VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The United Nations (UN) has lauded Indonesia`s significant contribution in maintaining peace and international security, as noted in a written statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received in Jakarta on Thursday.

"Indonesia will continue to increase its active role in the UN Peacekeeping Operation. Indonesia is also ready to contribute to the peacekeeping mission in Yaman as well as increase the number of female peacekeepers," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi noted at a meeting with UN Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.

The meeting was held in the midst of the UN Security Council Open Debate in New York, the United States, on January 22, 2019. At the meeting, UN Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Lacroix lauded Indonesia`s active contribution, especially with the deployment of a battalion of 850 personnel recently to MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indonesia`s contribution aims to support the UN`s initiative to tackle challenges faced in maintaining peace and security.

Speaking in connection with the matter, Foreign Minister Marsudi conveyed Indonesia`s commitment to deploying a police unit of 140 personnel to the Central African Republic. The UN was also encouraged to innovate further, such as by considering co-deployment and the use of defense system from contributor nations.

"Moving forward, Indonesia is keen that both policy and the working system of the UN be adjusted accordingly to push for more female peacekeepers in the UN Peacekeeping Operation," she remarked.

Minister Marsudi added that Indonesia is ready to send more than 25 female police officers to the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) across the world in addition to offering female peacekeeping operation trainings. The MPP is a UN-backed public health organization working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries.

Indonesia`s contribution in peacekeeping operations is in line with the theme of its UN Security Council presidency, which is "peacekeeping," with focus on training and increasing the capacity of peacekeepers deemed vital to support the peacekeeping operations, especially in the face of ever-increasing challenges that the operations had to deal with, as well as good, long-term investment to boost the professionalism of Indonesia`s peacekeeping troops.

On November 2018, Indonesia had ranked seventh out of the 124 countries that contributed to the UN peacekeeping operations, with 3,545 personnel deployed to the eight UN peacekeeping missions, with 94 of them being women. The Indonesian government has also planned to achieve the target of sending four thousand peacekeepers for UN missions by the end of 2019 by increasing the number of female peacekeepers. (ant)

 Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East, reiterated Palestine`s natural and legal rights to become a full member of the UN.

"I am here today to signify Indonesia`s full support for the Palestinian struggle for independence," Marsudi stated while addressing the UNSC members, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received here on Wednesday, Jan 23.

On the occasion, Marsudi said that the path to independence might be challenging and bumpy, but it will neither lessen the Palestinian efforts nor the support of the international societies. Within this context, Minister Marsudi emphasized that the Palestinian issue must receive full attention of the UNSC.

"The credibility and trust of the international community towards this council will depend on how well we solve this particular debate," she remarked.

The Indonesian FM highlighted points that needed attention while encouraging the peace process between Palestine and Israel.

Firstly, Minister Marsudi reiterated that every party involved needs to follow international laws and related UN resolutions and also exercise some self-restraint to prevent tensions from flaring up.

"Every violent action and deed that violates the international law must be stopped immediately, including the process of building illegal settlements by the Israelis. It is morally and legally wrong, and it needs to stop," she stated.

Secondly, Marsudi also stressed that the peace process between Palestine and Israel is legitimate. Hence, it is paramount that the peace process follows the international parameter and is supported by a multilateral mechanism. The minister expressed regret over the fact that efforts were being made to push the peace process out of the Two-State solution corridor.

"Indonesia affirms that the Two-State Solution is the only way to push the peace process between Palestine and Israel forward," she pointed out.

Thirdly, the Indonesian government expressed deep concern over the plight and humanitarian crisis in Palestine, especially in Gaza. Hence, Minister Marsudi stated that 11 years of blockade by Israel must simply stop. Furthermore, the Indonesian government lauded the UN member states that have supported the United Nations Relief and Works Agency`s (UNRWA`s) efforts to solve the agency`s financial plight that had disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

"Indonesia has increased its contribution to UNRWA, and we will always increase our help and contribution for Palestine," FM Marsudi remarked.

Apart from the Palestinian issue, the UNSC Open Debate also discussed the conflict in Suriah and Yemen. FM Marsudi stressed on the importance of a peaceful and inclusive political solution.

