VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Jakarta (voinews): The Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) has planned to deploy warships in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, to maintain security at the 42nd ASEAN Summit on May 9-11, 2023, TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono stated.

Margono pointed out that arrangements regarding the placement of defense equipment and terrain conditions in Labuan Bajo had been discussed at a recent meeting.

"Because the venue is at the seafront, we will ready warships. We will also adjust the defense equipment with the existing terrain on account of the narrow street (leading to the venue). We already discussed this matter yesterday and will discuss it again at the next meeting," the TNI commander stated at the TNI Headquarters here, Thursday.

However, Margono could not as yet furnish details of the security arrangements, as he had to discuss the matter with relevant parties and visit the area before finalizing the plan.

"We already discussed the matter yesterday and will discuss it again with relevant ministries and institutions. We will also ready defense equipment and personnel conducting the security mission," Margono stated.

Meanwhile, Margono said he would soon visit the ASEAN Summit venue in Labuan Bajo with Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo to observe the actual conditions there.

"Perhaps soon, I will inspect the terrain there with the police chief and military chiefs of staff to ensure (the ASEAN Summit) will take place safely and smoothly," he noted.

Earlier, during the 42nd ASEAN Summit security meeting at the TNI Headquarters on Monday (April 10), Margono instructed military top brass to ready emergency response plans to anticipate possible security risks during the international event.

"Natural disasters, such as earthquakes, cannot be predicted, but we must anticipate through our contingency plan," he remarked.

The commander also called on officials to take requisite preemptive measures to handle livestock, such as cows and goats, that could roam loose and block roads leading to the venue during D-day.

At the Monday meeting, the TNI commander also received reports from each unit commander of the 42nd ASEAN Summit integrated VVIP security joint command regarding their steps to prepare security arrangements for the summit. (antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): The Nusantara Capital Authority (OIKN) highlighted that various foreign parties had shown a high level of interest to invest in the development of the new capital Nusantara in East Kalimantan.

"The great interest harbored by other countries to invest in Nusantara City can be seen through the visits of Korean, Japanese, and Swiss delegations to the new capital to observe the development progress and explore investment potentials," Nusantara Capital Authority Head Bambang Susantono noted as per the statement here on Thursday.

The most recent data showed that 167 investors had sent their letters of intent to invest in the new capital development, he revealed while adding that five national and foreign investors had received letters to proceed from the government to develop housing complexes for state apparatuses relocated to the new city.

The authority head remarked that to boost investment in the new capital, Government Regulation No. 12 of 2023 on special policies was issued to facilitate business permits, ease of business, and investment in the new capital.

The purpose of the regulation is to provide assurances, opportunities, and greater participation to the business sector to expedite Nusantara City's development, he affirmed.

Such policies are devised to ensure the new capital will develop not only as a center of government but also as the epicenter of Indonesia-centric economic development, Susantono noted.

He also expressed optimism that the business sector would contribute to realizing Nusantara City as the hub of economic activities that will drive Indonesia's economic development in the future.

"The Nusantara City is a major project that requires investment and collaboration between the government and the business sector. The city, developed over a green area, gives a unique opportunity to create a sustainable and efficient urban environment," Susantono expounded.

The government is determined to fulfill only 20 percent of the new capital development budget from the state budget, while the rest of the budget will be procured through investments.

The new capital, established by Law No. 3 of 2022 on the National Capital, has major investment potential in various sectors, such as housing, transportation, energy, and tourism. The government also expects the new capital to be the hub of innovation. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga highlighted the importance of fulfilling children's rights to be involved in every process of development.

"Children have the right to contribute to development as subjects of development and have the right to involve themselves and be involved in every process of development," the minister stated at an online event on Wednesday.

Puspayoga made the statement at an event titled "Sharing Good Practices to Protect Children, Families, and Vulnerable People Through Children's Meaningful Participation Towards an Inclusive Indonesia."

She emphasized that children's participation in development is not only limited to planning but also implementation to the evaluation of development.

The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection already has the Children's Forum Program aimed at opening the widest possible space for children to participate in the development process.

The minister explained that the obligation to fulfill children's rights is a result of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child through Presidential Decree Number 36 of 1990 regarding the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"With the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Indonesia has recognized children's rights absolutely and is committed to protecting all Indonesian children across the country," she pointed out.

Various mandates of the Convention on the Rights of the Child have been translated into several laws, including Law Number 23 of 2002 on Child Protection.

She stated that fulfillment and protection of children's rights are not only the responsibility of the government but also all parties.

At Wednesday's event, the ministry, along with Save the Children Indonesia, the National Children's Forum, and Children & Youth Advisory Network (CYAN), launched a guideline for the participation of children in regional development.

The launch of the guideline is aimed at acknowledging children's views so as to open the widest possible space for children's participation in development. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has reminded people to get primary COVID-19 vaccine doses and booster doses before joining the 2023 Eid al-Fitr exodus to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

"What is the most important one is that vaccination is essential. Booster is essential. Therefore, those who have not, please immediately get the booster," he noted in Depok, West Java, on Thursday.

According to the president, primary and booster vaccine doses are crucial to maintain people's immunity amid the high mobility during the 2023 Eid exodus.

"Once again, those who have not (been vaccinated), especially (those who) have not received the booster, immediately ask to get vaccinated, so that our immunity is maintained against COVID-19," he stressed.

The president drew attention to an increase in COVID-19 cases in the last few days. Nevertheless, Indonesia's daily count of COVID-19 cases has not surpassed the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

"The WHO standard is less than eight thousand, and we are at 600-900. I think ours is still managed, controlled well," he stated.

In addition, based on a serosurvey conducted by the Ministry of Health, the immunity of Indonesian citizens has reached 98.5 percent.

"It means that it (immunity) is very high," he remarked.

Based on the government's projection, for this year's Eid exodus, 123 million people will be joining the exodus, or an increase of 45 percent as compared to 86 million people recorded in 2022.

In a bid to boost community immunity against COVID-19, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021, targeting 234,666,020 citizens.

According to data from the COVID-19 Handling Task Force, as of April 12, 2023, some 203,827,395 Indonesians have received the first vaccine dose, 174,862,189 have been administered the second dose, 68,685,977 have taken the third dose or first booster, and 3,116,927 people have received the fourth dose or second booster. (Antaranews)