VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has said that fragile rocks are one of the factors behind frequent earthquakes in Jayapura, Papua.

"Earthquakes that have occurred in the Jayapura area and its surroundings have been happening frequently. This is a result of the condition of the rocks, which are included in the brittle type. This fragile condition makes them sensitive to shaking," BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati informed at an online press conference, which was accessed from Jakarta on Thursday.

Based on BMKG’s observations, in the period from January 2, 2023, till 2:25 p.m. local time on February 9, as many as 1,079 earthquakes were recorded in the area around Jayapura city, with 132 earthquakes felt by the community, she informed.

"Jayapura area has the characteristic of an earthquake with high frequency. The earthquakes are shallow and the rocks break easily, so there has been continuous activity since January this year," she disclosed.

After the 5.4M earthquake that occurred at 3:28 p.m. local time on Thursday, the local community is expected to inspect their homes.

"Avoid cracked or damaged buildings caused by the earthquake. Check and make sure the building is earthquake resistant, or there is no damage due to earthquake that could endanger the stability of the building before the residents return to their house," Karnawati advised.

On the same occasion, head of the BMKG’s Earthquake and Tsunami Center, Daryono, said the Jayapura area is an active and complex seismic area.

"This is reflected in the different mechanisms of the earthquake that occurred on January 2, 2023. At that time, it was an earthquake with a descending mechanism, now, the earthquake is caused by a moving fault. This shows that this area is an active and complex seismic area," he noted.

He added that rocks in Jayapura region also have fragile characteristics that easily trigger earthquakes.

"We must remind the people in Jayapura and its surrounding area to ensure that they build earthquake-resistant buildings in the region. The buildings will be safe from earthquakes that can occur anytime," he said. (Antaranews)

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has asked President Joko Widodo to ensure that the new Criminal Code is not used to prosecute journalists.

At the 2023 National Press Day commemoration event in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra, on Thursday, PWI chairperson Atal S. Depari started his speech by asking for time to represent colleagues in the press community and convey their aspirations on the new Criminal Code.

PWI pointed out that freedom of the press and freedom of expression could be threatened by the new Criminal Code passed by the House of Representatives (DPR) last December.

Some articles in the new Criminal Code, if not used prudently, could be used to prosecute journalists and media companies performing their journalistic work, he said.

"I sincerely hope that Mr. President (will ensure) that (the new Criminal Code) will not be used, even once, to prosecute a journalist. This is our aspiration, and I believe Mr. President, ministers, the military, and the police all want to hear the aspirations of the press community," Depari said.

Prosecuting journalists under the new Criminal Code will harm the spirit of Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press, which must be prioritized for handling cases involving journalists and their work, he added.

Meanwhile, Depari also expressed the hope that the President will enshrine publisher rights in a regulation to bolster the quality of journalism in Indonesia.

"I appeal to the President to finalize a presidential regulation on publisher rights promptly," he said.

He noted that Widodo had promised the publisher right protection during the 2022 National Press Day in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, as an instrument to improve the sustainability of the national press. (Antaranews)

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is focusing its search for victims of the 5.4-magnitude earthquake on Thursday at Cirita Cafe in Jayapura City, Papua.

"The results of our coordination with the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and data reporting from the results of data collection in the field are currently still being carried out together with efforts to search for victims, especially in locations of buildings that are affected," the acting head of BNPB’s Disaster Data and Information Center, Abdul Muhari, said in Jakarta on Thursday.

In addition, Muhari informed that his party is focusing the search on Cirita Cafe, one of the cafeterias located on the seafront, which collapsed in the earthquake.

According to reports received at 5 p.m. local time, four victims were found dead in the debris of Cirita Cafe, which collapsed and sank due to the tremors produced by the quake. The victims were cafe visitors who did not get time to save themselves.

"The victims were trapped under the collapsed cafe covered by the roof. They did not have time to run and had difficulty saving themselves," Muhari said.

He later informed that the search for victims is still ongoing. He expressed the hope that the victims who are currently still trapped are alive and will be saved soon.

In addition to the casualties, the BNPB received reports of material losses in the form of one collapsed shop unit, one affected hospital unit, and one affected mosque. Several buildings, including shops and a number of residential areas, were also affected and suffered moderate to severe damage.

"Until now the joint BPBD, search and rescue (SAR) team, military, and police personnel are still carrying out search and rescue together with data collection on victims. BNPB will inform immediately regarding significant developments," he said.  (antaranews)

Jakarta (voinews) US Embassy Jakarta’s Regional English Language Office (RELO), in partnership with Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry, launched a new phase of its English Language Teacher Training (ELTT) program on Tuesday.

Under the program, at least 600 teachers from ministry-affiliated madrasahs and pesantrens of 17 cities of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi islands will receive in-person and online training for five months, the US Embassy in Jakarta informed in a statement on Thursday.

RELO received more than 1,200 applications for the program.

"Building educational connections are a key part of our partnership with Indonesia," US Embassy Spokesperson Michael Quinlan said.

"That is why we are proud to support a whole host of English language programs, including this one launched today to help Indonesians develop English language skills and expand access to further educational and economic opportunities," he added.

Director of Madrasah teachers and education personnel at the Directorate General of Islamic Education of the ministry, Muhammad Zain, said that there is a country-wide need for developing the English skills of madrasah teachers and students to help them connect with the global community.

The ELTT is a useful program for enhancing English skills among students, he added.

These skills would bring increased opportunities for students and teachers to actively engage in interfaith dialogues and participate in global exchange programs, he said.

Meanwhile, RELO director Rick Rosenberg thanked the Religious Affairs Ministry as well as all the teachers and students involved in the program.

"The strength, success, and scalability of the ELTT program are built upon the energy and dedication of the Indonesian teachers and our long and productive collaboration," Rosenberg said.

RELO Jakarta is helping strengthen the US-Indonesia Strategic Partnership by building capacity through English teaching and learning in Indonesia, the US Embassy said in its statement.  (antaranews)