Jakartass Home thoughts from abroad. Alien thoughts from home.

I’ve got (more) post

1. That’s fantastic! Won’t ask where you found it (where did you find it?).

Kiddo (UK)

Sorry. I forgot to mention that the Fried Breakfast Hat I posted yesterday came via the J-Walk Blog, a regular standby when I’m bored or need to find inspiration.

2. This (unedited) email is definitely a spam, but I was intrigued by the address. Are there any of my London readers who can do some legwork, or other research, to find out if there really is a slimeball called Dave Osmond Esq.?

Dave Osmond Esq.

c/o tomulos chambers

23 aderlin square

queens rd,

peckham

London-UK

SIR,

Grant me the indulgence of this unsolicited mail to you.I am DAVE OSMOND an Attorney-at-law.I am the personal attorney to Late Mr.WILLIAM BARNES,hereinafter called my client who died intestat(Without A WIll) on 31 st of october 1999 through an unfortunate air crash via Egypt Air involving him and so many others.

Etc. etc. of the usual crap.

3. Re Jarkassas. How could Singapore possibly compare to life on the edge? Chubby Alexander Downer has issued warning of an imminent threat. I guess life is a risk anyway… I read and I vote…

C (Australia)

I have problems spelling my write name as well. It also took me ages to work out how to say it. The answer is to stress the last syllable.

Question one relates to my post two days ago; fellow expats agree that living here gives us something to talk about and, for me, something to blog about.

I heard yesterday that, according to Australian radio, the Hilton Hotel here was believed to be the intended target of the next bombing outrage. When I drove past it yesterday, I assumed that the lengthy queues of cars lined up in the road outside belonged to Golkar Party Congress delegates. However, seeing that the remnants of Suharto’s power base are actually meeting in Bali at the weekend, the bomb threat may well have been real.

The Jakarta Post, on its front page today, reports that at least three countries – Australia, Britain and New Zealand – warned yesterday that they had received credible intelligence suggesting an imminent terrorist strike on an Indonesian target, possibly a large hotel.

The British Foreign Office has this to say: There remains a high threat from terrorism in Indonesia. We continue to receive reports that terrorists in Indonesia are planning further attacks on Westerners and Western interests. We believe that there is a heightened risk of attacks in the lead up to and during this Christmas/New Year period and that these attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Indonesia, including locations frequented by foreigners. They have shown in previous attacks that they have the means and the motivation to carry out successful attacks.

Update 1

Hilton hotels in Indonesia hunker down after threat

As for Golkar, will we see the corrupt and despicable Akbar Tanjung finally get his comeuppance? He is being challenged by Josef Kalla, the current VP, for the position of Golkar chairman. This was announced at Golkar meeting on Tuesday night which was, indeed, held at the Hilton. Apart from the ethical question of party politics tarnishing the presidential role, this would create an interesting scenario in that Golkar, the largest party in the legislature, would be a less obstructive opposition force.

Update 2

Indonesian police investigate possible poisoning attempt on vice president

And the three spurned politicians, Gus Dur, Akbar Tanjung and Megawati (GAM?!?) can continue to play their dog in the manger and masturbatory mind games.

Finally – and I do go on, don’t I? – voting is now open for the Asian Blogs of 2004. Thanks to Simon for organizing it all and thanks to all of you who vote for me once a day til the end of the year in the Indonesian category HERE.

Re Updates

I’m indebted to Bart’s Expat Newsletter for the updates of the two stories, which I’d have known about earlier if I were a genuine journalist.