An interesting article on making batik
http://www.uq.net.au/~zzkmunr1/indonesian/crafts/batik.htm
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Two earthquakes strike Indonesia
13:42 AEST Tue Apr 26 2005 (taken from National Nine News)
AP - Two moderate earthquakes have rocked opposite ends of the Indonesian archipelago, but there were no reports of damage or causalities, seismologists said.
A 5.4 magnitude quake shook parts of Sulawasi Island in eastern Indonesia at 0100 local time (0400 AEST), Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics agency said.
The temblor was centred under the Maluku sea around 150 kilometres east of the city of Manado.
Around two-and-a-half hours later, a 5.5 temblor struck off the coast of Sumatra Island, about 370 kilometres west-northwest of the city of Padang, the Hong Kong Observatory said. Sumatra is in the far west of the archipelago.
The quakes were felt by some residents on both islands, but there were no reports of damage or casualties as a result of either, the Indonesian agency reported.
Indonesia has had countless earthquakes since a massive tsunami-producing tremor off its coast on December 26. The disaster killed more than 128,000 in Indonesia's Aceh province and more than 50,000 in 11 other countries across the Indian Ocean. Three months later, an earthquake caused extensive damage on Nias island, leaving more than 900 dead.
AP - Two moderate earthquakes have rocked opposite ends of the Indonesian archipelago, but there were no reports of damage or causalities, seismologists said.
A 5.4 magnitude quake shook parts of Sulawasi Island in eastern Indonesia at 0100 local time (0400 AEST), Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics agency said.
The temblor was centred under the Maluku sea around 150 kilometres east of the city of Manado.
Around two-and-a-half hours later, a 5.5 temblor struck off the coast of Sumatra Island, about 370 kilometres west-northwest of the city of Padang, the Hong Kong Observatory said. Sumatra is in the far west of the archipelago.
The quakes were felt by some residents on both islands, but there were no reports of damage or casualties as a result of either, the Indonesian agency reported.
Indonesia has had countless earthquakes since a massive tsunami-producing tremor off its coast on December 26. The disaster killed more than 128,000 in Indonesia's Aceh province and more than 50,000 in 11 other countries across the Indian Ocean. Three months later, an earthquake caused extensive damage on Nias island, leaving more than 900 dead.
Friday, April 22, 2005
My life is over, says Corby
By Matthew Moore, Rob Taylor. Denpasar April 22, 2005. Taken from The Age Newspaper Online.
Schapelle Corby hears a prosecutor's demand that she be jailed for life.
Prosecutors dismiss Schapelle Corby's claims of innocence, saying she is guilty of bringing marijuana into Bali.
A distraught Schapelle Corby turned to her Balinese interpreter and whispered, "My life is over," as a prosecutor yesterday urged a panel of judges to jail her for the rest of her life.
Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu asked the Denpasar District Court to find Corby, 27, "legally and convincingly guilty" of attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into Bali last year in her bodyboard bag.
"The defendant's actions can ruin the image of Bali as a tourist destination," he told the three judges who will determine her fate. "The defendant's actions can make Bali look like a drug haven and affect young people's lives."
Mr Wiswantanu said he had not asked for the death penalty, partly because the former beauty student had been polite during her trial and had no record of drug offences.
But he maintained that the prosecution team had proven Corby's guilt despite her repeated pleas of innocence and claims that she had been the unwitting victim of a drug ring operating at Australian airports.
He also asked the court to impose a 100 million rupiah ($13,500) fine.
The prosecutor's final submission in the Corby trial came as Indonesian police revealed new details of their case against the nine young Australians arrested on Sunday over an alleged heroin smuggling conspiracy.
Two of the accused Australians have told police that Andrew Chan - the 21-year-old Sydney man alleged by Indonesian authorities to be the "godfather" of the operation - had threatened to kill the families of the smugglers in Australia if they did not follow his orders.
"They said they are very scared of Chan," said Bambang Sugiarto, head of Bali's drug squad.
In Australia, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Government would plead for clemency if any of the Bali nine were sentenced to death - a vow he has also given in the Corby case.
Mr Downer expressed relief after hearing that the Corby prosecutors had not sought the death penalty. "We had made contact with the Indonesian Government and made it clear to them that we didn't want to see any Australians sentenced to death if they were to be found guilty," he said.
Before proceedings began yesterday in the Corby case, her lawyer, Lily Lubis, and adviser Vasu Rasiah talked to her in the holding cell.
"I told her to be strong, to be ready for whatever happened, and that this is not the end," Ms Lubis said before the hearing began.
