VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Feb. 23 - The number of COVID-19-free villages has increased since the government implemented micro-scale social restrictions (PPKM) at the village level, the Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration has claimed.

“Viewed from the development of village zoning, the number of villages in the green zone rose to 7,578 on February 21 (2021) from 6,292 on February 18,” acting director general of rural development at the Ministry of Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration, Rosyidah Rachmawaty, said in a press conference organized by the COVID-19 Response Task Force at the BNPB Building, here on Monday.

She said the number of green zones, or areas with a low risk of COVID-19 transmission, has continued to increase following the application of micro-scale social restrictions that are aimed at limiting public activities to stem the spread of infections.

Despite restrictions on social activity in zones that have many cases, the number of COVID-19 cases has still reached around 36 thousand, she noted.

COVID-19 patients are receiving treatment in accordance with the health protocols set by the local public health service post, village-level COVID-19 Response Task Force, and village-level COVID-19 Response Command Post, she added.

"The village-level command posts are coordinating with the local public health service posts in handling cases," she continued.

As part of the micro-scale social restrictions, the ministry is monitoring the implementation of social restrictions in 22 thousand villages in Java and Bali.

Several activities have been carried out to ensure that the social restrictions are implemented smoothly, including familiarizing the public with the social restrictions, spraying of disinfectants, and providing public hand-washing facilities. (Antaranews)

Feb. 23 - Indonesia's top security minister, Mahfud MD, announced the formation of an inter-ministerial team to review the country's Electronic Information and Transaction (ITE) Law to follow up on President Joko Widodo's request to revise the law.

The team members will work for a period of three months until May 22, 2021, to decide whether the ITE Law needs to be revised, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD stated at a virtual press conference that ANTARA participated in from Jakarta on Monday.

The team members, recruited from his ministry, the Communication and Informatics Ministry, and Ministry of Law and Human Rights, will review the existing law's chapters that can give rise to various interpretations, he pointed out.

"Reviewing or revising the ITE Law, whose articles, according to several elements in the society at large, can lead to multiple interpretations is necessary," he emphasized, adding that the joint team comprises a steering team and organizing team.

Mahfud MD, Communication and Informatics Minister Jhonny G. Plate, Minister of Law and Human Rights Yasonna Laoly, Attorney General S. T. Burhanuddin, and National Police Chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo are members of the steering team.

The organizing team, whose members are tasked with reviewing the ITE Law's chapters, is headed by Deputy for Coordinating Legal and Human Rights Issues at the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Sugeng Purnomo.

The organizing team alone is divided into two sub-teams that prioritize formulating criteria for implementing the ITE Law, and on comprehensive examination of the law's legal content, determine whether the law needs amendment.

The enforcement of Indonesia's ITE Law has brought to the fore several pros and cons in society over the past few years after it was applied to send several people to court over allegations that they have slandered figures or organizations on YouTube and social media platforms.

ANTARA noted that Soni Eranata, alias Ustadz Maaher At-Thuwailibi, a popular and outspoken Muslim preacher was one of those charged by police investigators under the ITE Law.

Ustadz Maaher was arrested at his house in Bogor, West Java, on December 3, 2020, after Husin Shahab filed a defamation case against him.

The complainant had accused Ustadz Maaher of slandering Maulana Al-Habib Muhammad Luthfi bin Ali bin Yahya, also known as Habib Luthfi, a noted ulema of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), on his Twitter account.

A day after his arrest, on December 4, 2020, police investigators named him a suspect and detained him at the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim).

On February 4, 2021, the public prosecutors' office accepted Ustadz Maaher's dossier, thereby amending his detention status, from police detainee to the public prosecutors' detainee.

The public prosecutors' office decided to detain Ustadz Maaher at the Bareskrim prison cell from February 4 to February 23, 2021.

On February 6, 2021, Ustadz Maaher again complained of illness, and the doctors advised that he be sent back to the Said Soekanto Police Hospital.

However, the police confirmed that he repeatedly refused to get re-admitted to the police hospital, but instead, reportedly insisted on staying at the prison and receiving treatment from the police's team of doctors.

