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Inmates at the Atambua Prison, East Nusa Tenggara, being informed about the remission they received on Friday (Dec 24, 2021). ANTARA/HO-Lapas Atambua - 

Some 12,641 Christian and Catholic inmates in Indonesian prisons received special Christmas Day remission from the Law and Human Rights Ministry's Directorate General of Prisons.

Out of the total inmates granted remission, majority of the inmates totaling 12,562 received sentence reduction, while the remaining 79 inmates were awarded special remission, thereby allowing for an earlier release, the directorate general's Public Relations and Protocol Department Head Rika Aprianti said in a statement here on Saturday.

"The government granted remission as a mark of appreciation for inmates, who have improved themselves during their incarceration period," Aprianti stated.

Out of the total 273,992 prisoners incarcerated in correctional facilities nationwide as of December 23, 2021, some 19,609 belong to Christian and Catholic denominations, the department head noted.\

The 12,562 inmates received varied sentence cuts, with 2,296 inmates receiving a 15-day remission, 7,884 inmates granted 30-day remission, 1,854 inmates awarded a remission of one month and 15 days, and the remaining 528 inmates granted a two-month remission, she stated.

Out of the 79 inmates released earlier after receiving remission, some 28 inmates received a 15-day remission, 34 inmates were awarded a 30-day remission, 15 inmates were granted remission of one month and 15 days, and two people received a two-month remission, Aprianti noted.

The department head remarked that the two provinces, with large number of inmates granted Christmas remission were North Sumatra, with 2,456 inmates, and East Nusa Tenggara, with 1,158 inmates.

"Inmates, who have fulfilled administrative and legal requirements, can receive the Christmas remission. Apart from reducing their sentence, we hope this would also motivate inmates to improve themselves," Aprianti stated.

She encouraged inmates, who had yet to receive remissions, to be patient and continue to improve themselves during their incarceration period.

"We hope through this remission, inmates would embrace the spirit of Christmas and be grateful to the Almighty God. Remission is granted because inmates have improved themselves and served God well," Aprianti remarked//ANT

Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD (center) and other officials at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tegalsari Sub-district, Surabaya, East Java, on Saturday (Dec 25, 2021). ANTARA/Fiqih Arfani - 

Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Mahfud MD visited several churches in Surabaya, East Java, to review the security situation amid Christmas activities in churches.

"This morning, I am grateful for the opportunity to visit the church to ensure smooth Christmas celebration activities," the minister noted while reviewing activities at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at Polisi Istimewa Road, Tegalsari Sub-district, Surabaya.

East Java Regional Police Chief Inspector General Nico Afinta, Brawijaya/V Regional Military Command Chief Major General Nurcahyanto, and East Java Province acting Regional Secretary Heru Tjahjono were also present during the coordinating minister's visit to Surabaya churches.

The police and military chiefs as well as regional authorities reported that public security was maintained during Christmas activities and celebrations in Surabaya, he stated.

After visiting the Cathedral, Mahfud then headed to the Indonesia Christian Church (GKI) at Diponegoro Road, Tegalsari Sub-district.

"I see the optimism and joy in the Christmas celebrations and, God Willing, Christmas activities in Indonesia will be peaceful and safe," the minister stated.

Meanwhile, Vicar General of Roman Catholic Diocese of Surabaya Yosef Budi Susilo welcomed the coordinating minister's visit to review Christmas activities in Surabaya and East Java.

"We always coordinate our activities with the Surabaya and East Java police forces, and I believe this makes us feel safe in conducting Christmas activities," Susilo stated.

The vicar general also expressed gratitude to the regional military command chief for allowing military troops to back up security maintenance during Christmas in Surabaya and East Java.

Earlier on Friday (Dec 24, 2021), the Police's General Control Inspector Commissioner General Agung Budi Maryoto also visited churches in Surabaya to review security measures and COVID-19 health protocol enforcement//ANT

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) through his official Instagram account wishes a Merry Christmas to Christian communities on Saturday, December 25. ANTARA/HO-Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat/aa - 

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), through his official Instagram account, wished Merry Christmas to Christian communities on Saturday, December 25.

