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Retno  Marsudi recieves MILF Delegation and UNDP delegation (kemlu.go.id)

Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi, on Thursday received a visit from the delegation of Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of South Philippines.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arrmanatha Nasir, said in Jakarta on Thursday that the purpose of the MILF`s visit to Indonesia was to learn the successful peace process in Aceh Province.

"The foreign minister has conveyed her support to the ongoing efforts in South Philippines in order to achieve peace, and she has also encouraged all parties, including MILF, to contribute to the peace building process and to maintain peace," Nasir stated about the meeting.

During their visit to Indonesia, the MILF delegation was scheduled to meet several representatives of Indonesian Islamic organization, such as Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, and also the Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

"Indonesia has been consistent and active in enabling the peace process in South Philippines since the 90s, including its involvement in the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in the South Philippines," Nasir revealed. (antaranews)

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Thursday, received the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) delegation keen on taking a cue from the country on conflict settlement amid the fight between the armed group and Philippines military.

"We discussed and shared information, and he had just visited Aceh to observe the progress in the province. They want to learn from the progress achieved in Indonesia," Kalla noted after receiving the delegation of MILF and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Vice President`s office.

Kalla said he had shared his experience in encouraging peace in Aceh that was torn by a prolonged conflict between the armed group and the Indonesian military.

"Of course, in our experience, in every peace mission there must be firstly, mutual respect and secondly, a compromise. We want to help them. Until now, we still have 10 monitoring teams in Manila," he remarked.

Meanwhile, MILF Chief Murad Ebrahem noted that the group will follow the example set by Indonesia in conflict settlement by taking a cue from the country`s experience in Aceh.

Representatives of MILF, UNDP, and Indonesia`s Foreign Ministry have paid a visit to Aceh to witness development in the region after the peace agreement.

"We came here to learn from Indonesia`s experience, especially from the vice president, in addressing the conflict in Aceh. We are facing a similar situation now, and we have visited Aceh. We are impressed by the development there following the tsunami and conflict," Ebrahem noted. (antaranews)

The Indonesian Government stressed the importance of increasing the knowledge and understanding of the community about cancer, ahead of World Cancer Day 2018. Director of Disease Prevention and Control, Ministry of Health, Mohamad Subuh, in Jakarta, on Wednesday (31/1) said that the public should be able to reduce both mortality and morbidity rate cause of cancer with proper knowledge. In addition to that, according to him, the proper knowledge and education should also changes public healthy living.

“ There are some points that we want to remind regarding the World Cancer Day. First, is to improve public knowledge and understanding about cancer disease. The more people understand about cancer, how it happens, how to avoid it, how to get access to healthcare, we should be able to reduce mortality as well as morbidity rate of that disease. We expect to raise some understanding on healthy life with such knowledge. These two are crucial in every cancer day commemoration.”

World Cancer Day is commemorated every February 4 of each year. The World Cancer Day commemorative theme from 2016 to 2018 is' We Can. I can'. This theme aims to spread the message that everyone, whether together or individually, can take a role in reducing the burden and cancer problems. In Indonesia, the burden of cancer is still quite high. Based on the results of Basic Health Research in 2013, the prevalence of tumors or cancer in Indonesia is 1.4 per 1,000 residents or about 347,000 people. The highest cancer in women is breast and cervical cancer, while in men is lung cancer. (ndy)

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) wants the foreign workers permit which is until now still complicated will immediately be simplified.

It is realized that until now so many things related to foreign workers permit are still convoluted, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung quoted the president as saying here on Wednesday after a limited cabinet meeting presided over by President Jokowi.

"And the president has instructed the related ministries, Minister of Law and Human Rights, Manpower Minister, Trade Minister, Industry Minister, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and Energy Minister to simplify (the working permit)," Pramono said, adding that the working permit simplification should be prepared within two weeks.

According to Pramono, if it is not immediately resolved, a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) will be issued to regulate it.

"Because we should not complicate the investment, nor people who want to come to work in this republic," he remarked.

However, he further said, the foreign workers in question are those who have the knowledge and the capacity and also needed in Indonesia, instead of the foreign field workers.

This effort is to boost the "ease of doing business" in Indonesia to be more competitive even though Indonesia`s investment grade has improved, he added. (antaranews)