Having collapsed with stress and illness during her last two court appearances, Corby was given a sedative before arriving at the court in a prison bus yesterday. For most of the two hours she stayed composed in the heavy tropical heat, biting her lip and brushing away the waves of tears that came as the final words from the prosecutor got closer.
"We state that the defendant, Schapelle Corby, is legally and convincingly guilty for having committed crimes... importing narcotics," Mr Wiswantanu said.
As they took turns reading the summary of the case, three prosecutors rejected all the key evidence Corby's lawyers produced in their attempt to show that someone placed the bag of marijuana in her bodyboard bag while she was on her way to Bali in October.
The testimony of Victorian prisoner John Patrick Ford - that a convicted drug dealer was the owner of the marijuana - was flatly rejected. "Looking at his background as a prisoner, the reason for him to testify before an Indonesian court is to taste freedom," the prosecutors said.
The evidence from Bond University professor of criminology Paul Wilson, that he could tell from meeting Corby that she did not know the drugs were in her luggage, was also dismissed. "His opinion is not based on accurate research on the defendant and her background."
Prosecutors also criticised evidence from three of Corby's travelling companions, who testified there was no marijuana in Corby's luggage when she checked in her bag at Brisbane airport.
Mr Wiswantanu said he took into account the fact "the defendant is polite and has never been convicted".
But he said: "The 4.2 kilograms of marijuana is a great danger for the nation and this is categorised as a transnational crime and the defendant has not confessed to her actions."
Ms Lubis cried during the hearing and said afterwards the prosecutors had ignored good evidence that the defence had produced.
Corby will produce her defence statement next week, with a verdict likely at the end of May .
Although the judges have the power to find Corby not guilty, or to impose a death penalty, Indonesian legal observers have said both options are unlikely and Corby appears likely to get a long sentence.
As the hearing ended, Corby went straight to the public gallery, grabbed her sister Mercedes and said as they hugged, "It's not fair," before being led away by guards.
As she waited in her cell for the prison van, Corby cried and her cousin Melissa Younger was allowed to stroke her face through the bars and offer words of comfort. "I told her to be strong and that I love her," Ms Younger said.
Corby's Australian lawyer, Robin Tampoe, said the defence team had expected the prosecution's demand and now had a week to respond. "I told her to keep her chin up," he said.
Mr Downer later held out the prospect of Corby transferring to an Australian jail, saying, "We are talking to the Indonesians now about a prisoner exchange agreement." But he said it could take "a couple of years".
Schapelle Corby hears a prosecutor's demand that she be jailed for life.
Prosecutors dismiss Schapelle Corby's claims of innocence, saying she is guilty of bringing marijuana into Bali.
A distraught Schapelle Corby turned to her Balinese interpreter and whispered, "My life is over," as a prosecutor yesterday urged a panel of judges to jail her for the rest of her life.
Prosecutor Ida Bagus Wiswantanu asked the Denpasar District Court to find Corby, 27, "legally and convincingly guilty" of attempting to smuggle 4.2 kilograms of marijuana into Bali last year in her bodyboard bag.
"The defendant's actions can ruin the image of Bali as a tourist destination," he told the three judges who will determine her fate. "The defendant's actions can make Bali look like a drug haven and affect young people's lives."
Mr Wiswantanu said he had not asked for the death penalty, partly because the former beauty student had been polite during her trial and had no record of drug offences.
But he maintained that the prosecution team had proven Corby's guilt despite her repeated pleas of innocence and claims that she had been the unwitting victim of a drug ring operating at Australian airports.
He also asked the court to impose a 100 million rupiah ($13,500) fine.
The prosecutor's final submission in the Corby trial came as Indonesian police revealed new details of their case against the nine young Australians arrested on Sunday over an alleged heroin smuggling conspiracy.
Two of the accused Australians have told police that Andrew Chan - the 21-year-old Sydney man alleged by Indonesian authorities to be the "godfather" of the operation - had threatened to kill the families of the smugglers in Australia if they did not follow his orders.
"They said they are very scared of Chan," said Bambang Sugiarto, head of Bali's drug squad.
In Australia, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Government would plead for clemency if any of the Bali nine were sentenced to death - a vow he has also given in the Corby case.
Mr Downer expressed relief after hearing that the Corby prosecutors had not sought the death penalty. "We had made contact with the Indonesian Government and made it clear to them that we didn't want to see any Australians sentenced to death if they were to be found guilty," he said.
