VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Head of the Jakarta Maritime, Agriculture, and Food Security Agency (KPKP), Darjamuni, on Sunday announced that the government is currently preparing a health protocol overseeing qurban sales, sacrificial procedure, and distribution for the Islamic Eid al-Adha celebration. 

The sacrificial qurban animals will be strictly overseen by a series of rules that would help prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We are preparing [the protocol],” Darjamuni confirmed in a text message on Sunday.

However, he was tight-lipped in terms of the details as he still needs to present it to Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan before announcing it publicly. The agency has scheduled a meeting with the governor on Tuesday, June 30. 

The spokesperson for the city’s largest mosque, Istiqlal Mosque, on Sunday said to Tempo that Istiqlal’s management has yet received assurance from city administrators whether the qurban tradition would be held or not. 

“We have yet received information on whether we will be receiving qurban animals. No announcement has been made yet,” said Abu to Tempo on Sunday.

He further elaborates that the annual sacrificial tradition could possibly be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing renovation of the Istiqlal mosque. (tempo.co.id)

Head of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) Benny Rhamdani. ANTARA/screen shot of BNPB YouTube channel/sh

The Indonesian government would facilitate Indonesian migrant workers to return to the country in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that they would reach their hometowns safely, the Indonesian Migrant Workers Protection Agency (BP2MI) said.

Head of the BP2MI Benny Rhamdani  in a statement here on Sunday noted that the agency had worked closely with related institutions such as the Directorate General of Immigration, Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Task Force for Acceleration of COVID-19 Handling, the military and police, and the Transportation Ministry, to ensure that the workers could return to their hometowns safely.

"We have treated migrant workers as VVIP citizens, in the form of best service and protection," Rhamdani said in a discussion aired through the YouTube channel of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

Rhamdani said that he was mandated by President Joko Widodo to give protection to the workers.

He elaborated that migrant workers would have to follow the health protocols for the handling of the new coronavirus, prior to their return to Indonesia. A swab test for the COVID-19 is required to ensure that they are not contracted the virus, and obtain a health certificate from local health authority.

The swab test could be conducted in their origin countries or upon their arrival in Indonesia.

Those who conduct the test in Indonesia, would have to be placed under quarantine while waiting for the result of the swab test.

Migrant workers who are tested negative for the COVID-19 could continue to return to their hometowns, while those who are tested positive must have further medical treatment and be isolated.

According to Rhamdani, the agency has repatriated 162 thousand migrant workers during the pandemic, while some 50,114 others will have their working contract expire and have to return to the country.

In addition, the agency has received 222 bodies of migrant workers who died of various causes, back to the country.

"As of today, we have received 222 bodies. We provide free ambulance to transport them back to their hometowns," he said.

The migrant workers are among major contributors to Indonesia's foreign exchange income, with forex earning in 2019 reached Rp159.6 trillion from the workers.

Meanwhile, head of the law enforcement unit of the COVID-19 task force First Admiral R Eko said, the government has prepared Batam on Riau Island, Jakarta and Bali as entry gates for the returning migrant workers and for their quarantine.

"We secure and monitor (the return of migrant workers). We monitor them since the plan to return them to Indonesia, the swab test, quarantine, until they reach their hometowns," Eko said. (ANTARA)

Vendors of the Pondok Bambu traditional market, East Jakarta, queue for swab tests on June 2, 2020. ANTARA/HO-Puskesmas Duren Sawit

The capital city Jakarta added 213 new COVID-19 cases and 68 recoveries, but there was no new death on Saturday.

The capital city's COVID-19 tally reached 10,853 people, up by 213 from 10,640 cases on the previous day, Dwi Oktavia Tatri Lestari Handayani, Head of the Disease Prevention and Control Division of the Jakarta Health Office, said here on Saturday evening.

The total number of COVID-19 patients recovering reached 5,610 people, compared to 5,542 people on Friday, while the death toll remained at 632.

As many as 1,355 patients were undergoing treatment at hospital, and 3,256 people were doing self-isolation at home.

"The number of people under monitoring (ODP) is 26,342 people, and patients under supervision (PDP) is 17,481 people," she said.

Until June 26, 2020, a total of 283,137 samples have been examined with Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests to trace COVID-19 cases in five regions of Jakarta, notably East Jakarta, West Jakarta, South Jakarta, North Jakarta and Seribu Islands.

A total of 227,323 people have undergone rapid tests with a confirmed COVID-19 case percentage at four percent, or 7,952 people, while 219,371 people were declared nonreactive.

