Indonesia "protects" the punks

Aceh police are currently having a crackdown on punks. How bad is it?

Listen to Gustav Leo, police spokesperson, explaining how they're just helping:

Mr Leo stressed that no-one had been charged with any crime, and there were no plans to do so.

They have now been taken to a remedial school in the Seulawah Hills, about 60km (37 miles) away from the provincial capital Banda Aceh.

"They will undergo a re-education so their morals will match those of other Acehnese people," says Mr Leo.[...]
"We didn't arrest them, they haven't committed any criminal offence," he says.

"They are Aceh's own children - we are doing this for their own good. Their future could be at risk. We are re-educating them so they don't shame their parents."

So, happily admitting they've broken no law, and will not be given a trial, the police are carting off punks for enforced behavioural change.

Here's the contact details for the Indonesian Embassy in London:

Indonesian Embassy
38 Grosvenor Square
London W1K 2HW

Tel. (020) 7499 7661
Fax. (020)7491 4993

email: kbri@btconnect.com

If you're in America, you can speak directly to the Indonesian ambassador through a webform.

You might want to tell them that it's the police, not punks, who need their attitude changed.

[Thanks to Laura Brown]

Hold the Daily Mail front page: Kelly Clarkson causes cancer

Kelly Clarkson isn't normally incendiary, but she's managed to generate to fug of outrage as she brings the great news about fags to young people:

US pop singer Kelly Clarkson has been criticised for allowing an upcoming gig in Jakarta, Indonesia to be sponsored by a local cigarette brand.

Promotional materials for the concert on 29 April have a logo for LA Lights featured prominently.

I know for a fact, instead of dry ice, she was going to rely on dozens of small children puffing away at the side of the stage.

Imagine - a major public figure flogging cigarettes to poor people in poorer countries and thinking they could get away with it.

Jakarta off? No, she cancelled of her own accord

Rhianna has pulled her planned Jakarta gig over fears that she might be a target for terrorists seeking an easy reprisal for the Bali bomber executions:

"They said Indonesia's security is not supportive," event promoter Troy Waroka told the local press. "The concert will be postponed until January or February."

Oh, yes. Just give it five or six weeks. These desperate, callous terrorists who would happily murder innocents in their hundreds in November to atone for the execution of their brothers are sure to be over it by the New Year, aren't they?