WednesdayMarch 16, 2011, in the Annals ofthe Brazilian Academy of Sci-ences describes a classic, long-necked, elephant-sized, plant-eating sauropod.

First dinosaur fossil discovered in Angolathe Annals of the Brazilian Academyof Sciences describes a long-necked,plant-eating sauropod, among thelargest creatures ever to have walkedthe earth. The international team thatfound and identified the fossilizedforelimb bone say it is from a previ-ously unknown dinosaur, citingunique skeletal characteristics.

The fossil was found along withfish and shark teeth in what wouldhave been a sea bed 90 million yearsago, leading its discoverers to believethe dinosaur might have been washedinto the sea and torn apart by ancientsharks. The new dinosaur has beendubbed Angolatitan adamastor —Angolatitan means “Angolan giant”and the adamastor is a sea giant fromPortuguese sailing myths.

Matthew F. Bonnan, a sauropod

expert at Western Illinois Univer-sity, was not involved with theAngolan research. But after read-ing the report, he said he expectedtheir claim to have found a new di-nosaur to hold up. “I think they’vebeen very careful,” he said, addingthe find could add to knowledgeabout how sauropods adapted todifferent environments.

Bonnan also said it was “reallycool” to see such research comingout of Angola. “The neat thingabout dinosaur paleontology is thatit’s becoming more global,” he said,saying that was giving scientists aglobal perspective on the evolutionof dinosaurs. “The more people andplaces that we involve in science,the better off we all are,” Bonnansaid.AP Photo/PaleoAngola Project/HO

Study: Gene therapy improvesParkinson’s symptoms

surgery. The patients were aged 30to 75 and all were takingParkinson’s medication.

In patients with Parkinson’s dis-ease, their brains get overactive af-ter losing the normal supply of achemical called GABA. The newtreatment, gene therapy, works byinserting billions of copies of agene into patients’ brains that helpsthem produce more GABA.

For patients who got the genetherapy, doctors drilled a hole intotheir brains while they were stillawake. Doctors then slipped in avirus engineered to bring in billionsof copies of a gene to help the brainpump out more GABA. Patientswho didn’t get the gene therapy hadholes drilled halfway into theirskull — enough to trick them theywere getting the therapy but appar-ently not enough to do any harm.

The study was published onlineThursday in the journal, LancetNeurology. It was paid for byNeurologix Inc., the biotechnologycompany that devised the therapy.Kaplitt is a company cofounder andholds stock options and many of theother authors reported ties toNeurologix and other pharmaceu-ticals.

AP Photo/NASA

In this March 15, 2011 photo provided by NASA, astronaut Scott Kelly, Expedition 26 commander, right,poses with Robonaut 2, the dexterous humanoid astronaut helper, in the Destiny laboratory of the Interna-tional Space Station.

NASA’s humanoid robotNASA’s humanoid robotNASA’s humanoid robotNASA’s humanoid robotNASA’s humanoid robotunveiled on space stationunveiled on space stationunveiled on space stationunveiled on space stationunveiled on space stationAssociated Press Writer

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The first humanoid robot everlaunched into space is finally free. Astronauts at the InternationalSpace Station unpacked Robonaut on Tuesday, 2 1/2 weeks after itsarrival via shuttle Discovery. NASA broadcast the humorous unveil-ing ceremony Wednesday.

is supposed to be.” Robonaut — alsoknown as R2 — was spotted a minutelater in front of a work station.

“I’d like to introduce you to thenewest member of our crew,”Coleman said. “We’re going to seewhat Robonaut can do.” The payloadcontroller asked if R2 was related toHAL, the sinister computer with ar-tificial intelligence from the 1968film “2001: A Space Odyssey.”

“Since we found him already

controlling the space station, we’resure that he is related to HAL. Butwe’ll see,” Coleman said. In a Twitterupdate, R2 announced: “Check meout. I’m in space!” A NASA employeeon the ground posted the tweet.

Nespoli attached NASA’s waist-highR2 to a fixed pedestal, where it will re-main with its fists clenched and its armsfolded against its chest until testing be-gins in May. The robotic team at JohnsonSpace Center in Houston wants to seehow R2 performs in weightlessness. Therobot is intended as an astronaut helper,inside the space station, in the decadeahead. Legs should arrive next year.R2’s earthbound twin spent Wednes-day at the Smithsonian Institution’sNational Air and Space Museum, per-forming demonstrations for children.

