Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Qatar, in Doha, on Feb 29, 2020 (ANTARA)

Jakarta - Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi had held six bilateral meetings on the sidelines of a work visit to Doha to attend the signing of a peace agreement for Afghanistan.

Retno Marsudi held a bilateral meeting with her counterparts from Norway, Qatar, and Uzbekistan, as well as with President Trump's Special Envoy to Afghanistan, German Special Envoy and British Special Envoy to Afghanistan, on Saturday (29/2) in Doha, Qatar.

"The Peace Agreement between the United States and Taliban to be signed today in Doha, Qatar is the first step toward peace process for Afghanistan," she said at the meeting.

Retno Marsudi was invited to represent Indonesia as a co-facilitator having made a major contribution to peace in Afghanistan, along with Germany, Norway, Qatar and Uzbekistan.

The five countries are also committed to continuing  to provide support so that the peace process between the United States and the Taliban can run in a sustainable manner for the sake of the people of Afghanistan so they can live in peace.

The most important part after the signing of the agreement was the implementation of the agreement, as well as the dialogue process between parties in Afghanistan called the Intra-Afghan Dialogue, she remarked.

The Foreign Minister also stressed that the future of the Afghanistan must be determined by its own people, and Indonesia is ready to contribute to  the peace process in Afghanistan, in accordance with the mandate of the Indonesian Constitution.

Indonesia has contributed in capacity building to Afghanistan by emphasizing the role of ulemas (Islamic scholars) and strengthening the empowerment of women for peace.

"I will fly tonight to Kabul to launch the Indonesia-Afghan Women Solidarity Network together with Indonesian women leaders to discuss the empowerment of women in promoting peace in Afghanistan," she stated. (ANTARA)

Military personnel of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force of the Satya Tama Infantry Battalion 713 provide first aid training for students of SMP IT Nurul Huda Arso near Indonesia--PNG border. (ANTARA)

Jayapura,Papua - The Indonesian military (TNI) provided first aid training for 52 students of integrated Islamic junior high school (SMP IT) Nurul Huda Arso 2 in Keerom District, Papua Province, bordering Papua New Guinea .

The students were trained by military personnel of the Indonesia-Papua New Guinea Border Security Task Force of the Satya Tama Infantry Battalion 713 on how to carry a stretcher and remove an accident victim, Chief of the Information Service of the Cendrawasih Regional Military Command XVII Colonel Eko Daryanto said in a written statement released on Sunday.

During the first aid training they also distributed stickers "danger of drugs" among the public.

Second Lieutenant Syaban, the training's source person, expressed the hope that the activity would give the students skill to help victims or friends at the first chance when they had accident.

He said he and other members of the task force were pleased to see the students enthusiastically taking part in the training and distributing the stickers "danger of drugs" among the local people.

Komar, the headmaster of SMP IT Nurul Huda Arso 2, said the program was good for the students to shape their characters when they helped other people.

Muhammad Afandi, the school's student, expressed gratitude to TNI for the first aid training. (ANTARA)

Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) KH Muhyiddin Junaid (left) handed a souvenir to Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi at the closing of the 7th KUII in Pangkalpinang, Friday night (Feb 28, 2020) (ANTARA)

Pangkalpinang, Bangka Belitung - The 7th Indonesian Muslim Congress (KUII) has urged President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to dissolve the Agency for Pancasila Ideology Education (BPIP) on the grounds it is no longer needed.

"We urge the president to return the interpretation of Pancasila to MPR (the People's Consultative Assembly) as mandated by the fourth tenet of Pancasila," Vice Chairman of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) KH Muhyiddin Junaidi said at the closing of the congress in Pangkalpinang, on Friday night.

"All participants of the 7th KUII this year comprising various components of Islamic society in Indonesia, leaders (of regional branches) of Indonesian Ulemas Council .from all over Indonesia, leaders of Islamic mass organizations, leaders of Islamic Student and Youth Organizations (OKP), chiefs of Islamic boarding schools and Islamic schools, chiefs of Islamic institutes of higher learning, business world, Islamic philanthropic institutions, media, government officials, political parties and other Islamic figures have agreed to urge the president to dissolve BPIP," he said.

The congress, opened by Vice President Ma'ruf Amin on Wednesday (Feb 26) also encouraged the government to familiarize the public with the linkage between Pancasila and religions and to help strengthen religious values in Pancasila.

"We encourage the government to help strengthen religious values in Pancasila to get rid of slander that legislation containing religious values is not Pancasilaist," he said.

In addition, KUII also urged the government to uphold the law as fairly as possible without discriminating against mega corruption and hate speech cases. The government should also adopt a non-discriminative and digital-based state apparatus recruitment system that can be accessed by the entire Indonesian nation to create transparent process by involving public surveillance.

"We urge the government to protect Indonesian citizens from dangerous virus such as corona," he said. (ANTARA)

Indonesian crew members of the World Dream cruise ship aboard a Landing Craft Utility (LCU) prepared to leave Dr Soeharso-990 warship for coronavirus observation in Sebaru Kecil Island of the Seribu Islands District in Jakarta on Friday (Feb 28, 2020) (ANTARA)

Jakarta - The government began the coronavirus observation process for 188 Indonesian workers of World Dream cruise ship on arrival at Sebaru Kecil Island in Seribu Islands, Jakarta, a presidential spokesperson for social affairs Angkie Yudistia stated.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God), our brothers have arrived at Indonesia. As we know, 188 Indonesians on the World Dream cruise ship were evacuated and are currently under observation on Sebaru Kecil Island," Yudistia noted in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.

The observation process will run for 14 days akin to the process conducted in Natuna Island for 238 Indonesians evacuated from Wuhan, China.

"However, some improvements have been made in terms of facility and stricter procedures. The process is in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards," she remarked.

All Indonesians evacuated from the cruise ship had tested negative for coronavirus or COVID-19, but they still have to undergo the observation process to ensure they are in sound health before returning to the families.

The government will also airlift 68 Indonesian crew members of the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was docked in Yokohama, Japan.

The evacuation process will be conducted in line with Japan's health protocol. They will be airlifted aboard an aircraft to Sebaru Kecil Island for observation, but the two groups will stay in different blocs in the island.

The observation process for crew members of the Diamond Princess will be conducted for 28 days to ascertain their health after an American passenger of the cruise ship, who had earlier tested negative, was found to be coronavirus-positive on day 21.

Nine Indonesian crew members, who had tested positive for coronavirus, are currently undergoing intensive medical treatment in Japan.

Yudistia stated that the Indonesian Embassy in Japan had continued to monitor the developments in connection with the Indonesians.

"The government will ensure the security, safety, and health of our countrymen, both in the Diamond Princess and World Dream cruise ships. We will ensure the health of all Indonesians. This is the state's responsibility to protect its citizens," she stated.

Indonesian warship KRI Dr. Suharso-990, carrying 188 Indonesians workers of World Dream cruise ship, arrived in Java Sea off Sebaru Kecil Island, Kepulauan Seribu, North of Jakarta, on Friday.

The ship had reportedly arrived at 1 p.m. local time and anchored on the east side between Sebaru Kecil Island and Pantara Island, or some eight kilometers from the Sebaru Kecil pier.

Two Landing Craft Utility (LCU), owned by KRI Dr. Suharso-990, were deployed to transfer passengers.  (ANTARA)