Satanic Verses

Till now I have yet to obtain enough information on the reasons why British Queen Elizabeth II awarded a knighthood to controversial writer Salman Rushdie. I just so-so curious because the decisian triggered protest in some countries.

Salman Rushdie had hurt Muslims across the world with his "Satanic Verses" book in which he "analyzed" Islam's Holy Qur'an based on his personal perceptions which totally contradicted Muslims' own understandings.

I met pak Hassan yesterday and this is his opinion on that case.

RUSHDIE'S KNIGHTING MAY AFFECT INTER-CIVILIZATION, -CULTURAL, -RELIGIOUS RELATIONS : MINISTER

Jakarta, June 21 (ANTARA) - The knighting of controversial author Salman Rushdie by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II may affect efforts to improve inter-civilization, inter-cultural and inter-religious relations, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.

"In terms of timing, I would say, the move does not help to create a conducive atmosphere for the creation of better mutual understanding and inter-civilization, inter-cultural and inter-religious relations," the minister said after accompanying President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in receiving the credentials of three non-resident foreign ambassadors to Indonesia at the Merdeka Palace here on Thursday.

Wirajuda said Salman Rushdie had become a controversial author for writing a book titled "The Satanic Verses" in 1988 as to Muslims around the world it blasphemed the Prophet Muhammad.

But the minister also said he really did not know what exactly Rushdie had been knighted for -- for his works or his services.

Rushdie's elevation to Britain's knighthood has triggered storms of protest among Muslims in several countries. Reuters reported that supporters of Malaysia's hard-line Islamic party protested outside the British embassy on Wednesday against the awarding of a knighthood to Rushdie whose "The Satanic Verses" had enraged Muslims worldwide.

Chanting "Destroy Salman Rushdie" and "Destroy Britain", some 30 members of the opposition Parti Islam se-Malaysia urged London to retract the honor or face the consequences.

"This has tainted the entire knighthood, the whole hall of fame of the British system," party treasurer Hatta Ramli told reporters after the party handed a protest note to embassy officials.

"The British government must be responsible because it has created a sudden feeling of anger not just against Salman Rushdie but against the British government," he said.

"They have to bear the consequences." he said. On Tuesday, fellow Muslim nations Pakistan and Iran summoned the top British envoys in their countries to protest against the award.

Rushdie whose book prompted the late Iranian leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to issue a fatwa in 1989 calling for his death for blasphemy, was awarded the knighthood last week for services to literature in Queen Elizabeth's birthday honors list.

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Database Acuan Dan Perpustakaan LKBN ANTARA

Shichinin No Samurai

The Mighty Warriors Who Became the Seven National Heroes of a Small Town

Well, Seven Samurai is the best action movie that I ever seen. Why? bcoz this is the most logic action movie. You won't find a super hero with big muscle but no brain, you won't see a single man destroy hundred of soldier, you even won't find an angel between that seven person.

All you will see just the spirit of seven samurai to defend a poor village from the robber with the help of all the villagers. And, they are soooo human, so they can bleed, make a mistake and even die. The robber are humans too, so they have a brain and it's impossible for a single man to destroy all of them. Salut to the director Akira Kurosawa (1954).

An "average" samurai film focuses on a sword-wielding, superhero-type individual who battles his way through the story, often triumphing over a seemingly overwhelming host of foes. Seven Samurai offers us flawed protagonists, some of whom are not skilled fighters, and one of whom is often drunk, belligerent, and decidedly non-heroic in his approach. The odds are impressive, yet, in large part due to the melancholy tone adopted by Kurosawa during the closing scene, the victory is hollow, and almost feels like a defeat. Especially when you heard The lead samurai's final words: "So. Again we are defeated. The farmers have won. Not us."

The story begins when several of the village's men, lead by a hot-head named Rikichi (Yoshio Tsuchiya), grow weary of the annual raids of the bandits, they decide to act. Since the citizens do not have the martial ability or skill to fight, Rikichi seeks mercenary samurai who are willing to defend the settlement in return for food and lodging. The seven men who accompany Rikichi home are a diverse lot. They include the sage Kambei (Takashi Shimura), a great leader of men; Kikuchiyo (Toshiro Mifune), a burly clown whose prowess with a sword does not match his arrogance; Kyuzo (Seiji Miyaguchi), a quiet master swordsman who lets his weapon speak for him; and young Katsushiro (Isao Kimura), who idolizes Shichiroji and Kambei. Also in the party are Heihachi (Minoru Chiaki), Shichiroji (Daisuke Kato), and Gorobei (Yoshio Inaba).

After teaching the men of the town how to fight and preparing the village for its defense (building fences, flooding the rice fields, and tearing down a bridge), the seven samurai await the inevitable coming of the 40-odd bandits and the battle that will determine the peasants' future. The battle is make sense, they should use their brain to defeat all teh bandits. When they try to use a trick, the same trick doesnt work for three times bcoz the bandits have brain too.

