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January
Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium preened to face the Asian Games 2018. After undergoing renovation since August 2016, finally President Joko Widodo inaugurated the new face of Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Senayan, Jakarta, Sunday (14/1/2018), seven months before the Asian Games 2018 is held.
Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium was built in the era of President Soekarno in 1961 and is part of the Bung Karno Sports Center complex. The stadium is usually used as an arena of international football matches. The name Bung Karno was given to honor Sukarno, the first President of the Republic of Indonesia, who sparked the idea of building this sports complex. In the New Order era, precisely in 1984, the name of the stadium was changed to Senayan National Stadium. In the era of Reform in 2001, it was restored to Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium again .
Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium now appears more elegant with blinking red and white light on the outside. No more elongated seats. Currently, the stands are converted into single seaters and can be folded or flipped up and have met the evacuation accessibility standard. Each seat can withstand loads of up to 250 kilograms and can not easily be moved or pulled out to prevent vandalism. This change reduced the stadium's capacity from 90,000 to over 76,000 seats.
In terms of lighting, Gelora Bung Karno Stadium is one of the best in the world. The stadium lighting system is also integrated with a powerful sound system. The grasscovering the field surface is of the best kind, the zoysia matrella, equipped with an automatic sprinkler and a flood anticipation drainage system.
Changes and luxuries of Gelora Bung Karno National Stadium at this time deserve to be the proud of Indonesia. Moreover, many have praised that the Bung Karno Stadium is one of the largest and most grand stadiums in the world. However, the grandeur and luxury of a Sports Stadium is not enough if not followed by good maintenance and improved performance of the athletes . What is the use of having a magnificent stadium without being offset by sporting achievements?May the luxury and splendor of Bung Karno National Stadium at this time can spur the Indonesian athletes to improve their performance ahead of the grand event of Asian Games August 2018 and other international sporting events. So Indonesia is not only proud because it has a magnificent and luxurious Sports Stadium, but also great sports achievements.
January
Angela Merkel indeed won the election in Germany held in September 2017. But this does not necessarily make Angela Merkel easily govern. After negotiating with the Green party and the Liberal party, eventually the coalition, often called Jamaica, failed to be formed. The name of ‘Jamaica’ arises because the color of the CDU party's flag is black, and the green as a Green party color and the Free Democratic Party is yellow exactly the flag of Jamaica. This failure made German politics uncertain.
Entering 2018, it appears that a coalition between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) will be possible. One of the problems concerning the issue of immigrants has come to light. Both sides agreed on a law restricting trained immigrants. But that does not mean that everything is easy. CDU and CSU want to limit the number of incoming immigrants, which is only 70 thousand people per year, while the SPD still allows the immigrants to come. In fact, Germany is now in need of skilled workers because many of its citizens who enter over age are not productive anymore.
If both sides agree on the issue of immigrants, it seems open to discuss cooperation in the coalition to form a government. But the SPD itself needs to make an internal vote whether to cooperate with CDU and CSU. If some members of SPD refuse to form a coalition, the coalition plan is over.
Bagi Angela Merkel masih ada dua pilihan, yaitu menjalankan pemerintahan dengan suara minoritas, atau melaksanakan pemilihan ulang. Dengan pemilihan ulang peluang Merkel untuk menjadi Kanselir keempat kalinya bisa saja kandas.
For Angela Merkel, there are still two options: running the government with a minority vote, or carrying pout re-election. By holding re-election, Merkel's chance to become Chancellor for four times might fail.
This uncertain political condition in Germany is not expected to continue. As one of the major countries in the European Union, Germany acts as a dynamiter in Europe. The crisis in Germany can affect the European Union as a whole.
January
Of the total peat-land in the world reaching 400 million hectares per February 2016, the area of tropical peat-land is only eight percent. Of that amount, as much as 60 percent are in Southeast Asia. Tropical peat-land is the one which has the richest type of peat in carbon stocks. The benefit of the peat-land, that is only 3% of the total land area in the world, is capable of storing 75% carbon in the atmosphere. Indonesia is known to have the largest tropical peat-land which covers around 11.5 million hectares, while Malaysia has only 7 million hectares.
As the country with the largest tropical swamp peat-land ecosystem in the world, it is natural that Indonesia offers itself to be the world's tropical peat-land center. Indonesia’s experience for year in dealing with forest and land fires and restoring and providing peat protection should be a mainstay. Central Kalimantan and Sumatra are among those nominated as tropical peat-land candidate because they have done a lot of research, utilization and all related things to peat-land management programs.
The international response that appreciates Indonesia's performance in the protection, management and restoration of the burnt peat-lands is one of the reasons why Indonesia deserves to be the world's tropical peat-land center. Head of Research, Development and Innovation Agency of the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Agus Justianto said that the concept is being discussed.
