VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD, has lauded the Army for its “swift action” in naming eight soldiers as suspects in an arson attack in Intan Jaya district, Papua.

"In relation to the violent act in Intan Jaya, Papua, Alhamdulilah (thank God), I have met with TNI (National Defense Forces) Chief Hadi Tjahjanto and Army Chief of Staff, General Andika Perkasa, who confirmed (the swift) action," Mahfud said here on Friday.

A health official’s house in Intan Jaya was targeted in the arson attack on September 19, 2020.

After the government-sanctioned fact-finding team (TGPF) and the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) released the results of their investigation in the case, the Army took action, Mahfud noted.

The findings of the TGPF and Komnas HAM bore some similarities, and their report was immediately followed up on by the Army, he added.

Security agencies are on the lookout for members of armed separatist groups in relation to the case, and have arrested some of them, he said.

Given the similarities in the findings of the TGPF and the Komnas HAM, the government has taken immediate steps to bring the case to justice, Mahfud remarked.

"In principle, the law must be upheld. Our appreciation also goes to my friends from Komnas HAM who have conducted the investigation themselves and found facts, most of which are the same (as those reported by TGPF)," he said.

He then appealed to the nation to ensure Papua remains a part of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The Army's Military Police Center has named eight soldiers as suspects in the arson attack.

"Based on the questioning of witnesses and the checking of evidence, the investigators came to the conclusion and named eight people suspects," Commander of the Army's Military Police Center, Dodik Wijanarko, said on Thursday. (Antaranews)

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi revealed that the 37th ASEAN Summit produced 33 agreement documents.

These documents include the Hanoi Declaration on the ASEAN Community Post 2025 Vision, ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, Hanoi Declaration on Strengthening Social Networks Toward Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community, ASEAN Declaration on Digital Tourism, Hanoi Declaration on the Adoption of the Initiative for Asian Integration Work Plan 2021-2025 then ASEAN Declaration on the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework and Narrative of ASEAN Identity.

"In this summit, all these efforts have also yielded results, namely the availability of the COVID-19 ASEAN Emergency Response Fund, which has committed $10 million, including from Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Australia, England, Switzerland, and others," said Retno at the Bogor Presidential Palace, Thursday.

According to Retno, the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework contains strategies to overcome pandemics both through cooperation between ASEAM countries and with partners.

"In this framework there are 5 strategies, namely' enhancing health system, strengthening human security, maximizing the potential of the intra-ASEAN market and broader economic integration, accelerating inclusive digital transformation, and advancing the world more sustainable and resilient future," added Retno.

In addition, the ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergency is also ready to allow ASEAN countries to voluntarily contribute health supplies to WHO standards for health emergencies while the state partners can also contribute.

For the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework, according to Retno, this is Indonesia's initiative to organize business travel with strict health protocols to support economic recovery.

Furthermore, the Narrative of ASEAN Identity, which is also an initiative from Indonesia, will strengthen the pride and identity of the ASEAN nation.

"At the same time it will strengthen the 'dual feeling' of ASEAN and in the series of summit meetings, friends will also be signed by the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) by 15 countries," said Retno. During the meeting, Retno mentioned that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus was also present virtually.

"The Director-General of WHO, among others, expressed his appreciation for the response of ASEAN which was considered effective with high commitment and ASEAN was open to learning from each other. In addition, the Director-General of WHO welcomed the sharing of ASEAN initiatives, including ASEAN's Comprehensive Recovery Framework and ASEAN Regional Reserve of Medical Supplies for Public Health Emergency," added Retno.

The Director-General of WHO also appreciates India, Vietnam, and Singapore for joining the ACT Accelerator Facilitation Console which is tasked with collective solutions for the benefit of the world and mobilizing funds.

Meanwhile, Secretary-General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi revealed the tough situation faced by Southeast Asia when the pandemic hit where tourism fell 71 percent, trade fell 12 percent and FDI decreased 33 percent.

"However, the Secretary-General also reported that ASEAN continues to work hard to maintain optimism and cooperation and achieve progress. In the future priority will be given to three things, namely ensuring the foundation for a proper recovery, restoring higher productivity in the region, and the creation of a better ASEAN community," explained Retno.

Furthermore, President Jokowi said that the impact of the pandemic is still being felt by the region and the world both in terms of health and from the economic side.

"The challenges are still big but the President continues to invite cooperation and remains optimistic. The President welcomes the declaration regarding the 'ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework and encourages the implementation plan to be realized immediately," said Retno.

Another thing that was conveyed by President Jokowi was that the ASEAN Coordinating Council and ASEAN Sectoral Bodies must work quickly and efficiently and are expected to be operationalized in the first quarter of 2021.

"In addition, the President welcomed the signing of RCEP because after negotiations for 8 years we could finally sign it and the president conveyed integration this economy must bring benefits to the people of all RCEP countries, "added Retno.

Today, President Joko Widodo will attend five summits through video conferences, including the 37th ASEAN Plenary Summit, the 23rd ASEAN Summit with China, the 21st ASEAN Summit with South Korea, the 23rd ASEAN Summit with Japan, and 1the 7th ASEAN Summit with India.

Also attending to accompany the President while attending the 37th ASEAN Summit virtually were State Secretary Pratikno, Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, and Indonesian Permanent Representative to ASEAN Ade Padmo Sarwono. (Antaranews)

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi said he will submit a proposal to the Finance Ministry for subsidizing airlines flying to and from 13 tourist destinations in Indonesia.

“The subsidy is important. All stakeholders, including the minister of tourism and creative economy, have agreed (to the proposal). We will meet the finance minister to discuss the subsidy for the 13 tourist destinations,” he said at a press conference in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province, on Thursday.

He was responding to a question on the ministry's efforts to subsidize air tickets to the 13 tourist destinations to increase visitor numbers.

"The President's instruction to the Transportation Ministry is clear that we must support tourism activities. Therefore, after we have made preparations for infrastructure, we will make sure that health protocols are followed well at airports,” Sumadi said.

"Thank God that the results of our two surveys show that the number of people exposed (to COVID-19) during the long holiday (last month) remained flat. No increase was reported," he added. (Antaranews)

President Joko Widodo said there are two things that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Japan can do to restore the region's economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The first thing is to work together to accelerate economic recovery itself. ASEAN can be Japan's main partner in diversifying supply chains as well as expanding investment," President Widodo advised while delivering a virtual speech at the 23rd ASEAN-Japan Summit from the Bogor Palace on Thursday.

"In 2019, for example, Japanese investment in ASEAN reached US$20.3 billion, the second-largest in the region. The ASEAN-Japan trade volume reached US$225.9 billion, while tourist visits between the two parties reached around 10 million people," the President added.

The war on the COVID-19 pandemic is still far from over, and the impact of the pandemic is still being felt by the community, he said.

To overcome this, countries must work hard and work together to drive the economy without ignoring health protocols, he suggested.

"The pandemic has also taught us that economic resilience is closely related to health resilience. Strengthening the health security system must be a priority for ASEAN and Japan cooperation," the President observed.

The Head of State said the establishment of the ASEAN Center for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases has become crucial and urgent, and Indonesia is ready to host the operation center.

"Second, ASEAN and Japan can work together to increase strategic trust by creating a conducive situation in the region because security stability is a prerequisite for the movement of the economy," the President suggested.

When there is a global downturn, there is no room for a trust deficit, he said. On the contrary, strategic trust has to be strengthened, he added.

President Widodo said he believes this can be achieved if each party puts forward a win-win paradigm and collaborates with the other.

"ASEAN and Japan themselves can establish more concrete cooperation through the framework of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific," the President remarked. (Antaranews)