There is a conflict too between the samurai n the farmers. In fact, this conflict is at the heart of Kikuchiyo's character. In the film's most crucial scene, Kikuchiyo presents to the other samurai armour and weaponry that the farmers had kept hidden in a secret cache, expecting them to be pleased at the discovery of these new resources. Instead they are disgusted, knowing that the material would have been stripped from the bodies of dead or murdered samurai after battle. Their anger grows and they even contemplate slaughtering the villagers.

In a performance of overwhelming emotional intensity, Mifune's words make Kikuchiyo realizes that their ignorance and hypocrisy explaining that, while the farmers are dull, wicked, murderous and cowardly, it is the samurai who have made them so, by plundering, burning, raping, and oppressing the peasants on behalf of their warlords.

Well, Despite its drawbacks (a lack of "three dimensionality"), he frequently uses the "deep focus" camera technique to keep everyone in focus, regardless of their distance from the lens. He rarely resorts to close-ups, and, when he does, there's a specific reason. The way he put the camera reminds me on "Srimulat" stage, so the audience can see all the actors in the stage.

Ok, no need to talk much. Seven Samurai is a great movie and you should prove it by urself.

Anyone-Roxette

If there's a song that inspire people to suicide...this is the song!!

the best soundtrack for suicide that ever made....^--^

every time I hear this song, feel like that Marie Fredriksson asking everyone to suicide

hehehe....maybe too much

"Anyone" by Roxette

Anyone who have a love close to this

Knows what I'm saying

Anyone who wants a dream to come true

Knows how I'm feeling

All I can think of is you and me

Doing the things I wanna do

All I imagine is heaven on earth

I know it's you

Anyone who ever kissed in the rain

Knows the whole meaning

Anyone who ever stood in the light

Needs no explaining

But everything more or less appears so meaningless

Blue and cold

Walking alone through the afternoon traffic

I miss you so

Anyone who felt like I do

Anyone who wasn't ready to fall

Anyone who loved like I do

Knows it never really happens at all

It's over when it's over

What can I do about it

Now that it's over

Everything more or less is looking so meaningless

And fades to grey

Lying awake in an ocean of teardrops

I float away

Anyone who ever felt like I do

Anyone who wasn't ready to fall

Anyone who loved like I do

Knows it never really happens at all

It's over when it's over

What can I do about it

Now it's all over

Desperate House-Maid

She is not spiderwoman but I guess she wish she were....

this is a story about a desperate housemaid that try to escape from her employer through the window, its ok if the apartment is in the ground floor, but hers is in the 15th floor

CERIYATI SENT TO INDONESIA EMBASSY

Jakarta, 17/6 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian maid who attempted to escape from her employer by tying pieces of clothing to climb down through the window of a 15th floor condominium unit has been sent to the Indonesian Embassy.
The 33 years old woman, who alleged she had been physically abused by her employer, was sent to the embassy at about 8pm on Saturday after police had recorded her statement. The maid, identified as Ceriyati binti Dapin, was given outpatient treatment at Kuala Lumpur Hospital. Police are investigating whether the employer had abused the maid as claimed by her.
The maid was rescued on Saturday after she was found clinging onto the wall of a 12th floor unit of the condominium in Sentul here by several passers-by. They then called the Fire and Rescue Department, whose personnel brought her down. It is learnt the maid was overcome by fear when she reached the 12th floor and decided to stay where she was.

UN Human Right Council

Sederet kasus HAM boleh jadi ngegantung di Indonesia, tapi lihat dong untuk kedua kalinya Indonesia jadi pengawal HAM dunia. Gue ga tahu ini ironis atau prestasi ya?


