VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

South Korea and the United States held a combined air drill involving a U.S. strategic bomber on Sunday in response to North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on Saturday, South Korea's military said. (Reuters)

Jakarta (voinews): Indonesian migrant workers who are employed in developed countries are vulnerable to exposure to radical ideas, Head of the National Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT) Commissioner General Boy Rafli Amar has said.

This vulnerability has come about because there are many radical narratives being spread via social media and people in developed countries have easy access to the Internet. Thus, Indonesian migrant workers living in such countries also have easy access to radical content.

In a statement issued on Saturday, he highlighted a recent case that occurred in January wherein an Indonesian migrant worker was deported from Singapore over suspected exposure to radical ideas.

The Indonesian migrant worker was deported because they continued to spread content linked to radicalism on social media, Amar explained.

"This emphasizes that anyone, including migrant workers, can be exposed to radicalism," he said.

The former head of Papua police added that all citizens are obligated to develop an understanding of the characteristics of radical, intolerant, and terror groups to avoid radicalism.

Moreover, it is important for each Indonesian citizen to know the vaccine against radicalism, which is nationalism, he remarked.

Nationalism comprises national insight transformation, Pancasila values revitalization, diversity moderation, cultural root preservation, and development transformation.

"We urge all national elements in allied countries to be wary of the terrorism virus," he added.

Earlier, Amar said that BNPT is facing restrictions amid acts of radicalism that are developing in society.

Thus, the agency is continuing to collaborate with several parties, such as other ministries, government institutions, and the broader public, by the applying multi-party cooperation concept to prevent the spread of radical ideology.

The war against terror ideology cannot be handled by a certain institution or group alone, but must involve the entire population, he stressed. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): The Ministry of Health is procuring three types of antivenom serums this year for provincial-level referral hospitals, Head of the Public Communication and Services Bureau of the ministry Siti Nadia Tarmizi has informed.

"Currently, the antivenoms that we have purchased only exist in the central facility, and there are only three types of them," she said here on Saturday.

The three types of antivenoms are king cobra antivenom, Thai neuro polyvalent antivenom, and Daboia siamensis antivenom.

State-owned vaccine company PT Bio Farma is also producing the BioSave serum, which can neutralize the venom of the ground snake, striped snake, and Javanese cobra.

The procurement of the three antivenoms is being undertaken in 2023, and they will be distributed immediately to provincial-level referral hospitals, Tarmizi informed.

Throughout the procurement process, venomous snake bite incidents can be treated through the first aid method, she said.

The method involves washing a snake bite with soap and water and keeping the bitten area still and lower than the heart.

The next step is to cover the bitten area with a clean, cold compress or moist pads to reduce swelling and discomfort and monitor breathing and heartbeat.

This needs to be followed by removing all tight rings, watches, and clothing, in case of swelling. The time when the bite occurred also needs to be recorded so that it can be reported to an intensive care unit health service provider, if necessary.

If possible, the initial reaction as well as the snake's size and type should be recorded to help the medical staff determine a more accurate treatment.

Health workers at public health centers (puskesmas) have already mastered the method, Tarmizi said.

"What puskesmas staff need to do in the case of snake bite incident is to carry out first aid as an early treatment to prevent systemic reaction such as immobilization," she explained. (Antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews): Vice President Ma'ruf Amin emphasized the government's commitment in pursuing infrastructure development following the earthquake which rocked Cianjur, West Java, on November 21, 2022.

"The government, since the (earthquake) hit, has acted swiftly. First and foremost, for sure, was to aid those who were hit by the quake, and then pursue efforts to rebuild houses which can be rebuilt," he told the press after a prayer for national safety and commemoration of Isra' and Miraj at the Cianjur Grand Mosque, West Java, on Sunday.

Currently, the development in question was at its third phase, the vice president said. It would be conducted in a consistent manner to accommodate those in need of aid, he added.

"There are even new ones, some 500 houses to follow," the vice president disclosed.

He affirmed that he had visited one of the relocation areas which have been built for the affected people.

"One of those is near Cianjur City, Cilaku, and I have seen that spot, 200 (houses) have been built and inhabited," he added.

The vice president ensured that the central government would consistently work with the regional government in monitoring the post-earthquake developments, particularly in terms of housing.

On the same occasion, head of Cianjur District Herman Suherman noted that currently, the earthquake victims could pay for house renovations out of their own pockets, and those expenses would be reimbursed by the government.

"People can begin (renovations) by paying by themselves first, and be reimbursed later," he said.

The press briefing was also attended by Deputy Governor of West Java Uu Ruzhanul Ulum, Chief of Army staff at National Defense Force General Dudung Abdurachman, and Head of Indonesian Ulema Council Cholil Nafis. (Antaranews)