Warna Warni Bali |

Ni Komang Erviani ,  The Jakarta Post |  Mon, 11/09/2009 2:48 PM  |  Bali

Bali Police deployed a huge contingent of officers, including ones from the paramilitary Mobile Brigade, to secure tourist sites across the island in a special operation targeting street criminals.

Code-named Operasi Wisata Agung 2009, the operation was launched Saturday and will run until Nov. 16.

“The main objective of the operation is to prevent crimes that target domestic and international visitors. Hopefully, this operation will be able to make the tourists feel safer during their stay on the island,” Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar said Saturday.

As many as 898 officers have been deployed to major tourist destinations, including Kuta, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Lovina, Tanah Lot, Rambut Siwi, Ubud, Kintamani, Candi Dasa, Goa Lawah and Taman Ayun.

“They will beef up security at the local hotels, restaurants, cafes, night spots and money changers.”

The officers would also pay special attention to security threats, such as street musicians, beggars, hawkers and thugs.

The operation was launched following a series of high-profile crimes that targeted foreign visitors. In late September, a Japanese woman was mugged and murdered in Kuta while in late October a Swedish girl was raped in South Kuta.

“We want to prevent similar incidents from taking place in the future,” Sugianyar said.

He also said that an undisclosed number of Mobile Brigade officers had been deployed to strategic spots across the island.

“We deployed the officers to provide the public with a calming sense of security amidst the recent increase of crime rate.”

In October, the Bali Police had carried out a special operation targeting burglars and thieves.

“It has succeeded in bringing down the number of burglary cases,” he said.

On December the police will hold another special operation to secure the island during its busiest tourist period; the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Mon, 11/09/2009 2:46 PM  |  The Jakarta Post I Bali

DENPASAR: A charity concert for the victims of the Padang earthquake will be held on Tuesday at Sector Bar, Sanur.

The concert is co-organized by several communities, including the Association of Bali’s Composers and Songwriters (Pramusti), the Minang Saiyo community, the Bali Jazz Community and the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

As many as 80 Denpasar students will perform in the concert alongside popular local musicians, including Agung Wirasuta, Triple X, The Zio and Gde Kurniawan. Renowned pianist Ananda Ruslan will perform with child violinist Natya. “The enthusiasm among local musicians to participate in the event is very high,” said the committee head Rofiqi Hasan.

The committee has distributed 500 tickets priced at Rp. 50,000 per ticket. “Rp 40, 000 from each ticket will be donated to Padang through the Minang Saiyo community,” he added. -JP

Police seize 5,000 ecstasy pills

Mon, 11/09/2009 2:43 PM  | The Jakarta Post I  Bali

DENPASAR: Police seized a shipment of 5,000 ecstasy pills with a street value of around Rp 1 billion, a senior officer said at the weekend.

“The ecstasy pills were sent through an expedition company in Jakarta. They were placed in several cardboard packages along with packets of biscuits, apparently in an attempt to disguise the shipment,” said Bali Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Gde Sugianyar.

The packages aroused the police’s suspicion when they went through the X-ray machine upon arrival at Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. The officers took the packages, inspected their contents and sent the suspicious looking pills to the police lab. Laboratory tests confirmed the pills were ecstasy.

“Unfortunately, we have yet to arrest the sender or recipient of the packages as the names and addresses written on the packages are fake,” he said. –JP

Wed, 11/04/2009 2:24 PM  The Jakarta Post |  Bali

DENPASAR: Hundreds of students, members of NGOs, artists, religious leaders and politicians have expressed support for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in fighting graft in Indonesia.

Dozens of Udayana University students performed a theatrical protest in front of the Bali Police headquarters in downtown Denpasar on Tuesday afternoon.

The students released seven mice near the headquarters’ gate. A student said each mouse symbolized a corrupt official.

“The criminalization of KPK has freed many corruptors,” Agus Lenyot said.

Separately, numerous religious leaders, journalists, artists, politicians and NGOs persons, were planning to make a strong statement regarding the country’s poor legal system.

Indonesian Hindu Body leader Ngurah Sudiana said the KPK deserved full support from all Indonesians.

Wayan Dibia, professor at the Indonesian Arts Institute in Denpasar, said the conflict between the KPK and the police was “funny”.

“It is like watching bondres *a traditional Balinese comedy*.” – JP