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PLN Gradually Recovers Electricity Supply (0)
State-owned electricity firm PT PLN has recovered electric power to Balaraja Extra High Voltage substation in Banten Province, and furthermore it will be channeled to Suralaya steam-fueled power plant (PLTU) to gradually recover its operation to reach its capacity of 2800 MW of electricity.
In addition, power supply from Gandul Extra High Voltage substations in Depok, West Java Province, will be channeled to Muara Karang gas and steam power plant (PLTGU) to supply electricity to the Indonesian capital city, Jakarta.
Acting President Director of PLN Sripeni Inten Cahyani said here on Sunday that the power supply to Jakarta was expected to recover within three hours.
"We apologize for the inconvenience today, and currently all efforts have been made to recover the Java-Bali power system, especially in the area of West Java, Banten, and Jakarta," Cahyani said.
The company has focused on power supply to PLTGU Muara Karang and PLTGU Priok to recover the system in the capital city.
Previously, PLN has recovered the operation of hydro-generated power plant (PLTA) Saguling and PLTA Cirata which are functioned as power stabilizer, and, at the same time, supply the electricity to PLTU Suralaya through Cibinong, Depok, Gandul, Lengkok, Balaraja and Suralaya extra high voltage substations.
PLTU Suralaya is expected to return to its normal operation within six hours to normalize power system in West Java and Banten.
Blackout that affected thousands of homes and public facilities in West Java, Jakarta, and Banten was caused by several troubles in the extra high voltage 500 kV transmission of Ungaran - Pemalang.
"PLN has taken its best efforts and will have evaluation to prevent recurrence of today's incident," Cahyani said.
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March
COVID-19: Infections, death rates drop in 10 provinces
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. Ten Indonesian provinces have successfully managed to bring down their coronavirus infection and death rates through the third round of micro-scale public activity restrictions (PPKM Mikro), according to the national COVID-19 task force.
The imposition of the PPKM Mikro policy from March 9 to 22, 2021 has also resulted in an increase in recovery rates in the targeted provinces — Banten, West Java, Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali, East Kalimantan, South Sulawesi, and North Sumatra, it stated.
"The recovery rate and level of public compliance with the health protocols in the 10 provinces has also increased," the task force's spokesperson, Wiku Adisasmito, said on Tuesday.
The decline in confirmed COVID-19 cases and rising recovery rates have resulted in a significant drop in bed occupancy rates at hospitals, Adisasmito informed.
In the eight weeks since the PPKM Mikro policy was enforced in the 10 provinces, the number of new confirmed cases has decreased significantly, he said.
At the national level, the infection rate has gone down up to 25.42 percent, while the death rate has also shown a declining trend under the enforcement of PPKM Mikro for nine weeks, he added.
The continued imposition of the PPKM Mikro has also led to a fall in the bed occupancy rates at hospital intensive care units and isolation rooms in each of the 10 provinces, he said.
Meanwhile, the Jakarta provincial administration has extended the implementation of its PPKM Mikro policy till April 5, 2021.
The extension is aimed at maintaining the decline in confirmed COVID-19 cases in the capital city.
PPKM has so far yielded significant results in reducing the number of confirmed infections in the city, head of Jakarta Health Office, Widyastuti, said earlier on Tuesday.
Jakarta recorded a sharp fall in confirmed cases following the implementation of PPKM, with the number of cases dipping from 7,439 on March 8 this year to 5,747 on March 16.
Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic ever since the government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.
To contain the spread of infections, the government has not only imposed the PPKM Mikro, but also rolled out a nationwide vaccination program since January 13 this year.
The Health Ministry has estimated that the vaccination of around 181.5 million people under the national program could take 15 months.
To achieve herd immunity and free the nation from the clutches of the pandemic, which has triggered serious public health and economic crises, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has pushed for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the targeted population.
Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate crossed one million cases on January 26, 2021. (Antaranews)
March
Foreign Ministry confirms no Indonesian victims in Colorado shooting
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. The Indonesian Foreign Ministry reported on Tuesday that no Indonesians had fallen victim to a mass shooting at the King Soopers Store in Boulder, Colorado, on Monday.
"No other report was received of Indonesians falling victim to the fatal shooting," the Foreign Ministry's Director for the Protection of Citizens, Judha Nugraha, stated.
The Indonesian consulate general in Los Angeles had contacted the local authorities and Indonesians residing in Colorado shortly after the deadly shooting occurred.
The consulate general confirmed that 10 Indonesian citizens, all registered as students, currently resided in Boulder City.
The US media outlets reported that 10 people, including a cop, lost their lives after a gunman opened fire at the King Soopers Store on Monday.