"It is essential that the UN dons more roles to facilitate the national reconciliation efforts in both countries," Marsudi noted. (ant)

Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has ordered to dispatch logistics aid and rescue officers to six districts and a city in South Sulawesi Province hit by flash floods.

"The team has moved to the locations. Some 450 personnel will help the process to evacuate flood victims," he stated here, Wednesday.

The logistics aid worth Rp874,517,200 comprises food, beverages, blankets, kitchenware, and clothing, among other things.

Flash floods hit the districts of Gowa, Maros, Pangkep, Barru, Jeneponto, and Sopeng, as well as Makassar City. One hundred personnel were deployed in Gowa, 200 in Makassar, and 50 each in Pangkep and Barru. The ministry also deployed two rubber boats in Gowa and one in Makassar.

Gowa is the worst hit by flooding triggered by incessant heavy rains over the last two days. Jeneberang River, the longest river in South Sulawesi, also overflowed its bank. The floods displaced 2,121 residents of Gowa and some one thousand others in Makassar. They are currently being accommodated in mosques and local government offices, among others. Two public kitchens have been set up in Makassar and one in Gowa.

Meanwhile, the residents of Antang Makassar residential area in Manggala Sub-district, Makassar, were taken by surprise after a flash flood, with floodwaters, reaching a height of 1.5 meters, suddenly hit the housing complex.

"This flood is different from those in the previous years. The floodwaters suddenly rose very high," Jihadul Arifin, a resident of the Antang Makassar housing complex, remarked in Makassar on Wednesday.

The water currents were quite strong and reached the height of an adult`s chest, he added. The flash flood originated from Gowa District, which shares its border with Manggala Sub-district, after the Bili-Bili dam was opened, he noted. Arifin said he and other flood victims had no time to salvage their belongings, as the flash flood struck without warning on Tuesday at around 4 p.m. local time.

"I and other residents are currently taking refuge in a mosque. We need food, clothes, and blankets," he added.

On the previous day, parts of Makassar City were also flooded following incessant heavy rain that fell from Monday evening until Tuesday noon. Floodwaters reached height of up to 1.5 meters in Katimbang, Biringkanayan Sub-district. (ant)

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has warned the UN Security Council, during its open debate in New York on Tuesday, Jan 22, that Israel`s illegal settlements on the occupied land of Palestine should immediately be ended.  She also emphasized that Palestine possesses both natural and legal rights to become the United Nations` permanent member.

The efforts of Palestine and the international community to meet the rights would not be weakened by the turbulent road towards its independence and UN membership, she was quoted as saying in the Foreign Ministry`s statement that on a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Marsudi stated that her participation in the UN Security Council`s open debate on the situation in the Middle East was aimed at showing Indonesia`s ongoing support for Palestine`s unfinished struggle for its independence. In this regard, the Palestinian issue must be given full attention by the UN Security Council, and a success in resolving the issue would determine the UN Security Council`s credibility and the international community`s trust on it, she noted.  In her remarks at the open debate, the Indonesian foreign minister highlighted three main points to win the international community`s attention in an endeavor to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts.

First, she emphasized that all parties should meet international law and all related UN Resolutions, and prevent themselves from taking provocative measures. The Indonesian Government also underlined the importance of an immediate end to violent acts and violations of international law. Hence, Israel`s illegal settlements on the occupied land of Palestine should immediately be ended.

"The illegal settlements are morally and legally wrong, and so they must be stopped immediately," she remarked.

The second point is related to the importance of legitimacy for the peace process of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict resolution. The peace process needs to meet an international parameter that has been approved and supported by multilateral mechanism. For Indonesia, the Two-State Solution is the only way to keep the Palestinian-Israeli peace process alive and progressive. Therefore, Indonesia is concerned with the endeavors to exit from the Two-State Solution principle, she added.

The third point that the Indonesia Government pays serious attention to is the Palestinian people`s prolonged humanitarian crisis, particularly in Gaza, as a result of Israel`s 11-year-long blockade. The blockade must immediately be ended. Indonesia highly appreciates the UN member countries, which have backed the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), to cope with its financial deficit.

"Indonesia itself has increased its contribution to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)," Marsudi revealed.

In her closing remarks at the open debate, which she firstly attended since Indonesia has officially been seated as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council on Jan 1, 2019, she encouraged all parties to restrain from all acts of violence.(ant)