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Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian. (ANTARA/Boyke Ledy Watra/sh)

Indonesian Home Affairs Minister Tito Karnavian has asked regional governments to disseminate information about the implementation of the new normal to the public.

"We need to implement the new normal. I can understand the moves that have been taken by provinces, but the problem is how they are socializing them to the public," Karnavian said in a statement in Jakarta on Friday.

While scientists around the globe race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, he said, life must go on and new norms should be imposed with stringent health protocols.

The minister admitted that socialization of the new normal would not be an easy task. He suggested local administrations take Bali as a model in the implementation of the new normal by involving customary figures.

"Take the example of Bali, where the pandemic is relatively under control, as they have a more homogenous social and cultural system. People have strong links with their local leaders, due to a vigorous system of customary villages and the remarkable role of the 'pecalang' (traditional Balinese security task force)," he elaborated.

In a homogenous society, according to Karnavian, the socialization and implementation of the new normal can be conducted in accordance with its local wisdom. But, in a heterogenous society, it should be accompanied by formal measures and involve heads of villages and neighborhoods.

In addition, the government would also need to involve the private sector and mobilize support from different elements of the society to support the adoption of the new norms.

"The involvement of the private sector is necessary in addition to the government's active role in applying health protocols in the new normal," he said.

The minister also asked local administrations to study the possibility of imposing legal as well as social sanctions against those found violating health protocols. (ANTARA)

Several Rohingya refugees rest in a hut of Lancok coastal traders in Syantalira Bayu District, North Aceh, Aceh, Thursday (25/6/2020). (Antara Foto / Rahmad/ak)

AICHR Indonesia encouraged the Association of Nations in Southeast Asia (ASEAN) to immediately establish a special refugee protection body, as several Southeast Asian nations are oftentimes the destinations of refugees, including Rohingyas, fleeing persecution in Myanmar.

Indonesian Representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), Yuyun Wahyuningrum make the remark through a written statement on Thursday (June 25), as received in Jakarta on Friday.

Wahyuningrum also called for the ASEAN to immediately outline protocols or ways that can be applied together to ensure the safety and security of refugees.

Wahyuningrum remarked that the Government of Indonesia could lead the discussion on establishing the protocol and protection body at the summit of ASEAN countries.

The 10 ASEAN countries held a virtual 36th high-level conference on June 26.

AICHR's terms of reference that prevents it from effectively protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms are one of the reasons behind several ASEAN countries refusing to extend assistance to Rohingya refugees adrift at sea.

Although other countries refused, the Government and people of Indonesia opted to help Rohingya refugees based on the fact that they had sailed through perilous seas in search of berths.

Recently, the residents of Lancuk, North Aceh, Aceh Province, rescued 94 Rohingya refugees, and they were evacuated to the mainland after being adrift in the waters near the coast since Wednesday (June 24).

Wahyuningrum pointed out that it was not the first time that such humanitarian action was taken by Aceh citizens, since in 2015, the local community had also received Rohingya refugees after they were not allowed to dock in Malaysia and Thailand.

"Once again, the people of Aceh are demonstrating humanity, leadership qualities, generosity, and solidarity to those compelled to flee their homes to avoid persecution," Wahyuningrum remarked.

Furthermore, she welcomed the statement of the Indonesian Government's commitment to protect refugees.

"I laud the statement of the Indonesian minister of foreign affairs (Retno Marsudi) who said that Indonesia remains committed to providing assistance and taking various steps to prevent Rohingya refugees from undertaking dangerous trips in the ocean," Wahyuningrum stated.

On the occasion, Wahyuningrum reminded the Indonesian government to meet the basic requirements of refugees, including shelter with sanitation, food, and security and safety guarantees. Furthermore, the Government of Indonesia should ensure that refugees adhere to health protocols to prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

"Although Indonesia is not yet a member of the 1951 Refugee Convention, it has ratified the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which in Article 13 explicitly prohibits the expulsion of collective exclusion. Not only that, the rights for asylum seekers is also protected in the ASEAN Declaration of Human Rights," Wahyuningrum emphasized. (ANTARA)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has said he is optimistic that ASEAN will overcome the coronavirus pandemic as the region has built a strong foundation in community organization over decades.

"The President said that with such a strong community foundation, that has been built over some five decades, ASEAN is likely to survive this tough period and (handle) the changed situation," Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, told the press on Friday after accompanying Jokowi for the 36th ASEAN Summit, which was held virtually.

At the meeting, Jokowi said the world, including ASEAN countries, is currently facing two big challenges related to the handling of the outbreak as well as its social and economic impact, and things have become more complicated due to rivalry among world powers.

“A pessimistic view towards multilateralism has been growing, while the rules-based order is getting violated as the geopolitics have changed. (At the meeting) The President emphasized ASEAN's role in navigating this change," Marsudi noted.

At the high-level meet, secretary general of ASEAN, Dato Lim Jock Hoi, raised several significant points, including the COVID-19 pandemic contributing to the first economic contraction in ASEAN in 23 years, as Marsudi said.

However, Lim lauded ASEAN members, saying countries in the region have made a quick and determined response, as well as solidified coordination with partners during the ASEAN Plus Three Summit in April, which resulted in further talks on the regional pandemic response fund. (ANTARA)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin delivers a speech at the opening of the Commemoration of International Day of Anti-Narcotics in Jakarta, Friday. (26/6/2020). (vice president's secretariat)

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin called for standardizing the handling of COVID-19 and narcotics, psychotropic medications, and drugs that guarantee the people’s rights to live and develop optimally.

"The handling of narcotics and COVID-19 necessitates the application of similar standards, specifically to provide guarantee and protect the rights of people to live, grow and develop optimally," Vice President Amin stated while delivering a speech at the opening of the commemoration of International Day of Anti-Narcotics in Jakarta, Friday.

Amin emphasized that the common enemies, in the form of COVID-19 and drugs, should be eradicated since they were grave threats.

If the threats are not immediately addressed early on, then development could bear a major brunt.

"Both COVID-19 and drugs are serious threats. The impact is multidimensional, from the state to the smallest section of society, specifically the family," he remarked.

In a bid to eradicate drugs, the vice president lauded the performance of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) that promoted the Prevention, Eradication of Abuse and Narcotics Dark Circulation (P4GN) Program.

"Many real achievements have been achieved, so as to reduce the prevalence of drug abuse, which in had reached 2.23 percent in 2011 to 1.80 percent in 2019," the vice president pointed out.

Based on these achievements, the government will continue with the P4GN program through the issuance of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) No. 2 of 2020 that instructs all cabinet levels to take national action on P4GN.

"The government is strongly committed to continuing the program and narcotics eradication. Presidential Instruction Number 2 of 2020 has been ratified. Its contents instruct the entire Indonesian Cabinet, attorney general, National Police chief, Armed Forces commander, head of BIN, non-ministerial level government institutions, governors, district heads, and mayors to carry out the P4GN National Action," he remarked.

International Day of Anti-Narcotics, an initiative of the United Nations (UN), is commemorated on June 26 every year. The theme for observing International Day of Anti-Narcotics in Indonesia aligns with the situation presented on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. (ANTARA)