Jakarta imposed Large-Scale Social Distancing (PSBB) measures from April until June 3, 2020. Starting from June 4 until late June, the capital city has been implementing a transitional PSBB ahead of ushering in the new normal.

During the transitional period, several malls and amusement centers and tourist attractions have been allowed to reopen under stringent health protocols, which prescribe measures such as maintaining physical distance, wearing face masks, washing hands frequently, and spraying disinfectants. (ANTARA)

The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations has praised the local people and Government of North Aceh for their initiative and lead in rescuing Rohingya refugees in distress at sea on Thursday (June 25).

It is not the sole responsibility of the local government and community to extend assistance to the 99 Rohingya refugees in Punteut, Lhokseumawe, but others, especially those from the national government too should come forward in this endeavor.

The involvement and coordination of other elements, in particular, the national government, are the pressing need of the hour.

The newly arrived Rohingyas, mostly comprising vulnerable women and children, were shifted to a former immigration office building that earlier served as a temporary refugee shelter.

After being adrift at sea since June 22, they were rescued by local fishermen and brought to land following pressing calls from locals. They were taken to the shelter in the late afternoon from Lancok Village, some 15 kilometers from Lhokseumawe. As part of the COVID-19 health protocols, all underwent rapid testing for which the results came non-reactive.

It is not the first time that Rohingyas had arrived in Indonesia and their arrival numbers have shot up since the 2015 conflict in Myanmar that resulted in several of them fleeing their homes.

With the government initially reluctant to help, the local community took it upon itself to step up efforts and taken the rescue task into its own hands while abiding by the prevailing law on solidarity and helping those in distress. The Acehnese had earlier too taken the lead in supporting Rohingya refugees.

The 36th ASEAN Summit, currently underway, is expected to offer the necessary momentum for ASEAN leaders to urge Myanmar to resolve and put an end to crimes against humanity that continue unabated in the country, based on recommendations of the United Nations and the UN Security Council Resolution, as issued by the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar.

ASEAN member states must not turn a blind eye to Rohingya refugees whose lives are at risk at sea.

ASEAN member states should prioritize the upholding of human rights, including refugee rights, so that the ASEAN Summit may serve as a summit for collaboration and dialog, not only for economic development but also for the humanitarian crises, democracy, and justice in the Southeast Asian region.

The respect, protection, and fulfillment of human rights, including of refugees, are contained in numerous international conventions, particularly the 1951 UN Refugee Convention.

Indonesia, despite not being a party to the 1951 Convention, has ratified the Presidential Regulation No.125 of 2016 on the handling of refugees from overseas that specifically outlines the assistance and management of refugees, including the provision of shelters.

Indonesia has also ratified several international human rights instruments that should be respected and fulfilled.

Hence, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations recommends the Indonesian government to urgently implement Presidential Regulation No. 125 of 2016 and issue technical regulations and clarifications where necessary to ensure effective coordination for the management and humane treatment of refugees.

While civil society remains committed to supporting humanitarian efforts, full implementation of the regulation is yet to be effusively achieved, especially owing to the lack of clarity and obstacles faced in government budgeting.

In addition, the coalition has encouraged the Indonesian government to immediately become a party to the 1951 Convention by accession, so that it can be more comprehensive and efficient in protecting the rights of refugees in line with the commitments outlined in the international conventions.

"Issue additional technical guidelines, including quarantine mechanisms, tests, and the implementation of physical distancing to ensure the safety and health of the community and the refugees in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," according to a statement.

The government has called on to immediately determine a more adequate shelter for the refugees since the current shelter, which is an unused immigration office, lacks several necessary facilities. The shelter built by NGOs for refugees in North Aceh has been re-used as an in-patient accommodation for COVID-19 patients. All other options should be taken into account, including the shelter facilities in Langsa.

"Provide access to inclusive, sustainable, and efficient solutions for Rohingya refugees, including for men and women to seek a livelihood while in Indonesia," the statement noted.

The coalition also sought a resolution to the prolonged abuses and denial of rights in Myanmar and engage more proactively with resettlement countries to encourage them to fulfill their commitment to the resettlement of refugees and asylum-seekers in third countries.

"Take into account important lessons from the Rohingya response in Aceh in 2015 where civil society and humanitarian organizations collaborated with the government to fill in much-needed assistance. This is in line with Indonesia’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goals and the Global Compact on Refugees," the statement noted.  (ANTARA)