VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian President's Special Envoy for Interfaith Dialogue and Inter-Civilization Dialogue (UKP-DKAAP) Din Syamsuddin said his side is going to hold the seventh World Peace Forum (WPF) in Jakarta on August 14-16, 2018. The forum is held in collaboration with the Center for Dialogue and Cooperation among Civilization (CDCC) and a Malaysian non-governmental organization, Cheng Ho Multi Cultural and Education Trust. The theme of the seventh WPF was "the Middle Path for the New World Civilization." In his press statement in Jakarta on Monday (Aug 13), Din Syamsudin emphasized that the seventh WPF is not an interfaith dialogue, but the scope is broader because it will involve various parties with different backgrounds such as religious leaders, peace activists, policy makers, and academics.

"This is not an interfaith dialogue. So there are religious leaders, religious leaders, and representatives of the international religious assemblies will be present. Both from the Vatican, the WCC, the World Buddhist Fellowship, the Hindu Association, the International Islamic Organization, various religious figures, including Jews, there will be representatives later. But besides religious leaders there are also scientific figures, and intellectuals, a number of professors involved in the creation in this world will also be present," Din Syamsudin said.

Furthermore, Din Syamsudin explained, of the hundreds of participants present , a number of important invitation figures had confirmed to attend the seventh WPF, including former East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao and former East Timorese President Mar'i Alkatiri. Also present at the forum will be Federative President of Micronesia Peter Christian and Russian Foreign Ministry Envoy KV Shuvalov. The forum will also be attended by delegates from the Middle East, such as Palestinian President Adviser on Religion and Islamic Affairs Mahmoud Al Habbash and Secretary General of King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz of the Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAAICID) Center and former World Religion and Peace Chair Bishop Gunnar Stalsett, as well as various other important figures from 40 countries and international organizations. (VOI / Rezha/AHM)

President Joko Widodo ordered TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto to deploy TNI-owned helicopters as an aid to reach residents in North Lombok who were affected by the earthquake. This was conveyed after visiting the handling of the earthquake and the people affected by the earthquake on Monday in North Lombok district, West Nusa Tenggara Province. The President acknowledged that there were still some areas in North Lombok that were difficult to reach to get help. This is because of the difficulty of the terrain that must be taken in order to reach these remote areas. Even so, according to the President, military helicopters should be used so that they can distribute logistical assistance to citizens.

"We must know that especially in North Lombok and in West Lombok, the areas are very wide. So there are still a few that are not yet reachable and handled especially in Bayan and Kayangan sub-districts. There are still 1,2,3 villages that have not been reached. Because its position is leading to the top of Mount Rinjani which is not accessible by motorbikes or even cars. And indeed there are still cracks and landslides that hit homes and residents there. This is not handled yet. There are still 1,2,3 villages that require attention but indeed the terrain is above and very heavy. But I had ordered the Commander to solve the problem. Because also here 4 helicopters are standby and can also be used. But indeed the terrain is not easy," said President Joko Widodo.

Meanwhile related to sanitation issues, the President said that until now, the government has installed 90 emergency sanitation facilities. According to the President, this number will still be added to 200 which are still on their way to North Lombok. The President said that the number would continue to be added due to the high need for sanitation facilities for the affected people. The government, according to the President, will continue to calculate the needs of the earthquake affected communities so as finding out the needs and meeting their needs. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

Indonesian President Joko Widodo led a Limited Meeting related to the handling of the impact of the earthquake in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The meeting was held after the President personally visited a number of earthquake relief posts in North Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara Province, Monday (Aug 13). The Limited Meeting was attended by a number of parties related to the handling of the impact of the earthquake, including the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Chief of Staff of Presidency Moeldoko, West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhamma Zainul Majdi, The Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian, Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei and National SAR Agency Chief Muhammad Syaugi. In his direction, President Joko Widodo asked his staff to really ensure the number of building where the people live in, whether they are severely or moderately damaged. In addition, the President also requested that the government and its ranks be able to immediately submit assistance to repair the residents' homes. This assistance is planned to be provided based on the level of house damages, whether severely, moderately or lightly damaged. With the handover of assistance, the President hopes that the rehabilitation and reconstruction process can be carried out immediately.

"I think starting tomorrow morning we will immediately hand over the aid for a heavily damaged house starting with a badly damaged one and I hope tomorrow at least a thousand can be handed over and then immediately followed by the hand over of the aid for home rehabilitation. And it starts to be done per zone so that the military and police as well as from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) accompanied by the Public Works can clean for example the sub-district first. It can be organized properly so that the money circulation and the economic activities can really start again, especially in North Lombok and in West Lombok," said President Joko Widodo.

Regarding the economic development of the community after the earthquake, the President also requested that the process of reconstruction of public facilities, especially markets, also be of concern to the government. The President asked the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to invite the public to utilize the market facilities after the rehabilitation and reconstruction. In accordance with the results of the Limited Cabinet Meeting some time ago in Jakarta, the president asked the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing to be able to involve the community in the process of rebuilding the residents' homes damaged by the earthquake. The president wanted the people’s housing to be built with earthquake resistant construction. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)

President Joko Widodo, Monday (Aug 13) in North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Province, said that government assistance given to the affected people of Lombok earthquake for rehabilitation and reconstruction of residential buildings, will be submitted in the form of savings. The handover of the first-stage assistance for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of residential buildings is carried out on Tuesday in North Lombok district and is intended to repair 1,000 residences. Nevertheless according to the President, the rehabilitation and reconstruction process will be carried out in a self-managed manner, which will be supervised by the regional government with direction from the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing. This is, according to the President, so that the buildings can be resistant to the earthquake.

"About 1000 will be handed over in the form of savings. From the money, I have conveyed that it can be used to rebuild the house but will be supervised by the province, the Governor, then accompanied by the Ministry of Public Works because the houses built are the RISHA (Simple Instant Home Healthy) anti-earthquake houses. You will later be given pictures and directions in the field by the Ministry of Public Works, Said President Joko Widodo.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the earthquake that hit Lombok has resulted physical damages which includes 67,875 damaged houses, 606 damaged schools, 6 damaged bridges, 3 damaged hospitals, 10 damaged health centers, 15 damaged mosques, 50 damaged prayer rooms, and 20 damaged office units. The agency estimates the total losses due to the earthquake reached 5.04 trillion rupiah. During his visit to North Lombok Regency, President Joko Widodo also visited field kitchens, trauma healing centers, evacuation posts for disaster victims and field hospitals. The President also took time to hold a dialogue with the residents to personally listen to the complaints of the people affected by the earthquake. (VOI/Ndy/AHM)