President Jokowi also expected that the pandemic would not lessen the joy of welcoming the 2021 Christmas celebrations.

The president observed that for two years, Christmas celebrations had been muted, with limitations in place due to the pandemic.

"Almost two years into a pandemic that has suffocated our lives, it has also been two years my Christian brothers and sisters have gone through Christmas Day in these limitations," Jokowi stated through his official Instagram account @jokowi, Saturday, December 25.

Nevertheless, the head of state is optimistic that the pandemic that struck the world, including Indonesia, would not reduce the joy of Christians in celebrating Christmas.

"I hope the pandemic does not dampen the joy and joy of all of you celebrating Christmas with your loved ones," he remarked.

Through this upload, the head of state included a Christmas text animation, with illustrations of people decorating lights that are on and exchanging gifts with one another while maintaining health protocols by wearing masks//ANT

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan reviewed the Becakayu Section II A toll road project in Bekasi, West Java, on Friday (December 24, 2021). (ANTARA/Aji Cakti/ak) - 

Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has invited US investors to invest in the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road.

"Yesterday, when the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, came, I told him, if you are serious about helping, help (build the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road)," the minister said here on Friday.

He, however, did not specify the Trans-Sumatra toll projects he had invited investment in. The prospect of toll road investment in Indonesia in the eyes of foreign investors is quite good, he remarked.

"For the Trans-Sumatra toll road, the President has given us directions to complete it," he said

Currently, some sections of the Trans-Sumatra toll road are running all the way to Betung, Medan, and then to Parapat and from Medan to Aceh, Pandjaitan noted.

Earlier, PT Hutama Karya (Persero) had prepared a strategy to accelerate the construction of the Trans-Sumatra toll road, he noted.

Apart from focusing on the first phase of the Trans-Sumatra toll road construction of eight sections, president director of Hutama Karya, Budi Harto, said the company has also accelerated the completion of designs and land acquisition for other sections.

In addition, Hutama Karya affirmed the importance of using new technology, saying it would make future construction works more efficient.

The company is also ready to support Turkey's investment interest in the Trans-Sumatra toll road, Harto said.

The construction of the 11 priority segments that will make up the Trans-Sumatra toll road system would be economically advantageous for the country, particularly Sumatra province, according to state-run infrastructure financing firm, PT Sarana Multi Infrastruktur (SMI).

"This conclusion has been made based on an analysis of the economic impact of the construction of the 11 segments of the Trans-Sumatra toll road on the national economy," PT SMI's director of financing and investment, Sylvi J. Gani, said during a discussion with officials from the Finance Ministry in Jakarta on Friday.

The Rp452-trillion (around US$31 billion) stimulus — Rp195 trillion (around US$13.4 billion) for the construction phase and an additional Rp257 trillion (around US$17.7 billion) — would potentially generate Rp768 trillion (around US$52.9 billion) by 2033, she projected.

"The potential output would have a multiplier effect of 1.7 times for the national economy, with potential income from the Trans-Sumatra toll road reaching Rp51 trillion (around US$3.5 billion) annually, around 2.2 percent of Sumatra's gross regional domestic product," she explained.

The construction of the Trans-Sumatra toll road would increase potential household income to Rp119 trillion (around US$8.2 billion) and create jobs for 671 thousand people annually, or equal to 2.4 percent of the entire workforce in Sumatra, she added.

PT SMI, a state-owned company that specializes in construction financing, has financed the construction of four segments of the Trans-Sumatra toll road — Medan-Binjai (North Sumatra), Terbanggi Besar-Pematang Panggang-Kayu Agung (Lampung-South Sumatra), Bakauheni-Terbanggi Besar (Lampung), and Palembang-Indralaya (South Sumatra), she informed//ANT