VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) issued Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2022 on elections, which among others, regulates the impact of new provinces' establishment on the 2024 elections.

The regulation that amended Law Number 7 of 2017 was uploaded on the Ministry of State Secretariat's official website on Tuesday.

According to Jokowi, extraordinary policies and steps are deemed necessary to anticipate the impact of the formation of four new provinces -- South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua -- for the 2024 Election.

Hence, the 2024 election would run on schedule to create domestic political stability.

"As an implication of the formation of the provinces of South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua, it is also necessary to organize electoral districts and allocate seats for members of the People's Representative Council (DPR), members of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and members of the Provincial Regional People's Legislative Council (DPRD) as well as general election organizers, so legal certainty needs to be given," he stated.

In issuing the Perppu, the president also considered the need to make changes to several issues in Law Number 7 of 2017 related to the strengthening of election organizers, schedule for the electoral campaign for members of the DPR, DPD, DPRD, as well as president and vice president candidates.

Some changes are also related to general elections in the capital city Nusantara as well as adjustments to electoral districts and the number of seats for Provincial DPRD members as a result of an increase in population.

The Perppu changes several provisions in the General Elections law, among others, the establishment of provincial KPU in South Papua, Central Papua, Papua Pegunungan, and Southwest Papua.

Article 92A of the regulation stated that Bawaslu forms the Provincial Bawaslu in the four new provinces.

Article 186 of the Perppu stipulates that the number of seats for members of the DPR reaches 580.

The Perppu also stipulates that between Article 568 and Article 569, one article is inserted, namely Article 568A, which reads that the implementation of the Presidential and Vice Presidential Election, members of the DPR, DPD, Provincial DPRD, and members of the District/Municipal DPRD in 2024 in East Kalimantan Province that is included in the capital city Nusantara as referred to in Law Number 3 of 2022 concerning the State Capital, is still guided by the provisions in Law Number 7 of 2017.

The Perppu was signed by President Jokowi on December 12, 2022, and promulgated on the same date. (Antaranews)

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said that foreign tourists should not hesitate to visit Indonesia, because the government will guarantee the private sphere of tourists. This was conveyed by Sandiaga Uno due to concerns over the RKUHP which was ratified some time ago. In The Weekly Briefing with Sandi Uno, Monday, Sandiaga Uno also explicitly stated that there would be no cancellation of tourist visits to Indonesia after ratifying the RKUHP.

As of today, there are no cancellations from our partners. So we can expressly say that the latest development has not been hoaxed as a cancellation. Precisely from the current daily average Denpasar DPS airport serves around 340 take-off and landing, 22 to 23 thousand international passengers. "This trend continues to increase and there are 24 routes and 14 countries and 27 international airlines and the total passengers at Bali airport have reached 10.8 million," said Sandiaga Uno.

Sandiaga Uno further stated that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy had fielded a direct team in Australia, and in 5 other important destinations, namely; India, Singapore, Malaysia, the United States and the United Kingdom to carry out promotion and education as well as communication and outreach to tourists and tourism industry players so they don't hesitate to come for a trip and invest in Indonesia. In accordance with the president's directives, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy must continue to increase tourist arrivals, including foreign tourists, in 2023.

On the same occasion, the Deputy Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati denied reports that a number of foreign tourists had canceled their flights due to the passing of the new Criminal Code Law some time ago. According to him, there has been a significant increase in the number of international flights.

"If we look at the data prior to December 6, 2022, (international flight numbers) are still at 10-11 thousand. However, after December 6 there was a significant increase touching 12,400 (flights) per yesterday (11/12/2022), and this figure according to Angkasa Pura will increase until the end of the year," he said.

Meanwhile, the Spokesperson for the National Criminal Code Outreach Team, Albert Aries, added that the Criminal Code Law, which was only ratified on December 6, 2022, has not yet been put into effect in the near future. "The national Criminal Code will only come into effect three years after it is ratified," said Albert. (VOI)

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is committed to supporting Bantul Regency to become a world creative city that is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of crafts and folk arts. The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, in his "Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno" Monday (12/12) said this commitment started with the establishment of Bantul Regency as part of the Indonesian Creative Regency/City (KaTa) ecosystem through Regency/City Self-Assessment activities. Creative Indonesia (PMK3I) with craft as its flagship.

"I wish congratulations and success to Bantul Regency, which has just received the designation of the Indonesian Creative Word for 2022. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy as the national focal point for UCCN is committed to accompanying Bantul Regency so that it can network at the global level," said Sandiaga Uno.

The potential for handicrafts in Bantul Regency is relatively high among the regencies/cities in the Special Region of Yogyakarta. It is recorded that approximately 70 percent of creative products such as souvenirs being sold in Malioboro come from Bantul Regency. Apart from that, in Bantul there is the Yogyakarta Indonesian Art Institute, a craft community, and a variety of traditions that have survived to this day.

Indonesia itself already has four cities that have received UCCN titles, namely Pekalongan in the craft and folk arts category, Bandung in the design category, Ambon in the music category, and Jakarta in the literature category.