Boulder Police Chief Maris Herold was quoted by CNN as saying that the gunman was placed in detention, and the local police investigators had continued to probe the case.
CNN reported that the boulder shooting occurred less than a week after eight people were killed in shooting attacks at three spas in the Atlanta area.
Over the past nine years, the United States has repeatedly borne witness to acts of gun violence that have killed numerous innocent people.
In December 2012, a total of 27 people, including 20 children in the age group of five to 10 years, reportedly died after a gunman launched an attack on a primary school in Newton, Connecticut.
Thereafter, on June 12, 2016, a fatal shooting again broke out at a night club in Orlando, Florida, claiming the lives of 50 people and inflicting injuries to 53 others.
The Indonesian government has denounced the Orlando shooting incident and extended its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the US government and people.
In tackling the gun violence-related issue, the Barack Obama administration had also planned to "widen background checks on buyers of firearms" in the country, according to the BBC in 2016.
The BBC noted that the Barack Obama administration had imposed a regulation necessitating all gun sellers to be licensed and to conduct background checks. (Antaranews)
March
Need GeNose in factories to revive economic activity: minister
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. GeNose C-19, a COVID-19 breathalyzer developed by the University of Gadjah Mada, needs to be installed at factories and manufacturing sites across Indonesia to support endeavors to revive the industrial sector, a minister said.
"I propose this idea to Mr. Coordinating Minister for Economy," Research and Technology Minister Bambang PS Brodjonegoro remarked at an event held to donate a GeNose C-19 set to the ministry here on Monday.
The COVID-19 testing tool was handed to Brodjonegoro by Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, who also heads Indonesia's COVID-19 Mitigation and Economic Recovery Committee.
Brodjonegoro said the presence of GeNose C-19 at factories would hopefully help revive Indonesia's industrial sector, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.
All factory and industrial workers could be screened using GeNose C-19 before starting work in the morning and when changing shifts, suggested Brodjonegoro, who also heads the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
"The only workers allowed in the workplace must be those whose GeNose tests show negative results," he proposed, adding that this could be part of preventive efforts aimed at creating a secure and healthy work environment in factories and industries.
However, strict implementation of health protocols in the workplace will be necessary even after the GeNose C-19 has been installed, he added.
The breathalyzer has been in use since February 5 this year to screen train passengers for COVID-19.
Indonesia has been striving to win the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic since the government officially announced the country's first confirmed cases on March 2, 2020.
The government has rolled out a nationwide vaccination program this year to steam new infections.
According to the Health Ministry, it would take 15 months to vaccinate around 181.5 million people under the national program.
Indonesia's COVID-19 infection rate crossed one million cases on January 26, 2021.
To attain herd immunity and free the nation from the clutches of the pandemic, which has dragged Indonesia into serious public health and economic crises, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has stressed on the need for successfully administering the COVID-19 vaccine to the targeted population. (Antaranews)
March
Indonesia still a long way from winning war on drugs
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. Indonesia has been striving for decades to win the war against drugs but, instead of moving closer to victory, it has been dragged into a state of emergency over narcotics trade and abuse.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, which struck the country on March 2, 2020, drug lords have continued to be a serious threat considering the fact that drug-trafficking has remained rampant even amid the health crisis.
Since his first leadership term, President Joko Widodo has been reminding the nation of the serious impact of drug consumption on Indonesia.
While inaugurating a grand mosque in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, on January 20, 2015, he had warned that at least 50 people were dying due to drug use every day. The statistic included those who failed to get rehabilitated.
According to the National Narcotics Agency (BNN), Indonesia had more than 3.3 million drug users in 2017.
The drug users belonged to the 10-59 age group, and the percentage of teenagers falling into drug addiction stood at 24-28 percent, the BNN noted.
As per information on the agency’s official website, Indonesians in the 15-35 age group are at the highest risk of drug abuse.
Meanwhile, drug lords are dragging not just people in their 30s into drug-trafficking networks, but even those in their 20s.
On March 18, 2021, a 20-year-old drug courier was stopped and arrested at the Kualanamu International Airport in Deli Serdang district, North Sumatra province.
The suspect, identified as ASH, was reportedly trying to smuggle 1.01 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine into Lombok Island in West Nusa Tenggara province.
ASH was apprehended before he could board Batik Air flight ID-6881 headed to Soekarno Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten province, en route to Mataram City in Lombok Island.
The airport's aviation security personnel found the drug package hidden in ASH’s backpack, according to acting spokesperson of state-owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II at the Kualanamu International Airport, Paulina HA Simbolon.
