VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) and National Assembly of Laos (Sapha Heng Xat) agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including law enforcement in a bid to tackle transnational crimes.

At the Parliamentary Complex, Jakarta, on Wednesday, House Speaker Puan Maharani stated that both parties agreed to intensify cooperation in tackling transnational crimes, especially drug smuggling, by exchanging public legal documents, materials, and information as well as intensifying related joint technical activities.

Maharani, currently serving as chairperson of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), made the statement after holding a bilateral meeting with President of the Laotian parliament Xaysomphone Phomvihane and his delegates on the sidelines of the 44th AIPA General Assembly.

She emphasized the essence of eradicating narcotics-related crimes in the efforts to make Southeast Asia a safe, stable, and prosperous region, adding that Laos is a crucial party in this context, considering it shares borders with Thailand and Myanmar.

Furthermore, Maharani encouraged the Laotian parliament to support the ratification of the ASEAN Extradition Treaty agreed upon by both countries.

"I expect support from Laos for the ratification of the ASEAN Extradition Treaty during ASEAN meetings deliberating that matter," she pointed out.

On the occasion, she invited Laos to strengthen cooperation with Indonesia in the fields of tourism, economy, education, and culture in the hopes of boosting investment realization and people-to-people relations.

Both house speakers also used their meeting as a forum to discuss matters related to measures to resolving the Myanmar crisis by laying emphasis on the need for the Myanmar military junta to implement the agreed Five Point Consensus.

Phomvihane, for his part, expressed hope that both countries would continue to explore cooperation opportunities by intensifying mutual state visits.

He also expressed his readiness to support Indonesia and Laos to establish cooperation in promoting the transition to new and renewable energy as well as boosting bilateral trade and investment.

"I hope that both parliaments would push for the realization of cooperation opportunities. We would also like to appreciate Madam Maharani for her willingness to exchange experiences in connection with our preparations for hosting the 45th AIPA General Assembly," he remarked. (Antaranews)

VOInews, Jakarta: Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi invites all countries to work together to prevent the region from becoming a center for human trafficking. According to her, traffickers often abuse technology to recruit and exploit victims to work in the online-scam industry.

"Indonesia places a high priority on this issue. Handling more than 2,800 cases of Indonesian citizens who are victims in neighboring countries and almost 40 percent of them are victims of human trafficking," he said in a speech at the Bali Process Government and Business Meeting Forum (GABF), in Bali, Thursday (10/8).

Therefore, he invited to make the region as the center of economic growth and not the center of human trafficking.

"The business community in the region must play their role. Profits cannot come at the expense of human rights and dignity," she said.

On that occasion, Foreign Minister Retno encouraged the existence of due diligence standards in the business sector and human rights. According to her, traffickers never stop finding ways to profit.

"Our response must also be innovative. The business community can consider developing due diligence standards to ensure a better working environment for their workers," she said.

Retno also encouraged the use of technology to combat human trafficking. According to her, employers can contribute to efforts to prevent trafficking by increasing capacity and awareness on the issue.

"Technology should be our ally and not our enemy," she said.

Furthermore, Retno also hoped that the GABF could support regional cooperation against trafficking in persons (TPPO). She said TPPO is a regional crime that requires regional cooperation involving stakeholders in the region.

"The GABF must continue to function as a fundamental network among business actors to address trafficking in persons," she concluded. (VOI/Andy)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has prepared a scheme to handle hunger in three sub-districts of Puncak District, Central Papua: Agandugume, Lambewi, and Oneri.

The residents of the three sub-districts are facing hunger brought on by drought, which has led to crop failures.

"Now, all the processes continue to be carried out, be it for short-term, medium-term, and long-term," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, said here on Wednesday (August 9).

He informed that under the short-term handling effort, the government is ensuring that the needs for food, medicine, and other basic services in the three sub-districts are fulfilled for the next three months.

The government has distributed thousands of tons of basic necessities. Food stocks have been placed in Sinak Sub-district, which is the closest to Agandugume Sub-district.

"Including the handling of pregnant women, breastfeeding women, and under-five children, for the next three months, (the needs) are fulfilled. For food, there is no problem for the next three months until the agricultural conditions in the three sub-districts are recovered," the minister said.

In the medium term, a food barn will be readied in Agandugume and a road constructed from Sinak to Agandugume.

Earlier, the journey from Agandugume to Sinak had to be made on foot and took two days and one night to complete. Currently, using the air route to deliver supplies is not possible because the runway is too short and there are very few pilots currently flying to Agandugume Airport.

"At least two-wheeled vehicles can go smoothly from Sinak to Agandugume, so supplies of goods are no longer transported on foot. It would be even better if (it is accessible for) four-wheeled (vehicles)," he said.

Furthermore, the government is also revitalizing Sinak Airport, a task that will involve extending the runway from 1,200 meters to 1,600 meters. Currently, Sinak Airport can only be used for Caravan and Twin Otter aircraft.

"Thus, bigger aircraft like Hercules and CN would be able to land there," Effendy said.

Another effort will be Base Transceiver Station (BTS) construction. According to the minister, one of the causes for the delays in handling efforts has been the difficulty in getting telecommunications signals.

Meanwhile, long-term handling will cover strengthening community involvement, increasing the availability of health workers and allocating the affirmation fund.

According to the minister, through the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), the need for health workers can be fulfilled by Papuan children.

"There is no way we appoint those outside (Papua). We have prepared a budget through the LPDP," he added. (Antaranews)

VOINews, Jakarta - The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology is aiming to make Indonesia a pioneer in terms of building university collaboration in the ASEAN region by improving and equalizing the quality of education for common progress.

After attending the Ambassadors Town Hall Meeting - ASEAN Higher Education Conference (AHEC) here on Wednesday, the ministry's acting director general of higher education, research, and technology, Nizam, said that Indonesia has started student exchanges and programs for improving education quality in ASEAN.

"We are utilizing it, AHEC, for education event in the field of higher education. This is crucial so that Indonesia can become a pioneer in building the collaboration of higher education in ASEAN through student mobility, student exchange," he explained.

He noted that Indonesia, which is the ASEAN chair this year, has sent hundreds of students through the Emancipated Campus program to universities in ASEAN. If this step is followed by others, students' quality and experience will develop.

According to him, student mobility will build friendship and brotherhood among students who will become future leaders of ASEAN. That way, the togetherness of the ASEAN community can be realized quickly.

He informed that several programs have been initiated as part of student exchange efforts. The first is the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA), which is a part of the Emancipated Campus program.

Through IISMA, students spend one semester at partner universities abroad and the credits can be transferred to Indonesian universities.

The second level is student exchange carried out by universities in Indonesia through joint action in various forms.

The third level is the ASEAN Credit Transfer System (ACTS), which enables students to take classes from universities that are members of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) and allows their credits to be transferred to their respective universities in Indonesia later.

Fourth, Indonesia, together with other universities in ASEAN, is currently working on double degree programs between universities, he said.

"Thus, we are currently encouraging and promoting these four programs," Nizam added.  (antaranews)