Before proceedings began yesterday in the Corby case, her lawyer, Lily Lubis, and adviser Vasu Rasiah talked to her in the holding cell.
"I told her to be strong, to be ready for whatever happened, and that this is not the end," Ms Lubis said before the hearing began.
Having collapsed with stress and illness during her last two court appearances, Corby was given a sedative before arriving at the court in a prison bus yesterday. For most of the two hours she stayed composed in the heavy tropical heat, biting her lip and brushing away the waves of tears that came as the final words from the prosecutor got closer.
"We state that the defendant, Schapelle Corby, is legally and convincingly guilty for having committed crimes... importing narcotics," Mr Wiswantanu said.
As they took turns reading the summary of the case, three prosecutors rejected all the key evidence Corby's lawyers produced in their attempt to show that someone placed the bag of marijuana in her bodyboard bag while she was on her way to Bali in October.
The testimony of Victorian prisoner John Patrick Ford - that a convicted drug dealer was the owner of the marijuana - was flatly rejected. "Looking at his background as a prisoner, the reason for him to testify before an Indonesian court is to taste freedom," the prosecutors said.
The evidence from Bond University professor of criminology Paul Wilson, that he could tell from meeting Corby that she did not know the drugs were in her luggage, was also dismissed. "His opinion is not based on accurate research on the defendant and her background."
Prosecutors also criticised evidence from three of Corby's travelling companions, who testified there was no marijuana in Corby's luggage when she checked in her bag at Brisbane airport.
Mr Wiswantanu said he took into account the fact "the defendant is polite and has never been convicted".
But he said: "The 4.2 kilograms of marijuana is a great danger for the nation and this is categorised as a transnational crime and the defendant has not confessed to her actions."
Ms Lubis cried during the hearing and said afterwards the prosecutors had ignored good evidence that the defence had produced.
Corby will produce her defence statement next week, with a verdict likely at the end of May .
Although the judges have the power to find Corby not guilty, or to impose a death penalty, Indonesian legal observers have said both options are unlikely and Corby appears likely to get a long sentence.
As the hearing ended, Corby went straight to the public gallery, grabbed her sister Mercedes and said as they hugged, "It's not fair," before being led away by guards.
As she waited in her cell for the prison van, Corby cried and her cousin Melissa Younger was allowed to stroke her face through the bars and offer words of comfort. "I told her to be strong and that I love her," Ms Younger said.
Corby's Australian lawyer, Robin Tampoe, said the defence team had expected the prosecution's demand and now had a week to respond. "I told her to keep her chin up," he said.
Mr Downer later held out the prospect of Corby transferring to an Australian jail, saying, "We are talking to the Indonesians now about a prisoner exchange agreement." But he said it could take "a couple of years".
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Asia-Africa summit puts modern relevance of non-aligned nations to the test
27 minutes ago Asia - AFP (from Yahoo! News)
JAKARTA, (AFP) - Fifty years ago, 29 African and Asian heads of state met in Indonesia to proudly declare a solidarity they saw as a counterbalance to the divided world of the Cold War, free from the imperialism and dominance of the West.
But as leaders from both continents prepare to meet half a century on from the first Asia-Africa conference, which gave birth to the Non-Aligned Movement, (NAM) they face a struggle to revive lofty ideals that many participants have cast aside as they strive for a footing in a vastly different world.
Some 46 heads of state are due to gather this weekend in Jakarta and Bandung, the Java island city where Indonesia's founding president Sukarno convened the first Asia-Africa summit.
Ahead of the meeting, joint hosts Indonesia and South Africa have pushed the message that the summit will see a revival of the "Bandung spirit" as the two continents rebuild old bridges with new trade and friendship pacts.
It will be a tall order to recapture the non-aligned zeitgeist of 1955, when it seemed feasible to create an ideological blend of Asian and African nationalism acceptable to theocrats of the Middle East, capitalists from Japan and communists of China.
This is even more unlikely when considering side-issues that will dominate the 2005 meeting, such as a spat between Tokyo and Beijing, ostensibly over Japan's World War II aggression, but indicative of tensions over the race for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
Myriad other regional power struggles have been further complicated by a US-led war on terrorism that has targeted and involved several participants.
"The 50th anniversary of the Asia-Africa conference calls for deep introspection. We still need to weigh whether our destinies are really being decided at home or in Geneva or Washington," said Delhi-based political analyst Praful Bidawi.
Some observers are scornful of a gathering they see as little more than an exercise in well-meaning handshakes and empty promises that will fail to address real issues such as the spread of HIV-AIDS in both continents.