Friday, March 18, 201114 InternationalSport

“I’m relaxed rather than euphoricbecause for me this is normal,”Mourinho said. “Madrid is too biga club not to be there.” Not only doesthe victory end Madrid’s miserablerecord, but it keeps Mourinho oncourse to become the first coach towin the competition with three dif-ferent clubs, having led Inter Milanto the trophy last season and FCPorto to the 2004 title.

While Madrid is a nine-time Eu-ropean champion, Chelsea has yetto conquer the continent. Havingwon 2-0 in the away leg atCopenhagen, Chelsea was held to a0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge by theDanish champions.

“We needed to be careful at theback, any goal would have giventhem belief,” Chelsea goalkeeperPetr Cech said. “The job was done,we kept a clean sheet. The only thingmissing was converting ourchances.” Chelsea and Madrid willjoin Inter Milan, Barcelona,Manchester United, Tottenham,Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk inFriday’s draw for the last eight.

Agence France Presse

PARIS – French Sports Minis-ter Chantal Jouanno said on Thurs-day that she hopes France coachLaurent Blanc does not recallFranck Ribery and Patrice Evra forthe country’s forthcoming matches.Ribery and Evra received bans ofthree and five games respectivelyfor their roles in the France squad’smutiny at last year’s World Cup inSouth Africa and have not playedfor Les Bleus since the end of thetournament.

Jouanno had previously statedthat she considered a return for thealleged ringleaders of the WorldCup strike “unacceptable” and she

AFP PHOTO/ Pedro ARMESTRE

Real Madrid’s defender Sergio Ramos (L) and French forward Karim Benzema (2nd R) vies withLyon’s Croatian defender Dejan Lovren (R) and defender Aly Cissokho (2nd L) during the Cham-pions League football Real Madrid vs Olympique Lyonnais in Santiago Bernabeu Stadiun inMadrid on March 16, 2011.

Madrid, ChelseaMadrid, ChelseaMadrid, ChelseaMadrid, ChelseaMadrid, Chelseainto Championsinto Championsinto Championsinto Championsinto ChampionsLeague quartersLeague quartersLeague quartersLeague quartersLeague quartersAssociated Press Writer

LONDON – Real Madrid reached the Champions League quarterfinals for the first timein seven years by sweeping aside Lyon on Wednesday, and Chelsea relied on its first-leggoals to oust FC Copenhagen. Karim Benzema scored against his former club to help Madridbeat Lyon 3-0 and send Jose Mourinho’s side through 4-1 on aggregate. Marcelo and AngelDi Maria also found the net.

“I prefer to avoid Inter and Chelseabecause emotionally it’s difficult toplay against your people, yourfriends,” Mourinho said. It is a drawMadrid hasn’t been in since 2004, butnow Mourinho will be hoping to de-liver the club’s 10th European title. Theaway goal from the 1-1 draw in thefirst leg gave Madrid a slight advan-tage, and Marcelo made it 2-1 in the37th minute.

The Brazilian defender played aone-two with Cristiano Ronaldo beforecutting inside defender Dejan Lovrenand powering a shot past goalkeeperHugo Lloris. Benzema found the backof the net with a header soon after buthe was ruled offside. However, theFrance striker scored in the 66th, latch-ing onto Marcelo’s long pass upfieldand slotting the ball through Lloris’legs.

Madrid’s 25th straight home win inall competitions was sealed 10 min-utes later by Angel Di Maria, whochipped the ball over Lloris off aheader from Mesut Oezil. “Wecouldn’t match them tonight. We cameup against a very good team that closed

us down from the outset,” Lyon coachClaude Puel said. “We couldn’t loosenup, we made a lot of mistakes and weshowed nerves.”

At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea neverlooked troubled thanks to NicolasAnelka’s first-leg double, but CarloAncelotti’s club was overly relaxedagainst Copenhagen at times. Anelkawas too casual with his flicked finishafter 20 minutes, with goalkeeperJohan Wiland easily blocking the ef-fort. And Chelsea nearly paid for it 5minutes later when Dame N’Doye hitthe post with a free kick that had beatenCech.

“The dream would have been if thefree kick had gone in,” Copenhagencoach Stale Solbakken said. “It couldhave changed the gamepyschologically, but the better teamwon (over two legs).” The goal-framewas hit by the home team in the sec-ond half, when John Obi Mikel headedagainst the crossbar.

But the Premier League champions,who are languishing fourth domesti-cally, are into the quarterfinals for thefourth time in five years.

Agence France Presse

KUALA LUMPUR – SeppBlatter, hoping to win a fourthterm as FIFA president, hintedThursday it could be his final stintas the head of football’s worldgoverning body. “Possibly yes,”the 75-year-old said when askedif the upcoming election would behis final bid.