However, if it gains legitimacy from UNESCO, it will certainly have a big impact. Not only in the sustainability and development of creative economic potential, but also indirectly as an effective means of promotion. That way the interest of tourists to come to Indonesia, especially Bantul, will increase and the community will be more prosperous.

Bantul Regent Abdul Halim Muslih admitted that economic growth in crafts and folk arts in Bantul Regency was actually relatively well established. However, if it can enter the world's network of creative cities, then Bantul's economic growth will certainly be more inclusive and sustainable.

In a series of processes towards the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of crafts and folk arts, the Government of Bantul Regency together with all stakeholders organized various activities ranging from seminars, festivals, exhibitions to performances. (VOI)

The Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Kemenkumham) of the Republic of Indonesia together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) of the Republic of Indonesia held a socialization of the Criminal Code (KUHP) which had just been ratified by the Republic of Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR).

"The first is that after 77 years of Indonesia's independence, Indonesia finally has a national Criminal Code," said Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej in a press conference, Monday (12/12) at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Building, in Jakarta.

Edward Omar said that the reform of the Criminal Code had been initiated since 1963, and would be effective 3 years after it was promulgated.

"Secondly, the Criminal Code has been prepared carefully and carefully. What takes into consideration is the balance between individual interests, state interests and community interests, and takes into account the condition of a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multicultural nation," he continued.

The third thing that was conveyed, as a democratic country, the Indonesian Criminal Code was also prepared through a long process of public consultation in order to obtain input from the public through meaningful participation. Apart from that, according to him, the Criminal Code is also humane. He gave an example by ending the pros and cons regarding the death penalty.

"In the Criminal Code, death penalty is a special nature which is always threatened alternatively, namely with a probationary period of 10 years so that with a measured and objective assessment the death penalty can be changed to life imprisonment by presidential decree or temporary imprisonment with a maximum period of 20 years," he explained.

On the same occasion, he also explained the articles related to adultery and cohabitation. According to him, these two articles were applied based on an absolute complaint offense. He said only the husband or wife for those who are bound by marriage, or parents or children for those who are not bound by marriage who can make complaints.

"Other parties cannot report, let alone take the law into their own hands. So there will be no legal process without complaints from parties who are entitled and directly harmed, and there are no administrative requirements to ask about the marital status of the public and tourists," he said.

Regarding regulations related to alcoholic beverages, Edward Omar said these regulations had existed in the old Criminal Code and had never been annulled by the Constitutional Court. According to him, the new Criminal Code only adopts regulations related to alcoholic beverages from the existing old Criminal Code.

"The seventh is about the issue of freedom of expression," he continued.

Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights explained that the Criminal Code has clearly distinguished between criticism and insult. According to him, criticism cannot be punished because it is done in the public interest, while insulting in any country, including heads of state and state institutions, is a disgraceful act.

"However, the Criminal Code regulates it as a complaint offense so that the public, including sympathizers and volunteers, cannot report except to the president or vice president and heads of state institutions," he explained.

Meanwhile regarding press freedom, Edward Omar said "criticism is a form of oversight of corrections and suggestions on matters relating to the public interest so that it is clear that they cannot be criminalized."

The Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights also touched on the regulation of serious crimes against human rights.

"The regulations adopted in the Criminal Code are only two core crimes, namely genocide and crimes against humanity, whose sanctions are adapted to the modified Delphi method. there is an expiration and retroactive entry into force," he said.

Furthermore, Edward Omar also stated that the provisions of the Criminal Code do not discriminate against women, children and other minority groups, including religions and beliefs.

"This is because all relevant provisions originating from the previous Criminal Code have been reformulated wherever possible by taking into account universally applicable legal principles, for example The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights," he said.

Edward Omar explained that during the 3-year transitional period, the national Criminal Code was effective. According to him, so that there are no mistakes in interpreting the articles in the Criminal Code, the government will continue to socialize the substance of the Criminal Code to the whole community, especially to law enforcement officials and prepare various implementing regulations from the Criminal Code so as to minimize the abuse of authority by law enforcement officials.

"The substance of the Criminal Code has been oriented towards the paradigm of modern criminal law which no longer emphasizes retaliation but rather corrective justice, restorative justice and rehabilitative justice.

He said corrective justice is related to deterring perpetrators, while restorative justice is more focused on recovering victims. While rehabilitative justice is in the context of improving victims and perpetrators.

"The new Criminal Code also regulates alternative sanctions other than imprisonment, namely fines, supervision, and social work. As well as the formulation of criminal acts in a clear, strict manner, with sufficient explanation to avoid multiple interpretations for the sake of legal certainty that prioritizes justice and expediency," he said.

He also said, considering that the Criminal Code will take effect within the next 3 years, it should not interfere with the interests of the public, business actors, tourists and foreign investors.

"As long as law enforcement is in accordance with the objectives of reforming criminal law through the Criminal Code as the most honest reflection of the legal civilization of the Indonesian nation," he concluded. (VOI/Andy)