"This is a meeting looking for a mission," said John Stremlau, director of the Johannesburg-based Centre for Africa's International Relations. "There are no strategic issues."
But others see strong forces at play beneath the hot air, with the summit likely to be showcase if not for inter-continental harmony, then for emerging economic powerhouses wanting to throw their weight and make new strategic pals.
"These big developing country talk-shops don't deliver that much in terms of concrete changes to global regulations," said Peter Draper, a research fellow on African-Asian relations at the South African Institute for International Affairs.
"But I would think that this will be a good opportunity for China and India to flex their muscle, although they don't really need forums like this to do it."
Both India and China, two of the world's most populous nations, are rising as economic, military and political players on the world stage, undoubtedly emboldened by a new strategic partnership between Beijing and New Delhi.
Their status also represents how economically dynamic Asia has somewhat begun to overshadow Africa, its one-time ally in poverty and post-colonial disarray.
Nevertheless, oil-rich countries such as Nigeria, Angola and Algeria still have influence to peddle in a world market increasingly in thrall to the ebb and flow of crude, while Britain's pro-Africa plan for the Group of Eight club of the world's richest countries could help boost the continent's standing.
The past few years have seen huge increases in trade between Asia and Africa, with resource-hungry China particularly keen to draw on the oil and other raw material supplies.
Imports and exports between China and Africa reached 29.5 billion dollars in 2004, almost 60 percent up from the year before. From 1991 to 2004 trade between India and Africa rose from 890 million dollars to 2.4 billion.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's intention to brief the summit on plans to reform the United Nations and open up a permanent seat of the Security Council, will open up a new avenue of influence for participants.
"The Asia-Africa solidarity is also critical in the reform of the UN Security Council," says He Wenping, a political analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"China and other developing countries want to coordinate their views and stance. If Asia and Africa, even better if Latin America is included, become stronger, this will keep unilateralism in check," she said.
To the displeasure of China, Japan has made securing a permanent seat on the Security Council a major priority and is in a joint bid with Brazil, Germany and India. Only Japan, however, has the explicit backing of the United States.
Fifty years of similar rows and occasional conflicts have helped to erode the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-aggression, equality and peaceful coexistence on which non-alignment was based.
Says Hong Kong-based social analyst Josef Purnama Widyatmadja, though the world has changed since 1955, pushing the non-aligned movement off its chosen path, many of the problems it once promised to eradicate persist.
"Dictatorships still flourish in Asia and Africa, and human rights violations are a daily practice. People are still threatened by a 'war on terror', pre-emptive wars, with weapons of mass destruction, poverty, human rights abuses and HIV/AIDS," he said.
Unless this week's summit can strike a consensus on how to tackle these, says Widyatmadja, the so-called non-aligned nations could entirely undermine the world in which they stand a chance of being recognised.
"The role of Asia-Africa in promoting a just international order will depend largely in its inner strength, unity and cohesion."
JAKARTA, (AFP) - Fifty years ago, 29 African and Asian heads of state met in Indonesia to proudly declare a solidarity they saw as a counterbalance to the divided world of the Cold War, free from the imperialism and dominance of the West.
But as leaders from both continents prepare to meet half a century on from the first Asia-Africa conference, which gave birth to the Non-Aligned Movement, (NAM) they face a struggle to revive lofty ideals that many participants have cast aside as they strive for a footing in a vastly different world.
Some 46 heads of state are due to gather this weekend in Jakarta and Bandung, the Java island city where Indonesia's founding president Sukarno convened the first Asia-Africa summit.
Ahead of the meeting, joint hosts Indonesia and South Africa have pushed the message that the summit will see a revival of the "Bandung spirit" as the two continents rebuild old bridges with new trade and friendship pacts.
It will be a tall order to recapture the non-aligned zeitgeist of 1955, when it seemed feasible to create an ideological blend of Asian and African nationalism acceptable to theocrats of the Middle East, capitalists from Japan and communists of China.
This is even more unlikely when considering side-issues that will dominate the 2005 meeting, such as a spat between Tokyo and Beijing, ostensibly over Japan's World War II aggression, but indicative of tensions over the race for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
Myriad other regional power struggles have been further complicated by a US-led war on terrorism that has targeted and involved several participants.
"The 50th anniversary of the Asia-Africa conference calls for deep introspection. We still need to weigh whether our destinies are really being decided at home or in Geneva or Washington," said Delhi-based political analyst Praful Bidawi.