“There is a moment when youreally have to step down and whenyou are not intelligent enough totell yourself when shall be the end,then perhaps our Lord will say‘stop it now’.” Blatter, on a whirl-wind tour of Asia including EastTimor, Myanmar, Laos and Malay-sia, spoke amid speculation thatAsian football chief Mohamad binHammam will run against him.

“I just passed on 10th of March75 years. But I think I am full ofenergy and I have not yet finishedmy work to develop football and

French minister againstRibery, Evra recalls

reiterated her stance on Thursday.“I stand by (what I said), noth-

ing has really changed,” saidJouanno during a visit to France’sNational Rugby Centre (CNR) inMarcoussis. “There have been noexcuses, no mea culpas and at thetime they didn’t renounce their bo-nuses.

“Now, as the role of a ministeris not be the France coach but todefend the values of the Frenchteam and of sport in general, Iwould regret it (if Ribery and Evrawere recalled).”

France visit Luxembourg in aEuro 2012 qualifier on March 25before hosting Croatia in a friendlymatch in Paris four days later.

Blatter hints at futureretirement plans

AFP/File/Philippe Desmazes

Sepp Blatter, seen here in 2010, hoping to win a fourth termas FIFA president, hinted it could be his final stint as the headof football’s world governing body.

organise competition,” he said.“I am willing to go on for the

next four years. This is my wish andwe will see what the congress willsay.” The FIFA presidential electionis due to take place in Zurich onJune 1. The Swiss president hasbeen at the FIFA helm for 13 years.

Earlier, he held talks with Foot-ball Association Malaysia presidentSultan Ahmad Shah. Blatter said hewelcomed any challenge for the topFIFA post, adding that he had sup-port among Asian and Middle Eastcountries.

“I think competition is alwaysvery good,” he said. Bin Hammamwas once a close ally of Blatter anda driving force behind his campaignto be elected in 1998 but the pairfell out two years ago.

Blatter said he was unable tomeet Bin Hammam as both hadbusy schedules. The Swiss will re-turn to Zurich via Singapore laterThursday.

Friday, March 18, 2011 15International Sport

Elton Brand had 19 points and 12rebounds, helping the Sixers tie theidle New York Knicks for sixth placein the Eastern Conference. Brandplayed for the Clippers for six sea-sons and left for free agency as theircareer rebounding leader and third-leading scorer. Randy Foye led LosAngeles with 18 points and DeAndreJordan added 16 points and 15 re-bounds.

The 76ers didn’t treat Clippers All-Star rookie Blake Griffin too kindlyon his 22nd birthday, forcing him tomiss his first six shots and holdinghim to 14 points on 3 for 12 shoot-ing. He scored a career-low eightpoints in a 105-82 loss Monday toMemphis that snapped his streak of67 double-digit games — the long-est at the start of an NBA career sinceDavid Robinson’s 77 in a row.

Griffin, who was attempting to tieAP Photo/Christine Cotter

Philadelphia 76ers’ Elton Brand, left, fouls Los Angeles Clippers’Blake Griffin in the second half of an NBA basketball game in LosAngeles, on Wednesday, March 16, 2011. The 76ers won 104-94.

Agence France Presse

INDIAN WELLS, California –World number one Rafael Nadal wastested by Indian qualifier SomdevDevvarman but advanced to the In-dian Wells quarter-finals with a 7-5,6-4 win. Nadal, recovering from a leftthigh injury that meant he took a breakafter the Australian Open, on Wednes-day clinched victory in the match last-ing almost two hours with a runningcross-court forehand winner.

The Spaniard has been command-ing the baseline all week butDevvarman proved to be a tricky op-ponent. “I played really badly, espe-cially in the beginning,” Nadal said.“After that I improved a little bit. It ismuch more important to win matcheswhen you are playing bad than whenyou are playing well.

“I played much better in the sec-ond set. Not perfect.” Devvarman,who received a standing ovation fromthe crowd, made the final of the ATPJohannesburg tournament last month.Nadal advances to the round of eightwhere he will face hard-servingCroatian Ivo Karlovic, who beat AlbertMontanes of Spain 7-6 (9/7), 6-2.

Reigning Australian Open cham-pion Novak Djokovic crushed hisdoubles partner Viktor Troicki 6-0, 6-1. Djokovic, who has only lost sixgames in three matches, clinched thewin over his Serbian countrymanTroicki with a backhand winner down

Associated Press Writer

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – In ad-dition to sending a letter toIran’s supreme leader seekingthe release of two American hik-ers, Muhammad Ali’s wife saysthe boxing champ is also will-ing to go there to help make ithappen. But Lonnie Ali sayssuch a visit would depend on herhusband’s health. Parkinson’sDisease has limited his speechand physical activity.

