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January
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya is promoting three tourism missions at the Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, held on January 23-27, 2019. The three missions were on Mobile Positioning Data (MPD), Sustainable Tourism Programs (Sustainable Tourism Development (STD)-Sustainable Tourism Observatory (STO)-Sustainable Tourism Certification (STC), and Homestay Rural Tourism, Minister Yahya noted in a statement hin Jakarta on Thursday.
The Wonderful Indonesia Pavilion has organized a sales mission, table talks, and business matching at FITUR, one of the world`s largest tourism mart.
He highlighted the importance of the MPD program, as the latest means to keep a count of the number of tourists visiting a country through the use of digital technology. Indonesia has applied the new technique with the assistance of the World Tourism Organization since 2016, according to Minister Yahya.
Yahya also noted that Indonesia is committed to STD and STO that could lead to STC. Hence, the Tourism Ministry has intensified the drafting of concepts on sustainable tourism development over the last three years. Indonesia is the second Asian country to have developed STO, after China. The country has set up five STO models in cooperation with universities.
The five STO models are in Pangandaran, in cooperation with the Bandung Institute of Technology; in Sleman, Yogyakarta, with the University of Gadjah Mada; Sasaot Lombok, with the University of Mataram; Samosir, with the University of North Sumatra; and Sanur Bali, with the University of Udayana. Seven more STO models are being developed, and all are within the regions of the 10 Priority Tourist Destinations.
The seven STO will be located in Tanjung Lesung in Banten, in cooperation with the University of Indonesia; Tanjung Kelayang in Belitung, with the Bogor University of Agriculture; Seribu Islands in Jakarta, with the University of Pancasila; Bromo Tengger Semeru, with the University of Airlangga in Surabaya; in Labuan Bajo Komodo, with the University of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara; Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, with the University of Hasanuddin in Makassar; and Morotai in North Maluku, with the University of Khairun.
In the next stage, the Tourism Ministry will establish the Indonesian Sustainable Tourism Council to formulate guidelines and program for sustainable tourism certification program. The minister is optimistic with regard to the Homestay program, as the country has 17,508 islands and some 75 thousand villages.
Indonesia has 1,734 tourism villages in 2018 and plans to set up two thousand more in 2019. Moreover, the ministry has outlined a target of setting up some 10 thousand homestay accommodations in the 10 Priority Tourism Destination regions in 2019. (ant)
January
The United Nations (UN) has lauded Indonesia`s significant contribution in maintaining peace and international security, as noted in a written statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received in Jakarta on Thursday.
"Indonesia will continue to increase its active role in the UN Peacekeeping Operation. Indonesia is also ready to contribute to the peacekeeping mission in Yaman as well as increase the number of female peacekeepers," Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi noted at a meeting with UN Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix.
The meeting was held in the midst of the UN Security Council Open Debate in New York, the United States, on January 22, 2019. At the meeting, UN Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations Lacroix lauded Indonesia`s active contribution, especially with the deployment of a battalion of 850 personnel recently to MONUSCO, the UN peacekeeping force in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indonesia`s contribution aims to support the UN`s initiative to tackle challenges faced in maintaining peace and security.
Speaking in connection with the matter, Foreign Minister Marsudi conveyed Indonesia`s commitment to deploying a police unit of 140 personnel to the Central African Republic. The UN was also encouraged to innovate further, such as by considering co-deployment and the use of defense system from contributor nations.
"Moving forward, Indonesia is keen that both policy and the working system of the UN be adjusted accordingly to push for more female peacekeepers in the UN Peacekeeping Operation," she remarked.
Minister Marsudi added that Indonesia is ready to send more than 25 female police officers to the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) across the world in addition to offering female peacekeeping operation trainings. The MPP is a UN-backed public health organization working to increase access to and facilitate the development of life-saving medicines for low- and middle-income countries.
Indonesia`s contribution in peacekeeping operations is in line with the theme of its UN Security Council presidency, which is "peacekeeping," with focus on training and increasing the capacity of peacekeepers deemed vital to support the peacekeeping operations, especially in the face of ever-increasing challenges that the operations had to deal with, as well as good, long-term investment to boost the professionalism of Indonesia`s peacekeeping troops.