Some observers are scornful of a gathering they see as little more than an exercise in well-meaning handshakes and empty promises that will fail to address real issues such as the spread of HIV-AIDS in both continents.
"This is a meeting looking for a mission," said John Stremlau, director of the Johannesburg-based Centre for Africa's International Relations. "There are no strategic issues."
But others see strong forces at play beneath the hot air, with the summit likely to be showcase if not for inter-continental harmony, then for emerging economic powerhouses wanting to throw their weight and make new strategic pals.
"These big developing country talk-shops don't deliver that much in terms of concrete changes to global regulations," said Peter Draper, a research fellow on African-Asian relations at the South African Institute for International Affairs.
"But I would think that this will be a good opportunity for China and India to flex their muscle, although they don't really need forums like this to do it."
Both India and China, two of the world's most populous nations, are rising as economic, military and political players on the world stage, undoubtedly emboldened by a new strategic partnership between Beijing and New Delhi.
Their status also represents how economically dynamic Asia has somewhat begun to overshadow Africa, its one-time ally in poverty and post-colonial disarray.
Nevertheless, oil-rich countries such as Nigeria, Angola and Algeria still have influence to peddle in a world market increasingly in thrall to the ebb and flow of crude, while Britain's pro-Africa plan for the Group of Eight club of the world's richest countries could help boost the continent's standing.
The past few years have seen huge increases in trade between Asia and Africa, with resource-hungry China particularly keen to draw on the oil and other raw material supplies.
Imports and exports between China and Africa reached 29.5 billion dollars in 2004, almost 60 percent up from the year before. From 1991 to 2004 trade between India and Africa rose from 890 million dollars to 2.4 billion.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan's intention to brief the summit on plans to reform the United Nations and open up a permanent seat of the Security Council, will open up a new avenue of influence for participants.
"The Asia-Africa solidarity is also critical in the reform of the UN Security Council," says He Wenping, a political analyst at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
"China and other developing countries want to coordinate their views and stance. If Asia and Africa, even better if Latin America is included, become stronger, this will keep unilateralism in check," she said.
To the displeasure of China, Japan has made securing a permanent seat on the Security Council a major priority and is in a joint bid with Brazil, Germany and India. Only Japan, however, has the explicit backing of the United States.
Fifty years of similar rows and occasional conflicts have helped to erode the principles of territorial integrity and sovereignty, non-aggression, equality and peaceful coexistence on which non-alignment was based.
Says Hong Kong-based social analyst Josef Purnama Widyatmadja, though the world has changed since 1955, pushing the non-aligned movement off its chosen path, many of the problems it once promised to eradicate persist.
"Dictatorships still flourish in Asia and Africa, and human rights violations are a daily practice. People are still threatened by a 'war on terror', pre-emptive wars, with weapons of mass destruction, poverty, human rights abuses and HIV/AIDS," he said.
Unless this week's summit can strike a consensus on how to tackle these, says Widyatmadja, the so-called non-aligned nations could entirely undermine the world in which they stand a chance of being recognised.
"The role of Asia-Africa in promoting a just international order will depend largely in its inner strength, unity and cohesion."
Police in heroin arrest raids
12:35 AEST Tue Apr 19 2005 (from NineMSN News)
Australian police have raided homes in NSW and Queensland in the hunt for evidence against nine Australians accused of trying to smuggle more than 11kg of heroin out of Indonesia.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) agents exercised search warrants on the homes on Monday after the arrests of eight men and one woman in Bali during an airport and hotel drug swoop.
AFP border and international network national manager Mike Phelan said police seized documents during the raids and they were now examining the material.
Mr Phelan told the Nine Network it was difficult to say if the raids would lead to more arrests.
"But what we will certainly be doing is we will continue to work with Indonesian authorities, we'll look and see what holdings we've got, particularly out of the warrants yesterday, look and see what information they've solicited over the last fortnight and put that together and see where that leads us."
Mr Phelan said Australian agents had been gathering information about the alleged group of drug smugglers for about 10 weeks, and had handed it to Indonesian police two weeks ago.
The nine Australians, three from Queensland and six from NSW, could face a firing squad if convicted of drug smuggling under Indonesian law. As yet no charges have been be laid.
Four people detained in Denpasar airport's departure lounge waiting for a flight to Sydney were allegedly found with 2kg heroin packs taped to their bodies, a total of 10.9kg.
A fifth person also was detained after being removed from a Sydney bound flight but was not carrying drugs. Four others were taken into custody during a raid of the Melasti Hotel where 350g of heroin were allegedly found.
