VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

A Palestinian protester confronted Israeli soldiers in the West Bank, Palestine. ( REUTERS/MOHAMAD TOROKMAN)

The Nahdlatul Ulama Executive Board (PBNU) has strongly condemned Israel's planned annexation of the West Bank, the Palestinian territories.

"Israel must stop all actions that will directly affect security and worsen world peace," Helmy Faishal Zaini, Secretary General of the PBNU, said in a statement to ANTARA in Jakarta on Saturday.

He lauded and supported the policy, ideas and decision made by the Government of Indonesia in opposing Israel's annexation.

According to him, Indonesia played an important role in pushing this issue in international forums in order to bring about peace in the world.

"We again encourage the Indonesian Government to continue to make strategic efforts to bring about peace in conflict countries, especially in Palestine. This effort is in line with the mandate of the 33rd Nahdlatul Ulama Congress in Jombang in 2015. Nahdlatul Ulama fully supports Palestinian independence. For Nahdlatul Ulama 'What has happened in Palestine is not just a conflict over religion, but more a conflict of humanity'," he said.

Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Muslim organization, has also taken several steps and strategic efforts to help resolve the conflict in Palestine.

The NU intensified communication with various parties to provide input for the achievement of Palestinian sovereignty, said Helmy Faishal.

Since 1938, NU's attitude has not changed. NU is consistent and committed to supporting the Palestinian independence and sovereignty. Therefore, the NU welcomed the moves of the Government of Indonesia, represented by Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi.

"NU fully supports three important agendas related to peace in Palestine, namely providing protection for Palestinian civilians, restoring social and political conditions, and also seeking peace between Israel and Palestine," he said.

Earlier, the Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement strongly denouncing and opposing Israel's annexation plan.

“Such a plan is illegal and in grave breach of the international law, including various UN resolutions," the Ministry said in a press statement on May 23, 2020.

The Israeli plan also threatens regional stability and security while gravely undermining all efforts to reach a lasting political solution based on a two-state solution. "Indonesia urges the international community to reject the plan".

During a virtual meeting of the United Nations Security Council on May 27, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi urged Israel to stop its annexation plan. (ANTARA)

An Indonesian art and cultural performance (Antara/HO)

The ongoing global pandemic of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has forced the Indonesian Government to cancel the convening of an international arts and cultural night titled "Indonesian Channel" due to be hosted by West Sumatra Province in August.

The Indonesian Channel which marks the closing of this year's Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (IACS) Program is a special event for West Sumatra because some 140 youths from 70 countries would perform, Head of the West Sumatra Tourism Office Novrial said.

The youths were the awardees of the scholarship program in which they would perform at the arts and cultural night to show the Indonesian cultural heritage that they had learned from local art communities in seven provinces, he said.

Thanks to the IACS Program that the Indonesian Foreign Ministry has consistently been organizing since 2003, these selected youths had been given an opportunity to learn the arts and culture of genuine Indonesian heritage for around three months, he said.

During that period, they stayed at the houses of selected Indonesian families, he said, adding that their presence in West Sumatra for the Indonesian Channel in August would give them opportunities to see the beauty of the province's tourist destinations.

They would also be able to enjoy the West Sumatrans' authentic arts and cultural attractions. The Indonesian Channel would also be attended by the awardees' parents, ambassadors of the participating countries, he said.

Unfortunately, due to this ongoing coronavirus outbreak and unavailability of COVID-19 vaccine, the scheduled convening of the Indonesian Channel was then cancelled for safety reasons, Novrial said.

As published in the official website of the Indonesian Consulate General in Frankfurt, Germany, the IACS Program is eligible for Indonesian and foreign youths age 21-27 to study Indonesian cultural heritage as well as immersing oneself with the local art communities in Bali, West Sumatra, East Kalimantan, East Java, Sulawesi or Yogyakarta.

This year's IACS was commenced from May 2 to Aug 20, 2020 in which on Aug 13, all awardees would perform in an arts and cultural night entitled "Indonesian Channel".

Organized since 2003, this IACS Program has had 920 alumni coming from 77 countries. They studied history, traditions, arts and cultures of various ethnic groups across the Indonesian archipelago, including traditional dances, musical instruments, and carvings. (ANTARA)

An Indonesian naval ship (Dok Guskamla I)

The Indonesian Maritime Security Task Force of 1st Fleet Command has driven out 84 foreign vessels illegally anchoring in the Tanjung Berakit waters of Bintan District, Riau Islands Province, a navy officer said.

Driving out the foreign vessels was part of the Indonesian Navy's endeavors to strengthen its maritime security in the waters which are prone to illegal activities and crimes, the task force commander, First Admiral Yayan Sofiyan, said in Batam, Riau Islands, Sunday.

The security maritime operations had also resulted in the arrests of suspected criminals who often conducted thefts and captures of several foreign vessels that had illegally anchored in Indonesia's territorial waters, he said.

Over this past week, several vessels that had allegedly violated the Indonesian Shipping Law (Law No. 17 of 2008) were TB NELLY 53/TK NELLY 76, LCT Cahata Maulida, TB SSE Alexandria, MT Sun Live, and MV Luna II, he said.

Yayan Sofiyan also highly appreciated the efforts that naval ship KRI Kujang-642 had made to chase MT Tenggiri which escaped to Singapore's territorial waters. (ANTARA)

Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo giving statements after carrying out an exercise with President Joko Widodo in the Bogor Presidential Palace area in West Java, Sunday. (ANTARA/Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau)

The Indonesian army, navy, and air force chiefs of staff affirmed their readiness to support the government's efforts to carry out new normal adaptations in the public.

Indonesian Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa, Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono, and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo said at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java on Sunday that the soldiers will enforce discipline in public life more actively in accordance with health protocols to ensure community members remain productive and safe from COVID-19.

"The Indonesian Navy will surely assist the acceleration of COVID-19 handling. It is now the stage for disciplining the community, and we will surely be more active as well, especially the personnel in the field to help local governments to discipline the community," said Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Yudo Margono.

A similar statement was also made by Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo who affirmed the readiness of the forces he led to assist with several matters related to COVID-19 handling.

Aside from discipline enforcement among the public, the Indonesian Air Force is also supporting medical supplies delivery to all areas across the country.

"For the Indonesian Air Force, we remain ready to assist, for example, we carry out the delivery of medical equipments to all parts of the country where there are air bases and airports. We also continue to carry out air operations, as we must maintain the sovereignty of the country's territory," Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo stated.

Meanwhille, Army Chief of Staff General Andika Perkasa explained that President Joko Widodo had specifically requested the army to emulate the achievements of Former Army Chief of Staff General Pramono Edhie who had just passed away. The president also prayed for the deceased and expressed his gratitude for all his services.

"Mr.President specifically expressed his condolences for the death of the Former Army Chief of Staff, Military General Pramono Edhie Wibowo. He expressed his gratitude for all his services, also expressed hope that the family remained strong and the army could emulate what Pramono Edhie could achieve while he served as Army Chief of Staff," General Andika Perkasa explained.

On Sunday morning, Indonesian President Joko Widodo invited the Military Chiefs of Staff to exercise in the Bogor Presidential Palace area, West Java.

Additionally, the President conveyed his message to the Military Forces to continue to assist in enforcing discipline among the public, ensuring that they abide by the health protocols.

The President stressed that disciplined practice of the protocols is very necessary in order to ensure that people can remain productive, while staying safe from COVID-19 transmission. (ANTARA)