On November 2018, Indonesia had ranked seventh out of the 124 countries that contributed to the UN peacekeeping operations, with 3,545 personnel deployed to the eight UN peacekeeping missions, with 94 of them being women. The Indonesian government has also planned to achieve the target of sending four thousand peacekeepers for UN missions by the end of 2019 by increasing the number of female peacekeepers. (ant)
January
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi, at the United Nation Security Council (UNSC) Open Debate on the situation in the Middle East, reiterated Palestine`s natural and legal rights to become a full member of the UN.
"I am here today to signify Indonesia`s full support for the Palestinian struggle for independence," Marsudi stated while addressing the UNSC members, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received here on Wednesday, Jan 23.
On the occasion, Marsudi said that the path to independence might be challenging and bumpy, but it will neither lessen the Palestinian efforts nor the support of the international societies. Within this context, Minister Marsudi emphasized that the Palestinian issue must receive full attention of the UNSC.
"The credibility and trust of the international community towards this council will depend on how well we solve this particular debate," she remarked.
The Indonesian FM highlighted points that needed attention while encouraging the peace process between Palestine and Israel.
Firstly, Minister Marsudi reiterated that every party involved needs to follow international laws and related UN resolutions and also exercise some self-restraint to prevent tensions from flaring up.
"Every violent action and deed that violates the international law must be stopped immediately, including the process of building illegal settlements by the Israelis. It is morally and legally wrong, and it needs to stop," she stated.
Secondly, Marsudi also stressed that the peace process between Palestine and Israel is legitimate. Hence, it is paramount that the peace process follows the international parameter and is supported by a multilateral mechanism. The minister expressed regret over the fact that efforts were being made to push the peace process out of the Two-State solution corridor.
"Indonesia affirms that the Two-State Solution is the only way to push the peace process between Palestine and Israel forward," she pointed out.
Thirdly, the Indonesian government expressed deep concern over the plight and humanitarian crisis in Palestine, especially in Gaza. Hence, Minister Marsudi stated that 11 years of blockade by Israel must simply stop. Furthermore, the Indonesian government lauded the UN member states that have supported the United Nations Relief and Works Agency`s (UNRWA`s) efforts to solve the agency`s financial plight that had disrupted the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
"Indonesia has increased its contribution to UNRWA, and we will always increase our help and contribution for Palestine," FM Marsudi remarked.
Apart from the Palestinian issue, the UNSC Open Debate also discussed the conflict in Suriah and Yemen. FM Marsudi stressed on the importance of a peaceful and inclusive political solution.
"It is essential that the UN dons more roles to facilitate the national reconciliation efforts in both countries," Marsudi noted. (ant)
January
Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has ordered to dispatch logistics aid and rescue officers to six districts and a city in South Sulawesi Province hit by flash floods.
"The team has moved to the locations. Some 450 personnel will help the process to evacuate flood victims," he stated here, Wednesday.
The logistics aid worth Rp874,517,200 comprises food, beverages, blankets, kitchenware, and clothing, among other things.
Flash floods hit the districts of Gowa, Maros, Pangkep, Barru, Jeneponto, and Sopeng, as well as Makassar City. One hundred personnel were deployed in Gowa, 200 in Makassar, and 50 each in Pangkep and Barru. The ministry also deployed two rubber boats in Gowa and one in Makassar.
Gowa is the worst hit by flooding triggered by incessant heavy rains over the last two days. Jeneberang River, the longest river in South Sulawesi, also overflowed its bank. The floods displaced 2,121 residents of Gowa and some one thousand others in Makassar. They are currently being accommodated in mosques and local government offices, among others. Two public kitchens have been set up in Makassar and one in Gowa.
Meanwhile, the residents of Antang Makassar residential area in Manggala Sub-district, Makassar, were taken by surprise after a flash flood, with floodwaters, reaching a height of 1.5 meters, suddenly hit the housing complex.
"This flood is different from those in the previous years. The floodwaters suddenly rose very high," Jihadul Arifin, a resident of the Antang Makassar housing complex, remarked in Makassar on Wednesday.
The water currents were quite strong and reached the height of an adult`s chest, he added. The flash flood originated from Gowa District, which shares its border with Manggala Sub-district, after the Bili-Bili dam was opened, he noted. Arifin said he and other flood victims had no time to salvage their belongings, as the flash flood struck without warning on Tuesday at around 4 p.m. local time.
"I and other residents are currently taking refuge in a mosque. We need food, clothes, and blankets," he added.
On the previous day, parts of Makassar City were also flooded following incessant heavy rain that fell from Monday evening until Tuesday noon. Floodwaters reached height of up to 1.5 meters in Katimbang, Biringkanayan Sub-district. (ant)