Ustadz Maaher died in his Bareskrim prison cell at 7:30 p.m. local time on February 8, 2021.

Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has sought an inquiry by the National Police into his death. (Antaranews)

Feb. 23 - Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) reminded local governments to remain vigilant in facing the threat of forest and land fires even as the transition to the dry season is projected in May 2021.

At the 2021 National Coordination Meeting for Forest and Land Fire Control at the State Palace, Jakarta, Monday, the head of state sought a detailed and mature national planning for the prevention of forest and land fires.

Furthermore, Jokowi drew attention to several areas, such as in Riau and West Kalimantan, which were hit by forest and land fires since the end of January 2021.

"Despite facing floods and landslides in several areas, we must not become less vigilant in facing the threat of forest and land fires," the president remarked.

Quoting a report from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), La Nina phenomenon is forecast to occur until the first semester of 2021. A transition from rainy to the dry season will occur in May 2021.

However, Jokowi cautioned local governments, the National Police, and the Military to not let their guard down against the threat of forest and land fires.

The president urged that forest and land fires that hit Riau and West Kalimantan would not recur.

"In Riau, 29 incidents were reported. Hence, be careful the Governor of Riau since despite it being handled, do not allow it to recur. Moreover, 52 incidents occurred in West Kalimantan. Be careful since despite West Kalimantan being handled, we all have to be careful," he stated.

In February 2021, forest and land fires are likely to occur on the island of Sumatra since the hot season has already set in. Forest and land fires are estimated to occur during the period from May to July 2021 in Kalimantan and Sulawesi. Meanwhile, forest and land fires are estimated to peak in August and September 2021.

"We have to know when forest and land fires will peak, so that preparations can be made soon. The organization is checked whether it is working," he remarked.

"We expect detailed and mature prevention planning, strong synergy, and more effective execution on the field," President Jokowi affirmed. (Antaranews)

Feb. 23 - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has directed regional government heads as well as local military (TNI) and police commanders to deal with forest fires before they can grow and become widespread.

"Don't let the fire get bigger; don't be late (so) that it becomes difficult to control. This is important, don't let the fire get bigger. Don't be too late so it's difficult to control," the President told participants at the National Coordination Meeting for Forest and Land Fire Control in 2021, held here on Monday.

The meeting was attended by governors of provinces that are prone to forest and land fires, such as Governor of Riau, Syamsuar, Governor of South Sumatra, Herman Deru, Governor of West Kalimantan, Sutarmadji, and Governor of Central Kalimantan, Sugianto Sabran.

The district heads of Siak, Ogan Komering Ilir, Sanggau, and Pulau Pisau also attended the meeting at the palace.

Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), Marshal Hadi Tjanjanto, National Police chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, and Minister of Environmental Affairs and Forestry, Siti Nurbaya Bakar, also joined the meeting.

During the meeting, Jokowi gave orders to put out any forest fire while it is still small, so that it does not become necessary to deploy helicopters to put it out.

"If it's a must, then we must use water bombing, like what we have done frequently. However, if it's possible, (we should) not do that. When there is a small fire, flush it, and the fire is gone. Water bombing requires huge funds. But if it's too late (to put out the fire), whether (we) like it or not, we must use (water bombing)," he said.

He also asked regional heads and field officers to prioritize prevention efforts.

"Prevention must be prioritized; don't be late. In big countries, there were also major fire incidents, and a city was also gutted by fire. We really have to learn from those lessons. Once again prioritize prevention, don't be late," the President stated.

Each stakeholder must be mobilized for early detection and monitoring in hotspots or areas prone to forest fires, he added.

Widodo then asked for the use of technology for monitoring and supervision of fires by applying the dashboard system.

In his report, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, said there has been a decrease in the number of forest and land fires. In 2015, forest and land fires gutted 2,610 thousand hectares of land, he informed. The figure declined to 1,592,010 hectares in 2019 and 296,942 hectares in 2020, he said. (Antaranews)