The management of the tropical peat-land center is planned to be under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK) and in collaboration with the Peat-land Restoration Agency (BRG). Currently, the BRG is working on restoration on 2 million hectares of land in 7 provinces until 2019.
BRG itself was set up to deal with peat-land matters and strengthen peat-land regulation through government regulations and ministerial regulations, following the case of forest fires by 2015. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, the effort contributed significantly to the reduction of hotspots. In 2015 – 2017, the number of hotspots dropped dramatically from nearly 22,000 spots to fewer than 2000 spots. This became a successful story of Indonesia in a bid to become a tropical peat-land center.
Head of the Peat-land Restoration Agency, Nazir Foead said that Indonesia will build a center of tropical peat-land ecosystem in Bogor, West Java. This centre will be a place for information sharing. While the peat-land laboratory is located in Riau, Jambi and Kalimantan. The center of this tropical peat-land ecosystem will be a place of learning for other countries that want to know about tropical peat-land and how to restore and care for tropical peat-land. Nazir also remarked that Indonesia has a lot of research on peat-land, and the research should be featured in the center of the tropical peat-land ecosystem. Indonesia also opens up the economic potential of the swamp peat-land whose moisture and humidity are kept. The potentials include genuine timbers of swamp peat-land as a substitute for acacia, peat-land coffee, forest honey, rubber and pineapple.
The efforts made by Indonesia are certainly not meaningful if not supported by similar activities by other countries. However, Indonesia is only a small part of this vast earth. All countries in the world must have the same responsibility to care for the earth.
January
French President Emannueal Macron, was in China for a state visit, starting last January 8. It is Macron’s first visit to that country since he took office as President. The presence of the French President in Beijing was in response to President Xi Jinping's invitation.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a press briefing ahead of Macron's departure that this visit has significance for the China-France relationship. China certainly welcomed Macron's first visit warmly. This is demonstrated by preparing a series of state events involving President Xi Jinping, Prime Minister Li Kegiang and chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Zhang Dejiang. From Beijing it was informed that the two sides had exchanged insights on bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern.
In his lecture in front of some entrepreneurs, academics and other important guests in the city of Xi'an, Macron affirmed his commitment to support the Chinese government to rebuild the silk road. In 2013, the Chinese Government launched the "One Belt One Road" program. It is a special expression for the Silk Road Development, reflecting China's bilateral and multilateral relations through economic and trade cooperation with other countries including Europe.
The "One Belt One Road" project aims to connect China through roads, railways and sea routes, with Southeast Asia, Pakistan, Central Asia and further to the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Macron's support for the ambitious project Beijing is certainly also expecting reciprocity. France views China as an influential country in Asia that can be invited to forge a strategic partnership covering several issues. Two very important issues for Macron are Terrorism and Climate change. Regarding the climate change, Macron certainly really hopes that President Xi Jinping is willing to implement the Paris agreement on climate change. China's support is seen as crucial, following the US withdrawal from the deal.
January
In 2018, 171 regions in Indonesia will carry out simultaneous regional head election -PILKADA. This is the third simultaneous election, after the ones in 2015 and 2017. The implementation of the election which will be held on 27 June 2018 seems different from the previous two elections as this year’s election is adjacent to the holding of the 2019 Presidential Election -PILPRES.
Chairman of the General Election Commission -KPU, Arief Budiman remarked that there are 158 million voters who will participate in the 2018 election, almost 80% of the total national voters. This quantity is far greater than the 2015 election with a total of 96 million voters, and the 2017 election with a total of 41 million voters.
This year’s simultaneous election is followed by not only male candidates, but also female ones. However, many say that women's political participation in the election is paid less attention by political elites. Political parties pay more attention to the electability and capital strength in nominating their cadres. They tend to use the 2018 election as a barometer for success in the 2019 Presidential Election. These electability and capital requirements are applied equally between male candidates and female ones. As a result, women's candidacy opportunities in the election are smaller because women politicians are generally less well-known and they do not have huge financial capital.
A discussion entitled "Opportunity of Women Candidates in 2018 Regional Election" was held in Jakarta on Sunday (January 7th). A politician from the United Development Party -PPP, Lena Maeyana, who was present, views that the political condition increasingly overlook Indonesian women. Indonesian law No. 7 of 2017 states that 30% of women's representation must be applied at the central level. In fact, in the previous General Election Law, 30% of women's representation is also regulated until the regency/city level.
Article 28D Paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution states that every citizen has the right to have equal opportunity in government. However, in the context of the 2018 regional election, the involvement of women has not been materialized as expected.
