VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi conveyed the importance of strong political commitment to resolve the Rohingya conflict. This was conveyed at the Side Event meeting on Rohingya entitled "Have they Forgotten Us? Ensuring Continued Global Solidarity with the Rohingya of Myanmar" on the sidelines of the High Level Week of the 78th UN General Assembly Session, Thursday (21/9/2023).

"The fate of the Rohingya people is still unclear. The global situation and domestic conditions in Myanmar make this issue even more complex and difficult. A strong political commitment to resolve this issue is undoubtedly necessary," she said in a statement received by Indonesia Window here on Friday (22/9/2023).

To help Rohingya refugees, he encouraged a political solution considering the Rohingya issue is political. "The Rohingya issue is a humanitarian issue, but very political. Therefore, the only way out for the Rohingyas is through a political solution," the Foreign Minister said.

The resolution of the Rohingya issue must be an integral part of the solution to the political crisis in Myanmar. The Foreign Minister said that the inclusive national dialog efforts encouraged by ASEAN through the 5 Point Consensus must also include a settlement for the Rohingya people.

"The repatriation of Rohingya refugees must be facilitated voluntarily, safely and with dignity," she said.

On that occasion, he also conveyed ASEAN's commitment to continue helping the Rohingya. "ASEAN will never forget the Rohingya," she said.

Furthermore, he also encouraged to ensure the availability of humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees. According to him, in general, the people of Myanmar need humanitarian assistance, but assistance for the Rohingya is most needed.

"Currently more than 1 million Rohingya people are displaced and become refugees, while those who live in the Rakhine region also face a very difficult situation. They are vulnerable to becoming victims of organized crime," the foreign minister said.

In this regard, according to her, international support for the Rohingya people needs to be strengthened. "Right now, the Rohingya people are crying silently. Just because we cannot hear their cries, we must not remain silent," Retno said.

The Side Event meeting on Rohingya titled "Have they Forgotten Us? Ensuring Continued Global Solidarity with the Rohingya of Myanmar" on the sidelines of the High Level Week of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly was co-sponsored by Bangladesh, Indonesia, Canada, Gambia, Malaysia, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States. (VOI/Andy)

VOINews, Jakarta - The poor air quality in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi (Greater Jakarta) is strongly influenced by meteorological factors, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry stated.

"Meteorological factor is very influential," the ministry's Director General of Law Enforcement Rasio Ridho Sani noted in a focus group discussion (FGD) held by the Indonesian Ombudsman here on Thursday.

Meteorological factors, such as wind speed and direction, air humidity, air temperature, and air pressure, greatly affect atmospheric conditions, he pointed out.

He explained that pollutants accumulate in the air if there is no wind. Meanwhile, when the wind blows strong, the pollutants will spread quickly, thereby decreasing their concentration.

In addition, Sani said that rain can clear particles from the atmosphere and dissolve pollutant gases.

During the dry season, air pollution can worsen, as there is no rain to remove the air pollutants, he remarked.

"Study says that anywhere in the world, (air pollution) worsens during the dry season. Meteorological factors are highly significant even though we have other pollution sources," he stated.

He pointed out that emissions from the transportation sector had been one of the sources of air pollution in Greater Jakarta.

According to Sani, there are 17.3 million motorcycles, 4.2 million private cars, 856 thousand trucks, 344 thousand buses, and 4,045 TransJakarta buses in Jakarta, Banten, and West Java.

Other causes of air pollution are the operation of power plants, factory and industrial activities, and open combustion.

He remarked that there are 10 cement, 120 chemical product manufacturing, 170 rubber and plastic, and 1,300 other manufacturing industries as well as 13 coal-fired power plants in Jakarta, Banten, and West Java.

The current worsening condition of air pollution has pushed the government to strengthen its handling, including by opening more green spaces and reducing emissions. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Denpasar Immigration Office in Bali deported two Russian nationals on Thursday, one of them was arrested for the possession of sharp weapons and a tear gas canister and overstaying in Bali for more than two years.

The second national was deported for failing to report him to the authorities.

"During the search, we also found a person wanted list (DPO) letter under someone else's name," the head of Denpasar Immigration, Tedy Riyandi, informed on Thursday.

He said that Denpasar Immigration, together with the Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais) and the National Intelligence Agency (BIN), arrested a Russian national, identified as Maksim Zhiltsov, at a villa in Ubud, Gianyar district, Bali, on September 14, 2023.

During the search, a joint team of officers found eight folding knives, one tear gas canister, a DPO letter under another person's name from the General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the National Police Headquarters, three passports under the names of other Russian citizens, and a summons from Denpasar City Police dated July 22.

However, Riyandi said the police letter did not provide details regarding the legal case, but only sought to clarify public complaints.

Immigration officials also arrested Zhiltsov's girlfriend Polina Syrovatskala.

She was deported since she was aware Zhiltsov had sharp weapons and had overstayed his residence permit, but did not report it to immigration or the police.

Both are subject to Law Number 6 of 2011 concerning Immigration since they are considered to have endangered security and failed to respect Indonesian legal regulations.

They were deported to their country at 7:15 p.m. local time on Thursday on an Emirates flight plying the Bali-Singapore-Dubai-Moscow route, which took off from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Based on the records of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights' regional office in Bali, as many as 227 foreigners were deported in the period from January to September 20 this year. Meanwhile, in 2022, 188 foreigners were deported from Bali. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs has announced it has readied the infrastructure for the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum Summit, which will be held on October 10 and 11, 2023, in Bali.

The ministry's deputy for maritime sovereignty and energy, Jodi Mahardi, said that the infrastructure for the AIS Forum is ready since the venue is the same place where the G20 Bali Summit was held in 2022.

"Regarding infrastructure readiness, after seeing the current condition, we say that the entire infrastructure is ready. This is inseparable from the legacy of the G20 Summit last year, where all infrastructure has been maximally improved," he told ANTARA here on Thursday.

Delegates from 51 archipelagic and island countries will attend the 2023 AIS Forum Summit.

Some international organizations, including the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), will also participate in the event.

He said there is no plan for a tour of the mangrove conservation area during the AIS Forum Summit given the busy agenda.

In terms of security, he assured that the government has prepared security scenarios at a number of points according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and applicable regulations.

"The security scenarios will be adjusted to the needs in the field, for instance, the closure of roads will only be carried out tentatively. Meanwhile, security at venues, airports, and roads passed by leaders will be held according to the provision," he informed.

The government will apply health protocols, but they will be different from the ones applied during last year's G20 Bali Summit, when the pandemic status was still in place.

"The Indonesian government will still advise delegates and all parties involved to practice the necessary health protocols," he said.  (Antaranews)