The suspect is a resident of Keude Bungkaih village in Muara Batu sub-district, Aceh Utara district, Aceh province, Simbolon informed.
On March 19, 2021, eight people were nabbed with several kilograms of crystal meth and thousands of ecstasy pills.
The suspects were arrested from a vessel in the waters off the east coast of Sumatra Island, BNN Eradication Division Deputy Inspector General Arman Depari remarked.
The smugglers used two vessels to conduct their drug-trafficking operation, Depari told local journalists at the Belawan-based customs and excise pier.
They allegedly swapped their vessel with one that contained drug packages in the Malacca Strait, and then headed to the east coast of Sumatra's sea.
The BNN said it is well aware of a rising trend in drug crimes in the country, as evidenced by the confiscation of 808.68 kg of drugs over the past three months.
The weight of the drugs seized in the past three months is nearly 70.19 percent of the total weight of drugs confiscated by BNN during drug raid operations last year.
"In 2020, the BNN had seized 1,152.2 kg of drugs," BNN head Petruse Golose notified legislators during a plenary session at the parliament building on March 18, 2021.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, drug trade in Indonesia has been on the increase as is apparent from the evidence of drug crimes that the BNN has seized until now, he noted.
On the basis of the confiscated evidence, the BNN has seized 3,462.75 kg of marijuana in drug raids between January and March, 2021.
The amount of seized marijuana shows an increase of 143.64 percent from 2,410 kg confiscated in January-March, 2020, Golose pointed out.
The BNN head surmised that the increase in the amount of drugs seized may point to a rise in demand from drug users in communities.
"The rise in demand is perhaps triggered by the work-from-home policy. Many have got dragged into a situation of 'drug abuse from home,'" he surmised.
During the meeting with members of the House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs, Golose sought their support for upgrading BNN's facilities.
The current era of disruption has compelled the agency to improve its facilities, including those related to information technology, laboratory, database, and intelligence capability, he explained.
In response to the BNN's request, the House members have urged the government to step up the war against drugs, saying the country is in a state of emergency over narcotics.
"Drug crimes have even entered a phase of narcoterrorism," head of the House's Commission III, Herman Hery, stated.
To deal with this "state of emergency", Hery urged Golose to apprise President Widodo of the real situation.
Drug rings controlled behind bars by imprisoned drug dealers are partly responsible for the state of emergency with regard to rampant drug-trafficking across the country, authorities said.
To deal with this problem, the Law and Human Rights Ministry recently transferred 643 convicted drug dealers from 12 provinces to Indonesia's maximum security prison on Nusakambangan Island in Central Java.
The massive transfer of convicted drug dealers to the Nusakambangan penitentiary is the first of its kind, but the ministry will do it again in the future, according to Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly.
Ninety-nine of the 643 prisoners were transferred from Jakarta; 76 from Lampung; 50 from Aceh; 48 from Yogyakarta; 91 from West Java; 54 from North Sumatra; 50 from South Sumatra; 47 from Riau; 46 from Banten, 43 from West Kalimantan; 21 from East Java; and, 18 from Bali.
The government has done so much to win Indonesia's collective war on drugs, but it still has a long way to go.
As part of the war, drug convicts on death row need to be executed soon to deter more people from committing drug crimes, according to observers. (Antaranews)
March
Vaccination program to drive Indonesia's economic growth for better
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. Expenditure Expert Staff to the Finance Minister Kunta Wibawa Dasa Nugraha affirmed that the vaccination program being conducted for 181.5 million Indonesians will be able to boost the nation’s economic growth for the better.
Nugraha noted that the vaccination of 181.5 million Indonesians was aimed at achieving herd immunity to enable swifter recovery of activities and spur the nation’s economy to grow again.
"The vaccination program is a national program to encourage the economy to grow better. Hence, support from all levels of society is important," he remarked at the Spectaxcular talkshow in Jakarta on Monday.
Nugraha noted that the government had allocated a budget of Rp158.18 trillion, especially for vaccinations during 2021, to be conducted for 181.5 million people by administering two vaccine doses, for which the government requires around 360 million doses.
He said the budget was financed by this year's tax that was targeted to reach Rp1,229.6 trillion of the total state expenditure requirement of Rp2,750 trillion.
"More vaccinations are required to be conducted later in 2022, but it will be financed through this year's state budget totaling Rp1,200 trillion," he stated.
Nugraha noted that the tax revenue had continued to increase, especially for the March and April period, when taxpayers report their annual tax returns (SPT).
The ministry stated that the tax revenue in January 2021 had reached Rp68.5 trillion comprising oil and gas income tax (PPh) of Rp2.3 trillion and non-oil and gas tax of Rp66.1 trillion.
