VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

This is RRI VOI with this Week Spotlight . This time it’s on "Complete Preparation for Lebaran1439 H".

Indonesian Ministries and Agencies are required to complete all preparations to welcome Idul Fitri 1439 Hijriyah or Lebaran holidays this year. Preparation is not limited to road facilities and infrastructure, but also the availability of transportation modes, fuel oil, basic materials or staple and security before and during Lebaran. President Joko Widodo confirmed it in a limited meeting that discussed the preparation of Lebaran at the Presidential Office of Jakarta, Wednesday (30/5). In particular, the Head of State addressed the readiness of the security apparatus. Jokowi requested the synergy of the Indonesian National Police and the Indonesian Armed Forces in preventing potential security disturbances during Ramadan and Lebaran holidays, so that people can perform the worship in peace. In response to the President's directive, Police Chief-Police Chief Tito Karnavian, after the meeting stated that, ahead of the holiday and Lebaran homecoming tradition, the police are paying attention to criminal acts from terrorism to conventional crimes such as pickpockets, mugging, and drugging which often happen to travellers. The police have set up posts at the embankment, airports, terminals and railway stations. Tito Karnavian said all the thugs have also been dealt with.

On a separate occasion, Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi urged people who want to go back to their hometown as the tradition every year, to leave on Friday (8/6), seven days before Lebaran Day which this year will be on Friday (15/6)., 2018,. It is predicted that on Saturday to Sunday (9-10 / 6) homecoming flow is very high, then on Monday and Tuesday (11-12 / 6) it will become   to ease out. 

Meanwhile, Minister of Public Works and Housing-PUPR, Basuki Hadimulyono said, both toll roads and non-toll roads in Java and Sumatra are ready for public use. According to Budi, in Java there are three national road lanes, namely the north coast of Java-Pantura along the 1341 km, the middle cross lane of 1197 km, and the south-pansela beach of Java which is 1,405 km long. The total reaches 3,943 km, now is 90 percent steady and better than 2017. In addition to the national road there are still toll roads along 760 km from Jakarta to Surabaya with 525 Km operational and 235 km functional. In eastern eastern Sumatra, said Basuki, almost the entire road is ready to pass. In addition, there are additional 245 km toll roads with a functional road length of 125 km and an operational 120 km. So This Week's Spotlight

Today in History starts with the event of June 3, 1947, the Indonesian National Army was established.

The State of Indonesia at its inception did not have any unity of soldiers. The People's Security Service (BKR) established on 22 August 1945 and announced by the President on 23 August 1945 is not an official military organization. Finally, through the Government decision of October 5, 1945 (to this day commemorated as the birthday of the TNI), BKR was changed to the People's Security Army (TKR). On January 7, 1946, the People's Security Army renamed the People's Salvation Army. Then on January 26, 1946, changed again into the Army of the Republic of Indonesia (TRI). Because at that time in Indonesia there were other armed ranks beside the Army of the Republic of Indonesia, then on May 15, 1947, President Soekarno issued a decision to unite the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia with other armed forces units into the Indonesian National Military (TNI). The unification took place and was annpunced on 3 June 1947.

Turning to June 3, 1980, Tornado outbreak in Nebraska, USA.

On June 3, 1980, known as The Night of the Twisters, there was a series of tornadoes that ravaged the Grand Island city of Nebraska. Seven tornadoes killed five people and injured 200 others. The overall tornado outbreak produced 18 tornadoes in two days, and caused severe damage as far east as Pennsylvania. Over a three-hour span on the night of June 3, 1980, a slow moving tornado moved across the Grand Island, Nebraska, gave birth to several tornadoes. The tornado outbreak that occurred was one of the most unusual in the history of the United States.

Today in History on June 3, 2017, Terrorist Attacks in London.

On June 3, 2017, three people committed a terrorist attack at two locations in central London. The attack began when a white van crashed into several pedestrians on the London Bridge. The van drove and stopped south of the bridge. Three people left the van and ran to Borough Market where stabbing attacks took place in several restaurants. Seven people were killed and 48 wounded in the attack. Three suspects were shot dead by police. The Metropolitan Police Department declared the London Bridge and Borough Market as "a terrorist incident". Several explosions were later heard near Borough Market and were confirmed as controlled explosions.

Here are the Headlines of several national newspapers published today, June 2.