The Australian newspaper named the alleged mastermind of the group as Andrew Chan, 21, of Enfield in Sydney.
"Whatever happened to Schapelle Corby happened to me. They are convicting me of something I didn't do," he told reporters in Bali.
The newspaper also named the four who allegedly had heroin strapped to their bodies as Michael William Czugaj and Scott Anthony Rush, both 19 from Brisbane, Martin Eric Stephen, 29, from Towradgi near Wollongong, south of Sydney, and Renae Lawrence, 27, from Wallsend in Newcastle.
The Australian named the four arrested in the hotel raid as Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, 27, from Brisbane, Myuran Sukumaran, 24, from Auburn in Sydney, Si Yi Chen, 20, from Doonside in Sydney, and Matthew James Norman, 18, from Quakers Hill in Sydney.
Stephen Czugaj, the father of Michael Czugaj, from Oxley, in Brisbane's west, said he was unsure if he would be going to Bali to support his son.
"I've no idea what I'm doing at the moment but it seems like the only thing to do," Mr Czugaj said.
The family of Wellington Point man Thanh Nguyen said Mr Nguyen was not a drug dealer or drug taker.
Ms Lawrence's stepfather, identified only as Steve, said he had spoken briefly to Renae by phone, but was cut off.
"I am still actually struggling to even absorb what has happened," he told ABC radio.
"There's nothing that we know as yet."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he was shocked by the arrests.
He said the AFP could not allow the group to return to Australia before arresting them because the alleged offences were committed in Indonesia, and the Indonesian police had to be involved.
"A sillier thing for people to do, I just cannot imagine," he told the Nine Network.
"People have to know though that trafficking in heroin and trafficking in drugs brings the death penalty in many countries, particularly in Asia."
Chief of Bali's anti-narcotics squad Colonel Bambang Sugiarto said the drugs had come from the notorious "Golden Triangle" area in northern Thailand and Burma, and was being couriered through Bali to Australia by the nine.
He said the gang had been acting "mysteriously and suspiciously" all week, staying in their hotel rooms and instructing hotel staff not to reveal their identities to anyone.
He said the drugs were still testing the drugs for strength.
Indonesia has increasingly become not only a transit route, but also a market for drug traffickers and courts across the country have passed a dozen death sentences on foreigners found guilty of serious drug offences in recent years.
Australian police have raided homes in NSW and Queensland in the hunt for evidence against nine Australians accused of trying to smuggle more than 11kg of heroin out of Indonesia.
Australian Federal Police (AFP) agents exercised search warrants on the homes on Monday after the arrests of eight men and one woman in Bali during an airport and hotel drug swoop.
AFP border and international network national manager Mike Phelan said police seized documents during the raids and they were now examining the material.
Mr Phelan told the Nine Network it was difficult to say if the raids would lead to more arrests.
"But what we will certainly be doing is we will continue to work with Indonesian authorities, we'll look and see what holdings we've got, particularly out of the warrants yesterday, look and see what information they've solicited over the last fortnight and put that together and see where that leads us."
Mr Phelan said Australian agents had been gathering information about the alleged group of drug smugglers for about 10 weeks, and had handed it to Indonesian police two weeks ago.
The nine Australians, three from Queensland and six from NSW, could face a firing squad if convicted of drug smuggling under Indonesian law. As yet no charges have been be laid.
Four people detained in Denpasar airport's departure lounge waiting for a flight to Sydney were allegedly found with 2kg heroin packs taped to their bodies, a total of 10.9kg.
A fifth person also was detained after being removed from a Sydney bound flight but was not carrying drugs. Four others were taken into custody during a raid of the Melasti Hotel where 350g of heroin were allegedly found.
The Australian newspaper named the alleged mastermind of the group as Andrew Chan, 21, of Enfield in Sydney.
"Whatever happened to Schapelle Corby happened to me. They are convicting me of something I didn't do," he told reporters in Bali.
The newspaper also named the four who allegedly had heroin strapped to their bodies as Michael William Czugaj and Scott Anthony Rush, both 19 from Brisbane, Martin Eric Stephen, 29, from Towradgi near Wollongong, south of Sydney, and Renae Lawrence, 27, from Wallsend in Newcastle.
The Australian named the four arrested in the hotel raid as Tach Duc Thanh Nguyen, 27, from Brisbane, Myuran Sukumaran, 24, from Auburn in Sydney, Si Yi Chen, 20, from Doonside in Sydney, and Matthew James Norman, 18, from Quakers Hill in Sydney.
