27
September

Controversy on Non-Standard Weapon Procurement

Published in MUNDO MUSICAL

Recently, there has been a rumor among Indonesians regarding large numbers of weapon procurement ordered by certain parties. Moreover, the ordered weapons are not in accordance with the standards used in Indonesia, both for the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the Indonesian Police. There are concerns that the thousands of weapons may be used for something that endangers the state security and resilience. Earlier, before some Indonesian Military (TNI) retired generals and former TNI commanders last week, the Indonesian Military Commander, General Gatot Nurmantyo said that there were thousands of weapons smuggling which are not for the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Indonesian Police. Later on, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Wiranto in a press conference on Sunday 24 September confirmed that there were indeed 500 weapons purchase, not 5.000 as reported. He explained that this weapon is the procurement of National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and purchased from PT Pindad for intelligence school. Minister Wiranto added that the reason why the weapon is said to be smuggled or illegal is because it is not an Indonesian Military (TNI) standard. This is also why the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) does not need to ask permission to the Indonesian Military (TNI) Headquarters but to the Police Headquarters only. Minister Wiranto also stated that the issue of smuggling arms purchases occurred due to ‘incomplete inter-institution communication'.

Meanwhile, Director of Imparsial, an Indonesian NGO, Al Araf said that the statement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander on smuggled weapons issue cannot be simplified as a mere miscommunication issue. Al Araf is of the opinion that this issue should be the President’s basic evaluation on the Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander. He assessed that such strategic information should be conveyed by the Indonesian Military directly to the President, not to the public. Apart from the issue on weapons smuggling, this incident also shows another side of Indonesia's strategic industry, PT PINDAD, which is capable of making weapons outside the context of diversity owned by the Indonesian Military (TNI) or Indonesian Police. The question is: is there a strict supervision of PT PINDAD related to its various strategic productions? This is important so that the issue on smuggled non-TNI and Police standard weapons will not happen again.

 

 

 

07
September

Putin frees his enemies as part of Sochi spin

Published in Noticias

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27
September

Anticipating The Widespread Of Drought

Published in MUNDO MUSICAL

Dry season hits Indonesia again. The effects of climate change have made the cycles of seasons changing globally, including in Indonesia. The current dry season in Indonesia is increasingly widespread and its effects have made a lot of agricultural land damaged by lack of water and caused land and forest fires. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency –BNPB noted that 2,726 villages / districts in 105 districts / cities in Java and Nusa Tenggara are experiencing drought. In addition, fire spots from forest and land fires can be monitored in Sumatra, Kalimantan, East Nusa Tenggara and Java.

In a meeting with cabinet ministers related to the drought taking place at the Presidential Palace IN Jakarta  on Tuesday (12 September), President Joko Widodo confirmed that the drought that hits Indonesia is not as bad as in 2015. At that time, it was directed by El Nino. The President also ordered ministers and institutions and governors to go to the field to see the current conditions and to take preventive steps immediately. One of the solutions mentioned by President Joko Widodo is related to water supply for drought-affected communities. Over the last two years, the government has built a number of reservoirs and dams to anticipate the disaster.

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and People's Housing, Basuki Hadipurnomo said that due to the current dry season, 57 reservoirs have water supply below normal and 6 reservoirs have dried up. While from 16 primary reservoirs, 10 of them are still normal and the 6 ones are below capacity. For clean water, Ministry of Public Works and People's Housing, in some areas have prepared clean water supply to drought-stricken residents.

Minister of Agriculture, Amran Sulaiman said that to face the dry season this year, his ministry guarantees food supply unaffected by drought because, the area of crops, especially rice has reached 4.6 hectares, while the irrigation area also rises 7.4 million hectares to ensure water supply for agricultural land.

Meanwhile, Minister of Environment and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya said that about 30 thousand hectares of forest and land in a number of areas in Indonesia is on fire and the most widespread spot of fire is in East Nusa Tenggara –NTT and Riau. She also stated that a number of areas have anticipated the preparation of 26 bombing planes to overcome land and forest fires.

Drought and forest fires are a crucial problem during dry season in Indonesia. Thus, anticipatory steps are needed. Planning with the construction of a number of reservoirs has been prepared by the government these days. In addition, the government is also expected to provide direction to farmers related to climate change that occurs today. Coordination and cooperation of the Meteorological and Geophysical Climatology Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency –BNPB are urgently needed to anticipate climate change which in turn makes changes to the cropping pattern of the farmers and the types of plants to be planted. Positive directives from stakeholders in anticipation should be faster and effective so that the effects of drought can be reduced.

 

 

 

27
September

Responsibility of all Components of Indonesia

Published in MUNDO MUSICAL

The People's Consultative Assembly -MPR of the Republic of Indonesia held the socialization of Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or Unity in Diversity. The socialization activities held in various cities are often called the Socialization of the Four Pillars. One of its goals is to respond to the aspirations of the community.

On Monday, September 11, 2017, Chairman of the MPR, Zulkifli Hasan conveyed the socialization of the Four Pillars before a thousand students at As-Salafie Boarding School in Babakan Ciwaringin, Cirebon Regency, West Java. On that occasion, Zulkifli Hasan reminded that Pancasila contains the noble values of the nation. He also urged people not to use Pancasila to justify and to divide the nation. Previously, to approximately one hundred Balikpapan University students, Zulkifli Hasan emphasized that respecting human values is part of Pancasila understanding. He also conveyed that one of the attitudes to care about human values is to stop violence. The socialization of the Four Pillars is also held before various groups and communities.

The socialization of the Four Pillars should not only be seen as a transfer of knowledge about Pancasila, the 1945 Constitution, the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia, and Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or Unity in Diversity motto. But the most important thing is to instill an understanding that will encourage every Indonesian citizen to practice the values of Pancasila in everyday life. If every Indonesian citizen has a deep understanding of Pancasila, it will be difficult to divide Indonesia.

Pancasila -the state ideology as a unifying nation, must be stronger embedded in the life of the Indonesian nation, especially when seeing the conditions occurring in fellow ASEAN member countries, Myanmar. The existence of the political and economic interests of a particular group, easily spark conflict there.

The socialization of the Four Pillars must continuously be implemented, due to the diverse population of Indonesia, in terms of ethnicity, religions, races, and groups, who have different cultures and traditions. Diversity and differences are complementary to each other.

The effort to socialize the Four Pillars is not only the responsibility of the People's Consultative Assembly, but it also needs the support of the people and government of Indonesia. So, the implementation of Pancasila values, and the implementation of the 1945 Constitution will strengthen the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia and will make all Indonesian people be able to coexist with the spirit of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika or Unity in Diversity.