We begin with Kompas entitled, “Traffic Still Haunts the Home-comers”

The homecoming flow based on the national holidays of Eid is predicted to begin on Monday (11/6). However, because Friday (8/6) is the last day of work, the people are highly likely to begin their departure on Friday and Saturday (9/6). Last year, the homecoming peak was on June 23rd or D-2 of Eid. At that time, the Transportation Ministry banned trucks from operating on June 21 or D-4. Toll-road Operator Company -PT Jasa Marga’s 2nd operational Director, Subakti Syukur in Cikarang, Bekasi, West Java on Thursday (31/5) said, the Eid flow via toll road this year is predicted to begin on D-8 until D-1 of Eid. Meanwhile, the peak is on D-6 or on Saturday.

During the peak, the number of cars that pass the Cikarang Main Toll Gate towards Cikampek is predictably 112,000 units or increased 59 percent from the normal traffic. Transportation Ministry’s Land Transport Director will apply ban for trucks in toll road on D-3 until D-1 of Eid or 12 to 14 of June. Based on Kompas’ observation on Thursday (31/5), road condition in non-toll roads namely the northern coast (Pantura) in West Java and Kebumen, Central Java are mostly good. However, there are several traffic jam potentials namely in Bekasi City, Bekasi Regency, and Karawang Regency in West Java as well as Pekalongan Regency and Pekalongan City in Central Java.

Moving on to Republika entitled, ‘Apply the Pancasila Values.’

The Pancasila Day on June 1 was commemorated solemnly across Indonesia. The commemoration peak was at Pancasila Building, Foreign Affairs Ministry Office in Jakarta, Friday. President Joko Widodo led the ceremony. Based on observation by Republika, the ceremony began on 07.50 am local time. In the ceremony, the text of Pancasila was read by Chairman of People Consultative Assembly’s (MPR), Zulkifli Hasan, while the Preamble of 1945 Constitution was read by House of Representatives’ (DPR) Speaker, Bambang Soesatyo. The President said, Pancasila was set by the founders from various groups to unite differences.

Pancasila was explained for the first time by the Proclamator as the 1st President of Indonesia, Soekarno on June 1 1945. Afterwards, the national principle was put into the Jakarta Charter on June 22 1945 and was finalized on August 18 1945. Pancasila plays a major role as the nation’s strong principle, which became the foundation of a united, sovereign, just, and prosperous Indonesia. Therefore, he asked the people to always remember the formulation process of Pancasila. The Head of State also asked all people to use the Pancasila Day as moment to implement the values of Pancasila. More overly, Pancasila has been able to thrive and develop amidst other ideologies which try to replace it.

We end the Headlines with Media Indonesia entitled, Government Prioritizes Reconciliation.

Government is serious in facing the demands to solve the cases of past human rights violations. National Harmony Council -DKN is preparing to solve the case without judicial approach. The forming of DKN was seen as solution, because the solving of past human rights violation cases is difficult via law. That was said by Attorney General, HM Prasetyo after attending the Pancasila Day at Pancasila Building in Jakarta, Friday (1/6). According to Prasetyo, the idea of forming DKN has come up since last year.

However, Maria Catarina Sumarsih, the mother of Bernadinus Realino Norma Irawan - a victim of Semanggi I tragedy - rejected the idea. The Attorney General said that the solving cannot be judicially processed because of lacking of evidences and witnesses. Therefore, the best proposal offered by the government is reconciliation.

In the past two weeks, Bank Indonesia-BI twice raised its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percent. In the Board of Governors' Meeting of Bank Indonesia, on May 30, 2018, BI's benchmark interest rate was decided to rise to 4.75 percent. In the meeting, BI also raised the interest rate of bank deposits in BI in the form of rupiah by 25 basis points to 4 percent..

The decision means changing the policy stance of the central bank from neutral to tight bias. The change in policy stance was taken in response to changes in global economic conditions triggered by the move by the US central bank to raise its benchmark interest rate until the end of this year.

Following the announcement of Bank Indonesia, the rupiah exchange rate traded between banks in Jakarta, yesterday afternoon, moved slightly higher by 2 points (to 13,993 from 13,995) per US dollar.

Quoting a report by Antara news agency on Wednesday, the Director of Asia & Pacific Department of the International Monetary Fund, Changyong Rhee, said that the rate hike by Bank Indonesia is the right decision to anticipate risks.

Rhee said the decision to raise the benchmark interest rate to 50 basis points from 4.25 per cent to 4.75 per cent was a response to maintain the possibility of a rise in core inflation from the strengthening of the US dollar, the benchmark interest rate at global level and world oil prices.

This external pressure has led to a reversal of capital outflows and currency weakness in many developing countries, including Indonesia, in recent weeks.

According to Changyong Rhee, although this situation requires overall oversight, Indonesia has been in a stronger position than in the past in the face of external pressure, because it has good economic resilience.