Stephen Czugaj, the father of Michael Czugaj, from Oxley, in Brisbane's west, said he was unsure if he would be going to Bali to support his son.
"I've no idea what I'm doing at the moment but it seems like the only thing to do," Mr Czugaj said.
The family of Wellington Point man Thanh Nguyen said Mr Nguyen was not a drug dealer or drug taker.
Ms Lawrence's stepfather, identified only as Steve, said he had spoken briefly to Renae by phone, but was cut off.
"I am still actually struggling to even absorb what has happened," he told ABC radio.
"There's nothing that we know as yet."
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he was shocked by the arrests.
He said the AFP could not allow the group to return to Australia before arresting them because the alleged offences were committed in Indonesia, and the Indonesian police had to be involved.
"A sillier thing for people to do, I just cannot imagine," he told the Nine Network.
"People have to know though that trafficking in heroin and trafficking in drugs brings the death penalty in many countries, particularly in Asia."
Chief of Bali's anti-narcotics squad Colonel Bambang Sugiarto said the drugs had come from the notorious "Golden Triangle" area in northern Thailand and Burma, and was being couriered through Bali to Australia by the nine.
He said the gang had been acting "mysteriously and suspiciously" all week, staying in their hotel rooms and instructing hotel staff not to reveal their identities to anyone.
He said the drugs were still testing the drugs for strength.
Indonesia has increasingly become not only a transit route, but also a market for drug traffickers and courts across the country have passed a dozen death sentences on foreigners found guilty of serious drug offences in recent years.
PM backs Indonesian heroin bust
PM backs Indonesian heroin bust
07:47 AEST Tue Apr 19 2005 (from NineMSN News)
Prime Minister John Howard has backed a joint Australian-Indonesian police operation that led to capture of nine Australians on heroin charges and which could see them face the death penalty.
The eight men and one woman were nabbed by Indonesian authorities following an Australian Federal Police investigation dating back to February.
Indonesian authorities seized 11.25kg of heroin and have warned the Australians could face a firing squad if convicted.
Five were arrested at Bali airport while waiting for a flight to Sydney and the other four were held at the departure lounge allegedly with bags of heroin strapped to their bodies, Indonesian police said.
Mr Howard praised the Australian and Indonesian police, but said he had no prior knowledge of the operation.
"I didn't know anything about it, and nor should I, until the people were arrested," he said.
"It is normal for the Australian Federal Police to cooperate with the Indonesian police if they have reason to believe that people have broken the law.
"I would always encourage the Australian Federal Police to cooperate with their counterparts in neighbouring countries in the apprehension of suspected drug offenders."
Mr Howard said the only details he knew of the case were that nine people had been arrested and that they were entitled to a presumption of innocence.
"I hope they will be dealt with fairly and justly by the process," he said.
"The charges are very serious ... this is a matter though for the courts and the Indonesian authorities.
"I endorse very strongly indeed cooperation between Australian Federal Police and the Indonesian authorities in trying to track down people who are trafficking in drugs."
Mr Howard would not answer when questioned if the Australian police work could see the nine face the death penalty in Indonesia.
"I'm not going to make comments that will in anyway bear upon this case. That would be inappropriate," he said.
07:47 AEST Tue Apr 19 2005 (from NineMSN News)
Prime Minister John Howard has backed a joint Australian-Indonesian police operation that led to capture of nine Australians on heroin charges and which could see them face the death penalty.
The eight men and one woman were nabbed by Indonesian authorities following an Australian Federal Police investigation dating back to February.
Indonesian authorities seized 11.25kg of heroin and have warned the Australians could face a firing squad if convicted.
Five were arrested at Bali airport while waiting for a flight to Sydney and the other four were held at the departure lounge allegedly with bags of heroin strapped to their bodies, Indonesian police said.
Mr Howard praised the Australian and Indonesian police, but said he had no prior knowledge of the operation.
"I didn't know anything about it, and nor should I, until the people were arrested," he said.
"It is normal for the Australian Federal Police to cooperate with the Indonesian police if they have reason to believe that people have broken the law.
"I would always encourage the Australian Federal Police to cooperate with their counterparts in neighbouring countries in the apprehension of suspected drug offenders."
Mr Howard said the only details he knew of the case were that nine people had been arrested and that they were entitled to a presumption of innocence.
"I hope they will be dealt with fairly and justly by the process," he said.
"The charges are very serious ... this is a matter though for the courts and the Indonesian authorities.
