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House of Representatives’ Plenary Meeting Session IV, Session Year 2021–2022, at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (April 12, 2022). (ANTARA PHOTOS/Galih Pradipta/aww/my) - 

The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) has said that law enforcement officials must prioritize victims when implementing the Sexual Violence Law in order to address sexual violence cases properly.

“Now, since we have already had the Sexual Violence Law (UU TPKS), we need for its implementation to (prioritize) victims. For example, related to online gender-based violence, Article 14 of the Sexual Violence Law (stipulates about) electronic-based sexual violence. The article contains measures to take against threats of spreading intimate content and tracking against stalking. So, these actions can be (sanctioned) under the Sexual Violence Law," head of the sub-division of online gender-based violence of SAFEnet, Ellen Kusuma, said.

She delivered the statement during a Ramadan Study webinar entitled 'Women and Digital Piety,’ held by the Aisyiyah Research and Development Institute (LPPA) at Central Executive Aisyiyah, which was accessed online from here on Friday.

Kusuma also called for other forms of protection aside from the Sexual Violence Law, which is required by victims of sexual violence, particularly women.

She said she believed that the state needs to provide unbiased legal certainty to women.

"This legal certainty can be provided through the application of the Supreme Court Regulation Number 3 of 2017 about Guidelines for Adjudicating Women's Cases Pertaining to Law," she added.

The regulation lays down the basis for gender equality, for instance, by regulating the manner in which judges behave in court toward women litigants.

It also lists aspects that must be considered by judges when examining and handling women's cases. They include the presence or absence of inequalities in social status, physical powerlessness, power relations, history of violence, and psychological impact.

The regulation also prohibits judges from showing attitude or making gender-biased comments, allowing discrimination against women, and asking about the sexual history of the victim.

The regulation also allows women victims to bring a companion to court for certain reasons//ANT

I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, (8/4/2022). (AP I) - 

A total of 12 international airlines have resumed regular operations at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport in the Indonesian resort island of Bali since February 2022 after the airport's closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Most recently, on Thursday, Bali's Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport received additional flight of Qantas Airlines serving the Melbourne-Denpasar route.

"Since the international flight corridor at Bali Airport has been reopened, the number of airlines has gradually increased. Yesterday, Qantas Airlines also made its maiden flight. We enthusiastically welcome this 12th airline flight," General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura (AP) I International Airport I. Gusti Ngurah Rai Bali Herry A. Y. Sikado stated here on Friday.

During its inaugural flight to Bali, Qantas Airlines QF45, using a Boeing 737-838 registration VH-XZA, landed on Thursday at 21:17 local time, with 155 passengers.

Thereafter, the same plane, with flight number QF46, carrying aboard 83 passengers, took off again for Melbourne.

Qantas Airlines plans to serve the flight route thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Sikado affirmed that his side remains committed to providing the best service, so that international flights that show positive growth can run smoothly.

He is also optimistic that the number of international flights at Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport would soon recover.

"This is supported by the ease of flight requirements based on government regulations. Hence, we along with the stakeholders must maintain the trust of the government and service users, so that all facilities and health protocols run well," he remarked//ANT

Minister of Transportation, Budi Karya Sumadi (center), delivers a statement after presiding over a coordination meeting on traffic movement and peak traffic anticipation on toll roads during the 2022 Eid exodus, at Jasa Marga Office in Main Cikampek Toll Gate, West Java, on Friday (April 15, 2022). (ANTARA/Adimas Raditya) - 

Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi has advised travelers to travel early during the Eid al-Fitr exodus period to avoid heavy traffic.

"We suggest residents travel early (during the Eid exodus period). They can commence their travel on April 25 or 26 (2022),” Sumadi said after presiding over a coordination meeting on traffic movement and peak traffic anticipation on toll roads during the 2022 Eid exodus period, at the Main Cikampek Toll Gate, West Java, on Friday.

The government has allowed civil state apparatus and employees of private entities to use their annual leave to extend their homecoming period, before or after the designated collective leave and holidays, he said.

The minister pointed out that the Joint Ministerial Decision has designated April 29 and May 4, 5, and 6, 2022, as collective leave days to complement the Eid al-Fitr holiday on April 2 and 3.

"We know that residents have not returned to their hometown for two years, and they are yearning to travel so much. Therefore, we are committed to providing appropriate services for them (during the exodus period)," Sumadi remarked.

He affirmed the ministry's commitment to coordinating and collaborating with the relevant stakeholders, including the police and state-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga, to manage traffic on toll roads.

Some traffic modifications that will be implemented during the 2022 Eid al-Fitr holiday period are one-way, contraflow, and odd-even plate number restriction schemes, he informed.

"We will seek the best measure to ensure a safe, comfortable, and health homecoming travel," Sumadi said.

Meanwhile, the Police's Traffic Corps head, Inspector General Firman Santyabudi, said that the police are ready to coordinate and monitor traffic conditions before the Eid al-Fitr exodus period.

"On-site officers will follow all instructions that would depend on actual conditions," he added.

Santyabudi also said that the police has the latest data on traffic conditions and volumes to prevent possible losses due to traffic management miscalculation.

"(The data is to help) officers decide their activities properly. We will keep coordinating (with all stakeholders)," the traffic corps head remarked//ANT

House Speaker Chairperson, Puan Maharani - 

Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Puan Maharani urged the government to act swiftly to prepare for the 2022 Hajj and ensure requisite technical preparations, so that the pilgrims were served well.

"With the opening of the Hajj quota of one million pilgrims this year, it must be welcomed and prepared as well as possible. The government must move quickly to maximize diplomacy, so that Indonesia can get the maximum quota," Maharani noted in a statement, in Jakarta, Friday.

The speaker affirmed that Muslims in Indonesia had long awaited to return to conduct Hajj.

For the second year in a row, Indonesia was unable to send Muslims to the holy land, as the Hajj was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2020, Saudi Arabia only opened a quota of one thousand Hajj pilgrims for its citizens. Thereafter, in the following year, the quota increased to 60 thousand, though it was still reserved for the citizens of Saudi Arabia.

Maharani spoke of having urged Commission VIII of the DPR to immediately hold a meeting with the religious affairs minister to follow up on the Saudi Arabian decision.

As a result, the DPR and the minister of religious affairs also approved the 2022 Hajj Organizing Fee (BPIH) of IDR 39,886,009.

Furthermore, Maharani drew attention to the government's duty to lobby Saudi Arabia and ensure that Indonesia received an adequate number of hajj quotas.

"Even if it is possible, Indonesia could be given an additional quota from the rest of the Hajj quotas from other countries that are not absorbed," Maharani affirmed.

In addition to the issue of Hajj quota, she also reminded the government that preparations for the departure of the congregation and the provision of facilities for Hajj pilgrims should be carried out as optimally as possible.

Reflecting on her experiences while serving as coordinating minister for human development and culture (Menko PMK) during the 2014-2019 period, Maharani reminded all parties to work together to ensure that the Hajj pilgrimage this year was successful.

"Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia must be able to enjoy various services to handle basic to even the smallest problems, including the availability of drinking water for pilgrims in the face of hot storms in the Holy Land," she remarked//ANT