“If we thought that theywould be released and ifMuhammad’s presence wouldhave some impact on that re-lease for the good, then, yes, wewould try very hard to make sureMuhammad was able to go,”Lonnie Ali said. “But a lot ofthat, as you know, would dependon Muhammad’s health. That’sthe bottom line.”

Arguably the most prominentU.S. Muslim, Muhammad Alimade a behind-the scenes appealto Ayatollah Ali Khamenei inFebruary and released his letter

Meeks, Brand leadMeeks, Brand leadMeeks, Brand leadMeeks, Brand leadMeeks, Brand lead76ers over Clippers76ers over Clippers76ers over Clippers76ers over Clippers76ers over Clippers104-94104-94104-94104-94104-94Associated Press Writer

LOS ANGELES – Jodie Meeks scored 22 points and Jrue Holiday added nine of his 20 in thefinal 6 1/2 minutes, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 104-94 victory over the Los Angeles Clip-pers on Wednesday night.

Brand’s 2001-02 single-season recordof 55 double-doubles in a Clippersuniform, fouled out for the third timethis season with 1:28 remaining andfinished with eight rebounds. It wasthe fifth straight game in which hefailed to record a double-double. Grif-fin nearly came to blows with TonyBattie after the Sixers forward com-mitted a flagrant foul.

About 2 minutes after making hisfirst field goal, Griffin was hacked onhis way to the basket while trying todrive between Battie and Meeks with2:28 left in the first half. Battie stillhad a grip on Griffin’s shirt when theusually even-tempered rookie boltedup from the floor and had to be re-strained.

So did Sixers coach Doug Collinswith 15.8 seconds left in the half, whenhe received two quick technical foulsand was ejected following Battie’s

fourth personal foul. Before he de-parted for the dressing room, Collinsgathered his players around him andhad an animated discussion with them.Reserve Marreese Speights, who spentthe entire game on the bench, also gota technical once the half ended.

The Clippers were outscored 30-19in the third quarter. The 76ers extendedtheir three-point halftime lead to 77-59 with a 16-4 run, capped by Meeks’3-pointer with 2 1/2 minutes left in theperiod.

The Clippers got as close as 90-81with 5:17 remaining on two free throwsby Griffin, who was serenaded by some76ers fans seated behind the Philadel-phia bench while he was at the line. ButGriffin picked up his fifth foul 16 sec-onds later while trying to draw an of-fensive charge from Holiday, who cameback with a 20-footer and 3-pointer onthe Sixers’ next two possessions.

Wife: Ali willing to visitIran to free hikers

to The Associated Press onWednesday. The letter asksKhamenei to release Josh Fattaland Shane Bauer, who havebeen held on espionage chargessince July 2009, when they werearrested while hiking in north-ern Iraq near the Iranian border.

A third hiker, Sarah Shourd,was released on bail in Septem-ber. The letter was the secondone the boxing champ sent toKhamenei asking for the Ameri-cans’ release, Lonnie Ali said.The first was sent last year justbefore Shourd was released, butit isn’t known whether the let-ter had any effect. Ali hasn’t re-ceived responses to either letter.

“Please show the world thecompassion I know you have inyour heart,” Muhammad Aliwrote in his second letter, ask-ing Khamenei as a “dearbrother” to show the samemercy and compassion for thetwo men as he did for Shourd.Lonnie Ali said the letter wasdelivered via the Iranian consu-late in the United Nations.

Nadal, Djokovic advance at Indian Wells

AFP PHOTO / GABRIEL BOUYS

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns the ball during his matchagainst Somdev Devvarman of India during the Masters 1000tournament in Indian Wells, California on March 16, 2011.Nadal won 7-5, 6-4.the line.

“I am playing my best tennis of mylife the last three months,” Djokovicsaid. “It all started with my Davis Cupwins.”Djokovic and Troicki had ashort rest before heading off to one ofthe outer courts to play doubles wherethey lost 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) to RohanBopanna of India and Pakistan’s

Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi.In the quarter-finals Djokovic will

face Frenchman Richard Gasquet,who defeated Andy Roddick of theUnited States 6-3, 7-6 (7/5). “It feelsincredible for me to be in the quarter-finals here. I did well with my serveand my backhand, especially on matchpoint,” Gasquet said.

