VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Since Wednesday (11/120), International Court of Justice -ICJ has tried Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar's civilian leader for Genocide charges towards Rohinga ethnics in Rakhine State, Myanmar. The ICJ has received complaints from Gambia, one of the Islamic countries which reported that 700,000 Rohinga ethnics had fled Myanmar out of their way to join another 200 thousand following the violence of Myanmar's military in Rakhine State in 2017. A fact of atrocity was discovered by the UN Fact Finding Team in 2018.

However, Suuk Kyi refused and admitted that in Rakhine military action took place against the Rohinga ethnic group. However, this is not a structured ethnic cleansing movement as alleged by Gambia.

Looking at the process of Genocide accusations at the International Court of Justice, we might remember the case of the Serbs who were accused of cleaning up ethnics of Bosnian Muslims in the Yugoslav region several years ago. At that time, the Serbian leader denied that the violence did not only target ethnic Bosnian Muslims. There was no systemic instruction for the violence. The violence in the Yugoslav region of fracture occurred because of military action in the conflict area. Finally, the IJC in The Hague declared Serbia was free from Genocidal accusations. Then in 2017, the Serbian military leader, Ratko Mladic was named a war criminal because he was proven to be carrying out the ethnic cleansing.

Will the same process happen to Aung San Suu Kyi?

That might happen. International pressure on the tribunal for violence experienced by the Rohinga ethnic group in Rakhine State will be very influential. Rohinga ethnic refugees have been accepted in many Muslim countries. They become an indisputable fact. We are waiting for the proceedings of the judicial process in the International Court of Justice.

Two Indonesian warships (KRI)  Usman Harun-359 and KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda-367 in  the Task Force of  Port Visit Indonesia Maritime Envoy -19B arrived in the Port of Dili, East Timor on Wednesday (11/12). In a release received by Antara News Agency on Thursday (12/12), the arrival of the two warships was welcomed by Indonesian Ambassador to East Timor, Sahat Sitorus. He explained that the presence of the Task Force would give positive results for the maritime defense of the two countries.

European Union Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam, Vincent Piket explained that  there was no ban on the import of crude palm oil from Indonesia for EU member countries. Ambassador Vincent Piket at an event in Jakarta on Thursday (12/12) conveyed that the export of crude palm oil from Indonesia is very constant.  He said the European Union has the freest market for exports of Indonesian crude palm oil. The European Union noted, crude palm oil import over the last five years has been relatively stable with an average of 3.6 million tons or 2.3 billion euros per year.

Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Hong Kong won the predicate of Corruption-Free Area from the Ministry of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform.  Indonesian Consul General to Hong Kong, Ricky Suhendar told Antara on Thursday (12/12) that it was the second award won by the Indonesian Consulate General in Hong Kong where previously, it won the same award in 2018. He further said  the award received in Jakarta on Tuesday ( 10/12) was based on the assessment of the Indonesian Consulate General of Hong Kong that has carried out various public service innovations and showed  anti-corruption commitment in his working environment.

The Ministry of Agriculture strengthens cooperation with Saudi Arabia to increase trade, specifically agricultural commodities, including rice exports. Upon receiving the arrival of the Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia, Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi in Jakarta last Thursday (12/12), Minister of Agriculture, Syahrul Yasin Limpo guaranteed that Indonesian agricultural commodities could be exported to Saudi Arabia, especially for Muslim residents in the country, because all rice products of Indonesia have been halal-certified.

On the same occasion, Expert Staff of the Minister of Agriculture in International Trade and Relations, Banun Harpini explained that at this time, Saudi Arabia is still importing its rice needs from Thailand, India and the United States. He also said that frozen chicken products would be offered for export, remembering that the source of imported chicken from Saudi Arabia comes from Brazil and contains salmonella. So, the frozen chicken has to be stopped for a while. Therefore, Indonesia will replace the frozen chicken market for Saudi Arabia. Banun added that other potential commodities for Saudi Arabia are Cavendish bananas and pineapples which have been exported to various countries so far.

To accelerate exports, the Indonesian government is given the opportunity to introduce Indonesian agricultural products through an exhibition to be held by the Saudi Embassy in Jakarta in January 2020. Furthermore, in February, the Ministry of Agriculture will officially visit Saudi Arabia as a follow-up to the trade cooperation in agricultural products.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabian Ambassador Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi stated that his side has held a discussion with the Ministry of Agriculture regarding Indonesian agricultural products that could be exported. He also said that he would immediately implement a memorandum of understanding between the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and Saudi Arabia in the near future. One of the memoranda of understanding is directly related to agriculture, such as conducting training for farmers and the plan to export agricultural products, including agricultural machinery needed by Saudi Arabian market.

Ahead 2019 year-end, many parties are predicting Indonesia's economic growth in 2020. The Central Statistics Agency on Thursday (5/12) reported data on Indonesia's economic growth in the third quarter of 2019, which reached 5.02%. This figure decreased in comparison with the first and second quarters of 2019 which were 5.07 % and 5.05%.

Asian Development Bank economist in Indonesia, Emma R Allen projects that Indonesia's economic growth in 2020 will reach 5.2 percent with encouragement from the investment sector and private consumption figures that remain strong. She also explained this after a discussion on "Indonesia’s Economic and Political Outlook 2020" held by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia along with Price Waterhouse Coopers in Jakarta, Friday (13/12). The projection is based on investment that will increase after the appointment of cabinet members in the second term of President Joko Widodo’s government. Another factor is the announcement of the planned enactment of the Omnibus Law, predicted to make the Indonesian business sector more attractive and fascinating foreign investors.

While the Indonesian Employers' Association (Apindo) said that next year, Indonesia's economic growth will not be much different from the conditions this year. From Apindo's study data, the growth is estimated to be in the range of 4.85%-5.1%.

Meanwhile, Ministry of National Development Planning expressed optimism in Jakarta on Sunday (15/12) that Indonesia's economic growth could reach 6 percent. At the same time, in a media briefing in Jakarta, Deputy for Maritime and Natural Resources at the Ministry of National Development Planning, Arifin Rudiyanto outlined a number of strategies so that the Indonesian economy would grow averagely six percent in the National Medium-Term Development Plan 2020-2024. The strategy includes encouraging investment growth, especially in the manufacturing sector. This is because the manufacturing sector has high added-value and downstream sector is still potential to be explored by seeking high technology and large investments. Another point is to improve the investment climate by simplifying investment regulations and procedures as well as selecting locations that focus on industrial zones and special economic zones.

Whatever the prediction is, the Indonesian people and government must keep being optimistic that Indonesia's economic growth in 2020 will increase compared to 2019. Admittedly, this is not easy amid today's uncertain global conditions, especially with the ongoing trade war between the United States and China and geopolitical turmoil in a number of regions.