"Taxes have increased, but SPT submission of the taxpayer reports in March and April is expected to increase the tax revenue again," Nugraha explained.
He advised taxpayers to immediately report their tax returns to support the vaccination program, so that Indonesia can surmount over the pandemic situation and usher in economic growth.
"Ministries and agencies, as a whole, and taxpayers are expected to work together to solve the problems and emerge out of this pandemic and also encourage our economy to grow again," he reiterated.
Meanwhile, spokesperson for the Health Ministry’s Vaccination Siti Nadia Tarmizi also urged people to be ready to be vaccinated to protect themselves, their families, and those around them.
Tarmizi affirmed that herd immunity could increase through vaccination to help Indonesia come out of the pandemic crisis and to facilitate economic recovery.
"Of course, this belief and support from taxpayers is what we hope for," Tarmizi stated. (Antaranews)
March
Online prostitution involving children must be dealt with seriously
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) has urged the government to seriously deal with online prostitution that has involved children.
The chairman of KPAI, Susanto, in a written statement here on Sunday said that his party urged the government to evaluate and impose sanctions on digital platform providers who are indicated to carry out prostitution activities involving children.
"KPAI has asked the Ministry of Communication and Informatics to take curative steps to curb various digital media applications loose in protecting consumers, so that they are very easy to abuse, including children," he said.
According to him, the business world should support the implementation of child protection as mandated by Law No. 35/2014 on Child Protection, that the business world is a pillar of child protection in building policies (company's rules or standard of operations/SOPs) by having a child protection perspective.
For example, it is prohibited to employ children, especially in the worst child labor (which damages the health, safety and morals of children), the products produced should be safe and comfortable for children, and the business world has a social responsibility for the implementation of child protection.
Susanto said that Jakarta's Metro Jaya Police had revealed the practice of sexual exploitation of children in prostitution activities in various hotels in Jakarta.
On March 18, the police rescued at least 15 child prostitution victims in a hotel owned by CCA, a public figure, whose name was also dragged into this case.
"KPAI sees this case as a structured crime that contains elements of the recruitment of minors in online application advertisements by pimps, then transfer, placement, holding and reception at hotels by exploiting economically vulnerable children for the purpose of sexual exploitation," he said.
He said that there was an indication of human trafficking connected to hotels as companies that receive benefits.
The Commission also urged the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to be proactive in implementing the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Regulation No PM.53 / HM.001 / MPEK / 2013 concerning Hotel Business Standard. Hotel management must have a child protection perspective and implement the Children Right Of Business Principle (CRBP) which regulates the responsibility of the business entities for child protection. (Antaranews)
March
Indonesian boy rescued after being held hostage by Abu Sayyaf
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. MK, 14-year-old Indonesian citizen who was taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group, was rescued on Kalupag Island on Sunday, after previously three Indonesian men were freed on Thursday (18/3).
The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement here on Sunday, stated that MK was rescued by the Philippine Security Apparatus, who launched a joint operation and succeeded in pushing the Abu Sayyaf Group during a gunfire.
The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City, The Philippines, through a member of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Border Crossing Station in Bongao, Tawi Tawi had met MK who was in good and healthy condition.
With the release of MK, all Indonesian citizens who were held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group have been successfully freed.
MK and three Indonesian citizens who had been rescued earlier will be taken to the Zamboanga area before being flown to Manila. The Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City, will coordinate with the Philippine government for the repatriation of the former hostages
"The Indonesian government expresses appreciation to the Philippine Government and the Philippine Security Apparatus," the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
On Thursday (18/3), the Philippine Security Apparatus rescued three of four Indonesians who were held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), in Tawi-Tawi waters when the terrorist group's ship carrying the three hostages overturned after being hit by waves.
The three rescued men are residents of Wakatobi District, Southeast Sulawesi, namely AKM (male, 30), AD (male, 41), and AR (male, 26). (Antaranews)
March
533,379 Indonesians have been vaccinated against COVID-19
Written by Nur Yasmin
Jakarta. Indonesia's COVID-19 Handling Task Force has reported that a total of 5,533,379 people comprising health workers, public service workers and elderly residents, have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19.
The number of people receiving the first dose of vaccine jab on Sunday increased 408,431 people compared to that on Saturday.
Meanwhile, 2,301,978 of Indonesians have been administered the second shot, or up 80,778 people from the previous day, the task force said here on Sunday.
Hence, some 13.71 percent of the total 40,349,051 target people for phase I and stage II vaccination have received the first dose. Meanwhile, only 5.69 percent has been had the second shot.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has stated that the use of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca, which was suspended, can now be resumed for the COVID-19 vaccination program.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has also cleared the South Korean SK Bioscience vaccine for use.
