VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - United Nations expert Thomas Andrews on Wednesday expressed concern over ASEAN continuing to invite the Myanmar junta to the bloc's formal meetings despite mounting attacks against civilians in the conflict-ridden nation.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Andrews said that he is most concerned by Myanmar's continued participation in formal ASEAN defense meetings.

He pointed out that ASEAN has appointed General Tun Aung, the commander-in-chief of Myanmar's Air Force, as the chairperson of the 2023 ASEAN Air Chiefs' Conference.

Tun Aung is said to be responsible for airstrikes carried out on Myanmar villages by fighter jets.

The general has also been sanctioned by the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the European Union.

Last month, the junta's commander-in-chief of the Navy, Moe Aung, was assigned the leadership of the 2024 ASEAN Navy Chiefs' Meeting, Andrews added.

The junta has also continued to co-chair the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM Plus) Experts' Working Group on Counter Terrorism with Russia, and Indonesia has been participating in those meetings.

"These types of actions not only undermine the credibility of ASEAN but also serve to legitimize the junta and prolong the suffering of the Myanmar people," he said.

Meanwhile, ASEAN has defended its decision by saying that the meetings were merely technical and not in breach of the prohibition on Myanmar's political-level participation in its meetings, he added.

"This is not acceptable. The junta should not be invited to attend any ASEAN meeting," Andrews said.

He urged Indonesia to show its leadership, along with other ASEAN member states, and not attend any meetings to which the junta has been invited.

Since the coup on February 1, 2021, the junta, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, has perpetrated violence against the people of Myanmar.

According to a UN report, the junta’s troops have killed more than 3 thousand civilians, detained more than 19 thousand people, and have caused at least 1.5 million people to abandon their homes, with more than 58 thousand houses, schools, and clinics burned to the ground. (Antaranews)

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesia, represented by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), signed a cooperation agreement with the International Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) on Tuesday (20/6). The agreement was signed by BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati and CTBTO Executive Secretary Robert Floyd.

The agreement contains cooperation to encourage capacity building and the participation of Indonesian seismic station experts and operators in various training programs, workshops, and CTBTO meetings. The agreement also includes research cooperation and expansion of internship opportunities for Indonesian experts, staff and students at the international organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria.

"This agreement will certainly further strengthen cooperation between BMKG and CTBTO, especially in increasing the capacity of reliable and professional human resources, and encouraging CTBTO's cooperation and technical assistance for Indonesia," said Deputy Indonesian Ambassador in Vienna A. Alfiano Tamala, who witnessed the signing of the MoU, in an official statement from the Indonesian Embassy in Vienna received by Indonesia Window here on Thursday (22/6).

For the record, Indonesia has stations certified by CTBTO with the ability to record data that can show nuclear test attempts that will be processed at the International Data Center at CTBTO headquarters in Vienna, Austria. Indonesia itself has six seismic support monitoring facilities in Sorong, Jayapura, Baumata, Kappang, Parapat and Lembang.

On a separate occasion, Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati has also become one of the key speakers at the High Level Panel Discussion at the Science and Technology Conference (SnT2023) meeting organized by CTBTO at Hofburg Palace, Vienna, Austria. On that occasion, Dwikorita conveyed the role of the CTBTO international organization and the use of cooperation with Indonesia in the implementation of national programs, including early warning systems and disaster risk reduction.

The SnT2023 meeting took place on June 19-23, 2023 and was attended by more than 700 participants from various stakeholders who participated online and offline. In 2023 and 2024 Indonesia will also host several CTBTO regional trainings and meetings.

The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an international treaty governing the prohibition of nuclear weapons test explosions. Through the CTBTO, the Government of Indonesia demonstrates its commitment to promote the entry into force and universalization of the CTBT to achieve the goal of stopping nuclear testing and eliminating nuclear weapons. (VOI/Andy)

VOInews, Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi received the Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the Republic of Tanzania, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta. During the meeting, the two Ministers discussed a number of issues in bilateral cooperation between the two countries, ranging from trade, investment, health and development cooperation.