According to the Coordinator of Civil Society for Women and Political Alliance (Ansipol), Yudha Irlang Kusumaningsih, the participation of women in the 2018 election will simultaneously produce many policies that show women's partiality, especially if the candidates are elected as head of the region. A policy that shows women's partiality is necessary, given that women's empowerment is one of the 17 global sustainable development goals (SDGs) for the 2016-2030 period. That is to improve welfare evenly. The fifth point in the goal of sustainable development is to achieve gender equality and empower women. One way is by ensuring full and effective participation, and equal opportunity for women to lead at all levels of decision making in political, economic, and social spheres. Yudha also views that the empowerment of women at the regional government level is also considered urgent, because women are currently considered not equal to men. A number of studies have shown that poverty rates, school dropouts, income, and women's nutrition are still poor compared to men. It is important for women to advance in the election as representatives of their regions such as governors, mayors, regents, or deputy governors, deputy mayors and deputy regents. Thus, if there is a problem concerning women, this will be addressed by women as well.
January
Indonesia experienced a period of self-sufficiency in food, especially rice, in the 1980s. At that time, World Food Organization, FAO even gave a special award to the Indonesian government for its extraordinary achievements. However, many years after that, the self-sufficiency in rice seems difficult to repeat itself. Very often Indonesia had to import rice from neighboring countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam.
Today, during President Joko Widodo and vice-president Jusuf Kalla administration, Indonesia's desire to return to food self-sufficiency, especially rice, chili, corn and onions, is likely to come true. In early 2018, it looks like that Indonesia’s food self-sufficiency will be realized soon, as stated by Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman some time ago.
The desire is further strengthened by the revelation of the Head of Agricultural Counseling and Development Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Momon Rusmono. After harvesting rice crop in Kutuk Village, Undaan District, Kudus Regency, Central Java, Sunday (07/01/2018), Momon Rusmono said at present, the rice import discourse is considered not urgent, because domestic rice crop is currently quite abundant.
Nationally, Momon said, rice stock could reach one million tons, so it is enough to meet the needs for the next two to three months. Especially in the next month there will be a great harvest, so the target of 2018 for the absorption of 3.7 million tons of rice by the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) is likely to be achieved. If this happens, until next year Indonesia will no longer lack of rice, and food self-sufficiency target can be met.
Several efforts have been made by the Indonesian government, in this case the Ministry of Agriculture, to achieve food self-sufficiency. Among others is through the food self-sufficiency Special Effort program in 2015-2017, which focused on three commodities, namely rice, corn, and soybean. In addition, the government is also working to increase the area of planting. Based on data from the Ministry of Agriculture, the national planting area in July-September 2017 reached 1 to 1.1 million hectares per month. It doubled compared to the period before the program, which was only 500,000 hectares per month.
Of course Indonesia's desire to return to a self-sufficient state in food, especially rice, is not a grandiose desire that can not be achieved. But it's not as easy as turning a palm. It takes the government's hard work and also support from various parties such as agricultural counseling workers, farmers, traders and other stakeholders.
January
Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday (3/1/2018) that he would not exchange Jerusalem with money or gold. In addition, the Palestinians did not reject the negotiations. Spokesperson of the President, Nabil Abu Rudeina said that President Abbas wants negotiations under international law and the resolution states that East Jerusalem is the capital of Palestine.
This statement responds to the statement of US President Donald Trump in social media, if the Palestine is reluctant to negotiate. In addition, President Trump also threatens not to provide assistance to the Palestine. He made the point because of Abbas's statement that rejected US involvement in peace talks with Israel. If America does stop the aid, the impact is serious enough for the Palestinian government.
The amount of US aid to Palestine in 2016 reached nearly $320 million dollars for the construction and security of the Palestine. In addition to that assistance, the US provides security mission assistance in Gaza and the West Bank, which reached more than $300 million dollars. But the voice of the US representative at the United Nations, Nikki Haley is softer that the US will not give more money until the Palestine advances to the negotiation.
In addition to threatening the reduction of funds to the Palestine, President Donald Trump also threatens the termination of aid to Pakistan. He reasons that it is useless to provide 15-year assistance for Pakistan. Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif stated that the United States is only covering up its failure in Afghanistan.
It is expected that Palestine does not depend on US aid. As a country that supports Palestinian independence, Indonesia can play a major role to invite countries to jointly support for aid-fund raising. The Palestinian independency on American aid makes Palestinian government has a stronger bargaining position in negotiations with Israel.
January
President Joko Widodo established ‘Siber and Sandi Negara –BSSN’. This body was formed through Presidential Regulation No. 53/2017 which was then revised to be Presidential Decree -Perpres No. 133/2017. In the regulation, Head of BSSN and his deputy are directly responsible to the President. The threat in cyberspace is an infinite threat. A serious threat to cyber-terrorism is the threat of terrorism and warfare via cyberspace.
In regard to the establishment, President Joko Widodo said that the existence of BSSN is very important and in the future, it is needed by the state, especially in anticipating the rapid development of cyber-crime in the world. In addition, the threats are increasingly diverse from the development of cyber abroad. So, Indonesia must immediately respond the challenge.