"I endorse very strongly indeed cooperation between Australian Federal Police and the Indonesian authorities in trying to track down people who are trafficking in drugs."
Mr Howard would not answer when questioned if the Australian police work could see the nine face the death penalty in Indonesia.
"I'm not going to make comments that will in anyway bear upon this case. That would be inappropriate," he said.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Nasi Goreng Lengkap (Festive Yellow Rice)
Ingredients (Serves 8-10)
1kg (2lb) long grain rice
4 tablespoons oil
2 large onions, finely sliced
3 gloves garlic, finely chopped
8 cups coconut milk
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
3 duan salam or 6 curry leaves
2 strips pandanus leaf (optional)
Banana leaves or bamboo leaves (for serving)
Garnish:
6 marbled eggs
2 green cucumbers
3 fresh red chillies
3 fresh green chillies
If rice needs washing, wash well beforehand and allow it to drain for at least 1 hour.
Heat oil in a large saucepan with a well fitting lid. Fry onions and garlic until onions are soft and golden, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Add rice and fry for a minute or two, then add coconut milk, salt, turmeric and leaves for flavouring. Bring to the boil, stirring with a long spoon. As soon as the liquid comes to the boil, turn heat very low, cover tightly with lid and allow to steam for 20 minutes.
Uncover, quickly stir in with a fork any coconut milk that remains unabsorbedaround edge of pan, replace lid and leave on same low heat for a further 3 minutes. Turn off heat, uncover and allow steam to escape and rice to cool slightly.
Remove leaves used for flavouring and gently fork rice onto a large platter or a tray lined with well washed banana or bamboo leaves. Shape rice into a cone, pressing firmly. Use pieces of greased banana leaf or foil to do this. Surround with any accompaniments (which should be made beforehand) and garnish.
Garnish: Take the six marbled eggs (made by standing shelled hard boiled eggs in water and food colouring for 2 hours) and cut each in halves lengthways.
Score the skin of the cucumbers with a fork and cut in very thin slices.
Make a flower with one of the red chillies, and cut the others into thin diagonal slices. Flip out seeds with the point of a small knife.
To make a chilli flower, cut off the stem end and slit several times with opint of a sharp knife from about 2.5cm (1inch) above the tip to the cut end of the stem. Drop into iced water to make the strips curl.
Put the flower on top of the cone, scatter the sliced chillies around the side of the cone, and put the sliced cucumbers and marbled egss around the base.
Taken from: Betty's Kitchen
1kg (2lb) long grain rice
4 tablespoons oil
2 large onions, finely sliced
3 gloves garlic, finely chopped
8 cups coconut milk
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground turmeric
3 duan salam or 6 curry leaves
2 strips pandanus leaf (optional)
Banana leaves or bamboo leaves (for serving)
Garnish:
6 marbled eggs
2 green cucumbers
3 fresh red chillies
3 fresh green chillies
If rice needs washing, wash well beforehand and allow it to drain for at least 1 hour.
Heat oil in a large saucepan with a well fitting lid. Fry onions and garlic until onions are soft and golden, stirring frequently to prevent burning. Add rice and fry for a minute or two, then add coconut milk, salt, turmeric and leaves for flavouring. Bring to the boil, stirring with a long spoon. As soon as the liquid comes to the boil, turn heat very low, cover tightly with lid and allow to steam for 20 minutes.
Uncover, quickly stir in with a fork any coconut milk that remains unabsorbedaround edge of pan, replace lid and leave on same low heat for a further 3 minutes. Turn off heat, uncover and allow steam to escape and rice to cool slightly.
Remove leaves used for flavouring and gently fork rice onto a large platter or a tray lined with well washed banana or bamboo leaves. Shape rice into a cone, pressing firmly. Use pieces of greased banana leaf or foil to do this. Surround with any accompaniments (which should be made beforehand) and garnish.
Garnish: Take the six marbled eggs (made by standing shelled hard boiled eggs in water and food colouring for 2 hours) and cut each in halves lengthways.
Score the skin of the cucumbers with a fork and cut in very thin slices.
Make a flower with one of the red chillies, and cut the others into thin diagonal slices. Flip out seeds with the point of a small knife.
To make a chilli flower, cut off the stem end and slit several times with opint of a sharp knife from about 2.5cm (1inch) above the tip to the cut end of the stem. Drop into iced water to make the strips curl.
Put the flower on top of the cone, scatter the sliced chillies around the side of the cone, and put the sliced cucumbers and marbled egss around the base.
Taken from: Betty's Kitchen
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