Earlier, on a different occasion, the MUI had appealed to Muslims to not hesitate to get the COVID-19 jab during fasting as receiving the vaccination would not be considered as breaking fast, based on a fatwa (edict).
The Indonesian Government has set a target to administer COVID1-9 vaccines to a total of 181.5 million people within a year, in order to develop a herd immunity.
The vaccination program has started since January 13, 2021, using vaccine produced by Chinese pharmaceutical company Sinovac. (Antaranews)
March
The first mass vaccination for community leaders and health workers was held at the Balikpapan City Hall yard. This weekend, vaccinations were moved to the wider Dome. (ANTARA / Novi Abdi)
A total of 5,124,948 Indonesians, comprising health workers, public service workers, and the elderly, have been vaccinated against COVID-19 so far.
According to data provided by the Task Force for COVID-19 Handling, 165,885 additional people received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday compared to the previous day.
Meanwhile, 2,221,200 of the total recipients were administered their second dose, an increase of 152,800 compared to the previous day.
So far, 12.70 percent of the total 40,349,051 people targeted under phase I and stage II of the vaccination have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, only 5.50 percent of the targeted recipients have been administered the second vaccine dose.Providing more details, the task force said that 98.21 percent of the 1,468,764 targeted health workers have received the first dose. Meanwhile, 83.82 percent of the targeted recipients have received their second dose.
For public officials, 15.74 percent of the 17,327,169 targeted recipients have been given the first jab, while 5.67 percent have received their second dose.
Of the 21,553,118 elderly people targeted under the vaccination program, just 4.43 percent have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, only 0.04 percent of the targeted recipients have received their second jab.
Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) has stated that the use of the vaccine made by AstraZeneca, which was suspended, can now be resumed for the COVID-19 vaccination program.
The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has also cleared the South Korean SK Bioscience vaccine for use.Earlier, on a different occasion, the MUI had appealed to Muslims to not hesitate to get the COVID-19 jab during fasting as receiving the vaccination would not be considered as breaking fast, based on a fatwa//ANT
March
Agriculture Ministry strives to sustain farmers' welfare
Written by nuke
Farmers are harvesting in the rice fields of Pabean Udik village of Indramayu in West Java on Saturday (3/20/2021). The Ministry of Agriculture asks Perum Bulog to absorb farmers' unhulled rice maximally in the middle of the harvest period March to April 2021 to maintain the stability of grain prices at the farmer level. ANTARA FOTO/Dedhez Anggara/hp.
The Agriculture Ministry has continually increased food production to fulfill the people's requirements by maintaining the production of several agricultural commodities while sustaining the welfare of farmers by stabilizing selling prices.
"We remain committed to maintaining the production and welfare of farmers. Even during this harvest season, we actively participate in maintaining the selling price of the farmers' unhulled rice. We must safeguard their happiness during harvest," Head of the Public Relations and Public Information Bureau of the Agriculture Ministry Kuntoro Boga Andri noted in a written statement received here on Saturday.
Andri remarked that the task of maintaining production and boosting the economy of farmers aligned with the mandate of the law. The ministry’s efforts to maintain production encompass the formation of an Integrated Team for the Farmer's Grain Absorption Movement.The agriculture minister has issued a Letter of the Agriculture Minister Number 28/TP.100/M/03/2021, with a team comprising the Agriculture Ministry, ranks of the National Logistics Agency (Bulog), Agriculture Service, Food Security Service, Industry and Trade Service, Military Command, Police, Association of Rice and Rice Milling Entrepreneurs (Perpadi), as well as Rice Milling Strategy Command (Kostraling).
"The team is striving to absorb production by buying unhulled rice at the farm level in accordance with the cost of goods sold. That is what we want to confirm," he expounded.
Results of the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) area sample frame survey indicate that the potential area for rice harvest during the January-April 2021 period reached 4.86 million hectares, an increase of around 1.02 million hectares, or 26.53 percent, as compared to the January-April 2020 period during which it had reached 3.84 million hectares. The increase was due to the harvest season at the start of the year, particularly in several areas that continued to show a positive trend."The minister has also sent a letter to the head of BULOG to accelerate the absorption of the farmers’ grains. We are optimistic of the price not dropping, and the farmers being able to reap the benefits of the harvest. This is a concrete step by the government," Andri stated.
Currently, agricultural production is sufficient in line with the massive development of agricultural infrastructure, mechanization and utilization of mechanization technology, as well as other endeavors//ANT