Friday, March 18, 201116 SportI N T E R N A T I O N A L

The Brackley-based team’s deci-sion to hold back on a final updatepackage until the Barcelona testmeant its form was hard to predict,but a major overhaul of the W02 thathelped Schumacher top the times onthe final dry day of running has liftedhopes on the eve of the campaign.

And although Schumacher thinksthat the full picture of the team’scompetitiveness will only becomeclear in the season-opening Austra-lian Grand Prix, he says he has al-ready seen enough to be confidentabout a successful 2011 campaign.“My feeling is a good one,” he saidin an interview with the officialMercedes GP website. “The teamhas been working very hard over thewinter to shape our car in all of theareas which had been identified byus as needing improvement.

“The data I have seen over thewinter had been quite encouraging,but then we all know that the reali-ties of data and the race track can bequite different. As a driver, you ob-viously hope for a good step forwardand I think this is what we haveachieved.

“I am confident that we can com-pete for podium finishes, and I amhopeful we can fight for victories atsome of the races. Saying that, wewill only see the truth once the sea-

Former 500cc world champion Kevin Schwantzbelieves the battle between Honda team-mates DaniPedrosa and Casey Stoner could have a negative effecton the riders. Stoner, the 2007 world champion, leftDucati to join Honda, where Pedrosa has been the lead-ing rider for several years. Schwantz reckons the battlebetween the two could lead to mistakes if one of themtries to show he is the team’s leader. “It’s a new team,a new bike, everything’s going to be a little bit differ-ent,” Schwantz told AUTOSPORT ahead of the startof the 2011 season this weekend.

“The pressure is that if Pedrosa’s in your team andhe’s been there a lot longer than you, they may be lis-tening to his direction, not yours.

“This is all stuff that can play on Casey’s mind. If Caseycan just go out and race and not let the politics side ofthings bother him, I think Casey’s in with a shot, for sure.“I think as Pedrosa and Stoner’s battle progresses, one ofthem will let the other get to him. Casey’s going to letDani get in his head, and Casey’s going to get into Dani’s- and I think they’ll make mistakes.

“Hopefully it won’t be like Dani and Nicky Haydenin 2006, but in trying to show ‘I’m the dominant onehere at Honda and you guys need to follow my direc-tion and listen to me’, I think they might both take alittle too much on their shoulders. “They’ll feel like‘watch this, I’m going to show them’, and mistakes -whether it’s crashes or just running off the track andlosing a bunch of places - will be made, which willmake the championship wide open.”

The American, however, is in no doubt that Hondastarts the season as a very strong outfit, and he thinksStoner could be hard to beat if he can find his form.

“I think it’s obvious watching the tests that Honda hasgot things right. There’s more than one guy that’s gone faston the Honda,” he said. “You’ve got to think that if Caseycan find the form that he had when he rode the Ducati tothe 2007 world championship, then everybody will be luckyto find out which way he went, he’s going to go so fast...”

Schumacher hopeful of race winsMichael Schumacher is hopeful that he and team-mate Nico

Rosberg will be in a position to fight for races wins this seasonafter getting a glimpse of Mercedes GP’s true potential in thefinal test last week.

son gets underway, so I can hardlywait to go to Melbourne to finallysee what the real picture is.”

As well as progress on the car front,Schumacher believes he will also doa better job in the cockpit after a some-times difficult 2010 return. “This yearfeels very different indeed,” he said.“Last year everything was new again;the testing situation, the car, the team,the structures. It was very exciting butit was still something you had to findyour way through.

“Now, one year later, I knowmuch better which areas to work in.I am much more familiar with theteam and we have a great group ofvery skilled and dedicated people. Ienjoy what I do, I enjoy workingwith Mercedes, and I have never re-gretted my decision to return... ifthat is what you wanted to ask next!”

Rosberg is equally bullish aboutthe progress that Mercedes GP hasmade, and was not ruling out theW02 helping him secure his maidenF1 victory.

“We’ve made good progress overthe four tests. It’s perhaps been amore difficult winter than we ex-pected but everyone has worked re-ally hard and pushed on with thenew upgrades so that we have thecar that we want for the start of theseason,” he said.

AFP PHOTO/JOSEP LAGO

Mercedes GP Petronas F1 Team German driver Michael Schumacher drives during a testingsession on March 11, 2011 at Catalunya’s racetrack in Montmelo, near Barcelona.

Schwantz: Rider rivalry may hurt Honda

AFP PHOTO/KARIM JAAFAR

Honda MotoGP rider Casey Stoner of Austra-lia takes part in the final pre-season test at theLosail International Circuit in the Qatari capi-tal Doha on March 13, 2011 ahead of Grand Prixof Qatar to be held next week.