RI RE-ELECTED MEMBER OF UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

Jakarta, May 18 (ANTARA) - Fourteen countries, including Indonesia, have been elected to serve on the United Nations Human Rights Council after two rounds of balloting among member states at the UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Kristiarto Legowo said here on Friday.
"Indonesia was re-elected to serve a three-year term from 2007 to 2010 after two rounds of balloting at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday," Kristiarto Legowo said. According to a UN press statement, Indonesia, Angola, Bolivia, Egypt, India, Madagascar, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Qatar, Slovenia and South Africa were successful after the first round of voting, while Bosnia and Herzegovina and Italy were chosen following a second round.
The UN press statement said successful countries -- which were elected according to a formula that allots seats among regional groups -- needed to obtain an absolute majority of the General Assembly's membership of 192 States.
The second round of balloting was restricted to those States which had scored the most votes in the first round without achieving a majority.
In the African States group, Madagascar (182 votes), South Africa (175), Angola (172) and Egypt (168) exceeded the majority during the first round, while India (185), Indonesia (182), the Philippines (179) and Qatar (170) won the seats allotted to the Asian States group. In the Latin America and the Caribbean States group, where two seats were up for grabs, Nicaragua (174) and Bolivia (169) were elected.
Slovenia, which obtained 168 votes, was the only nation in the Eastern European States category to win a majority in the first round, but in the second round Bosnia and Herzegovina picked up 112 votes. Belarus did not score enough votes in either round.
Two seats were available to the Western European and Other States group, and the Netherlands won 121 votes in the opening round, while Denmark and Italy tied on 114 votes. In the second round, Italy scored 101 votes and Denmark obtained 86 votes.
Some of Thursday's successful countries - South Africa, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and the Netherlands - were actually being elected to their second term after winning a seat during the inaugural elections of the Council last year, when the body was established to replace the discredited Commission on Human Rights.
As part of the Council's formation, some members won three-year terms and others were given one-year terms and allowed to run for re-election again this year. Under Council rules, members serve three-year terms and cannot run for re-election after two consecutive terms. Those elected on Thursday would serve three-year terms on the 47-member body.
Indonesia, Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, South Africa, India, the Philippines, Qatar, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Italy and the Netherlands were elected to serve a three-year term beginning June 20 June.
The Council, created by General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006 to replace the Geneva-based Commission on Human Rights, seeks to address violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and to promote the effective coordination and mainstreaming of human rights within the United Nations system.
In accordance with the same resolution, the Council consists of 47 Member States, elected by secret ballot last year by the majority of the General Assembly Members.
Based on a membership of 192 States, the minimum required number of votes is, therefore, 97. The membership is based on equitable geographical distribution. The members of the Council shall serve for a period of three years.
They are not eligible for immediate re-election after two consecutive terms and, if they fail to uphold the highest human rights standards, they can be suspended through a two-thirds majority vote by Assembly members.
The General Assembly will meet again at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 21, to consider a follow-up to the outcome of the twenty-sixth special session on implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS
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East Timor

Kata senior gue yang ke TL waktu pilpres, warga TL itu demen banget ma sinetron Intan. Ga tau Intan? Itu, sinetron tanpa ujung yang ceritanya dari hari ke hari katanya makin ga jelas.
Berhubung gue ga ke TL so, gue cuman kebagian tanya komentar "babe" aja.


RI HOPING TIMOR LESTE'S NEW GOVT TO CONTINUE PREDECESSOR'S POLICIES

Jakarta, May 11 (ANTARA) - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia was hoping Timor Leste's new government will continue the policies of its predecessor, including that on the Indonesia-Timor Leste Joint Commission of Truth and Friendship to settle their common residual problems.
"We hope that Timor Leste's next government, the newly elected president, prime minister and parliament members, will continue the polices which were pursued by their predecessors," Wirajuda said.
The minister made the statement at the Foreign Ministry building after installing a number of echelon I and II officials here on Friday. He said he hoped the newly elected government would continue the CTF process in order to settle the two countries' historical burden through reconsiliation by building friendship.
Asked about the possibility of a change in Timor Leste's position on the CTF if Jose Ramos Horta was elected president, the minister said Horta was one of the Timor Leste governemnt officials involved in the CTF's establishment.
"Don't forget that Ramos Horta and I were involved since the beginning in initiating the CTF concept. So I hope the CTF will be able to work until the expiry of its tenure," the minister said. Ramos Horta was reported to be leading the temporary vote count in the second round of Timor Leste's presidential election in which he was competing with Parliament Speaker Francisco Guterres.
Wirajuda said he had phoned Horta and personally congratulated him for the lead he was having in the provisional vote count.
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Sarcozy

Nicolas Sarkozy resmi jadi Presiden Perancis n as usual gue musti bikin berita "basa-basi" ini hehehe....

RI WELCOMES SARKOZY'S ELECTION AS FRENCH PRESIDENT

Jakarta, May 9 (ANTARA) - Indonesia welcomes the recent election of conservative figure Nicolas Sarkozy as the new French president and hopes under his leadership the two countries' cooperation can be further improved in the future, Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said.
He made the statement here on Wednesday after attending the swearing in of new cabinet ministers and attorney general by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
"We congratulate Sarkozy for his election with a majority vote through a democratic process," Hassan said.
The Indonesian government was, of course, hoping that under Zarkosy's leadership the two countries' relations could be further cemented.
"We hope the two countries' bilateral relations will become closer and better than before," he said. As one of the big countries and a permanent member of the UN Security Council, France had a big role to play in the world, Hassan said.
He said the two countries' governments had so far actively conducted consultations and exchanged delegations.
It was hoped the two countries' cooperation in the fields of trade and economy would also increase in the future, he said.
T.G003(Y001/B/HAJM/B/E002)(T.SYS/B/Y001/B/E002) 09-05-2007 21:07:05