Previously, Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto in presenting his vision and mission before Commission I of the House of Representatives –DPR said that terrorism, the threat of war, and conflict are global challenges that need anticipating. Among the possible threats, Hybrid war is the one that combines conventional, irregular, and cyber wars. Marshal Hadi also said that on one hand, the rapid development of information technology is also increasingly supporting the movement of individuals or groups of terrorism to realize their interests. On the other hand, cyber warfare must also be a major consideration in the implementation of national defense and security functions.
Meanwhile, during the discussion of Policy Paper of Indonesian Cyber Diplomacy: Now and Later, November 2017, in Yogyakarta, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that cyber diplomacy is absolutely necessary to respond to the challenges and problems arising from the development of cyber technology that cannot be separated from millennial communities nowadays. In this regard, Head of the Center for Policy Review and Development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Fikry Cassidi said that nationally the cyber-technology challenge is well responded by the government. He views that the policy paper is prepared to support national policy in the field of cyber by contributing ideas on defining the position and strategy of Indonesian cyber diplomacy.
The technology of the virtual world is growing rapidly without a clear boundary. Indeed, the government of Indonesia should respond and be pro-active in facing cyber governance through multilateral and regional forums. Without the regulation and legal basis for addressing cyberspace, Indonesia will be powerless in its efforts. At present, almost all aspects use cyber technology in the activity. Moreover, the growth of the Internet and information technology has increased more than eight times since 2000 with more than 3 billion users. Based on the growth and development, colonization and crime can now happen not only in the real world, but also through the virtual world. Therefore, without clear legal basis, the handling of cyber threats and other devices will threaten the existence of the state, not only in terms of security, economy but also socio-culture.
January
Iran's anti-government rally still continues. The massive demonstrations that have taken place first time since 2009, sparked worldwide attention including US Donald Trump who made his comments.
What is the real cause of the anti-government movement in the Shi'ite country? Western news agencies, such as AFP, have said that dissatisfaction with the state of the economy, as the main cause. Meanwhile, Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, blamed Iran's enemies as the mastermind behind the rally. This is the first time Khamenei commented on the massive anti-government rally taking place in his country.
In response to Iran's supreme leader's comments, US President Donald Trump said the demonstrations showed that the Iranian people wanted change, and the oppressive regime would not last forever. Through his twitter account, Trump said it was time for a change in Iran.
Whether Trump's statement has justified Ali Khamanei's allegations of Iran's enemies' interference in the protest movement, must yet be explored further.
The protests in Iran have caused some deaths and dozens more injured. The government needs to find the cause of the movement. As the Iranian President said, the protests should not have caused any victims.
Is it true what Donald Trump said, that the rally in Iran will be a moment of change? Only the government and the people of Iran will decide. If the Iranian government can dampen the demonstration in a persuasive way, then it is very likely that the protests will soon be ended.
As is known, Iran has received international sanctions led by the United States, for its nuclear testing activities. In line with that, Iran has also devoted much of its resources to finance its participation in defending the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Iran's support for the Syrian government is a problem for the United States and Saudi Arabia. In the geopolitical perspective, the fall of the government in present-day Iran is certainly decisive for the development of the Middle East conflict. Especially for the end of the Syrian government that has the same ideology with Iran.
January
SIMULTANEOUS REGIONAL ELECTIONS 2018
In the next few months, 171 regions in Indonesia will hold the Direct Election of Regional Head and Deputy Regional Head (Pilkada) simultaneously. Organizers' readiness becomes an important key, so that untoward incidents such as in the Elections of previous years do not happen again.
The elections of 2018 are the third simultaneous Direct Elections of Regional Head and Deputy Regional Head held in Indonesia. The first was in 2015 and the second in 2017. The elections now are scheduled for June 2018, followed by 17 provinces, 115 districts and 39 cities.
Based on the results of the General Election Commission (KPU) assessment, the List of Potential Voters in 2018 elections will reach 160 million people. This number, according to the General Elections Commission (KPU), causes the potential for conflict to be very large. In addition, the budget for the 2018 elections also reached the highest record in the history of Regional Elections in Indonesia, which is 20 trillion Rupiahs.
The Indonesian people hope, simultaneous Regional direct elections 2018 can run successfully. All parties including the organizers, political parties that carry the candidates of regional heads, participants or the candidates themselves, as well as voters, are expected to promote the unity of the nation firstly.
Reflecting on previous experiences, the contestation of candidates and political parties is considered to potentially cause conflicts. For example, if there are candidates who put forward tribal, religious, or group issues, rather than programs, to attract voters. Hopefully things like these do not happen again. Because after repeatedly conducting elections, including general elections, the Indonesian people should be aware that unity is the most important compared to mere ambitions to become leaders.
