Bali Villas

The world of fashion is full of prestige, glamor and vanity. Luckily, sparks of kindness still burn in the hearts of some of Jakarta?s fashion lovers. Teges Prita Soraya and Anastasia Florine Limasnax, or Flo, have recently opened Rebel for a Cause, a store which sells secondhand goods and donates the proceeds to charity. (continue reading…)

From Indonesia to Bangladesh, from Cambodia to India, as factories relocate from China because of rising wages workers are becoming increasingly militant in demanding a larger share of the region?s economic success.

The latest uprising came in Cambodia last week, when tens of thousands of workers went on strike to reject a proposed 20 percent pay increase ? crippling Cambodia?s export-orientated garment industry, which produces items for renowned brands including Gap, Benetton, Adidas and Puma. (continue reading…)

Indonesia is about to held the biggest marine event this year: Sail Banda 2010. This event will be supervised in cooperation by many organizations like Indonesian Navy, Sail Indonesia, Indonesian Marine Foundation, and the Indonesian Sailing Federation. This event will be held on July 24. The Maluku provincial governments will get the honor of being the host. (continue reading…)

The Attorney General?s Office has launched an internal probe against several senior Indonesian prosecutors who allegedly met with media mogul Hary Tanoesoedibyo, whose brother Hartono is being investigated in relation to a major corruption case. (continue reading…)

Kemaro Island can get tens of thousands of foreign tourists when the Cap Go Meh festival arrived. According to Rachman Zeth, tourism observers from Palembang, foreign tourists visiting the island this Kemaro among others, came from Thailand, Singapore, China, Japan, Malaysia, and from several parts of Indonesia.

“All the tourists had come to the Island Kemaro to pray, to celebrate the turn of the night Cap Go Meh, as well as day trips. Most tourists who come usually the relatives of families living in the city of Palembang. Much more to come because it wanted to make a tour of pure culture, “says Zeth.

However, based on observations in the surrounding area Kemaro Island, seen these sights are not supported by adequate infrastructure. Visitors who use the land route to reach the island Kemaro had to contend with bad roads conditions along the first kilometers, starting from the region Intirub (local term) up to the edge of the River Musi. In addition, Intirub area which is also a former tire factory area has not been specially equipped parking buildings so prone to theft.

Complaints about the discomfort also delivered a number of visitors who pass through the river route when going to the island Kemaro. Dinah (39), citizens of Dumai, Riau, which met at the pier Religious Tourism (BKB) expressed his surprise about the high price of boat rental rates armpit. To reach the area that is located in the eastern part of the Musi River, the boatman put a price of Rp 150,000.

“In fact, referring to the board clerk’s rules tariffs placed on the dock, boat rental rates from BKB to Kemaro Island is only Rp 50,000 only. The most expensive rates recorded Rp 100 000 for the rental of boats around the Musi River, “said Dinah.

On the fateful Tuesday morning last week, an LPG gas cylinder explosion claimed the life of Muhammad Sofyan?s beloved wife and left him fighting for his life with horrific burns to 35 percent of his body.

Such tragic cases, however, are not unusual. The Center of Public Interest Studies (Puskepi) has stated that there have been 78 recorded explosions so far this year, up from a total of 50 cases for all of 2009. (continue reading…)

Indonesia is among a number of G-20 countries that have been criticized by Amnesty International for undermining international justice efforts.

The human rights group accused the United States, Russia and China on Thursday of ignoring human rights violations by allies and failing to open their own records to scrutiny in an annual survey meant to pressure governments to act more compassionately. (continue reading…)

A key United States senator voiced regret Thursday at the resumption of ties with Indonesian special forces and said the unit must expel officers linked to abuses before there could be greater cooperation.

Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the author of the law that bans US support to foreign militaries that violate human rights, said Indonesia?s Kopassus ?remains unrepentant, essentially unreformed and unaccountable.? (continue reading…)