"We agreed to explore the possibility of establishing a Preferential Trade Agreement," Retno said in a joint statement after the meeting, Thursday (22/6).

Indonesia and Tanzania recorded a positive trend in trade relations. According to Retno, trade between the two countries increased by 50 percent from 2019 to 2022, with a value of more than USD 340 million.

"Based on this momentum, Indonesia intends to export several other goods such as rubber tires, fertilizers, food and beverages," Retno said.

On investment, the two foreign ministers discussed efforts to increase Indonesian investment in Tanzania. Clove oil manufacturer PT Indesso Aroma, for example, plans to expand its refining units in Zanzibar and Tonga. While PT Pertamina is also looking to expand its presence and acquire a majority stake in Mnazi Bay Bloc operations through its subsidiaries Maurel and Prom.

"I appreciate Tanzania's support for Indonesia's outbound investment. I believe this will also make a positive contribution to our economy," Retno said.

Meanwhile, in the health sector, the two Foreign Ministers committed to strengthening cooperation to strengthen health resilience. According to Retno, the pandemic has taught both countries the importance of strong health infrastructure.

"Indonesian pharmaceutical company Dexa Medica has received Good Manufacturing Practices from Tanzania and will start supplying its products to Tanzania," Retno said.

In the development sector, Retno Marsudi said, Indonesia and Tanzania have implemented various development cooperation programs. These include capacity building, food security training, trade, investment and education. In the past five years, Indonesia and Tanzania have implemented various development cooperation programs. They include capacity building and training in food security, trade, investment and education.

"For this year and next year, we will continue to provide similar programs in agriculture, mining and energy. In the long term, we seek to enhance our cooperation, including by developing country-specific cooperation plans in development cooperation," Retno said.

In addition to the four issues, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation of the Republic of Tanzania, Stergomena Lawrence Tax, also discussed preparations for President Joko Widodo's visit to Tanzania later this year, and the possibility of a visit to Indonesia by the Prime Minister of Tanzania.

"Our hope is that this visit will result in concrete and meaningful cooperation that can be achieved," she said. (VOI)

VOINews, Jakarta - Building mutual trust is important for maintaining regional security, peace, and stability, Secretary General of the Defense Ministry Vice Marshal Donny Ermawan Taufanto stressed on Wednesday.

While chairing the 20th ASEAN Regional Forum Security Policy Conference (ASPC) here on Wednesday, he said that confidence-building measures (CBMs) can help reduce tensions, increase mutual trust, and encourage cooperation between countries.

"In ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), CBMs have succeeded in maintaining regional peace and stability through military-to-military contacts, mutual visits, information, and intelligence data sharing, as well as joint military exercises," he pointed out.

Such attempts to maintain mutual trust can prevent conflict and promote sustainable cooperation in the region, he added.

He noted that Southeast Asian countries are currently facing several security challenges, including cybersecurity, conflicts in Myanmar, terrorism, as well as threats to environmental security due to climate change, global warming, and rising sea levels.

"Cybersecurity has become a major challenge to global security. The advancement of digital technology is both a vulnerability and a threat, which can be exploited by malicious parties,” he added.

Taufanto said that the threat of cyberattacks has been rising with the increasing reliance of each country on technology.

On the sidelines of the event, he visited a number of exhibition booths set up by Indonesian defense companies, including J-Forces Group, PT Sentra Surya Ekajaya, PT Panca Prima Maju Bersama, as well as state-run defense holding company Defend ID.

The ASEAN Regional Forum is a dialogue forum for 10 ASEAN member countries -- namely Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam -- as well as 17 international partners.

The partners consist of Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, the United States, Bangladesh, North Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.

However, delegates from just 25 members of the ASEAN Regional Forum attended the 20th ASPC meeting, which was themed "Navigating a Bright Future for Sustainable Peace, Prosperity, and Security." Delegates from North Korea and Mongolia were unable to join the meeting.

The meeting highlighted three issues: contemporary global security challenges; regional cooperation for blue economy and climate mitigation; as well as efforts to build mutual trust between ASEAN Regional Forum members. (Antaranews)