VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian is again trusted to lead the discussion on issues of economic recovery and public health at the multilateral forum of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific -UNESCAP. Information from the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand, that was received in Jakarta, Friday (10/22) stated that this role was carried out by the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to UNESCAP Ambassador, Rachmat Budiman who was the chairman of the third session committee of the Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development (MPFD). The 3rd session of MPFD Committees took place on 20-22 October 2021 and it was opened by Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed along with the Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (ESCA), Armida S. Alisjahbana.

Armida emphasized the importance of economic development amid the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Armida, The Covid-19 pandemic has provided an opportunity to reconsider policies and strategies and to align fiscal and financial resources with development efforts that will deliver significant results in the future. The discussion at UNESCAP was also attended virtually by Minister of Finance, Sri Mulyani Indrawati who disclosed Indonesia's efforts in post-pandemic recovery that is inclusive/resilient and sustainable.

Minister Sri Mulyani emphasized that inclusive recovery will depend on how the government designs policies so that no one is left behind. According to Minister Sri Mulyani, the priority of inclusive recovery must also focus on efforts to save the community from the trap of health problems amid the pandemic through strategies for administering vaccines, testing, tracing and Covid-19 treatment and development of a reliable and effective health system. In addition, it is also necessary to provide support to poor communities and families by creating social safety nets and providing government subsidies, such as for the use of electricity and the internet. Support for the small and medium enterprises -SMEs is also considered important to provide access to capital that requires close collaboration with financial institutions and is supported by access to digital technology.

The African continent has been hit by a military coup again. Sudan is in a state of uncertainty after the military took power Monday, October 25, 2021. Coup leader General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan told reporters that military actions were being taken to secure the country. He justified his actions by blaming the civil government's political conflict. Civilian and military leaders have been at loggerheads since the  long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was toppled in 2019. Last September, in Sudan there was an attempted coup by the military, but it was thwarted.

Civil society, especially the youth, regards General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's rhetoric as a lie. Protests sprang up, not only in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, but also in several other places. Protesters barricaded the road, causing  clashes with soldiers. As a result, seven protesters were reportedly killed and hundreds injured. The army is said to have acted tough to contain the protests.

Sudan's military seized power as the country is in transition after the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir two years ago. To fill the transition period until the elections are held, a military-civilian Sovereign Council has been formed which is planned to lead Sudan to become a democratic country. During the transition period, Sudan has appointed Abdalla Hamdok, an economist, as Prime Minister. Now, with the military taking power, general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has dissolved the Sovereign Council.  PM Hamdok and his wife, as well as multiple government ministers and officials, were detained on Monday, and later returned to their residence on Tuesday, according to a source with Sudan Prime Minister Office and a military source. It was not clear whether Hamdok and his wife are able to move freely after they returned to their home, or whether other government ministers and officials are also let go or still detained.

The military coup in Sudan has sparked international reactions. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the coup and called for the release of the prime minister and other officials. The European Union has "strongly condemned" the coup and stressed the "serious consequences" for the EU's engagement with Sudan, including its financial support, unless the situation is reversed immediately. Meanwhile, the United States withheld aid funds amounting to 700 million dollars, as a form of protest over the Sudanese coup. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that the United States rejected a military coup and called for the immediate release of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

 It is still uncertain what the next situation will be in Sudan after the military coup. Reflecting on the military coup in Myanmar, there is still a long way to go. During that time, violence will still occur with many victims and not small economic losses. In the end, it is the people of Sudan who will feel the negative impact.

Indonesian President, Joko Widodo had the opportunity to deliver his speech at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit Monday (25/10). He conveyed about the economic revival of ASEAN member countries amid the Covid-19 pandemic. He disclosed three key points to revitalize the economy in the Southeast Asia region.

First, health care must become a top priority. The short-term agenda to accelerate and equalize vaccination in all countries in the region must be carried out jointly. Thereby, the target of vaccination of the ASEAN population as many as 70 percent must be achieved immediately.

Second, ASEAN's economic recovery must be accelerated by reactivating safe travel, including safe tourism. According to the records of the United Nations World Tourism Organization –UNWTO, the level of restrictions in Southeast Asia is 82 percent, the highest in the world.

With the Covid-19 situation increasingly under control, President Joko Widodo believes that these restrictions can be reduced. However, it must be guaranteed safe from the risk of the pandemic. He also reminded again that a year ago, Indonesia initiated the ASEAN Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework. He perceived that this idea needs to be implemented immediately. In addition, President Joko Widodo has encouraged the recognition of vaccine certificates in the region, including the interoperability of vaccine systems. Travel arrangement for people who have been vaccinated and healthy is necessary by implementing vaccinated travel lanes in the region.

The third key that was pointed out by President Joko Widodo is by accelerating the adaptation of regional economic activities towards a digital economy. Because, the digital technology is the most effective solution in dealing with the limitations of movement and face-to-face meetings in community economic activities. He also viewed that ASEAN is the region with the fastest internet growth in the world. Therefore, the potential of ASEAN's digital economy is very large. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the digital economy grew and reached US$100 billion in 2020. President Joko Widodo also emphasized that Indonesia supports ASEAN to become a digitally connected community.

In regard to President Joko Widodo's explanation, it is implied that fast and integrated steps must be taken immediately by all ASEAN member countries. This disclosure can be felt as urgency for the regional economy to recover sooner. However, the main requirement is a common vision, common step and cooperative spirit for all ASEAN member countries.

As the best potato producing village, Sumber Brantas Village in Bumiaji District, Batu City, Malang, East Java usually has a better life of its people by planting potatoes. Even, they have a traditional ritual before potatoes are planted. The ritual is called ‘Potato Ponjo’. Ponjo is a Javanese term which means to plant. Accordingly, Potato Ponjo is the ritual performed just before planting potatoes. The ritual is performed in the middle field and it is usually carried out to start the potato growing season.

Potato Ponjo is held to offer a prayer so that the potato plants are safe from all plant diseases. The ritual of Potato Ponjo is usually carried out in the field where the potatoes will be planted. In practice, farmers must bring many types of food complete with Wungkul Ingkung or roasted chicken. But the others still maintain the old tradition by continuing to carry out rituals in the fields.

Before the Potato Ponjo ritual starts, Chanting prayers using the Javanese language is also said by the elders of Sumber Brantas Village. After praying together, the Potato Ponjo process starts, the elders and the people enter 16 seeds of potato into the soil. A total of 16 potato seeds is not just the number. The number has been determined from the Javanese calendar in which the potato planting day is on Saturday Pon. In this ritual, the people should pay attention to the Javanese calendar. After as many as 16 potatoes are planted, farmers are free to plant their fields until they are full. This ritual also starts the performance of Kaki Langit Festival held in Batu City. This festival is a form of preserving the culture of growing potatoes, while at the same time, this potato planting is a moment to establish friendship while drinking coffee and Nunu or baking potatoes.