VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesia's state-owned enterprise producing military and commercial products, PT Pindad, has planned to develop Anoa 3 panzer to be known as Anoa desert, which would then be exported to Middle East countries.

“Anoa 3 is a panzer with more powerful engines and wider cross-field capabilities,” said General Manager of Weapons at PT Pindad, Yayat Ruyat in Sentul, West Java, on Tuesday.

He stated that Anoa 3 panzer will be able to cross difficult terrains, like deserts. So it will be offered to countries in the Middle East region.

“There is already a request for this panzer in Saudi Arabia. They have not stated the number, but they are interested in it and will try our Anoa panzer there,” Ruyat noted.

Besides being capable of crossing difficult terrains, this panzer will be equipped with instruments to face nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks.

“They will be able to take on nuclear attacks, and we will also improve the features of the existing Anoas,” he said.

According to Ruyat, the Anoa 3 is also equipped with an additional protection system, such as a protective ceramic plate that would be able to withstand rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attacks.

“Our panzer, whether it is an Anoa 3 or a tank could be equipped  with an add-on ceramic, so when there are missile attacks, the missile would only destroy the ceramic plate. The vehicle and the personnel inside are expected to be still safe,” he uttered.

The Anoa 3 panzer is one of the innovation targets that will be carried out by Pindad this year. Other innovations that will be developed by Pindad in 2019 also include the development of Cornershot weapon prototypes for industrial scale and a number of other main defense system tools. (ant)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo highlighted the high level of responsibility carried out by all village heads in Indonesia, especially related to the management of Village Funds. This was conveyed by the President after giving a briefing to the Participants of the National gathering of Indonesian Village at Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Wednesday (10/4). The central government has poured some 257 trillion rupiah of village funds in the past five years. According to the President, the management of the funds gave a great responsibility to the Village Head. Therefore, the government will provide operational funds for each village head. This operational fund is intended to enable village heads to work optimally in managing and supervising the use of village funds.

“The village funds that we poured into the village are now Rp 257 trillion. This is big money. What does it mean? The village head has a big responsibility in every use of the budget in the village, for whatever. Thus, it is also necessary for village heads to control the operational funds, supervise the use of village funds in the field that can really be effective,” said the President.

Furthermore, President Joko Widodo said, the village heads would also be liable to report on the use of operational funds. However, the report is expected not to burden village heads, because it is oriented towards the successful use of village funds. Operations for the village head will still be discussed by the government. According to the President, discussion of the details of operational funds for the village head has been submitted to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

The Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries seized six foreign boats that were fishing illegally in the Fisheries Management Region of the Republic of Indonesia.

“Four Vietnamese-flagged boats and two Malaysian-flagged boats were arrested by two fisheries supervision boats at the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone in the North (ZEEI) Natuna Sea and ZEEI Malacca strait on Tuesday, April 9,” stated the Acting Director General of Supervision of Marine and Fisheries resources at the Ministry of Maritime and Fisheries, Agus Suherman, at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The four foreign boats—BV 4939 TS, BV 5156 TS, BV 93817 TS, and BV 93816 TS— were captured at ZEEI Natuna between 8 AM and 9 AM local time by supervision boat Hiu Macan 01, which was led by Captain Samson.

He added that the boats did not have any permit from the Indonesian government and used trawl nets, which are prohibited by the Indonesian government.

“Twenty four Vietnamese crew members were arrested,” he said.

The boats were then escorted to the Supervision of Marine and Fisheries resources in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, for legal proceedings.

Meanwhile, two fishing boats from Malaysia, KM. PKFA 8888 (61.70 GT) and PKF 7878 (67.63 GT), were also captured by supervision boat Hiu Macan 02, led by Captain Ilman Rustam, at the ZEEI Malacca Straits at around 3 PM local time.

Nine Burmese crew members were escorted to the Supervision of Marine and Fisheries resources in Batam, Riau Islands.

The two foreign fishing boats violated Indonesian Law number 31 of the year 2004 regarding fisheries as amended to Law number 45 of the year 2009 with the threat of maximum six years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rp20 billion.

These latest arrests are added to the list of illegal fishing boats that had been captured previously by the Ministry’s Supervision of Marine and Fisheries resources boats. From January until April 9, 2019, the ministry had captured 38 illegal fishing boats, including 28 foreign fishing boats and 10 local fishing boats.

“The total number of foreign illegal boats captured include 15 Vietnamese boats and 13 Malaysian boats,” remarked Suherman.

The ministry stated that the focus on eradicating illegal fishing in Indonesia has increased the potential of fisheries resources in the Indonesian oceans.

“In an effort to manifest sovereignty, the ministry continues to focus on eradicating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing,” said Head of Marine and Fisheries Research and Human Resources Agency at the ministry Sjarief Widjaja.

He concluded that through the eradication of IUU Fishing, fish stocks had increased significantly.

Indonesia’s potential fish resources (Maximum Sustainable Yield/ MSY) had also increased drastically to 12.5 million tons in 2016, whereas in 2013, the number was only 7.31 million tons. (ANTARA)

Senior Advisor to the Vice President for Women and Family Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Zahra Java said she would try to adopt Indonesia's home industry programs in her country.

"We will invite the Indonesian delegation to Iran to share the best practices," Zahra said at the closing ceremony of an event on sharing the best practices of home industries here on Wednesday.

Zahra hoped that both countries could support each other with regard to women's empowerment and gender mainstreaming.

A memorandum of understanding, on the cooperation between the two countries in the areas of women's empowerment, family security and child protection, was agreed upon when the Indonesian Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Susana Yembise, visited Iran in July 2018.

Meanwhile, Head of Planning and Data Bureau of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Fakih Usman stated that sharing the best practices adopted over the home industry program was part of Indonesia's commitment to the Iranian government, according to the MoU.

"The Indonesian government is committed toward advancing gender equality in Indonesia," he said. (ant)

The delegation of the Islamic Republic of Iran visited Rembang District, Central Java, on April 9, 2019, to learn first hand the best practices in Tritunggal and Pasarbanggi villages as pilot programs on the home industry.

Meanwhile, Head of Rembang District Abdul Hafidz said the home industry program could not only increase the local economy, but also prevent women from working as migrant workers abroad.