VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: A Tunisian court overturned on Wednesday a journalist's prison sentence for revealing information about the security services, his lawyer said, paving the way for a retrial.

Khalifa Guesmi, a correspondent for Tunisia's most popular radio station, Mosaique FM, was convicted in November and handed a one-year prison sentence that was later increased to five years on appeal.

The Court of Cassation "invalidated the five-year judgement and ordered it to be reviewed", Guesmi's lawyer, Rahal Jallali, told AFP.

Guesmi left prison Wednesday evening, an AFP correspondent reported.

The journalist remains under prosecution, according to his lawyer, under Article 34 of the anti-terrorism, law which "punishes with 10 to 20 years' imprisonment" anyone who publishes information "for the benefit of a terrorist organisation".

Journalists and civil society representatives gathered in Tunis on Wednesday to show support for Guesmi and to call for his immediate release.

Local and international NGOs have launched several calls for his release and condemned the five-year prison sentence as "a sham verdict" and "a major setback for the judicial system".

They have criticised what they say is a marked decline in press freedom in Tunisia since President Kais Saied seized full control of the country in July 2021.

On Wednesday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), in a post on social media platform X, welcomed what it called "a first step towards justice" for Guesmi and said it "should be followed by his immediate release and acquittal".

Jailed since September 3, Guesmi was found guilty of "participating in the intentional disclosing of information related to interception, infiltration, and audiovisual surveillance or the data collected therein".

He was held for a week in March 2022, after Mosaique FM published on its website information about the dismantling of a "terrorist cell" and the arrest of its members.

Source : AFP

VOInews, Jakarta: The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faishal Abdullah el Amudi released food aids for Indonesia ahead of Ramadan on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at the Head Office of the National Amil Zakat Agency.

“The assistance distributed by KSrelief for this humanitarian action is part of the direction of King Salman (custodian of the two Holy Mosques), to help people in need, especially in welcoming blessed holy month of Ramadan," Ambassador Faishal Abdullah el 'Amudi said in a statement received on Wednesday (6/3) in Jakarta.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Saiful Rahmat Dasuki appreciated and hoped that the assistance could provide relief and reduce the burden of economic difficulties faced by its recipients.

"The Ministry of Religion appreciates the efforts of Baznas and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre in designing the implementation of this program with noble goals," Saiful Rahmat Dasuki said.

The food aid program was initiated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aids and Relief Centre in collaboration with the National Amil Zakat Agency. The aid consisted of 7,965 food packages, each worth one million rupiah and distributed in 4 provinces, namely DKI Jakarta, Banten, West Java and Central Java.

On the same occasion, Chairman of the National Amil Zakat Agency, Noor Ahmad stated that this food aid program has entered its third year, with the cooperation of Baznas and the KSrelief Centre. Besides 7965 food aid packages, KSrelief also donated 200 kg of dates and 400 Quran copies with Braille letters.(VOI/DANIEL)

On his visit to Australia to attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, Indonesian president, Joko Widodo had the opportunity to hold a bilateral meeting with Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese in Melbourne on Tuesday, March 5, 2024.

VOInews, Jakarta: Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed the development of Indonesia-Australia cooperation in terms of Electric Vehicle Collaboration. This was conveyed when he met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center (MCEC) Australia, Tuesday (5/3/2024).

"I hope the MoU can be implemented immediately through the formation of a joint steering committee and the preparation of a work plan. Specifically related to nickel, I encourage both countries to prioritize collaboration rather than competition," Joko Widodo said in a statement received in Jakarta.

Widodo also emphasized the importance of cooperation in the financial services sector and announced plans to open a representative office of Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI) in Sydney. He also welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Nusantara Capital City Authority (OIKN) and the National Capital Authority in February.

"I would also like to again invite the Australian private sector to participate in building IKN," he added.

President Joko Widodo also highlighted the importance of expanding market access to create more balanced trade. He also welcomed the import license for meat and cattle from Australia.

"In addition, cooperation in the field of biosecurity for Indonesian products, especially fruits and fisheries, needs to be encouraged, especially related to inspection and quarantine aspects," he said.

In terms of people-to-people relations, Joko Widodo expressed pride in Indonesia's popularity as a destination for Australian students under the New Colombo Plan scheme. The New Colombo Plan is a partnership between governments, universities and the private sector to deepen future generations of Australians' knowledge of the Indo-Pacific region.

In this regard, Joko Widodo also plans to invite more Australian youth to visit and learn in Indonesia, including Indonesian culture and language.

In addition, President Widodo expressed his appreciation for Australia's support during Indonesia's chairmanship of ASEAN last year. He hoped that cooperation and implementation of infrastructure and energy projects would continue, and welcomed the launch of the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy 2040.